第一百十四回
第一百十四回 曹髦驱车死南阙 姜维弃粮胜魏兵
却说姜维传令退兵，廖化曰：“‘将在外，君命有所不受。’今虽有诏，未可动也。”张翼曰：“蜀人为大将军连年动兵，皆有怨望。不如乘此得胜之时，收回人马，以安民心，再作良图。”维曰：“善。”遂令各军依法而退。命廖化、张翼断后，以防魏兵追袭。
却说邓艾引兵追赶，只见前面蜀兵旗帜整齐，人马徐徐而退。艾叹曰：“姜维深得武侯之法也！”因此不敢追赶，勒军回祁山寨去了。
且说姜维至成都，入见后主，问召回之故。后主曰：“朕为卿在边庭，久不还师，恐劳军士，故诏卿回朝，别无他意。”维曰：“臣已得祁山之寨，正欲收功，不期半途而废。此必中邓艾反间之计矣。”后主默然不语。姜维又奏曰：“臣誓讨贼，以报国恩。陛下休听小人之言，致生疑虑。”后主良久乃曰：“朕不疑卿。卿且回汉中，俟魏国有变，再伐之可也。”姜维叹息出朝，自投汉中去讫。
却说党均回到祁山寨中，报知此事。邓艾与司马望曰：“君臣不和，必有内变。”就令党均入洛阳，报知司马昭。昭大喜，便有图蜀之心，乃问中护军贾充曰：“吾今伐蜀，如何？”充曰：“未可伐也。天子方疑主公，若一旦轻出，内难必作矣。旧年黄龙两见于宁陵井中，群臣表贺，以为祥瑞，天子曰：‘非祥瑞也。龙者君象，乃上不在天，下不在田，屈于井中，是幽困之兆也。’遂作《潜龙诗》一首。诗中之意，明明道着主公。其诗曰：
‘伤哉龙受困，不能跃深渊。上不飞天汉，下不见于田。蟠居于井底，鳅鳝舞其前。藏牙伏爪甲，嗟我亦同然！’”
司马昭闻之大怒，谓贾充曰：“此人欲效曹芳也！若不早图，彼必害我。”充曰：“某愿为主公早晚图之。”时魏甘露五年夏四月，司马昭带剑上殿，髦起迎之。群臣皆奏曰：“大将军功德巍巍，合为晋公，加九锡。”髦低头不答。昭厉声曰：“吾父子兄弟三人有大功于魏，今为晋公，得毋不宜耶？”髦乃应曰：“敢不如命？”昭曰：“《潜龙》之诗，视吾等如鳅鳝，是何礼也？”髦不能答。昭冷笑下殿，众官凛然。髦归后宫，召侍中王沈、尚书王经、散骑常侍王业三人，入内计议。髦泣曰：“司马昭将怀篡逆，人所共知！朕不能坐受废辱，卿等可助朕讨之！”王经奏曰：“不可。昔鲁昭公不忍季氏，败走失国[1]。今重权已归司马氏久矣，内外公卿，不顾顺逆之理，阿附奸贼，非一人也。且陛下宿卫寡弱，无用命之人。陛下若不隐忍，祸莫大焉。且宜缓图，不可造次。”髦曰：“‘是可忍也，孰不可忍也’！朕意已决，便死何惧！”言讫，即入告太后。王沈、王业谓王经曰：“事已急矣。我等不可自取灭族之祸，当往司马公府下出首，以免一死。”经大怒曰：“主忧臣辱，主辱臣死，敢怀二心乎？”王沈、王业见经不从，径自往报司马昭去了。
少顷，魏主曹髦出内，令护卫焦伯，聚集殿中宿卫苍头官僮三百余人，鼓噪而出。髦仗剑升辇，叱左右径出南阙。王经伏于辇前，大哭而谏曰：“今陛下领数百人伐昭，是驱羊而入虎口耳，空死无益。臣非惜命，实见事不可行也！”髦曰：“吾军已行，卿无阻当。”遂望云龙门而来。
只见贾充戎服乘马，左有成倅，右有成济，引数千铁甲禁兵，呐喊杀来。髦仗剑大喝曰：“吾乃天子也！汝等突入宫庭，欲弑君耶？”禁兵见了曹髦，皆不敢动。贾充呼成济曰：“司马公养你何用？正为今日之事也！”济乃绰戟在手，回顾充曰：“当杀耶？当缚耶？”充曰：“司马公有令：只要死的。”成济捻戟直奔辇前。髦大喝曰：“匹夫敢无礼乎！”言未讫，被成济一戟刺中前胸，撞出辇来，再一戟，刃从背上透出，死于辇傍。焦伯挺枪来迎，被成济一戟刺死，众皆逃走。王经随后赶来，大骂贾充曰：“逆贼安敢弑君耶！”充大怒，叱左右缚定，报知司马昭。昭入内，见髦已死，乃佯作大惊之状，以头撞辇而哭，令人报知各大臣。
时太傅司马孚入内，见髦尸，首枕其股[2]而哭曰：“弑陛下者，臣之罪也！”遂将髦尸用棺椁盛贮，停于偏殿之西。昭入殿中，召群臣会议。群臣皆至，独有尚书仆射陈泰不至。昭令泰之舅尚书荀召之，泰大哭曰：“论者以泰比舅，今舅实不如泰也。”乃披麻带孝而入，哭拜于灵前。昭亦佯哭而问曰：“今日之事，何法处之？”泰曰：“独斩贾充，少可以谢天下耳。”昭沉吟良久，又问曰：“再思其次？”泰曰：“惟有进于此者，不知其次。”昭曰：“成济大逆不道，可剐之，灭其三族。”济大骂昭曰：“非我之罪，是贾充传汝之命！”昭令先割其舌，济至死叫屈不绝。弟成倅亦斩于市，尽灭三族。后人有诗叹曰：
