Three Kingdoms Romance

by Guanzhong Luo

  However, he made light of their fears and said, “My brothers are holding the army; who will dare come near me? But if there is anything amiss, you just give a fire signal from the Prime Minister's residence.”

  So Sun Chen took his seat, and the carriage set out. When he reached the Palace, the Ruler of Wu rose from his place to welcome him, and at table Sun Chen sat in the seat of honor. The banquet proceeded.

  “There is a fire outside; what does that mean?” said a guest presently.

  Sun Chen rose to go out, but the Ruler of Wu said, “There is no danger, and there are plenty of soldiers outside to take care of that.”

  Just at that moment Zhang Bu entered at the head of three hundred armed guards. He rushed up the banquet chamber shouting, “I hold a command to slay the rebel Sun Chen!”

  Instantly the Prime Minister was seized. He fell prostrate before the Ruler of Wu, knocking his head on the ground and crying, “Spare my life! Exile me to Jiaozhou, where I will do plow work.”

  “Did you exile any of your victims — Teng Yin, Lu Ju, Wang Chun, and others?” said the Ruler of Wu, angrily.

  The order went forth to carry out the execution, and Sun Chen was hustled out and put to death. No single person of his servants raised a hand to help him.

  Then Zhang Bu read an edict: “Sun Chen is the only culprit, and no other will be questioned.”

  Then at Zhang Bu's request, the Ruler of Wu went up on the Tower of the Five Phoenixes. Zhang Bu, Wei Miao, and Shi Shuo brought the brothers of the Prime Minister before Sun Xiu, and he condemned them to death. After this their families were slain, so that many hundreds suffered death. Not content with all these things, the tomb of Sun Jun was broken open and his corpse beheaded.

  Magnificent tombs were raised to his victims — Zhuge Ke, Teng Yin, Lu Ju, Wang Chun, and others. Thus at last loyalty was rewarded, and the banished were permitted to return home with full pardon. The conspirators were rewarded.

  News of this revolution was sent into Chengdu, and the Latter Ruler sent an envoy into Wu with felicitations. In return, the Ruler of Wu sent Xue Xu as his envoy to Shu.

  When Xue Xu returned, the Ruler of Wu questioned about affairs in the west, and Xue Xu said, “All affairs of state are in the hands of a certain eunuch named Huang Hao, and all the courtiers look up to him as to a father. At court plain truth is never heard, and the country people look sallow and starved. The whole country appears on the verge of destruction. The birds on the roof do not know that the building is about to be burned.”

  “Ah! If only Zhuge Liang the Martial Lord was still alive; how different all would be!” said Sun Xiu, with a sigh.

  Letters were prepared saying that beyond doubt Sima Zhao intended usurpation, and when that came about in Wei, both Wu and Shu would be invaded. Wherefore both should be ready.

  On the arrival of these letters, Jiang Wei hastened to seek permission to attempt another expedition. Consent being given, a large army marched into Hanzhong in the winter of the first year of Wonderful Sight (AD 258). Liao Hua and Zhang Yi were appointed Leaders of the Van, Wang Han and Jiang Bin as Commanders of the Left, and Jiang Shu and Fu Qian as Commanders of the Right, while Jiang Wei and Xiahou Ba led the main column.

  Asked what he thought should be the first objective, Xiahou Ba replied, “There is no better fighting ground than Qishan, as the tactics of the late Prime Minister made evident, and it is the only good exit.”

  So thither three armies marched, and they made three camps at the entrance to the valley. At this time Deng Ai had a training camp at Qishan drilling the Longyou troops. The scouts told him of the coming of the western army, and he ascended a hill to see and verify their reports. He seemed pleased when he saw the enemy camp.

  “They have just done as I foresaw,” said Deng Ai.

  Now Deng Ai had carefully considered the “pulse” of the countryside, and so had not interfered with the Shu army when it was on the march or settling into camp. Moreover, he had excavated a subterranean road to the spot where he had thought they would halt, and their left camp had been pitched just on it. Wang Han and Jiang Bin commanded in that camp.

  Deng Ai called his son Deng Zhong and Shi Zuan and sent them with ten thousand troops each to attack the left camp, one on each flank. Then he sent Zheng Lun and five hundred troops into the underground road, which opened in rear of the camp of Wang Han and Jiang Bin.

