But Ma Su was opposed to this idea. “What sort of a place is that to pitch a camp? Over there is a single, wood-covered hill. An ideal point of vantage! We should camp on that hill.”
“No, I’m afraid you’re mistaken,” replied Wang Ping. “If we camp on the road and build a strong wall the enemy can’t possibly get past, even though they amount to 100,000. If we abandon this crucial point for the hill, and if the men of Wei come in full force and surround us on all sides, how can we hope to defend ourselves?”
“That’s the view of a woman,” said Ma Su, laughing loudly. “The Art of War says, ‘Occupying an elevation to look downward on your enemy, you can smash them as easily as splitting a bamboo.’ If the men of Wei come I’ll see to it that none of them ever returns.”
“I’ve followed the prime minister in many a campaign, and benefited much from his careful instructions every time. To my mind this hill is a hopeless point. If the enemy cuts off our water supply chaos will arise among our men.”
“What nonsense,” said Ma Su. “The famous strategist Sun Tzu says, ‘Place your men in a desperate position and victory ensues.’ If they cut off our water supply, won’t our men be desperate and fight to the death? Then each one of them will be worth a hundred. I have the books of war at my finger tips, and the minister has often asked me for my advice. Why do you presume to oppose me?”
“If you insist, then give me part of the force to make a small camp to the west of the hill so that I can support you in case the enemy comes.”
But Ma Su refused. Just then inhabitants of the hills came running along saying that the Wei soldiers were approaching. Hearing this Wang Ping proposed to leave for the main road, but Ma Su said to him: “Since you won’t obey me, I’ll give you 5,000 men and you can go and make your own camp, but when I report my success to the prime minister you shall have no share of the merit.”
Wang Ping marched about ten li from the hill and set his camp. He drew a map of their positions and sent it quickly to Zhuge Liang with a full report of Ma Su’s insistence on camping on the hill.
In the city, Sima Yi sent his younger son to reconnoiter the road ahead and to find out if Jieting had a garrison. He would halt the advance if the place was defended. The son returned with the information that there was a garrison in Jieting.
“Zhuge Liang is really more than human,” sighed his father. “He’s too clever for me.”
“Why are you so despondent, father? I think Jieting is quite easy to capture.”
“Why do you dare to boast so?”
“Well, there is no stockade on the road and the enemy is all camped on a hill,” said Sima Zhao. “I have seen it myself, so I know it can be captured.”
“If so, then Heaven means a victory for me,” said his father, greatly pleased.
So he changed dress and rode out with a hundred cavalrymen to see for himself. It was a clear night and the moon shone brightly. Sima Yi went straight to the hill and thoroughly surveyed the neighborhood.
From the hilltop Ma Su saw him, but only laughed. “If he wants to keep alive he shouldn’t try to surround this hill.”
He then issued an order to his officers that in case the enemy came they were to rush downhill on all sides as soon as they saw a red flag waving at the summit.
Back in his camp, Sima Yi sent people to find out who commanded in Jieting and was told that it was Ma Su, brother of Ma Liang.
“A man of unwarranted reputation and mediocre ability,” said Sima Yi. “Zhuge Liang uses such an imbecile. How can he not fail?”
Then he asked if there were any other camps near the place, and scouts told him that Wang Ping was about ten li off. So Zhang He was told to go and watch Wang Ping. With two forces, Shen Dan and Shen Yi were to surround the hill. They were instructed to seal the road to the water supply first, to cause confusion in the Shu camp and attack when that occurred.
The next day, Zhang He led his men out and placed his troop between Wang Ping and the hill. Then Sima Yi proceeded with his mighty force to encircle the hill on every side.
From the summit Ma Su could see the entire field covered with the men of Wei, their banners and ranks in strict order. The sight shrunk the courage of the men of Shu. They dared not descend to attack, although the red flag signaled for them to move. The officers pushed one another, but no one dared to go first. Furious, Ma Su himself cut down two officers, which frightened the others, who then plucked up their courage to descend and try to break the Wei formation. But the men of Wei held fast, and the men of Shu had to retreat back to the hill. Seeing that his scheme did not work, Ma Su ordered his men to firmly guard the gates till help should arrive.
