Chapter 103

Sima Yi Is Trapped in Shangfang Valley; Zhuge Liang Prays to Prolong His Life at Wuzhang Plain

Now Sima Yi, routed in a fierce assault by Zhang Yi and Liao Hua, fled toward a dense forest, alone on a single horse with only his spear. Zhang Yi halted the rear contingent while Liao Hua pressed the pursuit. Just as he was about to overtake him, Sima Yi panicked and wheeled around a tree. Liao Hua struck with his saber, but the blade bit squarely into the trunk; by the time he had wrenched it free, Sima Yi had escaped from the forest. Liao Hua galloped out after him but could not tell which way he had gone. He saw only a golden helmet lying east of the woods. Liao Hua picked it up, hung it from his horse, and rode straight east in pursuit. In fact, Sima Yi had cast away his golden helmet east of the forest, then doubled back and fled west. After pursuing him for some distance without finding a trace, Liao Hua rode out through the mouth of the valley, where he met Jiang Wei, and together they returned to camp to see Kongming. Zhang Ni had already driven the wooden oxen and gliding horses back to camp. Once everything had been turned over and accounted for, they found that more than ten thousand shi of grain had been captured. Liao Hua presented the golden helmet and was credited with the foremost merit. Wei Yan was displeased at heart and openly voiced his resentment, but Kongming pretended not to notice.

Meanwhile, Sima Yi fled back to his camp, deeply vexed and dejected. Suddenly an imperial envoy arrived bearing an edict, which stated that Eastern Wu had invaded by three routes and that the court was then deliberating whom to appoint to resist the enemy; Sima Yi and the others were ordered to hold firm and not give battle. Having received the command, Sima Yi dug deep moats, raised high ramparts, and remained behind his defenses without coming forth.

When Cao Rui heard that Sun Quan was advancing in three separate forces, he likewise raised three armies to meet him. He ordered Liu Shao to lead troops to the relief of Jiangxia and Tian Yu to lead troops to the relief of Xiangyang, while he himself, together with Man Chong, led the main army to the relief of Hefei. Man Chong first took a force to the mouth of Chaohu Lake, where he saw countless warships along the eastern shore, with banners and standards arrayed in perfect order. Man Chong entered the imperial camp and said to the Ruler of Wei, “The men of Wu will surely make light of us for having come from afar and will not yet have taken precautions. Tonight we may seize the opportunity to raid their naval camp and are certain to win a complete victory.” The Ruler of Wei said, “Your words accord exactly with Our own intent.” He at once ordered the valiant general Zhang Qiu to take five thousand soldiers, each supplied with incendiary materials, and attack from the lake mouth, while Man Chong led another five thousand in an attack from the eastern shore. During the second watch that night, Zhang Qiu and Man Chong each led their troops silently toward the mouth of the lake. As they neared the naval camp, they raised a mighty shout and charged in together. The soldiers of Wu, thrown into confusion, fled without fighting. The Wei troops set fires on every side, burning beyond count the warships, grain and fodder, weapons, and equipment. Zhuge Jin led the defeated soldiers in flight to Miankou. The Wei army returned after a great victory.

The next day, scouts reported the news to Lu Xun. Lu Xun assembled his generals and said, “I shall submit a memorial to His Majesty, asking him to lift the siege of Xincheng and use his troops to cut off the Wei army’s road of retreat. I shall lead my forces against their front. Unable to withstand attacks at both head and tail, they may be broken in a single charge.” All approved his proposal. Lu Xun immediately prepared the memorial and secretly dispatched a junior officer to carry it to Xincheng. The officer accepted the order and set out with the memorial, but upon reaching the ferry crossing, he was unexpectedly captured by Wei troops lying in ambush along the road. He was taken into the army to appear before Cao Rui, Ruler of Wei. Cao Rui found Lu Xun’s memorial on him and, after reading it, exclaimed, “Lu Xun of Eastern Wu is truly a master strategist!” He then ordered the Wu soldier placed under guard and commanded Liu Shao to take strict precautions against Sun Quan’s rear forces.

Zhuge Jin, having suffered a crushing defeat and now encountering the heat of summer, saw sickness spread among many of his men and horses. He therefore wrote a letter and had it conveyed to Lu Xun, proposing that they withdraw and return to their own country. After reading it, Lu Xun said to the messenger, “Present my respects to the General. I have a plan of my own.” The messenger returned and reported to Zhuge Jin. Zhuge Jin asked, “What is General Lu doing?” The messenger replied, “I saw only that General Lu was urging his men to plant beans outside the camp, while he and his generals amused themselves with archery at the gate.” Greatly alarmed, Zhuge Jin went in person to Lu Xun’s camp. After they had met, he asked, “Now that Cao Rui has come in person with such a powerful army, how does the Commander-in-Chief intend to resist him?” Lu Xun said, “I previously sent a man to present a memorial to His Majesty, but unexpectedly he was captured by the enemy. Since our plan has been disclosed, they are certain to know of it and be prepared. There is no advantage in fighting; we had better withdraw for the time being. I have already sent another man with a memorial asking His Majesty to retire his forces gradually.” Zhuge Jin said, “Since this is the Commander-in-Chief’s intention, we should withdraw at once. Why delay any longer?” Lu Xun replied, “If our army is to retreat, it must move slowly and deliberately. If we withdraw now, the men of Wei are sure to pursue us in the flush of their advantage, and that would be the way to defeat. You should first supervise the ships and make a show of preparing to resist the enemy. I shall send all my men and horses advancing toward Xiangyang as a ruse to bewilder them. After that we may gradually retire to Jiangdong, and the Wei troops will not dare approach us.” Zhuge Jin followed his plan. Lu Xun took his leave and returned to his own camp, where he put the ships in order and prepared to depart. He then marshaled his ranks, made a great display of force, and advanced toward Xiangyang.

Spies had already reported to the Ruler of Wei that the Wu army was on the move and that precautions must be taken. When the Wei generals heard this, they all wished to go forth and fight. But the Ruler of Wei had long known Lu Xun’s ability and admonished them: “Lu Xun is a man of strategy. This may well be a scheme to lure us out. We must not move rashly.” The generals therefore desisted. Several days later, scouts came to report, “All three armies of Eastern Wu have withdrawn.” The Ruler of Wei did not believe them and sent others to investigate. They returned and reported that the Wu forces had indeed all withdrawn. The Ruler of Wei sighed and said, “In the art of war, Lu Xun is no less able than Sun Wu. The southeast cannot yet be pacified.” He therefore ordered his generals each to guard the strategic passes while he himself led the main army to encamp at Hefei and await further developments.

Meanwhile, Kongming, at Qishan, wished to make plans for a prolonged stay. He therefore ordered the soldiers of Shu to mingle with the people of Wei in cultivating the fields: the soldiers were allotted one part and the civilians two, and no encroachment was permitted. The people of Wei were thus all able to live peacefully and pursue their occupations with contentment. Sima Shi went in and said to his father, “The Shu army has plundered a great quantity of our grain, and now it has its soldiers mingle with our people and establish military farms along the banks of the Wei River, plainly intending to remain for a long time. This truly poses a grave danger to the state. Why does Father not arrange a day with Kongming for one great battle to decide which of you is supreme?” Sima Yi said, “I have received an imperial command to hold firm and must not move rashly.” While they were still discussing the matter, word suddenly came that Wei Yan, wearing the golden helmet the Commander-in-Chief had lost the other day, had come to hurl insults and challenge them to battle. The generals were furious and all wished to fight. Sima Yi laughed and said, “The Sage said, ‘If one cannot endure a minor affront, one will ruin a great design.’ Firm defense is the best course.” In obedience to his order, the generals did not go out. Only after reviling them for a long while did Wei Yan return.

