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
This reply angered Kuan, who made just one attack on Hsün and brought
him to the ground. At this success Liu Pei urged on the army and Chi
Ling’s men were defeated. They retired to the mouth of the Huaiyin
River and declined all challenges.
However, many of their men came privately into Liu Pei’s camp to try to
do what mischief they could and many, so found, were slain.
But the armies will be left facing each other while we relate what
happened in Hsüchou.
After Liu Pei had started on his expedition Chang Fei placed his
colleague and helper in charge of the administration of Hsüchou,
keeping military affairs under his own supervision. After thinking over
the matter for some time he gave a banquet to all the military officers
and when they were all seated he made a speech. “Before my brother left
he bade me keep clear of the wine cup for fear of accidents. Now,
gentlemen, you may drink deep to-day but from to-morrow wine is
forbidden for we must keep the city safe. So take your fill.” And with
this he and all his guests rose to drink together.
The wine bearer came to one Tsʻao Pao who declined it, saying he never
drank as he was forbidden of heaven.
“What! a fighting man not drink wine!” said the host. “I want you to
take just one cup.”
Tsʻao Pao was afraid to offend so he drank.
Now the host drank huge goblets with all his guests on every hand and
so swallowed a huge quantity of liquor. He became quite intoxicated.
Yet he would drink more and insisted on a cup with every guest. It came
to the turn of Tsʻao Pao who declined.
“Really, I cannot drink,” said Pao.
“You drank just now: why refuse this time?”
Chang Fei pressed him, but still Tsʻao Pao resisted. Then Fei in his
drunken madness lost control of his temper and said, “If you disobey
the orders of your general you shall be beaten.” And he called in his
guards.
Here Chʻên Yüan-lung interfered reminding him of the strict injunctions
of his brother.
“You civilians attend to your civil business and leave us alone,” said
Fei.
The only way of escape for the guest was to beg remission and he did
so, but added, “Sir, if you saw my son-in-law’s face you would pardon
me.”
“Who is your son-in-law?”
“Lü Pu.”
“I did not mean to have you really beaten, but if you think to frighten
me with Lü Pu I will. I will beat you as if I was beating him,” said
Fei.
The guests interposed to beg him off, but their drunken host was
obdurate and the unhappy guest received fifty blows. Then at the
earnest prayers of the others the remainder of the punishment was
remitted.
The banquet came to an end and the beaten man went away burning with
resentment. That night he sent a letter to Hsiaopʻei relating the
insults he had received from Chang Fei. The letter told Lü Pu of the
prefect’s absence and proposed that a sudden raid should be made that
very night before Chang Fei had recovered from his drunken fit. Lü Pu
at once summoned Chʻên Kung and told him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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