The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation (47 page)

“His points seem quite convincing,” said Sima Yi. “Wu can be destroyed. Let me take an army to help Cao Xiu.”

But from among the courtiers stepped forward Jia Kui, who said, “The men of Wu are deceitful and their words cannot be fully trusted. Zhou Fang is a wise and crafty man and very unlikely to surrender. This must be some plot to lure our soldiers into danger.”

“These words must also be taken into consideration,” said Sima Yi. “Yet such a chance must not be missed.”

In the end the Emperor sent both Sima Yi and Jia Kui to assist Cao Xiu.

A military operation against Wu was launched on three fronts. Cao Xiu, leading a large army, set out to take Wancheng; Jia Kui to seize Yangcheng; and Sima Yi, to attack Jiangling.

Now the ruler of Wu, Sun Quan, was at the East Pass in Wuchang, where he addressed his officials: “The Prefect of Poyang, Zhou Fang, has sent me a secret memorial in which he says that Cao Xiu of Wei intends to invade us. He has therefore set a trap for Cao Xiu and has given him seven reasons why he should lead an army into our territory. Thus the Wei army will be enticed into a heavily-guarded area and destroyed by ambushes. Now the men of Wei are approaching in three divisions, and I need your advice.”

Gu Yong at once recommended Lu Xun. “He is the only man fit to cope with the present situation.”

So Lu Xun was summoned. Apart from receiving several new titles of high honor, he was created Commander of the Royal Corps of Guards and could act for the prince in his imperial duties. He was also given the symbols of authority, the yak-tail banner and the golden ax, and all the officials, civil and military, were placed under his command. Moreover, Sun Quan personally stood beside him and held his whip while he mounted his steed.

Having thanked his lord for all these marks of favor and distinction, Lu Xun obtained his permission to name as his two immediate assistants Zhu Huan and Quan Zong. Then the grand army, comprising over 700,000 men from the 81 districts of the lower reaches of the Yangtze and the Jingzhou region, marched out in three divisions, with Lu Xun in the center and his two assistants on the flanks.

Zhu Huan proposed a plan. “Cao Xiu is not a commander of ability or courage. He was given this office simply because he is a member of the imperial house. Now he has fallen into the trap laid by Zhou Fang and has marched his army deep inside our strongly-defended areas. He will surely be defeated under your attack. Then he will certainly flee along two roads, Jiashi on the left and Guache on the right, both of which are narrow and precipitous. Let Quan Zong and myself each take a force to lie in ambush on these roads and block them with logs and big boulders. As his way of escape will thus be cut off, Cao Xiu can be captured. After that our main force can press on directly to seize Shouchun, from where Xuchang and Luoyang will be within easy reach. This is a chance that comes only once in 10,000 years.”

“I don’t think this plan will work,” said Lu Xun. “I know what to do.”

Zhu Huan withdrew, deeply hurt that his scheme had been rejected. Lu Xun first ordered Zhuge Jin and some others to garrison Jiangling and oppose Sima Yi. Then he deployed the rest of his troops to various positions to await the enemy.

In the meantime, Cao Xiu’s army had arrived at Wancheng and Zhou Fang went to his tent to greet him. Cao Xiu said, “I received your letter lately and I found your seven points most convincing. So I reported it to His Majesty. He has set in motion accordingly three armies. It will be a great merit for you, sir, if the land of Wu can be added to His Majesty’s dominion. But some say you are very crafty and doubt the truthfulness of your words. I believe you will not be false to me.”

Zhou Fang burst into loud wailing. He hastily seized a sword from one of his attendants and made as if he were to kill himself. Cao Xiu quickly stopped him.

Still holding the sword, Zhou Fang said, “Those seven points that I mentioned in my letter came from the very bottom of my heart. How little did I expect they would arouse suspicion! Some Wu people must have been poisoning your mind against me. If you heed these liars the only course for me is to die. Heaven alone knows my loyalty.”

Again he made as if to slay himself. But Cao Xiu in trepidation seized his hand and said, “I was only joking. Why do you take it so seriously?”

Upon this, Zhou Fang, taking his sword, cut off his hair and threw it to the ground. “I have treated you with sincerity, sir, yet you return it with jest. Now I have cut off the hair I inherited from my parents to prove my fidelity.”

Then Cao Xiu doubted no more. He gave a banquet to Zhou Fang, who took his leave when the feast was over. After he left, Jia Kui came to see Cao Xiu, who asked him the reason for his visit.

Jia Kui said, “I believe Wu must have camped its whole army here in Wancheng. So I have come to warn you, Commander, not to risk advancing at once but wait till I can join you in the attack. Then the enemy can be destroyed.”

“You mean you want to share in my victory,” sneered Cao Xiu angrily.

Jia Kui continued, “I also heard that Zhou Fang cut off his hair as a pledge of sincerity but that is only another piece of deceit. He was only imitating Yao Li,
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who cut off his own arm to deceive Qing Ji for the purpose of assassinating him. Do not trust him.”

“I am on the verge of beginning my campaign,” cried Cao Xiu, “and you come to utter such ill-omened nonsense to destroy the spirit of my army!”

In his wrath he told the executioners to put Jia Kui to death. However, at the pleading of his officers he agreed to reprieve the death penalty, but retained Jia Kui’s men in the camp as a reserve force. He himself went away to take East Pass. When Zhou Fang heard that Jia Kui had been deprived of his military command, he said to himself joyfully, “If Cao Xiu attended to his words, we would fail. Heaven is helping me to succeed!”

Then he sent a secret messenger to Wancheng to inform Lu Xun of all this.

