# San Kuo/Volume 2/Chapter 107

CHAPTER CVII.
Ssǔma I Recovers Political Power; Chiang Wei Is Defeated at Niut‘ou Hills.
The Ssǔmas were very pleased to hear that their rival and his party were to follow the king on a visit to the tombs combined with a hunt, for it meant that the whole enemy faction left the city. As soon as they left, Ssǔma entered, gave the minister Kao Jou provisional command of the army and sent him to seize the camp of Ts‘ao Shuang. His brother’s camp was also occupied. Having secured his position thus, he and his supporters went to the palace of the Empress Dowager and said to her, “Ts‘ao Shuang has betrayed the trust placed in him by the late Emperor and has ruined the government. His fault must be expiated.”
She replied, “What can be done in the absence of His Majesty?”
“I have prepared plans for the destruction of these base ministers and will see to it that no trouble happens to yourself.”
The Empress was much alarmed, but could only act as she was directed and agree. So two of Ssŭma’s supporters copied out the memorial he had prepared and it was sent to the king by the hand of an eunuch. Then the arsenals were seized.
Soon the news of the rising came to the knowledge of the family of Ts‘ao Shuang, and his wife came out from the inner apartments and summoned the captain of the guard to enquire into the truth of the rumours. He told her that she need feel no alarm and he would go and see. Thereupon the captain P‘an Chü, at the head of a few bowmen, went up on the wall and looked around. At that moment Ssǔma was crossing the court, and P‘an bade his men shoot. But one of his officers reminded him that the T‘ai-fu was one of the highest officers of state.
“You must not shoot at the T‘ai-fu; he is on public service.”
Thrice he urged his chief not to let the men shoot, and so P‘an desisted. Ssŭma went across guarded by his son Shao. Then he went out of the city and camped on the Lo River at the floating bridge.
When the revolution began, one of Ts‘ao Shuang’s officers, Ssǔma Lu-chih by name, took counsel with his subordinate Hsin Ch‘ang.
“Now that this revolt has begun, what should we do?”
“Let us go to the king with what troops we have,” replied Hsin.
​“Perhaps the best course,” replied Lu-chih, and he went to his own house to get ready to start. There he met his sister, Hsien-ying, who asked the meaning of all this haste.
“His Majesty is out on a hunt and the T‘ai-fu has closed the gates of the city. This is rebellion.”
“I do not think so. He only means to slay Ts‘ao Shuang, his rival,” replied she.
“Why should he desire to do that?” asked her brother, sharply.
“Ts‘ao Shuang is no match for the T‘ai-fu,” replied she.
“If Ssŭma asks us to join him, should we?” asked Hsin.
Hsien-ying replied, “You know what a true man should do. When a man is in danger there is the greater need for sympathy. To be of his men and desert in an emergency is the greatest of evils.”
This speech decided Hsin, who went with Ssŭma Lu-chih. At the head of a few horsemen they forced the gate and got out of the city. When their escape was reported to Ssŭma I he thought that Huan Fan would surely try to follow their example, so he sent to call him. However, on the advice of his son, Huan did not answer the summons, but decided to flee. He got into his carriage and drove hastily to the P‘ingch‘ang Gate.
But the gate was barred. The warden was an old dependant of Huan’s. Huan pulled out from his sleeve a slip of bamboo and said, “The Empress’s command; open the gate for me.”
“Let me look,” said the warden.
“What! How dare you, an old servant of mine, behave thus?”
The warden let him pass. As soon as he had got outside he shouted to the warden, “Ssǔma I has raised a revolt, and you had better follow me.”
The warden realised that he had made a mistake, and ran after Huan, but failed to come up with him.
“So Bag o' Wisdom has got away too; that is a pity, but what can we do?” said Ssŭma, when they reported the escape.
“The old horse always hankers after the old stable and manger, and he would have been useless to us,” replied Chiang Chi.
Then Ssǔma called to him Hsü Yün and Ch'ên T‘ai and said, “Go ye to Ts‘ao Shuang and say that I have no other intention than to take away the military power from him and his brother.”
