Chapter 102

Sima Yi Occupies the Northern Plain and Wei River Bridge; Zhuge Liang Constructs Wooden Oxen and Gliding Horses

Now Qiao Zhou held the office of Grand Astrologer and was well versed in the signs of Heaven. When he saw that Kongming once more intended to lead an expedition, he entered the palace and memorialized to the Latter Lord: “Your servant is now charged with overseeing the Astronomical Bureau, and whenever signs of fortune or calamity appear, I must report them. Recently, tens of thousands of birds flew in from the south, plunged into the Han River, and died. This is an inauspicious omen. I have also observed the heavens and seen the Kui Star trespass into the domain of Venus. The ascendant force lies in the north, making an attack upon Wei unfavorable. Moreover, all the people of Chengdu have heard the cypress trees weeping at night. In the face of these several portents and prodigies, the Prime Minister should remain carefully on the defensive and must not act rashly.” Kongming said, “I bear the grave charge entrusted to me by the Late Emperor to safeguard his orphaned heir. I must exert all my strength to destroy the rebels. How can I abandon the great affairs of the state because of empty and delusive portents of disaster?” He therefore ordered the proper officials to prepare the full sacrificial offering of ox, sheep, and pig at the temple of Emperor Zhaolie. There, weeping, he bowed and made this declaration: “I, Liang, have marched from Mount Qi five times without gaining a single inch of ground. My guilt is not light! Now I once more command the entire army and again march from Mount Qi. I swear to devote all my strength and all my heart to destroying the traitors of Han and restoring the Central Plains. I shall bend myself to the task and exhaust my strength, ceasing only with death!” When the sacrifice was ended, he took leave of the Latter Lord and traveled through the night to Hanzhong, where he assembled the generals to deliberate upon the expedition. Suddenly a report came that Guan Xing had died of illness. Kongming wailed aloud and fell senseless to the ground. Only after a long while did he revive. The generals repeatedly offered him consolation. Kongming sighed and said, “Alas for a man of loyalty and righteousness, whom Heaven would not grant long life! On this expedition I have lost yet another great general!” A later poet lamented:

Life and death are mankind’s common lot;Like mayflies, all alike return to naught.If loyalty and filial honor endure,Why crave the years of Qiao and the pine?

Kongming led three hundred forty thousand troops of Shu forward in five columns. He appointed Jiang Wei and Wei Yan as vanguard commanders and ordered all five columns to converge at Mount Qi. He also ordered Li Hui to transport provisions in advance to the mouth of the Xie Valley and wait there.

Now in Wei, because a blue dragon had emerged the previous year from a well at Mopo, the reign era had been changed to Qinglong, or Blue Dragon. It was now the second month of spring in the second year of Qinglong. A court attendant reported: “A swift dispatch from the frontier states that more than three hundred thousand troops of Shu have again marched from Mount Qi in five columns.” The Ruler of Wei, Cao Rui, was greatly alarmed and hastily summoned Sima Yi. He said, “The men of Shu have not invaded for three years, but now Zhuge Liang has again marched from Mount Qi. What is to be done?” Yi memorialized: “Last night your servant observed the celestial signs and saw that the ascendant force over the Central Plains was at its height. The Kui Star trespasses against Venus, which is unfavorable to Western River. Kongming, presuming upon his own intelligence, now acts in defiance of Heaven and will thereby bring defeat and destruction upon himself. Relying upon Your Majesty’s boundless blessing, I shall go and break him. I ask leave to recommend four men to accompany me.” Rui said, “Whom do you recommend?” Yi replied, “Xiahou Yuan had four sons. The eldest is named Ba, styled Zhongquan; the second is named Wei, styled Jiquan; the third is named Hui, styled Yaquan; and the fourth is named He, styled Yiquan. Ba and Wei are highly skilled with bow and horse, while Hui and He are versed in military strategy. These four have always desired to avenge their father. I now recommend Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei as commanders of the left and right vanguards, and Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He as Army Controllers, to assist in military planning and drive back the troops of Shu.” Rui said, “Formerly, the Imperial Son-in-law Xiahou Mao mishandled military affairs and lost a great many men and horses. To this day, he remains too ashamed to return. Are these four men of the same sort as Mao?” Yi said, “These four are not to be compared with Mao.” Rui granted his request and at once appointed Sima Yi Commander-in-Chief, with full authority to employ all officers and soldiers according to their abilities and to requisition troops from every quarter. Yi accepted the command, took leave of the court, and departed the city. Rui also bestowed upon him an autograph edict, which read:

When you reach the banks of the Wei River, strengthen your fortifications and hold firm. Do not engage the enemy. When the troops of Shu fail to gain their objective, they will surely feign retreat to lure you after them; take care not to pursue. Wait until their provisions are exhausted, and they will be compelled to withdraw of their own accord. Then take advantage of their weakness and attack. Victory will not be difficult, and the troops and horses will also be spared the hardship of exhaustion. No plan could be better than this.

Sima Yi bowed his head to the ground and accepted the edict. That same day he went to Chang’an and assembled troops from every quarter, four hundred thousand in all, who established camps along the banks of the Wei River. He detached another fifty thousand soldiers to construct nine floating bridges across the river and ordered the vanguard commanders Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei to cross the Wei and encamp. Behind the main camp, he also had a fortified city built on the eastern plain as a precaution against the unexpected. While Yi was deliberating with the generals, it was suddenly reported that Guo Huai and Sun Li had come to see him. Yi welcomed them inside, and after the formal greetings, Huai said, “The troops of Shu are now all at Mount Qi. If they cross the Wei and ascend the plain, link up with the northern hills, and cut the Longxi road, there will be grave danger.” Yi said, “Your words are excellent. You may assume overall command of the troops of Longxi and encamp upon the northern plain. Dig deep moats and raise high ramparts, and keep the troops at rest without moving. Only when the enemy’s provisions are exhausted may you attack.” Guo Huai and Sun Li accepted their orders and led their troops away to encamp.

Kongming, having once more marched from Mount Qi, established five great camps arranged as left, right, center, front, and rear. From the Xie Valley all the way to Jiange, he set up fourteen more camps in an unbroken chain, stationing troops among them as part of a long-term plan, and every day he sent men out on patrol. Suddenly it was reported that Guo Huai and Sun Li had led the troops of Longxi to encamp on the northern plain. Kongming said to the generals, “The Wei troops have encamped on the northern plain because they fear I shall take that road and cut the route to Longxi. I shall now make a feigned attack on the northern plain while secretly seizing the banks of the Wei. Have more than a hundred wooden rafts constructed and loaded with bundles of straw, and choose five thousand experienced boatmen to steer them. By night I shall attack only the northern plain, and Sima Yi will surely lead troops to its relief. If his forces suffer even a minor reverse, I shall first send the rear army across to the opposite bank, then place the front army upon the rafts. They are not to land, but are to drift downstream to the floating bridges, set them afire, and burn them apart, thereby attacking his rear. I shall personally lead a force to seize the gate of his forward camp. Once we gain the ground south of the Wei River, advancing the army will not be difficult.” The generals obeyed his orders and made their preparations.

Patrolmen had already rushed the news to Sima Yi. Yi summoned the generals and said, “There is a stratagem in Kongming’s arrangements. Under the pretext of taking the northern plain, he means to drift downstream and burn our floating bridges, throw our rear into confusion, and then attack our front.” He immediately sent orders to Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei: “If you hear shouting arise from the northern plain, lead your troops into the hills south of the Wei River. Wait there, and strike when the troops of Shu arrive.” He also ordered Zhang Hu and Yue Chen to lead two thousand bowmen and crossbowmen into ambush on the north bank beside the floating bridges: “If the troops of Shu come downstream on wooden rafts, shoot them all together. Do not let them approach the bridges.” He then sent orders to Guo Huai and Sun Li: “Kongming will come to the northern plain while secretly crossing the Wei. Your camp is newly established and has few men and horses, so conceal all of them halfway along his route. If the troops of Shu cross the river after noon, they will surely come to attack you at dusk. Feign defeat and flee, and they will certainly pursue. Then all of you are to shoot them with bows and crossbows. I shall advance both by land and by water. If the troops of Shu come in great force, watch for my signal and strike.” When all these orders had been issued, he further commanded his two sons, Sima Shi and Sima Zhao, to lead troops in support of the forward camp. Yi himself led a force to relieve the northern plain.

