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
Mu Yüan-chin and Chao Jui were just returning from taking grain to the
camp and seeing the flames arise, they hastened to assist. Some of
Tsʻao’s soldiers ran to tell him that some of the enemy were coming up
in the rear and ask him to send reinforcements, but he only replied by
ordering the generals to press on to the front till the enemy was
actually close at hand and then face about. So the attack was pressed
and they all hastened forward.
Very soon the fire gained strength and thick smoke hung all around
filling the sky. When Mu and Chao drew near, Tsʻao turned about and
attacked them. They could not stand this for a moment and both captains
were killed. Finally the stores of grain and forage were utterly
destroyed.
The commander, Shunyu Chʻiung, was made prisoner and taken to Tsʻao who
ordered him to be deprived of ears, nose and hands. He was bound on a
horse and sent, thus horribly mutilated, to his master.
From Yüan’s camp the flames of the burning depôt were seen away in the
north and they knew what they meant. Yüan hastily summoned his officers
to a council to send a rescue party. Chang Ho offered to go with Kao
Lan but Kuo Tʻu said, “You may not go; it is certain that Tsʻao Tsʻao
is there in person, wherefore his camp is undefended. Let loose our
soldiers on the camp and that will speedily bring Tsʻao back again.
This is how Sun Pin besieged Wei and thereby rescued Han.”
But Chang Ho said, “Not so; Tsʻao is too wily not to have fully
prepared against a chance attack. If we attack his camp and fail and
Shunyu Chʻiung should be caught we shall all be captured too.”
Kuo Tʻu said, “Tsʻao will be too intent on the destruction of the grain
to think of leaving a guard. I entreat you to attack his camp.”
So five companies under Chang Ho and Kao Lan were sent to attack
Tsʻao’s camp and Chiang Chi was sent to try to recover the grain store.
Now after overcoming Shunyu, Tsʻao’s men dressed themselves in the
armour and clothing of the defeated soldiers and put out their emblems,
thus posing as defeated men running back to their own headquarters. And
when they happened upon Chiang Chi’s rescue legion they said they had
been beaten at Wuchʻao and were retreating. So they were suffered to
pass without molestation while Chiang Chi hastened on. But soon he came
to Chang Liao and Hsü Chu who cried out to him to stop. And before he
could make any opposition Chang Liao had cut him down. Soon his men
were killed or dispersed and the victors sent false messengers to
Shao’s camp to say that Chiang Chi had attacked and driven away the
defenders of the granaries. So no more reliefs were sent that way.
However, reinforcements were sent to Kuantu.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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