As soon as they had left, he called Yin Ta-mu and ordered Chiang Chi prepare a letter to be taken to Ts‘ao Shuang.
Said Ssŭma, “You are on good terms with the man and are the fittest person for this mission. Tell him that Chiang Chi and I are concerned solely with the military powers in the ​hands of himself and his brother, as we have sworn pointing to the Lo River.”
So Yin Ta-mu went his way.
Out in the country Ts‘ao Shuang was enjoying the hunting, flying his falcons and coursing his hounds. Suddenly came the news of the rising in the city and the memorial against him. He almost fell out of the saddle when they told him. The eunuch handed in the memorial to the king in the presence of Ts‘ao, who took it and opened it. A minister in attendance was ordered to read it. It said:—
“On my return from the expedition into Liaotung His late Majesty summoned Your Majesty with Prince Ts‘in, myself and certain others to his bedside, took me by the arm and impressed upon us all our duty in the years to be. Now Ts‘ao Shuang has betrayed the trust placed in him, has disordered the kingdom, usurped power at court and seized upon power in the provinces. He has appointed the eunuch Chang Tang Commandant of the City to control the court and spy upon Your Majesty. He is surely lying in wait to seize the empire. He has sown dissension in the royal family and injured his own flesh and blood. The whole land is in confusion, and men’s hearts are full of fear. All this is opposed to the injunctions of His late Majesty and his commands to me. Stupid and worthless as I am, yet I dare not forget his words. My colleagues, T‘ai-yu Chiang Chi and Shang-shu Ssŭma Fu agree that Ts‘ao Shuang is disloyal at heart. Great military powers should not be entrusted to brothers.
“I have memorialised Her Majesty and obtained her authority to act.
“All military powers have been wrested from the hands of the Ts‘ao family, leaving them only the simple title of Marquis, so that hereafter they may be unable to hinder or control Your Majesty’s actions. If there be any obstruction, the matter shall be summarily dealt with.
“Although in ill health, as a precautionary measure I have camped at the Floating Bridge, whence I write this.”
When they had made an end of reading, the king turned to Ts‘ao Shuang and said, “In the face of such words what mean you to do?”
Shuang was at a loss and turned to his younger brother, saying, “What now?”
Ts‘ao Hsi replied, “I remonstrated with you, but you were obstinate and listened not. So it has come to this. Ssǔma I is false and cunning beyond measure. If K‘ung-ming could not get the better of him, could we hope to do so? I see nothing but to yield that haply we may live.”
Just at this moment arrived Hsin Ch‘ang and Ssŭma Luchih. Ts‘ao Shuang asked what tidings they brought.
​They replied, “The city is completely and closely surrounded, the T‘ai-fu is camped on the river at the Floating Bridge, and you cannot return. You must decide how to act at once.”
Then galloped up Huan Fan, who said, “This is really rebellion; why not request His Majesty to proceed to Hsütu till provincial troops can arrive and deal with Ssǔma?”
Ts‘ao Shuang replied, “How can we go to another place when all our families are in the city?”
“Fool! Even in this crisis you think only of life. You have the Son of Heaven with you here and command all the forces of the empire. None would dare disobey you, and yet you march quietly to death.”
The unhappy man could not decide to strike a blow for safety; he did nothing but snivel.
Huan continued, “The stay in Hsütu would be but brief, and there are ample supplies for years. You have forces at your call at Nankuan. You hold the seal of Minister of War, and I have brought it with me. Everything is in your favour. Act! Act at once! Delay is death.”
“Do not hurry me,” said Ts‘ao. “Let me think it over carefully.”
Then came the two messengers of Ssŭma I, to say that he desired only to strip the Ts‘aos of their military power. If they yielded they might return peacefully to the city.
Still the Ts‘aos hesitated. Next arrived Yin Ta-mu with Ssŭma’s second message that he had sworn by the Lo River to the singleness of his aim. He tendered the letter of Chiang Chi to the effect that if the conditions were complied with the Ts‘aos might return to their palace in peace.
