Chapter 100

The Han Army Raids the Camp and Defeats Cao Zhen; the Martial Marquis Humiliates Sima Yi in a Contest of Formations

Now when the generals heard that Kongming was not pursuing the Wei army, they all entered his tent and said, “The Wei troops, plagued by the rains and unable to maintain their encampment, have therefore withdrawn. This is the perfect time to pursue them in the wake of their retreat. Why does the Prime Minister not give chase?” Kongming replied, “Sima Yi is highly skilled in the use of troops. Since his army is withdrawing, he will certainly have laid an ambush. If I pursue him, I shall fall directly into his trap. Better to let him go some distance, while we divide our forces, hasten out through Xie Valley, and seize Mount Qi, taking the men of Wei unawares.” The generals said, “There are other routes by which to take the region of Chang’an. Why does the Prime Minister seek only Mount Qi?” Kongming replied, “Mount Qi is the gateway to Chang’an. Should troops come from any of the commanderies west of Long, they must pass through this place. Moreover, it fronts the bank of the Wei River and has Xie Valley at its back; one may emerge to the left or enter from the right, and ambushes may readily be laid there. It is ground made for warfare. That is why I wish to seize it first and secure the advantage of the terrain.” All the generals bowed in submission. Kongming ordered Wei Yan, Zhang Ni, Du Qiong, and Chen Shi to march through Ji Valley, and Ma Dai, Wang Ping, Zhang Yi, and Ma Zhong through Xie Valley, all to rendezvous at Mount Qi. When the dispositions were settled, Kongming himself led the main army, appointing Guan Xing and Liao Hua as vanguard, and advanced behind them.

Meanwhile, Cao Zhen and Sima Yi remained in the rear to oversee the army. They sent a detachment to reconnoiter along the old Chencang road, and it returned to report that the Shu troops had not come. After another ten days’ march, all the ambush forces in the rear returned as well, saying there was still no sign or word of the Shu army. Cao Zhen said, “The unbroken autumn rains have destroyed the plank roads. How could the men of Shu even know that we have withdrawn?” Sima Yi said, “The Shu army will emerge behind us.” “How do you know?” Cao Zhen asked. Sima Yi replied, “The weather has been clear for several days, yet the Shu army has not pursued. They have guessed that we laid ambushes and have therefore allowed our forces to go far ahead. Once all our troops have passed, they will seize Mount Qi.” Cao Zhen did not believe him. Sima Yi said, “Zidan, why do you not believe me? I judge that Kongming will certainly come through both valleys. Let you and me each guard the mouth of one valley, with ten days as the limit. If no Shu troops appear, I shall paint my face with rouge, put on a woman’s clothes, and come to your camp to submit myself for punishment.” Cao Zhen said, “If Shu troops do appear, I shall give you a jade belt bestowed by the Son of Heaven and one of the imperial horses.” They then divided their army into two columns: Cao Zhen led his troops to encamp west of Mount Qi at the mouth of Xie Valley, while Sima Yi led his army to encamp east of Mount Qi at the mouth of Ji Valley.

Once their camps had been established, Sima Yi first led a body of troops into ambush among the mountain valleys; the rest of the army encamped at the strategic points along the roads. Sima Yi then changed his clothes, mingled among the common soldiers, and inspected every camp. On reaching one camp, he heard a junior general look up to Heaven and complain, “We were drenched by the rain for so long, yet they would not let us go home. Now they have halted us here again, all because they insist upon some wager. Is it not the officers and men who suffer for it?” Sima Yi heard him, returned to his camp, ascended the command seat, and summoned all the generals before him. He had the offending officer picked out from among them and rebuked him: “The court maintains soldiers for a thousand days to employ them in a single hour of need. How dare you utter such complaints and thereby weaken the army’s spirit?” The man denied the charge. Sima Yi called forth his companions to testify against him, and the officer could no longer deny it. Sima Yi said, “This is no wager of mine. I seek to defeat the Shu army so that every one of you may return to court with merit. Yet you have recklessly voiced complaints and brought guilt upon yourself!” He shouted for the guards to take the man out and behead him. In a short while, the severed head was presented beneath the command tent. All the generals trembled. Sima Yi said, “Every one of you must devote himself fully to guarding against the Shu army. When you hear the signal cannon from my central command, advance from every side.” The generals received their orders and withdrew.

Meanwhile, the four generals Wei Yan, Zhang Ni, Chen Shi, and Du Qiong led twenty thousand troops forward through Ji Valley. As they marched, a sudden report came that the adviser Deng Zhi had arrived, and the four generals asked the reason for his coming. Deng Zhi said, “The Prime Minister has issued an order: when you emerge from Ji Valley, beware of an ambush by the Wei army and do not advance rashly.” Chen Shi said, “Why is the Prime Minister so full of doubts in his conduct of war? I reckon that the Wei troops, after enduring ceaseless rain, have had their armor and clothing ruined and must be hastening home. How could they have laid another ambush? If we now march at double speed, we can win a great victory. Why are we again told not to advance?” Deng Zhi replied, “The Prime Minister has never made a calculation that failed or devised a plan that did not succeed. How dare you disobey his command?” Chen Shi laughed. “If the Prime Minister were truly so full of stratagems, he would never have suffered the loss of Jieting!” Wei Yan, recalling how Kongming had formerly refused to heed his plan, also laughed and said, “If the Prime Minister had listened to me and marched straight through Ziwu Valley, by now we would have taken not merely Chang’an, but Luoyang as well! What use is there in his obstinate insistence on marching through Mount Qi? First he orders us to advance, and now he tells us to halt. How muddled his commands are!” Chen Shi said, “I have five thousand troops of my own. I shall go straight out through Ji Valley, reach Mount Qi first, and establish camp there. Then we shall see whether the Prime Minister is ashamed!” Deng Zhi repeatedly tried to stop him, but Chen Shi would not listen. He led his five thousand troops directly out through Ji Valley. Deng Zhi had no choice but to hasten back and report to Kongming.

Chen Shi had led his troops only a few li when suddenly a cannon boomed and ambush forces sprang out on every side. When Chen Shi tried to retreat, the Wei troops had already packed the valley mouth, enclosing him as tightly as an iron barrel. He charged left and broke right, but could not escape. Suddenly a tremendous clamor arose, and a fierce body of troops came charging in. It was Wei Yan, who rescued Chen Shi and withdrew with him into the valley. Of the five thousand troops, only four or five hundred wounded men and horses remained. The Wei army came pursuing from behind, but Du Qiong and Zhang Ni led troops to their support, and only then did the Wei forces retire. Chen Shi and Wei Yan now believed that Kongming’s foresight was divine, but it was too late for regret.

