The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation (63 page)

Sima Yi secretly said to Xin Pi, “You have indeed read my heart!”

Then he told his men to spread the news that the ruler of Wei had dispatched an envoy with a
jie
to forbid them to combat. When the officers of Shu heard about it they went in to tell Zhuge Liang, who smiled and said, “This is only Sima Yi’s method of pacifying his army.”

“How do you know, sir?” asked Jiang Wei.

Zhuge Liang replied, “Sima Yi has never intended to fight. The reason why he petitioned to be allowed to give battle was to show his officers his militancy. It is well known that ‘A general in the field may defy an Emperor’s command.’ Would any general ask permission to fight from a thousand
li
away? Sima Yi is only using the Emperor to appease his men, who must be furious with the insult. Now he is spreading the story to slacken the fighting spirit of our men.”

Just at this time Fei Yi came. Zhuge Liang called him in and asked him the reason for his coming. Then Fei Yi related to him in detail the depressing news of Wu’s setbacks on the southern front and its subsequent withdrawal. Zhuge Liang listened to the end. Heaving a long sigh, he fell unconscious to the ground. The officers hurried to his rescue. After a long while he came to.

“I feel very dizzy,” he said with a sigh. “The old illness has returned. I fear my end is near.”

In spite of his illness Zhuge Liang went out of his tent that night to scan the stars. What he saw alarmed him very much. He returned and said to Jiang Wei, “My life may end at any moment.”

“Why do you say so, sir?” asked Jiang Wei, startled.

“Just now I saw in the constellation of the Big Dipper that the guest star is doubly bright, whereas the host star is darkened and its supporting stars are also obscure. With such a heavenly aspect I know my fate.”

“If the aspect is as malignant as you say, sir, why not pray in order to avert it?”

“I do know the way to pray for it,” replied Zhuge Liang, “but I don’t know the will of Heaven. However, arrange to have forty-nine armored men stand around my tent outside and let each be dressed in black and hold a black flag. Within my tent I will pray to appeal to the Big Dipper. If my host-lamp remains alight for seven days, then my life will be prolonged for twelve years. If the light goes out, then I will certainly die. Keep all idlers away from the tent and let two errand boys bring me what is necessary.”

Jiang Wei went to prepare everything as directed. It was then mid-autumn in the eighth month of the year. That night the Milky Way was bright, studded with jade-like stars. The air was perfectly calm.

The forty-nine men were assigned to guard the tent, while within Zhuge Liang prepared incense and offerings. On the floor of the tent he arranged seven big lamps, and, outside these, forty-nine smaller ones. In the midst of all these he placed the lamp of his own fate.

Then he prayed. “I, Liang, born into an age of trouble, would willingly spend my life among tress and waters. But grateful to my late Emperor who sought me thrice in my cottage and confided to me the care of his son, I dare not fail in my effort to destroy the traitors of the empire. But contrary to my expectations, my star is declining and my end is near. Humbly I appeal to Heaven above: Please graciously listen to my prayer and extend my lifespan, that I may repay my lord for his benevolence, save the people from their sufferings, and restore the empire to its former state and perpetuate the rule of Han. I would not have dared to make an improper appeal, but this is really the cry of an agonized heart.”

This prayer ended, in the solitude of his tent he awaited the dawn.

The next day, ill as he was, he did not neglect his duties, and he spat blood continually. For the next few days he attended to military affairs during the day and prayed in his tent at night.

In the meantime Sima Yi remained on the defensive. One night as he sat gazing up at the sky and studying its aspect he was greatly pleased at what he saw.

Turning to Xiahou Ba, he said, “Zhuge Liang must be ill and will soon die. I see his star is losing position. Take a thousand men to reconnoiter the Wuzhang Plain. If the men of Shu are in confusion and refuse to come out to fight, then Zhuge Liang must be ill. I’m going to take this opportunity to strike hard.”

Xiahou Ba left. It was then the sixth night of Zhuge Liang’s prayers, and he was pleased to find the lamp of his fate still burning brightly. Presently Jiang Wei entered and watched as Zhuge Liang, his hair loose, his hand gripping a sword, ritually paced the steps to try to keep his star in place.

Suddenly a great shouting was heard outside. He was just going to send someone out to inquire when Wei Yan dashed in, crying, “The men of Wei are here!”

Alas! Wei Yan’s hasty steps extinguished the Lamp of Fate!
^*

Zhuge Liang threw down the sword and sighed. “Life and death are fore-ordained—no prayers can alter them.”

Frightened, Wei Yan fell to the earth and pleaded guilty. Jiang Wei furiously drew his sword to slay the culprit.

Naught is under man’s control,
Nor can he with fate contend.

Whether Jiang Wei would slay Wei Yan will be revealed in the next chapter.

*
   Sima Yi’s younger son, Sima Zhao, later overthrew Wei and established Jin Dynasty.

*
   Women in ancient China were expected to stay indoors and not venture out. As Sima Yi maintained his defense behind the city walls Zhuge Liang ridiculed him by comparing him to a woman.

*
   A West Han prime minister. Once he was out on a spring day and noticed a panting ox and some corpses lying by the roadside. He paid much attention to the panting ox but little to the dead people. When asked, he argued that the panting of an ox on a spring day might indicate an abnormality in the climate, which might affect the crops, and it was his business as a prime minister to be concerned about agriculture; whereas the corpses on the roadside should concern only the magistrate.