When Kongming saw that Sima Yi refused to give battle, he secretly ordered Ma Dai to construct wooden palisades and dig deep trenches within the camp, filling them with dry firewood and other combustibles. All around the surrounding hills he had brushwood and thatch used to build sham shelters, while both inside and outside the camp mines were buried. When all was prepared, Kongming leaned close to Ma Dai’s ear and instructed him: “Block the rear road out of Gourd Valley and secretly conceal troops within the valley. If Sima Yi pursues you there, let him enter; then set off the mines and ignite all the dry firewood at once.” He also ordered the soldiers to display a seven-star signal banner at the valley mouth by day and set seven bright lamps on the hills by night as secret signals. Ma Dai received the plan and led his troops away. Kongming next summoned Wei Yan and instructed him: “Take five hundred soldiers to the Wei camp and challenge them. You must entice Sima Yi into battle. You are not to win, but must feign defeat. Sima Yi will surely pursue you. Then make for the place where the seven-star banner stands; if it is night, make for the place of the seven lamps. You need only lure Sima Yi into Gourd Valley, and I shall have a way to capture him.” Wei Yan received the plan and led his troops away. Kongming then summoned Gao Xiang and instructed him: “Take the wooden oxen and gliding horses in groups of twenty or thirty, or in groups of forty or fifty, load each with grain, and have them pass back and forth along the mountain roads. If the Wei soldiers seize them, that will count as your achievement.” Gao Xiang accepted the plan and went off driving the wooden oxen and gliding horses. Kongming transferred the forces at Qishan away one contingent at a time, claiming only that they were being sent to work the military farms. His orders were: “If other troops come to fight, you are only to feign defeat. If Sima Yi comes in person, then you must unite your strength, attack only south of the Wei, and sever his road of return.” Having completed all his dispositions, Kongming himself led a force to encamp near Shangfang Valley.

Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He went into the camp and said to Sima Yi, “The Shu troops have now dispersed and established camps in many places, tilling the fields everywhere in preparation for a long stay. If we do not take this opportunity to eliminate them, then once they have lived at ease for a long time and struck deep and solid roots, they will be difficult to dislodge.” Sima Yi said, “This must be another of Kongming’s schemes.” The two replied, “If the Commander-in-Chief remains so full of doubts and misgivings, when will the invaders ever be destroyed? We two brothers will exert all our strength and fight a decisive battle to the death, thereby repaying the state’s favor.” Sima Yi said, “Since that is so, you two may divide your forces and go out to fight.” He therefore ordered Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He each to lead five thousand soldiers away. Sima Yi remained seated, awaiting news.

Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He divided their troops into two columns. While they were advancing, they suddenly saw Shu soldiers driving wooden oxen and gliding horses toward them. The two attacked together. The Shu soldiers suffered a crushing defeat and fled, and all the wooden oxen and gliding horses were seized by the Wei troops and escorted to Sima Yi’s camp. The next day, they captured more than a hundred men and horses, which were likewise sent to the main camp. Sima Yi had the captured Shu soldiers brought before him and closely questioned them about the true state of affairs. The Shu soldiers told him, “Kongming assumed that the Commander-in-Chief would remain firmly behind his defenses and refuse to come forth, so he ordered all of us to disperse and cultivate the fields in preparation for a long stay. We never expected to be captured.” Sima Yi immediately released all the Shu soldiers and sent them back. Xiahou He said, “Why not kill them?” Sima Yi replied, “They are only common soldiers, and killing them would profit us nothing. If we release them to their own camp, they will tell others that the Wei generals are generous and humane, thereby weakening their will to fight. This is the stratagem Lü Meng used to take Jingzhou.” He then issued an order that henceforth all captured Shu soldiers were to be treated well and sent back, while officers and men who had distinguished themselves were to be heavily rewarded. The generals all obeyed and withdrew.

Kongming ordered Gao Xiang to make a show of transporting grain, driving the wooden oxen and gliding horses back and forth through Shangfang Valley. Xiahou Hui and the others intercepted and attacked them from time to time, and within half a month they won several successive victories. Seeing the Shu troops repeatedly defeated, Sima Yi rejoiced. One day, several dozen more Shu soldiers were captured. Sima Yi summoned them beneath his tent and asked, “Where is Kongming now?” They told him, “Prime Minister Zhuge is not at Qishan. He has encamped ten li west of Shangfang Valley and taken up residence there. Every day now he transports grain and stores it in Shangfang Valley.” Sima Yi questioned them minutely, then released them. He summoned his generals and instructed them: “Kongming is not now at Qishan but has encamped in Shangfang Valley. Tomorrow all of you are to unite your strength and assault the main camp at Qishan. I shall personally lead troops in support.” The generals received their orders and each made ready for battle. Sima Shi asked, “Why does Father instead intend to attack his rear?” Sima Yi replied, “Qishan is the root and foundation of the Shu army. When they see our troops attacking it, every camp will surely rush to its relief. I shall then seize Shangfang Valley and burn their grain and fodder. With head and tail unable to support each other, they are certain to suffer a great defeat.” Sima Shi bowed in admiration. Sima Yi immediately mobilized his troops and set out, ordering Zhang Hu and Yue Chen each to lead five thousand soldiers as a supporting force in the rear.

Kongming, while at Qishan, saw groups of Wei troops advancing—some three or five thousand strong, others one or two thousand—column after column, looking anxiously ahead and behind. He judged that they must be coming to seize the main camp at Qishan and secretly passed an order to all his generals: “If Sima Yi comes in person, go and raid the Wei camp and seize the territory south of the Wei.” The generals each obeyed his command.

The Wei troops all rushed toward the camp at Qishan, while the Shu forces on every side raised a mighty shout and ran about, making a false show of hastening to its relief. When Sima Yi saw that all the Shu troops had gone to rescue the Qishan camp, he took his two sons and the men and horses of his central guard and charged toward Shangfang Valley. At the mouth of the valley, Wei Yan was waiting only for Sima Yi to arrive. Suddenly he saw a body of Wei troops bearing down upon him. Spurring forward to look, he saw that it was indeed Sima Yi. Wei Yan shouted, “Sima Yi, do not flee!” and flourished his saber to meet him. Sima Yi leveled his spear and engaged him. Before three bouts had passed, Wei Yan wheeled his horse and fled, with Sima Yi pursuing close behind. Wei Yan made straight for the place marked by the seven-star banner.

