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

by Luo Guanzhong

  Sima Wang proposed a plan. “These days the ruler of Shu favors the eunuch Huang Hao and indulges himself in wine and women. Let us use the eunuch to sow distrust between the Second Ruler and his general, and so get Jiang Wei recalled. In that way we will lift this danger.”

  So Deng Ai assembled his advisors and asked a volunteer to sneak into the Shu capital and bribe the eunuch. Dang Jun offered himself at once. So he was sent into Shu with valuable presents to win the heart of the eunuch and to disseminate the rumor that Jiang Wei bore a grudge against the Second Ruler and would soon desert to Wei.

  In no time this rumor became the talk of the capital city. Huang Hao, who had been bought by Wei, carried it to the Second Ruler, who dispatched a messenger to recall Jiang Wei to the capital.

  Meanwhile, Jiang Wei tried every day to bring the enemy to battle, but Deng Ai’s army remained obstinately behind its defenses. Jiang Wei was beginning to feel suspicious when suddenly the Second Ruler’s edict came, recalling him. Although ignorant of the reason, he could not but obey. When Deng Ai and his colleague learned of his withdrawal they knew that their plot had succeeded. They broke camp, intending to strike the retreating army.

  Yue Yi was held back in his advance against Qi

  As was Yue Fei* recalled after victories were won.

  The result of the battle will be told in the next chapter.

  Footnotes

  * Zhuge Liang’s good friends. See Chapter 37.

  * A carpenter of great renown in the days of the Spring and Autumn period. “Displaying one’s skill in carpentry before Lu Ban” is a popular Chinese idiom to ridicule people who are ignorant of their own weaknesses.

  * Famous general (1103–1142) of South Song Dynasty, who defeated the invading Jurchen army in various battles but was later murdered by the evil minister Qin Gui, who supported submission to the enemy. His shrine in the city of Hangzhou is a favorite spot with tourists.

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN

  Cao Mao Is Slain in His Carriage at South Gate

  Jiang Wei Abandons His Supplies to Win a Battle

  When the order to withdraw was given Liao Hua objected, “‘A general out in the field may disobey even the command of his prince.’ Although our lord has issued an edict to call us back we must not return.”

  But his colleague Zhang Yi disagreed with him. “The people all resent these years of military campaigns. I think it would be better to take the occasion of the recent victory to return and pacify the people. We can evolve some good plans later.”

  “You’re right,” said Jiang Wei.

  An orderly retreat began. Liao Hua and Zhang Yi covered the rear to discourage the enemy from pursuing them.

  Now Deng Ai had moved his men out to give chase, but when he saw ahead of him the fine array of flags and banners of his enemy, who retreated without haste and in perfect order, he had to admit that Jiang Wei had indeed learned well Zhuge Liang’s strategies. He dared not pursue but returned to his camp at Qishan.

  On his return to the capital Jiang Wei had an audience with the Second Ruler and inquired why he had been recalled.

  The Second Ruler replied, “As you have been so long on the frontier, General, I feared the soldiers might be weary. So I called you back. There was no other reason.”

  “I had already captured the Wei camps at Qishan and was on the verge of winning a complete victory. Unfortunately the campaign was abandoned halfway. This must be Deng Ai’s plot to sow distrust.”

  The Second Ruler fell silent and said nothing.

  Jiang Wei continued, “I vow to destroy those rebels and to devote myself to the country. Your Majesty should not listen to the babble of evil tongues and let mistrust grow in your heart.”

  “I do not distrust you,” said the Second Ruler after a long pause. “You may return to Hanzhong and await events in Wei. Then launch another campaign.”

  Jiang Wei left the court sighing deeply and soon went to Hanzhong.

  Dang Jun went back to the Qishan camp and reported his success. Deng Ai said to Sima Wang, “The discord between the Emperor and his army commander will undoubtedly lead to internal conflicts.”

  So they sent Dang Jun to Luoyang to report this to Sima Zhao, who was very much pleased. He began to consider subduing Shu. Turning to his confidant Jia Chong, he asked, “What if I attack Shu now?”