司马当年命贾充，弑君南阙赭袍红。却将成济诛三族，只道军民尽耳聋。
昭又使人收王经全家下狱。王经正在廷尉厅下，忽见缚其母至，经叩头大哭曰：“不孝子累及慈母矣！”母大笑曰：“人谁不死？正恐不得死所耳！以此弃命，何恨之有！”次日，王经全家皆押赴东市，王经母子含笑受刑。满城士庶，无不垂泪。后人有诗曰：
汉初夸伏剑，汉末见王经。真烈心无异，坚刚志更清。
节如泰华重，命似鸿毛轻。母子声名在，应同天地倾。
太傅司马孚请以王礼葬曹髦，昭许之。贾充等劝司马昭受魏禅，即天子位。昭曰：“昔文王三分天下有其二，以服事殷，故圣人称为至德。魏武帝不肯受禅于汉，犹吾之不肯受禅于魏也。”贾充等闻言，已知司马昭留意于子司马炎矣，遂不复劝进。是年六月，司马昭立常道乡公曹璜为帝，改元景元元年。璜改名曹奂，字景明，乃武帝曹操之孙，燕王曹宇之子也。奂封昭为相国、晋公，赐钱十万、绢万匹。其文武多官，各有封赏。
早有细作报入蜀中。姜维闻司马昭弑了曹髦，立了曹奂，喜曰：“吾今日伐魏，又有名矣。”遂发书入吴，令起兵问司马昭弑君之罪，一面奏准后主，起兵十五万，车乘数千辆，皆置板箱于上，令廖化、张翼为先锋：化取子午谷，翼取骆谷，维自取斜谷，皆要出祁山之前取齐。三路兵并起，杀奔祁山而来。
时邓艾在祁山寨中训练人马，闻报蜀兵三路杀到，乃聚诸将计议。参军王瓘曰：“吾有一计，不可明言，现写在此，谨呈将军台览。”艾接来展看毕，笑曰：“此计虽妙，只怕瞒不过姜维。”瓘曰：“某愿舍命前去。”艾曰：“公志若坚，必能成功。”遂拨五千兵与瓘。瓘连夜从斜谷迎来，正撞蜀兵前队哨马。瓘叫曰：“我是魏国降兵，可报与主帅。”
哨军报知姜维，维令拦住馀兵，只教为首的将来见。瓘拜伏于地曰：“某乃王经之侄王瓘也。近见司马昭弑君，将叔父一门皆戮，某痛恨入骨。今幸将军兴师问罪，故特引本部兵五千来降。愿从调遣，剿除奸党，以报叔父之恨。”维大喜，谓瓘曰：“汝既诚心来降，吾岂不诚心相待？吾军中所患者，不过粮耳。今有粮车数千，现在川口，汝可运赴祁山，吾只今去取祁山寨也。”瓘心中大喜，以为中计，忻然领诺。姜维曰：“汝去运粮，不必用五千人，但引三千人去，留下二千人引路，以打祁山。”瓘恐维疑惑，乃引三千兵去了。维令傅佥引二千魏兵随征听用。忽报夏侯霸到，霸曰：“都督何故准信王瓘之言也？吾在魏，虽不知备细，未闻王瓘是王经之侄。其中多诈，请将军察之。”维大笑曰：“我已知王瓘之诈，故分其兵势，将计就计而行。”霸曰：“公试言之。”维曰：“司马昭奸雄比于曹操，既杀王经，灭其三族，安肯存亲侄于关外领兵？故知其诈也。仲权之见，与我暗合。”于是姜维不出斜谷，却令人于路暗伏，以防王瓘奸细。不旬日，果然伏兵捉得王瓘回报邓艾下书人来见。维问了情节，搜出私书，书中约于八月二十日，从小路运粮送归大寨，却教邓艾遣兵于山谷中接应。维将下书人杀了，却将书中之意，改作八月十五日，约邓艾自率大兵，于山谷中接应。一面令人扮作魏军往魏营下书，一面令人将现有粮车数百辆卸了粮米，装载干柴茅草引火之物，用青布罩之，令傅佥引二千原降魏兵，执打运粮旗号。维却与夏侯霸各引一军，去山谷中埋伏。令蒋舒出斜谷，廖化、张翼俱各进兵，来取祁山。
却说邓艾得了王瓘书信，大喜，急写回书，令来人回报。至八月十五日，邓艾引五万精兵径往山谷中来，远远使人凭高眺探，只见无数粮车，接连不断，从山凹中而行。艾勒马望之，果然皆是魏兵。左右曰：“天已昏暮，可速接应王瓘出谷口。”艾曰：“前面山势掩映，倘有伏兵，急难退步，只可在此等候。”正言间，忽两骑马骤至，报曰：“王将军因将粮草过界，背后人马赶来，望早救应。”艾大惊，急催兵前进。时值初更，月明如昼。只听得山后呐喊，艾只道王瓘在山后厮杀，径奔过山后时，忽树林后一彪军撞出，为首蜀将傅佥，纵马大叫曰：“邓艾匹夫！已中吾主将之计，何不早早下马受死！”艾大惊，勒回马便走。车上火尽着，那火便是号火。两势下蜀兵尽出，杀得魏兵七断八续，但闻四下山上只叫：“拿住邓艾的，赏千金，封万户侯！”唬得邓艾弃甲丢盔，撇了坐下马，杂在步军之中，爬山越岭而逃。姜维、夏侯霸只望马上为首的径来擒捉，不想邓艾步行走脱。维领得胜兵去接王瓘粮车。
