Suddenly it was reported that Sun Li was leading two hundred thousand Yong and Liang troops to attack Saber Gateway to help Wei and that Sima Yi was leading an attack on Lucheng. Panic seized the Riverlands army. Yang Yi went to Kongming and said, "The enemy approaches swiftly. Your Excellency, keep the troops just relieved to help repel them, at least until fresh forces can be brought in." "No," Kongming replied. "My deployments and my commands always rest on the principle of good faith. If the orders have gone out, I cannot retract them and lose the army's confidence. Moreover, troops due to go home have made their plans. Their parents and families will be awaiting them by their doorposts. Even if disaster were imminent, I would not keep them back."
Thus, Kongming issued the orders for departure that day. On receiving them, the troops made a great outcry. "How great is the prime minister's humane concern for the army!" they said. "But we choose to stay and risk our lives in the struggle against Wei to demonstrate our love for His Excellency!" Kongming answered, "I'm afraid you should return to your homes. How can I keep you here any longer?" But the soldiers wanted to fight, not to go home. Finally Kongming said, "If you are determined to fight for me, go outside the city walls and pitch your camps so that you can attack the Wei the moment they arrive, before they catch their breath: 'With rested troops take weary troops. '" The soldiers accepted their assignment, took up their weapons, and cheerfully exited the city to assume battle formation.
Meanwhile, the rapidly approaching Xiliang forces, fatigued from their marches, had begun pitching camp to rest. At that moment a mass of Riverlands soldiers— battle-whetted commanders and high-spirited troops, all fired with courage and energy— set upon them. The Yong and Liang soldiers could not withstand the assault and fled the way they had come. In hot pursuit the Riverlands troops took so heavy a toll of the enemy that the ground ran red and corpses covered the field. Kongming went forth from the city and recalled the victorious warriors to celebrate the day. Suddenly, urgent news from Li Yan in Yong'an: a startled Kongming tore open the envelope and read, "Recent word is that the Southland had someone in Luoyang negotiate a truce with Wei. Wei urged Wu to conquer Shu, but luckily Wu has not mobilized. Presently making further inquiries. Humbly hope Your Excellency acts quickly."
This note alarmed and puzzled Kongming. He summoned his commanders and said, "If the Southland attacks our kingdom, I shall have to return to Chengdu immediately." So saying, he issued the order for all forces in the Qishan hills to withdraw to the Riverlands: "Sima Yi knows we are stationed here. He would never dare pursue us." And so Wang Ping, Zhang Ni, Wu Ban, and Wu Yi formed two armies and withdrew slowly into the Land of Rivers.
Zhang He watched the Shu army remove, but he did not pursue for fear of a ruse; instead, he marched back to Sima Yi and said, "The enemy has withdrawn. I do not know why." "Kongming is full of shrewd designs," Sima Yi said. "Make no move. Hold your position and wait till his grain is gone. Then they will leave of their own accord." Commander Wei Ping came forward and said, "The enemy has decamped from Qishan. Catch them now in the moment of retreat. If you fail to act, Field Marshal, daunted by the Riverlands as if by a tiger, you will be defenseless against the world's derision." Sima Yi remained unpersuaded.
On ascertaining that his Qishan forces had returned, Kongming called Yang Yi and Ma Zhong into his tent for secret orders. He had them deploy ten thousand bowmen in ambush along either side of the Mumen road above Saber Gateway, there to await the signal of the bombard should northern troops reach the pass. At the signal the bowmen were to heave logs and rocks down upon the enemy and then to attack from both sides after cutting off the escape route. When the two commanders had left, Kongming told Wei Yan and Guan Xing to interdict the road behind the attackers. Next, Kongming had flags and banners mounted all along the wall, and piles of kindling burned throughout the city to suggest the activity of a normal army. Kongming's main force then headed for the Mumen road.