When Ts‘ao Shuang seemed disposed to accept the assurance of Ssŭma, Huan inveighed against it, saying, “You are a dead man if you listen to the voice of these men.”
Night found Ts‘ao Shuang still vacillating. As twilight faded into darkness he stood, sword in hand, sad, sighing and weeping. And morning found him still trying to make up his mind.
Huan again urged him to decide upon some course. “You have had a whole day and a whole night for reflection and must decide,” said he.
“I will not fight; I will yield all and save my house,” said Ts‘ao, throwing down his sword.
Huan left the tent wailing. “Ts‘ao Chên might boast of his abilities, but his brothers are mere cattle,” said he. He wept copiously.
The two messengers bade Ts‘ao offer his seal of office to Ssǔma, and it was brought. Its custodian clung to it and would not give it up, saying, “Alas! that you, my lord, should resign your powers and make such a pitiful surrender. For surely you will not escape death in the eastern market-place.”
​“The T‘ai-fu will surely keep faith with me,” said Ts‘ao.
The seal was borne away, and the captains, thus released from the bonds of discipline, dispersed and the hosts melted away. When the brothers reached the Floating Bridge, they were ordered to go to their dwellings, and they went. Their supporters were imprisoned to await the pleasure of the Emperor.
Ts‘ao Shuang and his friends, so lately all-powerful, entered the city alone, without even a servant following. As Huan approached the bridge, Ssǔma, from horseback, pointed his whip disdainfully at him and said, “What brought you to this?” Huan made no reply, but with head bent followed the others.
It was decided to request the Emperor to declare the hunt at an end and order a return to the city. The three Ts‘aos were confined in their own house, the gate whereof was fastened with a huge lock, and soldiers were set to guard it round about. They were sad and anxious, not knowing what would be their fate. Then Ts‘ao Hsi said, “We have but little food left. Let us write and ask for supplies. If he send us food we may be sure he does not intend harm.”
They wrote, and ample supplies were sent. This cheered them, and they thought their lives were safe.
The eunuch Chang Fang was arrested and put to the question. He said he was not the only one who had tried to subvert the government, and he named the five friends of Ts‘ao Shuang. So they were arrested and, when interrogated, confessed that a revolt had been arranged for the third month. All were locked in one long wooden collar. The Warden of the Gate testified that Huan Fan had imposed upon him with a pretended command from Her Majesty and so had escaped out of the city. Beside he had said the T‘ai-fu was a rebel.
Then said Ssŭma I, “When a man maligns another and is false, the punishment for such a crime as he imputes falls upon his own head.”
Huan and those with him were thrown into prison.
Presently Ts‘ao Shuang and his brothers, and all persons connected with them, were put to death in the market-place. All the treasure of their houses was sent to the public treasury.
Now there was a certain woman of the Hsiahou family who had been wife to a second cousin of Ts‘ao Shuang’s. Early left a childless widow, her father wished her to marry again. She refused and cut off one ear as a pledge of constancy. However, when the Ts‘aos were all put to death her father arranged another marriage for her; whereupon she cut off her nose. Her own people were chagrined at her obstinate determination.
“For whom are you keeping your vow?” said they. “Man is but as the light dust upon the tender grass, and what is the good of mutilating your body?”
​The woman replied, weeping, “The honourable woman does not break a vow of chastity for the sake of wealth, and the heart of a righteous woman is constant unto death. While the house of Ts‘ao enjoyed prosperity I remained faithful; how much more should I be true now that it has fallen upon evil days? Can I act like a mere beast of the field?”
The story of her devotion came to the ears of Ssŭma, who praised her conduct and allowed her to adopt a son to rear as her own and so continue the family.
A poem says:—
What is a man to be mindful of? A grain of dust on a blade of grass; Such virtue as Hsiahou’s daughter had Stands out sublime as the ages pass. This fair young wife of gentle mien Dared all to maintain her purpose high. What man though strong in the flush of life Has equalled her in constancy?
