The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation (58 page)

“The enemy has retreated for no apparent reasons.”

“Zhuge Liang is full of tricks,” said Sima Yi. “Remain where you are and keep a careful lookout. When they have exhausted their grain, they must retreat for good.”

At this a general called Wei Ping stepped forward. “But we should seize the moment of their retreat to smite them,” he said. “Yet you are afraid to move, Commander, as if they were tigers. How the world will laugh at us!”

Sima Yi, however, was resolutely opposed to pursuit.

When Zhuge Liang knew that the Qishan men had got away safely, he called Yang Yi and Ma Zhong and told them to lead 10,000 bowmen out to the Wooden Gate Trail at Sword Pass and place them in ambush on both sides of the road to wait for the men of Wei, if they came to pursue.

“When you hear the explosion of a signal bomb, roll down logs and rocks to barricade their way of retreat. Then shoot at them on two sides.”

When they left he ordered Wei Yan and Guan Xing to guard the rear of the retreating army. Then a false image of occupation was prepared: the walls of the city were decorated lavishly with flags; piles of straw and fire-wood were stacked here and there; and smoldering fires were set. Then the soldiers marched out toward the Wooden Gate Trail.

Spies of Wei returned to inform Sima Yi that the main force of the Shu army had departed, but they did not know how many were still left in the city. Sima Yi himself went to look, and there he saw the smoke rising from within the walls and the flags fluttering on the wall.

He smiled. “The city is deserted.”

Then he sent men in to confirm this, and they returned to say that the place was really empty.

Overjoyed, Sima Yi said, “So Zhuge Liang is really gone—who will pursue?”

“I will,” replied Zhang He.

“No, you’re too impulsive,” said Sima Yi.

“You appointed me leader of the van when you started for this expedition,” said Zhang He. “Why don’t you employ me today, when there is glory to be gained?”

“Although they are retreating, they will leave an ambush at every dangerous point. Utmost caution is needed to pursue.”

“I know that. Have no worries.”

“Well, you yourself wish to go. Don’t regret it later.”

“A real hero is ready to sacrifice himself for his country,” replied Zhang He. “I will never regret, even if I have to die a myriad deaths!”

“Since you’re determined to go, take 5,000 men and start out first. Let Wei Ping follow you with 20,000 infantry and cavalrymen, in case there are ambushes. I will come later with 3,000, to help where necessary.”

So Zhang He set out and advanced quickly. Thirty
li
onwards he heard a roll of drums, and suddenly there appeared from some woods a cohort led by a general of high rank, who reined in his steed and leveled his sword, crying, “Where do you think you are going, you rebel?”

Zhang He swiftly turned and engaged Wei Yan, for it was he who had come. But after a few passes Wei Yan feigned defeat and fled. Zhang He chased for another thirty
li
and then stopped to look back: there was no ambush whatsoever. Feeling secure, he galloped onward to pursue. But just as he rounded a slope, there arose yells and another body of soldiers came out.

“Zhang He, do not run away!” cried this officer, who was Guan Xing.

Guan Xing galloped close, and Zhang He dashed forth to fight with him, but after half a score of passes Guan Xing suddenly turned his steed and galloped away. Zhang He followed. Presently they neared a dense wood. Suspicious of an ambush, Zhang He sent his men to search the thickets. As they discovered no danger inside, Zhang He again pursued. But quite unexpectedly Wei Yan somehow got round ahead of him and now appeared again. The two fought about a dozen bouts and again Wei Yan ran away. Zhang He followed angrily, but this time Guan Xing also got round ahead of him and barred his way. Zhang He, now provoked to fury, fought his opponent for about ten bouts. Then the men of Shu again ran away, abandoning all their armor and weapons. The road was thus littered with spoils and, unable to resist the temptation, the Wei men slipped from their horses and began to loot.

The same maneuver continued. Wei Yen and Guan Xing took turns to engage Zhang He, who pressed on undaunted. By evening they were close to the Wooden Gate Trail.

Suddenly Wei Yan swung round and yelled, “Zhang He, you rebel! I did not mean to fight you yet you followed me all this while. Now I will fight you to the death.”

Zhang He, hot with indignation, plunged forth with his spear set to strike Wei Yan, who brandished his sword to meet him. After less than ten bouts, Wei Yan was thoroughly worsted and threw aside his clothes, armor, and helmet. With only his horse left he rode away along the Wooden Gate Trail, followed by his beaten troops. Zhang He’s lust to kill was then fully roused. Seeing that Wei Yan had fled in sheer defeat, he set out after him, sensing no danger.

By that time darkness had gathered. Suddenly an explosion rocked the air and all at once the hills were illuminated by bright lights of flames. At the same time huge boulders and great chunks of timber came rolling down the slopes and blocked his way of escape.

“I’ve been trapped!” cried Zhang He in great alarm. Turning round hastily, he found the road behind already sealed. On his two sides were craggy precipices, leaving only a narrow strip of open space in the middle. Then, rat-tat-tat! came the sound of a rattle, and from two sides flew clouds of arrows and showers of bolts. Zhang He and his hundred or so officers were all killed in the trail.

With myriad shining bolts the air was filled,
The road was littered with brave soldiers killed;
People who travel by Sword Pass today
Still talk of the minister’s fame of old.

