Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (71 page)

Ssuma Shih grew worse. Recovery being hopeless, he called Chuko Tan to his tent and gave him a seal and conferred upon him the title of "Conqueror of the East," with command of a the forces in Yangchou, and soon after the army marched back to Hsuch'ang.

The sick man began to have visions. Night after night he was troubled by the apparitions of the three courtiers he had put to death, and he knew that his end was near. He sent for his brother, who came and wept by his couch while he listened to his elder brother's last commands.

"The responsibility of power is heavy, but we must bear it; there is no relief. You must continue my plans and maintain my policy yourself, and you must be exceedingly careful how you entrust any other with power, lest you bring about the destruction of our whole clan."

Then he handed the seal of office to Ssuma Chao, weeping the while. Chao would ask some questions still, but with a deep groan his brother died. It was the second month of the second year of
Cheng-Yuan.

Ssuma Chao put on mourning for his brother and informed King Ts'ao Mao of the death. By special edict Ssuma Chao was ordered to remain at Hsuch'ang so as to guard against any attack from Wu. This order was unpleasing to its recipient, but he felt doubtful what to do. He took counsel with Chung Hui, who said, "The death of your brother has disturbed the country, and if you remain here some shifting of power at the capital will surely work to your disadvantage. It will be too late for regrets then."

Wherefore Ssuma left Hsuch'ang and camped on the Lo River. This move alarmed the king. Then Wang Su advised him to placate the powerful minister with a new title. So Wang Su went, bearing an edict creating Ssuma Chao
Ta Chiang-Chun,
or Generalissimo, with control of the Presidents of Boards. He came to Loyang to thank the king for these honours and stayed. Henceforward all matters and the whole government were under his hand.

When news of these things came to Ch'engtu, Chiang Wei thought the time had come to make another bid for the empire, so he wrote a memorial to the king.

"Ssuma Shih having just died, his brother, who succeeds, will be unable to leave Loyang until he has consolidated his position. Wherefore I crave permission to attack Wei."

The king agreed and bade him raise an army. So he went into HanChung to prepare for the expedition.

However, General Chang I was opposed to the expedition and said the state policy should rather be the improvement of conditions at home. He endeavoured to win over Chiang Wei to his views.

"You are mistaken," said Chiang. "Before our great Minister Chuko emerged from his reed hut in the wilds and undertook the affairs of a state, the three kingdoms were already a fact. Six times he led armies to try to gain the northern portion of the empire, but failed to attain his desire. Unhappily he died leaving his design unaccomplished. But he bequeathed to me the legacy of his intention, and I must be a loyal and worthy executor. If I die in the attempt I will perish without regret. Now is our opportunity, and if we miss it, shall we find a better?"

"What you say is the real truth," said Hsiahou Pa. "Let us send first some light horse out by Paokan to capture Nanan and thereby settle that district."

Then said Chang
I
, "Procrastination and delay have been hitherto the causes of our failure. We ought to obey the precepts of the books of war, strike where the enemy is unprepared and appear where he does not expect us. A rapid march and a sudden blow will find Wei unready, and we shall succeed."

So Chiang Wei led a huge army out by Paokan. When he reached the Tao Waters the spies reported his arrival to the Governor of Yungchou, who led out seven legions against him. Chiang gave certain orders to his subordinates, and after they had marched, he drew up the main body by the Tao River.

Wang Ching, the Governor of Yungchou, rode out to parley.

"The three states are now actually established; why then have you invaded our borders these many times?"

Chiang replied, "Because Ssuma deposed your late king without cause, and it behoves the neighbouring countries to punish such a crime. Moreover, yours is a rival state."

Then Wang turned and said to four of his captains, "You see that the enemy is drawn up with a river at his back so that his men must conquer or drown. Chiang Wei is bold, but you will fight him and pursue if he retire."

The four rode out two and two. Chiang stood through a few encounters, but then moved backward toward his camp. At this, Wang led on his main body to smite. Chiang fled towards the river. As he drew near he shouted, "Danger, O captains! Now do your utmost."

