Romance, Chapter 110

Chapter 110. Wen Yang Drives Back a Mighty Host Single-Handed; Jiang Wei Fights with His Back to the River and Crushes a Great Foe

Now in the first month of the second year of Zhengyuan of Wei, Guanqiu Jian, Commander of Yang Province, General Who Guards the East and head of the armies of Huainan, whose courtesy name was Zhonggong and who was a man of Wenxi in Hedong, heard that Sima Shi had taken it upon himself to depose one emperor and set up another, and he was filled with rage. His eldest son, Guanqiu Dian, said, “Father, you hold office over a whole region. Sima Shi has seized power and deposed the sovereign, and the state is in danger like a stack of eggs. How can you sit calmly and merely guard your own post?”

卻說魏正元二年正月，揚州都督、鎮東將軍、領淮南軍馬毌丘儉，字仲恭，河東聞喜人也。聞司馬師擅行廢立之事，心中大怒。長子毌丘甸曰：“父親官居方面，司馬師專權廢主，國家有累卵之危，安可晏然自守？”

“My son is right,” said Guanqiu Jian, and he invited the Imperial Protector Wen Qin to confer with him. Wen Qin had once been a retainer in Cao Shuang’s household. When he heard that day that Guanqiu Jian had sent for him, he came at once to pay his respects. Guanqiu Jian invited him into the inner hall. When the courtesies were over and they had begun to talk, Guanqiu Jian wept without ceasing. Wen Qin asked the reason, and Guanqiu Jian said, “Sima Shi has seized power and deposed the sovereign. Heaven and earth have been turned upside down. How can I not be grieved at heart?” Wen Qin said, “You, Commander, guard a whole region. If you are willing to uphold righteousness and punish the traitor, I will help you even at the cost of my life.

儉曰：“吾兒之言是也。”遂請刺史文欽商議。欽乃曹爽門下客，當日聞儉相請，即來參謁。儉邀入後堂，禮畢，說話間，儉流淚不止。欽問其故，儉曰：“司馬師專權廢主，天地反覆，安得不傷心乎！”欽曰：“都督鎮守方面，若肯仗義討賊，欽願舍死相助。

My second son, Wen Shu, whose childhood name is A Yang, has a courage that ten thousand men could not withstand. He has always wanted to kill Sima Shi and his brother to avenge Cao Shuang. You could make him your vanguard now.” Guanqiu Jian was delighted and at once poured out wine on the ground and swore an oath. The two men falsely claimed that the Empress Dowager had issued a secret edict, and ordered all the officials, officers, generals and soldiers of Huainan, great and small, to come into the city of Shouchun. They built an altar on the west side, slaughtered a white horse and smeared their lips with its blood to seal a covenant, and proclaimed that Sima Shi was a traitor without principle, and that they now, in obedience to the Empress Dowager’s secret edict, were raising all the armies of Huainan to uphold righteousness and punish the traitor.

欽中子文淑，小字阿鴦，有萬夫不當之勇，常欲殺司馬師兄弟，與曹爽報仇，今可令爲先鋒。”儉大喜，即時酹酒爲誓。二人詐稱太后有密詔，令淮南大小官兵將士，皆入壽春城，立一罈於西，宰白馬歃血爲盟，宣言司馬師大逆不道，今奉太后密詔，令盡起淮南軍馬，仗義討賊。

The whole assembly gladly submitted. Guanqiu Jian took sixty thousand troops and camped at Xiangcheng. Wen Qin led twenty thousand troops outside as a mobile force, moving back and forth to lend support. Guanqiu Jian sent dispatches to all the commanderies, calling on each to raise troops and join them. Now Sima Shi had a fleshy tumour on his left eye that from time to time ached and itched. He had ordered a court physician to cut it out and seal the wound with medicine, and for several days he had been resting at his residence to recover. Suddenly he heard that an urgent report had come from Huainan, and he sent for the Grand Commandant Wang Su to consult him.

衆皆悅服。儉提六萬兵，屯於項城。文欽領兵二萬在外爲遊兵，往來接應。儉移檄諸郡，令各起兵相助。卻說司馬師左眼肉瘤，不時痛癢，乃命醫官割之，以藥封閉，連日在府養病；忽聞淮南告急，乃請太尉王肅商議。

Wang Su said, “Long ago, when Guan Yunchang’s might shook all of China, Sun Quan had Lü Meng take Jing Province by surprise and care for the families of Guan’s officers and men. Because of this Lord Guan’s army fell apart. Now the families of the officers and men of Huainan are all in the Central Plains. You should quickly care for them, and also send troops to cut off the rebels’ road home. Then they are sure to collapse like a landslide.” Sima Shi said, “Your advice is excellent. But I have only just had the tumour cut from my eye and cannot go myself. And if I send someone else, my mind will not be at rest.”

