San Kuo/Volume 2/Chapter 70
CHAPTER LXX.
Fierce Chang Fei Takes a Position by Guile; Aged Huang Chung Captures a Hill by Stratagem.
Chang Ho’s army, with which he felt so sure of victory, consisted of three legions, and they were in three camps protected by some hills. They were named “Yench'ü Camp, “Mêngt‘ou Camp” and “Tangshih Camp.” When he marched he left half the men in each camp as defenders.
The news soon reached Pahsi, and Chang Fei called in his colleague Lei T‘ung to give his opinion. Lei said, “The country is bad and the hills full of danger in Langchung; let us lay an ambush. You, O General, go out to give battle and I will help you by some sudden and unexpected attack. We ought to get Chang Ho.”
Whereupon Chang Fei gave half a legion to Lei T‘ung and himself led out a legion to a point thirty li from Langchung. Having set them in order, he rode out and challenged Chang Ho to single combat. Chang galloped out to meet him.
After the thirtieth or so bout Chang Ho’s men suddenly began to shout and soon showed signs of confusion. The reason was the appearance of the banners of Shu from the cover of some hills. Chang Ho dared not continue to fight after this, and he fled. Chang Fei pursued him. Lei Tung also appeared in his road and attacked, and so, with enemies on both sides, Chang Ho lost the day. Both Chang Fei and Lei T‘ung continued to smite him, even into the night, till he got back to his camp at Yench‘ü Hill.
Chang Ho reverted to his old plan of defending the three camps, rolling down logs and hurling stones. But he remained behind his defences. Chang Fei made a camp ten li off.
Next day he went forth and offered battle, but Chang Ho took no notice. He ascended to the summit of the hill and drank wine to the accompaniment of trumpets and drums, but he would not fight. Chang Fei bade his soldiers shout insults, but these had no effect. Lei T‘ung was sent up the hill, but the rolling logs and hurtling stones forced him to retire. Then the men of the other two camps came out to the attack and Lei was discomfited.
Next day Chang Fei again offered battle, but there was no response. Again the soldiers yelled every form of insult, but Chang Ho from the hill top only replied by similar abuse. Chang Fei was at his wits' ends; and this game was played for more than fifty days.
Then Chang Fei made a strong stockade just in front of the hill, and therein he sat day after day drinking till he became half drunk. And when he was so, he reviled his opponent.
About this time Liu Pei sent gifts to the army, and when the messenger went back he told Liu that his brother was giving himself over to wine. This made Liu Pei anxious, so he lost no time in asking advice from K‘ung-ming.
K‘ung-ming was jocular, saying, “Since that is so let us send him fifty vessels of the best brew of Ch'êngtu. He probably has but poor stuff in the camp.”
“But he has always had a weakness for wine, and he has failed because of it. Yet you would encourage him to drink by sending him more wine?”
“My lord, is it that you do not understand your brother even after all these years? He is brave and steady, yet when we first invaded Shu he released Yen Yen, which was not what a mere bravo would have done. He is face to face with Chang Ho, and has been for nearly two months, and day after day he drinks and rages and insults his enemy openly. He treats him with most perfect contempt. But this is not only the wine-cup; it is a deep plan to get the better of Chang Ho.”
“This may be so,” replied Liu Pei, “but let us not rely upon it too much. Let Wei Yen go to help him.”
K‘ung-ming sent Wei Yen with the wine, and the carts set out, each flying a yellow flag with a writing in large characters that it was fine wine for the general use of the army in the field.
When Wei Yen reached the army he handed over the wine, which he said was a gift from the lord of Shu. And Chang Fei received it with due respect.
He told Wei Yen and Lei T‘ung each to take a company and move out on the two wings, ready to act when they saw a red flag displayed. And then he had the wine laid out and called up some soldiers to drink with a great display of flags and a rolling of drums.
The spies reported all these doings on the hill-top, and Chang Ho came out to look for himself. There he saw his opponent drinking, and two of the soldiers were boxing before him for his amusement.
