The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation (72 page)

In his rampart the Shu officer Gou An, lacking both water and grain, watched anxiously for the expected help. As it did not come he ultimately surrendered to Wei. And Jiang Wei, with a greatly reduced army, returned to Hanzhong.

Some time later Sima Yi fell ill and gradually his condition worsened. Feeling that his end was near, he called his two sons to his bedside to hear his last words.

“I have served Wei many years and reached the highest rank possible among ministers. People have suspected me of ulterior motives, which often troubled me. After my death you two are to run the government properly. Never forget my words! Be doubly careful!”

He breathed his last after he said these words. The sons informed the Emperor, who conferred high honors upon the deceased minister and advanced his sons to even higher military posts.

It is now necessary to return to events in the Kingdom of Wu. Sun Quan, the Emperor, had at first named his son Deng, whose mother was Lady Xu, as his heir. But Deng died, and the second son, born of Lady Wang, was chosen to be his successor. A quarrel arose between the new Heir Apparent and Princess Quan, who maligned him and intrigued against him, so he was set aside. He died of mortification. Then the third son was named heir to the throne, whose mother was Lady Pan.

At this time Lu Xun and Zhuge Jin were both dead, and the business of the government, great and small, was in the hands of Zhuge Ke, son of Zhuge Jin.

In the first year of the period of Tai Yuan, on the first day of the eighth month, a hurricane struck the land of Wu. The waves rose to a great height and the ground stood eight feet deep in water. At the tombs of the rulers of Wu, pines and cypresses were uprooted and blown to the southern gate of the capital, where they fell to the ground.

Sun Quan was frightened and fell ill. In the fourth month of the following year his illness became serious, whereupon he called in Zhuge Ke and Lu Dai to hear his last wishes. Soon after he died (
A.D.
252), at the age of seventy-one. He had ruled in Wu for twenty-four years.

A hero, blue-eyed and red-bearded,
He called forth devotion from all.
For twenty and four years he reigned the east
Mighty as a dragon or a tiger.

Zhuge Ke immediately placed his late lord’s son Sun Liang on the throne, and the new reign was marked by the adoption of the title Jian Xing. A general amnesty was proclaimed. The late ruler received the posthumous style of “Great Emperor” and was buried in the Jiang Mausoleum.

When Sun Quan’s death was reported in the Wei capital, Sima Shi at once thought of attacking Wu. But his proposal was opposed by Fu Gu, who said, “Wu has the natural defense of the Yangtze River. The late Emperors launched several expeditions, but none succeeded. It is better for each kingdom to preserve its own borders.”

Sima Shi retorted, “The way of Heaven changes every thirty years. How can this three kingdom status quo remain forever? I am going to attack Wu.”

Sima Zhao supported his brother. “The occasion is most opportune. Sun Quan is newly dead and the present ruler is young and weak.”

Therefore an expedition was decided upon. Three armies were mustered, each with 100,000 soldiers. General Wang Chang was ordered to attack Nanjun; General Hu Zhen to seize Dongxing; and Marshal Guanqiu Jian to take Wuchang. Sima Zhao was put in over all command of the three armies.

In the twelfth month of that year the armies drew near the Wu frontiers and camped. Sima Zhao called together the three commanders to discuss the campaign. He said, “Of all the places in Wu, Dongxing is strategically most important. They have now built a great dam there, with two fortresses on its right and left to guard against assaults from Lake Chao behind the city. You must be cautious.”

Then he told Wang Chang and Guanqiu Jian to take 10,000 men each and place themselves to the right and left sides of Dongxing. They were to wait until the city had fallen, when they were to join the attack. Next he appointed Hu Zun leader of the van to command the rest of the forces. “Construct a floating bridge first to seize the great dam,” ordered Sima Zhao. “If you can capture the two fortresses you will have rendered a great service.”

Hu Zun took the order and led his men to construct the bridge.

News of the invasion soon reached Zhuge Ke, who called a general council to discuss how to avert the danger.

The veteran general Ding Feng said, “Dongxing is of vital importance. Its loss will endanger Nanjun and Wuchang.”

