The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: An Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation

by Luo Guanzhong

  “The strength of an army does not lie in its number of men, but in strategy. Aided by Your Majesty’s good fortune, I will certainly be able to capture this fellow and lay his head at your feet.”

  “What do you think will be his plan?” asked Cao Rui.

  “His best plan would be to flee before our army can arrive; his second best, to defend his position across the whole of Liaodong; his worst plan, to try to hold Xiangping. In the last case, I will certainly capture him.”

  “How long will the expedition take?”

  “We have to cover 4,000 li, which will take a hundred days. The war will consume another hundred and so will the return journey, and then sixty days for rest. Roughly one year will be enough.”

  “What if Wu and Shu should attack?” asked Cao Rui.

  “I have seen to that. Your Majesty need have no anxiety.”

  Reassured, Cao Rui ordered Sima Yi to undertake the expedition.

  Sima Yi took his leave and left the capital. He appointed Hu Zun as his van leader, who led the front division and advanced to Liaodong, where he encamped. Scouts hastened to tell Gongsun Yuan, who sent his army to camp at Liaosui. There they fortified themselves, digging a moat twenty li in circumference and placing abatis, or felled trees, all round the rampart. Hu Zun, noticing these preparations, sent his men to tell Sima Yi.

  “So they don’t want to fight, but to weary my men,” said Sima Yi with a smile. “I reckon most of his army is here, leaving his stronghold quite empty and undefended. I will abandon this place to make a dash at Xiangping. The enemy will definitely go to the city’s rescue and I will smite them on the way. I should score a great victory.”

  So he hastened toward Xiangping along unfrequented ways.

  Meanwhile, Gongsun Yuan’s two officers were discussing their plans inside their fortifications.

  Bei Yan said, “When the Wei army draws near, we will not fight. They come from thousands of li away and their supplies will be short, so they can’t hold out for long. When they run out of provisions they will have to retreat. Then we can stage a surprise attack and Sima Yi will be captured. That was the tactic Sima Yi used against Zhuge Liang on the Wei River, and Zhuge Liang eventually died before the end of the expedition. We will try the same tactic on Sima Yi himself.”

  As they were discussing their plan scouts came to report that the Wei army had marched southward. Bei Yan at once saw the danger and said, “They are going to attack Xiangping, which they know is undefended. If that city is lost it is pointless to hold this position.” So they broke camp to follow the Wei army.

  Sima Yi was immediately informed of his enemy’s move and he rejoiced. “Now they will fall into the snare I have laid for them.”

  He sent Xiahou Ba and his brother with two forces to take up positions on the banks of the Liao River. They were to attack if the men of Liaodong came up. The two took the order and left for their destination. They had not long to wait. Soon, they saw Bei Yan and his army approaching and, following the explosion of a bomb, they attacked from two sides, beating drums, and waving their flags. The two Liaodong officers, who had no intention of entangling themselves in a long combat, made but a feeble resistance. They soon fled to the Shou Hills, where they were joined by their lord Gongsun Yuan. Then they turned back to fight the Wei army.

  Bei Yan rode to the front and reviled the enemy. “Do not try to play tricks!” he shouted. “Do you dare to fight with me?”

  Xiahou Ba rode out to accept the challenge, and after a few bouts Bei Yan was killed. Great confusion ensued among the men of Liaodong. At this Xiahou Ba urged on his men and drove Gongsun Yuan back to Xiang-ping. He took refuge in the city, which was immediately besieged by the men of Wei.

  It was the time of incessant autumn rains. For thirty days it rained without ceasing. At the end of the month the ground was under three feet of water and the grain boats could sail straight from the Liao River to the city wall. The men of Wei, surrounded by water on all sides, could neither sit nor move.

  The commanding officer of the left wing went to see Sima Yi. “The rain will not let up. The camps have become so muddy that they are not fit for the men to live in. Please move the camps to the hills.”

  But Sima Yi ignored the suggestion. “How can the army move away just when success is in sight? The rebels will be conquered any day now. Whoever dares to speak about drawing off again will be put to death!”