Kongming ordered Wei Yan and Ma Dai to lead troops across the Wei River and attack the northern plain. He ordered Wu Ban and Wu Yi to lead the raft-borne troops to burn the floating bridges. He appointed Wang Ping and Zhang Ni to the first division, Jiang Wei and Ma Zhong to the middle division, and Liao Hua and Zhang Yi to the rear division. Dividing the army into three columns, he sent them to attack the landward camp south of the Wei River. At noon that day, the men and horses left the main camp, crossed the Wei in full force, formed their battle array, and advanced slowly. As Wei Yan and Ma Dai drew near the northern plain, darkness had already fallen. Sun Li’s scouts saw them, and he at once abandoned the camp and fled. Wei Yan knew preparations had been made and hastily ordered a retreat, but thunderous cries rose on every side. Sima Yi attacked from the left, Guo Huai from the right, and both forces came on at once. Wei Yan and Ma Dai fought desperately and broke through, but more than half the soldiers of Shu fell into the river, while the rest fled with no road of escape. Fortunately, Wu Yi’s troops came fighting to their rescue, brought the defeated soldiers safely across the river, and held off the enemy. Wu Ban divided off half his troops and had them pole the rafts downstream to burn the floating bridges, but Zhang Hu and Yue Chen checked them from the bank with a storm of arrows. Wu Ban was struck by an arrow, fell into the river, and died. The remaining soldiers leaped into the water to save their lives, and all the wooden rafts were captured by the troops of Wei.

At this time Wang Ping and Zhang Ni, unaware that the troops at the northern plain had been defeated, hastened straight toward the Wei camp. It was already the second watch of the night, and they could hear shouts rising on every side. Wang Ping said to Zhang Ni, “Our troops are attacking the northern plain, but we do not know whether they have won or lost. The camp south of the Wei is directly before us, yet why is not a single Wei soldier to be seen? Can it be that Sima Yi learned of our plan and made preparations in advance? Let us wait until flames rise from the floating bridges; only then should we advance.” The two commanders reined in their troops. Suddenly a rider galloped up from behind and reported, “The Prime Minister orders the army to return at once. Both the force at the northern plain and the force sent against the floating bridges have been lost.” Wang Ping and Zhang Ni were greatly alarmed and hastily ordered a retreat, but the troops of Wei had already circled behind them. At the boom of a cannon, they all charged together, and firelight leaped into the sky. Wang Ping and Zhang Ni led their troops to meet them, and the two armies fought a confused battle. Ping and Ni exerted all their strength and hacked their way out, but more than half the soldiers of Shu were killed or wounded. Kongming returned to the great camp at Mount Qi and gathered the remnants of his army. He had lost more than ten thousand men and was deeply troubled.

Suddenly it was reported that Fei Yi had come from Chengdu to see the Prime Minister. Kongming invited him in. After Fei Yi had made his formal salutations, Kongming said, “I have a letter that I was just about to trouble you to deliver to Eastern Wu. I do not know whether you are willing to go.” Yi replied, “How could I dare decline the Prime Minister’s command?” Kongming immediately wrote the letter and gave it to Fei Yi, who departed. Yi carried the letter directly to Jianye, entered the presence of Sun Quan, the Ruler of Wu, and presented Kongming’s letter. Quan opened and read it. In substance, it said:

The House of Han has suffered misfortune; the royal order has fallen into disarray. The traitor Cao usurped power and rebelled, and his evil has spread down to the present day. I, Liang, received the grave trust of Emperor Zhaolie; how dare I fail to exhaust my strength and devote my whole heart? The great army has now assembled at Mount Qi, and the raging enemy is soon to perish beside the Wei River. I humbly pray that Your Majesty will remember the obligations of our alliance, order your generals to march north, and join us in taking the Central Plains, that together we may divide the realm. A letter cannot express all I would say. I earnestly hope Your Sacred Majesty will heed me!

When Quan had finished reading, he was greatly delighted and said to Fei Yi, “We have long desired to raise troops but have had no opportunity to join forces with Kongming. Now that his letter has arrived, We shall personally raise an army without delay, enter by the Chaohu route, and seize Xincheng in Wei. We shall further order Lu Xun, Zhuge Jin, and the others to station troops at Jiangxia and the mouth of the Mian River and take Xiangyang. Sun Shao, Zhang Cheng, and the others shall march from Guangling to seize Huaiyang and the surrounding districts. The three columns, numbering three hundred thousand men in all, shall advance together, and a day shall be fixed for the expedition.” Fei Yi bowed his thanks and said, “If this is truly done, the Central Plains will soon be broken!” Quan gave a banquet in Fei Yi’s honor. During the feast, Quan asked, “In the Prime Minister’s army, whom does he employ foremost to break the enemy?” Yi replied, “Wei Yan.” Quan laughed and said, “This man has courage to spare, but his heart is not upright. If one day Kongming is no more, he will surely cause disaster. Can Kongming be unaware of this?” Yi said, “Your Majesty’s words are entirely just! When your servant returns, I shall report them to Kongming.” He then bowed farewell to Sun Quan and returned to Mount Qi. On seeing Kongming, he gave a full account of how the Ruler of Wu had raised a great army of three hundred thousand men, had personally taken the field, and had divided his forces into three columns. Kongming then asked, “Did the Ruler of Wu say anything else?” Fei Yi related what he had said concerning Wei Yan. Kongming sighed and said, “He is truly an intelligent ruler! It is not that I do not understand this man. I employ him only because I value his courage.” Yi said, “The Prime Minister should make arrangements concerning him while there is still time.” Kongming replied, “I have my own method.” Fei Yi took leave of Kongming and returned to Chengdu.

Kongming was deliberating with the generals on how to advance when it was suddenly reported that a Wei commander had come to surrender. Kongming summoned the man and questioned him. He replied, “I am Zheng Wen, a Deputy General of Wei. Recently Qin Lang and I were jointly given troops and placed at Sima Yi’s disposal. Unexpectedly, Yi showed favoritism and partiality, promoting Qin Lang to General of the Vanguard while treating me like dirt beneath his feet. Resenting this injustice, I have come expressly to surrender to the Prime Minister. I beg you to accept me into your service.” Before he had finished speaking, a man reported that Qin Lang had led troops outside the camp and was challenging Zheng Wen alone to battle. Kongming asked, “How does this man’s martial skill compare with yours?” Zheng Wen replied, “I shall cut him down at once.” Kongming said, “Only if you first kill Qin Lang will I cease to doubt you.” Zheng Wen mounted gladly and rode out of camp to fight Qin Lang. Kongming personally left the camp to watch. Qin Lang leveled his spear and shouted abuse: “Rebel! You stole my warhorse and came here. Return it to me at once!” With that, he rode straight at Zheng Wen. Wen spurred forward, brandishing his saber to meet him, and in a single bout cut Qin Lang down from his horse. The Wei troops scattered and fled. Zheng Wen carried the severed head back into camp.

Kongming returned to his tent and seated himself, then summoned Zheng Wen before him. Suddenly flying into a rage, he ordered the guards to drag Wen out and behead him. Zheng Wen cried, “This junior commander is innocent!” Kongming said, “I have known Qin Lang in the past. The man you have just killed was not Qin Lang at all. How dare you deceive me?” Wen bowed and pleaded, “He was in truth Qin Lang’s younger brother, Qin Ming.” Kongming laughed and said, “Sima Yi sent you here to feign surrender and work some treachery from within. How could you hope to deceive me? Unless you tell the truth, you shall certainly be beheaded!” Zheng Wen had no choice but to confess that his surrender was indeed a ruse, and he wept and begged to be spared. Kongming said, “Since you wish to live, write a letter telling Sima Yi to come in person and raid my camp, and I shall spare your life. If Sima Yi is captured, the merit will be yours, and I shall employ you in an important post.” Zheng Wen had no choice but to write a letter and present it to Kongming. Kongming ordered Zheng Wen placed under guard. Fan Jian asked, “How did the Prime Minister know this man was feigning surrender?” Kongming replied, “Sima Yi does not employ men lightly. If he promoted Qin Lang to General of the Vanguard, Qin Lang’s martial skill must be formidable. Yet the man who crossed weapons with Zheng Wen was killed by him in a single bout; therefore, he could not have been Qin Lang. From this I knew the surrender was false.” All present bowed in admiration.

