# San Kuo/Volume 2/Chapter 96

CHAPTER IVC.
K‘ung-ming Weeps, but Puts Ma Su to Death: Chou Fang Cuts Off His Hair and Beguiles Ts‘ao Hsiu.
The proposer of the great plan that was to reunite the empire was a President of a Board, named Sun Tzǔ.
“Noble Sir, expound your excellent scheme,” said King Jui of Wei.
And Sun Tzǔ said, “When your great progenitor, the Emperor Wu (Ts‘ao Ts‘ao), first got Chang Lu he was at a critical stage in his career, but thenceforward all went well. He used to say 'Nanchêng is really a natural hell. In the Hsieh Valley there are five hundred li of rocks and caves, so that it is an impossible country for an army.' If the country be denuded of soldiers in order to conquer Shu, then for sure we shall be invaded by Wu on the east. My advice is to divide the army among the various generals and appoint each a place of strategic value to hold, and let them train their forces. In a few years the Central Land will be prosperous and wealthy, while the other two, Shu and Wu, will have been reduced by mutual quarrels and will fall an easy prey. I hope Your Majesty will consider whether this is not a superior plan.”
“What does the great General think? said Ts‘ao Jui to Ssŭma.
He replied, “President Sun says well.”
So Jui bade Ssŭma I draw up a scheme of defence and station the soldiers, leaving Kuo Huai and Chang Ho to guard Ch‘angan. And having rewarded the army, he the returned to Loyang.
When K‘ung-ming got back to Hanchung and missed Chao Yün and Têng Chih, the only two captains who had not arrived, he was sad at heart and bade Kuan and Chang go back to afford them assistance. However, before the reinforcing parties could leave, the missing men arrived. Furthermore, they came with their men in excellent condition and not a man short, nor a horse nor any of their equipment. As they drew near, K‘ung-ming went out to welcome them. Thereupon Chao Yün hastily dismounted and bowed to the earth, saying, “The Prime Minister should not have come forth to welcome a defeated general.”
But K‘ung-ming lifted him up and took his hand and said, “Mine was the fault, mine were the ignorance and unwisdom ​that caused all this. But how is it that amid all the defeat and loss you have come through unscathed?”
And Têng Chih replied, “It was because friend Chao sent me ahead, while he guarded the rear and warded off every attack. One leader he slew, and this frightened the others. Thus nothing was lost or left by the way. ”
“A really great captain!” said K‘ung-ming.
He sent Chao Yün a gift of much gold and many rolls of silk for his army. But these were returned, Chao Yün saying that the army deserved punishment rather than reward, since they had accomplished nothing, and the rules for reward and punishment must be strictly kept. He prayed that these things be kept in store till the winter, when they could be distributed among the men.”
“When His late Majesty lived he never tired of extolling Chao Yün’s virtues; lo! he was perfectly right,” said K‘ungming.
And his respect for the veteran was doubled. Then came the turn of the four unfortunate leaders Ma, Wang, Wei and Kao to render account. Wang P‘ing was called to the general’s tent and rebuked.
“I ordered you and Ma Su to guard Chieht‘ing; why did you not remonstrate with him and prevent this great loss?”
“I did remonstrate many times. I wished to build a rampart down in the road and construct a solid camp, but the assistant general would not agree and showed ill temper. So I led half a legion and camped some ten li off, and when the men of Wei came in crowds and surrounded my colleague, I led my army to attack them a score of times. But I could not penetrate, and the catastrophe came quickly. Many of the men surrendered, and mine were too few to stand. Wherefore I went to friend Wei for help, but I was intercepted and imprisoned in a valley and only got out by fighting most desperately. I got back to my camp to find the enemy in possession, and so I set out for Liehliuch‘êng. On the road I met Kao Hsiang, and we three tried to raid the enemy’s camp, hoping to recover Chieht‘ing, but as there was no one of our side there I grew suspicious. From a hill I saw my colleagues had been stopped by the men of Wei, so I went to rescue them. Thence we hastened to Yangp‘ing Pass to try to prevent that from falling. It was not that I failed to remonstrate. And you, O Minister, can get confirmation of my words from any of the officers.”
K‘ung-ming bade him retire, and sent for Ma Su. He came, bound, and threw himself on the earth at the tent door.
