Chapter 114

Cao Mao Drives to His Death at the Southern Gate; Jiang Wei Abandons Grain and Defeats the Wei Army

Now Jiang Wei gave orders to withdraw the army. Liao Hua said, “When a general is in the field, there are commands from his sovereign that he need not obey. Though an edict has come, we should not move yet.” Zhang Yi said, “The people of Shu have grown resentful because the General-in-Chief has raised armies year after year. We would do better to take advantage of this victory and bring our troops home, thereby calming the people’s hearts, before devising some sound plan for the future.” Jiang Wei said, “Excellent.” He ordered each division to withdraw in proper formation, and commanded Liao Hua and Zhang Yi to guard the rear against pursuit by the Wei army.

Meanwhile, Deng Ai led his troops in pursuit, but saw ahead of him the banners of the Shu army in perfect order and its men and horses retiring at an unhurried pace. Deng Ai sighed and said, “Jiang Wei has truly mastered the methods of the Martial Marquis!” He therefore dared pursue no farther, but reined in his army and returned to the camp at Mount Qi.

Jiang Wei reached Chengdu, entered the palace to see the Latter Lord, and asked why he had been recalled. The Latter Lord said, “Since you had long been on the frontier without returning with the army, We feared the soldiers were being overtaxed and therefore summoned you back to court. We had no other intention.” Jiang Wei said, “Your servant had already taken the stronghold at Mount Qi and was just about to complete the victory, only to have the undertaking abandoned halfway. We must have fallen victim to Deng Ai’s scheme of sowing dissension.” The Latter Lord remained silent. Jiang Wei memorialized again: “Your servant has sworn to destroy the rebels and repay the grace of the state. Your Majesty must not heed the words of petty men and thereby give rise to doubts.” After a long while, the Latter Lord said, “We do not doubt you. Return for the present to Hanzhong, and when some change occurs in Wei, you may attack it again.” Jiang Wei sighed, withdrew from court, and went straight to Hanzhong.

Meanwhile, Dang Jun returned to the camp at Mount Qi and reported what had happened. Deng Ai said to Sima Wang, “With sovereign and minister at odds, there is certain to be upheaval within.” He then ordered Dang Jun to go to Luoyang and report the matter to Sima Zhao. Sima Zhao was overjoyed and at once conceived the desire to conquer Shu. He asked Jia Chong, Protector of the Army, “What if I were now to attack Shu?” Jia Chong replied, “You must not attack yet. The Son of Heaven is even now suspicious of my lord. If you rashly leave the capital, internal trouble is certain to arise. Last year, yellow dragons twice appeared in a well at Ningling. The assembled ministers submitted congratulations, taking this as an auspicious sign, but the Son of Heaven said: ‘It is no auspicious sign. The dragon is the emblem of the sovereign, yet above it is not in heaven, below it is not in the fields, but lies instead within a well. This is an omen of imprisonment.’ He then composed a poem entitled ‘The Hidden Dragon.’ Its meaning plainly points to my lord. The poem reads:

‘Alas, the dragon is held in chains,Unable to leap from the deep abyss.Above, it cannot soar through heaven’s stream;Below, it cannot appear in the fields.Coiled at the bottom of a well,It sees loaches and eels dance before it.Its fangs concealed, its claws drawn in—Alas, my own plight is the same!’”

When Sima Zhao heard this, he flew into a rage and said to Jia Chong, “This man wishes to follow Cao Fang’s example! Unless I deal with him soon, he will surely do me harm.” Jia Chong said, “I am willing to devise a plan for my lord at the earliest opportunity.”

It was the fourth month of summer in the fifth year of Ganlu in Wei. Sima Zhao entered the palace hall wearing his sword, and Cao Mao rose to receive him. The assembled ministers all memorialized: “The General-in-Chief’s merit and virtue tower on high. It is fitting that he be created Duke of Jin and granted the Nine Dignities.” Cao Mao lowered his head and made no reply. Sima Zhao said sternly, “My father, my brother, and I have rendered great service to Wei. Can it be unfitting that I should now become Duke of Jin?” Cao Mao answered, “How would I dare disobey?” Sima Zhao said, “In your poem ‘The Hidden Dragon,’ you liken us to loaches and eels. What manner of propriety is this?” Cao Mao could not answer. With a cold laugh, Sima Zhao left the hall. All the officials trembled with fear. Cao Mao returned to the inner palace and summoned three men—Wang Chen, Palace Attendant; Wang Jing, Imperial Secretary; and Wang Ye, Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary—to deliberate with him in private. Cao Mao wept and said, “That Sima Zhao harbors treasonous designs is known to every man! I will not sit idle and endure deposition and disgrace. You must help me destroy him!” Wang Jing memorialized: “That cannot be done. In former times, Duke Zhao of Lu could not endure the Ji clan, and so was defeated, driven into exile, and deprived of his state. Now the greatest powers have long been in the hands of the Sima clan. The lords and ministers within the court and without, heedless of the distinction between loyalty and rebellion, have flocked to support the traitor—and there are many of them. Moreover, Your Majesty’s palace guard is small and weak, and there is no one prepared to risk his life in your service. If Your Majesty cannot endure this for the present, no calamity could be greater. You should proceed slowly with your plans and must not act rashly.” Cao Mao said, “If this can be endured, what cannot be endured? My mind is made up. Why should I fear death?” Having said this, he entered the inner palace to inform the Empress Dowager. Wang Chen and Wang Ye said to Wang Jing, “The crisis has come upon us. We cannot bring upon ourselves the destruction of our entire clans. We must go to Duke Sima’s residence and report the matter, so that we may escape death.” Wang Jing cried angrily, “When the ruler is troubled, his ministers are disgraced; when the ruler is disgraced, his ministers die. How dare you harbor divided loyalties?” Seeing that Wang Jing would not join them, Wang Chen and Wang Ye went straight to report the matter to Sima Zhao.

