In his alarm Sima Zhao turned to Jia Chong for advice. “Deng Ai presumes upon his merits and has become very arrogant. He makes decisions on his own and ignores my orders. It is evident that he is going to revolt. What is to be done?”
“Why not confer high ranks on Zhong Hui to control him?” replied Jia Chong.
Sima Zhao accepted the suggestion and issued an edict raising Zhong Hui to the rank of Si-tu. At the same time he ordered Wei Guan to inspect the troops of both Deng Ai and Zhong Hui. He also wrote privately to Wei Guan, asking him to collaborate with Zhong Hui and keep a watch upon Deng Ai, to guard against his attempt to revolt.
The edict sent to Zhong Hui read as follows:
General Zhong Hui, Defender of the West, is invincible against any enemy, whose strength, mightier than all, conquers every city, and from whose wide net no one escapes. Even the arrogant commander of the Shu army humbly submitted to him. His plans never fail and his undertakings always succeed. Therefore he is hereby promoted to the rank of Si-tu and marquis of a fief of 10,000 households. His two sons are to be ennobled with a fief of one thousand households each.
After receiving the edict Zhong Hui called in Jiang Wei and said to him, “Deng Ai has rendered a greater service than me and has been created a Tai-yu, but now Sima Zhao suspects him of rebellion and has ordered Wei Guan to superintend his army and send an edict to me to keep him in check. Have you any superior advice for me, Bo-yue?”
Jiang Wei replied, “They say Deng Ai came from a family of humble origins and in his youth he tended cattle. Now due to some good luck he managed to win this great merit by climbing cliffs to cut across Yingping. This is not the result of his able plans but the good fortune of the state. How could he have succeeded if you, General, had not been compelled to hold me in check at the Sword Pass? He now wants the Second Ruler of Shu to be created Prince of Fufeng so as to win the hearts of the people of the west. Isn’t it obvious that he intends to rebel, even though he does not openly declare it? The Duke of Jin has every reason to suspect him.”
Zhong Hui was much pleased to hear these words. Jiang Wei continued, “Please send away your attendants. I have something to say to you in private.”
When they were alone, Jiang Wei drew a map from his sleeve and spread it before Zhong Hui, saying: “At the time when he had left his cottage, the late Marquis of Wu (Zhuge Liang) gave this to the First Ruler of Shu and told him that Yizhou was well-fitted to be an independent state, with its thousand li of fertile land and its prosperous population. Following his advice the First Ruler set up the Kingdom of Shu in Chengdu. Now that Deng Ai is there it is small wonder that he has lost his balance.”
Zhong Hui, exhilarated, asked many questions about the features of the hills and rivers, and Jiang Wei explained in full.
“How can we get rid of Deng Ai?” asked Zhong Hui in the end.
“The Duke of Jin is now having serious doubts about him,” replied Jiang Wei. “You can take this opportunity and send a memorial at once to report Deng Ai’s rebellious behavior. The duke will order you to suppress the rebel and you can easily destroy him.”
Zhong Hui took the advice and immediately sent a messenger to Luoyang to deliver a memorial, which said that the revolt of Deng Ai was but a matter of time and accused him of monopolizing power, acting arbitrarily, and befriending the men of Shu. At this news the court was much disturbed. Then to support his charges, Zhong Hui had his men intercept Deng Ai’s memorial to court and rewrite it in his handwriting with arrogant and rebellious language. This forged memorial greatly angered Sima Zhao, who at once sent someone to Zhong Hui, commanding him to go and arrest Deng Ai. Next he sent Jia Chong to lead 30,000 men to Ye Valley, with he himself and the Emperor of Wei personally taking part in the expedition.
Shao Ti said, “Zhong Hui’s army outnumbers that of Deng Ai by six to one and is quite sufficient to arrest Deng Ai. Why is it necessary for Your Lordship to go, too?”
“Have you forgotten what you said before?” said Sima Zhao, smiling. “You said Zhong Hui would be a danger one day. My purpose in going is not because of Deng Ai, but for Zhong Hui.”
