“The people are now poor and the army exhausted indeed, but events do not cease to move. If they do not cease, then, whether we take action or remain idle, the cost is the same. But critics of my proposal say that the attack should not be made yet! With only the land of one province, we are supposed to hold out against Wei for a long period of time—this is the sixth point that I find hard to understand.
“A stable condition of things is indeed difficult to obtain. Earlier, when the late Emperor was defeated in Chu, Cao Cao clapped his hands and rejoiced that his rule was settled. Afterwards, however, the late Emperor obtained the support of Wu and Yue in the east, took Ba and Shu to the west, and undertook an expedition to the north, in which Xiahou Yuan lost his life. So Cao Cao’s calculations proved erroneous, and the great design of Han seemed about to be accomplished. But later, Wu betrayed its pledge, Guan Yu was defeated, the late Emperor suffered a serious setback at Zigui, and Cao Pi assumed the throne. Such events prove difficult to predict. I will strain my back and exert myself to the very last, but the final result, whether success or failure, whether gain or loss, is beyond my power to foresee.”
The Emperor was convinced after reading the memorial, and directed Zhuge Liang to start on the expedition. Taking the order, Zhuge Liang marched out with 300,000 well-trained men, with Wei Yan leading the first division, and made all haste for the road to Chencang.
The news soon reached Luoyang, and Sima Yi informed the Emperor of Wei, who called a council to discuss the emergency. Cao Zhen stepped forth and said, “Last time I was commanded to hold Longxi, but my service was nothing compared to the loss I suffered. And the humiliation is terrible to bear. Now I beg to be given another command that I may capture Zhuge Liang. Lately I have found a stalwart warrior, a man who wields a sixty-catty sword, rides a swift battle steed, and can bend an iron bar weighing two hundred catties. When he goes into battle he also carries hidden about him three meteor maces and he never misses a target. So valorous is he that a myriad dare not stand against him. His name is Wang Shuang, a native of Longxi. I would like to recommend him to be my van leader.”
Cao Rui approved at once and summoned this marvel to the hall. There came a tall man with a dusky complexion, hazel eyes, strong as a bear in the waist, and supple as a tiger in the back.
“With such a powerful warrior I have nothing to fear,” said Cao Rui, smiling with pleasure.
He bestowed on the newfound hero a silken robe and golden armor and conferred on him the title of “Tiger General.” And he became leader of the van of the new army.
Cao Zhen thanked the Emperor and took his leave. He collected 150,000 veterans to guard all the strategic points, together with Guo Huai and Zhang He.
The first division of the Shu army reached Chencang. Scouts were sent out to reconnoiter the area. Then they went back to report to Zhuge Liang that their enemy had built a rampart there, secure with high walls, a deep moat, and extensive barricades of abatis. A major general named Hao Zhao was in command.
“It’s better to give up this place and go to Qishan by the winding paths in the Taibei Hills,” they suggested.
But Zhuge Liang said, “Due north of Chencang is Jieting, and we must seize this place in order to advance.”
Wei Yan was sent to surround the rampart and take city. But after several days of unsuccessful attacks, he returned and told his chief the place was impregnable. In his anger, Zhuge Liang wanted to put him to death, but at this moment an officer named Jin Xiang stood out and volunteered to go and persuade Hao Zhao to surrender.
“How are you going to persuade him?” asked Zhuge Liang. “What is your argument?”
“Hao Zhao and I are both from Longxi and we have been good friends since boyhood. I will go and lay matters before him. He will surely surrender.”
He was permitted to try and he rode quickly to the wall, where he called out, “An old friend of Hao Zhao’s has come to see him.”
Sentries on the wall went to inform Hao Zhao, who told them to let the visitor in. So Jin Xiang climbed up the wall to see his friend.
“My friend, what brings you here?” asked Hao Zhao.
“I’m a military advisor in the service of Zhuge Liang of Shu, who treats me exceedingly well. Now he’s asked me to bring you a message.”
Hao Zhao suddenly changed color and said angrily, “Zhuge Liang is our enemy. I serve Wei while you serve Shu. Each serves his own lord. We were brothers once, but now we are enemies—so say no more.”