  “Not now,” opposed Jia Chong. “The Emperor distrusts you. Once you leave the capital a coup is bound to occur. Last year a yellow dragon was seen twice in a well in Ning Mausoleum and the officials memorialized to congratulate the Emperor upon such an auspicious sign. But the Emperor said, ‘It is not auspicious. The dragon represents the ruler. To be neither in Heaven nor on earth but trapped in a well is a portent of confinement in isolation.’ And he wrote a poem entitled ‘The Submerged Dragon’, which undoubtedly points to you, my lord.”

  The dragon trapped a prisoner is,

  No longer leaps he in th’ abyss,

  He soars not in 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 poem enraged Sima Zhao. “This fellow is trying to follow Cao Fang. If I don’t remove him he will hurt me.”

  “I will see to it for you sooner or later,” replied Jia Chong.

  One summer day in the fifth year of the period of Sweet Dew, Sima Zhao had the effrontery to go to court armed with his sword. The Emperor rose to welcome him. Presently the courtiers proposed promoting Sima Zhao to the rank of Duke of Jin, endowed with the Nine Gifts. The Emperor looked down and did not reply.

  Sima Zhao cried vehemently, “My father, my brother, and I have all made great contributions to the kingdom of Wei. Am I not entitled to the rank of Duke of Jin?”

  “Dare I refuse your request?” was the Emperor’s reply.

  “You called us slimy creatures in your poem—what sort of courtesy is that?”

  The Emperor could not reply, and Sima Zhao strode down the hall, smiling icily. All the courtiers shivered with fear.

  The Emperor retreated into his chamber, where he summoned Wang Shen, Wang Jing, and Wang Ye for counsel. With tears in his eyes, the Emperor said to them, “It is obvious to all that Sima Zhao intends to usurp the throne. I cannot sit, awaiting the indignity of being deposed. You gentlemen must help me to put him down!”

  “No, that will not do,” warned Wang Jing. “Remember in the old days, King Zhao of Lu could not tolerate his minister Ji, and tried to suppress him, but in the end he had to flee, thus losing his kingdom. Now the Sima family have long been in power and there are many senior officials, both within and without, who have curried favor from Sima Zhao, disregarding the rectitude of loyalty. Your Majesty’s guards are few and weak, without anyone to execute your command. If Your Majesty did not bear his tyranny silently, the most terrible misfortune would surely follow. Pray do not act in haste but plan his destruction slowly and carefully.”

  “If I can bear this, what can’t I bear?” said the Emperor. “My mind is made up. I have no fear even if I must die!”

  So saying he went inside to speak to the Empress Dowager.

  The other two officials said to Wang Jing, “This is imperative. We must not allow the destruction of our whole clans. Let’s go and confess the whole thing to Lord Sima.”

  Wang Jing said indignantly, “When the Emperor is in anxiety his ministers should be ashamed; and when the Emperor is shamed his ministers must die. Do you dare to contemplate disloyalty?”

  Seeing that Wang Jing would not join them, the other two went to Sima Zhao and betrayed their Emperor.

  Shortly after the Wei Emperor, Cao Mao, appeared. He ordered his personal guard, Jiao Bo, to muster together some three hundred night guards, servants, and attendants, who were to march out shouting and beating drums. Then the Emperor, drawing his sword
and ascending his carriage, commanded this little force to proceed to the south gateway. Wang Jing prostrated himself in front of the carriage and begged the Emperor not to go.

  Weeping, he said, “Your Majesty, to go against Sima Zhao with such a weak force is to drive the sheep into the tiger’s jaws. To die such a death is a useless sacrifice. Not that I care for my life, but I see the whole thing is indeed hopeless.”

  “My men have proceeded,” said the Emperor. “Do not hinder me, sir.” And he headed toward the Gate of Clouds and Dragons.

  There he saw Jia Chong riding up, wearing full military gear and flanked by two officers, commanding several thousand mail-clad Imperial Guards to murder him.

  Cai Mao held up his sword and cried, “I am the Emperor. You people break into the palace so suddenly—are you intending to murder your lawful ruler?”

  None of the soldiers dared to move forward at the sight of the Emperor. Then Jia Chong shouted to one of the officers, Cheng Ji: “What has His Lordship kept you for, if not for this day’s work?”

  Cheng Ji took his halberd and turned to ask Jia Chong, “To kill or to tie him up?”

  “His Lordship’s order is ‘Death.’”

  Cheng Ji rushed toward the carriage, halberd in hand.

  “How dare you, you rascal!” cried the Emperor.

