Chapter 92

Chapter 92

Kongming led his army forward to Mianxian. Passing by Ma Chao's tomb, he ordered Ma Chao's younger brother Ma Dai to observe the mourning rites, and Kongming himself performed the sacrificial ceremony. When the rites were concluded, he returned to the camp and discussed plans for advancing. Suddenly a scout reported: "The Wei sovereign, Cao Rui, has dispatched the Imperial Son-in-Law Xiahou Mao to mobilize the various armies of Guanzhong to come and oppose us."

Wei Yan came forward to the command tent and presented a plan, saying, "Xiahou Mao is a milksop of a nobleman, weak and lacking in strategy. I beg to take five thousand elite troops, take the road out of Baozhong, follow east of the Qinling range, and head north through the Ziwu Valley. In no more than ten days, we can reach Chang'an. When Xiahou Mao hears that I have arrived suddenly, he will certainly abandon the city and flee toward the Dige and the Hengmen gates. I will then come from the east, while you, Prime Minister, can drive the main body of troops forward through the Xie Valley. If we proceed in this manner, everything west of Xianyang can be seized in one stroke."

Kongming smiled and said, "This is not a plan that guarantees complete success. You are deceiving yourself that there are no capable men in the Central Plains. Should someone advise them to set an ambush in the mountain passes and attack with troops, not only would the five thousand men suffer, but our fighting spirit would be greatly damaged. This plan must not be used."

Wei Yan said again, "If the Prime Minister advances by the main road, they will certainly mobilize all the forces of Guanzhong to meet us along the way. Then the campaign will drag on endlessly—when shall we ever conquer the Central Plains?"

Kongming said, "I shall follow the right side of Longyou by the broad, level road and advance according to proper military method. Why should I fear not winning?" And so he did not adopt Wei Yan's plan. Wei Yan left in sullen displeasure. Kongming dispatched orders for Zhao Yun to advance with his troops.

Meanwhile, Xiahou Mao was gathering the various armies at Chang'an. At this time there was a great Xiliang general named Han De, skilled in wielding a great mountain-splitting axe and possessed of the courage to stand against ten thousand men. He led eighty thousand troops of the various Qiang tribes to arrive and presented himself to Xiahou Mao. Mao rewarded him generously and appointed him as vanguard commander. Han De had four sons, all proficient in martial arts and surpassing others in archery and horsemanship: the eldest, Han Ying; the second, Han Yao; the third, Han Qiong; and the fourth, Han Qi. Han De, together with his four sons and the eighty thousand Qiang troops, took the road to Fenghuang Mountain, where they encountered the Shu army. The two forces drew up their battle lines.

Han De rode out, with his four sons drawn up on either side. Han De cried out in a thunderous voice: "Traitorous rebels, how dare you invade our territory!" Zhao Yun, filled with rage, leveled his spear and galloped forward, challenging Han De to single combat. The eldest son, Han Ying, spurred his horse forward to meet him. After no more than three exchanges, Zhao Yun drove his spear through Han Ying and slew him from his mount. The second son, Han Yao, seeing this, charged on horseback wielding his saber. Zhao Yun displayed the tiger-like ferocity of his earlier days and rallied his spirit to meet the fight. Han Yao could not withstand him. The third son, Han Qiong, hastily leveled his halberd and galloped forward to join the attack. Zhao Yun was not in the least afraid—his spear technique remained unbroken. The fourth son, Han Qi, seeing that his two elder brothers could not overcome Zhao Yun, also rode forth swinging a pair of moon-bladed sabers and surrounded Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun, at the center, fought the three of them alone. After a short time, Han Qi was struck by a spear and fell from his horse. A lieutenant general from Han's army rushed out to rescue him. Zhao Yun dragged his spear and rode away. Han Qiong lowered his halberd and quickly took up his bow to shoot—he loosed three arrows in succession, but all three were deflected by Zhao Yun's spear. Han Qiong, in a rage, seized his halberd again and galloped in pursuit, but Zhao Yun shot an arrow that struck him in the face, and he fell dead from his horse. Han Yao rode forth and raised his jeweled saber to strike at Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun dropped his spear to the ground, dodged the saber, and seized Han Yao alive, carrying him back to his own lines. Then he remounted, retrieved his spear, and charged back through the enemy ranks.