  As the newly made camp was not yet well fortified, Wang Han and Jiang Bin exercised great care and kept their troops under arms all night, watching with vigilance. So when the alarm was given, they had but to seize their weapons and go out. But as the two leaders were mounting their steeds, Deng Zhong and Shi Zuan had attacked from without, and Zheng Lun from within. Thus attacked from three sides, soon Wang Han and Jiang Bin found the position untenable and fled.

  When Jiang Wei saw that his left camp had been attacked on three sides, he mounted and took his position in front of the center camp.

  “Let no one move on pain of death!” he shouted. “Stand still, and when the enemy approaches shoot.”

  The right camp was ordered to stand fast. His defense was effective. A dozen of times the troops of Wei came forward, only to be driven back before the arrows and bolts of the defenders. Daylight found the Shu camps still firm, and the Wei troops drew off.

  “Jiang Wei has indeed learned of Zhuge Liang,” said Deng Ai. “His soldiers stood the night attack without flinching, and the leaders took the chances of battle quite calmly. He is able.”

  Next day, when Wang Han and Jiang Bin went to confess their fault, Jiang Wei said, “It was less your fault than mine, for I did not clearly recognize the nature of the terrain.”

  So no penalty was inflicted. The camp was made stronger, and the subterranean passage was filled with the bodies of the slain.

  A challenge to battle for the following day was sent to Deng Ai, who accepted it joyfully.

  Next day the two armies were arrayed in front of the Qishan Mountains. The troops of Shu arrayed according to the “Eight Formations” designed by Zhuge Liang, which are called Heaven, Earth, Wind, Cloud, Bird, Serpent, Dragon, and Tiger. While the maneuver was in progress, Deng Ai recognized it as the Eight Gates Formation and placed his troops accordingly.

  Jiang Wei then gripped his spear and rode out, saying, “You have made a good imitation of my eight, but can you work variations?”

  “You call these yours! Did you think that you alone held the secret? Since I have made it, of course I know the variations.”

  Deng Ai reentered his ranks, gave the signal officers certain orders, and the eight gates were evolved in rapid succession into sixty-four gates. Then he rode to the front again.

  “What of my evolution?” asked Deng Ai.

  “Not so bad; would you like to try a surrounding move with me?” replied Jiang Wei.

  “Why not?”

  The two armies moved in orderly ranks. Deng Ai stood in the midst of his army giving the necessary orders. Then the clash came, but his tactics did not grip. Then Jiang Wei waved a certain signal flag, and his force suddenly assumed the form of a serpent coiled on the ground with Deng Ai in the center. Shouts arose all about him, and Deng Ai could not understand what had happened and began to feel afraid. Gradually the troops of Shu closed in upon him, and he saw no way of escape.

  “Deng Ai, you must surrender!” cried the soldiers.

  “Indeed a moment of pride had led me into the trap of Jiang Wei,” he sighed.

  Suddenly from the northwest a cohort dashed in. To Deng Ai's great joy they were soldiers of Wei, and they forced over the battle array and released him. The leader was Sima Wang.

  But although Deng Ai had been rescued, his nine camps were seized by his enemy and he had to retire. He led his army to the south of River Wei and made a camp.

  “How did you know exactly where to strike in that maze?” asked Deng Ai of his rescuer.

  Sima Wang replied, “In my youth I studied tactics and was friendly
with Shi Guangyuan and Cui Zhouping. They explained that formation to me. Jiang Wei used what is known as 'The Serpent Coil,' and the only way to break it is to attack the head, which I saw was in the northwest.”

  Deng Ai replied, “Although I have studied formations, I do not know all the modifications. But since you know about this, we may be able to recover our camps.”

  “I fear the little I have learned will not be enough to overcome Jiang Wei.”

  “Tomorrow you shall contend with him, and while his attention is engaged, I will attack the rear of Qishan, and we will recover our camps.”

  So a force was prepared to attack on the morrow, and Deng Ai sent a letter of challenge to a contest in tactics for the same day. Jiang Wei marked in to accept.

  Jiang Wei said to his officers, “In the secret book that I received from the Prime Minister, the variations of the formation are three hundred and sixty-five, corresponding to the circuit of the heavens. This challenge from them is as one going to teach hewing to the God of Carpenters. I think some ruse lies behind this. Can you guess what it is?”

