Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/354

 capital, had reached a point near Jang Hills when Ts‘ao came upon them. So Liu Pei camped by the hills and divided his army into three, sending his brothers with one division each to entrench themselves, south-east and south-west, respectively of the main body which he and Chao Yün commanded.

When Ts‘ao came near, Yüan-tê beat his drums and went out to where Ts‘ao had already arrayed his men. Ts‘ao called Liu Pei to a parley, and when the latter appeared under his great standard, Ts‘ao pointed his whip at him and railed saying, “I treated you as a guest of the highest consideration; why then do you turn your back on righteousness and forget kindness?”

Yüan-tê replied, “Under the name of Minister you are really a rebel. I am a direct descendant of the family and I have a secret decree from the throne to take such offenders as you.”

As he said these words he produced and recited the decree which is known as the “Girdle Mandate.”

Ts‘ao grew very angry and ordered Hsü Ch‘u to go out to battle, and, as Liu Pei’s champion, out rode Chao Yün with spear ready to thrust. The two warriors exchanged thirty bouts without advantage to either. Then there arose an earth rending shout and up came the two brothers, Yün-ch‘ang from the south-east and Fei from the south-west. The three armies then began a great attack, which proved too much for Ts‘ao’s men, fatigued by a long march, and they were worsted and fled. Yüan-tê having scored this victory returned to camp.

Next day he sent out Chao Yün again to challenge the enemy, but it was not accepted and Ts‘ao’s army remained ten days without movement. Then Chang Fei offered a challenge which also was not accepted. And Yüan-tê began to feel anxious.

Then unexpectedly came news that the enemy had stopped a train of supplies and at once Chang Fei went to the rescue. Worse still was the news that followed, that an army had got in behind to attack Junan.

Quite dismayed, Yüan-tê said, “If this be true I have enemies in front and rear and have no place to go.”

He then sent Yün-ch‘ang to try to recover the city and thus both his brothers were absent from his side. One day later a horseman rode up to say Junan had fallen, its defender Liu P‘i was a fugitive and Yün-ch‘ang surrounded. To make matters worse the news came that Chang Fei, who had gone to rescue Kung Tu, was in like case.

Yüan-tê tried to withdraw his men, fearing all the time an attack from Ts‘ao Ts‘ao. Suddenly the sentinels came in saying Hsü Ch‘u was at the camp gate offering a challenge, but no one dared accept it or go out. They waited till dawn, and then Yüan-tê bade the soldiers get a good meal and be ready to start. When ready the foot went out first, the