“You’re mistaken,” said Jiang Wei. “Before our late prime minister left his cottage, he had already envisaged the division of the empire into three kingdoms, but he led six expeditions to try to recover the northern land. Unfortunately he died leaving his design unaccomplished. But he bequeathed to me the legacy of this mission and I must carry on his unfinished task and devote myself to the country to be worthy of his trust. Even if I die in the attempt, I will perish without regret. Now Wei is in an unstable condition and if we miss the opportunity, when are we going to find another?”
“You’re right, General,” agreed Xiahou Ba. “We can first send some light cavalry to Fuhan from where to capture Nanan west of the Tao River. If that is taken, the whole district will be ours.”
Zhang Yi said, “We failed in the past because we delayed. The Art of War says, ‘Strike where the enemy is unprepared and appear where the enemy does not expect you.’ A speedy march and a sudden blow will take the Wei army by surprise—we will succeed this time.”
So Jiang Wei led 50,000 men out through Fuhan. When he reached the Tao River, spies of Wei reported his arrival to their chiefs. Wang Jing, governor of Yongzhou, at once raised an army of 70,000 to fight him. Jiang Wei gave certain instructions to Zhang Yi and Xiahou Ba, and after they had departed to carry them out, he drew up the main body, with the Tao River behind.
Wang Jing rode out to parley. “The three kingdoms are now securely established—why do you repeatedly invade our borders?”
Jiang Wei replied, “Sima Shi deposed your late Emperor without cause. And it behoves a neighboring country to punish such a crime, let alone an enemy country.”
Turning to four of his officers, Wang Jing said, “You see, Jiang Wei has drawn up his men with the river at their back so they must conquer or drown. Jiang Wei is bold, but you four go and fight him—and pursue if he retreats.”
The four rode out from two sides to fight with Jiang Wei, who stood up to only a few encounters and then turned back toward his own lines. At this, Wang Jing pressed on with his main body to smite him. Jiang Wei led his men toward the river. As they drew near the water, Jiang Wei shouted, “Danger is imminent, officers! Now do your utmost!”
Encouraged by his words, his officers turned on the foe and fought with such vigor that the Wei army was worsted. And, as the soldiers fled, Zhang Yi and Xiahou Ba fell upon their rear. The Wei army was completely trapped. In a splendid display of his prowess, Jiang Wei plunged into the Wei army and slashed left and right, throwing them into utter confusion. They trod each other down in their haste, and many fell into the river. The slaughter was tremendous and dead bodies lay about for several li. Wang Jing and several hundred followers got clear and fled to Didao, where they entered and closed the gates.
After Jiang Wei had rewarded and feasted his army, he decided to attack the city.
Zhang Yi again tried to dissuade him: “General, you have won a great victory and your fame is widespread. This is the time to stop. If not, things may not go as well, and it will be like ‘adding legs to your sketch of a snake’.”*
“No, I don’t think so,” said Jiang Wei. “In the past when our campaign failed we still desired to advance and conquer the north. This time the battle at the Tao River has broken the spirit of our opponents, and if we press forward I reckon we can easily take Didao. Don’t be so pessimistic.”
In spite of Zhang Yi’s repeated remonstrance, Jiang Wei decided to attack Didao.
At Yongzhou the Wei general Chen Tai was raising an army to avenge the defeat of Wang Jing when Deng Ai, Governor of Yanzhou, arrived with his force. Chen Tai welcomed him in, and Deng Ai told him that he had been sent by Sima Zhao to assist him. Chen Tai asked him what plan he had in mind.
Deng Ai replied, “After their victory at the Tao River, if they enlist the aid of the Qiang people to vie for the Guan and Long districts and also obtain the support of the four neighboring cities, it will be a disaster for us. But instead of that they now attempt to take Didao, which is too strongly fortified for them to overcome in a short time. They will only end up wasting their energy. Let’s deploy our forces along the Xiang Hills, and then advance and smite them. Then victory will be ours.”
“What an excellent plan!” cried Chen Tai.
