The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation (41 page)

As Zhuge Liang finished his harangue, wrath filled Wang Lang’s heart. With one loud cry he fell down from his horse and died there and then.

This exploit of Zhuge Liang’s has been lauded in a poem:

On the soil of the former Qin, the armies met,
And Zhuge Liang’s courage defied a myriad men.
With his three-inch long tongue,
He cursed to death the vile old minister Wang Lang.

As Wang Lang dropped dead, Zhuge Liang, pointing toward Cao Zhen with his fan, said: “I am not going to force you to fight now. Go and put your army in order for tomorrow’s battle.”

So saying he turned back and both armies withdrew for that day. The corpse of the dead counselor was duly placed in a coffin and sent back to Chang’an.

The deputy commander, Guo Huai, proposed a ruse to his chief. “Zhuge Liang expects us to be in mourning and will certainly raid our camp tonight. We can divide our army into four units. Let two bodies of our men go and attack their camp through some secret mountain paths and the other two wait in ambush outside our own camp and smite the enemy troops when they come to raid us.”

Delighted with this plan, Cao Zhen replied, “That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking.”

So he summoned the two van leaders and said to them, “Take 10,000 men each and get to the back of the Qishan Mountains. When you see the men of Shu march toward our camp, proceed to attack theirs. But if our enemy makes no move, withdraw at once and don’t advance rashly.”

Then he arranged with Guo Huai to lead a force each and hide outside the camp, leaving only a few men and some firewood within. A fire was to be lit as a signal if the men of Shu were seen coming. Orders being given, officers went to make necessary preparations.

In the meantime, Zhuge Liang was also preparing for a night operation. He first called in Zhao Yun and Wei Yan, who were told to take their own troops and raid the enemy camp at night.

“Cao Zhen is an experienced strategist and will be on guard,” ventured Wei Yan in objection.

“But that’s just what I want,” laughed Zhuge Liang. “I want him to know we will attack his camp tonight. Undoubtedly he will place some troops in ambush behind Qishan, who will make for our camp as soon as they see our men head toward theirs. So I want you to let yourselves be seen passing the hill, but you’re to camp far in the distance so that they will feel safe to make an attempt at our camp. Wait until you see the signal of fire. At the same time, Wen-zhang (Wei Yan) is to hold the pass to the hill. And Zi-long, you are to turn back, and, on the way you will encounter the men of Wei returning–but let them pass at first and attack only when they are halfway in their retreat. The enemy will assuredly fall to fighting among themselves, and we will win a complete victory.”

These two having gone away to carry out their parts of the overall plan, Zhuge Liang next called up Guan Xing and Zhang Bao. “You two are to take a troop each and hide at some key points in the hill. When the men of Wei come, let them go. Then take the road they come by to their camp.”

These two having left, he placed four officers in ambush outside the camp to attack the men of Wei on all sides. Within the camp the tents and shelters were left standing as if the camp was occupied, while firewood was heaped up ready to give the signal. Zhuge Liang then retired with the others to the rear of the camp to watch.

As dusk fell, the two van leaders of the Wei army, Cao Zun and Zhu Zan, left camp and moved quietly toward the camp of Shu. At about the second watch they spotted some slight movements in front of the hill in the distance.

Cao Zun thought to himself, “Commander Guo has really a wonderful prevision.”

Then he urged his men to speed up. At about midnight the troop reached the Shu camp. He at once dashed into the enclosure, only to find it totally deserted. Knowing that he had tumbled into a trap, he hurriedly began to retreat. As flames sprang up, his colleague Zhu Zan also arrived, and the two bodies of men fought with each other in the confusion. It was only after the two leaders met that they discovered they were fighting their own men.

As they hastened to restore order, loud shouting arose all around and on came the four bodies of men who had been lying in ambush for them. The two Wei leaders, with about a hundred of their close followers, fled in the direction of the high road. But before long rolling drums announced another body of their enemy, and they found their flight cut short by Zhao Yun.

“Where are you going, you rebels?” he cried. “Quickly submit!”

The two leaders of Wei fled. But soon they were barred by yet another force, led by Wei Yan. They were thoroughly beaten and only barely managed to escape to their own camp. But the few sentinels left in the camp thought they were the men of Shu coming to raid, so they hastened to light the fire, and at this signal Cao Zhen rushed up from the left and Guo Huai from the right, and a confused fight with their own men began afresh.

While this was happening, three cohorts of the men of Shu arrived, with Wei Yan in the center, and Guan Xing and Zhang Bao on the two flanks, and a fierce battle ensued. It ended with the defeat of the men of Wei, who lost many of their officers and retreated more than ten
li
. Zhuge Liang, after winning a great victory, called back his men and withdrew.

The two commanders of Wei collected together their beaten men and went back to camp, where they discussed their next move. Cao Zhen said, “Now we are weak but our enemy is strong. Have you any plan to drive them away?”

“Defeat or success is but common in war,” replied Guo Huai. “We mustn’t lose heart. I have a plan that will disorganize them so that they will be cut off from one another and compelled to withdraw.”

Sadly the Wei leaders failed,
To seek help they’d turn to the west.

Guo Huai’s plan will be unfolded in the next chapter.

CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR

Zhuge Liang Smites the Qiang Troops in a Snowstorm

Sima Yi Moves Swiftly to Capture Meng Da

G
uo
Huai laid his plan before his chief: “The Western Qiang (Tangut) tribes have paid annual tribute to us since the days of the Founder of our House. Later, Emperor Wen treated them kindly. Now let us maintain a strong defense at all the crucial vantage points here and at the same time send a secret emissary to seek their help. With a promise of a marriage alliance we may get them to attack Shu in the rear. At the same time our own army will strike in full force at the enemy in the front. Thus we will be attacking the men of Shu from all sides. How can we not win a great victory?”

Cao Zhen agreed and a messenger was sent forthwith to Western Qiang.

The prince, named Cheliji, had rendered yearly tribute to Han (and later to Wei) since the days of Cao Cao. He had two chief ministers: Prime Minister Yadan in charge of civil administration, and Marshal Yueji managing military affairs.

When the emissary from Wei arrived with Cao Zhen’s letter and presents of gold and pearls, he first sought the prime minister, to whom he gave some gifts and explained the purpose of his visit. Thus he gained an interview with the prince. The letter was duly delivered and the gifts presented. The prince accepted both and consulted his counselors on the matter.

Yadan said, “We have always had contacts with Wei. Now that General Cao Zhen asks for our aid and promises an alliance of marriage we ought to accede to his request.”

The prince took his advice and ordered his two chief ministers to raise an army of 150,000 trained soldiers, who were skilled in shooting arrows and crossbows, wielding spears and swords, and flinging caltrops and hammers. Beside these various weapons, the Qiang tribesmen also used battle chariots that were covered with iron plates that had been nailed onto them, to load grain, arms, and other odds and ends. The chariots were drawn either by camels or mules. The soldiers who operated the chariots were known as iron chariot troops.

The two ministers took leave of their prince and went straight away to Xiping Pass. The officer in command at the pass, Han Zhen, at once sent a report by dispatch to Zhuge Liang.

When he received the dispatch, Zhuge Liang asked his officers if any of them would go and drive off the Qiang army. Guan Xiang and Zhang Bao volunteered.

Zhuge Liang said, “Well, it’s good that you want to go but you’re ignorant of the roads.”

Then he called Ma Dai, to whom he said, “You know the disposition of the Qiang people from your long residence there—you can go as a guide.”

They took 50,000 veterans for the expedition. Several days later they drew near their enemy. Climbing up a hill, Guan Xing went with a hundred or so cavalrymen to observe and saw a long line of iron chariots, with the tail of each linked to the head of the next—the Qiang soldiers gave the appearance of being camped wherever they went. The chariots, which were armed to the teeth, looked like a well-guarded rampart. Guan Xing studied them for a long time but was quite at a loss as to how to overcome them. He returned and consulted his two colleagues.

Ma Dai said, “Let’s see what they’ll do at the battle tomorrow, and we can decide on our plans.” So the next day they drew up their army in three divisions, with Guan Xing in the center, Zhang Bao on the left, and Ma Dai on the right. Thus they advanced.

From the Qiang array rode out Marshal Yueji, who had an iron mace in his hand and a carved bow hung at his waist. Guan Xing gave the order for all three divisions to press forward. Suddenly the Qiang soldiers stepped to each side while in the center the iron chariots rolled out like surging waves, from which flew arrows and bolts all at once—the men of Shu could not stand against them.

The two wings retreated first, but the central division led by Guan Xing was surrounded by the enemy in the northwest corner. In spite of his every effort, Guan Xing could not get free, for the iron chariots were like a city wall and no opening could be found. The men of Shu were quite helpless, unable to assist each other. Guan Xing made for the mountains in the hope of finding a way of escape. As it grew dark a body of Qiang soldiers crowded up, holding black flags. Their leader, with an iron mace in his hand, shouted, “Halt, young man! I am Marshal Yueji!”

Guan Xing only hastened forward faster, plying his whip to urge his steed. Presently there emerged a deep gully before him, and he had to turn back and fight. At the sight of Yueji, Guan Xing’s courage turned cold and he could not defend himself. So he leaped into the gully to escape. Yueji came close and swung his mace at him. Dodging aside, Guan Xing avoided the blow, but it hit his steed on the hip. The poor beast fell into water, and with it went Guan Xing.

Suddenly he heard a great splash behind him. For no apparent reason, Yueji and his horse had also fallen into the gully. Surprised, Guan Xing braced himself and struggled in the water to see. There on the bank he saw a powerful officer driving off the Qiang. Guan Xing gripped his sword and waited to strike at Yueji as he came up but his enemy jumped out of the water and fled. So Guan Xing caught the steed Yueji had abandoned, led him up the bank, and rearranged the saddle and rein. Then he girded on his sword and mounted. Ahead he saw the unknown officer still chasing the enemy.

“Whoever this may be, he has saved my life,” thought Guan Xing. “I ought to make his acquaintance.”

So he pressed forward after his rescuer. As he drew nearer he saw, enveloped in mist, the dim figure of an officer of rank, with a dark red face and bushy eyebrows like silkworms, dressed in a green robe and golden armor. He wielded the Blue Dragon sword, rode the Red Hare steed, and his hand stroked a long flowing beard. Now the young man knew who had saved him. It was his own father, Lord Guan!