Authors: Luo Guanzhong
Sorely alarmed, Sima Shi felt his heart burning within him, which caused his wound to open. Blood flowed freely as his eyeball protruded from the wound and the pain became unbearable. But in his fear lest his army should be thrown into confusion, he dared not utter a sound but lay biting the quilt to fight down the pain. The quilt was gnawed to rags.
Wen Yang’s force had arrived first and attacked immediately. He dashed into the camp, slashing and thrusting right and left, and the Wei men fled before him. Those who tried to oppose him fell under his sharp spear or his terrible whip. All the time he was anxiously expecting his father to reinforce him from outside, but he was nowhere in sight. Several times he charged toward the center camp. However, he was driven back by the fierce flights of arrows and crossbow bolts. He fought on till daylight, when he heard a mixed noise of drums and horns in the north. Surprised, he said to those around him, “Why is father coming from the north instead of supporting me from the south?”
He galloped forth to see what was happening, and saw a force sweeping down like a storm.
It was not his father, but an enemy troop led by Deng Ai, who rushed forward, holding his sword crosswise, shouting, “You rebel! Do not try to flee!”
Setting his spear Wen Yang rode furiously toward his opponent. They engaged and fought fifty bouts without either gaining the advantage. The duel raged on, but at that moment the Wei army attacked from the rear in full force, and Wen Yang’s men began to scatter and run. Soon Wen Yang found himself alone.
However, he got clear of the fight and went away toward the south. But behind him came several hundred Wei officers, who plucked up their courage to pursue. They pressed on his heels as far as the Yuejia Bridge and it seemed they would catch up with him. Suddenly Wen Yang turned his steed and plunged into them. As he raised his steel whip, so the men of Wei fell from their horses and the rest retreated in fear. Wen Yang then slowly forced his way southward.
Incredulous, the Wei officers gathered together and said to each other, “This man even dares to force us all back! Let’s work together to press him.”
Therefore they resumed their pursuit.
“You fools?” cried Wen Qin, as he saw them coming on. “Do you not care for your lives?”
Again he fell upon them and slew several with his great whip. Then he again turned to continue his way forward at a leisurely pace. The chase was repeated a few more times, but each attempt was repelled by Wen Yang single-handedly. A poem compared his prowess to that of Zhao Yun at the Long Slope:
Holding off Cao Cao’s mighty host alone
Zi-long’s valor had stood peerless since.
Then at Yuejia where the battle was fierce,
The bold Wen Yang bore down another host.
Wen Qin never reached the appointed rendezvous. In the darkness he lost his way among the rugged mountain roads and strayed into a valley, from where he only escaped as day dawned. He saw every sign of a fight and a victory for Wei, but he could not discover where his son had gone. So he returned without fighting. The Wei army pursued, and Wen Qin escaped toward Shouchun.
Now Yin Da-mu used to be a confidant of Cao Shuang’s. After his patron was murdered he came to serve under Sima Shi, but had been watching for a chance to slay him to avenge Cao Shuang. He was also a good friend of Wen Qin’s. Seeing that Sima Shi was seriously ill, he went in to see the sick general and said, “Wen Qin had no intention to rebel, but was led astray by Guanqiu Jian. If you let me go and speak with him he will come over to you at once.”
Sima Shi agreed, and Yin Da-mu put on his helmet and armor and rode after Wen Qin. By and by he got near enough to shout.
“Don’t you recognize me? I’m Yin Da-mu.”
Wen Qin stopped and looked back. Yin Da-mu took off his helmet and said, “Governor Wen, why don’t you wait for a few more days?”
He tried to detain Wen Qin because he knew Sima Shi was very close to death, but Wen Qin did not understand. He abused Yin Da-mu and even intended to shoot his former friend. Weeping bitterly, Yin Da-mu turned back.
When Wen Qin reached Shouchun he found it already occupied by the Wei army. Then he tried to return to Xiangcheng, but three enemy forces arrived and the city was besieged. As the situation became more desperate, he decided to desert to Wu.
Guanqiu Jian, then behind the walls of Xiangcheng, heard about the fall of Shouchun, the defeat of Wen Qin, and the siege of his city from three enemy troops. He mustered all the forces in the city and marched out to face his foes.
