Liao Hua replied, “While they engage your attention in this competition, they intend to attack our rear.”
“Just so; that is my opinion,” replied Jiang Wei.
So he prepared a counter-stroke by sending Liao Hua and Zhang Yi to lie in wait at the back of the hills with ten thousand troops.
Next day Jiang Wei led all the troops from the nine camps out and drawn up in front of the hills. Sima Wang came out on the other side and presently rode to the front to parley.
“You have challenged me to a contest; now draw up your army for me to see,” said Jiang Wei.
Sima Wang did so and arrayed the eight diagrams, Octagon.
“That is what we know as the Octagon,” said Jiang Wei. “But it is nothing wonderful, only a sort of array fit for a brigand's raid.”
“You also have only stolen another man's tactics,” replied his adversary.
“How many modifications of this are there?” asked Jiang Wei.
“Since I have arranged this, naturally I know the variations, of which there are nine nines, making eighty-one.”
“Try them.”
Sima Wang returned to his array and evolved many, finally riding out and asking his opponent if he recognized them.
“My formation admits of three hundred and sixty-five variations. You are but a frog in a well and know nothing of the deeper mysteries.”
Now Sima Wang knew that so many variations were possible, but had not studied them. However, he put on a bold air and said contemptuously, “I do not believe you. Prove it!”
“Go and call Deng Ai,” replied Jiang Wei. “I will display them to him.”
“General Deng Ai has excellent plans and does not think much of such tactics.”
“What plans? I suppose you mean a plan to keep me here while he tries a surprise attack in the rear.”
Sima Wang was aghast. He made a sudden dash forward, and a melee began. Jiang Wei made a signal with his whip, and his force poured in from both wings. The troops of Wei were seized with sudden panic, threw down their weapons and fled.
Now Deng Ai had hurried on Zheng Lun to make the first attack. As Zheng Lun turned the corner of the hill, a bomb exploded. At once the drums rolled and an ambush discovered itself. Liao Hua was in command. Neither side stayed to parley, and the leaders engaged in single combat. In the first encounter Liao Hua cut Zheng Lun down.
Deng Ai had not expected such preparation, and he hastened to withdraw. Then Zhang Yi came forth and attacked on the other side. The army of Wei was worsted. Deng Ai fought his way out, but he bore four arrow wounds upon his body. He got to the river, where he found Sima Wang, and they discussed how to get away.
But Sima Wang proposed another form of attack.
“Recently the Ruler of Shu has had a favorite, Eunuch Huang Hao, in whom he places all his trust and with whom he spends his time in one round of pleasure. Let us use the eunuch to sow distrust between the Emperor and his general and so get Jiang Wei recalled. In that way we shall retrieve our defeat.”
So Deng Ai assembled his advisers and asked who could go into Shu and get into communication with Huang Hao.
Dang Jun volunteered at once. Deng Ai entrusted gold and pearls and precious things to him, and sent him into Shu to win the treacherous alliance of the eunuch. As Dang Jun went, he also disseminated reports that
Jiang Wei was angry and intended to go over to Wei.
These rumors became the common talk in Chengdu, and everyone believed them. Huang Hao carried them to the Emperor, and a messenger was sent to call the general to the capital.
Meanwhile Jiang Wei tried every day to bring the enemy to give battle, but they remained obstinately behind their defenses. Jiang Wei began to think some evil scheme was afoot, when suddenly he was recalled by Imperial Edict. Although ignorant of the reason, he could not disobey; and when he began the retreat, Deng Ai and Sima Wang knew that their plot had succeeded. They broke camp and set out to attack the retreating army.
How matters went will be told in the next chapter.
When the order to retreat was given, Liao Hua said, “A leader in the field is independent and need not obey even the command of his prince.”
Zhang Yi said, “The country begins to resent these many years of war; rather take the occasion of the victory you have just won to return and pacify the people.”
“It is good,” said Jiang Wei.
A systematic and orderly retirement began. The army of Wei, loth to forgo an opportunity, followed, but the absence of the least confusion gave them no chance.
As he saw his enemy disappearing in perfect order, Deng Ai sighed, “Jiang Wei is a worthy inheritor of the warlike methods of Zhuge Liang.”
Deng Ai did not pursue but returned to his camp on Qishan.
