Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (76 page)

Hu Chi was set over Hanshouch'eng, Wang Han over Yoch'eng, Chiang Pin over Hanch'eng and Chiang Shu with Fu Ch'ien went to guard the passes. After these arrangements had been made, Chiang Wei went off to MiaoChung to grow grain and mature his plans.

Teng Ai heard of these dispositions and discovered that the armies of Shu were distributed in two score camps, each connected with the next like the joints of a huge serpent. He sent out his spies to survey the country, and they made a map which was sent to the capital.

But when the Duke of Chin saw the memorial and the map, he was very angry.

"This Chiang Wei has invaded our country many times, and we have been unable to destroy him. He is the one sorrow of my heart."

Said Chia Ch'ung, "He has carried on the work of K'ung-ming only too thoroughly, and it is hard to force him back. What you need is some crafty bravo to assassinate him, so remove this constant menace of war."

But Hsun Hsu said, "That is not the way. Liu Ch'an, the King of Shu, is steeped in dissipation and has given all his confidence to one favourite, the eunuch Huang Hao. The higher officers of state are concerned solely with their own safety and Chiang Wei has gone to MiaoChung only that he may save his life. If you send an able leader, victory is certain. Where is the need for an assassin's dagger?"

'These are excellent words," said Ssuma Chao, with a laugh, "but if I would attack Shu where is the leader?"

"Teng Ai is the ablest leader of the day," said Hsun. "Give him Chung Hui as his second, and the thing is done."

"Exactly what I think," said Ssuma. So he summoned Chung Hui and said to him, "I desire to send you as leader against Wu; can you go?"

"My lord's design is not against Wu, but Shu," was his reply.

"How well you know my inmost thought!" said Ssuma. "But how would you conduct an expedition against Shu?"

"Thinking that my lord would desire to attack Shu, I have already prepared plans. Here they are."

He laid out his maps, and thereon were shown the camps, and storehouses and roads all complete.

Ssuma was highly pleased. "You are an excellent leader," said he. "What say you to going with Teng Ai?"

"Ssuch'uan is large, and there is space for more than one set of operations. Teng Ai can be sent along another line."

Chung Hui was given the title of "Conqueror of the West" and the insignia of a Commander-in-chief over the forces within the pass and control of the armies of Ch'ing, Hsu, Yen, Yu, Ching and Yang. At the same time a commission was sent to Teng Ai giving him command of the forces without the pass, with the title of "Conqueror of the West." And the time for an attack on Shu was settled.

When Ssuma Chao was settling the plans in the court, the General Teng Tun said, "Why are you sending our armies into a distant and dangerous country and thus inviting trouble? Chiang Wei has invaded this country many times, and the wars have cost us many lives. We should rather seek safety in defence.

"I am sending a righteous army against an unrighteous king; how dare you oppose my designs?"

He ordered the executioners to put Teng Tun to death forthwith, and they soon returned to lay his head at the foot of the steps. This frightened all those present, and they turned pale.

Ssuma said, "It is six years since I conquered the east, and the six years have been spent in preparation. I have long intended to reduce both Wu and Shu. Now I will destroy Shu, and then like a flood I will descend upon Wu and conquer that. Thus will I destroy both Kuo and Yu. I can tell very nearly what forces they have in Shu. There are eight or nine legions in the garrison of the capital, four or five on the frontier, while Chiang Wei has about six in his cantonments. Against them we can pit ten legions under Teng Ai, enough to hold Chiang Wei and keep him from moving east, and Chung Hui has twenty or thirty legions of veterans. And they will go in three divisions straight into HanChung. The King of Shu is a blind fool with his frontier cities in ruins, his courtiers and women quaking with fear. He will not last long."

The assembly praised this perspicacity.

Chung Hui marched as soon as he received his seal of office. Lest his real object should be known, he gave out that his force was directed against Wu, and to give colour to the pretence he had many large ships put in hand. He also sent T'ang Tzu to Tenglai and along the sea coast to collect vessels.

Even his chief, Ssuma, was deceived and called him to ask why he was collecting ships.

He replied, "If Shu hears that we intend to attack the west they will ask assistance from Wu. So I pretend to attack Wu, and they will not dare to move under a year. When Shu is beaten, the ships will be ready and useful for an expedition into the east."

