The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation (48 page)

I
t
was in the autumn of the sixth year of Jian Xing in Shu that the Wei army was thoroughly beaten by Lu Xun of Wu.
Cao Xiu’s mortification brought on an illness from which he died in Luoyang.
By command of the Emperor, he received a most honorable burial.

When Sima Yi returned with his army he was welcomed into the city by the other officers.

“Commander, you were also responsible for General Cao’s defeat,” they said.
“Why did you hurry home?”

Sima Yi replied, “I suspect Zhuge Liang will take advantage of our defeat to seize Chang’an.
If the west is in danger, who can go to its rescue?”

But the officers sniggered as they withdrew, thinking he was cowardly.

Meanwhile, Wu’s envoy had presented his lord’s letter to Shu, proposing a joint attack on Wei and detailing their recent victory.
The intention behind this letter was two-fold: to exhibit their own power and to strengthen friendly relations.
The Second Ruler of Shu was pleased and sent the letter to Zhuge Liang in Hanzhong.

At that time the army was in every readiness for a new expedition.
The men were strong and the horses sturdy; supplies of grain and fodder were plentiful; and all kinds of necessary equipment had been prepared.
Zhuge Liang was just going to propose a new operation when he received the letter from Wu.

Zhuge Liang assembled all his subordinates to discuss a new expedition.
Suddenly a gust of wind blew up from the northeast corner and snapped a pine tree in the courtyard.
It was an inauspicious omen and all those present were alarmed.
Zhuge Liang made a divination and presently announced that the wind portended the loss of a great general.
The others were doubtful, though.
But before the banquet ended it was announced that two sons of Zhao Yun had come and wished to see Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang, in great alarm, threw down his wine cup and cried, “Alas! Zi-long is no more.”

The two sons came in, prostrated themselves before him and wept.
“Father’s illness worsened last night and he died at the third watch.”

Zhuge Liang staggered and burst into lamentation. “Alas, Zi-long is gone!
The country has lost a pillar and I, my right arm.”

The others also shed tears.
Zhuge Liang bade the two sons go to Cheng-du to bear the sad tiding to the Second Ruler.

And the Second Ruler also wept bitterly.
“Zi-long was my savior—had it not been for him I would have died an infant in the chaos of war.”

An edict was issued creating the late general Marquis of Shunping, to be buried on the east of Brocade Screen Hills in the capital.
A temple was erected to his memory and sacrifices offered at four seasons.

From Changshan came a warrior, tiger-bold,
In wit and valor he was fitting mate
For Guan and Zhang, his exploits rivaling
Even theirs. Han Waters and Dangyang recall
His name. Twice in his stalwart arms he bore
The prince, his well-loved leader’s son and heir.
Histories record his brave and loyal deeds.
His glorious name stands aloft at all times.

Out of gratitude to the late general, the Second Ruler not only accorded him a most honorable burial, but showed much kindness to his sons.
Both were given military ranks and ordered to guard over their father’s tomb.
They thanked their lord and left.

Then an official reported to the Second Ruler that the prime minister had completed the preparation of the army and proposed to march against Wei without delay.
The Second Ruler consulted the courtiers, who were mostly inclined to a cautious policy.
So he could not decide.
Just then it was announced that the prime minister had sent forth a memorial.
The messenger was called into the audience hall and the memorial delivered to the Second Ruler, who spread it on the imperial table and read:

“The late Emperor was anxious to restore the rule of Han and would not allow the rebel state of Wei to exist alongside the legitimate domain of ours, which would never be secure in its present limited locality.
Therefore he charged me, your minister, to destroy them.
Measuring my abilities by his perspicacity, he knew that I would not be strong enough to deal with the mighty enemy.
However, inaction would also mean the destruction of our royal domain.
It was a question of whether to sit back and await destruction or to attack?
So he doubted no more and assigned me the task.

“Ever since the day I received the decree this task has occupied all my thoughts.
Considering that the south should be made secure before the north could be attacked, I braved the heat of summer and crossed the Lu River, plunging deep into the wilds and eating only every two days.
It was not that I cared nothing for myself, but that the royal domain should not be confined to the territory of Shu.
So I will risk every danger to fulfill the late Emperor’s behest.
However, there are people in court who are opposed to my proposed expedition against Wei.
Now the rebels have been weakened in the west and entangled in the east.
The art of war advocates taking advantage of the enemy’s weakness, and so now is the time to attack.
I will state my argument in detail as follows.

“The wisdom of the Founder of Han rivaled the glory of the sun and moon and his counselors were profound as the ocean in knowledge and strategy.
Nevertheless, he had trodden a hazardous path and suffered many losses, only attaining repose after passing through grave dangers.
Now Your Majesty is not an equal to our Founder, nor can your counselors compare with Zhang Liang and Chen Ping, yet Your Majesty is advised to seek to win the empire through a policy of prolonged confrontation with the enemy.
This is the first point that puzzles me.

“In the past, Liu Yao and Wang Lang each occupied a district in the east.
They passed their time in talking of peace and discussing plans, quoting the sayings of sages till all were filled with doubts and intimidated by difficulties.
So year after year, no expedition was made and no battle fought, making it possible for Sun Ce to grow powerful and finally conquer all the regions east of the Yangtze.
This is the second point that I cannot understand.

“In craft Cao Cao surpassed all men.
He could wield armies like the great strategists of old, Sun Tzu and Wu Qi.
Nevertheless, he was besieged at Nanyang, in danger at Wuchao, in peril at Qilian, hard pressed in Liyang, nearly defeated at Beishan, and almost killed at Tong Pass.
Despite all these setbacks, he enjoyed a temporary period of peace.
How much less can I, a man of feeble ability, bring about tranquillity without running risks?
I fail to understand this third point.

