Three Kingdoms Romance

by Guanzhong Luo

  So Jiang Wei halted and made a camp in the mountains. Advance and retreat seemed equally impossible, and he cried in anguish, “Heaven is destroying me!”

  Then said Ning Sui, one of his generals, “If our enemies are blocking Yinping Bridge, they can only have left a weak force in Yongzhou. We can make believe to be going thither through the Konghan Valley and so force them to abandon the bridge in order to protect the city. When the bridge is clear, you can make a dash for Saber Pass and plan for a recapture of Hanzhong.”

  This plan seemed to promise success, so Jiang Wei ordered them to march into the Konghan Valley, making as though they would go to Yongzhou.

  When Zhuge Xu, who was at the Yinping Bridge, heard this, he said in great shock, “Yongzhou is my own city, and headquarters; if it would be lost, I would be punished.”

  So Zhuge Xu set off to its relief by the south road. He left only a small force at the bridge.

  Jiang Wei marched along the north road for ten miles till he guessed that Zhuge Xu had abandoned the bridge, when he reversed his course, making the rearguard the van. He dispersed the small force left at the bridge head and burned their camp. Zhuge Xu, as he marched, saw the flames, and he turned back to the bridge, but he arrived too late. The army of Shu had already crossed, and he dared not pursue.

  Soon after Jiang Wei crossed the bridge, he saw another force, but this was led by his own generals, Liao Hua and Zhang Yi.

  They told him, “Huang Hao, firm in his faith in the wise woman, would not send help to defend the frontiers. We heard Hanzhong was threatened, and thus marched there to its rescue, but then Zhong Hui had taken the Yangping Pass. We also heard you were surrounded here, so we came to your help.”

  The two armies amalgamated and marched together.

  Liao Hua said, “We are attacked all round, and the grain transportation is blocked. It seems to me wisest to retire on the Saber Pass and plan other designs.”

  But Jiang Wei was doubtful. Then they heard that Deng Ai and Zhong Hui were approaching in ten divisions. Jiang Wei was disposed to stand, but Liao Hua said, “This country of White Water is too narrow and difficult to fight in with any hope of success. It would better to retreat to the Saber Pass. If we loss that pass, all paths will be closed to us.”

  At last Jiang Wei consented, and the march began. But as they neared the pass, they heard drums rolling and saw flags fluttering, which told them that the pass was held.

  Hanzhong, that strong defense, is lost.

  And storm clouds gather round Saber Pass.

  What force was at the pass will be told in the next chapter.

  CHAPTER 117. Deng Ai Gets Through The Yinping Mountains; Zhuge Zhan Falls In The Battlefield Of Mianzhu.

  When Dong Jue, General Who Upholds the State, heard of the invasion of Wei in ten divisions, he brought to the frontier twenty thousand troops to Saber Pass. And when the dust showed an approaching army, Dong Jue thought it wise to go to the Pass lest the coming armies should be enemies to be stopped.

  But Dong Jue found that the newcomers were Jiang Wei, Liao Hua, and Zhang Yi; he let them pass through and gave them the news from the capital, bad news of the deeds of both the Latter Ruler and Huang Hao.

  “But do not grieve;” said Jiang Wei, “so long as I live, I will not allow Wei to come and conquer Shu.”

  They kept good guard at Saber Pass, while they discussed future plans.

  “Though we are holding this pass, yet Chengdu is well-nigh empty of soldiers,” said Dong Jue. “If it was attacked it would go crack!”

  Jiang Wei replied, “The natural defenses of Chengdu are excellent; it is hard to cross over the mountains and climb the steep roads. No one need fear.”

  Soon after this, Zhuge Xu appeared at the pass challenging the defenders. Jiang Wei forthwith placed himself at the head of five thousand troops and went down to meet the Wei army. He gained an easy victory, slaying many of the enemy and taking much spoil in horses and weapons.

  While Jiang Wei went back to the pass, the defeated Zhuge Xu made his way to Zhong Hui's camp, seven miles away, to confess his failure. His general was very angry.

  “My orders to you were to hold Yinping Bridge so as to stop Jiang Wei, and you lost it. Now without any orders you attack and are defeated.”

