Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Now when Han Dang and Zhou Tai learned that the First Lord had moved his camp to a cooler place, they quickly reported this to Lu Xun. Lu Xun was overjoyed and led his troops to observe the situation himself. He saw only a single encampment on level ground, containing fewer than ten thousand men, most of them old and weak, flying a large banner reading "Vanguard Wu Ban." Zhou Tai said, "I regard these troops as child's play. I beg to divide forces with General Han and attack from two routes. If we fail, I will accept full military punishment." Lu Xun observed for a long while, then pointed with his whip and said, "In the valley ahead, I can discern a faint killing spirit rising. There must be an ambush below. They have placed these weak troops on level ground to lure us. You must not sortie." The generals who heard this all thought him a coward.

The next day, Wu Ban led his troops to the pass to provoke battle, parading his strength, hurling insults without cease. Many of his men stripped off their armor and went about naked, some sleeping, some sitting. Xu Sheng and Ding Feng entered Lu Xun's tent and reported, "The Shu soldiers have insulted us beyond bearing! We beg to go out and strike them." Lu Xun smiled and say, "You rely only on the courage of hot blood and know nothing of Sun Wu's art of war. This is their stratagem to lure an enemy: in three days their deception will be revealed." Xu Sheng said, "In three days they will have finished moving their camp. How then can we attack them?" Lu Xun said, "I precisely want them to move their camp." The generals left with mocking smiles.

Three days later, Lu Xun assembled the generals on the pass to observe. They saw that Wu Ban's troops had withdrawn. Lu Xun pointed and said, "The killing spirit is rising. Liu Bei will surely emerge from the valley." Before he finished speaking, they saw the Shu soldiers, fully armed and equipped, escorting the First Lord through. When the Wu soldiers saw this, they were all terrified. Lu Xun said, "The reason I would not let you gentlemen attack Wu Ban was precisely this. Now the ambush has emerged. Within ten days, Shu will be destroyed." The generals all said, "We should have destroyed Shu at the beginning. Now they have camps stretching five or six hundred li, and we have faced each other for seven or eight months. All their strategic points are firmly defended. How can we destroy them?" Lu Xun said, "You gentlemen do not understand the art of war. Bei is a villain-hero of the age, with considerable cunning. When his forces first assembled, his discipline was precise and his focus sharp. But having defended for so long, finding no advantage for themselves, his troops are weary and their spirits blocked. Now is precisely the moment to take him." Only then did the generals sigh in admiration. A later poet praised the occasion:

In the tiger-hide tent, he discussed warfare by the Six Secret Teachings,

Arranging fragrant bait to hook the whale-like foe.

The Three Parts have no shortage of heroes,

And now Lu Xun of the Southlands shines the higher.

Now Lu Xun had already settled his strategy for destroying Shu. He therefore drafted a letter and sent a messenger to report to Sun Quan, saying that Shu would be destroyed within days. When Sun Quan had read it, he was overjoyed and said, "The riverlands have produced such an extraordinary man as this. What have I to fear? All my generals wrote to me calling him a coward, but I alone did not believe it. Now I see from his letter that he is indeed no coward." Thereupon he raised a great Wu army to reinforce him.

Meanwhile, the First Lord, at Xiaoting, had driven all his naval forces downstream, establishing water camps along the river and advancing deep into Wu territory. Huang Quan remonstrated, "The navy advances downstream along the river. To go forward is easy; to retreat is difficult. I beg to serve as the vanguard. Your Majesty should remain in the rear formation, so that there may be no mishap." The First Lord said, "The Wu bandits are cowed. I will advance with a great drive. What obstacle is there?" The officials remonstrated bitterly, but the First Lord did not heed them. He therefore divided his forces into two routes: he ordered Huang Quan to command the northern troops to guard against Wei, while the First Lord himself commanded the southern armies, dividing camps on both sides of the river, planning to advance. Spies learned of this and reported overnight to the Wei ruler, saying that the Shu army, attacking Wu, had built stockades and linked camps stretching over seven hundred li, divided into more than forty encampments, all set among the mountain forests. Now Huang Quan commanded troops on the northern bank, sending out patrols over a hundred li each day, and they did not know what his intention was.