却说王瓘密约邓艾，先期将粮草车仗，整备停当，专候举事。忽有心腹人报：“事已泄漏，邓将军大败，不知性命如何。”瓘大惊，令人哨探，回报三路兵围杀将来，背后又见尘头大起，四下无路。瓘叱左右令放火，尽烧粮草车辆。一霎时，火光突起，烈火烧空。瓘大叫曰：“事已急矣！汝等宜死战！”乃提兵望西杀出，背后姜维三路追赶。维只道王瓘舍命撞回魏国，不想反杀入汉中而去。瓘因兵少，只恐追兵赶上，遂将栈道并各关隘尽皆烧毁。姜维恐汉中有失，遂不追邓艾，提兵连夜抄小路来追杀王瓘。瓘被四面蜀兵攻击，投黑龙江而死，馀兵尽被姜维坑之。维虽然胜了邓艾，却折了许多粮车，又毁了栈道，乃引兵还汉中。邓艾引部下败兵，逃回祁山寨内，上表请罪，自贬其职。司马昭见艾数有大功，不忍贬之，复加厚赐。艾将原赐财物，尽分给被害将士之家。昭恐蜀兵又出，遂添兵五万，与艾守御。姜维连夜修了栈道，又议出师。正是：连修栈道兵连出，不伐中原死不休。未知胜负如何，且看下文分解。
[1] 鲁昭公不忍季氏，败走失国——春秋时，鲁国大夫季孙氏（省称季氏）掌握政权，鲁君空有虚名。鲁昭公心中不服，派兵攻打季氏，结果失败，逃亡齐国。
[2] 首枕其股——把死者的头枕在自己的腿上。这是古代臣下对横遭杀害的君主表示哀痛尽礼的一种做法。按：“首枕其股”措语有误。《魏书·三少帝纪》注引《汉晋春秋》作“枕帝股”，即“枕帝于股”，《晋书·宗室传》作“枕尸于股”，语意明豁。
CHAPTER 114. Driving To The South Gate, Cao Mao Plunges Into Death; Abandoning Stores, Jiang Wei Defeats The Wei Army.
When the order to retreat was given, Liao Hua said, “A leader in the field is independent and need not obey even the command of his prince.”
Zhang Yi said, “The country begins to resent these many years of war; rather take the occasion of the victory you have just won to return and pacify the people.”
“It is good,” said Jiang Wei.
A systematic and orderly retirement began. The army of Wei, loth to forgo an opportunity, followed, but the absence of the least confusion gave them no chance.
As he saw his enemy disappearing in perfect order, Deng Ai sighed, “Jiang Wei is a worthy inheritor of the warlike methods of Zhuge Liang.”
Deng Ai did not pursue but returned to his camp on Qishan.
On his return to Chengdu, Jiang Wei had audience with the Latter Ruler, whereat he inquired why he had been commanded to return.
The Latter Ruler replied, “Because you have been so long on the frontier, noble Sir; I thought the soldiers must be weary. There was no other reason.”