Deng Zhi returned to Kongming and reported how insolently Wei Yan and Chen Shi had behaved. Kongming laughed and said, “Wei Yan has always borne the features of a rebel. I know that he constantly harbors resentment, but I employ him because I value his courage. In time, he will surely bring disaster.” While he was speaking, a courier on a swift horse suddenly arrived to report that Chen Shi had lost more than four thousand men and had only four or five hundred wounded men and horses left, now stationed in the valley. Kongming ordered Deng Zhi to return to Ji Valley and soothe Chen Shi, lest he cause trouble. At the same time, he summoned Ma Dai and Wang Ping and instructed them: “If Wei troops are guarding Xie Valley, lead your own forces across the mountain ridges, traveling by night and hiding by day. Make haste to emerge on the left of Mount Qi, and raise fires as your signal.” He then summoned Ma Zhong and Zhang Yi and instructed them: “You too must follow secluded mountain paths, hiding by day and traveling by night. Go straight to the right of Mount Qi and raise fires as your signal. Join forces with Ma Dai and Wang Ping, and together raid Cao Zhen’s encampment. I shall attack from within the valley on three sides, and the Wei army can then be broken.” The four accepted their orders and departed separately with their troops. Kongming then summoned Guan Xing and Liao Hua and instructed them in a certain plan. Having received the secret design, the two led their troops away. Kongming himself took command of the picked soldiers and marched at double speed. While advancing, he also summoned Wu Ban and Wu Yi, gave them secret instructions, and sent them ahead with troops.

Cao Zhen, convinced that the Shu army would not come, grew lax and allowed his soldiers to rest. He merely waited for ten uneventful days to pass so that he might put Sima Yi to shame. Seven days had gone by when someone suddenly reported that a small number of Shu troops had emerged from the valley. Cao Zhen ordered his deputy general Qin Liang to take five thousand men and scout the area, forbidding him to allow the Shu army anywhere near their border. Qin Liang received the order and had barely reached the valley when his scouts sighted the Shu troops withdrawing. He hastened after them, but after traveling fifty or sixty li without seeing any trace of the enemy, he grew suspicious and ordered his soldiers to dismount and rest. Suddenly a scout rider reported, “Shu troops are lying in ambush ahead!” Qin Liang mounted to look and saw clouds of dust rising throughout the hills. He hastily ordered his soldiers to take precautions. Before long, tremendous cries arose from all around. Ahead, Wu Ban and Wu Yi charged out with their troops, while behind them Guan Xing and Liao Hua led soldiers to the attack. Mountains rose on either side, and there was no road of escape. From the heights, the Shu troops shouted, “Those who dismount and surrender will be spared!” Most of the Wei soldiers submitted. Qin Liang fought desperately, but Liao Hua cut him down from his horse with a single stroke.

Kongming had the surrendered soldiers detained with the rear army. He then gave their Wei armor and uniforms to five thousand Shu soldiers, disguised them as Wei troops, and ordered the four generals Guan Xing, Liao Hua, Wu Ban, and Wu Yi to lead them directly toward Cao Zhen’s camp. First he sent a mounted messenger into the camp to report, “There were only a few Shu troops, and we have driven them all away.” Cao Zhen was overjoyed. Suddenly it was reported that Commander Sima had sent a trusted messenger. Cao Zhen summoned the man and questioned him. The messenger said, “The Shu army has now employed an ambush and killed more than four thousand Wei soldiers. Commander Sima sends his regards to the general and urges you to put the wager from your mind and devote yourself fully to vigilance and defense.” Cao Zhen said, “There is not a single Shu soldier here.” He then dismissed the messenger and sent him back. Suddenly another report came that Qin Liang was returning with his troops. Cao Zhen personally came out of his tent to welcome him. Before they reached the camp, however, a messenger reported that fires had broken out both in front and behind. Cao Zhen hastened to the rear of the camp to look. Guan Xing, Liao Hua, Wu Ban, and Wu Yi were directing the Shu troops in a charge through the front of the encampment; Ma Dai and Wang Ping attacked from the rear; and Ma Zhong and Zhang Yi likewise arrived with their forces. The Wei soldiers, caught utterly unprepared, fled for their lives. The generals protected Cao Zhen as he escaped eastward, with the Shu army pursuing from behind.

As Cao Zhen fled, a tremendous clamor suddenly arose and a fierce body of troops came charging toward him. Cao Zhen’s courage failed and his heart quaked; but when he looked, he saw that it was Sima Yi. Sima Yi fought a fierce battle, and only then did the Shu troops withdraw. Cao Zhen escaped, but was overwhelmed with shame. Sima Yi said, “Zhuge Liang has seized the strategic ground at Mount Qi. We cannot remain here long. We should go and encamp by the Wei River, then devise a sound plan.” Cao Zhen asked, “Zhongda, how did you know that I had suffered this great defeat?” Sima Yi replied, “When I heard the returning messenger report that Zidan claimed there was not a single Shu soldier near you, I reckoned that Kongming must have come secretly to raid your camp. Knowing this, I came to your support. Now you have indeed fallen into his trap. Say no more of our wager; let us only unite our hearts in service to the state.” Cao Zhen was so frightened and distressed that his anger brought on an illness, and he took to his bed. The army encamped by the Wei River, and Sima Yi, fearing unrest among the troops, dared not let Cao Zhen command them.