Seeing that Wei Yan stood alone and had few troops, Sima Yi pursued him without misgivings. He ordered Sima Shi to take the left, Sima Zhao the right, while he himself held the center, and all three pressed the attack together. Wei Yan led his five hundred soldiers in retreat into the valley. Upon reaching the valley mouth, Sima Yi first sent men inside to scout. They returned and reported that there were no troops in ambush and that the hills were covered only with thatched huts. Sima Yi said, “This must be the place where they store their grain.” He therefore drove all his men and horses into the valley. Suddenly he noticed that the huts were filled with dry firewood, while Wei Yan had vanished from sight ahead. Suspicion seized him, and he said to his two sons, “What are we to do if troops cut off the valley mouth?” Before he had finished speaking, a tremendous roar arose. Torches were hurled down from every hill at once, and the valley mouth was sealed by fire. The Wei troops had no road by which to flee. Fire arrows rained down from the hills, the buried mines all erupted together, and the dry firewood in the huts burst into flame. Crackling and roaring, the fire surged to the sky. Sima Yi was so terrified that he did not know what to do. Dismounting, he embraced his two sons and wept aloud: “My sons and I—all three of us—shall die in this place!” While he was still weeping, a violent wind suddenly arose and black clouds filled the sky. With one great peal of thunder, a torrential rain came pouring down. Every flame in the valley was extinguished; the mines would no longer explode, and the incendiary devices were rendered useless. Sima Yi cried out in joy, “If we do not fight our way out now, what moment shall we await?” He immediately led his troops in a desperate charge. Zhang Hu and Yue Chen likewise arrived with their separate forces to support him. Ma Dai had too few soldiers and dared not pursue. Sima Yi and his sons joined forces with Zhang Hu and Yue Chen and returned together to the main camp south of the Wei. But to their surprise, the camp and palisades had already been seized by the Shu army. Guo Huai and Sun Li were fighting the Shu troops on the floating bridge. When Sima Yi and the others charged up with their forces, the Shu troops withdrew. Sima Yi burned the floating bridge and secured the northern bank.

Meanwhile, the Wei troops attacking the Shu camp at Qishan heard that Sima Yi had suffered a great defeat and lost the camp south of the Wei. Panic swept through the army. As they hastily withdrew, Shu troops charged in from every side. The Wei army was utterly routed; eight or nine out of every ten were wounded, and countless men were killed. The survivors fled across the Wei River to the northern bank and escaped with their lives. From the mountain, Kongming had seen Wei Yan lure Sima Yi into the valley and the flames suddenly rise. He rejoiced, believing that this time Sima Yi must surely die. Unexpectedly, Heaven sent down a great rain, and the fire could not burn. Then a mounted scout reported that Sima Yi and both his sons had escaped. Kongming sighed and said, “‘Man proposes, but Heaven disposes.’ It cannot be forced!” A later poet lamented:

At the valley mouth fierce winds sent raging flames on high;Who dreamed a sudden rain would fall from the azure sky?Had Marquis Wu’s wondrous stratagem attained its end,How could the realm have passed into the house of Jin?

In his camp north of the Wei, Sima Yi issued this command: “The camp and palisades south of the Wei have now been lost. Any general who again speaks of going forth to battle shall be beheaded.” The generals obeyed and remained firmly on the defensive without coming out. Guo Huai entered and reported, “Recently Kongming has been leading troops about on reconnaissance. He is sure to select a site and establish a camp.” Sima Yi said, “If Kongming comes out by Wugong and moves eastward along the mountains, we shall all be in danger. If he emerges south of the Wei, however, he can go no farther west than Wuzhang Plain, and then there will be no trouble.” He sent men to investigate, and they returned to report that Kongming had indeed encamped on Wuzhang Plain. Sima Yi raised a hand to his brow and exclaimed, “This is the boundless blessing of the Emperor of Great Wei!” He then ordered all his generals to hold firm and not come forth, saying that if the enemy remained long enough, some change was certain to arise among them.

Kongming personally led a force to encamp on Wuzhang Plain and repeatedly sent men to challenge the enemy, but the Wei troops still refused to come forth. Kongming therefore took a woman’s headdress and a woman’s suit of white mourning garments, placed them in a large box, wrote a letter, and sent a man to deliver them to the Wei camp. The generals did not dare conceal the matter and led the envoy in to see Sima Yi. In the presence of them all, Sima Yi opened the box and looked inside. It contained a woman’s headdress and garments, together with a letter. Sima Yi broke the seal and read it. In substance, it said:

Zhongda, though you are a great commander leading the hosts of the Central Plains, you give no thought to donning stout armor, taking up keen weapons, and deciding which of us is supreme. Instead, you are content to crouch in an earthen lair, carefully avoiding blades and arrows. How do you differ from a woman? I now send you a woman’s headdress and white garments. If you will not come forth to fight, bow twice and accept them. But if all sense of shame has not yet died within you, and you still possess the spirit of a man, then send your answer without delay and meet me in battle on an appointed day.

When Sima Yi had finished reading, he was furious at heart, but he feigned a smile and said, “Does Kongming take me for a woman?” He accepted the gifts and ordered that the envoy be treated with great courtesy. Sima Yi asked him, “How does Kongming fare in sleep and food, and how heavy are his affairs?” The envoy replied, “The Prime Minister rises early and retires late. Even punishments of more than twenty strokes are personally reviewed by him. As for the food he eats, it amounts to no more than a few sheng a day.” Turning to his generals, Sima Yi said, “Kongming eats little and attends to many affairs. How can he last long?” The envoy took his leave and returned to Wuzhang Plain. When he appeared before Kongming, he gave a full report: “Sima Yi accepted the woman’s headdress and garments and read the letter, but showed no anger. He asked only about the Prime Minister’s sleep and food and whether your affairs were burdensome or light. He said nothing whatever of military matters. I answered him as I did, and he said, ‘He eats little and attends to many affairs. How can he last long?’” Kongming sighed and said, “He knows me well!” The secretary Yang Yong said, “I have observed that the Prime Minister often personally checks the registers and documents, and I venture to think it unnecessary. There is a proper order in government, and superiors and subordinates must not encroach upon one another’s duties. Consider the management of a household: the male servants must be made to till the fields and the maidservants to oversee the cooking. Thus none of the household’s work is neglected and everything required is supplied, while the master of the house remains composed and at ease, needing only to sleep soundly and take his meals. If he personally attends to every task, his body will grow weary and his spirit exhausted, yet in the end nothing will be accomplished. Is it because his wisdom is inferior to that of his servants? No; he has lost the proper way of being master of a household. Therefore, the ancients said that those who sit and discourse upon the Way are called the Three Excellencies, while those who rise and put it into practice are called officers and grandees. In former times, Bing Ji concerned himself with an ox that panted, but did not inquire about the dead man lying across the road. Chen Ping did not know the amount of money and grain in the state and said, ‘There are officials responsible for such things.’ Now the Prime Minister personally manages trivial affairs and sweats from morning until night. Is this not exhausting? Sima Yi’s words are truly words of perfect truth.” Kongming wept and said, “It is not that I do not know this, but the late Emperor entrusted his orphaned heir to me with a charge of the utmost gravity, and I fear only that others will not devote themselves as fully as I do!” All those present shed tears. From that time onward, Kongming himself felt that his mind and spirits were unsettled, and for this reason the generals did not dare advance the army.