After Ts‘ao Shuang had suffered death, Chiang Chi recalled certain others who had been of his party and were still alive, notably Yang Tsung, who had opposed the surrender of the seal of the late minister. However, no action was taken against them.
“He is a righteous man who serves his master faithfully,” said Ssǔma, and he even confirmed these men in their offices.
Hsin Ch‘ang remembered that it had been on the advice of his sister that he had decided to stand by his lord, and thus had saved his reputation.
A poet has praised his sister’s conduct.
“You call him lord and take his pay, Then stand by him when danger nears.” Thus to her brother spake Hsien-ying, And won fair fame though endless years.
A general amnesty was extended to all Ts‘ao’s partizans, and no officer was removed or dismissed for having supported the late order of things. All were left in possession of their property, and soon all was tranquillity.
However, it is to be noted that Ho and Têng met the unhappy end that Kuan Lu had foretold for them.
The seer Kuan Lu was deeply read In all the lore of th' ancient sages. Thus he could see events to come As clear as those of former ages. And he perceived the soul of Ho, Already in the vale of gloom, And knew the outer shell of Têng Was hastening to an early tomb.
After his recovery of power, Ssǔma was made Prime Minister and received the Nine Gifts. Ssŭma refused these ​honours, but the king insisted and would take no denial. His two sons were made assistants to their father, and all state affairs fell under the control of these three.
However, Ssŭma remembered that one man, Hsiahou Pa, a member of the Ts‘ao clan, still commanded at Yungchou. In his position he might be a real danger, and he must be removed. So an edict was issued calling him to the capital to discuss affairs. But instead of obeying this call, Hsiahou declared himself a rebel, although he had but a small force to support him. As soon as this was known, Kuo Huai marched to suppress the malcontent. The two armies were soon face to face, and Kuo went to the front and began to revile his opponent.
“How could you rebel against the ruling house, you who are of the same clan as our great founder, and who have always been treated generously?”
Hsiahou Pa replied, “My forefathers served the state right well, but who is this Ssǔma that he has put to death my kinsmen and would now destroy me? What is his aim, if it be not to usurp the Throne? If I can cut him off and so frustrate his design I shall at least be no traitor to the state.”
Kuo Huai rode forward to attack, and Hsiahou advanced to the encounter. They fought a half score of bouts, and then Kuo turned and fled. But this was only a feint to lead on his enemy, for ere Hsiahou had gone far he heard a shout behind him and turned to see Ch'ên T‘ai about to attack. At the same moment Kuo turned again, and thus Hsiahou was between two fires. He could effect nothing, so he fled, losing many men. Soon he decided that his only course was to desert to Shu.
Wherefore he went into Hanchung to see if haply the Later Ruler would accept his services. When Chiang Wei heard of his desire to surrender, he had doubts of his sincerity. However, after due enquiry Chiang was satisfied and allowed the renegade from Wei to enter the city. After making his obeisance, Hsiahou, with many tears, told the story of his wrongs. Chiang expressed sympathy.
Said he, “A thousand years ago Wei Tsŭ left the court of Chou in disgust, and this act has assured to him everlasting honour. You may be able now to assist in the restoration of the House of Han, and you will then stand no whit inferior to any man of antiquity.”
A banquet was ordered, and while it was being prepared the host talked of affairs in the capital.
“The Ssŭma family is now most powerful and in a position to carry out any scheme they planned. Think you that they have any intentions against us?”
“The old traitor has enough to do with his rebellion; he has no leisure to trouble about any outside matters. However, two other men in Wei have lately come to the front, and if he ​sent them against your country and Wu it might go ill with you both.”
“And who are these two?”
“One is named Chung Hui, a man of Ch‘angsha; he is a descendant of the T‘ai-fu Chung Yu. As a mere boy he was noted for being bold and smart. His father used to take him and his brother to court. Chung Hui was seven and his brother a year older. The Emperor Ts‘ao P‘ei noticed one day that the elder boy was sweating and asked him the reason.
“ 'Whenever I am frightened the sweat pours out and I cannot help it,'” replied the boy.
