Episode 86
Three Kingdoms
I, Wu Qing, General of Hongcheng, am reporting for duty along with 35,000 men!
I, Song Liwu, General of Weijun, am reporting for duty with 20,000 horsemen!
Good! Good!
Shen Yi, Governor of Wancheng,
is here to present a great opportunity to Brother Zhongda.
My friend, are you willing to hear me out?
Goodness!
Brother, when did you arrive?
You are all dismissed.
Yes, sir!
Zhongda, I heard you were reappointed to office.
My most heartfelt congratulations!
If I may ask,
are you not worried about being demoted again after you've performed your deeds in office?
Of course I am.
My neck is also made of flesh./How can I not be afraid?
Then why did you accept office again?
Out of greed!
Brother, you know that I am greedy for fame and accomplishments.
I am constantly craving to do something.
Even in my dreams, I want to contest with Zhuge Liang.
Zhongda, the fate of the Wei Kingdom is now in your hands.
At this point in time, you have two choices.
Tell me more.
First, you can hold onto your troops and defend yourself.
and allow Emperor Cao Rui to be captured
and the Kingdom of Wei destroyed.
After that, you can declare yourself king,
and lead your troops across the land, ultimately accomplishing hegemony.
Wait! What did you say? His Majesty will be captured?
Brother, quickly tell me the second option.
The second is to rescue His Majesty, protect the court.
fight the Shu troops and be loyal to the end. i
Once you succeed in that,
you'll be slandered, denounced, and charged falsely by Cao Zhen and the other royal kinsmen again.
I choose the second option.
Really?
Brother, what is this opportunity you spoke of? Please tell me.
All right. Let me tell you.
Meng Da has rebelled.
In a few days he'll muster his 120,000 men in Xincheng,
and march towards Luoyang to capture His Majesty alive and deliver him to Zhuge Liang.
Xincheng isn't far away from Luoyang.
Meng Da can get his way easily.
Brother, how do you know about this?
Meng Da's strategist, Li Nan, is my old friend.
He made a copy of Meng Da's secret letter to Zhuge Liang and gave it to me.
Meng Da is attacking Luoyang, while Zhuge Liang is attacking Chang'an.
Had you not reported this.
the Kingdom of Wei and the House of Cao will really be doomed!
Zhongda, muster your troops quickly to Luoyang and protect His Majesty.
It's already too late even if I hurry now.
What are you going to do?
There's only one way: not to alert the court.
Else, this will alert Meng Da.
I'll lead an elite cavalry to rush overnight toward Xincheng and capture that traitor, Meng Da.
Zhongda, that's using His Majesty as a bait to capture the traitor for your own glory!
How far is Xincheng from here?
Look.
Good. It seems Meng Da hasn't taken precautions yet.
We've come at the right time.
Father!
Father, the vanguard captured Meng Da's messenger.
Bring him here.
Bring him here!
Lift up your head.
Do you recognize me?
I don't.
I am Sima Yi, Chief Commander of the Elite Cavalry.
Heavens! Aren't... aren't you in Wancheng, 500 miles away?
I just fell out from the skies.
Listen up!
If you tell the truth, not only will I not kill you,
but will also guarantee you rank and riches.
Yes. Zhuge Liang sent me to deliver a letter to General Meng Da.
Unexpectedly, I ran into you esteemed army.
Where's the letter?
The letter?
Grand,Commander.
General.
Dear-General Meng Da.
It was recently reported that the Wei court has re-appointed Sima Yi.
He is deviously cunning and is a shrewd military commander.
If the news leaks out. he will muster his troops to attack you at once.
General, please act ahead of schedule. Lead your troops out of Xincheng,
meet up with us and march towards Luoyang together.
It seems that Zhuge Liang has keen foresight
If I were just an hour late, it would all be over.
Detain him. I'll interrogate him later.
Yes, sir.
Shen Yi.
To capture bandits, one must capture their leader.
I think I will send a bold yet careful envoy to enter the city and see Meng Da.
He will say that Sima Yi is going to Luoyang to have an audience with the emperor!
and is just passing through.
He is only traveling with his two sons and a few bodyguards.
Entice Meng Da to come out to meet me.
I'm willing to go.
Sima Yi, Grand Commander who Subdues the West, may approach for an audience!
Sima Yi pays respect to Your Majesty.
Zhongda, my dear sir.
Get up quickly.
Your presence is like a sweet dew in a scorched land.
What is that thing?
The head of the renegade general, Meng Da.
What happened?
Meng Da conspired with Zhuge Liang.
He prepared 120,000 men from Xincheng to besiege Luoyang and to capture Your Majesty alive.