Ssuma was pleased. The day chosen for the march was the third day of the seventh mouth. Ssuma escorted his leader out of the city for ten
li
and then took his leave.

A certain Shao Ti, the
"Western Ts'ao-cbuan"
whispered a word of warning.

"My lord has sent Chung Hui with a large army against Shu. I think he is too ambitious to be trusted with such powers?"

"Think you I do not know?" said Ssuma.

'Then why have you sent him alone and without a colleague?"

Ssuma said a few words to Shao Ti which put his doubts at rest.

Chung went alone, although his master knew,
Occasion serving, he would be untrue.

The next chapter will tell the reader what Shao Ti heard.

CHAPTER CXVI
ChunG HUI DIVIDES HIS ARMY:
APPARITION OF WU HOU

T
he
words whispered in the ear of Shao T'i proved Ssuma's subtlety. Said he, "This morning they all maintained that Shu should not be attacked, because they are timid. But a determined attack will defeat them. You saw Chung Hui was set upon his plan, and he is not afraid. Shu must therefore be beaten, and then the people's hearts will be torn. Beaten leaders cannot boast, and the officers of a broken state are no fit guardians of its welfare. When Chung turns against us, the men of Shu will not support him, and our men being victors they will wish to return home and will not follow their leader into revolt. Hence there is nothing to be feared. I know this, as you do, but it must remain our secret."

Shao T'i understood.

In his camp, just prior to his march, Chung Hui assembled his officers, four score of them and many bearing well-known names, to receive orders.

"Firstly I want a leader of the van," said he. "He must be skilled in making roads and repairing bridges."

"I will take that post," said a voice, and the speaker was Hsu I, son of the "Tiger Leader" Hsu Chu.

"Nobody is fitter," cried all present.

"You shall have the seal," said Chung. "You are lithe and strong and have the renown of your father to maintain. Beside, all your colleagues recommend you. Your force shall be half a legion of cavalry and a company of footmen. You are to march into HanChung in three divisions, the centre one going through Hsieh Valley, the other two passing through Lo and Tzuwu Valleys. You must level and repair the roads, put the bridges in order, bore tunnels and break away rocks. Use all diligence, for any delay will entail punishment."

Hsu I was told to set out immediately, and his chief would start as soon as possible.

As soon as Teng Ai received his orders to attack Shu he sent Ssuma Wang to enlist the aid of the
Ctiiang.
Next he summoned the Prefects of the various districts, and soon soldiers gathered in Shensi like clouds.

One night Teng dreamed a dream wherein he was climbing a lofty mountain on the way into HanChung. Suddenly a spring of water gushed out at his feet and boiled up with great force so that he was alarmed.

He awoke all in a sweat and did not sleep again, but sat awaiting the dawn. At daybreak he summoned Shao Huan, who was skilled in the Book of Changes, told him the dream and asked the interpretation.

He replied, "According to the book, 'water on a mountain' signifies the diagram
Ch'ien
, whereunder we find that the south-west augurs well, but the north-east is unpropitious. The Sage said of
Cb'ien
that it meant advantage in the south-west, i.e., success; but the north-east spelt failure,
i.e.,
there was no road. In this expedition, General, you will overcome but you will be checked before you can proceed far."

Teng listened, growing more and more sad as the interpretation of his dream was unfolded. Just then came despatches from Chung Hui asking him to advance into HanChung and take Ch'i. He at once sent Chuko Hsu, Governor of Yungchou, to cut off Chiang Wei's retreat, and sent other bodies against the various cantonments. Teng Ai took command of a force to go to and fro and reinforce whatever body needed help.

All the officials came out to see Chung depart. It was a grand sight, the gay banners shutting out the sun, breastplates and helmets glittering. The men were fit and the horses in good condition. They all felicitated the leader.

All save one; for Liu Shih was silent. He smiled grimly. Then Wang Hsiang made his way through the crowd and said, "Do you think these two will overcome Shu?"

"They will overcome Shu certainly, only I think neither will ever come back."

"Why do you say that?"

But Liu did not reply; he only smiled. And the question was not repeated.

