Chapter 111

Chapter 111

Now, when Jiang Wei withdrew his troops and encamped at Zhongdi, the Wei forces encamped outside the walls of Didao. Wang Jing welcomed Chen Tai and Deng Ai into the city and thanked them for lifting the siege. He held a banquet in their honor and bestowed generous rewards upon the army. Chen Tai reported Deng Ai's accomplishments to the Wei ruler, Cao Mao. Cao Mao enfeoffed Deng Ai as General Who Pacifies the West, granted him the authority to act with imperial commission, and appointed him as acting Colonel Protector of the Eastern Qiang, to garrison the Yong and Liang regions together with Deng Ai. After Deng Ai submitted his memorial of gratitude, Chen Tai held a banquet to congratulate him, saying, "Jiang Wei fled by night; his strength is exhausted. He will not dare to come out again." Deng Ai smiled and said, "I foresee five reasons why the Shu army will certainly sortie again." Chen Tai asked him to explain. Deng Ai said:

"First, although the Shu troops have retreated, they still retain the momentum of victory; our forces, on the other hand, have suffered the reality of weakness and defeat. This is the first reason they will come out again. Second, the Shu soldiers were all trained by Zhuge Kongming—they are elite troops, easily mobilized. Our generals are constantly rotated, and our soldiers are not thoroughly drilled. This is the second reason. Third, the Shu troops mostly travel by boat, while our army marches over dry land—there is a difference between labor and ease. This is the third reason. Fourth, Didao, Longxi, Nan'an, and Qishan are all positions suited for defensive warfare. The Shu may strike east while making a feint to the west, or aim south while attacking north. Our forces must divide to guard each point, while the Shu army can concentrate as one force—thus one part of theirs can contend against four parts of ours. This is the fourth reason. Fifth, if the Shu army comes out from Nan'an and Longxi, they can seize grain from the Qiang people for food. If they come out from Qishan, there is wheat they can harvest for provisions. This is the fifth reason."

Chen Tai sighed in admiration and said, "Your assessment of the enemy is godlike. Why should we worry about the Shu army at all!" From that day, Chen Tai and Deng Ai became friends despite the difference in their ages. Deng Ai then drilled the troops of Yong and Liang daily, and established encampments at every strategic pass to guard against any surprise.

Now, Jiang Wei held a great feast at Zhongdi and assembled his generals to discuss plans for attacking Wei. The clerk Fan Jian remonstrated, "General, you have launched several campaigns without achieving total victory. In today's battle at Taoxi, the men of Wei have already submitted to your fearsome reputation. Why do you wish to campaign again? If things go awry, all your past achievements will be forfeit." Jiang Wei replied, "You only know that Wei has vast territory and a large population, and that it cannot be conquered in haste. But you do not know that there are five reasons why we can defeat Wei in an attack." The generals asked him to explain. Jiang Wei answered:

"First, their crushing defeat at Taoxi has sapped their fighting spirit. Our troops, though we withdrew, suffered no losses. If we advance now, this is one reason for victory. Second, our troops advance by boat and will not be worn out, while they must come over dry land to meet us—this is the second reason. Third, our soldiers are a force long trained and seasoned, while theirs are a rabble hastily assembled, lacking discipline—this is the third reason. Fourth, when our army comes out from Qishan, we can forage on the autumn grain for food—this is the fourth reason. Fifth, though their troops are stationed at various points, their strength is divided. Our army goes forth as one force—how can they rescue each other? This is the fifth reason. If we do not attack Wei now, when shall we do it?"

Xiahou Ba said, "Though Deng Ai is young, his schemes are far-reaching. He has recently been appointed General Who Pacifies the West, and he must be making preparations at every point. He is not the same as before." Jiang Wei said sharply, "What do I have to fear from him! You must not boost the enemy's morale and diminish our own prestige! My mind is made up—we shall take Longxi first." The generals dared not remonstrate further.

