Chapter 118

Chapter 118

The Lord of Hanzhong was in Chengdu when he received word that Deng Ai had taken Mianzhu and that Zhuge Zhan and his son had perished. He was greatly alarmed and hastily summoned his civil and military officials to deliberate. A palace attendant reported: "The people outside the city walls, carrying their aged and their young, are crying out in great terror, each fleeing for their life." The Lord of Hanzhong was seized with panic and did not know what to do. Suddenly a scout arrived to report that the Wei troops were approaching the city. Many officials said: "Our soldiers are few and our generals scarce—we cannot meet the enemy in battle. It would be better to abandon Chengdu at once and flee to the seven commanderies of Nanzhong. The terrain there is rugged and defensible, and we may garrison ourselves there. We can then enlist the barbarian troops and return later to recover what has been lost."

Guanglu Dafu Qiao Zhou said: "This cannot be done. The southern barbarians have long been rebels, and we have shown them no kindness in the past. If we now throw ourselves upon their mercy, we will surely meet with disaster."

Other officials then memorialized: "Since Shu and Wu are allies, and the situation is urgent, we may seek refuge with Wu." Zhou again remonstrated: "Since ancient times, there has never been a Son of Heaven who took up residence in another sovereign's domain. In my estimation, Wei can swallow up Wu, but Wu cannot swallow up Wei. If Your Majesty submits to Wu as a vassal, that would be one humiliation. If Wu is then absorbed by Wei, and Your Majesty submits to Wei as a vassal a second time, that would be two humiliations. It would be better not to flee to Wu but to surrender to Wei instead. Wei will surely grant Your Majesty a fief, and then above you can maintain the ancestral temples, and below you can ensure the safety of the common people. May Your Majesty ponder this well."

The Lord of Hanzhong had not yet decided and withdrew to the inner palace.

The next day, opinions were divided. Qiao Zhou saw the matter was urgent and again submitted a memorial urging his case. The Lord of Hanzhong followed Qiao Zhou's counsel. He was about to go out to surrender when suddenly a man emerged from behind the screen, rebuking Qiao Zhou in a stern voice: "You cowardly, rotten scholar! How dare you speak recklessly on a matter of such consequence to the state! Since ancient times, has there ever been a Son of Heaven who surrendered?" The Lord of Hanzhong looked and saw that it was his fifth son, Liu Chen, Prince of Beidi.

The Lord of Hanzhong had seven sons: the eldest, Liu Xuan; the second, Liu Yao; the third, Liu Cong; the fourth, Liu Zan; the fifth was Liu Chen, Prince of Beidi; the sixth, Liu Xun; and the seventh, Liu Qu. Of the seven sons, only Liu Chen had been intelligent from childhood, surpassing others in keenness and ability; the rest were gentle and weak.

The Lord of Hanzhong said to Chen: "Now all the ministers have resolved that we should surrender. Do you alone, relying on the courage of your blood, wish to bring bloodshed upon the entire city?"

Chen replied: "In the past, when the Former Emperor was alive, Qiao Zhou never involved himself in matters of state. Now he recklessly discourses on a great matter and gives rise to disorderly words—this is most unreasonable. Your subject estimates that the troops in Chengdu still number in the tens of thousands. Jiang Wei's entire army is at Jiange. If he learns that the Wei troops have invaded the capital, he will surely come to the rescue. Attacking from within and without, we may achieve total victory. How can we listen to the words of a rotten scholar and lightly abandon the foundation laid by the Former Emperor?"

The Lord of Hanzhong rebuked him: "You are a child—how can you understand the times?"

Liu Chen knocked his head to the ground and wept: "If our strength is exhausted and disaster is at hand, then we, father and son, ruler and ministers, should fight one last battle before the city walls, die together for the state, and thus be able to face the Former Emperor. How can we surrender?"

The Lord of Hanzhong would not listen. Liu Chen cried out with a great cry: "The Former Emperor did not easily establish this foundation. Now that it is to be cast away in a single day, I would rather die than suffer this humiliation!"

The Lord of Hanzhong ordered his attendants to escort Chen out of the palace. He then commanded Qiao Zhou to draft the letter of surrender, and sent Zhang Shao, Palace Attendant of the Privy Establishment, and Deng Liang, Commandant of the Imperial Escort, together with Qiao Zhou, bearing the imperial seal, to Lucheng to beg for terms.

