The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation (82 page)

“Surrender, Deng Ai!” cried the Shu soldiers in chorus.

Lifting his face to Heaven, Deng Ai heaved a long sigh. “I was tempted by an impulse to demonstrate my skill and I have fallen into Jiang Wei’s trap.”

Suddenly, from the northwest a cohort dashed in. To Deng Ai’s great joy they were soldiers of Wei, and he took the opportunity to fight his way out. The officer who saved him was Sima Wang.

But although Deng Ai had been rescued, his nine camps in Qishan were all seized by the Shu army and he had to retreat to the south of the River Wei to pitch a new camp.

“How did you come to know that formation and help me out of it?” asked Deng Ai of his rescuer.

Sima Wang replied, “In my youth I traveled to the south of Jingzhou and was friendly with Cui Zhou-ping and Shi Guang-yuan.
^*
They explained that formation to me. Today, Jiang Wei used what is known as “Serpent Coiling on the Ground,” and the only way to break it is to attack its head, which I saw was in the northwest section of his army. So I struck from there and the formation was broken.”

Deng Ai admitted, “Although I have studied this formation, I don’t really know the variations. But since you know about these we may be able to use them to recover our camps.”

“I fear the little I have learned won’t be enough to throw dust in Jiang Wei’s eyes.”

“Tomorrow you go and contend with him while I slip round behind Qishan and make a surprise attack on their rear. We will recover our camps in this way, I’m sure.”

So a force was prepared, with himself in command, to smite the Shu army from the rear. At the same time a challenge was sent to the Shu camp for a contest of battle formations the next day. Jiang Wei accepted the challenge.

After sending away the Wei messenger, Jiang Wei said to his officers, “In the secret book that I received from our late prime minister the variations of this battle array are three hundred and sixty-five, corresponding to the days of the year. Now this challenge from them is like ‘Displaying one’s skill in carpentry in front of Lu Ban.’
^*
But there must be some ruse behind this. Do you know what it is, gentlemen?”

Liao Hua replied, “Surely they try to engage our attention with this contest so that they may attack our rear.”

“Exactly,” said Jiang Wei, smiling.

So he prepared a counter move by sending Liao Hua and Zhang Yi to lead 10,000 soldiers to lie in wait behind the hills.

The next day all the men from the nine Shu camps were led out and drawn up in front of the hills. Sima Wang also marched his army to Qishan and presently rode to the front to parley.

Jiang Wei spoke first. “You have challenged me to a contest—now you go ahead first.”

Sima Wang agreed and drew up his men in the Eight Arrays.

“This is the same as what I did yesterday,” said Jiang Wei, laughing. “You are just copying mine. What is so wonderful about it?”

“But you also have copied from others,” retorted his adversary.

“How many variations of this are there?” asked Jiang Wei.

“Since I know how to arrange this, do you think I will be ignorant of the variations? There are nine times nine, making eighty-one in all.”

“Show me then.”

Sima Wang returned to his own lines, which he altered several times, and then appeared again before his opponent. “Do you recognize my variations?”

“My formation admits of three hundred and sixty-five variations, equal to the number of days in the year. You are but a frog in a well and know nothing of the deeper mysteries.”

Now Sima Wang knew that so many variations were possible, but had not mastered them all. He managed to put on a bold air and argued weakly, “I do not believe it. You try them.”

“Go and call Deng Ai,” replied Jiang Wei. “I will show them to him.”

“General Deng has other plans. He is not interested in such tactics.”

“What plans could he have? Presumably no more than to have you keep me busy here, while he tries a surprise attack on my rear.”

Sima Wang was aghast. He tried to dash forward to bring on a general melee but Jiang Wei was quicker. At a signal from his whip, his men attacked from both wings with such ferocity that they quickly overwhelmed their foes, who threw down their weapons and fled for their lives.

Now Deng Ai had hurried on his van leader to attack the Shu army from behind. However, as the van leader turned round a hill, a bomb suddenly exploded. At once drums rolled, horns sounded, and an ambush was sprung, with Liao Hua in command. Without addressing each other the two officers engaged as their horses came together. In the first encounter the Wei van leader fell dead under Liao Hua’s sword. Deng Ai, caught un-prepared, hastened to withdraw but Zhang Yi also came forth and struck on the other side. The army of Wei was worsted. Deng Ai risked all to break through and he did at last, though his body was wounded four times by arrows. When he got to the riverside, Sima Wang also arrived, and they discussed how to drive away their enemy.

Sima Wang proposed a plan. “These days the ruler of Shu favors the eunuch Huang Hao and indulges himself in wine and women. Let us use the eunuch to sow distrust between the Second Ruler and his general, and so get Jiang Wei recalled. In that way we will lift this danger.”

So Deng Ai assembled his advisors and asked a volunteer to sneak into the Shu capital and bribe the eunuch. Dang Jun offered himself at once. So he was sent into Shu with valuable presents to win the heart of the eunuch and to disseminate the rumor that Jiang Wei bore a grudge against the Second Ruler and would soon desert to Wei.