A short while later, the Ruler of Wei, Cao Mao, emerged from the inner palace and ordered his guardsman Jiao Bo to assemble more than three hundred palace guards, servants, and young attendants. Raising a great clamor, they marched forth. Cao Mao mounted his carriage with sword in hand and sternly ordered his attendants to proceed directly through the southern palace gate. Wang Jing threw himself down before the carriage, weeping bitterly as he remonstrated: “If Your Majesty leads a few hundred men against Sima Zhao, it is no more than driving sheep into a tiger’s jaws. You will die in vain and gain nothing. It is not that your servant values his own life; I see only that this undertaking cannot succeed.” Cao Mao said, “My army is already on the march. Do not stand in my way.” He then proceeded toward the Dragon Gate.

Presently Jia Chong appeared on horseback in full armor, with Cheng Zu on his left and Cheng Ji on his right, leading several thousand mailed imperial guards who came charging forward with battle cries. Cao Mao brandished his sword and shouted, “I am the Son of Heaven! You men have forced your way into the palace grounds—do you mean to murder your sovereign?” When the imperial guards saw Cao Mao, none dared move. Jia Chong called to Cheng Ji, “For what purpose has Duke Sima maintained you? It was precisely for a day such as this!” Cheng Ji grasped his halberd, looked back at Jia Chong, and asked, “Am I to kill him or seize him?” Jia Chong replied, “Duke Sima has given orders that he wants him dead.” Cheng Ji leveled his halberd and rushed straight at the imperial carriage. Cao Mao shouted, “How dare you, common brute, behave so insolently!” Before he had finished speaking, Cheng Ji thrust his halberd into Cao Mao’s chest and knocked him from the carriage. With a second thrust, the blade passed out through his back, and he died beside the carriage. Jiao Bo came forward with leveled spear, but Cheng Ji killed him with a single stroke of the halberd. The rest all fled. Wang Jing came running up behind them and cursed Jia Chong: “Rebel! How dare you murder your sovereign?” Jia Chong flew into a rage, ordered his men to bind Wang Jing, and sent word to Sima Zhao. Sima Zhao entered the palace and, seeing that Cao Mao was already dead, feigned great astonishment. He struck his head against the imperial carriage and wept, then ordered that all the high ministers be informed.

At that time Sima Fu, Grand Tutor, entered the palace. When he saw Cao Mao’s corpse, he pillowed the dead emperor’s head upon his lap and wept, saying, “That Your Majesty has been murdered is the fault of this minister!” Cao Mao’s body was then placed in an inner and outer coffin and laid in state west of a side hall. Sima Zhao entered the palace hall and summoned the assembled ministers to deliberate. All came except Chen Tai, Director of the Imperial Secretariat. Sima Zhao ordered Chen Tai’s maternal uncle, Xun Yi, an Imperial Secretary, to summon him. Chen Tai wept bitterly and said, “Men have compared me with my uncle, but today my uncle proves inferior to me.” He donned hempen mourning garments and entered, weeping and bowing before the bier. Sima Zhao likewise pretended to weep and asked him, “By what law should today’s affair be dealt with?” Chen Tai replied, “Only by beheading Jia Chong can you begin to answer to the empire.” Sima Zhao pondered for a long while, then asked, “Consider what the next best course might be.” Chen Tai replied, “I know only of a course more severe than that, not one less so.” Sima Zhao said, “Cheng Ji has committed monstrous treason. He must be dismembered, and his three clans exterminated.” Cheng Ji reviled Sima Zhao, crying, “The crime is not mine! It was Jia Chong who conveyed your command!” Sima Zhao ordered that his tongue first be cut out. Until the moment of his death, Cheng Ji never ceased crying out that he had been wronged. His younger brother Cheng Zu was also beheaded in the marketplace, and all three clans were exterminated. A later poet lamented:

In former days Sima gave Jia Chong command;At the southern gate he slew the red-robed king.Then Cheng Ji and all three clans were put to death—As though every soldier and subject were deaf to the thing.

Sima Zhao also sent men to arrest Wang Jing’s entire household and cast them into prison. Wang Jing was in the hall of the Chief Judicial Office when he suddenly saw his mother brought in bound. He knocked his head upon the floor and wept bitterly, saying, “Your unfilial son has brought ruin upon his loving mother!” His mother laughed aloud and said, “Who among men does not die? The only fear is that one may not die for a worthy cause. If I give up my life for this, what cause have I for regret?” The next day, Wang Jing’s entire family was escorted to the Eastern Market. Wang Jing and his mother smiled as they received execution. Throughout the city, men of rank and commoners alike shed tears. A later poet wrote:

At Han’s dawn they praised the sword-embracing brave;At Han’s decline came loyal Wang Jing’s name.Their steadfast, heroic hearts were both the same,But firmer still and purer burned his aim.His honor weighed as Mount Tai and Mount Hua;His life he held as lightly as a feather.Mother and son shall live in deathless fame,Enduring with heaven and earth together.

