“How pitiful! Why does Heaven deny long life to the loyal and good? I have lost a most able general just as I am setting out and need him most.”
The armies of Shu numbered three hundred forty thousand strong, and they marched in five divisions, with Jiang Wei and Wei Yan in the van, and when they had reached Qishan, Li Hui, the Commissary General, was instructed to convey stores into the Xie Valley in readiness.
In Wei they had recently changed the style of the year period to Green Dragon, because a green dragon had been seen to emerge from Mopo Well. The year of the fighting was the second year (AD 234).
The courtiers said to the Ruler of Wei, “The commanders of the passes report thirty or so legions advancing in five divisions from Shu upon Qishan.”
The news distressed the Ruler of Wei, who at once called in Sima Yi and told him of the invasion.
Sima Yi replied, “The aspect of the sky is very auspicious for the Middle Land. The Wolf star has encroached upon the planet Venus, which bodes ill for the Lands of Rivers. Thus Zhuge Liang is pitting his powers against the heavens, and will meet defeat and suffer death. And I, by virtue of Your Majesty's good fortune, am to be the instrument of destruction. I request to name four leaders to go with me.”
“Who are they? Name them,” said the king.
“They are the four sons of Xiahou Yuan: Xiahou Ba, Xiahou Wei, Xiahou Hui, and Xiahou He. Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei are trained archers and cavaliers; Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He are deep strategists. All four desire to avenge the death of their father. Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei should be leaders of the van; Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He should be Marching Generals, to discuss and arrange plans for the repulse of our enemy.”
“You remember the evil results of employing the 'Dynastic Son-in-Law,' Xiahou Mao; he lost his army and is still too ashamed to return to court. Are you sure these are not of the same kidney?”
“They are not like Xiahou Mao in the least.”
The Ruler of Wei granted the request and named Sima Yi as Commander-in-Chief with the fullest authority. When Sima Yi took leave of the Ruler of Wei, he received a command in Cao Rui's own writing:
Sima Yi took it with bowed head. He proceeded forthwith to Changan. When he had mustered the forces assembled from all western counties, they numbered four hundred thousand, and they were all camped on River Wei. In addition, fifty thousand troops were farther up the stream preparing nine floating bridges. The two leaders of the van, Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei, were ordered to cross the river and camp, and in rear of the main camp on the east a solid earth rampart was raised to guard against any surprises from the rear.
While these preparations were in progress, Guo Huai and Sun Li came to the new camp, and the former said, “With the troops of Shu at Qishan, there is a possibility of their dominating River Wei, going up on the plain and pushing out a line to the northern hills whereby to cut off all highways in Xizhou.”
“You say well,” said Sima Yi. “See to it. Take command of all the Xizhou forces, occupy Beiyuan and make a fortified camp there. But adopt a defensive policy; wait till the enemy's food supplies get exhausted before you think of attack.”
So Guo Huai and Sun Li left to carry out these orders.
Meanwhile Zhuge Liang made five main camps at Qishan, and between Xie Valley and Saber Pass he established a line of fourteen large camps. He distributed the troops among these camps as for a long campaign. He appointed inspecting officers to make daily visits to see that all was in readiness.
