San kuo; or, Romance of the three kingdoms (volume 1 of 2)Luo, Guanzhong
History
San kuo; or, Romance of the three kingdoms (volume 1 of 2)
Luo, Guanzhong
China -- History -- Three kingdoms, 220-265 -- Fiction
And Ho Yung of Nanyang said of him, “The dynasty of Han is about to
fall. He who can restore peace is this man and only he.”
Tsʻao Tsʻao went to enquire his future of a wise man of Junan.
“What manner of man am I?” asked Tsʻao.
The seer made no reply and again he put the question. Then he replied,
“You are able enough to rule the world, but wicked enough to disturb
it.”
Tsʻao greatly rejoiced to hear this.
He graduated at twenty and began his career in a district near Loyang.
In the four gates of the city he ruled he hung up clubs of various
sorts and any breach of the law met with its punishment whatever the
rank of the offender.
Now an uncle of a eunuch was found one night in the streets with a
sword and was arrested. In due course he was beaten. Thereafter no one
dared to offend and Tsʻao’s name became terrible. Soon he became a
magistrate.
At the outbreak of rebellion he held the rank of Chi-tu-yü and was
given command of five thousand horse and foot to help fight at
Yingchʻuan. He just happened to fall in with the newly defeated rebels
whom he cut to pieces. Thousands were slain and endless banners and
drums and horses were captured and not a little money. However the two
leaders got away and, after an interview with Huangfu Sung, Tsʻao went
in pursuit of them.
We return now to Yüan-tê. He and his brothers were hastening toward the
point of danger when they heard the din of battle and saw flames rising
high toward the sky. However they arrived too late for the fighting.
They saw Huangfu and Chu to whom they told the intentions of Lu Chih.
“The rebel power is quite broken here,” said the chiefs, “but they will
surely make for Kuangtsung to join Chang Chio. You can do nothing
better than hasten back.”
The three brothers retraced their steps. Half way along the road they
met a party of soldiers escorting a prisoner in a cage-cart. When they
drew near the prisoner was no other than the man they were going to
help. Hastily dismounting Liu Pei asked what had happened. Lu Chih
explained, “I had surrounded the rebels and was on the point of
smashing them, when Chang Chio employed some of his supernatural powers
and prevented my victory. The Court sent down a eunuch to enquire into
my failure and that official demanded a bribe. I told him how hard
pressed we were and asked him where, in the circumstances, I could find
a gift for him. He went away in wrath and reported that I was hiding
behind my ramparts and would not give battle and I disheartened my men.
So I was superseded by one Tung Cho and I have to go to the capital to
answer the charge.”
This story put Chang Fei into a rage. He was for slaying the escort and
setting free the prisoner. But Yüan-tê checked him.
“The Government will take the proper course,” said he. “You must not
act hastily.” And they went their ways.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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