Chapter 108

Ding Feng Fights with Short Blades in the Snow; Sun Jun Executes a Secret Plan at the Banquet

Now Jiang Wei, while retreating, encountered Sima Shi leading an army to intercept him. It turned out that when Jiang Wei had seized Yong Province, Guo Huai had sent an urgent report to the imperial court. The ruler of Wei consulted with Sima Yi and settled upon a plan. Sima Yi dispatched his eldest son, Sima Shi, with fifty thousand troops to Yong Province to assist in the fighting. When Sima Shi learned that Guo Huai had repelled the Shu army, he judged that the Shu forces must be weakened and therefore came to strike them midway through their retreat. He pursued them all the way to Yangping Pass, but Jiang Wei employed the repeating-crossbow method handed down by the Marquis of Wu. More than a hundred repeating crossbows were concealed in ambush on either side; each discharged ten bolts, all poisoned. The crossbows on both sides loosed their bolts together, killing countless men and horses in the vanguard. Amid the chaos, Sima Shi escaped with his life and fled back.

Meanwhile, within Qushan, the Shu general Gou An, seeing that no relief force had arrived, opened the gates and surrendered to Wei. Having lost tens of thousands of men, Jiang Wei led his defeated army back to Hanzhong and encamped there. Sima Shi returned to Luoyang. In the eighth month of autumn, in the third year of Jiaping, Sima Yi fell ill, and his condition gradually worsened. He summoned his two sons to his bedside and charged them, saying, “I have served Wei for many years and attained the office of Grand Tutor, the highest rank to which a subject may rise. Yet all men have suspected me of harboring disloyal ambitions, and I have ever lived in fear. After my death, you two must govern the affairs of state well. Be cautious! Be cautious!” When he had finished speaking, he died. His eldest son, Sima Shi, and his second son, Sima Zhao, reported his death to Cao Fang, ruler of Wei. Cao Fang bestowed lavish funeral rites upon him and conferred generous posthumous honors and a posthumous title. Sima Shi was appointed General-in-Chief and placed in overall charge of the Secretariat and the confidential affairs of state; Sima Zhao was appointed General-in-Chief of Agile Cavalry.

Now Sun Quan, ruler of Wu, had first named as crown prince Sun Deng, the son of Lady Xu. Sun Deng died in the fourth year of Chiwu, and Sun Quan then made his second son, Sun He, crown prince. Sun He was the son of Lady Wang of Langya. Because Sun He was at odds with the Princess Quan, she slandered him, and Sun Quan deposed him. Sun He died of grief and resentment. Sun Quan then named his third son, Sun Liang, crown prince; he was the son of Lady Pan. By this time Lu Xun and Zhuge Jin were both dead, and all affairs, great and small, had passed into the hands of Zhuge Ke. On the first day of the eighth month of autumn, in the first year of Taihe, a great wind suddenly arose; the rivers and sea heaved with towering waves, and water covered the level ground to a depth of eight feet. All the pines and cypresses that the ruler of Wu had planted over the years were torn up by the roots and blown straight beyond the southern gate of Jianye, where they landed upside down in the road. Sun Quan was so frightened by this that he fell ill. By the eighth month of that year, his illness had become grave, and he summoned Grand Tutor Zhuge Ke and Grand Marshal Lü Dai to his bedside and entrusted to them the affairs that were to follow his death. When he had finished his charge, he passed away. He had reigned for twenty-four years and lived to the age of seventy-one. It was then the fifteenth year of Yanxi in Shu-Han. A later poet wrote:

Purple beard and emerald eyes proclaimed the hero’s fame;He made his ministers give loyal service to his name.For twenty-four long years he raised a mighty state,Where dragon coiled and tiger crouched in lands beyond the Great River.

After Sun Quan’s death, Zhuge Ke enthroned Sun Liang as emperor, proclaimed a general amnesty throughout the realm, and changed the era name to the first year of Daxing. Sun Quan was given the posthumous title Great Emperor and buried at Jiangling. Spies soon learned of these events and reported them to Luoyang. When Sima Shi heard that Sun Quan was dead, he proposed raising an army to attack Wu. Fu Gu, a Secretary of State, said, “Wu is protected by the natural barrier of the Yangtze. The late emperor campaigned against it repeatedly, yet never achieved his purpose. The best policy would be for each side to guard its own frontiers.”

Sima Shi said, “The Way of Heaven changes every thirty years. How can the realm remain forever divided among three contending powers? I mean to attack Wu.”

Sima Zhao said, “Sun Quan has only just died, and Sun Liang is young and feeble. This is precisely the opportunity to exploit their weakness.”

Thereupon Sima Shi ordered Wang Chang, Senior General Who Conquers the South, to lead one hundred thousand troops against Nan Commandery; Hu Zun, General Who Conquers the East, to lead one hundred thousand against Dongxing; and Guanqiu Jian, Area Commander Who Secures the South, to lead one hundred thousand against Wuchang. The three armies advanced. He also appointed his younger brother Sima Zhao Commander-in-Chief, with overall command of all three forces.