Jiang Wei took command of the vanguard personally, ordering the other generals to follow behind. The entire Shu army then left Zhongdi and advanced toward Qishan. A scout reported that the Wei army had already established nine stockades at Qishan. Jiang Wei did not believe it, so he rode with several cavalrymen to a high vantage point to look. He indeed saw nine Wei stockades at Qishan, arranged like a long snake, each able to support the others front and rear. Jiang Wei turned to his attendants and said, "What Xiahou Ba said was not false. The formation of these stockades is superb—only my late teacher, Prime Minister Zhuge, could have devised such a thing. Judging from what Deng Ai has done, he is no inferior to my teacher." He then returned to his own camp and summoned his generals, saying:

"The men of Wei have made preparations; they must know we are coming. I expect Deng Ai is here. You may display my banners falsely and encamp at the mouth of this valley. Each day, send out a hundred or so cavalry to patrol. After each patrol, change their armor and clothing. Rotate the banners among the five colors—blue, yellow, red, white, and black. Meanwhile, I will lead the main force by stealth out of Dongting and strike directly at Nan'an." He then ordered Bao Su to encamp at the valley mouth of Qishan. Jiang Wei led the full army toward Nan'an.

Now, Deng Ai had learned that the Shu army was advancing on Qishan, and he and Chen Tai had long since prepared their encampment. When the Shu troops did not come to challenge them for several days, and sent out patrols five times daily—some going ten *li*, some fifteen—Deng Ai climbed to a high point to observe, then hurried back to his tent in alarm and said to Chen Tai, "Jiang Wei is not here. He must have gone to Dongting to attack Nan'an. The patrols leaving the camp are always the same few horses, merely changing armor and riding out to scout—their horses are all exhausted, and the commanding general must be an incompetent. General Chen, you can lead a force to attack this camp, and it will be taken. After breaking through the stockades, lead your troops to cut off Jiang Wei's route via Dongting, blocking his retreat. I will lead a force ahead to relieve Nan'an and seize Wicheng Mountain. If we occupy this mountain peak first, Jiang Wei will certainly try to take Shanggui. Near Shanggui there is a valley called Dangu—the terrain is narrow and the mountains steep, ideal for an ambush. When he comes to contest Wicheng Mountain, I will have two forces lying in wait in Dangu, and Jiang Wei will surely be defeated."

Chen Tai said, "I have defended Longxi for twenty or thirty years, yet I have never analyzed geography so clearly. What you say is truly divine calculation. You must go at once. I will attack this stockade myself." Thereupon Deng Ai led his army by forced marches day and night straight to Wicheng Mountain. After encamping, before the Shu troops arrived, he ordered his son Deng Zhong and the colonel of his headquarters, Shi Zan, each to lead five thousand soldiers and proceed to Dangu to lie in ambush, with detailed instructions. The two received their orders and departed. Deng Ai ordered his banners lowered and drums silenced, to wait for the Shu army.

Jiang Wei advanced from Dongting toward Nanzhi, and when they arrived before Wucheng Mountain, he said to Xiahou Ba: "Near Nanzhi there is a mountain called Wucheng Mountain. If we seize it first, we can overawe Nanzhi. But I fear Deng Ai is too crafty and will surely have taken precautions."

Even as he was worrying about this, a bombard fired on the mountain top, followed by a great roar of shouting, drums and horns sounding together, and banners and flags raised everywhere—all Wei troops. At the center, a yellow flag fluttered in the wind with the characters "Deng Ai" written large upon it. The Shu soldiers were greatly alarmed. Elite troops charged down from several points on the mountain, their momentum irresistible, and the vanguard was routed. Jiang Wei hastily led his central army to their relief, but the Wei forces had already withdrawn.

