Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/374

 boats. When the peasants heard the order they ran away. Tsʻao angrily wished to arrest and behead them. When they heard this they went to his camp in a body and offered their heads to the sword.

“If I do not kill you, my order will not be obeyed,” said Ts‘ao. “Yet supposing I cut off your heads—but I cannot bear to do that. Quickly flee to the hills and hide so that my soldiers do not capture you.”

The peasants left weeping.

Then Yüan T‘an led out his army against Ts‘ao. When both sides were arrayed Ts‘ao rode to the front, pointed with his whip at his opponent and railed at him saying, “I treated you well; why then have you turned against me?”

T‘an replied, “You have invaded my land, captured my cities and broken off my marriage; yet you accuse me of turning against you.”

Ts‘ao ordered Hsü Huang to go out and give battle. T‘an bade P‘êng An accept the challenge. After a few bouts P‘êng An was slain and T‘an, having lost, fled and went into Nanp‘i, where he was besieged. T‘an, panic-stricken, sent Hsin P‘ing to see Ts‘ao and arrange surrender.

“He is nothing but a fickle-minded child,” said Ts‘ao. “He is never of the same mind two days running and I cannot depend upon what he says. Now your brother is in my employ and has a post of importance, you had better remain here also.”

“Sir Minister, you are in error,” said Hsin P‘ing. “It is said that the lord’s honour is the servant’s glory, the lord’s sadness is the servant’s shame. How can I turn my back on the family I have so long served?”

Ts‘ao felt he could not be persuaded and sent him back. P‘ing returned and told T‘an the surrender could not be arranged and T‘an turned on him angrily calling him a traitor. At this unmerited reproach such a huge wave of anger welled up in the man’s breast that he was overcome and fell in a swoon. They carried him out, but the shock had been too severe and soon after he died. T‘an regretted his conduct when it was too late.

Then Kuo T‘u said, “To-morrow when we go out to battle we will drive the people out in front as a screen for the soldiers and we must fight a winning battle.”

That night they assembled all the common people of the place and forced into their hands swords and spears. At daylight they opened the four gates and a huge party with much shouting came out at each, peasantry carrying arms in front, and soldiers behind them. They pushed on toward Ts‘ao’s camps and a mêlée began which lasted till near midday. But this was quite indecisive, although heaps of dead lay everywhere.