Now, Han Rong sat in the rear hall giving orders to his officers, and in all the bustle of things being carried off, his eldest son Han Sheng and his second son Han Bian were roused. When the two saw their father behaving so, they hurriedly asked those around them, “What does this mean?” The attendants told them all that had happened to Han Rong. The two hurried to the rear hall to see Han Rong. “Father, why are you having the household goods carried off? If you abandon this pass, what do you mean to do?” Han Rong said, “You two are young and know nothing of the world’s affairs. Pack up quickly and leave this pass, to escape the fires of war. Don’t fail me.” When Han Sheng heard this, he laughed aloud in spite of himself. “Father, you are wrong! Words like these must never reach outsiders’ ears — they would stain a lifetime’s fair name for nothing. Father, you have received high rank and rich emoluments from the state, purple robes on your back and gold seals at your waist, titles for your wife and office for your sons: there is nothing that is not the king’s grace. Now our sovereign has entrusted this pass to you, and instead of thinking how to serve the state and repay his grace, giving your life and keeping faith to the end, you follow a plan fit for women and children, clinging to life and fearing death, to be mocked by later ages. Is that how a true man behaves? It betrays the trust the court placed in a great minister. The ancients said: ‘He who holds the altars of the state2 dies for the altars of the state; he who holds the borders dies for the borders.’ How can you speak so lightly of leaving? We two brothers were raised under your family teaching and practised the bow and the horse from childhood; we met an extraordinary man and learned something of extraordinary arts, though we had not yet mastered them. These last days we have been practising, and only today did we finish. We meant to take the field, never thinking you would plan to abandon the pass. Your son is willing to die serving the state with loyalty.” When Han Rong had heard him out, he nodded and sighed. “Do I not know the meaning of the words ‘loyalty’ and ‘duty’? But our sovereign is benighted, wanton and without the Way, and Heaven’s mandate has found its home. If I hold this pass, I fear the common folk will be ground into the mud and ashes; better to give up my post, go back to the hills and save the people of this region. Besides, there are many extraordinary men among Jiang Ziya’s disciples. Yu Hua and Yu Yuan have both met their ends — how much less could those below them do! This shows the loyal hearts and righteous spirit of you two brothers, and how could I not be glad of it? I only fear that you will set out to paint a tiger and fail, that in the end it will be of no real use, and you will die for nothing.” Han Sheng said, “How can you say such a thing! He who eats a man’s salary should share his troubles. If everyone looked only to himself, what use would it be for the court to keep officers? Your unworthy son is willing to give his life for the state, and will not shrink though he die ten thousand times. Father, please sit down while my brother and I fetch something to show you.” Hearing this, Han Rong was secretly pleased too: “Our house too has produced loyal and righteous heirs.” Han Sheng went to his study and brought out a thing: a windmill made of paper. In the middle was a turning disc; you held the rod in the centre with one hand and spun it round, and the disc turned as if flying. On it were four banners, and on the banners were talismans and seals and the four characters ‘Earth, Water, Fire, Wind’. It was called the Ten-Thousand-Blade Wheel. When Han Rong had looked at it, he asked, “This is a toy, my boy. What use is it?” Han Sheng said, “Father, you don’t know its wonderful use. If you don’t believe me, come down to the drill ground, and we will try this paper wheel for you to see, Father.” Han Rong saw that his two sons spoke with great certainty and reason, and went down to the drill ground. Han Sheng and his brother mounted their horses; each let down his hair and took up his sword4 and murmured a spell. At once clouds and mist sprang up, a dark wind howled, flames shot up to the sky, and a million blades came flying through the air. Han Rong was so frightened that his soul all but left his body. Han Sheng put the wheel away. Han Rong said, “My son, who taught you this?” Han Sheng said, “The year you went to court for audience, Father, we brothers had nothing to do and were playing in front of the residence. A wandering ascetic3 called Fajie came by and begged a meal at our gate. We brothers gave him a meal, and he told us to take him as our master. We saw then that his looks were out of the ordinary, so we took him as our master. He said, ‘Some day Jiang Shang is sure to come with an army. I will secretly teach you this magic treasure: it can break the Zhou army and keep this pass safe.’ Today my master’s words come true. We are sure to win in one battle, and Jiang Shang can be taken!”

Han Rong was overjoyed, and told Han Sheng to put the treasure away. Then he asked, “My son, will you still need men and horses? How many of these wheels do you have?” Han Sheng said, “There are three thousand of these wheels — what do we care for Jiang Shang’s mighty army of six hundred thousand? In one battle I promise you not a scrap of his armour will be left!” Han Rong at once picked three thousand crack troops for Han Sheng and his brother, and they drilled on the drill ground with the three thousand Ten-Thousand-Blade Wheels. Truly: