Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (50 page)

Suddenly a bomb exploded, and a brilliant flash lit up the sky; drums rolled as though the earth was rending, and the enemy appeared. In a trice the armies of Shu found themselves hemmed in. Both leaders pushed here and shoved there, but could find no way out. Then most opportunely from behind a hill rolled out a thunder of drums, and there was Wang P'ing coming to their rescue. Then the three forced their way to Liehliuch'eng. But just as they drew near to the rampart another body of men came up, which, from the writing on their flags, they recognised as Kuo Huai's army.

Now Kuo was here from unworthy motives. He had talked over Ssuma's recall with his colleague Ts'ao Chen, and, fearing lest the recalled general should acquire too great glory, Kuo had set out to anticipate him in the capture of Chieht'ing. Disappointed when he heard of his rival's success there, he had decided to try a similar exploit at Liehliuch'eng. So he had diverted his march thither.

He engaged the three Shu armies at once and slew so many of them that at Wei Yen's suggestion they all left for Yang-p'ing Pass, which might be in danger.

Kuo Huai, pleased with his success, gathered in his army after the victory and said to his officers, "I was disappointed at Chieht'ing, but we have taken this place, and that is merit of high order."

Thereupon he proceeded to the city gates. Just as he arrived, a bomb exploded on the wall, and, looking up, he saw the rampart bedecked with flags. On the largest banner he read the name of the general, Ssuma I. At that moment Ssuma himself lifted a board that hung in front of him and looked over the breast-high rail. He looked down and smiled, saying, "How late you are, friend Kuo!"

Kuo was amazed. "He is too much for me," said he. So he resignedly entered the city and went to pay his respects to his successful rival.

Ssuma was gracious, and said, "K'ung-ming must retire now that Chieht'ing is lost. You join forces With Ts'ao Chen and follow up quickly."

Ssuma called to him his van-leader, and said, "Those two thought we should win too great merit, so they tried to get ahead of us here. We are not the only ones who desire to achieve good service and acquire merit, but we had the good fortune to succeed. I thought the enemy would first try- to occupy Yangp'ing Pass, and if I went to take it then Chuko would fall on our rear. It says in the books on war that one should crush a retreating enemy not purse broken rebels, so you may go along the by-roads and smite those withdrawing down the Chi Valley, while I oppose the Hsieh Valley army. If they flee, do not fight, but just hold them up on the road and capture the baggage train"

Chang marched away with half the force to carry out his part of this plan, while Ssuma gave orders to go to Hsieh Valley by way of Hsich'eng, which though a small place, was important as a depot of stores for the Shu arms, beside commanding the road to the three districts of Nanan, T'ienshui and Anting. If this place could be captured the other three could be recaptured.

Ssuma left Shen Tan and Shen I to guard Liehliuch'eng and marched his arms toward the Hsieh Valley.

After K'ung-ming had sent Ma Su to guard Chieht'ing he was undecided what to do next. Then arrived the messenger with the plan prepared by Wang P'ing. K'ung-ming went over to his table and opened the letter. As he read it he smote the table in wrath.

"Ma Su's foolishness has destroyed the army," he cried.

"Why are you so disturbed, O Minister?" asked those near.

"By this plan I see that we have lost command of an important road. The camp has been made on the hill, and if the Wei men come in force our army will be surrounded and their water supply interrupted. In two days the men will be in a state of mutiny, and if Chieht'ing shall be lost how shall we be able to retire?"

Here the
Cheng-sbib
Yang I said, "I am none too clever I know, but let me go to replace Ma Su."

K'ung-ming explained to him how and where to camp, but before he could start a horseman brought the news of the loss of Chieht'ing and Liehliuch'eng. This made K'ung-ming very sad, and he sighed, saying, "The whole scheme has come to nought, and it is my fault."

He sent for Kuan and Chang, and said, "You two take three companies of good men and go along the road to Wukungshan. If you fall in with the enemy do not fight, but beat drums and raise a hubbub and make them hesitate and be doubtful, so that they may retire. Do not pursue, but when they retire make for Yangp'ing Pass."

