Gongsun Yuan’s soldiers are broken at Xiangping, and Sima Yi feigns illness to gain advantage over Cao Shuang.

Now it is told that Gongsun Yuan was the grandson of Gongsun Du of Liaodong and the son of Gongsun Kang. In the twelfth year of Jianan, when Cao Cao pursued Yuan Shang and had not yet arrived in Liaodong, Kang cut off Yuan Shang’s head and offered it to Cao Cao. Cao Cao made Kang the Marquis of Xiangping. Kang later died, leaving two young sons, the elder called Huang and the younger called Yuan. Kang’s brother, Gongsun Gong, inherited the office. In Cao Pi’s time, Gong was made Cavalry Commandant and Marquis of Xiangping. In the second year of Taihe, Yuan had grown up, combining learning and martial skill, with a hard and combative nature. He wrested his uncle Gongsun Gong’s position from him, and Cao Rui made him General of Yangle and the Administrator of Liaodong.

Later Sun Quan sent Zhang Mi and Xu Yan with gold, treasures, and jewels to Liaodong and bestowed on Yuan the title of King of Yan. Fearing the Central Plains, Yuan had those two executed and sent their heads to Cao Rui. Cao Rui then made Yuan Grand Marshal and Marquis of Lelang. Still unsatisfied, he consulted his men, proclaimed himself King of Yan, and changed the era name to Shaohan.

His deputy general Jia Fan remonstrated: “In the Central Plains, Your Grace is treated no lower than an exalted marquis. It is not fitting for you to rebel now. Moreover, Sima Yi knows how to use troops well. Even your illustrious general Marquis Wu of Shu—cannot yet win over all of Shu. How can one like your Grace prevail?”

Yuan flew into a rage and shouted for his guards to bind Jia Fan and execute him. Assistant military official Lun Zhi remonstrated in turn: “Deputy General Jia Fan speaks truly. The wise say, ‘Where a kingdom is about to fall, monsters and portents appear.’ Our realm has recently seen strange omens. A man recently appeared wearing a white cloth on his head and a red robe, walking on the rooftop as if climbing walls with his legs tucked up. In the southern quarter of the city, villagers boiled rice and suddenly a child was steamed alive inside the pot. In the north market of Xiangping, the ground sank suddenly and a patch of flesh, several chi across, rose from the earth, complete with face, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose but no hands or feet. Arrows and blades could not wound it. No one knows what creature it was. Diviners said, ‘It has form but no shape, a mouth yet no voice; the realm is fated to fall, and this form appears for that reason.’ These three omens are all inauspicious. Your Grace should turn from evil and pursue what is fortunate; do not act rashly.”

Yuan became even more enraged. He shouted for soldiers to bind Lun Zhi as well and executed him in the market, and ordered that Great Commander Bi Yan become overall commander, Yang Zuo lead the vanguard, and a force of 150,000 Liaodong troops should march on the Central Plains.

A frontier officer reported this to Wei ruler Cao Rui. Cao Rui was greatly alarmed and summoned Sima Yi for deliberation. Sima said, “My mounted and foot units total 40,000. That is enough to break the bandit.”

Cao Rui replied, “Your troops are few and your route long. I fear recovery may be difficult.”

Yi answered, “Victory does not lie in numbers; it lies in devising stratagems and using intelligence. Trust in Your Majesty’s heavenly blessing, and I will surely capture Gongsun Yuan to present him to Your Majesty.”

“How do you think Yuan will act?” Cao Rui asked.

“He may abandon the city and run out first—that is his highest-level plan. To stay in Liaodong and oppose the main army is his middle plan. To sit and defend Xiangping is his lower plan, and then I will surely capture him,” Sima said.

Cao Rui asked, “How long for the march and return?”

“Four thousand li. A hundred days to arrive, a hundred to strike, and sixty days to rest. About one year will suffice,” Sima said.

“What if Wu and Shu both raid at once?” Cao Rui asked.

“Defense measures are already fixed,” Sima replied. “Do not worry.”