Kongming selected an eloquent soldier and whispered detailed instructions into his ear. The soldier accepted the command, took the letter, and went directly to the Wei camp, where he asked to see Sima Yi. Yi summoned him inside, opened the letter, and read it. He then asked, “Who are you?” The man replied, “I am a native of the Central Plains who became stranded in Shu. Zheng Wen and I come from the same district. Now Kongming has appointed Zheng Wen commander of the vanguard because of his achievement. Zheng Wen entrusted me with this letter and bids me tell you that tomorrow evening he will raise a fire as a signal. He humbly requests that the Commander-in-Chief personally lead the main army to raid the camp, while Zheng Wen responds from within.” Sima Yi questioned him repeatedly, then carefully examined the letter again and found that it indeed appeared genuine. He gave the soldier wine and food and instructed him, “The appointed hour shall be the second watch tonight. I shall come in person to raid the camp. If the great enterprise succeeds, you shall certainly be given important employment.” The soldier bowed farewell, returned to his own camp, and reported everything to Kongming. Kongming took up his sword, paced the steps of the Dipper, and completed his invocations. He then summoned Wang Ping and Zhang Ni and instructed them in this fashion and that; summoned Ma Zhong and Ma Dai and instructed them in this fashion and that; and summoned Wei Yan and instructed him in this fashion and that. Kongming himself led several dozen men to the summit of a high mountain, from which he directed the whole army.

When Sima Yi had read Zheng Wen’s letter, he wished to take his two sons and lead the main army in a raid upon the Shu camp. His eldest son, Sima Shi, remonstrated: “Father, why should you trust a mere scrap of paper and personally enter such perilous ground? If anything should go amiss, what could be done? It would be better to send another commander ahead while you follow in support.” Yi accepted his counsel and ordered Qin Lang to lead ten thousand troops in a raid upon the Shu camp, while he himself brought up troops in support. During the first watch that night, the wind was clear and the moon shone brightly. But as the second watch approached, dark clouds suddenly closed in from every direction, and black vapor filled the sky until one could not see the person opposite. Yi was overjoyed and said, “Heaven means me to succeed!” Thereupon every man held a gag between his teeth, every horse’s bit was muffled, and they drove swiftly forward. Qin Lang led the way, taking ten thousand troops directly into the Shu camp, where not a single man was to be seen. Realizing that he had fallen into a trap, Lang hastily ordered a retreat. Suddenly torches blazed on every side and shouts shook the earth. Wang Ping and Zhang Ni attacked from the left, Ma Dai and Ma Zhong from the right, and both forces came on together. Qin Lang fought desperately but could not break free. Behind him, Sima Yi saw flames leaping high from the Shu camp and heard unceasing battle cries. Not knowing whether the Wei troops had won or lost, he merely urged his men forward in support and charged toward the firelight. Suddenly a great cry arose; drums and horns clamored to the heavens, and fire-cannon shook the earth. Wei Yan burst out on the left and Jiang Wei on the right. The Wei troops were utterly defeated; eight or nine of every ten were killed or wounded, and the survivors scattered in flight. By then, the ten thousand troops led by Qin Lang had all been surrounded by the soldiers of Shu, whose arrows fell like flying locusts. Qin Lang died amid the chaos of battle. Sima Yi led his defeated troops back into his own camp.

After the third watch, the sky became clear again. From the mountaintop Kongming sounded the gong to recall his army. It turned out that the dark clouds closing in from every direction during the second watch had been raised by Kongming through the arts of Dunjia. Once the troops had been withdrawn and the sky cleared again, it was because Kongming had commanded the Spirits of the Six Ding and Six Jia to sweep away the drifting clouds. Kongming returned victorious to camp and ordered Zheng Wen beheaded. He then began planning how to take the ground south of the Wei. Every day he sent soldiers to challenge the enemy, but the Wei army steadfastly refused to come out. Kongming rode in his small carriage to the front of Mount Qi and surveyed the terrain east and west along the Wei River. Suddenly he came to the mouth of a valley shaped like a gourd, with room inside for more than a thousand men. Beyond it, two hills joined around another valley that could hold four or five hundred men. At the rear, two hills curved around in an embrace, leaving a passage wide enough for only one man and one horse. Kongming examined it and was greatly delighted. He asked the local guide, “What is the name of this valley?” The guide replied, “It is called Shangfang Valley, and is also known as Gourd Valley.” Kongming returned to his tent and summoned the subordinate commanders Du Rui and Hu Zhong, to whom he whispered a secret plan. He ordered them to assemble more than a thousand artisans attached to the army and take them into Gourd Valley to manufacture “wooden oxen and gliding horses” for future use. He further ordered Ma Dai to lead five hundred soldiers to guard the mouth of the valley. Kongming charged Ma Dai: “None of the artisans is to be allowed out, and no outsider is to be allowed in. I shall come from time to time to inspect the work myself. My plan for capturing Sima Yi depends entirely upon this undertaking. Under no circumstances may word of it leak out.” Ma Dai accepted the command and departed. Du Rui, Hu Zhong, and the others supervised the artisans within the valley and had them manufacture the devices according to the prescribed method. Every day Kongming came in person to instruct them.

One day Chief Clerk Yang Yi entered and reported: “All our grain is now at Jiange, but transport by laborers, oxen, and horses is difficult. What is to be done?” Kongming laughed and said, “I have long been making plans for its transport. From the timber previously stockpiled, together with the great logs purchased in Western River, I have ordered men to construct ‘wooden oxen and gliding horses’ for carrying grain. They are exceedingly convenient. Neither the oxen nor the horses require water or food, and they can transport supplies without pause by day or night.” All present exclaimed in astonishment, “From ancient times to the present, no one has ever heard of wooden oxen and gliding horses. What marvelous method does the Prime Minister possess for constructing such wondrous objects?” Kongming said, “I have already ordered men to manufacture them according to the method, but they are not yet complete. I shall now write out clearly the method for constructing wooden oxen and gliding horses, giving all dimensions, shapes, lengths, breadths, and widths, so that you may examine it.” All were delighted. Kongming immediately wrote out a sheet with his own hand and gave it to them to read. The generals gathered around to inspect it. The method for constructing the wooden ox read:

A square belly and curved shins, one belly and four feet. The head enters into the neck, and the tongue is set against the belly. Carrying much, it travels little. One traveling alone covers several tens of li; traveling in a group, thirty li. The curved pieces form the ox’s head, the paired pieces its feet. The crosspiece forms the ox’s neck, the turning pieces its hooves. The covering forms the ox’s back, the square piece its belly. The hanging piece forms the ox’s tongue, the curved pieces its ribs. The notched pieces form the ox’s teeth, the upright pieces its horns. The slender piece forms the ox’s yoke, and the gathered pieces form its crupper and girth. The ox is controlled by twin shafts. For every six feet a man walks, the ox takes four steps. The man suffers no great toil, and the ox neither drinks nor eats.

The method for constructing the gliding horse read:

The ribs are three feet five inches long, three inches wide, and two inches five fen thick; the left and right are alike. The marked line for the front axle hole is four inches from the head, and the hole is two inches in diameter. The marked line for the front leg hole is four inches five fen from the head; the hole is one inch five fen long and one inch wide. The shaft hole is three inches seven fen from the marked line of the front leg hole; the hole is two inches long and one inch wide. The rear axle hole is one foot five inches from the marked line of the front shaft, and is the same size as the front. The marked line for the rear leg hole is one inch two fen from the rear axle hole and three inches five fen away; its dimensions are the same as those in front. The rear shaft hole is two inches seven fen from the marked line of the rear leg hole. The rear carrying section ends four inches five fen from the marked line of the rear shaft hole. The front shaft is one foot eight inches long, two inches wide, and one inch five fen thick. The rear shaft is the same. There are two square plank compartments, each eight fen thick, two feet seven inches long, one foot six inches five fen high, and one foot six inches wide; each holds two hu and three dou of grain. From the upper shaft hole to the lower edge of the rib is seven inches; front and rear are alike. From the upper shaft hole to the marked line of the lower shaft hole is one foot three inches. The holes are one inch five fen long and seven fen wide; all eight holes are alike. Each of the four legs, front and rear, is two inches wide and one inch five fen thick. The form resembles an elephant. The raised front is four inches long and measures four inches three fen across the face. Through the central holes passes the three-legged shaft, two feet one inch long, one inch five fen wide, and one inch four fen thick.

