“There are certain matters which this person has not made known,” he said, having first expressed a request that he might not be compelled to stand while he conversed4. “The bowmen are as an inferior kind of jackal, and they who lead them are pigs, but this person has observed that the Heaven-sent Commander has internal organs like steel hardened in a white fire and polished by running water. For this reason he will narrate5 to him the things he has seen—things at which the lesser6 ones would undoubtedly7 perish in terror without offering to strike a blow.”
“Speak,” said Ling, “without fear and without concealment8.”
“In numbers the rebels are as three to one with the bowmen, and are, in addition, armed with matchlocks and other weapons; this much I have already told,” said the spy. “Yesterday they entered the village of Ki without resistance, as the dwellers9 there were all peaceable persons, who gain a living from the fields, and who neither understood nor troubled about the matters between the rebels and the army. Relying on the promises made by the rebel chiefs, the villagers even welcomed them, as they had been assured that they came as buyers of their corn and rice. To-day not a house stands in the street of Ki, not a person lives. The men they slew10 quickly, or held for torture, as they desired at the moment; the boys they hung from the trees as marks for their arrows. Of the women and children this person, who has since been subject to several attacks of fainting and vomiting11, desires not to speak. The wells of Ki are filled with the bodies of such as had the good fortune to be warned in time to slay12 themselves. The cattle drag themselves from place to place on their forefeet; the fish in the Heng-Kiang are dying, for they cannot live on water thickened into blood. All these things this person has seen.”
When he had finished speaking, Ling remained in deep and funereal13 thought for some time. In spite of his mild nature, the words which he had heard filled him with an inextinguishable desire to slay in hand-to-hand fighting. He regretted that he had placed the decision of the matter before Li Keen.
“If only this person had a mere14 handful of brave and expert warriors15, he would not hesitate to fall upon those savage16 and barbarous characters, and either destroy them to the last one, or let his band suffer a like fate,” he murmured to himself.
The return of the messenger found him engaged in reviewing the bowmen, and still in this mood, so that it was with a commendable17 feeling of satisfaction, no less than virtuous18 contempt, that he learned of the Mandarin’s journey to Peking as soon as he understood that the rebels were certainly in the neighbourhood.
“The wise and ornamental19 Li Keen is undoubtedly consistent in all matters,” said Ling, with some refined bitterness. “The only information regarding his duties to which this person obtained from him chanced to be a likening of war to skilful20 chess-play, and to this end the accomplished21 person in question has merely availed himself of a common expedient22 which places him at the remote side of the divine Emperor. Yet this act is not unwelcome, for the responsibility of deciding what course is to be adopted now clearly rests with this person. He is, as those who are standing23 by may perceive, of under the usual height, and of no particular mental or bodily attainments24. But he has eaten the rice of the Emperor, and wears the Imperial sign embroidered25 upon his arm. Before him are encamped the enemies of his master and of his land, and in no way will he turn his back upon them. Against brave and skilful men, such as those whom this person commands, rebels of a low and degraded order are powerless, and are, moreover, openly forbidden to succeed by the Forty-second Mandate26 in the Sacred Book of Arguments. Should it have happened that into this assembly any person of a perfidious27 or uncourageous nature has gained entrance by guile28, and has not been detected and driven forth29 by his outraged30 companions (as would certainly occur if such a person were discovered), I, Ling, Commander of Bowmen, make an especial and well-considered request that he shall be struck by a molten thunderbolt if he turns to flight or holds thoughts of treachery.”
Having thus addressed and encouraged the soldiers, Ling instructed them that each one should cut and fashion for himself a graceful31 but weighty club from among the branches of the trees around, and then return to the tents for the purpose of receiving food and rice spirit.
