In Shangfang Valley, Sima is trapped. On Wuzhang Plain, Zhuge Liang wards off the stars.

Now it was said that Sima Yi was defeated by Zhang Yi and Liao Hua in one bout, and, mounted on a single horse with a single spear, he rode toward the dense woodland. Zhang Yi held back his rear guard, while Liao Hua pressed hard in pursuit. When he closed in, Sima Yi swerved and circled the trees in panic. Liao Hua struck once, but his blade struck a trunk. By the time he drew the weapon out, Sima Yi had already gone out of the woods. Liao Hua followed, yet he could not tell where the enemy had gone; in the eastern trees he noticed a gold helmet lying on the ground. He picked up the helmet from his horse and continued east in pursuit. In truth Sima Yi had abandoned his helmet to the east and turned back west.

Liao Hao chased a long way, found no trace, and broke out at the mouth of the valley, where he met Jiang Wei. The two returned to camp and reported to Kongming. Zhang Ni had already driven the wooden oxen and flow-horses into camp. The handover was complete, and they had obtained more than ten thousand shi of grain. Liao presented the gold helmet and logged it as his leading merit. Wei Yan, displeased, made grumbling remarks, while Kongming merely looked as if he had not heard.

Now it was said Sima Yi returned to camp in deep vexation. He received an edict: the Eastern Wu army had invaded in three columns, and the court had already decided to appoint troops to oppose them, ordering him to hold fast and avoid battle. Sima Yi took the command and, while deep ditches and high ramparts were dug, held his position and did not sortie.

At that time Cao Rui heard that Sun Quan had divided his troops into three columns to come forward. He, too, raised three columns to meet them: he ordered Liu Shao to lead troops to rescue Jiangxia, Tian Yu to lead troops to rescue Xiangyang, and rode himself with Man Chong to lead a main force to Hefei.

Man Chong first led one column to Chao Lake mouth and saw countless warships on the opposite bank, their standards orderly and fine. He said in his field command, “The Wu men will surely underestimate us for coming so far; they are not prepared. We can seize their river camps tonight and win outright.” The monarch replied, “You speak exactly as I intend.” He then ordered the valiant general Zhang Qiu to lead 5,000 soldiers, each with fire gear, from the lake mouth; Man Chong took 5,000 soldiers and advanced from the eastern bank.

At the second watch that night, Zhang Qiu and Man Chong each secretly moved toward the lake mouth. As they came near the water camps, all at once they shouted and charged in together. The Wu soldiers were thrown into confusion and fled without fighting. The Wei troops set fires all around and burned the warships, grain, and equipment by the numberless count. Zhuge Jin, leading retreating troops, fled down to Miankou. Wei’s army returned in a sweeping victory.

The next day the scouts reported to Lu Xun. He assembled his generals and said, “I will send a memorial to the ruler and ask that we lift the siege of Xincheng. We should use troops to cut off the Wei army’s line of retreat. I will lead all men to strike them in front. Their forces are loose at front and back, so one drumbeat may break them.” The men approved his words. Lu Xun drafted the memorial and gave it in secret to a junior officer to send to Xincheng.

The officer took his orders and carried the petition as he went to the ferry, but unexpectedly he was seized on an ambush by Wei soldiers, then brought before Wei Rui, Cao Rui. The ruler searched out Lu Xun’s memorial, read it through, and sighed, “Lu Xun of Wu, truly ingenious.” He immediately ordered the Wu prisoners set to guard and ordered Liu Shao to prepare carefully against Sun Quan’s rear troops.

Yet Zhuge Jin had also suffered a great defeat and, in the heat of summer, his men and mounts developed many illnesses. He wrote a letter urging retreat and return home. When Lu Xun read it, he told the envoy, “Tell the Commander-in-Chief that I have my own design.” The envoy took it back to Zhuge Jin.

Zhuge Jin asked, “What did Commander Lu do?”

The envoy replied, “I only saw Commander Lu urge everyone outside camp to sow beans and other grain, while he and the generals sported at the gate with archery practice.”