Jiang Wei rode straight to the foot of Wucheng Mountain and challenged Deng Ai to battle, but the Wei troops on the mountain did not come down. Jiang Wei ordered his soldiers to hurl insults, but it was not until late in the day that the drums and horns sounded again—yet still no Wei troops descended. Jiang Wei wanted to charge up the mountain, but the stones and missiles fired from above were too fierce, and he could not advance. He held his position until the third watch, then prepared to withdraw, but once more the drums and horns sounded on the mountain. He moved his troops down the foot of the mountain and encamped. Just as he had ordered his men to haul timber and stones and was about to erect a camp, the drums and horns sounded yet again, and the Wei troops suddenly arrived. The Shu army fell into chaos, trampling one another, and retreated to their old camp.

The next day, Jiang Wei ordered his soldiers to bring carts of grain and supplies to Wucheng Mountain, arranging them in connected rows, intending to raise stockades as a means of establishing a permanent camp. That night, at the second watch, Deng Ai sent five hundred men, each carrying torches, down the mountain by two routes to burn the carts. The two sides fought confusedly through the night, and the camp could not be established once more.

Jiang Wei again led his troops back and consulted with Xiahou Ba. "Since we have not taken Nanzhi," he said, "we might as well seize Shanggui first. Shanggui is where Nanzhi stores its grain. If we take Shanggui, Nanzhi will be imperiled of its own accord." He therefore left Ba encamped at Wucheng Mountain and led all his elite troops straight toward Shanggui.

After marching through the night and nearing dawn, they found the mountain terrain narrow and steep, with rugged roads. Jiang Wei asked the guide, "What is this place called?" The answer came: "Duan Gu—'Severed Valley.'" Jiang Wei was greatly alarmed. "The name is unpropitious! 'Duan Gu' sounds like 'Duan Gu'—a severed valley. If someone blocks the mouth of the valley, what then shall we do?"

Even as he was hesitating, undecided, a report came from the vanguard: "A great cloud of dust has risen behind the mountain—there must be an ambush." Jiang Wei hastily ordered a retreat, but Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong led their forces out to attack. Jiang Wei fought as he withdrew. Then a great clamor arose ahead, and Deng Ai led his troops into the fray. Attacked from three sides, the Shu army was utterly routed.

Fortunately, Xiahou Ba arrived with his forces, and the Wei troops withdrew, saving Jiang Wei and intending to head again for Qishan. Ba said, "The Qishan camp has already been broken by Chen Tai. Bao Su is dead, and the entire garrison has withdrawn back to Hanzhong." Jiang Wei dared not advance on Dongting and hastily took a narrow mountain path to return. Deng Ai pursued him urgently. Jiang Wei ordered his other units to press forward while he himself brought up the rear.

As they marched, a force suddenly burst out from the mountains—it was the Wei general Chen Tai. The Wei troops raised a great shout and surrounded Jiang Wei at their center. His men and horses were exhausted; he charged left and right but could not break out.

Zhang Yi, General Who Pacifies the Disturbances, hearing that Jiang Wei was trapped, led several hundred riders into the encirclement, and Jiang Wei seized the opportunity to fight his way out. Zhang Yi was struck dead by a volley of arrows from the Wei troops. Having escaped the encirclement, Jiang Wei returned once more to Hanzhong. Moved by Zhang Yi's loyalty and courage in giving his life in service to the throne, he petitioned the court to grant posthumous honors to Zhang Yi's sons and grandsons.

Many Shu officers and soldiers had fallen in battle, and they all laid the blame on Jiang Wei. Following the precedent set by the late Marquis Wu at Jieting, Jiang Wei submitted a petition demoting himself to the rank of General of the Rear, while continuing to carry out the duties of Grand General.

When Deng Ai saw that the Shu forces had entirely withdrawn, he and Chen Tai held a feast in celebration and rewarded the troops lavishly. Chen Tai submitted a memorial on Deng Ai's achievements, and Sima Zhao sent an envoy with the imperial staff of authority to confer further offices and titles upon Deng Ai, granting him the seals and ribbons of investiture, and enfeoffing Deng Ai's son Deng Zhong as a District Marquis.