肅曰：“昔關雲長威震華夏，孫權令呂蒙襲取荊州，撫卹將士家屬，因此關公軍勢瓦解，今淮南將士家屬，皆在中原，可急撫卹，更以兵斷其歸路：必有土崩之勢矣。”師曰：“公言極善。但吾新割目瘤，不能自往。若使他人，心又不穩。”

The Attendant of the Secretariat Zhong Hui, who was standing by, came forward and said, “The troops of Huai and Chu are strong, and their edge is very keen. If you send someone else to lead an army to drive them back, it will very likely go badly. And if there is any slip, the great enterprise will be ruined.” Sima Shi sprang to his feet and said, “Unless I go myself, the rebels cannot be defeated!” He left his younger brother Sima Zhao to guard Luoyang and take charge of the government. Sima Shi rode in a soft litter and, ill as he was, set out east. He ordered the General Who Guards the East, Zhuge Dan, to take command of all the forces of Yu Province and advance on Shouchun from Anfeng Ford; he ordered the General Who Conquers the East, Hu Zun, to lead the forces of Qing Province out into the lands of Qiao and Song and cut off the rebels’ retreat; and he sent the Imperial Protector of Jing Province and Army Supervisor Wang Ji with the forward troops to take the land of Zhennan first.

時中書侍郎鍾會在側，進言曰：“淮楚兵強，其鋒甚銳；若遣人領兵去退，多是不利。倘有疏虞，則大事廢矣。”師蹶然起曰：“非吾自在，不可破賊！”遂留弟司馬昭守洛陽，總攝朝政。師乘軟輿，帶病東行。令鎮東將軍諸葛誕，總督豫州諸軍，從安風津取壽春；又令徵東將軍胡遵，領青州諸軍，出譙、宋之地，絕其歸路；又遣荊州刺史、監軍王基，領前部兵，先取鎮南之地。

Sima Shi led the main army to camp at Xiangyang and gathered his civil and military officers in his tent to confer. The Minister of the Household Zheng Mao said, “Guanqiu Jian likes scheming but lacks decision; Wen Qin has courage but no wisdom. Our great army has now come out where they did not expect it, but the soldiers of the Jiang and Huai are at the height of their spirit, and we must not take the enemy lightly. We should simply dig our moats deep and build our ramparts high to blunt their edge. This was the far-sighted strategy of Zhou Yafu.” The Army Supervisor Wang Ji said, “No.

師領大軍屯於襄陽，聚文武於帳下商議。光祿勳鄭袤曰：“毌丘儉好謀而無斷，文欽有勇而無智。今大軍出其不意，江、淮之卒銳氣正盛，不可輕敵；只宜深溝高壘，以挫其銳。此亞夫之長策也。”監軍王基曰：“不可。

The revolt in Huainan is not because the soldiers and people want rebellion. They have all been forced by Guanqiu Jian’s power and follow him only because they have no choice. Once the great army arrives, they are sure to fall apart.” “That is an excellent point,” said Sima Shi. He then advanced his army to the banks of the Yin River, with the central army camped at the Yin Bridge. Wang Ji said, “Nandun is an excellent place to station troops. We should lead troops there by night at full speed and take it. If we are late, Guanqiu Jian is sure to get there first.” So Sima Shi ordered Wang Ji to lead the forward troops to Nandun and pitch camp below the city.

淮南之反，非軍民思亂也；皆因毌丘儉勢力所逼，不得已而從之。若大軍一臨，必然瓦解。”師曰：“此言甚妙。”遂進兵於濦水之上，中軍屯於濦橋。基曰：“南頓極好屯兵，可提兵星夜取之。若遲則毌丘儉必先至矣。”師遂令王基領前部兵來南頓城下寨。

Meanwhile at Xiangcheng, Guanqiu Jian learned that Sima Shi was coming in person and called his followers together to confer. His vanguard commander Ge Yong said, “Nandun lies against the hills and beside the water and is an excellent place to station troops. If the Wei troops occupy it first, it will be hard to drive them out. We should take it quickly.” Guanqiu Jian agreed and set his army moving towards Nandun. While they were on the march, a mounted scout came racing from the front to report that troops were already camped at Nandun. Guanqiu Jian did not believe it and went to the front of his army himself to look. Sure enough, banners covered the plain and the camps were in perfect order.

卻說毌丘儉在項城，聞知司馬師自來，乃聚衆商議。先鋒葛雍曰：“南頓之地，依山傍水，極好屯兵；若魏兵先佔，難以驅遣，可速取之。”儉然其言，起兵投南頓來。正行之間，前面流星馬報說，南頓已有人馬下寨。儉不信，自到軍前視之，果然旌旗遍野，營寨齊整。

Guanqiu Jian returned to his army with no plan he could use. Suddenly a scout came flying in to report, “Sun Jun of Eastern Wu is leading troops across the Yangzi to attack Shouchun!” Guanqiu Jian, greatly alarmed, cried, “If Shouchun is lost, where can I go back to?” That night he withdrew his troops to Xiangcheng.