Zhuge Jin was greatly startled and went personally to Lu Xun’s camp. “Now Cao Rui is present himself, and his forces are strong,” he asked. “How will you withstand him?”

Lu Xun said, “I sent my memorial to the ruler earlier, but it was taken by the enemy and read. Our plan is exposed; he must know our defense. Battle would be useless. We should withdraw for now. I have already sent men with a petition asking the ruler to let us slowly pull back.”

“Then if this is your intent,” Zhuge Jin said, “you should do so at once and not delay.”

Lu Xun said, “If we withdraw, we must move gradually. If we retreat now the Wei men will pursue us and this would be the path to defeat. You should first drill your ships as though determined to resist. I will move all men and horses toward Xiangyang, as a feint to confuse the enemy; then we shall draw back slowly to Jiangdong. Wei troops will not dare to come near.”

Zhuge Jin obeyed this plan. Lu Xun formally withdrew to his home camp, arranged the ships, and prepared to set out. He ordered the troops into disciplined order, raised martial display, and moved toward Xiangyang.

Spies had already informed the ruler that Wu troops were moving and that defenses must be prepared. The Wei generals, hearing this, all wished to fight. But the ruler knew Lu Xun’s ability and told them, “Lu Xun has strategy; this is probably a stratagem to lure us. Do not move lightly.” The generals quieted.

Several days later a scout came to report that all three Wu columns had withdrawn. Cao Rui did not believe it at once and sent men again to reconnoiter. The return was firm: indeed all had gone back. The ruler sighed, “Lu Xun’s command is not inferior to Sun Wu’s. The southeast is not yet pacified.” He then ordered each general to hold the key passes while he himself drew the main army to Hefei to watch for changes.

Now this was as Zhuge Liang intended in Qishan. He set Shu soldiers and Wei civilians to mixed-field cultivation, one part as troops and two parts as civilians, and forbade encroachment. With that arrangement, the Wei people all settled into content labor.

Sima Shi brought this to his father: “Shu soldiers have taken much of our grain. Now they again make Shu troops labor beside our people and till fields on the Wei bank for long-term purposes. This is truly a grave danger to the state. Why does Father not set a date with Kongming and give him one decisive field battle?”

Yi said, “I serve by imperial command to hold firmly and not move.” While they still discussed, a report came that Wei Yan had come on behalf of our marshal, bearing the helm lost the previous day, and was cursing and shouting. The generals were angry and all wished to fight. Sima Yi laughed and said, “The sages say, ‘If one cannot bear small provocations, one ruins the great design.’ To hold firm is best now.” They obeyed and did not sortie. Wei Yan cursed long enough, then withdrew.

Seeing that Sima Yi would not come out, Kongming quietly ordered Ma Dai to erect a stockade of timber, dig a deep trench, and stockpile dry fuel and fire gear. On the surrounding hills he laid brush and thatch and built flimsy huts for concealment, and placed hidden earth mines both inside and out. When all was ready he whispered at close ear, “Cut off the rear path of Hulugu Valley and hide troops there. If Sima Yi pursues, let him enter the valley, and then set all the prepared dry brush and stores ablaze at once.”

He ordered soldiers by day to raise seven-star banners at the valley mouth, and at night to set seven bright lamps on the hills as coded signals.

Ma Dai took command and moved out with troops. Kongming then called Wei Yan and ordered him, “Go with 500 soldiers to attack Wei camp and tempt Sima Yi to battle. Do not win—only feign defeat. Sima Yi will chase. Keep to the seven-star flag by day and to the seven lights by night. As long as you can draw Sima Yi into Hulugu Valley, I have a way to seize him.”

Wei Yan took the plan and moved out.

Kongming also summoned Gao Xiang and told him, “Take a group of thirty wooden oxen and flow-horses, or forty or fifty at a time, each carrying grain, and move them back and forth along the mountain roads. If Wei troops seize them, that is your merit.”

Gao Xiang understood and drove the wagons away.

Kongming then dispersed the Qishan army entirely and allowed only land cultivation. He gave this instruction: “If other forces come to battle, feign retreat only. If Sima Yi himself comes, then unite all forces and only strike south of the Wei to cut his line of retreat.”