When the Wei ruler heard this, he looked up and laughed. "Liu Bei will be defeated." The assembled ministers asked the reason. The Wei ruler said, "Liu Xuande does not understand the art of war. How can one resist an enemy with camps stretching seven hundred li? To encamp in low-lying and obstructed terrain is a great taboo in military strategy. Xuande will surely be defeated by Lu Xun of Eastern Wu. Within ten days, the news will arrive." The ministers were still unconvinced and all requested that troops be dispatched to prepare. The Wei ruler said, "If Lu Xun prevails, he will surely lead all the Eastern Wu armies to take Xichuan. With the Wu forces far away, their state will be empty. I will pretend to send troops to aid them, and then all three routes will advance together. Eastern Wu will be taken with ease." All bowed in admiration. The Wei ruler issued orders: Cao Ren was to lead one army out of Ruxu, Cao Xiu was to lead one army out of Dongkou, and Cao Zhen was to lead one army out of Nanjun. "The three armies will assemble on a set date and secretly attack Eastern Wu. I will follow afterward to reinforce them." The dispositions were made.

Let not the Wei army's attack on Wu be recounted here. Turning instead to Ma Liang, who had arrived at Shu, he entered to see Zhuge Liang and presented the map, saying, "The camps have now been moved to straddle the river in a continuous line of seven hundred li, with over forty camps established, all situated beside streams and gullies amid lush forests and dense woods. His Majesty commanded me to bring this map for the Prime Minister to examine." When Zhuge Liang had finished looking at it, he struck the table and cried out in distress, "Who advised His Majesty to encamp in such a fashion? That man should be beheaded!" Ma Liang said, "His Majesty arranged it himself; it was no one else's counsel." Zhuge Liang sighed, "The fortunes of the Han are exhausted!" Ma Liang asked why. Zhuge Liang said, "To encamp across plains, marshes, and difficult terrain in one continuous line—this is a great taboo in the art of war. Should the enemy use fire, how could we respond? Moreover, how can a connected camp of seven hundred li resist an enemy? Disaster is not far off! Lu Xun's strategy of holding fast and not engaging is precisely for this reason. You must go at once to see the Son of Heaven and have the camps relocated—they cannot remain like this." Ma Liang said, "But what if the Wu army has already won?" Zhuge Liang said, "Lu Xun dare not pursue; Chengdu is safe." Ma Liang asked, "Why would he not pursue?" Zhuge Liang said, "He fears the Wei army will attack his rear. If His Majesty should be imperiled, he should take refuge at Baidicheng. When I entered the Shu region, I already concealed a hundred thousand troops at Yufupu." Ma Liang was greatly astonished, saying, "I have passed through Yufupu several times and never saw a single soldier. Why does the Prime Minister speak such falsehoods?" Zhuge Liang said, "You will certainly see them later—do not trouble yourself to ask further." Ma Liang requested an imperial memorial and hastened to the emperor's camp. Zhuge Liang returned to Chengdu himself and dispatched troops as reinforcements.

Turning now to Lu Xun, he observed that the Shu soldiers had grown negligent and were no longer maintaining defenses. He ascended the command tent and assembled the officers of all ranks, saying, "Since I received my command, I have not yet engaged in battle. Now I have observed the Shu forces and know their every move. I therefore wish to first capture one camp on the south bank. Who dares to undertake this?" Before he had finished speaking, Han Dang, Zhou Tai, and Ling Tong stepped forward, crying, "We are willing to go." Lu Xun dismissed them all and instead called out a lesser officer standing at the foot of the steps, Chunyu Dan, saying, "I give you five thousand men to capture the fourth camp on the south bank, which is defended by the Shu general Fu Tong. You must succeed tonight. I shall lead troops to support you." Chunyu Dan led his forces away. Lu Xun then called Xu Sheng and Ding Feng, saying, "Each of you take three thousand men and encamp five li outside our camp. If Chunyu Dan returns in defeat with enemy troops pursuing, you are to sally forth to rescue him—but under no circumstances are you to pursue." The two generals went off with their troops.

