Three Kingdoms

by Luo Guanzhong (Moss Roberts trans. )

  Wen Qin, who had been a follower of Cao Shuang's, responded at once to Guanqiu Jian's invitation. Guanqiu Jian led Wen Qin into a private chamber and, after the formalities, burst into tears as he began speaking. Wen Qin asked what the matter was, and Jian replied, "I grieve for Sima Shi's overthrow of the ruler. He has turned Heaven and earth upside down." "Commander, you control an entire region," Wen Qin said. "If you will suppress the traitors by armed force in the name of allegiance to the Emperor, I will risk my very life to aid you. My second son, Wen Shu, nicknamed Ah Yang, a man of boundless courage, has long wanted to avenge Cao Shuang by getting rid of the Sima brothers. Let him take the vanguard." Well pleased, Guanqiu Jian sprinkled sacrificial wine on the ground as a pledge of fidelity.

  The two officials, claiming to have a secret edict from the queen mother, ordered all officials, commanders, and troops to the Yangzhou provincial capital at Shouchun. There they erected an altar in the western quarter on which they sacrificed a white horse and sealed their oath with its blood. Then they accused Sima Shi of high crimes and treason and announced their possession of the queen mother's secret edict to mobilize Huainan and suppress the rebellion in the name of true allegiance. Those assembled gladly accepted the call. Guanqiu Jian led sixty thousand men forth and occupied Xiangcheng. Wen Qin led twenty thousand and circled outside the town, providing support. Jian sent directives to the surrounding districts ordering the authorities to recruit more men.

  Meanwhile, Sima Shi had developed a tumor in his left eye and suffered from frequent pain and itching. He summoned a physician, who removed the growth and sealed the eye with medicine; he was subsequently forced to remain at home recuperating for several days. Suddenly news of the revolt in Huainan was brought to him, and he called Grand Commandant Wang Su for consultation. Wang Su said, "Some time ago Lord Guan came close to subduing the north with his might and prestige. But Sun Quan had Lü Meng capture Jingzhou by surprise, and Lü Meng, by treating the enemy's families with great kindness, caused Lord Guan's force to fall apart. This time the soldiers' families are all in the north. Quickly go and comfort them, and also cut off their line of retreat. The enemy will become disorganized." Sima Shi said, "Excellent advice. But my eye is not well enough for me to go personally, and I would be uneasy with someone else going in my stead."

  At this time an officer in the Secretariat, Zhong Hui, was beside Sima Shi and submitted a suggestion: "The Huainan force is strong, their vanguard in peak condition. To send another leader to drive them back is likely to fail. If something went wrong, we could ruin our whole enterprise." Sima Shi rose swiftly to his feet. "It is I then who must go and defeat the rebels," he said. He left his brother Zhao to defend Luoyang, entrusting all court affairs to his temporary authority.

  Sima Shi was taken east in an invalid's carriage. He ordered Chief General Who Controls the East Zhuge Dan to take command of all forces in Yuzhou and advance on Shouchun from Anfeng Ford. Sima Shi also ordered General Who Conquers the East Hu Zun to bring his Qingzhou forces down between Qiao and Song and seal off the enemy's escape routes. Next, Sima Shi sent Jingzhou's imperial inspector and military superviser Wang Ji to lead the forward army and capture the salients for controlling the southern territory. Sima Shi then occupied Xiangyang with his own forces and gathered his officials and officers in his tent for discussion. Zheng Mao of the Palace Directorate said, "Guanqiu Jian enjoys scheming, but he is indecisive. Wen Qin is brave but ignorant. Though they will not expect your grand army, do not engage the Southland and Huainan troops at their peak; dig in and wait and wear them down. This is the kind of long-range plan General Zhou Yafu devised."2 But Military Superviser Wang Ji said, "That will not work. The Huainan situation does not stem from seditious inclinations in the army or among the population. Guanqiu Jian has coerced them to revolt; they follow him because they must. The moment your army approaches, their army will fall to pieces." "An ingenious thought," Sima Shi said and moved his army up to the River Yin, occupying the bridge with his central unit. Wang Ji advised further: "Nandun is an ideal location for stationing the troops. We should capture it quickly before Guanqiu Jian gets there." Accordingly, Sima Shi ordered Wang Ji's forward unit to camp at Nandun.