Cao Rui approved immediately and ordered Sima Yi to raise an army and suppress Gongsun Yuan. Sima Yi took leave of court and set out, assigning Hu Zun as vanguard and ordering him to send troops quickly to Liaodong and establish a camp. A courier horse later reached Yuan. He ordered Bi Yan and Yang Zuo to station 80,000 troops in the Liaozui pass, digging a trench around the defenses for more than twenty li and surrounding the stag horns as tightly as possible.

Hu Zun sent word to Sima Yi. Sima smiled and said, “The rebel will not fight us; he wishes to wear out our troops. I estimate that most of the enemy are here, while their nest is emptied. Better to abandon this place and push straight for Xiangping. He will go to defend it, and he will be struck down on the way. We will win full victory.” He then ordered the army to take the smaller route and advance on Xiangping.

Bi Yan and Yang Zuo discussed, “If Wei troops come to attack, we should not engage. They have marched a thousand li, and supply cannot keep pace; they cannot last long. Once their food is gone they must withdraw. When they turn back, we can launch an unexpected strike and capture Sima Yi. It is the same now as when Sima Yi faced Shu troops and held steadfast at Weinan, while Kongming ended by dying in his own camp.”

They were still speaking when a courier arrived: “Wei forces are moving south.”

Bi Yan was startled: “They know our force at Xiangping is small, and now they are raiding our old camp. If Xiangping is lost, there is no point in holding this position.” He pulled down the camp and followed after.

Hu Zun had already sent a rider back to Sima Yi. Sima smiled. “He has fallen into my plan!” he said. He ordered Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei to move one division each and lie in wait on the banks of Ji River: “If Liaodong troops arrive, strike out from both sides together.” They took their stations.

Soon they saw Bi Yan and Yang Zuo moving forward with troops. At one cannon blast, both camp flags roared; drums thundered and banners shook. Xiahou Ba on the left, Xiahou Wei on the right, both charged out together.

Bi Yan and Yang Zuo had no mind to stand and fight. They cut a path and fled, reaching first mountain, where they met Gongsun Yuan’s arriving force. The two forces joined and turned horse, fighting the Wei troops again.

Bi Yan rode out and shouted at the invaders, “Rebel general, do not play tricks. Do you dare to enter battle?” Xiahou Ba spurred his horse and drew his sword to meet him. After only a few rounds, Xiahou Ba severed Bi Yan from below the saddle, and Liaodong ranks broke. Xiahou Ba drove his men in to kill while Gongsun Yuan led his broken force back into Xiangping and shut the gates, holding fast and refusing to come out. Wei troops surrounded the city on all sides.

The season was deep in autumn rains that did not stop for a full moon. The plain became three chi deep in water, and supply boats could row from the mouth of Liao River straight to below Xiangping. Wei soldiers stood and rode in the water all day, never comfortable. Left commander Pei Jing entered Sima’s tent and reported, “The rain does not stop. The ground in the camp is all mud and the army cannot hold. I ask to move the camp to higher hills in front.”

Sima shouted back, “The capture of Gongsun Yuan is within a day or two. How can we shift camp now? If anyone mentions moving the camp again, they will be executed.” Pei Jing bowed and withdrew.

After a short while, Right commander Qiu Lian also came with the same request: “The soldiers suffer from the water. We ask Your Excellency to move the camp to higher ground.” Sima roared, “My order has already been given. How dare you oppose it?” He ordered him seized and executed, then hung him outside the south gate. The whole army was shaken.

Sima then ordered both forward camps pulled back twenty li to give the city’s soldiers and civilians opportunity to leave for wood-gathering and to graze cattle and horses. Chief adjutant Sima Chenqun said, “Earlier, when Your Excellency besieged Shangyong, the army split into eight routes and arrived beneath the city in eight days, and you captured Meng Da in a great victory. Now you have four thousand armored men, and coming from hundreds of li away, you do not order an assault on the walls and instead keep us in mud for so long while allowing the enemy their firewood and grazing. I truly do not know what Your Excellency intends.”

Sima smiled. “Do you not know the laws of war? Meng Da had more provisions and fewer troops than I, so we had to strike swiftly and unexpectedly if we were to win. Now Liaodong has many men; I have fewer. The enemy is hungry and our camp is better supplied. Why must we force a direct attack? It is enough to let them move as they wish, then strike at the right moment. I open a road for them and do not block their firewood and grazing so that they may leave by themselves.”

Chenqun bowed in submission.

Sima Yi then dispatched men to Luoyang to urge grain to be sent out. Cao Rui convened a court. Court officials all spoke: “Recently the autumn rains have lasted for a full month and soldiers and horses are exhausted. It would be prudent to call back Sima Yi and suspend operations.”

Cao Rui said, “Sima Yi is good at warfare; under danger he changes the field and often has brilliant stratagems. He awaits the right hour to capture Gongsun Yuan. Why should you all worry?” He ignored their remonstrance and sent grain directly to Sima Yi’s front.

After several more days in camp, the rain stopped and the sky cleared. That night Sima walked out of his tent and looked up at the heavens. Suddenly he saw a star, as large as a Dipper, trailing its light for several chi; from northeast of Shoushan it fell to the southeast of Xiangping. All the captains and soldiers were awed and alarmed. Sima was delighted. He told the assembled officers, “Five days hence, at the place where the star falls, Gongsun Yuan will be beheaded. Tomorrow we will attack the city with all our strength.”

At his command, the next morning before dawn, the four-facing force surrounded the walls, built earthen mounds, dug tunnels, set gun platforms, and raised ladders. They attacked day and night without pause, arrows falling like heavy rain into the city.

Within Xiangping, grain had run out. Everyone slaughtered cattle and horses for food. The men were each resentful and had no heart to defend. Some said they should cut off Yuan’s head and surrender the city. Yuan heard of this and was greatly frightened. He quickly ordered the Chancellor Wang Jian and the censor Li Fu to go to the Wei camp and submit surrender.

They tied ropes over the wall and descended to report to Sima Yi: “Grant Your Excellency two camps’ width retreat, and my lord and I will come in to surrender.”

Sima yelled with anger, “Why does Gongsun Yuan not come himself? This is most unreasonable!” He ordered them seized and executed, and gave their heads to attendants.

The attendants reported this. Yuan was shaken and sent the court attendant Wei Yan to Wei camp. Sima ordered his tent raised and the generals stood in two lines. Wei Yan knelt and crawled forward, then knelt at the foot of the tent. “Let Your Excellency release the thunderbolt of your anger,” he said. “Should auspicious day come first, we will offer Your Majesty’s grandson Gongsun Xiu as a pledge. After that, my lord and his ministers will bind themselves and come down to surrender.”

Sima replied, “There are five main principles in war: when one can fight, one must fight; when one cannot, one must hold; when one cannot hold, one must run; when one cannot run, one must surrender; when one cannot surrender, one must die. Why must a son be sent as hostages before I can settle him?”

He ordered Wei Yan to return the message to Gongsun Yuan. Wei Yan lowered his head and fled away. Back before him, Yuan was in dismay.

Yuan then held a secret council with his son Gongsun Xiu, chose one thousand horsemen, and at the middle of the second night-watch opened the southern gate and fled southeast.

Seeing no pursuers, he rejoiced inwardly. They had not yet gone ten li when a cannon shot sounded from the mountain, horns blew together, and one force blocked the road ahead. Sima stood at the center, with Sima Shi at his left and Sima Zhao at his right. Both shouted, “Turned rebel, do not run!” Yuan was startled and pushed his horse to search a route for flight. But Hu Zun’s troops had already arrived—Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei on the left, Zhang Hu and Lechen on the right—four sides enclosing them like iron hoops.

The father and son, Gongsun Yuan and Gongsun Xiu, could only dismount and surrender. On horseback Sima said, “The previous night in bingyin I saw a great star fall at this spot. Tonight in ren-shen, the appointed day has come.”

The assembled officers praised him. “The Grand Commandant truly moves with divine art!” they cried. Sima gave orders to execute them. Gongsun Yuan and his son were both killed facing each other.

Sima then raised the army to retake Xiangping. Before they even reached the city gates, Hu Zun had already brought troops inside. The people burned incense and welcomed them. Wei troops fully entered the city. Sima sat in the administrative hall and had Yuan’s clan, together with officials who had plotted with him, all killed, seventy-odd heads in all. He issued proclamations to pacify the people.

Someone informed him: “Jia Fan and Lun Zhi had begged Yuan not to revolt, and both were killed by him.”

Sima honored their graves and conferred rewards upon their sons and grandsons. From the storehouses he took treasure and rewarded the three armies, then retired from the campaign and returned to Luoyang.

At the palace that night, Cao Rui lay in his chambers. At the third watch, a gust of dark wind suddenly extinguished all lights. Empress Mao came with dozens of palace women crying at his seat and begged for mercy, and Cao Rui fell gravely ill. As his illness worsened, he entrusted all affairs of the Privy Secretariat to the Shizhong and Guanglu Dafu Liu Fang and Sun Zi, and also summoned the crown prince’s uncle, Prince of Yan, Cao Yu, making him Grand Commander to assist Prince Cao Fang in governing.

Cao Yu, a man of modesty, frugality, and mildness, refused the charge and repeatedly declined. Cao Rui asked Liu Fang and Sun Zi, “Within the clan, who is fit for this?” The two had long received favors from Cao Zhen, and together they submitted, “Only Cao Shuang, son of Cao Zidan, is suitable.”

Cao Rui accepted. They then proposed, “If Cao Shuang is to be used, the Prince of Yan should first be sent home.” Cao Rui accepted this too. They requested a decree and delivered it to Cao Yu: “The Son of Heaven has issued an edict: the Prince of Yan must return home immediately; on no condition may he enter court without an edict.” Cao Yu wept and left. Cao Rui therefore made Cao Shuang Grand Commander and entrusted him with oversight of the court.

As Cao Rui worsened, he ordered an edict commanding Sima Yi to return to court. Sima Yi obeyed and came directly to Xuchang, where he was admitted to audience.

“Only by your presence do I feel at peace. Today to see you means I have no regrets,” Cao Rui said.

Sima knelt and answered, “When I learned my sovereign’s health was unwell on the road, I wished I had wings to fly to the gate of the hall. To behold Your Majesty now is my good fortune.”

Cao Rui then summoned Crown Prince Cao Fang, Grand Commander Cao Shuang, Liu Fang, Sun Zi and others to stand before the imperial couch. He took Sima Yi’s hands and said, “When Liu Xuan-de, at Baidi City, lay on the brink of death and entrusted his little son Liu Shan to Zhuge Kongming, it was by that gentleman’s wholehearted loyalty and tireless service that the matter was settled. How much more so for a great state! My son Cao Fang is only eight years old and cannot yet manage the state. I rely on you, Grand Commandant, and my elder coeval, Chancellor Yuanhun, the old ministers, to assist him fully. Do not fail me.”

Then he called to Cao Fang, “Zhongda and I are one body. You are to honor him greatly.” So he ordered Sima to draw Cao Fang closer. Cao Fang embraced Sima’s neck and refused to let go.

“Grand Commandant, do not forget the affection this child bears for you this day,” Cao Rui said.

Sima knelt and wept. Wei’s sovereign sank into confusion; his mouth could no longer speak. He only pointed at the crown prince. Soon he died. He had reigned thirteen years and was thirty-six years old, it being late in the first month of spring in the third year of Jingchu.

At once, Sima Yi and Cao Shuang lifted Cao Fang to the throne. His name was Cao Fang, courtesy name Lanqing; he had been one of Cao Rui’s secret sons, raised secretly in the palace, and no one knew his true origin. Cao Fang posthumously honored Cao Rui as Emperor Ming, buried him at Gaoping Mausoleum, raised Empress Guo to Empress Dowager, and changed the reign era to Zhengshi one.

