Chapter 111: Deng Shizai Outwits Jiang Boyue; Zhuge Dan Righteously Denounces Sima Zhao

Chapter 111: Deng Shizai Outwits Jiang Boyue; Zhuge Dan Righteously Attacks Sima Zhao

As Jiang Wei withdrew his troops and camped at Zhongti, the Wei forces camped outside the city of Didao. Wang Jing welcomed Chen Tai and Deng Ai into the city, thanked them profusely for lifting the siege, held a banquet in their honor, and generously rewarded the three armies. Chen Tai reported Deng Ai’s merits to the Wei ruler, Cao Mao. Cao Mao appointed Deng Ai as General of Pacifying the West, with the authority of a commissioner and concurrent command as Protector of the Qiang in the East, to station troops jointly with Chen Tai in Yongzhou, Liangzhou, and other areas. After Deng Ai submitted a memorial of thanks for the favor, Chen Tai held a feast to congratulate him, saying, “Jiang Wei fled overnight; his strength is exhausted, and he dares not send out troops again.” Deng Ai laughed and replied, “I predict that the Shu army will certainly march out again, for five reasons.” Chen Tai asked what those reasons were. Deng Ai said, “Although the Shu army has withdrawn, they still retain the momentum of victory; our army, in reality, shows signs of weakness and defeat: this is the first reason for their certain advance. The Shu troops are all elite soldiers trained by Kongming and are easy to deploy; our generals are frequently changed, and the soldiers are not well-trained: this is the second reason. The Shu forces mostly move by boat, while our army operates on dry land, with differing levels of exertion and ease: this is the third reason. The four places—Didao, Longxi, Nan’an, and Qishan—are all critical points for offense and defense; the Shu may feign an attack in the east while striking in the west, or point south while attacking north, forcing us to defend separately; the Shu army, united in one force, will use one part to counter our four parts: this is the fourth reason. If the Shu army advances from Nan’an or Longxi, they can seize the Qiang people’s grain for provisions; if they march from Qishan, they can find wheat to eat on the spot: this is the fifth reason.” Chen Tai sighed in admiration and said, “Your foresight of the enemy is like that of a god; how could the Shu army be a cause for concern!” Thereupon Chen Tai and Deng Ai formed a friendship that transcended age. Deng Ai then drilled the troops from Yongzhou, Liangzhou, and other places daily; at every strategic pass, he established camps to guard against unforeseen events.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wei held a grand banquet at Zhongti, gathering all his generals to discuss an expedition against Wei. The administrative clerk Fan Jian admonished him, saying, “General, you have repeatedly led campaigns without achieving complete victory; after the battle west of the Tao River, the Wei people already revere your fame. Why must you go to war again? If things turn unfavorable, all your previous achievements will be lost.” Jiang Wei said, “You only know that Wei has vast territory and a large population, making it difficult to conquer quickly; but you do not realize that there are five points in our favor for attacking Wei.” The others asked him to explain. Jiang Wei replied, “Their defeat west of the Tao River has sapped their morale; although our army has withdrawn, we have suffered no losses. If we advance now, that is the first advantage. Our army moves by boat, avoiding fatigue and hardship, while they come to meet us over land—that is the second advantage. Our troops are long-trained and disciplined; theirs are a rabble without order—that is the third advantage. If we march from Qishan, we can plunder the autumn grain for food—that is the fourth advantage. Although they defend separately, their forces are scattered; we concentrate our strength in one place and advance—how can they come to each other’s aid? That is the fifth advantage. If we do not take this opportunity to attack Wei, when will we?” Xiahou Ba said, “Deng Ai, though young, has profound strategies; recently appointed as General of Pacifying the West, he will surely have made preparations everywhere, unlike in the past.” Jiang Wei said sternly, “How could I fear him! Do not boost the enemy’s spirit and diminish our own! My mind is made up—I will first take Longxi.” The others dared not remonstrate further.