In the tenth month of winter that year, Sima Zhao’s army reached the border of Eastern Wu and encamped. He summoned Wang Chang, Hu Zun, and Guanqiu Jian to his tent and conferred with them, saying, “The most vital place in Eastern Wu is Dongxing Commandery. They have now built a great dike there and two fortresses, one on either side, to guard against an attack from the rear by way of Lake Chao. You gentlemen must proceed with the utmost care.” He then ordered Wang Chang and Guanqiu Jian each to lead ten thousand troops and take position on the left and right, but not to advance for the time being. Once Dongxing Commandery had been taken, they were all to advance together. Wang Chang and Guanqiu Jian received their orders and departed. Sima Zhao then appointed Hu Zun vanguard commander and placed him at the head of the three armies. He was first to lay a floating bridge and seize the great dike at Dongxing; if he could also capture the two flanking fortresses, it would be a signal achievement. Hu Zun led his men forward to construct the floating bridge.

Meanwhile, when Zhuge Ke, Grand Tutor of Wu, learned that the Wei armies were advancing by three routes, he assembled his officers for counsel. Ding Feng, General Who Pacifies the North, said, “Dongxing is a place of supreme importance to Eastern Wu. If it is lost, Nan Commandery and Wuchang will both be imperiled.”

Zhuge Ke said, “Your judgment accords exactly with my own. You are to lead three thousand marines there by way of the river. Afterward I shall order Lü Ju, Tang Zi, and Liu Zan each to lead ten thousand infantry and advance by three separate routes to support you. The moment you hear three cannon shots in rapid succession, advance together. I shall follow with the main army.”

Having received his orders, Ding Feng led three thousand marines aboard thirty ships and made for Dongxing.

Now Hu Zun crossed the floating bridge and encamped upon the dike, then sent Huan Jia and Han Zong to attack the two fortresses. The fortress on the left was held by the Wu general Quan Yi, and that on the right by the Wu general Liu Lüe. Both fortresses were high, steep, and strongly built, and could not be taken by sudden assault. Seeing the strength of the Wei army, Quan Yi and Liu Lüe dared not come out to give battle but held fast within their walls. Hu Zun established his camp at Xuzhou. The weather was bitterly cold and heavy snow was falling. Hu Zun and his generals spread a banquet and drank merrily together, when a report suddenly came that thirty warships had arrived on the water. Hu Zun went out of camp to inspect them and saw that the ships were about to touch shore, each bearing roughly a hundred men. He returned to his tent and said to his generals, “They number no more than three thousand. Why should we fear them?” He merely ordered a subordinate officer to scout them and then continued drinking as before. Ding Feng brought his ships to anchor in a single line upon the water and said to his officers, “If a true man would win fame and honor and attain wealth and rank, this is the day!” He then ordered all his soldiers to strip off their armor and clothing and remove their helmets. They were to carry neither long spears nor great halberds, but only short swords. When the Wei soldiers saw them, they laughed aloud and made no further preparations.

Suddenly three cannon shots sounded in rapid succession. Ding Feng drew his sword and, leading the way, sprang ashore. All his men drew their short swords, followed him onto the bank, and hacked their way into the Wei camp. Taken utterly unprepared, the Wei soldiers had no time to react. Han Zong hastily snatched up the great halberd before his tent and rushed to meet Ding Feng, but Ding Feng was already inside his guard. His hand rose, the blade fell, and Han Zong was struck to the ground. Huan Jia wheeled out from the left and hurriedly thrust his spear at Ding Feng, but Ding Feng caught the shaft beneath his arm. Huan Jia abandoned the spear and fled. Ding Feng hurled his sword after him, striking him squarely in the left shoulder, and Huan Jia toppled backward. Ding Feng overtook him and stabbed him with the spear. The three thousand soldiers of Wu charged left and right through the Wei camp. Hu Zun hastily mounted his horse, forced a way through, and fled. The Wei soldiers rushed together toward the floating bridge, but the bridge had already broken, and more than half fell into the water and drowned. Countless others were cut down upon the snowy ground. The Wu troops captured all their carts, baggage, horses, and weapons. When Sima Zhao, Wang Chang, and Guanqiu Jian learned of the defeat at Dongxing, they too reined in their armies and withdrew.

Zhuge Ke then led his army to Dongxing. After recalling the troops and distributing rewards for their service, he assembled his generals and said, “Sima Zhao has been defeated and is retreating northward. This is the perfect moment to press our advantage and advance upon the Central Plains.” On the one hand, he sent a man bearing a letter into Shu, asking Jiang Wei to advance and attack Wei from the north, with a promise that they would divide the realm equally between them. On the other, he raised a great army of two hundred thousand and set out to attack the Central Plains. Just as the army was departing, a stream of white vapor suddenly rose from the ground and cut across all three divisions so thickly that men could not see those facing them.