儉回到軍中，無計可施。忽哨馬飛報：“東吳孫峻提兵渡江襲壽春來了。”儉大驚曰：“壽春若失，吾歸何處！”是夜退兵於項城。

When Sima Shi saw that Guanqiu Jian’s army had withdrawn, he gathered his officers to confer. The Imperial Secretary Fu Gu said, “Guanqiu Jian’s troops have withdrawn now because he fears the men of Wu will attack Shouchun. He is sure to go back to Xiangcheng and divide his forces to hold it. General, you should send one army to take Lejiacheng, one to take Xiangcheng and one to take Shouchun; then the troops of Huainan are sure to retreat. Deng Ai, the Imperial Protector of Yan Province, is full of wisdom and resource. If he leads troops straight to take Lejia, and you support him with a strong force, it will not be hard to defeat the rebels.”

司馬師見毌丘儉軍退，聚多官商議。尚書傅嘏曰：“今儉兵退者，憂吳人襲壽春也。必回項城分兵拒守。將軍可令一軍取樂嘉城，一軍取項城，一軍取壽春，則淮南之卒必退矣。兗州刺史鄧艾，足智多謀；若領兵徑取樂嘉，更以重兵應之，破賊不難也。”

Sima Shi followed this advice and at once sent a messenger with a dispatch ordering Deng Ai to raise the troops of Yan Province and take Lejiacheng. Sima Shi himself would follow with his army and join him there.

師從之，急遣使持檄文，教鄧艾起兗州之兵破樂嘉城。師隨後引兵到彼會合。

Meanwhile at Xiangcheng, Guanqiu Jian kept sending men to Lejiacheng to scout, fearing only that troops might come. He invited Wen Qin to his camp to confer, and Wen Qin said, “Commander, do not worry. My worthless son Wen Yang and I need only five thousand troops, and we guarantee to hold Lejiacheng.” Guanqiu Jian was delighted. Wen Qin and his son led five thousand troops towards Lejia. The front units reported, “West of Lejiacheng it is all Wei troops, ten thousand or more.

卻說毌丘儉在項城，不時差人去樂嘉城哨探，只恐有兵來。請文欽到營共議，欽曰：“都督勿憂。我與拙子文鴦，只消五千兵，取保樂嘉城。”儉大喜。欽父子引五千兵投樂嘉來。前軍報說：“樂嘉城西，皆是魏兵，約有萬餘。

Looking into the distance at their central army, we saw white yak-tail pennons and yellow axes, black canopies and red streamers crowded round a tiger tent, and inside it stood a brocade banner embroidered with the character ‘Commander’. It must be Sima Shi. They are setting up camp, but it is not yet complete.” Wen Yang, who was standing beside his father with his whip hung at his side, heard this and said to his father, “If we take advantage of their camp not yet being finished, divide our troops into two columns and strike them from left and right, we can win a complete victory.” “When should we go?” asked Wen Qin.

遙望中軍，白旄黃鉞，皁蓋朱幡，簇擁虎帳，內豎一面錦繡帥字旗，必是司馬師也，安立營寨，尚未完備。”時文鴦懸鞭立於父側，聞知此語，乃告父曰：“趁彼營寨未成，可分兵兩路，左右擊之，可全勝也。”欽曰：“何時可去？”

Wen Yang said, “Tonight at dusk, Father, you lead two thousand five hundred troops and attack from the south of the city, and I will lead two thousand five hundred and attack from the north. At the third watch we will meet in the Wei camp.” Wen Qin agreed, and that evening they divided their troops into two columns. Wen Yang was then only eighteen years old and eight feet tall. Fully clad in armour, with a steel whip hanging at his waist, he took up his spear, mounted his horse and advanced, gazing into the distance towards the Wei camp.

鴦曰：“今夜黃昏，父引二千五百兵，從城南殺來；兒引二千五百兵，從城北殺來：三更時分，要在魏寨會合。”欽從之，當晚分兵兩路。且說文鴦年方十八歲，身長八尺，全裝貫甲，腰懸鋼鞭，綽槍上馬，遙望魏寨而進。

That night Sima Shi’s troops reached Lejia, pitched camp and waited for Deng Ai, who had not yet arrived. Because Sima Shi had just had the tumour under his eye cut out and the wound was throbbing with pain, he lay in his tent, with several hundred armoured soldiers standing round him as guards. At the third watch there was suddenly a great roar of shouting inside the camp, and men and horses were thrown into great confusion. Sima Shi hurriedly asked what was happening, and someone reported, “A troop has cut its way through the encirclement from the north of the camp and come straight in. The general at its head is so brave that no one can stand against him!”