The Grand Tutor Sima Fu requested that Cao Mao be buried with the rites due a king, and Sima Zhao consented. Jia Chong and the others urged Sima Zhao to accept Wei’s abdication and ascend the imperial throne. Sima Zhao said, “In former times, King Wen possessed two-thirds of the empire, yet continued to serve the house of Yin; for this the sages praised him as a man of perfect virtue. Emperor Wu of Wei refused to accept the abdication of Han, just as I refuse to accept the abdication of Wei.” From these words, Jia Chong and the others understood that Sima Zhao’s thoughts were fixed upon his son Sima Yan, and they pressed him no further. In the sixth month of that year, Sima Zhao raised Cao Huang, Duke of Changdao District, to the imperial throne and inaugurated the first year of Jingyuan. Cao Huang changed his name to Cao Huan and bore the style Jingzhao. He was a grandson of Cao Cao, Emperor Wu, and the son of Cao Yu, Prince of Yan. Cao Huan appointed Sima Zhao prime minister and Duke of Jin, and bestowed upon him one hundred thousand strings of cash and ten thousand bolts of silk. The many civil and military officials also received titles and rewards according to their ranks.

Spies had already carried word of these events into Shu. When Jiang Wei heard that Sima Zhao had murdered Cao Mao and installed Cao Huan, he rejoiced and said, “Now I once more have righteous cause to attack Wei.” He dispatched a letter to Wu, urging it to raise troops and call Sima Zhao to account for murdering his sovereign. At the same time, he obtained the Latter Lord’s approval and raised an army of one hundred fifty thousand men, together with several thousand carts, each fitted with a wooden box. He appointed Liao Hua and Zhang Yi as vanguard commanders. Liao Hua was to take Ziwu Valley, Zhang Yi Luo Valley, while Jiang Wei himself would take Xie Valley, all three armies arranging to converge before Mount Qi. The three forces advanced together and came sweeping toward Mount Qi.

At that time Deng Ai was in his mountain camp training his men and horses. When he was informed that the Shu army was attacking along three routes, he assembled his generals to deliberate. Wang Guan, an adviser to the army, said, “I have a plan that cannot be spoken aloud. I have written it down here and respectfully submit it for the general’s inspection.” Deng Ai took the paper, opened it, and read it through. Then he smiled and said, “The plan is excellent, but I fear it will not deceive Jiang Wei.” Wang Guan said, “I am willing to risk my life in carrying it out.” Deng Ai replied, “If your resolve is firm, you will certainly succeed.” He accordingly assigned five thousand troops to Wang Guan. Wang Guan marched through the night toward Xie Valley and ran straight into the scouts of the Shu vanguard. He called out, “We are troops of Wei come to surrender! Report this to your commander.”

The scouts reported to Jiang Wei, who ordered the rest of the soldiers detained and summoned only their leading general before him. Wang Guan bowed to the ground and said, “I am Wang Guan, nephew of Wang Jing. Recently, when Sima Zhao murdered his sovereign and slaughtered my uncle’s entire household, hatred pierced me to the very marrow. Now, happily, the general has raised an army to call him to account, and so I have brought the five thousand men under my command to surrender. I beg to serve at your disposal, destroy the traitorous faction, and avenge my uncle.” Jiang Wei was overjoyed and said to Wang Guan, “Since you have come to surrender in all sincerity, how could I fail to treat you with equal sincerity? The only thing that troubles my army is the supply of grain. We now have provisions at the mouth of the river valley. You may transport them to Mount Qi, while I go at once to seize the camp there.” Wang Guan was delighted, thinking Jiang Wei had fallen into his trap, and readily accepted the order. Jiang Wei said, “You do not need five thousand men to transport the grain. Take only three thousand and leave two thousand to guide us in our attack on Mount Qi.” Fearing that Jiang Wei might grow suspicious, Wang Guan departed with three thousand men. Jiang Wei ordered Fu Qian to take the two thousand surrendered Wei soldiers under his command for the coming campaign. Suddenly it was reported that Xiahou Ba had arrived. Xiahou Ba said, “Why has the Commander-in-Chief trusted Wang Guan’s story? Though I did not know all the particulars when I was in Wei, I never heard that Wang Guan was Wang Jing’s nephew. There is much deceit in this; I beg the general to examine it carefully.” Jiang Wei laughed aloud and said, “I already knew Wang Guan’s surrender was false. That is why I divided his force, and I shall turn his own stratagem against him.” Xiahou Ba said, “Please explain it.” Jiang Wei replied, “Sima Zhao is as crafty and ruthless a villain as Cao Cao. Since he killed Wang Jing and exterminated his three clans, how could he have allowed a close nephew of Wang Jing to remain outside the passes in command of troops? By this I knew the surrender was false. Your judgment, Zhongquan, secretly accords with mine.”