Jiang Yan said, “This vapor is a white rainbow, an omen that our army will suffer losses. Grand Tutor, you should return to the capital and must not attack Wei.”

Zhuge Ke flew into a rage. “How dare you utter words of ill omen and weaken the spirit of my army!” He shouted for the guards to behead him. Everyone pleaded for mercy, and Zhuge Ke merely stripped Jiang Yan of his rank and reduced him to a commoner. He then continued to urge the army onward.

Ding Feng said, “Wei’s principal strategic gateway is Xincheng. If we take that city first, Sima Zhao’s courage will be shattered.”

Zhuge Ke was overjoyed and pressed his army straight to Xincheng. Zhang Te, the Commandant of the Gate who defended the city, saw the vast Wu army approaching and shut the gates for a resolute defense. Zhuge Ke ordered his men to surround the city on every side. A dispatch rider soon galloped with the news to Luoyang. Yu Song, a chief clerk, told Sima Shi, “Zhuge Ke is now besieging Xincheng, but for the moment you must not engage him. The Wu army has come from afar; its men are many, but its provisions are scant. Once its grain is exhausted, it will withdraw of its own accord. Wait until it begins to leave and then strike it, and you will surely win a complete victory. But I fear the Shu army may cross our borders, so we cannot leave them undefended.”

Sima Shi approved his advice. He therefore ordered Sima Zhao to lead an army to reinforce Guo Huai against Jiang Wei, while Guanqiu Jian and Hu Zun held off the Wu troops.

For month after month Zhuge Ke attacked Xincheng without taking it. He ordered all his generals to combine their strength in an assault upon the walls, declaring that any who showed negligence would be beheaded at once. The generals therefore exerted themselves to the utmost, and the northeastern corner of the city was on the point of falling. Within the city, Zhang Te devised a plan. He ordered an eloquent speaker to carry the registers to the Wu camp and present himself before Zhuge Ke, saying, “The law of Wei decrees that if an enemy besieges a city, its defending commander must hold out for one hundred days. If no relief force has arrived by then, he may leave the city and surrender to the enemy without punishment falling upon his family and clan. Your army has now besieged the city for more than ninety days. We beg you to grant us a few days more, after which my commander will lead all the soldiers and civilians out of the city to surrender. For now, we respectfully submit these registers.”

Zhuge Ke believed him completely, drew back his troops, and ceased attacking the city. Zhang Te had in fact used this delaying ruse to deceive the Wu forces into withdrawing. He tore down houses within the city and used the materials to repair every breach in the walls. Then he mounted the ramparts and shouted abuse: “We still have provisions enough for half a year! How could we ever surrender to the dogs of Wu? Attack us as much as you please!”

Zhuge Ke flew into a rage and urged his troops to assault the city. A storm of arrows descended from the walls. One struck Zhuge Ke squarely in the forehead, and he toppled backward from his horse. His generals rescued him and carried him back to camp, where his wound became inflamed. The entire army lost its will to fight. Moreover, the weather was fiercely hot, and many soldiers fell ill. When Zhuge Ke’s wound had somewhat improved, he wished to press the attack again. A camp officer reported, “Everyone is sick. How can they fight?”

Zhuge Ke angrily replied, “The next man who speaks of sickness will be beheaded!”

When the soldiers heard of this, countless numbers deserted. Then a sudden report came that Area Commander Cai Lin had led the troops under his command over to Wei. Zhuge Ke was greatly alarmed. He mounted his horse and personally inspected all the camps. Sure enough, he saw that the soldiers’ faces were yellow and swollen and that every man bore the marks of illness. He therefore ordered the army to withdraw to Wu. Spies quickly carried the news to Guanqiu Jian, who mobilized his entire army and pursued them with a sudden attack. The Wu army suffered a disastrous defeat and returned home.

Zhuge Ke was deeply ashamed and, pleading illness, did not attend court. Sun Liang, ruler of Wu, personally honored his residence with a visit to inquire after his health, while civil and military officials all came to pay their respects. Fearing that men would criticize him, Zhuge Ke first sought out the faults and transgressions of the officials. Those guilty of lesser offenses were banished to distant frontiers; those guilty of serious ones were beheaded as a public warning. Thus every official, within the court and without, trembled in fear. Zhuge Ke also ordered his trusted generals Zhang Yue and Zhu En to take command of the Imperial Guard and serve as his claws and fangs.