When all was arranged, he led one force to camp below the upper valley of Shangfang.

Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He entered camp and told Sima Yi, “Shu troops are dispersed in many small camps, each at different points and each tilling long-term. If we do not strike now, even if they sit still, they will sink roots and become hard to move.”

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

The two replied, “If the commander-in-chief still doubts, when will the brigand enemy be crushed? We, your brothers, will risk all and strike a final battle to repay the state’s grace.”

Yi said, “Then go forth and each bring your force out.” He ordered Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He, each with 5,000 soldiers.

Zhuge Liang then waited for word.

Now Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He split into two columns and, as they moved, unexpectedly saw Shu soldiers driving wooden oxen and flow-horses. Both rushed at once and killed the forward guard. The Shu troops were routed; they ran. The wooden oxen and flow-horses were all taken and captured, then sent to Sima Yi’s camp. The next day they also raided and captured over a hundred men and mounts.

Yi took the captives for examination and hearing. They said, “Kongming expects the commander-in-chief to hold and not move, then sends us all to till fields far apart as a long-term plan. We never expected to be taken.” Sima Yi set all these Shu soldiers free.

Xiahou He said, “Why not kill them?”

Yi replied, “These are low soldiers. Killing them helps nothing. Return them to camp and let it be known that Wei generals are broad and merciful and release them. This is like Lü Meng’s taking of Jingzhou.”

So he ordered that henceforth whenever anyone captured a Shu soldier, he should send them home and reward officers who performed well. The generals all accepted and returned to their stations.

Kongming then ordered Gao Xiang to feign supply transport, driving the wooden oxen and flow-horses back and forth through Shangfang Valley. Xiahou Hui and the others periodically intercepted and were cut down; in half a month they won in several skirmishes. Sima Yi saw Shu repeatedly beaten and rejoiced in his heart.

One day he captured several dozen Shu men again. He asked under his canopy where Kongming was now. They answered, “Chancellor Zhuge is no longer in Qishan. He camps on the west side of Shangfang Valley, ten li away. Daily he is carrying grain into Shangfang.”

Yi inquired no further and sent those men home. He then called the generals and told them: “Kongming is not in Qishan now; he is camped at Shangfang. Tomorrow you shall all join forces and take the Qishan great camp together. I will bring troops in support.”

The generals prepared to move. Sima Shi asked, “Father, why now turn to attacking their rear?”

Yi said, “Qishan is Shu’s root. When they see our forces attack it, every camp will come to rescue. In that moment I will burn their supplies at Shangfang and cut them in two; they will be routed decisively.”

Sima Shi submitted.

Yi then issued orders and started out with troops, sending Zhang Hu and Lechen each with 5,000 soldiers to provide rear support.

Kongming, watching from Qishan, saw Wei troops moving in groups of three to five thousand, then one to two thousand, uncertain streams of men, looking ahead and back. He concluded they were surely coming for Qishan’s great camp. He discreetly told all his generals: “If Sima Yi comes in person, you go at once and loot the Wei camp, seizing Weinan.”

Then the Wei army all ran toward the Qishan camp. Shu troops ran in all directions together and raised loud cries, making the appearance of a rescue force. Seeing Shu troops all heading to Qishan, Sima Yi brought his two sons and central escort and charged for Shangfang Valley.

Wei Yan stood at the valley mouth, waiting for Sima Yi’s arrival. Suddenly one Wei soldier came running up. Wei Yan drove hard and looked to see it was Sima Yi himself. He shouted, “Sima Yi, do not run!” and met him with a sword in hand. Sima Yi raised his spear and joined in combat.

Not three rounds were struck when Wei Yan pulled back his horse and fled. Sima Yi followed closely. Wei Yan ran toward the seven-star flag.

Sima Yi, seeing Wei Yan alone with few troops and no horse force, felt at ease and pursued. He told Sima Shi to move left, Sima Zhao to move right, and he kept the center as he charged with the others. Wei Yan withdrew all 500 soldiers into the valley.

