Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/247

 in Honan, however, has become so arrogant and cruel that the people have turned against him. Then he had sent to say he would yield the title of Emperor, which he had assumed, in favour of his brother. His brother Shao demanded the seal also and Yüan Shu promised to bring it in person. Now he has abandoned Huainan and is about to occupy Hopei. If he succeeded, the two brothers will control adjoining districts and be dangerous.”

It was a sad story and Yüan-tê remembered with sorrow that, in the days of success and prosperity, the dead chieftain had pushed his interest and shown him much kindness. Moreover he was anxious to know the fate of Chao Tzŭ-lung.

In his heart he thought, “What better chance am I likely to get of setting myself free?”

So he rose and said to Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, “If Yüan Shu goes over to join his brother he will surely pass through Hsüchou. I beg you to give me an army with which to smite him on the way. That will finish Yüan Shu.”

“Memorialise the Emperor to-morrow and I will give you an army,” said Ts‘ao.

So next day Yüan-tê went to an audience and Ts‘ao gave him command of five legions, horse and foot, and sent Chu Ling and Lu Chao with him.

At parting with Liu Pei the Emperor shed tears. As soon as he reached his lodging he set about preparations for immediate departure, returning his seal as General and preparing his weapons. Tung Ch‘êng went out some distance on the road to bid him farewell.

“You must not mind my going; this journey will assuredly help on the scheme,” said Liu Pei.

“Keep your mind fixed on that,” said Tung, “and never forget what His Majesty requires of us.”

They parted. Presently his brothers asked him why he was in such a hurry to get away.

He replied, “I have been a bird in a cage, a fish in a net. This is like the fish regaining the open sea and the bird soaring into the blue sky. I suffered much from the confinement.”

Now Kuo Chia and Ch‘êng Yü had been absent inspecting stores and supplies when Liu Pei left. As soon as they heard of his expedition they went in to see their master, asking him why he had let Liu Pei go in command of an army.

“He is going to cut off Yüan Shu.”

“Formerly, when he was governor of Yüchou, we recommended that he should be put to death but you would not hear of it. Now you have given him an army. You have allowed the dragon to reach the sea, the tiger to return to the mountains. What control will you have in future?”

So spoke Ch‘êng Yü and Kuo Chia followed in the same strain.