The Wei generals all learned that Kongming had humiliated Sima Yi with a woman’s headdress and garments, and that Sima Yi had accepted them without fighting. They were all enraged and entered his tent to say, “We are all renowned generals of a great state. How can we endure such humiliation from the men of Shu? We ask permission to go forth at once and fight a decisive battle to determine which side is supreme.” Sima Yi said, “It is not that I dare not fight or willingly submit to humiliation. But the Son of Heaven has issued a clear edict ordering us to hold firm and not move. If I were now to go forth rashly, I would be violating my sovereign’s command.” The generals were all angry and indignant. Sima Yi said, “Since you insist upon fighting, wait until I have memorialized the Son of Heaven and obtained his approval. Then we shall join forces and meet the enemy. What do you say?” The generals agreed. Sima Yi therefore wrote a memorial and dispatched a messenger straight to the imperial army at Hefei to present it to Cao Rui, Ruler of Wei. Cao Rui broke the seal and read it. In substance, it said:

Your servant possesses meager talent yet bears a heavy charge. Humbly receiving Your Majesty’s enlightened command, I have held firm and refused battle, awaiting the exhaustion of the men of Shu. But now Zhuge Liang has sent me a woman’s headdress and treats me as though I were a woman. The shame and humiliation are extreme. I therefore reverently inform Your Sacred Majesty in advance that within a day or two I intend to risk death in battle, that I may repay the favor of the court and wipe away the shame of the three armies. Your servant is overwhelmed by the fervor of his indignation!

After reading the memorial, Cao Rui said to his assembled officers, “Sima Yi has held firm and refused to come forth. Why does he now submit a memorial asking for battle?” Xin Pi, Minister of the Guards, said, “Sima Yi has no real intention of fighting. He must have submitted this memorial because Zhuge Liang humiliated him and his generals are furious. He wishes only to obtain another clear command from Your Majesty, so that he may restrain his generals.” Cao Rui agreed with him and immediately ordered Xin Pi to take the imperial tally to the camp north of the Wei and proclaim that there was to be no battle. Sima Yi received the edict and entered his tent, where Xin Pi announced: “If anyone again dares speak of going forth to battle, he shall be judged guilty of violating the imperial command.” The generals had no choice but to obey the edict. Sima Yi privately said to Xin Pi, “You truly understand my mind.” It was then circulated throughout the army that the Ruler of Wei had ordered Xin Pi to bring the imperial tally and command Sima Yi not to give battle. When the Shu generals heard of this, they reported it to Kongming. Kongming laughed and said, “This is merely Sima Yi’s method of calming the three armies.” Jiang Wei asked, “How does the Prime Minister know this?” Kongming replied, “He had no intention of fighting from the first. He asked permission to fight only to make a display of valor before his men. Have you not heard, ‘When a general is in the field, there are commands from his sovereign he need not obey’? Who ever heard of requesting permission to fight from a thousand li away? Because his officers and men were enraged, Sima Yi merely borrowed Cao Rui’s authority to restrain them. Now he has spread this story abroad in the hope of sapping our army’s resolve.”

While they were still discussing the matter, word suddenly came that Fei Yi had arrived. Kongming had him admitted and questioned him. Fei Yi said, “When Cao Rui, Ruler of Wei, heard that Eastern Wu was advancing by three routes, he personally led the main army to Hefei and ordered Man Chong, Tian Yu, and Liu Shao to divide their forces into three columns to meet the enemy. Man Chong devised a plan and burned all the grain, fodder, weapons, and equipment of Eastern Wu, while sickness spread among the Wu troops. Lu Xun submitted a memorial to the King of Wu proposing that their forces attack from front and rear in concert, but unexpectedly the bearer of the memorial was captured by Wei troops on the road. Thus the secret plan was disclosed, and the Wu army withdrew without accomplishing anything.” When Kongming heard this news, he heaved a long sigh and suddenly collapsed unconscious to the ground. The generals hastened to revive him, and only after a considerable time did he recover. Kongming sighed and said, “My mind is dazed and confused, and my old illness has returned. I fear I shall not live!” That night, though ill, Kongming had himself helped from his tent and looked up to observe the heavens. He became deeply alarmed. Returning to his tent, he said to Jiang Wei, “My life will end within a day or two!” Jiang Wei asked, “Why does the Prime Minister say this?” Kongming replied, “Among the stars of the Three Terraces, I saw the guest star shining with doubled brilliance, while the ruling star was dim and hidden, and the assisting stars arrayed beside it had grown faint. Such are the signs in the heavens; from them my fate may be known!” Jiang Wei said, “Though the celestial signs are as you say, why does the Prime Minister not use the rites of prayer and exorcism to avert his fate?” Kongming replied, “I have long been versed in such rites, but I do not know what Heaven intends. Take forty-nine armored soldiers, each carrying a black banner and clothed in black, and station them in a circle around my tent. Within the tent, I shall perform a rite of supplication to the Northern Dipper. If the principal lamp does not go out within seven days, my life may be extended by one full cycle of twelve years. If the lamp is extinguished, I shall surely die. Do not allow any unauthorized person to enter. Whatever articles I require are to be carried in by only two young attendants.” Jiang Wei accepted the command and went to make preparations.

It was the Mid-Autumn season of the eighth month. That night the Silver River shone bright, and drops of jade-like dew glistened. Not a banner stirred, and no watchman’s clapper sounded. Outside the tent, Jiang Wei stood guard with forty-nine men. Within, Kongming arranged incense, flowers, and sacrificial offerings. Seven large lamps were set out upon the ground, with forty-nine smaller lamps around them and, at the center, a single lamp representing his own allotted life. Kongming bowed and prayed:

“I, Liang, was born in an age of disorder and would gladly have grown old among the forests and streams. But I received the favor of Emperor Zhaolie, who visited me three times, and the grave charge of safeguarding his orphaned heir. I dared not fail to exhaust the service of a dog or horse and vowed to destroy the traitors to the state. Unexpectedly, my general’s star is about to fall and the allotted span of my mortal life approaches its end. I have reverently written this brief petition to make my plea to High Heaven. I humbly pray that Heaven, in its mercy, will stoop to observe and hear me and graciously extend the years allotted to Your servant, that I may repay above the favor of my sovereign and below preserve the lives of the people, recover the former dominions, and perpetuate forever the sacrifices of Han. I dare not make this prayer presumptuously; I do so only from the urgency of my devotion.”

When he had finished his prayer, he prostrated himself within the tent and waited for dawn. The next day, he attended to affairs despite his illness and vomited blood without ceasing. By day he deliberated upon military plans; by night he paced the pattern of the Dipper through the celestial stations.

Meanwhile, Sima Yi remained firmly on the defensive in his camp. One night, looking up to observe the heavens, he was overjoyed and said to Xiahou Ba, “I have seen the general’s star leave its proper place. Kongming must certainly be ill and will die before long. Take one thousand soldiers to Wuzhang Plain and reconnoiter. If the men of Shu are in confusion and do not come forth to meet you, Kongming is assuredly sick. I shall then seize the opportunity to attack.” Xiahou Ba led his troops away. Within his tent, Kongming had performed the rite of supplication for six nights. Seeing the principal lamp still shining brightly, he rejoiced. Jiang Wei entered the tent and saw Kongming with his hair unbound and a sword in his hand, pacing the celestial pattern of the Dipper to hold the general’s star in its place. Suddenly shouts arose outside the camp. Just as Jiang Wei was about to send someone to inquire, Wei Yan rushed in and reported, “The Wei troops have arrived!” Wei Yan’s steps were so hurried that he knocked over and extinguished the principal lamp. Kongming cast aside his sword and sighed: “Life and death are decreed by fate; no rite can avert them!” Wei Yan was terrified and prostrated himself to ask forgiveness. Jiang Wei, furious, drew his sword and made to kill Wei Yan. Truly:

In all things man cannot decide what is to be;One steadfast heart cannot contend with destiny.

What became of Wei Yan’s life will be revealed in the next chapter.