As he went forth he encountered Deng Ai. He bade an officer to fight, but the man fell dead after the first encounter. Then Deng Ai and his men came on in force. Guanqiu Jian fought with all his strength, but his army was thrown into confusion. Then the other two troops also came up, and he was unable to withstand their combined attack. With a dozen followers he fled from the field and made for the town of Shen. Here the magistrate received him kindly and comforted him with a feast. At the banquet Guanqiu Jian was given too much wine and became completely drunk. Then he was slain by his host and his head offered to the Wei army. Thus ended the uprising in Huainan.
Sima Shi was confined to his bed, ill. He called Zhuge Dan to his tent and gave him the seal of command and conferred upon him the title of General–Conqueror of the East, with authority over all the forces in Yangzhou. Soon after, the army marched back to Xuchang.
The sick man suffered from severe pain in his eyes and at the same time he began to have visions. Night after night he was troubled by the apparitions of the three courtiers he had cruelly put to death, and he knew that his end was near. He sent for his brother, who came and wept by his bed while he listened to the ruler’s last commands.
“The responsibility of power is heavy,” said Sima Shi. “Though I would like to step down, it is not possible. You are to succeed me—and remember, never trust anyone else with important affairs, or you may bring the disaster of the destruction of our whole clan.”
Then he handed the seal of office to Sima Zhao as tears rolled down his face. Sima Zhao hastened to ask some final questions, but his brother let out a heart-rending cry as his damaged eye fell out and he died. It was the second month of the second year of the period Zheng Yuan.
Sima Zhao put on mourning for his brother and informed the Emperor of his death. By special edict the Emperor ordered Sima Zhao to remain at Xuchang so as to guard against any attack from Wu. This order was unwelcome to its recipient, but he hesitated as to what to do.
Zhong Hui said, “The general has died only recently and the popular sentiment is hard to predict. What if some shifting of power takes place at the capital while you are here? It will be too late to regret.”
Taking his advice, Sima Zhao left Xuchang and camped on the Luo River. This move alarmed the Emperor. Then Wang Su advised him to placate Sima Zhao with new titles and honors. The Emperor consented and he sent Wang Su to take an edict to Sima Zhao, creating him Commander of Armed Forces and giving him full authority to control various ministries. He came to Luoyang to thank the Emperor for these honors and hencefor-ward all matters of the government were in his hand.
When news of these developments reached the Shu capital, Jiang Wei again petitioned for an expedition. “Sima Shi is dead and his brother has just gained power. He will not dare to leave Luoyang until he has consolidated his position. I pray your Majesty will permit me to take this opportunity to attack Wei so as to recover the northern territory.”
The Emperor agreed and Jiang Wei went to Hanzhong to prepare.
However, Zhang Yi tried to dissuade him, saying, “Our land is small and narrow and lacks the kind of resources for long expeditions. It’s better to firmly guard the strategic points on our borders, rest the army, and care for the people. That is the way to protect our state.”
“You’re mistaken,” said Jiang Wei. “Before our late prime minister left his cottage, he had already envisaged the division of the empire into three kingdoms, but he led six expeditions to try to recover the northern land. Unfortunately he died leaving his design unaccomplished. But he bequeathed to me the legacy of this mission and I must carry on his unfinished task and devote myself to the country to be worthy of his trust. Even if I die in the attempt, I will perish without regret. Now Wei is in an unstable condition and if we miss the opportunity, when are we going to find another?”
“You’re right, General,” agreed Xiahou Ba. “We can first send some light cavalry to Fuhan from where to capture Nanan west of the Tao River. If that is taken, the whole district will be ours.”
Zhang Yi said, “We failed in the past because we delayed. The
Art of War
says, ‘Strike where the enemy is unprepared and appear where the enemy does not expect you.’ A speedy march and a sudden blow will take the Wei army by surprise—we will succeed this time.”
