# San Kuo/Volume 2/Chapter 102

CHAPTER CII.
Ssǔma Occupies the River Banks; Chuko Constructs “bullocks” and “horses.”
Ch‘iao Chou, who protested against the war, was Grand Historian. He was also a student of astrology. He opposed the war, saying, “My present office involves the direction of the observations on the Astrological Terrace, and I am bound to report whether the aspect forebodes misfortune or promises happiness. Not long since, several flights of orioles came from the south, plunged into the Han Waters and were drowned. This is an evil augury. Moreover, I have studied the aspect of the sky, and the 'Wolf' constellation is influencing the aspect of the planet Venus. An aura of prosperity pervades the north. To attack Wei will not be to our profit. Again, the people say that the cypress trees moan in the night. With so many evil omens, I would that the Prime Minister should not go forth to war, but remain at home to guard what we have.”
“How can I?” said K‘ung-ming. “His late Majesty laid upon me a heavy responsibility, and I must exert myself to the utmost in the endeavour to destroy these rebels. The policy of a state cannot be changed because of vain and irresponsible talk of inauspicious signs.”
K‘ung-ming was not to be deterred. He instructed the officials to prepare the Great Bovine Sacrifice in the Dynastic Temple. Then, weeping, he prostrated himself and made this declaration: “Thy servant Liang has made five expeditions to Ch‘ishan without gaining any extension of territory. His fault weighs heavily upon him. Now once again he is about to march, pledged to use every effort of body and mind to exterminate the rebels against the Han House, and to restore to the Dynasty its ancient glory in its old capital. To achieve this end he would use the last remnant of his strength and could die content.”
The sacrifice ended, he took leave of the king and set out for Hanchung to make the final arrangements for his march. While so engaged, he received the unexpected news of the death of Kuan Hsing. He was greatly shocked, and fainted. When he had recovered consciousness his officers did their utmost to console him.
“How pitiful! Why does Heaven deny long life to the loyal and good? I have lost a most able captain just as I am setting out and need him most.”
As all are born, so all must die; Men are as gnats against the sky; But loyalty or piety May give them immortality.
The armies of Shu numbered thirty-four legions, and they marched in five divisions, with Chiang Wei and Wei Yen in the van, and when they had reached Ch‘ishan, Li K‘uei, the Commissary General, was instructed to convey stores into Hsieh Valley in readiness.
In Wei they had recently changed the style of the year-period to Ch‘ing-Lung, Black Dragon, because a black dragon had been seen to issue from Mop‘o Well. The year of the fighting was the second year.
The courtiers said to King Jui, “The wardens of the marches report thirty or so legions advancing in five divisions from Shu upon Ch‘ishan.”
The news distressed the king, who at once called in Ssŭma I and told him of the invasion.
Ssŭma replied, “The aspect of the sky is very auspicious for the capital. The K‘uei star has encroached upon the planet Venus, which bodes ill for Hsich'üan. Thus K‘ungming is pitting his powers against the heavens and will meet defeat and suffer death. And I, by virtue of Your Majesty’s good fortune, am to be the instrument of destruction. I request leave to name four men to go with me.”
“Who are they? Name them,” said the king.
“They are the four sons of Hsiahou Yüan, Pa, Wei, Hui and Ho. The first two trained archers and cavaliers, the other two are deep strategists. All four desire to avenge the death of their father. Pa and Wei should be leaders of the van; Hui and Ho Expeditionary Ministers of War to discuss and arrange plans for the repulse of our enemy.”
“You remember the evil results of employing the 'Dynastic Son-in-Law,' Hsiahou Mou; he lost his army and is still too ashamed to return to court. You are sure these are not of the same kidney?”
“They are not like him in the least.”
The king granted the request and named Ssŭma I as Commander-in-chief with the fullest authority. When Ssŭma took leave of the king he received a command in the king’s own writing:—
“When you, Noble Sir, reach the banks of the Wei River and have well fortified that position, you are not to give battle. The men of Shu, disappointed of their desire, will pretend to retire and so entice you on, but you will not pursue. You will wait till their supplies are consumed and they are compelled to retreat, when you may smite them. Then you will obtain the victory without distressing the army unduly. This is the best plan of campaign.”
​Ssǔma took it with bowed head. He proceeded forthwith to Ch‘angan. When he had mustered the forces assembled from all districts they numbered forty legions, and they were all camped on the river. In addition, five legions were farther up the stream preparing nine floating bridges. The two leaders of the van were ordered to cross the river and camp, and in rear of the main camp on the east a solid earth rampart was raised to guard against any surprises from the rear.
While these preparations were in progress, Kuo Huai and Sun Li came to the new camp, and the former said, “With the men of Shu at Ch‘ishan there is a possibility of their dominating the Wei River, going up on the plain and pushing out a line to the north hills whereby to cut off Shensi.”
“You say well,” said Ssŭma. “See to it. Take command of all the Shênsi forces, occupy Peiyüan and make a fortified camp there. But adopt a fabian policy; wait till the enemy’s food supplies get exhausted before you think of attack.”
So they left to carry out these orders.
In this expedition K‘ung-ming made five main camps at Ch‘ishan, and between Hsieh Valley and Chienko he established a line of fourteen large camps. He distributed the men among these camps as for a long campaign. He appointed inspecting officers to make daily visits to see that all was in readiness. When he heard that the men of Wei had camped in Peiyüan, he said to his officers, “They camp there fearing that our holding this district will sever connection with Shênsi. I am pretending to look toward Peiyüan, but really my objective is the Wei River. I am going to build several large rafts and pile them with straw, and I have five companies of watermen to manage them. In the darkness of the night I shall attack Peiyüan; Ssǔma will come to the rescue; if he is only a little worsted I shall cross the river with the rear divisions. Then the leading divisions will embark on the rafts, drop down the river, set fire to the bridges and attack the rear of the enemy. I shall lead an army to take the gates of the first camp. If we can get the south bank of the river the campaign will become simple.”
The spies carried information of the doings of the men of Shu to Ssŭma, who said to his men, “K‘ung-ming has some crafty scheme, but I think I know it. He proposes to make a show of taking Peiyüan, and then, dropping down the river, he will try to burn our bridges, throw our rear into confusion and then attack.”
So he ordered Hsiahou Pa and his brother to listen for the sounds of battle about Peiyüan; if they heard the shouting they were to march down to the river, to the hills on the south, and attack the men of Shu as they arrived. Two other forces, of two companies of bowmen each, were to lie in hiding on the north bank near the bridges to keep off the rafts that ​might come down on the current and keep them from touching the bridges.
Then he sent for Kuo Huai and Sun Li, and said, “K‘ungming is coming to Peiyüan to cross the river secretly. Your force is small, and you can hide half way along the road. If the enemy come in the afternoon, that will mean an attack on us in the evening. Then you are to simulate defeat and run. They will pursue. You can shoot with all your energy, and our marines will attack. If the attack is in great force, look out for orders.”
All these orders given, Ssŭma sent his two sons Shih and Chao to reinforce the front camp while he led his own men to relieve Peiyüan.
K‘ung-ming sent Wei Yen and Ma Tai to cross the Wei River and attack Peiyüan, while the attempt to set fire to the bridges was confided to Wu Pan and Wu I. The general attack was to be made by three divisions. The various divisions started at noon and crossed the river, where they slowly formed up in battle order.
The armies sent against Peiyüan arrived about dusk. The scouts having informed the defenders of their approach, Sun Li abandoned his camp and fled. This told Wei Yen that his attack was expected, and he turned to retire. At this moment a great shouting was heard, and there appeared two bodies of the enemy bearing down upon the attackers. Desperate efforts were made to extricate themselves, but many of the men of Shu fell into the river. The others scattered. However, Wu I came up and rescued the force from entire destruction.
Wu Pan set half his men to navigate the rafts down the river to the bridges. But the men of Wei stationed near the bridges shot clouds of arrows at them, and the Shu leader, Wu Pan, was wounded. He fell into the river and was drowned. The crews of the rafts jumped into the water and got away. The rafts fell into the hands of the men of Wei.