When Yi reached the valley mouth, he first sent men in to scout. They returned that there was no ambush; the hills held only straw huts. “This must be a grain stockpile,” he said, and drove horses and men in deep. He suddenly saw all the hill huts full of dry brush; in front of him Wei Yan had vanished.

His heart suspicious, he asked his two sons, “If our troops are cut off at the mouth, what then?” Before he could finish speaking, a shattering shout rose from all sides. At once men on the hills threw down torches and the valley mouth blazed with fire. With no path to flee, the Wei soldiers could not run. Fire arrows fell from the heights; the earth mines sprang together; the dry brush in every hut caught at once. The wind ripped and rattled, and flame climbed to the sky.

Sima Yi floundered in panic, dismounted, and gathered his two sons, crying, “My son and I—all three of us die here!” As he wept, a gale suddenly rose, black cloud spread through the sky, and thunder cracked. Immediately a wall of rain poured down. The whole valley fire was extinguished; the mines did not detonate, and the fire weapons were useless.

Sima Yi rejoiced and said, “Not until now have we a chance to break out—why wait?” He spurred the troops and drove hard through battle. Zhang Hu and Lechen each came with reinforcements. Ma Dai’s force was small and did not dare pursue. Sima Yi, his two sons, Zhang Hu, and Lechen joined together and returned to the Weinan great camp.

Yet the palisade there had already been taken by Shu soldiers. Guo Huai and Sun Li were already fighting Shu forces from the floating bridge. Sima Yi and his men came up, and the Shu withdrew. He burned the bridge and held the north bank.

Meanwhile, while Wei soldiers fought at Qishan to take the Shu camp, they learned of Sima Yi’s crushing defeat and the loss of Weinan’s camp. Their army was in panic and withdrew in haste. As they pulled back, Shu soldiers collided upon them from all sides. The Wei troops suffered a crushing defeat: eight or nine out of every ten were wounded or killed, and only a remnant survived by fleeing across the north bank of the Wei.

On the mountain, Kongming saw Wei Yan’s lure draw Sima Yi into the valley, and for one instant there was a great flare of flame. His heart rejoiced and he thought Sima Yi must surely be dead. Unexpectedly the sky gave a sudden rain and the fire would not hold, and a scouting report said Sima Yi and his sons had escaped. Kongming sighed, “To plan is for men; to make it happen is Heaven. One cannot force it.”

Later, people later composed this verse:

At the mouth of the valley the wind raged, wild flames drifted; who could have expected a sudden rain to fall from the blue heavens? If Wuhou’s wondrous stratagem could truly take, how could the mountains and rivers belong to the Jin court?

Sima Yi, now in the Weibei camp, issued this order: “The Weinan stockade has been lost. If any general dares to speak of fighting again, he will be beheaded.” The generals obeyed and held their positions without going out.

Guo Huai came in report: “Recently Kongming has been patrolling; he will select ground to encamp.”

Yi said, “If Kongming comes out at Wugong and moves east along the mountain, we are in danger. If he advances from Weinan and goes west, then to Wuzhang Plain, we may be safe.” He sent men to reconnoiter. They returned that enemy forces had indeed camped at Wuzhang Plain. Yi put his hand on his brow and said, “By the great fortune of the Wei emperor!” and then ordered all the generals to hold firm and not sortie. Their force would turn by itself in time.

Kongming brought one force and camped at Wuzhang Plain. Again and again he pressed for skirmishes, but Wei soldiers would not come out. He then took women’s scarves and plain mourning robes, packed them in a large chest, and wrote a letter. He sent a messenger to Wei camp. The generals could not conceal it and brought the envoy to Sima Yi.

Sima Yi stood before all and opened the chest. Within was the women’s scarf and white gown and a letter.

He opened it and read:

Zhongda has already become a great general, commanding the people of the Central Plains. You do not think to strip your armor and grip a sharp sword to decide life or death, yet you gladly hide in a dirt nest and avoid blade and arrow—how is that different from a woman? I send these women’s scarves and plain robes to you. If you will not go out to fight, bow and receive them again. If your sense of shame has not faded and you still have a man’s heart, return them at once, and come to meet the enemy at the appointed time.