When Wang Ping saw the arrival of the enemy he started for the hill to aid his comrade, but was intercepted by Zhang He. After exchanging scores of bouts, Wang Ping, exhausted, was compelled to retreat from where he had come.
The men of Wei maintained a close siege all day. Without water, the men on the hill were unable to prepare food, and disorder broke out. By midnight the situation deteriorated to such a point that the troops on the south side went out to surrender to the enemy. Ma Su was unable to check them. At this Sima Yi ordered his men to light fire on the hillside, which led to still greater confusion in the beleaguered garrison. At last Ma Su, realizing that it was impossible to hold his position, had to lead his remaining force down the hill to attempt to escape toward the west.
Sima Yi allowed him to pass, but Zhang He pursued him for over thirty li. But then there came an unexpected roll of drums and blowing of horns. Zhang He was stopped by a force led by Wei Yan, and Ma Su was able to continue his escape. Whirling up his sword, Wei Yan dashed toward Zhang He, who at once turned to flee. Wei Yan followed, intending to recapture Jieting.
The pursuit continued for fifty li, when Wan Yan suddenly found himself in an ambush, with Sima Yi on one side and his younger son on the other. Both closed in behind him, and he was trapped. At this Zhang He also turned back, and the attack now came from three sides. Wei Yan tried desperately to break through from the right and the left but all his efforts failed to get him clear. Many of his men were lost. Just as the situation became most critical, help appeared in the person of Wang Ping.
Wei Yan was relieved as he saw Wang Ping coming up. Together the two fought back against the men of Wei and drove them off. Then Wei Yan and Wang Ping made all haste back to their own camp, only to find it already in the hands of the enemy. As the two Shens rushed out to attack, Wei Yan and his colleague headed toward Lieliu to seek refuge with Gao Xiang, who had heard of the loss of Jieting and had led all his men out to the rescue. On the way he fell in with his two comrades and was told what had happened.
Gao Xiang said, “Why don’t we launch a night attack on the Wei camp and recover Jieting?” This proposal was accepted and the three mapped out their plan. When darkness fell they set out along three roads. Wei Yan was the first to reach Jieting, only to find it completely deserted. Filled with apprehension, he dared not advance boldly but waited quietly at the mouth of the road for his colleagues. Soon Gao Xiang arrived, and they both speculated as to the whereabouts of their enemy.
While they were puzzling over this and wondering what had become of Wang Ping, a bomb exploded loudly, followed by a dazzling fire that lit up the sky and a deafening rolling of drums that seemed to rend the earth. The enemy appeared. In a trice the men of Shu found themselves hemmed in. Both leaders pushed here and shoved there, but could find no way out. Then most opportunely, from behind a hill rolled out a thunder of shouting, and there was Wang Ping coming to their rescue. Then the three forced their way to Lieliu. But just as they drew near to the ramparts another body of men came up—and the lettering on their flags indicated they were from Guo Huai’s army.
Now Guo Huai and Cao Zhen were afraid that Sima Yi might gain all the credit. So after taking counsel with each other, they decided to detail Guo Huai to seize Jieting. Hearing that the place was already captured, he had decided to come and seize Lie
liu, where he was met by the three officers of Shu. A fierce battle followed between the two sides, during which a great many Shu soldiers lost their lives. Wei Yan, fearing that Yangping Pass might be in danger, suggested abandoning Lieliu and hurried with his two colleagues toward the pass.
Guo Huai, pleased with his success, gathered in his army after the victory and said to his officers, “Although I failed to seize Jieting, I’ve taken this place, and that’s also a merit of high order.”
Thereupon he proceeded to the city gates. Just as he approached, a bomb exploded on the wall, and, looking up, he saw the rampart be-decked with flags. On the largest banner he read: SIMA YI, COMMANDER OF THE EXPEDITION TO CONQUER THE WEST. At that moment Sima Yi himself appeared. Lifting a suspended board and leaning against a breast-high wooden rail he laughed and inquired, “Why are you so late, General Guo?”
“You’re indeed wonderful in your calculations,” admitted Guo Huai.