Jiang Wei therefore did not leave Xie Valley, but secretly posted men along the road to intercept Wang Guan’s spies. In less than ten days, the ambush troops indeed captured a messenger whom Wang Guan was sending back to Deng Ai. Jiang Wei questioned him about the whole affair and found the secret letter upon him. The letter arranged for Wang Guan to take a side road on the twentieth day of the eighth month, transporting the grain back to the main camp, and asked Deng Ai to send troops to meet him in the valley of Mount Tan. Jiang Wei killed the messenger, then altered the letter so that the date read the fifteenth day of the eighth month and asked Deng Ai to lead his main army in person to meet Wang Guan in the valley of Mount Tan. On the one hand, he sent a man disguised as a Wei soldier to deliver the letter to the Wei camp. On the other, he had the grain unloaded from several hundred provision carts and replaced with dry firewood, reeds, and other combustibles, all covered with blue cloth. He ordered Fu Qian to lead the two thousand soldiers who had originally surrendered from Wei, displaying banners that proclaimed them grain transports. Jiang Wei and Xiahou Ba each led a force into the valley and lay in ambush. He ordered Jiang Shu to advance from Xie Valley, while Liao Hua and Zhang Yi were each to press forward and seize Mount Qi.

When Deng Ai received Wang Guan’s letter, he was overjoyed and hastily wrote a reply, ordering the messenger to carry it back. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, Deng Ai led fifty thousand picked troops straight to the valley of Mount Tan. From a distance, he sent men to climb to a height and survey the country. They saw countless provision carts moving in an unbroken line through a hollow among the hills. Deng Ai reined in his horse and looked. All the men with the carts were indeed Wei soldiers. His attendants said, “The day is already fading. We should hasten to meet Wang Guan and escort him from the mouth of the valley.” Deng Ai said, “The hills ahead obscure our view. If troops lie in ambush there, it will be difficult to withdraw in haste. We can only wait here.” Even as he spoke, two riders came galloping up and reported, “General Wang has carried the grain across the border, but troops are pursuing from behind. He begs you to come quickly to his aid.” Deng Ai was greatly alarmed and urgently drove his troops forward. It was then the first watch of the night, but the moon shone as brightly as day. Hearing battle cries behind the mountain, Deng Ai assumed that Wang Guan was fighting there. He raced straight around the mountain, when suddenly a body of troops burst from the woods. At their head rode the Shu general Fu Qian, who spurred forward and cried, “Deng Ai, scoundrel! You have fallen into my commander’s trap! Why do you not dismount at once and submit to death?” Deng Ai was appalled. He wheeled his horse and fled. At once all the carts burst into flame. Those fires were the signal. Shu troops poured out from both sides and hacked the Wei army into shattered fragments. From the slopes above and below came nothing but cries of: “Whoever captures Deng Ai shall receive a thousand pieces of gold and be enfeoffed as lord of ten thousand households!” Terrified, Deng Ai cast away his armor and helmet, abandoned his mount, and mingled with the infantry, scrambling over hills and across ridges in his escape. Jiang Wei and Xiahou Ba had watched only for the foremost rider, intending to seize him, never imagining that Deng Ai would escape on foot. Jiang Wei gathered his victorious troops and went to intercept Wang Guan’s provision carts.

Wang Guan, having secretly arranged matters with Deng Ai, had prepared his provision carts and equipment ahead of time and was waiting only for the moment to act. Suddenly, one of his trusted men reported: “The affair has been exposed. General Deng has suffered a crushing defeat, and no one knows whether he is alive or dead.” Wang Guan was greatly alarmed and sent scouts to reconnoiter. They returned to report that three bodies of troops were closing in to surround them, while a great cloud of dust was rising behind; there was no road of escape in any direction. Wang Guan sternly ordered his men to set fire to all the provisions and carts. In an instant, flames shot upward and a raging fire burned against the sky. Wang Guan cried, “The crisis is upon us! You must fight to the death!” He then led his troops in an attempt to break through to the west. Jiang Wei’s three forces pursued from behind. Jiang Wei assumed that Wang Guan would risk his life trying to return to Wei, never imagining that he would instead fight his way into Hanzhong. Since his force was small and he feared the pursuers would overtake him, Wang Guan burned down all the plank roads and destroyed every pass and barrier. Fearing that Hanzhong might be lost, Jiang Wei abandoned his pursuit of Deng Ai and led his troops through the night by a shortcut to hunt down Wang Guan. Attacked on every side by the Shu army, Wang Guan threw himself into the Black Dragon River and died. Jiang Wei had all the surviving troops buried alive. Though Jiang Wei had defeated Deng Ai, he had lost a great quantity of provisions, and the plank roads had also been destroyed; he therefore led his army back to Hanzhong. Deng Ai gathered the defeated remnants of his force and fled back to the camp at Mount Qi. He submitted a memorial confessing his guilt and demoted himself from office. Since Deng Ai had rendered distinguished service on many occasions, Sima Zhao could not bear to degrade him and instead bestowed further generous rewards. Deng Ai distributed all the wealth previously granted him among the families of the soldiers who had been killed. Fearing that the Shu army might advance again, Sima Zhao added fifty thousand troops to Deng Ai’s command for the defense. Jiang Wei repaired the plank roads with all speed and once more discussed taking the field. Truly:

The plank roads are repaired, and armies march again;Until the heartland falls, his war shall never cease.

What the outcome would be will be revealed in the next chapter.

