Authors: Luo Guanzhong
Zhuge Liang then led the army to attack Jixian. The grain in the city was insufficient to feed the soldiers. From the wall Jiang Wei saw wagons of grain and forage being driven into Wei Yan’s camp, and he decided to try to snatch some. So he led his 3,000 men out of the city to attack the grain wagons. As soon as he appeared the convoy abandoned the wagons and fled. Jiang Wei seized them, and was taking them into the city when he was met by a troop under the command of Zhang Yi. They fought but after a short while Wang Ping came to reinforce his colleague, so that Jiang Wei was attacked on two sides. This proved too much for him and he had to abandon the spoils and try to re-enter the city.
But as he drew near he saw in dismay Shu ensigns fluttering on the wall. It turned out the city had been seized by Wei Yan in his absence. Through desperate fighting, Jiang Wei got clear and set off for Tianshui. By then he had still a few score of followers left. But presently the small force fell in with Zhang Bao, and at the end of this combat Jiang Wei found himself all alone. He reached Tianshui and hailed the gate. When the guards saw him, they hastily informed the prefect.
“He must have come to beguile me into opening the gate,” said Ma Zun.
So he ordered the guards on the wall to shoot at him. Jiang Wei had to turn back, but there he saw the men of Shu close at hand, so he set off as fast as he could for Shanggui. When he got there, however, Liang Qian, who saw him on the wall, abused him vehemently.
“You traitor,” he cried. “How dare you come to cajole me into giving up my city? I know you have surrendered to Shu.”
And he also ordered his men to shoot at the hapless fugitive.
Jiang Wei was thus denied any chance to defend himself. Lifting his eyes to Heaven, while tears rolled down his cheeks, he whipped up his steed and rode off toward Chang’an.
Before he had got very far he came to a woods overgrown with tall trees. From among these appeared a company of soldiers led by Guan Xing, who blocked his way. Weary as were both the horse and rider, there was no chance of successful resistance, and Jiang Wei turned back. But suddenly from behind a slope emerged a small chariot in which sat Zhuge Liang, dressed as usual in his silk headpiece and white cloak and carrying his feather fan.
He addressed Jiang Wei by his familiar name and said, “Is it not time to yield?”
Jiang Wei paused and pondered for quite some time. In front of him was Zhuge Liang and behind were Guan Xing and his men. Besides, he did not really have anywhere else to go to. So he dismounted and offered his submission.
Zhuge Liang at once got out of his chariot to welcome him. Taking him by the hand, he said, “Ever since I left my humble cottage I have been seeking some worthy man to whom I might impart the knowledge that I have spent my life in acquiring. I never found the person, much to my regret. But now that I have met you, my desire is attained.”
Overjoyed, Jiang Wei bowed to thank him. Zhuge Liang then took him to camp, where a general council was called to discuss how to capture Tianshui and Shanggui.
Jiang Wei made a suggestion. “The two officials, Yin Shang and Liang Xu, are good friends of mine,” he said. “Let me write to them and shoot the letters into the city. That will cause mutiny and the city can be seized.”
Zhuge Liang adopted his plan. So the two secret letters were duly written and sent flying over the ramparts, where they were found and taken to the prefect. Filled with suspicion, the prefect referred the matter to Xiahou Mao and asked him to decide what to do as soon as possible.
“Put both the men to death,” replied Xiahou Mao.
But Yin Shang got wind of this and said to his friend, “We might as well yield the city to Shu and they will treat us well for that.”
That evening Xiahou Mao sent his men to summon the two officers to him several times. They knew that danger was imminent so, fully armed, they led the soldiers under their command to the main gate and opened it to let in the men of Shu. The prefect and his exalted guest, Xiahou Mao, fled in panic by the west gate with a few hundred faithful followers and sought refuge in Qianghu.
The defectors welcomed Zhuge Liang into the city, who restored order and calmed the people. This done, Zhuge Liang asked them how he might capture Shanggui. Liang Xu said, “My brother holds that city, and I will call upon him to yield it.”
Zhuge Liang was very pleased. Presently Liang Xu rode over to Shanggui and called out his brother to submit. Zhuge Liang rewarded him and then made Liang Xu prefect of Tianshui; Yin Shang, magistrate of Jixian; and Liang Qian, magistrate of Shanggui.
Now the army was ready to advance. Some of the officers asked their chief why he did not pursue and capture Xiahou Mao.
Zhuge Liang replied, “To release him is like freeing a duck, but in Jiang Wei I acquired a phoenix.”
With the seizure of these three cities Zhuge Liang’s fame increased greater than ever, and the neighboring towns and cities simply surrendered whenever his army passed without even putting up any resistance. Then he reorganized his army, adding to it all the remaining forces in Hanzhong, and advanced through the Qishan Mountains to the west bank of the Wei River.
Away in the capital of Wei, Zhuge Liang’s movements were reported to the young Emperor at a court assembly held in the first year of the period Tai He. He was told that Xiahou Mao had lost three cities and fled to Qiang hu, while the Shu enemy had reached the Qishan Mountains, and their advance units were already posted on the west bank of the Wei River. Alarmed, Cao Rui turned to his ministers and asked for a volunteer to go out and drive off the enemy.
Wang Lang stepped forward, saying, “I observed that every time General Cao Zhen was sent by the late Emperor on an expedition he succeeded—why not send him to drive off these men of Shu?”
Cao Rui accepted his advice, whereupon he summoned Cao Zhen, to whom he said, “The late Emperor confided me to your guardianship—you cannot sit by while the enemy ravages the country.”
Cao Zhen replied, “Your Majesty, my talents are but poor and unequal to the task you propose.”
“You are a trusted minister of the state and you must not refuse this task,” said Wang Lang. “Feeble as I am, I will accompany you on the expedition.”
“After the bounties I have received I dare not refuse,” replied Cao Zhen. “But I would like to have an assistant.”
“Just name whoever you want,” said the Emperor.
So Cao Zhen named Guo Huai, whose official rank was Marquis of Sheting and Governor of Yongzhou.
Consequently Cao Zhen was appointed commander-in-chief, with Guo Huai as deputy commander and Wang Lang, who was already seventy-six, as chief counselor. Two hundred thousand soldiers from both capitals were assigned to Cao Zhen, who selected his cousin, Cao Zun, as leader of the van and another officer, General Zhu Zan, as his second-in-command. The army moved out in the eleventh month, and the Emperor went outside the west gate to see it depart.
In due time the army arrived at Chang’an, where they crossed the Wei River and camped to its west. Cao Zhen consulted Wang Lang and Guo Huai about a strategy to drive out the invaders.
Wang Lang said, “Tomorrow let us draw up our army in excellent order and unfurl all the banners. I will go out and speak with Zhuge Liang. I’m sure my words will be enough to reduce Zhuge Liang to meek submission, and the men of Shu will march home without a fight.”
Delighted with this proposal, Cao Zhen gave a strict order: “Tomorrow morning, have breakfast at the fourth watch. By daylight the army must be in perfect order, and both men and horses are to be in best spirits. Everything is to be grand and imposing, with flags fluttering and drums rolling, and every man in his place.” Then he sent a messenger to the Shu camp to deliver a declaration of battle.
The next day, when the two armies were drawn up facing each other in front of the Qishan Mountains, the men of Shu saw that their enemies were powerful-looking men, very different from those whom Xiahou Mao had commanded. After three rolls of drums Wang Lang rode out, accompanied by Cao Zhen, the commander-in-chief and Guo Huai, the second-in-command. The two van leaders maintained a firm defense of the battle formations at two corners. Then an orderly galloped to the front and called out in a loud voice: “We request the commander of the opposing army to come out to a parley.”
At this, from the Shu battle array an opening was made at the main standard, through which rode out Guan Xing and Zhang Bao, who reined in their horses and took their positions on the right and left. They were followed by several groups of valiant officers who stood in orderly lines, and finally, there appeared from beneath the great standard in the center of the array a four-wheeled carriage, in which sat the stately figure of Zhuge Liang, wearing a silk headdress, white robe bound with a black sash, and holding a feather fan in his hand. He advanced with an air of perfect ease.
Looking across at the Wei battle lines, Zhuge Liang saw three big umbrellas and on the flags were large characters bearing the names of the commanders. In the middle was an aged figure, who was Minister Wang Lang, chief counselor of the army.
“He will try to influence me with words,” thought Zhuge Liang, “I must answer accordingly.” He ordered his carriage to be pushed beyond the formation of his army, and told a minor officer to go forth and call out, “The Prime Minister of Han wishes to speak with Minister Wang.”