“You have filled yourself with the study of the books on war ever since you were a boy; you know them thoroughly. I enjoined upon you that Chieht‘ing was most important, and you pledged yourself and all your family to do pour best in ​the enterprise; yet you would not listen to Wang P‘ing, and thus you caused this misfortune. The army is defeated, generals have been slain and cities and territory lost, all through you. If I do not make you an example and vindicate the law, how shall I maintain a proper state of discipline? You have offended and you must pay the penalty. After your death the little ones of your family shall be my care, and I will see that they get a monthly allowance. Do not let their fate cause you anxiety.”
He told the executioners to take him away.
Ma Su wept bitterly, saying, “Pity me, O Minister, you have looked upon me as a son; I have looked up to you as a father. I know my fault is worthy of death, but I pray you to remember how Shun dealt with Kun, the father of Yu and with Yu himself. Though I die I will harbour no resentment down in the dark depths of the Nine Springs.”
Kʻung-ming brushed aside his tears and said, “We have been as brothers, and your children shall be as my own. It is useless to say more.”
They led the doomed man away. Without the main gate, just as they were going to deal the fatal blow, Chiang Yuan, an officer of rank, who had just arrived from the capital, was passing in. He bade the executioners wait a while, and he went in and interceded for Ma Su.
“Formerly the King of Ch‘u put his minister to death and Duke Wên rejoiced. There is great confusion in the land, and yet you would slay a man of admitted ability. Can you not spare him?”
K‘ung-ming’s tears fell, but he said, “Sun and Wu maintain that the one way to obtain success is to make the law supreme. Now confusion and actual war are in every quarter, and if the law be not observed, how may rebels be made away with? He must die.”
Soon after they bore in the head as proof, and K‘ung-ming wailed for the victim.
“Why do you weep for him now that he has met the just penalty for his fault?” said Chiang.
“I was not weeping then because of Ma Su, but because I remembered the words of our late Emperor. When in great stress at Paitch‘êng, he said that Ma Su’s words exceeded the truth, and he was incapable of great deeds. It has come true, and I greatly regret my want of insight. That is why I weep.
Every officer wept. Ma Su was but thirty-nine, and he met his end in the fifth month of the sixth year of Chien-Hsing.
A poet wrote about him thus:—
'Twas pitiful that he who talked so glib Of war, should lose a city, fault most grave, With death as expiation. At the gate He paid stern law’s extremest penalty. Deep grieved, his chief recalled the late king’s words.
​The head of the victim was paraded round the camps. Then it was sewn again to the body and buried with it. K‘ung-ming conducted the sacrifices for the dead and read the oration. A monthly allowance was made for the family and they were consoled as much as possible. Next K‘ung-ming made his memorial to the Throne and bade Chiang Wan bear it to the king. Therein he proposed his own degradation from his high office.
“Naturally a man of mediocre abilities, I have enjoyed your confidence undeservedly. Having led out an expedition, I have proved my inability to perform the high office of leader. Over solicitude was my undoing. Hence happened disobedience at Chieht‘ing and the failure to guard Chiku. The fault is mine in that I erred in the use of men. In my anxiety I was too secretive. The 'Spring and Autumn' has pronounced such as I am to be blameworthy, and whither may I flee from my fault? I pray that I may be degraded three degrees as punishment. I cannot express my mortification. I humbly await your command.”
“Why does the Prime Minister speak thus?” said the king. “It is but the ordinary fortune of war.”
The courtier Fei I said, “The Ruler must enhance the majesty of the law, for without law how can men support him? It is right that the minister should be degraded in rank.”
Thereupon an edict was issued reducing K‘ung-ming to the rank of a Chiang-chün, Generalissimo, but retaining him in the same position in the direction of state affairs and command of the military forces. Fei I was directed to communicate the decision.
Fei bore the edict into Hanchung and gave it to K‘ung-ming, who bowed to the decree. The envoy thought K‘ung-ming might be mortified, so he ventured to felicitate him in other matters.
“It was a great joy to the people when the four districts were captured,” said he.
“What sort of language is this?” said K‘ung-ming, annoyed. “Success followed by failure is no success. It shames me indeed to hear such a compliment.”
“His Majesty will be very pleased to hear of the acquisition of Chiang Wei.”