  “Jiang Wei played so many deceitful tricks. He pretended to be going to take Yongzhou, and I thought that was very important, so I sent troops to rescue it. Then he meanly got away. I followed to the pass, but never thought he would come out and defeat my troops.”

  Zhuge Xu pleaded thus, but he was sentenced to die.

  Now Wei Guan, Army Inspector, said, “Zhuge Xu is really a subordinate of Deng Ai and, admitting that he is in fault, his punishment should not have been pronounced by you, O Commander.”

  But Zhong Hui swaggeringly replied, “I have a command from the Emperor and orders from the Prime Minister to attack Shu; if Deng Ai himself offended, I would behead him.”

  However, other leaders interceded for Zhuge Xu, and Zhong Hui did not put him to death, but sent him a

  caged prisoner to the capital to be judged. The surviving soldiers were added to Zhong Hui's army.

  This insolent speech of Zhong Hui was duly repeated to Deng Ai, who was angry in his turn and said, “His rank and mine are the same. I have held a frontier post for years and sustained many fatigues in the country's service. Who is he that he gives himself such airs?”

  His son Deng Zhong endeavored to appease his wrath.

  “Father, if you cannot suffer small things, you may upset the grand policy of the state. Unfriendliness with him may do great harm, so I hope you will bear with him.”

  Deng Ai saw his son was right, and said no more; but he nourished anger in his heart. With a small escort he went to call upon his colleague.

  When his coming was announced, Zhong Hui asked his staff, “How many soldiers are following Deng Ai?”

  “He has only some twenty horsemen,” they replied.

  Zhong Hui had a large body of guards drawn up about his tent, and then gave orders that his visitor should be led in. Deng Ai dismounted, and the two men saluted each other. But the visitor did not like the look on the faces of his host's guards. He decided to find out what Zhong Hui was thinking.

  “The capture of Hanzhong is a piece of excellent fortune for the state,” said Deng Ai. “The capture of Saber Pass can now be accomplished easily.”

  “What is your own idea, General?” asked Zhong Hui.

  Deng Ai tried to evade answering the question, but could not. Zhong Hui pressed him to reply.

  Finally he said, “In my simple opinion one might proceed by by-roads from the pass through the Yinping Mountains to Deyang in Hanzhong, and thence make a surprise march to Chengdu. Jiang Wei must go to its defense, and you, General, can take the Saber Pass.”

  “A very good plan,” said Zhong Hui. “You may start forthwith, and I will wait here till I hear news of your success.”

  They drank, and Deng Ai took his leave. Zhong Hui went back to his own tent filled with contempt for Deng Ai's plan. which he thought impracticable.

  “They say Deng Ai is able; I think he is of most ordinary capacity,” said he to his officers.

  “But why?” said they.

  “Because the by-roads by Yinping Mountains are impassable, nothing but lofty cliffs and steep hills. A hundred defenders at a critical point could cut all communications, and Deng Ai's army would starve to death. I shall go by the direct road, and there is no fear about the result. I shall overcome Shu.”

  So he prepared scaling ladders and stone-throwing machines and set himself to besiege Saber Pass.

  Deng Ai went out to the main gate of the court. While mounting, he said to his followers, “What did Zhong Hui think of me?”

  “He looked as though he held a poor opinion of what you had said, General, and disagreed with you, although his words were fair enough.”

  “He thinks I cannot take Chengdu; and so I will take it.” />
  He was received at his own camp by Shi Zuan and his son Deng Zhong, and a party of others of his generals, and they asked what the conversation had been about.

  “I told Zhong Hui simple truth, but he thinks I am just a common person of no ability to speak of. He regards the capture of Hanzhong as an incomparable feat of arms. Where would he have been if I had not held up Jiang Wei? But I think the capture of Chengdu will beat that of Hanzhong.”

  That night the camp was broken up, and they set out upon a long march along the mountainous paths. At a distance from Saber Pass they were to make a camp. Zhong Hui laughed at the attempt.

  From his camp Deng Ai sent a letter to Sima Zhao. Then he called his officers to his tent and asked them, saying, “I am going to make a dash for Chengdu while it is still undefended, and success will mean unfading glory for us all. Will you follow me?”