His captains turned on the foe and fought with such vigour that the Wei army was defeated, and, as they turned away, Chang I and Hsiahou Pa fell upon their rear. Soon the Wei army was hemmed in and the bold Chiang Wei rushed in among the host of Wei and threw them into utter confusion. They trod each other down in the press, and many fell into the river. Dead bodies lay about over many
li.

Wang Ching and a few horsemen got clear and fled to Titaoch'eng, where they entered within the walls and barred the gates.

After Chiang Wei had rewarded and feasted his army he was for attacking the city, but Chang I was against this.

"General, you have won a great victory, which will bring you fame. If you attempt more things may go agley, and you will only add legs to your sketch of a serpent."

I disagree," said Chiang. "Our opponents have been overcome, and if we press forward we may overrun the whole north. This defeat has broken the spirit of the army, and this city can be easily captured. Do not damp the spirit of my men."

So it was decided to attack Titaoch'eng.

Ch'en T'ai, who was also of Yungchou, was just about to set out to avenge the defeat of Wang Ching when Teng Ai, the Governor of Yenchou, arrived with his army. Ch'en welcomed him, and when Teng had said he had come to assist to defeat the men of Shu, Ch'en asked his plans.

Teng Ai replied, "They are victors on the T'ao Waters. If they enlist the aid of the
Cb'iang
to cause a diversion in Shensi and also obtain the support of the four districts, it will be a misfortune for us. If they do not think of that, but try to take Titaoch'eng, they will only fritter away their energies against a place too strongly fortified for them to capture. Let us now array our force along Hsiangling, and then we can advance and smite them. We shall get a victory."

'That is well said!" cried Ch'en.

Then twenty cohorts were told off to find their way secretly to the south east of Titaoch'eng and there hide in the valleys. They were then to display many ensigns and sound trumpets as if they were a very large force, and make huge fires at night, so as to cause anxiety among the enemy. And thus they waited for the men of Shu to come, while Ch'en T'ai and Teng Ai marched against them.

The army of Shu had marched to Titaoch'eng and begun the siege around the whole circuit of the walls. At the end of many days the fall of the city seemed no nearer, and Chiang Wei began to fret. He could think of no plan likely to succeed. One eventide a horseman came in to report the approach of two armies, and the names on the banners were Ch'en and Teng.

Chiang called in his colleague Hsiahou and said, "I have spoken to you of Teng Ai many times. He is perspicacious, valiant, resourceful and has always delighted in the study of military topography. As he is coming we shall have to put forth all our energies."

Hsiahou replied, "We will attack before he can get a foothold and while his men are fatigued with the march."

So Chang I was left to carry on the siege while the two leaders went out to meet the new armies. Chiang went against Teng, and his colleague against Ch'en.

Before Chiang had marched far the stillness was broken by the roar of a bomb, and at once all about the Shu army arose the rolling of drums and the blare of trumpets, soon followed by flames that shot up to the very sky. Chiang rode to the front and saw the ensigns of Wei all about him.

"
I
have fallen into a trap set by Teng Ai," cried he.

He sent orders to Hsiahou and Chang to withdraw immediately while he would cover their retreat. When they had retired, he followed them into HanChung, harassed all along the road by the sounds of marching men and glimpses of enemy banners. But these enemies never attacked, and it was only when too late that Chiang knew that all this was make-believe

He camped in Chungti. For his services and success on the Tao River Chiang was rewarded with the rank of
Ta Chiang-Chun.

As soon as the ceremonies connected with his promotion were ended, he began again to talk of an expedition against Wei.

Remember enough is as good as a feast,
Having sketched a good snake don't add legs to the beast;
And in fighting remember that others are bold,
And tigers have claws though their teeth may be old.

The result of the new expedition will be told in the next chapter.