Jiang Wei personally led the vanguard and ordered the other generals to follow. Thus, the entire Shu army left Zhongti and marched straight toward Qishan. Scouts reported that the Wei army had already set up nine stockades at Qishan. Jiang Wei did not believe it; he took a few cavalrymen and climbed a high place to look, and indeed saw the nine Qishan camps arranged like a long snake, with the head and tail supporting each other. Jiang Wei turned to his attendants and said, “Xiahou Ba’s words were not false. The formation of these camps is superb; only my master, Chancellor Zhuge, could have achieved it. Now, seeing Deng Ai’s actions, he is not inferior to my master.” So he returned to his camp, summoned his generals, and said, “Since the Wei have prepared, they must know we are coming. I expect Deng Ai is here. You can put up a false show of my banners, hold this valley mouth, and set up camp. Send out over a hundred cavalry scouts daily. Each time they go out, change their armor and clothing. Rotate the flags according to the five colors—green, yellow, red, white, and black. Meanwhile, I will lead the main army secretly from Dongting and launch a direct attack on Nan’an.” He then ordered Bao Su to camp at the Qishan valley mouth. Jiang Wei led the entire army toward Nan’an.

As for Deng Ai, knowing that the Shu army had moved from Qishan, he had already set up camp with Chen Tai in readiness. Seeing that the Shu troops did not come to challenge for several days, he sent out scouts five times a day, some returning after traveling ten or fifteen li. Deng Ai climbed a high place to observe, then hurried into his tent and said to Chen Tai, “Jiang Wei is not here; he must have gone to attack Nan’an via Dongting. The scouts coming out of the camp are only a few, changing their armor and patrolling back and forth; their horses are all exhausted, and the commander must be incompetent. General Chen, you can lead one army to attack them, and their camp can be taken. After breaking the stockade, then lead troops to strike at the Dongting road, cutting off Jiang Wei’s retreat first. I will lead one army to rescue Nan’an and directly seize Mount Wucheng. If we occupy that mountain first, Jiang Wei will surely go to attack Shanggui. Shanggui has a valley called Duan Valley, with narrow terrain and dangerous passes, perfect for an ambush. When they come to contest Mount Wucheng, I will first ambush two forces in Duan Valley, and defeating Jiang Wei is certain.” Chen Tai said, “I have guarded Longxi for twenty or thirty years and have never observed the geography so clearly. What you say is truly divine calculation. You should go quickly; I will attack the camp here myself.” So Deng Ai led his troops, traveling day and night, straight to Mount Wucheng. After setting up camp, before the Shu army arrived, he ordered his son Deng Zhong and the staff adjutant Shi Zuan to each lead five thousand troops to lie in ambush at Duan Valley, with specific instructions. The two received their orders and left. Deng Ai ordered the flags to be furled and drums silenced, waiting for the Shu army.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wei marched from Dongting toward Nan’an. When he reached Mount Wucheng, he said to Xiahou Ba, “Near Nan’an there is a mountain called Mount Wucheng; if we take it first, we can control the strategic position of Nan’an. But I fear Deng Ai is resourceful and will surely have prepared defenses.” While he was still hesitating, suddenly a cannon boomed from the mountain, shouts shook the heavens, drums and horns sounded together, and banners were raised everywhere—all Wei troops. In the center flew a yellow banner with the large characters “Deng Ai.” The Shu army was greatly startled. Several elite units from the mountain charged down with irresistible force, and the vanguard suffered a major defeat. Jiang Wei hastily led his central army to the rescue, but the Wei troops had already withdrawn. Jiang Wei went straight to the foot of Mount Wucheng to challenge Deng Ai, but the Wei troops on the mountain did not come down. Jiang Wei ordered his soldiers to hurl insults, but as evening approached, just as he was about to withdraw, the drums and horns on the mountain sounded again, yet no Wei troops appeared. Jiang Wei wanted to charge up the mountain, but the artillery stones from above were too dense, and he could not advance. He waited until the third watch, planning to retreat, when the drums and horns on the mountain sounded once more. Jiang Wei moved his troops down the mountain to camp. When he ordered his soldiers to carry logs and stones to set up a stockade, the drums and horns on the mountain sounded again, and Wei troops suddenly arrived. The Shu army fell into great disorder, trampling each other as they retreated to their old camp.

