Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Guanzhong Luo

Author:Guanzhong Luo [Luo, Guanzhong]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Classics, Sagas, Historical, Literary Collections, General, Asian, Chinese
ISBN: 9780804834674
Google: -NzNT3TpKz4C
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Published: 2002-04-15T04:00:00+00:00

Vainly now for chances lost

Yuan sighs; once he was great.

Had he taken Hsu's advice,

Ts'ao had rot set up a State.

Hsu Yu stealthily left the camp and set out for Ts'ao's lines. He was captured on the way. He told his captors he was an old friend of the Minister's and asked them to tell him that Hsu Yu of Nanyang wished to see him.

They did so. Ts'ao was resting in his tent, his clothing loose and comfortable after the toils of the day. When he heard who wished to see him he arose quite joyfully and dressed himself hastily to receive Hsu. He went forth to greet him. They saw each other in the distance and Ts'ao Ts'ao clapped his hands with gladness bowing to the ground when near enough to his visitor, Hsu Yu hastened to help him rise, saying,"Sir, you, a great Minister, should not thus salute a simple civilian like me."

"But you are my old friend and no name or office makes any difference to us," replied Ts'ao.

"Having been unable to choose the lord I would serve I had to bow my head before Yuan Shao. But he was deaf to my words and disregarded my plans. Wherefore I have left him and come now to see my old friend from whom I hope employment."

"If Tzu-yuan is willing to come then have I indeed a helper," said Ts'ao."I desire you to give me a scheme for the destruction of Yuan Shao."

"I counselled him to send a light force to take the capital so that head and tail be both attacked."

Ts'ao was alarmed."If he does so, I am lost."

"How much grain have you in store?" said the new adviser.

"Enough for a year."

"I think not quite," said Yu smiling.

"Well, half a year."

The visitor shook out his sleeves, rose and hurried toward the door of the tent, saying,"I offer him good counsel and he repays me with deceit. Could I have expected it?"

Ts'ao held him back."Do not be angry," said he."I will tell you the truth. Really I have here only enough for three months."

"Everybody says you are a marvel of wickedness and indeed it is true," said Yu.

"But who does not know that in war there is no objection to deceit?" replied Ts'ao. Then whispering in the other's ear he said,"Actually here I have only supplies for this month's use."

"O do not throw dust in my eyes any more. Your grain is exhausted and I know it."

Ts'ao was startled, for he thought no one knew of the straits he was in.

"How did you find that out?" said he.

Hsu Yu produced the letter, saying,"Who wrote that?"

"Where did you get it?"

Whereupon he told Ts'ao the story of the captured messenger. Ts'ao seized him by the hand saying,"Since our old friendship has brought you to me I hope you have some plan to suggest to me."

Hsu Yu said,"To oppose a great army with a small one is to walk in the way of destruction unless you inflict quick defeat. I can propose a plan which will defeat the innumerable hordes of Yuan Shao without fighting a battle.

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