Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (49 page)

King Jui replied, "You are a minister of high rank and old. If you know any wise man able to repel these men of Shu, call him without delay and ease my mind."

Then said Chung Yu, "When Chuko Liang decided to invade us he was afraid of the one man I will name. Wherefore he spread calumnies concerning him, raising suspicion in Your Majesty's mind that you might dismiss him. That done, he invaded. Now employ this man again, and the enemy will retire."

"Who is it?" asked Jui.

"I mean the great general Ssuma I."

"I have long regretted my action," said Jui. "Where now is friend Ssuma?"

"He is at the city of Wan, idle."

An edict was prepared recalling Ssuma and restoring him to his rank and titles, and conferring upon him the new title Commander-in-chief, "Pacificator of the West." The troops of Nanyang were set in motion and King Jui led them to
Ch'angan.
At the same time he ordered Ssuma I to be there to meet him on a certain day. And the orders were sent by a swift messenger to the city of Wan.

At this time K'ung-ming greatly rejoiced at the success he had had. He was at Ch'ishan, busy with plans for other victories, when Li Yen, who was still in command at Jungan, sent his son Li Feng to the camp. K'ung-ming concluded that such a visit could only mean that Wu had invaded them, and he was in consequence cast down. However, he summoned Li Feng to his tent, and when asked the object of his mission Li replied that he had joyful news to impart.

"What is your joyful news?" said K'ung-ming.

"Formerly Meng Ta deserted to Wei, but only because he could do nothing else. Ts'ao P'ei thought much of his capabilities, treated him most generously, kept him at his side gave him titles and offices and so on. But when P'ei died al was changed. In Ts'ao Jui's court were many who were jealous of his influence and power, so that ha enjoyed no peace. He used to talk about being originally one of the Shu leaders and he would be forced to do so-and-so. Lately he has sent several confidants with letters to my father asking that he would state his ease to you as to the happenings when the five armies came upon Shu. Now he is at Hsinch'eng, and, hearing you are attacking Wei, he proposes to lead the men of the three districts about Chinch'eng, Hsinch'eng and Shangyung to attack Loyang while you attack Ch'angan, whereby both capitals will be taken. I have brought with me his messenger and his letters."

This was good news, and the bearer was fittingly rewarded But at that moment came the news that Ts'ao Jui was leading an army to Ch'angan and had recalled the banished Ssuma I to office. This piece of bad news saddened K'ung-ming not a little. He told Ma Su, who at once proposed the plan to capture Ts'ao Jui on the road, and there would be an end of him.

"Do you think I fear him?" said K'ung-ming bitterly. "But the recall of Ssuma I is another matter; that troubles me. And Meng Ta's proposal will avail nothing if he comes across this man. Meng Ta is no match for him. He will be captured, and, if he should be, there will be no capital for us."

"Why not put Meng Ta on his guard then?" said Ma Su.

K'ung-ming decided to write, and the letter was despatched immediately. Meng was then at Hsinch'eng, anxiously expecting the return of his last confidential messenger, when, one day, the man returned and gave him this letter from K'ung-ming himself:—

"Your last letter has convinced me of your loyal rectitude, and I still remember with joy our old friendship. If your plan succeed you will certainly stand in the first rank of most worthy ministers. But I scarcely need impress upon you the extreme necessity for most perfect secrecy. Be very careful whom you trust. Fear everyone, guard against everyone. This news of the recall of Ssuma I and the proposed junction of armies at Ch'angan is very serious, and if a word reaches Ssuma he will come to you first. Therefore take every precaution and do not regard this as a matter of unimportance."

"They say K'ung-ming leaves nothing to chance," said Meng, smiling as he read. "This proves it."