是夜，司馬師兵到樂嘉，立下營寨，等鄧艾未至。師爲眼下新割肉瘤，瘡口疼痛，臥於帳中，令數百甲士環立護衛。三更時分，忽然寨內喊聲大震，人馬大亂。師急問之，人報曰：“一軍從寨北斬圍直入，爲首一將，勇不可當！”

Sima Shi was terribly alarmed, and his heart burned like fire. His eyeball burst out through the wound where the tumour had been cut, and blood streamed all over the ground. The pain was unbearable, but fearing that the army’s morale would be shaken, he simply bit on the edge of his quilt to endure it, until the quilt was chewed to shreds. It was Wen Yang’s force that had arrived first. It had surged in all at once and was charging left and right through the camp. Wherever he went, no one dared face him; any who resisted were speared or struck with his whip, and every one was killed.

師大驚，心如火烈，眼珠從肉瘤瘡口內迸出，血流遍地，疼痛難當；又恐有亂軍心，只咬被頭而忍，被皆咬爛。原來文鴦軍馬先到，一擁而進，在寨中左衝右突；所到之處，人不敢當，有相拒者，槍搠鞭打，無不被殺。

Wen Yang kept looking for his father to arrive and support him from outside, but no one came. Several times he fought his way to the central tent, and each time he was driven back by arrows and crossbow bolts. Wen Yang fought on until daybreak, when he heard drums and horns thundering to the heavens in the north. He turned to his followers and said, “My father was to support us from the south, but he is coming from the north instead. Why?” Wen Yang galloped out to look, and saw a force moving like a violent wind, with Deng Ai at its head, spurring his horse and brandishing his sword. Deng Ai shouted, “Rebel, don’t run!”

鴦只望父到，以爲外應，並不見來。數番殺到中軍，皆被弓弩射回。鴦直殺到天明，只聽得北邊鼓角喧天。鴦回顧從者曰：“父親不在南面爲應，卻從北至，何也？”鴦縱馬看時，只見一軍行如猛風，爲首一將，乃鄧艾也，躍馬橫刀，大呼曰：“反賊休走！”

Wen Yang, furious, levelled his spear and rode to meet him. They fought fifty bouts without either getting the better of the other. In the midst of the fight the Wei army surged forward and attacked from front and rear, and Wen Yang’s men all scattered and fled. Wen Yang alone, one man on one horse, broke through the Wei troops and made off to the south. Behind him several hundred Wei officers, their spirits roused, came galloping in pursuit. As they neared the Lejia Bridge they were about to catch him. Suddenly Wen Yang reined his horse round, gave a great shout and charged straight into the midst of the Wei officers. Wherever his steel whip rose, men tumbled from their saddles, and they all fell back.

鴦大怒，挺槍迎之。戰有五十合，不分勝敗。正鬥間，魏兵大進，前後夾攻，鴦部下兵乃各自逃散，只文鴦單人獨馬，衝開魏兵，望南而走。背後數百員魏將，抖擻精神，驟馬追來；將至樂嘉橋邊，看看趕上。鴦忽然勒回馬大喝一聲，直衝入魏將陣中來；鋼鞭起處，紛紛落馬，各各倒退。

Wen Yang went on his way again at an easy pace. The Wei officers gathered together and said in astonishment, “This man still dares to drive back all of us! Let us join forces and go after him!” So a hundred Wei officers came after him once more. Wen Yang flew into a rage and shouted, “You rats, have you no regard for your lives?” Raising his whip, he wheeled his horse, charged into the thick of the Wei officers and beat several of them to death with his whip, then turned his horse again, slackened the reins and rode slowly on. Four or five times the Wei officers pursued him, and each time they were driven back by Wen Yang alone.

鴦復緩緩而行。魏將聚在一處，驚訝曰：“此人尚敢退我等之衆耶！可併力追之！”於是魏將百員，復來追趕。鴦勃然大怒曰：“鼠輩何不惜命也！”提鞭撥馬，殺入魏將叢中，用鞭打死數人，復回馬緩轡而行。魏將連追四五番，皆被文鴦一人殺退。

A later poet wrote:
At Changban long ago one man held off Cao,
And from that day Zilong’s heroism shone;
Where blades were crossed within the walls of Lejia,
Once more was seen the lofty courage of Wen Yang. As it turned out, Wen Qin had been hampered by the rugged mountain paths and had strayed into a valley. He wandered about until the middle of the night, and by the time he found the road out, day had already broken. There was no knowing where Wen Yang’s men had gone; all he could see was the victorious Wei army. Wen Qin withdrew without fighting. The Wei troops seized the moment to pursue and attack, and Wen Qin led his men in flight towards Shouchun.

後人有詩曰：“長坂當年獨拒曹，子龍從此顯英豪。
樂嘉城內爭鋒處，又見文鴦膽氣高。
”原來文欽被山路崎嶇，迷入谷中，行了半夜，比及尋路而出，天色已曉，文鴦人馬不知所向，只見魏兵大勝。
欽不戰而退。
魏兵乘勢追殺，欽引兵望壽春而走。

Now the Wei Palace Colonel Yin Damu had been a trusted follower of Cao Shuang. After Cao Shuang had been done to death by Sima Yi’s scheming, he had served Sima Shi, but he always harboured the wish to kill Sima Shi and avenge Cao Shuang. He had also long been a close friend of Wen Qin. Seeing now that Sima Shi’s eye had burst out from the tumour and he could not move, he went into the tent and said, “Wen Qin never had any thought of rebellion. He was forced into this by Guanqiu Jian. If I go and talk to him, he is sure to come and surrender.”