Wei scouts reported to Sima Yi: "The enemy's main force has withdrawn, but we are not sure how many troops remain in the city." Sima Yi went himself to study the situation. Seeing the banners along the wall and the smoke rising from within, he said, smiling, "The city is empty!" And his scouts verified it. Delighted, Sima Yi said, "Kongming has withdrawn. Who will pursue?" Zhang He of the vanguard volunteered. But Sima Yi checked him, saying "No, your temper is too volatile." "Field Marshal," Zhang He replied, "when you came out from the pass, you gave me the vanguard. This is the moment for deeds of merit. Why will you not use me?" Sima Yi answered, "The enemy has retreated, but the strategic points will be protected by hidden forces. Utmost caution is required in giving chase." "I am well aware of the strategic points," Zhang He said. "There is no need to be concerned." "If you are determined to go," Sima Yi said, "do not lament it afterward." "A man of action risks his life for his kingdom. Ten thousand deaths would cause me no regret," Zhang He responded. "In that case," Sima Yi continued, "march ahead with five thousand men. I will have Wei Ping follow with twenty thousand horse and foot to check any ambush. I will follow with three thousand in case of emergency."
Zhang He accepted his assignment. He had pursued the retreating western army some thirty li, when a shout came from behind and a band of soldiers sprang from some woods. Their leader, a general, leveled his sword and halted his mount. "Where is the rebel commander headed?" he shouted. Zhang He turned, faced Wei Yan, and, full of fury, closed with him. After less than ten clashes Wei Yan feigned defeat and fled. Zhang He pursued another thirty li, and then halted to look for ambushes. Finding none, he rode on. As he rounded a hill, another body of soldiers burst into view yelling lustily. Their leader was Guan Xing. Sword level, horse checked, he cried, "Stand your ground, Zhang He. I have come!" Zhang He applied the whip and closed with his challenger. After ten bouts Guan Xing swung his horse around and raced away.
Zhang He pursued; reaching a thick wood, he became suspicious and sent men to scout about, but they found nothing. Relieved, Zhang He resumed the chase. To Zhang He's amazement, he found Wei Yan holding the ground before him. They fought ten bouts before Wei Yan again fled in defeat. Zhang He pursued furiously. Then Guan Xing challenged him from the front, blocking his way. Zhang He wrathfully laid on the whip and closed with Guan Xing; they fought ten bouts.
The Riverlands troops flung down clothing, armor, and other objects along the roadway. The northerners dismounted and grabbed all they could. Wei Yan and Guan Xing fought in turn with Zhang He as he pressed the chase with fierce courage; evening fell before they realized the time. As Zhang He reached the Mumen road, Wei Yan wheeled his horse around and shrilly denounced him: "Renegade traitor! If I do not stop you now, you will pursue me forever! Let us fight to the finish!" Swept along by his anger, Zhang He hoisted his lance and charged. Wei Yan met him with an agile sword. The battle barely lasted ten bouts. Wei Yan threw down his clothing, armor, and helmet in defeat and on a lone horse led his troops in flight toward the Mumen road. His combat lust aroused, Zhang He galloped after Wei Yan fleeing for his life.
Darkness had fallen. The noise of a bombard rang out, and flames shot skyward from the hills. Boulders and pieces of timber rained down, blocking the way. Alarmed, Zhang He said, "They have me trapped," and quickly turned his horse about, but rocks and branches had blocked the road behind as well. With little room to maneuver and sheer cliffs to either side, Zhang He could neither advance nor retreat. Suddenly he heard the beating of a club as ten thousand crossbowmen let fly from both sides. Zhang He and the hundred or so lieutenants with him perished in the barrage. A poet of later times wrote of his death:
The bowshots flew, a myriad of fiery stars,
And daring soldiers fell at Treegate Trail.
Still today when passing Saber Way,
Travelers speak of Kongming's ancient fame.
The relief force for Zhang He caught up and found the road blocked. Seeing that he had been trapped, they turned and quickly retreated. Suddenly they heard cries from a hilltop: "Prime Mini
ster Zhuge is here!" The Wei soldiers looked up and saw Kongming standing amidst the flames and directing his troops. He said, "For today's hunt I wanted to shoot a horse; by mistake I shot a river deer.6 The rest of you may go in peace. But tell Sima Yi for me, I'm going to catch him yet!"
The northern troops returned and recounted this event to Sima Yi. Driven to despair, he looked into the heavens and said with a sigh, "Zhang He's death is no one's fault but mine." With that he recalled his troops and returned to Luoyang. The ruler of Wei shed tears and breathed heavily at Zhang He's fate. He had the corpse recovered and honorably interred.