Han De, seeing that all four of his sons had perished at Zhao Yun's hand, was shattered in heart and courage. He fled first into his own battle line. The Qiang troops had long known Zhao Yun's reputation; now seeing that his valor was as of old, who dared cross spears with him? Wherever Zhao Yun's horse charged, rank after rank fell back. Zhao Yun, alone on his horse with only his single spear, surged back and forth as though entering a land with no one in it. A later poet praised him:

Remember Zhaoyun of Changshan of old,

At seventy years, he achieved wondrous deeds.

Alone he slew four generals to break the line,

Just as heroic as when he saved his lord at Dangyang.

Deng Zhi, seeing Zhao Yun's great victory, led the Shu troops in pursuit. The Xiliang army was routed and fled. Han De barely escaped being captured by Zhao Yun; he abandoned his armor and fled on foot. Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi gathered their troops and returned to camp. Deng Zhi congratulated him, saying, "The general is already seventy years of age, yet your valor is as of this morning. To slay four generals in battle before the lines today—such a thing is rarely seen in the world!"

Zhao Yun replied, "The Prime Minister considered me too old and unwilling to employ me, so I merely took this opportunity to prove myself." He then had Han Yao sent as a prisoner and dispatched a report of the victory to Kongming.

Han De led his defeated army back to Xiahou Mao and reported his grievance with tears. Xiahou Mao personally led his troops to meet Zhao Yun. A scout reported to the Shu camp that Xhao Mao had arrived with his army. Zhao Yun took up his spear, mounted his horse, and led over a thousand troops to draw up a battle line before Fenghuang Mountain. That day Xiahou Mao wore a golden helmet, sat upon a white horse, and held a great saber as he stood beneath the gate-banner. Seeing Zhao Yun galloping back and forth with spear leveled, Xiahou Mao wished to fight him himself. Han De said, "The one who slew my four sons—how can I not avenge this?" He spurred his horse and swung his great mountain-splitting axe straight at Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun, burning with fury, leveled his spear to meet him. After no more than three exchanges, his spear rose and struck Han De dead from his horse. Zhao Yun then quickly wheeled his horse and charged straight at Xhao Mao. Xhao Mao, in a panic, fled into his own battle line. Deng Zhi drove his troops forward in pursuit, and the Wei forces suffered another defeat, retreating over ten li before making camp.

That night Xiahou Mao consulted with his generals, saying, "I have long heard of Zhao Yun's name but never met him face to face. Today, though he is old, his heroism remains undiminished—now I believe the tales of Dangyang and Changban Slope. If no one can stand against him, what are we to do?"

The military advisor Cheng Wu, who was the son of Cheng Yu, came forward and said, "I judge that Zhao Yun has courage but no strategy—he is not worth worrying about. Tomorrow, my lord, lead your troops out again and first place two ambush forces on the left and right. When you engage the enemy, deliberately retreat from the field to lure Zhao Yun to the place of ambush. Then you ascend a hill and direct the troops on all sides to surround him in layers—Zhao Yun can be captured."

Xiahou Mao followed his advice and dispatched Dong Xi with thirty thousand troops to lie in ambush on the left, and Xue Ze with thirty thousand troops to lie in ambush on the right. The two had set their ambushes in place.

The next day, Xiahou Mao again arrayed his drums, gongs, banners, and flags, and led his troops forward in formation. Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi rode out to meet them. From atop his horse, Deng Zhi said to Zhao Yun, "Last night the Wei troops were utterly routed and fled. Their return today surely conceals some trickery, old general—beware of it." Zilong replied, "This beardless brat is hardly worth mentioning! Today I shall certainly capture him!" He then spurred his horse forward. The Wei general Pan Sui rode out to meet him, but after fewer than three bouts, he turned his horse and fled. Zhao Yun gave chase, and eight generals from the Wei ranks came forth together to intercept him. They let Xiahou Mao pass through first, then the eight generals fled in succession. Zhao Yun pressed the advantage and pursued the retreating enemy, while Deng Zhi led his troops to follow. Zhao Yun had advanced deep into enemy territory when suddenly the war cries of the surrounding armies thundered from all four sides. Deng Zhi hastily pulled his forces back, but to his left came Dong Xi and to his right came Xue Ze, with troops surging in from both flanks. Deng Zhi's force was too small to mount a rescue. Zhao Yun was trapped at the heart of the encirclement, charging east and breaking west, yet the Wei soldiers only grew thicker around him.

