Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/279

 the east will send Liu Pei to him for help and he will come here at once. Then what will you do?”

“You are at fault,” replied Ts‘ao Ts‘ao. “Liu Pei is a bold warrior and if we wait till he is fully fledged and winged, he will be more difficult to deal with. Shao may be strong but he is not to be feared. He is too undecided to act.”

As they were discussing these things Kuo Chia came in and Ts‘ao Ts‘ao suddenly referred the matter to him.

“If I attack Liu Pei, then Yüan Shao is to be feared: what do you think of it?”

“Shao by nature is dilatory and hesitating and his various advisers are jealous of each other. He is not to be feared. Liu Pei is getting together a new army and has not yet won their hearts. You could settle the east in one battle.”

This advice being in harmony with Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s own opinion was pleasing to him and he prepared an army of twenty legions, to move in five divisions against Hsüchou.

Scouts took the news of these preparations to Hsüchou. Sun Ch‘ien first went to Hsiap‘i to tell Kuan Yü and then went to Hsiaop‘ei to tell Yüan-tê. The two discussed the position and decided that help must be sought. So letters were written to Yüan Shao and given to Sun Ch‘ien, who went north, sought T‘ien Fêng and asked him to take him into the presence of Yüan Shao. He was introduced and presented his letters.

But Yüan Shao was of melancholy countenance and his dress was all awry. T‘ien Fêng said, “Why this disarray, my lord?”

“I am about to die,” replied Shao.

“But why do you utter such words?”

“I have five sons, but only the youngest is clever enough to understand my ideas. Now he is suffering from a disease which places his life in jeopardy. Think you that I have any heart to talk over any other affairs?”

“But,” said T‘ien Fêng, “the present combination of circumstances is unparalleled. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao is going to attack the east and Hsüch‘ang will be empty. You can enter it with a few volunteers and so perform good service to the Emperor and save the people from sorrow. You have only to make up your mind to act.”

“I know the chance is excellent but I am worried and distressed and fear failure.”

“What are you distressed about?” said Fêng.

“Among my sons only this special one is remarkable and if anything happens I am done.”

Thus it became evident that no army would be despatched. In confirmation of this Yüan said to Sun Ch‘ien, “Go home and tell Yüan-tê the real reason and say that if anything untoward happen he can come over to me and I will find some means of helping him.”