Suddenly, a rider arrived with a message: "Zhao Zilong has come out of Yangping Pass to capture Chang'an." Blanching at the news of this new danger, Cao Pi ordered the army to return. His soldiers fled en masse. Southland troops pursued. Cao Pi ordered his men to abandon all articles for imperial use. As the dragon boat was about to enter the River Huai, drums and horns blasted in unison: a band of men headed by Sun Shao angled in for the kill, overwhelming the Wei troops who offered no defense. More than half perished, untold numbers by drowning. The commanders, by strenuous effort, managed to save the ruler of Wei.
Cao Pi made it to the north side of the Huai; but before he had moved thirty li, his boat came to a stretch where reeds soaked in fish oil had been set to burn. The fire raged downstream in the wake of the wind, whose force lifted the flames into the sky. The boat was cut off. Terrified, Cao Pi went down into a smaller craft and rowed for shore. His dragon boat had already gone up in flames.
Cao Pi hurriedly mounted, but on land another company—this commanded by Ding Feng—intercepted him. Cao Pi's veteran general, Zhang Liao, raced to his lord's defense, but an arrow shot by Ding Feng struck him in the torso. Xu Huang rescued Zhang Liao, and the two saw the ruler of Wei to safety. The northern army suffered untold losses. Behind them Sun Shao and Ding Feng made off with horses, carriages, boats, and weapons—who could know how many? The Wei troops went back badly defeated. Xu Sheng, the triumphant southern commander, was richly rewarded by Sun Quan. Zhang Liao returned to Xuchang, where he passed away from the open arrow wound. Cao Pi buried him with honors. Of this no more need be said.23
Zhao Zilong had led his men out of Yangping Pass, when an unexpected letter from the prime minister recalled him to the capital. The letter explained that Yong Kai, a veteran commander of Yizhou, was plundering in the four southern districts of the Riverlands in collusion with the king of the Man nation, Meng Huo, at the head of one hundred thousand soldiers. Kongming added that he was ordering Ma Chao to hold Yangping Pass while he personally conducted the war against the Man. Zhao Zilong at once regathered his soldiers and returned to Chengdu where Kongming was preparing the new campaign. Indeed:
First, we found eastern Wu at war with northern Wei;
Next, western Shu was fighting the Southern Man.
How would the campaign turn out?24
Read on.
87
The Prime Minister Musters a Massive Force and Conquers the Southern Rebels;
The Man King Leads a Heaven-defying Army and Is Captured for the First Time
From the Riverlands capital of Chengdu, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang administered the government, personally handling affairs of state, whether great or small, in a spirit of fairness. The inhabitants of the region welcomed the reign of peace; a climate of honesty and mutual trust prevailed, and fortune favored the land with generous harvests several years in a row. Both old and young tapped their contented bellies rhythmically as they rejoiced in song. Compulsory labor service was eagerly undertaken, with the result that the army was amply supplied and the granaries and treasury overflowed.
In the third year of Jian Xing1 a bulletin came to Yizhou announcing, "Meng Huo has led one hundred thousand Man tribesmen across our borders to plunder the villages. Governor of Jianning, Yong Kai, a descendant of Yong Chi, lord of Shifang under the Han, has leagued himself with Meng Huo. The governor of Zangge district, Zhu Bao, and the governor of Yuesui, Gao Ding, have already delivered their cities to the rebels. The governor of Yongchang, Wang Kang, remains loyal, but Meng Huo is attacking Yongchang, guided by the three rebel governors; meanwhile, Wang Kang and his deputy, Lü Kai, have rallied the population in a stout defense of Yongchang. Their situation is critical."
Kongming entered the court and addressed the Second Emperor: "I shall go in force to suppress the Southern Man whose recalcitrance threatens the security of the dynasty." The Emperor replied, "What shall I do, prime minister and second father, if, after you have gone, Sun Quan strikes from the east or Cao Pi from the north?" Kongming answered, "We have recently made peace with the Southland, so they're not likely to break faith. But if they do attack, Li Yan in Baidi will be able to hold off Lu Xun. As for Cao Pi, he has no ambition to move after his latest setback. But again, just in case, Ma Chao controls the key points in Hanzhong. You need not worry. In addition, I will leave Guan Xing and Zhang Bao in command of two support contingents to assure Your Majesty that nothing will go wrong. After I have made the region of the Southern Man safe, I will lead an expedition north to recover the heartland—this, to repay the late Emperor for the love and trust he showed by making three visits to my cottage in Longzhong and by placing you in my care."