CHAPTER CXI
TENG AI OUTWITS CHIANG WEI:
CHUKO TAN THINKS IT IS HIS DUTY
TO DESTROY SSUMA CHAO

C
hiang
Wei camped at Chungti; the army of Wei camped outside Titaoch'eng. Wen Ching, the Governor, welcomed his deliverers and prepared a banquet to celebrate the raising of the siege and also rewarded the army with gifts. Then he sent up a memorial to King Ts'ao Mao, of Wei, eulogising the magnificent services of Teng Ai, who was rewarded with the title, "Pacificator of the West." For the time, Teng was left in the west as
T'ai-yu
of the
Ch'iang
tribes. He and Ch'en Tai placed their men in cantonments in Yung, Liang and the districts round about.

After Teng Ai had rendered his thanks to the king, Ch'en Tai spread a great feast in his honour, and in congratulating his guest, said, "Chiang Wei slipped off in the night because he was broken, and he will never dare to return."

"I think he will," replied Teng, smiling. "I can give five reasons why he should."

"What are they?"

"Although the men of Shu have retired, they have the self-possessed and confident look of holding the mastery; our men are really weak and broken. The men of Shu were trained and inspirited by K'ung-ming and are mobile; our men are all of different periods of service and indifferently trained. The Shu soldiers often use boats for travelling; ours do all their journeys on land, so that while one army moves at leisure and the men arrive fresh, those of the other arrive fatigued with marching. Again, Titaoch'eng, Shensi, Nanan and Ch'ishan are all places suitable for defence or use as battle fields, and thus the men of Shu can conceal their intentions and strike where they will; we have to remain on guard at many points, thus dividing our forces. When they concentrate they have only to reckon with a part of our force. If they come out by way of Shensi and Nanan, they have the grain of the
Ch'iang
to depend upon, and if they choose Ch'ishan, they have the wheat there. These are the five reasons why they should make another expedition."

Ch'en T'ai was overcome with the clear vision of his new colleague. "Sir, your foresight is godlike. I think we need feel no anxiety about what the enemy can achieve."

The two soldiers became the best of friends in spite of the difference of age. Teng spent his time in training the army, and garrisons were placed at all points where surprise attacks seemed possible.

There was feasting also at Chungti, and the occasion was taken to discuss a new attack on Wei. But Fan Chien opposed. "General, your expeditions have partly failed many times; you have never scored a complete victory. But now on the T'ao River the men of Wei recognise your superiority, and why should you try again? There is small chance of success, and you risk all you have gained."

The general replied, "You all regard only the extent and population of Wei and the time necessary for conquest, but you do not see the five reasons for victory."

The assembly asked what these were.

'The fighting spirit of the men of Wei has been badly broken on the T'ao River, while that of our men, although we retired, is unimpaired. If we attack we shall certainly succeed. Our men can travel in boats and so will not be wearied with marching; their men have to march to meet us. Our men are thoroughly trained; theirs are recruits, a mere flock of crows, quite undisciplined. When we go out by Ch'ishan we can seize upon the autumn wheat for food. Finally they are scattered, having to defend various points, while we can concentrate on any point we wish and they will find it difficult to bring up reinforcements. If we miss this chance, can we hope for a better?"

Hsiahou Pa said, "Teng Ai is young, but he is deep and crafty. He has certainly taken great pains to secure the district under his charge as 'Pacificator of the West.' Victory will not be so easy as it was before."

"Why should I fear him?" cried Chiang, angrily. "You should not laud the spirit of the enemy and belittle that of our own men. But in any case I have made up my mind and shall take Shensi."

No one dared to offer any further opposition. Chiang himself led the first army; the others followed in due order, and thus the men of Shu marched out.

Before they could reach Ch'ishan the scouts reported the hills were already occupied by the armies of Wei. Chiang rode forward to verify this, and, surely enough, he saw the Wei camps, nine in number, stretching over the hills like a huge serpent, and all arranged to give each other support.