Without delay Chen Tai chose twenty squads, each of fifty men, and ordered them to lie in ambush among the high hills and deep valleys to the southeast of Didao. Each squad was to move during the day but hide at night, carrying ensigns, drums, trumpets, and kindling material with them. When the enemy arrived, they were to beat drums and blow trumpets by day, while at night they were to raise fires and explode bombs to strike fear into the enemy. The twenty squads of men took the instructions and departed to wait for the men of Shu to come. Then Chen Tai and Deng Ai, each leading 20,000 men, also marched toward Didao.
In the meantime, Jiang Wei’s men had besieged Didao. For several days they tried in vain to storm the city from eight points, and Jiang Wei began to feel depressed, not knowing what other plan to employ. One evening scouts came galloping up to report the approach of two armies, led by Chen Tai and Deng Ai.
Disturbed by the reports, Jiang Wei called in Xiahou Ba for counsel.
Xiahou Ba said, “I have mentioned to you before, General, that Deng Ai has perfected his skills in the art of war and the knowledge of topography since he was but a young man. You will find him a tough enemy.”
“He has come from far away,” said Jiang Wei. “Let’s attack before he can get a foothold.”
So Zhang Yi was left to carry on with the siege of the city while Xiahou Ba set out to confront Chen Tai. Jiang Wei himself led his men to fight Deng Ai.
Before Jiang Wei had marched far, the stillness was broken by the roar of a bomb in the southeast, and at once there arose the rolling of drums and the blare of trumpets, followed by flames that shot up to the very sky. Jiang Wei rode forward to look and saw the ensigns of Wei all around.
Greatly startled, he cried, “I have fallen into Deng Ai’s trap!”
He sent orders to his two colleagues, telling them to withdraw immediately from Didao. Thus the men of Shu all turned back toward Hanzhong. Jiang Wei, who was in the rear covering the retreat, could hear the rolling of drums behind him throughout. But the enemy never attacked, and it was only when he entered the Sword Pass that Jiang Wei found out the real truth about the sounds and fires in the twenty places. He collected his men and camped in Zhongti.
For his services and success at the Tao River, Jiang Wei was rewarded with the rank of Da-jiang-jun (“Grand General”). Jiang Wei accepted the honorable title and expressed his gratitude to the Emperor in a memorial. Then he began again to talk of an expedition against Wei.
Remember enough is as good as a feast,
Having sketched a good snake don’t add legs to the beast;
And in fighting remember that others are bold,
And tigers have claws though their teeth may be old.
The outcome of the new expedition will be told in the next chapter.
Footnote
* A Chinese idiom describing an unnecessary move that spoils everything.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN
Deng Ai Outwits Jiang Wei
Zhuge Dan Raises an Army to Destroy Sima Zhao
Jiang Wei retreated to camp at Zhongti, while the army of Wei camped outside Didao. Wang Jing welcomed Deng Ai and Chen Tai into the city and thanked them for lifting the siege. Banquets were given in their honor and rewards were distributed among the officers and men. Then he sent a memorial to Cao Mao, Emperor of Wei, eulogizing the magnificent services of Deng Ai, who was duly rewarded with the titles, General–Pacifier of the West and Xiao-yu (Commandant) of East Qiang, with the authority to supervise the defense there. He and Chen Tai were to place their men around Yongzhou and Liangzhou.
After Deng Ai had submitted a memorial to express his gratitude to the Emperor, Chen Tai hosted a feast to congratulate him for his promotion, during which he said,
“Jiang Wei slipped off during the night. He has no more strength left and will never dare to return.”
“I think he will,” replied Deng Ai, smiling. “I can give you five reasons why he will.”
“What are they?”
“Although the men of Shu have withdrawn, they possess the advantage of having scored a major victory, whereas we are actually weakened by our recent setback. This is the first reason why they will return. Secondly, their soldiers are veterans trained by Zhuge Liang and are mobile, whereas our officers are constantly transferred around and our men inadequately trained. Thirdly, they often advance by water whereas we proceed on land, so that while their army moves at leisure and the men arrive fresh, ours are fatigued with marching. Fourthly, Didao, Longxi, Nanan, and Qishan are all places to be defended; so we have to divide our forces when we want to strike away from these cities, whereas they can come down upon any of these four sites with their whole army. Lastly, if they come out by way of Longxi and Nanan, they have the grain of the Qiang to depend upon, and if they choose to move from Qishan, they have the wheat there to feed their army. For these five reasons they will surely return.”
