Three Kingdoms Romance

by Guanzhong Luo

  Zhuge Ke welcomed this suggestion and gave orders to march on Xincheng. They came up and found the city gates closed, wherefore they began to besiege the city. The commander in the city, Zhang Te, saw the legions of Wu at the walls, held a strict defense.

  A hasty messenger was sent to Luoyang, and First Secretary Yu Song told the Prime Minister, Sima Shi.

  Yu Song said, “Zhuge Ke is laying siege to Xincheng; the city should not try to repulse the attack, but simply hold out as long as possible. When the besiegers have exhausted their provisions, they will be compelled to retire. As they retreat, we can smite them. However, it is necessary to provide against any invasion from Shu.”

  Accordingly Sima Zhao was sent to reinforce Guo Huai so as to keep off Jiang Wei, while Guanqiu Jian and Hu Zun kept the army of Wu at bay.

  For months the army of Zhuge Ke battered at Xincheng without success. He urged his generals to strenuous efforts, threatening to put to death anyone who was dilatory. At last his attacks looked like succeeding, for the northeast corner of the wall seemed shaken.

  Then Zhang Te, the commander of Xincheng, thought of a device. He sent a persuasive messenger with all the register documents to Zhuge Ke.

  And the messenger said, “It is a rule in Wei that if a city holds out against attack for a hundred days and reinforcement has not arrived, then its commander may surrender without penalty to his family. Now Xincheng has held out for over ninety days, and my master hopes you will allow him to withstand the few days necessary to complete the hundred, when he will yield. Here are all register documents that he desires to tender first.”

  Zhuge Ke had no doubts that the story was genuine. He ordered the army to retreat temporarily, and the defenders enjoyed a rest. But all Zhang Te really desired was time wherein to strengthen the weak angle of the wall. As soon as the attacks ceased, the defenders pulled down the houses near the corner and repaired the

  wall with the material.

  As soon as the repairs were complete, Zhang Te threw off all pretense and cried from the wall, “I have half a year's provisions yet and will not surrender to any curs of Wu.”

  The defense became as vigorous as before the truce. Zhuge Ke was enraged at being so tricked, and urged on the attack. But one day one of the thousands of arrows that flew from the rampart struck him in the forehead, and he fell. He was borne to his tent, but the wound inflamed, and he became very ill.

  Their leader's illness disheartened the troops, and, moreover, the weather became very hot. Sickness invaded the camp, so that soldiers and leaders alike wished to go home. When Zhuge Ke had recovered sufficiently to resume command, he urged on the attack, but the generals said, “The soldiers are sick and unfit for battle.”

  Zhuge Ke burst into fierce anger, and said, “The next person who mentions illness will be beheaded.”

  When the report of this threat got abroad, the soldiers began to desert freely. Presently Commander Cai Lin, with his whole company, went over to the enemy. Zhuge Ke began to be alarmed and rode through the camps to see for himself. Surely enough, the soldiers all looked sickly, with pale and puffy faces.

  The siege had to be raised, and Zhuge Ke retired into his own country. But scout brought the news of retreat to Guanqiu Jian who led the Wei grand army to follow and harass Zhuge Ke's march and inflicted a severe defeat.

  Mortified by the course of events, Zhuge Ke did not report his return to the Ruler of Wu, but pretended illness.

  Sun Liang, the Ruler of Wu, went to the residence to see his general, and the officers came to call. In order to silence comment, Zhuge Ke assumed an attitude of extreme severity, investigating every one's conduct very minutely, punishing rigorously any fault or shortcoming and meting out sentences of banishment, or death with exposure, till every one walked in terror. He also placed two of his own cliques — Zhang Yue and Zhu En — over the royal guards, making them the teeth and claws of his vengeance.

  Now Sun Jun was a son of Sun Gong and a great grandson of Sun Jing, brother of Sun Jian. Sun Quan loved him and had put him in command of the guards. Sun Jun was enraged at being superseded by Zhang Yue and Zhu En, the two creatures of Zhuge Ke.

  Minister Teng Yin, who had an old quarrel with Zhuge Ke, said to Sun Jun, “This Zhuge Ke is as cruel as he is powerful. He abuses his authority and no one is safe against him. I also think he is aiming at something yet higher and you, Sir, as one of the ruling family ought to put a stop to it.”