At this time, the Wei ruler Cao Mao changed the era name from the third year of Zhengyuan to the first year of Ganlu. Sima Zhao appointed himself Commander-in-Chief of all the empire's armed forces. Whenever he went in or out, he was escorted by three thousand armored cavalry riding before and after him as his guard. All affairs of state he decided at his own residence without memorializing the court. From this time, he harbored constantly the ambition of usurpation, fearing only that the hearts of the people in the north and south were not yet compliant.

He had a trusted confidant named Jia Chong, styled Gonglü, the son of the late General Who Displays Might Jia Kui, serving as chief secretary on Zhao's staff. Jia Chong said to Zhao: "Now that you, my lord, hold the great reins of power, the hearts of the people throughout the land are surely not yet at ease. You should make secret inquiries first, and then proceed gradually with your great design." Zhao replied: "I was just thinking the same thing. You may go east on my behalf, ostensibly to comfort the expeditionary forces, but in truth to gauge the mood of the people."

Jia Chong received his orders and went directly to Huainan, where he had an audience with the Grand General Who Guards the East, Zhuge Dan. Zhuge Dan, styled Gongxiu, was a man of Nanyang in Langya and a younger cousin of the Marquis Wu. He had served Wei, but because his cousin held the chancellorship in Shu, he had not been entrusted with important posts. After the Marquis Wu's death, Dan had risen through successive high offices in Wei, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaoping, and placed in command of the armies of both Huai regions.

Jia Chong, under the pretext of comforting the troops, went to Huainan to see Zhuge Dan. Dan prepared a feast for him. When the wine had been poured and half consumed, Dan tested him with words: "Recently the worthy men of Luoyang have all been saying that the sovereign is too weak to be a ruler. The Grand General Sima has assisted the state for three generations, and his merit fills the heavens—he could receive the abdication of the Wei throne and take the imperial title. I wonder what your view might be?"

Zhuge Dan flew into a rage. "You are the son of the late Inspector of Yu, and your family has received the emoluments of Wei for generations. How dare you utter such seditious words!" Jia Chong apologized. "I merely report what others have said to you." Dan replied: "If the court faces peril, I shall repay it with my life." Jia Chong said nothing more.

The next day, Zhuge Dan took his leave and returned, reporting the matter in detail to Sima Zhao. Jia Chong was furious and said, "How dare these petty creatures act this way!" Chong added, "Dan has won deep support in Huainan. If left unchecked, he will become a menace. He must be eliminated at once." Zhao secretly sent a sealed letter to Yue Zhou Inspector Le Lin, while at the same time dispatching an envoy with an imperial summons to recall Dan to the capital as Sikong. When Dan received the edict, he realized it was Jia Chong who had informed on him. He seized the envoy and interrogated him under torture. The envoy said, "Le Lin knows of this matter." Dan asked, "How did he come to know?" The envoy replied, "General Sima has already sent a man to Yangzhou with a secret letter for Le Lin." Dan flew into a rage, ordered the execution of the envoy, and raised a thousand of his own troops, marching on Yangzhou. As they approached the South Gate, the gate was already closed and the drawbridge raised. Dan called out from below the walls, but no one answered. Enraged, Dan cried, "Le Lin, you wretch, how dare you act this way!" He ordered his soldiers to assault the city. A dozen of his elite riders dismounted, forded the river, scaled the walls, scattered the guards, and flung open the city gates. Zhuge Dan led his troops in, set fires wherever the wind carried them, and fought his way to Lin's residence. Lin fled upstairs in panic. Dan charged up the sword in hand and roared, "Your father Le Jin once received great favor from the state of Wei! Instead of repaying that debt, you would side with Sima Zhao!" Before Lin could utter a word, Dan struck him down. He then prepared a memorial listing Sima Zhao's crimes and sent it to Luoyang; at the same time he gathered over a hundred thousand farming households from the two Huai regions, together with more than forty thousand newly surrendered troops from Yangzhou, and began stockpiling grain and provisions in preparation for a campaign. He also ordered Chief Clerk Wu Gang to send his son Jing to Wu as a hostage to seek reinforcements, determined to join forces and overthrow Sima Zhao.