  But the shout was cut short by a thrust from the halberd full in his breast and the Emperor fell from the carriage. Another thrust, and the blade of the halberd pierced him through and came out from his back. The Emperor lay dead beside his carriage. His guard, Jiao Bo, raised his spear to avenge the Emperor, but was also slain. The rest of his small force fled.

  Soon afterwards Wang Jing hurried up. He was in a fury with Jia Chong. “You treacherous scoundrel! How dare you commit regicide!”

  Jia Chong angrily ordered his men to have him bound up. Then he sent the news to Sima Zhao, who went into the palace and saw that the Emperor was dead. Assuming an air of great shock he wept, beating his head against the royal carriage. All the senior officials were informed.

  When Sima Fu came into the palace and saw the dead body of the Emperor, he rested the slain ruler’s head against his thigh and wept. “It is my fault that Your Majesty was murdered.”

  He had the remains laid in a coffin and borne to a side hall. Sima Zhao entered the hall and called a general council of the courtiers. All came, except Chen Tai. Sima Zhao noticed his absence and sent Chen Tai’s uncle to call him.

  Weeping aloud, Chen Tai cried, “People used to compare me with my uncle, but today my uncle cannot be compared with me.”

  So he put on deep mourning and went to the palace, where he prostrated himself before the bier and wept for the slain ruler.

  Squeezing a tear or two, Sima Zhao asked him, “How should this be dealt with?”

  “Put Jia Chong alone to death,” replied Chen Tai. “That will appease the whole nation, however little it may be.”

  Sima Zhao mused long before he spoke: “What less severe punishment can you think of?”

  “I know only of more severe punishments, not less.”

  “Cheng Ji is the vicious rebel,” said Sima Zhao. “Cut him to pieces and eliminate three generations of his family.”

  Cheng Ji broke into loud and open abuse of Sima Zhao. “I was not responsible for the crime. Jia Chong gave me your own order.”

  Sima Zhao ordered his men to cut out his tongue. To the last Cheng Ji never ceased protesting how he was wronged. His brother was also put to death in the market place, and their whole families were exterminated.

  “The Emperor must die,” thus spoke Sima full plain

  In Jia Chong’s hearing; and the Emperor was slain.

  Although they killed Cheng Ji who dealt the blow,

  The author of the crime we all well know.

  Sima Zhao then had Wang Jing’s whole household imprisoned. Wang Jing was present when his mother was brought up a prisoner. He bowed his head to the ground and wept. “Your unfilial son has brought you great misfortune, dear mother!”

  But his mother only laughed. “Who does not die? My only fear is not to die a worthy death. I have no regret to die for this.”

  The next day the family were led out to execution. Both mother and son smiled as they went to their deaths, but the whole city wept tears of sorrow.

  Sima Fu proposed that the body of the slain Emperor should receive a royal funeral and Sima Zhao consented. Jia Chong and some others urged Sima Zhao to put himself on the throne in place of Cao Mao, but he refused.

  Sima Zhao said, “Formerly King Wen of Zhou had two-thirds of the empire and yet he served the Yin Dynasty. Therefore the sage Confucius called him the man of absolute virtue. Just as Emperor Wu (Cao Cao) of Wei would not take the throne from the Hans, I will not take it from Wei.”

  Hearing this Jia Chong and the others realized that he intended to place his son Sima Yan on the throne, so they ceased to urge him.

  In the sixth month of the year Cao Huang, a grandson of Cao Cao’s, was invested as Emperor, the reign title being changed to Jing Yuan. The new Emperor’s name was changed to Cao Huan. Sima Zhao was prime minister and Duke of Jin, besides being given an enormous quantity of money and silk. All the other officials also received promotions and rewards.

  When scouts brought the news into Shu, Jiang Wei rejoiced at having another excuse to wage war against Wei. So he wrote a letter to the ruler of Wu, asking him to mobilize an army to punish Sima Zhao for murdering his king, and presented a memorial to the Emperor of Shu, seeking permission to start an expedition against Wei. Permission being granted, Jiang Wei raised an army of 150,000 troops, and prepared several thousand carts in which were placed wooden boxes. The two van leaders, Liao Hua and Zhang Yi, were to take Meridian Valley and Luo Valley respectively, while Jiang Wei was to seize Ye Valley. All the three valleys were to be captured by the time they emerged from the Qishan Mountains. The three armies set out at the same time and hastened toward Qishan.