He also sent Chang I to put Chienko in order for retreat and issued instructions for making ready to march. Ma Tai and Chiang Wei were told to guard the rear, but they were to go into ambush in the valleys till the army was on the march. Trusty men were sent with the news to T'ienshui, Nanan and Anting that the officers, army and people might go away into HanChung. He also sent to remove to a place of safety the aged mother of Chiang Wei.

All these arrangements made, K'ung-ming took five companies and set out for Hsich'eng to remove the stores. But messenger after messenger came to say that Ssuma I was advancing rapidly on Hsich'eng with a large army. No leader of rank was left to K'ung-ming;
he had only the civil officials and the five companies, and as half this force had started to remove the stores, he had only two and a half companies left.

His officers were all frightened at the news of near approach of the enemy. K'ung-ming himself went up on the rampart to look around. He saw clouds of dust rising into the sky. The Wei armies were nearing Hsich'eng along two roads. Then he ordered all the banners to be removed and concealed, and said if any officer in command of soldiers in the city moved or made any noise he would be instantly put to death. Next he threw open all the gates and set a score of soldiers dressed as ordinary people cleaning the streets at each gate. When all these preparations were complete, he donned the simple Taoist dress he affected on occasions and, attended by a couple of lads, sat down on the wall by one of the towers with his lute before him and a stick of incense burning.

Ssuma's scouts came near the city gate and saw all this. They did not enter the city, but went back and reported what they had seen. Ssuma I smiled incredulously. But he halted his army and rode ahead himself. Lo! it was exactly as the scouts had reported; K'ung-ming sat there, his face all smiles. A lad stood on one side of him bearing a sword and on the other a boy with the ordinary symbol of authority, a yak's tail. Just inside the gates a score of persons with their heads down were sweeping as if no one was about.

Ssuma hardly believed his eyes and thought this meant some peculiarly subtle ruse. So he went back to his armies, faced them about and moved toward the hills on the north.

"I am certain there are no soldiers behind this foolery," said his second son. "What do you retire for, father?"

"Chuko is always most careful and runs no risks. Those open gates undoubtedly mean an ambush, and if our men enter the city they will fall victims to his guile. How can you know? No; our course is to retire."

Thus were the two armies turned back from the city, much to the joy of K'ung-ming, who laughed and clapped his hands as he saw them hastening away. The officials gasped with astonishment, and they asked K'ung-ming to explain the phenomenon of a great army marching off at the sight of a single man. So he told them.

"He knows my reputation for carefulness and that I play not with danger. Seeing things as they were made him suspect an ambush, and so he turned away. I do not run risks, but this time there was no help for it. Now he will meet with Kuan and Chang, whom I sent away into the hills to wait for him."

They were still in the grip of fear, but they praised the depth of insight of their chief and his mysterious schemes and unfathomable plans.

"We should simply have run away," said they.

"What could we have done with two companies and a half even if we had run? We should not have gone far before being caught," said K'ung-ming.

Quite open lay the city to the foe,
But Chuko's lute of jasper wonders wrought;
It turned aside the legions' onward march
For both the leaders guessed the other's thought.

"But if I had been in his place I should not have turned away," said K'ung-ming, smiling and clapping his hands.

He gave orders that the people of the place should follow the army into HanChung, for Ssuma would assuredly return.

They abandoned Hsich'eng and returned into HanChung. In due course the officials and soldiers and people out of the three districts also came in.

It has been said that Ssuma I turned aside from the city. He went to Wukungshan. Presently there came the sounds of an army from behind the hills. The leader turned to his sons, saying, "If we do not retire we shall yet somehow fall victims to this Chuko Liang."

