# San Kuo/Volume 2/Chapter 111

CHAPTER CXI.
Têng Ai Outwits Chiang Wei; Chuko Tan Thinks It His Duty to Destroy Ssǔma Chao.
Chiang Wei camped at Chungti; the army of Wei camped outside Titaoch'êng. Wên 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 Têng Ai, who was rewarded with the title, “Pacificator of the West.” For the time, Têng was left in the west as T‘ai-yü of the Ch‘iang tribes. He and Ch'ên T‘ai placed their men in cantonments in Yung, Liang and the districts round about.
After Têng Ai had rendered his thanks to the king, Ch‘ên T‘ai 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 Têng, smiling. “I can give five reasons why he should.”
“What are they?”
“Although the men of Shu have retired, they have the selfpossessed 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'êng, Shênsi, 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 Shênsi 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'ên 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. Têng 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 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, “Têng 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 Shênsi.”
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 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 Têng 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 détour 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 Têng had heard that the enemy would come out at Ch‘ishan he had camped there with his colleague Ch'ên T‘ai. 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 Têng 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'êngshan, 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'êngshan.”
Ch'ên 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 Têng 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'êngshan he turned to Hsiahou Pa and said, “That hill is our point, and Nanan is close. I fear lest the artful Têng 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 Têng.
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 Shangkuei. They marched all night, and dawn found them in a deep valley, which the guides 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 Têng Chung came out and attacked. Chiang Wei, alternately fighting and retreating, tried to get away. Then Têng 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'ên 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. Têng came in pursuit, and as he pressed hard on the rear, Chiang sent the others on ahead while he covered the retreat.
Soon Ch'ên 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'ên T‘ai and Têng 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). Ssŭma 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 Yün, 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.”
Ssǔma 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 Yün 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 Ssŭma 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 Ssǔma, angrily. “He is exceedingly popular there in Huainan, but if he is left too long he will do harm.”
Ssǔma began to take measures. He wrote privately to Yüeh 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 Yüeh Lin knew all about the matter.
“How does he know?”
“General Ssǔma sent him a private letter.”
The messenger was condemned to death. Then Chuko placed himself at the head of his personal guard and marched to Yangchou. The city gates were closed and the drawbridge raised. He summoned the gate, but no one answered.
“How dare this fellow treat me thus?” cried he.
He ordered his men to force the gate. A few dismounted, crossed the moat and climbed the ramparts, where they slew all who opposed them and opened the gate. The others entered, set fire to the houses and began to fight their way toward the residence. The Governor sought refuge in a tower, but Chuko made his way up and, after reproaching his enemy for dishonouring his father, slew him.
Then Chuko sent up a memorial detailing Ssǔma’s many faults, and made preparations for war. He called up all the militia and took over the four legions who had surrendered on the fall of Yüeh Lin and gathered supplies. He also sent to Wu for aid, offering his son Chuko Ching as a hostage for his good faith.
At this time Sun Hsün was dead and his brother, Sun Ch'ên, was Prime Minister. He was a man of cruel and violent temper and had put many officers to death on his way to power. The King of Wu, although no fool, was helpless in his hands.
The messenger, Wu Kang, conducted the proposed hostage to the residence of this monster, who asked what he had come for. Wu Kang explained and asked for help. His request was received favourably, and Sun sent seven legions with a full complement of officers. They marched, and Chuko returned to report success. Chuko thought all was going well.
Chuko’s memorial angered Ssŭma, who wished to set out to revenge the attack at once, but Chia Yün preached caution.
​“My lord, you derived your power from your father and brother, and people have not had time to discover your own virtue. If you leave the court and there be a revulsion of feeling against you, you will lose all. Rather request the Empress Dowager and the Son of Heaven to go with you, and nothing is to be feared.”
The plan was accepted as excellent. He went into the palace and proposed it to Her Majesty, saying, “Chuko Tan is in revolt, and I and my colleagues intend to punish him. I beg that you will accompany the expedition as the late Emperor would have done.”
She was afraid, but dared not refuse, and the next day was requested to set out with the king.
The king said, “General, you command all the armies and dispose them as you will; why do you ask me to go?”
Ssǔma replied, “Your Majesty is wrong to hesitate. Your ancestors travelled over the empire and wished to unite the whole under one ruler. Wherever there was a worthy opponent they went to face him. Your Majesty should follow their example and sweep the land clean. Why fear?”
The king, fearing his minister’s terrible power, consented, and an edict was issued for the commands to march. Wang Chi, a distinguished general, was in command of the van, while Shih Pao and Chou T‘ai led the imperial escort. The army moved into Huainan like a great flood.
The van-leader of Wu encountered them, and both sides drew up for battle. Chu I, the leader on the Wu side, rode out and took the challenge, but was overcome in the third bout. P‘ang Tzu also followed, but was also beaten in the third encounter.
Wang Chi ordered the Wei army to pursue. The men of Wu retired fifty li and camped. Thence they sent tidings of their ill-success to Shouch‘un and Chuko Tan; Wên Ch‘in and the two sons of Chuko set out with reinforcements.
Thus Ssŭma was faced by many legions of valiant men.
Now here is a check to the armies of Wu, And Wei’s gallant men advance.
The next chapter will tell how went victory.