  “I agree with you, and I want to get rid of him,” replied Sun Jun. “Now I will obtain an edict condemning him to death.”

  Both went in to see the Ruler of Wu, Sun Liang, and they laid the matter before him.

  “I am afraid of him, too,” replied Sun Liang. “I have wanted to remove him for some time, but have found no opportunity. If you would prove your loyalty, you would do it for me.”

  Then said Teng Yin, “Your Majesty can give a banquet and invite him, and let a few braves be ready hidden behind the curtains. At a signal, as the dropping of a wine cup, they might jump out and slay him, and

  all further trouble would be avoided.”

  Sun Liang agreed.

  Zhuge Ke had never been to court since his return from the unfortunate expedition. Under a plea of indisposition he had remained moping at home. One day he was going out of his reception room when he suddenly saw coming in a person dressed in the mourning white.

  “Who are you?” said he, rather roughly.

  The person seemed too terror-stricken to reply or resist when he was seized. They questioned him, and he said, “I was in mourning for my father newly dead, and had come into the city to seek a priest to read the liturgy. I had entered by mistake, thinking it was a temple.”

  The gate wardens were questioned. They said, “There are scores of us at the gate, which is never unwatched. We have not seen a man enter.”

  Zhuge Ke raged and had the mourner and the gate wardens put to death. But that night he was restless and sleepless. By and by he heard a rending sound that seemed to come from the reception hall, so he arose and went to see what it was. The great main beam had broken in two.

  Zhuge Ke, much disturbed, returned to his chamber to try once more to sleep. But a cold wind blew, and, shivering in the chilly air, he saw the figures of the mourner and the gate wardens he had put to death. They advanced toward him holding their heads in their hands and seemed to threaten him. He was frightened, and fell in a swoon.

  Next morning, when washing his face, the water seemed tainted with the smell of blood. He bade the maid throw it away and bring more; it made no difference, the odor was still there. He was perplexed and distressed. Then came a messenger with an invitation to a royal banquet. He had his carriage prepared. As he was passing through the gate, a yellow dog jumped up and caught hold of his garment and then howled lugubriously.

  “The dog even mocks me,” said he, annoyed, and he bade his attendants take it away.

  Then he set out for the palace. Before he had gone far, he saw a white rainbow rise out of the earth and reach up to the sky. While he was wondering what this might portend, his friend Zhang Yue came up and spoke a word of warning.

  “I feel doubtful about the real purpose of this banquet,” said Zhang Yue, “and advise you not to go.”

  Zhuge Ke gave orders to drive home again; but before he had reached his own gate, the two conspirators — Sun Jun and Teng Yin — rode up and asked, “O Commander, why are you turning back?”

  “I feel unwell and cannot see the Emperor today,” replied Zhuge Ke.

  They replied, “This court is appointed to be held especially to do honor to you and the army. You have not yet reported, and there is a banquet for you. You may be ill, but you really must go to court.”

  Zhuge Ke yielded, and once more set his face toward the palace. Sun Jun and Teng Yin went with him, and his friend Zhang Yue followed. The banquet was spread when he arrived, and after he had made his obeisance he went to his place.

  When the wine was brough
t in, Zhuge Ke, thinking it might be poisoned, excused himself from drinking on account of his state of health.

  “Will you have some of the medicated wine brought from your own residence?” said Sun Jun.

  “Yes; I could drink that,” replied he.

  So a servant was sent for a supply that he might drink with the other guests.

  After several courses, the Ruler of Wu made an excuse and left the banquet hall. Sun Jun went to the foot of the hall and changed his garments of ceremony for more homely garb, but underneath these he put on armor. Then suddenly he raised his keen sword and ran up the hall, shouting, “The Emperor has issued an edict to slay a rebel!”

  Zhuge Ke, startled so that he dropped his cup, laid his hand upon his sword. But he was too late; his head rolled to the floor. His friend Zhang Yue drew his sword and rushed at the assassin, but Sun Jun evaded the full force of the blow and was only wounded in the left finger. Sun Jun slashed back at Zhang Yue and wounded him in the right arm. Then the braves dashed in and finished Zhang Yue.