Cao Shuang and Sima Yi served as co-regents. Cao Shuang treated Sima with great caution and brought all major matters to him first. Shuang’s courtesy name was Zhaobo. He had grown up moving in and out of the palace; Emperor Ming liked him for this careful manner. Under Cao Shuang there were five men he trusted as close guests, among five hundred under his roof. Among them, He Yan was fifth: courtesy name Pingshu. Deng Yang, courtesy name Xuanmao, a descendant of Deng Yu; Li Sheng, courtesy name Gongzhao; Ding Mi, courtesy name Yanjing; and Bi Gui, courtesy name Zhaoxian. Also Minister of Revenue Han Fan, courtesy name Yuanzu, was considered a strategist and many called him the “Council of Wisdom.”

He Yan said, “My lord now has great power. It must not be entrusted to others or trouble will come later.”

Cao Shuang answered, “I and Sima Yi both received the late emperor’s charge to nurture you. How could I betray it?”

Yan replied, “In former days, when the old one and Zhongda fought Shu, he suffered repeated insults from this man and eventually died because of it. Why do you not investigate?”

A jolt of understanding struck Cao Shuang. He then conferred with various officers and submitted a memorial to Cao Fang: “Sima Yi has meritorious service and virtue. He may be added as Grand Tutor.” Cao Fang accepted. From then on all military command passed into Shuang’s hands.

Cao Shuang made his brother Cao Xi Middle Commanding General, Cao Xun Weapony Guard General, and Cao Yan Gentle Gentleman Attendant, each with 3,000 imperial guard cavalry to enter and leave the Forbidden Court at will. He appointed He Yan, Deng Yang, and Ding Mi as Secretaries, Bi Gui as Director of the Capital Censors, and Li Sheng as Inspector of Henan; these five met with Cao Shuang day and night to discuss policy.

Thus, guest traffic around Cao Shuang flourished. Sima Yi withdrew, feigning illness and never going out, and both his sons also retired from office and lived apart. Cao Shuang drank and caroused daily with He Yan and the rest. Whatever clothing or vessels he used matched those of the court. At every place they sent gifts of fine curios and rare treasures, taking the best ones first for himself before passing them to the palace. He filled his residence with beautiful women and performers—three or four dozen talented sons and daughters of musical homes. He built high towers and painted pavilions and ordered hundreds of fine craftsmen to work by day and night on gold and silver vessels.

He Yan later heard that the master Guanlu of Pingyuan was skilled in numerology and asked him to discuss the changes of the arts. Deng Yang was present and asked Guanlu, “You claim to understand these changes, yet you do not explain their meanings. Why?”

Guanlu replied, “One who truly understands such teachings does not talk endlessly about them.”

He Yan laughed and praised him: “He is one who says only what is needed.” He said to Guanlu, “Cast a divination for me. Can I rise to the three offices? And again, I have repeated dreams in which dozens of green flies gather upon my nose. What omen is this?”

Guanlu said, “Yuan Kai served Shun and Zhougong aided Zhou. Both gained many blessings because they practiced harmony and humility and were courteous in conduct. In your case, your rank is high and your influence heavy; yet those who are virtuous are few and those who fear your authority are many. This is not the right way to secure blessings. The nose is like a mountain. The higher the mountain stands, the longer it can keep a high place. Now these foul flies gather there in stench, and one whose station is lofty may be overturned. You should not be reckless in what you do. If you increase little and reduce much, and refuse to step where it is not proper, then you may indeed attain the Three Excellencies and drive away the green flies.”

Deng Yang, angry, said, “These are only the common talk of an old man.”

Guanlu answered, “An old man has no life to lose; a common talker has nothing to discuss.” He then swept away and left. The two laughed together: “What a wild scholar.”

Returning home, Guanlu told his uncle. The uncle was greatly startled and said, “He and Deng Yang are both extremely powerful. How can you offend them?”

Guanlu replied, “I speak with those already dead; what is there to fear?”