This remark also angered K‘ung-ming, who replied, “It is my fault that a defeated army has returned without any gain of territory. What injury to the enemy was the loss of this man?”
Fei I tried again. “But with an army of ten legions of bold men you can attack Wei again.”
“When we were at Ch‘ishan and Chi Valley we outnumbered the enemy, but we could not conquer them. On the contrary, ​they beat us. The defect was not in the number of soldiers, but in the leadership. Now we must reduce the army, discover our faults, reflect on our errors and mend our ways against the future. Unless this is so, what is the use of a numerous army? Hereafter every man will have to look to the future of his country. But most diligently we must fight against our shortcomings and blame our inefficiencies; then we may succeed. Rebellion can be exterminated and merit can be set up.”
Fei I and the officers acknowledged the aptness of these remarks. Fei went back to the capital, leaving K‘ung-ming in Hanchung resting his soldiers and doing what he could for the people, training and heartening his men and turning special attention to the construction of apparatus for assaults on cities and crossing rivers. He also collected grain and fodder and built battle rafts, all for future use.
The spies of Wei got to know of these doings, and the king called Ssǔma I to council and asked how Shu might be annexed.
“Shu cannot be attacked,” was the reply. “In this present hot weather they will not come out, but, if we invade, they will only garrison and defend their strategic points, which we should find it hard to overcome.”
“What shall we do if they invade us again?”
“I have prepared for that. Just now Chuko Liang is imitating Han Hsin when he secretly crossed the river into Ch'ênts‘ang. I can recommend a man to guard the place by building a rampart there and rendering it absolutely secure. He is a tall man, round shouldered and powerful, a good archer and prudent strategist. He would be quite equal to dealing with an invasion. His name is Hao Chao, and he is in command at Hohsi.”
The king accepted the recommendation, and an edict went forth promoting this man and sending him to command in the Ch'ênts‘ang district.
Soon after this edict was issued, a memorial was received from Ts‘ao Hsiu, Minister of War and Commandant of Yangchou, saying that Chou Fang, Prefect of Yehyang, wished to tender his submission and transfer his allegiance, and had sent a man to present a memorandum under seven headings showing how the power of East Wu could be broken and to ask that an army be despatched soon. Ts‘ao Jui spread the document out on the couch that he and Ssǔma might read it.
“It seems very reasonable,” said Ssŭma. “Wu could be quite destroyed. Let me go with an army to help Ts‘ao Hsiu.”
But from among the courtiers stepped out Chia K‘uei, who said, “What this man of Wu says may be understood in two ways; do not trust it. Chou Fang is a wise and crafty man and very unlikely to desert. In this is some ruse to decoy our soldiers into danger.”
​“Such words also must be listened to,” said Ssŭma. “Yet such a chance must not be missed.”
“You and he might both go to the help of Ts‘ao Hsiu,” said the king.
They went; and a large army, led by Ts‘ao Hsiu, moved to Wanch'êng (Anking another to Yangch'êng, just toward the East Pass, and a third under Ssŭma I to Chiangling.
Now the King of Wu, Sun Ch'üan, was at the East Pass in Wuchang, and there he assembled his officers and said, “The Prefect of Yehyang, Chou Fang, has sent up a secret memorial saying that Ts‘ao Hsiu, of Wei, intends to invade. He has therefore set out a trap for him and has drawn up a document giving seven plausible circumstances, hoping thereby to cajole the Wei army into his power. The armies of Wei are on the move in three divisions, and I need your advice.”
Ku Yung stood forth, saying, “There is only one man fit to cope with the present need; he is Lu Hsün.”
So Lu Hsün was summoned and made “Upholder of State” General, Master of the Forces and Commander-in-chief of all the State Armies, including the Royal Corps of Guards, and Associate Assistant in the Royal Duties. He was given the White Banners and the Golden Axes, which denoted imperial rank in the days of Chou, and all officers, civil and military, were placed under his orders. Moreover, Sun Ch'üan personally stood beside him and held his whip while he mounted his steed.
Having received all these marks of confidence and favour, Lu Hsün named as his two immediate assistants Chu Huan and Ch'üan Ts‘ung, who were approved by the king. Their titles were Right and Left Commander-in-chief respectively.
