Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (48 page)

But the two leaders of Wei still fled. Then came up a force led by Wei Yen and completed the defeat. The men of Wei were wholly beaten and ran away to their own camp. But the guard left in the camp thought they were the enemy come to raid, so they lit the fires, and at this signal Ts'ao Chen rushed up from one side and Kuo Huai from the other, and a fierce fight with their own men began.

While this was going on, three cohorts of the men of Shu arrived from three points, and a great and confused battle began. The men of Wei were driven off and chased for ten
li.

In the fight Wei lost many leaders, and K'ung-ming gained a great success. Ts'ao Chen and Kuo Huai got together their beaten men and went back to their own camp.

When they discussed the fight, Ts'ao Chen said, "The enemy are too strong for us. Have you any plan to drive them away?"

Replied Kuo Huai, "Our defeat is one of the ordinary events of war. Let us not be cast down. I have a plan to suggest that will disorder them so that one body cannot help the other and they will all be compelled to flee."

Wei leaders fail and sadly send
To pray barbarians help to lend.

The plan will be unfolded in the next chapter.

CHAPTER VIC
CHUKO SMITES THE BARBARIANS IN
A SNOWSTORM: SSUMA QUICKLY CAPTURES
MENG TA

T
he
scheme by which Kuo Huai proposed to overcome the men of Shu he laid before his colleague, saying, "The
Ch'iang
(Tangut) tribes have paid tribute regularly since the days of the Founder of our House. The Emperor Wen
(220-227)
regarded them with favour. Now let us hold such points of vantage as we may while we send secret emissaries to engage their help in exchange for kindly treatment. We may get them to attack Shu and engage their attention while we gather a large army to smite them at another place. Thus attacking, how can we help gaining a great victory?"

A messenger was sent forthwith bearing letters to the barbarians.

The prince of the western
Cb'iancg
was named Ch'elichi. He had rendered yearly tribute since the days of Ts'ao Ts'ao. He had two ministers, one for civil the other for military affairs, named, respectively, Yatan and Yuehchi. The former was termed Prime Minister and the latter Chief Leader.

The letter was accompanied by presents of gold and pearls, and when the messenger arrived he first sought Yatan, to whom he gave gifts and whose help he begged. Thus he gamed an interview with the prince, to whom he presented the letter and the gifts. The prince accepted both and called his counsellors to consider the letter.

Yatan said, "We have had regular intercourse with the Wei country. Now that Ts'ao Chen asks our aid and promises an alliance we ought to accede to his request."

The prince agreed that it was so, and he ordered his two chief ministers to raise an army of twenty-five legions of trained soldiers, archers and crossbowmen, spearmen and swordsmen, men who flung caltrops and men who hurled hammers. Beside these various weapons the barbarians used chariots covered with iron plates nailed on. They prepared much grain and fodder and many spare weapons, all of which they loaded upon these iron-clad chariots. The chariots were drawn by camels or teams of horses. The carts or chariots were known as iron chariots.

The two leaders took leave of their prince and went straightway to Hsip'ing Pass. The officer in command, Han Chen, at once sent intelligence to K'ung-ming, who asked who would go to attack the
Cb'iani).
Kuan Hsiang and Chang Pao said they would go.

Then K'ung-ming said, "You shall be sent, but as you are ignorant of the road and the people, Ma Tai shall accompany you."

To Ma Tai he said, "You know the disposition of the
Ch'ianc)
from your long residence there; you shall go as guide."

They chose out five legions of veterans for the expedition. When they had marched many days and drew near their enemy, Kuan Hsing went in advance with a few horsemen and got first sight of them from a hill. They were marching, the long line of iron chariots one behind another in close order. Then they halted and camped, their weapons piled all along the line of chariots like the ramparts of a moated city. Kuan studied them for a long time quite at a loss to think how to overcome them. He came back to camp and consulted with his two colleagues.

Ma Tai said, "We will see tomorrow what they will do when we make our array, and discuss our plans when we know more."

So the next day they drew up their army in three divisions, Kuan Hsing's division being in the centre. Thus they advanced.

The enemy also drew up in battle order. Their military chief, Yuehchi, had an iron mace in his hand and a carven bow hung at his waist. He rode forward on a curvetting steed boldly enough. Kuan Hsing gave the order for all three divisions to go forward. Then the enemy's ranks opened in the centre and out rolled the iron chariots like a great wave. At the same time the barbarians shot arrows and bolts, and the men of Shu could not stand against them.