Kongming now drove his troops forward in force and once more emerged at Mount Qi. After he had rewarded the army, the four generals Wei Yan, Chen Shi, Du Qiong, and Zhang Ni entered his tent, bowed low, and begged punishment. Kongming asked, “Who was responsible for the army’s defeat?” Wei Yan said, “Chen Shi disobeyed orders and secretly entered the valley mouth, thereby bringing about this great defeat.” Chen Shi said, “Wei Yan told me to do it.” Kongming said, “He rescued you, yet you turn around and accuse him! You have disobeyed military orders; no clever excuses will avail you!” He at once ordered the guards to take Chen Shi outside and behead him. Shortly afterward, Chen Shi’s head was hung before the command tent as a warning to the generals. Kongming did not kill Wei Yan at this time because he wished to preserve him for later use. After executing Chen Shi, Kongming was discussing the army’s advance when a spy suddenly reported that Cao Zhen was bedridden with illness and was presently receiving treatment in his camp. Kongming was delighted. He said to the generals, “If Cao Zhen’s illness were slight, he would surely return at once to Chang’an. Since the Wei army has not withdrawn, his illness must be grave, and they have kept him in the camp to reassure the troops. I shall write a letter and have Qin Liang’s surrendered soldiers carry it to Cao Zhen. Once he reads it, he will certainly die.” He summoned the surrendered troops before his tent and asked them, “You are all soldiers of Wei, and most of your parents, wives, and children are in the Central Plains. It would not be right to keep you long in Shu. What would you say if I now released you to return home?” The soldiers wept and bowed their thanks. Kongming said, “Cao Zidan and I have an understanding. I have a letter that you are to take back and deliver to him. You will certainly receive rich rewards.” The Wei soldiers took the letter, hurried back to their own camp, and presented Kongming’s missive to Cao Zhen. Cao Zhen raised himself from his sickbed, broke the seal, and read it. The letter said:Zhuge Liang, Prime Minister of Han and Marquis of Wuxiang, sends this letter before Cao Zidan, Grand Marshal. I have heard it said that one who serves as a general must know when to withdraw and when to engage, when to yield and when to stand firm; he must know how to advance and retreat, how to appear weak and how to be strong. Unmoving, he must be like the mountains; inscrutable, like yin and yang; inexhaustible, like Heaven and Earth; replete, like the imperial granary; vast, like the Four Seas; and dazzling, like the Three Luminaries. He must foresee from the signs of Heaven whether drought or flood will come, and discern beforehand whether the terrain is rugged or level. He must perceive the proper moment offered by the disposition of armies and gauge the strengths and weaknesses of his foe. Alas, you ignorant stripling! You rebel against High Heaven, aid the traitor who usurped the realm, and proclaim an imperial title at Luoyang! You drove your shattered army through Xie Valley and met the drenching rains at Chencang! By land and water you were exhausted; men and horses ran wild in panic! You cast away spears and armor enough to fill the countryside, and abandoned swords and lances all across the ground! The commander’s heart collapsed and his courage split apart; the general scurried like a rat and fled in the frenzy of a wolf! You have no face with which to meet the elders of Guanzhong; with what countenance can you enter the halls of the chancellery? The historians will take up their brushes and record it, and the people will spread the tale from mouth to mouth: Zhongda trembles when he hears of battle; Zidan quails at the mere whisper of our coming! My soldiers are strong and my horses vigorous; my great generals surge like tigers and soar like dragons! We shall sweep the Qin Plain flat and turn the realm of Wei into desolate mounds!

When Cao Zhen had finished reading, rage and resentment filled his breast, and that evening he died in the army camp. Sima Yi had his body placed upon a military wagon and sent men to escort it to Luoyang for burial. When the ruler of Wei learned that Cao Zhen was dead, he immediately issued an edict ordering Sima Yi to hasten into battle. Sima Yi led his great army out to confront Kongming and sent a letter of challenge one day in advance.

Kongming said to the generals, “Cao Zhen must be dead.” He endorsed the reply, accepting battle for the following day, and the messenger departed. That night Kongming gave Jiang Wei a secret plan and instructed him how to carry it out; he then summoned Guan Xing and gave him certain directions as well. The next day, Kongming raised all the forces at Mount Qi and advanced to the bank of the Wei River. On one side lay the river, on the other rose the mountains, and between them stretched a broad, open plain—a splendid field for battle. The two armies faced each other, with archers holding the corners of their formations. After the drums had sounded three times, the central standard in the Wei formation parted, and Sima Yi rode forth, followed by his generals. Before them they saw Kongming seated upright in his four-wheeled carriage, gently waving his feather fan. Sima Yi said, “My sovereign followed the example of Yao’s abdication to Shun. The throne was transmitted through two emperors, and he now rules the Central Plains. That he tolerates your two states of Shu and Wu is only because my sovereign is magnanimous, merciful, benevolent, and loath to bring suffering upon the people. You are merely a plowman from Nanyang, ignorant of Heaven’s ordained course, yet you insist upon invading us. By all reason you deserve annihilation! If you will come to your senses and mend your ways, you should return at once, each side guarding its own borders, thus preserving the balance of the Three Kingdoms and sparing the common people from misery. In that way, all of you may preserve your lives!” Kongming laughed and said, “The late Emperor entrusted his orphaned heir to me with a solemn charge. How could I refuse to devote my whole heart and strength to the destruction of traitors? Before long, your house of Cao will be destroyed by Han. Your grandfathers and fathers were all ministers of Han, and for generations your family lived upon Han stipends. Yet rather than think of repaying the dynasty, you assist usurpers and rebels. Are you not ashamed of yourself?” Sima Yi’s face flushed with shame. “I shall settle with you which of us is victor and which vanquished! If you can defeat me, I swear never again to serve as a great commander. But if you are defeated, return at once to your native place, and I shall do you no harm!”

Kongming said, “Do you wish to pit general against general, army against army, or formation against formation?” Sima Yi replied, “First we shall contend in formations.” Kongming said, “Then arrange yours first and let me see it.” Sima Yi entered the central command, took a yellow flag in hand, and waved it. The troops on the left and right moved into position and formed an array. Sima Yi mounted again, rode before it, and asked, “Do you recognize my formation?” Kongming laughed. “Even the lesser officers in my army could arrange it. This is the Primal Unity Formation.” Sima Yi said, “Arrange your formation and let me see it.” Kongming entered his lines, gave one wave of his feather fan, and then emerged again before the formation. “Do you recognize my array?” he asked. Sima Yi said, “This is merely the Eight Trigrams Formation. How could I fail to recognize it?” Kongming said, “You may recognize it, but do you dare attack it?” Sima Yi replied, “Since I recognize it, why should I not dare?” Kongming said, “Then come and attack as you please.”

Sima Yi returned to his own lines and summoned the three generals Dai Ling, Zhang Hu, and Yue Lin. He instructed them, “The formation Kongming has arranged is ordered according to the eight gates: Rest, Life, Injury, Obstruction, Prospect, Death, Alarm, and Opening. You three are to attack through the Gate of Life in the due east, fight your way out through the Gate of Rest in the southwest, and then charge in again through the Gate of Opening in the due north. In this way the formation can be broken. Be careful and attentive!” Dai Ling took the center, Zhang Hu the front, and Yue Lin the rear, each leading thirty horsemen, and they charged in through the Gate of Life. Both armies raised battle cries to encourage them. The three generals fought their way into the Shu formation, only to find its ranks like connected walls, through which they could not break. In alarm, they wheeled their horsemen past a corner of the array and charged southwest, but the Shu troops checked them with arrows, and again they could not force their way through. Within the formation, rank lay behind rank and gate opened beyond gate; how could they distinguish east from west, or south from north? The three generals lost sight of one another and could do nothing but rush about wildly. They saw only sorrowful clouds stretching dimly overhead and a grim mist hanging thick around them. Wherever shouts arose, the Wei soldiers were bound one after another and sent to the central command.