Now Sun Jun, whose courtesy name was Ziyuan, was the great-grandson of Sun Jing, the younger brother of Sun Jian, and the son of Sun Gong. During Sun Quan’s lifetime, Sun Quan had been very fond of him and had placed him in command of the Imperial Guard. When Sun Jun now heard that Zhuge Ke had appointed Zhang Yue and Zhu En to command the Imperial Guard, thereby depriving him of his authority, he was furious. Teng Yin, Minister of Ceremonies, had long been at odds with Zhuge Ke. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he said to Sun Jun, “Zhuge Ke monopolizes authority and indulges in cruelty. He has slain high ministers and noble lords and will soon harbor treasonous designs. You, sir, are a member of the imperial clan. Why do you not act against him before it is too late?”

Sun Jun replied, “I have long entertained that very intention. I shall now report to the Son of Heaven at once and request an edict to execute him.”

Sun Jun and Teng Yin therefore went before Sun Liang, ruler of Wu, and secretly reported the matter. Sun Liang said, “I too am filled with dread whenever I see this man. I have often wished to remove him but have never found the opportunity. If you gentlemen are indeed loyal and righteous, you may secretly devise a plan.”

Teng Yin said, “Your Majesty may arrange a banquet and summon Zhuge Ke. Conceal armed men behind the wall hangings, then cast down your cup as the signal and kill him at the feast, thereby eliminating all future danger.”

Sun Liang agreed.

Ever since Zhuge Ke had returned to the capital after his defeat, he had remained at home on the pretext of illness, his mind dazed and distracted. One day, when he happened to step into the central hall, he suddenly saw a man enter dressed in hempen mourning garments. Zhuge Ke shouted at him and demanded to know who he was. The man was so frightened that he did not know what to do. Zhuge Ke ordered him seized and questioned under torture. The man said, “My father recently died, and I entered the city to ask a monk to perform rites for his soul. At first I thought this was a monastery, and so I came in, never imagining it was the Grand Tutor’s residence. How in the world did I arrive here?”

In anger, Zhuge Ke summoned the soldiers guarding the gate and questioned them. They replied, “Several dozen of us have stood at the gate bearing halberds, and not one of us has left his post for an instant. We saw no one enter.”

Zhuge Ke was furious and had every one of them beheaded. That night he slept uneasily. Suddenly he heard a noise in the main hall like a thunderclap. He went out himself to inspect it and saw that the central roof beam had broken in two. Alarmed, Zhuge Ke returned to his bedchamber. All at once a chill, ghostly wind arose, and he saw the man in mourning whom he had killed, together with the dozens of gate guards, each carrying his own head and demanding Zhuge Ke’s life. Zhuge Ke collapsed in terror and did not revive for a long while. Early the next morning, as he washed his face, he noticed that the water reeked strongly of blood. He berated his maidservants and ordered them to change it dozens of times, but every basin gave off the same stench.

While Zhuge Ke was still gripped by alarm and suspicion, a report suddenly came that an imperial envoy had arrived to summon the Grand Tutor to a banquet. Zhuge Ke ordered his carriage and retinue prepared. Just as he was about to leave his residence, a yellow dog caught his robe in its mouth and whimpered like one weeping. Zhuge Ke said angrily, “Does this dog mock me?” He ordered his attendants to drive it away, then mounted his carriage and left the residence.

Before he had gone more than a few paces, he saw before the carriage a white rainbow rise from the ground like a length of white silk and soar into the heavens. Zhuge Ke was deeply startled by the strange sight. His trusted general Zhang Yue came to the front of the carriage and secretly warned him, “A banquet is being held in the palace today, but we do not know whether it bodes good or ill. My lord, you must not enter lightly.”

After hearing this, Zhuge Ke ordered the carriage turned back. He had not gone more than ten paces when Sun Jun and Teng Yin rode up and asked, “Why is the Grand Tutor returning so soon?”

Zhuge Ke replied, “I have suddenly been seized by stomach pains and cannot appear before the Son of Heaven.”

Teng Yin said, “Since the Grand Tutor returned from the campaign, the court has not had the opportunity to speak with you face-to-face. That is why this special banquet has been arranged, and weighty affairs must also be discussed. Though the Grand Tutor has been afflicted by illness, you should force yourself to attend.”

Zhuge Ke accepted his counsel and entered the palace together with Sun Jun and Teng Yin. Zhang Yue followed them inside. Zhuge Ke appeared before Sun Liang, ruler of Wu, paid the proper respects, and took his seat at the banquet. Sun Liang ordered wine served. Suspicious at heart, Zhuge Ke declined, saying, “My ailing body cannot endure wine.”

Sun Jun said, “The Grand Tutor customarily drinks medicinal wine at his residence. May we fetch some for you?”

Zhuge Ke replied, “You may.”

He therefore ordered an attendant to return to his residence and bring the medicinal wine he had prepared himself. Only then did Zhuge Ke feel at ease and begin to drink.

After several rounds of wine, Sun Liang, ruler of Wu, excused himself on the pretext of other business and withdrew first. Sun Jun descended from the hall, removed his long robe, and put on close-fitting garments with ring-linked armor beneath. Gripping a keen blade, he returned to the hall and shouted, “The Son of Heaven has issued an edict to execute the traitor!”