The Second Emperor said, "I am too young to be wise. Act on your own judgment, prime minister and second father." As he spoke, a man stepped forward to protest. The assembly turned to Court Counselor Wang Lian (Wenyi) of Nanyang. "The south," he said, "a far-off wilderness of rampant pestilence, is no place for the prime minister, given his paramount position, to campaign. Yong Kai is a superficial problem; the prime minister needs but a single general to suppress him." "The territory of the Southern Man," Kongming replied, "lies too far from our kingdom to be affected by the civilizing influence of the imperial court. To win their allegiance I must first subdue them, and the required combination of harsh and lenient tactics is not to be lightly entrusted to anyone else."2
That day, notwithstanding Wang Lian's repeated appeals, Kongming took leave of the Emperor. He ordered Jiang Wan to serve as his adjutant, Fei Yi as his senior officer, and Dong Jue and Fan Jian as staff officers. Zhao Zilong and Wei Yan were made his chief generals and had overall command; Wang Ping and Zhang Yi were their lieutenants; and there were several dozen Riverlands commanders as well. In all, five hundred thousand Riverlands soldiers were mobilized for the march to Yizhou.
Unexpectedly, Guan Suo, Lord Guan's third son, came to see Kongming in camp. "Since escaping the Jingzhou catastrophe," he said, "I've been recuperating at Bao Hamlet. Many a time, aiming to avenge my father's murder, I wanted to go to the Riverlands and present myself to the late Emperor, but my wounds did not heal and I was unable to make the journey. After my recent recovery, however, I learned that all our Southland enemies had been put to the sword. I therefore came directly west to be received by the Emperor. By luck, I met up with the southern expedition and have taken the opportunity to present myself to Your Excellency." Deeply touched by Guan Suo's story, Kongming informed the court and then gave Guan Suo command of the vanguard. Thus, Guan Suo joined the southern expedition. The vast army proceeded in well-organized sections with ample food and drink at its disposal; it rested nights and moved on at daybreak, never disturbing the people along the way.
On the news that Kongming was advancing in force, Yong Kai conferred at once with Gao Ding and Zhu Bao. The rebels formed three armies: Gao Ding took the center, Yong Kai the left, and Zhu Bao the right. With fifty or sixty thousand each, they went forward to meet the prime minister's force. Gao Ding had E Huan take the vanguard. E Huan, a man some nine spans tall with a crude, ugly face, wielded a halberd with double side blades and had the courage to fight against any odds. Commanding his own men, he left the main camp and set out to engage the Riverlands soldiers.
Kongming's host reached the Yizhou boundary. On entering the border zone, Vanguard Commander Wei Yan and his lieutenants, Zhang Yi and Wang Ping, encountered E Huan. The two units maneuvered into opposing positions, and Wei Yan rode forth to condemn the rebels. "Surrender quickly," he shouted. E Huan lashed his mount and closed with Wei Yan. After a short encounter, Wei Yan fled, feigning defeat, and E Huan followed in swift pursuit. A brief chase ensued, cries of war rent the air, and two armies, Zhang Yi's and Wang Ping's, closed in, cutting off E Huan's retreat. Wei Yan reversed direction, and the three commanders put up a stout fight and captured E Huan, whom they delivered in bonds to the main camp.
Kongming ordered the captive untied, offered him food and drink, and asked, "Whose subordi
nate are you?" "Gao Ding's," E Huan replied. "I know him," Kongming said, "a loyal and honorable man—whom Yong Kai has led astray and into rebellion. I shall release you now so you may get Governor Gao Ding to resubmit to our authority and spare himself the gravest consequences." Prostrating himself in gratitude, E Huan returned to Gao Ding and told him of Kongming's mercy. Gao Ding, too, felt enormous gratitude.
The next day Yong Kai came to Gao Ding's camp. After the formalities Yong Kai asked, "How did E Huan manage to get back?" "Zhuge Liang freed him on his honor." "A trick to turn us against each other," Yong Kai said. Gao Ding, uncertain what to believe, hesitated to act. Suddenly it was announced that a Riverlands commander was issuing a challenge. Yong Kai, leading thirty thousand, went forth, but he turned and fled after engaging briefly. Wei Yan pursued boldly for a distance of twenty li, killing many. The next day Yong Kai returned to the field seeking combat. Kongming stayed behind his lines for three days. On the fourth day Yong Kai and Gao Ding, leading two armies, converged on the Riverlands base camp.
