Delighted, the Second Ruler rewarded Zong Yu and treated the envoy of Wu generously. Presently the envoy left for home.
In accordance with Zhuge Liang’s advice, Jiang Wan was promoted to the office of prime minister besides being given other important posts, while Fei Yi was appointed associate in the prime minister’s office. Wu Yi was promoted to a higher rank, with the authority to govern in Hanzhong, and Jiang Wei was created a general with an honorable title and a marquis, commanding forces of various regions. He was sent to post his men in Hanzhong to join Wu Yi in guarding against attacks from Wei. The other officers retained their former positions.
But Yang Yi was forgotten. Discontented that he should be placed beneath Jiang Wan, who had not been in service as long, and thinking that his services had not been adequately rewarded, he spoke resentfully to Fei Yi: “At the time of the minister’s death, if I had gone over to Wei with the whole army, I would not have been so desolate as this.”
Fei Yi secretly reported this complaint to the Second Ruler, who was enraged and threw Yang Yi into prison. He intended to put him to death, but Jiang Wan reminded him of Yang Yi’s many contributions while serving under the late prime minister and hence should not be executed, in spite of his fault. He proposed reducing Yang Yi to a commoner. The Second Ruler approved. So Yang Yi was stripped of his official posts and exiled to a remote area, where he committed suicide through shame.
The thirteenth year of Jian Xing of Shu (or the third year of Blue Dragon of Wei, or the fourth year of Jia He of Wu) witnessed no military campaigns among the three kingdoms.
Now in the kingdom of Wei, Sima Yi was given command of all the military forces and the responsibility to see to the security of border regions. He thanked his emperor and departed for Luoyang.
In the capital, Cao Rui began large-scale construction work to build himself new palaces. In Luoyang, too, he decided to erect three grand halls, each of a lofty height, and a group of buildings including a hall, a tower, a pavilion, and a pool. Over the construction of all these works he placed Ma Jun, an official of education and learning, as superintendent.
Nothing was spared that would contribute to the beauty of these buildings. There were carved beams, painted rafters, golden bricks, and green tiles, all glittering in the sunlight. Thirty thousand highly-skilled artisans in the country were sought, and more than 300,000 workmen were mobilized to labor day and night on these architectural works for the Emperor’s glory and pleasure. The energy of the people was spent in this toil, and the cries of their complaint never ceased.
But the Emperor paid no attention. He issued another edict to build the Garden of Fragrant Forest, and all his officials were required to carry earth and transport trees into the garden.
Dong Xun, a minister, ventured to remonstrate with him. “Since the period of Jian An, wars have destroyed whole families and households. Those who survived are elderly and weak. Now if the palaces had been too small and enlargement desired, it would still be more fitting to choose a suitable time for the work so that it would not interfere with farming, let alone the construction of such unnecessary things. Your Majesty has honored your officials by allowing them to wear fine headdresses, dress in embroidered robes, and ride in decorated chariots, to distinguish them from the common people. Now these same officials are being made to carry timber and bear earth, to sweat and soil their feet. To destroy the glory of the state in order to raise a useless edifice is indescribable folly. Confucius said, ‘The Emperor treats his ministers with propriety, and the ministers reward him with loyalty.’ Without loyalty, without propriety, can a state endure?
“I recognize that these words of mine mean death, but I am of no value, a mere bullock’s hair, and my life is of no importance, as my passing would be no loss. I write with tears, bidding the world farewell. I have eight sons, who will be a burden to Your Majesty after my death. I cannot say with what trepidation I await my fate.”
Cao Rui was greatly angered after reading the text. “Has the man no fear of death?”
His close courtiers advised the Emperor to put the bold speaker to death, but Cao Rui said, “He has always been loyal. I will reduce him to a commoner this time. But whoever dares to utter such nonsense again will be slain!”
And indeed there was another bold speaker whose name was Zhang Mao, in the service of the Heir Apparent. He also ventured to remonstrate but was executed at the order of the Emperor.
Cao Rui summoned Ma Jun and said, “I want to build high terraces and lofty towers with the intention of holding intercourse with the gods, so that I may obtain from them the elixir of life.”