At this time Wang P‘ing and Chang I were ignorant of the defeat of their Peiyüan army, and they went straight for the camps of Wei. They arrived in the second watch. They heard loud shouting, and Wang P‘ing said to his colleague, “We do not know whether the cavalry sent to Peiyüan has been successful or not. It is strange that we do not see a single soldier of the enemy. Surely Ssǔma has found out the plan and prepared to frustrate the attack. Let us wait here till the bridges have been set on fire and we see the flames.”
So they halted. Soon after, a mounted messenger came up with orders for them to retire, as the attack on the bridges had failed. They attempted to withdraw, but the men of Wei had taken a by-road to their rear, and they were at once attacked. A great fire started also. A disorderly battle ​ensued, from which the two leaders eventually got out, but only with great loss. And when K‘ung-ming collected his army at Ch‘ishan once more he found, to his sorrow, that he had lost more than the equivalent of a legion.
Just at this time Fei I arrived from Ch‘êngtu. K‘ung-ming received him and, after the ceremonies were over, said, “I would trouble you, Sir, to carry a letter for me into Wu; will you undertake the mission?”
“Could I possibly decline any task you laid upon me?”
So K‘ung-ming wrote a letter and sent it to Sun Ch‘üan. Fei I took it and hastened to Chienyeh, where he saw Sun and presented this letter:—“The Hans have been unfortunate, and the line of rulers has been broken. The Ts‘ao party have usurped the seat of government and still hold the command. My late master confided a great task to me, and I must exhaust every effort to achieve it. Now my army is at Ch‘ishan and the rebels are on the verge of destruction on the River Wei. I hope Your Majesty, in accordance with your oath of alliance, will send a leader against the north to assist by taking the capital, and the empire can be shared. The full circumstances cannot be told, but I hope you will understand and act.”
Sun Ch'üan was pleased at the news and said to the envoy, “I have long desired to set my army in motion, but have not been able to arrange with K‘ung-ming. After this letter I will lead an expedition myself and go to occupy Ch‘aomên and capture the new city of Wei. Moreover, I will send Lu Hsün with an army to camp at Mienk‘ou and take Hsiangyang. I will also send an army into Huaiyang. The total number will be thirty legions, and they shall start at once.”
Fei I thanked him and said, “In such a case the capital will fall forthwith.”
A banquet was prepared. At this, Sun Ch‘üan said, “Whom did the minister send to lead the battle?”
Fei replied, “Wei Yen was the chief leader.”
“A man brave enough, but crooked. One day he will work a mischief unless K‘ung-ming is very wary. But surely he knows.”
“Your Majesty’s words are to the point,” said the envoy; “I will return at once and lay them before K‘ung-ming.”
Fei quickly took leave and hastened to Ch‘ishan with his news of the intended expedition.”
“Did the King of Wu say nothing else?” asked K‘ung-ming.
Then Fei told him what had been said about Wei Yen.
“Truly a comprehending ruler,” said K‘ung-ming, appreciatively. “But I could not be ignorant of this. However, I use him because he is very bold.”
“Then, Sir, you ought to decide soon what to do with him.”
“I have a scheme of my own.”
​Fei returned to Ch'êngtu, and K‘ung-ming resumed the ordinary camp duties of a leader.
Then suddenly a certain Wei leader came and begged to be allowed to surrender. Kung-ming had the man brought in and questioned him.
“I am a supplementary leader, Chêng Wên by name certain Ch‘in Lang and I are old colleagues. Recently Ssŭma transferred us and, showing great partiality for my colleague, gave him high rank and threw me out like a weed. I was disgusted and left, and I wish to join your ranks if you will accept my service.”
Just at that moment a man came in to say that Ch‘in Lang, the very man whose promotion had sent the deserter to the other side, had appeared in front of the tents and was challenging Chêng Wên.
Said K‘ung-ming, “How does this man stand with you in fighting skill?”
“I should just kill him,” said Chêng.
“If you were to slay him that would remove my doubts.”
Chêng accepted the proposal with alacrity, mounted his horse and away he went. Kʻung-ming went out to see the fight. There was the challenger shaking his spear and reviling his late friend as rebel and brigand and horse-thief.
“Give me back my horse you stole!” cried he, galloping toward Chêng as soon as he appeared. Chêng whipped up his horse, waved his sword and went to meet the attack. In the first bout he cut down Ch‘in Lang.