Cao Mao Drives to His Death at the Southern Gate; Jiang Wei Abandons Grain and Defeats the Wei Army

Now Jiang Wei gave orders to withdraw the army. Liao Hua said, “When a general is in the field, there are some commands from his sovereign that he need not obey. Although we have received an edict, we should not move yet.” Zhang Yi said, “The people of Shu resent the Grand General for mobilizing troops year after year. We would do better to take advantage of this victory and bring our men and horses back, thereby putting the people’s minds at ease, and then devise a sound plan for the future.” Jiang Wei said, “Good.” He ordered each army to withdraw according to established procedure, and commanded Liao Hua and Zhang Yi to guard the rear against pursuit by the Wei forces.

Meanwhile, Deng Ai led his troops in pursuit, but saw ahead of him that the Shu banners were in perfect order and that the men and horses were withdrawing at a measured pace. Deng Ai sighed and said, “Jiang Wei has truly mastered the methods of the Martial Marquis!” He therefore did not dare pursue them, but reined in his army and returned to the camp at Mount Qi.

Jiang Wei arrived in Chengdu, entered the palace to see the Later Emperor, and asked why he had been recalled. The Later Emperor said, “Because you had been on the frontier so long without bringing the army back, We feared the soldiers were being overworked. That is why We issued an edict recalling you to court. We had no other intention.” Jiang Wei said, “I had already taken the camp at Mount Qi and was about to complete the victory, but unexpectedly the campaign was abandoned halfway. This must surely have been Deng Ai’s scheme to sow discord between us.” The Later Emperor remained silent. Jiang Wei memorialized again, “I have sworn to destroy the rebels and repay the grace of the state. Your Majesty must not listen to the words of petty men and allow doubts to arise.” After a long while, the Later Emperor said, “We do not doubt you. For now, return to Hanzhong. When some upheaval occurs in Wei, you may attack it again.” Jiang Wei sighed, left the court, and departed for Hanzhong.

Meanwhile, Dang Jun returned to the camp at Mount Qi and reported what had happened. Deng Ai said to Sima Wang, “The sovereign and his minister are at odds. There is certain to be internal upheaval.” He then ordered Dang Jun to go to Luoyang and report the matter to Sima Zhao. Sima Zhao was delighted and began to contemplate the conquest of Shu. He asked Jia Chong, the Palace Guard General, “What if I attack Shu now?” Jia Chong said, “You must not attack yet. The Son of Heaven has begun to distrust you, my lord. If you rashly leave now, internal trouble is certain to break out. Last year, yellow dragons appeared twice in the well at Ningling. The assembled ministers submitted congratulations, regarding them as an auspicious omen. But the Son of Heaven said, ‘This is not an auspicious omen. The dragon is the symbol of a ruler, yet above it is not in heaven, below it is not in the fields, but instead it is trapped in a well. This is an omen of imprisonment.’ He then composed a poem entitled ‘The Hidden Dragon.’ Its meaning clearly points to you, my lord. The poem reads:

‘Alas, the dragon lies distressed,Unable to leap from the deep abyss.Above, it cannot fly through heaven;Below, it cannot appear in the fields.Coiled at the bottom of a well,It sees loaches and eels dance before it.Its fangs concealed, its claws drawn in—Alas, my own fate is just the same!’”

When Sima Zhao heard this, he flew into a rage and said to Jia Chong, “This man intends to follow Cao Fang’s example! Unless I deal with him soon, he will surely do me harm.” Jia Chong said, “I am willing to devise a plan for you, my lord, at the earliest opportunity.”

At the time, in the fourth month of summer in the fifth year of Ganlu in Wei, Sima Zhao entered the palace hall wearing his sword, and Cao Mao rose to receive him. All the ministers memorialized, “The Grand General’s achievements and virtue are magnificent. It is fitting that he be made Duke of Jin and granted the Nine Bestowments.” Cao Mao lowered his head and did not reply. Sima Zhao said sternly, “My father, my brother, and I have rendered great service to Wei. Can it possibly be improper for me now to become Duke of Jin?” Cao Mao answered, “How would I dare disobey your command?” Sima Zhao said, “In your poem ‘The Hidden Dragon,’ you regard us as loaches and eels. What sort of propriety is that?” Cao Mao could not answer. Sima Zhao gave a cold laugh and left the hall. All the officials trembled with fear. Cao Mao returned to the inner palace and summoned three men—Wang Shen, Palace Attendant; Wang Jing, Imperial Secretary; and Wang Ye, Cavalier in Regular Attendance—to confer with him in private. Cao Mao wept and said, “That Sima Zhao harbors treasonous ambitions is known to everyone! I will not sit and submit to deposition and humiliation. You gentlemen must help me destroy him!” Wang Jing memorialized, “You must not. In former times, Duke Zhao of Lu could not tolerate the Ji clan, but he was defeated, forced to flee, and lost his state. Now supreme power has long been in the hands of the Sima clan. The dukes and ministers both inside and outside the capital disregard the principles of loyalty and treason and have attached themselves to the wicked rebel—and not merely one or two of them. Moreover, Your Majesty’s palace guards are few and weak, and there is no one prepared to obey your commands. If Your Majesty cannot endure this for a time, no disaster could be greater. You should proceed slowly and make careful plans, not act rashly.” Cao Mao said, “If this can be endured, what cannot be endured? My mind is made up. Even if I die, what is there to fear?” When he had finished speaking, he went inside to inform the Empress Dowager. Wang Shen and Wang Ye said to Wang Jing, “The matter has become urgent. We must not bring the disaster of extermination upon our clans. We should go to Duke Sima’s residence and report it ourselves, so that we may escape death.” Wang Jing said furiously, “When the sovereign is troubled, his ministers are disgraced; when the sovereign is disgraced, his ministers die. How dare you harbor divided loyalties?” Seeing that Wang Jing would not join them, Wang Shen and Wang Ye went directly to report the matter to Sima Zhao.

