Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/73

 The three other leaders in time met their chief and the soldiers halted. Sun Chien was much grieved at the loss of his generous subordinate.

When news of the disaster reached Yüan Shao he was greatly chagrined and called all the lords to a council. They assembled and Kungsun Tsan was the last to arrive. When all were seated in the tent Yüan Shao said, “The brother of General Pao, disobeying the rules we made for our guidance, rashly went to attack the enemy; he was slain and with him many of our soldiers. Now Sun Wên-tʻai has been defeated. Thus our fighting spirit has suffered and what is to be done?”

Every one was silent. Lifting his eyes the chief looked round from one to another till he came to Kungsun Tsan and then he remarked three men who stood behind his seat. They were of striking appearance as they stood there, all three smiling cynically.

“Who are those men behind you?” said the chief.

Kungsun told Yüan-tê to come forward, and said, “This is Liu Pei, magistrate of Pʻingyuan and a brother of mine who shared my humble cottage.”

“It must be the Liu Yüan-tê who broke up the Yellow Turban rebellion,” said Tsʻao.

“It is he,” said his patron and he ordered Liu Pei to make his obeisance to the assembly, to whom he then related his services and his origin, all in full detail.

“Since he is of the Han line he should be seated,” said the chief and he bade Liu Pei sit.

Liu Pei modestly thanked him.

Said Shao, “This consideration is not for your fame and office; I respect you as a scion of the imperial family.”

So Liu Pei took his seat in the lowest place of the long line of lords. And his two brothers with folded arms took their stations behind him.

Even as they were at this meeting came in a scout to say that Hua Hsiung with a company of mail-clad horsemen was coming down from the Pass. They were flaunting Sun Chien’s captured purple turban on the end of a bamboo pole. The enemy was soon hurling insults at those within the stockade and challenging them to fight.

“Who dares go out to give battle?” said the chief.

“I will go,” said Yü Shê, a leader who belonged to the train of Yüan Shu.

So he went and almost immediately one came back to say that he had fallen in the third bout.

Fear began to lay its cold hand on the assembly. Then said another, “I have a brave warrior among my men. Pʻan Fêng is his name and he could slay this Hua Hsiung.”

So Pʻan was ordered out to meet the foe. With his great battle-axe in his hand he mounted and rode forth. But soon