Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/326



e may tell here how Sun Ts‘ê gradually became supreme on the east of the river. In the fourth year of the period “Established Peace,” he took Luchiang by the defeat of the Prefect Liu Hsün. He despatched Yu Fan with a despatch to the Prefect of Yuchang, Hua Hsin, and he surrendered. Thence his renown increased and he boldly sent a memorial on his military successes to the Emperor by the hand of Chang Hung.

Ts‘ao Ts‘ao saw in him a powerful rival and said he was a lion difficult to contend with. So he betrothed his niece, daughter of Ts‘ao Jên, to Sun K‘uang, the youngest brother of Sun Ts‘ê, thus connecting the two families by marriage. He also retained Chang Hung near him in the capital.

Then Sun Ts‘ê sought the title of Ta Ssŭ-ma, or Minister of War, one of the highest offices of State, but Ts‘ao Ts‘ao prevented the attainment of this ambition, and Sun Ts‘ê keenly resented it. Henceforward his thoughts turned toward an attack on Ts‘ao Ts‘ao.

About this time the Prefect of Wuchün sent a secret letter to the capital to Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, saying that Sun Ts‘ê was a turbulent fellow of the Hsiang Chi type and the government ought, under the appearance of showing favour to him, to recall him to the capital for he was a danger in the provinces. But the bearer of this letter was captured on the Yangtse River and sent to Sun Ts‘ê, who immediately put him to death. Then he treacherously sent to ask the author of the letter, Hsü Kung by name, to come and consult over some affair. The unsuspecting man came. Sun Ts‘ê produced the letter, saying. “So you wish to send me to the land of the dead, eh?” and thereupon the executioners came in and strangled him. The family of the victim scattered, but three of his clients determined to avenge him if only they could find some means of attacking Sun.

Their chance came in the hunting field. One day Sun went hunting in the hills to the west of Tant‘u. A stag was started and Sun pressed after it at topmost speed and followed it deep into the forest. Presently he came upon three armed men