“An excellent plan indeed,” exclaimed Cao Zhen in joy, and he authorized Sun Li to carry out his plan. Subsequently he issued orders for Wang Shuang to patrol the byroads, Guo Huai to hold command in Qi Valley and Jieting, and other officers to hold various points of vantage. Two officers, Zhang Hu, son of Zhang Liao, and Yue Lin, son of Yue Jin, were respectively appointed leader and deputy leader of the van to guard the outermost camp and ordered not to engage in battle with the enemy.
Now at Qishan Zhuge Liang sought to bring on a battle, and daily sent out officers to provoke a combat. But the men of Wei would not come out.
Zhuge Liang called Jiang Wei and the others to him and said, “Presumably they think we are short of food so they refuse to fight. Now our supply route through Chencang is blocked, and all the other roads are too narrow to pass. I reckon the grain we brought with us will not last a month. What is to be done?”
While thus preoccupied, there came a report that their enemy in Longxi had transported several thousand carts of grain to the west of Qishan. The convoy was commanded by Sun Li.
“What sort of man is he?” asked Zhuge Liang.
A man from Wei replied, “He is a man of courage. Once he was with the Wei ruler on a hunting expedition on Great Rock Hill, when suddenly a tiger rushed toward the Emperor. Sun Li jumped off his horse and killed the beast with his sword. He was created a general as a reward. He is one of Cao Zhen’s confidants.”
Zhuge Liang smiled. “This is a ruse. They know we are short of food, so they try to tempt us with those carts, which are undoubtedly laden with combustibles. How can they dream of deceiving me by this ruse of fire when I have attacked by fire all my life? They must have also planned to raid our camp if we go to seize the convoy of carts. But I will let them perish at their own game.”
Turning to Ma Dai, he said: “Take 3,000 soldiers and go to the enemy’s supply camp. Don’t enter it, but only start a fire windward. When the grain catches fire, the soldiers of Wei will come to surround our camp.”
Then he sent Ma Zhong and Zhang Ni to wait outside the camp with 5,000 men each so that the enemy would be routed from both within and without.
After the three officers departed, he called in Guan Xing and Zhang Bao, to whom he said: “The outermost camp of Wei stands at an intersection of roads. Tonight, when the enemy sees a blaze among the western hills, they will come to attack our camp, so you two are to lie in wait on the two sides of their camp and seize it when they have left.”
Next he summoned Wu Ban and Wu Yi. “You’re to take one thousand men each and lie in wait outside the camp. When they come to raid us, you’re to cut off their way of retreat.”
Having made these arrangements, Zhuge Liang took a seat high in the mountains to watch the results.
Scouts of Wei learned that their enemies were coming to seize the grain convoy and ran to tell Sun Li, who sent on the news to Cao Zhen. The commander immediately alerted his two van leaders of this and ordered them to move out their men when they saw a blaze in the western hills, as that would mean that the men of Shu had arrived. Following this instruction the two posted sentinels in the watchtower to look out for the expected blaze.
Meanwhile, Sun Li had hidden his men in the western hills to await the coming of the men of Shu. That night, at the second watch, Ma Dai came very quietly with his 3,000 soldiers, the men muted with gags, the horses with a lashing round their muzzles. They saw tier after tier of carts on the hills, making an enclosure like a walled camp, and on the carts were planted some flags for show.
They waited. Presently a southwesterly wind blew up, and the fire was started. Soon all the carts were in a blaze that lit up the sky. Seeing the fire, Sun Li concluded that the men of Shu had arrived and that this was the signal to attack, so he dashed forward. But soon two parties of soldiers were heard behind him, closing in. These were Ma Zhong and Zhang Ni, who soon had Sun Li cornered. Then he heard more ominous shouting, which heralded the approach of Ma Dai from the direction of the blaze.
Under these attacks the men of Wei quailed and gave way. As the wind blew stronger the fire grew fiercer. Men ran and horses stampeded, and the dead were too many to count. Sun Li, leading the wounded, made a dash through the smoke and fire of the battle and got away.
