Authors: Luo Guanzhong
Zhang He, having received his instructions, departed with his troops.
Meanwhile away at Qishan, a spy returning from Xincheng had reported to Zhuge Liang the destruction of Meng Da and the approaching of Sima Yi’s army, with Zhang He as van leader.
Zhuge Liang was very distressed. “Meng Da failed to observe secrecy and his destruction was certain,” he said. “But now Sima Yi will surely seize Jieting and block the most essential road to us. Who will go and defend it?”
Ma Su offered himself instantly.
Zhuge Liang said, “Small as it is, Jieting is of vital importance, for its loss would involve the destruction of the whole army. Although you’re well-versed in strategy, the defense of this place may still baffle you, since it has neither walls nor natural defenses.”
“I have studied the books of war since childhood, and I may say I know a little of the art of war,” replied Ma Su. “How can I be unable to hold Jieting?”
“Sima Yi is not an ordinary commander, and he also has Zhang He, who is a famous general of Wei, as his van leader. I’m afraid you may not be a match for him.”
Ma Su replied, “I will have no fear even if Cao Rui himself comes, let alone these two. If I fail, I am willing to pay the penalty of the death of my whole family.”
“There is no jesting in war,” said Zhuge Liang.
“I will give a written pledge.”
Zhuge Liang agreed, and a written pledge was submitted and placed on record.
Zhuge Liang continued, “I’m going to give you 25,000 veterans and also an officer of rank to assist you.”
Next he summoned Wang Ping and said, “I’m entrusting you with this heavy responsibility, for I know you have always been a man of extreme caution. You must hold Jieting with the utmost care. Be sure to set your camp in the most commanding position so that the enemy can’t sneak by. When you have secured your position, draw a map of the topography of the surrounding area and send it to me at once. You two must confer with each other over everything. Never take any rash action. If you can hold this place successfully, yours will be the best service in the capture of Chang’an. So be very, very careful.”
The two bowed to him and took their leave. After they were gone Zhuge Liang, for fear some slip might occur with these two, called Gao Xiang to him and said: “Northeast of Jieting is a place named Lieliu, built on little-used hill paths. There you are to camp and make a stockade. Take 10,000 men for this task. Should Jieting be threatened, you must go to its rescue.”
After Gao Xiang had left, Zhuge Liang reflected that Gao Xiang would not be able to withstand Zhang He and a major general was needed to camp beside Jieting to ensure its safety. So he summoned Wei Yan and told him to encamp his troops to the rear of Jieting.
But Wei Yan was unhappy about this assignment. “As leader of the van I should go first against the enemy—why am I sent to a place where there is nothing to do?”
“Fighting the enemy in the forefront is the job of minor officers. Now I’m sending you to support Jieting, which is the most crucial route to Yangping Pass, the very throat of the whole of Hanzhong. It’s a task of vital importance and not at all an idle one. Don’t regard it as of no significance and spoil my whole plan. Be particularly watchful.”
Satisfied, Wei Yan went his way. At last Zhuge Liang’s mind was at rest. Then he sent for Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi, to whom he said, “With Sima Yi in command of the Wei army everything is different. I want each of you to lead a force out by Ji Valley as decoys to mislead the enemy. When you meet them you can give battle or avoid fighting. Either way, you will strike terror into them. I’m going to lead the main army through Ye Valley to take Meicheng. If that place is taken, Chang’an will fall.”
Following the instruction, the two also left. Finally Zhuge Liang ordered Jiang Wei to lead the vanguard of the main army and march out through Ji Valley.
In the meantime, Ma Su and Wang Ping had reached Jieting and examined the terrain. Ma Su smiled. “The minister is over-anxious, I think. How would the Wei army dare to come to such a hilly place as this?”
Wang Ping replied, “Though they might not dare to come, we should set our camp at this intersection of all the roads and order the soldiers to fell trees and build a strong stockade for a prolonged defense.”
But Ma Su was opposed to this idea. “What sort of a place is that to pitch a camp? Over there is a single, wood-covered hill. An ideal point of vantage! We should camp on that hill.”