When the generals had read it through, they all bowed to the ground and said, “The Prime Minister is truly a divine man!” Several days later, all the wooden oxen and gliding horses were completed. They looked exactly like living creatures and proved convenient whether ascending mountains or descending ridges. When the soldiers saw them, not one failed to rejoice. Kongming ordered General of the Right Gao Xiang to lead one thousand troops in guiding the wooden oxen and gliding horses from Jiange directly to the great camp at Mount Qi, carrying provisions back and forth to supply the army of Shu. A later poet praised them:

Through Jiange’s perilous heights the gliding horses press;Along the Xie Valley’s rugged paths the wooden oxen pass.If later ages could but put this method into use,How could transporting grain and stores bring men distress?

Sima Yi was sunk in worry when a scout suddenly reported: “The troops of Shu are using wooden oxen and gliding horses to transport provisions. The men suffer little toil, while the oxen and horses consume no food.” Yi was greatly alarmed and said, “The reason I have held firm and refused battle is that their provisions could not be kept supplied, and I meant to wait for them to perish of their own accord. Now that they employ this method, they must be planning to remain a long time and have no thought of retreat. What is to be done?” He hastily summoned Zhang Hu and Yue Chen and instructed them: “Each of you is to lead five hundred soldiers by the narrow path through the Xie Valley. Wait until the Shu troops have driven the wooden oxen and gliding horses past. Let all of them pass, then rush out together. Do not seize too many; take only three or five apiece and return.” The two obeyed his order. Each led five hundred soldiers disguised as troops of Shu, slipped by night along the narrow path, and lay in ambush in the valley. Sure enough, they saw Gao Xiang approaching with soldiers driving the wooden oxen and gliding horses. When nearly all had passed, the hidden troops raised a clamor on both sides and rushed out. Taken completely unawares, the troops of Shu abandoned several of the devices. Zhang Hu and Yue Chen joyfully drove them back to their own camp. When Sima Yi inspected them, he found that they advanced and withdrew exactly like living creatures. He was overjoyed and said, “If you can use this method, do you suppose I cannot?” He immediately summoned more than a hundred skilled artisans, had the devices dismantled before them, and ordered them to construct identical wooden oxen and gliding horses according to the same dimensions of length, breadth, and thickness. In less than half a month, they completed more than two thousand. They were made on the same principles as Kongming’s and could likewise move. Yi then ordered Cen Wei, General Who Guards the Distant Lands, to lead one thousand soldiers in driving the wooden oxen and gliding horses to Longxi to transport provisions in an unceasing stream. Every officer and soldier in the Wei camp rejoiced.

Gao Xiang returned to Kongming and reported that the Wei troops had carried off five or six wooden oxen and gliding horses apiece. Kongming laughed and said, “That is precisely why I wanted them to seize the devices. I have expended only a few wooden oxen and gliding horses, but before long I shall gain a great quantity of supplies for our army.” The generals asked, “How does the Prime Minister know this?” Kongming replied, “When Sima Yi sees the wooden oxen and gliding horses, he will certainly imitate my design and construct identical ones. When that time comes, I shall have another stratagem.” Several days later, a man reported that the Wei army had also learned to construct wooden oxen and gliding horses and was using them to transport provisions from Longxi. Kongming was overjoyed and said, “It has turned out exactly as I calculated.” He summoned Wang Ping and instructed him: “Lead one thousand troops disguised as soldiers of Wei and slip past the northern plain under cover of night. Say that you are a grain-patroling force, mingle with their transport column, and kill or scatter all those guarding the supplies. Then drive the wooden oxen and gliding horses back and hasten straight past the northern plain. Wei troops will surely pursue you there. Twist around the tongues inside the mouths of the wooden oxen and gliding horses, and they will be unable to move. Abandon them and flee. When the pursuing Wei troops arrive, they will be unable to drag them forward or carry them away. I shall send another force to the spot. You are then to turn back, twist the tongues of the oxen and horses around once more, and drive them swiftly away. The Wei troops will certainly think it a marvel.”

Wang Ping received the plan and led his troops away. Kongming then summoned Zhang Ni and instructed him: “Lead five hundred soldiers, all disguised as divine warriors of the Six Ding and Six Jia, with demon heads and beastlike bodies. Paint their faces in five colors and array them in every manner of strange and monstrous guise. Each man is to hold an embroidered banner in one hand and a precious sword in the other. Hang gourds upon their bodies, filled with materials for producing smoke and fire, and conceal them beside the mountain. When the wooden oxen and gliding horses arrive, set off the smoke and fire, rush out all together, and drive the oxen and horses away. When the Wei troops see you, they will surely take you for gods and spirits and will not dare pursue.” Zhang Ni accepted the plan and led his troops away. Kongming then summoned Jiang Wei and Wei Yan and instructed them: “Together lead ten thousand troops to the mouth of the camp on the northern plain, where you are to meet and support the wooden oxen and gliding horses in case fighting occurs.” Next he summoned Liao Hua and Zhang Yi and instructed them: “Lead five thousand troops to cut off Sima Yi’s road of approach.” Finally, he summoned Ma Zhong and Ma Dai and instructed them: “Lead two thousand troops south of the Wei to challenge the enemy.” The six commanders each obeyed their orders and departed.

Now the Wei general Cen Wei was leading his troops as they drove the wooden oxen and gliding horses loaded with grain. While they were on the march, it was suddenly reported that a force ahead was patrolling the grain route. Cen Wei sent men to reconnoiter and found that they were indeed Wei troops, so he continued forward without concern. The two forces joined together. Suddenly a tremendous shout arose, and the Shu troops began killing from within the column itself, crying, “Wang Ping, great general of Shu, is here!” The Wei troops were caught entirely unprepared, and more than half were slain. Cen Wei led the defeated soldiers in resistance, but Wang Ping cut him down with one stroke of his saber. All the rest broke and scattered. Wang Ping led his troops back, driving away all the wooden oxen and gliding horses. The defeated soldiers fled at full speed and reported the disaster at the camp on the northern plain. When Guo Huai heard that the army’s provisions had been seized, he hastily led troops to the rescue. Wang Ping ordered his men to twist around the tongues of the wooden oxen and gliding horses, abandon them all upon the road, and withdraw while fighting. Guo Huai ordered his troops to cease pursuit and merely drive the wooden oxen and gliding horses back. All the soldiers tried to drive them forward together, but how could they make them move? Guo Huai was filled with suspicion. While he stood helpless, drums and horns suddenly clamored to the heavens and shouts arose on every side. Two forces came charging in: they were led by Wei Yan and Jiang Wei. Wang Ping also turned his troops and attacked again. Assailed from three directions, Guo Huai suffered a great defeat and fled. Wang Ping ordered his soldiers to twist the tongues of the oxen and horses back again, and they drove the devices away. When Guo Huai saw this, he was just about to turn his troops back in pursuit when clouds of smoke suddenly billowed up behind the mountain. A company of divine warriors came surging forth, each holding a banner and sword and wearing a strange and monstrous appearance. They drove the wooden oxen and gliding horses away like a rushing wind. Guo Huai cried out in alarm, “They must have the aid of the gods!” When his soldiers saw them, all were struck with awe and terror, and none dared pursue.

When Sima Yi heard that the troops on the northern plain had been defeated, he hastily led an army in person to their rescue. He had gone only halfway when a cannon suddenly boomed and two forces charged from the rugged heights, their shouts shaking the earth. Upon their banners were written in great characters: “Han Generals Zhang Yi and Liao Hua.” Sima Yi was greatly alarmed at the sight. The Wei troops fell into panic and scattered in flight. Truly:

Divine commanders bar his road, his grain is seized away;Strange troops now threaten his own life with peril and dismay.

How Sima Yi resisted the attack will be told in the next chapter.

