Chapter 115

Chapter 115

In the fifth year of the Jingyao era of Shu Han, in the tenth month of winter, Grand General Jiang Wei dispatched men through the night to repair the gallery roads and put in order the military provisions and weapons. He also arranged for boats along the waterways of Hanzhong. When all was complete, he submitted a memorial to the Second Ruler, saying: "Your minister has campaigned many times, and though great success has not yet been achieved, the hearts and courage of Wei have already been shaken. Now the troops have been rested for a long time; if they do not fight they grow idle, and idleness breeds illness. Moreover, the soldiers now long to give their lives, and the officers are eager to serve. If your minister does not prevail, he deserves the death penalty."

The Second Ruler read the memorial and hesitated, unable to decide. The court scholar Zhou Chong stepped forward from the ranks and said: "Your minister has observed the heavens at night and seen that the stars corresponding to the Shu region are dim and unclear. Now the Grand General wishes to take the field once more. This expedition is most inadvisable. Your Majesty should issue an edict to stop him." The Second Ruler said: "Let us see how this campaign turns out first. If there truly is a setback, then we shall intervene." Zhou Chong remonstrated repeatedly but could not prevail. He returned home sighing deeply and then feigned illness, refusing to appear at court.

Now as Jiang Wei prepared to raise his forces, he asked Liao Hua, "I am now going forth with a sworn resolve to recover the Central Plains. Where should I strike first?" Hua said, "Year after year of campaigns have brought no peace to the army and the people. Moreover, Wei has Deng Ai, a man of great wisdom and cunning—no ordinary figure. The General insists on undertaking what is difficult and dangerous; this is why your minister does not presume to decide alone." Jiang Wei flared into a rage and said, "In the past, the Prime Minister launched six expeditions out of Qishan, and that too was for the state. Now I have campaigned against Wei eight times—do you think it is for my own private ends? Today we shall first take Taoyang. Anyone who defies me will be put to death!" He left Liao Hua to defend Hanzhong and himself led the other generals with three hundred thousand troops directly toward Taoyang. A man from the Sichuan passes had already brought word to the Qishan camp. At that time, Deng Ai was discussing military matters with Sima Wang. When he received this news, he sent out scouts, who reported that the Shu forces were advancing entirely from the direction of Taoyang. Sima Wang said, "Jiang Wei is full of schemes. Could it be that he feints toward Taoyang but in reality means to attack Qishan?" Deng Ai said, "This time Jiang Wei is truly advancing on Taoyang." Wang said, "How do you know?" Ai said, "In the past, Jiang Wei repeatedly struck where we had grain. Now Taoyang has no grain. Jiang Wei must expect that we will defend Qishan only and not Taoyang, so he advances directly on Taoyang. If he takes that city, he will store grain and gather supplies, ally with the Qiang tribes, and plan for a long-term strategy." Wang said, "If that is so, what shall we do?" Ai said, "We can withdraw all the troops from here and divide them into two columns to relieve Taoyang. Twenty-five li from Taoyang is the small town of Houhe, which is the throat of Taoyang. You lead one force and conceal it in Taoyang—lower your banners, silence your drums, open all four gates, and act in such-and-such a manner. I will lead a force and lie in ambush at Houhe. A great victory is assured." The plan was set, and each carried out his assignment. Only the junior general Shi Zhan was left to defend the Qishan camp.

Jiang Wei ordered Xiahou Ba to command the vanguard and advance directly on Taoyang. Xiahou Ba led his troops forward, and as they approached Taoyang, he saw not a single banner on the walls and all four gates standing wide open. Doubt arose in Xiahou Ba's mind, and he did not dare enter the city. He turned to his officers and said, "Could this be a ruse?" The officers said, "It is clearly an empty city—only a few common folk, who, hearing that the Grand General's army had arrived, abandoned the city and fled." Xiahou Ba was still not convinced. He rode by himself to the south side of the city to look, and saw countless old men, women, and children all fleeing toward the northwest. Xiahou Ba was overjoyed and said, "It truly is an empty city!" He charged in first, and the rest of his troops followed. Just as they reached the edge of the barbican, a cannon shot rang out. Drums and horns sounded together on the walls, banners were raised everywhere, and the drawbridge was hauled up. Xiahou Ba cried out in alarm, "We have fallen into a trap!" He tried to retreat in haste, but arrows and stones rained down from the walls. Pitiable Xiahou Ba, together with five hundred of his soldiers, all died beneath the walls. A later poet lamented:

Bold Jiang Wei, his cunning was long renowned,

But who knew Deng Ai had laid the snare around?

