As clear as those of former ages.
And he perceived the soul of He,
Already in the vale of gloom,
And knew the outer shell of Deng
Was hastening to an early tomb.
After recovering power, the ruler of Wei created Sima Yi prime minister and bestowed on him the Nine Gifts. Sima Yi refused these honors, but the Emperor insisted and would take no rejection. His two sons were made assistants to their father, and so all state affairs fell under the control of these three.
One day Sima Yi suddenly remembered that Xiahou Xuan, a relative of Cao Shuang’s, still commanded the Yongzhou region. In his position he might be a real danger, and must be removed. So Sima Yi issued an edict summoning Xiahou Xuan to the capital to discuss affairs.
When Xiahou Ba, uncle of Xiahou Xuan, heard about this, he was extremely alarmed. Taking his 3,000 soldiers, he started an uprising. As soon as this was known, Guo Huai led his army to suppress him. The two forces were soon posed face to face, and Guo Huai rode to the front and began to revile his opponent.
“How could you rebel against the ruling house, you who are a member of the royal family? The Emperor has never done you any harm.”
Xiahou Ba replied, “My father did a tremendous service to the state, but who is this Sima Yi that he has put to death the whole clan of my cousin Cao Shuang—and now he even attempts to destroy me? He is the one who will sooner or later usurp the throne. I am going to punish the rebel in the name of justice. What revolt is this?”
Provoked to anger, Guo Huai rode forward to attack, and Xiahou Ba whirled his sword and advanced to engage him. After less than ten bouts, Guo Huai fled in defeat. Xiahou Ba followed in pursuit, but suddenly he heard shouts in the rear and turned to see Chen Tai closing in to attack. At the same moment Guo Huai also turned back, and thus Xiahou Ba was caught between two enemy forces. Unable to fight back, he fled with heavy losses. As there was no alternative open to him, he set out for Hanzhong to desert to Shu.
When Jiang Wei was informed of his intention to surrender, he could hardly believe his ears. But he did not allow Xiahou Ba to enter Hanzhong until he had found out the whole truth. When he was finally taken before Jiang Wei, Xiahou Ba bowed and related the events in tears.
Jiang Wei said, “In the past Wei Zi left the court of Zhou and earned himself an everlasting fame. You, sir, have now come to assist in the restoration of the Hans, and you stand no inferior to your predecessor.”
A banquet was given in his honor. During the dinner Jiang Wei asked him, “Sima Yi and his sons are now the most powerful men in Wei. Do you think they have any intention to attack us?”
“The old rascal is planning to usurp the throne and has enough on his mind to worry about, without any outside campaigns. However, two young men in Wei have lately come to the front, and if they are given command of an army they will pose a great threat to your country, as well as Wu.”
“And who are these two?”
“One is named Zhong Hui, a native of Changshe and son of Zhong Yao. As a boy he was noted for being bold and smart. His father used to take him and his brother to the palace. Zhong Hui was seven and his brother a year older. Once, Cao Pi noticed that the elder boy was sweating and asked him the reason.
“‘I tremble with fear, and sweat pours out like milk,’ replied the elder boy.
“‘And why is it that you do not sweat?’ asked the Emperor to Hui.
“‘I tremble with fear, and sweat dares not appear,’ replied the boy.
“The Emperor was amazed at the extraordinary wit of the boy. When he grew a little older, the lad was interested in studying books on war and tactics, and became an able strategist. Both Sima Yi and Jiang Ji are impressed by his talent.
“The second man is Deng Ai, a native of Yiyang. An orphan from early childhood, he is, nevertheless, highly ambitious. Whenever he sees high mountains or big rivers he will point out those places where encampments can be made, provisions stored, or ambushes laid. People ridicule him, but Sima Yi admires his ability and has employed the young man as a military advisor.
“Deng Ai stammers when he speaks, and every time he addresses his master, he begins ‘Ai-Ai.’ Once Sima Yi made fun of him and asked, ‘You should call yourself Ai-Ai—how many Ais are there?’
“Deng Ai at once quoted a line of poetry and replied, ‘Oh phoenix, oh phoenix; and there is but one phoenix.’ This ready repartee shows the quickness of his intellect. He and Zhong Hui are much to be feared.”
