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
At once Wên Chʻou rode out with his spear set. Kungsun Tsan rode down
the bridge to the enemy’s side, where the two engaged. Half a score
bouts showed Tsan he had met his master so he drew off. The enemy came
on. Tsan took refuge within his formation, but Wên Chʻou cut his way in
and rode this way and that, slaying right and left. The four best of
Tsan’s captains offered joint battle, but one fell under the first
stroke of the doughty warrior and the other three fled, Wên Chʻou
following clear through to the rear of the army. Kungsun made for the
mountains. Wên Chʻou forced his horse to its utmost pace crying
hoarsely, “Down! Dismount and surrender.”
Kungsun fled for life. His bow and quiver dropped from his shoulders,
his helmet fell off and his hair streamed straight behind him as he
rode in and out between the sloping hills. Then his steed stumbled and
he was thrown, rolling over and over to the foot of the slope.
Wên Chʻou was now very near and poising his spear for the thrust. Then
suddenly came out from the shelter of a grassy mound on the left a
leader of youthful mien, but sitting his steed bravely and holding a
sturdy spear. He rode directly at Wên Chʻou and Kungsun crawled up the
slope to look on.
The new warrior was of middle height with bushy eyebrows and large
eyes, a broad face and a heavy jowl, a youth of commanding presence.
The two exchanged some fifty bouts and yet neither had the advantage.
Then Kungsun’s rescue force came along and Wên Chʻou turned and rode
away. The youth did not pursue.
Kungsun Tsan hurried down the hill and asked the young fellow who he
was.
He bowed low and replied that his name was Chao Yün, or Tzŭ-lung, and
he was of Chêngting.
“I first served Yüan Shao, but when I saw that he was disloyal to his
prince and careless of the welfare of the people I left him and I was
on my way to offer service to you. This meeting in this place is most
unexpected.”
Kungsun was very pleased and the two went together to the camp, where
they at once busied themselves with preparations for a new battle.
Next day Kungsun prepared for fight by dividing his army into two
portions, like the wings of a bird. He had five thousand cavalry,
nearly all mounted on white horses and because he had formerly seen
service against the frontier tribes, the Chʻiang (Ouigours) where he
always placed his white horses in the van of his army, he had won the
sobriquet of General of the White Horse. The tribes held him so much in
fear that they always fled as soon as the white horses appeared.
On Yüan Shao’s side Yen Liang and Wên Chʻou were leaders of the van.
Each had a company of archers and crossbowmen. They were set out half
on either side, those on the left to shoot at Kungsun Tsan’s right and
those on the right to shoot at his left. In the centre was Chʻü I with
a small company of bowmen and a legion and a half of foot. The chief
took command of the reserve force in the rear.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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