“I agree with you entirely, General,” said Zhuge Ke. “Now take 3,000 marines and go to the city by water. I will send three land forces, each 10,000 strong, to reinforce you. When you hear the signal of continuous explosions of bombs, you are to advance in full force. I will follow with the main army later.”

Ding Feng soon sailed out toward Dongxing with his 3,000 men in thirty ships.

In the meantime, the Wei van leader Hu Zun had crossed the floating bridge, and camped his men on the dam. He then sent two officers to assault the flanking forts. Seeing the strength of the Wei army, the Wu officers dared not venture beyond their ramparts, but maintained a resolute defense behind the high walls. Hu Zun made a camp at Xutang.

It was the depth of winter and the weather was intensely cold. A heavy snow fell. Hu Zun and his officers were having a grand feast in their camp when suddenly there came the report that thirty enemy ships had come up the river. The general went out to look and saw the ships coming in to shore, each with about a hundred men on board.

He returned to his tent and said to his officers, “Only 3,000 men! Nothing to be alarmed about.”

Giving an order to keep a careful watch, he and his officers went on with their drinking party.

Ding Feng’s ships were all drawn up in line. He said to his officers, “This is the moment for a brave man to win fame and wealth.” Then he ordered his men to throw off their armor and helmets, cast aside their long spears and heavy halberds, and arm themselves with only short daggers.

From the shore the men of Wei laughed heartily and took no trouble to prepare themselves against an attack. But suddenly a string of three bombs exploded, and with the roar of the third Ding Feng sprang ashore at the head of his men, who followed close behind, daggers in hand, and made straight for the Wei camp.

The men of Wei, taken completely by surprise, could not make a stand. One officer grasped the big halberd in front of the tent, but Ding Feng stabbed him in the chest, and he rolled over. Another Wei officer came round from the left to thrust Ding Feng with his spear, but Ding Feng seized its shaft and held it firmly under his arm. The Wei officer let go of the spear and turned to flee, but Ding Feng sent his sword flying after him and wounded him in the shoulder. As he fell, Ding Feng pierced him to death with the man’s own spear.

The 3,000 Wu marines assaulted the Wei camp, slaying as they would. Hu Zun fled. His men tried to escape by the floating bridge, but that gave way and many were thrown into the water and drowned. Many more lay dead on the snow-covered ground. The spoils of military gear that fell to Wu was immense. When the defeat in Dongxing was known, Sima Zhao and the others retreated.

Zhuge Ke soon arrived at Dongxing, where he recollected his troops and distributed rewards among them in celebration of the victory. Then he said to his officers, “Sima Zhao has returned to the north in defeat. This is the best time for us to destroy Wei.”

So he sent an envoy to Shu to engage the aid of Jiang Wei, promising to divide the empire between them once they had conquered Wei. At the same time, he mobilized 200,000 men for an expedition against Wei.

Just before the army set out, a mass of white vapor suddenly emerged from the earth and gradually enveloped the whole army. Men could not see each other.

“This is a white rainbow and it means destruction of the army,” said Jiang Yan. “Sir, you must return to court and curtail this expedition.”

“How dare you utter such ill-omened words and blunt the keenness of my army?” cried Zhuge Ke angrily.

He ordered the executioners to take him out and put him to death. Jiang Yan’s colleagues interceded for him and Zhuge Ke spared his life, but stripped him of all rank.

Ding Feng put forward a suggestion. “Xincheng is the gateway to Wei. It will be a sore blow to Sima Zhao if we can capture that place.”

Zhuge Ke welcomed this suggestion warmly and gave orders for the army to march toward Xincheng. The commanding officer at the city was Zhang Te. When he saw the men of Wu coming in full force, he closed the city gates and maintained a defense. The Wu army laid a siege.

A messenger was sent to Luoyang to report the invasion from Wu.

One official said to Sima Shi, “Wu is laying siege to Xincheng. Our best policy is not to give battle, but simply hold out as long as possible. When the besiegers have exhausted their provisions they will be compelled to withdraw. As they retreat we can smite them. However, it is necessary to also guard against invasion from Shu.”

