Romance of the three kin.., p.53
Romance of the Three Kingdoms II, page 53
But when Hao saw the ladders being brought up he made his men shoot fire-arrows at them. K’ungming did not expect this. He knew the city was not well prepared for defence, and he had had the great ladders brought up and bade the soldiers take the wall with a rush. He was greatly chagrined when the fire arrows set his ladders on fire and so many of his men were burned. And as the arrows and stones rained down from the wall, the men of Shu were forced to retire.
K’ungming angrily said, “So you burn my ladders; then I will use battering rams” (“battering carts”).
So the rams were brought and placed against the walls and again the signal given for assault. But the defenders brought up great stones suspended by ropes, which they swung down at the battering rams and so broke them to pieces. Next the besiegers set to work to bring up earth and fill the moat, and three companies were set to excavating a tunnel under the ramparts. But Hao Chao cut a counter-trench within the city and turned that device.
So the struggle went on for near a month, and still the city was not taken. K’ungming was very depressed.
That was not all. The scouts reported the coming of a relief force, the flags of which bore the name of Wang Shuang. Some one had to try to turn him back, and Wei Yen offered himself.
“No,” said K’ungming; “you are too valuable as leader of the van.”
Hsieh Hsiang offered his services, they were accepted, and he was given three companies. After he had gone, K’ungming decided to send a second force, and for command of this one Kung Ch’i volunteered and was accepted. He also had three companies. Then K’ungming feared lest there would be a sortie from the city to aid the relief force just arriving, so he led off the army twenty li and made a camp.
The first body sent against Wang Shuang had no success; its leader fell almost immediately under Wang’s great sword. The men fled and Wang pursued, and so came upon Kung, who had come to support his colleague. He met a similar fate, being slain in the third bout.
When the defeated parties returned, K’ungming was anxious and called up three leaders to go out to check this Wang, They went and drew up in formal array, and then Chang I rode to the front. Wang Shuang rode to meet him, and they two fought several bouts. Then Wang Shuang ran away and Chang I followed. His colleague, Wang P’ing, suspected this flight was but a ruse, so he called to Chang to stop. Wang Shuang then turned and hurled one of his meteor hammers, which hit Chang I in the back, so that he fell forward and lay over the saddle. Wang Shuang rode on to follow up this advantage, but the two colleagues of Chang I interfered and checked him. Wang Shuang’s whole force then came on and slew many of the men of Shu.
Chang I was hurt internally and vomited blood at times. He came back and told K’ungming that Wang Shuang was very terrible and no one could stand up to him. Beside there was a strong camp at the city with double walls and a deep moat.
Having lost two captains, and a third being wounded, K’ungming called up Chiang Wei and said, “We are stopped this way; can you suggest another road?”
“Yes,” said Chiang, ‘The place is too well protected and, with this Wang as defender, cannot be taken. I would propose to move away to some suitable place and make a strong camp. Then try to hold the roads so that the attack on Chieht’ing may be prevented. Then if you will send a strong force against Ch’ishan I can do something which will give us success.”
K’ungming agreed. He sent Wang P’ing and Li K’uei to hold the side road to Chieht’ing, and Wei Yen was sent to guard the way from Ch’ents’ang. And then the army marched out of Hsieh Valley by a small road and made for Ch’ishan.
Now Ts’ao Chen still remembered bitterly that in the last campaign Ssuma I had filched from him the credit he hoped to - obtain. So when he reached Lok’ou he detached Kuo Huai and Sun Li and sent them to hold positions east and west. Then he had heard that Ch’ents’ang was threatened, so had sent Wang Shuang to its relief, and now to his joy he heard of his henchman’s success. He placed Fei Yao in command of the van and stationed other captains at strategic and commanding points.
Then they caught a spy. He was taken into the presence of the general to be questioned. The man knelt down and said, “I am not really a spy in the bad sense. I was bringing a secret communication for you, Sir, but I was captured by one of the parties in ambush. Pray send away your attendants.”
The man’s bonds were loosed and the tent cleared. The captive said, “I am a confidant of Chiang Wei, who has entrusted me with a secret letter.”
“Where is the letter?”