  In Xiangcheng Guanqiu Jian, having heard that Sima Shi himself was marching on him, gathered his leaders together. Ge Yong of the vanguard said, "Nandun abuts the hills and is near the river, an ideal place to station troops. If they take Nandun before us, it will be hard to drive them out. We should seize it quickly." Guanqiu Jian approved and rushed troops to Nandun. But before he had arrived, an urgent report came: enemy forces were encamped at Nandun. Incredulous, Guanqiu Jian went to the front. From there he could observe flags and banners covering the field and campsites in perfect array. Jian returned to his army at a loss for a plan. Mounted scouts then informed him, "Sun Jun of the Southland has crossed the Great River to attack Shouchun." Guanqiu Jian was astounded. "If Shouchun falls," he said, "I will have no place to return to." That night he retreated to Xiangcheng.

  Sima Shi watched Guanqiu Jian's retreat, then he gathered his officials together. Chief Secretary Fu Gu said, "They fear the Southland will surprise Shouchun and are retreating to Xiangcheng, detailing troops to defend it. General, send one company to take Yue-jiacheng, another to take Xiangcheng, and a third to take Shouchun: the Huainan army will withdraw. The imperial inspector of Yanzhou, Deng Ai, is a shrewd planner. If he carries out the capture of Yuejia and we reinforce him, the defeat of the rebels should be easy." On this advice Sima Shi sent swift envoys bearing orders for Deng Ai to muster troops in Yanzhou and attack Yuejia. Sima Shi followed the envoys to rendezvous with Deng Ai.

  From Xiangcheng, Guanqiu Jian kept sending scouts out to check if troops were approaching Yuejia. He called Wen Qin to his camp to seek his advice. Wen Qin said, "Field Marshal, do not worry. My son Yang and I can secure the town with five thousand men." Guanqiu Jian was relieved. Father and son proceeded to Yuejia with five thousand men. But the forward company reported back, "Wei troops—more than ten thousand—have massed west of the city. We saw their main army in the distance, with the white yak-tail banner and gilded battle-axe of command, the black umbrella and vermillion pennants clustered around the command tent. High above the tent flew a flag woven with the commanding general's name: Sima Shi. However, they have not finished establishing their camps."

  At that time Wen Yang, armed with a steel whip, happened to be beside his father. Hearing the report, he said, "Before they finish the camps, attack from both sides and overwhelm them." "When?" Wen Qin asked. "At dusk," Wen Yang answered. "You take twenty-five hundred and strike from the south; I will strike from the north with the same number. During the third watch we will rendezvous in the Wei camp." Wen Qin accepted this plan and that evening divided his force in half. Wen Yang was eighteen years old; he was eight spans tall. Wrapped in mail, his steel whip at his waist, he hefted his spear and mounted. Then he headed toward the Wei camp.

  That night Sima Shi pitched camp at Yuejia and waited for Deng Ai to join him. Sima Shi was still suffering some pain from the recent removal of the tumor, so he lay down in his tent with a guard of several hundred posted around it. During the third watch earthshaking shouts broke the silence, throwing men and horses into confusion. Someone informed Sima Shi, "An enemy company has broken through the northern perimeter. Their commander is too fierce to oppose." Shocked by the news, Sima Shi felt a rush of fever within him as the wound on his eye burst; the eyeball slipped from its socket. Blood spilled on the ground and the pain was overwhelming. But Sima Shi, rather than risk destroying his men's morale, clamped a piece of his bedding between his teeth and bore up under the pain. The bedding soon was torn to shreds.

  Earlier, Wen Yang had reached Yuejia, burst into the camp, and slaughtered many. Few had dared resist; those who tried to challenge the invaders were stabbed or whipped to death. Wen Yang looked for his father's arrival to lend support, but he did not appear. Each time Yang fought his way toward the Wei
's main force, bowshots drove him back; but Wen Yang fought on. When the morning sky began to lighten, he heard at last the sound of drums and horns filling the air on the north side. Wen Yang asked his followers, "Why is my father coming from the north and not the south?" He raced ahead to look, only to find a company of troops galloping like the wind—the commander, Deng Ai!

  Deng Ai charged back and forth, his sword leveled, and shouted, "Stand your ground, rebel!" In a fury Wen Yang raised his spear and engaged Deng Ai. But after fifty bouts neither had prevailed. As the struggle continued, the Wei soldiers moved in from front and rear. Wen Yang's unit panicked and fled. Abandoned by his men, Wen Yang, riding alone, broke through the Wei line and escaped to the south. In a display of martial spirit, hundreds of Wei officers bore down on him as he neared Yuejia Bridge. Suddenly Wen Yang wheeled round and with a powerful shout plunged back into the Wei line. Plying his steel whip, he knocked riders from their mounts on all sides. As the Wei ranks fell back, Wen Yang proceeded unhurried.

