“It’s getting dark,” urged his officers. “Let’s quickly assist Wang Guan from the valley.”
But Deng Ai was more cautious. “The shape of the hills in front are indistinct. If by any chance an ambush has been laid there we could hardly escape. We can only wait here.”
But just then two messengers galloped up and said, “As General Wang was crossing the Shu border with the grain convoy, he was pursued. Pray go to his rescue as soon as possible.”
Alarmed, Deng Ai hastened to press onward. It was then the first watch, and a full moon was shining in the sky, making the night as bright as day. From behind the hills came shouts of war and Deng Ai assumed his comrades were fighting a battle.
So he rushed to the rear of the hills. Suddenly a body of men emerged from the shelter of a grove, and at their head rode the Shu officer, Fu Qian.
“Deng Ai, you stupid rascal! You have fallen into our general’s trap. Dismount and be slain!”
Deng Ai, in panic, turned to flee. Then the carts burst into flames. At the signal, out rushed the two hidden Shu forces, breaking the Wei formation into utterly disjointed parts. The hills all around resounded with cries of “A thousand taels of gold for anyone who captures Deng Ai, and a marquisette as well!”
Terrified, Deng Ai dropped his helmet and armor, slipped from his steed, and mingled among the foot soldiers, with whom he scrambled up the hills to escape. Jiang Wei and Xiahou Ba only looked for him among the mounted officers, never guessing that he would try to get away on foot with the common soldiers. So he was not captured.
Jiang Wei then led his victorious men to take the grain carts from Wang Guan.
Meanwhile, Wang Guan had prepared the grain carts and was only waiting for the appointed time to enact his scheme. Suddenly a man of his came to report that the ruse had been discovered and Deng Ai had suffered a serious defeat and might have died. Wang Guan, deeply affected by the news, sent out scouts to investigate and they returned to say that three troops were coming to surround them. Soon clouds of dust were seen rising from behind. All four sides being blocked, there was no way of escape. Wang Guan ordered his men to set fire to the grain, and instantly flames rose high into the air.
“The enemy is upon us,” cried Wang Guan to his men. “Fight to the death, all of you!”
He led his men to make a sortie in the west, but the men of Shu came in pursuit from three sides. Thinking that his enemy would try at all costs to get back to his own country, Jiang Wei had not expected Wang Guan to turn toward Hanzhong. As he had but few men to risk a battle, Wang Guan destroyed all the passes and the plank roads as he went. Fearing the loss of Hanzhong, Jiang Wei abandoned pursuing Deng Ai, but made all haste along some byroads after Wang Guan. Surrounded on all sides, Wang Guan jumped into the Blue Dragon River and perished. All his soldiers were buried alive.
A victory was won, but it had been costly. Much grain was lost and the covered roads destroyed. Jiang Wei led his men into Hanzhong.
Deng Ai gathered together his beaten men and escaped to Qishan. From there he reported his defeat and asked for demotion as a penalty. However, in view of his past achievements, Sima Zhao did not want to punish him but, on the contrary, consoled him with gifts, which he distributed among the families of those who had been killed. Sima Zhao also sent him 50,000 reinforcements, lest Shu should attack again.
Jiang Wei quickly had the plank roads mended and again proposed a new expedition against Wei.
Repair the roads for marching feet to tread,
The strife will not cease before he is dead.
Which side would win the struggle will be told in the next chapter.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN
The Second Ruler Listens to Slander and Recalls His Army
Jiang Wei Takes Command of the Cantonments to Escape Death
In the tenth month of the fifth year of the reign period Jing Yao, Jiang Wei was occupied with preparations for the renewal of a military operation against Wei, mending the plank roads, gathering supplies, and assembling his boats on the waterways of Hanzhong. Having completed the preparations, he sent another memorial which stated: “Although I have not made great accomplishments in my expeditions, yet I have driven fear into the hearts of the men of Wei. Our men have been long under training, and they must now be used, or else they will go to pieces for lack of employment. The men are ready to die and the officers prepared to carry out any commands from Your Majesty. If I do not succeed this time I am willing to accept the penalty of death.”
The Second Ruler read the memorial but could not make up his mind. As he hesitated, Qiao Zhou stepped forward and said, “I have been observing the heavens and I saw the commander’s star dull and become obscured in the division of the sky above our land. This expedition will be disastrous, and I entreat Your Majesty to halt it.”