After reading, Sima Yi grew very angry, then laughed thinly: “Does Kongming take me for a woman?” He took him in and ordered the envoy treated with honor.

Yi asked, “How fares the Chancellor in sleep and in daily work?”

The messenger replied, “The Chancellor rises before dawn and stays awake through the night; even punishments of twenty or more, he personally inspects each. His daily rations are no more than several sheng.”

Yi said to all the generals, “Kongming eats little and keeps matters close. How could such endurance last?”

The envoy withdrew and returned to Wuzhang, where he saw Kongming and gave a full report: “Sima Yi accepted the women’s scarf and read the letter. He showed no anger, and asked only of the Chancellor’s daily habits. He did not raise military matters at all. He answered, ‘Few food, busy with affairs—how can that continue forever?’”

Kongming sighed, “He knows me well.”

The registrar Yang Yong then said, “I often see the Chancellor checking accounts himself, and dare say this: in governance there is due order. One should not intrude where one should not, from top to bottom.

In household management, it is required that the farmer be set at the plow and the maid at the stove; the private industry must be complete, and every need supplied, while the householder remains composed and eats and drinks in ease. If the master must personally manage everything, his form fatigues, his spirit is exhausted, and no matter becomes complete. Is he therefore less wise than slave or maid? That would miss the way of holding a house.

That is why the ancients said: to sit and discuss principles was called Three Dukes; to act and do was called scholar-official.

In former days Bingji was troubled by a cow with a blocked breath and yet did not ask about a man dead in the street; Chen Ping was not aware of grain and coin accounts and said, ‘The Master has them.’ Now the Chancellor personally tends every minute matter, and sweats day after day. Is this not taxing?”

“She says his words are truly pointed.”

Kongming began to weep: “It is not that I am ignorant, but I bear the late emperor’s trust as guardian, and only fear others will not serve with heart as I do.” All men wept.

From that time Kongming felt his mind and spirit unsettled; thus, none dared push the army forward.

The Wei generals all knew that Kongming had insulted Sima Yi by sending the women’s scarf and that he had not gone out to fight. Entering camp, they all angrily reported: “We are all great generals of the state. How can we endure this humiliation from Shu men? We beg to advance and settle this matter in battle.”

Yi said, “I am not unwilling to fight, nor do I welcome this shame. But the Son of Heaven has commanded us to hold and not move. If I leave lightly now, I violate his order.”

The generals were full of anger and still dissatisfied.

Yi said, “Since you all wish to ride out, allow me to petition for the ruler’s approval. Then we can join and meet the enemy together. Why not?”

The generals assented. Yi then wrote a memorial and sent an envoy straight to Cao Rui’s command at Hefei.

He read:

I am weak in talent and bear a heavy office, yet by heaven’s favor I have received the clear command. I have held firm and not fought, waiting for Shu’s self-humbling; but now Zhuge Liang has left me women’s scarf and treats me as a woman. My humiliation is complete. I humbly beg Your Majesty to understand my intent: at dawn or dusk I will fight to the point of death, repay the state’s grace, and wash away the shame of the three armies. I cannot hold back this grief and fervor.

Cao Rui read and said to his officials, “Sima Yi has held firm and avoided battle. Why does he now submit this petition asking to fight?”

The Grand Commandant Xun Pi said, “Sima Yi has no desire to fight now. It must be that Kongming’s insult and the generals’ rage moved him, and this petition is to seek another imperial command to hold back the men.”

Cao Rui took this as true and ordered Xun Pi with imperial token to transmit directly to Weibei camp: no one was to sortie.

When Sima Yi received the edict, Xun Pi announced: “If anyone dares to speak of going out to battle again, it will be judged as disobedience of command.” They complied.

Sima Yi said softly to Xun Pi, “You truly know my heart.” He then spread the word through camp: the Son of Heaven has sent Xun Pi with token to forbid Sima Yi from fighting.