  Liao Hua replied, “While they engage your attention in this competition, they intend to attack our rear.”

  “Just so; that is my opinion,” replied Jiang Wei.

  So he prepared a counter-stroke by sending Liao Hua and Zhang Yi to lie in wait at the back of the hills with ten thousand troops.

  Next day Jiang Wei led all the troops from the nine camps out and drawn up in front of the hills. Sima Wang came out on the other side and presently rode to the front to parley.

  “You have challenged me to a contest; now draw up your army for me to see,” said Jiang Wei.

  Sima Wang did so and arrayed the eight diagrams, Octagon.

  “That is what we know as the Octagon,” said Jiang Wei. “But it is nothing wonderful, only a sort of array fit for a brigand's raid.”

  “You also have only stolen another man's tactics,” replied his adversary.

  “How many modifications of this are there?” asked Jiang Wei.

  “Since I have arranged this, naturally I know the variations, of which there are nine nines, making eighty-one.”

  “Try them.”

  Sima Wang returned to his array and evolved many, finally riding out and asking his opponent if he recognized them.

  “My formation admits of three hundred and sixty-five variations. You are but a frog in a well and know nothing of the deeper mysteries.”

  Now Sima Wang knew that so many variations were possible, but had not studied them. However, he put on a bold air and said contemptuously, “I do not believe you. Prove it!”

  “Go and call Deng Ai,” replied Jiang Wei. “I will display them to him.”

  “General Deng Ai has excellent plans and does not think much of such tactics.”

  “What plans? I suppose you mean a plan to keep me here while he tries a surprise attack in the rear.”

  Sima Wang was aghast. He made a sudden dash forward, and a melee began. Jiang Wei made a signal with his whip, and his force poured in from both wings. The troops of Wei were seized with sudden panic, threw down their weapons and fled.

  Now Deng Ai had hurried on Zheng Lun to make the first attack. As Zheng Lun turned the corner of the hill, a bomb exploded. At once the drums rolled and an ambush discovered itself. Liao Hua was in command. Neither side stayed to parley, and the leaders engaged in single combat. In the first encounter Liao Hua cut Zheng Lun down.

  Deng Ai had not expected such preparation, and he hastened to withdraw. Then Zhang Yi came forth and attacked on the other side. The army of Wei was worsted. Deng Ai fought his way out, but he bore four arrow wounds upon his body. He got to the river, where he found Sima Wang, and they discussed how to get away.

  But Sima Wang proposed another form of attack.

  “Recently the Ruler of Shu has had a favorite, Eunuch Huang Hao, in whom he places all his trust and with whom he spends his time in one round of pleasure. Let us use the eunuch to sow distrust between the Emperor and his general and so get Jiang Wei recalled. In that way we shall retrieve our defeat.”

  So Deng Ai assembled his advisers and asked who could go into Shu and get into communication with Huang Hao.

  Dang Jun volunteered at once. Deng Ai entrusted gold and pearls and precious things to him, and sent him into Shu to win the treacherous alliance of the eunuch. As Dang Jun went, he also disseminated reports that

  Jiang Wei was angry and intended to go over to Wei.

  These rumors became the common talk in Chengdu, and everyone believed them. Huang Hao carried them to the Emperor, and a messenger was sent to call the general to the capital.

  Meanwhile Jiang Wei tried every day to bring the enemy to give battle, but they remained obstinately behind their defenses. Jiang Wei began to think some evil scheme was afoot, when suddenly he was recalled by Imperial Edict. Although ignorant of the reason, he could not disobey; and when he began the retreat, Deng Ai and Sima Wang knew that their plot had succeeded. They broke camp and set out to attack the retreating army.

  Because of court intrigues

  Yue Yi and Yue Fei failed.

  How matters went will be told in the next chapter.

  CHAPTER 114. Driving To The South Gate, Cao Mao Plunges Into Death; Abandoning Stores, Jiang Wei Defeats The Wei Army.

  When the order to retreat was given, Liao Hua said, “A leader in the field is independent and need not obey even the command of his prince.”

  Zhang Yi said, “The country begins to resent these many years of war; rather take the occasion of the victory you have just won to return and pacify the people.”

  “It is good,” said Jiang Wei.

  A systematic and orderly retirement began. The army of Wei, loth to forgo an opportunity, followed, but the absence of the least confusion gave them no chance.