Chunyu Dan advanced with his army at dusk. By the time they reached the Shu camp, it was already the third watch of the night. Chunyu Dan ordered his men to raise a great shout and charge in. From within the Shu camp, Fu Tong led his forces out and leveled his spear straight at Chunyu Dan. Chunyu Dan could not withstand him and turned his horse to flee. Suddenly a great clamor arose, and a detachment blocked the road ahead, with the general Zhao Rong at its head. Chunyu Dan fought his way through, losing more than half his men. As he fled, a force of barbarian troops from behind the hills blocked his path, led by the tribal chief Shamoke. Chunyu Dan fought desperately and escaped, with enemy forces in pursuit from three directions. When he was five li from the camp, the Wu generals Xu Sheng and Ding Feng attacked from two sides, the Shu forces withdrew, and Chunyu Dan was rescued and brought back to camp. Chunyu Dan entered to see Lu Xun with an arrow still in him and begged punishment. Lu Xun said, "This is not your fault. I wished to test the enemy's strengths and weaknesses. My plan to destroy the Shu army is now settled." Xu Sheng and Ding Feng said, "The Shu forces are too powerful to defeat; we would only waste men and officers in vain." Lu Xun smiled and said, "This stratagem of mine would not fool Zhuge Liang. By Heaven's blessing, he is not present—allowing me to achieve great merit." He then assembled all the officers and issued his orders: Zhu Ran was to advance by water; the following day in the afternoon, a strong southeast wind would rise, and the boats loaded with straw were to proceed according to plan. Han Dang was to lead one force against the north bank, and Zhou Tai one force against the south bank. Each soldier was to carry a bundle of straw containing sulfur and saltpeter within, along with fire-starting materials and weapons. They were all to advance together, and upon reaching the Shu camps, set the fires with the wind at their backs. Of the Shu's forty camps, only twenty would be burned—every other camp would be set alight. Each unit was to carry dry rations and was forbidden to retreat. They were to pursue day and night and not stop until Liu Bei himself had been captured. The generals received their orders and departed.

Turning now to the First Ruler, who was in his imperial camp pondering how to defeat Wu, he suddenly noticed that the command flags and banners before his tent had fallen of their own accord though there was no wind. He asked Cheng Ji, "What omen is this?" Cheng Ji said, "Could it be that Wu troops will raid our camp tonight?" The First Ruler said, "We slaughtered them all yesterday—how would they dare return?" Cheng Ji said, "What if Lu Xun is testing us?" Even as they spoke, a report came that from the hilltop, Wu troops could be seen in the distance moving along the mountain toward the east. The First Ruler said, "These are diversionary troops." He ordered the army to remain still and sent Guan Xing and Zhang Bao each with five hundred cavalry to patrol. At dusk, Guan Xiang returned and reported, "Fire has broken out in the camp on the north bank." The First Ruler hastily ordered Guan Xing to the north bank and Zhang Bao to the south bank to investigate the situation. "If the Wu troops arrive," he said, "report back at once."

The two generals received their orders and departed. By the first watch, a sudden southeastern wind arose in gusts. Then fire was seen breaking out in the left encampment of the imperial camp. Just as they were about to respond, the right encampment also caught fire. The wind was fierce and the flames spread swiftly, igniting even the trees. The shouting shook the earth. The troops from both encampments rushed out, fleeing away from the imperial camp. The imperial army trampled one another, and the dead were beyond counting. Behind them, the Wu forces arrived, their numbers unknown.

