Three Kingdoms Romance

by Guanzhong Luo

  So Zhang He set out and advanced quickly. Ten miles out he heard a roll of drums, and suddenly appeared from a wood a cohort led by Wei Yan, who galloped to the front, crying, “Whither would you go, O rebel leader?”

  Zhang He swiftly turned and engaged Wei Yan, but after some ten passes Wei Yan fled. Zhang He rode after Wei Yan along the road for ten miles and then stopped to observe. As he saw no ambush, he turned again and resumed the pursuit. All went well till he came to a slope, when there arose shouts and yells and another body of soldiers came out.

  “Zhang He, do not run away!” cried this leader, who was Guan Xing.

  Guan Xing galloped close, and Zhang He did not flee. They fought, and after half a score of passes Guan Xing seemed to have the worst of the encounter and fled. Zhang He followed. Presently they neared a dense wood. Zhang He was fearful of entering in, so he sent forward scouts to search the thickets. They could find no danger, and Zhang He again pursued.

  But quite unexpectedly Wei Yan, who had formerly fled, got round ahead of Zhang He and now appeared again. The two fought a half score bouts and again Wei Yan ran. Zhang He followed, but Guan Xing also got round to the front by a side road and so stopped the pursuit of Zhang He. Zhang He attacked furiously as soon as he was checked, this time so successfully that the troops of Shu threw away their war-gear and ran. The road was thus littered with spoil, and the Wei soldiers could not resist the temptation to gather it. They slipped from their horses and began to collect the arms.

  The maneuvers just described continued, Wei Yan and Guan Xing one after the other engaging Zhang He and Zhang He pressing on after each one, but achieving nothing. And as evening fell the running fight had led both sides close to the Wooden Path.

  Then suddenly Wei Yan made a real stand, and he rode to the front yelling, “Yield, rebel! I have not fought yet and you have had it all your own way so far. Now we will fight to the death.”

  Zhang He was furious and nothing loath, so he came on with his spear to meet Wei Yan, who was flourishing his sword. They met; yet again, after some ten bouts, Wei Yan threw aside weapons, armor, helmet and all his gear, and even left his horse, and led his defeated company sway along the Wooden Path.

  Zhang He was filled with the lust to kill, and he could not let Wei Yan escape. So he set out after Wei Yan, although it was already dark. But suddenly lights appeared, and the sky became aglow, and at the same time huge boulders and great bulks of timber came rolling down the slopes and blocked the way.

  Fear gripped Zhang He, and he cried, “I have blundered into an ambush!”

  The road was blocked in front and behind and bordered by craggy precipices. Then, rat-tat-tat! came the sound of a rattle, and therewith flew clouds of arrows and showers of bolts. Zhang He and many of his officers were killed.

  With myriad shining bolts the air was filled,

  The road was littered with brave soldiers killed;

  The force to Saber Pass faring perished here;

  The tale of valor grows from year to year.

  Soon the second army of Wei under Wei Ping came up, but too late to help. From the signs they knew that their comrades had been victims of a cruel trick, and they turned back. But as they faced about, a shout was heard, and from the hilltops came, “I, Zhuge Liang, am here!”

  Looking up they saw his figure outlined against a fire. Pointing to the slain, he cried, “I have gone hunting in this wood, as you see; only instead of slaying a horse, I have killed a deer. But you may go in peace, and when you see your general, tell him that he will be my quarry one day.”

  The soldiers told this to Sima Yi when they returned, and he was deeply mortified, saying, “Letting friend Zhang He die is my fault!”

  And when he returned to Luoyang, the Ruler of Wei wept at the death of his brave leader and had his body searched and honorably buried.

  Zhuge Liang had no sooner reached Hanzhong than he prepared to go on to Capital Chengdu and see his lord.

  But Li Yan, who was in the capital, said to the Latter Ruler, “Why does the Prime Minister return, for I have kept him fully supplied with all things needed for the army?”

  Then the Latter Ruler sent Fei Yi into Hanzhong to inquire why the army had retired. And when he had arrived and showed the cause of his coming, Zhuge Liang was greatly surprised and showed the letter from Li Yan, saying, “Li Yan wrote to warn that East Wu was about to invade the country.”

