Zhuge Liang replied, “It is not Cao Rui but Sima Yi that worries me. Now Meng Da’s proposal will be to no avail if he comes across this man. He is no match for Sima Yi and will be captured. And if he dies, it will be difficult for us to conquer the north.”
“Why not send a dispatch and put Meng Da on his guard then?” suggested Ma Su.
Zhuge Liang approved, and the letter was dispatched immediately. Meng Da was then at Xincheng, anxiously expecting the return of his trusted messenger. One day the man returned and gave him the following letter from Zhuge Liang:
Your letters, which I received recently, have convinced me of your loyalty, and I rejoice very much that you have not forgotten your old friends. If your plan succeeds you will certainly have rendered the greatest service in the restoration of Han. But I scarcely need impress upon you the extreme necessity for caution. Be very careful whom you trust. Be always on your guard! Never lose your vigilance! I hear Cao Rui has recalled Sima Yi and given him the command of the forces in Wancheng and Luoyang. If a word of your plan reaches Sima Yi, he will fall on you first. Therefore take every precaution and do not regard this as a matter of small importance.
Meng Da smiled after reading the letter. “They say Zhuge Liang is over cautious. From this I can see he certainly is.”
He lost no time in preparing a reply, which he sent by the same messenger. This letter read as follows:
I acknowledge your most esteemed instruction, and I dare not be remiss in my vigilance for a single moment. However, so far as Sima Yi is concerned, I do not think there is any need for anxiety, for Wancheng is eight hundred li from Luoyang and twelve hundred li from here. Should he hear anything of my plan, he would first have to report this to the Emperor of Wei. It would take a month to send a memorial and get a reply. By then my ramparts would be strongly built and my forces posted in the best of positions. Let him come! I have nothing to fear. So rest assured, sir, and wait for my good news of success!
After reading it, Zhuge Liang flung the letter to the ground. Stamping his foot in distress, he said, “Meng Da will surely die at Sima Yi’s hands.”
“Why do you say that?” asked Ma Su.
“Don’t you remember what the Art of War says? ‘Attack before the enemy is prepared; do what the enemy does not expect.’ How can he expect to have a month’s delay? Since he has received Cao Rui’s commission, Sima Yi has the authority to strike wherever there is rebellion. He will not have to wait to submit a memorial. Ten days after he learns of Meng Da’s defection his army will be upon him, and Meng Da will be caught unprepared.”
His words convinced Ma Su and the others of the graveness of the situation.
Zhuge Liang at once dispatched the messenger back with an urgent message to Meng Da: “If no action has been taken, do not let any of your colleagues know about your plan. Otherwise, it will fail.”
In his idle retreat in Wancheng, Sima Yi heard of the many battles the Wei army had lost to the men of Shu, and the news saddened him. He lifted up his eyes to Heaven and heaved a deep sigh.
He had two sons, Shi and Zhao, both ambitious, and both earnest students of books of war. On that occasion they were standing in attendance beside their father. The elder son asked, “Why do you sigh, Father?”
“What would you young people understand about important matters?”
“Is it because the lord of Wei does not use you?” asked Sima Shi.
“But they will send for you presently,” said Sima Zhao, smiling.
The prophecy was not long in fulfillment, for even as he spoke the bearer of the imperial edict was announced.
The edict was duly read to Sima Yi, who immediately set about mobilizing the troops in his own city. Soon afterwards there came a messenger from the Prefect of Jincheng with a secret message for him. Sima Yi took the man into a private chamber and was told in detail of Meng Da’s plan to defect. This information had been further verified by the confession of one of Meng Da’s confidants, named Li Fu, and his nephew, Deng Xian.
Sima Yi smote his forehead in relief.
“This is the Emperor’s great good fortune, high as Heaven itself. Zhuge Liang’s victories at Qishan have terrorized all and forced the Emperor to go on an expedition to Chang’an. Should he have failed to use me now, both capitals would be lost when Meng Da strikes. This fellow is surely in league with Zhuge Liang, and if I can seize him before he makes any move, Zhuge Liang will be disheartened and he will retreat.”
His elder son urged him to send in a memorial to the Emperor without delay.
