Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/225

 “Suppose we tried, to-day?” said Lü Pu.

“This is an ill-omened day; you must not try to-day. To-morrow is a very lucky day, especially in the evening, for any military action.”

Then Lü Pu ordered Chang Liao and Kao Shun to get ready three companies for the venture and to prepare a light carriage. He would lead till they had got a couple of hundred li away. Thence they could escort the bride-elect the remainder of the way to her new home.

Next evening toward the second watch Lü Pu wrapped up his daughter in soft wadded garments, bound her about with a mailed coat and took her on his back. Then with his mighty halberd in hand, he mounted his steed and rode at the head of the cavalcade out of the city gate. The two captains followed.

In this order they approached Yüan-te’s camp. The drums at once beat the alarm and the two younger brothers barred the way.

“Stop!” they shouted.

Lü Pu had no desire to fight; all he wished was to get through so he made for a side road. Yüan-tê came in pursuit and the two parties engaged. Brave as he might be, Lü Pu was almost helpless now that he was hampered by a girl on his shoulders, whom he was desperately anxious to preserve from hurt. Beside other parties came up all shouting and attacking and he had no alternative but to give up his project and return into the city. He reached his palace very sad at heart. The besiegers returned to camp well pleased that no one had got beyond their lines.

Lü Pu found consolation in the wine cup. The siege had gone on for two months and still the city stood, when they heard that Chang Yang, Prefect of Honei, had been inclined to come to the help of Lü Pu. But one of his subordinates had assassinated him and was bringing his head as an offering to Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, when he also had been slain by one of the Prefect’s friends. He had then gone to Tach‘êng.

In the camp of the besiegers there now arose much murmuring. The officers grumbled saying, “Though Chang Yang, who meant to hurt us, is happily no more, yet we are threatened on the north by Yüan Shao and on the east Piao Hsiu is a menace. Here we meet with no success against the city. We are for leaving Lü Pu to his fate and returning home. We need a rest.”

Among them Hsün Yü fought against this discontent. “You must not act like this,” said he. “Lü Pu has lost much and his spirit is broken. The spirit of the leader expresses that of his men, and when the leader fails his men do not fight. Ch‘ên Kung is clever but nothing is done. Lü Pu broken, Ch‘ên Kung without decision, it only needs a sharp attack and we shall succeed.”