Now Deng Ai had been sending several hundred armored cavalry each day to reconnoiter Chengdu. When he saw the surrender banner raised that day, he was overjoyed. Before long, Zhang Shao and the others arrived. Deng Ai had them ushered in. The three men prostrated themselves at the foot of the steps and presented the articles of surrender and the imperial seal. Deng Ai opened the letter of read it, and was greatly pleased. He accepted the imperial seal and treated Zhang Shao, Qiao Zhou, and Deng Liang with great honor. Deng Ai composed a reply and gave it to the three men to carry back to Chengdu to reassure the people.

The three men took their leave of Deng Ai and went straight back to Chengdu. They had an audience with the Lord of Hanzhong, presented the reply letter, and spoke in detail of the generous treatment Deng Ai had shown them. The Lord of Hanzhong broke the seal, read the letter, and was greatly pleased. He immediately sent Jiang Xian, the Grand Coachman, with an imperial edict ordering Jiang Wei to surrender at once. He also sent Li Hu, a Gentleman of the Secretariat, to deliver the official registers to Deng Ai. The registers showed: 280,000 households; 940,000 men and women; 102,000 armored soldiers; 40,000 officials; over 400,000 piculs of grain in store; 3,000 catties of gold and silver; 200,000 bolts each of brocade, silk, and colored cloth. Other stores in the treasury were too numerous to enumerate in full.

They chose the first day of the twelfth month for the ruler and his ministers to go out and surrender.

When Liu Chen, Prince of Beidi, learned of this, his wrath rose to the heavens. He took up a sword and entered the palace. His wife, Lady Cui, asked: "Your Highness, why is your countenance so changed today?" Chen replied: "The Wei troops are approaching. My father the emperor has already accepted the terms of surrender. Tomorrow the ruler and his ministers will go out to surrender, and the state will be annihilated from this day forth. I wish to die first, so that I may face the Former Emperor beneath the ground, and not bend my knee to others!"

Lady Cui said: "How noble! How noble! You have found the right way to die. I ask permission to die first—Your Highness may follow later." Chen said: "Why should you die?" Lady Cui said: "Your Highness dies for his father; I die for my husband—the principle is the same. When the husband perishes, the wife dies. Why must you ask?" With that, she dashed her head against a pillar and died.

Liu Chen then slew his three sons, cut off his wife's head, and carried them to the Temple of the Illustrious Emperor. He prostrated himself on the ground and wept: "Your servant is ashamed to see the foundation cast away to another. Therefore I have first slain my wife and children, to sever all lingering attachment, and will now offer my life in recompense to my ancestors! If my ancestors have spirits, let them know the heart of their grandson!" He wept a great while, blood flowing from his eyes, and cut his own throat.

When the people of Shu heard of this, there was none who did not grieve. A later poet praised him:

The ruler and his ministers were content to bend their knees,

Yet one son alone grieved with sorrow.

Gone are the affairs of Xichuan,

How heroic was the Prince of Beidi!

He gave his life to repay his illustrious ancestor,

Tearing his hair and weeping to the vast sky.

Stern and awe-inspiring, he seems still among us—

Who then can say that Han has perished?

The Lord of Hanzhong, upon learning that the Prince of Beidi had cut his throat, ordered that he be buried.

The next day, the Wei army arrived in force. The Lord of Hanzhong led the crown prince and the other princes, together with more than sixty ministers, with their hands bound and carrying a coffin, going out ten li from the northern gate to surrender. Deng Ai raised the Lord of Hanzhong up, personally loosed his bonds, burned the coffin, and entered the city together with him in the same carriage.

A later poet lamented:

Tens of thousands of Wei soldiers came into Shu,

Yet the Lord of Hanzhong clung to life and lost the chance to die with honor.

Huang Hao in the end preserved his intent to deceive the state;

Jiang Wei in vain possessed the talent to save the age.

How fierce were the hearts of the wholly loyal and righteous,

How pitiable the resolve of the prince who kept his integrity.

The Illustrious Emperor's labors of founding were not easily won—

In a single morning, his life's work was reduced to ashes.