“Your Majesty, thy servant had got his camps on Qishan and was on the eve of complete success. To leave off thus in the middle just played into the hands of our enemies. Surely Deng Ai found means of sowing distrust in me.”
The Latter Ruler sat lost in thought, and silent.
Jiang Wei continued, “I am pledged to destroy those rebels and prove my devotion to my country. Your Majesty should not listen to the babble of mean persons till distrust grows in your heart.”
“I do not distrust you,” said the Latter Ruler after a long pause. “You may return into Hanzhong and await the next favorable opportunity.”
Jiang Wei left the court and betook himself into Hanzhong to the army.
Dang Jun went back to the Qishan camp and reported his success.
Deng Ai and Sima Wang rejoiced, saying, “In the Lands of Rivers, trouble is not far off when the ruler and his servants do not live in harmony.”
They sent Dang Jun to Luoyang to tell his own story to Sima Zhao, who also rejoiced, for he ardently desired to subdue Shu.
On this matter he consulted Jia Chong, Commander of the Central Guard.
“What do you think of an attack upon Shu?”
“Not to be considered,” said Jia Chong. “The Emperor does not trust you, and your departure would be the beginning of trouble for you. Last year, when a yellow dragon was seen in the well and all the officers were felicitating the Emperor upon such a very auspicious occurrence, the Emperor said, 'It is not auspicious; just the reverse. The dragon symbolizes the ruler. To be neither in heaven, nor on earth among the people, but to be in a well, is a dark portent and bodes evil.' He wrote some verses, and one stanza undoubtedly points to you, my lord. It reads:
“The dragon like a prisoner is,
No longer leaps he in the abyss.