Zhuge Ke was horrified. He dashed his cup to the floor and tried to draw his sword to meet the attack, but his head had already fallen to the ground. When Zhang Yue saw Sun Jun kill Zhuge Ke, he brandished his sword and rushed at him. Sun Jun hastily dodged the point of the blade, though it wounded a finger on his left hand. Wheeling about, Sun Jun slashed Zhang Yue across the right arm. The armed men swarmed out together, struck Zhang Yue down, and hacked him into pulp. Sun Jun ordered the guards to seize Zhuge Ke’s family. He also ordered men to wrap the bodies of Zhang Yue and Zhuge Ke in reed mats, carry them out on a small cart, and cast them into a pit among the neglected graves on Shizigang beyond the southern gate of the city.

Meanwhile, Zhuge Ke’s wife was in her chamber, dazed in spirit and unable to rest in anything she did. Suddenly a maidservant entered. Zhuge Ke’s wife asked her, “Why does your whole body reek of blood?”

The maidservant abruptly rolled back her eyes and gnashed her teeth. She sprang and leaped about, striking her head against the roof beam, and cried aloud, “I am Zhuge Ke! I have been murdered through the treachery of the villain Sun Jun!”

Every member of Zhuge Ke’s household, old and young alike, cried out in terror and grief. Before long troops arrived and surrounded the residence. They bound every member of Zhuge Ke’s family, old and young, dragged them to the execution ground in the marketplace, and beheaded them. It was then the tenth month of winter, in the second year of Jianxing in Wu.

In earlier days, when Zhuge Jin was still alive, he had observed how Zhuge Ke displayed all his cleverness openly and sighed, “This son is not one who will preserve his house!” Zhang Ji, Grandee of Splendid Happiness in Wei, had also once said to Sima Shi, “Zhuge Ke will soon die!”

When Sima Shi asked why, Zhang Ji replied, “How can one whose power overawes his sovereign endure for long?”

Now his words proved true.

After Sun Jun had killed Zhuge Ke, Sun Liang, ruler of Wu, appointed him Imperial Chancellor, General-in-Chief, and Marquis of Fuchun, placing him in supreme command of all military affairs within the capital and beyond. From that time onward, all authority passed into Sun Jun’s hands.

Now Jiang Wei was in Chengdu when he received Zhuge Ke’s letter asking his assistance in attacking Wei. He therefore entered the court and obtained the Later Lord’s approval, then once more raised a great army for a northern expedition against the Central Plains. Truly:

Once he raised an army, yet no triumph crowned the fight;Twice he marched against the foe, determined to set things right.

What the outcome was will be revealed in the chapter that follows.

Ding Feng Fights with Short Blades in the Snow; Sun Jun Executes a Secret Plan at the Banquet

Now Jiang Wei was retreating when he encountered Sima Shi leading an army to intercept him. It turned out that when Jiang Wei had seized Yongzhou, Guo Huai had sent an urgent report to the imperial court. The ruler of Wei consulted with Sima Yi and settled on a plan. Sima Yi dispatched his eldest son, Sima Shi, with fifty thousand troops to Yongzhou to assist in the fighting. When Sima Shi learned that Guo Huai had driven back the Shu army, he judged that the Shu forces must be weak and came to strike them along their route of retreat. He pursued them all the way to Yangping Pass, but Jiang Wei used the repeating-crossbow method handed down by the Marquis of Wuxiang. He secretly placed more than a hundred repeating crossbows in ambush on both sides of the road. Each crossbow discharged ten bolts, all of them poisoned. The crossbows on both sides fired together, killing untold numbers of men and horses in the vanguard. Amid the chaos, Sima Shi escaped with his life and returned.

Meanwhile, inside Qushan, the Shu general Gou An saw that no reinforcements were coming, so he opened the gates and surrendered to Wei. Jiang Wei had lost tens of thousands of soldiers and led his defeated army back to Hanzhong, where he established camp. Sima Shi returned to Luoyang. In the eighth month of autumn in the third year of Jiaping, Sima Yi fell ill, and his condition gradually became grave. He summoned his two sons to his bedside and charged them: “I have served Wei for many years and attained the office of Grand Tutor, the highest rank a subject may hold. Everyone has suspected me of harboring disloyal ambitions, and I have always lived in fear. After my death, the two of you must govern the affairs of state well. Take care! Take care!” With these words, he died. His eldest son, Sima Shi, and his second son, Sima Zhao, submitted a memorial to Cao Fang, ruler of Wei. Cao Fang gave Sima Yi a lavish funeral and bestowed generous posthumous honors and a posthumous title upon him. He appointed Sima Shi General-in-Chief, placing him in overall charge of the Secretariat and the confidential affairs of state, and made Sima Zhao General-in-Chief of Agile Cavalry.