Thereupon the people of Chengdu all brought incense and flowers to welcome them. Deng Ai invested the Latter Lord as General of Swift Cavalry, and the other civil and military officials were each appointed to posts according to their merits. He requested the Latter Lord to return to the palace, issued proclamations to pacify the people, and took over the treasuries and storehouses. He then ordered Zhang Jun, the Minister of Ceremonies, and Zhang Shaoyi, the Assistant Governor of Yizhou, to reassure the soldiers and civilians of all the prefectures. He also sent men to persuade Jiang Wei to surrender. Meanwhile, he dispatched a messenger to Luoyang to report the victory. Deng Ai, learning of Huang Hao's treachery and wickedness, wished to execute him. But Huang Hao bribed Deng Ai's attendants with gold and treasure, and thus escaped. From this point, the Han dynasty was no more. Later generations, lamenting the fall of Han, composed this poem in remembrance of the Martial Lord:

Even apes and birds knew to revere written decrees,

And the winds and clouds should have guarded the royal ramparts.

In vain the great general wielded his inspired brush—

At last the captive prince was seen riding in the envoy's carriage.

Guan Zhong and Yue Yi's talents were truly matched,

But what could be done when Guan Yu and Zhang Fei met their doom?

Years hence, passing the temple on Brocade Lane,

The Liangfu Chant is finished, yet sorrow remains unending!

Now let us speak of Jiang Xian, the Grand Coachman, who arrived at the Sword Pass and entered to see Jiang Wei, conveying the Latter Lord's imperial command regarding the matter of surrender. Jiang Wei was struck dumb with shock. The officers under his command, upon hearing the news, were all filled with resentment. They gnashed their teeth, glared in fury, their hair and beards bristling, and drawing their swords they hacked at the stones, shouting: "We fought to the death—why did he surrender first?" Their wailing and weeping could be heard for dozens of li. Jiang Wei, seeing that the hearts of the people still yearned for Han, comforted them with kind words: "Have no fear, my officers. I have a plan that can restore the House of Han." The officers begged to know it. Jiang Wei whispered his strategy into their ears. At once he ordered the lowering of surrender flags throughout the Sword Pass fortress, and sent a man forward to report to Zhong Hui's camp, saying that Jiang Wei was leading Zhang Yi, Liao Hua, and Dong Jue to surrender. Zhong Hui was overjoyed and sent men to welcome Jiang Wei into his tent. Zhong Hui said, "Boyue, why did you take so long to come?" Jiang Wei, with a solemn countenance, wept and said: "The entire armed forces of the state were in my hands. That I have come to this point today is, in truth, rather swift." Zhong Hui found this most remarkable. He descended from his seat, bowed to Jiang Wei, and treated him as an honored guest. Jiang Wei said to Zhong Hui: "I have heard that since the campaign in Huainan, the General has left no plan uncalculated. The rise of the Sima clan has been entirely due to the General's efforts. It is for this reason that I willingly bow my head. As for Deng Zairu, I would have fought him to the death. How could I have surrendered to him?" Zhong Hui thereupon snapped an arrow in pledge, swore brotherhood with Jiang Wei, and treated him with the greatest affection, still allowing him to command his former troops as before. Jiang Wei was secretly delighted and sent Jiang Xian back to Chengdu.

Now let us speak of Deng Ai, who appointed Shi Zhan as Governor of Yizhou, and assigned Qian Hong, Wang Qi, and others to govern the various prefectures and districts. He also erected a platform at Mianzhu to commemorate his achievements, and there hosted a grand banquet for all the officials of Shu. When the wine had flowed freely, Deng Ai pointed at the assembled officials and said: "You are fortunate to have met me—that is why you are here today. Had you encountered another general, you would all have been annihilated." Many officials rose and bowed in thanks. Suddenly Jiang Xian arrived and reported that Jiang Wei had surrendered to the Town-West General Zhong Hui. Deng Ai thereupon bore a deep grudge against Zhong Hui and wrote a letter, sending a messenger to deliver it to Sima Zhao, the Duke of Jin, in Luoyang. Sima Zhao read the letter, which said:

Your servant Deng Ai observes that in warfare, there is first the display of force and then the application of substance. Now, taking advantage of the momentum gained in pacifying Shu to strike Wu would be the moment for a sweeping conquest. However, after such a great campaign, the officers and soldiers are exhausted and cannot be deployed immediately. It would be fitting to retain two hundred thousand troops from Longyou and two hundred thousand Shu troops to boil salt, operate forges, and build ships in preparation for a downstream advance. Then envoys should be dispatched to lay out the advantages and disadvantages, and Wu could be subdued without a campaign. Moreover, by treating Liu Shan generously and thereby influencing Sun Xiu, if Liu Shan is sent directly to the capital, the people of Wu will become suspicious, which would discourage their inclination to submit. It would be better to keep him in Shu for now, to arrive at the capital only in the winter months of the coming year. For the present, Liu Shan could be enfeoffed as Prince of Fufeng, granted wealth and provisions for his household, and his sons given titles as dukes or ministers to demonstrate the honor accorded to those who submit. Then the people of Wu, both awed by our power and moved by our virtue, would follow our lead with the wind.

When Sima Zhao had finished reading, he deeply suspected Deng Ai of acting on his own authority. He therefore first sent a personal letter to Wei Guan, and then issued an imperial edict investing Deng Ai as follows:

General of the Western Expedition Deng Ai has displayed might and roused martial courage, penetrating deep into enemy territory, causing the presumptuous ruler to bind his neck and submit. The campaign did not exceed its time, the battle did not last a single day; like clouds rolling up a mat, like the wind sweeping a mat, he swept away and pacified Ba and Shu. Even Bai Qi's crushing of mighty Chu and Han Xin's conquest of powerful Zhao cannot match this achievement. Let Deng Ai be appointed Grand Commandant, with an increase of twenty thousand households to his fief, and let two of his sons be made Marquises of the Township, each receiving a fief of one thousand households.

When Deng Ai had received the edict, the Army Supervisor Wei Guan produced Sima Zhao's personal letter for Deng Ai to read. The letter stated that all matters Deng Ai had proposed must await imperial approval and could not be carried out on his own authority. Deng Ai said: "'When a general is in the field, he may decline certain commands from his sovereign.' Since I have received the imperial commission to conduct this campaign independently, how can I be obstructed?" He thereupon wrote another letter and sent the messenger back to Luoyang with it. At court, everyone said that Deng Ai surely harbored rebellious intentions, and Sima Zhao's suspicions grew even deeper. Suddenly the messenger returned, presenting Deng Ai's letter. Sima Zhao broke the seal and read it:

Deng Ai, having received his mandate to campaign in the west, has brought the chief culprit to submission. He should be empowered to act as circumstances require in order to reassure the newly submissive. If he were to await the commands of the court, the back-and-forth along the roads would waste months and days. According to the principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals, when a minister is beyond the borders, he may act on his own authority if it can secure the altars of soil and grain and benefit the state. Now Wu has not yet submitted, and its situation is linked with Shu. One cannot adhere to convention and miss the opportunity for action. As the Art of War says: 'Advance without seeking glory, retreat without avoiding blame.' Although Deng Ai may not possess the integrity of the ancients, he will never act to the detriment of the state. He submits this statement in advance and requests permission to proceed.

When Sima Zhao finished reading, he was greatly alarmed. Hastily he consulted with Jia Chong, saying: "Deng Ai, relying on his achievements, acts with arrogance and does as he pleases. The signs of rebellion are plain. What shall we do?" Jia Chong said: "Why does my lord not invest Zhong Hui to check him?" Sima Zhao followed this counsel and sent an envoy with an edict investing Zhong Hui as Marshal, and at the same time ordered Wei Guan to supervise both armies. He gave Wei Guan a personal letter instructing him to work with Zhong Hui to watch Deng Ai and guard against any treachery. Zhong Hui received and read the edict, which said:

The Town-West General Zhong Hui has marched against all without defeat, and before him no strong force could stand. He has brought numerous cities under his command and gathered in all who had fled. The great leaders of Shu have bound themselves and submitted. In his planning nothing has been overlooked; in his actions nothing has failed. Let Zhong Hui be appointed Minister over the Masses, advanced to the rank of District Marquis, with an increase of ten thousand households to his fief, and let two of his sons be made Marquises of the Township, each receiving a fief of one thousand households.