“I feared lest you had forgotten,” said Shao Ti, also smiling, “so I ventured to remind you. But the matter must be kept secret.”
The expedition set out. Jia Chong by this time also grew suspicions of Zhong Hui, and he spoke of his fears in secret to Sima Zhao, who replied, “If I sent you to deal with Deng Ai, should I doubt you then? All will be clear when I get to Chang’an.”
Sima Zhao’s arrival at Chang’an was reported to Zhong Hui, who at once called in Jiang Wei to consult him about how to capture Deng Ai.
Here in Shu he was victorious, an Emperor had to yield;
There from Chang’an came a mighty army, he the victim would be.
Jiang Wei’s plan to arrest Deng Ai will be related in the next chapter.
Footnotes
* Written by Li Shang-yin (A.D. ?813–?858), a well-known poet from the late Tang Dynasty. In the poem, Guan and Zhang refer to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.
* Shu, or modern Sichuan in southwestern China, is a major producer of well salt.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN
A False Desertion Ends in a Vain Attempt
A Second Abdication Imitates the First
When asked about a plan to arrest Deng Ai, Jiang Wei said, “First send the army inspector Wei Guan to arrest Deng Ai. If Deng kills Wei, it will show his revolt. Then you, General, can lead your army to suppress him.”
Hence Wei Guan was ordered to leave for Chengdu with several dozen followers to arrest Deng Ai and his son. Wei Guan’s own men saw through what was behind this order and urged him not to go, but he assured them that he knew what to do.
Wei Guan prepared a written command to Deng Ai’s officers, which said, “I have an edict to arrest Deng Ai, but not the other officers. If you come over to my side quickly you will be rewarded. Those of you who dare to stay behind will be exterminated with their entire clans.”
A score or so copies of this command were sent to Deng Ai’s subordinates. Then Wei Guan prepared two cage carts and at once started toward Chengdu.
The written command proved very effective. By cockcrow, all those who had read it went to bow before Wei Guan. Deng Ai was still asleep when Wei Guan rushed into his residence, crying, “I have orders to arrest Deng Ai and his son!”
Deng Ai was so startled that he tumbled off his bed. In a minute he was seized, securely bound, and pushed into one of the prison carts. Deng Ai’s son came out to inquire, but was also made prisoner and thrust into another cart. This sudden action shocked the officers and officials at the house, who were on the point of snatching their commander from his captors when they saw swirls of dust outside and scouts reported that Zhong Hui’s army was close at hand. They scattered to flee.
Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei dismounted at the gates and entered the house, where they saw both the Dengs bound. Zhong Hui whipped Deng Ai on the head and face and abused him: “You cowherd! How dare you?”
Jiang Wei also cursed: “See what your adventure has brought you today, you fool!”
Deng Ai also cursed them in return. Zhong Hui sent both the prisoners to Luoyang and then entered Chengdu. He absorbed all Deng Ai’s men into his own army, and became all the more powerful.
“Today at last I have attained the dream of my life,” said Zhong Hui to Jiang Wei.
Jiang Wei replied, “Han Xin did not heed Kuai Tong’s advice and so lost his life at the Weiyang Palace;* Wen Zhong would not follow Fan Li’s advice to retire on the five lakes and ended in dying under his own sword.† Both of them had attained very high positions, but they did not scent danger early enough and hence failed to take timely actions. Now you have won the most glorious accomplishment and your prestige overshadows that of your master. Why not sail off in a boat and disappear? Why not go to Mount Ermei and wander freely with the immortal Chi Song-zi?”‡
“No, I don’t think so,” replied Zhon
g Hui with a smile. “I’m not yet forty, and I should be thinking of moving ahead. How could I follow the leisurely life of a hermit?”
“If so, then you must quickly plan your course well. You’re wise enough to do that and don’t need an old fool like myself to tell you.”
Clapping his hands and laughing, Zhong Hui said, “How well you read my thoughts, my friend!”