Upon receivings secret report from Shen Yi, I marched overnight toward Xincheng
to capture Meng Da, the rebel.
Your Majesty, please take a look.
These are the letters Zhuge Liang and Meng Da sent each other.
Heavens!
If it weren't for your help, I would have lost my life.
Dear sir, you have just took your office. and you have already performed such a wondrous deed.
You are indeed a meritorious official of our state!
Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations!
Now that we have Zhongda, Zhuge Liang will certainly be defeated.
Zhongda is not only shrewd in troop deployment, but is also incredibly loyal.
His name will be praised in history.
You,have my admiration.
Regent-General, you flatter me.
The successful capture of the rebel Meng Da is due to Shen Yi, the governor of Wancheng.
Heed my order!
Shen Yi is appointed the Inspector of Ji, and made Marquis of Wancheng.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Bring the sword.
Dear sir, all of the troops in the two capitals are now in your command.
I shall order you to lead all the troops to wage war against Zhuge Liang.
From now on', if you receive any secret reports, you don't need to report to me first.
You may deal with it immediately and only report afterward.
I shall accept your command.
Since the beginning of Shu's invasion,
Prince Xiahou lost a battle,
Regent-General Cao Xiu lost the second one. and Commander-in-Chief Cao Zhen lost the third.
These three defeats cost our state hundreds of thousands of men.
along with 17 or 18 cities.
The more urgent matter is that the popular morale in the capital is shaken,
and the officials have become afraid of the enemy.
The court was even thinking of moving the capital.
However, this I shall announce to you.
he Wei army's losing streak has come to an end,
but the Shu troops will begin to learn he meaning of defeat.
Sir, if you had taken command earlier, Zhuge Liang wouldn't have had his way for so long.
We could have beaten him!
General, that is not so.
Without Cao Xiu and the others' defeats.
we would not be able to triumph in the future.
Cao Xiu and the others may have lost. but they also exhausted Zhuge Liang's supplies, troops,
and his time as well.
It has been five months since they have penetrated deep into our border.
Their strength is as worn as arrows at the end of their flight.
Zhuge Liang's food and weapon supplies are already insufficient.
If they get entrenched into our border and wage war,
In that case, both timing and geographical advantage are on our side.
And this advantage will lead to our triumph.
If I were Zhuge Liang, I'd send an unexpected detachment
to march through Ziwu Valley and over the Qin Range and occupy Chang'an.
Goodness.
If Zhuge Liang did deploy his troops that way, half of Central Plains would be his.
But too bad!
Zhuge Liang has always been meticulous.
So, he would only go steady and do things one step at a time.
He will advance gradually and not seek quick victories.
He only strives to avoid defeat.
Grand Commander,
then how should we deploy our troops?
South of Longxi, by the flank of Shu's troops,
is a place called Jieting.
It is the choke point to Hanzhong and is where Shu's supplies are.
If we can capture Jieting, we can control Shu's supply route.
In ten days, Shu's troops will definitely withdraw.
If Zhuge Liang does not withdraw his troops then,
then our troops will just defend our strongholds without giving battle.
In one months time the hundreds of thousands of Shu troops in Lohgxi will starve to death.
If the Late Emperor employed Zhongda earlier,
the realm would have been pacified long ago.
Grand Commander, I'm willing to lead 20,000 men to raid Jieting.
No one but you can take this task.
Please head there with 20,000 men.
I will come after you with the main forces.
Yes, sir!
Report!
Sir, Cao Rui reappointed Sima Yi as Grand Commander who Subdues the West.
All Wei troops are now, under his control.
Report!
Sir, bad news.
Troops from Shangyong fled here and reported that Sima Yi found out about Meng Da's rebellion,
and has beheaded him.
All of Meng Da's subordinates have surrendered to Sima Yi.
Sir, Sima Yi has appointed Zhang He and Xu Huang as Generals of the Left and the Right.
They have mustered a host of 480,000 and are already marching westward.
Meng Da was careless with his plan, and was slow in responding to the situation.
He has brought this upon himself.
Sima Yi is deviously cunning and very brilliant in warfare.
He is my arch-nemesis.
Gentlemen, let's hear your analysis.
Once Sima Yi's troops march forth, .where will they attack?
Jieting.
He must be attacking-Jieting, in-order to sever our routes!
Generals..
Who among you can go guard Jieting?
Your Excellency, I am willing to guard Jieting.
Youchang,
though Jieting is a small place, it is extremely important.
If it is lost, it would spell the end for our entire forces.
I am willing to make a formal pledge.
If I lose Jieting, I will subject myself to capital punishment!
Do you know that Jieting has no existing fortifications?
