Terror seized upon the pursuers. Many fell from their horses while others escaped through the hills. Wan Zheng braced himself for the encounter but Zhao Yun shot an arrow that hit the plume of his helmet. Startled, he tumbled into a gully. Pointing at him with his spear, Zhao Yun said: “Be off! I will spare your life. Go and tell your chief to come quickly.”
Wan Zheng fled for his life, while Zhao Yun went on protecting his army and the retreat into Hanzhong continued steadily. There were no other episodes on the way.
The three districts of Tianshui, Nanan, and Anding were taken by Cao Zhen and Guo Huai, who attributed to themselves all the credit of having recovered them.
Sima Yi, on the other hand, divided his army and advanced. But by that time the Shu forces had already reached Hanzhong. He took a small force and rode back to West City, where he made inquiries among the few remaining inhabitants and some hermits. All of them told him that Zhuge Liang only really had 2,500 soldiers and some civil officials, without a single military commander. He also learned from residents in Wugong Hill that Guan Xing and Zhang Bao had only 3,000 men each, whom they placed around the hill, making as much noise as they could to strike terror into their opponents—but they actually dared not fight because they had no reinforcements. Sima Yi was very sorry at having missed an excellent chance.
“I’m no match for Zhuge Liang,” he said with a sigh of resignation.
He set about restoring order, and then marched back to Chang’an. The young Emperor Cao Rui was pleased with his success and said, “It is by your good service that Longxi is again mine.”
Sima Yi replied, “The army of Shu is in Hanzhong, not yet thoroughly destroyed. Pray give me a large army to take the whole of Shu so that I can repay Your Majesty for your favor.”
Cao Rui rejoiced at his offer and authorized him to raise an army without delay. At this one of the courtiers suddenly said, “I have a plan by which Shu can be overcome and Wu subjugated.”
Hardly had the officers of Shu gone home,
The court of Wei planned new schemes again.
Who offered this plan will be told in the next chapter.
CHAPTER NINETY-SIX
Weeping in Sorrow, Zhuge Liang Puts Ma Su to Death
Cutting His Hair, Zhou Fang Tricks Cao Xiu
It was Sun Zi who said that he had a plan to reunite the whole of the empire.
“What is your excellent scheme?” asked the Emperor.
Sun Zi said, “In the past when the founder of our dynasty, Cao Cao, went to subdue Zhang Lu, things did not go well with him until later. He used to say to us, ‘Hanzhong is really a natural prison. Ye Valley in its center is five hundred li of rocks and caves. It is no place to fight a war.’ In addition to this difficulty, we must also guard against Wu. If Your Majesty mobilizes all the armed forces in the country to conquer Shu, then Wu will surely take the opportunity to invade us. To my mind it is better to divide the army among the various generals and assign each to defend a place of strategic significance and train his troops. In a few years our land will be prosperous, while the other two, Shu and Wu, will be at each other’s throats. And that will be the best time to attack them. I hope Your Majesty will consider this plan.”
Cao Rui consulted Sima Yi about this, who said, “He is perfectly right.”
So Cao Rui delegated Sima Yi to deploy the generals and soldiers to various vantage points, but leave Guo Huai and Zhang He to guard Chang’an. After rewarding his men richly he returned to Luoyang.
Back in Hanzhong, Zhuge Liang counted his men and found that all had returned, except Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi. Extremely worried, he told Guan Xing and Zhang Bao to lead one force each to look for them and render assistance if necessary. But before the reinforcing parties left, it was announced that the two had arrived, with their forces in excellent condition, not a single man lost, nor a horse nor any of their equipment missing. Zhuge Liang, greatly pleased, led the whole assembly out to welcome them.
Zhao Yun hastily dismounted and bowed to the earth. “I am but a defeated general and do not deserve your coming out to welcome me, sir.”
But Zhuge Liang hastened to help him up and, holding his hand, said: “It was my fault by employing the wrong person that caused the loss. But we have lost officers and men everywhere. How is it, Zi-long, that you have come through unscathed?”
To his inquiry Deng Zhi replied, “Zi-long told me to go ahead, while he guarded the rear and warded off every attack. He slew an officer of Wei, and this frightened the others. Thus neither equipment nor supply were lost or abandoned.”