The next day, Jiang Wei ordered his troops to transport grain wagons to Mount Wucheng, arranging them in a line, intending to establish a stockade as a base for stationing troops. That night at the second watch, Deng Ai ordered five hundred men, each carrying torches, to descend the mountain in two groups and set fire to the wagons. The two armies fought in confusion all night, and the stockade could not be set up. Jiang Wei again led his troops to withdraw and consulted Xiahou Ba, saying, “We have failed at Nan’an; it might be better to take Shanggui first. Shanggui is where Nan’an stores its grain; if we capture it, Nan’an will naturally be in danger.” So he left Xiahou Ba to camp at Mount Wucheng. Jiang Wei led all his elite troops and fierce generals straight toward Shanggui. After marching all night, as dawn approached, he saw the mountain terrain narrow and steep, with winding paths. He asked his guide, “What is this place called?” The answer: “Duan Valley.” Jiang Wei was greatly alarmed and said, “This name is unlucky: ‘Duan Valley’ means ‘severed valley.’ If someone blocks the valley mouth, what then?”

While still hesitating, a report suddenly came from the front army: "Behind the hills a great cloud of dust has risen; there must be an ambush." Jiang Wei hastily ordered a retreat, and the two armies of Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong attacked. Jiang Wei fought as he withdrew, when a great shout arose ahead, and Deng Ai led his troops in: attacked from three sides, the Shu army suffered a great defeat. Fortunately, Xiahou Ba led his troops to the rescue, and the Wei forces withdrew, saving Jiang Wei, who wanted to go back to Mount Qi. Xiahou Ba said: "The camp at Mount Qi has already been taken by Chen Tai, Bao Su has fallen in battle, and all the troops from the camp have retreated back to Hanzhong." Jiang Wei dared not go to Dongting and hastily fled back by mountain paths. Deng Ai pressed hard from behind, and Jiang Wei ordered all units to advance while he himself covered the rear. As they were marching, suddenly a force emerged from the mountains: it was the Wei general Chen Tai. The Wei soldiers gave a shout and surrounded Jiang Wei in the center. Jiang Wei's men and horses were exhausted; he charged left and right but could not break out. General Zhang Ni, the Pacifier of Bandits, hearing that Jiang Wei was trapped, led several hundred cavalry into the encirclement, and Jiang Wei took the opportunity to break out. Zhang Ni was shot dead by a hail of arrows from the Wei troops. Jiang Wei managed to escape the siege and returned to Hanzhong; remembering Zhang Ni's loyalty and bravery, who died for the state, he submitted a memorial requesting posthumous honors for his descendants. Consequently, many Shu officers and soldiers had fallen, and all blamed Jiang Wei. Following the precedent of the Marquis of Wu at Jieting, Jiang Wei submitted a memorial demoting himself to Rear General, acting as Grand General.

Now Deng Ai, seeing that the Shu army had entirely withdrawn, feasted with Chen Tai to celebrate, generously rewarding the three armies. Chen Tai submitted a memorial praising Deng Ai's merits, and Sima Zhao sent an envoy bearing a credential to confer additional rank and title upon Deng Ai, granting him seals and ribbons, and also enfeoffing his son Deng Zhong as a Village Marquis.