And the visitor was requested to take his leave at once. Jin Xiang tried to broach the subject again, but his host had already left him to ascend the watch tower. The Wei soldiers hurried him on to his horse and drove him out of the gate. As he departed he looked up and saw his friend leaning on the guard rail. He pulled up his horse, pointed with his whip at Hao Zhao, and said, “My worthy brother, why are you so unfriendly?”
“Brother, you know the laws of Wei,” replied Hao Zhao. “I have received favor from my country and I will never betray it. Say no more, but go back quickly to your chief and tell him to come and attack. I’m not afraid.”
Jin Xiang had to return and report his failure. “He would not even let me speak.”
“Try again,” said Zhuge Liang. “Tell him what is at stake.”
Jin Xiang soon found himself once more at the foot of the wall. Hao Zhao presently appeared on the tower, and Jin Xiang shouted up to him, “My worthy brother, please listen to my sincere advice. Here you are in this isolated city; how can you oppose a massive army of 100,000? If you don’t yield now, you’ll be sorry when it’s too late. Instead of serving the great Han, you bow your head to the treacherous Wei. How can you fail to recognize the decree of Heaven, and distinguish between the clear and the foul? Think over this.”
Hao Zhao began to get really angry. He fitted an arrow to his bow and called out, “I have already made myself clear. Say no more but go quickly. I won’t shoot you.”
Again Jin Xiang returned and reported his failure to Zhuge Liang.
“How impudent that fool is!” cried Zhuge Liang in fury. “Does he think I have no means to take his city?”
He called in some local inhabitants to whom he asked, “How many troops are there in the city?”
They answered, “We do not know the exact number but there are about three thousand.”
“I don’t think such a small force can stop me,” said Zhuge Liang with a smile. “Let’s attack quickly before any reinforcements can arrive.”
Thereupon he ordered his men to bring up a hundred scaling ladders, upon each of which could stand more than a dozen men. These were surrounded by planks as protection. Soldiers, carrying short ladders and ropes, listened for the beating of the drum to scale the walls.
In his watch tower Hao Zhao, seeing the ladders being brought up, posted his men at the four corners and told them to shoot fire-arrows at the ladders at short ranges. Zhuge Liang had not expected this. Assuming the city was not well defended, he had prepared the scaling ladders and ordered the soldiers to press on amid loud shouting and beating of drums. He was greatly chagrined when the fire-arrows set his ladders in flames and burned many of his men to death. As arrows and stones rained down from the wall, the men of Shu were forced to retreat.
Zhuge Liang was wrathful. “So he burns my ladders—then I will use battering rams!”
So that night they prepared the rams. The next day these were placed against the walls and again the signal was given to begin the assault. But the defenders brought up great stones suspended from ropes, which they swung down at the battering rams and so broke them to pieces. Next the besiegers set to work to bring up earth to fill the moat, while 3,000 men were sent to excavate a tunnel at night to try to burrow into the city. But Hao Zhao dug a counter-trench inside the city and that device also came to naught.
So the attack went on day and night for nearly a month, and still the men of Shu could find no means to take the city. One day Zhuge Liang was in his camp pondering over
this when scouts reported the approach of an enemy relief force, the flag of which bore the name of Wang Shuang. He asked for a volunteer to go out and fight the newcomer and Wei Yan offered himself.
Zhuge Liang said, “You are the van leader, a major general. You must not risk yourself so rashly.”
Then a lesser officer called Xie Xiong stood forth and he was given 3,000 soldiers. After he had gone, Zhuge Liang decided to send a second force of 3,000 men, which Gong Qi volunteered to command. Then, fearing lest there would be a sortie from the city to aid the relief force, he led off the army twenty li and made a camp there.
The first body sent to combat Wang Shuang was not successful—its leader fell almost immediately under the great warrior’s sword. The men fled and Wang Shuang pursued, and so ran into Gong Qi, who had come to support his comrade. He was slain in the third bout.
When he learned about this, Zhuge Liang was greatly alarmed and sent Liao Hua, Wang Ping, and Zhang Ni to go out to halt the enemy. The two sides drew up in formal battle array, and then Zhang Ni rode to the front while the other two officers guarded the lines. Wang Shuang rode to meet him, and they fought several bouts. Then Wang Shuang feigned defeat and Zhang Ni followed. Wang Ping, who saw his colleague falling into a trap, called out to Zhang Ni to stop. Zhang Ni hastened to turn back, but Wang Shuang’s meteor hammer whizzed through the air and hit him in the back. He collapsed over his saddle but still rode on to get away. Wang Shuang turned to pursue but was checked by the other two Shu officers, who rescued Zhang Ni. Then Wang Shuang’s whole force came on and slew many of the men of Shu.