  Deng Ai was training his men in the Qishan Mountains when he heard that the Shu armies were once more on the war path. He called his officers together.

  An advisor, called Wang Guan, said, “I have a plan to propose but I can’t speak it openly. I have written it down here. Would you care to read it, General?” And he placed it before Deng Ai.

  Deng Ai smiled after he finished reading. “A very good plan, but perhaps not enough to beguile Jiang Wei.”

  “I’m willing to stake my life on it,” said Wang Guan.

  “If you’re so determined you’ll succeed.”

  So 5,000 men were put under the leadership of Wang Guan, who set out without delay for Ye Valley, where he encountered scouts of Jiang Wei’s force. Wang Guan shouted to them, “We are troops from Wei coming to surrender. Go and tell your commander.”

  The scouts went back and reported to Jiang Wei, who said, “Let the leader come in and see me but keep his soldiers outside.”

  Wang Guan came in and knelt before Jiang Wei. “I am a nephew of Wang Jing. Recently Sima Zhao slew the Emperor and exterminated my uncle’s whole clan. My hatred for him goes deep into my bones and I rejoice so much that you, General, have mobilized an army to punish him for his crimes. So I have come with my 5,000 men to surrender to you. I am ready to obey your commands in the struggle to wipe out the rebels so that I may avenge my uncle.”

  Delighted, Jiang Wei said, “Since you have come to me with all sincerity, I will also be true to you. What my army needs is grain. There are several thousand carts of grain at the boundary of Shu, and I want you to bring these to Qishan. I will go straightway to capture the Qishan camps.”

  Secretly rejoicing that Jiang Wei had walked into his trap, Wang Guan agreed at once.

  “But you won’t need 5,000 men just for transporting the grain,” added Jiang Wei. “Take 3,000 and leave the rest as guides for me.”

  Wang Guan, afraid that a refusal might arouse Jiang Wei’s suspicion, left with the 3,000 men, while the remainder were a
ttached to Fu Qian’s force.

  Suddenly Xiahou Ba came to see Jiang Wei. “Commander, why do you believe the tale of this Wang Guan? Although I was not so well-informed, while I was in Wei I had never heard that he was a nephew of Wang Jing’s. Do look into this matter more carefully, for there is not much truth in his story.”

  “I know he’s false,” said Jiang Wei, laughing. “That’s why I have divided his men. I’m going to use his trick against him.”

  Xiahou Ba asked Jiang Wei to explain.

  “Sima Zhao is as wicked as Cao Cao. Since he has slain Wang Jing’s whole clan, is it likely that he would have left the man’s own nephew with an army outside the passes beyond his reach? So I knew he was up to some trick. Your view coincides with mine.”

  So Jiang Wei did not go out by Ye Valley, but set some of his men to lie in wait on the road to watch out for Wang Guan’s spies. And indeed, in less than ten days, his men captured a spy with a letter from Wang Guan to Deng Ai. From the letter and its bearer Jiang Wei learned that Wang Guan intended to divert the grain to the Wei camp via some byroads on the twentieth of the eighth month, and requested Deng Ai to send men to Yunshan Valley to receive the convoy. The bearer was put to death and the letter was delivered to Deng Ai by a man dressed as a Wei soldier. But two alterations were made in the letter: the date was changed to the fifteenth instead of the twentieth and Deng Ai, rather than his officer, was asked to lead the reinforcement force to the valley.

  At the same time several hundred wagons were emptied of their grain and filled up with inflammables, covered with green cloth. Fu Qian was ordered to lead the 2,000 Wei soldiers and show flags of the transport corps. Jiang Wei and Xiahou Ba, each with a troop, went to hide in Yunshan Valley. Meanwhile, three bodies of men were ordered to seize Qishan: Jiang Shu was to advance through Ye Valley, while Liao Hua and Zhang Yi from Meridian and Luo valleys.

  Now Deng Ai, delighted with the letter from Wang Guan, hastened to send back a reply. On the fifteenth he led 50,000 veterans to Yunshan Valley. Once he got there he sent scouts far ahead to reconnoiter from elevated ground. There they saw endless lines of grain carts progressing. Deng Ai reined in his horse and watched. Surely enough, they were all soldiers of Wei.