“He despises me too much,” said Chang Ho, and he gave orders to prepare for a night attack on the enemy camp. His own men should do the raiding and the other two camps were to support them.
There was little moon that night, and Chang Ho took advantage of the obscurity to steal down the side of the hill. He got quite close to the enemy camp and stood for a time looking at Chang Fei sitting amid a blaze of lamps and drinking. Suddenly he dashed forward with a yell, and at the same moment his drums on the hill-top rolled out their defiance. Chang Fei never stirred. Chang Ho rushed at him and delivered a mighty thrust with his spear. Chang Fei toppled over—it was a Chang Fei of straw. Ho checked and turned his steed. At that moment he heard a string of detonations and a warrior appeared before him barring his way. It was the real Chang Fei, as the round head and thundering voice speedily made manifest.
With spear set, he rode toward Chang Ho. The two warriors fought many bouts under the gleaming lights. No help came to Chang Ho. In vain he yearned for the assistance which the two camps were to bring him. How could he know that his reinforcements had been driven back by Wei Yen and Lei T‘ung? And that the two camps were now in possession of his enemies? As the help did not come he was powerless; and, to add to his discomfiture, the glare of fire out on the hill told him of the seizure of his third camp. Nothing could be done, and he fled to Wak‘ou Pass. The victory was all to Chang Fei.
The news of the success delighted Liu Pei, and he knew then that Chang Fei’s drinking had been part of a stratagem to entice his enemy into the open and defeat him.
Chang Ho reached the Pass, but with the loss of more than half his army. He stood on defence and sent urgent messages to his colleague to come to his rescue.
Ts‘ao Hung angrily replied, “He disobeyed my orders and marched; he has lost an important point and now he sends to me for help.”
While refusing aid, he sent to urge his colleague to go out and fight. But Chang Ho too greatly feared. At length he decided upon a plan of action. He sent out two parties into ambush and said to them, “I will pretend defeat and fly. They will follow and you can cut off their retreat.”
When he did march out he met Lei T‘ung. The two engaged in battle and Chang presently ran away. Lei pursued and fell into the ambush. Then Chang Ho returned and slew Lei Tung. His men went back and told Chang Fei, who came up to provoke another fight. Chang Ho again tried his stratagem, but Chang Fei did not pursue. Again and again the ruse was tried, but Chang Fei knew it was only a ruse and simply retired to his own camp.
He said to Wei Yen, “Chang Ho has compassed the death of Lei T‘ung by leading him into an ambush, and he wants to inveigle me into another. What say you to meeting trick with trick?”
“But how?” said Wei Yen.
“To-morrow I will lead the army forward, you following me with some reliable soldiers. When his men come out from their ambush you can smite them, sending half your men against each party. We will secretly fill the by-roads with loads of combustibles, entice the enemy among them and start a fire. In the confusion I shall try to capture Chang Ho. So will we avenge our comrade’s death.”
So Chang Fei went out, and Chang Ho’s men came and began to fight. After a half score bouts, Chang Ho ran away, and this time Chang Fei pursued. Ho, now fleeing, now stopping to exchange a blow or two, led Fei through the hills to a valley. Here, suddenly changing front, he halted, made a camp and offered battle.
It was now the time when he expected his hidden men to appear and surround Chang Fei. But none appeared. He knew not that his ambush had been broken up by Wei Yen’s brave men and driven into the valley where the road was filled with cart-loads of combustibles, and that the valley even then was all aflame.
Then Chang Fei came to the attack, and the rout was complete. Chang Ho, fighting desperately, got through to the Wak‘ou Pass and there mustered the remnant of his men. He strengthened the position and remained behind his ramparts.
Chang Fei and Wei Yen then tried to take the Pass, but day after day they failed. Chang Fei, seeing no hope of success, retired twenty li and bivouacked. From this point he sent out scouts under Wei Yen to explore the country. While going along they observed some burden-bearers, men and women, going up a very retired path, pulling down the creepers and pushing aside the grasses.