Pitiable Xiahou Ba, who had turned to Shu's side—

In an instant by the city wall, beneath the arrows died.

Sima Wang charged out from within the city, and the Shu troops fled in defeat. Soon after, Jiang Wei arrived with reinforcements and drove Sima Wang back, then made camp beside the city. When Jiang Wei heard that Xiahou Ba had been killed, he grieved deeply. That night, in the second watch, Deng Ai led a force secretly from Houhe and attacked the Shu camp by stealth. The Shu troops fell into chaos, and Jiang Wei could not restore order. Drums and horns thundered from the walls, and Sima Wang led his soldiers out to attack. Caught between two forces, the Shu army was utterly defeated. Jiang Wei fought desperately, cutting left and right, and barely escaped. He retreated more than twenty li and made camp. After these two defeats, the Shu soldiers' hearts wavered. Jiang Wei said to his generals, "Victory and defeat are the common lot of soldiers. Though we have lost men and officers, it is no cause for despair. The matter of success or failure rests on this one effort. You must remain steadfast from beginning to end. Anyone who speaks of retreat will be executed on the spot." Zhang Yi stepped forward and said, "The Wei forces are all here; Qishan must surely be undefended. The General should engage Deng Ai in battle and attack Taoyang and Houhe, while I lead a force to take Qishan. Once the nine Qishan strongholds are taken, we can drive our army toward Chang'an. This is the superior plan." Jiang Wei agreed and immediately ordered Zhang Yi to lead the rear army directly toward Qishan.

Jiang Wei led his forces to the Hou River to challenge Deng Ai to battle. Deng Ai brought his troops out to meet him. The two armies formed their battle lines, and the two commanders engaged in combat for several dozen exchanges with neither gaining the upper hand. Both sides then withdrew their forces to their respective camps. The following day, Jiang Wei again led his troops to provoke a fight, but Deng Ai kept his forces in camp and would not come out. Jiang Wei ordered his soldiers to hurl insults, but Deng Ai reasoned to himself: "The Shu army suffered a great defeat at my hands, yet they have not retreated at all. Day after day they come to challenge us to battle—they must be sending a detachment to attack Qi Mountain Stockade. The garrison commander there, Shi Zuan, has few troops and limited cunning; he will surely be defeated. I must go personally to his aid." He then summoned his son, Deng Zhong, and instructed him: "Defend this position with all your might. Let them challenge as they will, but do not rashly sally forth. Tonight I shall lead troops to Qi Mountain to reinforce them." That night, during the second watch, Jiang Wei was in his camp devising a strategy when suddenly he heard the earth-shaking sound of shouting outside the camp and the clamor of war drums and horns. His men reported that Deng Ai was leading three elite troops in a night engagement. The various generals wished to sally forth, but Jiang Wei restrained them: "Do not act rashly." It turned out that Deng Ai had led his forces to the front of the Shu camp to conduct a reconnaissance, and then seized the opportunity to go to the relief of Qi Mountain. Deng Zhong entered the city on his own. Jiang Wei summoned his generals and said: "Deng Ai made a show of night battle only to go to the relief of Qi Mountain Stockade." He then summoned Fu Qian and instructed him: "Defend this camp; do not lightly engage the enemy." Having given these orders, Jiang Wei personally led three thousand troops to reinforce Zhang Yi.

Now, Zhang Yi had just arrived at Qi Mountain to attack it. The garrison commander Shi Zuan had too few troops to hold out. The stockade was on the verge of falling when suddenly Deng Ai's forces arrived and charged into battle. The Shu army was utterly defeated, and Zhang Yi was cut off behind the mountain with his line of retreat severed. Just as he was in a state of panic and desperation, he suddenly heard a great clamor of shouting and the din of war drums and horns, and saw the Wei troops retreating in disorder on all sides. His attendants reported: "The Grand General Jiang Boyue has arrived with his forces." Zhang Yi seized the opportunity to drive his troops forward in coordination. Attacking from both sides, Deng Ai suffered a defeat and hastily withdrew into Qi Mountain Stockade, refusing to come out. Jiang Wei ordered his troops to surround the stockade on all sides.