  Fei Yi said, “Li Yan memorialized to the Throne, saying he had sent you supplies and knew not why Your Excellency returned.”

  So Zhuge Liang inquired carefully, and then it came out that Li Yan had failed to find sufficient grain to keep the army supplied, and so had sent the first lying letter to the army that it might retire before the shortage showed itself. His memorial to the Throne was designed to cover the former fault.

  “The fool has ruined the great design of the state just to save his own skin,” cried Zhuge Liang bitterly.

  He called in the offender and sentenced him to death. But Fei Yi interceded, saying, “O Minister, the First Ruler had loved and trusted Li Yan with his son. Please forgive him this time.”

  And so Li Yan's life was spared. However, when Fei Yi made his report, the Latter Ruler was wroth and ordered Li Yan to suffer death. But this time Jiang Wan intervened, saying, “Your late father named Li Yan as one of the guardians of your youth.”

  And the Latter Ruler relented. However, Li Yan was stripped of all ranks and relegated to Zitong.

  Zhuge Liang went to Chengdu and appointed Li Feng, Li Yan's son, as High Counselor.

  Preparations then began for another expedition. Plans were discussed, provisions were accumulated, weapons put in order, and officers and soldiers kept fit and trained. By his kindness to the people, Zhuge Liang waited for three years before beginning marching, and in the Two Lands of Rivers people's hearts filled with joys.

  And the time passed quickly. In the second month of the twelfth year (AD 234) Zhuge Liang presented a memorial saying, “I have been training the army for three years; supplies are ample, and all is in order for an expedition. We may now attack Wei. If I cannot destroy these rebels, sweep away the evil hordes and bring about a glorious entry into the capital, then may I never again enter your Majesty's presence.”

  The Latter Ruler replied, “Our state is now firmly established, and Wei troubles us not at all; why not enjoy the present tranquillity, O Father-Minister?”

  “Because of the mission left me by your father. I am ever scheming to destroy Wei, even in my dreams. I must strive my best and do my utmost to restore you to the ancient capital of your ancestry and replace the Hans in their old palace.”

  As Zhuge Liang said this, a voice cried, “An army may not go forth, O Minister!”

  Qiao Zhou had raised a last protest.

  Zhuge Liang's sole thought was service,

  Himself he would not spare;

  But Qiao Zhou had watched the starry sky,

  And read misfortune there.

  The next chapter will give the arguments against fighting.

  CHAPTER 102. Sima Yi Occupies The Banks Of River Taurus; Zhuge Liang Constructs Mechanical Bullocks And Horses.

  Qiao Zhou, who protested against the war, was Grand Historian. He was also an astrologer. He opposed the war, saying, “My present office involves the direction of the observations on the Astrological Terrace, and I am bound to report whether the aspect forebodes misfortune or promises happiness. Not long since, several flights of thousands of birds came from the south, plunged into River Han and were drowned. This is an evil augury. Moreover, I have studied the aspect of the sky, and the 'Wolf' constellation is influencing the aspect of the planet Venus. An aura of prosperity pervades the north. To attack Wei will not be to our profit. Again, the people in Chengdu say that the cypress trees moan in the night. With so many evil omens, I wish that the Prime Minister should not go forth to war, but remain at home to guard what we have.”

  “How can I?” said Zhuge Liang.
“His late Majesty laid upon me a heavy responsibility, and I must exert myself to the utmost in the endeavor to destroy these rebels. The policy of a state cannot be changed because of vain and irresponsible talk of inauspicious signs.”

  Zhuge Liang was not to be deterred. He instructed the officials to prepare the Great Bovine Sacrifice in the Dynastic Temple. Then, weeping, he prostrated himself and made this declaration:

  “Thy servant Zhuge Liang has made five expeditions to Qishan without gaining any extension of territory. His fault

  weighs heavily upon him. Now once again he is about to march, pledged to use every effort of body and mind to exterminate the rebels against the Han House, and to restore to the dynasty its ancient glory in its old capital. To achieve this end, he would use the last remnant of his strength and could die content.”