He lost no time in preparing a reply, which he sent also by a trusty messenger. This letter was like this:—"I acknowledge your most valuable advice, but is it possible that I should be remiss? For my part I do not think the Ssuma affair need cause anxiety, for Wanch'eng is eight hundred
li
from Loyang and twelve hundred
li
from here. Should he hear anything, it would take a month to send a memorial and get a reply. My ramparts here are strong and my forces posted in the best positions. Let him come! I am not afraid of the result, so you, O Minister, need feel no anxiety. You have only to wait for the good news of success."

K'ung-ming read the letter and threw it on the ground, stamping his foot with rage.

"You are a dead man," said he; "a victim of Ssuma I."

"Why do you say that?" said Ma Su.

"What does the book say? 'Attack before the enemy is prepared; do what he does not expect.' What is the use of reckoning upon a month's delay for sending up a memorial? Ts'ao Jui's commission has already gone and Ssuma may strike whom he will. He will not have to wait to memorialise. Ten days after he hears of Meng's defection he will be upon him with an army, and Meng Ta will be helpless."

The others agreed. However, K'ung-ming sent the messenger back again to say that if the matter had not yet actually started no other person was to be told of it, for if anyone knew it would certainly come to nothing. And the man left for Hsinch'eng.

In his idle retreat in Wan City Ssuma had heard of his master's ill-success against the armies of Shu, and the news made him very sad. He lifted up his eyes and sighed.

He had two sons, Shih the elder and Chao, both clever and ambitious, and both earnest students of military books. One day they were present when their father seemed very cast down, and the elder asked his father the reason.

"You would not understand," said the father.

"I think you are grieving because the lord of Wei does not use you," replied Ssuma Shih.

"But they will send for you presently," said the younger son.

The prophecy was not long in fulfilment, for even then the bearer of the command stood at the gate, and the servant announced a messenger from the court bearing a commission.

As soon as he heard its terms, Ssuma set about ordering the armies of his own city. Soon came a messenger from the Prefect of Chinch'eng with a secret message for Ssuma I. He was taken into a private chamber, and his message was that Meng Ta was on the point of rebellion. The authority for this was a confidential friend, Li Fu, and a nephew, Teng Hsien.

Ssuma I smote his forehead.

"This is the Emperor's great good fortune, high as heaven itself. Chuko Liang's army is at Ch'ishan already, and if he had got these places all men's courage would fail. The Emperor must go to Ch'angan, and if he does not use me soon Meng Ta will carry out his plan; his plot will succeed and both capitals will be lost. This fellow is surely in league with the enemy, and if I can seize him before he makes any move, that will damp Chuko's spirits and he will retreat."

His elder son remarked that it would be necessary to memorialise.

"No," replied his father; "that would take a month, and delay would mean failure."

Ssuma gave orders to prepare to advance by double marches and threatened death to all loiterers. In order to avert suspicion, he sent letters to Meng Ta in Hsinch'eng to tell him to prepare to join the expedition.

Ssuma I quickly followed this messenger. After two days' march the general Hsu Huang came over the hills and told Ssuma that the Emperor had arrived at Ch'angan to lead an expedition against Shu, and he asked whither the Commander-in-chief was then going.

Ssuma, in a low voice, said to him, "Meng Ta is on the verge of rebellion, and I am going to seize him."

"Let me go as your van-leader," said Hsu.

So Hsu Huang's men were joined to the expedition and marched in the van. The sons of Ssuma I brought up the rear.

Two days farther on some of the scouts captured Meng Ta's confidential messenger, and with him K.'ung-ming's reply. Ssuma promised the man his life if he would tell all he knew. So he told all about the letters and messages he had taken from one to the other. When Ssuma read the captured letter he remarked that all able people thought the same way.

"Our plan would have been foiled by K'ung-ming's cleverness unless, by the good luck of the Emperor, this man had been captured. Now Meng Ta will be helpless."

The army pressed on still more rapidly.

Meng Ta had arranged for his stroke with the Prefects of the other two cities and was awaiting the way he had fixed. But the other two, Shen I and Chen Ch'en, were only pretending to abet him, although they went on training and drilling their men to keep up appearances till the men of Wei could arrive. To Meng Ta they pretended delay in their transport as the reason for being unable to start. And he believed them.

