Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (61 page)

Hsiahou Pa left. It was the sixth night of K'ung-ming's prayers, and the lamp of his fate still burned brightly. He began to feel a secret joy. Presently Chiang Wei entered and watched the ceremonies.

Suddenly a great shouting was heard outside, and immediately Wei Yen dashed in, crying, "The Wei soldiers are upon us!"

In his haste he had knocked over and extinguished the Lamp of Fate.

K'ung-ming threw down the sword and sighed, saying, "Life and death are foreordained; no prayers can alter them."

Wei Yen fell to the earth and craved forgiveness. Chiang drew his sword to slay the unhappy soldier.

Nought is under man's control,
Nor can he with fate contend.

Did Chiang kill the blundering warrior? The next chapter will unfold.

CHAPTER CIV
A STAR FALLS AS CHUKO LIANG
ASCENDS TO HEAVEN: A WOODEN IMAGE
AFFRIGHTS SSUMA I

T
he
unhappy Wei did not suffer the edge of the sword, for Chuko stayed the stroke, saying, "It is my fate; not his fault." So Chiang put up his sword, and K'ung-ming sank wearily upon his couch.

"Ssuma I thinks I am dead, and he sent these few men to make sure. Go ye and drive them off," said he.

Wei Yen left the tent and led out a small party to drive away the men of Wei, who fled as they appeared. He chased them to a distance and returned. Then K'ung-ming sent him to his own camp and bade him keep a vigilant look-out.

Presently Chiang Wei came in, went up to the sick man's couch and asked how he felt.

He replied, "My death is very near. My chief desire has been to spend myself to the utmost to restore the Hans and lead a glorious return of the Hans to their capital, but Heaven decrees it otherwise. I have never ceased from my studies. I have written a book in twenty chapters, one hundred and four thousand, one hundred and twelve words, treating 'The eight Needfuls,' 'The seven Cautions,' 'The six Fears' and 'The five Dreads' of war. But among all those about me there is no one fit to receive it and carry on my work save you. I pray you not to despise it."

He gave the treatise to Chiang Wei, who received it sobbing.

"I have also a plan for a multiple crossbow, which I have been unable to execute. The weapon shoots ten bolts of eight inches length at every discharge. The plans are quite ready and the weapons can be made according to them."

Chiang took the papers with a deep bow.

The dying man continued, "There is no part of Shu that causes anxiety, save Yenp'ing. That must be carefully guarded. It is protected naturally by its lofty precipices, but it will surely be lost by and by."

Next K'ung-ming sent for Ma Tai, to whom he gave certain whispered instructions, and then said aloud, "You are to follow out my instructions after my death."

Soon after, Yang I entered the tent and went to the couch. He received a silken bag containing certain secret orders. As K'ung-ming gave it him, he said, "After my death Wei Yen will turn traitor. When that happens you will find herein who is to slay him."

Just as these arrangements were finished K'ung-ming fell into a swoon, from which he did not revive till the evening. Then he set himself to compose a memorial to the king. When this reached the king he was greatly alarmed and at once sent Li Fu to visit and confer with the dying minister.

Li travelled quickly to the camp and was led to the tent of the Commander-in-chief. He delivered the king's command and enquired after the sick man's welfare. K'ung-ming wept, and he replied, "Unhappily I am dying and leaving my task incomplete. I am injuring my country's policy and am in fault to the world. After my death you must aid the king in perfect loyalty and see that the old policy is continued, and the rules of government maintained. Do not lightly cast out the men I have employed. My plans of campaign have been confided to Chiang Wei, who can continue my policy for the service of the state. But my hour draws near, and I must write my testament."

Li Fu listened, and then took his leave. K'ung-ming made one final effort to carry out his duties. He rose from his couch, was helped into a small carriage and thus made a round of inspection of all the camps and posts. But the cold autumn wind chilled him to the bone.

"I shall never again lead the army against the rebels," said he. "O distant and azure Heaven, when will this end?"

K'ung-ming returned to his tent. He became rapidly weaker and called Yang I to his bedside.