“No, I’m afraid you’re mistaken,” replied Wang Ping. “If we camp on the road and build a strong wall the enemy can’t possibly get past, even though they amount to 100,000. If we abandon this crucial point for the hill, and if the men of Wei come in full force and surround us on all sides, how can we hope to defend ourselves?”
“That’s the view of a woman,” said Ma Su, laughing loudly. “The
Art of War
says, ‘Occupying an elevation to look downward on your enemy, you can smash them as easily as splitting a bamboo.’ If the men of Wei come I’ll see to it that none of them ever returns.”
“I’ve followed the prime minister in many a campaign, and benefited much from his careful instructions every time. To my mind this hill is a hopeless point. If the enemy cuts off our water supply chaos will arise among our men.”
“What nonsense,” said Ma Su. “The famous strategist Sun Tzu says, ‘Place your men in a desperate position and victory ensues.’ If they cut off our water supply, won’t our men be desperate and fight to the death? Then each one of them will be worth a hundred. I have the books of war at my finger tips, and the minister has often asked me for my advice. Why do you presume to oppose me?”
“If you insist, then give me part of the force to make a small camp to the west of the hill so that I can support you in case the enemy comes.”
But Ma Su refused. Just then inhabitants of the hills came running along saying that the Wei soldiers were approaching. Hearing this Wang Ping proposed to leave for the main road, but Ma Su said to him: “Since you won’t obey me, I’ll give you 5,000 men and you can go and make your own camp, but when I report my success to the prime minister you shall have no share of the merit.”
Wang Ping marched about ten
li
from the hill and set his camp. He drew a map of their positions and sent it quickly to Zhuge Liang with a full report of Ma Su’s insistence on camping on the hill.
In the city, Sima Yi sent his younger son to reconnoiter the road ahead and to find out if Jieting had a garrison. He would halt the advance if the place was defended. The son returned with the information that there was a garrison in Jieting.
“Zhuge Liang is really more than human,” sighed his father. “He’s too clever for me.”
“Why are you so despondent, father? I think Jieting is quite easy to capture.”
“Why do you dare to boast so?”
“Well, there is no stockade on the road and the enemy is all camped on a hill,” said Sima Zhao. “I have seen it myself, so I know it can be captured.”
“If so, then Heaven means a victory for me,” said his father, greatly pleased.
So he changed dress and rode out with a hundred cavalrymen to see for himself. It was a clear night and the moon shone brightly. Sima Yi went straight to the hill and thoroughly surveyed the neighborhood.
From the hilltop Ma Su saw him, but only laughed. “If he wants to keep alive he shouldn’t try to surround this hill.”
He then issued an order to his officers that in case the enemy came they were to rush downhill on all sides as soon as they saw a red flag waving at the summit.
Back in his camp, Sima Yi sent people to find out who commanded in Jieting and was told that it was Ma Su, brother of Ma Liang.
“A man of unwarranted reputation and mediocre ability,” said Sima Yi. “Zhuge Liang uses such an imbecile. How can he not fail?”
Then he asked if there were any other camps near the place, and scouts told him that Wang Ping was about ten
li
off. So Zhang He was told to go and watch Wang Ping. With two forces, Shen Dan and Shen Yi were to surround the hill. They were instructed to seal the road to the water supply first, to cause confusion in the Shu camp and attack when that occurred.
The next day, Zhang He led his men out and placed his troop between Wang Ping and the hill. Then Sima Yi proceeded with his mighty force to encircle the hill on every side.
From the summit Ma Su could see the entire field covered with the men of Wei, their banners and ranks in strict order. The sight shrunk the courage of the men of Shu. They dared not descend to attack, although the red flag signaled for them to move. The officers pushed one another, but no one dared to go first. Furious, Ma Su himself cut down two officers, which frightened the others, who then plucked up their courage to descend and try to break the Wei formation. But the men of Wei held fast, and the men of Shu had to retreat back to the hill. Seeing that his scheme did not work, Ma Su ordered his men to firmly guard the gates till help should arrive.