In no time this rumor became the talk of the capital city. Huang Hao, who had been bought by Wei, carried it to the Second Ruler, who dispatched a messenger to recall Jiang Wei to the capital.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wei tried every day to bring the enemy to battle, but Deng Ai’s army remained obstinately behind its defenses. Jiang Wei was beginning to feel suspicious when suddenly the Second Ruler’s edict came, recalling him. Although ignorant of the reason, he could not but obey. When Deng Ai and his colleague learned of his withdrawal they knew that their plot had succeeded. They broke camp, intending to strike the retreating army.

Yue Yi was held back in his advance against Qi
As was Yue Fei
^*
recalled after victories were won.

The result of the battle will be told in the next chapter.

*
   Zhuge Liang’s good friends. See Chapter 37.

*
   A carpenter of great renown in the days of the Spring and Autumn period. “Displaying one’s skill in carpentry before Lu Ban” is a popular Chinese idiom to ridicule people who are ignorant of their own weaknesses.

*
   Famous general (1103–1142) of South Song Dynasty, who defeated the invading Jurchen army in various battles but was later murdered by the evil minister Qin Gui, who supported submission to the enemy. His shrine in the city of Hangzhou is a favorite spot with tourists.

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN

Cao Mao Is Slain in His Carriage at South Gate

Jiang Wei Abandons His Supplies to Win a Battle

W
hen
the order to withdraw was given Liao Hua objected, “‘A general out in the field may disobey even the command of his prince.’ Although our lord has issued an edict to call us back we must not return.”

But his colleague Zhang Yi disagreed with him. “The people all resent these years of military campaigns. I think it would be better to take the occasion of the recent victory to return and pacify the people. We can evolve some good plans later.”

“You’re right,” said Jiang Wei.

An orderly retreat began. Liao Hua and Zhang Yi covered the rear to discourage the enemy from pursuing them.

Now Deng Ai had moved his men out to give chase, but when he saw ahead of him the fine array of flags and banners of his enemy, who retreated without haste and in perfect order, he had to admit that Jiang Wei had indeed learned well Zhuge Liang’s strategies. He dared not pursue but returned to his camp at Qishan.

On his return to the capital Jiang Wei had an audience with the Second Ruler and inquired why he had been recalled.

The Second Ruler replied, “As you have been so long on the frontier, General, I feared the soldiers might be weary. So I called you back. There was no other reason.”

“I had already captured the Wei camps at Qishan and was on the verge of winning a complete victory. Unfortunately the campaign was abandoned halfway. This must be Deng Ai’s plot to sow distrust.”

The Second Ruler fell silent and said nothing.

Jiang Wei continued, “I vow to destroy those rebels and to devote myself to the country. Your Majesty should not listen to the babble of evil tongues and let mistrust grow in your heart.”

“I do not distrust you,” said the Second Ruler after a long pause. “You may return to Hanzhong and await events in Wei. Then launch another campaign.”

Jiang Wei left the court sighing deeply and soon went to Hanzhong.

Dang Jun went back to the Qishan camp and reported his success. Deng Ai said to Sima Wang, “The discord between the Emperor and his army commander will undoubtedly lead to internal conflicts.”

So they sent Dang Jun to Luoyang to report this to Sima Zhao, who was very much pleased. He began to consider subduing Shu. Turning to his confidant Jia Chong, he asked, “What if I attack Shu now?”

“Not now,” opposed Jia Chong. “The Emperor distrusts you. Once you leave the capital a coup is bound to occur. Last year a yellow dragon was seen twice in a well in Ning Mausoleum and the officials memorialized to congratulate the Emperor upon such an auspicious sign. But the Emperor said, ‘It is not auspicious. The dragon represents the ruler. To be neither in Heaven nor on earth but trapped in a well is a portent of confinement in isolation.’ And he wrote a poem entitled ‘The Submerged Dragon’, which undoubtedly points to you, my lord.”

The dragon trapped a prisoner is,
No longer leaps he in th’ abyss,
He soars not in the Milky Way,
Nor can he in the meadows play;
But coiled within a dismal well,
With slimy creatures he must dwell,
Must close his jaws, his claws retract,
Alas! quite like myself in fact.

The poem enraged Sima Zhao. “This fellow is trying to follow Cao Fang. If I don’t remove him he will hurt me.”

“I will see to it for you sooner or later,” replied Jia Chong.

One summer day in the fifth year of the period of Sweet Dew, Sima Zhao had the effrontery to go to court armed with his sword. The Emperor rose to welcome him. Presently the courtiers proposed promoting Sima Zhao to the rank of Duke of Jin, endowed with the Nine Gifts. The Emperor looked down and did not reply.

Sima Zhao cried vehemently, “My father, my brother, and I have all made great contributions to the kingdom of Wei. Am I not entitled to the rank of Duke of Jin?”

“Dare I refuse your request?” was the Emperor’s reply.

“You called us slimy creatures in your poem—what sort of courtesy is that?”

The Emperor could not reply, and Sima Zhao strode down the hall, smiling icily. All the courtiers shivered with fear.

The Emperor retreated into his chamber, where he summoned Wang Shen, Wang Jing, and Wang Ye for counsel. With tears in his eyes, the Emperor said to them, “It is obvious to all that Sima Zhao intends to usurp the throne. I cannot sit, awaiting the indignity of being deposed. You gentlemen must help me to put him down!”