Lu Xun assembled his officers and said, “Ahead of us is Shiting where the roads are hilly, but still good enough for laying an ambush. We must get there early to occupy some wide open space to array our army and await the coming of the army of Wei.”

So saying he appointed Xu Sheng as leader of the van, to advance first.

Now Cao Xiu had told Zhou Fang to lead the way for his attack. As they marched he asked Zhou Fang the name of the place lying ahead.

“Shiting,” replied Zhou Fang. “It is a suitable place to camp in.”

Cao Xiu approved. So the army with its wagons of supplies entered Shiting and encamped. The next day scouts reported that a large number of their enemy had occupied the road approaching the hills.

Cao Xiu was alarmed. “Zhou Fang said there were no soldiers—how could they be prepared?”

He hastily sought Zhou Fang to ask him, and was told he had left with several dozen people. No one knew where he had gone.

“I have been deceived,” said Cao Xiu in deep remorse. “However, there is nothing to fear.”

Then he appointed Zhang Pu as van leader and ordered him out with 5,000 men to fight the men of Wu.

Zhang Pu rode forth and shouted, “Surrender quickly, you rebels!”

Xu Sheng rode out and fought with him. Zhang Pu was no match for his opponent, as was soon evident. He fled with his men back to his commander.

“Xu Sheng is too strong,” he said.

“We will defeat him by surprise,” said Cao Xiu.

He told Zhang Pu and Xue Qiao to lead 20,000 men each and lie in ambush to the south and north of Shiting. Then he said to the two officers, “Tomorrow I will lead a thousand men out to challenge. Then I will pretend defeat to cajole the men of Wei to follow me to the foot of the northern hills. At the signal of an explosion, we will attack them on three sides and the victory will be ours.” The two took the order and went to prepare the ambush that night.

On the other side Lu Xun summoned his two assistants, to whom he said: “Each of you is to lead 30,000 men and cut across from Shiting to the rear of the enemy’s camp. Give a signal of fire on arrival. I will command the main force to advance in the center.”

As evening fell these two moved out their men. By the second watch Zhu Huan had got to the rear of the Wei camp, where he encountered Zhang Pu, who was there waiting in ambush. Not knowing the approaching men were enemies, he rode forth to inquire and was at once slain by Zhu Huan. The men of Wei then fled, and Zhu Huan lit his signal fire.

Quan Zong, on the other side, ran into the ambush set by Xue Qiao. A battle followed at once, but the men of Wei suffered great losses and were soon put to flight. Both officers of Wu pursued them to their camp, where confusion reigned and men fought among themselves.

Cao Xiu hastily mounted his horse and fled toward Jiashi. Xu Sheng, with a strong force, came to attack along the high road, killing countless men of the Wei army. Those who escaped all abandoned their armor.

In panic Cao Xiu struggled along the Jiashi Road. Suddenly there came a force from a side path. It was led by Jia Kui. Cao Xiu, slightly relieved, said shamefacedly, “I took no notice of what you advised and I did suffer defeat.”

Jia Kui replied, “General, you should quickly get off this road, otherwise if the men of Wu block it with logs and boulders we will be in grave danger.”

So Cao Xiu hastened forward while Jia Kui protected the rear. To prevent the men of Wu from pursuing, Jia Kui set up flags and banners in thick woods and along dangerous bypaths, so as to give an impression of having many men posted all around. When Xu Sheng came he caught glimpses of flags from beneath the slopes and suspected an ambush. So he gave up the pursuit and withdrew. Cao Xiu was thus rescued. When Sima Yi learned about Cao Xiu’s defeat, he also withdrew.

In the meantime, Lu Xun was awaiting news of victory. Soon the three officers came and reported their successes. They brought with them great spoil of carts and bullocks, horses and mules and military equipment, as well as a very large number of prisoners. Greatly pleased, Lu Xun with Zhou Fang led the army home into Wu. On their return Sun Quan came out of the city of Wuchang with a numerous cortege of officials to welcome the victors, and an imperial umbrella was borne over the head of Lu Xun as they wended their way into the city. The other officers also received promotions and rewards.

Sun Quan, noticing that Zhou Fang had no hair, consoled him with gracious words. “This deed of yours, and the sacrifice you made to attain it, will surely be recorded in history books.”

He conferred on Zhou Fang the title of marquis. Then he gave great feasts to entertain his army in celebration of the victory.

Lu Xun said, “Cao Xiu has been thoroughly beaten, and the men of Wei are cowed. I think now is the time to send an envoy with a letter to Shu and exhort Zhuge Liang to attack Wei.”

Sun Quan agreed, and an envoy carrying Sun Quan’s letter was sent.

The east, successful in one fight,
Would unto war the west incite.

The fate of Zhuge Liang’s next campaign against Wei will be told in the next chapter.

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   According to an ancient legend, Emperor Shun executed Gun for failing to control the floods, but later asked Gun’s son, Yu, to do the same job. Yu finally succeeded in subduing the flooding river.

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   In the period of the Warring States, the King of Chu forced his general to commit suicide after he lost a battle with the Kingdom of Jin. When Duke Wen of Jin heard of this he was overjoyed. Here Jiang Wan uses this story to show Zhuge Liang that the execution of Ma Su would only please their enemy.

*
   A man in the service of Prince Guang of Wu in ancient China. He was ordered by his master to assassinate his rival Qing Ji, son of the king. Yao Li cut off his own arm and went to see Qing Ji, saying that Prince Guang had severed his limb. Thus he was able to win Qing Ji’s trust and finally slew him.

CHAPTER NINETY-SEVEN

Zhuge Liang Proposes to Renew the Attack on Wei

Jiang Wei Defeats Wei by Means of a Forged Letter