  The officer departed submissively. Shortly after, his colleague in command of the right wing also came and repeated the same plea. He was put to death. His head was suspended at the camp gate as a warning to others. All were intimidated into submission.

  Then Sima Yi ordered his men in the south camp to retreat twenty li, leaving this side of the city clear, so that the soldiers and people inside could come out to gather firewood and pasture their cattle and horses.

  One of his officers asked, “Previously when you went to overcome Meng Da in Shangyong, you rushed to the city in eight days and stormed the walls from eight points. Very soon Meng Da was destroyed, and you won a great victory. Now your 40,000 men have traveled thousands of li and yet instead of pressing on with the attack, you leave your men in the mud and mire. You even allow the enemy to gather fuel and graze their animals. I do wonder what your intention could be.”

  Sima Yi smiled. “Could it be that you’re ignorant of war strategies, sir? Formerly, Meng Da had ample supplies but few men, whereas we had little grain but many men, and so we had to make a speedy attack. Our success lay in taking the enemy by surprise with a sudden bombardment. But the present situation is quite different. The Liaodong men are many and we few; they are hungry and we are fully-fed. Why should we force the attack? Let them flee and we can smite them as they run. Therefore I leave a road free so that they may run away.”

  His words convinced the officer of the soundness of the strategy. Shortly afterwards, Sima Yi sent a messenger to Luoyang to hasten the transportation of grain.

  However, the war was not supported in the capital. At a court session many courtiers addressed their Emperor: “In Liaodong the rain has been continuous for a month, and the men are in misery. Your Majesty should recall Sima Yi and suspend the war.”

  Cao Rui replied, “Sima Yi is an experienced commander. He has ready plans to deal with every eventuality. We do not have to wait for long before Gongsun Yuan is captured. Why need you be so anxious?”

  So he did not heed the voice of the opponents, but saw to it that provisions were sent to the front.

  Several days later the rain ceased, and fine, clear weather followed. That night Sima Yi went out of his tent to study the sky. Suddenly he saw a big meteor, a bright streak of light of scores of feet long, fall from above the Shou Hills to the southeast of Xiangping. The officers and soldiers were rather frightened at this apparition, but their commander rejoiced.

  “Five days from now Gongsun Yuan will be slain where that star fell,” he predicted. “Tomorrow we will storm the city with vigor.”

  They surrounded the city at dawn the next morning. Every conceivable measure was taken to break the city’s defenses. They built earthen mounds, dug tunnels, and set up catapults and scaling ladders to bombard the city day and night, without ceasing. Arrows fell like pelting rain.

  Within the city, there was no grain and they had to slaughter bullocks and horses for food. All were resentful and none wished to defend the city. There was talk of slaying Gongsun Yuan and yielding the city. When he heard about this Gongsun Yuan was frightened, and decided to submit to Wei. He sent his prime minister and an envoy out of the city to ask Sima Yi to allow him to submit. These two had to be let down from the walls by ropes, as no other means of exit were possible. They found their way to Sima Yi’s tent and said, “Pray retire twenty li and allow our lord and his officers to come forth and surrender.”

  “Why didn’t Gongsun Yuan himself come?” cried Sima Yi. “How very impertinent!”

  He put the two envoys to death and sent their heads
back into the city.

  Extremely alarmed, Gongsun Yuan sent another official as his envoy to beg for submission. Sima Yi received this messenger sitting in state in his tent, with his officers standing on his two sides. The envoy inched his way forward on his knees, and when he reached the door of the tent he begged, “Pray cease your thunderous wrath. My master will send his son as hostage and then he and all his officers shall appear before you bound with cords.”

  Sima Yi replied, “There are five possible options for any army. If you can fight, fight; if you cannot fight, defend; if you cannot defend, flee; if you cannot flee, surrender; if you cannot surrender, then die! These five options are open to you. What is the use of a hostage? Now get out and tell your master.”

  The envoy put his hands over his head and fled like a rat. He went into the city and repeated what Sima Yi had said.

  The Gongsuns, father and son, resolved to flee. They chose a thousand mounted men, and in the dead of night opened the south gate and got out. They took the road to the southeast and rejoiced to find it clear.