He soars not to the Milky Way
Nor can he in the meadows play;
But coiled within a dismal well,
With slimy creatures he must dwell,
Must close his jaws, his claws retract,
Alas! Quite like myself in fact.”
The recital of the poem annoyed Sima Zhao.
“This fellow is very like Cao Fang, and if I do not remove him he will hurt me,” said he.
“I will see to it for you,” said Jia Chong.
In the fifth year of Sweet Dew, in Wei calendar (AD 261), during the fourth month, in summer, Sima Zhao had the effrontery to go to court armed. However, the Ruler of Wei received him with exaggerated courtesy.
The courtiers said, “The services of the Regent Marshal are so magnificent, and his virtue so high that he should be rewarded with the title 'Duke of Jin' and the Nine Gifts of Honors.”
Cao Mao hung his head and kept silent.
And Sima Zhao himself said discontentedly, “My father and my brother have all given great services to Wei, and yet I deserves not being a mere Duke of Jin?”
“Should I dare not do what you requested?” said Cao Mao.
“That poem about the Lurking Dragon called us slimy creatures; what sort of politeness is that?” said Sima Zhao.
The Ruler of Wei had nothing to say, and the haughty minister left the chamber, smiling cruelly.
Cao Mao retired, taking with him Ministers Wang Shen, Wang Jing, and Wang Ye, and they went to a privy chamber to consult. Cao Mao was very sad.
He said, “There is no doubt that Sima Zhao intends to usurp the throne; everybody knows that. But I will not sit thereon patiently awaiting the indignity of being pushed off. Cannot you gentlemen help me to kill him?”
“He may not be slain,” said Wang Jing. “That will not do. In the old state of Lu, King Zhao could not bear with the Ji family, and ran away, thus losing his country. But this Sima Zhao and his family have been in power very long and have innumerable supporters, many of whom are quite independent of any act of his whether loyal or disloyal. They support him under any conditions. Your Majesty's guards are few and weak and incapable; not the ones for any desperate effort. It would be most lamentable if Your Majesty could not bear this trial. The correct course is to wait and not act hastily.”
“If I can bear this, what cannot I bear?” said Cao Mao. “But I will do something, and if I die, what matters?”
He went into the private apartments and spoke to the Empress Dowager.
Wang Shen, Wang Jing, and Wang Ye sat outside talking.
“This matter is coming to a head, and unless we want to be put to death and all our loved ones with us, we would better go and warn Sima Zhao,” said Wang Shen.
This advice angered Wang Jing, and he said, “The prince's sorrow is the minister's shame, and a shamed minister dies. Dare you contemplate treachery?”
Wang Jing would have nothing to do with this visit to Sima Zhao, but the other two went to the Prime Minister's palace to betray their prince.
Shortly after, Cao Mao appeared, called the officer of the guard, Jiao Bo, and bade him muster his force, as many as he could. Jiao Bo got together about three hundred, and this little force marched out to the beating of a drum as escort to a small carriage, in which sat the Ruler of Wei gripping his sword. They proceeded south.
Wang Jing stepped to the front and prayed Cao Mao to stay his steps and not go.
“To go against Sima Zhao with such a force is driving the sheep into the tiger's jaws. To die such a death is a vain sacrifice. You can do nothing,” said Wang Jing.
“Do not hinder me. I have made up my mind,” replied the Ruler of Wei, heading toward the Dragon Gate.
Presently Jia Chong came in sight. He was armed and mounted on a fine horse. Beside him rode two generals, Cheng Zu and Cheng Ji, and behind him followed a body of mail-clad guards, who shouted one to another as they rode.
Then Cao Mao held up his sword and cried, “I am the Son of God. Who are you thus breaking into the forbidden precincts? Are you come to murder your lawful ruler?”
The soldiers suddenly stopped, for they were palace guards.
Then Jia Chong shouted to Cheng Ji, saying, “What did Duke Sima Zhao train you for if not for this day's work?”
Cheng Ji took his halberd and turned to Jia Chong, saying, “Death or capture?”