Then he entered the city and the two exchanged greetings.
Sima Yi said, “Zhuge Liang is sure to withdraw now that he’s lost Jieting. General, you and Commander Cao should pursue him quickly.”
Guo Huai took the advice and left the city immediately.
Sima Yi called Zhang He to whom he said, “He and Cao Zhen were afraid that I would win all the merit, so they tried to get ahead of me here. Not that I wanted to ascribe all the credit to myself, but it was just good luck. I anticipated Wei Yan and the others would first try to secure Yang-ping Pass, and if I went to take it, Zhuge Liang would attack our rear. The Art of War says, ‘Do not attack a retreating enemy nor pursue a desperate foe.’ Now you go along some byroad to intercept those withdrawing from Ji Valley, while I go and oppose those from Ye Valley. If they flee, don’t fight with them, but just hold them up in the middle and you will be able to capture their supply wagons.”
Zhang He marched away with half the force to carry out his part of this plan, while Sima Yi gave an order to go to Ye Valley by way of West City. Though a small place, West City was important as a depot of stores for the Shu army, beside commanding the road to the three districts of Nanan, Tianshui, and Anding. If this place could be seized the other three would be recaptured by Wei. Therefore, leaving the two Shens to guard Lieliu, Sima Yi marched his army toward Ye Valley.
Now let us return to Zhuge Liang at Qishan. After he had sent Ma Su to guard Jieting he was undecided what to do next. One day a messenger arrived with Wang Ping’s map. Zhuge Liang opened it.
“How stupid Ma Su is! He will be the ruin of our army!” he cried while he looked at it, striking the desk in extreme alarm.
“Why are you so disturbed, sir?” asked those near him.
“By this sketch I see that instead of commanding the main road he has chosen to camp on a hill. If the men of Wei come in force to surround our army and cut off our water supply, in less than two days our army will be in chaos. If Jieting is lost how will we be able to return?”
Here Yang Yi said, “I know I’m not very talented, but let me go and replace Ma Su.”
Zhuge Liang explained to him in detail how and where to camp, but before he could start a galloping horseman brought the news of the loss of both Jieting and Lieliu.
In despair, Zhuge Liang stamped his feet and sighed deeply. “The whole scheme has come to naught, and it is my fault.”
He sent for Guan Xing and Zhang Bao at once and said to them, “You two take 3,000 men each and go along some byroads in Wugong Hills. If you fall in with the enemy, don’t fight but only beat drums and raise a hubbub to scare them away. Let them retreat and don’t pursue, either. When our army has completely withdrawn, make for Yangping Pass without delay.”
Then he sent Zhang Yi to prepare Sword Pass for a general retreat and issued an order informing all officers and men to secretly pack up to get ready for withdrawal. He also assigned Ma Dai and Jiang Wei to guard the rear, telling them to place themselves in ambush in a valley and not to call back their soldiers till the main army had retreated. Having completed these arrangements, he sent trusted men to Tianshui, Nanan, and Anding with the order that all officials, soldiers, and people were to move into Hanzhong. He also saw to it that Jiang Wei’s aged mother was safely conducted to Hanzhong.
All these arrangements made, Zhuge Liang led 5,000 men to West City to remove the supplies. Suddenly messengers galloped in more than a dozen times with the terrible report that Sima Yi was advancing rapidly toward the city with his huge army of 150,000 soldiers.
At this point, no officer of rank was at Zhuge Liang’s side, but only the civil officials. As for the 5,000 men, half of them had been sent to remove the grain and forage, so all he had in the city was 2,500 men. The officials all turned pale with fright at the news. Ascending the wall, Zhuge Liang himself went to take a look. There he saw clouds of dust rising into the sky and the men of Wei pressing toward the city along two roads.
Then Zhuge Liang gave the following order: “Remove from sight all the banners and flags. Every sentinel must remain in position. Any person who dares to walk in and out of the city without permission, or raise his voice to speak or shout, will be instantly put to death. Open all the four gates and set twenty soldiers dressed as ordinary people cleaning the streets at each gate. Do not stir if the Wei army comes. I have a plan to drive them off.”
