Three Kingdoms

by Luo Guanzhong (Moss Roberts trans. )

  Cao Zhen had hardly entered his command tent to meet with his commanders, when the imperially authorized emissary, Master of Ceremony Han Ji, was announced. Cao Zhen welcomed him in front of his camp. After receiving the edict, he withdrew and took counsel with Guo Huai and Sun Li. With a smile Guo Huai said, "Sounds like Sima Yi's idea." "What do you think of it?" Cao Zhen asked. "It shows deep understanding of Zhuge Liang's methods of warfare. In the future Sima Yi will be the man to stop the Shu troops." "But what do we do if the Riverlands troops do not retreat?" Cao Zhen asked. "Then," Guo Huai answered, "we'll have secret orders sent to Wang Shuang to patrol the hill paths and stop the enemy from moving in grain. After their grain is gone, they will retreat, the tactical advantage will pass to us, and we will win a complete victory."

  Sun Li said, "I'll go into the Qishan hills with troops pretending to be moving grain— the carts will actually be carrying twigs and straw soaked with sulphur and saltpeter— and we'll spread word that the grain has arrived from Longxi. If the Riverlanders are out of food, they will come to seize the grain. Once they get among the carts, we'll set them afire and move in with troops already in hiding. Victory will be ours!" "A great plan!" Cao Zhen exclaimed and had Sun Li set the scheme in motion. At the same time Cao Zhen sent Wang Shuang to patrol the roads, posted Guo Huai to Winnow Basket Gorge and Jieting, and ordered the various commanders to reinforce all strongpoints. Finally, Cao Zhen had Zhang Liao's son Zhang Hu serve as the vanguard, with Yue Jin's son Yue Chen as his lieutenant, their task to guard the front position and prevent direct engagement with the western forces.

  Kongming remained in his Qishan camp. He sent men out every day to challenge the Wei troops, but he provoked no response. Kongming summoned Jiang Wei and others and said to them, "The enemy refuses to engage because they think we're out of grain. Nothing can be shipped through Chencang now, and the other roads are practically impassable. I doubt the grain we have with us will last another month. What are we to do?" At this moment of uncertainty there came an unexpected report: "The Wei army in Longxi is moving thousands of grain carts west of Qishan. The officer in charge is Sun Li." "What kind of man is he?" Kongming asked. A man of Wei told him, "He once accompanied the ruler of Wei on a hunt on Great Stone Mountain. Suddenly a tiger confronted them and charged the ruler. Sun Li dismounted and slew it with his sword. The ruler honored him as a senior commander. He is a man Cao Zhen trusts implicitly."

  With a smile Kongming said, "That report of grain carts is a trick. The Wei commander thinks we're running out of grain—they must have packed inflammable materials on the carts. Do they expect to fool someone like me, who has specialized in attacks by fire all his life? But if they think our troops have gone to raid the grain carts, then they will come to raid our camp. So we can beat them at their own game!"

  Kongming summoned Ma Dai and instructed him: "Take three thousand men to the Wei army grain depot. Do not enter the site; only set fires upwind. If the carts burn, the enemy will come to surround our camp." Next, he had Ma Zhong and Zhang Ni post five thousand men in a ring removed from the camp so that the enemy could be caught between them and the defenders within. The three—Ma Dai, Ma Zhong, and Zhang Ni— left to execute their orders. Kongming then instructed Guan Xing and Zhang Bao: "The enemy's forward position intersects the main roads. Tonight when fire breaks out on the west hill, they will raid our position. I want you two to lie in ambush on either side of the Wei camp. When their troops come out, attack." Next, Kongming instructed Wu Ban and Wu Yi: "Take one company each, hide outside our camp, and cut off their route back if they come." His deployment completed, Kongming rested, secure in the heights of the Qishan hills.

  Wei soldiers hurried back to Sun Li with the news that Riverlands troops intended to come for the grain; and Sun Li swiftly informed Cao Zhen. Cao Zhen ordered Zhang Hu and Yue Chen: "When you see fire west of the hills, it will mean Shu is coming to reinforce. Go into the field, and..." On these orders, the two front commanders sent men into the watchtower to look for the fire signal. Sun Li hid his troops west of the hills and waited for the Riverlanders.

  During the second watch Ma Dai approached with three thousand men. Both horses and men wore gags as they moved straight toward their destination. They noticed a large number of bannered carts clustered around the site in multiple rings. As a southwest wind began to blow, Ma Dai had his men set fires on the south side of the camp. The carts were consumed in flames that stretched into the sky.