卻說魏殿中校尉尹大目，乃曹爽心腹之人，因爽被司馬懿謀殺，故事司馬師，常有殺師報爽之心；又素與文欽交厚。今見師眼瘤突出，不能動止，乃入帳告曰：“文欽本無反心，今被毌丘儉逼迫，以致如此。某去說之，必然來降。”

Sima Shi agreed. Yin Damu put on his helmet and armour, mounted his horse and rode after Wen Qin. When he had nearly caught up with him, he called out in a loud voice, “Imperial Protector Wen, do you see Yin Damu here?” Wen Qin turned his head to look. Yin Damu took off his helmet, set it on the pommel of his saddle, pointed with his whip and said, “Imperial Protector Wen, why can you not be patient for a few more days?” For Yin Damu knew that Sima Shi was about to die, and he had come on purpose to hold Wen Qin back. But Wen Qin did not understand his meaning. He cursed him fiercely and was about to draw his bow and shoot him.

師從之。大目頂盔貫甲，乘馬來趕文欽；看看趕上，乃高聲大叫曰：“文刺史見尹大目麼？”欽回頭視之，大目除盔放於鞍鞽之前，以鞭指曰：“文刺史何不忍耐數日也？”此是大目知師將亡，故來留欽。欽不解其意，厲聲大罵，便欲開弓射之。

Yin Damu went back weeping bitterly. When Wen Qin gathered his men and hurried to Shouchun, Zhuge Dan had already led troops there and taken it. When he tried to go back to Xiangcheng, the three armies of Hu Zun, Wang Ji and Deng Ai had all arrived. Seeing how dangerous his position was, Wen Qin went off to Eastern Wu to join Sun Jun. Meanwhile Guanqiu Jian, inside Xiangcheng, heard that Shouchun had been lost, that Wen Qin had been defeated, and that three armies had arrived outside the city. So he led out every soldier in the city to give battle.

大目大哭而回。欽收聚人馬奔壽春時，已被諸葛誕引兵取了；欲復回項城時，胡遵、王基、鄧艾三路兵皆到。欽見勢危，遂投東吳孫峻去了。卻說毌丘儉在項城內，聽知壽春已失，文欽勢敗，城外三路兵到，儉遂盡撤城中之兵出戰。

He met Deng Ai head-on. Guanqiu Jian sent Ge Yong out to engage him, but before a single bout was over Ge Yong was cut down by one stroke of Deng Ai’s sword, and Deng Ai led his troops charging across the lines. Guanqiu Jian fought desperately to hold them off. The troops of the Jiang and Huai fell into great disorder. Hu Zun and Wang Ji led their troops in to attack from all sides. Guanqiu Jian could not withstand them, and with a dozen or so horsemen he forced his way out and fled. Ahead he came to the walls of Shen County, where the Magistrate Song Bai opened the gates to receive him and laid on a feast for him.

正與鄧艾相遇，儉令葛雍出馬，與艾交鋒，不一合，被艾一刀斬之，引兵殺過陣來。毌丘儉死戰相拒。江淮兵大亂。胡遵、王基引兵四面夾攻。毌丘儉敵不住，引十餘騎奪路而走。前至慎縣城下，縣令宋白開門接入，設席待之。

Guanqiu Jian became very drunk, and Song Bai had men kill him and presented his head to the Wei army. With that, Huainan was pacified. Sima Shi lay ill and could not rise. He summoned Zhuge Dan into his tent, bestowed on him a seal and ribbon, promoted him to Senior General Who Guards the East, and put him in command of all the armies of Yang Province. Meanwhile he withdrew his own army and returned to Xuchang. The pain in Sima Shi’s eye did not stop, and every night he saw Li Feng, Zhang Ji and Xiahou Xuan standing before his couch.

儉大醉，被宋白令人殺了，將頭獻與魏兵。於是淮南平定。司馬師臥病不起，喚諸葛誕入帳，賜以印綬，加爲鎮東大將軍，都督揚州諸路軍馬；一面班師回許昌。師目痛不止，每夜只見李豐、張緝、夏侯玄三人立於榻前。

His mind grew clouded, and judging that he could not survive, Sima Shi sent a man to Luoyang to fetch Sima Zhao. Sima Zhao wept and bowed at the foot of the bed. Sima Shi left his last words: “My power is now so great that even if I wished to lay down the burden, I could not. You must carry it on after me. Never lightly entrust great affairs to others, or you will bring upon yourself the destruction of our whole clan.” Having said this, he handed over his seal and ribbon, his face streaming with tears. As Sima Zhao hastened to ask him something, Sima Shi gave a great cry, his eyes burst from their sockets, and he died.

