Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/246

 “Why did you come?” said Ts‘ao Ts‘ao.

“We heard that you, Sir, had invited our brother to a wine party and we came to amuse you with a little sword play,” said they.

“This is not a Hungmên banquet,” replied Ts‘ao. “What use have we for two Hsiangs?”

Yüan-tê smiled. The host ordered wine to be served to the two “Fan K‘uai” to allay their excitement and, soon after, the three took their leave and returned homeward.

“We were nearly frightened to death,” said Kuan Yü.

The story of the dropped chopsticks was told. The two asked what their brother intended by his actions and he told them that his learning gardening was to convince Tsʻao Ts‘ao of his perfect simplicity and the absence of any ambition. “But,” said he, “when he suddenly pointed to me as one of the heroes I was startled, for I thought he had some suspicions. Happily the thunder at that moment supplied the excuse I wanted.”

“Really you are very clever,” said they.

Next day Ts‘ao again invited Yüan-tê and while the two were drinking, Man Ch‘ung, who had been despatched to find out what Yüan Shao was doing, came to present his report.

He said, “Kungsun Tsan has been completely defeated by Yüan.”

“Do you know the details? I should like to know how,” interrupted Liu Pei.

“They were at war and Tsan got the worst of it, so he acted on the defensive, building a high wall about his army and on that erecting a high tower, which he called the I-ching Tower. Therein he placed all his grain and took up his own quarters. His fighting men passed in and out without ceasing, some going out to give battle, others returning to rest. One of them was surrounded and sent to ask Kungsun to rescue him. Kungsun said, “If I rescue him, hereafter every one will want to be helped and will not exert himself.” So he did not go. This disgusted his men and many deserted to the enemy so that his army diminished. He sent letters to the capital to crave help, but the messenger was captured. He sent to Chang Yen to arrange with him for a joint attack and those letters with the plans also fell into Shao’s hands and the plans were adopted by his enemy, who gave the signals agreed upon. Thus Tsan fell into an ambush, lost heavily and retreated into the city. There he was besieged and a subterranean passage was pierced into the tower where he lodged. The tower was set on fire and Kungsun could not escape. So he slew his wife and little ones and committed suicide. The flames destroyed the bodies of the whole family.

“Yüan Shao has added the remnants of the vanquished army to his own and so become yet stronger. His brother Yüan Shu