Cao Zhen agreed and a messenger was sent forthwith to Western Qiang.
The prince, named Cheliji, had rendered yearly tribute to Han (and later to Wei) since the days of Cao Cao. He had two chief ministers: Prime Minister Yadan in charge of civil administration, and Marshal Yueji managing military affairs.
When the emissary from Wei arrived with Cao Zhen’s letter and presents of gold and pearls, he first sought the prime minister, to whom he gave some gifts and explained the purpose of his visit. Thus he gained an interview with the prince. The letter was duly delivered and the gifts presented. The prince accepted both and consulted his counselors on the matter.
Yadan said, “We have always had contacts with Wei. Now that General Cao Zhen asks for our aid and promises an alliance of marriage we ought to accede to his request.”
The prince took his advice and ordered his two chief ministers to raise an army of 150,000 trained soldiers, who were skilled in shooting arrows and crossbows, wielding spears and swords, and flinging caltrops and hammers. Beside these various weapons, the Qiang tribesmen also used battle chariots that were covered with iron plates that had been nailed onto them, to load grain, arms, and other odds and ends. The chariots were drawn either by camels or mules. The soldiers who operated the chariots were known as iron chariot troops.
The two ministers took leave of their prince and went straight away to Xiping Pass. The officer in command at the pass, Han Zhen, at once sent a report by dispatch to Zhuge Liang.
When he received the dispatch, Zhuge Liang asked his officers if any of them would go and drive off the Qiang army. Guan Xiang and Zhang Bao volunteered.
Zhuge Liang said, “Well, it’s good that you want to go but you’re ignorant of the roads.”
Then he called Ma Dai, to whom he said, “You know the disposition of the Qiang people from your long residence there—you can go as a guide.”
They took 50,000 veterans for the expedition. Several days later they drew near their enemy. Climbing up a hill, Guan Xing went with a hundred or so cavalrymen to observe and saw a long line of iron chariots, with the tail of each linked to the head of the next—the Qiang soldiers gave the appearance of being camped wherever they went. The chariots, which were armed to the teeth, looked like a well-guarded rampart. Guan Xing studied them for a long time but was quite at a loss as to how to overcome them. He returned and consulted his two colleagues.
Ma Dai said, “Let’s see what they’ll do at the battle tomorrow, and we can decide on our plans.” So the next day they drew up their army in three divisions, with Guan Xing in the center, Zhang Bao on the left, and Ma Dai on the right. Thus they advanced.
From the Qiang array rode out Marshal Yueji, who had an iron mace in his hand and a carved bow hung at his waist. Guan Xing gave the order for all three divisions to press forward. Suddenly the Qiang soldiers stepped to each side while in the center the iron chariots rolled out like surging waves, from which flew arrows and bolts all at once—the men of Shu could not stand against them.
The two wings retreated first, but the central division led by Guan Xing was surrounded by the enemy in the northwest corner. In spite of his every effort, Guan Xing could not get free, for the iron chariots were like a city wall and no opening could be found. The men of Shu were quite helpless, unable to assist each other. Guan Xing made for the mountains in the hope of finding a way of escape. As it grew dark a body of Qiang soldiers crowded up, holding black flags. Their leader, with an iron mace in his hand, shouted, “Halt, young man! I am Marshal Yueji!”
Guan Xing only hastened forward faster, plying his whip to urge his steed. Presently there emerged a deep gully before him, and he had to turn back and fight. At the sight of Yueji, Guan Xing’s courage turned cold and he could not defend himself. So he leaped into the gully to escape. Yueji came close and swung his mace at him. Dodging aside, Guan Xing avoided the blow, but it hit his steed on the hip. The poor beast fell into water, and with it went Guan Xing.
Suddenly he heard a great splash behind him. For no apparent reason, Yueji and his horse had also fallen into the gully. Surprised, Guan Xing braced himself and struggled in the water to see. There on the bank he saw a powerful officer driving off the Qiang. Guan Xing gripped his sword and waited to strike at Yueji as he came up but his enemy jumped out of the water and fled. So Guan Xing caught the steed Yueji had abandoned, led him up the bank, and rearranged the saddle and rein. Then he girded on his sword and mounted. Ahead he saw the unknown officer still chasing the enemy.
“Whoever this may be, he has saved my life,” thought Guan Xing. “I ought to make his acquaintance.”
So he pressed forward after his rescuer. As he drew nearer he saw, enveloped in mist, the dim figure of an officer of rank, with a dark red face and bushy eyebrows like silkworms, dressed in a green robe and golden armor. He wielded the Blue Dragon sword, rode the Red Hare steed, and his hand stroked a long flowing beard. Now the young man knew who had saved him. It was his own father, Lord Guan!
Guan Xing was astonished. But his father suddenly pointed southeast and said, “My son, go quickly along that road and I will guard you to your camp.”
With that the figure disappeared. Guan Xing took the road shown by his father and hastened along. About midnight he saw a cohort advancing to meet him, and recognized his cousin Zhang Bao.
