“Surely this must be Yü Chung-hsiang,” replied Sun Ts‘ê.
“That is he; he is so called.”
“Yes, truly a wise man; I will employ him.”
So Sun Ts‘ê sent two officers to invite him and he came at once. He was treated in most friendly fashion and appointed an official forthwith. Then the question of treating the wounded man was brought up.
“The surgeon is one Hua T‘o, who has perfectly marvellous skill in the leech’s art. I will get him to come,” said Yü Fan.
Shortly the famous leech arrived, a man with the complexion of a youth and a snowy beard. He looked more like a saint who had passed the gates of this life. He was treated very handsomely and taken to see the sick soldier’s wounds.
“The case is not difficult,” said the surgeon and he prepared certain drugs that healed the wounds within a month. Sun Ts‘ê suitably acknowledged his care and skill and he was allowed to leave.
Next Sun Ts‘ê attacked the brigands and destroyed them, so restoring complete tranquillity to Chiangnan. After this he set garrisons at all the strategical points, and this done, memorialised what he had achieved. He came to an understanding with Ts‘ao Ts‘ao and sent letters to Yüan Shu demanding the return of the Seal he had left in pledge.
But Yüan Shu, secretly cherishing the most ambitious designs, wrote excuses and did not return the State jewel. In his own place he hastily summoned his officers to a council and said, “Sun Ts‘ê borrowed an army from me and set out on an expedition which has made him master of Chiangtung. Now he says nothing of repayment but demands the token of his pledge. Truly he is a boor and what steps can I take to destroy him?”
The Recorder, Yang Ta-chiang, replied, “You cannot do any thing against him for he is too strongly placed. You must first remove Liu Pei in revenge for having attacked you without cause, and then you may think about Sun Ts‘ê. I have a scheme to put the former into your hands in a very short time.”
He went not to destroy the tiger, but instead
Against a dragon forth his army led.
The means he employed will be made plain in the next chapter.