When the two van leaders of Wei saw the fire, they threw open the gates of their camp and sallied forth to seize the Shu camp. But when they reached there they found the place empty. So they hastened to return. At that moment Wu Ban and Wu Yi appeared and blocked their way of retreat. After a desperate fight they succeeded in breaking through. But when, at length, they returned to their own camp they were met by arrows flying thick as locusts—for Guan Xing and Zhang Bao had taken possession in their absence.
They could only set out for headquarters to report their mishap. As they neared Cao Zhen’s camp they met another party of beaten men. These were Sun Li and his men, and the three officers went into camp together and told their chief how they had been tricked. Cao Zhen thereafter reinforced his camp and did not venture out to give battle.
The victorious men of Shu went back to see Zhuge Liang, who at once dispatched secret directions to Wei Yan. Then he gave orders to break camp and retreat. Surprised at this move, Yang Yi asked him why he wanted to withdraw after a victory so damaging to the enemy.
“Because we’re short of food,” explained Zhuge Liang, “and our success lies in a swift victory. But the enemy will not fight, and thus they weaken us day by day. Though we have worsted them now they will soon be reinforced. If they send their light cavalry to raid our provision routes, we won’t be able to retreat, even if we want to. Now that they have been recently smitten and dare not confront us, we must take this occasion to do what they do not expect, and withdraw. My only concern is Wei Yan, who is on the Chencang road holding off Wang Shuang, and cannot get away so easily. But I have sent him a secret order to slay Wang Shuang, and then the men of Wei won’t dare to pursue.”
So the rear force retreated first, but to deceive the enemy the watchmen were left in the empty camp to beat the gongs through the night. The whole army withdrew during the night.
Cao Zhen was depressed at his recent misfortune. Suddenly he was told that Zhang He had arrived with troops. Presently he entered the tent and said to Cao Zhen, “His Majesty has sent me here to receive your commands.”
“Did you take leave of Sima Yi?” asked Cao Zhen.
“Yes,” replied Zhang He. “His instruction to me was: ‘If we win, the men of Shu will not leave—but if we lose they will withdraw at once.’ Now our side has missed the chance for success. Have you been to find out what the men of Shu are doing?”
“Not yet.”
Then he immediately sent out some scouts, who confirmed Sima Yi’s prediction. There were flags flying in the Shu camp, but the men had been gone two days. Cao Zhen regretted very much but it was too late for him to do anything.
In Chencang Wei Yan had received his chief’s secret order, and he also broke camp that night and hastened toward Hanzhong. Spies at once informed Wang Shuang, who hurried in pursuit. After about twenty li he came in sight of Wei Yan’s ensign.
As soon as he got within hailing distance he shouted, “Do not flee, Wei Yan.”
But no one looked back, so he again pressed forward. Then he heard his men behind him shouting, “There is a blaze in the camp outside the wall. The enemy may have set a trap for us.”
Wang Shuang pulled up and, turning, saw the towering flames. He hastily drew off his men. Just as he passed a hill, a horseman suddenly flew out of a wood.
“Here is Wei Yan,” shouted the horseman.
Wang Shuang was too startled to defend himself and fell at the first stroke of Wei Yan’s sword. His men thought this was only the beginning of an ambush, so they scattered—but in fact Wei Yan only had thirty men with him, and they moved off at leisure toward Hanzhong.
No man could better Zhuge Liang’s foresight;
Brilliant as a comet where it flashe
d:
Advance or retreat he maneuvers at will.
On Chencang road he ordered Wang killed.
Now let us reveal Zhuge Liang’s secret order to Wei Yan: “Keep back thirty men and hide beside Wang Shuang’s camp. When he leaves to pursue your men, light a fire in his camp. When he returns, fall upon him suddenly and kill him.” The plan being successfully carried out, Wei Yan followed the retreating army into Hanzhong and handed over his men. Then feasts were given to reward the army.
In the Wei camp Zhang He, who failed to come up with the retreating enemy, presently returned.
Suddenly Hao Zhao sent a man to say that Wang Shuang had met his end. This loss grieved Cao Zhen so deeply that he fell ill and had to return to Luoyang. He left Zhang He, Sun Li, and Guo Huai to guard the various roads to Chang’an.
At a court held by Sun Quan, Prince of Wu, he was informed of Zhuge Liang’s two expeditions and Cao Zhen’s loss of officers and men. Thereupon all his officials urged him to attack Wei to try to gain the northern territory. Sun Quan listened but could not make up his mind.
