Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/54

 lion’s head clasp. With spear set he rode close behind his master.

Ting Yüan, pointing his finger at Tung Cho, began to revile him.

“Unhappy indeed was this State when the eunuchs became so powerful that the people were as if trodden into the mire under their feet. Now you, devoid of the least merit, dare to talk of deposing the rightful Emperor and setting up another. This is to desire rebellion and no less.”

Tung Cho could not reply for Lü Pu, eager for the fight, rode straight at him. Tung Cho fled and Ting’s army came on. The battle went in their favour and the beaten men retired and made another camp. Here Tung Cho called his officers to a council.

“This Lü Pu is a marvel,” said Tung Cho. “If he was only on my side I would defy the whole world.”

At this a man advanced saying, “Be content, O my lord! I am a fellow villager of his and know him well, his bravery, his stupidity, his cupidity and unscrupulousness. With this little, blarneying tongue of mine I can persuade him to put up his hands and come over to your side.”

Tung Cho was delighted and gazed admiringly at the speaker, on Li Su a minor officer of his army.

“What arguments will you use with him?”

“You have a fine horse, the Hare, one of the best ever bred. I must have this steed, and gold and pearls to win his heart. Then will I go and persuade him. He will certainly abandon Ting Yüan’s service for yours.”

“What think you?” said Tung Cho to his adviser Li.

“One cannot grudge a horse to win an empire,” was the reply.

So they gave the corrupter of morals what he demanded—a thousand taels of gold, ten strings of beautiful pearls and a jewelled belt, and these accompanied Li Su on his visit to his fellow villager. He reached the camp and said to the guard, “Please tell General Lü that a very old friend has come to visit him.”

He was admitted forthwith.

“Worthy brother, have you been well since we last met?”

“How long it is since we last saw each other!” replied Pu, bowing in return. “And where are you now?”

“I am an officer in the Tiger Company. When I learned you were a strong supporter of the throne I could not say how I rejoiced. I have come now to present to you a really fine horse, a thousand li a day horse, one that crosses rivers and goes up mountains as if they were the level plain. He is called The Hare. He will be a fitting aid to your valour.”

Lü Pu bade them lead out the horse. He was of a uniform colour like glowing charcoal; not a hair of another colour. He