Kongming sat within his command tent, while Zhang Hu, Dai Ling, Yue Lin, and all ninety soldiers stood bound below him. Kongming laughed and said, “Though I have captured you, what wonder is there in that? I shall release you to return to Sima Yi. Tell him to study the military classics again and review the methods of warfare more closely. It will not be too late for us to decide victor and vanquished after that. Since I have spared your lives, you must leave your weapons and warhorses behind.” He then had their armor and clothing stripped away, their faces smeared with ink, and sent them out of the formation on foot. When Sima Yi saw them, he flew into a fury and turned to his generals. “After such a humiliation has blunted our fighting spirit, how can we show our faces again before the ministers of the Central Plains?” He immediately directed the whole army to assault the formation with utter disregard for death. Drawing his own sword, Sima Yi led more than a hundred valiant officers and spurred them on in the charge. The two armies had just met when drums and horns suddenly sounded together behind the Wei lines and tremendous cries arose. A fierce body of troops came charging from the southwest—it was Guan Xing. Sima Yi detached his rear division to oppose him, then drove the rest of his army forward into battle. Suddenly the Wei troops fell into complete disorder. Jiang Wei, as it happened, had secretly led another force against them. The Shu troops attacked from three directions at once. Sima Yi was greatly alarmed and hurriedly ordered a retreat. With Shu forces closing in on every side, he led his whole army in a desperate charge southward and broke through. Six or seven men out of every ten in the Wei army were killed or wounded. Sima Yi withdrew to the southern bank of the Wei River, established camp, and held his defenses without venturing out.

Kongming gathered his victorious troops and returned to Mount Qi. At that time, Li Yan of Yong’an had sent Commandant Gou An to escort grain and rice to the army and deliver the stores. Gou An was fond of wine and had dallied along the road, arriving ten days after the appointed deadline. Kongming was furious. “In my army, provisions are the foremost concern. A delay of three days deserves execution! You are now ten days late—what possible justification can you offer?” He shouted for the guards to take Gou An out and behead him. Chief Clerk Yang Yi said, “Gou An is one of Li Yan’s men, and moreover most of our money and grain comes from western Shu. If this man is killed, no one will dare transport provisions here in the future.” Kongming therefore ordered the guards to untie him, had him beaten with eighty strokes of the staff, and released him. Gou An, resentful of the punishment, took five or six personal attendants that very night and rode straight to the Wei camp to surrender. Sima Yi summoned him, and Gou An bowed and related all that had occurred. Sima Yi said, “Even if matters are as you say, Kongming is full of schemes, and your words are difficult to trust. If you can perform a great service for me, I shall petition the Son of Heaven to appoint you a senior general.” Gou An said, “Whatever the task may be, I shall exert myself to accomplish it.” Sima Yi said, “Return to Chengdu and spread rumors that Kongming harbors resentment toward his sovereign and intends sooner or later to proclaim himself emperor. If you can induce your ruler to summon Kongming home by edict, that will be your achievement.”

Gou An agreed and returned directly to Chengdu. There he met with the palace eunuchs and spread rumors that Kongming relied upon his own great achievements and would sooner or later usurp the state. When the eunuchs heard this, they were greatly alarmed and immediately entered the inner palace to report it to the Emperor, recounting the whole affair in detail. The Latter Ruler, astonished, said, “If this is so, what are we to do?” The eunuchs replied, “You may summon him back to Chengdu by edict and strip him of his military authority, thus preventing rebellion.” The Latter Ruler issued an edict ordering Kongming to withdraw his army and return to court. Jiang Wan stepped from the ranks and memorialized, “Since the Prime Minister took the field, he has repeatedly achieved great merit. Why is he being summoned back?” The Latter Ruler replied, “We have a confidential matter that must be discussed with the Prime Minister face-to-face.” He at once dispatched an envoy bearing the edict to travel through the night and summon Kongming home.

The imperial envoy went directly to the great camp at Mount Qi. Kongming received him and, after accepting the edict, looked up to Heaven and sighed. “My sovereign is young; there must be treacherous ministers at his side! I am on the very point of achieving success—why am I being recalled? If I do not return, I shall be deceiving my sovereign. Yet if I obey the command and withdraw, it will be difficult ever again to obtain such an opportunity.” Jiang Wei asked, “If the great army retreats and Sima Yi takes advantage of the moment to pursue and attack us, what shall we do?” Kongming replied, “As we withdraw, the army may retreat in five columns. Today we shall first evacuate this camp. If a camp contains one thousand soldiers, dig two thousand cooking hearths. Today dig three thousand hearths, tomorrow four thousand. Each day as the army retreats, increase the number of hearths along the way.” Yang Yi said, “In former times, Sun Bin captured Pang Juan by increasing his troops while reducing the number of hearths. Now that the Prime Minister is withdrawing his army, why do you increase the hearths?” Kongming replied, “Sima Yi is highly skilled in war. When he learns that I am withdrawing, he will certainly pursue. Yet he will suspect that I have laid an ambush and will surely count the hearths in each abandoned camp. When he sees the number of hearths increasing every day, he will be unable to tell whether my troops are retreating or being reinforced. His suspicions will make him afraid to pursue. Thus I may withdraw gradually without suffering the loss of any troops.” He then passed down the order to retreat.

Sima Yi, meanwhile, reckoned that Gou An’s scheme had succeeded and waited only for the Shu army to withdraw, whereupon he intended to fall upon it in full force. As he hesitated over his next move, a sudden report came that the Shu camp stood empty and all its men and horses had departed. Because Kongming was so full of stratagems, Sima Yi dared not pursue rashly. He personally led more than a hundred horsemen to inspect the Shu camp, ordered his soldiers to count the cooking hearths, and then returned to his own encampment. The next day, he again sent soldiers to the next abandoned camp to count the hearths there. They returned and reported, “The hearths in this camp are more numerous by one measure than those in the last.” Sima Yi said to his generals, “I judged that Kongming was full of schemes, and now, sure enough, he has increased both his troops and his hearths. If I pursue him, I shall certainly fall into his trap. Better to withdraw for the present and devise some sound plan later.” He therefore recalled his army and did not pursue. Without losing a single man, Kongming withdrew toward Chengdu. Later, local inhabitants from the mouth of Shu came to report to Sima Yi that while Kongming was retreating, they had seen no increase in his troops, only in his cooking hearths. Sima Yi looked up to Heaven and sighed deeply. “Kongming has imitated Yu Xu’s method and deceived me! In strategy, I am not his equal!” He then led his great army back to Luoyang. It was just as the verse says:When players meet their match, neither can easily prevail;When generals face worthy foes, neither dares grow proud.What befell Kongming after he returned to Chengdu remains unknown. Read on to learn how events unfold.