“Duke Sima Zhao said the man had to die,” replied Jia Chong.
Cheng Ji rushed toward the carriage.
“Fool! How dare you?” cried the Ruler of Wei.
But the shout was cut short by a thrust from the halberd full in the breast; another thrust, and the point came out at the back, so that Cao Mao lay there dead beside his carriage. Jiao Bo coming up to strike a blow in defense was also slain, and the little escort scattered.
Wang Jing, who had followed, upbraided Jia Chong, shouting, “Rebel and traitor! How dare you kill the Emperor?”
Jia Chong got angry and bade his lictors arrest Wang Jing and stop his tongue.
When they told Sima Zhao, he went into the Palace, but the Emperor was dead. He assumed an air of being greatly shocked and beat his head against the carriage, weeping and lamenting the while. He sent to tell all the officials of high rank.
When Imperial Guardian Sima Fu saw the dead body of the Emperor, he threw himself beside it, his head resting thereon, and wept, saying, “It is my fault that they slew Your Majesty!”
Sima Fu had a coffin brought, and the remains were laid therein and borne to the west side hall. Therein Sima Zhao entered and summoned the chief officers to a council. They came, all but Minister Chen Tai. Sima Zhao noticed his absence and sent the Chair of the Secretariat Xun Yi, his uncle, to call him.
Chen Tai wept aloud, saying, “Gossips often class me and my uncle together. Yet today is my uncle less virtuous than I.”
However, Chen Tai obeyed the summons and came, dressed in the coarse white cloth of mourning, and prostrated himself before the bier. Sima Zhao feigned to be grieved also.
“How can this day's work be judged?” said Sima Zhao.
“If only Jia Chong be put to death, that will only be a slight atonement to satisfy the empire,” replied Chen Tai.
Sima Zhao was silent and thought long before he spoke. Then he said, “How about a little less severe?”
“That is only the beginning; I know not other punishments less severe.”
“Cheng Ji is the ungodly rebel and actual criminal; he should suffer the death of shame; and his family, too,” said Sima Zhao.
Thereupon Cheng Ji broke out into abuse of Sima Zhao and reviled him, saying, “It was not my crime; it was Jia Chong who passed on your own orders.”
Sima Zhao bade them cut out his tongue and put him to death. They did so; and Cheng Ji and his brother Cheng Zu were both put to death in the market place, and their families were exterminated.
“The Emperor must die,” thus spoke Sima Zhao full plain
In Jia Chong's hearing; and the Emperor was slain.
Although they killed Cheng Ji, who dealt the blow,
The author of the crime we all well know.
Wang Jing's whole household were imprisoned. He himself was standing in the courthouse when he saw his mother, Lady Zhao, being brought up a prisoner.
He knocked his head on the ground and wept, saying, “O unfilial son to bring distress upon a gentle mother!”
But his mother laughed.
“Who does not die?” cried she. “The only thing to be feared is not dying the proper death. Who would regret dying like this?”
When next day the family were led out to execution, both mother and son smiled as they went past. But the whole city wept tears of sorrow.
Mother Yuan was famous at the rise of Han,
Mother Zhao was distinguished at the end of Wei,
With purest virtue and unfaltering heart,
With resolution stern she played her part.
Her fortitude was great as Taishan Mountains,
Her life but as the floating down did count,
Like mother like son, their fame never will die,
So long as shall endure the earth and sky.
Imperial Guardian Sima Fu proposed that the body of the late Emperor should receive a royal funeral, and Sima Zhao consented. Jia Chong and those of his party urged Sima Zhao to assume the Throne and replace Wei, but he refused.
“Formerly King Wen had two-thirds of the empire, and yet he supported and served the state of Yin to its end. Wherefore Confucius called him 'Complete of Virtue.' Emperor Cao of Wei would not replace the Hans, nor will I accept an abdication of Wei.”
Those who heard this felt that in these words was an implication that he intended to place his own son Sima Yan on the throne, and they ceased to urge him to act.