Sima Yi Occupies the Northern Plain and Wei River Bridge; Zhuge Liang Constructs Wooden Oxen and Gliding Horses

Now Qiao Zhou held the office of Grand Historian and was quite knowledgeable about astronomy. When he saw that Kongming again intended to take the field, he entered the palace and memorialized to the Latter Emperor: “I am now in charge of the Astronomical Bureau, and whenever signs of good or ill fortune appear, I cannot fail to report them. Recently tens of thousands of birds flew in from the south, plunged into the Han River, and died. This is an inauspicious omen. I have also observed the heavens and seen the Kui Star moving through the domain of Venus, while the dominant vital force lies in the north. This is unfavorable for an attack on Wei. Moreover, all the people of Chengdu have heard cypress trees weeping at night. With so many strange and disastrous portents, the Prime Minister should maintain a cautious defense and must not act rashly.” Kongming said, “The late emperor entrusted his orphaned heir to me, a responsibility of the utmost gravity. I must exert all my strength to destroy the rebels. How could I abandon the great affairs of the state because of empty and groundless omens of disaster?” He accordingly ordered the proper officials to prepare a full sacrifice of ox, sheep, and pig at the temple of Emperor Zhaolie. Weeping, he bowed and made this declaration: “I, Liang, have marched out from Mount Qi five times without gaining a single inch of land. My guilt is no light matter! Now I again command the entire army and march out from Mount Qi once more. I swear to devote all my strength and all my heart to exterminating the traitors who oppose the Han and recovering the Central Plains. I shall bend myself to the task and exhaust my strength until death alone ends my labors!” When the sacrifice was over, he bowed farewell to the Latter Emperor and traveled day and night to Hanzhong, where he assembled the officers to discuss the campaign. Suddenly a report came that Guan Xing had died of illness. Kongming wailed aloud and collapsed unconscious to the ground. It was a long while before he revived. The officers repeatedly tried to console him. Kongming sighed and said, “How pitiful that Heaven would not grant long life to a man so loyal and righteous! On this campaign I have lost yet another great commander!” A later poet lamented:For living men, death is the constant law;Like mayflies, all their lives dissolve to nothing.If loyalty and filial honor endure,Why must one live as long as Qiao and Song?

Kongming led 340,000 troops from Shu forward in five columns. He appointed Jiang Wei and Wei Yan as the vanguard commanders, ordering them all to rendezvous after emerging at Mount Qi. He instructed Li Hui to transport provisions ahead to the mouth of the Xie Valley and wait there.

Now in Wei, because a blue dragon had emerged the previous year from a well at Mopo, the reign period had been changed to Qinglong. It was now the second month of spring in the second year of Qinglong. A close attendant memorialized: “The frontier officials have sent an urgent report that more than 300,000 troops from Shu have again marched out from Mount Qi in five columns.” The ruler of Wei, Cao Rui, was greatly alarmed. He hastily summoned Sima Yi and said to him, “The men of Shu have not invaded for three years. Now Zhuge Liang has again marched out from Mount Qi. What are we to do?” Yi memorialized: “Last night I observed the heavens and saw that the Central Plains’ ascendant vital force is now at its height, while the Kui Star is encroaching upon Venus. This is unfavorable for Western Chuan. Kongming now relies arrogantly upon his own talent and wisdom and acts in defiance of Heaven. He is bringing defeat and destruction upon himself. Relying upon Your Majesty’s vast good fortune, I shall go and defeat him. I ask permission to recommend four men to accompany me.” Rui said, “Whom do you recommend?” Yi said, “Xiahou Yuan had four sons. The eldest is named Ba, with the courtesy name Zhongquan; the second is named Wei, with the courtesy name Jiquan; the third is named Hui, with the courtesy name Yaquan; and the fourth is named He, with the courtesy name Yiquan. Ba and Wei are highly skilled in archery and horsemanship, while Hui and He are well versed in military strategy. All four have long wished to avenge their father. I now recommend Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei as the left and right vanguard commanders, and Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He as military secretaries to assist jointly in planning the campaign and driving back the troops of Shu.” Rui said, “Previously the Prince Consort Xiahou Mao mishandled military affairs, losing many soldiers and horses, and to this day he has been too ashamed to return. Are these four men the same sort as Mao?” Yi said, “These four cannot be compared with Mao.” Rui therefore granted his request and appointed Sima Yi Commander-in-Chief, authorizing him to employ every officer and soldier according to his ability and to mobilize troops from every region. Yi accepted his orders, took leave of the court, and departed the capital. Rui also gave Yi a handwritten edict:When you reach the banks of the Wei River, you should fortify your positions and defend them securely. Do not engage the enemy. When the Shu troops fail to achieve their aims, they will certainly feign retreat to lure you after them. You must take care not to pursue. Wait until their provisions are exhausted, and they will inevitably withdraw of their own accord. Then exploit their weakness and attack. Victory will not be difficult, and you will also spare the soldiers and horses the hardship of exhaustion. No plan could be better than this.

Sima Yi bowed his head to the ground and accepted the edict. That same day he reached Chang’an and assembled forces from every region, totaling 400,000 men, all of whom came to encamp along the Wei River. He then detached another 50,000 troops to build nine pontoon bridges across the Wei and ordered the vanguard commanders Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei to cross the river and establish a camp. Behind the main camp, he also had a fortified city built on the eastern plateau as protection against unforeseen danger. While Yi was discussing matters with the officers, it was suddenly reported that Guo Huai and Sun Li had come to see him. Yi welcomed them inside, and after they had exchanged formal greetings, Huai said, “The Shu troops are now all at Mount Qi. If they cross the Wei, ascend the plateau, and link their position to the northern hills, they will cut off the road to Longxi. That would be a grave danger.” Yi said, “Your words are excellent. You may assume overall command of the troops in Longxi, occupy the northern plateau, and establish a camp there. Dig deep trenches, build high ramparts, and keep your forces still. Only when the enemy’s provisions are exhausted may you attack.” Guo Huai and Sun Li accepted the order and led their troops away to make camp.

Now Kongming once again emerged at Mount Qi and established five large camps, arranged to the left, right, center, front, and rear. From the Xie Valley all the way back to Jiange, he established another fourteen camps in succession and stationed troops among them, making preparations for a protracted campaign. Every day he sent men out on patrol. Suddenly it was reported that Guo Huai and Sun Li had led the troops of Longxi to establish a camp on the northern plateau. Kongming said to the officers, “The Wei troops have camped on the northern plateau because they fear I will seize this route and cut off the road to Longxi. I shall now make a feigned attack on the northern plateau while secretly taking the banks of the Wei. Have more than a hundred wooden rafts lashed together and load them with bundles of straw. Select five thousand experienced boatmen to steer them. I shall make a night attack only against the northern plateau, and Sima Yi will certainly lead troops to its rescue. If his forces suffer even a small defeat, I will first send my rear force across to the opposite bank. Then I will put the front force aboard the rafts and order them not to land, but to follow the current to the pontoon bridges, set fire to them, and burn them apart, thereby attacking the enemy’s rear. I myself will lead a force to seize the gate of his forward camp. Once we gain the land south of the Wei River, advancing our army will not be difficult.” The officers obeyed his orders and made their preparations.

Scouting troops had already rushed the news to Sima Yi. Yi summoned the officers and said, “There is a scheme behind Kongming’s arrangements. He will claim to be attacking the northern plateau while sending men downstream to burn the pontoon bridges and throw our rear into disorder, after which he will attack our front.” He immediately issued an order to Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei: “If you hear battle cries from the northern plateau, take your troops into the hills south of the Wei River. Wait for the Shu troops to arrive, then attack them.” He also ordered Zhang Hu and Yue Chen to lead two thousand crossbowmen into ambush on the north bank beside the pontoon bridges: “If the Shu troops come downstream on wooden rafts, shoot at them all together. Do not let them approach the bridges.” He also sent orders to Guo Huai and Sun Li: “Kongming will come to the northern plateau while secretly crossing the Wei River. Your camp is newly established and does not contain many soldiers or horses, so conceal all your troops along the road. If the Shu troops cross the river in the afternoon, they will certainly attack you around dusk. Pretend to be defeated and flee, and the Shu troops will certainly pursue. Then all of you are to shoot them with bows and crossbows. I shall advance by both water and land. If the Shu army arrives in great strength, simply watch for my signal before attacking.” When all these orders had been issued, he instructed his two sons, Sima Shi and Sima Zhao, to lead troops in support of the forward camp. Yi himself led a force to relieve the northern plateau.