“No, that would take a month,” replied his father, “and delay would mean failure.”
So he gave orders for the army to be ready to advance by double march at once and threatened to punish by death any loiterers. In order to avert suspicion, he first dispatched a messenger with his letter to Meng Da in Xincheng, telling him to prepare his forces to join the expedition against the men of Shu.
Sima Yi quickly departed. After two days’ march, the army came across Xu Huang emerging from behind a hill with his men.
Seeing his comrade, Xu Huang said, “The Emperor has arrived at Chang’an to command the battle against Shu. Where are you going, Commander?”
Sima Yi replied in a low voice, “Meng Da is plotting a rebellion, and I’m going to seize him.”
“Let me be your van leader.”
So the two forces merged, with Xu Huang in the vanguard, Sima Yi in the center, and his two sons bringing up the rear.
Two days later, scouts from the vanguard captured Meng Da’s confidential messenger, and found on him Zhuge Liang’s letter. Sima Yi promised to spare the man’s life if he would tell all he knew. The man had no alternative but to confess. He told Sima Yi everything about the letters and messages he had passed from one to the other.
Then Sima Yi read Zhuge Liang’s letter. Startled by its content, he said, “All able men see things in the same light. Zhuge Liang has already foreseen my tactic. Thanks to the good fortune of the Emperor, his letter has fallen into my hands. Now Meng Da will be helpless.”
The army pressed on still more rapidly.
Meng Da had arranged with the prefects of the two cities of Jincheng and Shangyong to strike the blow on a certain date. But these two were only pretending to abet him. Every day they busied themselves training and drilling their men to keep up appearances, while secretly waiting for the arrival of Sima Yi, to whom they would render help. To Meng Da they said falsely that they dared not fix a date for the military action as they needed more time to prepare arms and supplies. And he believed them.
Just then Sima Yi’s messenger came, and when he had been welcomed into the city, he delivered Sima Yi’s order and said, “Commander Sima has received the edict of the Emperor to call in all the forces in this district, and he has sent me to direct you to hold your men in readiness to march to Chang’an.”
“On what day will the commander start?” asked Meng Da.
“He is just about starting for Chang’an now,” replied the messenger.
Meng Da smiled inwardly, for, this being so, he foresaw success. He gave a banquet to treat the messenger and then escorted him out of the city. When he returned he at once sent the two prefects an urgent message: “Tomorrow we will take the field. Change the banners of Wei to those of Han. We will seize Luoyang straight away.”
Suddenly it was reported that a great cloud of dust was seen in the distance and an army seemed to have come from nowhere. Meng Da was surprised and went up the wall to see for himself. To his great alarm he found the army carrying the banner of General Xu Huang. He at once ordered his men to raise the drawbridge. Xu Huang failed to rein in his horse, which still rushed on and finally carried his master to the edge of the moat.
There he called out, “Yield quickly, Meng Da! You traitor!”
Meng Da, in a rage, drew his bow and shot Xu Huang in the head. He was rescued by his colleagues. Then many more arrows were shot from the wall, forcing the men of Wei to retreat. Me
ng Da was just going to open the gate and pursue when the whole of Sima Yi’s army appeared, and their banners stood so thick on every side that they dimmed the sunlight.
Meng Da, looking up to Heaven, sighed in deep remorse, “Just as Zhuge Liang had warned me!”
Then the gates were closed and a firm defense ensued.
Meanwhile the wounded general, Xu Huang, had been borne to his tent, where the arrow head was extracted and the physician was summoned to attend to him. But that night he died. He was fifty-nine years old. His remains were put in a coffin and sent to Luoyang for burial.
The next day, when Meng Da mounted the wall, he saw the city surrounded as tightly as a barrel bound by iron hoops. He was greatly perturbed and did not know what to do. Suddenly, however, he saw two bodies of troops coming up, their banners bearing the names of the two prefects. Thinking that they had come to help, he opened the gate and led his own men out to join them in battle.
But the two shouted to him, “Stay and be slain quickly, you rebel!”