After Zhong Hui received his enfeoffment, he at once summoned Jiang Wei to discuss the matter. He said, "Deng Ai's achievements surpass mine, and he has been appointed Grand Commandant. Now the Duke of Jin suspects Deng Ai of rebellious intentions, so he has appointed Wei Guan as Army Supervisor and issued an edict ordering me to control him. What noble counsel does Boyue offer?"

Jiang Wei replied, "I have heard that Deng Ai came from humble origins—in his youth he tended cattle for a farming household. That he now had the good fortune to advance by way of the Yinping back roads, scaling trees and cliffs, and accomplish this great feat—it was not due to any brilliant stratagem. He relied entirely on the vast fortune of the state. If not for you, General, and myself facing each other at Jiange, how could Deng Ai have achieved this success? Now the court intends to enfeoff the Lord of Shu as Prince of Fufeng, which is a grand gesture to win the hearts of the people of Shu. His rebellious intentions are plain to see without saying a word. The Duke of Jin's suspicion is justified."

Zhong Hui praised his words deeply. Jiang Wei then said, "Please dismiss your attendants. I have a matter to confide to you in secret." Zhong Hui ordered all his attendants to withdraw. Jiang Wei drew a map from his sleeve and presented it to Zhong Hui, saying, "In the former days, when the Martial Lord left his thatched cottage, he presented this map to the Former Lord, saying: 'The land of Yizhou—a thousand leagues of fertile fields, with a wealthy and prosperous populace—may serve as the foundation for a hegemon's enterprise.' The Former Lord therefore founded his capital at Chengdu. Now that Deng Ai has reached this place, is it any wonder that he has grown arrogant?"

Zhong Hui was greatly delighted and pointed to the map to ask about the mountain and river configurations. Jiang Wei explained them one by one. Zhong Hui then asked, "By what stratagem should we eliminate Deng Ai?"

Jiang Wei said, "Seizing upon the Duke of Jin's suspicion and distrust, you should submit a memorial at once, detailing Deng Ai's rebellious conduct. The Duke of Jin will surely order you to campaign against him, and with a single stroke you may capture him."

Zhong Hui followed this advice and at once dispatched a man to carry a memorial to Luoyang, stating that Deng Ai wielded authority in an arbitrary manner, curried favor with the people of Shu, and would surely rebel before long. Thereupon, all the civil and military officials in the court were thrown into consternation. Zhong Hui also sent men to intercept Deng Ai's memorial along the road, and following Deng Ai's calligraphic style, rewrote it with arrogant language to substantiate his own claims.

When Sima Zhao read Deng Ai's memorial, he flew into a great rage and at once sent men to Zhong Hui's camp, ordering Zhong Hui to arrest Deng Ai. He also dispatched Jia Chong at the head of thirty thousand troops into Xie Valley, while Zhao himself, together with the Wei ruler Cao Huan, took the imperial carriage and led the expedition in person. The Western Bureau Officer Shao Ti remonstrated, saying, "Zhong Hui's forces outnumber Deng Ai's sixfold. Ordering Zhong Hui alone to arrest Deng Ai is more than sufficient. Why must Your Excellency go in person?"

Sima Zhao smiled and said, "Have you forgotten your former words? You once said that Zhong Hui would certainly rebel afterward. My purpose in making this expedition is not on account of Deng Ai—it is truly on account of Zhong Hui."

Shao Ti smiled and said, "I feared that Your Excellency might have forgotten, and so I asked. Now that you have this intention, you must keep it absolutely secret—it must not leak out."

Sima Zao approved his words and thereupon set out at the head of a great army. Meanwhile, Jia Chong also suspected that Zhong Hui might cause trouble and secretly informed Sima Zhao. Zhao said, "If I were to send you, would I then suspect you as well? When we reach Chang'an, the matter will become clear on its own."

A spy had already reported to Zhong Hui, telling him that Sima Zhao had arrived at Chang'an. Zhong Hui, thrown into a panic, hastily summoned Jiang Wei to discuss a strategy for arresting Deng Ai. Truly it was:

*Just now the western Shu rebels were subdued,*

*And now great armies stir at Chang'an.*

What stratagem Jiang Wei employed to defeat Deng Ai shall be told in the next chapter.