Just then Liang Ch'i came, and when he had been ceremoniously received, he produced the order from Ssuma I and said, 'The Commander-in-chief has received the edict of the Emperor to call in all the forces in this district, and he has sent me to direct you to hold your men in readiness to march."

"On what day does the Commander-in-chief start?" asked Meng Ta.

"He is just about starting now," replied the messenger.

Meng smiled inwardly, for, this being so, he saw success before him. He gave a banquet to Liang, and after he had set him on his way he sent to his fellow conspirators to say the first step must be taken next day by exchanging the banners of Wei for those of Han and marching to attack Loyang.

Then the watchmen reported a great cloud of dust in the distance as though an army was coming. Meng Ta was surprised and went up on the ramparts to see for himself. Soon he made out the banner of Hsu Huang leading. He ran down from the wall and in a state of trepidation ordered the raising of the drawbridge. Hsu Huang still came on and in due time stood on the bank of the moat.

Then he called out, "Let the traitor Meng Ta yield quickly!"

Meng Ta, in a rage, opened upon him with arrows, and Hsu Huang was wounded in the forehead. He was helped to a place of safety while the arrows flew down in great numbers. When the men of Wei retired, Meng opened the gates and went in pursuit. But the whole of Ssuma's army soon came up, and the banners stood so thick that they hid the sun.

"This is what K'ung-ming foresaw," said Meng despairingly.

The gates were closed and barred.

Meanwhile the wounded captain, Hsu, had been borne to his tent, where the arrow head was extracted and the physician attended to him. But that night he died. He was fifty-nine. His body was sent to Loyang for burial.

Next day, when Meng went up on the wall, he saw the city was entirely surrounded as with a girdle of iron. He was greatly perturbed and could not decide what to do. Presently he saw two bodies of troops coming up, their banners bearing the names of his fellow conspirators. He could only conclude that they had come to his help, so he opened the gates to them and went out to fight.

"Rebel, stay!" cried they both as they came up.

Realising that they had been false, he turned and galloped toward the city, but a flight of arrows met him, and the two who had betrayed him, Li Fu and Teng Hsien, began to revile him.

"We have already yielded the city," they cried.

Then Meng Ta fled. But he was pursued, and as he and his horse were both exhausted he was speedily overtaken and slain. They exposed his head, and his soldiers submitted. Ssuma was welcomed at the open gates. The people were pacified, the soldiers were rewarded and, this done, a report of their success was sent to Ts'ao Jui.

Ts'ao Jui ordered the body of Meng Ta to be exposed in the market place of Loyang, and he promoted the two Shens and gave them posts in the army of Ssuma. He gave the two betrayers command of the cities of Hsinch'eng and Shangyung.

Then Ssuma marched to Ch'angan and camped. The leader entered the city to have audience with his master, by whom he was most graciously received.

"Once I doubted you," said Ts'ao Jui; "but then I did not understand, and I listened to mischief-makers. I regret it. You have preserved both capitals by the punishment of this traitor."

Ssuma replied, "Shen I gave the information of the intended revolt and thought to memorialise Your Majesty. But there would have been a long delay, and so I did not await orders, but set forth at once. Delay would have played into Chuko's hands."

Then he handed in K'ung-ming's letter to Meng Ta, and when the Emperor had read that he said, "You are wiser than both the great strategists."

He conferred upon the successful leader a pair of golden axes and the privilege of taking action in important matters without first obtaining his master's sanction.

When the order was given to advance against the enemy, Ssuma asked permission to name his leader of the van, and nominated Chang Ho.

"Just the man I wished to send," said Ts'ao Jui, smiling. And Chang Ho was appointed.

By strategy the leader shows his skill,
He needs bold fighting men to work his will.

The result of the campaign will appear in the next chapter.