Zhang Ni was wounded and vomited blood. He said to Zhuge Liang, “Wang Shuang is too terrible for anyone to stand up to. He and his 20,000 men are now encamped outside the city with double fences all around and a deep moat to maintain a firm defense.”
Seeing that two officers had died and a third was wounded, Zhuge Liang summoned Jiang Wei for council. “We can’t proceed this way—can you suggest another plan?”
Jiang Wei replied, “This place has very strong fortifications and Hao Zhao’s defense is faultless. Now there is also Wang Shuang to aid him. It is really impossible to take the city. I think it is better to send a general to establish a strong camp at some suitable site and another to hold the crucial road to prevent attack from Jieting, while the major force leaves for Qishan. I will try some ruse to capture Cao Zhen.”
Zhuge Liang agreed. He sent Wang Ping and Li Hui to hold the by-road to Jieting, and Wei Yan to guard the way to Chencang. And then the army marched out of the Ye Valley by some narrow road and headed for Qishan, with Ma Dai as van leader and Guan Xing and Zhang Bao leading the relief squadron of the front and rear forces.
Now Cao Zhen still remembered bitterly that in the last campaign Sima Yi had stolen from him the credit he had hoped to obtain. So when he reached Luoyang he transferred Guo Huai and Sun Li to positions in the east and west. Later he heard that Chencang was threatened, so he sent Wang Shuang to relieve the city. And he was overjoyed to learn about his lieutenant’s success. He placed Fei Yao in command of the front division and stationed other officers at various strategic points.
One day he was told that a spy had been caught in a valley. Cao Zhen had the man brought before him and questioned. The man knelt down and said, “I am not a spy. I have a secret message for you, General, but I was caught by mistake by your men in an ambush. Pray send away your attendants.”
The man’s bonds were loosened and the attendants dismissed. The captive said, “I am a confidant of Jiang Wei, who has entrusted me with a secret letter.”
“Where is the letter?”
The man took it from inside his underwear and presented it to Cao Zhen. It read:
I, Jiang Wei, the guilty officer, make a hundred prostrations to Commander Cao: I have never forgotten that my family has always received the bounty of Wei and I myself was employed in the defense of a frontier town. But though I have enjoyed kind favors, I have never been able to repay them. Lately I fell victim to Zhuge Liang’s wiles and so became trapped in his snare. But my longing for my old country has never ceased for a single day. Fortunately, the army of Shu has now marched westward and Zhuge Liang trusts me. I suggest that you lead an army this way in person. If you meet with resistance, just simulate defeat, and I will light a blaze in their rear as a signal. Then I will set fire to their stores, whereupon you will face about and attack. Zhuge Liang ought to fall into your hands. In doing so I am not trying to seek merit for myself but only to atone for my former crime. If this should be deemed worthy of your attention, then send me your commands without delay.
The letter pleased Cao Zhen very much. “Heaven is helping me to succeed!”
He rewarded the man handsomely and told him to return to say that he would meet Jiang Wei at a pre-arranged time. Then he took council with Fei Yao and related to him Jiang Wei’s scheme.
But Fei Yao warned him. “Zhuge Liang is most crafty and Jiang Wei very resourceful. What if Zhuge Liang has planned all this? We might fall into a snare.”
“But Jiang Wei is originally a man of Wei, forced to surrender. Why are you suspicious?”
“Commander, you must not venture out but remain here on guard. Let me go and reinforce Jiang Wei. If I succeed, the credit will be yours. And if there is a trick I will deal with it.”
Delighted, Cao Zhen gave him 50,000 men to move toward Ye Valley.
Fei Yao and his army set out. After progressing for some time they encamped and sent out scouts to reconnoiter. Late in the afternoon scouts reported that the Shu army was coming through the valley. Fei Yao at once advanced, but the men of Shu retreated without even engaging in combat. Fei Yao pursued. Then the men of Shu came on again. Just as Fei Yao was deploying his troops for battle the Shu army retreated again. This maneuver was repeated thrice, and a whole day and night passed without any repose for the Wei army.
