תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

other. They dashed hither and thither in disorder, lost as in gathering clouds and rolling mists. Then a shout arose, and each one was seized and bound.

They were taken to the centre, where K'ung-ming sat in his tent, and the three leaders with their ninety men were ranged in front.

"Indeed you are prisoners; are you surprised?" said K'ungming, smiling. "But I will set you free to return to your leader, and tell him to read his books again, and study his tactics, before he comes to try conclusions with me. You are pardoned, but leave your weapons and horses."

So they were stripped of their arms and armour and their faces blackened. Thus were they led on foot out of the array. Ssuma lost his temper at sight of his men thus put to shame. Said he, "After this disgrace, how can I face the other officers in the capital?"

He gave the signal for the army to fall on and attack the enemy, and, grasping his sword, led his brave captains into the fray and commanded the attack. But just as the two sides came to blows, Kuan Hsing came up, his drums rolling and men shouting, and attacked. Ssuma told off a division from the rear to oppose him, and again turned to urge on his main body.

Then the army of Wei was thrown into confusion by another attack from Chiang Wei, who came up silently and joined in the battle. Thus three sides of the Wei army were engaged by three different divisions of the enemy, and Ssuma decided to retire. However, this was difficult. The men of Shu hemmed him in and came closer every moment. At last, by a desperate push, he made an opening toward the south and freed his army. But he had lost six or seven out of every ten of his soldiers.

The Wei army withdrew to the south bank of the Wei River and camped. They strengthened their position and remained entirely on the defensive.

K'ung-ming mustered his victorious army and returned to Ch'ishan.

Now Li Yen sent an officer, a Tu-yu, named Kou An, from Jungan with a convoy of grain. This man was a drunkard and loitered on the road so that he arrived ten days late. K'ung-ming, angry at the delay, upbraided him, saying, “This grain is of the utmost importance to the army and you delay it. Three days' delay ought to mean the death penalty; what can you say to this delay of ten?"

Kou was sentenced to death and hustled out. But two officers ventured to intervene. They said, "Kou An is a servant of Li Yen's, and Li has sent large supplies of all sorts from the west. If you put this man to death perhaps others will not undertake escort duty."

K'ung-ming then bade the executioners loose the offender, give him eighty blows and let him go.

This punishment filled Kou An's heart with bitter resentment, and, in the night, he deserted to the enemy, he and his half dozen personal staff. He was taken before Ssuma and told the tale of his wrongs.

"Your tale may be true, but it is hard to trust it," said Ssuma. "K'ung-ming is full of guile. However, you may render me a service, and if you do, I will ask the king that you may be allowed to serve him and obtain a post for you." "Whatever you ask I will do the best I can," replied the deserter.

"Then go to Ch'êngtu and spread a lying report that K‘ungming is angry with the powers there and means to make himself emperor. This will get him recalled, and that will be a merit to you."

Kou An accepted the treacherous mission. In Ch'êngtu he got hold of the eunuchs and told them his lying tale. They became alarmed for their own safety and told the Emperor all these things.

"In such a case what am I to do?" asked the Later Ruler. "Recall him to the capital," said the eunuchs; "and take away his military powers so that he cannot rebel."

The Later Ruler issued an edict recalling the army.

"The minister has rendered many and great services since he led out the army; wherefore is he recalled?" said Chiang Wan.

"I have a private matter to consult him about," said the king. "I must see him personally."

So the edict was issued and sent to K'ung-ming. The messenger was at once received as soon as he reached Ch'ishan.

"My king is young, and there is some jealous person by his side," said K'ung-ming sadly. "I was just going to achieve some solid success; why am I recalled? If I go not, I shall insult my king; if I retire, I shall never get such a chance again."

"If the army retire, Ssuma will attack," said Chiang Wei. "I will retire in five divisions. Thus to-day this camp goes. Supposing that there are a thousand men in the camp, then I shall have two thousand cooking places prepared, or if there are three thousand men, then four thousand cooking places shall be got ready; and so on, increasing the cooking arrangements as the men are sent away."

Yang I said, "In the days of old, when Sun Pin was attacking P'ang Chüan, the cooking arrangements were decreased as the men were increased. Why do you reverse this, O Minister?" "Because Ssuma is an able leader and would pursue if he knew we were retreating. But he would recognise the probability of an ambush, and if he sees an increase in the cooking

arrangements in a camp he will be unable to conclude whether the men have gone or not, and he will not pursue. Thus I shall gradually withdraw without loss."

The order for retreat was given.

Confident of the effect that Kou An's lying report would produce, Ssuma waited for the retreat of the Shu army to begin. He was still waiting when the scouts told him the enemy's camps were empty. Wishing to make sure, he rode out himself with a small reconnoitring party and inspected the empty camps. Then he bade them count the stoves. Soon after he paid a second visit, and again the cooking stoves were counted. The count showed an increase of a tenth.