“That is the way to take Wak‘ou Pass,” cried Chang Fei, pointing with his whip to the wayfarers.
He ordered his soldiers not to scare the people, but to call a few gently and bring them to him. They soon had several standing before their leader, who spoke to them kindly and put them at ease.
“Whence come you?” asked Fei.
“We belong to Hanchung and are going home. We heard that you were out fighting and the high road to Langchung was blockaded, and so we have come across the Ts‘angchi Torrent and Tzŭchang Mountain and down Kueichin River. We are going to our homes in Hanchung.”
“Can one reach Wak‘ou Pass by this road? And how far is it?”
The country people replied, “A small road leads past to the rear of the Pass from Tzŭchang Mountain.”
For this piece of information Chang Fei rewarded them by taking them into his camp and giving them a good meal, and he sent off Wei Yen to make a frontal attack on the Pass while he himself with some light horse attacked it from the rear by way of Tzŭchang Mount.
Chang Ho was grieved and disappointed that his colleague sent no help, and the news of Wei Yen’s attack only added to his sorrow. But he girded on his armour and was about to ride out when they told him that fires had started at half a dozen places behind the Pass. They most likely indicated soldiers. However, he went out to meet them, and, to his horror, when the flags opened out, his eyes fell on the figure of Chang Fei. Away he ran along a by-road.
But his steed was not fast, and as Chang Fei pressed him close, Chang Ho dismounted and ran up the mountain side. So he saved his life. He had, however, very few followers, and it was a small and dejected party that presently found its way into Nanch'êng. He saw Ts‘ao Hung, and Ts‘ao was very angry at his plight.
“I told you not to go, but you were wilful. And you gave in your written pledge. You have lost all your men, yet you do not commit suicide. What will you do next?”
Ts‘ao Hung ordered the lictors to put him to death. But the Commissary General interceded.
“An army is easily raised; a leader is hard to find. Though Chang Ho is guilt, he is a great favourite with our prince. I think you should spare him. Rather give him command of another army and send him to take Chiaming Pass and so hold up the soldiers at all the stations. Hanchung will be tranquil of its own accord. If he fail a second time you can punish him for both faults.”
Ts‘ao Hung was satisfied to do this, and instead of dealing with his fault gave Chang Ho half a legion and told him to take the Pass.
The captains of the Pass he was to capture were Mêng Ta and Ho Hsün. They were at variance—the former desiring to go out to meet Chang Ho, the letter being in favour of defence. Mêng Ta being set on having his way went out, gave battle and was defeated. Ho Hsün reported this to the capital, where Yüan-tê at once called in the Commander-in-chief to ask advice. K‘ung-ming assembled all the chief captains into the hall.
“Chiaming Pass is in danger; we must get Chang Fei from Langchung to drive off Chang Ho,” said he.
Fa Chêng replied, “Chang Fei is encamped at Wak‘ou, and Langchung is no less important than Chiaming. I do not think he should be recalled. Choose one among the captains to go and defeat Chang Ho.”
K‘ung-ming laughed, “Chang Ho is renowned in Wei; no ordinary leader will avail. Chang Fei is the only man to send, the only one equal to the task.”
Then among the captains one started up crying angrily, “O Commander, why do you thus despise us? I will use what little skill I have in slaying our enemy and I will lay his head at the foot of our standard.”
The speaker was the veteran Huang Chung, and all eyes centred on him.
“Friend Huang, you are bold enough, but what about your age? I fear you are no match for Chang Ho.”
Huang Chung’s white beard bristled, and he said, “I know I am old. But these two arms can still pull the three hundred catty bow, and the vigour of my body is not yet departed. Am I not strong enough to meet such a poor thing as Chang Ho?”
“General, you are nearly seventy; can you still hold you are not aged?”
Huang tore down the hall. Seizing one of the great swords off the rack he whirled it as if it flew. And the stiffest bow that hung on the wall he pulled till it snapped.