Now Kongming ordered Wei Yan and Ma Dai to lead troops across the Wei River and attack the northern plateau. He ordered Wu Ban and Wu Yi to lead the troops on the wooden rafts to burn the pontoon bridges. He appointed Wang Ping and Zhang Ni to the front division, Jiang Wei and Ma Zhong to the middle division, and Liao Hua and Zhang Yi to the rear division. Divided into three columns, they went to attack the Wei land camp south of the river. At noon that day, the men and horses left the main camp, crossed the Wei River, formed their battle lines, and advanced slowly. Wei Yan and Ma Dai were drawing near the northern plateau when darkness fell. Sun Li’s scouts saw them, and he immediately abandoned his camp and fled. Wei Yan realized that preparations had been made and hurriedly ordered a retreat, but tremendous cries erupted on every side. Sima Yi attacked from the left and Guo Huai from the right. Wei Yan and Ma Dai fought desperately to break out. More than half the Shu troops fell into the river, while the rest had no road by which to escape. Fortunately, Wu Yi’s troops charged in, rescued the defeated soldiers, brought them across the river, and held the enemy at bay. Wu Ban sent half his troops to pole their rafts downstream and burn the pontoon bridges, but Zhang Hu and Yue Chen stopped them with a storm of arrows from the bank. Wu Ban was struck by an arrow, fell into the water, and died. The remaining troops leaped into the river to save themselves, and all the wooden rafts were captured by the Wei forces.

At this time Wang Ping and Zhang Ni did not know that the troops at the northern plateau had been defeated. They advanced directly toward the Wei camp, and it was already the second watch when they heard battle cries rising on every side. Wang Ping said to Zhang Ni, “Our troops attacked the northern plateau, but we do not yet know whether they won or lost. The camp south of the Wei is right before us, so why do we not see a single Wei soldier? Could Sima Yi have learned of the plan and prepared for us in advance? Let us wait until we see the pontoon bridges catch fire before we advance.” The two halted their troops and horses. Suddenly a rider came from behind and reported, “The Prime Minister orders the army to withdraw at once. Both the force at the northern plateau and the force sent against the pontoon bridges have been defeated.” Wang Ping and Zhang Ni were greatly alarmed and hastily withdrew. But the Wei troops had already come around behind them. At the blast of a cannon, they charged all at once, and flames surged into the sky. Wang Ping and Zhang Ni led their troops to meet them, and the two armies fought a confused battle. Ping and Ni fought desperately and broke out, but more than half the Shu troops were killed or wounded. Kongming returned to the main camp at Mount Qi and gathered the remnants of his army. He had lost more than ten thousand men and was deeply troubled.

Suddenly it was reported that Fei Yi had come from Chengdu to see the Prime Minister. Kongming had him brought in. After Fei Yi had paid his respects, Kongming said, “I have a letter that I was just about to trouble you to deliver to Eastern Wu. I do not know whether you are willing to go.” Yi said, “How would I dare refuse the Prime Minister’s command?” Kongming immediately composed a letter and gave it to Fei Yi, who departed. Carrying the letter, Yi went directly to Jianye, entered the palace to see Sun Quan, ruler of Wu, and presented Kongming’s letter. Quan opened and read it. In substance, it said:The imperial house of Han has suffered misfortune, the principles of royal government have fallen into disorder, and the traitorous Cao clan has usurped power and prolonged its rebellion to the present day. I, Liang, received the weighty trust of Emperor Zhaolie. How would I dare fail to exert all my strength and devote my entire heart? Our great army is now assembled at Mount Qi, and the savage enemy is about to perish beside the Wei River. I humbly hope that Your Majesty will remember the obligations of our alliance, order your generals to march north, and join us in taking the Central Plains and dividing the realm between us. A letter cannot fully express my meaning. I earnestly hope Your Sacred Majesty will heed this request!

When Quan finished reading, he was delighted and said to Fei Yi, “I have long wished to raise an army but have had no opportunity to coordinate with Kongming. Now that his letter has arrived, I myself will raise an army immediately, advance through the gate of Ruxu to Chao, and take Xincheng from Wei. I shall also order Lu Xun, Zhuge Jin, and the others to station troops at Jiangxia and the mouth of the Mian River and seize Xiangyang. Sun Shao, Zhang Cheng, and the others will march from Guangling to seize Huaiyang and the surrounding regions. The three columns, totaling 300,000 men, will advance together, and I shall set a date for the campaign.” Fei Yi bowed in thanks and said, “If this is truly done, the Central Plains will soon fall of themselves!” Quan gave a banquet in Fei Yi’s honor. During the feast, Quan asked, “In the Prime Minister’s army, whom does he use first to break the enemy?” Yi said, “Wei Yan is foremost.” Quan laughed and said, “That man has courage to spare, but his heart is not upright. If one day Kongming is no longer there, Wei Yan will certainly bring disaster. Can Kongming truly be unaware of this?” Yi said, “Your Majesty’s words are entirely correct! When I return, I shall immediately report them to Kongming.” He then bowed farewell to Sun Quan and returned to Mount Qi. On seeing Kongming, he gave a full account of how the ruler of Wu was raising a great army of 300,000 men, would personally lead the campaign, and had divided the forces into three columns. Kongming then asked, “Did the ruler of Wu say anything else?” Fei Yi related what he had said about Wei Yan. Kongming sighed and said, “He is truly an intelligent ruler! It is not that I do not understand this man. I use him only because I value his courage.” Yi said, “The Prime Minister should make arrangements early.” Kongming said, “I have my own method.” Fei Yi took leave of Kongming and returned to Chengdu.

Kongming was discussing the advance with the officers when it was suddenly reported that a Wei commander had come to surrender. Kongming had him brought in and questioned him. The man answered, “I am Zheng Wen, an Assistant General of Wei. Recently Qin Lang and I jointly commanded troops under Sima Yi’s direction. Unexpectedly, Yi showed favoritism and partiality, promoted Qin Lang to General of the Vanguard, and treated me like dirt. Resentful of this injustice, I have come especially to surrender to the Prime Minister. I beg you to accept me into your service.” Before he had finished speaking, a man reported that Qin Lang had led troops outside the camp and was challenging Zheng Wen alone to battle. Kongming said, “How does this man’s martial skill compare with yours?” Zheng Wen said, “I will behead him on the spot.” Kongming said, “Only if you first kill Qin Lang will I cease to doubt you.” Zheng Wen gladly mounted his horse, rode out of the camp, and engaged Qin Lang. Kongming personally left the camp to watch. Qin Lang leveled his spear and cursed loudly, “Rebel! You stole my warhorse and came here with it. Return it to me at once!” When he had finished speaking, he charged straight at Zheng Wen. Wen spurred his horse forward, brandishing his saber to meet him, and in a single exchange cut Qin Lang down from his horse. The Wei troops scattered and fled. Zheng Wen carried the severed head into the camp.

Kongming returned to his tent and took his seat. He summoned Zheng Wen, then suddenly flew into a rage and ordered the attendants to drag him out and execute him. Zheng Wen said, “I have committed no crime!” Kongming said, “I knew Qin Lang before. The man you just killed was not Qin Lang. How dare you deceive me!” Wen bowed and pleaded, “That truly was Qin Lang’s younger brother, Qin Ming.” Kongming laughed and said, “Sima Yi ordered you to come here under a false surrender and work some scheme within my camp. How could you possibly deceive me? Unless you tell me the truth, I will certainly have you executed!” Zheng Wen had no choice but to confess that his surrender was indeed false. Weeping, he begged to be spared. Kongming said, “Since you wish to live, you may write a letter telling Sima Yi to come in person and raid my camp. Then I will spare your life. If Sima Yi is captured, the credit will be yours, and I will give you an important post.” Zheng Wen had no choice but to write a letter and present it to Kongming. Kongming ordered that Zheng Wen be taken away under guard. Fan Jian asked, “How did the Prime Minister know that this man’s surrender was false?” Kongming said, “Sima Yi does not employ men lightly. If he promoted Qin Lang to General of the Vanguard, Qin Lang’s martial skill must be formidable. Yet when he and Zheng Wen crossed weapons on horseback, Wen killed him in a single exchange. The man therefore could not have been Qin Lang. That is how I knew the surrender was false.” Everyone bowed in admiration.