The Second Ruler replied, “Let us see the result of this campaign. If it fails then the war will cease.”
Thus Qiao Zhou’s advice went unheeded. He returned home and sighed in distress. From then on he did not attend court sessions on the pretext of illness.
At Hanzhong Jiang Wei was all set for his new expedition. Before departure, he asked Liao Hua: “I’m determined to conquer Wei this time. Which place do you advise I should seize first?”
“General, these long years of military campaigns have given the army and the people no rest. Besides, Deng Ai is a most shrewd strategist, not an ordinary opponent. Yet you, General, insist on undertaking a task of insurmountable difficulties. I am afraid I dare not advise you.”
Jiang Wei flared up in fury. “The late prime minister launched six expeditions into Qishan, all for the good of the state. Now I have attempted eight times. Was any one of those actions meant to serve my private ends? This time I will take Taoyang first, and I will punish any opposition with death.”
He left Liao Hua to defend Hanzhong and departed with his army of 300,000 men. His movements were reported in the Wei camps at Qishan. At the time Deng Ai was discussing warfare with Sima Wang. On hearing the news Deng Ai sent out his men to reconnoiter, who returned to report that the Shu army was advancing toward Taoyang.
Sima Wang said, “Jiang Wei is full of schemes. Could it be that this move is a ruse and his real intention is to seize Qishan?”
“No,” replied Deng Ai. “He has really come to take Taoyang.”
“How do you know?”
“In the past Jiang Wei always tried to seize places where we had stored grain. But Taoyang has no grain, so he thinks it will not be properly defended as we will concentrate our efforts on Qishan. But if he takes that place he can store his supplies there and get in touch with the Qiang tribesmen, so as to establish a longterm occupation.”
“If so, what should we do?”
“We can divide the troops here into two bodies and hasten to the rescue of Taoyang. I know a small town not far from Taoyang, which is the passage to that place. You take a troop to Taoyang and hide quietly in there. Do not show your ensigns or beat drums, but leave open the four gates. I will lie in wait at the small town near Taoyang. We will surely win a big victory.”
Then he gave his colleague some secret instructions as to what he should do in the city of Taoyang.
Having decided on their plans the two left to carry them out, leaving the officer Shi Zuan in charge of the Qishan camp.
Meanwhile, Xiahou Ba led the van of the Shu army toward Taoyang. As he drew near he noticed that the place seemed to be unoccupied. No flags adorned the walls and the gates stood wide open.
Feeling suspicious, Xiahou Ba turned to his officers and asked, “Could this be a trap?”
“Obviously this is an empty city,” replied his officers. “The few people that live here must have abandoned it and fled when they heard of our coming.”
Still not convinced, Xiahou Ba rode to the south of the city to have a good look. There he saw many common folks, old and young, running away toward the northwest.
“The city is really em
pty,” said Xiahou Ba joyfully.
Leading the way he charged in first and the men followed. As they came near the outer wall, however, there was a sudden explosion. All at once drums rolled, trumpets blared, and flags hoisted up. In the same breath the drawbridge was pulled up.
“Alas, I’ve blundered into a trap!” moaned Xiahou Ba in great alarm.
As he hastened to retreat, arrows and stones pelted down like rain. Xiahou Ba and his five hundred men lost their lives tragically beneath the city walls.
Brave was Jiang Wei, who had a good plan made,
But Deng Ai outwitted him with a counter scheme.
Pity this Xiahou Ba, who with Han linked his fate
Lost his life under arrows by the city wall.
The flights of arrows from the city was followed by a sortie led by Sima Wang, which broke up the Shu forces. However, Jiang Wei came up and drove off Sima Wang, and the men of Shu camped beside the walls. He was very grieved at the loss of his able colleague, Xiahou Ba.
That night at the second watch, Deng Ai and his men left the small town near the city. They sneaked into the Shu camp by an underground tunnel and made a surprise attack, which threw the Shu forces into great confusion. Jiang Wei tried to discipline his men but failed. At the same time, drums began to roll and horns to clang from the city and Sima Wang and his men arrived to join the attack. Under the double attack the Shu army suffered a serious setback. Jiang Wei pushed right and charged left, only getting clear by a desperate fight. Then the army retreated some twenty li to encamp.