Zhang Zhao said, “I have heard that a phoenix has lately appeared in the hills east of Wuchang and a yellow dragon has been seen repeatedly in the Yangtze. My lord, your virtue matches that of the ancient emperors Yao and Shun, and your sagacity equals that of kings Wen and Wu. Therefore you should first assume the supreme title of Emperor and then raise an army.”
Many other officials supported Zhang Zhao’s proposal and they finally persuaded Sun Quan to decide upon a date to accede to the throne. They prepared an altar to the south of Wuchang, and on that day his courtiers formally requested him to ascend the altar and assume the position of emperor.
Yellow Dragon was chosen as the reign title. Sun Jian, the deceased father of the new emperor, was posthumously given the title of Emperor Wu Lie; his mother was made Empress Wu Lie; and his elder brother, Sun Ce, Prince Huan of Changsha. His son, Sun Deng, was made Heir Apparent. A high rank, Companion of the Heir Apparent, was conferred upon the eldest son of Zhuge Jin and the second son of Zhang Zhao.
This son of Zhuge Jin was named Zhuge Ke, a person of medium height, and very clever. He was especially apt at repartee. Sun Quan liked him very much. When he was six he went with his father to a banquet. Sun Quan noticed that Zhuge Jin had a long face, so he told a man to lead in a donkey, and he wrote Zhuge Jin’s name on it with chalk. Everyone roared. But the boy went up and added two characters, making it read, “Zhuge Jin’s donkey.” The guests were astonished at his quick wit. Greatly pleased, Sun Quan gave him the donkey as a present.
Another time, at a large official banquet, Sun Quan sent the boy to pour wine to all present. When he came to Zhang Zhao, the old man declined it. “This is not showing proper courtesy to an old man.”
“Can you make him drink?” asked Sun Quan.
Zhuge Ke took the order and went to the old gentleman again. “You remember Minister Lu Shang of old? He was ninety and yet he gripped the signaling flag and wielded the battle-ax of an army commander in the field. He never said he was old. Nowadays in battle we put you, sir, in the rear, but at the banquet we give you, sir, a front place. How can you say we do not pay proper courtesy to old age?”
Zhang Zhao could not reply, and so had to drink. This sort of precocity endeared the boy to Sun Quan, and now he made him companion of his son.
Zhang Zhao’s son was chosen for honor on account of the eminent services of his father.
Gu Yong became prime minister. Lu Xun was made a high-ranking general, to assist the Heir Apparent in the custody of Wuchang.
Sun Quan returned to Jianye, where the whole court turned their thoughts toward the suppression of Wei. Only Zhang Zhao opposed it and advised his lord to attend to internal reform.
“It is not appropriate to begin Your Majesty’s new reign with a war. I deem it better to put aside weapons and promote learning by establishing schools to give the people the blessings of peace. Send an envoy to Shu and propose a renewal of our former league and promise to share the empire with them. Then plan carefully how to conquer the north.”
Sun Quan saw the wisdom of the advice and approved. He at once sent an envoy to Shu to lay the scheme of an alliance before the Second Ruler, who discussed it with his ministers. All denounced Sun Quan as a usurper and advised their lord to reject the proposal for an alliance. Then Jiang Wan suggested seeking the prime minister’s advice.
So the Second Ruler dispatched a messenger to Hanzhong to put the matter before Zhuge Liang.
The prime minister responded: “Send an envoy with presents to Wu to congratulate Sun Quan and ask him to commission Lu Xun to lead an army against Wei. Then Sima Yi will be engaged in the east, and I may once more move out of Qishan to capture Chang’an.”
The Second Ruler took the advice and sent Chen Zhen to Wu, taking with him presents of fine horses, a jeweled belt, gold, and pearls to congratulate Sun Quan on his newly assumed dignity. Delighted, Sun Quan accepted the presents and entertained the bearer before sending him off.
After the envoy was gone Sun Quan called in Lu Xun and told him about Shu’s request to launch a joint war against Wei. Lu Xun saw through the scheme at once.
“That is Zhuge Liang’s scheme because of his fear of Sima Yi,” he said. “However, we have to since we have just formed a league with them. We will make a show of raising an army to respond to their call. When Zhuge Liang is fully entangled in his war with Wei, we will seize the northern plains for ourselves.”