So Jiang Wei led 50,000 men out through Fuhan. When he reached the Tao River, spies of Wei reported his arrival to their chiefs. Wang Jing, governor of Yongzhou, at once raised an army of 70,000 to fight him. Jiang Wei gave certain instructions to Zhang Yi and Xiahou Ba, and after they had departed to carry them out, he drew up the main body, with the Tao River behind.
Wang Jing rode out to parley. “The three kingdoms are now securely established—why do you repeatedly invade our borders?”
Jiang Wei replied, “Sima Shi deposed your late Emperor without cause. And it behoves a neighboring country to punish such a crime, let alone an enemy country.”
Turning to four of his officers, Wang Jing said, “You see, Jiang Wei has drawn up his men with the river at their back so they must conquer or drown. Jiang Wei is bold, but you four go and fight him—and pursue if he retreats.”
The four rode out from two sides to fight with Jiang Wei, who stood up to only a few encounters and then turned back toward his own lines. At this, Wang Jing pressed on with his main body to smite him. Jiang Wei led his men toward the river. As they drew near the water, Jiang Wei shouted, “Danger is imminent, officers! Now do your utmost!”
Encouraged by his words, his officers turned on the foe and fought with such vigor that the Wei army was worsted. And, as the soldiers fled, Zhang Yi and Xiahou Ba fell upon their rear. The Wei army was completely trapped. In a splendid display of his prowess, Jiang Wei plunged into the Wei army and slashed left and right, throwing them into utter confusion. They trod each other down in their haste, and many fell into the river. The slaughter was tremendous and dead bodies lay about for several
li
. Wang Jing and several hundred followers got clear and fled to Didao, where they entered and closed the gates.
After Jiang Wei had rewarded and feasted his army, he decided to attack the city.
Zhang Yi again tried to dissuade him: “General, you have won a great victory and your fame is widespread. This is the time to stop. If not, things may not go as well, and it will be like ‘adding legs to your sketch of a snake’.”
*
“No, I don’t think so,” said Jiang Wei. “In the past when our campaign failed we still desired to advance and conquer the north. This time the battle at the Tao River has broken the spirit of our opponents, and if we press forward I reckon we can easily take Didao. Don’t be so pessimistic.”
In spite of Zhang Yi’s repeated remonstrance, Jiang Wei decided to attack Didao.
At Yongzhou the Wei general Chen Tai was raising an army to avenge the defeat of Wang Jing when Deng Ai, Governor of Yanzhou, arrived with his force. Chen Tai welcomed him in, and Deng Ai told him that he had been sent by Sima Zhao to assist him. Chen Tai asked him what plan he had in mind.
Deng Ai replied, “After their victory at the Tao River, if they enlist the aid of the Qiang people to vie for the Guan and Long districts and also obtain the support of the four neighboring cities, it will be a disaster for us. But instead of that they now attempt to take Didao, which is too strongly fortified for them to overcome in a short time. They will only end up wasting their energy. Let’s deploy our forces along the Xiang Hills, and then advance and smite them. Then victory will be ours.”
“What an excellent plan!” cried Chen Tai.
Without delay Chen Tai chose twenty squads, each of fifty men, and ordered them to lie in ambush among the high hills and deep valleys to the southeast of Didao. Each squad was to move during the day but hide at night, carrying ensigns, drums, trumpets, and kindling material with them. When the enemy arrived, they were to beat drums and blow trumpets by day, while at night they were to raise fires and explode bombs to strike fear into the enemy. The twenty squads of men took the instructions and departed to wait for the men of Shu to come. Then Chen Tai and Deng Ai, each leading 20,000 men, also marched toward Didao.
In the meantime, Jiang Wei’s men had besieged Didao. For several days they tried in vain to storm the city from eight points, and Jiang Wei began to feel depressed, not knowing what other plan to employ. One evening scouts came galloping up to report the approach of two armies, led by Chen Tai and Deng Ai.
Disturbed by the reports, Jiang Wei called in Xiahou Ba for counsel.
Xiahou Ba said, “I have mentioned to you before, General, that Deng Ai has perfected his skills in the art of war and the knowledge of topography since he was but a young man. You will find him a tough enemy.”
“He has come from far away,” said Jiang Wei. “Let’s attack before he can get a foothold.”