Let us now turn to another matter. In Chengdu, the Second Ruler was heeding the words of the eunuch Huang Hao, indulging himself in wine and sensual pleasures, and neglecting affairs of state. At this time there was a certain official, Liu Yan, whose wife Lady Hu was exceedingly beautiful. She had entered the palace to pay her respects to the Empress, who kept her in the palace for a month before allowing her to leave. Liu Yan suspected his wife of having an illicit relations with the Second Ruler. He summoned five hundred soldiers from his personal guard, had them line up before him, bound his wife, and ordered each soldier to strike her face with a shoe several dozen times. She nearly died before she revived. When the Second Ruler heard of this, he was greatly enraged and ordered the proper authorities to deliberate on Liu Yan's crime. The rulers determined: "A soldier is not one who should beat a wife, and the face is not a place to receive punishment: he deserves execution in the marketplace." Liu Yan was accordingly put to death. From that time on, no official's wife was permitted to enter court. Yet many of the officials of that time, seeing the Second Ruler's debauchery, harbored suspicion and resentment. Thus worthy men gradually withdrew, and petty men advanced day by day. At that time, the Right General Yan Yu had not a single accomplishment to his name; he had attained high rank solely through his flattery of Huang Hao. When he learned that Jiang Wei was commanding troops at Qi Mountain, he spoke to Huang Hao and persuaded him to memorialize the Second Ruler: "Jiang Wei has fought battle after battle without success. You should order Yan Yu to replace him." The Second Ruler followed this advice and dispatched an envoy bearing an imperial edict to recall Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei was at that moment attacking the stockade at Qi Mountain when, in the space of a single day, three edicts arrived in succession, commanding him to withdraw his army. Jiang Wei had no choice but to obey. He first ordered the troops at Tao Yang to retreat, then withdrew gradually together with Zhang Yi. Deng Ai, in his camp, had heard the clamor of war drums and horns throughout the night and did not know what it meant. When dawn came, his men reported that the Shu forces had entirely withdrawn, leaving only empty camps. Deng Ai suspected a ruse and did not dare to pursue them.

Jiang Wei proceeded directly to Hanzhong, where he rested his men and horses, and then went with the imperial envoy into Chengdu to have an audience with the Second Ruler. The Second Ruler did not hold court for ten days in a row. Jiang Wei was filled with misgivings. On that day, arriving at the East Flower Gate, he encountered the Palace Library Lang Xi Zeng. Jiang Wei asked him: "The Son of Heaven summoned me to withdraw my army. Do you know the reason?" Xi Zeng smiled and said: "Does the Grand General truly not know? Huang Hao wished to have Yan Yu win glory, so he memorialized the court and issued an edict to recall the general. But now, hearing that Deng Ai is skilled in the use of troops, he has dropped the matter." Jiang Wei was furious and said: "I will surely kill this eunuch!" Xi Zeng restrained him, saying: "The Grand General has inherited the legacy of the Martial Marquis; your responsibilities are great and your position weighty. How can you act rashly? If the Son of Heaven will not tolerate it, the consequences would be most unfortunate." Jiang Wei thanked him, saying: "Your words, sir, are correct." The following day, the Second Ruler was feasting with Huang Hao in the rear garden. Jiang Wei led several men directly into the garden. Someone had already informed Huang Hao, who hastily hid himself beside the lake and the hills. Jiang Wei came to the pavilion, paid his respects to the Second Ruler, and said with tears: "Your minister had Deng Ai besieged at Qi Mountain, yet Your Majesty sent down three successive edicts recalling me to court. I do not know what Your Majesty's intention was." The Second Ruler remained silent. Jiang Wei continued: "Huang Hao is treacherous and cunning, usurping power for himself—he is another of the Ten Attendants of the time of Emperor Ling. Your Majesty has the recent example of Zhang Rang to learn from, and the distant example of Zhao Gao. If you put this man to death soon, the court will naturally be purged and the Central Plains can be recovered." The Second Ruler smiled and said: "Huang Hao is merely a minor attendant who runs errands. Even if he usurps power, he is incapable of any real harm. In the past, Dong Yun gnashed his teeth in hatred of Huang Hao, and I found it very strange. Why should you take it to heart?" Jiang Wei knocked his head on the ground and said: "If Your Majesty does not kill Huang Hao today, disaster is not far off." The Second Ruler said: "'When you love a man, you want him to live; when you hate him, you want him to die.' Why can you not tolerate a single eunuch?" He then ordered a nearby attendant to summon Huang Hao from beside the lake and the hills to the pavilion and commanded him to bow before Jiang Wei and acknowledge his guilt. Huang Hao wept and bowed to Jiang Wei, saying: "This one merely waits upon His Majesty morning and evening; I have no involvement in affairs of state. I beg you, General, not to listen to the words of outsiders who wish to kill me. My life is in your hands; I ask only for your mercy." Having spoken, he knocked his head on the ground and wept.