  The sacrifice ended, he took leave of the Latter Ruler and set out for Hanzhong to make the final arrangements for his march. While so engaged, he received the unexpected news of the death of Guan Xing. He was greatly shocked, and fainted. When he had recovered consciousness, his officers did their utmost to console him.

  “How pitiful! Why does Heaven deny long life to the loyal and good? I have lost a most able general just as I am setting out and need him most.”

  As all are born, so all must die;

  People are as gnats against the sky;

  But loyalty or piety

  May give them immortality.

  The armies of Shu numbered three hundred forty thousand strong, and they marched in five divisions, with Jiang Wei and Wei Yan in the van, and when they had reached Qishan, Li Hui, the Commissary General, was instructed to convey stores into the Xie Valley in readiness.

  In Wei they had recently changed the style of the year period to Green Dragon, because a green dragon had been seen to emerge from Mopo Well. The year of the fighting was the second year (AD 234).

  The courtiers said to the Ruler of Wei, “The commanders of the passes report thirty or so legions advancing in five divisions from Shu upon Qishan.”

  The news distressed the Ruler of Wei, who at once called in Sima Yi and told him of the invasion.

  Sima Yi replied, “The aspect of the sky is very auspicious for the Middle Land. The Wolf star has encroached upon the planet Venus, which bodes ill for the Lands of Rivers. Thus Zhuge Liang is pitting his powers against the heavens, and will meet defeat and suffer death. And I, by virtue of Your Majesty's good fortune, am to be the instrument of destruction. I request to name four leaders to go with me.”

  “Who are they? Name them,” said the king.

  “They are the four sons of Xiahou Yuan: Xiahou Ba, Xiahou Wei, Xiahou Hui, and Xiahou He. Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei are trained archers and cavaliers; Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He are deep strategists. All four desire to avenge the death of their father. Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei should be leaders of the van; Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He should be Marching Generals, to discuss and arrange plans for the repulse of our enemy.”

  “You remember the evil results of employing the 'Dynastic Son-in-Law,' Xiahou Mao; he lost his army and is still too ashamed to return to court. Are you sure these are not of the same kidney?”

  “They are not like Xiahou Mao in the least.”

  The Ruler of Wei granted the request and named Sima Yi as Commander-in-Chief with the fullest authority. When Sima Yi took leave of the Ruler of Wei, he received a command in Cao Rui's own writing:

  “When you, Noble Sir, reach the banks of River Wei and have well fortified that position, you are not to give battle.

  The army of Shu, disappointed of their desire, will pretend to retire and so entice you on, but you will not pursue. You will wait till their supplies are consumed and they are compelled to retreat, when you may smite them. Then you will obtain the victory without distressing the army unduly. This is the best plan of campaign.”

  Sima Yi took it with bowed head. He proceeded forthwith to Changan. When he had mustered the forces assembled from all western counties, they numbered four hundred thousand, and they were all camped on River Wei. In addition, fifty thousand troops were farther up the stream preparing nine floating bridges. The two leaders of the van, Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei, were ordered to cross the river and camp, and in rear of the main camp on the east a solid earth rampart was raised to guard against any surprises from the rear.

  While these preparations were in progress, Guo Huai and Sun Li came to the new camp, and the former said, “With the troops of Shu at Qishan, there is a possibility of their dominating River Wei, going up on the plain and pushing out a line to the northern hills whereby to cut off all highways in Xizhou.”

  “You say well,” said Sima Yi. “See to it. Take command of all the Xizhou forces, occupy Beiyuan and make a fortified camp there. But adopt a defensive policy; wait till the enemy's food supplies get exhausted before you think of attack.”

  So Guo Huai and Sun Li left to carry out these orders.

  Meanwhile Zhuge Liang made five main camps at Qishan, and between Xie Valley and Saber Pass he established a line of fourteen large camps. He distributed the troops among these camps as for a long campaign. He appointed inspecting officers to make daily visits to see that all was in readiness.

  When he heard that the army of Wei had camped in Beiyuan, he said to his officers, “They camp there fearing that our holding this area will sever connection with Xizhou. I am pretending to look toward Beiyuan, but really my objective is River Wei. I am going to build several large rafts and pile them with straw, and I have five thousand of marines to manage them. In the darkness of the night I shall attack Beiyuan; Sima Yi will come to the rescue. If he is only a little worsted, I shall cross the river with the rear divisions. Then the leading divisions will embark on the rafts, drop down the river, set fire to the floating bridges, and attack the rear of the enemy. I shall lead an army to take the gates of the first camp. If we can get the south bank of the river, the campaign will become simple.”

