The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation (45 page)

“You’re indeed wonderful in your calculations,” admitted Guo Huai.

Then he entered the city and the two exchanged greetings.

Sima Yi said, “Zhuge Liang is sure to withdraw now that he’s lost Jieting. General, you and Commander Cao should pursue him quickly.”

Guo Huai took the advice and left the city immediately.

Sima Yi called Zhang He to whom he said, “He and Cao Zhen were afraid that I would win all the merit, so they tried to get ahead of me here. Not that I wanted to ascribe all the credit to myself, but it was just good luck. I anticipated Wei Yan and the others would first try to secure Yang-ping Pass, and if I went to take it, Zhuge Liang would attack our rear. The
Art of War
says, ‘Do not attack a retreating enemy nor pursue a desperate foe.’ Now you go along some byroad to intercept those withdrawing from Ji Valley, while I go and oppose those from Ye Valley. If they flee, don’t fight with them, but just hold them up in the middle and you will be able to capture their supply wagons.”

Zhang He marched away with half the force to carry out his part of this plan, while Sima Yi gave an order to go to Ye Valley by way of West City. Though a small place, West City was important as a depot of stores for the Shu army, beside commanding the road to the three districts of Nanan, Tianshui, and Anding. If this place could be seized the other three would be recaptured by Wei. Therefore, leaving the two Shens to guard Lieliu, Sima Yi marched his army toward Ye Valley.

Now let us return to Zhuge Liang at Qishan. After he had sent Ma Su to guard Jieting he was undecided what to do next. One day a messenger arrived with Wang Ping’s map. Zhuge Liang opened it.

“How stupid Ma Su is! He will be the ruin of our army!” he cried while he looked at it, striking the desk in extreme alarm.

“Why are you so disturbed, sir?” asked those near him.

“By this sketch I see that instead of commanding the main road he has chosen to camp on a hill. If the men of Wei come in force to surround our army and cut off our water supply, in less than two days our army will be in chaos. If Jieting is lost how will we be able to return?”

Here Yang Yi said, “I know I’m not very talented, but let me go and replace Ma Su.”

Zhuge Liang explained to him in detail how and where to camp, but before he could start a galloping horseman brought the news of the loss of both Jieting and Lieliu.

In despair, Zhuge Liang stamped his feet and sighed deeply. “The whole scheme has come to naught, and it is my fault.”

He sent for Guan Xing and Zhang Bao at once and said to them, “You two take 3,000 men each and go along some byroads in Wugong Hills. If you fall in with the enemy, don’t fight but only beat drums and raise a hubbub to scare them away. Let them retreat and don’t pursue, either. When our army has completely withdrawn, make for Yangping Pass without delay.”

Then he sent Zhang Yi to prepare Sword Pass for a general retreat and issued an order informing all officers and men to secretly pack up to get ready for withdrawal. He also assigned Ma Dai and Jiang Wei to guard the rear, telling them to place themselves in ambush in a valley and not to call back their soldiers till the main army had retreated. Having completed these arrangements, he sent trusted men to Tianshui, Nanan, and Anding with the order that all officials, soldiers, and people were to move into Hanzhong. He also saw to it that Jiang Wei’s aged mother was safely conducted to Hanzhong.

All these arrangements made, Zhuge Liang led 5,000 men to West City to remove the supplies. Suddenly messengers galloped in more than a dozen times with the terrible report that Sima Yi was advancing rapidly toward the city with his huge army of 150,000 soldiers.

At this point, no officer of rank was at Zhuge Liang’s side, but only the civil officials. As for the 5,000 men, half of them had been sent to remove the grain and forage, so all he had in the city was 2,500 men. The officials all turned pale with fright at the news. Ascending the wall, Zhuge Liang himself went to take a look. There he saw clouds of dust rising into the sky and the men of Wei pressing toward the city along two roads.