The Wei soldiers then ran away; the victor hacked off the head of his victim and returned to lay it at K‘ung-ming’s feet. Seated in his tent, he summoned the victor and burst out:—
“Take him away and behead him!”
“I have done nothing wrong,” cried Chêng. ”
“As if I do not know Ch‘in Lang! The man you have just killed was not Ch‘in Lang. How dare you try to deceive me?”
Chêng said, “I will own up; but this was his brother Ming. ”
K‘ung-ming smiled. “Ssŭma sent you to try this on for some reason of his own, but he could not throw dust in my eyes. If you do not tell the truth I will put you to death.”
Thus caught, the false deserter confessed and begged his life.
K‘ung-ming said, “You can save your life by writing a letter to Ssŭma telling him to come to raid our camp. I will spare you on this condition. And if I capture Ssǔma, I will give you all the credit and reward you handsomely.”
There was nothing for it but to agree, and the letter was written. Then the writer was placed in confinement.
“How did you know this was only a pretended desertion?” said Fan Chien.
​“Ssǔma looks to his men,” replied K‘ung-ming. “If he made Ch‘in Lang a leading general, he was certainly a man of great military skill and not the sort of man to be overcome by this fellow Chêng in the first encounter. So his opponent certainly was not Ch‘in Lang. That is how I knew.”
They congratulated him on his perspicacity. Then Kʻungming selected a certain persuasive speaker from among his officers and whispered certain instructions in his ear. The officer at once left and carried the letter just written to the Wei camp, where he asked to see the general. He was admitted, and the letter was read.
“Who are you?” said Ssŭma.
“I am a man from the capital, a poor fellow stranded in Shu. Chêng Wên and I are fellow villagers. K‘ung-ming has given Chêng a van-leadership as a reward for what he has done, and he got me to bring this letter to you and to say that he will show a light to-morrow evening as a signal, and he hopes you will lead the attack yourself. Chêng will work from the inside in your favour.”
Ssǔma took great pains to test the reliability of these statements, and he examined the letter minutely to see if it bore any signs of fabrication. Presently he ordered in refreshments for the bearer of the letter, and then he said, “We will fix to-day at the second watch for the raid, and I will lead in person. If it succeeds I will give you a good appointment as a reward.”
Taking leave, the soldier retraced his steps to his own camp and reported the whole interview to K‘ung-ming.
K‘ung-ming held his sword aloft, took the proper paces for an incantation, and prayed. This done, he summoned six of his most able and trusty leaders, to whom he gave certain instructions. When they had gone to carry them out he ascended a hill, taking with him a few score men only.
Ssǔma had been taken in by Chêng Wên’s letter and intended to lead the night raid. But the elder of his sons, whom he had selected to help him, expostulated with his father.
“Father, you are going on a dangerous expedition on the faith of a mere scrap of paper,” said his son. “I think it imprudent. What if something goes unexpectedly wrong? Let some captain go in your place, and you come up in rear as a reserve.”
Ssǔma saw there was reason in this proposal, and he finally decided to send Ch‘in Lang, with a legion, and he himself would command the reserve.
The night was fine with a bright moon. But about the middle of the second watch the sky clouded over, and it became very black, so that a man could not see his next neighbour.
“This is providential,” chuckled Ssǔma.
​The expedition duly started, men with gags, and horses with cords round their muzzles. They moved swiftly and silently, and Ch‘in Lang made straight for the camp of Shu.
But when he reached it, and entered, and saw not a man, he knew he had been tricked. He yelled to his men to retire, but lights sprang up all round, and attacks began from four sides. Fight as he would, Ch‘in Lang could not free himself.
From behind the battle area Ssŭma saw flames rising from the camp of Shu and heard continuous shouting, but he knew not whether it meant victory for his own men or to his enemy. He pressed forward toward the fire. Suddenly, a shout, a roll of drums and a blare of trumpets close at hand, a bomb that seemed to rend the earth, and Wei Yen and Chiang Wei bore down upon Ssŭma, one on each flank.
