Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/90

 the centre. He took his place on horseback on the bridge beside an enormous red standard on which was displayed the word “General” in gold embroidery.

From shên (7 a.m.–9 a.m.) till ssŭ (9 a.m.–11 a.m.) the drums rolled for the attack, but Yüan’s army made no move. Ch‘ü I made his bowmen hide under their shields. They heard the roar of explosions, the whistling of arrows and the rattle of the drums, as Yen Kang approached from the other side, but Ch‘ü I and his men lay closer than ever and never stirred. They waited till Yen Kang had got close on them and then, as the sound of a bomb rent the air, the whole company, eight hundred men, let fly their arrows in a cloud. Yen Kang was quite taken aback and would have retired, but Ch‘ü I rode furiously toward him, whirled up his sword and cut him down. So Kungsun’s men lost that battle. The two wings that should have come to the rescue were kept back by the bowmen under Yen Liang and Wên Ch‘ou and Yüan’s men advanced right up to the bridge. Then Ch‘ü I rode forward, slew the standard bearer and hacked through the staff of the embroidered banner. Seeing this Kungsun Tsan turned his steed and galloped away.

Ch‘ü I followed. But just as he caught up the fugitive there came prancing forth Chao Yün, who rode directly at him with spear ready to strike. After a few passes the pursuer was laid in the dust. Then Chao Yün attacked the soldiers and turned the tide. Plunging forward on this side, dashing in on that, he went through as if there were no antagonists and, seeing this, Kungsun Tsan turned and came again into the fight. The final victory was on his side.

From the men sent to find out how the battle went Yüan Shao heard the good news of Ch‘ü I’s success in slaying the standard bearer, capturing the flag and his pursuit. So he took no further care but rode out with his captains and a few guards to look on at the defeated enemy and enjoy his victory.

“Ha ha!” he laughed. “The poor fool! He is an incapable.”

But even as he spoke he saw in front the redoubtable Chao Yün. His guards hastened to prepare their bows, but before they could shoot Chao with a few followers was in their midst and men were falling before him wherever he went. The others fled. Kungsun Tsan’s army then gathered round and hemmed in Yüan Shao.

T‘ien Fêng then said to his master, “Sir, take refuge in this empty building here.”

But Yüan dashed his helmet to the ground, crying “The brave man rather faces death in the battle than seeks safety behind a wall!”

This bold speech gave new courage to his men who now fought desperately and with such success that Chao Yün could nowhere force his way in. Shao was soon reinforced by the arrival of his main body and Yen Liang, so that Chao Yün