When noon was passed, allowing such time as would enable him to reach the camp of the enemy an hour before darkness, Ling arranged the bowmen in companies of convenient numbers, and commenced the march, sending forward spies, who were to work silently and bring back tidings from every point. In this way he penetrated32 to within a single li of the ruins of Ki, being informed by the spies that no outposts of the enemy were between him and that place. Here the first rest was made to enable the more accurate and bold spies to reach them with trustworthy information regarding the position and movements of the camp. With little delay there returned the one who had brought the earliest tidings, bruised33 and torn with his successful haste through the forest, but wearing a complacent34 and well-satisfied expression of countenance35. Without hesitation36 or waiting to demand money before he would reveal his knowledge, he at once disclosed that the greater part of the enemy were rejoicing among the ruins of Ki, they having discovered there a quantity of opium37 and a variety of liquids, while only a small guard remained in the camp with their weapons ready. At these words Ling sprang from the ground in gladness, so great was his certainty of destroying the invaders38 utterly39. It was, however, with less pleasurable emotions that he considered how he should effect the matter, for it was in no way advisable to divide his numbers into two bands. Without any feeling of unendurable conceit40, he understood that no one but himself could hold the bowmen before an assault, however weak. In a similar manner, he determined41 that it would be more advisable to attack those in the village first. These he might have reasonable hopes of cutting down without warning the camp, or, in any event, before those from the camp arrived. To assail42 the camp first would assuredly, by the firing, draw upon them those from the village, and in whatever evil state these might arrive, they would, by their numbers, terrify the bowmen, who without doubt would have suffered some loss from the matchlocks.
Waiting for the last light of day, Ling led on the men again, and sending forward some of the most reliable, surrounded the place of the village silently and without detection. In the open space, among broken casks and other inconsiderable matters, plainly shown by the large fires at which burned the last remains43 of the houses of Ki, many men moved or lay, some already dull or in heavy sleep. As the darkness dropped suddenly, the signal of a peacock’s shriek44, three times uttered, rang forth, and immediately a cloud of arrows, directed from all sides, poured in among those who feasted. Seeing their foemen defenceless before them, the archers45 neglected the orders they had received, and throwing away their bows they rushed in with uplifted clubs, uttering loud shouts of triumph. The next moment a shot was fired in the wood, drums beat, and in an unbelievably short space of time a small but well-armed band of the enemy was among them. Now that all need of caution was at an end, Ling rushed forward with raised sword, calling to his men that victory was certainly theirs, and dealing46 discriminating47 and inspiriting blows whenever he met a foeman. Three times he formed the bowmen into a figure emblematic48 of triumph, and led them against the line of matchlocks. Twice they fell back, leaving mingled49 dead under the feet of the enemy. The third time they stood firm, and Ling threw himself against the waving rank in a noble and inspired endeavour to lead the way through. At that moment, when a very distinguished50 victory seemed within his hand, his elegant and well-constructed sword broke upon an iron shield, leaving him defenceless and surrounded by the enemy.
“Chief among the sublime51 virtues52 enjoined53 by the divine Confucius,” began Ling, folding his arms and speaking in an unmoved voice, “is an intelligent submission—” but at that word he fell beneath a rain of heavy and unquestionably well-aimed blows.
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1
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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bleached
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| 漂白的，晒白的，颜色变浅的 | |
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3
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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4
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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narrate
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| v.讲，叙述 | |
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6
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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7
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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dwellers
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| n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 ) | |
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10
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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11
vomiting
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| 吐 | |
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12
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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funereal
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| adj.悲哀的；送葬的 | |
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14
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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15
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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16
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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17
commendable
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| adj.值得称赞的 | |
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18
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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20
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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24
attainments
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| 成就，造诣； 获得( attainment的名词复数 )； 达到； 造诣； 成就 | |
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25
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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mandate
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| n.托管地；命令，指示 | |
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perfidious
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| adj.不忠的，背信弃义的 | |
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guile
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| n.诈术 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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31
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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32
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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33
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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34
complacent
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| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
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35
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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opium
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| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
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38
invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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41
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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42
assail
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| v.猛烈攻击，抨击，痛斥 | |
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43
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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44
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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45
archers
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| n.弓箭手，射箭运动员( archer的名词复数 ) | |
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46
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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47
discriminating
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| a.有辨别能力的 | |
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48
emblematic
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| adj.象征的，可当标志的；象征性 | |
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49
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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50
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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51
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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52
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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53
enjoined
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| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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