Sima Yi Is Trapped in Shangfang Valley; Zhuge Liang Prays to Prolong His Life at Wuzhang Plain

Now Sima Yi, after being routed by Zhang Yi and Liao Hua, fled toward a dense forest, alone on horseback with only his spear. Zhang Yi halted the rear troops while Liao Hua took the lead in pursuit. Just as Liao Hua was about to catch him, Sima Yi panicked and circled around a tree. Liao Hua slashed at him, but his blade struck the tree instead. By the time he pulled his saber free, Sima Yi had already escaped from the forest. Liao Hua rode out after him but could not tell which way he had gone. He saw only a golden helmet lying east of the woods. Liao Hua picked it up, hung it from his horse, and rode straight east in pursuit. In fact, Sima Yi had thrown down his golden helmet east of the woods, then doubled back and fled west. Liao Hua pursued for some distance but found no trace of him. When he rode out of the valley, he met Jiang Wei, and the two returned to camp to see Kongming. Zhang Ni had already driven the wooden oxen and flowing horses back to camp. After everything had been handed over and accounted for, more than ten thousand shi of grain had been captured. Liao Hua presented the golden helmet and was credited with the foremost achievement. Wei Yan was displeased and voiced his resentment, but Kongming pretended not to notice.

Meanwhile, Sima Yi fled back to his camp, deeply frustrated. Suddenly an imperial messenger arrived with an edict stating that Eastern Wu had invaded along three routes and that the court was then discussing the appointment of generals to resist them. Sima Yi and the others were ordered to hold their positions and not give battle. After receiving the command, Sima Yi deepened his moats, raised his ramparts, and held firm without coming out.

When Cao Rui heard that Sun Quan was advancing with his forces divided into three routes, he likewise raised three armies to meet him. He ordered Liu Shao to lead troops to the relief of Jiangxia, Tian Yu to lead troops to the relief of Xiangyang, while he himself, accompanied by Man Chong, led the main army to the relief of Hefei. Man Chong led an advance force to the mouth of Chaohu Lake, where he saw countless warships along the eastern shore, with their banners and standards arrayed in perfect order. Man Chong entered the imperial camp and addressed the ruler of Wei: “The men of Wu are sure to take us lightly because we have come from far away, and they will not yet have taken precautions. Tonight we can exploit their unpreparedness and raid their naval camp. We are certain to win a complete victory.”

The ruler of Wei said, “Your proposal is exactly what I had in mind.”

He immediately ordered the valiant general Zhang Qiu to take five thousand troops, each carrying fire-starting equipment, and attack from the mouth of the lake, while Man Chong led another five thousand troops in an attack from the eastern shore. At the second watch that night, Zhang Qiu and Man Chong each led their troops quietly toward the mouth of the lake. As they drew near the naval camp, they raised a great shout and charged in together. The Wu troops fell into confusion and fled without fighting. The Wei troops set fires on every side, burning an incalculable number of warships, stores of grain and fodder, and pieces of equipment. Zhuge Jin led the defeated troops away and fled to Miankou. The Wei troops returned after a great victory.

The next day, scouts reported the news to Lu Xun. Lu Xun assembled his generals and discussed the situation with them, saying, “I shall submit a memorial to His Majesty and ask him to lift the siege of Xincheng, then use his troops to cut off the Wei army’s route of retreat. I will lead my forces in an attack on their front. Unable to defend both head and tail, they can be broken with a single assault.”

Everyone approved of his proposal. Lu Xun immediately prepared a memorial and secretly sent a junior officer to carry it to Xincheng. The junior officer accepted the order and set out with the memorial, but when he reached the crossing, he unexpectedly fell into an ambush laid by Wei troops. He was captured and escorted into the army to see Cao Rui, ruler of Wei. Cao Rui found Lu Xun’s memorial on him and, after reading it, sighed and said, “Lu Xun of Eastern Wu truly is a brilliant strategist!”

He then ordered the Wu soldier placed under guard and commanded Liu Shao to take strict precautions against Sun Quan’s rear forces.

Zhuge Jin, meanwhile, had suffered a major defeat, and with the summer heat upon them, many of his men and horses had fallen ill. He therefore wrote a letter and had it forwarded to Lu Xun, proposing that they withdraw and return home. After reading it, Lu Xun said to the messenger, “Give the general my respects and tell him I have a plan of my own.”

The messenger returned and reported to Zhuge Jin. Zhuge Jin asked, “What is General Lu doing?”

The messenger replied, “I saw only that General Lu was urging everyone to plant beans outside the camp, while he and his generals were amusing themselves with archery at the main gate.”

Greatly alarmed, Zhuge Jin went in person to Lu Xun’s camp. After meeting him, he asked, “Now that Cao Rui has come in person and his military strength is so great, how does the commander-in-chief intend to resist him?”

Lu Xun said, “I previously sent a man to submit a memorial to His Majesty, but unexpectedly he was captured by the enemy. Now that our plan has been exposed, they are certain to be prepared. There is no advantage in fighting them, so it would be better to withdraw for the time being. I have already sent another man with a memorial asking His Majesty to pull back his troops gradually.”

Zhuge Jin said, “Since the commander-in-chief has decided on this, we should withdraw at once. Why delay any longer?”

Lu Xun replied, “If our army is to retreat, we must move slowly. If we withdraw now, the Wei troops are certain to pursue us while they have the advantage. That is the road to defeat. You should first supervise the ships and make a show of preparing to resist the enemy. I will lead all my troops and horses toward Xiangyang as a feint to confuse them. After that, we will gradually withdraw to Jiangdong, and the Wei troops will not dare approach us.”

Zhuge Jin followed his plan. Lu Xun took his leave and returned to his own camp, where he put the ships in order and prepared to depart. He then marshaled his ranks, made a great display of strength, and advanced toward Xiangyang.

Spies soon reported to the ruler of Wei that the Wu troops were on the move and that precautions were needed. When the Wei generals heard this, they all wanted to go out and fight. But the ruler of Wei had long known Lu Xun’s abilities, and he instructed his generals: “Lu Xun is resourceful. This may well be a plan to lure us out. We must not move rashly.”

The generals therefore stopped. Several days later, scouts came to report: “The forces of Eastern Wu have withdrawn along all three routes.”

The ruler of Wei did not believe them and sent men to investigate again. They returned and reported that all the Wu troops had indeed withdrawn. The ruler of Wei sighed and said, “Lu Xun’s use of troops is no less skillful than that of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi. The southeast cannot yet be pacified.”

He therefore ordered his generals to guard all the strategic points, while he personally led the main army to encamp at Hefei and wait to see what would happen.

At Qishan, Kongming planned to remain for a long time, so he ordered the Shu troops to farm the land together with the people of Wei. The soldiers took one part of the land and the civilians two parts, and there was no encroachment on the people at all. The people of Wei were therefore able to live and work in peace.

Sima Shi went in to see his father and said, “The Shu troops have seized a great deal of our grain, and now they have their soldiers mixed among our people, farming along the bank of the Wei River as part of a long-term plan. If this continues, it will truly become a grave threat to the state. Father, why not arrange a date with Kongming for one great battle and decide once and for all which of you is stronger?”

Sima Yi replied, “I have received an imperial command to hold firm. I must not move rashly.”

While they were still discussing the matter, a report suddenly came that Wei Yan had brought the golden helmet the commander-in-chief had lost the other day and was outside challenging them and shouting insults. The generals were furious and all wanted to go out and fight.