At this point, Zhao Yun had only a thousand or so men under his command. He fought his way to the foot of a hillside, where he could see Xiahou Mao atop the mountain directing the three armies. When Zhao Yun turned east, Xiahou Mao pointed east; when he turned west, Xiahou Mao pointed west. Thus Zhao Yun could not break through the encirclement. He then led his men in an attempt to charge up the hill, but halfway up, rolling logs and catapult stones rained down upon him, and he could not ascend. Zhao Yun fought from the hour of *chen* until the hour of *you*, yet still could not find a way out. He finally dismounted to rest briefly, intending to wait for the moon to rise before fighting again. He had just removed his armor and sat down when the moonlight emerged. Suddenly, from all four sides, fire soared into the sky, war drums thundered, and arrows and stones fell like rain. The Wei soldiers surged forward, all shouting, "Zhao Yun, surrender at once!" Zhao Yun hastily mounted his horse to meet the enemy, but the troops from all four directions pressed closer and crossbow bolts flew urgently from every direction, east, west, south, north, and all points between. Neither men nor horses could advance. Zhao Yun looked up to heaven and sighed, "I refused to yield to old age, and now I shall die in this place!"

Suddenly, from the northeast corner, a great cry arose, and the Wei soldiers scattered in chaos. A force burst through, led by a great general wielding an eight-meter steel-pointed spear, with a human head hanging from his horse's neck. Zhao Yun looked closely—it was Zhang Bao. Zhang Bao, seeing Zhao Yun, said, "The Prime Minister feared the old general might meet with misfortune, so he dispatched me with five thousand troops to reinforce you. Hearing that the old general was besieged, I fought my way through the heavy encirclement. On the way, I encountered the Wei general Xue Ze and slew him." Zhao Yun was overjoyed and immediately joined Zhang Bao in fighting their way out through the northwest corner. They saw the Wei soldiers casting down their weapons and fleeing. Another force came shouting from outside, led by a general bearing a great curved-blade Green Dragon sword and carrying a human head in his hand. Zhao Yun looked closely—it was Guan Xing. Xing said, "By the Prime Minister's command, fearing the old general might meet with misfortune, I led five thousand troops to come to your aid. On the battlefield just now, I encountered the Wei general Dong Xi and cut him down with one stroke—his head is here. The Prime Minister himself will arrive shortly." Zhao Yun said, "You two generals have already achieved remarkable merit. Why not seize this very day to capture Xiahou Mao and settle this great matter?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Bao led his troops away. Guan Xing said, "I too shall go win merit!" and likewise led his troops away. Zhao Yun looked back at his attendants and said, "Those two are of my sons' and nephews' generation, yet they strive to outdo each other in winning glory. I am a general of the state and an old servant of the court—shall I fall short of these young men? I shall lay down this old life to repay the kindness of the late Emperor!" Thereupon he led his troops to capture Xiahou Mao. That night, three forces attacked simultaneously and inflicted a great defeat upon the Wei army. Deng Zhi led his troops to reinforce the attack, and the slaughter was so vast that corpses lay strewn across the field and the rivers ran red with blood. Xiahou Mao was a man of no stratagem, and moreover young and inexperienced in battle. Seeing his army in utter rout, he led over a hundred valiant officers from his headquarters and fled toward Nan'an Commandery. The troops, seeing they had no commander, all scattered and fled. When Guan Xing and Zhang Bao heard that Xiahou Mao had fled toward Nan'an Commandery, they rode through the night in pursuit. Mao entered the city and ordered the gates shut tight, mobilizing his troops to defend the walls. Guan Xing and Zhang Bao arrived and laid siege to the city; Zhao Yun came up shortly after, and they attacked from three sides. Before long, Deng Zhi also arrived with his troops. They besieged the city for ten consecutive days but could not take it.