The clear vision of his colleague left Chen Tai full of admiration. “Sir, with your miraculous understanding of our enemies, I don’t think we need have any anxieties about them.”
From then on these two became very good friends in spite of the difference in their ages. Deng Ai began training the army daily, and garrisons were placed at all points where surprise attacks seemed possible.
There was feasting also at the Shu camp in Zhongti, and the occasion was taken to discuss a new military campaign against Wei.
But one of those present objected. “General, your repeated expeditions have not won complete victories. Moreover, the battle at the Tao River has convinced the men of Wei of your superior strength. Why should you try again? If anything goes wrong, you will lose all you have gained.”
Jiang Wei replied, “All of you think only of Wei’s vast land and large population and the difficulty of conquering this at present, but you don’t see there are five reasons for our victory.”
The assembly asked him what these were.
“In the first place the fighting spirit of the Wei army has been badly broken on the Tao River, while that of ours, although we retreated, is un-dimmed, for we have not lost a single man. Secondly, our men advance in boats and so will not be wearied physically; but their men come by land and have to march to meet us. Thirdly, our men are thoroughly trained, while theirs are a mere flock of crows, quite undisciplined. Fourthly, when we go out through Qishan we can seize upon the autumn wheat for food. Finally, they have to divide their force to defend various points, while we can concentrate our strength to attack any one point, and so they will find it difficult to bring up reinforcements. So if we miss this chance, can we hope for a better one?”
Xiahou Ba tried to warn him of the ability of his opponent. “Deng Ai is young but he is deep and crafty. In his new rank as General–Pacificier of the West, he has certainly taken great pains to secure the districts under his charge. Things will not be as they were before.”
“Why should I fear him?” cried Jiang Wei angrily. “You people should not extol the enemy’s strength and belittle our own power. My mind is made up. We will take Longxi first.”
No one dared to voice any further opposition. Jiang Wei himself led the first division, while the others followed in due order. Thus the army left Zhongti for the Qishan Mountains.
Before they reached Qishan scouts reported that the Wei army had already established nine camps in the mountains. Incredulous, Jiang Wei ascended a high point to verify this, and, surely enough, he saw the nine Wei camps stretching over the mountains like a huge serpent, with the rear of each closely linked to the front of the next.
“Xiahou Ba did not exaggerate,” he said. “The planning of those camps is excellent. Only my mentor, Prime Minister Zhuge, could have laid them out so well. Deng Ai seems to be no inferior to him.”
Returning to his own army, he said to his officers, “As they are prepared they must have anticipated our coming, and I think Deng Ai is here, too. Now I want some of you to hold the mouth of the valley and encamp. You are to send out daily reconnaissance parties of about a hundred riders, showing my banner. Every time you go out use flags and uniforms of a different color—blue, yellow, red, white, and black—in turns. While you’re thus engaged in diverting their attention, I will lead the main army to slip out of Dongting to seize Nanan.”
So he ordered Bao Su to camp in the valley while the main army marched toward Nanan.
As soon as Deng Ai heard that the Shu army would come out at Qi shan, he camped there with his colleague, Chen Tai, to make preparations. But days passed without anyone coming to offer a challenge. Only scouts were seen riding out to reconnoiter five times a day, but these returned after advancing ten or fifteen li. Deng Ai climbed up a hill to look. After a careful examination he hastened into the tent to speak to his comrade.
“Jiang Wei is not here. He must have gone to take Nanan by way of Dongting. These same scouts have been going to and fro for days, changing only their uniforms. Their horses look quite spent and the leading officers are certainly not the ablest. Therefore, General, you can lead your men to attack them and their camp will be broken. After that, go and occupy the Dongting road so that Jiang Wei will be unable to retreat. I’m going first to relieve Nanan by way of the Wucheng Hill. If I occupy that high point, Jiang Wei will try to take Shanggui. Near that place is a narrow and precipitous valley called Duan Valley, just the place for an ambush, where I will have two troops lying in wait for him. When he comes to take the Wucheng Hill, he will certainly be defeated.”
Chen Tai said, “I’ve been defending this region for over twenty years, yet I have never perceived so many of the military possibilities of the place as you do. Your calculations are wonderful. Please proceed with your plan and I will go and attack the enemy camp here.”