His uncle asked why. Guanlu said, “Look at Deng Yang’s gait—his muscles do not restrain the bones, his pulses do not control the flesh, and when he rises he sways as if lacking hands and feet. That is the look of ‘ghost-frenzy.’ As for He Yan’s appearance, his aura does not hold the household, his blood lacks color, his spirit floats like thin smoke, his face withers like dead wood. That is ‘ghost-silence.’ These two will surely die soon by bloodshed. Why should one fear them?”

His uncle left without scolding him as mad.

Cao Shuang once went hunting with He Yan, Deng Yang, and others. His brother Cao Xi remonstrated: “Brother, you wield overwhelming power and delight in roaming and hunting. If someone has already calculated against you, regret will be too late.” Cao Shuang shouted, “The military command is in my hands. What is there to fear?” Minister Han Fan also remonstrated, but Shuang did not listen.

Around this time, Cao Fang entered the tenth year of Zhengshi, which was changed to Jia Ping first year. Cao Shuang had held authority throughout and did not know Zhongda’s true condition. The Wei sovereign, seeing this, removed Li Sheng as Inspector of Jingzhou and immediately ordered him to present himself before Zhongda and gather news.

Li Sheng came straight to the Secretariat’s outer office. A gate guard had already reported his arrival. Sima said to his two sons, “This is Cao Shuang’s envoy to test the weakness of my illness.”

So Sima removed his cap, left his hair loose, went to sit on the bed with blanket wrapped about him, then had two young women support his elbow. Only then did he summon Li Sheng.

When Li arrived, he knelt by the bed and said, “I have not seen the Grand Preceptor for some time. I did not think his condition so serious. The Son of Heaven has appointed you Inspector of Jingzhou, and you have come to pay farewell.”

Sima answered with pretense, “Bingzhou is near Shuofu and one must prepare for it.”

Li Sheng said, “My appointment is to Jingzhou, not Bingzhou.”

Sima laughed: “So you have come from Bingzhou?”

Li replied, “I come from Qingzhou in Shandong.”

Sima laughed, “You have come from Qingzhou, too.”

Li said, “How serious is the illness of the Grand Preceptor?”

One attendant answered, “The Grand Preceptor is deaf.”

Li: “May I have paper and a brush?”

A servant handed him paper and brush. Li wrote and presented it.

Sima read it and smiled. “My ears are indeed deaf,” he said. “Take care on your journey home.” He then pointed to his mouth.

A serving maid brought in broth. Sima tipped his mouth into it; broth spilled over his robe and he made a choking gurgling sound. “This old body is withered and weak. Death is at hand. My two sons are unworthy; I ask you to teach them. If you meet the Grand Commander, protect my two sons beyond all else!”

After speaking he collapsed back in bed, voice strained, breath labored. Li Sheng retired and again reported to Cao Shuang what he had seen. Cao Shuang rejoiced: “If this old man dies, I have nothing to fear.”

When Sima saw Li Sheng depart, he rose and told his sons, “Li Sheng has gone to report. When he reaches Cao Shuang, he will think no longer suspicious of me. It will be only when he is out hunting outside the city that we can act.”

In less than a day, Cao Shuang invited Emperor Ming to visit Gaoping Mausoleum and offer sacrifice to the late emperor. All levels of officials rode out with him.

Cao Shuang brought his third brother and trusted men including He Yan, with the Imperial Guard forming his escort. Minister Han Fan dismounted and remonstrated, “Your lordship commands the Imperial garrison. All brothers should not leave the city. If something changes in the capital, what then?”

Cao Shuang struck his whip and shouted, “Who dares to rebel? Never speak so nonsense again!”

When Sima Yi saw Cao Shuang leave the city that day, he was full of joy. He gathered old men from his former days who had broken enemies in battle, along with a number of family officers, and with his two sons mounted their horses and went straight to set out on Cao Shuang’s murder.

What followed is told:

Shutting the gate, fortune is bound to turn, and from this day on the soldiers will vent their fierce, triumphant wind. How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.