“Well, if you will go, who will second you?” said K‘ung-ming.
“I would prefer Yen Yen. And if there is the least anxiety,—well, here is this hoary head.”
Yüan-tê was pleased to let these two go to fight Chang Ho. However, Chao Yün put in a protest.
“Chang Ho has already got through Chiaming Pass, so that the fighting will be no child’s play, and the loss of that Pass endangers the whole of Ichou. It is no task to set to a couple of old men.”
Replied K‘ung-ming, “You regard the two as too old and stupid to succeed, but I think the attainment of Hanchung depends upon these two.”
Chao Yün and many others sniggered as they went from the hall; they did not agree with K‘ung-ming.
In due course the veteran captain and his chosen colleague arrived at the Pass. At sight of them the defenders laughed in their hearts, thinking that in sending such a pair of dotards on such a mission K‘ung-ming had slipped up in his calculations.
Huang Chung said to his colleague, “You see the behaviour of these people? They are laughing at us because we are old. Now we will do something that will win admiration from all the world.”
“I should be glad to hear your orders,” replied Yen Yen.
The two captains came to a decision how to act. Huang Chung led his men down below to meet Chang Ho in the open plain. Both drew up their array. When Chang Ho rode out and saw his venerable opponent he laughed in his face.
“You must be very old, and yet you are unashamed to go into the battle, eh?” said Chang Ho.
“You menial!” replied the veteran. “Do you despise me for my age? You will find my good sword, however, young enough.”
So he urged forward his steed and rode at Chang Ho. The two chargers met and a score of bouts were fought. Then suddenly a great shouting came from the rear. Yen had come up and fallen upon the rear portion of Chang Ho’s army. Thus attacked on two sides, Chang Ho was defeated. The pursuit did not cease with nightfall, and Chang Ho was driven back near a hundred li. Contented with this success, Huang and his colleague went into their camp, where they rested their men for a time.
When Ts‘ao Hung heard of Chang Ho’s new defeat, he was going to exact the penalty. But Kuo Chun persuaded him to forbear.
“If he is pressed too hard he may take refuge in Shu,” said he. “Rather send him help. You will thus keep a hold over him and prevent his desertion.”
Wherefore Hsiahou Shang was sent with reinforcements. This Shang was a nephew of Hsiahou Tun. The brother of Han Yüan, Han Hao by name, was also sent. They had half a legion.
The two captains soon reached Chang Ho, and asked how now the war was going.
“That old man Huang is really a hero,” said Chang; “and with Yen Yen’s help he is very formidable.”
“When I was at Changsha I heard the old man was very fierce. He and Wei Yen yielded the city and killed my own brother. Now that I shall meet him I can have my revenge,' said Han Hao.
So he and Hsiahou Shang led out the new army.
Now, by means of spies Huang had got a thorough knowledge of the country, and Yen said, “Hereabout there is a mountain named “T‘ientang” wherein Ts‘ao Ts‘ao has stored his supplies. If we can gain possession we shall reduce the enemy to want and we shall get Hanchung.”
Huang replied, “I think so, too, and so let us do so-and-so.”
Yen agreed with him and marched off with a body of men to carry out his part in the stratagem.
At news of the coming of new armies, Huang Chung marched out to meet them. He found Han Hao in front of his array, and Han began to abuse the veteran as a disgraceful old ruffian. Then he whipped up his steed and set his spear at Huang. Hsiahou Shang also rode out and took part in the combat. The veteran held them both at bay for some half score bouts and then fled. They pursued him for twenty li, when they reached and seized his camp. Huang, however, quickly made another defence of brushwood. Next day they renewed the pursuit, which ended with the capture of the temporary camp of the day before. And they had advanced twenty li further. Then they called upon Chang Ho to protect the rear camp. When Chang Ho came up he dissuaded them from continuing.
“Huang Chung has retreated before you for two days; there is some deep stratagem behind this,” said Chang Ho.