This was the final blow to him. Of every ten men of Wei eight or nine were killed or wounded and the few others scattered to the four winds. Meanwhile Ch‘in Lang’s men were falling under arrows that came in locust-flights, and their leader was killed. Ssŭma and the remnant of his army ran away to their own camp.
After the third watch the sky cleared. K‘ung-ming from the hill-top sounded the gong of retreat. This obscurity in the third watch was due to an incantation called tun-chia of “The concealing chia.” The sky became clear, but K‘ungming performed another incantation of the sixth of the ting and the chia in order to sweep away the few floating clouds that still persisted.
The victory was complete. The first order on K‘ung-ming’s return to camp was to put Chêng to death.
Next he considered new plans for capturing the south bank. Every day he sent a party to offer a challenge before the camps of the enemy, but no one accepted.
One day K‘ung-ming rode in his small chariot to the front of Ch‘ishan, keenly scanned the course of the Wei River and carefully surveyed the lie of the land. Presently he came to a valley shaped like a bottle-gourd, large enough to form a hiding place for a whole company of soldiers in the inner recess, while half as many more could hide in the outer. In rear the mountains were so close that they left passage only for a single horseman. The discovery pleased the great captain mightily, and he asked the guides what the place was called.
They replied, “It is called Shangfang Valley, or Hulu Valley.”
Returning to his camp, he called up two leaders named Tu Jui and Hu Chung and whispered into their ears certain secret orders. Next he called up a company of the artizan camp followers and sent them into the valley to construct some “wooden oxen and running horses” for the use of the ​troops. Finally he set Ma Tai with half a company to guard the mouth of the valley and prevent all entrance and exit. He added that he would visit the valley at irregular intervals to inspect the work.
“A plan for the defeat of Ssǔma is being prepared here and must be kept a profound secret,” said he.
Ma Tai left to take up the position. The two captains, Tu Jui and Hu Chung, were superintendents of the work in the valley. K‘ung-ming came every day to give instructions.
One day Yang I went to K‘ung-ming and said, “The stores of grain are all at Chienko, and the labour of transport is very heavy. What can be done?”
K‘ung-ming replied, smiling, “I have had a scheme ready for a long time. The timber that I collected and bought in Hsich'üan was for the construction of wooden transport animals to convey grain. It will be very advantageous, as they will require neither food nor water and they can keep on the move day and night without resting.”
All those within hearing said, “From old days till now no one has ever heard of such a device. What excellent plan have you, O Minister, to make such marvellous creatures?”
“They are being made now after my plans, but they are not yet ready. Here I have the plans for these ‘oxen and horses,' with all their dimensions written out in full. You may see the details.”
K‘ung-ming then produced a paper, and all the captains crowded round to look at it.
IHere follows a specification which appears incomprehensible, and is omitted.I
They were all greatly astonished and lauded K‘ung-ming’s cleverness. A few days later the new transport animals were complete and began work. They were quite life-like and went over the hills in any desired direction. The whole army saw them with delight. They were put in charge of Kao Hsiang and a company to guide them. They kept going constantly between Chienko and the front carrying grain for the use of the soldiers.
Along the Chienko mountain roads The running horses bore their loads, And through Hsieh Valley’s narrow way The wooden oxen paced each day. O generals, use these means to-day, And transport troubles take away.
Ssǔma was already sad enough at his defeat when the spies told him of these “bullocks and horses” of new design which the men of Shu were using to convey their grain. This troubled him still more. With this device they might never be compelled to retreat for want of food. What was the use for him to shut his gates and remain on the defensive waiting for the enemy to be starved when they never would be starved? ​Then he called up two captains and bade them lurk beside the track of the “bullocks and horses” and capture four or five of them.
So a half company went on this service disguised as men of Shu. They made their way along the by-ways by night and hid. Presently the “wooden” convoy came along under the escort of Kao Hsiang. Just as the end of it was passing they made a sudden rush, and captured a few of the “animals” which the men of Shu abandoned. In high glee they took them to their own camp.
When Ssǔma saw them he had to confess they were very life-like. But what pleased him most was that he could imitate them now that he had models.
“If you can use this sort of thing it would be strange if I could not,” said he.
