The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger by Guanzhong Luo

Author:Guanzhong, Luo [Guanzhong, Luo, Sumei, Yu, Iverson, Ronald C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Chinese Literature
ISBN: 9780804843959
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

I, Jiang Wei, the guilty officer, make a hundred prostrations to Commander Cao: I have never forgotten that my family has always received the bounty of Wei and I myself was employed in the defense of a frontier town. But though I have enjoyed kind favors, I have never been able to repay them. Lately I fell victim to Zhuge Liang’s wiles and so became trapped in his snare. But my longing for my old country has never ceased for a single day. Fortunately, the army of Shu has now marched westward and Zhuge Liang trusts me. I suggest that you lead an army this way in person. If you meet with resistance, just simulate defeat, and I will light a blaze in their rear as a signal. Then I will set fire to their stores, whereupon you will face about and attack. Zhuge Liang ought to fall into your hands. In doing so I am not trying to seek merit for myself but only to atone for my former crime. If this should be deemed worthy of your attention, then send me your commands without delay.

The letter pleased Cao Zhen very much. “Heaven is helping me to succeed!”

He rewarded the man handsomely and told him to return to say that he would meet Jiang Wei at a pre-arranged time. Then he took council with Fei Yao and related to him Jiang Wei’s scheme.

But Fei Yao warned him. “Zhuge Liang is most crafty and Jiang Wei very resourceful. What if Zhuge Liang has planned all this? We might fall into a snare.”

“But Jiang Wei is originally a man of Wei, forced to surrender. Why are you suspicious?”

“Commander, you must not venture out but remain here on guard. Let me go and reinforce Jiang Wei. If I succeed, the credit will be yours. And if there is a trick I will deal with it.”

Delighted, Cao Zhen gave him 50,000 men to move toward Ye Valley.

Fei Yao and his army set out. After progressing for some time they encamped and sent out scouts to reconnoiter. Late in the afternoon scouts reported that the Shu army was coming through the valley. Fei Yao at once advanced, but the men of Shu retreated without even engaging in combat. Fei Yao pursued. Then the men of Shu came on again. Just as Fei Yao was deploying his troops for battle the Shu army retreated again. This maneuver was repeated thrice, and a whole day and night passed without any repose for the Wei army.

At length rest became imperative. But just as they were on the point of entrenching themselves to prepare food a great hubbub arose all around, and with beating of drums and blaring of trumpets the whole country was filled with the men of Shu. As the great standard was unfurled, out came a four-wheeled chariot carrying Zhuge Liang, who sent an envoy to ask the Wei commander to a parley.

Fei Yao rode out and, seeing Zhuge Liang, he secretly rejoiced. Turning to those about him, he told them to retreat if the men of Shu came on.

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