Then the grand army, comprising all the forces of the eighty one districts of Chiangnan and the levies of Chingchou and Hu, seventy-one legions, was assembled and marched out in three divisions, Lu Hsün in the centre, with his two lieutenants supporting him right and left with the other two columns.
Then said Chu Huan, “Ts‘ao Jên is neither able nor bold; he holds office because he is of the blood. He has fallen into the trap laid by Chou Fang and marched too far to be able to withdraw. If the Master of the Forces will smite he must be defeated. Defeated, he must flee along two roads, one Chiashih, the other Kueich‘e, both of which are precipitous and narrow. Let me and my colleague go to prepare an ambush in these roads. We will block them and so cut off their escape. If this Ts‘ao Hsiu could be captured, and a hasty advance made, success would be easy and sure. We should get Shouch‘un, whence Hsüch‘ang and Loyang can be seen. This is the one chance in the thousand.”
​Chu Huan resented the rejection of his scheme and went away angry. Lu Hsün ordered Chuko Chin and certain others to garrison Chiangling and oppose Ssŭma I and made all other dispositions of forces.
Ts‘ao Hsiu neared Huanch'êng, and Chou Fang came out of the city to welcome him and went to the general’s tent. Ts‘ao Hsiu said, “I received your letter and the memorandum, which was most logical, and sent it to His Majesty. He has set in motion accordingly three armies. It will be a great merit for you, Sir, if Chiangtung can be added to his dominions. Men say you are insufficient in craft, but I do not believe what they say, for I think you will be true to me and not fail.”
Chou Fang wept. He seized a sword from one of his escort and was about to kill himself, but Ts‘ao Hsiu stopped him. Still leaning on the sword, Chou Fang said, “As to the seven things I mentioned, my regret is that I cannot show you all. You doubt me because some persons from Wu have been poisoning your mind against me. If you heed them the only course for me is to die. Heaven only can make manifest my loyal heart.”
Again he made to slay himself. But Ts‘ao Hsiu in trepidation threw his arms about him, saying, “I did not mean it; the words were uttered in jest. Why do you act thus?”
Upon this, Chou Fang, with his sword, cut off his hair and threw it on the ground, saying, “I have dealt with you with sincerity, Sir, and you joke about it. Now I have cut off the hair, which I inherited from my parents, in order to prove my sincerity.”
Then Ts‘ao Hsiu doubted no more, but trusted him fully and prepared a banquet for him, and when the feast was over Chou Fang returned to his own.
The General Chia K‘uei came to Ts‘ao Hsiu, and when asked whether there was any special reason for the visit, he said, “I have come to warn you, Commander, to be cautious and wait till you and I can attack the enemy together. The whole army of Wu is encamped at Wanch'êng.”
“You mean you want to share in my victory,” sneered Ts‘ao Hsiu.
“It is said Chou Fang cut off his hair as a pledge of sincerity; that is only another bit of deceit. According to the 'Spring and Autumn' Yao Li cut off his arm as a pledge that he meant to assassinate Ch‘ing Chi; mutilation is no guarantee. Do not trust him.”
“Why do you come to utter ill-omened words just as I am opening the campaign? You destroy the spirit of the army,' said Ts‘ao.
In his wrath he told the lictors to put Chia to death. However, the officers interceded, and Chia was reprieved; but ​he was not assigned any part in the campaign, and his men were left in reserve. He himself went away to Tung Kuan. When Chou Fang heard that Chia had been broken, he rejoiced in his heart, saying, “If Ts‘ao Hsiu had attended to his words then Wu would have lost. Heaven is good to me and is giving me the means of achieving great things.”
Then he sent a secret messenger to Wanch‘êng, and Lu Hsün knew that the time had come. He assembled the officers for orders.
Lu said, “Shiht‘ing, lying over against us, is a hilly country fit for preparing an ambush. It will be occupied as suitable to array our army and await the coming of Wei. Hsü Shêng is to be leader of the van, and the army will move.”
Now Ts‘ao Hsiu told Chou Fang to lead the way for his attack. He asked Chou the name of the place lying ahead, and was told Shiht‘ing.
“It is a suitable place to camp in,” said Chou Fang.