A short while later, the ruler of Wei, Cao Mao, emerged from the inner palace. He ordered his guard commander, Jiao Bo, to assemble more than three hundred palace guards, servants, and young attendants in the hall, and they marched out shouting and beating drums. Cao Mao mounted his carriage with sword in hand and sternly ordered those around him to proceed directly through the southern palace gate. Wang Jing prostrated himself before the carriage and wept bitterly as he remonstrated, “Your Majesty is now leading a few hundred men against Sima Zhao. This is merely driving sheep into a tiger’s jaws. You will die for nothing and accomplish no good. I do not say this because I value my own life, but because I truly see that this undertaking cannot succeed.” Cao Mao said, “My troops are already advancing. Do not stand in my way.” He then proceeded toward the Dragon Gate.

Suddenly Jia Chong appeared, mounted and dressed for battle, with Cheng Cui on his left and Cheng Ji on his right, leading several thousand armored imperial guards who charged forward with battle cries. Cao Mao brandished his sword and shouted, “I am the Son of Heaven! You have forced your way into the palace grounds—do you intend to murder your sovereign?” When the imperial guards saw Cao Mao, none of them dared move. Jia Chong called out to Cheng Ji, “What has Duke Sima maintained you for? It was precisely for a day like this!” Cheng Ji took his halberd in hand, looked back at Jia Chong, and asked, “Should I kill him or seize him?” Jia Chong said, “Duke Sima has given orders that he wants him dead.” Cheng Ji leveled his halberd and rushed straight toward the imperial carriage. Cao Mao shouted, “How dare a common brute show such insolence!” Before he had finished speaking, Cheng Ji thrust his halberd into Cao Mao’s chest and knocked him from the carriage. With a second thrust, the blade pierced through his back, and Cao Mao died beside the carriage. Jiao Bo charged forward with his spear, but Cheng Ji killed him with a single thrust of his halberd. Everyone else fled. Wang Jing came rushing up behind them and cursed Jia Chong, “How dare you, a traitorous rebel, murder the sovereign!” Jia Chong flew into a rage, ordered his men to bind Wang Jing, and sent word to Sima Zhao. Sima Zhao entered the palace and, seeing that Cao Mao was already dead, pretended to be horrified. He struck his head against the imperial carriage and wept, then sent men to inform all the high ministers.

At that time, Grand Tutor Sima Fu entered the palace. When he saw Cao Mao’s corpse, he laid its head upon his lap and wept, saying, “That Your Majesty was murdered is my crime!” He then had Cao Mao’s body placed in an inner and outer coffin and laid in the western part of a side hall. Sima Zhao entered the main hall and summoned all the ministers to deliberate. All of them came except Chen Tai, Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat. Sima Zhao ordered Chen Tai’s maternal uncle, Imperial Secretary Xun Yi, to summon him. Chen Tai wept bitterly and said, “People have compared me with my uncle, but now my uncle truly proves inferior to me.” He put on hempen mourning clothes, entered the palace, and wept and bowed before the bier. Sima Zhao also pretended to weep and asked, “By what law should today’s affair be dealt with?” Chen Tai said, “Only by beheading Jia Chong can you even begin to answer to the empire.” Sima Zhao pondered for a long while, then asked, “Think of the next-best course.” Chen Tai said, “I know only of measures more severe than that, not of any next-best course.” Sima Zhao said, “Cheng Ji has committed the most heinous treason. He shall be cut to pieces, and his three clans exterminated.” Cheng Ji cursed Sima Zhao loudly, saying, “This was not my crime! Jia Chong conveyed your order!” Sima Zhao ordered that his tongue be cut out first. Until the moment of his death, Cheng Ji never ceased crying out that he had been wronged. His younger brother Cheng Cui was also beheaded in the marketplace, and all three clans were exterminated. A later poet lamented:

Sima Zhao gave Jia Chong the command,And at the southern gate the sovereign’s crimson robe ran red.Yet Cheng Ji and his three clans alone were put to death,As though every soldier and civilian were deaf.

Sima Zhao also sent men to arrest Wang Jing’s entire family and throw them into prison. Wang Jing was in the office of the Commandant of Justice when he suddenly saw his mother brought in bound. He knocked his head against the ground and wept bitterly, saying, “Your unfilial son has brought calamity upon his loving mother!” His mother laughed loudly and said, “Who among mankind does not die? The only thing to fear is not dying for a worthy cause. If I give up my life for this, what regret could I have?” The next day, Wang Jing and his entire family were escorted to the eastern marketplace. Wang Jing and his mother smiled as they accepted execution. Throughout the city, there was not a scholar or commoner who did not shed tears. A later poet wrote:

At the Han’s beginning, Fu Jian was praised;At the Han’s end, Wang Jing appeared.Their loyal, steadfast hearts were the same,But Wang Jing’s firm resolve shone clearer still.His honor weighed as much as Mount Tai and Mount Hua;He held his life as lightly as a feather.The names of mother and son endure,And shall last as long as heaven and earth.