The First Lord hastily mounted his horse and rode toward Feng Xi's camp, only to find it ablaze with flames reaching skyward. South and north of the river, everything was illuminated as bright as daylight. Feng Xi, in a panic, mounted his horse and fled with several dozen horsemen, where he encountered the Wu general Xu Sheng's forces head-on and engaged in combat. Seeing this, the First Lord turned his horse and fled westward. Xu Sheng abandoned Feng Xi and led his troops in pursuit. As the First Lord was in a state of alarm, an army blocked the road ahead—it was the Wu general Ding Feng. Attacked from both sides, the Lord was greatly alarmed. With no way out on any side, suddenly a great clamor arose, and a force fought its way into the encirclement—it was Zhang Bao, who rescued the Lord and led the Imperial Guard in their flight.

As they proceeded, another army appeared ahead—it was the Shu general Fu Tong. The two forces joined together and continued their retreat. The Wu troops pressed close behind. The Lord reached a mountain ahead, called Ma'an Mountain. Zhang Bao and Fu Tong urged the Lord to ascend. But as he reached the summit, shouts erupted below: Lu Xun's main force had surrounded Ma'an Mountain. Zhang Bao and Fu Tong held the mountain pass. Gazing into the distance, the Lord saw fires stretching endlessly across the wilderness, and corpses piled upon one another, floating down the river.

The next day, the Wu forces set fires all around the mountain on every side. The soldiers scattered in confusion, and the Lord was seized with panic. Suddenly, amid the flames, a general led several horsemen in a charge up the mountain. It was Guan Xing. He dismounted and kneeled, saying: "The fires are closing in from all sides—we cannot linger. Your Majesty must hasten to Baidicheng, where you can regroup the troops."

The Lord asked: "Who will hold the rear?"

Fu Tong stepped forward and said: "I am willing to hold it with my life!"

That evening, Guan Xing took the lead, Zhang Bao guarded the center, Fu Tong was left to hold the rear, and the Lord was escorted down the mountain. Seeing the Lord in flight, the Wu forces all sought to claim merit, each leading great armies that covered the sky and earth in pursuit westward. The Lord ordered his soldiers to strip off their armor and robes, pile them across the road, and set them ablaze to block the pursuing army. As they fled, a great shout arose—the Wu general Zhu Ran led a force charging from along the riverbank, cutting off the road ahead.

The Lord cried: "I shall die here!"

Guan Xing and Zhang Bao spurred their horses to break through, but were driven back by a hail of arrows, both suffering severe wounds and unable to fight their way out. Then another shout rose behind them: Lu Xun led his main force charging out of the valley.

As the Lord was in the utmost alarm, the sky had just begun to brighten. Ahead, a tremendous shout shook the heavens, and Zhu Ran's soldiers were tumbling into ravines and plunging from cliffs. A force burst through to come to the rescue. The Lord was overjoyed. It was Zhao Zilong of Changshan.

At the time, Zhao Yun was in Jiangzhou in the region of Chuan. Having heard that Wu and Shu were at war, he had led his troops out. Suddenly he saw flames shooting skyward across the southeast, and his heart was filled with alarm. From afar he investigated, and to his dismay found the Lord surrounded. Zhao Yun fought his way forward with valor. Upon learning it was Zhao Yun, Lu Xun suddenly ordered his troops to withdraw. As Zhao Yun was pressing the attack, he encountered Zhu Ran and engaged him. In a single exchange, Zhao Yun pierced Zhu Ran with his spear, unhorsing him, scattered the Wu soldiers, rescued the Lord, and made for Baidicheng.

The Lord said: "Though I have escaped, what of all our officers and men?"

Zhao Yun replied: "The enemy is behind us—we cannot delay. Your Majesty must enter Baidicheng to rest while I lead troops to rescue the others."

At this point, the Lord entered Baidicheng with barely a hundred men. A later poet praised Lu Xun, saying:

With blazing torches, the linked camps were shattered;

Lord Xuan fled in desperation to Baidicheng.

Once his awesome fame startled both Shu and Wei,

How could the King of Wu not honor this scholar?

Now, Fu Tong had been left to hold the rear and was surrounded by Wu forces on all eight sides. Ding Feng shouted loudly: "Countless Shu soldiers have died, and even more have surrendered. Your lord Liu Bei has already been captured. You are now exhausted and alone—why not surrender early?"