CHAPTER VC
MA SU'S WRANGLING LOSES CHIEHT'ING;
K'UNG-MING"S LUTE REPULSES SSUMA

B
eside
sending Chang Ho as van-leader, Ts'ao Jui appointed two other captains, Hsin P'i and Sun Li, to assist Ts'ao Chen. Each led five legions. Ssuma's army was twenty legions strong. They marched out through the pass and made a camp.

When encamped, the Commander-in-chief summoned the leader of the van to his tent and admonished him, saying, "A characteristic of Chuko Liang is his most diligent carefulness; he is never hasty. If I were in his place I should advance through the Tzuwu Valley to capture Ch'angan and so save much time. It is not that he is unskilful, but he fears lest that plan might miscarry, and he will not sport with risk. Therefore he will certainly come through the Hsieh Valley, taking Meich'eng on the way. That place captured, he will divide his force into two, one part to take Chi Valley. I have sent orders to guard Meich'eng strictly and on no account to let its garrison go out to battle. The captains Sun Li and Hsin P'i are to command the Chi Valley entrance, and should the enemy come they are to make a sudden attack."

"By what road will you advance?" asked Chang.

"I know a road west of Ts'inling valley called Chieht'ing, on which stands the city Liehliuch'eng. These two places are the throat of HanChung. Chuko Liang will take advantage of the unpreparedness of Ts'ao Chen and will certainly come in by this way. I and you will go to Chieht'ing, whence it is a short distance to Yenp'ing Pass, and when K'ung-ming hears that the road through Chieht'ing is blocked and his supplies cut off, he will know that Shensi is in danger, and will retire without losing a moment into HanChung. I shall smite him on the march, and I ought to gain a complete victory. If he should not retire, then I shall block all the smaller roads and so stop his supplies. A month's starvation will kill off the men of Shu, and Chuko will be my prisoner."

Chang Ho took in the scheme and expressed his admiration of the prescience of his chief.

Ssuma continued, "However, it is not to be forgotten that Chuko is quite different from Meng, and you, as leader of the van, will have to advance with the utmost care. You must impress upon your captains the importance of reconnoitring a long way ahead and only advancing when they are sure there is no ambush. The least remissness will make you the victim of some ruse of the enemy."

Chang Ho, having received his instructions, marched way. Meanwhile a spy had come to K'ung-ming in Ch'ishan with news of the destruction of Meng Ta and the failure of his conspiracy. Ssuma having succeeded there, ad gone to Ch'angan when he had marched through the pass.

K'ung-ming was distressed. "Meng's destruction was certain," said he. "Such scheme could not remain secret. Now Ssuma will try for Chieht'ing and block the one road essential to us."

So Chieht'ing had to be defended, and K'ung-ming asked who would go. Ma Su offered himself instantly. K'ung-ming urged upon him the importance of his task. "The place is small, but of very great importance, for its loss would involve the loss of the whole army. You are deeply read in all the rules of strategy, but the defence of this place is difficult, since it has no wall and no natural defences."

"I have studied the books of war since I was a boy, and I may say I know a little of the art of war," Ma replied. "Why alone is Chieht'ing so difficult to hold?"

"Because Ssuma I is an exceptional man, and also he has a famous second in Chang Ho as leader of the van. I fear you may not be a match for him."

Ma replied "To say nothing of these two I would not mind if Ts'ao Jui himself came against me. If I fail, then I beg you to behead my whole family."

"There is no jesting in war," said K'ung-ming.

"I will give a written pledge."

The general agreed, and a written pledge was given and placed on record.

K'ung-ming continued "I shall give you two legions and a half a veterans and also send an officer of rank to assist you."

Next he summoned Wang P'ing and said to him, "As you are a careful and cautious man I am giving you a very responsible position. You are to hold Chieht'ing with the utmost tenacity. Camp there in the most commanding position so that the enemy cannot steal by. When your arrangements are complete draw a plan of them and a map of the local topography and let me see it. All my dispositions have been carefully thought out and are not to be changed. If you can hold this successfully it will be of the first service in the capture of Ch'angan. So be very, very careful."