  As he saw his enemy disappearing in perfect order, Deng Ai sighed, “Jiang Wei is a worthy inheritor of the warlike methods of Zhuge Liang.”

  Deng Ai did not pursue but returned to his camp on Qishan.

  On his return to Chengdu, Jiang Wei had audience with the Latter Ruler, whereat he inquired why he had been commanded to return.

  The Latter Ruler replied, “Because you have been so long on the frontier, noble Sir; I thought the soldiers must be weary. There was no other reason.”

  “Your Majesty, thy servant had got his camps on Qishan and was on the eve of complete success. To leave off thus in the middle just played into the hands of our enemies. Surely Deng Ai found means of sowing distrust in me.”

  The Latter Ruler sat lost in thought, and silent.

  Jiang Wei continued, “I am pledged to destroy those rebels and prove my devotion to my country. Your Majesty should not listen to the babble of mean persons till distrust grows in your heart.”

  “I do not distrust you,” said the Latter Ruler after a long pause. “You may return into Hanzhong and await the next favorable opportunity.”

  Jiang Wei left the court and betook himself into Hanzhong to the army.

  Dang Jun went back to the Qishan camp and reported his success.

  Deng Ai and Sima Wang rejoiced, saying, “In the Lands of Rivers, trouble is not far off when the ruler and his servants do not live in harmony.”

  They sent Dang Jun to Luoyang to tell his own story to Sima Zhao, who also rejoiced, for he ardently desired to subdue Shu.

  On this matter he consulted Jia Chong, Commander of the Central Guard.

  “What do you think of an attack upon Shu?”

  “Not to be considered,” said Jia Chong. “The Emperor does not trust you, and your departure would be the beginning of trouble for you. Last year, when a yellow dragon was seen in the well and all the officers were felicitating the Emperor upon such a very auspicious occurrence, the Emperor said, 'It is not auspicious; just the reverse. The dragon symbolizes the ruler. To be neither in heaven, nor on earth among the people, but to be in a well, is a dark portent and bodes evil.' He wrote some verse
s, and one stanza undoubtedly points to you, my lord. It reads:

  “The dragon like a prisoner is,

  No longer leaps he in the abyss.

  He soars not to the Milky Way

  Nor can he in the meadows play;

  But coiled within a dismal well,

  With slimy creatures he must dwell,

  Must close his jaws, his claws retract,

  Alas! Quite like myself in fact.”

  The recital of the poem annoyed Sima Zhao.

  “This fellow is very like Cao Fang, and if I do not remove him he will hurt me,” said he.

  “I will see to it for you,” said Jia Chong.

  In the fifth year of Sweet Dew, in Wei calendar (AD 261), during the fourth month, in summer, Sima Zhao had the effrontery to go to court armed. However, the Ruler of Wei received him with exaggerated courtesy.

  The courtiers said, “The services of the Regent Marshal are so magnificent, and his virtue so high that he should be rewarded with the title 'Duke of Jin' and the Nine Gifts of Honors.”

  Cao Mao hung his head and kept silent.

  And Sima Zhao himself said discontentedly, “My father and my brother have all given great services to Wei, and yet I deserves not being a mere Duke of Jin?”

  “Should I dare not do what you requested?” said Cao Mao.

  “That poem about the Lurking Dragon called us slimy creatures; what sort of politeness is that?” said Sima Zhao.

  The Ruler of Wei had nothing to say, and the haughty minister left the chamber, smiling cruelly.

  Cao Mao retired, taking with him Ministers Wang Shen, Wang Jing, and Wang Ye, and they went to a privy chamber to consult. Cao Mao was very sad.

  He said, “There is no doubt that Sima Zhao intends to usurp the throne; everybody knows that. But I will not sit thereon patiently awaiting the indignity of being pushed off. Cannot you gentlemen help me to kill

  him?”

  “He may not be slain,” said Wang Jing. “That will not do. In the old state of Lu, King Zhao could not bear with the Ji family, and ran away, thus losing his country. But this Sima Zhao and his family have been in power very long and have innumerable supporters, many of whom are quite independent of any act of his whether loyal or disloyal. They support him under any conditions. Your Majesty's guards are few and weak and incapable; not the ones for any desperate effort. It would be most lamentable if Your Majesty could not bear this trial. The correct course is to wait and not act hastily.”