Then Zhuge Liang gave the following order: “Remove from sight all the banners and flags. Every sentinel must remain in position. Any person who dares to walk in and out of the city without permission, or raise his voice to speak or shout, will be instantly put to death. Open all the four gates and set twenty soldiers dressed as ordinary people cleaning the streets at each gate. Do not stir if the Wei army comes. I have a plan to drive them off.”

When everything was done according to his instructions he donned his white cloak, put on his silk headdress and, attended by two lads carrying his lute, he sat down on the wall in front of the turret. With his lute beside him and a stick of incense burning, he began to play the instrument.

Soon Sima Yi’s reconnaissance troops approached the city gate, and puzzled by the sight they dared not enter the city, but hastened back to report what they had seen to Sima Yi, who smiled incredulously. But he halted his army and rode ahead to see for himself. Lo! it was exactly as the scouts had described—Zhuge Liang, his face radiant with smiles, was seated high on the wall strumming his lute and burning incense. A lad stood on his left bearing a sword and another on his right holding a horsetail whisk. Around the gates some twenty people with their heads down seemed to be engrossed in sweeping the ground, as if no one else were about.

Filled with suspicion, Sima Yi thought this indicated some peculiarly subtle ruse. So he rode back, faced his army about, and ordered retreat by the road toward the northern hills.

“Could it be there is no army behind his show,” said his second son. “Why do you retreat so soon, father?”

“Zhuge Liang is always most cautious and never takes chances. Those open gates undoubtedly mean an ambush, and if our men enter the city they will fall victims to his guile. How can you people understand? Our best course is to retreat at once.”

Thus the two armies of Wei both left West City, much to the joy of Zhuge Liang, who laughed and clapped his hands as he saw them hastening away. The officials, still gasping with terror, asked Zhuge Liang to explain why Sima Yi, a famous Wei general commanding a massive army, should retreat quickly at the sight of him.

Zhuge Liang replied, “He knows my reputation for caution and that I never court danger. Seeing things as they were, he suspected an ambush and so turned away. I didn’t mean to take a risk but this time there was no alternative. Now he will surely take the byroad to the northern hills. I have already sent Guan Xing and Zhang Bao there to wait for him.”

Amazed at the depth of his foresight they said in awe: “Sir, your schemes and plans are truly unfathomable, even to gods or spirits. We would simply have abandoned the city and fled.”

“What chance of escape would we have with only 2,500 men? We would not have gone far before we were caught by Sima Yi.”

A lute three feet long conquered a mighty army
When Zhuge Liang made his foe retreat at West City.
Where the hundred and fifty thousand men had turned
Men of today still point with wonder in mind.

“But if I had been in his place I would not have departed so fast,” said Zhuge Liang, laughing and clapping his hands again.

Then he gave an order that the people of the place should follow the army into Hanzhong, for Sima Yi would assuredly return. They abandoned West City and started toward Hanzhong. In due course all the inhabitants of the three districts of Tianshui, Nanan, and Anding also followed in that direction.

Meanwhile, Sima Yi led his army to retreat along some byroad in the Wugong Hills. Presently there came the shouting of men and beating of drums from behind some slopes. Turning to his two sons, he remarked, “If we had not retreated we would have fallen into Zhuge Liang’s trap.”

There soon appeared a force on the road, a big banner bearing the name of Zhang Bao. The men of Wei were seized with sudden panic and ran, flinging off their armor and throwing away their weapons. But before they had fled very far they heard fresh sounds indicating the arrival of an army in the valley and soon saw another force, with a banner inscribed with the name of Guan Xing. As the valley echoed the roaring sound, they could not fathom how many Shu troops there were bearing down on them. Suspicion gripped them, hurrying them along in their retreat and forcing them to abandon their supply wagons. Strictly observing Zhuge Liang’s order, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao did not pursue, but only gathered up the spoils. Then they returned home.

Seeing the valley apparently full of the men of Shu, Sima Yi dared not leave the main road. He hurried back to Jieting.

At this time Cao Zhen, hearing that the army of Shu was retreating, went in pursuit. But on the way he encountered a strong force under Ma Dai and Jiang Wei, and the fields and hills seemed to swarm with their troops. Cao Zhen, alarmed beyond measure, hastened to pull back, but his van leader was already slain by Ma Dai. He led his men to flee in panic.