師心神恍惚，自料難保，遂令人往洛陽取司馬昭到。昭哭拜於牀下。師遺言曰：“吾今權重，雖欲卸肩，不可得也。汝繼我爲之，大事切不可輕託他人，自取滅族之禍。”言訖，以印綬付之，淚流滿面。昭急欲問時，師大叫一聲，眼睛迸出而死。

It was then the second month of the second year of Zhengyuan. Sima Zhao announced the death and reported it to the Ruler of Wei, Cao Mao.

時正元二年二月也。於是司馬昭發喪，申奏魏主曹髦。

Cao Mao sent a messenger with an edict to Xuchang, ordering Sima Zhao to remain there for the time being with his army to guard against Eastern Wu. Sima Zhao hesitated and could not make up his mind. Zhong Hui said, “The Grand General has just died, and men’s hearts are not yet settled. If you stay here on guard, General, and anything should go wrong at court, what use would regret be then?” Sima Zhao took his advice and at once set off with his army and went back to camp south of the Luo River. When Cao Mao heard this he was greatly alarmed. The Grand Commandant Wang Su memorialized, “Since Sima Zhao has succeeded his brother and holds great power, Your Majesty should confer titles on him to set his mind at ease.”

髦遣使持詔到許昌，即命暫留司馬昭屯軍許昌，以防東吳。昭心中猶豫未決。鍾會曰：“大將軍新亡，人心未定，將軍若留守於此，萬一朝廷有變，悔之何及？”昭從之，即起兵還屯洛水之南。髦聞之大驚。太尉王肅奏曰：“昭既繼其兄掌大權，陛下可封爵以安之。”

So Cao Mao sent Wang Su with an edict appointing Sima Zhao Grand General and Director of the Secretariat. Sima Zhao came to court and gave thanks for the favour. From then on all affairs, great and small, at court and beyond, came into Sima Zhao’s hands. Meanwhile spies from Western Shu learned of all this and reported it to Chengdu. Jiang Wei memorialized the Latter Ruler, “Sima Shi has just died, and Sima Zhao has only just taken the reins of power. He will certainly not dare leave Luoyang. I request leave to take this chance to attack Wei and recover the Central Plains.”

髦遂命王肅持詔，封司馬昭爲大將軍、錄尚書事。昭入朝謝恩畢。自此，中外大小事情，皆歸於昭。卻說西蜀細作哨知此事，報入成都。姜維奏後主曰：“司馬師新亡，司馬昭初握重權，必不敢擅離洛陽。臣請乘間伐魏，以復中原。”

The Latter Ruler agreed and ordered Jiang Wei to raise an army and attack Wei. Jiang Wei went to Hanzhong and put his forces in order. The Senior General Who Conquers the West, Zhang Yi, said, “The land of Shu is small and narrow, and our money and grain are scanty. It is not wise to campaign far away. Better to hold the passes and keep to our own lot, caring for the army and cherishing the people. That is the way to preserve the state.” Jiang Wei said, “Not so. Long ago, before the Chancellor ever left his thatched cottage, he had already planned the division of the empire into three; and yet he went out to Mount Qi six times to try for the Central Plains. Unhappily he died halfway, and so his work was left unfinished.

後主從之，遂命姜維興師伐魏。維到漢中，整頓人馬。徵西大將軍張翼曰：“蜀地淺狹，錢糧鮮薄，不宜遠征；不如據險守分，恤軍愛民：此乃保國之計也。”維曰：“不然。昔丞相未出茅廬，已定三分天下，然且六出祁山以圖中原；不幸半途而喪，以致功業未成。

Now that I have received the Chancellor’s last command, I must serve the state with all loyalty and carry on his purpose; even if I die, I will have no regrets. Wei now has a weakness we can exploit. If we do not attack now, what time are we waiting for?” Xiahou Ba said, “The General is right. You should lead light cavalry out first to Fuhan. If you take Taoxi and Nanan, the other commanderies can be subdued.” Zhang Yi said, “The reason we came back without success before was always that our army set out too late.

今吾既受丞相遺命，當盡忠報國以繼其志，雖死而無恨也。今魏有隙可乘，不就此時伐之，更待何時？”夏侯霸曰：“將軍之言是也。可將輕騎先出枹罕。若得洮西南安，則諸郡可定。”張翼曰：“曏者不克而還，皆因軍出甚遲也。

The art of war says, ‘Attack where he is unprepared; appear where he does not expect you.’ If we now advance with all speed and give the men of Wei no chance to guard against us, we are certain to win a complete victory.”

兵法雲：攻其無備，出其不意。今若火速進兵，使魏人不能提防，必然全勝矣。”

So Jiang Wei led fifty thousand troops and set out towards Fuhan. When the army reached the Tao River, the frontier guards reported it to the Imperial Protector of Yong Province, Wang Jing, and the General Who Conquers the West, Chen Tai. Wang Jing first raised seventy thousand horse and foot and came to meet the invaders. Jiang Wei gave Zhang Yi certain instructions, and gave Xiahou Ba certain instructions as well, and the two went off with their plans. Jiang Wei himself led the main army and drew it up in battle order with its back to the Tao River.