Soon the reinforcement troops of Wei came up, but too late to help. Finding the road blocked, they realized that their comrades had fallen victims to a trap, and they hastily turned back. But suddenly from the top of the hill people shouted: “Prime Minister Zhuge is here!”

Looking up, they saw his figure outlined against a fire. Pointing to the men of Wei below, he cried, “I have been hunting, as you see—only instead of slaying a horse I have killed a deer.
^*
But you may go in peace, and when you see Sima Yi, tell him that he will be my quarry one of these days.”

The soldiers told this to Sima Yi when they returned, and he was deeply grieved, blaming himself for the death of his comrade Zhang He. Then he led his army back to Luoyang. The Emperor wept when he learned of the death of his brave general, and had his body honorably buried.

Meanwhile, Zhuge Liang had returned to Hanzhong and wanted to go on to the capital to see his lord. But before he set out, Li Yan, whose letter concerning the possible attack from Wu had resulted in the withdrawl of the Shu army, said to the Second Ruler falsely: “I have prepared all the supplies for the army and will send them on to the prime minister. I do not know why he has returned.”

The Second Ruler sent Fei Yi to Hanzhong to inquire why the army had withdrawn. And when Fei Yi delivered the Second Ruler’s question to Zhuge Liang, the latter was greatly surprised.

“Li Yan sent an urgent letter in which he said Wu was going to invade us, so I came back.”

Then Fei Yi related to Zhuge Liang what Li Yan had said to the Second Ruler. Zhuge Liang was furious to hear this and ordered someone to investigate the matter. Then it came out that Li Yan had failed to collect sufficient grain to keep the army supplied and, for fear of being held responsible by the prime minister, had sent the first false letter to the army that it might retreat before the shortage became apparent. His petition to the Second Ruler was intended to cover up his fault.

“The fool has ruined the great design of the state just to save his own skin.”

In his wrath Zhuge Liang wished to call in the offender and put him to death. But Fei Yi pleaded for the culprit, reminding the prime minister that Li Yan was among those whom the late Emperor had entrusted with the care of his son. Zhuge Liang approved. Fei Yi then returned to the capital and reported the matter to the Second Ruler, who also flared up in rage and ordered Li Yan to be executed.

But this time Jiang Wan intervened. “Your late father named Li Yan as one of your guardians. I beg Your Majesty will show mercy.”

So Li Yan’s life was spared but he was stripped of all rank and exiled to Zitong.

Zhuge Liang went back to the capital, where he employed Li Yan’s son in his service. Preparations then began for an expedition to start in three years. Plans were discussed, provisions were accumulated, weapons put in order, and officers and men well cared for. By his kindness to all men Zhuge Liang won great popularity.

Time moved swiftly. All of a sudden, three years had passed. In the second month of the thirteenth year of Jian Xing, Zhuge Liang went to court and presented a memorial, which said: “I have been resting the army for three years. Now supplies are ample and military equipment all in order. Both men and horses are strong and sturdy. This is the moment to raise an expedition against Wei. If I cannot sweep away the evil hordes and recover the northern land this time, may I never set eyes on Your Majesty again!”

The Second Ruler replied: “The tripartite rule is a firmly established reality at present, and Wu and Wei do not trouble us at all. Why not enjoy the present peace, Father-Minister?”

“I have received such great kindness from your father that I am always thinking of a way to destroy Wei, even in my dreams. I must strive my best to restore the northern territory to Your Majesty and reestablish the rule of Han. This is my sole wish.”

As he said this an official stepped forth and objected, “No, the army must not be raised!”

It was Qiao Zhou who had spoken against the campaign.

Zhuge Liang’s sole thought was service, himself he would not spare;
But Qiao had watched the starry sky, and read misfortune there.

Qiao Zhou’s arguments will be disclosed in the next chapter.

*
   Here “horse,” pronounced
ma
in Chinese, refers to Sima Yi; and “deer,” pronounced
zhang
, refers to Zhang He.

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWO

Sima Yi Occupies the Wei Bridge over Beiyuan

Zhuge Liang Constructs Wooden Oxen and Running Horses

Q
iao
Zhou, who spoke against the expedition, was an official responsible for observing celestial bodies. Addressing the Second Ruler, he said, “I am bound by duty to report to Your Majesty whether there are auspices of fortune or misfortune. Not long ago, hundreds of thousands of orioles flew from the south and drowned themselves in the Han Waters. This is an evil omen. Moreover, I have been studying the aspect of the sky and found the movements of the stars point to an aura of prosperity in the north. To attack Wei will not be to our benefit. Thirdly, the people in the capital claim they hear the cypress trees moan at night. With these evil omens, I think the prime minister should not go to war, but remain at home to protect the regime.”

Zhuge Liang said, “The late Emperor laid upon me a heavy responsibility, and I must exert myself to the utmost to destroy these rebels. The policy of a state must not be changed because of some unsubstantiated signs of trouble.”

Undeterred, he ordered a great sacrifice to be offered at the Temple of Emperor Zhao Lie (Liu Bei). There, weeping, he prostrated himself and made this declaration: “I, Liang, have made five expeditions to Qishan without gaining any expansion of territory and this fault weighs heavily upon me. Now once again I will lead the army to Qishan and I pledge to devote all my heart and might to the extermination of the rebels of Han and the restoration of the northern territory. To achieve this end I will exert myself to the last remnant of my strength and die content.”