In the sixth month of that year, Cao Huang, Duke of Changdao, was raised to the throne as Emperor, the period-style being changed to Wonderful Beginning, the first year (AD 260). Cao Huang was a son of Cao Yu, Prince of Yan, and a grandson of Cao Cao.
Sima Zhao was made Prime Minister and Duke of Jin (an ancient state). Beside, he received gifts of one hundred thousand gold coins and ten thousand rolls of silk. All the officers were promoted or received honors.
When these doings in Wei were told in Shu, Jiang Wei seized upon them as pretext for another war, to punish Wei for the deposition of its ruler. So letters were written calling upon Wu to help, and a memorial was sent to the Throne. The army raised was one hundred fifty thousand, and there were many carts with boxes made to fit them. Liao Hua and Zhang Yi were the Leaders of the Van. Liao Hua was to march to the Ziwu Valley, and Zhang Yi to the Luo Valley, while Jiang Wei took the Xie Valley road. They marched at the same time and hastened toward Qishan.
Deng Ai was still on the Qishan Mountains training the Wei soldiers when he heard that the Shu armies were once more on the war path. He called his officers together.
And Military Adviser Wang Guan said, “I have a plan to propose, but I will not tell it openly. However, I have written it down for your consideration.”
Deng Ai took the envelop, opened, and read it.
“Though excellent, I fear it is not enough to beguile the leader of Shu,” said Deng Ai as he finished reading.
“I am willing to stake my life on it,” said Wang Guan, “and I will lead the way.”
“Since you have such confidence you may try. You ought certainly to succeed.”
So five thousand troops were put under the leadership of Wang Guan, and they set out for the Xie Valley, where they fell in with the scouts of Jiang Wei's force.
Seeing these, their leader, Wang Guan, shouted, “We are deserters: tell your leader.”
So the scouts told Jiang Wei, who replied, “Hold up the soldiers, letting their leader only come to me.”
Wang Guan went forward and kneeled before Jiang Wei, saying, “I am a nephew of Wang Jing, and I hate Sima Zhao for what he has done to the Emperor and my family, and I wish to join you and my five thousand soldiers with me. I also desire to be sent against the rebel crew that I may avenge my uncle.”
Then said Jiang Wei, “Since you are sincere in your desertion, I must be sincere in my treatment of you. The one thing my army needs is grain. There is plenty at the border of the Lands of Rivers; and if you can transport it to Qishan, I can go straightway and take the Qishan camps of Deng Ai.”
This reply rejoiced Wang Guan, who saw that Jiang Wei was just going to walk into the trap. So he agreed at once.
“But you will not need five thousand troops to see after the transport. Take three thousand and leave two thousand as guides for me.”
Wang Guan, thinking that suspicions would be raised if he refused, took the three thousand of his troops and marched away, and the other two thousand were attached to the army of Shu.
Then Xiahou Ba was announced, and, when he was come in, he said, “O Commander, why have you believed the tale of this Wang Guan? In Wei I never heard that Wang Guan was related to Wang Jing, though it is true I never made particular inquiries. You should look to it, for there is much pretense in his story.”
“I know Wang Guan is false,” said Jiang Wei, with a smile. “That is why I have taken away many of his force. I am meeting trick with trick.”
“How do you know for certain he is a false?”
“Sima Zhao is as crafty as Cao Cao. If he slew all Wang Jing's family, would he have left a nephew and sent that nephew to the pass beyond his own reach with soldiers? You saw this, as did I.”
So Jiang Wei did not go out by the Xie Valley, but he set an ambush there ready for any move of Wang Guan. And indeed, within ten days, the ambush caught a man with a letter from Wang Guan to Deng Ai telling him what had come about. From the letter and the bearer thereof, Jiang Wei learned that Wang Guan would divert a convoy of grain to the Wei camps on the twentieth and Deng Ai was to send troops to Yunshan Valley to help.
Jiang Wei beheaded the courier. Then he sent another letter to Deng Ai by a man dressed as a Wei soldier, the date being altered to the fifteenth instead of the twentieth.