Said he, "Wang P'ing and the others with him may be depended on to the death They have fought many campaigns and borne many hardships; they should be retained in the public service. After my death let everything go on as before, but the army is to be gradually withdrawn. You know the tactics to be followed, and I need say little. My friend Chiang Wei is wise and brave; set him to guard the retreat."

Yang received these orders weeping. Next, writing materials were brought in and the dying minister set himself to write his testament. It is here given in substance:—

"Life and death are the common lot, and fate cannot be evaded. Death is at hand, and I desire to prove my loyalty to the end. I, thy servant Liang, dull of parts, was born into a difficult age, and it fell to my lot to guide military operations. I led a northern expedition, but failed to win complete success. Now sickness has laid hold upon me and death approaches, so that I shall be unable to accomplish my task. My sorrow is inexpressible.

"I desire Your Majesty to cleanse your heart and limit your desires, to practise self-control and to love the people, to maintain a perfectly filial attitude toward your late father and to be benevolent to all the world. Seek out the recluse scholars that you may obtain the services of the wise and good; repel the wicked and depraved that your moral standard may be exalted.

'To my household belong eight hundred mulberry trees and five thousand
mou
*
of land; thus there is ample provision for my family. While I have been employed in the service of the state my needs have been supplied from official sources, but I have not contrived to make any additions to the family estate. At my death I shall not leave any increased possessions that may cause Your Majesty to suspect that I have wronged you."

Having composed this document, the dying man turned again to Yang I, saying, "Do not weal mourning for me, but make a large coffer and therein place my body, with seven grains of rice in my mouth. Place a lamp at my feet and let my body move with the army as I was wont to do. If you refrain from mourning, then my leadership star will not fall, for my inmost soul will ascend and hold it in place. So long as my star retains its place Ssuma I will be fearsome and suspicious. Let the army retreat, beginning with the rearmost division; send it away slowly, one camp at a time. If Ssuma pursue, array the army and offer battle, turn to meet him and beat the attack. Let him approach till he is very near and then suddenly display the image of myself that I have had carven, seated in my chariot in the midst of the army with the captains right and left as usual. And you will frighten Ssuma away."

Yang listened to these words intently and without remark. That night K'ung-ming was carried into the open and gazed up at the sky.

"That is my star," said he, pointing to one that seemed to be losing its brilliancy and to be tottering in its place. K'ung-ming's lips moved as if he muttered a spell. Presently he was borne into his tent and for a time was oblivious of all about him.

When the anxiety caused by this state of coma was at its height Li Fu arrived. He wept when he saw the condition of the great leader, crying that he had foiled the great designs of the state.

However, presently K'ung-ming's eyes reopened and fell upon Li Fu standing near his couch.

"I know your mission," said he.

"I came with the royal command to ask also who should control the destinies of the state for the next century," replied Li. "In my agitation I forgot to ask that."

"After me, Chiang Wan is the most fitting man to deal with great matters."

"And after him?"

"After him, Fei I."

"Who next after him?"

No reply came, and when they looked more carefully they perceived that the soul of the Great Minister had passed.

Thus died Chuko Liang, on the twenty-third day of the eighth month in the twelfth year of the period
Chien-Hsing
, at the age of fifty and two.

The poet Tu Fu wrote some verses on his death.

A bright star last night falling from the sky
This message gave, "The Master is no more."
No more in camps shall bold men tramp at his command,
At court no statesman e'er will fill the place he held.
At home, his clients miss their patron kind.
Calm was his bosom, full of strategy.
But lately fared we to the wood's green shade
To hail him victor; hushed that song for him.

And Po Chu-i also wrote a poem:—

Within the forest dim the Master lived obscure,
Till, thrice returning, there the king his mentor met.
As when a fish the ocean gains, desire was filled
Wholly; the dragon freed could soar aloft at will.
As king's on's guardian none more zealous was;
As minister, most loyally he wrought at court.
His war memorials still to us are left
And, reading them, the tears unconscious fall.