*
   The light in the lamp was extinguished by the draught of wind accompanying Wei Yan’s hasty steps.

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR

A Great Star Falls as Zhuge Liang Returns to Heaven

A Wooden Statue Frightens Sima Yi

A
t
the end of the last chapter Jiang Wei drew his sword to slay Wei Yan. But Zhuge Liang checked him. “This is my fate, not his fault.”

So Jiang Wei put back his sword. Zhuge Liang vomited several mouthfuls of blood and sank wearily upon his couch. Then he said to Wei Yan, “Sima Yi reckons I’m ill, so he has sent these men to make sure. You go and fight them at once.”

Wei Yan left the tent and led out his troops to drive away the men of Wei, who fled as they saw him. He chased them for over twenty
li
before returning. Then Zhuge Liang sent him back to guard his own camp.

Presently Jiang Wei came to his bedside to inquire how he felt.

Zhuge Liang said, “My sole wish has been to exert my utmost to conquer the north and restore the rule of the Hans. But Heaven decrees it otherwise and now my end is very near. I have put down my lifelong study in twenty-four articles, totaling 104,112 words. There are passages on ‘The Eight Musts,’ ‘The Seven Cautions,’ ‘The Six Worries,’ and ‘The Five Fears.’ I have examined all my officers but can find no one fit to receive my writing, except you. You’re the only person who can carry on my work. Don’t make light of it.”

He gave the treatise to Jiang Wei, who bowed and wept as he took it.

“I have also developed a bow that fires multiple bolts, which I have been unable to put to use. It can shoot ten bolts of eight inches long at every discharge. You can make this weapon according to the drawings I have prepared.”

Jiang Wei received these with another bow.

Zhuge Liang continued, “There is no part of Shu that causes anxiety, save Yinping, which must be carefully guarded. Although the place is precipitous enough, it will cause a problem later.”

Then Zhuge Liang sent for Ma Dai, to whom he gave certain whispered instructions, before adding, “You must follow my instructions after my death.”

Soon after, Yang Yi entered the tent. He was called to the minister’s bedside and given a silk bag containing a secret order. As Zhuge Liang gave it to him, he said, “After my death, Wei Yan will rebel. When that happens, you’re to open this bag only at the moment of battle. Then there will be someone to slay him.”

After he had made these arrangements, Zhuge Liang again fainted and did not revive till the evening. Then he set himself to compose a memorial to the Emperor.

On receiving this the Emperor was greatly alarmed and at once sent Li Fu to inquire after the dying minister and consult him on future policies. Li Fu traveled day and night to the army camp to see Zhuge Liang. He delivered the Emperor’s inquiry after the prime minister’s health and made his obeisance.

Zhuge Liang wept and said, “How sad I am to die now, leaving my task unfinished! I have failed to complete the great cause of my country and am guilty to the world. After my death you all must be loyal to the Emperor and devote yourselves to his service. The existing policies of the government are to be maintained and the men I have employed are not to be lightly discharged from office. My plans for further military campaigns have been confided to Jiang Wei, who will continue my cause in the service of the state. But my time is drawing near, and I will immediately send my testament to the Emperor.”

Li Fu heard him out and hurriedly took his leave.

With great difficulty Zhuge Liang sat up and told his attendants to help him into his chariot. And thus he made a last round of all the camps. But the cold fall wind chilled him to the bone.

Heaving a deep sigh he said, “Never again shall I lead the army against the rebels! Oh, distant and azure Heaven, could anything be more sorrowful?”

After he returned to his tent his condition worsened. He called Yang Yi to his bedside, to whom he said, “Wang Ping, Liao Hua, Zhang Ni, Zhang Yi, and Wu Yi and others are all loyal and honest men, who have fought many battles and borne much hardship. They can be employed in any task. After my death let everything go on as before. Withdraw the army slowly and without haste. You’re well versed in tactics and I need say little. Jiang Wei is wise and brave. He can be entrusted with guarding the rear.”

Weeping, Yang Yi bowed to receive these orders. Then Zhuge Liang had writing materials brought in and, seated in bed, he wrote his testament to the Emperor. Here is the substance:

“Life and death are a man’s common lot, and fate cannot be evaded. As death is at hand I desire to prove my loyalty to the end. I, your servant Liang, a man of little ability, was born into a difficult age, and it fell to my lot to guide military operations. I led the army on a northern expedition, but failed to achieve my aim. Now sickness has unexpectedly laid hold upon me and death is approaching. I will be unable to finish my task in the service of Your Majesty. My sorrow is inexpressible.

“I wish that Your Majesty will always purify your heart and limit your desires; practice self-control and love your people; maintain a perfectly filial attitude toward your late father and spread your benevolence to all. Seek out the hermits and recluses that you may obtain the services of the wise and good; reject the wicked and depraved that the moral standard of the country may be exalted.

“To my household in the capital belongs eight hundred mulberry trees and fifteen mu of land; thus there is ample provision for my family. As for myself, I have been in services away from the capital and my food and clothing have been supplied by the government. I have not contrived to make any additional income so that at my death my household will have no extra silks nor surplus money. Thus I will not have failed Your Majesty’s trust in me.”