“Cao Cao failed five times in his attack on Changba, and crossed the Chao Lake four times without success.
He employed Li Fu, who betrayed him.
He put his trust in Xiahou Yuan, who was defeated and killed.
The late Emperor always regarded Cao Cao as an able man, and yet he made such mistakes.
How then can I, who is much less capable, necessarily succeed?
This is the fourth point I fail to comprehend.

“Only one year has elapsed since I went into Hanzhong, yet we have lost Zhao Yun, Yang Qun, Ma Yu, Yan Zhi, Ding Li, Bai Shou, Liu He, Deng Tong, and other notable officers, more than seventy
squadron leaders, and more than a thousand members of our shock brigades, trained cavalry, and Sou, Cong, and Qiang minority units.
It took several decades to muster all those bold souls together from various parts of the country and not just from one district.
If we delay our campaign for several more years, two-thirds of the picked troops will have died, and how then are we to destroy the enemy?
This is the fifth point that troubles me.

“The people are now poor and the army exhausted indeed, but events do not cease to move.
If they do not cease, then, whether we take action or remain idle, the cost is the same.
But critics of my proposal say that the attack should not be made yet!
With only the land of one province, we are supposed to hold out against Wei for a long period of time—this is the sixth point that I find hard to understand.

“A stable condition of things is indeed difficult to obtain.
Earlier, when the late Emperor was defeated in Chu, Cao Cao clapped his hands and rejoiced that his rule was settled.
Afterwards, however, the late Emperor obtained the support of Wu and Yue in the east, took Ba and Shu to the west, and undertook an expedition to the north, in which Xiahou Yuan lost his life.
So Cao Cao’s calculations proved erroneous, and the great design of Han seemed about to be accomplished.
But later, Wu betrayed its pledge, Guan Yu was defeated, the late Emperor suffered a serious setback at Zigui, and Cao Pi assumed the throne.
Such events prove difficult to predict.
I will strain my back and exert myself to the very last, but the final result, whether success or failure, whether gain or loss, is beyond my power to foresee.”

The Emperor was convinced after reading the memorial, and directed Zhuge Liang to start on the expedition.
Taking the order, Zhuge Liang marched out with 300,000 well-trained men, with Wei Yan leading the first division, and made all haste for the road to Chencang.

The news soon reached Luoyang, and Sima Yi informed the Emperor of Wei, who called a
council to discuss the emergency.
Cao Zhen stepped forth and said, “Last time I was commanded to hold Longxi, but my service was nothing compared to the loss I suffered.
And the humiliation is terrible to bear.
Now I beg to be given another command that I may capture Zhuge Liang.
Lately I have found a stalwart warrior, a man who wields a sixty-catty sword, rides a swift battle steed, and can bend an iron bar weighing two hundred catties.
When he goes into battle he also carries hidden about him three meteor maces and he never misses a target.
So valorous is he that a myriad dare not stand against him.
His name is Wang Shuang, a native of Longxi.
I would like to recommend him to be my van leader.”

Cao Rui approved at once and summoned this marvel to the hall.
There came a tall man with a dusky complexion, hazel eyes, strong as a bear in the waist, and supple as a tiger in the back.

“With such a powerful warrior I have nothing to fear,” said Cao Rui, smiling with pleasure.

He bestowed on the newfound hero a silken robe and golden armor and conferred on him the title of
“
Tiger General.”
And he became leader of the van of the new army.

Cao Zhen thanked the Emperor and took his leave.
He collected 150,000
veterans to guard all the strategic points, together with Guo Huai and Zhang He.

The first division of the Shu army reached Chencang.
Scouts were sent out to reconnoiter the area.
Then they went back to report to Zhuge Liang that their enemy had built a rampart there, secure with high walls, a deep moat, and extensive barricades of abatis.
A major general named Hao Zhao was in command.

“It’s better to give up this place and go to Qishan by the winding paths in the Taibei Hills,” they suggested.

But Zhuge Liang said, “Due north of Chencang is Jieting, and we must seize this place in order to advance.”

Wei Yan was sent to surround the rampart and take city.
But after several days of unsuccessful attacks, he returned and told his chief the place was impregnable.
In his anger, Zhuge Liang wanted to put him to death, but at this moment an officer named Jin Xiang stood out and volunteered to go and persuade Hao Zhao to surrender.

“How are you going to persuade him?” asked Zhuge Liang.
“What is your argument?”

“Hao Zhao and I are both from Longxi and we have been good friends since boyhood.
I will go and lay matters before him.
He will surely surrender.”

He was permitted to try and he rode quickly to the wall, where he called out, “An old friend of Hao Zhao’s has come to see him.”

Sentries on the wall went to inform Hao Zhao, who told them to let the visitor in.
So Jin Xiang climbed up the wall to see his friend.

“My friend, what brings you here?” asked Hao Zhao.

“I’m a military advisor in the service of Zhuge Liang of Shu, who treats me exceedingly well.
Now he’s asked me to bring you a message.”

Hao Zhao suddenly changed color and said angrily, “Zhuge Liang is our enemy.
I serve Wei while you serve Shu.
Each serves his own lord.
We were brothers once, but now we are enemies—so say no more.”

And the visitor was requested to take his leave at once.
Jin Xiang tried to broach the subject again, but his host had already left him to ascend the watch tower.
The Wei soldiers hurried him on to his horse and drove him out of the gate.
As he departed he looked up and saw his friend leaning on the guard rail.
He pulled up his horse, pointed with his whip at Hao Zhao, and said, “My worthy brother, why are you so unfriendly?”