Kongming ordered Wei Yan to form two armies and lie in wait for a two-pronged attack. When Yong Kai and Gao Ding finally appeared, Wei Yan's ambush took a heavy toll in casualties and prisoners. The latter were escorted to Kongming's camp. Kongming had Yong Kai's men held on one side, Gao Ding's on the other. Rumors were spread among them to the effect that Gao Ding's men would be spared, Yong Kai's killed.
A while later Kongming summoned Yong Kai's men to his command tent and asked them whose unit they belonged to. "We are Gao Ding's men," they all responded. Kongming ordered them spared. He supplied food and drink, had them escorted back to the border, and freed them to return to their camp. Next, Kongming summoned Gao Ding's men; all declared themselves unquestionably Gao Ding's men. Again Kongming spared them and granted them food and drink. Then he informed them, "Today I received a man from Yong Kai who wanted to establish his merit by presenting the heads of Gao Ding and Zhu Bao. I did not have the heart to accept. Since you men serve Gao Ding, I shall let you go back. Do not rebel again. If I catch you, you will not be forgiven so lightly." The soldiers prostrated themselves and departed gratefully.
When the returning captives told Gao Ding what Kongming had said, Gao Ding sent a spy to Yong Kai's camp to gather information. The spy found Kongming's kindness widely praised and most of Yong Kai's men inclined to adhere to Gao Ding. Nevertheless, Gao Ding, still not convinced he should submit to the prime minister, sent another man to Kongming's camp to gather information. This spy was apprehended and taken to Kongming, who purposely mistook him for one of Yong Kai's men. Calling the spy inside, Kongming said, "Your chief commander promised me the heads of Gao Ding and Zhu Bao. Why have you missed the date? A good spy can't afford to be so careless!" The man answered evasively. Kongming offered him food and wine and then drafted a secret communication. "Take this to Yong Kai," Kongming said, entrusting the letter to the spy. "Tell him to act before it's too late." The spy prostrated himself in gratitude and departed. He delivered Kongming's letter to Gao Ding and imparted to him all Kongming had said concerning Yong Kai.
Angered by the letter, Gao Ding said, "I dealt with him in all sincerity, and now he tries to murder me. It is too much!" He called E Huan, who said, "To ignore a man of humanity like Kongming would be bad luck. All our conspiracies were instigated by Yong Kai. We are better off killing him and joining with Kongming." "How to proceed?" Gao Ding asked. "Hold a banquet," E Huan replied, "and invite Yong Kai. If he is sincere, he will come without hesitation. If he won't come, he means to betray us. My lord, attack him from the front. I will be waiting in hiding behind the camp. Yong Kai can be taken!"
Gao Ding invited Yong Kai to a banquet. But Yong Kai did not come, his fears stirred by the returnees' tales of the favor Kongming had shown those claiming to be Gao Ding's men. That night, his suspicions confirmed, Gao Ding led the raid on Yong Kai's camp. Most of the men Kongming had spared and released, mindful of their debt to Gao Ding, joined the raiders. Yong Kai's forces went to pieces without a fight, and he fled into the hills.
Yong Kai had traveled less than two li, when a band of soldiers burst into the open amid loud volleys of drums. It was E Huan, his halberd held high. He charged forward, catching Yong Kai off guard, speared him, and cut off his head. Yong Kai's force surrendered to Gao Ding, and Gao Ding led Yong Kai's army and his own in surrender to Kongming, to whom he delivered Yong Kai's head.
Seated royally in his command tent, Kongming ordered his guards to remove and behead Gao Ding. Gao Ding protested, "Out of gratitude for Your Excellency's mercy I have surrendered bearing Yong Kai's head. Why execute me?" Kongming laughed loudly and said, "A false submission! Do you dare to fool me?" "What makes Your Excellency think that?" Gao Ding replied. Kongming drew a letter from a container and showed it to Gao Ding, saying, "I have a secret letter from Zhu Bao offering submission and stating that you and Yong Kai are friends to the death. How could you up and kill him? That's how I know you're lying." Defending himself against this unjust accusation, Gao Ding said, "That's Zhu Bao's ruse. Do not believe it, Your Excellency." "I am reluctant to rely on a one-sided report—but catching Zhu Bao for me would prove your sincerity." Gao Ding responded, "Have no doubt, Your Excellency. I will bring him to you." "It would quiet my suspicions," Kongming said.