  Sun Li thought that the fire he saw rose from within the Riverlands camp, and he moved in swiftly. Riverlands forces closed in on him from behind. As drumbeat and horn blast charged the air, Ma Zhong and Zhang Ni encircled the Wei troops. Sun Li panicked. He heard fresh shouts from inside the Wei army: a band of men emerged from the flames, led by Ma Dai coming out for the kill. Caught on two sides, the Wei army was badly defeated; men and horses fled the field in confusion, leaving countless casualties as the wind sped the flames. Sun Li, braving fire and smoke, led his mauled soldiers out and they ran from the battle.

  Meanwhile, Zhang Hu was ready in his camp. Seeing the flames, he opened wide the camp entrance and with Yue Chen led his forces against the Riverlands base—but it was deserted. As they began pulling back, Wu Ban and Wu Yi moved in and blocked all retreat. The northern commanders succeeded in charging through the enemy line and dashed back to their base, only to encounter swarms of arrows whizzing down at them from the wall: Guan Xing and Zhang Bao had already surprised the camp. The Wei army, totally routed, headed for Cao Zhen's camp. As they started to enter, Sun Li's defeated corps rode up and the two defeated commanders went in together. They came before Cao Zhen, and each told how he had been trapped. Cao Zhen heard them out, then mounted strict guard over his camp, refusing all battle. The victorious Riverlands troops returned to Kongming.

  Kongming conveyed secret plans to Wei Yan and subsequently had all positions decamp. Yang Yi objected. "We had a great victory," he said. "The Wei army is shattered. Why are we pulling back?" "We don't have the grain," Kongming explained. "A quick battle was what we wanted, but the enemy will not show themselves again. And that works against us. Their homeland will make good their losses. If their light horsemen raid our grain routes, we won't be able to get back at all. Their latest defeat gives us some room to maneuver, to do what they least expect: withdraw. My one concern is Wei Yan and his men, who are at Chencang holding off Wang Shuang. They may not make it away safely. I have sent Wei Yan secret plans for killing Wang Shuang and preventing pursuit by the Wei. I want our rear squadrons to turn back first." That night Kongming left only the watchmen in camp to mark the watch with gong and drum. All the troops were evacuated.

  Cao Zhen was brooding in his camp when the arrival of Zhang He, general of the Left, was announced. The commander dismounted, entered the leader's tent, and said, "I have been instructed by our lord to place myself at your disposal." Cao Zhen asked, "Did you take leave of Sima Yi?" "He said to me," Guo Huai replied, ' "If we win the field, the Riverlanders will remain; if we lose, they will leave. ' Now that our army has suffered defeat, Field Marshal, have you surveyed the enemy's positions?" "Not yet," Cao Zhen answered. He sent scouts to the Shu camp and learned from them that the troops had left two days ago; only a few dozen banners remained to mark the site. Cao Zhen regretted his inaction acutely.

  Meanwhile, Wei Yan, pursuant to his secret orders, quit camp at the second watch and hastened back toward Hanzhong, a move spies soon reported to Wang Shuang. Wang Shuang pursued the retreating Riverlanders in force for about twenty li, and soon Wei Yan's banners were before him. "Halt, Wei Yan!" he cried. But the Riverlanders never stopped to look back. Wang Shuang galloped hard after them; behind him Wei troops shouted, "Flames outside the wall and inside the camp! Look out for the enemy's trap!" Wang Shuang quickly turned and rode back, only to meet a wall of living flame stretching higher and higher. He ordered a swift retreat. As he reached a hillslope, a group of riders erupted from a wood. "Here is Wei Yan!" their l
eader cried. Wang Shuang panicked and fell to Wei Yan's blade before he could defend himself. Fearing an ambush, the northern troops dispersed and fled; but Wei Yan had had only thirty horsemen. Slowly he resumed his march to Hanzhong. A poet of later times celebrated Kongming's ingenuity in these lines:

  He excelled Sun and Pang with subtle schemes;

  In his zone of sky, a fixed star gleams.

  His moves, which baffled all surmise,

  On Chencang road Shuang's doom devised.