於是姜維引兵五萬，望枹罕進發。兵至洮水，守邊軍士報知雍州刺史王經、徵西將軍陳泰。王經先起馬步兵七萬來迎。姜維分付張翼如此如此，又分付夏侯霸如此如此：二人領計去了；維乃自引大軍背洮水列陣。

Wang Jing came out with several of his lieutenants and asked, “Wei, Wu and Shu already stand like the three legs of a cauldron. Why do you keep invading us?” Jiang Wei said, “Sima Shi deposed his sovereign without cause. Even a neighbouring state would be right to call him to account, let alone an enemy state!” Wang Jing turned to his four generals, Zhang Ming, Hua Yong, Liu Da and Zhu Fang, and said, “The Shu troops have drawn up with their backs to the water. If they are defeated, they will all drown. Jiang Wei is bold and brave; you four generals go and fight him.

王經引數員牙將出而問曰：“魏與吳、蜀，已成鼎足之勢；汝累次入寇，何也？”維曰：“司馬師無故廢主，鄰邦理宜問罪，何況仇敵之國乎？”經回顧張明、花永、劉達、朱芳四將曰：“蜀兵背水爲陣，敗則皆沒於水矣。姜維驍勇，汝四將可戰之。

If he falls back, pursue and strike him at once.” The four generals went out on the left and right to fight Jiang Wei. After a few brief bouts Jiang Wei turned his horse and fled towards his own lines. Wang Jing drove his whole army forward in pursuit. Jiang Wei led his troops away towards the Tao River. As they neared the water, he shouted to his officers and men, “Our situation is desperate! Generals, why do you not do your utmost?” All his generals turned and fought back with all their might, and the Wei troops suffered a crushing defeat.

彼若退動，便可追擊。”四將分左右而出，來戰姜維。維略戰數合，撥回馬望本陣中便走。王經大驅士馬，一齊趕來。維引兵望着洮水而走；將次近水，大呼將士曰：“事急矣！諸將何不努力！”衆將一齊奮力殺回，魏兵大敗。

Zhang Yi and Xiahou Ba swept round behind the Wei troops and attacked from two directions, trapping the Wei army in the middle. Jiang Wei, displaying all his martial might, charged into the Wei army, striking left and right. The Wei troops fell into utter confusion and trampled one another, and more than half of them died; countless more were driven into the Tao River. Over ten thousand heads were taken, and the corpses lay piled for miles. Wang Jing, with a hundred horsemen from his beaten army, fought his way out and fled straight to Didao. He rushed into the city, shut the gates and held it.

張翼、夏侯霸抄在魏兵之後，分兩路殺來，把魏兵困在垓心。維奮武揚威，殺入魏軍之中，左衝右突，魏兵大亂，自相踐踏，死者大半，逼入洮水者無數，斬首萬餘，壘屍數里。王經引敗兵百騎，奮力殺出，徑往狄道城而走；奔入城中，閉門保守。

Jiang Wei had won a complete victory. When he had finished rewarding his troops, he wanted to advance at once and attack Didao. Zhang Yi remonstrated, “General, your achievement is already complete and your fame resounds far and wide. You may stop here. If you advance now and things do not go as you wish, it will be just like adding legs to a painted snake.” Jiang Wei said, “Not so. Before, even after we were defeated, we still wanted to push forward and sweep across the Central Plains. Today, after this one battle at the Tao River, the men of Wei have lost their nerve. I reckon Didao can be had as easily as spitting on one’s palm.

姜維大獲全功，犒軍已畢，便欲進兵攻打狄道城。張翼諫曰：“將軍功績已成，威聲大震，可以止矣。今若前進，倘不如意，正如畫蛇添足也。”維曰：“不然。曏者兵敗，尚欲進取，縱橫中原；今日洮水一戰，魏人膽裂，吾料狄道唾手可得。

Do not lose heart yourself.” Zhang Yi remonstrated again and again, but Jiang Wei would not listen. He put his troops in order and went to take Didao. Meanwhile the General Who Conquers the West in Yong Province, Chen Tai, was just about to raise troops to avenge Wang Jing’s defeat, when suddenly Deng Ai, the Imperial Protector of Yan Province, arrived with his army. Chen Tai received him, and when the courtesies were over, Deng Ai said, “I have come on the orders of the Grand General expressly to help you, General, defeat the enemy.” Chen Tai asked Deng Ai for a plan, and Deng Ai said, “Having won at the Tao River, if they were to summon the Qiang tribes, contend eastward for Guanzhong and Long, and send dispatches to the four commanderies, that would be a grave danger for us.