The wing divisions retired, and the
Ch'iang
were thus enabled to surround the centre. In spite of every effort, Kuan could not get free, for the iron chariots were like a city wall and no opening could be found. The men of Shu were absolutely helpless, and Kuan Hsing made for the mountains in hope of finding a road through.

As it grew dark a
Ch'iang
leader with a black flag approached, his men like a swarm of wasps about him. Presently Kuan made out the iron mace of Yuehchi, who cried out to him, "Youthful captain, flee not; I am the Chief Leader of the army."

But Kuan Hsing only hastened forward, plying his whip to urge his steed. Then he suddenly came on a deep gully, and there seemed nothing but to turn and fight. But Kuan Hsing's courage turned cold at the sight of Yuehchi, and he leaped into the gully. Yuehchi came close and struck at him with the mace. Kuan avoided the blow but it fell upon his steed and knocked him over into the water. Kuan went into the water too. Presently he heard a great noise again behind him. Yuehchi and his men had found a way down into the gully and were coming at him down the stream. Kuan braced himself for a struggle in the water.

Then he saw someone on the bank fighting with, and driving off, the
Ch'iang.
Kuan Hsing gripped his sword and was waiting to get in a stroke at Yuehchi as he came up when suddenly his enemy jumped out of the water and ran away. At once Kuan Hsing caught the steed he had left, led him up the bank and soon had him ready to mount. Then he girded on his sword, and was just getting on the horse when again appeared the captain he had seen before driving off his enemies.

"Whoever this may be, he has saved my life," thought Kuan Hsing. "I ought to make his acquaintance."

He accordingly pressed forward after his deliverer. As he drew nearer he saw, enveloped in mist, a man, evidently an officer of rank, with a dark red face and heavy eyebrows, wearing a green robe and a golden helmet. He wielded a huge sword such as was Black Dragon and rode a hare-coloured steed. From time to time he stroked a long flowing beard. Then he understood; it was his dead father, Kuan the Noble.

Kuan Hsing was frightened. But his father pointed southeast and said, "My son, go quickly along that road and I will guard you to your camp."

With that the figure disappeared. Kuan took the road he had been shown and hastened along. About midnight he saw a cohort advancing to meet him, and recognised his cousin Chang Pao.

"Have you seen my uncle?" asked Chang.

"How did you know?" asked Kuan.

"I was pursued by the iron chariots when I suddenly saw my uncle coming down from the sky, and he frightened the pursuers away. Then he told me to come along this road and rescue you. So "I came."

Thereupon Kuan Hsing related what had happened to him, and they were both astonished.

They quickly gained the camp, where Ma Tai welcomed them.

"I do not know how to overcome these men," said Ma Tai. "Let me protect the camp while you go back and ask the minister what we should do."

The two started at once and made the best of their way back. They told K'ung-ming what had happened. He at once sent off Chao Yun and Wei Yen to go into ambush. After this he went himself with three legions and certain officers and soon came to Ma Tai's camp. The day after, from the summit of a hill, he surveyed the country and the enemy, who were coming on in a ceaseless stream.

"It is not difficult," said K'ung-ming.

He called up Ma Tai and Chang I and gave them certain orders.

They having gone, he turned to Chiang Wei, saying, "My friend, do you know how to overcome them?"

"The
Ch'iang
only depend upon force or courage, not upon fine strategy," was the reply.

"You know," said K'ung-ming, smiling. "Those dark clouds and the strong north wind mean snow. Then I can do what I wish."

The two leaders, Kuan and Chang, were sent into ambush, and Chiang Wei went out to offer battle. But he was to retire before the iron chariots. At the entrance to the camp were displayed many flags, but the men that should serve under them were not there.

It was now full winter, the twelfth month, and the snow had come. The army of Shu went out to offer battle, and when the iron chariots came forward they retired and thus led the
Ch'iang
to the gate of the camp, Chiang Wei going to its rear. The
Ch'iang
came to the gate and stopped to look. They heard the strumming of a lute, but there were no soldiers there; the flags meant nothing. They told Yuehchi, and he suspected some ruse. Instead of entering, he went back to the Minister Yatan and told him.