After these two had gone and K'ung-ming had reflected for a long time, it occurred to him that there might be some slip between his two leaders, so he called Kao Hsiang to him and said, "Northeast of Chieht'ing is a city named Liehliuch'eng and near it an unfrequented hill path. There you are to camp and make a stockade. I will give you a legion for this task, and if Chieht'ing should be threatened you may go to the rescue."

After Kao Hsiang had left, and as K'ung-ming knew his man was not a match for his opponent Chang Ho, he decided there ought to be additional strength on the west in order to make Chieht'ing safe. So he summoned Wei Yen and bade him lead his troop to the rear of Chieht'ing and camp there.

But Wei Yen thought this rather a slight, and said, "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?"

"The leadership of the van is really a second-rate task. Now I am sending you to support Chieht'ing and take post on the most dangerous road to Yenp'ing Pass. You are the chief keeper of the throat of HanChung. It is a very responsible post and not at all an idle one. Do not so regard it and spoil my whole plan. Be particularly careful."

Wei Yen, satisfied now that he was not being slighted, went his way.

K'ung-ming's mind was at rest, and he called up Chao Yun and Teng Chih, to whom he said, "Now that Ssuma I is in command of the army the whole outlook is different. Each of you will lead a force out by Chi Valley and move about so as to mislead the enemy. Whether you meet and engage them or not you will certainly cause them uneasiness. I am going to lead the main army through Hsieh Valley to Meich'eng. If I can capture that, Ch'angan will fall."

For this march Chiang Wei was appointed leader of the van.

When Ma Su and Wang P'ing had reached Chieht'ing and saw what manner of place it was, Ma Su smiled, saying, "Why was the minister so extremely anxious? How would the Wei armies dare to come to such a hilly place as this?"

Wang P'ing replied, "Though they might not dare to come, we should set our camp at this meeting of many roads."

So Wang ordered his men to fell trees and build a strong stockade as for a permanent stay.

But Ma Su had a different idea. "What sort of a place is a road to make a camp in? Here is a hill standing solitary and well wooded. It is a heaven-created point of vantage, and we will camp on it."

"You are wrong, Sir," replied Wang. "If we camp on the road and build a strong wall the enemy cannot possibly get past. If we abandon this for the hill, and the men of Wei come in force, we shall be surrounded, and how then be safe?"

"You look at the thing like a woman," said Ma Su, laughing. "The rules of war say that when one looks down from a superior position one easily overcomes the enemy. If they come I will see to it that not a breastplate ever goes back again."

"I have followed our general in many a campaign, and always he has carefully thought out his orders. Now I have studied this hill carefully, and it is a critical point. If we camp thereon and the enemy cut off our water supply we shall have a mutiny."

"No such thing," said Ma Su. "Sun Wu says that victory lies in desperate positions. If they cut off our water will not our men be desperate and fight to the death? Then everyone of them will be worth a hundred. I have studied the books, and the minister has always asked my advice. Why do you presume to oppose me?"

"If you are determined to camp on the hill, then give me part of the force to camp there on the west so that I can support you in ease the enemy come."

But Ma Su refused. Just then a lot of the inhabitants of the hills came running along saying that the Wei soldiers had come.

Wang was still bent on going his own way, and so Ma said to him, "Since you will not obey me, I will give you half a legion and you can go and make your own camp, but when I report my success to the minister you shall have no share of the merit."

Wang P'ing marched about ten li from the hill and made his camp. He drew a plan of the place and sent it quickly to K'ung-ming with a report that Ma Su had camped on the hill.

Before Ssuma marched, he sent his younger son to reconnoitre the road and to find out whether Chieht'ing had a garrison. He had returned with the information that there was a garrison.

"Chuko Liang is rather more than human," said his father regretfully when the son gave in his report. "He is too much for me."

"Why are you despondent, father? I think Chieht'ing is not so difficult to take."