"Hsiahou Pa spoke only too well," said he. "The plan of those camps is excellent and only our K'ung-ming could have laid them out with equal skill."

Returning to his own army, he said to his officers, "They must have known of my coming, and I think Teng Ai is here too. Now from this as base you are to send out daily small reconnoitring parties showing my banner, but different flags and uniforms, blue, yellow, red, white and black, in turns. While you are thus distracting attention, I will lead the main army by a detour to attack Nanan."

Pao Su was sent to camp at the mouth of the Ch'ishan Valley while the main army marched.

As soon as Teng had heard that the enemy would come out at Ch'ishan he had camped there with his colleague Ch'en Tai. But when days had passed without anyone coming to fling a challenge he sent out spies to find out where the Shu army was lurking. They could find nothing, and so Teng went to the summit of a high hill to look around. He came to the conclusion that some other vulnerable point was threatened. Finally he thought it must be Nanan. In the daily reconnaissances he saw nothing but a feint, accentuated by the daily change of uniform. He returned to camp and spoke with his colleague.

"These men have been going to and fro for days and must be tired, and their leaders are certainly none of the ablest. Therefore, General, I advise an attack here. If that succeeds the Tungt'ing road can be occupied, and Chiang Wei will be unable to retreat. I think I ought to try to relieve Nanan. I will go by Wuch'engshan, and if I occupy that, the enemy will try to take Shangkuei. Near that place is a narrow and precipitous valley called Tuan Valley, just the place for an ambush, where I shall lie in wait till they come to take Wuch'engshan."

Ch'en replied, "
I
have been here over a score of years and have never known so much of the military possibilities of the place. You are very wonderful and had better carry out your plan."

So Teng marched toward Nanan by double marches. Soon they came to the hill, where they camped without opposition. He sent his son Chung and Shih Tsuan, each leading half a legion, to lie in wait in the Tuan Valley and not to betray their presence.

In the meantime Chiang Wei was marching between Tungt'ing and Nanan. Near Wuch'engshan he turned to Hsiahou Pa and said, 'That hill is our point, and Nanan is close. I fear lest the artful Teng Ai may seize and fortify it."

They hastened, anxious to reach the hill before the enemy. But it was not to be. Presently they heard the roar of bombs and the beating of drums, and then flags and banners appeared, all of Wei. And among them fluttered the leader's standard, bearing the name Teng.

This was a sad disappointment. The men of Shu halted, and veteran soldiers of Wei came rushing down from various points on the hill, too many for the men of Shu to drive back. So the advance guard was defeated. Chiang went to their help with his central body, but when he got near the soldiers of Wei were nowhere to be seen.

Chiang went on to the foot of the hill and challenged, but no one came out to accept. The men of Shu began to shout abuse, and kept it up till late in the day, but they failed to provoke a fight. As the men of Shu began to retire, the drums beat furiously, yet no one appeared. Chiang turned about to ascend the hill, but its defenders prevented that by stones thrown from cannon (
p'ao
). He hung on till the third watch, when he tried again. But he failed.

Thereupon he went down the hill and halted, bidding his men build a barricade of wood and boulders. The men of Wei came on again and stopped the work.

Next day Chiang brought up many transport waggons and placed them on the slope as the nucleus of a camp. But in the night a number of men came down with torches and set fire to them. A fight ensued, which lasted till dawn.

Seeing that a camp could not be made there Chiang retired to consider new plans with Hsiahou Pa.

"Since we cannot take Nanan, our next best plan is to try for Shangkuei, which is the storehouse of Nanan."

Leaving Hsiahou Pa on the hill, Chiang led a force of veteran soldiers and bold officers along the road toward Shangknei. They marched all night, and dawn found them in a deep valley, which the guide said was Tuan Valley.

"That sounds too much like 'Cut-off Valley,'" said Chiang. "And if a force held the mouth we should be in sorry straits."

While hesitating whether to advance farther or not, the leading men came back to say they had seen a cloud of dust beyond the hills, which seemed to indicate a body of men in hiding. So the order was given to retire.