Fu Tong rebuked him: "I am a general of Han—how could I surrender to the dogs of Wu!" He leveled his spear, spurred his horse, and led the Shu forces in a desperate fight. After more than a hundred exchanges, charging to and fro, he could not break free. Fu Tong let out a long sigh: "This is my end!" With these words, blood poured from his mouth, and he died amid the Wu army. A later poet praised Fu Tong, saying:

At Yiling, Wu and Shu met in mighty battle;

Lu Xun's strategy brought fire's devastation.

To his death he cursed the Wu dogs—

Fu Tong was worthy of a Han general.

The Shu libationer of the Imperial Academy, Cheng Ji, rode alone to the riverbank and called upon the naval forces to engage the enemy. The Wu troops pursued close behind, and the naval forces scattered in flight. Cheng Ji's lieutenant cried out: "The Wu soldiers are upon us! Master Cheng, make haste and flee!"

Cheng Ji said angrily: "Ever since I followed the Lord on this campaign, I have never fled from the enemy!" Before he had finished speaking, the Wu forces arrived suddenly. With no escape on any side, Cheng Ji drew his sword and took his own life. A later poet praised him, saying:

The steadfast Cheng Ji of Shu,

Answered his lord with a single sword.

In mortal peril he did not alter his lifelong resolve,

And won a name that shall be fragrant through the ages.

Wu Ban and Zhang Nan had long besieged Yiling, when Feng Xi arrived with word that the Shu forces had been defeated. They led their troops to rescue the Lord, and Sun Huan was then able to escape. As Zhang and Feng were marching, Wu forces attacked from ahead, while Sun Huan sallied out from Yiling behind them. Caught between two forces, Zhang Nan and Feng Xi fought desperately but could not break free, and died amid the chaos of battle. A later poet praised them, saying:

Fu Tong's loyalty was without peer;

Zhang Nan's righteousness had no equal.

On the battlefield they gladly gave their lives;

In the histories, their names shine together in glory.

Wu Ban fought his way out of the encirclement, only to be pursued by Wu troops. Fortunately, he was met by Zhao Yun, who rescued him and brought him back to Baidicheng. At that time, the barbarian king Shamo Ko fled on horseback alone and encountered Zhou Tai. They fought for over twenty rounds before Zhou Tai killed him. The Shu generals Du Lu and Liu Ning all surrendered to Wu. All the provisions, equipment, and armaments of the Shu camps were entirely lost, not a single item remaining. Countless Shu soldiers and troops from the Sichuan region surrendered. At that time, Lady Sun was in Wu. Upon hearing of the defeat at Xiaoting, and the rumor that the First Emperor had died in battle, she drove her carriage to the riverbank, faced west, wept from afar, and threw herself into the river, dying. Later generations built a temple by the river in her honor, called the Shrine of the Heroine. A poet of later times wrote a poem lamenting her:

The First Emperor's troops returned to Baidicheng,

The Lady alone gave her life upon hearing of the calamity.

To this day a monument stands by the riverbank,

Forever preserving her name as a woman of valor for a thousand ages.

Now it must be told that Lu Xun had won a great victory and led his triumphant troops westward in pursuit. When they were not far from Kui Pass, Lu Xun, while on horseback, saw ahead a mass of killing force rising to the sky where mountains met the river. He reined in his horse and turned back to his generals saying, "There must be an ambush ahead. The three armies must not advance lightly." He immediately retreated over ten li and arranged his troops in battle formation on open ground to defend against the enemy. He then sent out scouts to investigate. They reported that no troops were stationed there. Lu Xun did not believe them. He dismounted and climbed a hill to survey the area, and the killing force rose again. Lu Xun sent men to investigate more carefully. The scouts returned and reported that there was not a single man or horse ahead. As the sun was setting and the killing force grew stronger, Lu Xun hesitated in his heart and ordered trusted men to go investigate once more. They returned and reported that there were only eighty or ninety piles of jumbled stones by the riverbank, with no men or horses. Lu Xun was greatly puzzled and asked a local man the name of the place. After a while, several men came. Lu Xun asked, "Who piled these stones in heaps? How is it that killing force rises from within these piles of stones?" The local man replied, "This place is called Yufu Pu. When Zhuge Liang entered the Sichuan region, he led troops here and arranged stones in a formation on the sandbank. Ever since, there has often been a force rising from within, like clouds."

