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Authors: Lo Kuan-Chung
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called his remaining two and asked advice. They proposed to risk all in one desperate battle while they sent to Ch'engtu to tell their master of their sorry plight.
Chang Jen agreed. Said he, "Tomorrow I will go and challenge them. If they accept and come out to fight, I will feign retreat and inveigle them round to the north side of the city. As they follow me, a sortie must be made when they pass the gate so as to cut their army in two. We ought to overcome them in this way."
"Let me lead the sortie," said Wu I. "General Liu can stay to help our lord's son guard the city."
This also was agreed to. Next morning Chang Jen went out to offer the challenge, his men waving flags and shouting lustily. At once Chang Fei took up the challenge and rode out. He stayed not to parley, but galloped up to Chang Jen and engaged him. After half a score of bouts Chang Jen seemed to be getting worsted, so he turned and fled, taking the way around the north of the city. Chang Fei pursued him with all speed. Then as he passed the gate the sortie was made so that Chang Fei was between two forces and unable to get clear. Chang Jen turned back to attack.
Chang Fei seemed in a parlous state. But at this very moment a body of soldiers came up from the river-side and a fierce warrior rode straight for Wu I, and in the first bout made him prisoner. His men were then easily forced back and Chang Fei was free. It was Chao Yun who had so opportunely appeared.
"Where is the Commander-in-chief?" asked Chang Fei.
"He has arrived; I think he has already seen our lord," replied Chao.
The prisoner was carried to the camp where K'ung-ming was. Fei dismounted and went in to greet him. K'ung-ming was surprised, and said, "How comes it that you arrived before me?"
Yuan-te told the story of Fei's prudence and sagacity in dealing with Yen. K'ung-ming congratulated him and said, "When Chang Fei behaves with such skill my lord's good fortune is indeed ample."
When the prisoner was taken in, Yuan-te asked him if he would surrender.
He replied, "Why not, seeing I am a prisoner?"
Thereupon Yuan-te himself loosed his bonds. K'ung-ming began to question him upon the defence. Wu told him the names of the officers, adding, "Liu Kuei does not count for much, but Chang Jen is a man to be avoided."
"Then before we can get the city we must capture Chang," said K'ung-ming.
"There is a bridge on the east, what is it called?"
"It is known as the 'Bridge of the Golden Goose.'"
K'ung-ming rode over to the bridge and scrutinised the neighbourhood.
After his return to camp he summoned Huang and Wei for orders. To them he said, "On the east of the city is a bridge called the 'Bridge of the Golden Goose' and about five li south of this I saw a dense growth of reed and sedge which would afford excellent shelter. Wei is to lead a company of men to the left and attack, but only attack horsemen. Huang will lead a company of swordsmen who are to hough the horses. When Chang Jen has lost most of his men and horses he will flee by the hill road, where he will fall into an ambush.
Next Chao Yun was called and sent to lie in ambush close to the bridge, which he was to destroy as soon as the enemy had crossed. That done, Chao was to take up a position beyond the bridge to prevent the enemy from getting away to the north. Forced to the south, their destruction was inevitable.
These arrangements made, K'ung-ming himself went to challenge the enemy and try to bring them to battle.
The Prefect had sent two captains to reinforce Chang Jen. He sent one of them to the help of Liu Kuei in the city, while the other, Cho Ying by name, was to march second with Chang himself. K'ung-ming guilefully led out a mob of disorderly looking soldiers, all in disarray, whom he drew up as if they were a fighting force. He himself, dressed in a simple robe and toying with a fan, took his seat in a small four-wheeled carriage. A few horsemen caracolling gaily to and fro formed his escort.
Having crossed
Chang Jen agreed. Said he, "Tomorrow I will go and challenge them. If they accept and come out to fight, I will feign retreat and inveigle them round to the north side of the city. As they follow me, a sortie must be made when they pass the gate so as to cut their army in two. We ought to overcome them in this way."
"Let me lead the sortie," said Wu I. "General Liu can stay to help our lord's son guard the city."
This also was agreed to. Next morning Chang Jen went out to offer the challenge, his men waving flags and shouting lustily. At once Chang Fei took up the challenge and rode out. He stayed not to parley, but galloped up to Chang Jen and engaged him. After half a score of bouts Chang Jen seemed to be getting worsted, so he turned and fled, taking the way around the north of the city. Chang Fei pursued him with all speed. Then as he passed the gate the sortie was made so that Chang Fei was between two forces and unable to get clear. Chang Jen turned back to attack.
Chang Fei seemed in a parlous state. But at this very moment a body of soldiers came up from the river-side and a fierce warrior rode straight for Wu I, and in the first bout made him prisoner. His men were then easily forced back and Chang Fei was free. It was Chao Yun who had so opportunely appeared.
"Where is the Commander-in-chief?" asked Chang Fei.
"He has arrived; I think he has already seen our lord," replied Chao.
The prisoner was carried to the camp where K'ung-ming was. Fei dismounted and went in to greet him. K'ung-ming was surprised, and said, "How comes it that you arrived before me?"
Yuan-te told the story of Fei's prudence and sagacity in dealing with Yen. K'ung-ming congratulated him and said, "When Chang Fei behaves with such skill my lord's good fortune is indeed ample."
When the prisoner was taken in, Yuan-te asked him if he would surrender.
He replied, "Why not, seeing I am a prisoner?"
Thereupon Yuan-te himself loosed his bonds. K'ung-ming began to question him upon the defence. Wu told him the names of the officers, adding, "Liu Kuei does not count for much, but Chang Jen is a man to be avoided."
"Then before we can get the city we must capture Chang," said K'ung-ming.
"There is a bridge on the east, what is it called?"
"It is known as the 'Bridge of the Golden Goose.'"
K'ung-ming rode over to the bridge and scrutinised the neighbourhood.
After his return to camp he summoned Huang and Wei for orders. To them he said, "On the east of the city is a bridge called the 'Bridge of the Golden Goose' and about five li south of this I saw a dense growth of reed and sedge which would afford excellent shelter. Wei is to lead a company of men to the left and attack, but only attack horsemen. Huang will lead a company of swordsmen who are to hough the horses. When Chang Jen has lost most of his men and horses he will flee by the hill road, where he will fall into an ambush.
Next Chao Yun was called and sent to lie in ambush close to the bridge, which he was to destroy as soon as the enemy had crossed. That done, Chao was to take up a position beyond the bridge to prevent the enemy from getting away to the north. Forced to the south, their destruction was inevitable.
These arrangements made, K'ung-ming himself went to challenge the enemy and try to bring them to battle.
The Prefect had sent two captains to reinforce Chang Jen. He sent one of them to the help of Liu Kuei in the city, while the other, Cho Ying by name, was to march second with Chang himself. K'ung-ming guilefully led out a mob of disorderly looking soldiers, all in disarray, whom he drew up as if they were a fighting force. He himself, dressed in a simple robe and toying with a fan, took his seat in a small four-wheeled carriage. A few horsemen caracolling gaily to and fro formed his escort.
Having crossed
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