"How dare you utter such bold words?"

"Because I have seen. There is no camp on the road, but the enemy are camped on the hill."

This was glad news. "If they are on the hill then Heaven means a victory for me," said his father.

Ssuma changed into another dress, took a small escort and rode out to see for himself. The moon shone brilliantly, and he rode to the hill whereon was the camp and looked all round it! thoroughly reconnoitring the neighbourhood. Ma Su saw him, but only laughed.

"If he has any luck he will not try to surround this hill," said Ma.

He issued an order to his captains that in ease the enemy came they were to look to the summit for a signal with a red flag, when they should rush down on all sides.

Ssuma I returned to his camp and sent out to enquire who commanded in Chieht'ing. They told him Ma Su, brother of Ma Liang.

"A man of false reputation and very ordinary ability," said Ssuma. "If K'ung-ming uses such as he, he will fail."

Then he asked if there were any other camps near the place, and they told him Wang P'ing was about ten
li
off. Wherefore Chang Ho was ordered to go and check Wang P'ing.

This done, the hill was surrounded and the road to the water supply was blocked. Lack of water would cause a mutiny, and when that occurred it would be time to attack. Chang Ho marched out and placed himself between Wang P'ing and the hill. Then Ssuma led the main body to attack the hill on all sides.

From the summit of his hill Ma Su could see the banners of his enemy all round, and the country about was full of men. Presently the hemming in was complete, and the men of Shu became dejected. They dared not descend to attack although the red flag signalled for them to move. The captains stood huddled together, no one daring to go first. Ma Su was furious. He cut down two officers, which frightened the others to the point of descending and making one desperate rush. But the men of Wei would not fight with them, and they re-ascended the hill.

Ma Su saw that matters were going ill, so he issued orders to bar the gates and defend till help should come.

When Wang P'ing saw the hilt surrounded he started to go to the rescue, but Chang Ho checked him, and after exchanging a half score encounters Wang was compelled to retire whence he had come.

The Wei men kept a close siege. The men in the hill camp, having no water, were unable to prepare food, and disorder broke out. The shouting was audible at the foot of the hill and went on far into the night. The men on the south face got out of hand, opened the gates and surrendered. The men of Wei went round the hill setting fire to the wood, which led to still greater confusion in the beleaguered garrison. At last Ma Su decided to make a dash for safety toward the west.

Ssuma allowed him to pass, but Chang Ho was sent to pursue and chased him for thirty
li.
But then there came an unexpected roll of drums. Chang Ho was stopped by Wei Yen while Ma Su got past. Whirling up his sword, Wei Yen dashed toward Chang, who retired within his ranks and fled. Wei followed and drove Chang backward toward Chieht'ing.

The pursuit continued for fifty
li,
and then Wang found himself in an ambush, Ssuma I on one side and his son on the other. They closed in behind Wei Yen, and he was surrounded. Chang Ho then turned back, and the attack was now on three sides. Wei Yen lost many men, and all his efforts failed to get him clear of the press. Then help appeared in the person of Wang P'ing.

"This is life for me," said Wei Yen as he saw Wang coming up, and the two forces joined in a new attack on the men of Wei. So the men of Wei drew off, while Wei yen and Wang P'ing made all haste back to their own camps—only to find them in the hands of the enemy.

Shen I and Shen Tan then rushed out and drove Wei and Wang toward Liehliuch'eng. There they were received by Kao Hsiang, who had come out to meet his unfortunate colleagues.

When Kao Hsiang heard their story, he at once proposed a night attack on the Wei camp and the recovery of Chieht'ing. They talked this over on the hillside and arranged their plans, after which they set themselves to wait till it was dark enough to start.

They set out along three roads, and Wei Yen was the first to reach Chieht'ing. Not a soldier was visible, which looked suspicious. He decided to await the arrival of Kao Hsiang and they both speculated as the whereabouts of their enemy. They could find no trace, and the third army had not yet come up.