Orders were issued to commanders in Jingzhou and other regions, requiring them to train soldiers for an expedition.
In the meantime, Chen Zhen returned to Hanzhong and reported to Zhuge Liang about his mission in Wu. Still wary that the road at Chencang would not be easy to take, Zhuge Liang sent scouts to reconnoiter. These returned with the news that Hao Zhao, Wei commander at Chencang, was very ill.
“That means success for me,” cried Zhuge Liang.
He called in Wei Yan and Jiang Wei, to whom he said, “Take 5,000 men and hasten to Chencang. Attack in full force when you see a blaze.”
The two did not quite believe their chief was serious, and went to ask him the exact date of departure.
“In three days you should be ready to march. You don’t have to come and take leave of me, but set out as soon as possible.”
After they had left his tent he summoned Guan Xing and Zhang Bao and whispered some secret instructions in their ears. And the two left to carry out his plan.
Now when Guo Huai heard that the commander of Chencang was ill, he said to Zhang He, “Hao Zhao is very ill—you had better go and relieve him at once. I will report to the court in the meantime.”
So Zhang He started out with his 3,000 men to relieve the sick man.
At Chencang Hao Zhao was indeed on his deathbed, and that night, when his life hung in the balance, suddenly there came the news that the men of Shu had reached the walls. Hao Zhao hastened to order his men to defend the rampart. But then fire broke out at each gate and a panic spread in the city. The startling news frightened the sick man so much that he passed away just as the men of Shu stormed into the city.
When Wei Yan and Jiang Wei reached Chencang they found no sign of life: no flags flying and no watchmen beating the gong to mark the hours. Perplexed, they dared not attack. Then they heard an explosion and suddenly the wall was thick with flags, and there appeared the well-known figure of their prime minister.
“You’re late,” he cried.
In haste both dismounted and knelt down. “Your strategy is really marvelous, sir!”
They were allowed to enter the city.
Zhuge Liang then explained to them: “When I heard of Hao Zhao’s serious illness, I told you to take the city in three days. That was to conceal my real plan. Then I ordered Guan and Zhang to muster their men—pretending to be just holding a roll call—and secretly move out of Hanzhong. I hid myself in their ranks. Then the army advanced by double march to the city wall so that
the enemy would be unable to summon reinforcements. Besides, I had already planted spies inside the city to start a fire and stir up a hubbub to scare the men of Wei, who would be thrown into confusion without their commander. And seizing the city was like turning over my hand. As the Art of War says, ‘Do what your enemy does not expect you to do; attack when your enemy is unprepared.’”
They bowed again in admiration. In commiseration Zhuge Liang allowed Hao Zhao’s family to take his coffin back to Wei, thus to show his loyalty to his country.
Turning once more to the two generals, he said, “Don’t take off your armor yet. Go and launch a surprise attack on San Pass. The troops there will certainly flee in panic at your approach. If you delay, Wei will have sent reinforcements.”
They went. Surely enough the defenders of the pass all fled and the capture was as smooth as Zhuge Liang had predicted. But before they could strip off their armor they saw in the distance a great cloud of dust moving toward them—the Wei reinforcements were already near.
They marveled at the keen foresight of the prime minister. Then they hurried up the watch tower to look and saw the approaching Wei general was Zhang He.
They then divided their men to hold crucial roads. When Zhang He saw this, he ordered retreat. Wei Yan followed, slaying numerous Wei soldiers. Zhang He left in defeat. Wei Yan returned to the pass and sent news of their success to Zhuge Liang, who then led a force out of Chencang and Ye Valley to capture Jianwei. The rest of the Shu army progressed steadily. Moreover, the Emperor sent another general, Chen Shi by name, to assist in the campaign. Soon Zhuge Liang’s main force had again moved out of Qishan and there made a camp.
Then he addressed a general assembly: “Twice have I led the army out by Qishan without success, and now I am here again. I’m sure the men of Wei will resume the battle positions of earlier times. They will assume that I’m going to attack Yong and Mei and will send armies to defend these cities. But I see Yinping and Wudu are connected with the land of our country, and if I can win these cities I can drive a wedge into the Wei force. Who will go and capture these places?”