  The braves were then sent to arrest Zhuge Ke's family, while the bodies of Zhuge Ke and Zhang Yue were hastily rolled in matting, thrown into a cart, taken to the outside of the south gate, and tossed into a rubbish pit.

  While Zhuge Ke was absent in the palace, his wife sat in the women's quarters at home feeling strangely unquiet. Presently a maid came in and, when she drew near, his wife said, “Why does your clothing smell of blood?”

  To her horror the maid suddenly transformed into a weird creature with rolling eyes and gritting teeth, that went dancing about the room and leaping till it touched the roof-beams, shrieking all the time, “I am Zhuge Ke, and I have been slain by that bastard Sun Jun.”

  By this time the whole family were frightened and began wailing. And a few minutes later the residence was surrounded by a crowd of armed guards sent to murder the inmates, whom they bound, carried off to the market place, and put to the sword. These things occurred in the tenth month of the second year of Great Prosperity (AD 254).

  Before Zhuge Jin died, he had a premonition that his son's ability would lead him into trouble and that he would not safeguard his family. Others had also predicted an early death. Zhang Qi, High Minister in Wei, used to say to Sima Shi, “Zhuge Ke will die soon.” And when asked why, Zhang Qi replied, “Can a person live long when his dignity endangers that of his lord?”

  After the conspiracy, Sun Jun became Prime Minister in place of his victim. He was also placed in command of all the military forces, and became very powerful. The control of all matters was in his hands.

  In Chengdu, when the letter of Zhuge Ke asking help from Jiang Wei arrived, Jiang Wei had audience with the Latter Ruler and requested authority to raise an army against the north.

  The army fought, but fought in vain,

  Success may crown a new campaign.

  Who were victorious will appear in the next chapter.

  CHAPTER 109. A Ruse Of A Han General: Sima Zhao Is Surrounded; Retribution For The House Of Wei: Cao Fang Is Dethroned.

  It was the autumn of the sixteenth year of Long Enjoyment (AD 253), and Jiang Wei's army of two hundred thousand was ready to march against the north. Liao Hua and Zhang Yi were Leaders of the Van; Xiahou Ba was Army Strategist; Zhang Ni was in command of the commissariat. The army marched out by the Yangping Pass.

  Discussing the plan of campaign with Xiahou Ba, Jiang Wei said, “Our former attack on Yongzhou failed, so this time they will doubtless be even better prepared to resist. What do you suggest?”

  Xiahou Ba replied, “Nanan is the only well-provided place in all Longshang; if we take that, it will serve as an excellent base. Our former ill-success was due to the non-arrival of the Qiangs. Let us therefore send early to tell them to assemble at Longyou, after which we will move out at Shiying and march to Nanan by way of Dongting.”

  “You spoke well,” said Jiang Wei.

  He at once sent Xi Zheng as his envoy, bearing gifts of gold and pearls and silk to win the help of the King of the Qiangs, whose name was Mi Dang. The mission was successful; King Mi Dang accepted the presents and sent fifty thousand troops to Nanan under the Qiang General Ehe Shaoge.

  When Guo Huai heard of the threatened attack, he sent a hasty memorial to Luoyang.

  Sima Shi at once asked his leaders, “Who will go out to meet the army from the west?”

  Xu Zhi volunteered, and as Sima Shi had a high opinion of his capacity, he appointed Xu Zhi as Leader of the Van. The brother of the Prime Minister, Sima Zhao, went as Commander-in-Chief.

  The Wei army set out for Xizhou, reached Dongting and there fell in with Jiang Wei. When both sides were arrayed Xu Zhi, who wielded a mighty splitter-of-mountains ax as his weapon, rode out and challenged. Liao Hua went forth to accept, but after a few bouts he took advantage of a feint and fled.

  Then Zhang Yi set his spear and rode forth to continue the fight. He also soon fled and returned within his own ranks. Thereupon Xu Zhi gave the signal to fall on in force, and the army of Shu lost the day. They retired ten miles, Sima Zhao also drew off his troops, and both sides encamped.

  “Xu Zhi is very formidable; how can we overcome him?” asked Jiang Wei.

  “Tomorrow make pretense of defeat and so draw them into an ambush,” replied Xiahou Ba.