The Han Army Raids the Camp and Defeats Cao Zhen; the Martial Marquis Humiliates Sima Yi in a Contest of Formations

Now when the generals heard that Kongming was not pursuing the Wei army, they all entered his tent and said, “The Wei troops could not remain encamped because of the torrential rain, so they have withdrawn. This is the perfect time to pursue them. Why does the Prime Minister not do so?” Kongming said, “Sima Yi is highly skilled in warfare. Now that his army is retreating, he must have laid an ambush. If I pursue him, I will fall straight into his trap. It is better to let him go far away while I divide our forces, march directly through Xie Valley, and seize Mount Qi, catching the Wei forces unprepared.” The generals said, “There are other routes by which we might seize the region of Chang’an. Why does the Prime Minister insist on taking only Mount Qi?” Kongming said, “Mount Qi is the gateway to Chang’an. If troops come from any of the commanderies west of Longshan, they must pass through this place. Moreover, it faces the bank of the Wei River in front and is backed by Xie Valley in the rear, with routes entering and leaving on either side where troops can be placed in ambush. It is a strategic battleground. That is why I wish to take it first and gain the advantage of the terrain.” All the generals bowed in admiration. Kongming ordered Wei Yan, Zhang Yi, Du Qiong, and Chen Shi to march through Ji Valley, while Ma Dai, Wang Ping, Zhang Yi, and Ma Zhong marched through Xie Valley; all were to rendezvous at Mount Qi. When the assignments had been settled, Kongming personally led the main army forward, with Guan Xing and Liao Hua as the vanguard.

Meanwhile, Cao Zhen and Sima Yi remained in the rear supervising the troops. They sent a detachment to reconnoiter the old road to Chencang, and it returned to report that the Shu army had not come. After they had marched for another ten days, all the troops lying in ambush behind them returned and reported that there was still no sign whatever of the Shu army. Cao Zhen said, “The continuous autumn rains have destroyed the plank roads. How could the men of Shu know that we have withdrawn?” Sima Yi said, “The Shu army will come out behind us.” Cao Zhen said, “How do you know?” Sima Yi replied, “The weather has been clear for several days, yet the Shu army has not pursued us. They must have guessed that we had laid an ambush, so they let our army get far away. Once all our troops have passed, they will seize Mount Qi.” Cao Zhen did not believe him. Sima Yi said, “Zidan, why do you not believe me? I predict that Kongming will come by the two valleys. You and I will each guard one valley entrance, with ten days as the limit. If no Shu troops come, I will paint my face with rouge, put on women’s clothing, and come to your camp to confess my fault.” Cao Zhen said, “If Shu troops do come, I will give you a jade belt bestowed by the Son of Heaven and one horse from the imperial stables.” They immediately divided the army into two forces. Cao Zhen led his troops to camp at the mouth of Xie Valley, west of Mount Qi, while Sima Yi led his army to camp at the mouth of Ji Valley, east of Mount Qi.

After the camps had been established, Sima Yi first led a detachment into concealment in the mountain valley. The rest of the troops made camp at every strategic point. Sima Yi then changed his clothes, mingled among the common soldiers, and inspected all the camps. When he suddenly came to one camp, he heard a junior officer look up at the sky and complain, “We were soaked by the rain for so long, yet they would not let us go back. Now they have halted us here again, all because they insist on making a wager. It is the soldiers who suffer for it!” When Sima Yi heard this, he returned to his camp, took his seat in the command tent, and assembled all the generals before him. He then had that officer brought forward. Sima Yi rebuked him, saying, “The court maintains soldiers for a thousand days to use them at a single critical moment. How dare you utter complaints and undermine the army’s morale?” The man denied it. Sima Yi summoned his comrades to testify against him, and the officer could no longer deny the charge. Sima Yi said, “This is no mere wager. I mean to defeat the Shu army so that each of you may return to court with merit to your name. By recklessly voicing complaints, you have brought this punishment upon yourself!” He shouted for the guards to take the man out and behead him. A moment later, the man’s head was presented beneath the command tent. All the generals were terrified. Sima Yi said, “Every one of you must devote himself fully to guarding against the Shu army. When you hear the cannon signal from my central command, advance from every side.” The generals received their orders and withdrew.

Meanwhile, the four generals Wei Yan, Zhang Yi, Chen Shi, and Du Qiong led twenty thousand troops forward through Ji Valley. While they were marching, they were suddenly informed that the adviser Deng Zhi had arrived, and the four generals asked why he had come. Deng Zhi said, “The Prime Minister has given an order: if you emerge from Ji Valley, be on guard against an ambush by the Wei army and do not advance rashly.” Chen Shi said, “Why is the Prime Minister so full of doubts in his use of troops? I judge that the Wei army, having suffered through continuous heavy rain, has had all its clothing and armor ruined and must be hurrying home. How could it possibly have laid another ambush? If our troops now advance at double speed, we can win a great victory. Why has he instead ordered us to halt?” Deng Zhi said, “Not one of the Prime Minister’s calculations misses its mark, and none of his plans fails. How dare you disobey his order?” Chen Shi laughed and said, “If the Prime Minister were truly such a master strategist, he would never have suffered the defeat at Jieting!” Wei Yan, recalling how Kongming had previously refused to follow his plan, also laughed and said, “If the Prime Minister had listened to me and gone directly through Ziwu Valley, by now we would have taken not only Chang’an but Luoyang as well! What good does it do to insist on marching through Mount Qi? First he orders us to advance, and now he orders us to stop. How confused his commands are!” Chen Shi said, “I have five thousand troops of my own. I will march straight out of Ji Valley and establish a camp beneath Mount Qi before anyone else. Then we will see whether the Prime Minister is ashamed!” Deng Zhi repeatedly tried to stop him, but Chen Shi refused to listen and led his five thousand troops straight out of Ji Valley. Deng Zhi had no choice but to hurry back and report to Kongming.

Chen Shi had led his troops only a few miles when he suddenly heard a cannon blast, and ambushing troops appeared on every side. When Chen Shi tried to retreat, Wei troops filled the valley entrance, surrounding him as tightly as an iron barrel. Chen Shi charged left and right but could not break free. Suddenly there came a tremendous roar of battle cries, and a force charged in. It was Wei Yan, who rescued Chen Shi and returned with him into the valley. Of Chen Shi’s five thousand troops, only four or five hundred wounded men and horses remained. The Wei troops pursued from behind, but Du Qiong and Zhang Yi led troops to their aid, and only then did the Wei forces withdraw. Chen Shi and Wei Yan now believed that Kongming’s foresight was godlike, but it was too late for regret.