Ma Jun replied, “Of the four and twenty emperors of the line of Han, only Emperor Wu enjoyed the longest reign and life. That was because he drank the essence of the sun and the splendor of the moon. He had built in his palace at Chang’an the Terrace of Cypress Beams, upon which stands the bronze figure of a man holding a Dew Collecting Bowl to get the vapor from the Big Dipper during the third watch of the night. The liquid thus obtained is called ‘Celestial Elixir, or ‘Sweet Dew.’ Drinking the liquid after it is mixed with powdered jade restores youth to the aged.”
Cao Rui, extremely pleased to hear this, ordered Ma Jun to leave for Chang’an immediately and bring back the bronze figure to set up in the new garden.
So Ma Jun took a multitude of men to Chang’an, where they built a scaffold to ascend the Cypress Beam Terrace. In no time, 5,000 men with ropes got up on the terrace, which rose two hundred feet high, and the bronze pedestal was ten cubits in circumference. Ma Jun told his men to detach the bronze statue first. Many laborers joined hands and brought it down. To their astonishment they saw tears rolling down the eyes of the statue.
Then suddenly a whirlwind sprang up beside the terrace and all at once dust and pebbles swirled thick as a shower of rain. Then with a tempestuous roar as of an earthquake, down collapsed the pedestal, and the terrace crumbled, crushing a huge number of men to death.
However, the bronze figure and the golden bowl were conveyed to Luoyang and presented to the Emperor.
“Where is the pedestal?” asked the Emperor.
“It weighs a million catties and is too heavy to transport,” replied Ma Jun.
Therefore the Emperor ordered it to be broken up and the metal brought to Luoyang. From this were cast two bronze figures, called Weng Zhong (named after a giant of a warrior in the Qin dynasty), which were placed outside the Sima Gate. A pair of dragons and phoenixes were also cast, the dragons forty feet (twelve meters) high and the birds thirty feet (nine meters). These were placed in front of the Hall of Audience. Moreover, the Emperor ordered his men to plant in the royal gardens wonderful flowers and rare trees and breed exotic birds and animals.
Yang Fu, another official, remonstrated with the Emperor on these extravagances.
“I have heard that the ancient king, Yao, lived in a humble thatched cottage, and a myriad nations enjoyed harmony; later King Yu contented himself with a simple abode, and all the empire rejoiced. In the days of Yin and Zhou dynasties, the hall of the ruler stood three feet above the ground and its area was nine mats. The sage emperors and wise kings of old had never despoiled the wealth and strength of the people to build beautiful palaces for themselves.
“Jie, last ruler of Xia Dynasty, built himself a jade chamber and elephant stables while Zhou, last king of Yin Dynasty, erected the Inclining Palace and the Deer Terrace. Both of these lost their empires. Later, Duke Ling of the Kingdom of Chu came to an evil end after building Zhang Hua Palace. The first Emperor of Qin constructed Epang Palace and calamity fell upon his son, for the empire rebelled and his house was exterminated in the second reign.
“Alas! All those who have failed to consider the means of the people and given way to sensuous pleasures have perished. Your Majesty should take as your examples Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen, and Wu on the one hand and regard Jie, Zhou, Chu, and Qin as lessons on the other. To seek only self-indulgence and think of nothing but decorat
ing fine palaces will surely end in calamity.
“The Emperor is the head and his ministers are his limbs. Bound by the same fate, they live or die together. I am timorous, but dare I forget my duty? If I do not speak firmly, I should be unable to move Your Majesty. Now I have prepared my coffin and bathed my body, ready for the death penalty.”
But the Emperor was unmoved by this petition and only urged Ma Jun to carry on with the construction of the lofty terrace upon which to set up the bronze statue with the dew-collecting bowl. Moreover, he issued a command to select beautiful girls from across the country to inhabit his imperial gardens. Many officials remonstrated with him against this, but the Emperor ignored them all.
