San kuo; or, Romance of the three kingdoms (volume 1 of 2) — John Shaqi
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
Scouts, sent out to get news of Huangfu, reported that he had been very
successful and Tung Cho had suffered many reverses. Therefore the Court
had put Huangfu in the latter’s place. Chang Chio had died before his
arrival. Chang Liang had added his brother’s army to his own but no
headway could be made against Huangfu, whose army gained seven
successive victories. And Chang Liang had been slain at Chüyang. Beside
this Chang Chio’s coffin had been exhumed, the corpse beheaded and the
head, after exposure, had been sent to the capital. The common crowd
had surrendered. For these services Huangfu had been promoted and now
ruled in Ichou.
He had not forgotten his friends. His first act after he had attained
to power was to memorialise concerning the case of Lu Chih, who was
then restored to his former rank.
Tsʻao Tsʻao also had received advancement for his services and was
preparing to go south to his new post.
Hearing these things Huangfu Sung pressed harder yet upon Yangchʻêng
and the approaching break-up of the rebellion became evident. Then one
of Chang Pao’s officers killed his leader and brought his head in token
of submission. Thus rebellion in that part of the country was stamped
out and Chu Chien made his report to the government.
However, the embers still smouldered. Three of the rebels Chao Hung,
Han Chung and Sun Chung, began to murder and rob and burn, calling
themselves the avengers of Chang Chio. The successful Chu Chien was
commanded to lead his veteran and successful troops to destroy them. He
at once marched toward Wanchʻêng, which the rebels were attacking. When
Chu arrived Han Chung was sent to oppose him. Chu Chien sent the three
brothers, our heroes, to attack the south west angle of the city. Han
Chung at once led the best of his men to beat them off. Meanwhile Chu
Chien himself led two companies of armoured horsemen to attack the
opposite corner. The rebels, thinking the city lost, abandoned the
south west and turned back. The three brothers pressed hotly in their
rear and they were utterly routed. They took refuge in the city which
was then invested. When famine pressed upon the besieged they sent a
messenger to offer to surrender but the offer was refused.
Said Yüan-tê, “Seeing that the founder of the Han Dynasty could welcome
the submissive and receive the favourable why reject these?”
“The conditions are different,” replied Chu Chien. “In those days
disorder was universal and the people had no fixed lord. Wherefore
submission was welcomed and support rewarded to encourage people to
come over. Now the Empire is united and the Yellow Turbans are the only
malcontents. To receive their surrender is not to encourage the good.
To allow brigands, when successful, to give way to every licence, and
to let them surrender when they fail is to encourage brigandage. Your
plan is not a good one.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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