  “We will follow you and obey your orders,” cried they all.

  So the final dispositions were made. Deng Zhong and three thousand troops went first to improve the road. His troops wore no armor, but they had axes and boring tools. They were to level roads and build bridges.

  Next went thirty thousand troops furnished with dry grain and ropes. At every one hundred miles they were to make a post of three thousand.

  In autumn of that year, they left Yinping, and in the tenth month they were in most precipitous country of the Yinping Mountains. They had taken twenty-seven days to travel two hundred and fifty miles. They were in an uninhabited country. After garrisoning the various posts on the way, they had only two thousand soldiers left. Before them stood a range named Heaven Cliffs, which no horse could ascend. Deng Ai climbed up on foot to see his son and the troops with him opening up a road. They were exhausted with fatigue and weeping.

  Deng Ai asked why they were so sad, and his son replied, “We have found an impassable precipice away to the northwest which we cannot get through. All our labor has been in vain.”

  Deng Ai said, “We have got over two hundred and fifty miles, and just beyond is Jiangyou. We cannot go back. How can one get tiger cubs except by going into tiger caves? Here we are, and it will be a very great feat to capture Chengdu.”

  They all said they would go on. So they came to the precipice. First they threw over their weapons; then the leader wrapped himself in blankets and rolled over the edge, next the generals followed him, also wrapped in blankets. Those who had not blankets were let down by cords round the waist, and others clinging to trees followed one after another till all had descended and the Heaven Cliffs was passed. Then they retook their armor and weapons and went on their way.

  They came across a stone by the roadside. It bore a mysterious inscription, translated literally it read:

  “This stone is a message of Zhuge Liang the Prime Minister:

  “Two fires were just founded; armies pass by here. Two soldiers compete; both soon die.”

  (Two Lius were just founded, armies pass by here. Deng Ai and Zhong Hui compete; both soon die).

  Deng Ai was astonished. Presently he bowed before the stone and prayed to the spirit of Zhuge Liang.

  “O Martial Lord, immortal. I grieve that I am not thy worthy disciple.”

  The rugged lofty mountain peaks

  Of Yinping, pierce the sky,

  The somber crane with wearied wing

  Can scarcely over them fly.

  Intrepid Deng Ai in blankets wrapped

  Rolled down the craggy steep,

  His feat Zhuge Liang prophesied

  By insight wondrous deep.

  Having crossed this great range of mountains without discovery, Deng Ai marched forward. Presently he came to a roomy camp, empty and deserted. He was told that while Zhuge Liang lived, a thousand troops had been kept in garrison at this point of danger, but the Latter Ruler had withdrawn them. Deng Ai sighed at the thought.

  He said to his troops, “Now retreat is impossible, there is no road back. Before you lies Jiangyou with stores in abundance. Advance and you live, retreat and you die. You must fight with all your strength.”

  “We will fight to the death!” they cried.

  The leader was now afoot, doing double marches with his two thousand troops toward Jiangyou.

  The commander at Jiangyou was Ma Miao. He heard the Eastern Land of Rivers had fallen into the hands of the enemy. Though some thing prepared for defense, yet his post had a wide area to cover and guard, and he trusted Jiang Wei would defend the Saber Pass. So he did not take his military duties very seriously, just maintaining the daily drills and then going home to his wife to cuddle up to the stove and drink.

  His wife was of the Li family. When she heard of the state of things on the frontier, she said to her husband, “If there is so great danger on the borders, how is it you are so unaffected?”

  “The affair is in Jiang Wei's hands and is not my concern,” replied he.

  “Nevertheless, you finally have to guard the capital, and that is a heavy responsibility.”

  “O, well! The Emperor trusts his favorite Huang Hao entirely and is sunk in vice and pleasure. Disaster is very near; and if the Wei armies get here, I shall yield. It is no good taking it seriously.”

  “You call yourself a man! Have you such a disloyal and treacherous heart? Is it nothing to have held office and taken pay for years? How can I bear to look upon your face?”

  Ma Miao was too ashamed to attempt to reply. Just then his house servants came to tell him that Deng Ai, with his two thousand troops, had found their way along some road and had already broken into the city.