Kongming had reentered Hanzhong, intending to return to Chengdu and present himself before the Second Emperor. Guardian General Li Yan consequently submitted a false petition to the Second Emperor: "I had already seen to the food supplies and was about to deliver them to the prime minister at the front. I cannot imagine why he has suddenly brought the army home." On receiving this petition, the Second Emperor ordered Secretary Fei Yi to go to Hanzhong and ask Kongming the reasons for his return. Fei Yi reached Hanzhong and communicated the Second Emperor's question. In great alarm, Kongming replied, "Li Yan sent an urgent letter saying that the Southland meant to invade our kingdom. That's the reason I brought the army home." Fei Yi said, "Li Yan has announced to the sovereign that the food supply had been assured and that Your Excellency had no reason to come home. The Son of Heaven has commanded me to find out why you did."
In great anger, Kongming ordered the matter investigated. He discovered that Li Yan had failed to arrange for the supplies and, anticipating Kongming's accusation, had submitted a false memorial to cover up his fault. Filled with ire, Kongming said, "That base coward has injured the dynasty's cause for his personal interests." He summoned Li Yan and was about to have him executed, when Fi Yei said, "Keep in mind, Your Excellency, the late Emperor's sacred trust and show the man leniency for now." Kongming accepted this. But when Fei Yi himself presented a memorial on this matter, the Second Emperor flew into a rage and ordered the guards to remove Li Yan and put him to death. Military Adviser Jiang Wan then stepped forth and said, "Li Yan is one of the vassals to whom the late Emperor entrusted his son. I beg for your mercy and tolerance." On this advice the Second Emperor demoted Li Yan to a commoner and had him held in Zitong district.
When Kongming returned to Chengdu, he employed Li Yan's son Li Feng as a senior adviser. Kongming stored up grain and provender; gave lectures on battle formations and military maneuvers; reequipped his troops; and saw to the needs of the officers and men. His intent was to wait three years before campaigning again. The people and soldiers of the entire Riverlands held Kongming in the highest regard for his benevolent virtue.
Time slipped swiftly by. In the twelfth month of Jian Xing 12 (a. d. 234) Kongming went to court and petitioned the Second Emperor: "Your vassal has provided and cared for the army for three years now. Well supplied and reequipped, the forces are battle-minded and robust, ready to wage war against Wei. This time if I do not eradicate the faction of treason and reclaim the northern heartland, I swear never to present myself before Your Majesty again." The Second Emperor said, "A stable tripartite world has come into being. Neither Wu nor Wei has invaded our borders. Second Father, what's wrong with enjoying this era of great peace in security?" Kongming replied, "For the kindness your father accorded this vassal, I have planned the war against Wei each night without respite, my only desire to expend my last drop of loyalty and strength to reconquer the heartland for Your Majesty and revive the glory of the house of Han." As the prime minister spoke, a man stepped forward from the ranks and said, "Oh, do not muster the army, Your Excellency!" The assembly turned to Qiao Zhou.7 Indeed:
Kongming, the lord of Wu, toiled for his kingdom unto death;
But Qiao, the official historian, could read the seeds of time and make sense of the stars.
What was Qiao Zhou's protest?
Read on.
102
Sima Yi Holds the Bridge over the Wei;
Zhuge Liang Creates Wooden Bulls and Gliding Horses
Qiao Zhou, the official historian and a skilled reader of the constellations, knew full well that Kongming meant to go to war again. Zhou petitioned the Second Emperor: "As official director of the Heavenly Viewing Stand, I, your vassal, am duty-bound to petition Your Majesty on matters auspicious or adverse. Recently tens of thousands of birds flying up from the south plunged into the River Han and died—an adverse omen. I have also examined the star patterns: the Straddler stars1 are advancing through the zone of Venus and a vital aura is ruling the northern sky—both bode ill for an attack on Wei. Further, the people of Chengdu have heard cries coming from the cypress trees. Such strange signs suggest that His Excellency, the prime minister, keep strictly to defense and take no rash action." Kongming said, "Under the late Emperor's grave charge, I have thrown myself body and soul into the task of suppressing the rebels. Do you expect me to throw aside the dynasty's cause on account of some meaningless portents?" Kongming then ordered ceremonial officials to prepare for the grand sacrifice in the ancestral temple of Emperor Zhao Lie, Liu Bei.
A weeping Kongming prostrated himself in the temple and read his statement: "Your vassal Liang led five campaigns forth from the Qishan hills but failed to gain an inch of land. My offense is most grievous. Now I, your vassal, will lead another campaign out of the hills. I vow to exhaust my strength and loyalty in eradicating the traitors to the Han and restoring the dynasty in the north, where it belongs. I am bound to unremitting toil during my remaining time, until I am no more." After the sacrifice Kongming took formal leave of the Second Emperor and sped to Hanzhong, where he gathered his commanders to discuss the expedition.