“A really great general!” said Zhuge Liang.
He took fifty catties of gold to reward Zhao Yun and a myriad of rolls of silk for his soldiers. But Zhao Yun declined the gifts, saying, “The army has accomplished nothing, and all of us are guilty. To bestow reward for no merit is against the rules of reward and punishment. Let these be kept in store till winter, when you can distribute them among the men.”
“When the late Emperor was alive he often spoke of Zi-long’s virtue. How right he was!” said Zhuge Liang, whose respect for the veteran doubled after this.
Then it was announced that Ma Su, Wang Ping, Wei Yan, and Gao Xiang had arrived.
Zhuge Liang first summoned Wang Ping and rebuked him. “I ordered you to guard Jieting with Ma Su—why didn’t you remonstrate with him and prevent this great loss?”
“I did reason with him many times. I urged him again and again to build a rampart on the main road and construct a solid camp, but he would not listen and flared up in wrath. So I led 5,000 men to camp some ten li off. Then all at once the men of Wei came and surrounded the hill on all sides. I attempted to break through their siege a dozen times, but I could not penetrate. On the following day the army collapsed entirely and many of the men surrendered. My isolated force was too feeble to stand so I went to seek help from Wei Yan, but we were intercepted midway and trapped in a valley, and only got free by fighting most desperately. By the time we got back to camp, it was already in enemy possession, and so we set out for Lieliu. On the road we met Gao Xiang, and the three of us decided to raid the enemy camp, hoping to recover Jieting. When I found it deserted I grew suspicious. I climbed a hill to survey the area around and saw Wei Yan and Gao Xiang entangled by the men of Wei, so I went to their rescue. Then we joined forces with Ma Su. For fear lest Yangping Pass might fall to the enemy, we hastened there to defend it. So you see, sir, it was not that I failed to remonstrate with him. And you can ask any of the officers if you doubt my words.”
Zhuge Liang dismissed him. Then he sent for Ma Su, who came, having bound himself, and knelt before his chief.
At the sight of him Zhuge Liang changed his countenance. “You have studied books on war ever since you were a boy and you know the strategies of battle thoroughly. I emphasised that Jieting was our key base, and you pledged on the lives of all your family to assume this heavy responsibility. Had you listened to Wang Ping, this catastrophe would not have happened. Now the army is defeated, officers have been slain, and cities and territory lost—all because of you. If I do not execute you in accordance with the military law, how can I maintain a proper state of discipline? You have offended the law and you must pay the penalty. Do not blame me. After your death I will see to it that your family get a monthly allowance of money and grain, so have no anxiety for their sake.”
He told the executioners to take him away.
Ma Su replied, weeping, “You, sir, have looked upon me as a son and I have looked up to you as a father. I know I cannot escape the punishment of death, but I beg you to consider how Shun slew Gun, but employed his son Yu.* Then I will die with no resentment down in the Nine Springs.” And he burst into tears.
Zhuge Liang, brushing aside his tears, said, “We have been like brothers, and your son is my own son. Say no more.”
They led the doomed man out. Just as they were going to deal the fatal blow, Jiang Wan, a military advisor of rank, came up from the capital. Greatly
alarmed at seeing this, he called the executioners to wait a while, and went in to see Zhuge Liang to plead for Ma Su.
“Of old the King of Chu put his general to death, and his enemy Duke Wen rejoiced.† Our great design is still not accomplished and it would be a pity to slay a man of admitted ability.”
Zhuge Liang’s tears fell as he replied, “In the old days Sun Tzu was invincible in the world because he administered clearly-defined military law. Now war and strife are in every quarter, and if the law is not obeyed, on what grounds are we to launch an expedition against the rebels? He must die.”
Soon after the executioners bore in the head of the victim, and Zhuge Liang wept bitterly.
“Why do you weep for him now that he has met the just penalty for his fault?” asked Jiang Wan.
“I’m not weeping for him,” said Zhuge Liang. “I recalled the words of our late Emperor. On his death bed at Baidi, he warned me that Ma Su tended to boast, and so was not to be entrusted with important tasks. How true his words were! And now when I recall what he said to me then, how I hate myself for being so blind! That is why I weep.”