Deng Zhi returned to Kongming and told him how disrespectfully Wei Yan and Chen Shi had behaved. Kongming smiled and said, “Wei Yan has always had the look of a rebel. I know he constantly harbors resentment, but I value his courage and so employ him. In time, he is certain to cause trouble.” While he was speaking, a swift courier arrived and reported that Chen Shi had lost more than four thousand men and had only four or five hundred wounded men and horses remaining, now stationed in the valley. Kongming ordered Deng Zhi to return to Ji Valley and reassure Chen Shi, lest he cause a disturbance. At the same time, he summoned Ma Dai and Wang Ping and instructed them, “If Wei troops are guarding Xie Valley, take your own forces across the mountain ridges, traveling by night and hiding by day. Quickly make your way to the left of Mount Qi and light fires as a signal.” He then summoned Ma Zhong and Zhang Yi and instructed them, “You are likewise to follow remote mountain paths, hiding by day and traveling by night. Go directly to the right of Mount Qi and light fires as a signal. Join forces with Ma Dai and Wang Ping and raid Cao Zhen’s camp together. I will attack through the valley from three sides, and the Wei army can then be defeated.” The four men accepted their orders and led their troops away by separate routes. Kongming then summoned Guan Xing and Liao Hua and told them in detail what to do. Having received the secret plan, the two led their troops away. Kongming himself led a force of elite troops forward at double speed. While marching, he also summoned Wu Ban and Wu Yi, gave them secret instructions, and sent them ahead with their troops.

Cao Zhen did not believe that the Shu army would come, so he grew careless and allowed his soldiers to rest. He was merely waiting for ten uneventful days to pass so that he could humiliate Sima Yi. Seven days passed without his noticing, when someone suddenly reported that a small number of Shu troops had emerged from the valley. Cao Zhen ordered his deputy general Qin Liang to take five thousand troops to reconnoiter and not allow the Shu force to approach his territory. Qin Liang accepted the order and had just led his troops into the valley when his scouts saw the Shu troops withdrawing. Qin Liang hurriedly led his men in pursuit. After traveling fifty or sixty li without seeing any Shu soldiers, he grew suspicious and ordered his men to dismount and rest. Suddenly a scout rider reported, “Shu troops are lying in ambush ahead!” Qin Liang mounted and looked. Seeing great clouds of dust rising in the mountains, he quickly ordered his soldiers to prepare themselves. Before long, tremendous battle cries arose on every side. Wu Ban and Wu Yi led troops out in front, while Guan Xing and Liao Hua attacked from behind. There were mountains on both sides and no road by which to escape. From the mountains, the Shu soldiers shouted, “Those who dismount and surrender will be spared!” More than half the Wei army surrendered. Qin Liang fought desperately, but Liao Hua cut him down from his horse with a single stroke of his saber.

Kongming detained the surrendered soldiers with the rear army, then gave their Wei clothing and armor to five thousand Shu soldiers, disguising them as Wei troops. He ordered the four generals Guan Xing, Liao Hua, Wu Ban, and Wu Yi to lead them straight toward Cao Zhen’s camp. First, he sent a mounted messenger into the camp to say, “There were only a few Shu troops, and we chased them all away.” Cao Zhen was delighted. Suddenly it was reported that a trusted man sent by Commander Sima had arrived. Cao Zhen summoned him and asked his business. The man reported, “The Shu army has used an ambush to kill more than four thousand Wei soldiers. Commander Sima sends his regards to the general and asks that you put the wager out of your mind and concentrate on taking precautions.” Cao Zhen said, “There is not a single Shu soldier here.” He then dismissed the messenger and sent him back. Suddenly it was reported that Qin Liang was returning with his troops. Cao Zhen personally came out of his tent to welcome him. By the time they reached the camp, men reported that fires had broken out in two places, front and rear. Cao Zhen hurried back to look behind the camp. Guan Xing, Liao Hua, Wu Ban, and Wu Yi were directing the Shu soldiers in an assault through the front of the camp; Ma Dai and Wang Ping attacked from the rear; and Ma Zhong and Zhang Yi also led their troops into the attack. Taken completely by surprise, the Wei troops fled for their lives. The generals escorted Cao Zhen eastward, with the Shu troops pursuing from behind.

As Cao Zhen fled, tremendous battle cries suddenly erupted and a force came charging toward him. Cao Zhen’s heart pounded with terror, but when he looked, he saw that it was Sima Yi. Sima Yi fought a fierce engagement, and only then did the Shu troops withdraw. Cao Zhen escaped, but he was overwhelmed with shame. Sima Yi said, “Zhuge Liang has seized the strategic ground at Mount Qi. We cannot remain here long. We should establish camp on the bank of the Wei River and devise a better plan.” Cao Zhen said, “Zhongda, how did you know I had suffered such a disastrous defeat?” Sima Yi replied, “When I saw your messenger report that you claimed there was not a single Shu soldier here, I guessed that Kongming had secretly come to raid your camp. That was how I knew, and so I came to support you. Now you have indeed fallen into his trap. Say no more about the wager. Let us simply unite our hearts in service to the state.” Cao Zhen was deeply distressed, and his anger made him ill and confined him to bed. The army camped by the Wei River. Fearing turmoil in the ranks, Sima Yi did not dare allow Cao Zhen to command troops.

