Suddenly, amid thunderous shouting, Wang Ping and Zhang Yi galloped out, forging ahead heroically to cut off the enemy’s way of retreat. The men of Wei struggled with all their might but were unable to extricate themselves.
Zhang He shouted to his fellow officers, “The moment has come for us to fight it out with our enemy!”
Encouraged by his call, the men of Wei mustered all their strength to try to break through, but their attempts were in vain. Suddenly there was heard a deafening roll of drums, and Sima Yi arrived from the rear. He at once directed his officers to surround Wang Ping and Zhang Yi.
“How far-sighted the prime minister is!” marveled Zhang Yi. “The battle goes just as he foretold. He will surely have a good plan. Let’s fight the enemy to the finish!”
Thereupon the men were divided into two parts. Wang Ping led half the men to hold up Zhang He and Dai Ling, while Zhang Yi took the other half to oppose Sima Yi. On both sides a fierce struggle ensued and the sky shook with loud battle cries.
From their position on a hill, Jiang Wei and Liao Hua watched the battle. They saw that the Wei force was very strong and their own side was in danger and gradually giving way.
“Now surely is the moment to open the bag,” said Jiang Wei.
So the bag was opened, and this is what they read: “If Sima Yi comes and Wang Ping and Zhang Yi seem hard pressed, break your force in two and go directly to attack Sima Yi’s camp, which will cause him to hasten retreat, and then you’re to fall upon him. You will be able to win the day, even though the camp won’t be captured.”
Overjoyed, they divided the force and started for the enemy’s camp along two routes. Now Sima Yi had really feared that he would fall victim to some ruse of Zhuge Liang’s, so he had arranged for news to be sent to him constantly along the road. He was urging his men to fight when a messenger galloped up to say that two forces of Shu were making for his camp.
Turning pale with fright at the news, Sima Yi said to his officers, “I knew Zhuge Liang was up to some trick, but you wouldn’t believe me. I have no alternative but to withdraw now our camp is at stake.”
Thereupon he collected his men and hastened to retreat. The men went hurriedly and fell to disorder. Zhang Yi came up behind, and routed them. Zhang He and Dai Ling, weakened now in strength, sought refuge among some byroads in the hills. So the men of Shu scored a major victory. They were further aided by Guan Xing from the rear.
Sima Yi hurried back to camp, having suffered heavy losses. But the men of Shu had already withdrawn. Gathering together his beaten army he rebuked his officers for causing the failure.
“How little you know of the art of war!” he cried. “You rely only on your blood-thirst valor. Now this is the result of your unbridled desire to go out and give battle. For the future I forbid you to act so impulsively. Whoever dares to disobey will definitely be punished by military law.”
Ashamed of their conduct, they quietly withdrew. In this fight the losses of Wei were very heavy—a great many soldiers were killed, and countless horses and weapons abandoned.
Zhuge Liang led his victorious army to camp and planned to advance still farther. Suddenly a messenger arrived from the capital with the sad news that Zhang Bao had died. Astounded, Zhuge Liang cried bitterly, tears streaming down his cheeks and blood gushing from his mouth, and he fell to the ground unconscious. The others helped him up and brought him back to consciousness. But he fell ill and had to keep to his bed. His officers were much moved by his deep sorrow for his men.
A poet lamented over this episode:
Fierce and valiant was Zhang Bao,
Striving hard to make a name;
Sad the gods should interfere
And withhold a hero’s fame!
Kongming wept his untimely end,
For he knew a warrior gone,
And he needed every helper;
His own strength was nearly done.
Zhuge Liang’s illness worsened. Ten days later he summoned several officers to his tent and said, “I feel too ill to lead the army. I think it’s better for me to return to Hanzhong for treatment. You must strictly keep this secret, or Sima Yi will certainly attack us.”
He issued an order to break camp that night, and the army retreated into Hanzhong forthwith. Sima Yi only heard of this five days later, whereupon he sighed deeply, “Zhuge Liang’s schemes are really as unfathomable as those of gods or spirits—he is too much for me.”