He called to him many clever artizans and made them then and there take the machines to pieces and make some exactly like them. In less than half a month they had completed a couple of thousand after K‘ung-ming’s model, and they could move. Then he placed Ts'ên Wei, an officer of high rank, in charge of this new means of transport, and the “animals” began to ply between the camp and Shênsi.
Kao Hsiang returned to camp and reported the loss of a few of his “oxen and horses.”
“I wished him to capture some of them,” said K‘ung-ming, much pleased. “I am just laying out these few, and before long I shall get some very solid help in exchange.”
“How do you know, O Minister,” said his officers.
“Because Ssǔma will certainly copy them, and when he has done that I have another trick ready to play on him.”
Some days later K‘ung-ming received a report that the enemy were using the same sort of “bullocks and horses” to bring up supplies from Shênsi.
“Exactly as I thought,” said he.
Calling Wang P‘ing, he said, “Dress up a company as men of Wei and find your way quickly and secretly to Peiyüan. Pretend you are escort men, for the convoy, and mingle with the real escort. Then suddenly turn on them so that they scatter. Then you will turn the “animals” this way. By and by you will be pursued. When that occurs you will give a turn to the tongues of the wooden animals, and they will not move. Leave them where they are and run away. When the men of Wei come up they will be unable to drag the creatures and equally unable to carry them. I shall have men ready, and you will go back with them, give the tongues a backward turn and bring the convoy here. The enemy will be greatly astonished.”
Next he called Chang I and said, “Dress up half a company in the costume of the 'six ting' and the 'six chia' so that they appear ​supernatural. Fit them with demon heads and wild beast shapes, and let them stain their faces various colours so as to look as strange as possible. Give them flags and swords and bottle-gourds with smoke issuing from combustibles inside. Let these men hide among the hills till the convoy approaches, when they will start the smoke, rush out suddenly and drive off the ‘animals.' No one will dare pursue such uncanny creatures.”
When he had left, Wei Yen and Chiang Wei were called.
“You will take one legion, go to the border of Peiyüan to receive the wooden transport creatures and defend them against attack.”
Then another half legion was sent to check Ssǔma if he should come, while a small force was sent to bid defiance to the enemy near their camp on the south bank.
So one day when a convoy was on its way from Shênsi, the scouts in front suddenly reported some soldiers ahead who said they were escort men for the grain. The Commander Ts'ên Wei halted and sent to enquire. It appeared they were really men of Wei, however, and so he started once more.
The new comers joined up with his own men. But before they had gone much farther there was a yell, and the men of Shu began to kill, while a voice shouted “Wang P‘ing is here!” The convoy guard were taken aback. Many were killed, but the others rallied round Ts'ên Wei and made some defence. However, Wang P‘ing slew the leader, and the others ran this way and that, while the convoy was turned toward the Shu camp.
The fugitives ran off to Peiyüan and reported the mishap to Kuo Huai, who set out hot foot to rescue the convoy. When he appeared, Wang P‘ing gave the order to turn tongues, left the “animals” in the road and ran away. Kuo Huai made no attempt to pursue, but tried to put the “animals” in motion toward their proper destination. But could he move them?
He was greatly perplexed. Then suddenly there arose the roll of drums all round, and out burst two parties of soldiers. These were Wei Yen and Chiang Wei’s men, and when they appeared Wang P‘ing’s men faced about and came to the attack as well. These three being too much for Kuo Huai, he retreated before them. Thereupon the tongues were turned back again and the “animals” set in motion.
Seeing this, Kuo Huai came on again. But just then he saw smoke curling up among the hills and a lot of extraordinary creatures burst out upon him. Some held swords and some flags, and all were terrible to look at. They rushed at the “animals” and urged them away.
“Truly these are supernatural helpers,” cried Kuo, quite frightened.
​The soldiers also were terror-stricken and stood still.
Hearing that his Peiyüan men had been driven off, Ssŭma came out to the rescue. Midway along the road, just where it was most precipitous, a cohort burst out upon him with fierce yells and bursting bombs. Upon the leading banner he read “Chang I and Liao Hua, Generals of Han.”
Panic seized upon his men, and they ran like rats.
In the field the craftier leader on the convoy makes a raid, And his rival’s life endangers by an ambush subtly laid.
If you would know the upshot, read the next chapter.