Hsiahou Shang scoffed at him. “You are such a coward that you have been defeated many times. Now say no more, but let us accomplish something.”
Chang Ho retired much mortified and shamed. Next day the two captains again went out to battle, and again Huang fled from them for twenty li. The two captains pursued as quickly as they could. The day after, Huang fled without any pretence of showing fight, except at short intervals. He got to the Pass and went on the defensive. The pursuers knocked at the very gate of the Pass and made a camp close by.
Then Mêng Ta secretly wrote to Yüan-tê that Huang Chung had been repeatedly defeated and now was in the Pass and unable to go out. Yüan-tê became alarmed and consulted K‘ung-ming, who said, “The old captain is making the enemy over-confident,—to their ultimate destruction. But Chao Yün did not share this opinion, nor did many others, and Yüan-tê decided to send Liu Fêng to reinforce his aged captain. The young man came to the Pass and saw Huang, who asked him bluntly why he had come to help.
“My father heard that you have sustained several defeats, and he has sent me,” said Liu Fêng.
“But I am only employing the ruse of leading on the enemy,” said Huang Chung, smiling. “You will see to-night that in one battle I shall regain all the camps and capture their supplies and many horses. I have only lent the camps to them to store their supplies. To-night I shall leave Ho Hsün to guard the Pass, while General Mêng will gather up the spoils for Now, young Sir, you shall see the destruction of the us enemy.”
That same night, at the second watch, Huang left the Pass with half a legion. But now Hsiahou Shang and Han Hao, seeing no move from the Pass for many days, had become careless and so their camps were unable to resist. Their men had no time to don their armour or to saddle their horses. All the leaders did was to flee for their lives, while their men trampled each other down and were killed in great numbers. All three camps were recovered by dawn, and in them were found all sorts of military equipment. Horses and their caparisons also fell to the victors, and all the booty was carried off by Mêng Ta and stored in the Pass.
Huang Chung pressed on his victory. Liu Fêng ventured to say that the men needed repose.
“Can you seize the tiger’s whelps without going into the tiger’s den?” cried Huang. And he urged on his steed.
The soldiers also were eager. Chang Ho’s own army was thrown into confusion by the flying men from the other armies, and he could not maintain his station, but was forced to retreat. They abandoned all their stockades and rushed to the bank of the Han Waters.
Then Chang Ho sought the two captains who had brought about the misfortune and said to them, “This is T‘ientang Mountain, where our stores are. Close by is Mits‘ang Mountain, where the grain is stored. They are the very source of life of the Hanchung army. Lose them and Hanchung is gone too. We must see to their security.”
Hsiahou Shang said, “My uncle, Hsiahou Yüan, will look out for the defence of the mountain where the granaries are: there need be no anxiety about that as it is hard by Tingchün Mount and my brother, Hsiahou Tê, guards T‘ientang Mountain. Let us go to him and help to protect that.”
Chang Ho and the two captains set out at once. They reached the mountain and told Hsiahou Tê all that had happened.
“I have ten legions in camp here,” replied he. “You may take some of them and recover your lost camps.”
“No,” replied Chang Ho. “The only proper course to defend.”
Almost as they spoke the rolling of drums and the clang of gongs were heard, and the look-outs came to say that Huang Chung was near.
“The old ruffian does not know much of the art of war, after all,” said Hsiahou Tê with a laugh; “he is only a brave.”
“Be not mistaken; he is crafty and not only bold,” said Chang Ho.
“This move is against the rules and not at all crafty. He is fresh from a long march and his men are fatigued and they are deep in an enemy’s country.”
“Nevertheless, be careful how you attack,” said Chang Ho. “You would still do well to depend upon defence only.”
“Give me three companies of good men and I will cut him to pieces,” cried Han Hao.
They told off the three companies for him, and down he went into the plain. As he approached, Huang Chung arrayed his men. Liu Fêng put in a note of warning that it was late in the day to fight and the men were weary, but Huang paid little attention.