Realizing that they had been false, he turned back toward the city, but from the wall came a flight of arrows, and the two who had betrayed him, Li Fu and Deng Xian, began to abuse him.
“We have already yielded the city,” they cried.
Meng Da fought his way out and fled. But he was pursued, and as he and his horse were both exhausted he was soon overtaken and slain. He was beheaded, and his soldiers submitted. Sima Yi was welcomed into the city. After pacifying the people and rewarding the soldiers he sent a report of the victory to Cao Rui.
Pleased, Cao Rui ordered the head of Meng Da to be exposed in the city of Luoyang, and he promoted the two prefects and assigned them posts in Sima Yi’s army. The two men who had betrayed Meng Da were given command of the cities of Xincheng and Shangyong.
Then Sima Yi marched to Chang’an, where he camped his army outside the city while he himself went inside to see the Emperor.
Cao Rui said, “For a while I was confused in mind and I fell victim to the enemy’s plot to discredit you. But it is too late to regret now. Had it not been for you suppressing Meng Da’s revolt, the two capitals would have been lost.”
Sima Yi replied, “When I got the information of his intended revolt, I had meant to obtain Your Majesty’s permission first. Since that would mean a long delay, I did not await Your Majesty’s order but set forth at once. Otherwise I would have fallen for Zhuge Liang’s trick.”
Then he produced Zhuge Liang’s letter to Meng Da. After reading it, the Emperor praised him as being more knowledgeable than the two greatest strategists of old, Sun Tsu and Wu Qi. He also gave him a pair of gold axes, with the power to take immediate actions in important matters without first obtaining sanction. Then he ordered him to lead his men out of the pass to repel the men of Shu.
Sima Yi said, “I would like to recommend a general to be the van leader.”
The Emperor asked him who he meant.
“Zhang He.”
“Just the man I wished to appoint for the post,” said Cao Rui, smiling.
And Zhang He was assigned the job and left Chang’an with Sima Yi to combat the army of Shu.
By strategy the leader shows his skill;
He needs bold fighting men to work his will.
Which side would win the battle will be told in the next chapter.
CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE
Ignoring Wang Ping’s Advice, Ma Su Loses Jieting
Playing the Lute, Zhuge Liang Repulses Sima Yi
After appointing Zhang He as van leader of Sima Yi’s army and sending them off, Cao Rui also dispatched two other officers, Xin Pi and Sun Li, with 50,000 men to assist Cao Zhen.
Sima Yi and his 200,000-strong army marched out of the pass and made a camp. Then he sent someone to invite Zhang He to his tent and said to him, “Zhuge Liang is a man of caution. He never acts rashly. If I were in his place I would advance through the Meridian Valley to capture Hangan and so save much time. It is not that he is unskillful, but he fears lest that plan might miscarry, and he won’t take risks. Therefore he’ll certainly come through Ye Valley to seize Meicheng. To do that, he will divide his force into two, one part to take Meicheng and the other to take the Ji Valley. I have sent a message to Cao Zhen telling him to hold Meicheng at any cost and not to go out and give battle. I have also ordered Sun Li and Xin Pi to block the pass to Ji Valley, and should the enemy come they are to make a sudden raid.”
“By what road will you advance, General?” asked Zhang He.
“I have known all along that west of Qinling Hills is a road called Jieting. Close by stands the city of Lieliu. These two places are the very throat of Hanzhong. Zhuge Liang will expect Cao Zhen to be unprepared and will certainly cut through by that road. You and I will go straight to seize Jieting, from where it is but a short distance to Yangping Pass; when Zhuge Liang hears that the route through Jieting is sealed and his supplies cut off, he will know that the area around Longxi is in danger, and will hasten back to Hanzhong. The moment he starts to withdraw, I will intercept him on some byroads, and thus gain a complete victory. If he doesn’t retreat, then I will post troops to close all the byroads, and so cut his supply route. A month’s starvation will kill all the men of Shu, and Zhuge Liang will be my prisoner.”
Zhang He considered the scheme and, bowing to the ground, he expressed his admiration for his chief’s wonderful prevision.