Kongming selected an eloquent soldier and whispered detailed instructions into his ear. The soldier accepted the order, took the letter, and went directly to the Wei camp, where he asked to see Sima Yi. Yi summoned him inside, opened the letter, and read it. Then he asked, “Who are you?” The man answered, “I am from the Central Plains but was stranded in Shu. Zheng Wen and I come from the same district. Kongming has now appointed Zheng Wen vanguard commander because of his meritorious service. Zheng Wen specially entrusted me with this letter. Tomorrow evening he will raise a fire as a signal, and he respectfully asks the Commander-in-Chief to lead the main army in person to raid the camp. Zheng Wen will respond from within.” Sima Yi questioned him again and again, then carefully examined the letter. Convinced that it was genuine, he gave the soldier wine and food and instructed him: “The appointed time will be the second watch tomorrow night. I shall personally come to raid the camp. If the great enterprise succeeds, I will certainly give you an important post.” The soldier bowed farewell, returned to his own camp, and reported everything to Kongming. Kongming took up his sword, paced the ritual pattern of the stars, and completed his prayers. He then summoned Wang Ping and Zhang Ni and instructed them in detail. Next he summoned Ma Zhong and Ma Dai and gave them their instructions. He then called Wei Yan and likewise instructed him. Kongming himself led several dozen men to the summit of a high mountain, where he sat and directed the entire army.

Now after Sima Yi saw Zheng Wen’s letter, he intended to lead his two sons and the main army in a raid on the Shu camp. His eldest son, Sima Shi, remonstrated with him: “Father, why would you personally enter such a dangerous place on the evidence of a single scrap of paper? If anything goes wrong, what will you do? It would be better to send another commander ahead while you follow in support.” Yi accepted his advice and ordered Qin Lang to lead ten thousand troops in a raid on the Shu camp, while Yi himself led a force behind to support him. During the first watch that night, the wind was fresh and the moon shone brightly. As the second watch approached, dark clouds suddenly closed in from every side, and black vapor filled the sky until nothing could be seen face-to-face. Yi was delighted and said, “Heaven is enabling me to succeed!” The men therefore put gags in their mouths to keep silent, and the horses’ mouths were tightly bridled as they drove rapidly forward. Qin Lang led the way with ten thousand troops and charged directly into the Shu camp, but not a single person was to be seen. Lang realized that he had fallen into a trap and hurriedly called for a retreat. Torches flared on every side, and battle cries shook the earth. Wang Ping and Zhang Ni attacked from the left, while Ma Dai and Ma Zhong attacked from the right. Qin Lang fought desperately but could not break out. Behind him, Sima Yi saw flames surging into the sky from the Shu camp and heard the ceaseless battle cries. Not knowing whether the Wei troops had won or lost, he simply urged his troops forward in support and charged toward the light of the flames. Suddenly a great cry arose. Drums and horns thundered to the heavens, and fire-cannons shook the earth. Wei Yan attacked from the left and Jiang Wei from the right. The Wei army suffered a crushing defeat; eight or nine men out of every ten were killed or wounded, and the rest fled in all directions. By this time the ten thousand troops led by Qin Lang had all been surrounded by the Shu forces, whose arrows flew like a swarm of locusts. Qin Lang died amid the chaos of battle. Sima Yi led the defeated troops back into his own camp.

After the third watch, the sky became clear and bright again. From the mountaintop, Kongming sounded the gong to recall his troops. The dark clouds that had closed in from every side during the second watch had in fact been summoned by Kongming through the arts of Dunjia. After the troops had been recalled, the sky became clear again because Kongming commanded the Six Ding and Six Jia spirits to sweep away the floating clouds. Kongming returned victorious to his camp and ordered Zheng Wen executed. He then considered another plan for taking the territory south of the Wei. Every day he sent troops to issue challenges, but the Wei army consistently refused to come out and engage them. Kongming rode in his small carriage to the front of Mount Qi and surveyed the terrain on both sides of the Wei River. Suddenly he came to the mouth of a valley shaped like a gourd. Its interior could hold more than a thousand men. Two other hills enclosed a second valley that could hold four or five hundred men. At the rear, two hills curved around it, leaving room for only one man and one horse to pass. Kongming examined it and was delighted. He asked the local guide, “What is this valley called?” The guide answered, “It is called Shangfang Valley, and is also known as Gourd Valley.” Kongming returned to his tent, summoned the assistant commanders Du Rui and Hu Zhong, and whispered a secret plan to them. He ordered more than a thousand craftsmen attached to the army to be assembled and sent into Gourd Valley to manufacture “wooden oxen and flowing horses” for the army’s use. He also ordered Ma Dai to lead five hundred soldiers to guard the mouth of the valley. Kongming instructed Ma Dai: “The craftsmen are not to be allowed out, and outsiders are not to be allowed in. I shall also come from time to time to inspect the work. My plan for capturing Sima Yi depends entirely upon this undertaking. You must not let any word of it leak out.” Ma Dai accepted the order and departed. Du Rui and Hu Zhong supervised the craftsmen inside the valley as they manufactured the devices according to the prescribed method. Kongming came every day to give them instructions.

One day, Chief Clerk Yang Yi entered and reported: “At present all our grain is at Jiange, and it is difficult for laborers, oxen, and horses to transport it. What are we to do?” Kongming smiled and said, “I have been planning for this for a long time. I ordered the timber previously stockpiled, together with the large timbers purchased in Western Chuan, to be made into ‘wooden oxen and flowing horses.’ They make the transport of grain extremely convenient. These oxen and horses require neither water nor food and can carry supplies without interruption, day and night.” Everyone exclaimed in astonishment, “From ancient times to the present, we have never heard of such things as ‘wooden oxen and flowing horses.’ What marvelous method does the Prime Minister possess for constructing these extraordinary devices?” Kongming said, “I have already ordered men to construct them according to the proper method, but they are not yet complete. I shall now first write out clearly the method for making wooden oxen and flowing horses, including all dimensions, shapes, lengths, widths, and depths, so that you may examine it.” Everyone was delighted. Kongming immediately wrote out a document by hand and gave it to them to read. The officers gathered around to examine it. The method for constructing the wooden ox was as follows:

A square belly and bent shins, one belly and four feet. The head enters the neck, and the tongue rests against the belly. It carries much but travels little. One traveling alone covers several tens of li; traveling in a group, they cover thirty li. The curved piece forms the ox’s head, and the paired pieces form its feet. The crosspiece forms the ox’s neck, and the turning pieces form its legs. The covering piece forms the ox’s back, and the square piece forms its belly. The hanging piece forms the ox’s tongue, and the curved pieces form its ribs. The notched pieces form the ox’s teeth, and the upright pieces form its horns. The slender piece forms the ox’s yoke strap, and the clasping pieces form the crupper and harness. The ox is controlled by two shafts. For every six feet a man walks, the ox takes four steps. The man does not labor greatly, and the ox neither drinks nor eats.

The method for constructing the flowing horse was as follows:

The ribs are three feet five inches long, three inches wide, and two inches five tenths thick; left and right are identical. The marked line for the front axle hole is four inches from the end, with an internal diameter of two inches. The marked line for the front leg hole is four inches five tenths from the end; the hole is one inch five tenths long and one inch wide. The bar hole is three inches seven tenths from the marked line of the front leg hole; the hole is two inches long and one inch wide. The rear axle hole is one foot five inches from the marked line of the front bar and is the same size as the front axle hole. The marked line for the rear leg hole is one inch two tenths across and lies three inches five tenths from the rear axle hole; its dimensions are the same as those of the front leg hole. The rear bar hole is two inches seven tenths from the marked line of the rear leg hole. The rear load notch is four inches five tenths from the marked line of the rear bar hole. The front bar is one foot eight inches long, two inches wide, and one inch five tenths thick. The rear bar is the same. There are two square boxlike panniers, each eight tenths of an inch thick, two feet seven inches long, one foot six inches five tenths high, and one foot six inches wide. Each holds two hu and three dou of grain. From the upper bar hole to the lower edge of the rib is seven inches, the same at both front and rear. The marked distance from the upper bar hole to the lower bar hole is one foot three inches; each hole is one inch five tenths long and seven tenths of an inch wide. All eight holes are identical. Each of the four legs, front and rear, is two inches wide and one inch five tenths thick. The form is modeled on an elephant. The raised front is four inches long, and its circular face is four inches three tenths in diameter. Through its central hole passes the three-legged bar, which is two feet one inch long, one inch five tenths wide, and one inch four tenths thick.