“I do not hold with your objections. This is the one God-given opportunity to make good, and it would be a sin not to take it.”
So saying, the drums rolled for a great attack. Han Hao came forward with his men and the aged captain went toward him whirling his sword. In the first encounter Han Hao fell. At this the men of Shu gave a yell and went away up the hill, whereupon Chang Ho and Hsiahou Shang hastily moved out to withstand them. But a great red glare sprang into the sky from behind the hill, and a shouting arose. Hastily Hsiahou Tê led off his men to meet the danger there and went straight into the arms of Yen Yen. His arm rose, the sword fell and Hsiahou Tê dropped from his steed to rise no more.
This ambush, into which the dead captain had rushed, had been carefully prepared by Huang, who had sent Yen away before he marched himself and given him orders what to do. It was the brushwood that his men had spent the time in collecting that now sent forth the flames reaching up to the heavens and filling the valleys.
Yen Yen, after slaying Hsiahou Tê, came round the hill to aid in the attack, so that the defenders were taken both in front and rear. They could do nothing and presently left the battle-field and rushed toward Tingchun Mount to seek refuge with Hsiahou Yüan.
Meanwhile the victors took steps to hold the position they had won and sent the good news of victory to Ch'êngtu. And when the news arrived, Yüan-tê called together all his officers to rejoice.
Then said Fa Chêng, “Not long ago Chang Lu submitted to Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, and thereby he got possession of Hanchung quite easily. Instead of following up this by an advance on the west he left two captains to guard it and went north. That was a mistake. Now, my lord, do not make a mistake yourself, but take advantage of the present favourable position, with Chang Ho newly defeated and T‘ientang captured, to attack Hanchung and you will have it at once. Once that is yours, you can train your army and amass supplies ready for a stroke against the arch-rebel himself. This God-given advantage will be confirmed to you and you should not miss it.”
Both Yüan-tê and K‘ung-ming saw the wisdom of this scheme and prepared to act. Chao Yün and Chang Fei were to lead the van, while Yüan-tê with K‘ung-ming commanded the main army of ten legions. A day was chosen to set out, and orders were sent to everyone to keep careful guard.
It was a certain auspicious day in the seventh month of the twenty-third year that the army marched. Reaching Chiaming Pass, Huang Chung and Yen Yen were summoned and well rewarded for their services.
“People said you were old, General, but the army know you better than they, and you have rendered amazing service. Still, Tingchün Mountain is yet to be captured and Paochang is a great central store of supplies. If we could get Tingchün Mount we could be quite easy about the whole district of Yangpʻing. Think you that you are equal to taking Tingchün Mountain?”
To this harangue of Liu Pei the veteran nobly answered that he was willing to try and was ready to start when they would.
Said K‘ung-ming hastily, “Do not be hasty. You are brave enough, General, but Hsiahou Yüan is a man of different stamp from Chang Ho. Hsiahou is a real strategist and tactician; so much so that Ts‘ao Ts‘ao relies upon him as his defence against Hsiliang. He it was who was set to defend the capital when threatened by Ma Ch‘ao. Now he is in Hanchung and Ts‘ao Ts‘ao puts his whole confidence in him and his skill as a leader. You have overcome Chang Ho, but it is not certain you will conquer this man. I think I must send down to Chingchou for Kuan Yü for this task.”
Huang hotly replied, “Old Lien P‘o was four score and yet he ate a measure of rice and ten catties of flesh, so that his vigour frightened the nobles and not one dared encroach upon the borders of Chao. I am not yet seventy. You call me old, O Commander; then I will not take any helper, but go out simply with my own three companies and we will lay Hsiahou Yüan’s head at your feet.”
K‘ung-ming refused to allow him to go; Huang Chung insisted. At last K‘ung-ming consented, but said he would send an overseer.
They put upon his mettle the man who was to go,
Youth’s vigour may be lesser worth than age’s powers, we know.
The next chapter will tell who the overseer was.