Now the consort of Cao Rui was of the Mao family. In earlier days, when he was a prince, he had loved her dearly, and when he succeeded to the throne she became Empress. Later he favored Lady Guo, and his consort was neglected. Lady Guo was beautiful and intelligent, and the Emperor was very fond of her. He neglected state affairs day after day for the pleasure of her company, and for a whole month he did not even leave the living quarters of the palace.
It was then spring time, the third month of the year, and the flowers in the Garden of Fragrant Forest were in full bloom. The Emperor and his favorite lady went to the garden to enjoy the flowers and to drink wine.
“Why not invite the Empress?” asked Lady Guo.
“If she were present I couldn’t swallow a single drop of wine,” replied the Emperor.
He gave orders that his consort should be kept in ignorance of this merriment. But as a month had passed without the appearance of the Emperor, his consort and her ladies-in-waiting went to the Blue Flower Pavilion for some diversion. There, the joyous sound of musical instruments drifted into her ear, and she asked, “Where are they playing the music?”
To her question she was told that the Emperor and Lady Guo were drinking and enjoying the flowers on the imperial grounds. The Empress was quite annoyed to hear this and she went back to her chamber to try to get some peace. The next day, when she went out in her carriage, she came across the Emperor in the winding driveway.
“Your Majesty must have enjoyed himself immensely at the northern garden yesterday,” she said with a smile.
But the Emperor was enraged. He immediately sent for all the attendants at the garden the day before and put them all to death for failing to observe his order. Shocked by this cruelty, the Empress turned her carriage to go back to her own chamber. But no sooner had she returned than there came an edict, condemning the Empress to death. Lady Guo was duly created empress in her place. And no officials in court dared to utter any disagreement.
Sometime later, the Governor of Youzhou sent in a dispatch to report the revolt of Gongsun Yuan of Liaodong, who had announced himself king of Yan and adopted the reign title of Shao Han. Furthermore, the rebel had built himself a palace, established his own court, and was disturbing the whole north with his marauding army.
Cao Rui was alarmed. A council was convened to discuss ways to put down the rebellion.
Within, endless building wearied the men of the north;
Without, the glint of weapons was seen on the border.
How the insurgents were dealt with will be related in the next chapter.
Footnote
* Another name for Hanzhong.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIX
Defeated, Gongsun Yuan Dies at Xiangping
Pretending Illness, Sima Yi Sets a Trap for Cao Shang
The last chapter ended when the ruler of Wei was informed about the rebellion of Gongsun Yuan in Liaodong in the northeast. This Gong-sun Yuan belonged to a family long settled in that region. When Cao Cao was pursuing Yuan Shao’s youngest son, who had fled there, it was Gongsun Yuan’s father that had captured the fugitive, beheaded him, and sent his head to Cao Cao. For this service the father received the title of Marquis of Xiangping. After his death, as his two sons were then young, his brother inherited his title, and Cao Pi, in addition to confirming the marquisette, promoted him to a general of high rank. Later, Gongsun Yuan, the second son, grew up to be a young man well-versed in both the liberal and martial arts. Strong-willed and fond of fighting, he seized his uncle’s power and claimed his father’s heritage. Cao Rui gave him the title of a general and Prefect of Liaodong.
Then Sun Quan, anxious to secure his support, sent two envoys with gifts to see Gongsun Yuan and offered him the title of Prince of Yan. Fearing that Wei would resent any dallying with Wu, the prefect slew the envoys. For this proof of loyalty Cao Rui gave him an even higher military post and created him Lord of Yuelang. However, he was still dissatisfied, and his thoughts turned toward independence. He took council with his officials and proposed to style himself “King of Yan” and to adopt a reign-title of his own.
One official, Jia Fan, opposed this. “The ruler of Wei has created you a lord, which is no little honor and it is not right to revolt against him,” he argued. “Besides, Sima Yi is a brilliant military commander. You see, even Zhuge Liang could not defeat him—how much less can you?”
Gongsun Yuan was furious and wanted to condemn Jia Fan to death. At this moment another official, named Lun Zhi, offered further remonstrance.