The man took it from among his garments and presented it to Ts’ao Chen, who read:—“I, Chiang Wei, your guilty captain, make a hundred prostrations to the great leader Ts’ao, now in the field. I have never forgotten that I was in the employ of Wei and disgraced myself; having enjoyed favours, I never repaid them. Lately I have been an unhappy victim of Chuko Liang’s wiles and so fell into the depths. But I never forgot my old allegiance, how could I forget? Now happily the army of Shu has gone west, and Chuko Liang trusts me. I rely upon your leading an army this way. If resistance be met, then you may simulate defeat and retire, but I shall be behind and will make a blaze as signal. Then I shall set fire to their stores, whereupon you will face about and attack. Chuko Liang ought to fall into your hands. If it be that I cannot render service and repay my debt to the state, then punish me for my former crime.
“If this should be deemed worthy of your attention, then without delay communicate your commands.”
The letter pleased Ts’ao Chen, and he said, “This is heavensent help to aid me in an achievement.”
He rewarded the man and bade him return to say that it was accepted. Then he called Fei Yao to his councils and said, “I have just had a secret letter from Chiang Wei telling me to act in a certain fashion.”
But Fei Yao replied, “Chuko Liang is very crafty and Chiang Wei is very knowing. If by chance Chuko has planned all this and sent this man we may fall into a snare.”
“But Chiang Wei is really a man of Wei; he was forced into surrender. Why are you suspicious?”
“My advice is not to go, but to remain here on guard. Let me go to meet this man, and any service I can accomplish will redound to your credit. And if there be any craft I can meet it for you.”
Ts’ao Chen approved this and bade Fei Yao take five legions by way of Hsieh Valley. He told him to halt after the second or third stage and send out scouts. This was done, and the scouts reported that the Shu army was coming through the valley. Fei Yao at once advanced, but before the men of Shu got into contact with him they retired. Fei Yao pursued. Then the men of Shu came on again. Just as Fei Yao was forming up for battle the Shu army retreated again. And these manoeuvres were repeated thrice, and a day and a night passed without any repose for the Wei army.
At length rest was imperative, and they were on the point of entrenching themselves to prepare food when a great hubbub arose all around, and with beating of drums and blaring of trumpets the whole country was filled with the men of Shu. Suddenly there was a stir near by the great standard, and out came a small four-wheeled chariot in which sat K’ungming. He bade a herald call the leader of the Wei army to a parley.
Fei Yao rode out and, seeing K’ungming, he secretly rejoiced. Turning to those about him, he bade them retire if the men of Shu came on and look out for a signal. If they saw a blaze they were to turn and attack, for they would be reinforced.
Then he rode to the front and shouted, “You rebel leader in front there; how dare you come here again?”
K’ungming replied, “Go and call Ts’ao Chen to a parley.”
“My chief, Ts’ao Chen, is of the royal stock; think you that he will come to parley with rebels?”
K’ungming angrily waved his fan, and there came forth Ma Tai and Chang I and their men with a rush. The Wei army retired. But ere they had gone far they saw a blaze in the rear of the advancing host of Shu and heard a great shouting. Fei Yao could only conclude that this was the signal he was looking for, and so he faced about to attack.
But the enemy also turned about and retired. Fei Yao led the pursuit, sword in hand, hastening to the point whence the shouting came. Nearing the signal fire, the drums beat louder than ever, and then out came two armies, one under Kuan Hsing and the other under Chang Pao, while arrows and stones rained from the hilltops. The Wei men could not stand it and knew not only they were beaten, but beaten by a ruse. Fei Yao tried to withdraw his men into the shelter of the valley to rest, but the enemy pressed on him, and the army of Wei fell into confusion. Pressing upon each other, many fell into the streams and were drowned.
Fei Yao could do nothing but flee for his life. Just as he was passing by a steep hill there appeared a cohort, and the leader was Chiang Wei. Fei Yao began to upbraid him for his treachery and craftiness.
Wei replied, “You are the wrong victim; we meant to capture Ts’ao Chen not you. You would do well to yield.”
