Читаем Three Kingdoms Romance полностью

The steps thereto are bright with new grass springing,

Hiding among the branches orioles are singing

Devotion patient met reward; upon

The throne, built for the father, sat the son.

But ere was compassed all his plans conceived

He died; and heroes since for him have ever grieved.

Another poem by the same author says:

Zhuge Liang's fair fame stands clear to all the world;

Among king's ministers he surely takes

Exalted rank; for when the empire cleft

In three, a kingdom for his lord he won

By subtle craft. Throughout all time he stands

A shining figure, clear against the sky.

Akin was he to famous Yi Yin, Lu Wang,

Yet stands with chiefs, like Xiao He, Cao Shen;

The fates forbade that Han should be restored,

War-worn and weary, yet he steadfast stood.

Evil tidings came to the Latter Ruler on his return to his capital. He heard that Quan Zong had marched out with a large army from Wu and camped at the entrance to Baqiu. No one knew the object of this expedition.

“Here is Wu breaking their oath just as the Prime Minister has died,” cried the Latter Ruler. “What can we do?”

Then said Jiang Wan, “My advice is to send Wang Ping and Zhang Ni to camp at Baidicheng as a measure of precaution, while you send an envoy to Wu to announce the death and period of mourning. He can there observe the signs of the times.”

“The envoy must have a ready tongue,” said the Latter Ruler.

One stepped from the ranks of courtiers and offered himself. He was Zong Yu, a man of Nanyang, a Military Adviser. So he was appointed as envoy with the commissions of announcing the death of the Prime Minister and observing the conditions.

Zong Yu set out for Jianye, arrived and was taken in to the Emperor's presence. When the ceremony of introduction was over and the envoy looked about him, he saw that all were dressed in mourning.

But Sun Quan's countenance wore a look of anger, and he said, “Wu and Shu are one house; why has your master increased the guard at Baidicheng?”

Zong Yu replied, “It seemed as necessary for the west to increase the garrison there as for the east to have a force at Baqiu. Neither is worth asking about.”

“As an envoy you seem no way inferior to Deng Zhi,” said Sun Quan, smiling.

Sun Quan continued, “When I heard that your Prime Minister Zhuge Liang had gone to heaven, I wept daily and ordered my officers to wear mourning. I feared that Wei might take the occasion to attack Shu, and so I increased the garrison at Baqiu by ten thousand troops that I might be able to help you in case of need. That was my sole reason.”

Zong Yu bowed and thanked the Ruler of Wu.

“I would not go back upon the pledge between us,” said Sun Quan.

Zong Yu said, “I have been sent to inform you of the mourning for the late Prime Minister.”

Sun Quan took up a gold-tipped arrow and snapped it in twain, saying, “If I betray my oath, may my posterity be cut off!”

Then the Ruler of Wu dispatched an envoy with incense and silk and other gifts to be offered in sacrifice to the dead in the land of Shu.

Zong Yu and the envoy took leave of the Ruler of Wu and journeyed to Chengdu, where they went to the Latter Ruler, and Zong Yu made a memorial, saying, “The Ruler of Wu has wept for our Prime Minister and put his court into mourning. The increased garrison at Baqiu is intended to safeguard us from Wei, lest they take the occasion of a public sorrow to attack. And in token of his pledge, the Ruler of Wu broke an arrow in twain.”

The Latter Ruler was pleased and rewarded Zong Yu; moreover, the envoy of Wu was generously treated.

According to the advice in Zhuge Liang's testament, the Latter Ruler made Jiang Wan Prime Minister and Chair of the Secretariat, while Fei Yi became Deputy Prime Minister and Chair of a Board. Wu Yi was made Commander of the Flying Cavalry and Commandant of Hanzhong; Jiang Wei, General Who Upholds the Han, Lord of Pingxiang, and Commandant of Hanzhong.

Now as Yang Yi was senior in service to Jiang Wan, who had thus been promoted over his head, and as he considered his services had been inadequately rewarded, he was discontented and spoke resentfully.

He said to Fei Yi, “If when the Prime Minister died I had gone over to Wei, with the whole army, I should not have been thus left out in the cold.”