Then appeared a force advancing rapidly, the banners bearing the name of Chang Pao. The men of Wei were seized with sudden panic and ran, flinging off their armour and throwing away their weapons. But before they had fled very far they heard other terrible sounds in the valley and soon saw another force, with banners inscribed "Kuan Hsing." The roar of armed men echoing up and down the valley was terrifying, and as no one could tell how many men there were bearing down on them the panic increased. The Wei army abandoned all the baggage and took to flight. But having orders not to pursue, the two Shu generals let their enemies run in peace, while they gathered up the spoils. Then they returned.

Seeing the valley apparently full of men of Shu, Ssuma dared not leave the main road. He hurried back to Chieht'ing.

At this time Ts'ao Chen, hearing that the army of Shu was retreating, went in pursuit. But at a certain point he encountered a strong force under Ma Tai and Chiang Wei. Valley and hill seemed to swarm with enemies, and Ts'ao became alarmed. Then his van-leader was slain by Ma Tai, and the soldiers were panic-sticken and fled in disorder.

Meanwhile the men of Shu were hastening night and day along the road into HanChung. Chao Yun and Teng Chi, who had been lying in ambush in Chi Valley, heard that their comrades were retreating. Then said Chao Yun, "The men of Wei will surely come to smite us while we are retreating. Wherefore let me first take up a position in their rear, and then you lead off your men and part of mine, showing my ensigns. I will follow, keeping at the same distance behind you, and thus I shall be able to protect the retreat."

Now Kuo Huai was leading his army through the Chi Valley He called up his van-leader Su Yung and said to him, "Chao Yun is a warrior whom no one can withstand. You must keep a most careful guard lest you fall into some trap while they are retreating."

Su Yung replied, smiling, "If you will help me, O Commander, we shall be able to capture this Chao Yun.

So Su Yung, with three companies, hastened on ahead and entered the valley in the wake of the Shu army. He saw upon a slope in the distance a large red banner bearing the name of Chao Yun. This frightened him, and he retired. But before he had gone far a great uproar arose about him, and a mighty warrior came bounding forth on a swift steed, crying, "Do you recognise Chao Yun?"

Su Yung was terrified. "Whence came you?" he cried. "Is there another Chao Yun here."

He could make no stand, and soon fell victim to the spear of the veteran. His men scattered, and Chao Yun hurried on after the main body.

But soon another company came in pursuit, this time led by one Wan Cheng. As they came along Chao Yun halted in the middle of the road. By the time Wan had come close the other Shu soldiers had gone about thirty li along the road. However, when Wan drew nearer still and saw who it was standing in his path, he hesitated and finally halted. Presently he turned back and retired altogether, confessing on his return that he had not dared to face the old warrior, who seemed as terrible as ever.

However, Kuo Huai was not content and ordered him to return to the pursuit of the retreating army. This time he had many horsemen with him. Presently they came to a wood, and, as they entered, a loud shout arose in the rear, "Chao Yun is here!"

Terror seized upon the pursuers, and many fell from their horses. The others scattered among the hills. Wan Cheng braced himself for the encounter and went on. Chao shot an arrow which struck the plume on his helmet. Startled, he tumbled into a watercourse. Then Chao pointed his spear at him and said, "Be off! I will not kill you. Go and tell your chief to come quickly, if he is coming."

Wan fled for his life, while Chao continued his march as rearguard, and the retreat into HanChung steadily continued. There were no other episodes by the way. Ts'ao Chen and Kuo Huai took to themselves all the credit of having recovered the three districts.

Before the cautious Ssuma was ready to pursue the army of Shu it had already reached HanChung. He took a troop of horse and rode to Hsich'eng and there heard from the few people who had formerly sought refuge in the hills, and now returned, that K'ung-ming really had had no men in the city, with the exception of the two and a half companies, that he had not a single military commander, but only a few civil officers. He also heard that Kuan and Chang had had only a few men whom they led about among the hills making as much noise as they could. Ssuma felt sad at having been tricked. "K'ung-ming is a cleverer man than I am," said he with a sigh of resignation.

He set about restoring order, and presently marched back to Ch'angan. He saw his master Ts'ao Jui, who was pleased with his success and said, "It is by your good service that Shensi is again mine."