When Wang Ping saw the arrival of the enemy he started for the hill to aid his comrade, but was intercepted by Zhang He. After exchanging scores of bouts, Wang Ping, exhausted, was compelled to retreat from where he had come.
The men of Wei maintained a close siege all day. Without water, the men on the hill were unable to prepare food, and disorder broke out. By midnight the situation deteriorated to such a point that the troops on the south side went out to surrender to the enemy. Ma Su was unable to check them. At this Sima Yi ordered his men to light fire on the hillside, which led to still greater confusion in the beleaguered garrison. At last Ma Su, realizing that it was impossible to hold his position, had to lead his remaining force down the hill to attempt to escape toward the west.
Sima Yi allowed him to pass, but Zhang He pursued him for over thirty
li
. But then there came an unexpected roll of drums and blowing of horns. Zhang He was stopped by a force led by Wei Yan, and Ma Su was able to continue his escape. Whirling up his sword, Wei Yan dashed toward Zhang He, who at once turned to flee. Wei Yan followed, intending to recapture Jieting.
The pursuit continued for fifty
li,
when Wan Yan suddenly found himself in an ambush, with Sima Yi on one side and his younger son on the other. Both closed in behind him, and he was trapped. At this Zhang He also turned back, and the attack now came from three sides. Wei Yan tried desperately to break through from the right and the left but all his efforts failed to get him clear. Many of his men were lost. Just as the situation became most critical, help appeared in the person of Wang Ping.
Wei Yan was relieved as he saw Wang Ping coming up. Together the two fought back against the men of Wei and drove them off. Then Wei Yan and Wang Ping made all haste back to their own camp, only to find it already in the hands of the enemy. As the two Shens rushed out to attack, Wei Yan and his colleague headed toward Lieliu to seek refuge with Gao Xiang, who had heard of the loss of Jieting and had led all his men out to the rescue. On the way he fell in with his two comrades and was told what had happened.
Gao Xiang said, “Why don’t we launch a night attack on the Wei camp and recover Jieting?” This proposal was accepted and the three mapped out their plan. When darkness fell they set out along three roads. Wei Yan was the first to reach Jieting, only to find it completely deserted. Filled with apprehension, he dared not advance boldly but waited quietly at the mouth of the road for his colleagues. Soon Gao Xiang arrived, and they both speculated as to the whereabouts of their enemy.
While they were puzzling over this and wondering what had become of Wang Ping, a bomb exploded loudly, followed by a dazzling fire that lit up the sky and a deafening rolling of drums that seemed to rend the earth. The enemy appeared. In a trice the men 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 shouting, and there was Wang Ping coming to their rescue. Then the three forced their way to Lieliu. But just as they drew near to the ramparts another body of men came up—and the lettering on their flags indicated they were from Guo Huai’s army.
Now Guo Huai and Cao Zhen were afraid that Sima Yi might gain all the credit. So after taking counsel with each other, they decided to detail Guo Huai to seize Jieting. Hearing that the place was already captured, he had decided to come and seize Lieliu, where he was met by the three officers of Shu. A fierce battle followed between the two sides, during which a great many Shu soldiers lost their lives. Wei Yan, fearing that Yangping Pass might be in danger, suggested abandoning Lieliu and hurried with his two colleagues toward the pass.
Guo Huai, pleased with his success, gathered in his army after the victory and said to his officers, “Although I failed to seize Jieting, I’ve taken this place, and that’s also a merit of high order.”
Thereupon he proceeded to the city gates. Just as he approached, a bomb exploded on the wall, and, looking up, he saw the rampart be-decked with flags. On the largest banner he read: S
IMA
Y
I
, C
OMMANDER OF THE
E
XPEDITION TO
C
ONQUER THE
W
EST
. At that moment Sima Yi himself appeared. Lifting a suspended board and leaning against a breast-high wooden rail he laughed and inquired, “Why are you so late, General Guo?”