“Because the stars are in infinite changes,” replied Zhuge Liang. “One may rely on the stars too much. Moreover, I have already sent the army into Hanzhong, where I shall act as soon as I have studied what is afoot.” Qiao Zhou pleaded in vain; Zhuge Liang was too strongly set upon his purpose to yield. So Guo Youzhi, Dong Yun, and Fei Yi were ordered to attend to matters in the palace; Xiang Chong was to control all military affairs and forces; Jiang Wan was made Military Adviser; Chen Zhen became Chair of the Secretariat; Zhang Yi, Controller of the Prime Minister's palace; Du Qiong, Imperial Censor; Du Wei and Yang Hong, Ministers; Meng Guang and Lai Min, Libationers; Yin Mo and Li Zhuan, Academicians; Xi Zheng and Fei Shi, General Secretaries; Qiao Zhou, Imperial Recorder; and others to the number of over a hundred, all to manage the administration of Shu in the absence of Zhuge Liang.
After having received his Emperor's command to lead an expedition against the North, Zhuge Liang returned to his palace and summoned the officers of the army to listen to the orders. And they came, and to each was appointed a duty in the great army of Zhuge Liang, Commander-in-Chief of the North-conquering Expedition, Prime Minister of Shu, Lord of Wuxiang, Imperial Protector of Yiazhou, Director of Internal and External Affairs.
Wei Yan was made Commander of the Front Army; Li Hui, Commander of the Rear Army; Ma Dai, Commander of the Left Army; Ma Zhong, Commander of the Right Army; Liu Yan, Deng Zhi, and Ma Su, Commanders of the Central Army; Guan Xing, Commander of the Left Guard; Zhang Bao, Commander of the Right Guard; Zhang Ni, Wang Ping, Wu Yi, Wu Ban, Liao Hua, Liu Ba, Gao Xiang, and others, Marching Generals; Yan Yan, Hu Ji, Cuan Xi, Yang Yi, and others, Military Counselors; Fan Jian, Dong Jue, Guan Yong, and others, Secretaries and Recorders; Ding Xian and others, Officers of the Commissariat.
Li Yan was given the task of guarding the passes against Wu.
All being ready, a day was chosen for the start: the fifth year, the third month, on the day of “tiger.”
After the appointments had all been made, there came forward a veteran who had listened in vain for the duty assigned him.
“Old I may be,” said he, “yet have I still the valor of Lian Po and the heroism of Ma Yuan. Why am I thought useless any more than these two who refused to acknowledge old age?”
It was Zhao Yun.
Zhuge Liang said, “I have lost my friend Ma Chao by illness since I returned from the Southern Expedition, and I feel as I had lost an arm. Now, General, you must own that the years are mounting up. Any slight lapse would not only shake the life-long reputation of yourself, but might have a bad effect on the whole army.”
Zhao Yun replied bitterly, “I have never quailed in the presence of the enemy from the day I first joined the First Ruler; I have ever pressed to the front. It is a happy ending for a person of valor to die on the frontier. Think you that I should resent it? Let me lead the van, I pray.”
Zhuge Liang used all his skill to dissuade the veteran, but in vain; he was set on it, threatening suicide if this honor was refused him. At last Zhuge Liang yielded an the condition that he would accept a colleague.
“I will go to help the veteran leader,” cried Deng Zhi, without a moment's hesitation. “I am not worth much, but I will help lead the attack on the enemy.”
Accordingly five thousand of veterans were chosen for the advanced guard, and with them, to assist Zhao Yun, went Deng Zhi and ten other generals. After the vanguard had set out, the main body marched by the north gate, the Emperor himself going to see his minister start. The farewell was taken three miles from the gate, in the face of the grand army with its banners and pennons flaunting in the wind, and spears and swords gleaming in the sun.
Then they took the road leading to Hanzhong.
Naturally, this movement was duly reported in Luoyang at a court held by Cao Rui, when a minister said, “A report from the border stations says that Zhuge Liang has marched three hundred thousand troops into Hanzhong. Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi are leading the advanced guard.”
The report alarmed the Emperor, and he asked, “Who can lead an army to repel the advance?”
At once out spoke one, saying, “My father died in Hanzhong, and to my bitter resentment his death is unavenged. Now I desire to lead the army against Shu, and I pray that the armies west of the Pass may be given me for this purpose. I shall render a service to the state, as well as taking vengeance for my father. I care not what fate may befall me.”
The speaker was Xiahou Yuan's son, Xiahou Mao. He was by nature very impulsive and also very miserly. When young he had been adopted by Xiahou Dun. When Xiahou Yuan was killed by Huang Zhong, Cao Cao was moved and married Xiahou Mao to one of his daughters, Princess Qinghe, so that he was an Emperor's son-in-law. As such he enjoyed great deference at court. But although he held a military commission, he had never been with the army. However, as he requested the command, he was made Commander-in-Chief to get the western army ready to march.
The Minister Wang Lang spoke against the appointment, saying, “The appointment is wrong. Xiahou Mao, the Son-in-Law, has never seen a battle and is unsuitable for this post, especially when his opponent is the clever and crafty Zhuge Liang, a man thoroughly versed in strategy.”
“I suppose you have arranged with Zhuge Liang to be his ally,” sneered Xiahou Mao. “Ever since I was a boy, I have studied strategy, and I am well acquainted with army matters. Why do you despise my youth? Unless I capture this Zhuge Liang, I pledge myself never again to see the Emperor's face.”
Wang Lang and his supporters were silenced. Xiahou Mao took leave of the Ruler of Wei and hastened to Changan to get his army in order. He had two hundred thousand troops from the western areas.
He would go to battle, take the signal flags in grip,
But could he play the leader, he a lad with callow lip?
The next chapter will deal with this campaign.
CHAPTER 92. Zhao Yun Slays Five Generals; Zhuge Liang Takes Three Cities.
Zhuge Liang's army marched northward, passing through Mianyang, where stood Ma Chao's tomb. In honor of the dead Tiger General, Zhuge Liang sacrificed there in person, Ma Chao's cousin — Ma Dai — being chief mourner for the occasion.
After this ceremony, when the Commander-in-Chief was discussing his plans, the spies came in to report: “The Ruler of Wei, Cao Rui, has put in motion all western forces under Xiahou Mao.”
Then Wei Yan went in to offer a plan, saying, “Xiahou Mao is a child of a wealthy family, soft and stupid. Give me five thousand troops, and I will go out by Baozhong, follow the line of the Qinling Mountains east to the Ziwu Valley and then turn north. In ten days I can be at Changan. Hearing of my intent, Xiahou Mao will hasten to vacate the city. Then he must flee by way of Royal Gate. I will come in by the east, and you, Sir, can advance by the Xie Valley. In this way and all west of Xianyang will be ours in just one move.”
Zhuge Liang smiled at the suggestion.
“I do not think the plan quite perfect,” said he. “You are gambling by thinking there is no northerner worth considering guarding Changan. If anyone suggests sending a force across to block the exit of the mountains, I am afraid we should lose five thousand troops, to say nothing of the check to our elan. The plan will not do.”
“If you, O Minister, march by the high road, they will bring against you the whole host within the passes and will thus hold you indefinitely; you will never get to the Middle Land.”
“But I shall go along the level road on the right of Longyou. I cannot fail if I keep to the fixed rules of war.”
Wei Yan withdrew, gloomy and dissatisfied.