"I felt sure that K'ung-ming would have some ruse ready. He has increased the cooking arrangements, and so, if we pursue, he will be ready for us. No; we also will retire and await another opportunity."

So there was no pursuit, and K'ung-ming did not lose a man. By and by, men came in from Ch'uank'ou to say that the retreat was a fact and that only the cooking arrangements had been increased, not the men. Ssuma knew that he had been tricked, and once more acknowledged sadly his rival's superior guile. And he set out for Loyang.

When players of equal skill are matched,

Then victory hovers between;

Perhaps your opponent's a genius,

So put on your lowliest mien.

What happened when K'ung-ming reached Ch'êngtu will be told next.

CHAPTER CI.

GOING OUT FROM SHENSI, CHUKO DRESSES AS A GOD; DASHING TOWARD CHIFNKO, CHANG HO FALLS INTO A SNARE.

By means of the artifice just described Chuke wundrew his

army safely into Hannung, while Ssuma retreated upon Ch'angan. K'ung-ming distributed the rewards for success and then went to the capital for audience.

"Your Majesty recalled me just as I was about to advance upon Ch'angan; what is the important matter?" said the minister.

For a long time the king made no reply. Presently he said, "I longed to see your face once more, that is the only reason." K'ung-ming replied, "I think my recall was not on your own initiative; some slanderous person has hinted that I cherished ulterior objects."

The king, who indeed felt guilty and ill at ease, made no reply, and K'ung-ming continued, "Your late father laid me under an obligation which I am pledged to fulfil to the death. But if vile influences are permitted to work at home, how can I destroy the rebels without?"

"The fact is I recalled you because of the talk of the eunuchs. But I understand now and am unutterably sorry."

K'ung-ming interrogated the eunuchs and thus found out the base rumours that had been spread abroad by Kou An. He sent to arrest this man, but he had already fled and gone over to Wei. The eunuchs who had influenced the king were put to death, and all the others were expelled from the palace. The Prime Minister also upbraided Chiang Wan and Fei I for not having looked into the matter and set the king right. K'ung-ming then took leave of the king and returned to the army. He wrote to Li Yen to see to the necessary supplies and began preparations for a new expedition.

Yang I said, "The soldiers are wearied by the many expeditions, and the supplies are not regular. I think a better plan would be to send half the army to Ch'ishan for three months, and at the end of that time exchange them for the other half; and so on alternately. For example, if you have twenty legions, let ten legions go into the field and ten remain. In this way, using ten and ten, their energies will be conserved and you can gradually work toward the metropolis."

"I agree with you," said K'ung-ming. "Our attack is not a matter to be achieved in haste. The suggestion for an extended campaign is excellent."

Wherefore the army was divided, and each half went out for one hundred days' service at a time, when it was relieved by the other half. Full penalties were provided for any laxity and failure to maintain the periods of active service.

In the spring of the ninth year of Chien-Hsing the army once more took the field against Wei. In Wei it was the fifth year of T'ai-Ho.

When the King of Wei heard of this new expedition he called Ssuma and asked his advice.

"Now that my friend Ts'ao Chên is no more, I am willing to do all that one man can to destroy the rebels against Your Majesty's authority."

The king was gratified by this ready offer, and honoured Ssuma with a banquet. Soon after came the news of actual attack and an edict issued for the army to move. The king, riding in his state chariot, escorted Ssuma I out of the city, and, after the farewells, the general took the road to Chʻangan, where the force was gathering. There was assembled a council of war.

Chang Ho offered to guard Yung and Mei, but Ssuma said, "Our leading army is not strong enough to face the enemy's whole force. Moreover, to divide an army is not generally a successful scheme. The better plan will be to leave a guard in Shangk'uei and send all the others to Ch'ishan. Will you undertake the leadership of the van?"

Chang Ho consented, saying, "I have always been most loyal and will devote my energies entirely to the service of the state. So far I have not had an adequate opportunity to prove my sincerity, but now that you confer upon me a post of such responsibility I can only say that no sacrifice can be too great for me, and I will do my utmost."

So Chang was appointed van-leader, and then Kuo Huai was set over Shênsi. Other captains were distributed to other posts, and the march began. The spies ascertained that the main force of Shu was directed toward Ch'ishan, and the leaders of the van were Wang P'ing and Chang I. The route chosen for their march was from Ch'ênts'ang across Chienko, through Sankuan and the Hsieh Valley.

Hearing this, Ssŭma said, "K'ung-ming is advancing in great force and certainly intends to reap the wheat in Shênsi for his supply. You get sufficient men to hold Ch'ishan, while I and Kuo Huai go over and foil the enemy's plan to gather the wheat."

So Cang Ho took four legions to hold Ch'ishan, and Ssŭma set out westwards.

When K'ung-ming reached Ch'ishan and had settled his men in camp, he saw that the bank of the River Wei had been fortified by his enemy.

« הקודםהמשך »