Grand Tutor Sima Fu requested that Cao Mao be buried with the rites due a king, and Sima Zhao granted the request. Jia Chong and the others urged Sima Zhao to accept Wei’s abdication and ascend the throne as Son of Heaven. Sima Zhao said, “In former times, King Wen possessed two-thirds of the empire, yet still served the Shang. For this reason, the sages praised him as a man of perfect virtue. Emperor Wu of Wei refused to accept the abdication of the Han, just as I refuse to accept the abdication of Wei.” From these words, Jia Chong and the others understood that Sima Zhao had his son Sima Yan in mind, so they no longer urged him to ascend the throne. In the sixth month of that year, Sima Zhao installed Cao Huang, Duke of Changdao District, as emperor and changed the reign title to the first year of Jingyuan. Cao Huang changed his name to Cao Huan. His courtesy name was Jingzhao, and he was a grandson of Cao Cao, Emperor Wu, and the son of Cao Yu, Prince of Yan. Cao Huan appointed Sima Zhao chancellor and Duke of Jin, and bestowed on him one hundred thousand coins and ten thousand bolts of silk. The many civil and military officials were also granted titles and rewards according to their rank.

Spies soon carried the news into Shu. When Jiang Wei heard that Sima Zhao had murdered Cao Mao and installed Cao Huan, he said happily, “Now I once again have a just cause for attacking Wei.” He sent a letter into Wu, asking it to raise troops and call Sima Zhao to account for the crime of murdering his sovereign. At the same time, he obtained the Later Emperor’s approval and mobilized one hundred fifty thousand troops and several thousand carts, each fitted with a wooden box. He appointed Liao Hua and Zhang Yi as vanguard commanders. Liao Hua was to advance through Ziwu Valley, Zhang Yi through Luo Valley, and Jiang Wei himself through Xie Valley, with all three forces to rendezvous before Mount Qi. The three armies advanced simultaneously and drove toward Mount Qi.

At the time, Deng Ai was in his mountain camp training his men and horses. When he received word that the Shu forces were attacking by three routes, he assembled his officers to discuss the situation. Staff Officer Wang Guan said, “I have a plan that cannot be spoken aloud. I have written it here and respectfully submit it for the general’s consideration.” Deng Ai took it, unfolded it, and read it through. Then he smiled and said, “The plan is excellent, but I fear it will not deceive Jiang Wei.” Wang Guan said, “I am willing to risk my life and go.” Deng Ai said, “If your resolve is firm, you are certain to succeed.” He then assigned five thousand troops to Wang Guan. Wang Guan marched through the night toward Xie Valley and ran directly into the scouts at the head of the Shu army. Wang Guan called out, “We are Wei troops who have come to surrender! Report this to your commander.”

The scouts reported to Jiang Wei, who ordered the rest of the troops to be held back and summoned only their leading general. Wang Guan bowed low to the ground and said, “I am Wang Guan, nephew of Wang Jing. Recently, Sima Zhao murdered his sovereign and executed my uncle’s entire family, filling me with hatred to the marrow of my bones. Now, fortunately, you have raised an army to call him to account, so I have brought the five thousand troops under my command to surrender. I ask only to serve at your command, wipe out the traitorous faction, and avenge my uncle.” Jiang Wei was delighted and said to Wang Guan, “Since you have sincerely come to surrender, how could I fail to treat you sincerely? The only thing troubling my army is its shortage of provisions. There is grain and fodder at the mouth of the river. You may transport it to Mount Qi. I am going now to seize the camp there.” Wang Guan was overjoyed, believing that Jiang Wei had fallen into the trap, and gladly accepted the order. Jiang Wei said, “You do not need five thousand men to transport the provisions. Take only three thousand, and leave two thousand here to guide us in our attack on Mount Qi.” Afraid that Jiang Wei might become suspicious, Wang Guan departed with three thousand men. Jiang Wei ordered Fu Qian to take the remaining two thousand Wei troops along with the army and use them as needed. Suddenly, word came that Xiahou Ba had arrived. Xiahou Ba said, “Why has the commander believed Wang Guan’s story? While I was in Wei, though I did not know every detail, I never heard that Wang Guan was Wang Jing’s nephew. There is much deceit in this. I ask you, General, to examine the matter carefully.” Jiang Wei laughed and said, “I already knew that Wang Guan’s surrender was a trick. That is why I divided his forces. I intend to turn his own scheme against him.” Xiahou Ba said, “Please explain it.” Jiang Wei replied, “Sima Zhao is a treacherous hero comparable to Cao Cao. Having killed Wang Jing and exterminated his three clans, how could he have allowed a close nephew to survive and command troops beyond the passes? That is how I knew it was a fraud. Your judgment, Zhongquan, agrees perfectly with mine.”