Jiang Wei smiled. “I don’t think these youths are worth worrying about.”
Jiang Wei took Xiahou Ba to the capital to present him before the Second Ruler.
He said to the Second Ruler, “Sima Yi plotted the death of Cao Shuang and then tried to take Xiahou Ba’s life. So Xiahou Ba came to surrender. Now Sima Yi and his sons have supreme power. The ruler of Wei is weak and his kingdom is about to fall. I have been stationed in Hanzhong for several years. The army is strong and the supplies are ample. I would like to lead the imperial army, with Xiahou Ba as guide, to recover the northern land and restore the House of Han. Thus I can repay Your Majesty’s kindness to me and realize the late prime minister’s wish.”
But Fei Yi was opposed to his proposal for an expedition. “Lately, both Jiang Wan and Dong Yun died and the government lacks able counselors. We should wait for a good opportunity and not take any rash action at the moment.”
“No,” Jiang Wei objected. “Life is short. Our days flash by as a white steed races over a rift. If we delay like this, when are we to restore Han to its former glory?”
Fei Yi responded, “Remember the saying of the ancient strategist Sun Tzu: ‘Know yourself and know your enemy; then is victory assured.’ We’re in no way to be compared with the late prime minister, and where he failed, are we likely to succeed?”
Jiang Wei said, “I have lived in Longshang for a long time and know the Qiang people well. With their help, even if we do not recover the whole of the northern territory, we can at least conquer and hold everything west of Longxi.”
The Second Ruler here closed the discussion by saying to Jiang Wei: “Sir, as you desire to conquer Wei, do your best. Do not let the enemy dampen the fighting spirit of your men and fail my command.”
Having secured the Second Ruler’s consent, Jiang Wei left the court and departed with Xiahou Ba to Hanzhong to prepare for a new expedition.
“Let’s first send an envoy to the Qiang people to make a league with them,” said Jiang Wei. “Then march out by Xiping to get close to Yongzhou, where we will throw up two ramparts in the Qu Hills and garrison them so that they can support each other. Then we will store our supplies at Chuankou, and advance gradually according to the plan devised by the late prime minister.”
In the autumn of that year they sent two Shu generals, Gou An and Li Xin, with a force of 15,000 men, to construct the two fortifications. Gou An was to hold the fortress in the east and his colleague, the one in the west.
Wei scouts brought the news to Guo Huai in Yongzhou, who at once sent a report to Luoyang and at the same time dispatched Chen Tai with 50,000 men to oppose the men of Shu. When the Wei army arrived both the Shu officers led their men to meet it, but as they were outnumbered they retreated into their strongholds. The army of Wei laid siege and occupied the road that led to Hanzhong, cutting off their enemy’s supply route. So the men of Shu became short of food.
At this time, Guo Huai came with another force to see what progress his two lieutenants were making. At the sight of the enemy position he rejoiced exceedingly, and when he returned to camp he said to Chen Tai: “They’ve built their fortresses on high ground, which means they must be short of water and will have to come out to get it. Let’s alter the course of the water upstream and they will perish of thirst.”
So soldiers were set to work to divert the watercourse upstream, and the besieged were soon keenly aware of the anguish of thirst. Li Xin led out a force to try to obtain water, but although he f
ought fiercely he was at length worsted and had to retreat behind the ramparts. Meanwhile the soldiers were parched with thirst.
Gou An said, “Our commander’s army has still not arrived. I wonder what’s holding him up.”
Li Xin suggested: “Let me go forth to get help.”
So the gates were opened, and Li Xin rode out with several dozen cavalrymen to make a sortie. The men of Wei swarmed around to oppose them. Li Xin had to fight every inch of the way forward but eventually broke through alone, severely wounded. All his men had fallen.
That night, however, a strong north wind brought a heavy fall of snow, and the besieged were thus temporarily relieved from lack of water. They melted the snow and prepared food.
Li Xin, sorely wounded, plodded ahead through the western hills. After two days he met Jiang Wei. He dismounted, prostrated himself, and told him about the emergent situation.
Jiang Wei said, “I didn’t mean to come so late but I was waiting for the Qiang troops and so was delayed.”
Jiang Wei arranged to have Li Xin escorted back to Shu to nurse his wounds. Then turning to Xiahou Ba, he asked him if he had any plan to propose to relieve the siege at the Qu Hills.