But Fei only galloped away toward a ravine. Suddenly the ravine filled with flame. Then he lost all hope. The pursuers were close behind, so he put an end to his own life.
Of the men of Wei many surrendered. The Shu army pressed home their advantage and, hastening forward, reached Ch’ishan and made a camp. There the army was mustered and put in order.
Chiang Wei received a reward, but he was chagrined that Ts’ao Chen had not been taken.
“My regret is that I did not slay Ts’ao Chen,” said he.
“Indeed, yes,” replied K’ungming. “It is a pity that a great scheme should have had so poor a result.”
Ts’ao Chen was very sad when he heard of the loss of his captain. He consulted Kuo Huai as to a new plan to drive back the enemy.
Meanwhile, flying messengers had gone to the capital with news of K’ungming’s arrival at Ch’ishan and the defeat. Ts’ao Jui called Ssuma I to ask for a plan to meet these new conditions.
“I have a scheme all ready, not only to turn back K’ungming, but to do so without any exertion on our part. They will retire of their own will.”
Ts’ao Chen’s wits are dull; so he
Fights on Ssuma’s strategy.
The strategy will appear in the next chapter.
CHAPTER IIC
DEATH OF WANG SHUANG:
K’UNGMING’S VICTORY
AT CH’ENTS’ANG
Now Ssuma I spoke to the king, saying, “I have said repeatedly that K’ungming would come against us by way of Ch’ents’ang; wherefore I set Hao Chao to guard it. If an enemy did invade, he could easily obtain his supplies by that road; but with Hao and Wang on guard there he will not dare to come that way. It is very difficult to get supplies any other way. Therefore I can give the invaders a month to exhaust their food. Hence their advantage lies in forcing a battle; ours is postponing it as long as possible. Wherefore I pray Your Majesty to order Ts’ao Chen to hold passes and positions tenaciously and on no account to seek battle. In a month the enemy will have to retreat, and that will be our opportunity.”
Jui was pleased to hear so succinct a statement, but he said, “Since, Noble Sir, you foresaw all this so plainly, why did you not lead an army to prevent it?”
“It is not because I grudged the effort, but I had to keep the army here to guard against Lu Hsun of Wu. Sun Chuan will declare himself ‘Emperor’ before long. If he does, I think Your Majesty will attack him, and I shall be ready to cross over the frontier. The army is prepared.”
Just then one of the courtiers announced despatches from Ts’ao Chen on military affairs, and Ssuma closed his speech, saying, “Your Majesty should send someone especially to caution the general to be careful not to be tricked by K’ungming, not to pursue rashly and never to penetrate deeply into the enemy country.”
The king gave the order, and he sent the command by the hand of the T’ai-ch’ang Han Chi and gave him authority to warn Ts’ao Chen against giving battle. Ssuma escorted the royal messenger out of the city and, at parting, said “I am giving this magnificent opportunity to obtain glory to Ts’ao Chen, but do not tell him the suggestion was mine; only quote the royal command. Tell him that defence is the best, pursuit is to be most cautious, and he is not to send any impetuous man to follow up the enemy.”
Ts’ao Chen was deep in affairs connected with his army when they brought news of a royal messenger, but he went forth to bid him welcome, and when the ceremonial receipt of the edict had come to an end, he retired to discuss matters with Kuo Huai and Sun Li.
“Ssuma’s idea,” said Kuo with a laugh.
“But what of the idea?” asked Ts’ao.
“It means that the man who perfectly understands Chuko Liang’s plans and who will eventually have to be called in to defeat them is our friend Ssuma.”
“But if the Shu army holds its ground?”
“We will send Wang Shuang to reconnoitre and keep on the move along the byroads so that they dare not attempt to bring up supplies. They must retreat when they have no more to eat, and we shall be able to beat them.”
Then said Sun Li, “Let me go out to Ch’ishan as if to escort a convoy, only the carts shall be laden with combustibles instead of grain. We will sprinkle sulphur and nitre over wood and reeds. The men of Shu will surely seize the convoy and take it to their own camp, when we will set fire to the carts. When they are blazing, our hidden men can attack.”