Sima Yi laughed and said, “The sage said, ‘If you cannot endure a small grievance, you will disrupt a great plan.’ Holding firm is the best course.”

The generals obeyed and did not go out. Wei Yan hurled insults at them for a long while before finally returning.

When Kongming saw that Sima Yi refused to come out and fight, he secretly ordered Ma Dai to construct a wooden stockade and dig a deep trench inside the camp, filling it with dry wood and other fire-starting materials. On the surrounding hills, he had large quantities of brushwood and grass used to build empty huts, and mines were concealed both inside and outside them. When all was ready, Kongming whispered instructions in Ma Dai’s ear: “Block the rear exit of Gourd Valley and secretly conceal troops inside it. If Sima Yi pursues you there, let him enter the valley, then ignite all the mines and dry wood at once.”

He also ordered the soldiers to display a signal of seven-star banners at the valley entrance by day and to set out seven bright lamps on the hills by night as a secret signal. Ma Dai accepted the plan and led his troops away.

Kongming then summoned Wei Yan and instructed him: “Take five hundred men to the Wei camp and challenge them. You must lure Sima Yi out to fight. You are not to win, but only pretend to be defeated. Sima Yi is certain to pursue you. When he does, head toward the place marked by the seven-star banners. If it is nighttime, head toward the place marked by the seven lamps. All you need do is lure Sima Yi into Gourd Valley. I have a plan to capture him.”

Wei Yan accepted the plan and led his troops away.

Kongming then summoned Gao Xiang and instructed him: “Divide the wooden oxen and flowing horses into groups of twenty or thirty, or groups of forty or fifty. Load them all with grain and have them travel back and forth along the mountain roads. If the Wei troops seize them, that will count as your achievement.”

Gao Xiang accepted the plan and drove the wooden oxen and flowing horses away.

Kongming redeployed the troops at Qishan one group at a time, outwardly claiming that they were being sent to farm. He instructed them: “If any other troops come to fight, you may only pretend to be defeated. Only if Sima Yi himself comes are you to combine your strength and attack Weinan, cutting off his route of retreat.”

After completing all his deployments, Kongming personally led one force to make camp near Shangfang Valley.

Meanwhile, Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He entered Sima Yi’s camp and told him, “The Shu troops are now scattered in separate camps and farming everywhere as part of a long-term plan. If we do not eliminate them now, they will remain here in comfort until their roots are deep and firm, and then they will be difficult to dislodge.”

Sima Yi said, “This must be another of Kongming’s schemes.”

The two men replied, “If the commander-in-chief is always this suspicious and hesitant, when will the enemy ever be destroyed? We two brothers will exert all our strength and fight to the death to repay the nation’s favor.”

Sima Yi said, “If that is how you feel, then the two of you may go out and fight by separate routes.”

He then ordered Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He each to lead five thousand troops away. Sima Yi remained seated, awaiting news.

Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He divided their troops into two routes. As they marched, they suddenly saw Shu soldiers approaching with wooden oxen and flowing horses. Both men attacked at once. The Shu soldiers were badly defeated and fled, and all the wooden oxen and flowing horses were seized by the Wei troops and sent under escort to Sima Yi’s camp. The next day they captured more than a hundred men and horses, which were likewise escorted to the main camp.

Sima Yi had the captured Shu soldiers brought before him and questioned them closely to learn the truth of the situation. The Shu soldiers told him, “Kongming assumed that the commander-in-chief would hold firm and refuse to come out, so he ordered all of us to scatter and farm the land as part of a long-term plan. We never expected to be captured.”

Sima Yi immediately released all the Shu soldiers and sent them back.

Xiahou He asked, “Why not kill them?”

Sima Yi replied, “They are only common soldiers. Killing them would do us no good. If we release them to return to their camp, they will tell everyone that the Wei generals are generous and benevolent, and this will weaken their will to fight. This is the strategy Lü Meng used to take Jingzhou.”

He therefore issued an order that from then on, whenever Shu soldiers were captured, they were to be treated well and sent back. Officers and soldiers who distinguished themselves were still to be richly rewarded. The generals all obeyed the order and departed.

Kongming ordered Gao Xiang to pretend to transport grain, driving wooden oxen and flowing horses back and forth through Shangfang Valley. Xiahou Hui and the others intercepted and attacked them from time to time, and within half a month they won several successive victories. Sima Yi was delighted to see the Shu troops repeatedly defeated.

One day, several dozen more Shu soldiers were captured. Sima Yi summoned them before his tent and asked, “Where is Kongming now?”

They told him, “Chancellor Zhuge is not at Qishan. He has made camp ten li west of Shangfang Valley and is staying there. Every day, grain is now transported and stored in Shangfang Valley.”

Sima Yi questioned them in detail, then released them all. He summoned his generals and instructed them: “Kongming is not at Qishan now but has made camp in Shangfang Valley. Tomorrow, all of you are to combine your strength and attack the main camp at Qishan. I will personally lead troops to support you.”

The generals accepted their orders and each prepared for battle.

Sima Shi asked, “Father, why do you now intend to attack his rear?”

Sima Yi replied, “Qishan is the foundation of the Shu army. If they see our troops attacking it, every camp is sure to send all its forces to the rescue. I will then seize Shangfang Valley and burn their grain and fodder. They will be unable to support both front and rear and are certain to suffer a major defeat.”

Sima Shi bowed in admiration. Sima Yi immediately set his army in motion, ordering Zhang Hu and Yue Chen each to lead five thousand troops behind him as reinforcements.

Kongming, who was then at Qishan, saw Wei troops moving in groups of three or five thousand, or in groups of one or two thousand. Their columns were in constant motion, watching both front and rear. He concluded that they were coming to seize the main camp at Qishan, so he secretly passed an order to all his generals: “If Sima Yi comes in person, go raid the Wei camp and seize Weinan.”

All the generals obeyed his command.

The Wei troops all rushed toward the camp at Qishan. From every direction, the Shu troops raised great shouts and hurried off, pretending that they were going to its rescue. When Sima Yi saw that all the Shu troops had gone to rescue the Qishan camp, he led his two sons, together with his central division and bodyguard cavalry, in a charge toward Shangfang Valley.

Wei Yan was waiting at the valley entrance, watching only for Sima Yi’s arrival. Suddenly he saw a column of Wei troops charging toward him. Wei Yan spurred his horse forward to look and saw that it was indeed Sima Yi.

Wei Yan shouted, “Sima Yi, do not run away!” Brandishing his saber, he rode out to meet him.

Sima Yi leveled his spear and engaged him. Before three bouts had passed, Wei Yan wheeled his horse and fled, and Sima Yi pursued him. Wei Yan headed straight toward the seven-star banners.

Seeing that Wei Yan was alone and had few troops with him, Sima Yi pursued without concern. He ordered Sima Shi to take the left, Sima Zhao the right, while he himself held the center, and all three attacked together. Wei Yan led his five hundred soldiers in retreat into the valley.

When Sima Yi reached the valley entrance, he first sent men inside to scout. They returned and reported that there were no troops in ambush and that the hills were covered entirely with thatched huts.

Sima Yi said, “This must be the place where they store their grain.”

He therefore drove all his soldiers and horses into the valley. Suddenly he noticed that the thatched huts were filled with dry wood, while Wei Yan had disappeared from sight ahead. Becoming suspicious, Sima Yi said to his two sons, “What are we to do if troops cut off the valley entrance?”