So a great camp was made there. But soon after the scouts reported that a very large number of soldiers of Wu had occupied the hills. Ts‘ao Hsiu began to feel alarmed. “Chou Fang said there were no soldiers; why these preparations?”
He hastily sought Chou Fang to ask him, and was told he had gone away, no one knew whither.
“I have been deceived and am in a trap,” said Ts‘ao Hsiu, now very repentant of his easy confidence. “However, there is nothing to fear.”
Then he made his arrangements to march against the enemy, and when they were complete and the array drawn up, Chang P‘u, the leader of the van, rode out and began to rail at the men of Wu.
“Rebel leader, come and surrender!” cried Chang.
Then rode out Hsü Shêng and fought with him. But Chang was no match for the men of Wu, as was soon evident, wherefore he led his men to retire.
“Hsü Shêng is too strong,” said he when he saw Ts‘ao Hsiu.
“Then will we defeat him by a surprise,” said Ts‘ao Hsiu.
He sent Chang with two legions to hide in the south of Shiht‘ing, while another equal party was sent north. And they arranged that on the morrow Ts‘ao Hsiu, by pretended defeat, should lead the men of Wei into the ambush thus prepared.
On the other side Lu Hsün called his two lieutenants Chu and Ch'üan and said, “Each of you is to lead three legions and take a cross cut from Shiht‘ing to the enemy’s camp. Give a signal on arrival, and then the main army will advance between you.”
As evening fell these two moved out their men, and by the middle of the second watch both had got close to the camp of ​Wei. Chang P‘u, of Wei, who was there in ambush, as has been said, did not recognise that the men who approached him were enemies, but went as to meet friends and was at once slain by Chu Huan of Wu. The men of Wei then fled, and Chu lit his signal fires. Ch'üan Ts‘ung, marching up, came across the southern ambush under Hsüeh Ch‘iao. Ch'üan began a battle at once, and the men of Wei were soon put to flight. Both the armies of Wu pursued, and confusion reigned in Ts‘ao Hsiu’s camp, men fighting with others of their own side and slaying each other.
Ts‘ao Hsiu despaired and fled toward Chiashih. Hsü Shêng, with a strong force, came along the high road and attacked. And the men of Wei killed were very many. Those who escaped did so by abandoning all their armour.
Ts‘ao Hsiu was in straits, but he struggled along the Chiashih Road. Here came a cohort into the road from the side. It was led by Chia K‘uei. Ts‘ao Hsiu’s alarm gave place to shame on meeting Chia K‘uei.
“I took no notice of what you said, and so this evil came upon me,” said he.
Chia K‘uei replied, “Sir, you should quickly get out of this road, for if the men of Wu block it we shall be in grave danger.”
So Ts‘ao Hsiu hastened, while Chia K‘uei protected his retreat. And he behaved cunningly, setting flags and banners up among trees and in thickets and along by-paths, so as to give an impression of having many men posted all round. Wherefore when Hsü Shêng came in pursuit he thought the country was full of ambushed men and dared not proceed far. So he gave up the pursuit and retired.
By these means Ts‘ao Hsiu was rescued, and finally Ssǔma arrived and drove the enemy off.
In the meantime, Lu Hsun was awaiting news of victory. Soon his various captains came and reported their successes, and they brought great spoil of carts and bullocks, horses and mules and military material and weapons. And they had also many prisoners. There was great rejoicing, and Lu Hsün with Chou Fang led the army home into Wu. On their return Sun Ch'üan came out with a numerous cortège of officers to welcome the victors, and an imperial umbrella was borne over the head of Lu Hsün as they wended their way homeward.
When the officers presented their felicitations Sun Ch'üan noticed that Chou Fang had no hair, and he was very gracious to him, saying. “This deed of yours, and the sacrifice you made to attain it, will surely be written in the histories.”
He created Chou Marquis of the “Gate Within.” Then there were great feastings and greetings and much revelry.
​Lu Hsün said, “Ts‘ao Hsiu has been thoroughly beaten, and the men of Wei are cowed. I think now is an occasion to send letters into Shu to advise Chuko Liang to attack Wei.”
Sun Ch'üan agreed, and letters were sent.
The east, successful in one fight, Would unto war the west incite.
The next chapter will say if K‘ung-ming once more tried to overcome Wei.