Gao Ding led E Huan and his troops toward Zhu Bao's base. When they had come to within ten li of the perimeter, a band of soldiers emerged from behind a hill. The leader, Zhu Bao, tried desperately to talk to Gao Ding, but the latter denounced him: "How could you write to Prime Minister Zhuge to turn him against me?" Zhu Bao stared dumbly back, unable to answer. Suddenly E Huan swung round behind Zhu Bao and cut him down with a thrust of his halberd as Gao Ding shouted, "Whoever resists dies!" Zhu Bao's men prostrated themselves in a body and surrendered. Gao Ding led the two armies before Kongming and delivered Zhu Bao's head to his tent. Kongming laughed aloud. "You have proved your loyalty by killing those two rebels, which is what I wanted," he said, and he made Gao Ding governor of Yizhou with overall authority in three districts; E Huan was made the governor's garrison commander. Thus, the three rebellions were quelled.
After these events Wang Kang, governor of Yongchang, welcomed Kongming into the city, receiving him outside the walls. On entering, Kongming asked, "Who helped you defend against the rebels?" "Yongchang's safety," Wang Kang replied, "was ensured entirely by a man from Buwei, Lü Kai (styled Jiping). He made it all possible." Kongming summoned Lü Kai. After the formalities of introduction Kongming asked him, "You have long been known to me as a wise scholar of Yongchang. Your help was a boon to the city. My desire now is to pacify the region of the Man tribes. Have you any advice for me?" Lü Kai showed Kongming a map and said, "From my first day in office I have known the Southern Man intended to rebel, so I sent a secret agent into their territory to investigate key sites for posting troops and for combat operations. I have made a chart entitled 'A Handy Guide for Pacifying the Man. ' Today I venture to tender it, my lord, for whatever it may contribute to Your Lordship's campaign." Delighted, Kongming appointed Lü Kai military instructor and official guide. And so Kongming next led his army in a broad advance deep into the country of the Man.
During the march a messenger from the Son of Heaven suddenly arrived, and Kongming had him shown into the main tent. The man, Ma Su, entered wearing a white robe. (He was in mourning for Ma Liang, his older brother.) Ma Su said, "I bear His Majesty's command to give wine and silk to the soldiers." Kongming provided for the men in strict compliance with the edict he had received. He then detained Ma Su for an informal chat.
"The Son of Heaven has charged me to subdue the lands of the Man. For many years I have heard men speak of your wisdom, and I crave your counsel now." Ma Su replied, "I will venture one opinion, which I hope Your Excellency will consider. The Southern Man depend on their remoteness and inaccessibility in defying us. Even if you conquer them today, they will rebel tomorrow. Your Excellency's host will no doubt prevail; but af
ter you have marched home and gone to war against Cao Pi, the Man will rebel the moment they learn the Riverlands is vulnerable. Follow the law of warfare: 'The enemy's mind is more important than his city: psychological struggle is superior to armed struggle. ' I should think it sufficient for Your Excellency to subdue the minds of the Man." Kongming sighed as he said, "Ma Su, I am an open book to you." He appointed Ma Su military adviser and resumed the march south.
Learning of Kongming's ingenious defeat of his ally Yong Kai, the king of the Man, Meng Huo, gathered his chieftains from the three hollows. The chieftain of the first, Jin-huansanjie, of the second, Dongtuna, and of the third, Ahuinan, all came before Meng Huo, who said to them, "Prime Minister Zhuge has come into our territory with a mighty host. We must join forces to resist him. Divide yourselves into three armies and advance. The victor will rule the hollows." Meng Huo assigned the center route to Jin-huansanjie, the left to Dongtuna, and the right to Ahuinan. Each had fifty thousand Man soldiers and proceeded as ordered.
Kongming was deliberating in camp when a scout excitedly informed him that three Man armies under their chieftains were approaching from three directions. Kongming summoned Zhao Zilong and Wei Yan but gave them no orders. Next, he called Wang Ping and Ma Zhong and charged them: "I would prefer sending Zhao Zilong and Wei Yan against the Man, but neither knows the terrain well enough. I want Wang Ping to stand against their left army, and Ma Zhong against their right. Zhao Zilong and Wei Yan will reinforce you. Prepare for battle now and set out at dawn." The two men left to perform their mission.
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