Wei left in a fury and went at once to see Xi Zheng, recounting the whole matter to him. Xi Zheng said, "General, disaster is not far off for you. If you fall, the state will perish with you." Wei said, "Sir, I pray you teach me a strategy to preserve the state and protect myself." Xi Zheng said, "There is a place in Longxi called Dazhong. The land is exceedingly fertile. Why not follow the example of the Martial Marquis in his tilling of the soil? Petition the Son of Heaven and go to Dazhong to farm and garrison. In the first place, you will have ripe grain to supply the army; in the second, you can gradually plan for the commanderies of Longyou; in the third, the men of Wei will not dare to look upon Hanzhong with contempt; and in the fourth, you will hold military power outside the capital, so no one can plot against you, and thus you may avoid calamity. This is the strategy to preserve the state and protect yourself. You should act upon it without delay." Wei was overjoyed and said, "Your words are as gold and jade to me."

The next day, Jiang Wei memorialized the Latter Lord, requesting permission to till the fields at Dazhong, following the precedent set by the Martial Marquis. The Latter Lord granted his request. Wei then returned to Hanzhong and gathered his generals, saying, "I have repeatedly led expeditions, but due to insufficient grain, I have failed to achieve success. Now I will take an army of eighty thousand to Dazhong to plant wheat and garrison the land, advancing gradually. You have long toiled in battle. Now we shall gather our forces and store grain, withdrawing to defend Hanzhong. The Wei soldiers must transport grain over a thousand li through mountain passes; naturally they will be exhausted. When they are exhausted, they will surely retreat. Then we shall pursue them with our forces when they are vulnerable, and victory will be certain." He ordered Hu Ji to defend Shoushou City, Wang Han to defend Lecheng City, Jiang Bin to defend Hancheng City, and Jiang Shu and Fu Qian to jointly guard the passes. Having completed the dispositions, Wei personally led an army of eighty thousand to Dazhong to plant wheat and establish a long-term plan.

Now when Deng Ai learned that Jiang Wei was farming and garrisoning at Dazhong, he set up more than forty camps along the road, linked together unbroken, like the form of a long serpent. Deng Ai then sent scouts to survey the terrain, who drew up maps and submitted them in a memorial. Sima Zhao, Duke of Jin, saw it and was furious. "Jiang Wei has repeatedly invaded the Central Plains. If we cannot destroy him, he will be the thorn in my heart and belly," he said. Jia Chong said, "Jiang Wei has fully inherited Kongming's teachings, and it will be difficult to drive him back in haste. We must find a general of wisdom and valor to assassinate him, and thus spare the labor of raising an army." Xun Xu, Attendant Gentleman of the Palace, said, "Not so. At present the Lord of Shu, Liu Shan, is sunk in wine and sensuality and trusts Huang Hao; all the great ministers harbor hearts bent on avoiding disaster. Jiang Wei's farming at Dazhong is precisely a plan to escape calamity. If we send a great general to attack him, there will be no doubt of victory. Why use an assassin?" Sima Zhao laughed and said, "This is the best counsel. I wish to attack Shu. Who can be my general?" Xun Xu said, "Deng Ai is a man of exceptional talent of this age. If Zhong Hui is added as his lieutenant, the great enterprise will succeed." Sima Zhao was overjoyed and said, "This accords perfectly with my own thoughts." He summoned Zhong Hui and asked him, "I wish to appoint you as the great general to attack Eastern Wu. Will you go?" Zhong Hui said, "Your lordship's intention is not truly to attack Wu but rather to attack Shu." Sima Zhao laughed and said, "You truly know my heart. But when you go to attack Shu, what strategy will you employ?" Zhong Hui said, "I have anticipated that Your Lordship wished to attack Shu and have already drawn up maps and plans here." Sima Zhao unrolled them and examined them. The maps in detail recorded where to establish camps along each route, where to station and store provisions and fodder, where to advance and where to retreat—all with method and order. Sima Zhao looked at them and was overjoyed. "A truly fine general! How would you and Deng Ai join forces to take Shu?" Zhong Hui said, "The roads of Shu are broad; they cannot be entered by a single route. Deng Ai should divide his forces and advance along several paths." Sima Zhao then appointed Zhong Hui as General Who Guards the West, bestowed upon him the Staff of Authority, and made him Commander of the forces in Guanzhong, with power to mobilize troops from Qing, Xu, Yan, Yu, Jing, and Yang provinces. At the same time, he dispatched a messenger bearing the Staff of Authority to appoint Deng Ai as General Who Conquests the West and Commander of the forces beyond Guanzhong in Longshang, ordering them to set a date for the attack on Shu.

