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
The Prefect agreed and sent a message to Yüan Shao. But the commandant
of the palace, Kêng Wu, remonstrated with his master saying, “Yüan Shao
is a needy man with a hungry army and as dependent on us for existence
as an infant in arms on its mother. Stop the flow of milk and the
infant dies. Why should you hand the district over to him? It is
nothing less than letting a tiger into the sheepfold.”
Han Fu replied, “I am one of the clients of the Yüan family and I know
the abilities of Pên-chʻu. Why are you all so jealous? The ancients
counselled yielding to the sage.”
Kêng Wu sighed, “Ichou is lost!” said he.
When the news got abroad two score of officers of Ichou left their
employment and the city. However Kêng and Kuan hid in the suburbs to
await the arrival of Yüan Shao.
They had not long to wait. Soon Yüan Shao with his soldiers came and
the two men tried to assassinate him. This attempt failed. Yen Liang
killed one of them and Wên Chʻou the other. Thus both died and the
object of their hatred entered the prefecture.
His first act was to confer on Han Fu a high sounding title, but the
administration was entrusted to four of his own confidants who speedily
deprived the Prefect of all power. Full of chagrin Han soon abandoned
all, even his family, and took refuge with the Prefect of Chʻên-liu.
Hearing of Shao’s invasion Kungsun Tsan sent his brother, Yüeh, to see
the usurper and demand his share of the district. The brother was sent
back to request Kungsun himself to come, but on the homeward road he
was killed by assassins who loudly proclaimed they belonged to the
Minister, Tung Cho. Those of his followers who escaped carried the news
to their late master’s brother.
Kungsun Tsan was very angry and said, “He prevailed on me to attack and
now he has taken possession. Also he pretends the murderers of my
brother were not his men. Shall I not avenge my brother’s injury?”
Then he brought up all his force to the attack. Yüan sent out his army
and they met at Pʻanho. They halted on opposite sides of a stream, over
which was a bridge. Kungsun Tsan took his station on the bridge and
cried to his enemy, “Renegade, how dared you mislead me?”
Yüan rode to his end of the bridge and, pointing at Kungsun Tsan,
replied, “Han Fu yielded place to me because he was unequal to the
rule. What concern is it of yours?”
Kungsun replied, “Formerly you were regarded as loyal and public
spirited and we chose you chief of the confederacy. Now your deeds
prove you cruel and base, wolf-hearted and currish in behaviour. How
can you look the world in the face?”
“Who will capture him?” cried Yüan in a rage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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