  “But remember whose son this Sima Zhao is,” said Jiang Wei. “Sima Zhao cannot be a novice in war; and if he sees a likely spot for an ambush, he will halt. Now the troops of Wei have cut our transportation many times; let us do the same to them, and we may slay this Xu Zhi.”

  He called in Liao Hua and Zhang Yi and gave them secret orders, sending them in different directions. Then he laid iron thorns along all the approaches and planted thorny barriers as if making a permanent defense. When the troops of Wei came up and challenged, the troops of Shu refused battle.

  The scouts reported to Sima Zhao: “The Shu supplies are coming up along the rear of Iron Cage Mountain, and they are using the wooden oxen and running horses as transport.”

  They also reported the look of permanency in the defenses and said they were evidently awaiting the arrival of their allies the Qiang tribes.

  Then said Sima Zhao to Xu Zhi, “We formerly defeated the army of Shu by cutting off supplies, and we can do that again. Let five thousand troops go out tonight and occupy the road.”

  About the middle of the first watch Xu Zhi marched across the hills; and when he came to the other side, he saw a couple of hundred soldiers driving a hundred or so heads of mechanical animals laden with grain and forage. His army rushed down upon them with shouts, and the troops of Shu, seeing that their road was impassable, abandoned their supplies and ran away. Xu Zhi took possession of the supply train, which he sent back to his own camp under the escort of half his troops. With the other half he set out in pursuit.

  About three miles away, the road was found blocked with carts set across the track. Some of his soldiers dismounted to clear the way; but as they did so, the brushwood on both sides burst into a blaze. Xu Zhi at once drew off his force and turned to retire, but coming to a defile he found the road again blocked with wagons, and again the brushwood began to burn. He made a dash to escape, but before he could get clear a bomb roared, and he saw the troops of Shu coming down on him from two directions. Liao Hua and Zhang Yi from left and right fell on Xu Zhi with great fury, and the troops of Wei were wholly defeated. Xu Zhi himself got clear, but without any following.

  He struggled on till he and his steed were almost spent with fatigue. Presently he saw another company of the enemy in his way, and the leader was Jiang Wei. Before he could make any resistance, Jiang Wei's spear thrust him down, and as Xu Zhi lay on the ground he was cut to pieces.

  Meanwhile those troops of Wei who had been sent to escort to camp the convoy of supplies which they had seized were captured by Xiahou Ba. They surrendered. Xiahou Ba then stripped them of their weapons and clothing and therein disguised some of his own soldiers. Holding aloft banners of Wei, these d
isguised soldiers made for the Wei camp. When they arrived, they were mistaken by those in the camp for comrades, and the gates were thrown open. They rushed in and began to slay. Taken wholly by surprise, Sima Zhao leaped upon his steed and fled. But Liao Hua met him and drove him back. Then appeared Jiang Wei in the path of retreat, so that no road lay open. Sima Zhao made off for the hills, hoping to be able to hold out on the Iron Cage Mountain.

  Now there was only one road up the hill, which rose steeply on all sides. And the hill had but one small spring of water, enough to serve a hundred people or so, while Sima Zhao's force numbered six thousand. Their enemies had blocked the only road of escape. This one fountain was unequal to supplying the needs of the beleaguered army, and soon they were tormented with thirst.

  In despair, Sima Zhao looked up to heaven and sighed, saying, “Death will surely come to me here!”

  The host of Wei on Iron Cage Mountain,

  Were once fast held by Jiang Wei's skill;

  When Pang Juan first crossed the Maling Hills,

  His strategy was reckoned fine

  As Xiang Yu at the Nine Mountains;

  Both bent opponents to their will.

  In this critical situation a certain civil officer, Wang Tao by name, reminded his leader of what Geng Gong had done in ancient time, saying, “O General, why do you not imitate Geng Gong, who, being in great need, prostrated himself and prayed at a well, wherefrom he afterwards was supplied with sweet water?”

  So the leader went to the summit of the hill and knelt beside the spring and grayed thus:

  “The humble Sima Zhao received a command to repulse the army of Shu. If he is to die here, then may this spring cease its flow, when he will end his own life and let his soldiers yield to the enemy. But if his allotted span of life be not reached, then, O Blue Vault, increase the flow of water and save the lives of this multitude.”

  Thus he prayed; and the waters gushed forth in plenty, so that they all quenched their thirst and lived.