Then leaving the officers to guard the camp and various commanding positions, Sima Yi also marched homeward.
After the Shu army was settled in Hanzhong, Zhuge Liang went to the capital for treatment. Officials of all ranks came to greet him and escort him to his residence. The Second Ruler also came to inquire after his health and sent his own physicians to attend to the prime minister. So gradually he recovered.
It was autumn, the seventh month of the eighth year of Jian Xing in Shu. Cao Zhen, the commander of all forces in Wei, had recovered from his illness and he submitted a memorial to his ruler, which read:
“Shu has repeatedly invaded our borders and poses a grave threat to our country. If it is not destroyed, it will ultimately be our ruin. The autumn coolness is now here. The army is in good form, and it is the most favorable time for an attack on Shu. I propose to lead an army with Sima Yi and march into Hanzhong to exterminate this vile horde and free our borders from trouble.”
Pleased, the Emperor consulted Liu Ye on the feasibility of Cao Zhen’s proposal.
Liu Ye replied, “Commander Cao is right. If Shu is not destroyed now it will remain a great menace. Your Majesty should adopt his proposal.”
When he returned home, a crowd of officials flocked to inquire. “We’re told the Emperor has consulted you about an expedition against Shu. Do you think it’s feasible?”
“No,” said Liu Ye. “Shu is too difficult a country to invade—it would be a mere waste of men and arms, and of no benefit to the state.”
They could say nothing and left silently. Then one of them went to see the Emperor and said, “It is said that yesterday Liu Ye advised Your Majesty to wage war against Shu; but today he told us that Shu could not be attacked. He is deceiving Your Majesty. Why not summon him and question him?”
So the Emperor called in Liu Ye and asked him to explain.
He replied, “I have given the matter careful considerations and I think Shu cannot be attacked.”
The Emperor laughed. After a while Yang Ji left, and then Liu Ye said, “Yesterday I advised Your Majesty to attack Shu, which is an important policy of the state and should be divulged to nobody. The essence of a military move is deception. And there should be no leakage before the enactment of an operation.”
Then the Emperor understood, and thereafter Liu Ye was held in greater esteem. Ten days later Sima Yi came to court, and was shown Cao Zhen’s memorial.
Sima Yi replied, “The moment is opportune—I do not think there is any danger from Wu.”
Cao Zhen was created commander-in-chief of the western expedition, Sima Yi, second-in-command, and Liu Ye, chief counselor of the army. These three then took leave of the Emperor, and the army of 400,000 marched to Chang’an, from where they could hasten to Sword Pass and attack Hanzhong. Guo Huai and Sun Li also joined the expedition.
Reports of these developments were sent to the Shu capital. Zhuge Liang, then quite recovered, had been engaged in training his army on the special military formation known as “Eight-Gate Arrays.” All had learned the skill and were ready to attack the north.
When he heard of Wei’s invasion, he called in Zhang Ni and Wang Ping and said, “Take one thousand men to garrison the old road to Chencang to check the Wei army. I will come with reinforcements later.”
The two replied, “It is said the Wei army numbers 400,000, and they declare they have double that number. How can a thousand men hold back such a large force?”
Zhuge Liang replied, “I would like to give you more, but I fear it would be too hard for
the soldiers.”
The two officers stood staring at each other, not daring to undertake the task.
“If you fail I will not hold you responsible,” said Zhuge Liang. “Say no more, but be off quickly.”
The two officers pleaded with him, saying that if he desired to kill them he had better do it there, for they dared not go.
“How silly you are!” Zhuge Liang said with a laugh. “Of course I know what I’m doing when I tell you to go. I observed the stars yesterday, and I see there will be heavy rain this month. The army of Wei may consist of any number of men, but will they dare to venture into a mountainous area? So there is no need to send a large force and no harm will come to you. The main army will rest in Hanzhong for a month. When the enemy retreats, I will smite them. My rested army of 100,000 will be able to withstand their weary force of four times the number.”