Suddenly, Kongming received word that Guan Xing had died of illness. He uttered a cry, wept uncontrollably, and then fainted; after a long while he revived. The commanders strove to console him, but Kongming sighed heavily and said, "Alas, Heaven rarely grants long life to men of loyalty and honor. This expedition will miss a great commander!" A poet of later time left these lines in praise of Guan Xing:
Mortality, the law all flesh obeys—
Man's time's as brief as the mayfly's day.
Duly serving father and his king,
No honored years of age for young Guan Xing.
Under Kongming the Riverlands troops advanced, three hundred and forty thousand men divided into five field armies. He ordered Jiang Wei and Wei Yan to be the vanguard, and they came out of the Qishan hills to join forces. Kongming also ordered Li Hui to move grain and provender for the army to the mouth of Ye Gorge.
In the kingdom of Wei the previous year a green serpent had come up from the Mopo well,2 and as a result the reign name was changed to Qing Long, "Green Dragon."3 Now it was spring, the second month in the second year of the new reign period. A privileged attendant informed the ruler: "Border officers have sent reports that a Riverlands host of more than three hundred thousand troops in five armies has come out of the Qishan hills." Wei ruler Cao Rui urgently summoned Sima Yi and said, "The Riverlands has committed no aggression for three years. Now Zhuge Liang is on the march again. What shall we do?"
Sima Yi responded, "Your vassal has been watching the heavens these nights. In the portion of the sky corresponding to the north, signs of vigor are in full force. And the Straddler stars, affronting Venus, bode no good for the Riverlands. Kongming thinks too highly of what he knows and what he can do; to defy Heaven will only gain him defeat and ruin. Your vassal, confident in your abundant good fortune, will go and destroy him. I would like to recommend four men to join me." "Whom?" Cao Rui asked. Sima Yi responded, "Xiahou Yuan left four sons: Ba (styled Zhongquan) is the eldest; Wei (styled Jiquan) is the second; Hui (styled Zhiquan), the third; and He (styled Yiquan), the fourth. Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei are masters of the bow and horse. Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He both have a profound knowledge of military strategy. All four have an abiding desire to avenge their father's death. Now, therefore, I recomme
nd Xiahou Ba and Xiahou He to serve as infantry commanders4 to assist me in formulating tactics. Thus, we can drive back the Riverlands army."
Cao Rui said, "Some time ago the tactical misjudgments of Imperial Son-in-Law Xiahou Mao cost him most of his forces. So far he has been too ashamed to return. Will these four be like him?" "He cannot compare to them!" Sima Yi responded. Accordingly, Cao Rui approved the recommendations and made Sima Yi first field marshal, ordering all officers and men to serve him in whatever capacity he judged fit and all forces stationed outside the capital to answer to his call. Sima Yi accepted his assignment, took formal leave of the court, and left the city of Luoyang. Cao Rui presented his handwritten edict to Sima Yi. It read:
On reaching the bank of the River Wei, establish solid defense works. Do not engage the enemy. Frustrated, the Shu troops will feign retreat to lure you out. Do not pursue! Let them eat up their grain. When they have to leave, we will attack and win an easy victory without tiring the troops. This is the best plan.
Sima Yi touched his forehead to the ground and accepted the edict.
When he reached Chang'an, Sima Yi recruited a force of four hundred thousand from various stations; it assembled at the River Wei and camped there. Sima Yi also detailed fifty thousand sappers to make nine floating bridges over the Wei so that the vanguards under Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei could establish positions on the farther side. Lastly, the field marshal had a defensive wall constructed behind the main camp at Dongyuan.
Sima Yi was conferring with his commanders, when Guo Huai and Sun Li were unexpectedly announced and invited to enter. The formalities concluded, Guo Huai said, "Riverlands troops are now in the Qishan hills. Should they cross the Wei, ascend the plain, and extend their lines to the northern hills, closing the Longshan trail, we will be in serious trouble." Sima Yi said, "I quite agree. I want you to assume command of our forces in Longxi, establish a position in Beiyuan, and dig in there. Refrain from military action. When they have eaten up their grain, attack." Guo Huai and Sun Li accepted this assignment and went to perform it.
Three Kingdoms Page 134