After these two setbacks the men of Shu lost their confidence.
Jiang Wei said to his officers, “Success and failure are but everyday occurrences for an army. Although we have lost officers and men, it is not enough to discourage us. Whether or not we are to conquer the north depends on this campaign. None of you must waver in this aim. Whoever mentions retreat will be put to instant death.”
Zhang Yi said, “With so many men of Wei deployed here, their camp at Qishan must be quite undefended. I propose, General, that you continue the contest with Deng Ai here while I go and capture Qishan. After the seizure of the nine camps we can proceed to Chang’an. That will be our best bet.”
Jiang Wei took his advice. So Zhang Yi left with the rear division of the army to take Qishan, while Jiang Wei went down to the small town to provoke Deng Ai into fighting. The challenge this time was accepted, and the two armies arrayed themselves, facing each other. Jiang Wei and Deng Ai exchanged several dozen bouts but were equally matched. Both retreated to their camps. The next day Jiang Wei challenged again, but Deng Ai declined to come out. The Shu soldiers hurled abuse and insults at their opponents, but all to no avail.
In his camp Deng Ai thought to himself, “In spite of their defeats they remain here and even persist in challenging me for battle. They must have sent part of their army to seize my Qishan camps. The officer there is not shrewd and his force is weak. Undoubtedly he will be beaten. I must go to his rescue myself.”
Deng Ai called in his son, Deng Zhong, to whom he said: “Hold this place most carefully. Let them challenge as they may, but don’t go out. Tonight I’m going to rescue our camps at Qishan.”
At the second watch that night Jiang Wei was in his tent pondering over his plans, when he was disturbed by a great shouting and drumming. Soldiers told him that Deng Ai had suddenly appeared with a troop to challenge. The officers asked to go out to fight, but Jiang Wei forbade them to act without discretion.
However, Deng Ai had only made a detour by the Shu camp to reconnoiter on his way to reinforce Qishan.
Jiang Wei said to his officers, “Deng Ai is only feigning a night attack. He has certainly gone to relieve Qishan.”
So leaving Fu Qian to hold the camp, Jiang Wei went with 3,000 men to go to the aid of Zhang Yi.
At that time Zhang Yi was attacking the Wei position at Qishan. The defending officer, Shi Zuan, had few men and the camps were on the verge of falling when the sudden appearance of Deng Ai saved them. The onslaught of Deng Ai’s force drove Zhang Yi back against the hills, thus trapping him. Just as he was panicking, Zhang Yi heard the sounds of war and saw the Wei soldiers suddenly turning back in confusion.
“General Jiang Wei has come!” his men told him.
Zhang Yi took the opportunity to take the offensive and the tables were turned. Deng Ai, caught between the two forces, lost the battle and had to retreat into his camps at Qishan, which Jiang Wei soon surrounded.
Here, a digression is necessary. In Chengdu, the Second Ruler of Shu fell more and more under the malign influence of Huang Hao and indulged himself in luxury and dissipation. Government was left to look after itself.
At the time there was a high-ranking court official named Liu Yan, who had a very beautiful wife. One day she went into the palace to visit the Empress, who kept her there a whole month. Liu Yan erroneously suspected an affair between his wife and the Second Ruler and took a brutal revenge on the lady. He had her bound and ordered five hundred of his soldiers to hit her dozens of times on the face with their boots. She swooned many times.
The cruel deed reached the ears of the Second Ruler, who became very angry and ordered an investigation of Liu Yan’s crime and its punishment. The judges came up with a charge against Liu Yan to the effect that, “Soldiers are not proper persons to administer a punishment to one’s wife, and the face is not a portion of the body to bear punishment; the author of this crime should be put to death in the market place.” Therefore Liu Yan was beheaded.
Thereafter, officials’ wives were forbidden to go to court. But the incident disturbed the officials, who resented the Second Ruler for his unbridled sensuality, and gradually good men left the court while the mean swarmed in. Among the sycophants of Huang Hao was a certain general named Yan Yu, whose lack of a single military achievement had not stood in the way of preferment. Hearing that Jiang Wei was with his forces at Qishan, Yan Yu persuaded the eunuch to propose to the Second Ruler that Jiang Wei should be recalled and he himself sent to command the army. The Second Ruler agreed, and the edict was issued.
