Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/363

 fell. T‘an’s men were once more defeated and ran away to P‘ingyüan. Shên P‘ei urged his master to press home the advantage and T‘an was driven into the city, where he fortified himself and would not go out. So the city was besieged on three sides.

T‘an asked his strategist what should be done next and he said, “The city is short of food, the enemy is flushed with victory and we cannot stand against them. My idea is to send some one to offer surrender to Ts‘ao Tsʻao and thus get him to attack Ch‘ichou. Your brother will be forced to return thither, which will leave you free to join in the attack. We may capture Shang. Should Ts‘ao begin to get the better of your brother’s army we will lend our force to help him against Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, and as Ts‘ao’s base of supply is distant we shall drive him off. And we can seize on Ch‘ichou and begin our real career.”

“Supposing this scheme be attempted, who is the man for a messenger?”

“I have one, Hsin P‘i, Hsin P‘ing’s younger brother; he is magistrate here in this very place. He is a fluent speaker and good scholar and suited to your purpose.”

So Hsin P‘i was summoned and came readily enough. Letters were given him and an escort of three companies took him beyond the border. He travelled as quickly as possible.

At that time Ts‘ao’s camp was at Hsip‘ing and he was attacking Liu Piao, who had sent Yüan-tê out to offer the first resistance. No battle had yet taken place.

Soon after his arrival Hsin P‘i was admitted to the Minister’s presence, and after the ceremonies of greeting Ts‘ao asked the object of the visit. Hsin Pʻi explained that Yüan T‘an wanted assistance and presented his despatches. Ts‘ao read them and told the messenger to wait in his camp while he called his officers to a council.

The council met. Ch‘êng Yu said, “Yüan T‘an has been forced into making this offer because of the pressure of his brother’s attack. Put no trust in him.”

Lü Ch‘ien and Man Ch‘ung said, “You have led your armies here for a special purpose; how can you abandon that and go to assist Yüan T‘an?”

“Gentlemen, not one of you is giving good advice,” interposed Hsün Yu. “This is how I regard it. Since there is universal trouble, in the midst of which Liu Piao remains quietly content with his position between Chiang and Han, it is evident that he has no ambition to enlarge his borders. The Yüans hold four Chou and have many legions of soldiers. Harmony between the two brothers means success for the family and none can foresee what will happen in the Empire. Now take advantage of this fraternal conflict and let them fight till they are weakened and have to yield to our Minister.