After the officers had read it through, they all bowed to the ground and said, “The Prime Minister is truly a divine man!” Several days later, all the wooden oxen and flowing horses were finished, and they looked exactly like living creatures. They could go up mountains and down ridges with complete ease. All the soldiers who saw them were delighted. Kongming ordered General of the Right Gao Xiang to lead one thousand troops and drive the wooden oxen and flowing horses directly from Jiange to the main camp at Mount Qi, transporting provisions back and forth to supply the Shu army. A later poet praised them:Through Jiange’s rugged heights the flowing horses sped;Through Xie Valley’s broken paths the wooden oxen went.If later ages could but put this method into use,How could transporting supplies ever cause men grief?

Now while Sima Yi was deeply troubled, a mounted scout suddenly reported: “The Shu troops are using wooden oxen and flowing horses to transport their provisions. The men scarcely labor, while the oxen and horses do not eat.” Yi was greatly alarmed and said, “The reason I have held firmly to my defenses and refused to come out is that their provisions could not keep arriving, and I intended to wait for them to collapse on their own. Now that they are using this method, they must be planning to remain for a long time and have no thought of withdrawing. What am I to do?” He hurriedly summoned Zhang Hu and Yue Chen and instructed them: “Each of you is to lead five hundred troops by the narrow path through the Xie Valley. Wait until the Shu troops have driven all the wooden oxen and flowing horses past you. Once they have all gone by, charge out together. Do not seize too many. Capture only three or five and return.” The two obeyed. Each led five hundred soldiers disguised as Shu troops, slipped along the narrow path at night, and lay in ambush inside the valley. As expected, they saw Gao Xiang approaching with troops driving the wooden oxen and flowing horses. When nearly all had passed, the two Wei forces raised a clamor and charged out from both sides. The Shu troops were caught unprepared and abandoned several of the devices. Zhang Hu and Yue Chen happily drove them back to their own camp. Sima Yi examined them and saw that they truly advanced and retreated like living creatures. Delighted, he said, “If you can use this method, do you think I cannot use it too?” He summoned more than a hundred skilled craftsmen, had them take the devices apart in his presence, and instructed them to manufacture identical wooden oxen and flowing horses according to the same dimensions, lengths, and thicknesses. In less than half a month, they constructed more than two thousand. They followed the same design as those made by Kongming and could likewise travel. Yi therefore ordered General Who Pacifies Distant Lands Cen Wei to lead one thousand troops driving the wooden oxen and flowing horses to Longxi to transport provisions without interruption. Every officer and soldier in the Wei camp was delighted.

Now Gao Xiang returned to see Kongming and reported that the Wei troops had seized five or six wooden oxen and flowing horses. Kongming laughed and said, “I wanted them to seize those devices. I have spent only a few wooden oxen and flowing horses, but before long I shall gain a great quantity of supplies for our army.” The officers asked, “How does the Prime Minister know this?” Kongming said, “When Sima Yi sees the wooden oxen and flowing horses, he will certainly copy my design and manufacture identical ones. At that time, I shall have another plan.” Several days later, a man reported that the Wei army had also learned to make wooden oxen and flowing horses and was using them to transport provisions from Longxi. Kongming was delighted and said, “It has turned out exactly as I calculated.” He then summoned Wang Ping and instructed him: “Lead one thousand troops disguised as Wei soldiers. Travel through the night and secretly pass the northern plateau. Claim that you are a grain-patrol unit and mingle with their supply convoy. Kill or scatter all the men escorting the provisions, then drive the wooden oxen and flowing horses back and head straight past the northern plateau. Wei troops are certain to pursue you there. When that happens, twist the tongues inside the mouths of the wooden oxen and flowing horses. They will immediately become unable to move. Abandon them and flee. When the pursuing Wei troops arrive, they will be unable to drag them, pull them, carry them, or lift them away. When my other troops arrive, turn back, twist the tongues of the oxen and horses into place again, and drive them rapidly away. The Wei troops will certainly think it uncanny.”

Wang Ping accepted the plan and led his troops away. Kongming then summoned Zhang Ni and instructed him: “Lead five hundred troops, all disguised as the divine soldiers of the Six Ding and Six Jia, with ghostly heads and animal bodies. Paint their faces in five colors and dress them in all kinds of strange and monstrous forms. Each man is to hold an embroidered banner in one hand and a precious sword in the other. Hang gourds on their bodies containing smoke- and fire-producing substances, and conceal them beside the mountains. When the wooden oxen and flowing horses arrive, release the smoke and fire, rush out together, and drive the oxen and horses away. When the Wei troops see you, they will certainly think you are gods and ghosts and will not dare pursue.” Zhang Ni accepted the plan and led his troops away. Kongming then summoned Jiang Wei and Wei Yan and instructed them: “Together, lead ten thousand troops to the entrance of the camp on the northern plateau and receive the wooden oxen and flowing horses, in case there is fighting.” He then summoned Liao Hua and Zhang Yi and instructed them: “Lead five thousand troops to cut off Sima Yi’s route.” Finally, he summoned Ma Zhong and Ma Dai and instructed them: “Lead two thousand troops south of the Wei River and challenge the enemy.” The six men each obeyed their orders and departed.

Now the Wei commander Cen Wei was leading troops driving wooden oxen and flowing horses loaded with grain. As they traveled, it was suddenly reported that a force ahead was patrolling the provisions. Cen Wei sent men to scout, and when they confirmed that these were indeed Wei troops, he continued forward without concern. The two forces joined together. Suddenly a tremendous cry arose, and the Shu soldiers began attacking from within the ranks, shouting, “The great Shu commander Wang Ping is here!” The Wei troops were caught unprepared, and more than half were killed by the Shu soldiers. Cen Wei led the defeated troops in resistance, but Wang Ping cut him down with a single stroke of his saber. The rest scattered in rout. Wang Ping led his troops in driving away all the wooden oxen and flowing horses. The defeated soldiers rushed back and reported to the camp on the northern plateau. When Guo Huai heard that the army’s provisions had been seized, he hurriedly led troops to the rescue. Wang Ping ordered his soldiers to twist the tongues of the wooden oxen and flowing horses, abandon them all on the road, and retreat while fighting. Guo Huai ordered his men not to continue the pursuit but simply to drive the wooden oxen and flowing horses back. The soldiers all tried to drive them, but how could they make them move? Guo Huai became suspicious and perplexed. While he was at a loss, drums and horns suddenly thundered to the heavens, and battle cries rose on every side. Two forces charged in: they were Wei Yan and Jiang Wei. Wang Ping also led his troops back into the attack. Assaulted from three directions, Guo Huai suffered a crushing defeat and fled. Wang Ping ordered the soldiers to twist the tongues of the oxen and horses back into place, then drove them away. When Guo Huai saw this, he was just about to turn his troops around and resume the pursuit when smoke and clouds suddenly surged up behind the mountain. A unit of divine soldiers rushed out, every one of them holding a banner and a sword and presenting a monstrous appearance. They drove the wooden oxen and flowing horses away like a rushing wind. Guo Huai cried out in alarm, “They must have divine assistance!” When his soldiers saw them, all were terrified and awestruck and did not dare pursue.

Now when Sima Yi heard that the troops on the northern plateau had been defeated, he hastily led an army in person to their rescue. He had gone only halfway when a cannon suddenly sounded. Two forces charged out from rugged, precipitous ground, their battle cries shaking the earth. Upon their banners were written in large characters: “Han Generals Zhang Yi and Liao Hua.” Sima Yi was greatly alarmed at the sight. The Wei troops panicked and fled in all directions. As the verse says:Divine commanders block his road, his grain is seized;Struck by an ambush, his own life is imperiled.How Sima Yi resisted the attack will be revealed in the next chapter.