“ 'You do not seem frightened,' said the Emperor to the other.
“ 'I am so frightened that the sweat cannot come out,' replied he.
“The Emperor was the only one who discerned the extraordinary ability of the boy. A little later the lad was always studying books on war and tactics, and became an able strategist, so that he won admiration from both Ssŭma and Chiang Chi.
“The second man is Têng Ai. He was left an orphan very early, but he was ambitious and enterprising. If he saw lofty mountains or wide marshes he always looked for those points where soldiers might be stationed or dépôts of provisions made or combustibles laid. People ridiculed him, but Ssŭma saw there was much to admire and employed the young man on his staff.
“Têng Ai had an impediment in his speech, so that he called himself 'Ai-Ai,' and Ssǔma used to make fun of him and asked him one day how many there were of him since he called himself 'Ai-Ai.'
“Têng at once replied, “There was only one Fêng in the Lun-yü when Chieh Yu cried 'O Fêng.'
“This ready repartee shows the quickness of his intellect, and you may well be on your guard against him and the other, for they are to be feared.”
“I do not think them worth even talking about,” replied Chiang Wei.
Chiang Wei took Hsiahou Pa to Ch'êngtu and presented him to the king, telling the story of events in Loyang, the overthrow of Ts‘ao Shuang, the rise of the Ssŭma family to supreme power, the weakness of Ts‘ao Fang, the king, and then proposed that another attempt be made to re-establish the House of Han in its old capital.
But Fei I opposed any expedition, saying, “We have lately lost by death two trusty counsellors, and there is no one left fit to take care of the government. The attempt should be postponed.”
​“Not so,” replied Chiang. “Life is short. Our days flash by as the glint of a white horse across a chink in the door. We are waiting and waiting. Are we never to try to restore Han to its old glory?”
“Remember the saying of the wise Sun: 'Know thyself and know thine enemy. Then is victory sure.' We are not the equals of the late Prime Minister, and where he failed, are we likely to succeed?”
Chiang said, “I would enlist the aid of the Ch‘iang. I have lived near them in Shênsi and know them well. With their help, even if we do not gain the capital and the whole empire, we can at least conquer and hold all west of Shênsi.”
The king here closed the discussion, saying, “Sir, as you desire to conquer Wei, do your best. I will not damp your enthusiasm.”
Thus the king’s consent was given. Then Chiang Wei left the court and betook himself, with Hsiahou Pa, into Hanchung to prepare for a new expedition.
“We will first send an envoy to the Ch‘iang to make a league with them,” said Chiang. “Then we will march out by Hsip‘ing to Yungchou, where we will throw up two ramparts near the Ch'ü Hills and garrison them. The position is a point of vantage. Then we will send supplies to Ch‘uank‘ou, and advance gradually, according to the plan devised by the great strategist.”
In the autumn of the year they sent the two Shu generals Chü An and Li Hsin, with a large force, to construct the two ramparts, of which Chü was to hold the eastern and Li the western.
When the news reached Yungchou, the Governor, Kuo Huai, sent a report to Loyang and also despatched a force to oppose the men of Shu. When that army arrived both the Shu captains led their men to meet it, but their armies were too weak and they once more retired into the city. The army of Wei laid siege and occupied the road that led to Hanchung, so that supplies were cut off. After some days, and when the men of Shu began to feel the pinch of hunger, Kuo Huai came to see what progress his two lieutenants were making. At sight of the position he rejoiced exceedingly, and when he returned to camp he said to Ch'ên T‘ai, “In this high country the city must be short of water, which means that the besieged must come out for supplies. Let us cut off the streams that supply them, and they will perish of thirst.”
So the soldiers were set to work to divert the streams above the city, and the besieged were soon distressed. Li Hsin led out a strong force to try to seize the water sources and fought stubbornly, but was at length worsted and driven back within the walls.
​Meanwhile the soldiers were parched with thirst. They could not account for the delay of Chiang Wei’s reinforcements and finally decided that Li Hsin should try to fight his way out and get help.