So Deng Ai and his army set out by double marches to the Wucheng Hill, where they camped. As the Shu army had not yet arrived, he gave secret instructions to his son Deng Zhong and another officer and sent them, each leading 5,000 men, to lie in wait in the Duan Valley.
In the meantime, Jiang Wei was marching from Dongting to Nanan. Near the hill he said to Xiahou Ba, “That is the Wucheng Hill. If we occupy that first we can gain a good vantage point over the city. But I fear that the artful Deng Ai must have already taken precautions to guard it.”
Just as he was worrying about this, there came the roar of a bomb from the hill, followed by the familiar sounds of war. Then flags and banners appeared, all of Wei, among which fluttered a yellow standard, bearing the name of Deng Ai. This was a great shock to the Shu army.
Almost at once veteran soldiers of Wei came rushing down from various points on the hill with such a momentum that the advance guard of Shu was badly mauled. Jiang Wei hurried to go to their help with his central force, but when he got near the soldiers of Wei had withdrawn.
Jiang Wei went to the foot of the hill and challenged, but the Wei army on the hill did not come down. The men of Shu began to hurl abuse at their enemy but they failed to provoke a fight. As the day waned Jiang Wei decided to retreat. At that moment, however, drums beat and horns blared furiously, yet still no troops descended the hill. Jiang Wei tried to ascend the hill, but its defenders hindered their advance uphill with a heavy discharge of stones. He held on till the third watch, when he again desired to pull out, but again there sounded the drums and horns.
Then he went down the hill to encamp, bidding his men build a barricade of wood and boulders. But amid resounding horns and drums, the men of Wei suddenly came down and disrupted the work. Chaos arose and the men of Shu retreated to their original camp.
The next day, Jiang Wei brought up many supply wagons to the hill and placed them in rows to form the nucleus of a camp to shelter his army. But in the night Deng Ai sent five hundred men, each
carrying a torch, to come down from two sides and set fire to them. A melee ensued, which lasted till dawn. Thus the attempt to erect a camp failed again and the men of Shu retreated.
“It seems Nanan is hard to capture,” said Jiang Wei to Xiahou Ba. “I think it’s better to seize Shanggui, which is the storehouse of Nanan. If that is taken, Nanan ought to fall.”
Leaving Xiahou Ba to camp by the hill, Jiang Wei led a force of veteran soldiers and bold officers toward Shanggui. They marched all night and by dawn they found themselves treading on dangerously rugged roads narrowly flanked by steep hills.
‘What’s this place?” Jiang Wei asked the guide, who told him that it was called Duan Valley.
“That is an ominous name!”* cried Jiang Wei in alarm. “It may mean ‘Blocking the Valley.’ And if a force blocked the mouth of the valley we would be in dire straits.”
While he was hesitating whether to proceed or not, his scouts came to report that clouds of dust were spotted behind the hills, which indicated an ambush. So he hastened to order retreat. But at that moment the two Wei troops under Deng Zhong and his colleague emerged to attack. Jiang Wei, alternately fighting and retreating, tried to get away. However, in front of him came thunderous shouting and Deng Ai himself appeared to reinforce his men, and the Shu army was sorely smitten by the joint attack of the three enemy forces. Fortunately Xiahou Ba arrived with an army and rescued Jiang Wei from the grave danger.
Jiang Wei desired to return to Qishan but Xiahou Ba said, “The camp there has been destroyed by Chen Tai. Bao Su was killed and the rest of the army has gone back to Hanzhong.”
Jiang Wei dared not proceed through Dongting, but retreated by some unfrequented paths in the hills. Behind them Deng Ai pressed hard in pursuit. Jiang Wei told the others to move ahead while he himself covered the retreat. Suddenly Chen Tai dashed out from the hills. With a loud cry, his men pushed forward and surrounded Jiang Wei. By then, the Shu commander and his horse were extremely fatigued. Although he tried hard to thrust left and right, he failed to break through. At this critical moment Zhang Ni, who had heard of his predicament, came to his rescue with several hundred cavalrymen and Jiang Wei managed to struggle his way free. Zhang Ni saved his commander, but he himself lost his life to enemy arrows. Finally Jiang Wei returned to Hanzhong.
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 53