Xiahou Ba replied, “If we wait for the Qiang army to come it will be too late to relieve our men in the Qu Hills. The men of Yongzhou, I think, must have all gone to besiege the two ramparts, leaving their city undefended. So I propose that you go to the Ox Head Hills behind Yongzhou, which will cause the Wei troops to hurry back to rescue Yongzhou and the siege at the Qu Hills can be lifted.”
“An excellent plan,” replied Jiang Wei with joy. And he set out for the Ox Head Hills.
When Chen Tai saw that Li Xin had escaped, he said to his chief, “Now that this man has got out he will try to get help from Jiang Wei, who will assume that all our forces are assembled here and will try to get to Ox Head Hills to attack our rear. Therefore I suggest, General, that you go to the Tao River and break their supply route, while I lead half of the force to go to the Ox Head Hills to engage them. They will retreat as soon as they know their supplies are threatened.”
Guo Huai agreed and marched secretly to occupy the Tao River, while his comrade went to the hills.
When Jiang Wei came near the Ox Head Hills he heard a great shouting from his men in front, and scouts reported that the road ahead was barred by the enemy. Jiang Wei himself rode forward to look.
There he saw Chen Tai, who shouted, “So you intended to attack Yongzhou, didn’t you? I have been waiting for you for a long time.”
Jiang Wei angrily rode forth to attack. His opponent advanced with a flourish of his sword, and they engaged. After only three bouts, Chen Tai ran away in defeat. The men of Shu pressed on, and the men of Wei retreated to the summit of a hill. Jiang Wei called back his men and encamped at the foot of the Ox Head Hills. Every day Jiang Wei challenged his enemy, but neither side won a decisive victory.
After several days of this Xiahou Ba said, “This is no place to stay long. We have been fighting against them without any result. I think the enemy is trying to hold us here while they employ some trick elsewhere. We’d better abandon this place first and formulate some other plans.”
Just then it was reported that Guo Huai had occupied the Tao River and closed their supply road. Greatly startled, Jiang Wei immediately told Xiahou Ba to march back first, while he himself covered the retreat. Chen Tai pursued with five divisions but Jiang Wei held the meeting point of the roads and kept them all in check. Chen Tai retreated into the hills, from where he ordered his men to shoot arrows and hurl stones down at the Shu troops. Jiang Wei was forced to retreat to the Tao River, where he was again attacked by Guo Huai. Jiang Wei led his men to fight this way and that, smiting as he went, but he was surrounded by more and more enemy troops. After a desperate effort he got away, but most of his men perished.
Jiang Wei hastened toward Yangping Pass. There he encountered another body of the enemy, at the head of which was a Wei general, who galloped forth, his sword ready to strike. This general had a round face, big ears, and a square mouth with thick lips. Below his left eye was a large, hairy mole. He was Sima Shi, elder son of Sima Yi.
“You brat, how dare you stand in my way?” yelled Jiang Wei furiously, as he rode forward with his spear set.
Sima Shi came forward to fight but was defeated in only three bouts. After driving him away Jiang Wei continued toward Yangping Pass. The guards there opened the gates to let him in. Presently Sima Shi also came to seize the pass. Suddenly, from two sides hidden bowmen started to shoot, ten bolts at each discharge. They were using the multiple-shot crossbows that Zhuge Liang had designed before he died.
A disastrous defeat would befall Shu
If not for the Minister’s ten-bolt bows.
What happened to Sima Shi will be told in the next chapter.
Footnotes
* Bamboo was used as writing material before paper was invented.
* An allusion to Cao Shuang, who would only be thinking about his property and hence would be unable to take Huan Fan’s advice.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT
Ding Feng’s Swordsmen Win a Victory in the Snow
Sun Jun Executes a Murderous Plan at a Banquet
At the end of the last chapter Jiang Wei met a force under Sima Shi, barring his way of retreat. How did Sima Shi get there? Let us explain. When Jiang Wei was trying to capture Yongzhou, Guo Huai had sent a flying messenger to the capital, whereupon the Emperor of Wei summoned Sima Yi for advice. It was then decided to send Sima Shi with 50,000 men to the city’s rescue.