When everything was done according to his instructions he donned his white cloak, put on his silk headdress and, attended by two lads carrying his lute, he sat down on the wall in front of the turret. With his lute beside him and a stick of incense burning, he began to play the instrument.
Soon Sima Yi’s reconnaissance troops approached the city gate, and puzzled by the sight they dared not enter the city, but hastened back to report what they had seen to Sima Yi, who smiled incredulously. But he halted his army and rode ahead to see for himself. Lo! it was exactly as the scouts had described—Zhuge Liang, his face radiant with smiles, was seated high on the wall strumming his lute and burning incense. A lad stood on his left bearing a sword and another on his right holding a horsetail whisk. Around the gates some twenty people with their heads down seemed to be engrossed in sweeping the ground, as if no one else were about.
Filled with suspicion, Sima Yi thought this indicated some peculiarly subtle ruse. So he rode back, faced his army about, and ordered retreat by the road toward the northern hills.
“Could it be there is no army behind his show,” said his second son. “Why do you retreat so soon, father?”
“Zhuge Liang is always most cautious and never takes chances. Those open gates undoubtedly mean an ambush, and if our men enter the city they will fall victims to his guile. How can you people understand? Our best course is to retreat at once.”
Thus the two armies of Wei both left West City, much to the joy of Zhuge Liang, who laughed and clapped his hands as he saw them hastening away. The officials, still gasping with terror, asked Zhuge Liang to explain why Sima Yi, a famous Wei general commanding a massive army, should retreat quickly at the sight of him.
Zhuge Liang replied, “He knows my reputation for caution and that I never court danger. Seeing things as they were, he suspected an ambush and so turned away. I didn’t mean to take a risk but this time there was no alternative. Now he will surely take the byroad to the northern hills. I have already sent Guan Xing and Zhang Bao there to wait for him.”
Amazed at the depth of his foresight they said in awe: “Sir, your schemes and plans are truly unfathomable, even to gods or spirits. We would simply have abandoned the city and fled.”
“What chance of escape would we have with only 2,500 men? We would not have gone far before we were caught by Sima Yi.”
A lute three feet long conquered a mighty army
When Zhuge Liang made his foe retreat at West City.
Where the hundred and fifty thousand men had turned
Men of today still point with wonder in mind.
“But if I had been in his place I would not have departed so fast,” sa
id Zhuge Liang, laughing and clapping his hands again.
Then he gave an order that the people of the place should follow the army into Hanzhong, for Sima Yi would assuredly return. They abandoned West City and started toward Hanzhong. In due course all the inhabitants of the three districts of Tianshui, Nanan, and Anding also followed in that direction.
Meanwhile, Sima Yi led his army to retreat along some byroad in the Wugong Hills. Presently there came the shouting of men and beating of drums from behind some slopes. Turning to his two sons, he remarked, “If we had not retreated we would have fallen into Zhuge Liang’s trap.”
There soon appeared a force on the road, a big banner bearing the name of Zhang Bao. The men of Wei were seized with sudden panic and ran, flinging off their armor and throwing away their weapons. But before they had fled very far they heard fresh sounds indicating the arrival of an army in the valley and soon saw another force, with a banner inscribed with the name of Guan Xing. As the valley echoed the roaring sound, they could not fathom how many Shu troops there were bearing down on them. Suspicion gripped them, hurrying them along in their retreat and forcing them to abandon their supply wagons. Strictly observing Zhuge Liang’s order, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao did not pursue, but only gathered up the spoils. Then they returned home.
Seeing the valley apparently full of the men of Shu, Sima Yi dared not leave the main road. He hurried back to Jieting.
At this time Cao Zhen, hearing that the army of Shu was retreating, went in pursuit. But on the way he encountered a strong force under Ma Dai and Jiang Wei, and the fields and hills seemed to swarm with their troops. Cao Zhen, alarmed beyond measure, hastened to pull back, but his van leader was already slain by Ma Dai. He led his men to flee in panic.
Now that they had frightened off the men of Wei, the withdrawal of the Shu army occured in full force. That very night the soldiers all retreated to Hanzhong.
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: An Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 31