Having heard this, Lu Xun mounted his horse and led several dozen cavalrymen to view the stone formation. He reined in on a hillside and saw that in all directions, on every side, there were gates and doorways. Lu Xun laughed and said, "This is merely a technique to delude people. What use could it have?" He then led several cavalrymen down the hillside and entered the stone formation to examine it. His generals said, "The day is growing late. Please return soon, Commander." Just as Lu Xun was about to exit the formation, suddenly a great wind rose. In an instant, flying sand and rolling stones covered the sky and earth. He saw strange rocks towering jaggedly like swords; sand stretched across and earth piled up, layered like mountains; the surging sound of the river was like the clashing of swords and drums. Lu Xun was greatly alarmed: "I have fallen into Zhuge's stratagem!" He was desperate to turn back, but there was no road by which to leave. Just as he was filled with alarm and doubt, he suddenly saw an old man standing before his horse, smiling. "Would the general like to exit this formation?" he asked. Lu Xun said, "I would that you, elder, lead me out." The old man walked slowly with his cane, went straight through the stone formation without any hindrance, and escorted Lu Xun to the hillside. Lu Xun asked, "Who are you, elder?" The old man replied, "I am Huang Chengyan, father-in-law of Zhuge Kongming. When my younger son-in-law entered the Sichuan region, he laid out this stone formation here, called the 'Eight Formation Diagram.' It cycles through eight gates, following the dunjia principles of Rest, Life, Harm, Block, View, Death, Alarm, and Open. Every day and every hour, it changes without end—it can be compared to a hundred thousand elite soldiers. Before he left, he instructed me, saying: 'If later a great general of Eastern Wu becomes lost in this formation, do not lead him out.' I was just now on the cliff above and saw the general enter through the Death Gate. I reckoned that you did not understand this formation and would surely become lost in it. I have been a kind-hearted man all my life and could not bear to let the general be trapped here, so I特意 led you out through the Life Gate." Lu Xun asked, "Did you ever learn this formation method?" Huang Chengyan said, "Its changes are infinite—it cannot be learned." Lu Xun hastily dismounted, bowed his thanks, and returned. Later, the poet Du Fu wrote a poem:

His achievements covered the threefold division of the realm,

His fame was made by the Eight Formation Diagram.

The river flows, the stones stand unyielding,

His eternal regret: the failure to swallow Wu.

Lu Xun returned to his camp and sighed, saying, "Kongming is truly the 'Sleeping Dragon'! I cannot match him!" He thereupon ordered the army to withdraw. His attendants said, "Liu Bei's forces are defeated and his situation desperate; he is besieged in a single city. This would be the perfect time to strike him with full force. Why retreat now upon seeing the stone formation?" Lu Xun said, "I do not retreat out of fear of the stone formation. I have calculated that the Wei ruler Cao Pi is no less cunning than his father. Now that he knows I am pursuing the Shu troops, he will certainly take advantage of the opportunity to attack by surprise. If I were to press deep into Western Sichuan, it would be difficult to withdraw in haste." He then ordered one general to cover the rear, while Lu Xun led the main army back. Before they had retreated for two days, reports came swiftly from three directions: "The Wei general Cao Ren has moved out from Ruxu, Cao Xiu from Dongkong, and Cao Zhen from Nanjun—three columns of troops, several hundred thousand strong, reaching our borders by day and night. Their intentions are unknown." Lu Xun smiled and said, "This is no more than what I expected. I have already ordered troops to oppose them." Indeed:

His ambitious heart had just sought to swallow Western Shu,

But the path to victory still required defending against the northern court.

How the troops withdrew will be told in the next chapter.