Then word arrived: the Prime Minister had left the rear army garrisoned at Mianyang, stationed the left army at Yangping, and the right army at Shicheng, while he himself led the central army forward. Zhao Yun, Deng Zhi, Guan Xing, and Zhang Bao all came to pay their respects to Kongming and reported that despite days of assault, the city had not fallen. Kongming thereupon rode in a small carriage to the city walls and personally surveyed the entire circumference. He returned to camp, ascended to his command tent, and took his seat. The generals stood around awaiting his orders. Kongming said, "This commandery has deep moats and steep walls—it is not easily taken. Our true objective does not lie with this city. If you persist in a prolonged siege, and the Wei forces sally forth by separate routes to seize Hanzhong, our army will be in grave danger." Deng Zhi said, "Xiahou Mao is the Emperor's son-in-law in Wei. If we capture him, it surpasses slaying a hundred generals. Now that he is trapped here, how can we abandon the siege and leave?" Kongming said, "I have my own plan. To the west of this place lies Tianshui Commandery, and to the north is Anding Commandery. Who commands those two commanderies?" The scouts replied, "The administrator of Tianshui is Ma Zun, and the administrator of Anding is Cui Liang." Kongming was greatly pleased. He summoned Wei Yan and gave him his orders, saying, "Do thus and thus." He then summoned Guan Xing and Zhang Bao and gave them their orders, saying, "Do thus and thus." He also summoned two trusted soldiers and gave them their orders, saying, "Carry this out thus." Each general received his orders and led his troops away. Kongming then had his men outside Nan'an city transport firewood and straw, piling it beneath the city walls, and announced loudly that he intended to burn the city. When the Wei soldiers heard this, they all laughed and were not in the least afraid.

Now Cui Liang, governor of Anding, was in the city when he learned that the Shu forces had surrounded Nan'an and trapped Xiahou Mao. He was terrified and immediately mustered some four thousand troops to defend the walls. Suddenly, a man approached from the south, claiming to bear secret intelligence. Cui Liang summoned him and asked his business. The man replied, "I am Pei Xu, a trusted officer under Commander Xiahou. I have been sent by the Commander with orders to seek aid from the prefectures of Tianshui and Anding. Nan'an is in dire straits. Every day fires are lit on the city walls as a signal, looking specifically for the two prefectures' reinforcements, but none have arrived. Therefore, the Commander has dispatched me to break through the siege and bring this urgent plea. You must march at once to make a diversion from outside. When the Commander sees the two prefectures' troops arrive, he will open the city gates to coordinate with you." Cui Liang asked, "Do you have a written dispatch from the Commander?" Pei Xu took it from against his body, soaked through with sweat. Cui Liang glanced at it briefly, then ordered his men to give the messenger a fresh horse. Pei Xu then departed the city and headed toward Tianshui.

No more than two days later, a report arrived saying that the governor of Tianshui had already marched to relieve Nan'an, and that Anding was to coordinate. Cui Liang consulted with his officers. The majority said, "If we do not go to his aid, Nan'an will be lost and the Commander—the Emperor's son-in-law—will perish. The blame will fall on both our prefectures. We have no choice but to go." Cui Liang thereupon led his troops away from the city, leaving only civil officials to guard the walls. He marched toward Nan'an by the main road. In the distance he saw flames leaping into the sky and pressed his men forward through the night. When they were still some fifty *li* from Nan'an, a great shout rose from ahead and behind. A scout reported, "Guan Xing blocks the road ahead, and Zhang Bao attacks from the rear!" The Anding soldiers scattered in all directions. Cui Liang was greatly alarmed. With barely a hundred men at his side, he fought desperately along a narrow path and escaped, fleeing back toward Anding. When he reached the moat, a shower of arrows rained down from the walls. The Shu general Wei Yan called from atop the city, "I have already taken the city! Why not surrender at once?" Wei Yan had disguised himself as an Anding soldier and tricked the guards into opening the gate under cover of night. The Shu troops had poured in, and so Anding fell.