At this call Wang Lang also rode out. Zhuge Liang bowed with his hands from the carriage, and Wang Lang bent his body slightly from horseback to return the salute. Then he began his prepared speech. “I have long heard of your reputation, sir, and I am pleased to meet you today. Since you are aware of the decrees of Heaven and understand the conditions of the world, why do you raise an army for an unjustified war?”
Zhuge Liang replied, “I hold an edict to destroy rebels. How can it be unjustified?”
Wang Lang said, “Even Heaven has its mutations, let alone human dynasties, which are subject to change from time to time; and the supreme dignity falls at last to the man of virtue. This is the inevitable law of nature. In the days of the emperors Huan and Ling, the Yellow Turban rebellion arose, and for a long time feudal lords competed for power in the country. Later, in the periods of Chu Ping and Jian An, there was the revolt of Dong Zhuo, followed by that of Li Jue and Guo Si. Next, Yuan Shu usurped the imperial title in Shouchun, while his brother Yuan Shao dominated the vast territory of Ye. Liu Biao occupied Jingzhou, and Lu Bu swallowed up Xuzhou. Brigands rose like swarms of wasps and evil schemers followed their own will, creating most imminent danger to the imperial house and exposing the common people to the gravest of perils.
“Then the founder of Wei, Emperor Wu (Cao Cao), swept away rebellion in all directions, restoring order in the remotest corners of the land. All hearts turned to him in gratitude, and people from the four quarters admired his virtue. Yet, it was not through power or force that he gained this—it was simply the will of Heaven.
“His son and successor, Emperor Wen (Cao Pi), divinely well-versed in the art of letters and of war, ascended the throne in accordance with the decree of Heaven and the desire of men, and following the traditional example of Yao, yielding his supreme title to Shun. The Kingdom of Wei, set in the heart of China, dominates all the regions of the country. Is it not adequate proof that it accords to Heaven’s mandate and men’s wishes?
“Sir, you are a man of great talent and ambition. You even want to compare yourself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi of old. Why do you act in opposition to the design of Heaven and turn away from the desire of men? You cannot be ignorant of the wise old saying: He who accords with Heaven’s will flourishes, while he who opposes it shall be destroyed.
“Now we, the mighty Wei, have an army of a million soldiers and a thousand fine officers. Can the glowworm in the parched stubble rival the glorious moon in the sky? You, sir, had better put down your arms, take off your armor, and submit. You will be created a lord. That will mean tranquillity for the state and happiness for the people. Is that not a desirable outcome?”
Zhuge Liang laughed. “I thought I would hear some noble discourse from you, once a highly-esteemed minister of the Han Dynasty. Could I have imagined that you would utter such depraved words? Now listen, all officers and men, to what I have to say. In the days of the emperors Huan and Ling the rule of Han declined. Palace eunuchs brought calamity to the court, and trouble was rife in every quarter of the country. After the rebellion of the Yellow Turbans, there arose Dong Zhuo and his followers Li Jue and Guo Si, who abducted the emperor and persecuted the people. But what was the cause of all this? Because rotten wood served as officials in royal courts and brute beasts received their feed in imperial halls; because men with wolfish hearts and cur-like conduct filled up government offices and servile flatterers packed the administrative bodies. Therefore the state was in ruins and the people were trodden into the mire.
“I have long known your conduct. Originally a native of the shores of the eastern sea, you were recommended to be an official. As such, you ought to aid your sovereign and support the state, bring security to Han and prosperity to the House of Liu. Who could have expected that you would turn traitor and plot with the renegades to usurp the throne? Indeed, Heaven and Earth will not tolerate such heinous crimes as evil as yours! And the people throughout this country wish to devour your flesh.
“Fortunately, Heaven did not intend to terminate the Han Dynasty and the late Emperor Zhao Lie (Liu Bei) continued the line in the west. Today I have been entrusted by his heir, the present Emperor, with the mission of destroying you rebels. Since you are such a fawning servant you ought to hide your body and cover your face, and concern yourself with finding some means to sustain yourself. How dare you come out before the army to rave about the decrees of Heaven. You hoary-headed old fool! Gray-haired scoundrel! Any day from now you will go down to the Nine Springs. How will you face the twenty-four Emperors of Han? Go away, you old rascal! Tell your fellow rebels to come and fight a decisive battle with me!”