From then on, the two became daily absorbed in planning their grand scheme. Jiang Wei secretly wrote a letter to his former lord, asking the Second Ruler of Shu to put up with humiliation for a few more days, and assuring him that he would turn danger to the throne into safety and let the sun and moon emerge out of dark clouds and shine again. “I will never allow the House of Han to be wiped out!” he declared at the end of the letter.
While Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei were planning a revolt against Wei there suddenly arrived a letter from Sima Zhao. Zhong Hui took the letter, which said: “I am afraid you may not be able to subdue Deng Ai so I have camped my army at Chang’an. This is just to inform you that we will meet soon.”
Zhong Hui became quite alarmed after reading this brief letter. “My army outnumbers that of Deng Ai greatly and if he only wants me to seize Deng Ai, he knows well enough that I could handle it easily. Now his appearing with an army means he suspects me.”
He again consulted Jiang Wei, who said, “When the master suspects his official, that official must die. Have you forgotten about Deng Ai?”
“My mind is made up,” replied Zhong Hui. “Success, and the empire is mine; failure, and I will retreat into Shu and I can be another Liu Bei.”
Jiang Wei said, “Empress Dowager Guo has died only recently. You can pretend she left you a command to destroy Sima Zhao, to punish him for the murder of the late Emperor. With your talents you will sweep clean the northern land.”
“Then you must be the van leader,” said Zhong Hui. “When success is ours we will share the glory and wealth.”
“I’m willing to render what little service I can offer,” said Jiang Wei. “But I’m afraid your officers may not agree.”
“Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival. We can have lanterns put up all over the former Shu palace for celebration and invite all the officers to a banquet. We will kill all those who refuse to follow us.”
His words filled Jiang Wei’s heart with a secret joy.
On the following day the officers were invited to the feast. After several rounds of wine, Zhong Hui suddenly lifted his cup and wept. All were surprised and asked him the reason for his grief.
Zhong Hui replied, “I have here an edict from the late Empress Dowager before her death, commanding me to punish Sima Zhao for his treasonous crimes of slaying the late Emperor at the south gate and plotting to usurp the throne. I want you all to put down your names and join me in this task.”
Astounded, the officers stared at each other, not knowing how to respond. Zhong Hui drew his sword and cried, “Whoever disobeys must die!”
All of them were intimidated and, one by one, they signed their names to pledge allegiance. As further security, they were all kept prisoners in the palace under careful guard.
“They are not really with us,” said Jiang Wei. “Please bury them.”
“I have ordered my men to dig a great pit in the palace,” replied Zhong Hui. “And I have thousands of clubs ready. Those who disobey will be clubbed to death and buried in the pit.”
Qiu Jian, one of his trusted officers, was present when he said this. He had once served under Hu Lie, who was among the imprisoned officers, and he secretly informed his former chief of Zhong Hui’s words.
Hu Lie wept and said, “My son is in command of a force outside the city. He will never suspect Zhong Hui capable of such a crime. I beg you to consider our old friendship and break the news to him. Then I will have no regrets, even if I die.”
“Have no anxiety, sir,” replied Qiu Jian. “Let me find a means to do that.”
He went to Zhong Hui and said, “My lord, you are holding the officers in captivity, and it is inconvenient for them to get food and water. Will you not appoint someone to supply their needs?”
Zhong Hui always listened to Qiu Jian, so he made no difficulty about this request. He told Qiu Jian to see to it himself, saying, “I am placing a great responsibility in you, and you must never let the secret out.”
“Rest assured, my lord. I know how to keep a strict watch.”
But he secretly confided in a close follower of Hu Lie’s. The man was given a letter, which he swiftly delivered to his master’s son, Hu Yuan, in his camp outside the city.
Much alarmed, Hu Yuan showed the letter to his colleagues in other camps and they were all enraged. They went to Hu Yuan’s tent to discuss the matter.
“We would rather die than obey a rebel,” they said.
Hu Yuan said, “We can make a surprise attack on the eighteenth day of the month.”
Then he explained in detail his plan, which won the support of the army inspector Wei Guan, who got his men ready and ordered Qiu Jian to inform Hu Lie what was afoot. Hu Lie told his fellow captives.