Now that they had frightened off the men of Wei, the withdrawal of the Shu army occured in full force. That very night the soldiers all retreated to Hanzhong.

Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi, who had been lying in ambush in Ji Valley, also received Zhuge Liang’s order to retreat. Zhao Yun said, “The men of Wei will surely come to smite us when they hear we are retreating. Let me first take up a position in their rear while you lead our men to withdraw slowly, showing my ensign. I will protect you on the way.”

Now Guo Huai was leading his army through Ji Valley. He sent for his van leader Su Yong and said to him, “Zhao Yun is a very brave warrior whom none can withstand. You must be on your guard against any ruse the enemy might employ while they retreat.”

Su Yong replied joyfully, “If you will help me, Commander, I will capture this Zhao Yun.”

So Su Yong, with 3,000 men, hastened to 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 Zhao Yun. This frightened him, and he pulled back. 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 recognize Zhao Zi-long?”

Su Yong was startled. “How come here is another Zhao Yun.”

Before he could defend himself he fell victim to the spear of the veteran. His men scattered, and Zhao Yun hurried on after the main body.

But soon another band came in pursuit, this time led by Wan Zheng, one of Guo Huai’s officers. Seeing them come along in hot pursuit Zhao Yun halted in the middle of the road and waited to fight with his opponent. By the time Wan Zheng had caught up the other Shu soldiers had gone about thirty
li
ahead. Wan Zheng, recognizing who it was standing in his path, dared not advance. Zhao Yun waited until dusk when he turned and moved ahead at a slow pace.

Presently Guo Huai came up. Wan Zheng told him that Zhao Yun was as heroic as before and so he had not dared to press on. Guo Huai at once ordered him to press on with the pursuit. So together with several hundred cavalrymen Wan Zheng rode forth. Presently they came to a big wood, and suddenly a loud shout arose in their rear: “Zhao Zi-long is here!”

Terror seized upon the pursuers. Many fell from their horses while others escaped through the hills. Wan Zheng braced himself for the encounter but Zhao Yun shot an arrow that hit the plume of his helmet. Startled, he tumbled into a gully. Pointing at him with his spear, Zhao Yun said: “Be off! I will spare your life. Go and tell your chief to come quickly.”

Wan Zheng fled for his life, while Zhao Yun went on protecting his army and the retreat into Hanzhong continued steadily. There were no other episodes on the way.

The three districts of Tianshui, Nanan, and Anding were taken by Cao Zhen and Guo Huai, who attributed to themselves all the credit of having recovered them.

Sima Yi, on the other hand, divided his army and advanced. But by that time the Shu forces had already reached Hanzhong. He took a small force and rode back to West City, where he made inquiries among the few remaining inhabitants and some hermits. All of them told him that Zhuge Liang only really had 2,500 soldiers and some civil officials, without a single military commander. He also learned from residents in Wugong Hill that Guan Xing and Zhang Bao had only 3,000 men each, whom they placed around the hill, making as much noise as they could to strike terror into their opponents—but they actually dared not fight because they had no reinforcements. Sima Yi was very sorry at having missed an excellent chance.

“I’m no match for Zhuge Liang,” he said with a sigh of resignation.

He set about restoring order, and then marched back to Chang’an. The young Emperor Cao Rui was pleased with his success and said, “It is by your good service that Longxi is again mine.”

Sima Yi replied, “The army of Shu is in Hanzhong, not yet thoroughly destroyed. Pray give me a large army to take the whole of Shu so that I can repay Your Majesty for your favor.”

Cao Rui rejoiced at his offer and authorized him to raise an army without delay. At this one of the courtiers suddenly said, “I have a plan by which Shu can be overcome and Wu subjugated.”

Hardly had the officers of Shu gone home,
The court of Wei planned new schemes again.

Who offered this plan will be told in the next chapter.

CHAPTER NINETY-SIX