The next day, Sima Zhao discussed the matter outside the court. Former General Deng Dun said, "Jiang Wei has repeatedly invaded the Central Plains, and our forces have suffered great losses. Even now, defending ourselves, we can scarcely hold out. How can we venture deep into the perilous mountains and rivers and bring disaster upon ourselves?" Sima Zhao was enraged. "I wish to raise a righteous army to attack a lordless ruler. How dare you oppose my will?" He ordered the guards to drag him out and behead him. In a short while, Deng Dun's head was presented upon the steps. All present turned pale. Sima Zhao said, "Since my campaign in the east, I have rested for six years. I have trained my troops and repaired my armor; all is complete. I have long wished to attack both Wu and Wu and Shu. Now I shall first subdue Western Shu, and riding the momentum, advance by both water and land to swallow Eastern Wu whole: this is the way of destroying Guo and taking Yu. I estimate that the Shu soldiers guarding Chengdu number eighty or ninety thousand, those guarding the borders no more than forty or fifty thousand, and those Jiang Wei has farming no more than sixty or seventy thousand. I have now ordered Deng Ai to lead more than a hundred thousand troops from Longyou beyond Guanzhong to pin down Jiang Wei at Dazhong so that he cannot look eastward. I shall send Zhong Hui to lead two or three hundred thousand elite troops from Guanzhong straight to Luogu: three routes to attack Hanzhong. The Lord of Shu, Liu Shan, is dim-witted; when the border cities are crushed without, the people will tremble within, and his downfall is certain." All present bowed in submission.

Now when Zhong Hui received the seal of General Who Guards the West, he raised his army to attack Shu. Fearing his plans might leak out, he made a show of attacking Wu instead, ordering the five regions of Qing, Yan, Yu, Jing, and Yang to build great ships. He also sent Tang Zi to the coastal areas of Deng and Lai provinces to assemble seagoing vessels. Sima Zhao, not understanding his purpose, summoned Zhong Hui and asked, "You are taking the dry land route to subdue the Riverlands. Why build ships?" Zhong Hui said, "If Shu hears that our army is advancing in force, they will certainly beg aid from Eastern Wu. Therefore I spread the appearance of preparing to attack Wu, and Wu will certainly not dare move rashly. Within a year, Shu will be destroyed and the ships completed—then to attack Wu, would that not be the natural course?" Sima Zhao was overjoyed, and a date was chosen for the army to set out.

In the fourth year of the Jingyuan era of Wei, on the third day of the seventh month of autumn, Zhong Hui marched forth with his army. Sima Zhao escorted him ten li beyond the city walls before turning back. Shao Ti, the Assistant Clerk of the Western Bureau, spoke to Sima Zhao in private, saying: "My lord, you have now dispatched Zhong Hui with a hundred thousand troops to subdue Shu. I, your foolish subordinate, foresee that Zhong Hui is ambitious and proud; you should not allow him to wield sole authority over such a great army."

Zhao smiled and said: "Do you think I am unaware of this?"

Shao Ti replied: "Since my lord already knows, why not appoint someone to share command with him?"

Zhao spoke at length, and Shao Ti's doubts were completely dispelled. Truly it was said:

Just as the soldiers and horses set forth on their march,

Already the general's overbearing heart was known.

What words did Zhao speak? Read on to find out.

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Romance of the Three Kingdoms