In desperation, Cui Liang fled toward Tianshui. Before he had gone far, a column of soldiers blocked the road ahead. Beneath a great banner sat a man in a silk headband and feathered fan, wearing a Taoist robe and a crane-feather cloak, seated in a carriage. Cui Liang looked and recognized Kongming. He wheeled his horse about and fled. Guan Xing and Zhang Bao pursued from two directions, calling out, "Surrender at once!" Cui Liang saw Shu soldiers on every side and had no choice but to surrender. He was brought back to the main camp. Kongming treated him as an honored guest. Kongming asked, "Are you on close terms with the governor of Nan'an?" Cui Liang replied, "That man is Yang Ling, the younger cousin of Yang Fu. He and I govern neighboring prefectures and have a deep bond of friendship." Kongming said, "I would like to trouble you to enter the city and persuade Yang Ling to seize Xiahou Mao. Would you do this?" Cui Liang said, "If the Prime Minister sends me, you might withdraw your troops temporarily and allow me to enter the city and speak with him." Kongming agreed and issued orders for the troops on all sides to withdraw twenty *li* and make camp.

Cui Liang rode alone to the city wall and called for the gate to be opened. He entered the prefectural office and exchanged courtesies with Yang Ling, then explained everything in detail. Yang Ling said, "We have received great favor from the Wei lord—how could we betray him? Let us turn their scheme to our own advantage." He then led Cui Liang to Xiahou Mao and laid out the matter fully. Xiahou Mao asked, "What plan shall we use?" Yang Ling said, "I will pretend to offer the city gate, lure the Shu army inside, and then slaughter them within the city." Cui Liang followed this plan and went out to see Kongming. He said, "Yang Ling will surrender the city gate and admit your great army, so that you may seize Xiahou Mao. Yang Ling intended to capture Xiahou Mao himself, but as he has too few brave men at his disposal, he did not dare act rashly." Kongming said, "This is simple enough. Take the hundred or so soldiers who surrendered with you—let Shu generals be hidden among them, disguised as Anding troops, and bring them into the city. Let them first conceal themselves near Xiahou Mao's residence. Secretly arrange with Yang Ling to open the gate at midnight, and we shall attack from within and without in concert."

Cui Liang thought to himself, "If I do not bring the Shu generals in, Kongming will suspect something. Let me bring them in, kill them first from within, then light a fire as a signal to lure Kongming into the city and slay him." With this in mind, he agreed. Kongming instructed him, "I will send my trusted officers Guan Xing and Zhang Bao to go ahead with you. Pretend that your relief force is fighting its way into the city, to set Xiahou Mao's mind at ease. When you light the fire, I will enter the city myself to capture him."

As dusk fell, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao received Kongming's secret orders, donned their armor, mounted their horses, and took up their weapons. They mingled among the Anding troops and followed Cui Liang to the walls of Nan'an. Yang Ling stood atop the city on a raised platform, leaning on the parapet, and called down, "Whose troops are these?" Cui Liang shouted, "The Anding relief force has arrived." Cui Liang first shot an arrow of signal over the wall, to which was tied a secret letter that read: "Zhuge Liang has now sent two generals to hide within the city, intending to coordinate an attack from within and without. Do not alarm them, lest the plan be exposed. Wait until they enter the residence, then act." Yang Ling showed the letter to Xiahou Mao and explained the matter in detail. Xiahou Mao said, "Since Zhuge Liang has fallen into our trap, let a hundred or so swordsmen conceal themselves inside the residence. When the two generals arrive at the residence with Governor Cui, close the gates and behead them. Then light a fire on the city walls to lure Zhuge Liang into the city. Our hidden troops will surge forth, and Zhuge Liang can be captured."

The arrangements were made. Yang Ling returned to the city wall and said, "Since these are Anding troops, let them enter." Guan Xing went ahead with Cui Liang, while Zhang Bao followed behind. Yang Ling came down from the city to greet them at the gate. Guan Xing raised his blade and struck Yang Ling from his horse, killing him. Cui Liang was seized with alarm and wheeled his horse to flee. At the drawbridge, Zhang Bao roared, "You villain, do not run! How could your tricks deceive the Prime Minister!" With one thrust of his spear, he impaled Cui Liang from his horse. Guan Xing had already reached the city wall and lit the fire. Shu soldiers rushed in from all sides. Xiahou Mao, caught off guard, fought his way out of the south gate. A column of soldiers blocked his path. At their head was the great general Wang Ping. After a single exchange of blows, Wang Ping seized Xiahou Mao alive from his horse. The rest were slain.