汝勿自墮其志也。”張翼再三勸諫，維不從，遂勒兵來取狄道城。卻說雍州徵西將軍陳泰，正欲起兵與王經報兵敗之仇，忽兗州刺史鄧艾引兵到。泰接着，禮畢，艾曰：“今奉大將軍之命，特來助將軍破敵。”泰問計於鄧艾，艾曰：“洮水得勝，若招羌人之衆，東爭關隴，傳檄四郡：此吾兵之大患也。

But instead of thinking of that, they are going after Didao. Its walls are strong and cannot be taken quickly; they will only wear out their troops and waste their strength. If I now deploy troops on Xiang Ridge and then advance to strike them, the Shu army is certain to be defeated.” “A truly brilliant idea!” said Chen Tai. He first detached twenty companies of fifty men each, all carrying banners, drums, horns, beacon fires and the like. Hiding by day and moving by night, they went to lie in ambush among the high mountains and deep valleys south-east of Didao. As soon as the enemy came, they were to beat their drums and blow their horns together in response, and at night they were to raise torches and fire bombards to alarm them.

今彼不思如此，卻圖狄道城；其城垣堅固，急切難攻，空勞兵費力耳。吾今陳兵於項嶺，然後進兵擊之，蜀兵必敗矣。”陳泰曰：“真妙論也！”遂先撥二十隊兵，每隊五十人，盡帶旌旗、鼓角、烽火之類，日伏夜行，去狄道城東南高山深谷之中埋伏；只待兵來，一齊鳴鼓吹角爲應，夜則舉火放炮以驚之。

With these arrangements complete, they waited only for the Shu army to come. Then Chen Tai and Deng Ai each led twenty thousand troops and advanced one after the other. Meanwhile Jiang Wei had surrounded Didao and ordered his troops to attack from all eight sides, but after several days of continuous assault the city still had not fallen. He was downcast and had no plan he could use. That day at dusk, mounted scouts suddenly came three and five times over to report, “Two armies are coming, with large characters plainly written on their banners. One is the General Who Conquers the West, Chen Tai; the other is the Imperial Protector of Yan Province, Deng Ai.”

調度已畢，專候蜀兵到來。於是陳泰、鄧艾，各引二萬兵相繼而進。卻說姜維圍住狄道城，令兵八面攻之，連攻數日不下，心中鬱悶，無計可施。是日黃昏時分，忽三五次流星馬報說：“有兩路兵來，旗上明書大字：一路是徵西將軍陳泰，一路是兗州刺史鄧艾。”

Jiang Wei, greatly alarmed, at once sent for Xiahou Ba to confer. Xiahou Ba said, “I told you before, General: Deng Ai has had a deep understanding of the art of war since his youth, and he knows the lie of the land well. Now that he has come with an army, he is a formidable enemy.” Jiang Wei said, “Their army has come a long way. We must not give them time to get a foothold, but strike at once.” So he left Zhang Yi to press the attack on the city, ordered Xiahou Ba to lead troops to meet Chen Tai, and himself led troops to meet Deng Ai. They had not gone five li when suddenly a bombard sounded in the south-east, drums and horns shook the earth, and flames shot up to the sky.

維大驚，遂請夏侯霸商議。霸曰：“吾向嘗爲將軍言：鄧艾自幼深明兵法，善曉地理。今領兵到，頗爲勁敵。”維曰：“彼軍遠來，我休容他住腳，便可擊之。”乃留張翼攻城，命夏侯霸引兵迎陳泰。維自引兵來迎鄧艾。行不到五里，忽然東南一聲炮響，鼓角震地，火光沖天。

Jiang Wei galloped forward to look and saw Wei banners on every side. “I have fallen into Deng Ai’s trap!” he cried in alarm. He sent orders for Xiahou Ba and Zhang Yi each to abandon Didao and withdraw, and so the Shu troops all fell back to Hanzhong. Jiang Wei himself covered the rear, and behind him he could hear the drums beating without end. Only when he had withdrawn into Jiange did he learn that the twenty or so places with fires and drums had all been a sham. Jiang Wei gathered his troops and withdrew to camp at Zhongti.

維縱馬看時，只見周圍皆是魏兵旗號。維大驚曰：“中鄧艾之計矣！”遂傳令教夏侯霸、張翼各棄狄道而退。於是蜀兵皆退於漢中。維自斷後，只聽得背後鼓聲不絕，維退入劍閣之時，方知火鼓二十餘處，皆虛設也。維收兵退屯於鍾提。

Meanwhile, because of Jiang Wei’s victory at Taoxi, the Latter Ruler issued an edict appointing him Grand General. Jiang Wei accepted the office, and when he had sent up a memorial of thanks, he once more began to plan an expedition against Wei.

且說後主因姜維有洮西之功，降詔封維爲大將軍。維受了職，上表謝恩畢，再議出師伐魏之策。

Indeed:
When success is won, there is no need to add legs to the snake;
Yet to punish the rebels he still longs to show a tiger’s might.
How this northern expedition fared will be told in the next chapter.

正是：成功不必添蛇足，討賊猶思奮虎威。
不知此番北伐如何，且看下文分解。