“Have you seen my second uncle?” asked Zhang Bao.
“How did you know?” asked Guan Xing.
“I was pursued by the iron chariots when I suddenly saw him coming down from the sky, and he frightened the pursuers away. Then he told me to come along this road to rescue you. So I came.”
Thereupon Guan Xing related what had happened to him. Both sighed in wonder.
They quickly gained the camp, where they were met by Ma Dai.
“There is no way to overcome these men,” said Ma Dai. “Let me hold the camp here while you go back and ask the commander what to do.”
The two went at once to see Zhuge Liang, to whom they gave a full account of what had happened. Zhuge Liang at once sent off Zhao Yun and Wei Yan to set up an ambush. After this he went back with the two cousins to Ma Dai’s camp, taking with him 30,000 men and two more officers, Jiang Wei and Zhang Yi. On the following day, from a hilltop he surveyed the country. The line of iron chariots seemed endless and the enemy, men and horses, moved along at great speed.
“It’s not difficult to destroy these chariots,” said Zhuge Liang.
He called up Ma Dai and Zhang Yi and gave them certain secret orders.
After they were gone, he turned to Jiang Wei and asked, “Do you know how to overcome the iron chariots?”
“These tribesmen depend only on brute force or courage,” replied Jiang Wei. “How could they understand clever strategies?”
“You’re indeed after my own heart,” said Zhuge Liang, smiling. “Those dark clouds and the strong north wind mean imminent snow. I can put my plan to work.”
So Guan Xing and Zhang Bao were sent to wait in ambush while Jiang Wei was ordered to lead his men out to battle—but he was to retreat as soon as he saw the iron chariots. When they left he evacuated the remaining troops from the camp but had flags placed at its entrance to make a false show of occupation. With that he completed his preparations for the plan he was to implement.
It was then winter, end of the twelfth month of the year. And truly enough, a heavy snow started to fall. Jiang Wei led his men out to offer battle, but when Yueji came up with his iron chariot troops, he immediately retreated and thus induced the Qiang troops to follow him to the gate of the Shu camp. Here, Jiang Wei disappeared behind the camp. The tribesmen halted at the entrance and looked round. They heard inside the camp someone strumming a lute, and saw flags all around, but there were no soldiers in sight. Hurriedly they went to report this to Yueji, who, suspecting some ruse, dared not advance. But his comrade, Yadan, urged him to attack.
“It’s Zhuge Liang’s trick,” said Yadan. “He pretends that he has deployed
troops to mislead us but in fact there are none. You had better attack.”
So Yueji led his men again to the camp gate, and there he saw Zhuge Liang, with a lute, getting into his carriage. With a small escort he went toward the rear of the camp. The Qiang soldiers rushed forward in pursuit of Zhuge Liang. They followed him to a hollow in the mountains, where they saw the vague shape of the carriage disappearing into a wood.
Yadan, who was contemptuous of the men of Shu, said to Yueji again, “There may be an ambush, but I don’t think we need be afraid of these men.”
Hence they decided to pursue. Ahead of them they saw Jiang Wei’s men hastening off in the snow. Yueji’s rage boiled up at this sight, and he urged his men to speed up. Snow had by then filled up the mountain paths, making every part look flat and smooth.
As they pursued, scouts reported that some enemy troops were appearing from the rear of the hills. Again Yadan paid no attention to this, saying, “Even if there is an ambush of a few soldiers, we have nothing to fear.” He urged them to hasten onward.
Suddenly there came a thundering roar as if the hills had cracked and the earth fallen in. The pursuers all tumbled headlong into pits that were invisible in the snow. The iron chariots, which had been hurrying along very fast, could not stop, and they, too, crashed one on top of another into the pits. Those still farther in the rear halted, but just as they were turning about, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao came up, one on either side, and all at once myriads of bolts flew through the air. Then Jiang Wei and two other divisions arrived from behind and the iron chariot troops were thrown into utter confusion.
The Qiang leader, Marshal Yueji, was fleeing toward some valley behind when he encountered Guan Xing, who slew him at the first bout. Prime Minister Yadan was captured by Ma Dai and taken to the main camp. The soldiers scattered and ran for their lives.
The battle being over, Zhuge Liang took his seat in his tent, and Ma Dai brought forth the prisoner. Zhuge Liang told the guards to loosen his bonds, and he gave him wine to refresh him and soothed him with kindly words. Yadan was grateful for this kindness, and felt more so when Zhuge Liang said, “My master, the Emperor of Great Han, has commanded me to destroy those who are in revolt. Why did you help them? I will let you return to your king. Tell him that our two countries are neighbors and we will maintain everlasting friendship. He must not listen to the words of those rebels.”
The Qiang minister was released. He was allowed to take back to his country all the soldiers that had been captured as well as all the chariots, horses, and equipment that had been seized.
The battle over, Zhuge Liang quickly marched his army back to the main camp at Qishan, with Guan Xing and Zhang Bao leading the way. A report was also sent to the capital to announce the victory.