So the gates were opened, and Li rode out with a score or so of horsemen. These were opposed and had to fight every inch of the way, but eventually the leader won though severely wounded. All his men had fallen.
That night a strong north wind brought a heavy fall of snow, and the besieged were thus temporarily relieved from the water famine. They melted the snow and prepared food.
Li Hsin, sorely wounded, made his way west along the hill paths. After two days he fell in with Chiang Wei. He dismounted, prostrated himself and told his story.
“The delay is not due to my slackness; the allies we depended upon have not come,” said Chiang.
Chiang sent an escort with the wounded officer to conduct him to Ch'êngtu, where his wounds could be treated. Turning to his colleague, Hsiahou Pa, he asked if he had any plan to propose.
Hsiahou replied, “If we wait for the coming of the Ch‘iang it looks as if we shall be too late to relieve Ch'üshan. It is very probable that Yungchou has been left undefended, wherefore I propose that you go toward Niut‘ou Hills and work round to the rear of Yungchou, which will cause the Wei armies to fall back to relieve Yungchou and so relieve our force.”
“The plan appears excellent,” replied Chiang. And he set out.
When Ch'ên T‘ai knew that Li Hsin had escaped, he said to his chief. “Now that this man has got out he will tell Chiang Wei of the danger, and he will conclude that our efforts are concentrated on the ramparts and will endeavour to attack our rear. Therefore I suggest, General, that you go to the T‘ao River and stop the supplies of our enemies, while I go to the Niut‘ou Hills and smite them. They will retreat as soon as they know their supplies are threatened.”
So Kuo Huai marched secretly to the T‘ao River, while his colleague went to the hills.
When the Shu army led by Chiang Wei came near they heard a great shouting, and the scouts came in to report that the road was barred. Chiang Wei himself rode out to look.
“So you intended to attack Yungchou, did you?” shouted Ch'ên T‘ai. “But we know it and have been watching for you a long time.”
Chiang Wei rode forth to attack. His opponent advanced with a flourish of his sword, and they engaged. Ch‘ên T‘ai soon ran away. Then the men of Shu came forward and fell on, driving the men of Wei back to the summit of the hills. ​But they halted there, and Chiang encamped at the foot of the hills, whence he challenged the enemy every day. But he could gain no victory.
Seeing no result after some days of this, Hsiahou said, “This is no place to remain in. We can get no victory and are tempting fate by remaining open to a surprise. I think we should retire till some better plan can be tried.”
Just then it was reported that the supplies road was in the hands of the enemy, and it was imperative to retreat. Hsiahou marched away first, and Chiang covered the retreat. Ch‘ên T‘ai pursued in five divisions along five different roads, but Chiang got possession of the meeting point and held them all in check, finally forcing them back on the hills. But from this position such a heavy discharge of arrows and stones was maintained that the Wei armies were forced to abandon their position. Chiang went to the T‘ao River, where the men of Wei attacked. Chiang went to and fro smiting where he could, but he was surrounded and only got out by a desperate effort and after suffering great loss.
Chiang hastened toward Yangp‘ing Pass, but fell in with another body of the enemy, at the head of which he saw a fierce, youthful leader, who at once rode out furiously to attack.
This leader had a round face, long ears and a square mouth with thick lips. Below his left eye was a large hairy mole. It was the elder son of Ssŭma I. He was a General of Cavalry.
“Simpleton, how dare you stand in my way?” yelled Chiang, as he rode forward with his spear set.
Ssǔma Shih met the attack, and three bouts were fought. Chiang Wei came off victor and so was free to continue his way. Presently he reached the pass and was welcomed within its sheltering walls. Ssŭma attacked soon after his arrival, but those within the ramparts replied with the multiple crossbows which threw ten bolts at each discharge. For the men of Shu had made these engines of war after the design left by Chuko Liang.
Owing to superior weapons, Shu defeated Wei, Wei will ne‘er recover what was lost that day.
What befell Ssŭma Shih will be told in the next chapter.