It is easier to attack it than to defend it.
I've read military books since young and am quite proficient in strategy.
Furthermore, I have received your teaching for many years.
How would I lose a mere Jieting?
Sima Yi's talents are not beneath Cao Cao's.
Zhang He is also a renowned general.
You...
You're not his match, I fear.
Let alone Sima Yi or Zhang He. Even if Cao Cao came back from his grave, I'm not afraid!
Your Excellency...
Please grant me permission.
The ancestors of the Ma clan were loyal officers of the Han court.
They were all dedicated soldiers. striving to give their lives for their country and to earn eternal fame.
Your Excellency,
I've always wanted to lead troops to battle.
Please grant me a chance to prove my worth to my ancestors!
Your Excellency, I think Ma Su truly wishes to serve the country.
Sir, do grant him permission.
All right.
I give you 25,000 elite troops and a veteran commander to aid with your mission.
Thank you, sir!
Wang Ping.
Here!
I appoint you Ma Su's aide. You will help him defend Jieting.
Yes, sir!
Wang Ping,
Ma Su is intelligent and you've always been meticulous.
If you two can work together, you will succeed.
Remember: after you arrive at Jieting,
build a fort at the five-way intersection to prevent the advance of Wei troops.
Once you have built it, survey the terrain and send the map to me.
If you can defend Jieting for one month with no mishaps.
you will have claimed the top merit in the conquest of Chang'an.
Yes, sir!
After you.
Gao Xiang.
Yes!
There is a city just northeast of Jieting, called Lieliucheng.
Take 10,000 men and establish a base there.
If there is any danger to Jieting, you are to send help.
Yes!
Wei Yan.
Yes.
Lead your unit to Jieting, and encamp behind it.
If Jieting is in danger, you are to rescue them.
Your Excellency, I am the vanguard general.
Why, instead of letting me lead the army to attack Chang'an,
you send me to be some back-up officer?
Do you know what place it is behind Jieting?
Yangping Pass.
Jieting is the choke point for our army.
Yangping Pass is the choke point of Hanzhong.
It is the key to the victory of the northern expedition.
How could you belittle it?
If you can hold Yangping Pass for a month,
your merit will surpass Ma Su's.
Later on, III surely let you lead the main army to attack Chang'an.
Yes, sir!
Zilong.
Here.
I'm still a bit worried.
Your Excellency, why are you so worried today?
I've gone to war with you for over twenty years.
I've never seen you like this.
I've never battled Sima Yi before.
But, for a long time, he lay low in the dark while I was exposed.
He understands me like he knows the back of his hand,
while my knowledge of him is still incomplete.
Zilong,
you and Deng Zhi each will lead a decoy to Qi Valley.
If you encounter Sima Yi's troops, you will decide whether to engage him or not.
All you need to do is to give Sima Yi a good fright.
Yes, sir.
Commander, look! Jieting is just ahead.
The Prime Minister is overly worried.
What's so hard about defending such . a small pass as Jieting for a month?
Regardless, in my humble opinion,
we should do as the Prime Minister has ordered.
and encamp at the five-way intersection.
We'll order the men to collect the wood for building the fort. and prepare for long-term defense.
We will not. If we erect our camp at the intersection, we would not have any natural defenses. .
If the enemy occupies that hill and uses the high ground to their advantage, our army would be in peril.
So Commander, you mean...
Look, there is a hill up there.
It is heavily forested. It is a Heaven-sent defensive spot,
Let's erect our camp there instead.
That is a lone hill.
There's no ridge adjoining it.
If Wei troops appear suddenly and besiege us, we have no way to retreat.
You are wrong, General.
The Art of War says, "Attacking from high ground, one shall cut through" his enemy easily."
Our troops will be on high grounds, while Wei troops on low grounds.
If they dare to attack, we can simply shoot them with arrows, or throw rocks and logs at them.
They will be obliterated!
But what if they lay siege without attacking?
Ten days or so later, our supply will be depleted and our men thrown into disarray.
The Art of War says, "One must put the army in a desperate situation in order to survive."
You've been leading troops for so many years.
I'm sure you know that.
Once our supply is depleted, each man will fight to the death.
With their determination, victory will be ours.
Commander, The Art of War is not always right!
General Wang!
Every time the Prime Minister goes to war, he has brought me along.
Whenever he is in doubt, he asks for my advice.
Maybe you just want to defy orders?
As you wish!
That's more like it.
Erect our camp on the hilltop immediately.
Commander.
What I mean is that you take 20,000 men and encamp on the hilltop,
while I take 5,000 men and encamp below.
Well form a pincer formation.
If the Wei troops attack, we can help each other.