"It is a ruse," said Yatan. "Chuko Liang's base trick is the pretence of a pretence, and you had better attack."

So Yuehchi led his men again to the camp gate, and there he saw K'ung-ming with a lute just getting into his chariot. With a small escort he went toward the back of the camp. The barbarians rushed into the camp and caught sight of the light chariot again just as it disappeared into a wood.

Then said Yatan, "There may be an ambush, but I think we need not be afraid of these men."

Hence they decided to pursue. Ahead of them they saw the division under Chiang Wei hastening off through the snow. Yuehchi's rage boiled up at this sight, and he urged his men to go faster. The snow had filled in the roads among the hills, making every part look like a level plain.

As they marched, one reported that some of the enemy were appearing from the rear of the hills. Some thought this meant an ambush, but Yatan said it did not matter, and they need not fear. He urged them to hasten.

Shortly after this they heard a roaring as if the hills were rending asunder and the earth falling in, and the pursuers on foot fell one atop of the other into great pits that were invisible in the snow. The iron chariots, being close behind and hurrying along, could not stop, and they went into the pits also. Those still farther in the rear halted, but just as they were facing about, Kuan and Chang came up, one on either side, and attacked. Myriads of bolts flew through the air. Then three other divisions arrived and confusion was worse than ever.

The
Cb'iang
leader, Yuehchi, fled to the rear and was making for the mountains when he met Kuan Hsing, who slew him in the first encounter. The Minister Yutan was captured and taken to the main camp. The soldiers scattered.

Hearing of the capture of one leader, K'ung-ming took his seat in his tent and bade them bring the prisoner. He told the guards to loose his bonds, and he had wine brought to refresh him and soothed him with kindly words. Yatan was grateful for this kindness, and felt more so when K'ung-ming said, "My master, the Emperor of the Great Hans, sent me to destroy those who are in revolt; why are you helping them? But I will release you, and you will return to your master and say that we are neighbours and we will swear an oath of everlasting friendship, and tell him to listen no more to the words of those rebels."

The minister was released and so were all the soldiers that had been captured, and all their stuff was given back to them. They left for their own country.

The
Ch'iang
being thus disposed of, K'ung-ming quickly marched again to Ch'ishan. He sent letters to the capital announcing his success.

Meanwhile Ts'ao Chen anxiously waited for news of his expected allies. Then a scout came in with the news that the men of Shu had broken camp and were marching away.

"That is because the
Ch'iang
have attacked," said Kuo Huai gleefully, and the two made ready to pursue.

Ahead of them the army of Shu seemed to be in confusion. The van-leader Ts'ao Tsun led the pursuit. Suddenly, as he pressed on, there came a roll of drums, followed by the appearance of a cohort led by Wei Yen, who cried, "Stop! you rebels!"

But Ts'ao Tsun did not obey the summons. He dashed forward to meet the attack. He was killed in the third encounter. His colleague Chu Tsan in similar fashion fell in with a cohort under Chao Yun, to whose long spear he soon fell victim. The loss of these two made the Commander-in-chief and his second hesitate, and they made to retire.

But before they could face about they heard the drums of an army in their rear, and Kuan Hsing and Chang Pao came out and surrounded them. They made a stand for a time, but were soon worsted and fled. The army of Shu pursued the beaten enemy to the banks of the River Wei, where they took possession of the enemy's camp.

Ts'ao Chen was greatly chagrined at his defeat and sad at the loss of his captains. He send a repart of his misfortune to his master and asked for reinforcements.

At the court of Wei one of the ministers told the story of defeat of Ts'ao Chen and the allies and asked the king to decide upon the next step. Jui was alarmed and asked for someone to say how to drive off the victorious foe. Thereupon Hua Hsin said, "It will be necessary for Your Majesty to go in person. You should call together all the nobles, and each will have to exert himself. Unless this is done the capital will be lost and the whole country be in danger."

But Chung Yu opposed him. Said he, "The knowledge of every leader must exceed that of those led; then only will he be able to control them. Sun, the military writer, sums it up very briefly: 'Know the enemy, know thyself; and every battle is a victory.' I know Ts'ao Chen has had great experience in the field, but he is no match for Chuko Liang. Still there is such a match, and I will pledge my whole family that he will succeed. But Your Majesty may be unwilling to listen to me."