Now Sun Quan, ruler of Wu, had first named as crown prince Sun Deng, the son of Lady Xu. Sun Deng died in the fourth year of Chiwu, so Sun Quan named his second son, Sun He, crown prince. Sun He was the son of Lady Wang of Langya. Because Sun He was on bad terms with Princess Quan, she slandered him, and Sun Quan deposed him. Sun He died of grief and resentment. Sun Quan then named his third son, Sun Liang, crown prince. Sun Liang was the son of Lady Pan. By this time Lu Xun and Zhuge Jin were both dead, and all matters great and small had passed into the hands of Zhuge Ke. On the first day of the eighth month of autumn in the first year of Taihe, a tremendous wind suddenly arose. The rivers and sea surged with waves, and the water on level ground reached a depth of eight feet. All the pines and cypresses Sun Quan had planted over the years were uprooted and carried through the air to the southern gate of Jianye, where they landed upside down along the road. Sun Quan was so frightened by this that he fell ill. By the eighth month of that year, his condition had become grave, and he summoned Grand Tutor Zhuge Ke and Grand Marshal Lü Dai to his bedside and entrusted future affairs to them. After giving his final instructions, he died. He had reigned for twenty-four years and lived to the age of seventy-one. It was the fifteenth year of Yanxi in Shu-Han. A later poet wrote:

Purple-bearded, blue-eyed, he was hailed as a hero,And could inspire his ministers to utmost loyalty.For twenty-four years he built a mighty enterprise,Where dragons coil and tigers crouch in the lands east of the river.

After Sun Quan’s death, Zhuge Ke installed Sun Liang as emperor, proclaimed a general amnesty throughout the realm, and changed the era name to the first year of Daxing. Sun Quan received the posthumous title Grand Emperor and was buried at Jiangling. Spies soon learned of these events and reported them to Luoyang. When Sima Shi heard that Sun Quan was dead, he proposed raising an army to attack Wu. Fu Gu, a Master of the Secretariat, said: “Wu is protected by the natural barrier of the Yangtze. The late emperor campaigned against it many times, but none of those campaigns ended as he wished. It would be best for each side to guard its own borders.” Sima Shi said: “The Way of Heaven changes once every thirty years. How can the realm remain divided among three powers forever? I intend to attack Wu.” Sima Zhao said: “Sun Quan has just died, and Sun Liang is young and weak. This is precisely the opening we should exploit.” Sima Shi therefore ordered Wang Chang, General-in-Chief Who Conquers the South, to lead one hundred thousand troops against Nanjun; Hu Zun, General Who Conquers the East, to lead one hundred thousand troops against Dongxing; and Guanqiu Jian, Commander Who Guards the South, to lead one hundred thousand troops against Wuchang. The three armies advanced, and Sima Shi also appointed his younger brother Sima Zhao Commander-in-Chief, placing him in overall command of all three forces.

In the tenth month of winter that year, Sima Zhao’s army reached the border of Eastern Wu. After encamping his men and horses, he summoned Wang Chang, Hu Zun, and Guanqiu Jian to his command tent and said: “The most vital position in Eastern Wu is Dongxing Commandery. Wu has built a great dike there, as well as two fortresses to its left and right, to protect against an attack from the rear of Lake Chao. You gentlemen must proceed with great care.” He then ordered Wang Chang and Guanqiu Jian each to lead ten thousand troops and deploy on the left and right without advancing for the time being. Once Dongxing Commandery had been taken, they were all to advance together. Wang Chang and Guanqiu Jian received their orders and departed. Sima Zhao then appointed Hu Zun vanguard commander and ordered him to lead the combined forces of all three armies forward. He was first to build pontoon bridges and seize the great dike at Dongxing. If he captured the two fortresses on either side, it would be a great achievement. Hu Zun led his men forward to build the pontoon bridges.

Meanwhile, when Grand Tutor Zhuge Ke of Wu learned that the Wei armies were advancing along three routes, he assembled his officers to discuss the matter. Ding Feng, General Who Pacifies the North, said: “Dongxing is a vital position for Eastern Wu. If it is lost, Nanjun and Wuchang will both be in danger.” Zhuge Ke said: “Your view accords exactly with my own. You may lead three thousand marines there by river. I will then order Lü Ju, Tang Zi, and Liu Zuan each to lead ten thousand infantrymen in three separate columns to support you. When you hear a rapid succession of cannon blasts, advance together. I will follow with the main army.” Ding Feng received his orders and immediately led three thousand marines aboard thirty ships toward Dongxing.