The armies of Wei were on the march before Chiang Wei heard of the intended attack. He at once sent up a memorial asking that certain defensive arrangements be made. Chang I and Liao Hua were to command at the two most important points, upon which depended the security of HanChung. He also sent to engage the help of Wu, and gathered soldiers in MiaoChung ready for defence.

That year in Shu the reign-style had been changed to the first year of
Yen-Hsint).
When the memorial came to the king it found him as usual amusing himself with his favourite Huang Hao. He read the document and said to the eunuch, "Here Chiang Wei says that the Wei armies under Teng Ai and Chung Hui are on the way against us. What shall we do?"

"There is nothing of the sort. Chiang Wei only wants to get a name for himself, and so he says this. Your Majesty need feel no alarm, for we can find out the truth from a certain wise woman I know. She is a real prophetess. May I call her?"

The king consented, and a room was fitted up for the seance. They prepared therein incense, flowers, paper, candles, sacrificial articles and so on, and then the eunuch went with a carriage to beg the wise woman to attend upon the king.

She came and was seated on a dragon couch. After the king had kindled the incense and repeated the prayer, the wise woman suddenly let down her hair, dropped her slippers and capered about barefoot. After several rounds of this she coiled herself up on a table.

The eunuch then said, "The spirit has now descended. Send everyone away and pray to her."

So the attendants were dismissed, and the king entreated the wise woman.

Suddenly she cried out, "
I
am the guardian spirit of Hsich'uan. Your Majesty rejoices in tranquillity; why do you enquire about other matters? Within a few years the land of Wei shall come under you, wherefore you need not be sorrowful."

She then fell to the ground as in a swoon, and it was some time before she revived. The king was well satisfied with her prophesy and gave her large presents. Further, he thereafter believed all she told him. The immediate result was that Chiang's memorial remained unanswered, and as the king was wholly given to pleasure it was easy for the eunuch to intercept all urgent memorials from the general.

Meanwhile Chung Hui was hastening toward HanChung. The van-leader Hsu I was anxious to perform some startling exploit, and so he led his force to Nancheng Pass.

He said to his officers, "If we can take this pass then we can march directly into HanChung; the defence is weak."

A dash was made for the fort, each one vying with the rest to be first. But the commander was Lu Hsun, and he had had early information of the coming of his enemies. So on both sides of the bridge he posted men armed with multiple bows and crossbows. As soon as the attacking force appeared, the signal was given by a clapper and a terrific discharge of arrows and bolts opened. Many men fell, and the army of Wei was defeated.

Hsun I returned and reported his misfortune. Chung Hui himself went with a few horse to see the conditions. Again the machine bows let fly clouds of missiles, and Chung turned to flee.

But a sortie was made, and as Chang crossed the bridge at a gallop the roadway gave, and his horse's hoof went through so that he was nearly thrown. The horse could not free his hoof, and Chung slipped from his back and fled on foot. As he ran down the slope of the bridge Lu Hsun came at him with a spear, but one of Chung's followers, Hsun K'ai by name, shot an arrow at him and brought him to the earth. Seeing this lucky hit, Chung turned back and signalled to his men to make an attack. They came on with a dash, the defenders were afraid to shoot, as their men were mingled with the enemy, and soon the pass was in the hands of the Wei men. The defenders scattered.

The pass being captured, Hsun K'ai was well rewarded for the shot that had saved his general's life. He was promoted to the guards and received presents of a horse and a suit of armour.

Hsun I was called to the tent, and the general blamed him for the lack of care in his task. "You were appointed leader of the van to see that the roads were put in repair, and your special duty was to see that the bridges were in good condition. Yet on the bridge just now my horse's hoof was caught, and I nearly fell. Happily Hsun K'ai was by, or I had been slain. You have been disobedient and must bear the penalty."

The delinquent was sentenced to death. The other captains tried to beg him off, but the general was obdurate, rejecting even the plea of the good services rendered by Hsun's father.

"How can discipline be maintained if the laws are not enforced?" said he.

The sentence was carried out, and the unhappy man's head was exposed as a warning. This severity put fear into the hearts of the officers.