Then take your own men and encamp at the foot of the hill.
But don't think about claiming merit before the Prime Minister after the Wei troops are routed!
Oh no. Shu troops have occupied the main path at Jieting.
General, we are too close to Shu camps. We are within crossbow range.
Please return to the camp, sir.
In war, we must know both ourselves and our enemy.
If we don't scout deep enough, how can we know Shu's strength?
General, we've been discovered by Shu troops!
Don't panic. The enemy is not numerous.
Turn back and lure them away
Yes!
Ill survey just a bit longer.
Let's go
Father.
Get out!
There is no familial relationship in the camp!
Grand Commander,
I have scouted Jieting as per your order.
I have discovered-that Shu troops have occupied the main road.
Zhuge Liang has an uncanny foresight.
He's a step ahead of me.
It seems that Heaven wont grant me the opportunity to earn merit.
Grand Commander, why do you underestimate yourself?
I believe Jieting is within easy reach.
Sima Zhao, you joined the army only recently.
How could you say such bold words?
Grand Commander, I've examined the camp carefully at a close distance.
The camp at the five-way intersection of Jieting has at most 5,000 men.
The main army is encamped at the top of a rocky hill east of Jieting.
Once we encircle them, they will be defeated.
The Shu army has the advantage of higher ground and can see all our movements.
while we have to fight a battle uphill, which takes much energy.
How can it be so easy to beat them?
I went around the hill and discovered a lone hill.
Though it is tall, it's all alone. Once we besiege it, there is no way out.
More importantly, it is far from any rivers. Getting water is not easy.
Even if there is a spring at the top. it is not enough for the whole army.
Sir, please consider this: once we sever their water supply.
how long can they holdout?
Sima Zhao, take me to survey it.
Father.
Grand Commander.
Do you not trust my words?
I do not distrust you.
I only trust my own eyes better.
Sima Zhao.
Have you really surveyed the place thoroughly?
I was about an arrow-shot away from them. I could see them clearly.
Convey my orders!
Have the entire army approach the camp from the west
Have the defending army surrounded before they know it.
Yes, sir!
The Shu army indeed is encamped at the hilltop.
This is a Heaven-sent opportunity!
Who is their commander?
He's Ma Liang's younger brother, Advisor Ma Su.
I heard he has served Zhuge Liang for a long time. and is well-versed in military methods.
I don't trust anyone's reputation.
I only judge by how he acts.
From the way Ma Su deploys his troops. he doesn't deserve his reputation.
If Zhuge Liang dares to use him as a commander.
he'll be surely defeated.
It seems that Zhuge Liangs fame of half a lifetime will be destroyed by this man.
Are there any Shu troops around Jieting?
Ten miles away is Wang Ping's camp with at most 5,000 men.
I should thank you, Sima Zhao.
Convey my orders.
Zhang He shall lead 10,000 men to attack Wang Ping.
I'll besiege the hill myself.
Tell all the commanders that we will only lay siege, and not attack.
Simply stop their water-supply. Beat the drums and shout to annoy them.
Yes, sir!
In a few days, Ma Su's troops will be in disarray.
We will attack the hill then.
Shu troops! Hurry and surrender!
You have no way out!
Commander, we've been surrounded completely by Wei troops.
It seems that they have about 10,000 men.
A mere 10,000 men can scare you like that?
When I followed the Prime Minister to Red Cliff,
Cao Cao had 830,000 men, but still he was crushed in a single blow.
Let them make all the noise they want down there.
Once the sun is past noon and they start to look tired,
we'll charge them in one swoop and crush them with the force of a mountain.
The enemy will surely be routed.
Who is the enemy's commander?
From the shouts, it seems to be their Grand Commander, Sima Yi.
Commander.
Sima Yi would not come here personally.
The enemy must be just bluffing with his name.
Defend and don't attack.
Yes.
Jiang Wei.
Has Wei Yan arrived at Yangping Pass?
The courier said he has.
But why is there still no news of Ma Su from Jieting?
Jieting has no camps.
Ma Su and Wang Ping need to' build one when they arrive.
This needs time.
I believe that once they erected the camp, they would send a report to you.
Report!
Sir, General Wang Ping sent a letter.
Where is it?
This is the map from General Wang Ping for your perusal.
Let me see it!
Yes!
This...
Useless Ma Su!
He's putting our troops in jeopardy!
What happened. Your Excellency?
Ma Su erected the main camp at the top of the lone hill.
thinking that he could attack the enemy from the heights!
Look. This is the map that Wang Ping drew.
This hill is far from any water source.
The Wei troops only need to besiege them and break the water supply.
In two days, bur troops will be in disarray.
