So he broke camp and went north. At P‘ingyüan he left Liu Pei in command and went to strengthen hisown position and refresh his men.
The Prefect of Yenchou wished to borrow grain of the Prefect of Tungchun. Being denied he attacked the camp, killed the leader and took over all his men. Yüan Shao seeing the confederacy breaking up also marched away and went east.
Now the Governor of Chingchou, Liu Piao, was a scion of the imperial house. As a young man he had made friends with many famous persons and he and his companions were called the Eight Dilettanti. The other seven were Ch‘ên Hsiang, Fan P‘ang, K‘ung Yu, Fan K‘ang, T‘an Fu, Chang Chien and Ts‘ên Ching. He was friends with all these. He had three famous men who helped him in the government of his district. They were K‘uai Liang, K‘uai Yüeh and Ts‘ai Mao.
When the letter detailing the fault of Sun Chien arrived the two K‘uai and Ts‘ai were sent with a legion of soldiers to bar the way. When Sun Chien drew near the force was arranged in fighting order and the leaders were in the front.
“Why are you thus barring the road with armed men?” asked Sun.
“Why do you, a minister of Han, secrete the Emperor’s special seal? Leave it with me at once and you go free,” said K‘uai Yüeh.
Sun Chien angrily ordered out a leader Huang Kai, who exchanged a few bouts with Ts‘ao Mao and presently dealt him a blow with the iron whip just over the heart. Mao turned his steed and fled and Sun Chien got through with a sudden rush.
However, there arose the sound of gongs and drums on the hills behind and there was Prefect Liu in person with a large army. Sun Chien rode straight up to him and bowing low spoke thus. “Why did you, on the faith of a letter from Yüan Shao, try to coerce the chief of a neighbouring district?”
“You have concealed the State jewel and I want you to restore it,” was Liu’s reply.
“If I have this thing may I die a violent death!”
“If you want me to believe you let me search your baggage.”
“What force have you that you dare come to flout me thus?”
And only the Prefect’s prompt retirement prevented a battle.
Sun Chien proceeded on his way. But from the rear of the second hill an ambush suddenly discovered itself and K‘uai and Ts‘ai were still following. Sun Chien seemed entirely hemmed in.
What doth it advantage a man to hold the imperial seal if its possession lead to strife?
How Sun Chien got clear of the difficulty will presently be told.