Kongming now drove his men and horses forward in force and once again emerged at Mount Qi. After rewarding the army for its service, he received Wei Yan, Chen Shi, Du Qiong, and Zhang Yi in his tent, where all four bowed to the ground and asked forgiveness. Kongming said, “Who was responsible for the loss of the troops?” Wei Yan said, “Chen Shi disobeyed orders and entered the valley mouth on his own, causing this disastrous defeat.” Chen Shi said, “Wei Yan told me to do it.” Kongming said, “He rescued you, yet you turn around and implicate him! You disobeyed military orders, so there is no need for clever excuses!” He immediately ordered the guards to take Chen Shi outside and behead him. A moment later, Chen Shi’s head was hung before the command tent as a warning to all the generals. Kongming did not kill Wei Yan at this time because he wished to retain him for future use. After executing Chen Shi, Kongming was discussing the advance when a spy suddenly reported that Cao Zhen was bedridden with illness and was presently being treated in his camp. Kongming was delighted. He said to the generals, “If Cao Zhen’s illness were mild, he would certainly have returned to Chang’an. Since the Wei army has not withdrawn, his illness must be grave, and they have kept him in the army to reassure the men. I will write a letter and have some of Qin Liang’s surrendered soldiers take it to Cao Zhen. Once he sees it, he is certain to die.” He then summoned the surrendered troops before his tent and asked, “You are all Wei soldiers, and most of your parents, wives, and children are in the Central Plains. You should not be kept in Shu for long. What would you say if I now released you to return home?” The soldiers wept, bowed, and thanked him. Kongming said, “Cao Zidan and I have an agreement. I have a letter for you to take back and deliver to Zidan. You will certainly be richly rewarded.” The Wei soldiers took the letter and hurried back to their own camp, where they presented Kongming’s letter to Cao Zhen. Cao Zhen rose from his sickbed with assistance, broke the seal, and read it. The letter said: “Zhuge Liang, Prime Minister of Han and Marquis of Wuxiang, sends this letter to Grand Marshal Cao Zidan. I have heard it said that one who serves as a general must know when to depart and when to engage, when to be yielding and when to be firm; he must know when to advance and when to retreat, when to appear weak and when to show strength. Unmoving, he must be like the mountains; unfathomable, like yin and yang; inexhaustible, like heaven and earth; abundantly supplied, like the imperial granary; vast, like the four seas; and dazzling, like the sun, moon, and stars. He must foresee drought and flood from the signs in the heavens and discern in advance the easy and difficult features of the land. He must observe the proper timing and convergence of battle formations and judge the enemy’s strengths and weaknesses. But alas, you ignorant junior! You have defied lofty Heaven, aided the traitors who usurped the state, and proclaimed an imperial title at Luoyang. You drove your shattered army through Xie Valley and suffered torrential rains at Chencang! On water and land your forces were exhausted; men and horses were thrown into disarray! You cast aside spears and armor enough to fill the countryside and abandoned swords and lances all over the ground! The commander’s heart collapsed and his courage broke; the general scurried like a rat and fled in terror like a wolf! You have no face with which to meet the elders of the Guanzhong region; how can you show yourself in the halls of the chancellery? The historians will take up their brushes and record it, and all the people will spread the tale by word of mouth: Zhongda trembled when he heard of battle, and Zidan panicked at the mere rumor of our approach! My soldiers are strong and my horses powerful; my great generals charge like tigers and soar like dragons! We shall sweep the Qin River plain level and lay the state of Wei waste!”

When Cao Zhen finished reading, his chest filled with rage, and that evening he died in the army camp. Sima Yi had his body placed on a military wagon and sent men to escort it to Luoyang for burial. When the ruler of Wei learned that Cao Zhen was dead, he immediately issued an edict urging Sima Yi to give battle. Sima Yi led the main army out to confront Kongming and sent a letter of challenge one day in advance.

Kongming said to the generals, “Cao Zhen must be dead.” He wrote his reply, agreeing to meet in battle the next day, and the messenger departed. That night, Kongming gave Jiang Wei secret instructions and told him exactly how to proceed. He also summoned Guan Xing and explained in detail what he was to do. The next day, Kongming mobilized all the troops at Mount Qi and advanced to the bank of the Wei River. On one side was the river, on the other the mountains, and between them stretched a broad, level plain—an excellent battlefield. The two armies faced each other and held the corners of their formations in place with volleys of arrows. After the drums had sounded three times, the central standard in the Wei formation opened, and Sima Yi rode out, followed by his generals. They saw Kongming seated upright in his four-wheeled carriage, waving a feather fan in his hand. Sima Yi said, “Our sovereign followed the example of Yao’s abdication to Shun, and the throne has passed through two emperors. We hold the Central Plains in secure command. The only reason your two states of Shu and Wu are tolerated is that our sovereign is generous, compassionate, and benevolent, and fears causing harm to the common people. You are merely a farmer from Nanyang who does not understand Heaven’s ordained course, yet you insist on invading us and therefore deserve annihilation! If you come to your senses and correct your errors, you should return at once. Let each of us guard his own borders, completing the balance of the three powers and sparing the people from misery. Then all of you may preserve your lives!” Kongming laughed and said, “The Late Emperor entrusted his orphaned heir to me. How could I refuse to devote my heart and exhaust my strength in the campaign against traitors? Your Cao clan will soon be destroyed by Han. Your grandfathers and fathers were all ministers of Han, and your family has lived for generations on Han stipends. Yet instead of thinking how to repay that favor, you assist usurpers and rebels. Are you not ashamed of yourself?” Sima Yi’s face flushed with shame as he said, “I will settle with you once and for all! If you can defeat me, I swear never again to serve as a commander! But if you are defeated, return promptly to your native country, and I will do you no harm!”

Kongming said, “Do you wish to pit general against general, army against army, or formation against formation?” Sima Yi said, “First, formation against formation.” Kongming said, “Arrange your formation first and let me see it.” Sima Yi entered his central command, took a yellow flag in his hand, and waved it. The left and right wings moved and formed an array. He then mounted again, rode before the lines, and asked, “Do you recognize my formation?” Kongming laughed and said, “Even a junior officer in my army could arrange it! This is the Primordial Unity Formation.” Sima Yi said, “Arrange your formation and let me see it.” Kongming entered his lines and waved his feather fan. He then came out before the formation again and asked, “Do you recognize my formation?” Sima Yi said, “This is merely the Eight Trigrams Formation. How could I fail to recognize it?” Kongming said, “You may recognize it, but do you dare attack it?” Sima Yi replied, “Since I recognize it, why would I not dare attack?” Kongming said, “Then attack as you please.”

Sima Yi returned to his own lines and summoned the three generals Dai Ling, Zhang Hu, and Yue Lin. He instructed them, “The formation Kongming has arranged follows the eight gates of Rest, Life, Injury, Obstruction, View, Death, Alarm, and Open. You three are to enter through the Gate of Life due east, fight your way out through the Gate of Rest in the southwest, and then charge back in through the Gate of Open due north. In this way, the formation can be broken. Be cautious and pay close attention!” Dai Ling took the center, Zhang Hu the front, and Yue Lin the rear. Each led thirty horsemen and charged in through the Gate of Life. Both armies shouted to encourage them. The three men fought their way into the Shu formation, but found the ranks linked like an unbroken city wall and could not break through. In alarm, they led their horsemen around a corner of the formation and charged toward the southwest, only to be halted by Shu archers. They could not force their way out. Within the formation, rank upon overlapping rank seemed to contain gates and passages everywhere. How could they tell east from west or north from south? The three generals could no longer support one another and could only charge about wildly. All they saw were endless clouds of gloom and thick, dismal fog. Wherever a battle cry arose, the Wei soldiers were seized one by one, bound, and sent to the central command.