On his way there, Sima Shi heard of the defeat of the Shu army. Thinking that his enemy was weak, he decided to deal them a further blow on their road of escape. So he followed Jiang Wei to Yangping Pass where, however, he was attacked by more than a hundred hidden bowmen armed with the multiple-shot crossbows designed by Zhuge Liang. Since his death, large numbers of these weapons had been produced. The multiple bolts were poisoned, making them especially deadly. Consequently the Wei losses were very heavy, and Sima Shi himself had a narrow escape.
In his rampart the Shu officer Gou An, lacking both water and grain, watched anxiously for the expected help. As it did not come he ultimately surrendered to Wei. And Jiang Wei, with a greatly reduced army, returned to Hanzhong.
Some time later Sima Yi fell ill and gradually his condition worsened. Feeling that his end was near, he called his two sons to his bedside to hear his last words.
“I have served Wei many years and reached the highest rank possible among ministers. People have suspected me of ulterior motives, which often troubled me. After my death you two are to run the government properly. Never forget my words! Be doubly careful!”
He breathed his last after he said these words. The sons informed the Emperor, who conferred high honors upon the deceased minister and advanced his sons to even higher military posts.
It is now necessary to return to events in the Kingdom of Wu. Sun Quan, the Emperor, had at first named his son Deng, whose mother was Lady Xu, as his heir. But Deng died, and the second son, born of Lady Wang, was chosen to be his successor. A quarrel arose between the new Heir Apparent and Princess Quan, who maligned him and intrigued against him, so he was set aside. He died of mortification. Then the third son was named heir to the throne, whose mother was Lady Pan.
At this time Lu Xun and Zhuge Jin were both dead, and the business of the government, great and small, was in the hands of Zhuge Ke, son of Zhuge Jin.
In the first year of the period of Tai Yuan, on the first day of the eighth month, a hurricane struck the land of Wu. The waves rose to a great height and the ground stood eight feet deep in water. At the tombs of the rulers of Wu, pines and cypresses were uprooted and blown to the southern gate of the capital, where they fell to the ground.
Sun Quan was frightened and fell ill. In the fourth month of the following year his illness became serious, whereupon he called in Zhuge Ke and Lu Dai to hear his last wishe
s. Soon after he died (A.D. 252), at the age of seventy-one. He had ruled in Wu for twenty-four years.
A hero, blue-eyed and red-bearded,
He called forth devotion from all.
For twenty and four years he reigned the east
Mighty as a dragon or a tiger.
Zhuge Ke immediately placed his late lord’s son Sun Liang on the throne, and the new reign was marked by the adoption of the title Jian Xing. A general amnesty was proclaimed. The late ruler received the posthumous style of “Great Emperor” and was buried in the Jiang Mausoleum.
When Sun Quan’s death was reported in the Wei capital, Sima Shi at once thought of attacking Wu. But his proposal was opposed by Fu Gu, who said, “Wu has the natural defense of the Yangtze River. The late Emperors launched several expeditions, but none succeeded. It is better for each kingdom to preserve its own borders.”
Sima Shi retorted, “The way of Heaven changes every thirty years. How can this three kingdom status quo remain forever? I am going to attack Wu.”
Sima Zhao supported his brother. “The occasion is most opportune. Sun Quan is newly dead and the present ruler is young and weak.”
Therefore an expedition was decided upon. Three armies were mustered, each with 100,000 soldiers. General Wang Chang was ordered to attack Nanjun; General Hu Zhen to seize Dongxing; and Marshal Guanqiu Jian to take Wuchang. Sima Zhao was put in over all command of the three armies.
In the twelfth month of that year the armies drew near the Wu frontiers and camped. Sima Zhao called together the three commanders to discuss the campaign. He said, “Of all the places in Wu, Dongxing is strategically most important. They have now built a great dam there, with two fortresses on its right and left to guard against assaults from Lake Chao behind the city. You must be cautious.”
Then he told Wang Chang and Guanqiu Jian to take 10,000 men each and place themselves to the right and left sides of Dongxing. They were to wait until the city had fallen, when they were to join the attack. Next he appointed Hu Zun leader of the van to command the rest of the forces. “Construct a floating bridge first to seize the great dam,” ordered Sima Zhao. “If you can capture the two fortresses you will have rendered a great service.”
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 49