Shu heard this and reported it to Kongming. Kongming laughed: “This is how Sima Yi keeps his three armies calm.”

Jiang Wei asked, “How do you know this, Chancellor?”

Kongming said, “He had no wish to fight in earnest; he asked to fight to show courage before the men. Have you not heard, ‘A commander in the field may ignore an order’? Can one in ten thousand li ask for battle for mere pride?

This is Sima Yi using the generals’ anger and borrowing the emperor’s intention to control them. Now he spreads that saying to weaken our troops as well.”

While they still spoke, they learned Fei Yi had arrived.

Fei Yi was invited in, and said: “Cao Rui heard that Sun Quan advanced in three columns and personally brought the main army to Hefei. He ordered Man Chong, Tian Yu, and Liu Shao to take three columns to meet them. Man Chong devised a plan and burned all Wu grain and war gear. The Wu men became sick in great number. Lu Xun sent a memorial to Wu king asking for coordinated attack on both sides, but the messenger carrying it was captured by Wei troops before he arrived. Thus the secret leaked, and Wu troops returned without profit.”

When Kongming heard this, he sighed heavily and fainted to the ground. The generals rushed to help him; only after a long time did he revive.

He sighed, “My mind is clouded; an old illness has returned. I may not live!”

That night Kongming, ill, left the tent and looked up at the stars in alarm. Back in the tent he told Jiang Wei: “My life is near its end.”

Wei Wei said, “Why not use methods to ward off death?”

Kongming said, “I have known these arts long ago, but I do not know Heaven’s will. Take forty-nine armored men, each with a black banner, each in black robes, and circle outside the tent. I will perform rites to appease the Northern Dipper from within. If the main lamp does not go out within seven days, my life may gain another decade. If the lamp goes out, I surely die. Do not let common men pass in. Only two small boys should carry everything needed.”

Jiang Wei obeyed.

It was mid-autumn of the eighth month. That night, the Milky Way shone, and the dew settled low. Standards did not move, and the drums were still. Outside the tent Jiang Wei kept forty-nine men posted.

Kongming, in his tent, set out incense and flowers for worship. On the ground he laid out seven great lamps, with forty-nine small lamps around, and one life-lamp inside. He bowed and offered blessing:

I, born in an age of disorder, gladly grew old among wood and spring waters. Under the Three Visits of the august Emperor Zhaolie, and under the burden of a lone guardian, I dare not fail in the devotion of a humble servant. I swore to punish those who betray the state. Yet now my command star is said to fall and my yang longevity seems near its end. I write one strip of silk to report to the upper vault of Heaven. Please look with compassion and extend this servant’s reckoning, so I may still repay the emperor’s grace and rescue the people, recovering what was ours and lengthening the Han sacrifice for ever. I do not pray arrogantly; I speak from deep feeling.

Kongming ended the rite and waited inside through the night for dawn.

The next day, though sick, he handled government affairs, spitting blood without ceasing. By day he discussed military affairs, and by night he stepped the stars on the Earthly Canopy.

Now Sima Yi held firm in camp. One night, gazing at the sky, he rejoiced and said to Xiahou Ba: “I have seen the general star out of its station. Kongming must be ill and near death. Send 1,000 men to Wuzhang to scout. If Shu troops are turbulent and do not come out to fight, he must surely be sick. Then we can strike.”

Xiahou Ba moved with his force.

After six nights of Kongming’s rites, he saw the main lamp still bright and rejoiced greatly. Jiang Wei entered and saw Kongming with loose hair and sword in hand, performing star-stepping rites and suppressing the guiding star.

Heard then a cry outside the camp. Before he could ask someone to inspect, Wei Yan burst in at full speed and at that moment put out the main lamp.

Kongming set the sword down and sighed, “Life and death are by decree; they cannot be averted by warding.” Wei Yan knelt in fear and begged forgiveness. Jiang Wei was enraged and drew his sword to kill Wei Yan.

All things are not ruled by human command; One heart cannot keep pace with destiny.

Unknown how Wei Yan’s life will end. How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.