  The Wei officers gathered together and cried in dismay, "Can one man push back so many of us? Let's join forces and pursue him again." One hundred Wei officers resumed the chase. Exploding in anger, Wen Yang cried, "These rats hold their lives cheap!" Raising his whip and rousing his mount, he charged into the thick of the Wei officers. After killing a number of them, Wen Yang swung his horse back around again and continued unhurried on his way. In the same manner Wen Yang foiled each attempt of the officers to pursue him. In the words of a poem of later times;

  Alone at Steepslope holding Cao Cao off,

  Zilong came to fame, a prodigy of war.

  Now Wen Yang crossing points in Yuejia town

  Shows courage worthy of comparison.

  What had happened to Wen Qin was this: the sharp and irregular mountain roads had led him into the wrong valley. He had traveled aimlessly half the night, finding his way out only at dawn. Meanwhile Wen Yang's forces were nowhere to be found—it was the Wei that had won the day—so Wen Qin withdrew without joining the battle. Hotly pursued by the Wei army, he fled to Shouchun.

  Wei Palace Commandant Yin Damu, a confidant of the late Cao Shuang, was in the service of Sima Shi. Because Sima Yi had murdered Cao Shuang, however, Yin Damu secretly hoped to avenge Cao Shuang by killing Sima Shi. Furthermore, Yin Damu and Wen Qin were close friends. When Yin Damu saw that the tumor on Sima Shi's eye was bulging and thus immobilizing him, Damu entered Shi's tent and said, "Wen Qin never intended to rebel; Guanqiu Jian drove him to it. I think I can persuade him to submit." Sima Shi approved the attempt, and Damu, helmeted and armored, rode after Wen Qin.

  About to overtake Wen Qin, Yin Damu called out loud and clear, "Will Inspector Wen meet with Yin Damu?" Wen Qin turned and saw that Yin Damu had hung his helmet on the front of his saddle. Pointing with his whip, Yin Damu added, "Could not Inspector Wen abide a few days more?" meaning to suggest that he had come to keep Wen Qin back since Sima Shi would soon die. But Wen Qin missed the point of Yin Damu's words and, hurling insults at his pursuer, drew his bow to shoot. Damu cried out in frustration and turned back. Wen Qin gathered his troops and headed for Shouchun, but by this time it had fallen to Zhuge Dan. Wen Qin turned back to Xiangcheng, but Hu Zun, Wang Ji, and Deng Ai had already reached it. In desperation Wen Qin started off toward the Southland and its ruler, Sun Jun.

  In Xiangcheng, Guanqiu Jian had learned of the fall of Shouchun, the plight of Wen Qin, and the approach of the three hostile armies, and he had sent all his forces into the field. He encountered Deng Ai first and told Ge Yong to engage him. Before they could grapple, Deng Ai had cut Ge Yong down and led his men on to attack the opposing line. Guanqiu Jian fought desperately to check Deng Ai, but his Huainan troops became disorganized. Hu Zun and Wang Ji surrounded them and attacked. Guanqiu Jian, unable to resist further, fled with a dozen riders by the nearest road. He reached Shen county, where Prefect Song Bai received him. At the reception banquet Guanqiu Jian drank himself into a stupor. Song Bai ordered him killed and sent his head to the Wei army. Thus, the Huainan revolt was quelled.

  Too ill to leave his bed, Sima Shi summoned Zhuge Dan to his tent and presented him with the seal of command, appointing him Chief General Who Controls the East, with military authority over all forces in Yangzhou. At the same time he recalled the army to Xuchang. The pain in Sima Shi's eye had not subsided. At night the three men he had killed—Li Feng, Zhang Qi, and Xiahou Xuan—haunted his couch. Sima Shi's spirit was fading. Realizing the end was near, he sent to Luoyang for Sima Zhao.

  Sima Zhao came to the foot of his bed and prostrated himself as he wept. Sima Shi's dying injunction to him was: "It is not possible, whatever I might prefer, to divest myself of the awesome power I hold. You will have to carry on for me. Control of the government cannot be entrusted to anyone else, for our clan could be exterminated." So saying, tears covering his face, he handed his brother the seal of his office. Sima Zhao started to question him, but Sima Shi uttered a terrible cry and expired; his eye had popped out of its socket.