Every officer wept when they heard this. Ma Su was but thirty-nine, and he met his end in the fifth month of the sixth year of the reign of Jian Xing.
A poet wrote about him:
‘Twas pitiful that Ma Su who talked so glibly
Of warfare, should lose Jieting. For the fault most grave
He paid the law’s extreme penalty at the gate.
And his chief recalled the late king’s words in deep grief.
The head of the victim was paraded round the camps. Then it was sewn onto the body and the man was buried. Zhuge Liang himself wrote the funeral address and conducted the sacrificial offering. To Ma Su’s family he showed particular concern and a monthly allowance of money and grain was provided for them. Then Zhuge Liang prepared a memorial in which he proposed his own degradation from his high office of the prime minister. He asked Jiang Wan to present it to the Second Ruler of Shu.
This is the text of the memorial: “I am but a man of mediocre ability, yet I have received undeserved trust. I was given the authority to command the army, but I was unable to uphold the discipline and enforce the law. Hence there happened the disregard of my order at Jieting and the failure to guard Ji Valley. The fault is mine in that I erred in the use of men. I failed to make sound judgments of people or things. In the ancient book of history, ‘Spring and Autumn,’ it is written that the commander should bear the responsibility for an aborted campaign. So I request that I be degraded three ranks as punishment. I cannot express how mortified I feel. Humbly I await your decree.”
“Why does the prime minister write these words?” remarked the Emperor after reading it. “Victory or defeat is but the ordinary fortune of war-making.”
A courtier named Fei Yi said, “I hear the ruler of a country must value most the enforcement of the law, for without law how can he govern men? It is right that the prime minister should be degraded in rank after his defeat.”
The Emperor approved and thereupon an edict was issued reducing Zhuge Liang to the rank of General of the Right, but acting as prime minister in administering state affairs and commanding the military forces. Fei Yi was sent to announce the decree.
Fei Yi bore the edict into Hanzhong and read it to Zhuge Liang, who received it and was thus demoted. Afraid that Zhuge Liang might be mortified, Fei Yi tried to compliment him on his earlier success.
“It was a great joy to the people when they heard of your capture of the four districts,” he said.
“What are you talking about?” said Zhuge Liang, annoyed. “Success followed by failure is no success. It humiliates me indeed to hear such a compliment.”
“His Majesty was very pleased to hear of your acquisition of Jiang Wei.”
This remark also angered Zhuge Liang, who replied, “It is my most grave fault that the army returned defeated without gaining an inch of territory. What injury to the enemy was the loss of Jiang Wei?”
Fei Yi tried again. “With your powerful army of several hundred thousand men are you going to attack Wei again?”
“When we were positioned at Qishan Mountains and Ji Valley we outnumbered the enemy, but we failed to conquer them and were beaten instead. Therefore what matters is not the number of soldiers, but the leadership. Now we must reduce the army, accept the punishment, reflect on our errors, and mend our ways to prepare for the future. Unless these things are done, what is the use of large armies? Hereafter every man who is truly concerned over the future of the country must most diligently point out my mistakes and blame me for my shortcomings. Only thus can our great design be achieved, the rebels exterminated, and success expected.”
Fei Yi and the officers all saw the aptness of these remarks. Having completed his mission Fei Yi soon went back to the capital. Zhuge Liang remained in Hanzhong, where he showed great concern for his army and the people. He also made every preparation for future expeditions, training and heartening his men, constructing special apparatus for attacking cities and crossing rivers, collecting grain and fodder, and building battle rafts.
Spies of Wei learned of these war preparations and reported them to Luoyang. The ruler of Wei at once sent for Sima Yi to consult him on how Shu might be annexed.
“This is not yet the time to attack Shu,” replied Sima Yi. “In this present sultry weather they will not venture out, but if we move deeply into their territory they will hold their strategic points, which we will find it hard to overcome.”
“What are we to do if they invade us again?”
“I have thought about that. I presume next time Zhuge Liang will imitate the Han general Han Xin’s plan and try to cross Chencang secretly. I can recommend a man to guard the place by building a rampart there and rendering it absolutely secure. He is a tall man with powerful, long arms as well as a good archer and prudent strategist. He will be able to deal with an invasion by Zhuge Liang.”
