Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/219

 They went east. As they neared Artemisia Pass (Hsiao Kuan) they met the T‘aishan brigands with three legions barring their road. However, they were easily beaten back and were chased right up to the pass.

The scouts told Lü Pu, who was then in Hsüchou, whither he had gone to start an expedition to save Hsiaop‘ei. He left the protection of his city to Ch‘ên Kuei and set out with Ch‘ên Têng.

As this latter was starting Ch‘ên Kuei said to him, “Remember the words of Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, that the business of the east is in our hands. Now is our moment for Lü Pu is about to suffer defeat.”

“Father, your son can look after the outside. But when he returns beaten you must arrange with Mi Chu to keep him out of the city. I shall find a means of escape,” said Têng.

“His family is here and he has many friends. How about them?”

“I also have a scheme to settle them.”

Then he went to see Lü Pu, to whom he said, “Hsüchou is surrounded and this city will be fiercely attacked. We ought to provide for possible retreat and I advise storing grain and money in Hsiaop‘ei. We could retreat there if the day went adversely. Why not see about this in good time?”

“Your words are indeed wise. I will also send my wife and little ones thither,” said Lü.

The family left under escort and with them was sent much grain and silver. And then the soldiers marched to the relief of the pass. About half way there Ch‘ên Têng said, “Let me go first to reconnoitre so that you, my lord, may advance with confidence.”

Thus Ch‘ên Têng parted company with his chief and preceded him to the pass where he was received by Ch‘ên Kung. He said, “The Marquis greatly wonders why you do not advance. He is going to enquire into it.”

“The enemy is in great force and we cannot be too careful,” said Kung. “We are holding the pass and you should persuade our master to take steps to guard P‘eich‘êng.”

Ch‘ên Têng muttered to himself and said no more. That evening he went up to the heights from which he could see Ts‘ao’s army, which was quite close to the pass. Then he wrote three notes, tied them to arrows and shot them into Ts‘ao’s camp.

Next day he left and hastened back to Lü Pu. “Those bandits are about to give up the pass to the enemy, but I have left Ch‘ên Kung to hold it. You had better make an attack to-night and hold him.”

“Had it not been for you the pass would have been lost,” said Lü.

Then he sent Ch‘ên Têng back to arrange a signal with Ch‘ên Kung for simultaneous action. So Têng returned to