“It seems an excellent plan,” said Ts’ao Chen, and he issued the requisite orders: Sun to pretend to escort a convoy; Wang to prowl about the byroads; Kuo to command in the Chi Valley. Also Chang Hu, son of Chang Liao, was made leader of the van, and Yo Lin, son of Yo Chin, was his second. These two were to remain on guard in the outermost camp.
Now at Ch’ishan K’ungming sought to bung on a battle, and daily-sent champions to provoke a combat. But the men of Wei would not come out.
Then K’ungming called Chiang Wei and certain others to him and said, “I do not know what to do. The enemy refuse battle, because they know we are short of food. We can get none by way of Ch’ents’ang, and all other roads are very difficult. I reckon the grain we brought with us will not last a month.”
While thus perplexed, they heard that many carts of provisions for Wei were in the west and the convoy was commanded by Sun Li.
“What is known of this Sun?” asked K’ungming.
A certain man of Wei replied, “He is a bold man. Once he was out hunting on Great Rock Hill, and a tiger suddenly appeared in front of his master’s chariot. He jumped off his horse and despatched the beast with his sword. He was rewarded with a leadership. He is an intimate friend of Ts’ao Chen.”
“This is a ruse.” said K’ungming. “They know we are short of food, and those carts are only a temptation. They are laden with combustibles. How can they imagine that I shall be deceived by this sort of thing when I have fought them with fire so many times? If we go to seize the convoy they will come and raid our camp. But I will meet ruse with ruse.”
Then he sent Ma Tai, with three companies, to make his way to the enemy’s store camp and, when the wind served, to start a fire. When the stores were burning, the soldiers of Wei would come to surround the camp of Shu. He also sent Ma Chung and Chang I to halt near the camp so that they might attack. These having gone, he called Kuan Hsing and Chang Pao, and said, “The outermost camp of Wei is on the main road. This night, when the enemy see a blaze, our camp will be attacked, so you two are to lie in wait on the two sides of the Wei camp and seize it when they have left.”
Calling Wu Pan and Wu I, he said, “You are to lie in wait outside the camp to cut off the retreat of the men of Wei.”
All these arrangements made, K’ungming betook himself to the summit of Ch’ishan to watch the results.
The men of Wei heard that their enemies were coming to seize the grain convoy and ran to tell Sun Li, who sent on a message to Ts’ao Chen. Ts’ao sent to the chief camp to the officers on guard and told them to look out for a signal blaze. That would mean the coming of the men of Shu, and then they were to issue forth and carry out certain instructions.
Watchers were sent on the tower to look out for the promised blaze. Meanwhile Sun Li marched over and hid in the west hills to await the coming of the men of Shu. That night, at the second watch, Ma Tai came with his three companies all silent, the men with gags, the horse with a lashing round their muzzles. They saw tier after tier of carts on the hills, making an enclosure like a walled camp, and on the carts were planted many flags.
They waited. Presently the southwest wind came up, and then the fire was started. Soon all the carts were in a blaze that ht up the sky. Sun saw the blaze and could only conclude that the men of Shu had arrived and his own side were giving the signal, so he dashed out to attack. But soon two parties of soldiers were heard behind him closing in. These were Ma Chung and Chang I, who soon had Sun as in a net. Then he heard a third ominous roll of drums, which heralded the approach of Ma Tai from the direction of the blaze.
Under these several attacks the men of Wei quailed and gave way. The fire grew more and more fierce. Men ran and horses stampeded, and the dead were too many to count. Sun Li made a dash through the smoke and fire of the battle and got away.
When Chang Hu and Yo Lin saw the fire they threw open the gates of their camp and sallied forth to help defeat the men of Shu by seizing their camp. But when they reached the camp they found it empty. So they set out to return That was the moment for Wu Pan and Wu I to appear and cut off their retreat. However, they fought bravely and got through. But when at length they reached their own camp they were met by arrows flying thick as locusts. For Kuan and Chang had taken possession in their absence.
They could only set out for headquarters to report their mishap. As they neared Ts’ao Chen’s camp they met another remnant marching up. They were Sun Li’s men, and the two parties went into camp together and told the tale of their victimisation. Ts’ao Chen thereafter looked to his defences and attacked no more.