At length rest became imperative. But just as they were on the point of entrenching themselves to prepare food a great hubbub arose all around, and with beating of drums and blaring of trumpets the whole country was filled with the men of Shu. As the great standard was unfurled, out came a four-wheeled chariot carrying Zhuge Liang, who sent an envoy to ask the Wei commander to a parley.
Fei Yao rode out and, seeing Zhuge Liang, he secretly rejoiced. Turning to those about him, he told them to retreat if the men of Shu came on. But if they saw a blaze behind the hill they were to turn round and attack, for they would be reinforced.
Then he rode to the front and shouted, “You were beaten last time—how dare you come again?”
Zhuge Liang replied, “Go and tell Cao Zhen to come and talk with me.”
“Commander Cao is of the royal family. Do you think he will talk with a rebel?”
Zhuge Liang angrily waved his fan, and from two sides rushed forth Ma Dai and Zhang Ni and their men. The Wei army retreated. But ‘ere they had gone far they saw a blaze in the rear of the advancing host of Shu, accompanied by a great shouting. Believing that this was the signal he was looking for, Fei Yao faced about to attack. Their opponents retreated. Sword in hand, Fei Yao led the pursuit, hastening towards where the shouting came.
When he got near the signal fire, suddenly the drums beat louder than ever and the shouting shook the earth. Then out charged two troops, one under Guan Xing and the other under Zhang Bao, while arrows and stones rained down from the surrounding hills. The Wei men could not stand it and they realized that they had been tricked into a trap. Fei Yao tried to withdraw his men into the shelter of the valley, but Guan Xing led his fresh force onward, plunging the weary men of Wei into utter confusion. Trampling upon each other, many fell into the gully and were drowned.
Fei Yao could do nothing but flee for his life. Just as he was passing by a steep hill there appeared a force led by Jiang Wei. Fei Yao began to abuse him for his treachery.
Jiang Wei smiled. “I meant to capture Cao Zhen but trapped you by mistake. Yield quickly.”
But
Fei Yao only tried to dash away toward a ravine. As he rode he saw towering flames rise at the entrance of the ravine, while close behind him came the pursuers. There being no way of escape Fei Yao slew himself with his own sword. All his men surrendered. Zhuge Liang led the Shu army through Qishan, outside of which they made a camp. There, the army regrouped.
Jiang Wei received a rich reward, but he was chagrined that Cao Zhen had not been captured.
“My regret is that I did not slay Cao Zhen,” he said.
“Indeed, yes,” said Zhuge Liang. “It’s a pity that our great scheme should have been wasted on a small operation.”
Cao Zhen was very sad when he heard of the loss of Fei Yao. He consulted Guo Huai for a new plan to drive back the enemy.
Meanwhile, messengers had gone to the capital with news of Zhuge Liang’s arrival at Qishan and Cao Zhen’s defeat. Startled, Cao Rui summoned Sima Yi and asked him for advice.
“I have a scheme all prepared, not only to turn back Zhuge Liang, but to do so without any exertion on our part. They will withdraw of their own accord.”
As Cao Zhen lacked any plans to succeed
Wei could only rely on Sima’s schemes.
Sima Yi’s scheme will be disclosed in the next chapter.
CHAPTER NINETY-EIGHT
Pursuing the Shu Army, Wang Shuang Is Slain
Seizing Chencang, Zhuge Liang Wins a Victory
Sima Yi said to the Emperor, “I once mentioned to Your Majesty that Zhuge Liang would invade us by way of Chencang, so I sent Hao Zhao to guard it. Now this has really happened. If Zhuge Liang invades us from that route, he could easily transport his supplies, but fortunately, with Hao Zhao and Wang Shuang on guard there, he will not dare to come that way. It is very difficult to move supplies via any other route. I give the invaders a month to exhaust their food supply. Hence their advantage lies in forcing a battle whereas ours in postponing it as long as possible. Your Majesty can order Cao Zhen to hold passes and positions tenaciously and on no account to seek open battle. In a month the enemy will have to withdraw, and that will be our opportunity to capture Zhuge Liang.”
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: An Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 34