Now Zhong Hui had dreamed of being bitten by many serpents, and he asked Jiang Wei to explain this vision. Jiang Wei replied that dreams of dragons and snakes were exceedingly auspicious. Zhong Hui was only too ready to accept this interpretation.
“The clubs are all ready,” said Zhong Hui. “What about letting the officers out and question them?”
“They are opposed to us and will surely stir up trouble later. It’s better to slay them all quickly.”
Zhong Hui agreed and told Jiang Wei to take armed guards to execute the captives. But just as he was starting out, Jiang Wei was seized with a sudden pain of the heart, so severe that he fainted. The attendants helped him up but he did not revive until after a long while. Then suddenly a tremendous hubbub arose outside the palace. Zhong Hui at once sent someone to find out its cause, but at that moment cries of war shook the earth and multitudes of troops rushed up from every direction.
“That must be the officers in mutiny,” said Jiang Wei. “Slay them at once.”
But it was reported that the troops had already entered the palace. Zhong Hui ordered the gates to be closed and told his men to climb up to the roof to pelt the incoming soldiers with tiles. Dozens were slain on either side.
Then fire broke out on all sides outside the palace and the assailants broke open the gates. Zhong Hui drew his sword and slew several, but was shot by an arrow and he fell. His enemies hacked off his head.
Jiang Wei, taking his sword, ran up the hall and fought the enemy on every side. But unfortunately he suffered another heart spasm.
Turning to Heaven, he cried, “My plan has failed. This is the will of Heaven.”
These were his last words. He put an end to his life with his own sword. He was fifty-nine years old.
Several hundred were slain within the palace. Wei Guan presently ordered the soldiers to return to their various camps to await the orders of the Emperor. The soldiers of Wei, out of revenge, slit open the abdomen of Jiang Wei and found his gall as large as an egg. They also seized and slew Jiang Wei’s family members.
Seeing that Deng Ai’s enemies had perished, his former subordinates hastened to chase the cage carts to rescue him. When Wei Guan heard of this, he feared for his own life.
“I was the one who arrested him,” said Wei Guan. “If he gets free it means my death.”
Tian Xu said to him, “When Deng Ai took Jiangyou he wished to put me to death. It was only after the pleading of my comrades that he let me off. This is the moment for my revenge.”
So at the head of five hundred men Tian Xu went in pursuit of the cage-carts. He caught up with them at Mianzhu, where he found that the two prisoners had just been released from the carts and were on their way to Chengdu. When he saw Tian Xu, Deng Ai assumed that his own troops had come up, so he took no precaution to defend himself. Before he could ask any questions he was cut down by Tian Xu, whose me
n fell upon the son, Deng Zhong, and slew him also. Later a poem was written to lament over Deng Ai:
From early years he could scheme and plan;
He was an able commander as a man.
The earth could hide no secrets from his eye,
With equal skill he read the starry sky.
Mountains and hills cleft as his horse rode up
And roads opened when his troops arrived.
But foulest murder closed a great career,
His soul curls amid the mist o’er River Han.
A poem was also composed in lamentation for Zhong Hui:
Of mother-wit Zhong had no scanty share,
And in due time at court did office bear.
His subtle plans shook Sima’s hold on power,
He was well named the Zi-fang* of the hour.
At Shouchun he won renown for his schemes,
In Sword Pass he displayed his martial skills.
Ambitious, he would not in the hills roam;
Now his wandering spirit grieves for home.
Another poem, in pity of Jiang Wei, runs:
Tianshui boasted of a distinguished hero,
Liangzhou produced an unusual talent.
For ancestor he claimed the famed Jiang Shang,†
And in skill he was tutored by Zhuge Liang,
So valiant was he that he feared nothing,
Always pressing forward and never returning,
Grieved were the generals of Han
When he died in Chengdu that day.
And thus died three great warriors. Zhang Yi and some other officers also perished in the fight. Liu Rui, the Heir Apparent, and Guan Yi, grandson of Guan Yu, were both killed by Wei troops. A great confusion followed and there were clashes between the army and the people, resulting in numerous deaths.
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 63