At this time, the Wu chancellor Sun Jun had died, and his cousin Sun Lin assumed power. Lin, styled Zitong, was a man of violent temperament who had killed Grand Marshal Teng Yin, General Lü Ju, and Wang Dun, among others. All authority now rested with him. Though the Wu ruler Sun Liang was intelligent, he was powerless. Wu Gang brought诸葛靓 to the Stone City and presented him to Sun Lin. Lin asked the reason for his coming. Wu Gang said, "诸葛诞 is a younger kinsman of the Marquis of Wu, the great Zhuge Liang of Shu. He has long served Wei, but now sees Sima Zhao deceiving his sovereign, deposing his lord, and usurping power. He wishes to raise an army against him but lacks the strength, and so has come to offer his allegiance. Fearing you might doubt his sincerity, he has sent his own son as a hostage. He begs you to send troops to aid him." Sun Lin granted the request, appointing Generals Quan Yi and Quan Duan as commanders, Yu Quan as rear guard, Zhu Yi and Tang Zi as vanguard, and Wen Qin as guide. He raised a force of seventy thousand, advancing in three columns. Wu Gang returned to Shouchun to report to Zhuge Dan. Dan was overjoyed and arrayed his troops in readiness.

When Zhuge Dan's memorial reached Luoyang, Sima Zhao was enraged and wished to lead the campaign himself. Jia Chong admonished him, "My lord, you have inherited your father's and elder brother's legacy, yet your grace has not yet extended to all within the four seas. If you abandon the Son of Heaven and something should happen in your absence, it would be too late for regret. It would be better to request that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor accompany the expedition, so that no misfortune may occur." Zhao was pleased and said, "This counsel is exactly what I wished to hear." He went to the Empress Dowager and reported, "Zhuge Dan has rebelled. I have consulted with my civil and military officials and reached a decision: I beg Your Majesty and the Son of Heaven to accompany the imperial expedition, in accordance with the late Emperors' final wishes." The Empress Dowager, filled with dread, had no choice but to consent. The next day, Zhao requested Emperor Cao Mao to set out. Mao said, "The Grand Commander commands the armies of the realm and may deploy them as he sees fit. Why must I go in person?" Zhao replied, "It must not be so. In former times, Emperor Wu (Cao Cao) swept across the four seas; Emperor Wen (Cao Pi) and Emperor Ming (Cao Rui) harbored ambitions to encompass the universe and swallow the eight wilds. Whenever they faced a great enemy, they went in person. Your Majesty should emulate your forebears and sweep away these remnants of sedition. Why should you shrink from it?" The Emperor, fearing Zhao's power, had no choice but to comply. Zhao then issued an edict mobilizing the entire force of both capitals, two hundred and sixty thousand strong. He appointed Zhennan Army General Wang Ji as chief vanguard, Andon Army General Chen Qian as his deputy, Supervisor of the Army Shi Bao as commander of the left wing, and Yanzhou Inspector Zhou Tai as commander of the right wing, to guard the imperial carriage. The mighty host swept toward Huainan.

The Wu vanguard commander Zhu Yi led his troops to meet them. The two armies drew up in formation. Wang Ji rode out from the Wei lines; Zhu Yi came forward to engage him. After no more than three exchanges, Zhu Yi was routed. Tang Zi took the field, and after likewise no more than three exchanges he too was utterly defeated. Wang Ji drove his soldiers forward in pursuit. The Wu army was crushed and retreated fifty li before making camp, sending word back to Shouchun. Zhuge Dan personally led his elite troops, joined forces with Wen Qin and his two sons Wen Yang and Wen Hu, and with a powerful force of several tens of thousands advanced to face Sima Zhao.

Thus it was:

*Just now the Wu army's fierce spirit has been broken,*

*And here come the Wei generals with their mightiest troops.*

*Who will prevail? Turn to the next chapter.*