Kongming sat in his command tent, with Zhang Hu, Dai Ling, Yue Lin, and all ninety soldiers bound before him. Kongming laughed and said, “Even though I have captured all of you, it is hardly anything remarkable! I will release you to return to Sima Yi. Tell him to read his military texts again and review the strategies of war more carefully. It will not be too late for us to decide the victor then. Since I am sparing your lives, you must leave your weapons and warhorses behind.” He then had their clothing and armor stripped off, their faces smeared with ink, and sent them walking out of the formation. When Sima Yi saw them, he was furious. Looking back at his generals, he said, “After suffering such a defeat and having our fighting spirit crushed, how can we ever face the ministers of the Central Plains again?” He immediately ordered all three divisions of his army to risk death in an assault on the formation. Sima Yi himself drew his sword, led more than a hundred fierce generals, and drove his men into the attack. The two armies had just met when drums and horns suddenly sounded together behind the Wei formation, and tremendous battle cries arose. A force came charging from the southwest—it was Guan Xing. Sima Yi detached his rear troops to resist him and again drove the rest of his army forward into the fight. Suddenly the Wei troops fell into chaos. Jiang Wei had secretly led another force into the attack. The Shu troops closed in from three directions. Sima Yi was alarmed and hurriedly ordered a retreat. The Shu forces attacked from all sides, and Sima Yi led all three divisions of his army in a desperate charge southward to escape. Six or seven out of every ten Wei soldiers were killed or wounded. Sima Yi withdrew to the southern bank of the Wei River, established camp, and held his position without coming out.

After gathering his victorious troops, Kongming returned to Mount Qi. At that time, Li Yan of Yong’an sent Commandant Gou An to escort grain and rice to the army and deliver it there. Gou An was fond of drinking and had been negligent on the road, arriving ten days late. Kongming was furious and said, “In my army, provisions are the matter of greatest importance. A delay of three days merits beheading! You are now ten days late. What possible excuse can you offer?” He shouted for the guards to take Gou An outside and execute him. Chief Clerk Yang Yi said, “Gou An is one of Li Yan’s men, and most of our money and provisions come from western Sichuan. If you kill this man, no one will dare transport provisions here in the future.” Kongming therefore ordered the guards to untie Gou An, had him given eighty strokes, and released him. After being punished, Gou An harbored bitter resentment. That very night, he took five or six mounted attendants and went straight to the Wei camp to surrender. Sima Yi summoned him, and Gou An bowed and related what had happened. Sima Yi said, “Even so, Kongming is full of schemes, and your story is difficult to trust. If you can perform a great service for me, I will petition the Son of Heaven and secure your appointment as a senior general.” Gou An said, “Whatever the task may be, I will devote myself to it.” Sima Yi said, “Return to Chengdu and spread rumors that Kongming resents his sovereign and intends before long to proclaim himself emperor. If you can make your ruler issue an edict recalling Kongming, that will be your achievement.”

Gou An agreed and went straight back to Chengdu. There he met with the eunuchs and spread rumors that Kongming relied upon his great achievements and would soon usurp the state. When the eunuchs heard this, they were greatly alarmed. They immediately entered the inner palace and reported it to the Emperor, giving him a detailed account of the matter. The Latter Emperor said in alarm, “If this is so, what are we to do?” The eunuchs said, “You should issue an edict recalling him to Chengdu and strip him of his military authority, preventing any rebellion.” The Latter Emperor issued an edict ordering Kongming to withdraw his army and return to court. Jiang Wan stepped forward from the ranks of officials and said, “Since the Prime Minister began this campaign, he has repeatedly won great victories. Why is he being recalled?” The Latter Emperor said, “I have a confidential matter that I must discuss with the Prime Minister face to face.” He immediately dispatched an envoy carrying the edict to travel through the night and summon Kongming back.

The imperial envoy went directly to the main camp at Mount Qi. Kongming received him and formally accepted the edict. He then looked up at the sky and sighed, saying, “His Majesty is young. There must be treacherous ministers at his side! I was just about to accomplish a great victory. Why am I being recalled? If I do not return, I will be deceiving my sovereign. But if I obey the order and withdraw, it will be difficult ever to obtain such an opportunity again.” Jiang Wei asked, “If the main army withdraws and Sima Yi takes advantage of the situation to attack us from behind, what will we do?” Kongming said, “As I withdraw the army, I can divide it into five columns. Today we will first withdraw from this camp. If there are one thousand soldiers in the camp, dig two thousand cooking pits. Today dig three thousand pits, tomorrow four thousand. Each day as the army withdraws, add more cooking pits along the way.” Yang Yi said, “In the past, when Sun Bin captured Pang Juan, he used a method of increasing his troops while reducing the number of cooking pits. Now that the Prime Minister is withdrawing, why do you wish to increase the number of pits?” Kongming said, “Sima Yi is highly skilled in warfare. When he learns that I am withdrawing, he will certainly pursue. But he will suspect that I have laid an ambush and will count the cooking pits in each abandoned camp. When he sees their number increasing every day, he will not know whether my army is retreating or not. His suspicions will make him afraid to pursue. I can then withdraw gradually without suffering any loss of troops.” He then gave the order for the army to retreat.

Sima Yi assumed that Gou An’s scheme had succeeded and merely waited for the Shu army to withdraw so that he could attack it in full force. While he was still considering the matter, someone suddenly reported that the Shu camp was empty and all its men and horses had departed. Knowing that Kongming was full of schemes, Sima Yi did not dare pursue rashly. He personally led more than a hundred horsemen to inspect the Shu camp, ordered his soldiers to count the cooking pits, and then returned to his own camp. The next day, he again ordered soldiers to hurry to the next abandoned camp and count the pits there. They returned and reported, “The number of cooking pits in this camp is greater than in the previous one.” Sima Yi said to his generals, “I judged that Kongming would employ many schemes, and now he has indeed added troops and increased his cooking pits. If I pursue him, I will certainly fall into his trap. It is better to withdraw for now and devise a better plan.” He therefore pulled back his army and did not pursue. Kongming withdrew toward Chengdu without losing a single man. Later, local people from the mouth of Sichuan came to report to Sima Yi that when Kongming withdrew, they had seen no increase in his troops, only in the number of cooking pits. Sima Yi looked up at the sky and sighed deeply, saying, “Kongming imitated Yu Xu’s method and deceived me! I cannot equal him in strategy!” He then led the main army back to Luoyang. It was just as the saying goes:When matched opponents meet at the board, neither can easily prevail;When a great commander faces worthy talent, he does not dare grow proud.What ultimately happened when Kongming returned to Chengdu will be explained in the next chapter.