Before he had finished speaking, tremendous shouts erupted. Torches were thrown down from the hills on every side, and fire blocked the valley entrance. The Wei troops had no route of escape. Fire arrows rained down from the hills, mines burst all at once, and the dry wood inside the huts caught fire. With crackling and roaring on every side, the flames soared to the sky.

Sima Yi was so terrified that he did not know what to do. He dismounted, embraced his two sons, and cried aloud: “All three of us, father and sons, will die here!”

As he wept, a violent wind suddenly rose and dark clouds filled the sky. There came a clap of thunder, followed by a sudden torrential downpour. All the fires throughout the valley were extinguished. The mines no longer exploded, and the incendiary devices were rendered useless.

Overjoyed, Sima Yi said, “If we do not fight our way out now, what are we waiting for?”

He immediately led his troops in a desperate charge. Zhang Hu and Yue Chen also arrived, each leading troops to his support. Ma Dai had too few men and did not dare pursue. Sima Yi and his sons joined forces with Zhang Hu and Yue Chen, and together they returned to the main camp at Weinan.

But unexpectedly, the camp and stockade had already been seized by the Shu troops. Guo Huai and Sun Li were then fighting the Shu troops on the floating bridge. Sima Yi and the others arrived with their forces and attacked, forcing the Shu troops to withdraw. Sima Yi burned down the floating bridge and took up a defensive position on the northern bank.

The Wei troops attacking the Shu camp at Qishan heard that Sima Yi had suffered a major defeat and lost the camp at Weinan. The army fell into panic. When they hurriedly began to withdraw, Shu troops charged in from every direction. The Wei troops suffered a crushing defeat. Eight or nine out of every ten were wounded, and countless men were killed. The survivors fled across the Wei River to the northern bank to save their lives.

From the mountain, Kongming saw Wei Yan lure Sima Yi into the valley, and in an instant great flames rose. He was delighted, believing that Sima Yi was certain to die this time. But unexpectedly, Heaven sent a heavy rain, and the fire would not burn. Scouts reported that Sima Yi and both his sons had escaped.

Kongming sighed and said, “‘Man proposes, but Heaven disposes.’ It cannot be forced!”

A later poet lamented:

At the valley mouth wild winds drove the fierce flames high;Who could have foreseen the sudden rain descending from the azure sky?Had the Marquis of Wu’s brilliant plan succeeded that day,How could the realm have ever passed beneath the Jin dynasty’s sway?

In the camp north of the Wei River, Sima Yi issued an order: “The camp and stockade at Weinan have now been lost. Any general who again speaks of going out to battle will be executed.”

The generals obeyed the order and held their position without coming out.

Guo Huai entered and reported, “Recently Kongming has been leading troops on reconnaissance. He must be selecting a place to make camp.”

Sima Yi said, “If Kongming emerges at Wugong and advances east along the mountains, we will all be in danger. But if he comes out south of the Wei River and halts in the west at Wuzhang Plains, there will be no trouble.”

He sent men to investigate, and they returned to report that Kongming had indeed encamped at Wuzhang Plains.

Sima Yi raised a hand to his forehead and said, “This is the great good fortune of the emperor of Great Wei!”

He then ordered his generals to hold firm and not come out, saying that if the enemy remained long enough, trouble would arise among them on its own.

Kongming personally led one force to encamp at Wuzhang Plains and repeatedly sent men to challenge the enemy, but the Wei troops refused to come out. Kongming therefore obtained a woman’s headdress and a set of white women’s mourning clothes, placed them in a large box, wrote a letter, and sent a man to deliver it to the Wei camp.

The generals did not dare conceal the matter. They brought the messenger in to see Sima Yi. Before everyone, Sima Yi opened the box and looked inside. It contained a woman’s headdress and women’s clothing, along with a letter. Sima Yi opened and read it. It said, in summary:

“Zhongda, though you are a great general commanding the forces of the Central Plains, you do not consider putting on armor and taking up arms to determine which of us is stronger. Instead, you are content to hide in your earthen nest, cautiously avoiding blades and arrows. How are you any different from a woman? I now send you a woman’s headdress and white clothing. If you will not come out to fight, bow twice and accept them. But if your sense of shame is not yet dead and you still possess a man’s courage, send your written reply at once and come to meet me in battle on the appointed day.”

After reading the letter, Sima Yi was furious, but he pretended to laugh and said, “Does Kongming regard me as a woman?”

He accepted the gifts and ordered that the messenger be treated generously. Sima Yi asked him, “How are Kongming’s sleeping and eating, and how heavy or light are his official duties?”

The messenger replied, “The chancellor rises early and retires late. He personally reviews every punishment of twenty strokes or more. As for what he eats, it amounts to no more than a few sheng each day.”

Sima Yi turned to his generals and said, “Kongming eats little and burdens himself with many affairs. How can he last long?”

The messenger took his leave and returned to Wuzhang Plains. After seeing Kongming, he gave a full report: “Sima Yi accepted the woman’s headdress and clothing. He read the letter without becoming angry and asked only about the chancellor’s sleeping and eating and whether his duties were heavy or light. He said nothing at all about military matters. I answered him as I have told you, and he said, ‘He eats little and burdens himself with many affairs. How can he last long?’”

Kongming sighed and said, “He understands me deeply!”

Chief Clerk Yang Yong said, “I have often seen the chancellor personally checking account books and documents, and I privately believe this is unnecessary. There is a proper order to governing, and superiors and subordinates must not encroach upon one another’s duties. Take the management of a household as an example: the male servants must be made to do the plowing and the female servants to manage the cooking. Then none of the household’s work is neglected and everything required is supplied, while the master of the house remains calm and at ease, doing no more than sleep peacefully and take his meals. But if he personally attends to every task, his body will become exhausted and his spirit worn down, yet in the end nothing will be accomplished. Is this because his intelligence is inferior to that of his male and female servants? No, it is because he has lost the proper way of being master of a household.

“For this reason, the ancients said that those who sit and discuss the Way are called the Three Excellencies, while those who rise and carry it out are called officers and officials. In former times, Bing Ji concerned himself when he saw an ox panting, but did not ask about a dead man lying across the road. Chen Ping did not know the exact amounts of money and grain and said, ‘There are officials responsible for those things.’ Now the chancellor personally handles minor matters and sweats with labor all day. How can this not exhaust you? Sima Yi’s words are truly words of perfect wisdom.”

Kongming wept and said, “It is not that I do not understand this. But I received the late emperor’s grave charge to care for his orphaned heir, and I fear that others will not devote themselves as wholeheartedly as I do!”

Everyone shed tears. From then on, Kongming himself felt that his mind and spirit were unsettled, and because of this, the generals did not dare advance the army.

The Wei generals all learned that Kongming had humiliated Sima Yi with a woman’s headdress and clothing, and that Sima Yi had accepted them without fighting. They were all enraged and entered his tent to say, “We are all renowned generals of a great nation. How can we endure such humiliation from the men of Shu? We ask to go out at once and fight to decide which side is stronger.”

Sima Yi said, “It is not that I dare not go out to fight or that I am willing to endure this humiliation. But the Son of Heaven issued a clear edict ordering us to hold firm and not move. If we rashly go out now, we will be defying our sovereign’s command.”

The generals were all indignant and dissatisfied.