Jiang Wei was attacking the Wei camps at Qishan in full force, when three edicts came, all to the same effect, recalling him to the capital. Disobedience being out of the question, Jiang Wei ceased all operations and sent the Taoyang force back first. Then gradually he and Zhang Yi withdrew.
In his camp, Deng Ai wondered at the rolling of drums all night, but by daylight he was told that the men of Shu had withdrawn and their camps were empty. Suspecting some ruse, Deng Ai did not pursue.
Arriving in Hanzhong, the army halted and Jiang Wei went with the envoy to the capital to see the Second Ruler. Here he waited ten days, and still the Second Ruler held no court. Jiang Wei was much puzzled.
One day he again went to court. At the palace gate he met Xi Zheng, a secretary.
Jiang Wei asked him, “Do you know the reason why I was recalled?”
“Why, General, don’t you know?” replied Xi Zheng, smiling. “Huang Hao wanted to give Yan Yu a chance to win merit, so he intrigued for your recall. Now they have found out that Deng Ai is too clever to be tackled, and so they have dropped this idea.”
Jiang Wei was indignant. “I will certainly slay this eunuch!”
“No, General,” Xi Zheng checked him. “You’re the successor of our great prime minister, who bequeathed to you his unfinished task. You have too heavy a responsibility to act hastily or indiscreetly. Should our lord disapprove, it would go ill with you.”
“Thank you, sir, for your good advice,” said Jiang Wei gratefully.
The next day, the Second Ruler was drinking with his favorite eunuch in the garden when Jiang Wei walked in with a few followers. However, before Jiang Wei got close someone alerted Huang Hao, who at once hid himself behind some rocks by the lake.
Jiang Wei approached the pavilion where the Second Ruler sat and made his obeisance. With tears in his eyes he said, “I had Deng Ai surrounded at Qishan when Your Maj
esty’s three edicts came to recall me. I wonder what has been Your Majesty’s intention.”
The Second Ruler could make no reply.
Then Jiang Wei continued, “This Huang Hao is wicked and cunning. He monopolizes power just as those ten eunuchs did in Emperor Ling’s time. Your Majesty has only to call to mind Zhang Rang in recent times, or Zhao Gao in earlier days. Slay this man quickly and the court will be purified. So will the northern territory be reclaimed.”
The Second Ruler smiled. “Huang Hao is but an attendant of no importance, one who runs errands for me. Even if he tried to gain power, he could not do anything. I used to wonder why Dong Yun seemed to hate poor Huang Hao so much. Why do you take any notice of him, General?”
“Unless Your Majesty gets rid of him now, disaster will not be far away,” said Jiang Wei, bowing his head to the ground.
The Second Ruler replied, “If you love someone, you want him to live; if you dislike him, you desire him to die. Can’t you, General, tolerate a poor eunuch?”
He ordered one of the attendants to go and call Huang Hao. When he approached the pavilion, the Second Ruler told him to ask pardon of Jiang Wei.
Huang Hao prostrated himself before the general and pleaded in tears. “I am merely attending to His Majesty’s needs day and night, and never meddle in state affairs. Pray pay no heed to what people say. My life rests in your hands, General. Pray have pity on me.”
As he finished his words he wept and bowed again. Jiang Wei left the palace, still burning with anger. Then he went to seek Xi Zheng, to whom he related what had happened.
“General, you’re in grave danger,” said Xi Zheng. “And if you’re in peril, the country will perish without you.”
“Sir, can you please advise me as to how I can secure the country and save myself?”
Xi Zheng replied, “There is a place in Longxi, called Tazhong, where the land is rich and fertile. Why don’t you, General, request the Emperor to let you lead the army there for farming and training as Prime Minister Zhuge once did? There are four advantages: first, you can gather in wheat to feed your army; secondly, you can try to seize all the towns in the Longyou region; thirdly, you can keep Wei from ever daring to invade Hanzhong; and fourthly, as you’re away from the capital with the army under your control, no one will dare intrigue against you, and you will be safe from any danger. Thus you can ensure the safety of the state and yourself. But there is no time to lose.”