Upon entering Nan'an, Kongming issued proclamations to reassure the soldiers and civilians, harming not even the smallest thing. The various generals each presented their achievements. Kongming had Ma Hou imprisoned in a cart. Deng Zhi asked, "How did Your Excellency know that Cui Liang was feigning?" Kongming replied, "I already knew this fellow had no intention of surrendering, so I deliberately sent him into the city. He would certainly tell everything to Ma Hou, intending to turn our stratagem to his own advantage. By observing the circumstances of his coming, I could tell it was a ruse, so I sent two generals along with him to put his mind at ease. If he were sincere, he would certainly have tried to stop them; the fact that he readily agreed to their going together was because he feared I would suspect him. He reckoned that with the two generals going along, there would be ample time to trick them into the city and kill them; he also wanted our army to have a pretext, so we would advance with confidence. I had already secretly instructed the two generals to act at the city gate. The city would certainly be unprepared, and our army would follow immediately—this is the strategy of attacking where the enemy does not expect." All the generals bowed in admiration. Kongming said, "To trick Cui Liang, I sent a trusted man disguised as Wei general Pei Xu. I also sent someone to trick Tianshui Commandery, but he has not arrived to this day, and I do not know why. Now we can seize the opportunity to take it." He left Wu Yi to guard Nan'an and Liu Yan to guard Anding, and brought Wei Yan's troops out to take Tianshui Commandery.

Now, the Grand Administrator of Tianshui Commandery, Ma Zun, upon hearing that Ma Hou was besieged in Nan'an city, gathered his civil and military officials to deliberate. The Merit Officer Liang Xu, the Registrar Yin Shang, and the Chief of Records Liang Qian said, "Imperial Son-in-law Ma Hou is of noble stock. If anything should befall him, we could hardly escape the charge of standing by and doing nothing. Why does the Grand Administrator not raise all the troops of his command to rescue him?" Ma Zun was just wavering in doubt when suddenly a trusted man sent by Imperial Son-in-law Ma Hou—Pei Xu—arrived. Pei Xu entered the prefectural office, presented an official dispatch to Ma Zun, and said, "The Commander requests the troops of both Anding and Tianshui to come to his relief with all speed." Having spoken, he departed in haste. The next day, a mounted messenger arrived, reporting, "The troops of Anding have already gone ahead; the Grand Administrator is instructed to come with all haste to join them." Ma Zun was just about to raise his troops when a man entered from outside and said, "The Grand Administrator has fallen for Zhuge Liang's stratagem!" All eyes turned to him. He was a man of Ji in Tianshui, named Jiang Wei, courtesy name Boyue. His father, named Jiong, had formerly served as Merit Officer of Tianshui Commandery and had died in the line of service during a rebellion of the Qiang people. From a young age, Jiang Wei had read widely; in military strategy and martial arts, there was nothing he did not master. He served his mother with the utmost filial devotion, and the people of the commandery held him in high regard. He later became a General of the Household and participated in the military affairs of his commandery.

On that day, Jiang Wei said to Ma Zun, "I have recently heard that Zhuge Liang defeated Ma Hou and has besieged Nan'an so tightly that not even water could leak through. How could anyone have escaped from within the encirclement? Moreover, Pei Xu is an obscure, unknown general—I have never heard of him. Furthermore, the mounted messenger from Anding brought no official dispatch. Judging from these facts, this man must be a Shu general disguised as a Wei general. He has tricked the Grand Administrator into leaving the city, reckoning that the city will be unprepared; surely he has hidden a force nearby to seize Tianshui by surprise." Ma Zun said with sudden clarity, "Had it not been for Boyue's words, I would have fallen into their treacherous scheme!" Jiang Wei smiled and said, "Let the Grand Administrator be at ease: I have a plan by which we can capture Zhuge Liang and lift the siege of Nan'an." Indeed:

Once more a strategist meets his match in cunning;

In the contest of wits, an unexpected man appears.

What this plan was, you will see in the next chapter.

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