Jiang Wei therefore did not emerge from Xie Valley. Instead, he secretly stationed men in ambush along the road to watch for Wang Guan’s spies. In less than ten days, the ambushers caught a messenger whom Wang Guan was sending back to Deng Ai with a letter, and brought him before Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei questioned him about the circumstances and found the secret letter. It arranged for Wang Guan to transport the provisions by a minor road back to the main camp on the twentieth day of the eighth month and instructed Deng Ai to send troops to meet him in the valley at Mount Tan. Jiang Wei killed the messenger and altered the letter, changing the date to the fifteenth day of the eighth month and asking Deng Ai to lead his main army in person to meet Wang Guan in the valley at Mount Tan. On the one hand, he sent a man disguised as a Wei soldier to deliver the letter to the Wei camp. On the other, he had the grain unloaded from several hundred existing supply carts and replaced with dry firewood, thatch, and other combustibles, all covered with blue cloth. He then ordered Fu Qian to lead the two thousand former Wei troops, carrying banners identifying them as grain transports. Jiang Wei and Xiahou Ba each led a force to lie in ambush in the valley. He ordered Jiang Shu to emerge from Xie Valley, while Liao Hua and Zhang Yi were each to advance and seize Mount Qi.

Meanwhile, when Deng Ai received Wang Guan’s letter, he was delighted. He quickly wrote a reply and ordered the messenger to carry it back. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, Deng Ai led fifty thousand elite troops directly toward the valley at Mount Tan. From a distance, he sent men to climb to high ground and scout ahead. They saw countless grain carts moving in an unbroken line through the hollows among the mountains. Deng Ai reined in his horse and looked. They were indeed all escorted by Wei soldiers. His officers said, “The sky is already growing dark. We should quickly meet Wang Guan and escort him out of the valley.” Deng Ai said, “The mountains ahead obstruct the view. If there are troops lying in ambush, it will be difficult for us to retreat. We should wait here.” As he was speaking, two riders suddenly galloped up and reported, “General Wang has transported the grain and fodder across the boundary, but enemy troops are pursuing him from behind. He begs you to come quickly to his aid.” Deng Ai was alarmed and urgently ordered his troops forward. It was then the first watch of the night, and the moon shone as brightly as day. Hearing battle cries behind the mountain, they assumed Wang Guan was fighting there. As they rushed around the mountain, a force suddenly burst out of the forest. At its head was the Shu general Fu Qian, who spurred his horse forward and shouted, “Deng Ai, you brute! You have fallen into my commander’s trap! Why do you not dismount at once and accept death?” Deng Ai was horrified. He reined his horse around and fled. At once the carts burst into flames. Those fires were the signal. Shu troops charged out from both sides and cut the Wei army into scattered fragments. From the mountains above and below, voices could be heard shouting, “Whoever captures Deng Ai will be rewarded with a thousand pieces of gold and made marquis of a domain of ten thousand households!” Deng Ai was so terrified that he threw off his armor and helmet, abandoned his mount, mixed in among the infantry, and fled on foot over the mountains and ridges. Jiang Wei and Xiahou Ba looked only for the leading figure on horseback and rode straight after him, hoping to capture him. They did not realize that Deng Ai had escaped on foot. Jiang Wei then led his victorious troops to intercept Wang Guan’s grain carts.

Wang Guan, having secretly arranged matters with Deng Ai, had prepared the grain carts and equipment ahead of time and was waiting only to put the plan into action. Suddenly, one of his trusted men reported, “The plan has been exposed. General Deng has suffered a crushing defeat, and no one knows whether he is alive or dead.” Wang Guan was horrified and sent men to scout. They returned and reported that three columns of troops were closing in to surround and attack them, while a great cloud of dust was also rising behind them. There was no road of escape in any direction. Wang Guan shouted to his men to set fires and burn all the provisions and carts. In an instant, flames leaped up and the raging fire blazed into the sky. Wang Guan cried, “The situation is desperate! You must all fight to the death!” He then led his troops in an attempt to break out toward the west. Jiang Wei’s three columns pursued from behind. Jiang Wei assumed that Wang Guan would risk his life trying to force his way back into Wei, but unexpectedly Wang Guan instead fought his way into Hanzhong. Because his troops were few and he feared the pursuing army would overtake him, Wang Guan burned down all the plank roads and destroyed every pass and strongpoint. Fearing that Hanzhong might be lost, Jiang Wei abandoned his pursuit of Deng Ai and led his troops through the night by minor roads to pursue and attack Wang Guan. Surrounded and attacked by Shu troops on every side, Wang Guan threw himself into the Black Dragon River and died. Jiang Wei had all the remaining soldiers buried alive. Although Jiang Wei had defeated Deng Ai, he had lost a great quantity of grain and fodder, and the plank roads had been destroyed. He therefore led his troops back to Hanzhong. Deng Ai gathered the remnants of his defeated army and fled back to the camp at Mount Qi. He submitted a memorial acknowledging his guilt and voluntarily demoted himself. Because Deng Ai had repeatedly rendered great service, Sima Zhao could not bear to demote him and instead granted him further generous rewards. Deng Ai distributed all the property bestowed on him among the families of the officers and soldiers who had been killed. Fearing that the Shu army would attack again, Sima Zhao sent another fifty thousand troops to help Deng Ai defend the region. Jiang Wei repaired the plank roads day and night, then again discussed launching a campaign. Truly:

The plank roads are repaired, and army follows army;Until the Central Plains are conquered, he will never rest, even in death.

The outcome of the struggle is not yet known; read the next chapter for the explanation.