Meanwhile Cao Zhen was anxiously waiting for news of his expected allies. Then a scout came in with the news that the men of Shu had broken camp and were marching away.
“That is because the Qiang troops have attacked,” said Guo Huai gleefully, and the two made ready to pursue.
Ahead of them the army of Shu seemed to be fleeing in disorder. Following close behind was Cao Zun, the van leader of Wei. As he pressed on, there suddenly was heard a roll of drums, succeeded by the appearance of a cohort led by Wei Yan, who cried, “Stop! You rebels!”
Caught by surprise, Cao Zun rode forward to fight but in no more than three exchanges he was killed. His colleague Zhu Zan in similar fashion met a force under Zhao Yun, to whose long spear he soon fell victim. The loss of these two van leaders disheartened their commanders, who desired to retreat.
But before they could face about they heard from their rear men shouting, drums beating, and horns blowing. In a moment Guan Xing and Zhang Bao galloped up from two directions and surrounded them. A terrible struggle ensued. Cao Zhen and his colleague finally managed to break through and led the worsted army away. The army of Shu pursued them to the banks of the Wei River, where they took possession of the enemy’s camp.
Cao Zhen grieved deeply over the loss of both his van leaders. In a report to the Emperor he related his misfortune and begged for reinforcements.
At the court of Wei the Emperor was informed of the repeated defeats of Cao Zhen and his appeal for help. Cao Rui, alarmed, turned to his ministers for a plan to drive off the enemy.
Hua Xin said, “It is imperative that Your Majesty must lead an expedition. Call together all the nobles and encourage everyone to exert himself. Only thus can the enemy be driven off. If not, Chang’an might be lost and the whole country will be in danger.”
Zhong Yao said, “A commander can only subdue his opponent when he is superior in wisdom. As the ancient strategist Sun Tsu once said: ‘Know your enemy, know yourself, and every battle is a victory.’ In spite of his rich experience in the field, Cao Zhen is no match for Zhuge Liang. Now I would like to recommend a man, and I pledge with the lives of my whole household that he will succeed. I wonder if Your Majesty would allow me to mention his name.”
The Emperor replied, “You are a senior minister. If you know any wise man able to repel the enemy, summon him without delay and ease my mind.”
Zhong Yao continued, “Previously Zhuge Liang wanted to invade us, but he was afraid of this man. Therefore he spread rumors to make Your Majesty suspect him and hence dismiss him. Only then did Zhuge Liang dare to attack us. Employ this man again, and Zhuge Liang will withdraw of his own accord.”
“Who is he?” asked Cao Rui.
“General Sima Yi.”
“I have long regretted over this,” sighed Cao Rui. “Where is he now?”
“I hear he is idle at Wancheng.”
An edict was prepared to recall Sima Yi and restore him to his former rank and titles, with an additional title of Commander–Pacificator of the West. He was to command the various forces of Nanyang and start for Chang’an without delay. At the same time the Emperor would also lead an army there. On a fixed date Sima Yi was to get to the city to meet Cao Rui. A messenger bearing the edict was immediately sent to Wancheng.
At this time Zhuge Liang was rejoicing at the victories he had won since the start of the expedition. That day he was in his tent at Qishan, discussing plans with his subordinates, when it was announced that Li Yan, commander at Yongan Palace near the border to Wu, had sent his son Li Feng to see him. Zhuge Liang was quite alarmed, suspecting an invasion from Wu. He summoned the messenger into his tent to inquire. To his surprise Li Feng replied that he had joyful news to impart.
“What is the joyful news?” asked Zhuge Liang.
“Formerly Meng Da deserted to Wei because there was no other way out for him. At first Cao Pi, who admired him for his talent, treated him very generously, often giving him gifts of fine horses, gold, and pearls, and had even asked him to ride in the imperial carriage. He had also conferred on him distinguished titles, besides appointing him Prefect of Xincheng, in command of the defense of Shangyong and Jincheng, as well as the whole southeast. But when Cao Pi died it all changed. In Cao Rui’s court were many who were jealous of his power, and he had no peace, day and night. He often said to his officers that he used to be an officer in Shu and he had been forced to surrender to Wei. Lately he sent his confidant with a letter to see my father and asked him to present his case to you on his behalf. He said that he had intended to defect when the five armies came upon Shu (see Chapter Eighty-Five). Now hearing of your military action against Wei, he proposes to lead the men of the three districts of Jincheng, Xincheng, and Shangyong to seize Luoyang while you capture Chang’an, whereby both Wei capitals will be taken. I have brought with me his messenger and the letters he has written to my father.”
This was very good news, and the bearer was fittingly rewarded. But at that moment came the tidings that Cao Rui was leading an army to Chang’an and had recalled the banished Sima Yi to office. This piece of news alarmed Zhuge Liang not a little.
Surprised at his discomfort, Ma Su asked, “Why are you so alarmed, sir? If Cao Rui comes to Chang�
�an, we can just capture him. He is nothing.”
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!
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 29