At this time, the Wei ruler Cao Mao changed the reign title from Zhengshi Year Three to Ganlu Year One. Sima Zhao appointed himself Chief Commander of All Armies Under Heaven, and whenever he went out or came in, he always ordered three thousand armored elite cavalry to press before and behind him as guards; all affairs were decided in his own chancellery without reporting to the court. From then on, he constantly harbored intentions of usurping the throne, only worrying that the people in the south and north had not yet submitted to him. One of his trusted men, named Jia Chong, styled Gong Lü, was the son of the late General Who Establishes Dignity Jia Kui, serving as Chief Clerk in Sima Zhao's chancellery. Jia Chong said to Sima Zhao: "Now that my lord holds great power, the hearts of the people in all directions are inevitably uneasy; you should first secretly investigate, then slowly plan the great affair." Sima Zhao said: "I was just thinking of doing this. You can go east on my behalf, ostensibly to comfort the troops on campaign, and secretly gather intelligence." Jia Chong received the order and went straight to Huainan. Entering the city, he paid respects to the General Who Pacifies the East, Zhuge Dan. Zhuge Dan, styled Gong Xiu, was a native of Nanyang in Langya, and was a younger cousin of the Marquis of Wu (Zhuge Liang). He had long served in Wei, but because the Marquis of Wu served as Chancellor in Shu-Han, he was not given important posts; later, after the Marquis of Wu died, Zhuge Dan held various high positions in Wei, was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Gaoping, and commanded all the military forces of the two Huai regions. That day, Jia Chong, pretending to comfort the troops, arrived in Huainan and met Zhuge Dan. Zhuge Dan hosted a banquet for him. In the midst of the drinking, Jia Chong tested Zhuge Dan with words, saying: "Recently, many worthy men in Luoyang all consider the sovereign weak and unfit to be ruler. General Sima has aided the state for three generations, his virtue and merit are as high as Heaven, and he could properly accept the abdication and succeed the Wei dynasty. What do you think of this?" Zhuge Dan flew into a rage and said: "You are the son of Jia Yuzhou (Jia Kui); your family has received Wei's emoluments for generations—how dare you utter such wild words!" Jia Chong apologized, saying: "I am merely repeating what others have said to you." Zhuge Dan said: "If the court faces trouble, I should die in its service." Jia Chong remained silent. The next day he took his leave and returned, reporting everything to Sima Zhao in detail. Sima Zhao was furious and said: "How dare that rat do such a thing!" Jia Chong said: "Zhuge Dan is deeply popular in Huainan; if given time, he will surely become a disaster, and you should eliminate him quickly." Sima Zhao then secretly sent a confidential letter to the Inspector of Yangzhou, Le Chen, and also dispatched an envoy with an edict summoning Zhuge Dan to be Minister of Works. When Zhuge Dan received the edict, he already knew that Jia Chong had informed against him, so he seized the envoy and put him to torture. The envoy said: "Le Chen knows about this." Zhuge Dan said: "How would he know?" The envoy said: "General Sima has already sent a secret letter to Le Chen in Yangzhou." Zhuge Dan flew into a rage, ordered the envoy beheaded, and then led a thousand of his own troops, charging straight to Yangzhou. When he reached the South Gate, the city gates were already closed, and the drawbridge was raised. Zhuge Dan called out at the foot of the wall, but no one answered from the battlements. Zhuge Dan angrily said: "That villain Le Chen, how dare he do this!" He then ordered his officers and men to attack the city. A dozen or so of his brave cavalry dismounted, forded the river, leaped onto the wall, scattered the defenders, and flung open the gates. Zhuge Dan then led his troops into the city. Taking advantage of the wind, they set fires and fought their way to Le Chen's house. Le Chen hurriedly fled upstairs to take cover. Zhuge Dan, sword in hand, went upstairs and shouted loudly: "Your father Le Jin once received great favor from Wei! Do you not think of repaying your roots, but instead want to follow Sima Zhao?" Before Le Chen could reply, Zhuge Dan killed him. He then wrote a memorial enumerating Sima Zhao's crimes and sent a messenger to Luoyang to report it; at the same time, he mustered a great number of the registered farm households from the two Huai regions, over one hundred thousand, along with more than forty thousand newly surrendered troops from Yangzhou, stockpiled fodder and grain, and prepared to advance. He also ordered his Chief Clerk Wu Gang to send his son Zhuge Jing to Eastern Wu as a hostage to seek aid, insisting on uniting forces to attack Sima Zhao.