  All seemed well for a distance of about ten li. Then a bomb exploded, which was followed by a roll of drums and the blare of trumpets—a force blocked their way. The leader was Sima Yi, supported by his two sons.

  “Stop, rebels!” they cried.

  In panic, Gongsun Yuan turned to look for a way of escape, but he was already surrounded on all sides by Hu Zun and four other Wei officers. As escape was impossible, Gongsun Yuan and his son dismounted and surrendered.

  While still seated on his horse, Sima Yi turned to his officers and reminded them of what he’d said five days earlier about slaying Gongsun Yuan on the spot. They all praised him for his superhuman foresight. Then he ordered the father and son to be slain where they stood.

  Next Sima Yi led his men to seize the city of Xiangping, but before he had reached the walls Hu Zun had already entered the place. The residents burned incense and bowed to welcome the victors as they marched into the city. Sima Yi sat in the official hall, where he executed the whole of the Gongsun clan, as well as all those who had assisted him in his rebellion. Altogether more than seventy were beheaded. A proclamation was duly issued to pacify the people. Someone told Sima Yi that Jia Fan and Lun Zhi had been opposed to the revolt and had therefore suffered death, so he honored their tombs and conferred ranks upon their children. The contents of the treasury were distributed among the soldiers as rewards, then the army marched back to Luoyang.

  One night the ruler of Wei was suddenly awakened by a chill blast that extinguished the lights, and in the darkness he made out the forms of the late Empress Mao and scores of palace maids, who were moving toward his bed, all weeping and demanding that he give them back their lives. The fright he suffered led to an illness that worsened from day to day. So he ordered two palace officials, Liu Fang and Sun Zi, to take over all business of the privy council, and he summoned his brother Cao Yu, Prince of Yan, to the capital to be Grand General and regent for the Heir Apparent. However, his brother, being modest and retiring by nature, declined these high offices and responsibilities.

  Cao Rui called in Liu Fang and Sun Zi and asked, “Who in the Cao clan is suitable for the post?”

  As they had both received much favor from Cao Zhen, the late commander of the armed forces, they replied that none was so fit as his son Cao Shuang. The Emperor approved of their choice. Then they advised him to send his brother, Prince of Yan, to his own estate, if Cao Shuang was to be appointed.

  Cao Rui consented and issued an edict, which these two brought to the prince, saying, “This edict in the Emperor’s own hand bids Your Highness return to your own domain at once—and you are not to return to court without a special permission.”

  The prince wept as he left for home. Thereupon Cao Shuang was created Grand General, with full control of the government.

  But Cao Rui’s illness deteriorated rapidly, and he dispatched an envoy to summon Sima Yi to the palace. As soon as he arrived he was led to his lord’s chamber.

  “I feared lest I should not see you again,” said Cao Rui. “Now I can die content.”

  Sima Yi bowed and said, “On my way I was told that Your Majesty was not feeling well. I grieved that I did not have wings to hasten here. But I am fortunate enough to see Your Majesty.”

  Then the heir was summoned to his father’s bedside and so were Cao Shuang, Liu Fang, Sun Zi, and certain others.

  Taking Sima Yi by the hand, the dying ruler said: “On his deathbed at Baidi, Liu Bei confided his son to the care of Zhuge Liang, whose devotion only ceased with death. If such loyalty can be found in the state of a remote area, how much more may I hope for it in a great country like ours! My son is only eight years of age, and incapable of ruling a kingdom. I hope you all will do your utmost to support him. Do not fail the trust I put in you.”

  Turning to the young prince, he continued, “Zhong-da (Sima Yi) is as myself, and you are to treat him with the same respect and deference.”

  The Emperor bade Sima Yi lead the young prince to his bedside. The boy threw his arms around his new guardian’s neck and clung tightly to him.

  “Never forget the affection he has shown you today,” said Cao Rui, weeping.

  Weeping, too, Sima Yi bowed to the ground.

  The Emperor was dying. He had lost his speech, but his hand still pointed to his son. Shortly after he died. He had reigned for thirteen years and died at the age of thirty-six. It was then the first month of the third year of the period Jing Chu in Wei (A.D. 239).

