Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/380

 was a son of General Kungsun Tu, “the Warlike,” as his title ran. He was a native of Hsiangpʻing. When he heard that the Yüans were on their way to his territory he called a council to decide upon his plan. At the council Kungsun Kung rose saying, “When Yüan Shao was alive he nourished the plan of adding this district to his own. Now his sons, homeless, with a broken army and no officers, are coming here; it seems to me like the dove stealing the magpie’s nest. If we offer them shelter they will assuredly intrigue against us. I advise that they be inveigled into the city, put to death and their heads sent to Tsʻao, who will be most grateful to us.”

Said the Prefect, “I have one fear; Tsʻao will come against us. If so, it would be better to have the help of the Yüans against him.”

“Then you can send spies to ascertain whether the army is preparing to attack us. If it is then save them alive; if not, then follow my advice.”

It was decided to wait till the spies came back. In the meantime the two Yüans had taken counsel together as they approached Liaotung, saying, “Liaotung has a large army strong enough to oppose Ts‘ao Tsʻao. We will go thither and submit till we can slay the Prefect and take possession. Then when we are strong enough we will attack and recover our own land.”

With these intentions they went into the city. They were received and lodged in the guests’ quarters, but when they wished to see Kungsun Kʻang he put them off with the excuse of indisposition. However, before many days the spies returned with the news that Tsʻao Tsʻao’s army was quiescent and there was no hint of any attack.

Then Kungsun Kʻang called the Yüans into his presence. But before they came he hid swordmen and axemen behind the arras in the hall. When the visitors came and had made their salutations, Kʻang bade then be seated.

Now it was bitterly cold and on the couch where Shang was sitting were no coverings. So he asked for a cushion. The host surlily said, “When your heads take that long, long journey, will there be any cushions?”

Before Shang could recover from his fright Kʻang shouted, “Why do you not begin?”

At this out rushed the assassins and the heads of the two brothers were cut off as they sat. Packed in a small wooden box they were sent to Tsʻao Tsʻao at Ichou.

All this time Tsʻao had been calmly waiting, and when his impatient officers had petitioned in a body that he would march to the capital if he intended no attack on the east, he told them what he was waiting for. He would go as soon as the heads arrived.