At that moment the armies under Shih Tsuan and Teng Chung came out and attacked. Chiang Wei, alternately fighting and retreating, tried to get away. Then Teng himself appeared, and the Shu army had enemies on three sides. They were in grave danger, but Hsiahou Pa came to their rescue, and so Chiang escaped.

Chiang proposed to return to Ch'ishan, but his rescuer said, "We cannot go thither, for Ch'en T'ai has destroyed the force under Pao Su, and he himself was killed. All that was left of that army has gone back into HanChung."

It was no longer a question of taking Tungt'ing. Chiang sought out by-roads to march along. Teng came in pursuit, and as he pressed hard on the rear, Chiang sent the others on ahead while he covered the retreat.

Soon Ch'en T'ai came out from the hills, and Chiang was surrounded by a shouting body of the enemy. He was very weary when Chang I, who had heard of his straits, came to his rescue with a body of cavalry. Chang saved his general, but lost his own life. Finally Chiang Wei got back into HanChung.

From HanChung the death of Chang I in battle was reported to the king and suitable honours requested. And seeing that there had been serious loss of life in the military operations that had just failed, Chiang, following the precedent of the late Marquis of Wu, asked that he himself should be degraded in rank, retaining, however, the command. He was put back to Junior Generalissimo.

The country being now cleared of the enemy, Ch'en T'ai and Teng Ai prepared a banquet in honour of victory and gave rewards to the men who had fought. A memorial was sent to the capital upon the services of Teng, and a special commission brought him higher rank; the title of "Marquis" was given to his son.

At this time the style of the reign in Wei was changed to
Kan-Lu
(Gentle Dew). Ssuma Chao commanded all the military forces. He assumed great pomp, and whenever he moved outside his palace he was escorted by a guard of three thousand mail-clad men, beside squadrons of cavalry. All power lay in his hands, and he decided all questions so that the court was rather in his palace than in that of the king.

Plans for taking the final step constantly occupied his thoughts. The question of mounting the throne was openly mooted by one Chia Yun, a confidant, who was descended from a family that had long held rank at court.

He said, "Sir, all real authority is in your hands, and the country is not tranquil. The only remedy is for you to become actual ruler, and you should find out who are your supporters."

Ssuma replied, 'This has been in my thoughts a long time. You might be my emissary to the east to find out the feeling there. You can pretend you go to thank the soldiers who took part in the late campaign. That would be a good pretext."

Accordingly Chia travelled into Huainan, where he saw Chuko Tan, the "Guardian of the East." This officer was of the same family as the late Marquis of Wu, Chuko Liang. He had gone to Wei for employment, but had received no office while his brother lived. On his brother's death his promotion was rapid. He was also titular marquis.

As he was in command of all the Huainan forces, Chia Yun went to him to ask him to convey to the army the appreciation of the soldiers' services. He was received courteously, and at a banquet, when host and guest were both mellow with wine, Chia set himself to discover Chuko's feelings.

He said, "Lately in Loyang there has been much talk of the weakness and lack of ability of the king and his unfitness to rule. Now General Ssuma comes of a family noted for state service for several generations. His own services and virtues are high as the heavens, and he is the man best fitted to take the rulership of Wei. Is this not your opinion?"

But Chuko did not favour the suggestion. On the contrary, he broke out angrily, "If the state is in difficulty, then one ought to stand up for it even to the death."

Chia said no more. He soon returned and told his patron what had been said.

"The rat!" cried Ssuma, angrily. "He is exceedingly popular there in Huainan, but if he is left too long he will do harm."

Ssuma began to take measures. He wrote privately to Yueh Lin, Governor of Yangchou, and sent a messenger to Chuko Tan with an edict making him President of the Board of Works. This meant that he had to come to the capital.

But Chuko knew that his late guest had done him mischief, and he interrogated the messenger, who told him that Yueh Lin knew all about the matter.