Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/338

 together his council. Then said the adviser Hsün Yu, “The enemy are many but not terrible. Ours is an army of veterans, every man worth ten, but our advantage lies in a speedy battle for unhappily our stores are insufficient for a long campaign.”

“You speak to the point,” said Ts‘ao. “I think the same.”

Therefore he issued orders to press forward and force on a battle. Yüan Shao’s men took up the challenge and the two sides were arrayed. On Yüan’s side a legion of crossbow men were placed in ambush on the two wings, while half a legion of archers held the centre. The signal for general attack was a bomb and the onset was to continue through three rolls of the drum.

Yüan Shao wore a silver helmet and breastplate and an embroidered robe held in by a jewelled belt. He took up his post in the centre with his numerous captains ranged right and left. His banners and ensigns made a brave show.

When the Ts‘ao army centre opened and the banners moved aside the great captain appeared on horseback with his staff of doughty leaders all fully armed. Pointing with his whip at Yüan Shao he cried, “In the presence of the Emperor I pressed your claims to consideration and obtained for you the title of Generalissimo; why do you now plan rebellion?”

Yüan replied, “You take the title of a minister of Han, but you are really a rebel against the House. Your crimes and evil deeds reach to the heavens, and you are worse than the usurper Mang and the rebel Cho. What are these slanderous words about rebellion that dare you address to me?”

“I have a command to make you prisoner.”

“I have the Girdle Decree to arrest rebels,” replied Yüan.

Then Ts‘ao became wrathful and bade Chang Liao ride forth as his champion. From the other side rode Chang Ho on a curvetting steed. The two champions fought four or five bouts with no advantage to either. In his heart Ts‘ao thought the contest amazing. Then Hsü Ch‘u whirled up his sword and went to help. To match him rode out Kao Lan with his spear in rest, and the contestants were now four, battling two and two. Then Ts‘ao ordered three companies under Hsiahou Tun and Ts‘ao Hung to attack the opponents’ array. Thereupon on Yüan’s side the signal for attack was also given and the legion of crossbow men on the wings shot and the centre archers let fly all together. The arrows flew all over the field in front and Ts‘ao’s men could not advance. They hastened away toward the south. Yüan threw his soldiers on their rear and they were broken. They went away toward Kuantu and Yüan advanced another stage. He camped near them.

Then Shên P‘ei said, “Now send ten legions to guard Kuantu and get near Ts‘ao’s camp, then throw up observation mounds to get a clear view of the enemy and choose vantage points whence to shoot arrows into the midst of their host. If we can