  Then the generals took orders and went to prepare.

  The spies carried information of the doings of the troops of Shu to Sima Yi, who said to his generals, “Zhuge Liang has some crafty scheme, but I think I know it. He proposes to make a show of taking Beiyuan, and then, dropping down the river, he will try to burn our bridges, throw our rear into confusion, and then attack our camps.”

  So he gave Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei orders: “You are to listen for the sounds of battle about Beiyuan; if you hear the shouting, you are to march down to the river, to the hills on the south, and lay an ambush against the troops of Shu as they arrive.”

  Zhang Hu and Yue Chen were to lead two other forces, of two thousand of bowmen each, and lie in hiding on the north bank near the bridges to keep off the rafts that might come down on the current and keep them from touching the bridges.

  Then he sent for Guo Huai and Sun Li, and said, “Zhuge Liang is coming to Beiyuan to cross the river secretly. Your force is small, and you can hide half way along the road. If the enemy cross the river in the afternoon, that will mean an attack on us in the evening. Then you are to simulate defeat and run. They will pursue. You can shoot with all your energy, and our marines and land troops will attack at once. If the attack is in great force, look out for orders.”

  All these orders given, Sima Yi sent his two sons Sima Shi and Sima Zhao to reinforce the front camp, while he led his own army to relieve Beiyuan.

  Zhuge Liang sent Wei Yan and Ma Dai to cross River Wei and attack Beiyuan, while the attempt to set fire to the bridges was confided to Wu Ban and Wu Yi. The general attack on the Wei camp by River Wei was to be made by three divisions: the front division under Wang Ping and Zhang Ni, the middle division under Jiang Wei and Ma Zhong, the rear division under Liao Hua and Zhang Yi. The various divisions started at noon and crossed the river, where they slowly formed up in battle order.

  Wei Yan and Ma Dai arrived Beiyuan about dusk. The scouts having informed the defenders of their approach, Sun Li abandoned his camp and fled
. This told Wei Yan that his attack was expected, and he turned to retire. At this moment a great shouting was heard, and there appeared two bodies of the enemy under Sima Yi and Guo Huai bearing down upon the attackers. Desperate efforts were made to extricate themselves, but many of the soldiers of Shu fell into the river and drowned. The others scattered. However, Wu Yi came up and rescued the force from entire destruction.

  Wu Ban set half his troops to navigate the rafts down the river to the bridges. But Zhang Hu and Yue Chen stationed near the bridges shot clouds of arrows at them, and the Shu leader, Wu Ban, was wounded. He fell into the river and was drowned. The crews of the rafts jumped into the water and got away. The rafts fell into the hands of the soldiers of Wei.

  At this time the front division under Wang Ping and Zhang Ni were ignorant of the defeat of their Beiyuan army, and they went straight for the camps of Wei. They arrived in the second watch.

  They heard loud shouting, and Wang Ping said to Zhang Ni, “We do not know whether the cavalry sent to Beiyuan has been successful or not. It is strange that we do not see a single soldier of the enemy. Surely Sima Yi has found out the plan and prepared to frustrate the attack. Let us wait here till the bridges have been set on fire and we see the flames.”

  So they halted. Soon after, a mounted messenger came up with orders: “The Prime Minister bade you retire immediately, as the attack on the bridges has failed.”

  Wang Ping and Zhang Ni attempted to withdraw, but a bomb exploded and the troops of Wei, who had taken a by-road to their rear, at once attacked. A great fire started also. A disorderly battle ensued, from which Wang Ping and Zhang Ni eventually forced their ways out, but only with great loss.

  And when Zhuge Liang collected his army at Qishan once more he found, to his sorrow, that he had lost more than ten thousand troops.

  Just at this time Fei Yi arrived front Chengdu.

  Zhuge Liang received him and, after the ceremonies were over, said, “I would trouble you, Sir, to carry a letter for me into East Wu; will you undertake the mission?”