| Next day Zhang Xiu went into Cao Cao's tent, saying, "Since the surrendered
troops are deserting in great number, it would be well to camp them in the
center of your camp to prevent this." |
| Cao Cao gave the permission, and Zhang Xiu moved and
placed his army in four camps. |
| But Dian Wei, the especial guard of Cao Cao's tent,
was a man to be feared, being both brave and powerful. It was hard to know how
to attack him. So counsel was taken with Hu Juer, the commander of one camp and
a man of enormous strength and activity. He could carry a burden of six hundred
pounds and two hundred miles in a day. Hu Juer proposed a plan. |
| He said, "The fearsome thing about Dian Wei is his
double halberds. But get him to come to a party and make him quite drunk before
you send him back. I will mingle among his escort and so get into his tent and
steal away his weapons. One needs not fear him then." |
| So the necessary arms were prepared and orders given
in the various camps. This done Zhang Xiu gave a banquet, and the intended
victim was invited and plied vigorously with wine so that he was quite
intoxicated when he left. And, as arranged, Hu Juer mingled with his escort and
made away with his weapons. |
| That night, when Cao Cao was at supper with Lady Zou, he heard the voices
of men and neighing of horses and sent out to ask what it meant. They told
him it was the night patrol going the rounds, and he was satisfied. |
| Near the second watch of the night again was heard
some noise in the rear of his tent, and one of the fodder carts was reported to
be burning. |
| "One of the soldiers has dropped a spark; there is nothing to be alarmed
at," said Cao Cao. |
| But very soon the fire spread on all sides and
became alarming. Cao Cao called Dian Wei. But he, usually so alert, was lying
down quite intoxicated. |
| However, the beating of gongs and rolling of drums
mingling with his dreams awoke Dian Wei, and he jumped up. His trusty halberds
had disappeared. The enemy was near. He hastily snatched up an infantryman's
sword and rushed out. At the gate he saw a crowd of spearmen just bursting in.
Dian Wei rushed at them slashing all around him, and twenty or more fell beneath
his blows. The others drew back. But the spears stood around him like reeds on
the river bank. Being totally without mail, he was soon wounded in several
places. He fought desperately till his sword snapped and was no longer of any
use. Throwing it aside he seized a couple of soldiers and with their bodies as
weapons felled ten of his opponents. The others dared not approach, but they
shot arrows at him. These fell thick as rain, but he still maintained the gate
against the assailants. |
| However, the mutineers got in by the rear of the
camp, and they wounded Dian Wei in the back with spear thrusts. Uttering a loud
cry he fell. The blood gushed from the wound in torrents, and he died. Even
after he was dead not a man dared to come in by the main gate. |
|
第二十四課：典韋の死
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