Now in past days a certain officer named Liao Li had a high opinion of his own abilities and thought himself perfectly fitted to be K'ung-ming's second. So he neglected the duties of his proper post, showed discontent and indiscipline and was constantly slandering the minister. Thereupon he was degraded and exiled by K'ung-ming. When he heard of his death he shed tears and said, "Then, after all, I am but a barbarian."

Li Yen also grieved deeply at the sad tidings, for he had always hoped that K'ung-ming would restore him to office and so give him the opportunity of repairing his former faults. After K'ung-ming had died he thought there was no hope of re-employment, and so he died.

Another poet, Yuan Wei-chih, also wrote in praise of the great adviser.

He fought disorder, helped a failing king,
Most zealously he kept his master's son.
In state-craft he o'erpassed both Kuan and Yo,
In war-craft he excelled both Sun and Wu.
With awe the court his war memorial heard,
With majesty his "Eight Arrays" were planned.
Good reader, an there's virtue in your heart
You 'II sigh to think that he has had no peer.

Heaven grieved and earth mourned on the night of K'ung-ming's death. Even the moon was dimmed. And K'ung-ming returned to Heaven.

As the late commander had directed, no one wailed his death. His body was placed in the coffer as he had wished, and three hundred of his near comrades were appointed to watch it.

Secret orders were given to Wei Yen to command the rearguard, and then, one by one, the camps were broken up and the army began its homeward march.

Ssuma I watched the skies. One night a large red star with bright rays passed from the north-east to the south-west and dropped over the camps of Shu. It dipped thrice and rose again. Ssuma heard also a low rumbling in the distance. He was pleased and excited, and said to those about him, "K'ung-ming is dead."

At once he ordered pursuit with a strong force. But just as he passed the camp gates doubts filled his mind and he gave up the plan.

"K'ung-ming is a master of mysteries, and it may be that this is but a ruse to get us to take the field. We may fall victims to his guile."

So he halted. But he sent Hsiahou Pa with a few scouts to reconnoitre the enemy's camps.

One night as Wei Yen lay asleep in his tent he dreamed a dream in his vision two horns grew out of his head. When he awoke he was much perplexed to explain his dream. A certain Expeditionary Ssu-ma, Chao Chih, came to see him, and Wei Yen said, "You are versed in mysteries. I have dreamed that two horns grew upon my head, and would trouble you to expound the dream and tell me its portent."

His visitor thought a moment and replied, "It is an auspicious dream. There are horns on the head of the
chilin
and the dragon. It augurs transformation into an ascending creature."

Wei Yen, much pleased, thanked the interpreter of his dream and promised him gifts when the dream proved true.

Chao Chih left and presently met Fei I, who asked whence he came.

"From the camp of our friend Wei Yen. He dreamed that he grew horns upon his head, and I have given him an auspicious interpretation. But really it is inauspicious. However, I did not wish to annoy him."

"How do you know it is inauspicious?"

"The word for horn is composed of two parts, 'knife' above and 'use' below, and so means that there is a knife upon his head. It is a terrible omen."

"Keep it secret," said Fei.

Then Fei I went to the camp of Wei Yen, and when they were alone, he said, "The minister died last night in the third watch. He left certain final orders, and among them, that you are to command the rear-guard to keep Ssuma at bay while the army retreats. No mourning is to be worn. Here is your authority, so you can march forthwith.

"Who is acting in place of the late minister?" asked Wei.

"The chief command has been delegated to Yang I, but the secret plans of campaign have been entrusted to Chiang Wei. This authority issues from him."

Wei replied, "Though the minister is dead, I am yet alive. Yang is only a civil officer and unequal to this post. He ought to conduct the coffin home while I lead the army against Ssuma I. I shall achieve success, and it is wrong to abandon a whole plan of campaign because of the death of one man, even if that be the Prime Minister."

"His orders were to retire, and these orders are to be obeyed."

"If the late minister had listened to me we should now have been at Ch'angan. I am the senior general and of high rank. I am not going to act as rear-guard for any civil official."

"It may be as you say, General, but you must not do anything to make us ridiculous. Let me go back to Yang I and explain, and I may be able to persuade him to pass on to you the supreme military authority he holds."