This explanation satisfied them and they left joyfully. Soon after, Zhuge Liang led the main body out to Hanzhong, where he ordered officers at every post to lay in one month’s stock of firewood, fodder, and grain against the autumn rains. The army was allowed a month’s time for relaxation before the expedition, with food and clothing issued in advance.
When Cao Zhen and Sima Yi reached Chencang and entered the city, they could not find a single house. They questioned some of the local people, who said that Zhuge Liang had burned everything before he left. Cao Zhen proposed to advance along the Chencang road, but Sima Yi opposed this, saying that the stars foretold much rain during the month.
“Once we move deep inside the enemy’s land,” he added, “if we are always victorious all will be well. But if we lose, it won’t be easy to pull out and our men and horses will suffer. Better remain in this city and build what shelter we can against the rain.”
Cao Zhen followed his advice. Less than half a month later the rains began, and came down in a deluge, burying the surrounding country under three feet of water. The weapons were soaked, and the men could get no sleep. For thirty days the downpour continued. Many horses died due to lack of forage, and the men grumbled incessantly. Reports of this were sent to Luoyang, and the Emperor himself prayed for fine weather, but to no effect.
At this time, an official named Wang Su presented a memorial:
“It is mentioned in an earlier book of history that when supplies have to be conveyed from a long distance soldiers look starved—if firewood has to be gathered before a meal can be cooked then they are not fully fed when they go to bed. This applies to conventional expeditions on level land. If, in addition, the army has to march through a precipitous region where roads have to be constructed, the hardship is a hundredfold greater. Now this expedition is hindered further by soaking rain and steep and slippery hills. Our men’s movement is restricted and their supplies, coming from afar, can hardly be maintained. These factors are most detrimental to a military expedition.
“Cao Zhen has been away over a month yet has only crawled halfway through the Meridian Valley. As road-making is consuming all the energy of our men, the enemy will be able to press on our soldiers with their fresh forces. This is what soldiers dread most.
“Here I would like to cite examples from earlier times. When King Wu of old attacked the last emperor of the Shang Dynasty, he went out through the pass, but returned. In recent times, when your father and grandfather went to attack Sun Quan, they reached the Yangtze, and proceeded no farther. Were they not flexible in their tactics and acted according to circumstances? I entreat Your Majesty to consider the grave difficulties caused by the rain and call off this expedition to rest the officers and men. When another opportunity looms large in future, a new expedition can be launched. As the saying goes: ‘Show concern for the men in times of difficulties and they will defy death.’”
After reading it the Emperor could not make up his mind, but two more memorials of the same nature followed, and then he issued the command to call back the two generals.
Among the ranks of the army they were also discussing the abandonment of the expedition. Cao Zhen said, “We’ve had rain for a whole month. The men are downhearted and think only of going home. How can we stop them?”
Sima Yi replied, “We’d better return.”
“If Zhuge Liang pursues, how can we repulse him?”
“We can leave two troops in ambush to guard our rear before we depart.”
While they were discussing this matter the Emperor’s new order arrived. So the army faced about and slowly marched homeward.
Now Zhuge Liang had calculated that this month of rain would soon be over and so had personally led a force to camp in Chenggu before th weather turned fine. Then he ordered the whole army to assemble at Red Slope. In his tent he addressed the officers: “I presume the enemy will retreat, for their ruler will call them back. As they will be prepared for our pursuit, we will just let them leave and think of some other plans later.”
Soon Wang Ping sent news of the enemy’s retreat and the order of no pursuit was carried in return.
It is only labor lost to cover a retreat
When your enemy does not pursue.
By what means Zhuge Liang intended to defeat Wei will be told in the next chapter.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED
Cao Zhen Is Defeated in a Raid on His Camp by the Shu Army
Zhuge Liang Shames Sima Yi in Front of an Array
When the officers heard of Zhuge Liang’s order to not pursue the retreating Wei army, they argued, “The rain has driven the enemy away—surely this is the moment to pursue.”