Sima Yi continued, “However, it is not to be forgotten that Zhuge Liang is quite different from Meng Da, and you, as leader of the van, will have to advance with utmost discretion. You must impress upon your officers the importance of reconnoitering a long way ahead and only advancing when they are sure there is no ambush. Any laxity will make you the victim of some ruse of Zhuge Liang’s.”
Zhang He, having received his instructions, departed with his troops.
Meanwhile away at Qishan, a spy returning from Xincheng had reported to Zhuge Liang the destruction of Meng Da and the approaching of Sima Yi’s army, with Zhang He as van leader.
Zhuge Liang was very distressed. “Meng Da failed to observe secrecy and his destruction was certain,” he said. “But now Sima Yi will surely seize Jieting and block the most essential road to us. Who will go and defend it?”
Ma Su offered himself instantly.
Zhuge Liang said, “Small as it is, Jieting is of vital importance, for its loss would involve the destruction of the whole army. Although you’re well-versed in strategy, the defense of this place may still baffle you, since it has neither walls nor natural defenses.”
“I have studied the books of war since childhood, and I may say I know a little of the art of war,” replied Ma Su. “How can I be unable to hold Jieting?”
“Sima Yi is not an ordinary commander, and he also has Zhang He, who is a famous general of Wei, as his van leader. I’m afraid you may not be a match for him.”
Ma Su replied, “I will have no fear even if Cao Rui himself comes, let alone these two. If I fail, I am willing to pay the penalty of the death of my whole family.”
“There is no jesting in war,” said Zhuge Liang.
“I will give a written pledge.”
Zhuge Liang agreed, and a written pledge was submitted and placed on record.
Zhuge Liang continued, “I’m going to give you 25,000 veterans and also an officer of rank to assist you.”
Next he summoned Wang Ping and said, “I’m entrusting you with this heavy responsibility, for I know you have always been a man of extreme caution. You must hold Jieting with the utmost care. Be sure to set your camp in the most commanding position so that the enemy can’t sneak by. When you have secured your position, draw a map of the topography of the surrounding area and send it to me at once. You two must confer with each other over everything. Never take any rash action. If you can hold this place successfully, yours will be the best service in the capture of Chang’an. So be very, very careful.”
The two bowed to him and took their leave. After they were g
one Zhuge Liang, for fear some slip might occur with these two, called Gao Xiang to him and said: “Northeast of Jieting is a place named Lieliu, built on little-used hill paths. There you are to camp and make a stockade. Take 10,000 men for this task. Should Jieting be threatened, you must go to its rescue.”
After Gao Xiang had left, Zhuge Liang reflected that Gao Xiang would not be able to withstand Zhang He and a major general was needed to camp beside Jieting to ensure its safety. So he summoned Wei Yan and told him to encamp his troops to the rear of Jieting.
But Wei Yan was unhappy about this assignment. “As leader of the van I should go first against the enemy—why am I sent to a place where there is nothing to do?”
“Fighting the enemy in the forefront is the job of minor officers. Now I’m sending you to support Jieting, which is the most crucial route to Yangping Pass, the very throat of the whole of Hanzhong. It’s a task of vital importance and not at all an idle one. Don’t regard it as of no significance and spoil my whole plan. Be particularly watchful.”
Satisfied, Wei Yan went his way. At last Zhuge Liang’s mind was at rest. Then he sent for Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi, to whom he said, “With Sima Yi in command of the Wei army everything is different. I want each of you to lead a force out by Ji Valley as decoys to mislead the enemy. When you meet them you can give battle or avoid fighting. Either way, you will strike terror into them. I’m going to lead the main army through Ye Valley to take Meicheng. If that place is taken, Chang’an will fall.”
Following the instruction, the two also left. Finally Zhuge Liang ordered Jiang Wei to lead the vanguard of the main army and march out through Ji Valley.
In the meantime, Ma Su and Wang Ping had reached Jieting and examined the terrain. Ma Su smiled. “The minister is over-anxious, I think. How would the Wei army dare to come to such a hilly place as this?”
Wang Ping replied, “Though they might not dare to come, we should set our camp at this intersection of all the roads and order the soldiers to fell trees and build a strong stockade for a prolonged defense.”
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: An Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 30