As a preparation, Jiang Wei ordered many wagons to be emptied of their grain and laden with inflammables, covered with green cloth. The two thousand Wei soldiers were ordered to show flags belonging to the Shu transport corps. Then Jiang Wei and Xiahou Ba went into the valleys in ambush, while Jiang Shu was ordered to march to the Xie Valley, and Liao Hua and Zhang Yi were sent to capture Qishan.
The letter, apparently from Wang Guan, was sufficient for Deng Ai, and he wrote back to say it was agreed. So on the fifteenth day, Deng Ai led out fifty thousand veteran troops and moved in sight near Yunshan Valley. And the scouts saw endless carts of grain and fodder in the distance zigzagging through the mountains. When Deng Ai got closer, he distinguished the uniforms of Wei.
His staff urged him, saying, “It is getting dark; O General, hurry to help Wang Guan escort the convoy out of the valley.”
“The mountains ahead are hazardous,” said the general. “If by any chance an ambush has been laid, we could hardly escape. We will wait here.”
But just then two horsemen came up at a gallop and said, “Just as General Wang Guan was crossing the frontier with the convoy, he was pursued, and reinforcements are urgently needed.”
Deng Ai, realizing the importance of the request, gave orders to press onward. It was the first watch, and a full moon was shining as bright as day. Shouting was heard behind the hills, and he could only conclude it was the noise of the battle in which Wang Guan was engaged.
So Deng Ai dashed over the hills. But suddenly a body of troops came out from the shelter of a grove of trees, and at their head rode the Shu leader, Fu Qian.
“Deng Ai, you are stupid! You have just fallen into the trap set for you by our general. Dismount and prepare for death!”
Deng Ai halted and turned to flee. Then the wagons burst into flame. That flame was a signal, and down came the army of Shu. He heard shouts all round him, “A thousand ounces of gold for anyone who captures Deng Ai, and a lordship of ten thousand households as well!”
Terrified, Deng Ai dropped his arms, threw aside his armor, slipped from his steed, mingled with the footmen, and with them scrambled up the hills. The generals of Shu only looked for him among the mounted leaders, never guessing that he had got away among the common soldiers. So he was not captured.
Jiang Wei gathered in his victorious army and went to meet Wang Guan and his convoy.
Having made all arrangements, as he thought, complete, Wang Guan was patiently awaiting the development of his scheme, when a trusted subordinate came and told him that the ruse had been discovered and Deng Ai had already suffered defeat. Wang Guan sent out some scouts, and the report was confirmed, with the addition that the Shu armies were coming against him. Moreover, clouds of dust were rising. There was no way of escape, so Wang Guan ordered his troops to set fire to the convoy, and soon huge flames were rising high into the air.
“The case is desperate,” cried Wang Guan. “It is a fight to the death!”
He led his force westward, but the army of Shu came in pursuit. Jiang Wei thought Wang Guan would try at all costs to get back to his own side, but instead, Wang Guan went on toward Hanzhong; and as his troops were too few to risk a battle, Wang Guan ordered them to burn and destroy all military stations and even the Plank Trail as he went. Fearing the loss of Hanzhong, Jiang Wei made all haste along the by-roads after Wang Guan. Surrounded on all sides, Wang Guan jumped into the Black Dragon River and so died. Those of his soldiers who survived were slain by Jiang Wei.
Though a victory had been won and Wang Guan killed, it was costly. Many wagons and much grain had been lost, and the Plank Trail had been destroyed. Jiang Wei led his army into Hanzhong.
Deng Ai made his way back to Qishan. From there he reported his defeat to the Ruler of Wei and asked for degradation as a penalty. However, Sima Zhao saw that Deng Ai had rendered good services, so he did not degrade the general, but, on the other hand, sent him magnificent gifts, which Deng Ai distributed to the families of the soldiers who had been killed. Sima Zhao also sent him fifty thousand troops as reinforcement lest Shu should attack again.
Jiang Wei set about the restoration of the Plank Trail ready for the next expedition.
Repair the roads for marching feet to tread,
The strife will only cease when all are dead.
The next chapter will tell who won.