Zhuge Liang replied, “Sima Yi is an able commander, and will not retreat without leaving an ambush to cover his back. If we pursue we’ll fall into his trap. Let him go in peace, and I will advance through Ye Valley to occupy Qishan, taking advantage of the enemy’s lack of defense.”
“But there are other ways of capturing Chang’an,” they said. “Why only take this route?”
“Qishan is the gateway to Chang’an. It is situated in an advantageous position. Any army from Longxi must pass this way. Besides, with the Wei River in front and Ye Valley behind, it gives the army the greatest freedom of movement. It is strategically valuable, so I want to seize it first.”
They bowed in admiration of his wisdom. Then he dispatched four officers to move from Qi Valley and four others from Ye Valley, all to meet at Qishan. He led the main army himself, with Guan Xing and Liao Hua in the van.
Meanwhile, Cao Zhen and Sima Yi were in the rear of their army, supervising the retreat. They sent a reconnaissance troop to the old road to Chencang, and the men returned to say that no enemy came to pursue. Ten days later the officers who had been waiting in ambush for the Shu army, also returned, declaring that they had seen no sign of the enemy.
Cao Zhen said, “This continuous autumn rain has rendered all the ways impassable—how could the men of Shu know of our retreat?”
“They will appear soon enough,” said Sima Yi.
“How do you know?”
“These days the weather has been fine yet they don’t pursue because they’re afraid of our men waiting in ambush. Therefore they let us get well away. But after we’re gone, they will occupy Qishan.”
Cao Zhen was not convinced.
“Why do you doubt my words?” asked Sima Yi. “I think Zhuge Liang will certainly advance through the two valleys. Let each of us guard the entrance of one valley. I give them ten days, and if they don’t appear, I will come to your camp dressed as a woman with a painted face to admit my mistake.”
“If the men of Shu do appear I will give you the jade girdle and the steed that the Emperor gave me,” replied Cao Zhen.
So saying they split their force, Cao Zhen taking up his position to the west of Qishan in the mouth of Ye Valley, while Sima Yi encamped to the east in the entrance to Qi Valley.
As soon as the camp was settled, Sima Yi led a small force into hiding in the valley. The remainder of the force was placed in detachments on the key roads. Then Sima Yi disguised himself and mi
xed among the soldiers to survey all the camps. At one of them he stopped as he heard a junior officer complaining, his eyes turned skyward, “The rain has drenched us for days and they would not retreat. Now they have halted here again just for a wager. They have no pity for us officers and men.”
Sima Yi returned to his tent and assembled his officers. Hauling out the grumbler, he said to him angrily, “The state keeps the army a thousand days inactive so that it can be used for a single service. How dare you give vent to your spleen to the detriment of the army’s morale?”
The man would not admit, so his comrades were called to bear witness. And he could not deny.
“I am not here for a wager, but to overcome Shu so that all of you can return with merit,” said Sima Yi. “You bring punishment to yourself by complaining improperly.”
He ordered the man to be put to death, and very soon the victim’s head was brought before him. The others were terrified.
Sima Yi said, “All of you must do your utmost to guard against the enemy. When you hear a bomb explode in the center, rush out on all sides and attack.”
At this order they withdrew.
Now Wei Yan and three others, leading 20,000 men, were advancing by way of Qi Valley. As they were marching, the advisor Deng Zhi arrived. They asked him the reason for his appearance.
“I bear an order from the prime minister: Beware of the enemy’s ambush as you go out of the valley. Don’t advance in haste.”
Chen Shi objected, “Why is the prime minister so full of doubts? I reckon the incessant rain has damaged the clothing and armor of the men of Wei and they must be anxious to return home. How can there be any ambush? If we move in double time we can gain a great victory. Why are we to delay?”
Deng Zhi replied, “You know the prime minister’s plans always succeed. How dare you disobey his orders?”
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 37