  It was the second month of the second year of Zheng Yuan. Sima Zhao arranged the funeral services and notified the Wei ruler, Cao Mao. Cao Mao sent an envoy with an edict ordering Sima Zhao to remain at Xuchang to defend against the Southland, but Sima Zhao could not make up his mind whether or not to comply with Cao Mao's order. Zhong Hui said to him, "Regent-Marshal Sima Shi has died and people's loyalties are in abeyance. If you remain here, General, and there is a coup at court, regret will do no good." Sima Zhao accepted this counsel and returned to the capital, placing his army south of the River Luo. Cao Mao was frightened when he learned of Sima Zhao's move.

  Grand Commandant Wang Su said to the Wei ruler, "Since Sima Zhao has inherited his brother's power, it behooves Your Majesty to secure his loyalty by honoring him with fitting rank." Accordingly, Cao Mao had Wang Su convey his edict honoring Sima Zhao as regent-marshal and director of the Secretariat. Sima Zhao presented himself at court to express his gratitude. Thereafter, all governmental and military matters were decided by Sima Zhao.

  Meanwhile, Riverlands spies reported these events to Chengdu. Jiang Wei petitioned the Second Emperor: "Sima Shi has died, and Sima Zhao has taken power. He will not risk leaving Luoyang. Your vassal requests that we seize the moment to attack Wei and recover the northern heartland." The Second Emperor approved and gave the order for Jiang Wei to mobilize. Jiang Wei arrived in Hanzhong and put his forces in fighting condition. Zhang Yi, Chief General Who Conquers the West, said, "The Riverlands has neither the depth of territory nor the resources in grain and cash to support a campaign so far away. A better course would be to defend our portion of the realm by reinforcing our strongpoints; protecting our troops and cherishing the people is the best way to preserve our kingdom."

  "Not at all," Jiang Wei retorted. "Long ago, the late prime minister, still secure in his thatched hut, spelled out the threefold division of the empire. He conducted six offensives from the Qishan hills in order to retake the north, but the pity is that he passed away before reaching his goal and his cause remains to be consummated. I who bear his dying charge mean to dedicate myself to repaying the house he served by keeping that cause alive. And if I must die in the attempt, I will die without regret. At this moment there are divisions in the kingdom of Wei that we can exploit. A better time to invade may not come again."

  Xiahou Ba said, "The general is correct. Send the light cavalry out to Fuhan. If we can take Nan'an west of the Tao, the other districts will come under our control." Zhang Yi responded, "The last time, we were deprived of our victory and driven back because our forces were too slow in moving out. Military science teaches 'Attack the unprepared; strike where unexpected. ' A lightning advance now will catch the northern army before it can defend itself, and yield a complete victory."

  Jiang Wei thereupon advanced to Fuhan with fifty thousand in his command. When the western army reached the River Tao, guards of the Wei kingdom reported it to Yong-zhou's Inspector Wang Jing and to
Conqueror of the West General Chen Tai. Wang Jing mobilized seventy thousand foot and horse to confront the invaders. Jiang Wei gave Zhang Yi and Xiahou Ba certain instructions, and the two went to perform their duties. Jiang Wei then deployed his main army with its back to the river, and Wang Jing led several garrison commanders forth. Jing demanded of Jiang Wei; "The three kingdoms of Wei, Wu, and Shu have already established tripartite power. What is the reason for these repeated aggressions?" Jiang Wei answered, "Sima Shi has deposed your ruler for no good reason. Even neighboring kingdoms must call him to account, not to speak of enemy kingdoms."

  Wang Jing turned to the four commanders behind him—Zhang Ming, Hua Yong, Liu Da, and Zhu Fang—and said, "The Riverlands army has its back to the water. If we defeat them, they will drown. Jiang Wei is valiant in combat. You four take him on. If he retreats, pursue and strike." The commanders departed, two to the left and two to the right, and engaged Jiang Wei. Wei, after a brief skirmish, turned around and fled toward his line.

  Wang Jing came after him in full force. Jiang Wei led his men toward the river until they were almost at the water. He then shouted to his officers and men: "The moment has come! All commanders must fight their hardest!" The Riverlands commanders reversed direction and fought fiercely and strenuously; the Wei army was defeated. Two units under Zhang Yi and Xiahou Ba got behind the northerners and trapped them. Jiang Wei, exerting his martial powers to the full, fought his way into the Wei army. Thrusting and plunging, he disrupted the Wei ranks, and the northern soldiers trampled one another down. More than half perished; many more drowned in the Tao. Ten thousand heads were taken, and piles of corpses covered the land for several li.