Sima Yi said, “Since you all wish to fight, wait until I submit a memorial and receive the Son of Heaven’s approval. Then we will go together against the enemy. How does that sound?”

The generals agreed. Sima Yi then wrote a memorial and sent a messenger directly to the army at Hefei to present it to Cao Rui, ruler of Wei. Cao Rui opened and read the memorial. It said, in summary:

“Your servant possesses little ability but bears a heavy responsibility. I have reverently received Your Majesty’s enlightened command and am now holding firm without fighting, awaiting the exhaustion of the men of Shu. But Zhuge Liang has sent me a woman’s headdress and treats me as if I were a woman. The humiliation is extreme. I therefore respectfully inform Your Majesty in advance that at any moment I intend to risk my life in battle, to repay the court’s favor and wipe away the shame of the entire army. Your servant is overcome with indignation and urgency!”

After reading the memorial, Cao Rui said to the assembled officials, “Sima Yi has been holding firm and refusing to come out. Why has he now submitted a memorial asking to fight?”

Xin Pi, Commandant of the Guards, said, “Sima Yi has no intention of fighting. He must have submitted this memorial only because Zhuge Liang humiliated him and his generals became furious. He seeks another explicit imperial command so that he may restrain his generals.”

Cao Rui agreed. He immediately ordered Xin Pi to take the imperial staff of authority to the camp north of the Wei River and convey an order forbidding Sima Yi to go out and fight.

Sima Yi received the edict and entered his tent. Xin Pi proclaimed the imperial command: “If anyone again dares speak of going out to fight, he will be judged guilty of disobeying the imperial decree.”

The generals had no choice but to obey.

Sima Yi privately said to Xin Pi, “You truly understand my mind.”

An announcement was then circulated through the army that the ruler of Wei had ordered Xin Pi to carry the imperial staff of authority and command Sima Yi not to go out to battle.

When the Shu generals heard of this, they reported it to Kongming.

Kongming laughed and said, “This is Sima Yi’s method for calming his entire army.”

Jiang Wei asked, “How does the chancellor know that?”

Kongming replied, “He had no desire to fight in the first place. He asked permission to fight only to make a show of courage before his men. Have you not heard the saying, ‘When a general is in the field, there are commands from his sovereign that he need not obey’? Who ever heard of requesting permission from a thousand li away before fighting? Because his officers and soldiers were furious, Sima Yi borrowed Cao Rui’s authority to restrain them. Now he has also spread word of this throughout the army because he hopes to weaken our own soldiers’ resolve.”

While they were still discussing this, a sudden report came that Fei Yi had arrived. Kongming invited him in and questioned him.

Fei Yi said, “When Cao Rui, ruler of Wei, heard that Eastern Wu was advancing by three routes, he personally led the main army to Hefei and ordered Man Chong, Tian Yu, and Liu Shao to divide their forces into three routes to meet the enemy. Man Chong devised a plan and burned all of Eastern Wu’s grain, fodder, and military equipment, while many of the Wu troops fell ill. Lu Xun submitted a memorial to the king of Wu proposing that their forces attack the enemy from front and rear, but unexpectedly the man carrying the memorial was captured on the way by Wei troops. Their plan was therefore exposed, and the Wu troops returned without accomplishing anything.”

When Kongming heard this news, he gave a long sigh and suddenly collapsed to the ground unconscious. The generals hurried to revive him, and only after a long while did he regain consciousness.

Kongming sighed and said, “My mind is confused and my old illness has returned. I fear I will not survive!”

That night, though ill, Kongming had himself helped outside his tent and looked up at the heavens. He became extremely alarmed. Returning to the tent, he said to Jiang Wei, “My life will end at any moment!”

Jiang Wei asked, “Why does the chancellor say this?”

Kongming replied, “Among the stars of the Three Terraces, I saw the guest star shining with doubled brilliance, while the principal star was dim and hidden. The supporting stars arrayed around it were also faint. With the heavens displaying such signs, my fate is clear!”

Jiang Wei said, “Even though the celestial signs are like this, why does the chancellor not use a ritual of prayer and averting calamity to reverse them?”

Kongming replied, “I have always understood the rites for prayer and averting calamity, but I do not know what Heaven intends. Take forty-nine armored soldiers, each holding a black banner and dressed in black, and station them in a circle outside my tent. I will perform a rite inside the tent and pray to the Northern Dipper. If the principal lamp does not go out within seven days, my life may be extended by one cycle of twelve years. If the lamp goes out, I will certainly die. Do not allow any unauthorized person to enter. For anything I require, permit only two young attendants to carry it in.”

Jiang Wei accepted the order and went to make preparations.

It was the Mid-Autumn Festival in the eighth month. That night the Milky Way shone brightly and pearly dew descended. The banners did not stir, and no sound came from the watchmen’s clappers. Jiang Wei led forty-nine men in guarding the outside of the tent.

Inside, Kongming arranged incense, flowers, and sacrificial offerings. He placed seven large lamps on the ground, with forty-nine smaller lamps around them, and set his own life lamp at the center. Kongming bowed and prayed:

“I, Liang, was born in an age of disorder and would gladly have grown old among the forests and streams. But I received the grace of Emperor Zhaolie, who visited me three times, and was entrusted with the grave charge of caring for his orphaned heir. I dared not withhold the labor of a dog or horse and vowed to destroy the traitors to the state. Unexpectedly, my general’s star is about to fall and my allotted years of life are nearing their end. I respectfully set down these few words and appeal to the boundless heavens above. I humbly pray that Heaven, in its mercy, will look down, examine, and hear me, and graciously extend your servant’s allotted years, so that above I may repay my sovereign’s favor, and below I may save the lives of the people, recover the former possessions of the dynasty, and perpetuate the sacrifices of Han forever. I dare not pray recklessly; I do so only because my feelings are urgent and sincere.”

After finishing his prayer, he prostrated himself inside the tent and waited for dawn. The next day, he attended to official business despite his illness, coughing up blood without cease. By day he deliberated on military plans, and by night he paced the pattern of the Dipper through the ritual constellation.

Sima Yi continued to hold firm in his camp. One night, he suddenly looked up at the heavens and was delighted. He said to Xiahou Ba, “I have seen the general’s star leave its proper position. Kongming must be ill and will soon die. Take one thousand troops to Wuzhang Plains and scout the situation. If the men of Shu are in disorder and do not come out to fight, Kongming must indeed be sick. I will then take advantage of the situation and attack him.”

Xiahou Ba led his troops away.

Inside his tent, Kongming had now performed the prayer ritual for six nights. Seeing the principal lamp still burning brightly, he was delighted. Jiang Wei entered the tent and saw Kongming with his hair unbound and a sword in hand, pacing the pattern of the Dipper through the ritual constellation to secure and protect his general’s star.

Suddenly, shouts were heard outside the camp. Jiang Wei was just about to send someone out to inquire when Wei Yan rushed in and reported, “The Wei troops have arrived!”

Wei Yan’s steps were so hurried that he knocked out the principal lamp.

Kongming cast down his sword and sighed: “Life and death are determined by fate. They cannot be altered by prayer!”

Wei Yan was terrified and prostrated himself to beg forgiveness. Jiang Wei flew into a rage, drew his sword, and prepared to kill Wei Yan.

Indeed:

In all affairs, man cannot decide his fate;One heart alone cannot contend with destiny’s weight.

What became of Wei Yan’s life will be revealed in the next chapter.