On the side of
Shu, Wang Han
commanded
at Loch'eng and Chiang Pin was in HanChung. As the enemy came in great force, they dared not go out to meet them, but stood on the defensive with the gates of the cities closed.

Chung Hui issued an order, "Speed is the soul of war; no halts."

Li Fu was ordered to lay siege to Loch'eng, and Hsun K'ai was to surround Hanch'eng. The main army would capture Yangp'ing Pass.

Fu Ch'ien commanded at the pass. He discussed plans with his second in command, and this latter was wholly in favour of defence, saying that the enemy was too strong to think of any other course.

"I do not agree," replied Fu. "They are now fatigued with marching, and we need not fear them. Unless we go out and attack, the two cities will fall."

The lieutenant, Chiang Shu, made no reply. Soon the enemy arrived, and both officers went up to the wall and looked out. As soon as Chung Hui saw them he shouted, "We have here a host of ten legions. If you yield you shall have higher rank than you hold now, but if you persist in holding out then, when we take the pass, you shall all perish. Jewels and pebbles will share the same destruction."

This threat angered Fu. He bade his lieutenant guard the walls, and he went down to give battle, taking three companies. He attacked, and Chung fled; Fu pursued. But soon the army of Wei closed up their ranks and stood. Fu turned to retire, but when he reached his own defences he saw they flew the flags of Wei; the banners of Shu had gone.

"I have yielded," cried Chiang Shu from the ramparts.

Fu reviled him as ungrateful and treacherous, but that did no good. He turned to go once more into the battle. He was soon surrounded. He fought desperately, but could not win clear. His men fell one by one, and when they were reduced to about half a score he cried, "Alive I have been a servant of Shu; dead I will be one of their spirits."

He forced his way into the thickest of the fight. Then his steed fell, and as he was grievously wounded he put an end to his own life.

The loyalty Fu showed in stressful days
Won him a thousand autumns' noble praise;
The base Chiang Shu lived on, a life disgraced,
l would prefer the death that Fu Ch'ien faced.

With the pass fell into the hands of Chung great booty of grain and weapons. He feasted the army, and that night they rested in Yangan City. However, the night was disturbed by sounds as of men shouting, so that the leader got up and went out thinking there must be an attack. But the sounds ceased, and he returned to his couch. However, he slept no more.

Next night the same thing happened, shoutings in the southwest. As soon as day dawned scouts went out to search, but they came back to say they had gone ten
li
and found no sign of any person. Chung did not feel satisfied, so he took a few cavalrymen and rode in the same direction to explore. Presently they happened upon a hill of sinister aspect overhung by a dismal cloud, while the summit was wreathed in mist.

"What hill is that?" asked Chung, pulling up to question the guides.

"It is known as TingChunshan, The hill of the Halted Army,'" was the reply. "It is where Hsiahou Yuan met his death."

This did not sound cheering at all, and Chung turned back to camp greatly depressed. Rounding the curve of a hill, he came full into a violent gust of wind and there suddenly appeared a large body of horse coming down the wind as if to attack.

The whole party galloped off panic-stricken, Chung leading the way. Many captains fell from their steeds. Yet when they arrived at the pass not a man was missing, although there were many with bruises and cuts from the falls and many had lost helmets. Everyone had seen phantom horsemen, who did no harm when they came near, but melted away in the wind.

Chung Hui called Chiang Shu and asked if there was any temple to any supernatural being on TingChunshan.

"No," replied he; "there is nothing but the tomb of Chuko Liang."

"Then this must have been a manifestation of the noble Chuko," said Chung. "I ought to sacrifice to him."

So he prepared presents and slew an ox and offered sacrifice at the tomb, and when the sacrifice had been completed the wind calmed, and the dark clouds dispersed. There followed a cool breeze and a gentle shower, and the sky cleared. Pleased with the evidence of the acceptance of their offerings, the sacrificial party returned to camp.

That night Chung fell asleep in his tent with his head resting on a small table. Suddenly a cool breeze began to blow, and he saw a figure approaching clad in Taoist garb, turban, feather fan, white robe of Taoist cut bound with a black girdle. The countenance of the figure was pale and refined, the lips a deep red and the eyes clear. The figure moved with the calm serenity of a god.