“What is his name?” asked Cao Rui, very pleased.
“He is He Zhao, now in command at Hexi.”
The Emperor approved of his recommendation and an edict was sent to He Zhao, promoting him to the rank of general and ordering him to guard the pass to Chencang.
Soon afterwards, the Emperor received a memorial from Cao Xiu, Minister of War and Commandant of Yangzhou. It said that Zhou Fang, Prefect of Poyang in the Kingdom of Wu, wished to submit his district to Wei, and that he had secretly sent a man to state seven points to illustrate how Wu could be overcome and to urge Wei to dispatch an army there soon. Cao Rui spread the document out on the couch and read it with Sima Yi.
“His points seem quite convincing,” said Sima Yi. “Wu can be destroyed. Let me take an army to help Cao Xiu.”
But from among the courtiers stepped forward Jia Kui, who said, “The men of Wu are deceitful and their words cannot be fully trusted. Zhou Fang is a wise and crafty man and very unlikely to surrender. This must be some plot to lure our soldiers into danger.”
“These words must also be taken into consideration,” said Sima Yi. “Yet such a chance must not be missed.”
In the end the Emperor sent both Sima Yi and Jia Kui to assist Cao Xiu.
A military operation against Wu was launched on three fronts. Cao Xiu, leading a large army, set out to take Wancheng; Jia Kui to seize Yangcheng; and Sima Yi, to attack Jiangling.
Now the ruler of Wu, Sun Quan, was at the East Pass in Wuchang, where he addressed his officials: “The Prefect of Poyang, Zhou Fang, has sent me a secret memorial in which he says that Cao Xiu of Wei intends to invade us. He has therefore set a trap for Cao Xiu and has given him seven reasons why he should lead an army into our territory. Thus the Wei army will be enticed into a heavily-guarded area and destroyed by ambushes. Now the men of Wei are approaching in three divisions, and I need your advice.”
Gu Yong at once recommended Lu Xun. “He is the only man fit to cope with the present situation.”
So Lu Xun
was summoned. Apart from receiving several new titles of high honor, he was created Commander of the Royal Corps of Guards and could act for the prince in his imperial duties. He was also given the symbols of authority, the yak-tail banner and the golden ax, and all the officials, civil and military, were placed under his command. Moreover, Sun Quan personally stood beside him and held his whip while he mounted his steed.
Having thanked his lord for all these marks of favor and distinction, Lu Xun obtained his permission to name as his two immediate assistants Zhu Huan and Quan Zong. Then the grand army, comprising over 700,000 men from the 81 districts of the lower reaches of the Yangtze and the Jingzhou region, marched out in three divisions, with Lu Xun in the center and his two assistants on the flanks.
Zhu Huan proposed a plan. “Cao Xiu is not a commander of ability or courage. He was given this office simply because he is a member of the imperial house. Now he has fallen into the trap laid by Zhou Fang and has marched his army deep inside our strongly-defended areas. He will surely be defeated under your attack. Then he will certainly flee along two roads, Jiashi on the left and Guache on the right, both of which are narrow and precipitous. Let Quan Zong and myself each take a force to lie in ambush on these roads and block them with logs and big boulders. As his way of escape will thus be cut off, Cao Xiu can be captured. After that our main force can press on directly to seize Shouchun, from where Xuchang and Luoyang will be within easy reach. This is a chance that comes only once in 10,000 years.”
“I don’t think this plan will work,” said Lu Xun. “I know what to do.”
Zhu Huan withdrew, deeply hurt that his scheme had been rejected. Lu Xun first ordered Zhuge Jin and some others to garrison Jiangling and oppose Sima Yi. Then he deployed the rest of his troops to various positions to await the enemy.
In the meantime, Cao Xiu’s army had arrived at Wancheng and Zhou Fang went to his tent to greet him. Cao Xiu said, “I received your letter lately and I found your seven points most convincing. So I reported it to His Majesty. He has set in motion accordingly three armies. It will be a great merit for you, sir, if the land of Wu can be added to His Majesty’s dominion. But some say you are very crafty and doubt the truthfulness of your words. I believe you will not be false to me.”
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 32