Your Excellency, I am willing to defend Jieting in Ma Su's stead.
It's too late.
Jieting is at least 300 miles away from here.
Jiang Wei, dispatch three orders for me.
First, have Guan Xing and Zhang Bao lead 3,000 along the small path towards Wugong.
If they meet the enemy, do not engage. Only make noise.
Once the enemy retreats, go to Yangping Pass and join with Wei Yan.
Second, have Zhang Yi lead a unit to repair the roads at Jiange,
so that our forces van pull back to Hanzhong.
Third, tell General Zilong to return to camp at once.
He is currently in an extremely dangerous spot.
Yes!
Wait!
Repeat the orders to me.
Have Guan Xing and Zhang Bao lead 3,000 along the small path towards Wugong.
If they meet the enemy, do not engage.
Once the enemy retreats, go to Yangping Pass and join with Wei Yan.
Have Zhang Yi lead a unit to repair the roads at Jiange and wait for the main forces to retreat to Hanzhong.
Have General Zilong return to camp at once.
Good. Go.
Your Excellency, is the situation really that serious?
If our troops indeed must retreat, then our northern campaign will be all for naught.
I fear something even worse would happen.
If our troops can retreat safely, I would already be happy.
Convey the orders quickly.
Yes!
Your Majesty!
I was a poor judge of character, and I have committed a grave mistake!
What's wrong? Get up!
Get up!
Get up quickly!
Get up! Get up!
Get up!
Get up! Get up quickly!
Get up quickly! Get up! Get up quickly!
Get up!
Get up! Get up!
Get up!
What's going on?
General, there is no water on the hill.
We're out of water. Our men are dying of thirst.
How can it be?
There is.always water on a hill!
That's only in the south.
There's less rain in the north.
Also, this hill is very rocky. There are no water sources.
Immediately muster all men to charge downhill to get water!
We tried.
Our armored men charged midway and was met with a rain of arrows.
Do it again
General, Wei troops are attacking the hill!
Fight the enemy! Fight the enemy!
Boyue, speak up.
The situation is indeed as you have predicted.
Sima Yi personally led 150,000 men to Jieting in three contingents.
Zhang He is attacking Jieting, Xu Huang is attacking Yangping Pass, and Sima Zhao is engaging Zhao Yun.
Presently, both sides are embroiled in battle. Victory has yet to be determined.
Victory has already been decided.
Send someone to order all officers and commoners in Nan'an, Tianshui, and Anding
to relocate to Hanzhong overnight.
Muster 5,000 elite troops to march with me at daybreak.
Your Excellency, all men in our main camp have been deployed.
We don't have 5,000 men.
How many are left?
On top of the 300 guards, if we also count who are old, weak, and wounded...
about 2,000.
Gather all of them and have them follow me to Xicheng.
What? Xicheng?
Your Excellency, Xicheng is just a small prefecture.
Why do you want to go there?
Once Jieting is lost, our supply route is broken.
Hanzhong's supplies cannot reach us before we can return south.
All we have are 100,000 bushels in Xicheng.
We have to grab them at all cost.
But, sir, Xicheng is small and dilapidated.
If Wei troops attack us, it'll be hard to defend ourselves.
You are Shu-Hans lifeline. How could you put yourself in danger?
How about you returning to Hanzhong first and have me go to Xicheng? .
His Majesty has entrusted the entire army to me.
The army has not yet returned.
How can I, as their commander, retreat first?
I can't.
Your Excellency!
Just do as I ordered!
Yes, sir!
Hurry! Hurry!
Move faster!
Listen.
Go gather all the people in the city.
If we cannot transport.all the grain out of the city before dusk,
our army will never make it back-to our heartland.
Yes.
Everyone, step aside!
Sir, bad hews!
The Wei army is attacking. They are just 20 miles away.
How many of them? Who is their commander?
With all the dust, I couldn't see clearly from afar.
Some hundreds of thousands.
On the big banner of the van is written "Sima".
Sima Yi?
Yes.
How many soldiers are there left in the city?
We brought 2,000 men.
But most of them are out transporting the grain.
Right now, we have fewer than 1,000.
Your Excellency, lets retreat posthaste.
Sima Yi must be leading cavalry.
How could we outrun him?
Prime Minister, Xichengs walls are not even three spans tall.
We have fewer than 1,000 men. How can we defend the city?
Convey my orders.
Hide all the banners.
Have the gates all wide open, and at each have a few soldiers dressed as commoners, sweeping the streets.
No one is to enter or leave the city, or speak loudly.
Execute those who disobey!
Sir!
Where is my zither?
In the Cart.
Bring it to me now!.
Yes, sir!