Hu Zun crossed the pontoon bridges and stationed his army on the dike, then sent Huan Jia and Han Zong to attack the two fortresses. The fortress on the left was defended by the Wu general Quan Yi, and the one on the right by the Wu general Liu Lüe. Both fortresses were high, steep, and strongly fortified, and could not be taken by a sudden assault. Seeing the size of the Wei army, Quan Yi and Liu Lüe did not dare come out to fight, but defended their forts to the death. Hu Zun set up camp at Xuzhou. The weather was bitterly cold, and heavy snow fell from the sky. Hu Zun and his officers held a great banquet, when a sudden report came that thirty warships had arrived on the water. Hu Zun went out of camp to look. He saw that the ships were about to reach the bank and that each carried roughly one hundred men. He returned to his tent and said to his officers: “They have no more than three thousand men. Why should we fear them?” He merely ordered subordinate officers to keep watch, then continued drinking as before. Ding Feng lined up his ships side by side on the water and said to his officers: “For a true man, the day to win fame, honor, wealth, and rank is today!” He ordered all the soldiers to strip off their armor and clothing, remove their helmets, and carry no long spears or great halberds, but only short swords. The Wei soldiers laughed when they saw this and made no further preparations.

Suddenly, three rapid cannon blasts sounded. Ding Feng drew his sword, sprang ashore at the head of his men, and charged forward. All his soldiers drew their short swords, followed him onto the bank, and hacked their way into the Wei camp. The Wei soldiers were caught completely unprepared. Han Zong hurriedly seized the great halberd in front of his tent and went to meet Ding Feng, but Ding Feng had already rushed inside the reach of his weapon. His arm rose, his sword fell, and Han Zong was cut down. Huan Jia came around from the left and hastily thrust his spear at Ding Feng, but Ding Feng caught the shaft under his arm. Huan Jia abandoned the spear and fled. Ding Feng hurled his sword, striking him squarely in the left shoulder, and Huan Jia toppled backward. Ding Feng overtook him and stabbed him with the spear. The three thousand Wu soldiers charged left and right throughout the Wei camp. Hu Zun hurriedly mounted his horse and forced his way out. The Wei troops all fled toward the pontoon bridges, but the bridges had already broken, and more than half the men fell into the water and drowned. Untold numbers were cut down on the snowy ground. The Wu army captured all their carts, equipment, horses, and weapons. When Sima Zhao, Wang Chang, and Guanqiu Jian heard of the defeat at Dongxing, they too drew back their forces and retreated.

Zhuge Ke led his army to Dongxing, and after gathering the troops and rewarding them for their service, he assembled his generals and said: “Sima Zhao has been defeated and has fled north. This is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of our momentum and advance into the Central Plains.” On the one hand, he sent a messenger carrying a letter into Shu, asking Jiang Wei to advance and attack Wei from the north, promising that they would divide the realm equally between them. On the other, he raised a great army of two hundred thousand men to invade the Central Plains. As the army was about to depart, a stream of white vapor suddenly rose from the ground and cut across the three armies so thickly that no one could see the person facing him. Jiang Yan said: “This vapor is a white rainbow, an omen that the army will suffer losses. Grand Tutor, you should return to the capital and must not attack Wei.” Zhuge Ke flew into a rage and said: “How dare you speak such inauspicious words and weaken the morale of my army!” He shouted for the guards to behead Jiang Yan. Everyone pleaded for his life, so Zhuge Ke demoted him to commoner. He then continued urging the army forward. Ding Feng said: “Wei relies on Xincheng as its principal stronghold. If we take that city first, Sima Zhao’s courage will be shattered.” Zhuge Ke was delighted and immediately pressed his army straight to Xincheng. Zhang Te, the Gate General defending the city, saw the great Wu army approaching, shut the gates, and held them firmly. Zhuge Ke ordered his troops to surround the city on all sides. An express rider soon carried news of the siege to Luoyang. Yu Song, a Recording Secretary, advised Sima Shi: “Zhuge Ke has now surrounded Xincheng, but we should not fight him yet. The Wu army has come from far away. It has many men but little grain, and when its provisions run out it will withdraw on its own. Wait until it is about to leave, then attack it, and you are certain to win a complete victory. I fear only that the Shu army may invade our borders, so we cannot fail to guard against it.” Sima Shi approved his counsel. He therefore ordered Sima Zhao to lead an army to assist Guo Huai in guarding against Jiang Wei, while Guanqiu Jian and Hu Zun held off the Wu army.

Zhuge Ke attacked Xincheng for several months without taking it. He ordered all his generals to combine their strength in the assault and declared that anyone who shirked would be beheaded at once. The generals therefore attacked with all their might, and the northeastern corner of the city was on the verge of falling. Inside the city, Zhang Te devised a plan. He ordered an eloquent speaker to carry the city’s registers to the Wu camp and see Zhuge Ke. The man said: “The law of Wei states that if an enemy surrounds a city, its defending commander must hold out for one hundred days. If no relief force arrives by then, and he subsequently leaves the city and surrenders to the enemy, his family will not be held guilty. You have now surrounded the city for more than ninety days. We beg you to allow us a few more days. My commander will then lead all the soldiers and civilians out of the city to surrender. For now, he has prepared these registers and presents them to you.”