  Kongming's original plan that Wei Yan carried out was this: Wei Yan was to place thirty cavalry in hiding alongside Wang Shuang's camp; the moment he came out to pursue Wei Yan's men, Yan was to enter the camp and light fires; on Wang Shuang's return, Wei Yan was to surprise him and kill him. After killing Wang Shuang, Wei Yan led his men back to Kongming and officially tendered his forces. Kongming held a grand banquet to celebrate his victorious return.

  Having failed to overtake the Riverlands army, Zhang He returned to his camp. Suddenly a man from Hao Zhao in Chencang reported Wang Shuang's death, news that so pained Cao Zhen that he took sick and went back to Luoyang, leaving Guo Huai, Sun Li, and Zhang He to defend the Chang'an roads.

  Sun Quan, king of the Southland, was holding court when a spy reported: "Prime Minister Zhuge of Shu has taken the field twice, inflicting heavy losses of fighters and captains on Cao Zhen's Wei army." After this report the assembly of vassals urged the king to wage war against Wei for the purpose of taking the northern heartland. Sun Quan wavered, unable to come to a decision. Zhang Zhao addressed him: "I have heard recently that in the hills east of Wuchang a phoenix has displayed itself, and that in the Great River a tawny dragon has been sighted several times. Your Lordship's virtue matches that of Yao and Shun, your wisdom matches that of kings Wen and Wu. Ascend the imperial seat first; then send forth the army." Many officials echoed Zhang Zhao's view. Thus they selected the third cyclical1 day of the fourth month for the enthronement and erected an altar in the southern suburb of Wuchang.

  On the appointed day, pursuant to the petition of the assembled officials, Sun Quan ascended the imperial seat. The reign year was changed from Huang Wu 8 to Huang Long 1.2 Sun Quan's father, Sun Jian, was posthumously honored as Emperor Wu Lie, or Martial Glory; his mother, Lady Wu, as Empress Wu Lie; his brother, Sun Ce, as King Huan of Changsha. Sun Deng, Quan's son, was designated crown prince, and Zhuge Ke, eldest son of Zhuge Jin, became his principal guide; Zhang Xiu, younger son of Zhang Zhao, became the heir apparent's first assistant.

  Zhuge Ke (Yuansun)3 was seven spans tall; he had unusual intelligence and great skill in repartee, and he enjoyed the favor of Sun Quan. At the age of six Zhuge Ke accompanied his father to a royal banquet at which Sun Quan observed that Zhuge Jin had an elongated face. He had a donkey led in and chalked the words "Zhuge Jin" on its nose, whereupon the assembly burst into laughter. Zhuge Ke dashed up to the animal, took the chalk, and added "'s donkey." The guests were astonished, and Sun Quan was so amused that he gave Ke the donkey as a gift.

  Another day at a feast for the officials, Sun Quan asked Zhuge Ke to pass around the wine. When he came to Zhang Zhao, Zhang Zhao refused to drink, saying, "This is not the proper form for the ceremony of nourishing an elder." Sun Quan said to Zhuge Ke, "Get Zhang Zhao to drink for me." On receiving this command, Zhuge Ke said to Zhang Zhao, "Long, long ago the great counselor Jiang Ziya—at the age of ninety—grasped the signal banner, steadied the battle-axe, and never once called himself 'old. ' On days of trial by arms, you are always in the rear; on days of banqueting, you are always in the front. What do you mean, I have failed to 'nourish an elder'?"4 At a loss for an answer, Zhang Zhao was constrained to drink. After this incident Sun Quan prized Zhuge Ke more than ever and consequently made him the guide to his heir apparent.

  Zhang Zhao had served Sun Quan as senior counselor and held a position second only to the king himself. Thus, his son Zhang Xiu was made first assistant to the heir. Further appointments on the occasion were Gu Yong, prime minister; and Lu Xun, senior general, guardian to the heir, and governor of Wuchang. Afterwards, Sun Quan returned to Jianye where the court deliberated on the war policy. Zhang Zhao addressed Sun Quan: "It is wrong to mobilize so soon after Your Majesty has taken the throne. You should develop your civil rule and lay down the weapons of war. Establish schools to settle the people's minds. Renew the alliance with the Riverlands, agreeing to share the empire between you. Take your time planning the conquest of the north."