  Sima Yi and Cao Shuang lost no time in placing the new Emperor, Cao Fang, on the throne. The new ruler was the late Emperor’s son only by adoption. He had been brought up secretly in the palace, and no one knew his real origin.

  The posthumous title of “Emperor Ming” was conferred upon the late ruler, and he was buried in the Gaoping Tombs. Empress Guo was given the title of Empress Dowager. And a new reign title, Zheng Shi, was adopted. Sima Yi and Cao Shuang were in charge of the government. Cao Shuang treated his colleague with deference and acted in all important matters only after consulting him first.

  Cao Shuang had frequented the imperial palaces since childhood and the late ruler had been fond of him for his discretion. Cao Shuang had a host of five hundred followers, among whom were five men known for their foppery. Their names were He Yan, Deng Yang, Li Sheng, Ding Mi, and Bi Gui. Besides these five there was another named Huan Fan, an intelligent man who was minister of agriculture, who was nicknamed “Bag of Wisdom.” These six were Cao Shuang’s most trusted companions.

  One day He Yan said to his patron, “My lord, you should not let your great power slip into the hands of another or there may be trouble.”

  Cao Shuang replied, “The late Emperor left his son in the care of both Sima Yi and myself. How can I betray his trust?”

  He Yan said, “When your father and Sima Yi were fighting against Shu in the west, your father suffered much humiliation from him, which ultimately led to his death. How can you not be aware of that?”

  His words suddenly awakened Cao Shuang. He then entered into an intrigue with the majority of the court officials, and one day he presented to the young Emperor a petition proposing that Sima Yi be promoted to the rank of Tai-fu* for his great merits and services.

  The promotion was made, and consequently all the military power fell into the hands of Cao Shuang, who appointed his three brothers to high military posts, each commanding 3,000 Imperial Guards, with the privilege to go in and out of the palace at will. Moreover, all five of his confidants received powerful offices. These five and their patron were close associates in all concerns of state. From then on, Cao Shuang gathered about him larger and still larger numbers of supporters, whereas Sima Yi lived in seclusion, excused by illness. His two sons also resigned from office and stayed idle at home.

  Cao Shuang now gave himself up to dissipation, spending his days in drinking and pleasure-seeking with his close followers. In dress and household vessels h
e copied the palace patterns. Every time tribute of jewels and other luxuries arrived from various regions, he picked out the best for himself before sending them to the palace, and his courts and chambers were filled with beautiful damsels. The eunuch Zhang Dang, to curry favor with Cao Shuang, secretly selected several of the late Emperor’s waiting maids and sent them to the new man in power. Cao Shuang also chose dozens of girls from good families that were skilled in music and dancing to play for him in his quarters. He also employed several hundred skilled craftsmen to construct tall buildings and beautifully-painted pavilions and to make vessels of gold and silver.

  Now, He Yan had heard of Guan Lu’s great skill in divination (see Chapter Sixty-Nine) and invited him to his place to discuss the Book of Changes. During the discussion Deng Yang, who was also present, said to Guan Lu, “You call yourself an expert in interpreting the Book of Changes, but your speech does not use the language of the book. How is that?”

  Guan Lu replied, “He who knows the Book of Changes does not speak in its language.”

  Smiling, He Yan praised him: “An apt remark expressed with brevity. But cast a lot for me and tell me, can I one day hold one of the three highest offices in court? Besides, I have dreamed repeatedly of many black flies settling on my nose. What could this portent?”

  Guan Lu replied, “In ancient times Yuan and Kai* aided Shun, and Duke Zhou assisted his nephew, the young king of Zhou. All of them were kindly and modest ministers who enjoyed great fortune. You, sir, have come to high honors and wield a great power, but there are few who esteem you and many who fear you. This is not the way to cautiously pursue good fortune.

  “Now one’s nose is like an eminence. If an eminence stands firmly aloft it means a long-lasting fortune. But your nose is surrounded by black flies, which usually gather around foul objects. He who sits in a high position may tumble down. Should you not be wary of that? I wish you would listen to good advice to make up for your shortcomings. Then, indeed, may you reach the highest offices, and the black flies will disperse.”