  Ma Miao was now frightened and hastily went out to find the leader and offer his formal submission. He went to the Town Hall and bowed on the steps, crying, “I have long desired to come over to Wei. Now I yield myself and my army and all the town.”

  Deng Ai accepted his surrender and incorporated his army with his own force. He took Ma Miao into his service as guide.

  Then came a servant with the news: “Lady Li has hanged herself!”

  Deng Ai why she had done it, and Ma Miao told him. Deng Ai, admiring her rectitude, gave orders for an honorable burial. He also went in person to sacrifice. Everyone extolled her conduct.

  When the Ruler of Shu had wandered from the way,

  And the House of Han fell lower,

  Heaven sent Deng Ai to smite the land.

  Then did a woman show herself most noble,

  So noble in conduct,

  That no leader equaled her.

  As soon as Jiangyou was taken, the posts along the road by which the army had come were withdrawn, and there was a general rendezvous at this point. This done, they marched toward Fucheng.

  General Tian Xu remonstrated, saying, “We have just finished a long and perilous march and are weary and worn out. We ought to repose for a few days to recover.”

  Deng Ai angrily replied, “Speed is the one important matter in war: do not encourage any discontent. I will not have it.”

  Tian Xu was sentenced to death; but as many officers interceded for him, he was pardoned.

  The army pressed on toward Fucheng. As soon as they arrived, the officers yielded as if they thought Deng Ai had fallen from the heavens. Some took the news to the capital, and the Latter Ruler began to feel alarmed. He hastily called for Huang Hao, who at once denied the report.

  “That is just false rumor. The spirits would not deceive Your Majesty,” said Huang Hao.

  The Latter Ruler summoned the wise woman to the Palace, but the messengers said she had gone no one knew whither. And now urgent memorials and letters fell in from every side like a snow storm, and messengers went to and fro in constant streams. The Latter Ruler called a court to discuss the danger, but no one had any plan or suggestion to offer. The courtiers just looked blankly into each other's faces.

  Finally Xi Zheng spoke out, “In this extremity Your Majesty should call in the help of the son of the Martial Lord.”

  This son of Zhuge Liang was named Zhuge Zhan. His mother was b
orn of the Huang family and a daughter of Huang Chenyan. She was singularly plain and extraordinarily talented. She had studied everything, even books of strategy and magic. Zhuge Liang in Nanyang had married her because of her goodness, and she had shared his studies. She had survived her husband but a short time, and her last words to her son had been: be loyal and filial.

  Zhuge Zhan had been known as a clever lad and had married a daughter of the Latter Ruler, so that he was an Imperial Son-in-Law. His father's rank, Lord of Wuxiang, had descended to him. In the fourth year of

  Wonderful Sight (AD 262) Zhuge Zhan received the General rank in the guards as well. But he had retired when Huang Hao, the eunuch, as first favorite, began to direct state affairs.

  As suggested, the Latter Ruler summoned Zhuge Zhan to court, and he said, weeping, “Deng Ai has defeated Fucheng, and the capital is seriously threatened. You must think of your father and rescue me.”

  “My father and I owe too much to the First Ruler's and Your Majesty's kindness for me to think any sacrifice too great to make for Your Majesty. I pray that you give me command of the troops in the capital, and I will fight a decisive battle.”

  So the soldiers, seventy thousand, were placed under Zhuge Zhan's command. When he had gathered all together, he said, “Who dares be Leader of the Van?”

  His son, Zhuge Shang, then nineteen, offered himself, saying, “Since my father commands the army, I volunteer to lead the van.”

  Zhuge Shang had studied military books and made himself an adept in the various exercises. So he was appointed, and the army marched to find the enemy.

  In the meantime the surrender general, Ma Miao, had given Deng Ai a very complete map of the country showing the whole sixty miles of road to Chengdu. However, Deng Ai was dismayed when he saw the difficulties ahead of him.

  “If they defend the hills in front, I shall fail; for if I am delayed, Jiang Wei will come up, and my army will be in great danger. The army must press on.”

  He called Shi Zuan and his son Deng Zhong and said, “Lead one army straight to Mianzhu to keep back any Shu soldiers sent to stop our march. I will follow as soon as I can. But hasten; for if you let the enemy forestall you, I will put you to death.”