At this time, the Wu Chancellor Sun Jun had died of illness, and his cousin Sun Chen took over the government. Sun Chen, styled Zi Tong, was violent and cruel; he killed the Grand Marshal Teng Yin, General Lü Ju, Wang Dun, and others; thus all power fell into Sun Chen's hands. The Wu ruler Sun Liang, though intelligent, could do nothing about it. Wu Gang then brought Zhuge Jing to Stone City, entered the city, and paid respects to Sun Chen. Sun Chen asked his purpose. Wu Gang said: "Zhuge Dan is a younger cousin of the Shu-Han Marquis of Wu, Zhuge Liang; he has long served in Wei. Now, seeing that Sima Zhao deceives the sovereign and overrides the court, deposing rulers and manipulating power, he wishes to raise an army to punish him, but his strength is insufficient. Therefore, he has come especially to submit. Fearing there might be no token of good faith, he has sent his own son Zhuge Jing as a hostage. He earnestly hopes that you will send troops to aid him." Sun Chen agreed to his request, and then sent the great generals Quan Yi and Quan Duan as chief commanders, Yu Quan as rear guard, Zhu Yi and Tang Zi as vanguard, and Wen Qin as guide, raising seventy thousand troops, divided into three columns, to advance. Wu Gang returned to Shouchun and reported to Zhuge Dan. Zhuge Dan was overjoyed, and then arrayed his troops in readiness.

Now, when Zhuge Dan's memorial reached Luoyang, Sima Zhao was enraged and wanted to personally lead the punitive expedition. Jia Chong advised him, saying: "My lord has inherited the foundation of your father and elder brother, but your grace has not yet spread throughout the land. If you leave the Son of Heaven and go, and an unforeseen event occurs, how can you regret it in time? It would be better to request that the Empress Dowager and the Son of Heaven accompany you on the campaign; then you can be sure of no mishap." Sima Zhao said happily: "These words suit my plan exactly." He then entered the palace and reported to the Empress Dowager, saying: "Zhuge Dan has rebelled; your servant has consulted with the civil and military officials, and we have agreed: we request that the Empress Dowager and the Son of Heaven lead the expedition in person, to carry forward the late Emperor's will." The Empress Dowager was afraid and had no choice but to comply. The next day, Sima Zhao asked the Wei ruler Cao Mao to set out. Cao Mao said: "The Grand General commands all the armies under Heaven; he may deploy them as he pleases—why must I go in person?" Sima Zhao said: "No. In former times, the Martial Ancestor (Cao Cao) roamed the empire, and Emperor Wen (Cao Pi) and Emperor Ming (Cao Rui) had the ambition to encompass the universe and the aspiration to swallow up all directions. Whenever they encountered a great enemy, they always led the army in person. Your Majesty should now match the deeds of your forebears, sweep away the old foes—why should you be afraid?" Cao Mao, fearing his authority, had no choice but to comply. Sima Zhao then issued an edict, raising all the forces of the two capitals, two hundred and sixty thousand men. He appointed the General Who Pacifies the South, Wang Ji, as the main vanguard; the General Who Pacifies the East, Chen Qian, as the deputy vanguard; the Army Supervisor Shi Bao as the left army; the Inspector of Yanzhou, Zhou Tai, as the right army. Protecting the imperial carriage, they marched in a mighty host straight toward Huainan. The Wu vanguard Zhu Yi led his troops to meet the enemy. The two armies drew up in battle array; from the Wei side, Wang Ji rode out, and Zhu Yi came to meet him. In less than three exchanges, Zhu Yi was defeated and fled; Tang Zi then rode out, but in less than three exchanges, he too was soundly beaten and fled. Wang Ji drove his troops forward in a slaughter, and the Wu army suffered a great defeat, retreating fifty li to set up camp. The news was reported into Shouchun city. Zhuge Dan personally led his own elite troops, joining with Wen Qin and his two sons, Wen Yang and Wen Hu, with tens of thousands of crack soldiers, to meet Sima Zhao in battle. Indeed:

Just as the Wu army's sharp edge was blunted, now came the Wei general's strong troops.

Just as the Wu army's sharp edge was blunted, now came the Wei general's strong troops.

Whether victory or defeat would result, let the next chapter explain.