  Sun Quan accepted Zhang Zhao's advice and sent a swift messenger to the Riverlands. After the Second Emperor had formally received the envoy and taken note of his detailed petition, he took counsel with his court. Their consensus was that relations should be severed with Sun Quan because he was a usurper and a rebel. Jiang Wan, however, suggested asking the prime minister's opinion. Accordingly, the Second Emperor sent an envoy to Hanzhong to get Kongming's view. Kongming said: "Send gifts to the Southland to congratulate Sun Quan and urge them to send Lu Xun into the field against Wei: Wei will order Sima Yi to block them; and with Sima Yi occupied to the south, I will be able to strike Chang'an from Qishan." The Second Emperor approved this suggestion and sent Grand Commandant Chen Zhen to the Southland with prize horses, a jade belt, gold, pearls, and other gems as congratulatory gifts.

  On reaching the Southland, Chen Zhen was received by Sun Quan, to whom he presented the letter from the Shu court. Delighted, Sun Quan feasted the representative and sent him back to the Riverlands. He then summoned Lu Xun and informed him that he had agreed to march against Wei. "This is a scheme of Kongming's, devised out of fear of Sima Yi," said the veteran general. "But since you have allied with Shu, we must abide by what you have agreed. We will simply appear to invade, however, and try to involve the Riverlands. If Kongming launches an all-out attack on Wei, we will have the opportunity to take the northern heartland for ourselves." Sun Quan issued the order for northern Jingzhou to begin training local forces in preparation for mobilization.

  Chen Zhen went back to Hanzhong and reported to Kongming on his mission south. But Kongming, still hesitant to move against Chencang, simply had scouts survey the town. They reported back, "Hao Zhao is in the town, seriously ill." "Our plan will work!" Kongming responded. He summoned Wei Yan and Jiang Wei and instructed them: "Take five thousand men to the walls of Chencang as fast as you can. When you see fire, attack in concert." Somewhat surprised, the two commanders asked Kongming, "What day shall we set out?" "You have three days to get ready," Kongming replied. "No need to take formal leave. Just start out." The two left to perform their assignment. Next, Kongming called in Guan Xing and Zhang Bao and whispered certain instructions to them. They too departed to carry out their orders.

  Meanwhile, Guo Huai had learned of Hao Zhao's illness. "You had better go and replace Hao Zhao at once," he told Zhang He. "I will petition the court for a final decision." Zhang He took three thousand men to Chencang. Hao Zhao was dying. One night as he lay groaning, he was told of the arrival of the Riverlands force and swiftly ordered men to hold the wall. But the gates had already been torched and the town was in confusion. Hao Zhao expired on hearing the news. The Riverlanders stormed Chencang.

  When Wei Yan and Jiang Wei reached the walls of Chencang, they found not a single banner nor anyone to sound the watch. Puzzled, they hesitated to attack. Suddenly they heard the sound of bombards from the town and saw flags and banners standing straight all around the wall. Lo! in silk headgear, holding a feathered fan, wearing a crane-plumed robe, a Taoist appeared. "You are late!" Kongming shouted down to them. The two swiftly dismounted and prostrated themselves before him, saying, "Your Excellency's plan was truly more than human!" Kongming bade them enter Chencang.

  "When I found out how sick Hao Zhao really was," Kongming told Wei Yan and Jiang Wei, "I gave you three days to take the town. But that was simply to firm up morale. At the same time I had Guan Xing and Zhang Bao call up some troops—among whom I concealed myself—and slip out of Hanzhong. We
marched to Chencang double-time, before the enemy could reinforce. Spies planted earlier in the town aided us by lighting fires and shouting war cries to unsettle the Wei army. Without leadership, their troops lost all discipline. This enabled me to take Chencang handily. The rules of warfare tell us to appear where they least expect you, strike where they are least prepared. And that's just what I did!" Wei Yan and Jiang Wei prostrated themselves before him. Kongming, in consideration of the death of Hao Zhao, allowed Zhao's wife and children to bear his coffin home to Wei, thereby signifying the dead man's loyalty to his sovereign.

  Kongming told Wei Yan and Jiang Wei, "Keep your armor on. I want you to surprise San Pass. Those holding it will flee the moment our troops arrive; but the slightest delay will give the Wei troops time to get there, making capture difficult." Wei Yan and Jiang Wei carried out Kongming's orders, and the pass guards fled. The two commanders climbed up and were about to shed their armor, when they spotted the dust clouds of approaching troops in the distance. It was the Wei army. The two acknowledged to one another: "The prime minister's marvelous calculations surpass all reckoning!" Swiftly climbing the watchtower, they looked down on General Zhang He and deployed their forces to the key approaches in order to hold off his army.