“What Jia Fan said is right. A sage once pointed out, ‘The fall of a state is preceded by the appearances of devilish beings. Now extraordinary things have been occuring frequently in our region. A dog was seen climbing up the roof of a house and walking like a human, wearing a turban and a red coat. Moreover, some people from a village south of the city were cooking rice when they found a child steamed to death in the pot. And at the market place north of the city the ground suddenly opened, revealing a large, fleshy mass, several feet wide, complete with a human head, face, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, but without limbs. Neither swords nor arrows could penetrate into it. No one knew what to call it, and after divination, a soothsayer said, ‘A form that is incomplete and a mouth that does not speak: it emerges to foretell that a state is about to fall.’ These three omens are all inauspicious. My lord, it is imperative that you make no rash moves at present so as to avoid dire trouble.”
This second remonstrance enraged Gongsun Yuan still more, and he had both of them executed in the market place. Then he appointed Bei Yan as commander and Yang Zuo as leader of the van, commanding an army of one hundred and fifty thousand men to invade Wei.
Cao Rui was alarmed and summoned Sima Yi to court for counsel. However, Sima Yi did not seem to be greatly perturbed.
“My 40,000 infantry and cavalrymen will be enough to destroy them,” said Sima Yi.
“But with your few men and the long march, it will not be easy to overcome them.”
“The strength of an army does not lie in its number of men, but in strategy. Aided by Your Majesty’s good fortune, I will certainly be able to capture this fellow and lay his head at your feet.”
“What do you think will be his plan?” asked Cao Rui.
“His best plan would be to flee before our army can arrive; his second best, to defend his position across the whole of Liaodong; his worst plan, to try to hold Xiangping. In the last case, I will certainly capture him.”
“How long will the expedition take?”
“We have to cover 4,000 li, which will take a hundred days. The war will consume another hundred and so will the return journey, and then sixty days for rest. Roughly one year will be enough.”
“What if Wu and Shu should attack?” asked Cao Rui.
“I have seen to that. Your Majesty need have no anxiety.”
Reassured, Cao Rui ordered Sima Yi to undertake the expedition.
Sima Yi took his leave and left the capital. He appointed Hu Zun as his van leader, who led the front division and advanced to Liaodong, where he encamped. Scouts hastened to tell Gongsun Yuan, who sent his army to camp at Liaosui. There they fortified themselves, digging a moat twenty li in circumference and placing abatis, or felled trees, all round the rampart. Hu Zun, noticing these prepara
tions, sent his men to tell Sima Yi.
“So they don’t want to fight, but to weary my men,” said Sima Yi with a smile. “I reckon most of his army is here, leaving his stronghold quite empty and undefended. I will abandon this place to make a dash at Xiangping. The enemy will definitely go to the city’s rescue and I will smite them on the way. I should score a great victory.”
So he hastened toward Xiangping along unfrequented ways.
Meanwhile, Gongsun Yuan’s two officers were discussing their plans inside their fortifications.
Bei Yan said, “When the Wei army draws near, we will not fight. They come from thousands of li away and their supplies will be short, so they can’t hold out for long. When they run out of provisions they will have to retreat. Then we can stage a surprise attack and Sima Yi will be captured. That was the tactic Sima Yi used against Zhuge Liang on the Wei River, and Zhuge Liang eventually died before the end of the expedition. We will try the same tactic on Sima Yi himself.”
As they were discussing their plan scouts came to report that the Wei army had marched southward. Bei Yan at once saw the danger and said, “They are going to attack Xiangping, which they know is undefended. If that city is lost it is pointless to hold this position.” So they broke camp to follow the Wei army.
Sima Yi was immediately informed of his enemy’s move and he rejoiced. “Now they will fall into the snare I have laid for them.”
He sent Xiahou Ba and his brother with two forces to take up positions on the banks of the Liao River. They were to attack if the men of Liaodong came up. The two took the order and left for their destination. They had not long to wait. Soon, they saw Bei Yan and his army approaching and, following the explosion of a bomb, they attacked from two sides, beating drums, and waving their flags. The two Liaodong officers, who had no intention of entangling themselves in a long combat, made but a feeble resistance. They soon fled to the Shou Hills, where they were joined by their lord Gongsun Yuan. Then they turned back to fight the Wei army.