Sima Shi took his advice and accordingly Sima Zhao was sent to reinforce Guo Huai to ward off possible attacks from Jiang Wei, while Guanqiu Jian and Hu Zun were to resist the Wu army.

For months the army of Zhuge Ke battered Xincheng without success. He urged his officers to make strenuous efforts, threatening to put to death anyone who did not exert himself. At last his efforts produced an effect, for the northeast corner of the wall was about to give way.

Then the commander of Xincheng thought of a plan. He sent an eloquent messenger out to see Zhuge Ke, taking with him the city’s census records. The man told the Wu commander that it was a rule in Wei that if a city held out for a hundred days and no rescue came, its commandant might surrender without implicating his family for punishment.

“Now the city has held out for over ninety days,” continued the messenger. “My master hopes you will allow him to withstand the few days necessary to complete the hundred. Then he will yield with his army and people. Here he asked me to present you first the records of the city’s residents.”

Zhuge Ke was taken in. He recalled his men and ceased the attack. Seeing how well he had tricked the men of Wu into suspending the assault, Zhang Te at once pulled down some houses and mended the wall. As soon as the repairs were complete, he ascended the wall and abused his opponents: “I have half a year’s provisions in the city. Do you think I will surrender to you Wu dogs? What do I care about your attacks!”

The defense became as vigorous as before the truce. Zhuge Ke was enraged at being tricked, and urged on the attack. But from the wall flew down flights of arrows and one of them struck him in the forehead, and he fell. He was borne to his tent, but the wound was inflamed, and he became very ill.

Their commander’s illness disheartened the men, who had no desire to fight. Moreover, the weather was very hot and sickness invaded the camp. So by the time Zhuge Ke recovered sufficiently to resume command and continue the attack, he was told that the men were too ill to give battle.

In an outburst of anger Zhuge Ke said, “Whoever mentions illness again will be beheaded!”

When the report of this threat got abroad, the men began to desert freely. Even an officer went over to the enemy with his whole force. Zhuge Ke began to feel really alarmed and rode through the camps to see for himself. Truly enough, the men all looked sickly, their faces sallow and swollen.

So Zhuge Ke decided to withdraw to his own country. The enemy took the opportunity to harass his army and inflicted a severe defeat. Mortified by the course of events, he pretended illness and shunned the court.

The Emperor himself visited him in his residence to inquire after him, and officials, civil and military, also went to pay their respects. In order to silence criticism, Zhuge Ke assumed an attitude of extreme severity, investigating every officer’s misconduct, punishing rigorously any fault, and meting out sentences that ranged from exile to border regions to death by exposure. Terror gripped everyone. Furthermore, he also placed two of his trusted officers in charge of the Imperial Guards, making them his teeth and claws in the palace.

Now Sun Jun, former head of the Imperial Guards, was a great grandson of Sun Jing, brother of Sun Jian. When Sun Quan was alive, he loved the young man very much and had put him in command of the Imperial Guards. He was enraged at being superseded by the two confidants of Zhuge Ke.

His discontent was noticed by an official named Teng Yin, who had an old quarrel with Zhuge Ke. He said to Sun Jun, “This Zhuge Ke abuses his power and persecutes court officials. He will one day rebel against the throne. You, sir, are a member of the ruling family. Why not stop him as early as possible?”

“I have been meaning to get rid of him for a long time,” replied Sun Jun. “Now I will obtain an edict from the Emperor to condemn him to death.”

Both went in to see the Emperor and laid the matter before him.

“I am afraid of him, too,” replied the Emperor. “I have wanted to remove him for some time, but have found no opportunity. If you are loyal to me, plan his destruction in secret.”

Teng Yin said, “Your Majesty can invite him to a banquet, and have armed guards hidden behind a screen. At the signal of the dropping of a wine cup, they will slay him. That will avoid future trouble.”

Since his return from the failed expedition, Zhuge Ke had remained moping at home, pleading an indisposition. One day he happened to go out of his front hall and suddenly saw coming into his house a person dressed in the hempen garb of mourning.