Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/196

 in torrents and he died. Even after he was dead not a man dared to come in by the main gate.

Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, relying on Tien Wei to hold the main gate, had fled in haste by the rear gate. His nephew accompanied him on foot. Then Ts‘ao was wounded by an arrow in the arm and three arrows struck his horse. However, fortunately, the horse was a fine beast from Tawan full of spirit and, in spite of his wounds, he bore his master swiftly and well as far as the Yüshui River.

Here some of the pursuers came up and his nephew was hacked to pieces. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao dashed into the river and reached the further side, but there an arrow struck his steed in the eye and he fell. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s eldest son dismounted and yielded his horse to his father, who galloped on. His son was killed but he himself got away. Soon after he met several of his officers who had rallied a few soldiers.

The soldiers under Hsiahou Tun seized the occasion to plunder the people. Yü Chin took his men fell upon them and slew many. Thus he protected and appeased the people. The plunderers, meeting Ts‘ao Ts‘ao on the road, knelt down howling and said Yü Chin had mutinied and attacked them. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao was surprised and when he met Hsiahou Tun, gave orders to attack Yü Chin.

Now when Yü Chin saw his master and a great company approaching he at once stopped the attack and set his men to make a camp. Hsün Yü asked him why.

"The Chingchou soldiers say you have turned traitor; why do you not explain now that the Minister has arrived? Why first make a camp?” said he.

He replied, “Our enemies are coming up in our rear and are very close. It is necessary to prepare for defence or we shall not withstand them. Explanation is a small matter, but defence is very important.”

Soon after the camp was finished Chang Hsiu fell upon them in two divisions. Yü Chin himself rode out to face them. Chang drew back. The other leader, seeing Yü Chin advance thus boldly, also attacked and Chang Hsiu was overcome. They pursued him a great distance until his force was almost annihilated. With the miserable remnant he finally fled to Liu Piao.

Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s army reformed and the captains mustered. Then Yü Chin went to see his master and told him of the conduct of the Chingchou soldiers and their looting and why he had attacked them.

“Why did you not tell me before you made the camp?”

Yü Chin related what had occurred.

Said Ts‘ao, “When the first thought of a leader in the time of greatest stress is to maintain order and strengthen his defences, giving no thought to slander but shouldering his