Zhuge Ke believed him completely, withdrew his troops, and ceased attacking the city. Zhang Te had in fact used a delaying tactic to deceive the Wu forces into pulling back. He demolished houses inside the city and used the materials to repair every breach in the walls. Then he climbed onto the battlements and shouted abuse: “We still have enough grain in this city for half a year! Do you think we would ever surrender to the dogs of Wu? Attack as much as you like!” Zhuge Ke flew into a rage and urged his men to assault the city. A storm of arrows shot down from the walls. One struck Zhuge Ke squarely in the forehead, and he toppled backward from his horse. His officers rescued him and carried him back to camp, where the wound became severely inflamed. The entire army lost the will to fight. Moreover, the weather was fiercely hot, and many soldiers fell ill. When Zhuge Ke’s wound had improved somewhat, he wanted to urge the men to attack the city again. A camp officer told him: “Everyone is sick. How can they fight?” Zhuge Ke angrily replied: “Behead the next man who speaks of sickness!” When the soldiers heard of this, countless numbers deserted. Suddenly a report came that Commander Cai Lin had led the troops under his command over to Wei. Zhuge Ke was greatly alarmed. He personally mounted his horse and inspected every camp, where he found that the soldiers’ faces were sallow and swollen and that all of them showed signs of illness. He therefore ordered the army to withdraw to Wu. Spies quickly reported this to Guanqiu Jian, who mobilized his entire army and attacked the Wu forces from behind. The Wu army suffered a great defeat and returned home. Zhuge Ke was deeply ashamed and claimed illness to avoid attending court. Sun Liang, ruler of Wu, personally visited his residence to inquire after his health, and all the civil and military officials came to pay their respects. Fearing that people would criticize him, Zhuge Ke first investigated the faults and offenses of every official and general. Those guilty of minor offenses were exiled to the frontier, while those guilty of serious ones were beheaded as a public warning. All officials inside and outside the court were terrified. Zhuge Ke also placed his trusted generals Zhang Yue and Zhu En in command of the Imperial Guard, making them his claws and fangs.

Now Sun Jun, whose courtesy name was Ziyuan, was the great-grandson of Sun Jing, the younger brother of Sun Jian, and the son of Sun Gong. While Sun Quan was alive, he had been very fond of Sun Jun and had placed him in command of the Imperial Guard. When Sun Jun now heard that Zhuge Ke had given Zhang Yue and Zhu En command of the Imperial Guard and stripped him of his authority, he became furious. Teng Yin, Minister of Ceremonies, had long been at odds with Zhuge Ke. Seizing this opportunity, he said to Sun Jun: “Zhuge Ke monopolizes power and behaves with unrestrained cruelty. He murders high ministers and nobles and will soon harbor thoughts of rebellion. You are a member of the imperial clan. Why do you not act against him before it is too late?” Sun Jun replied: “I have had the same thought for a long time. I will report to the Son of Heaven at once and request an edict to execute him.” Sun Jun and Teng Yin therefore went to see Sun Liang, ruler of Wu, and secretly reported the matter. Sun Liang said: “I too am terrified whenever I see this man. I have often wanted to eliminate him, but have never found the opportunity. If you gentlemen are truly loyal and righteous, you may secretly plan it.” Teng Yin said: “Your Majesty may prepare a banquet and invite Zhuge Ke, while secretly concealing armed men behind the wall hangings. Throw down your cup as the signal, and have them kill him at the banquet, thereby eliminating this future danger.” Sun Liang followed his advice.

Ever since Zhuge Ke had returned to the capital after his defeat, he had claimed illness and remained at home, his mind dazed and unsettled. One day, he happened to come out into the main hall and suddenly saw a man enter wearing hempen mourning clothes. Zhuge Ke shouted at him and demanded to know who he was. The man was so frightened that he did not know what to do. Zhuge Ke ordered him seized and interrogated. The man said: “My father recently died, and I came into the city to ask monks to perform rites for his soul. At first I thought this was a monastery, so I entered, never imagining it was the Grand Tutor’s residence. How did I ever come to be here?” Enraged, Zhuge Ke summoned the soldiers guarding the gate and questioned them. The soldiers said: “Several dozen of us have been standing at the gate with weapons in hand. We have never left our posts even for an instant, and we did not see anyone come in.” Zhuge Ke flew into a rage and had every one of them beheaded. That night, he slept restlessly. Suddenly he heard a noise like a thunderclap in the main hall. He went out himself to investigate and saw that the central roof beam had broken in two. Startled, he returned to his bedroom. Suddenly a cold, ghostly wind arose, and he saw the man in mourning whom he had killed, together with the dozens of gate guards, each carrying his own severed head and demanding Zhuge Ke’s life. Zhuge Ke collapsed to the floor in terror and did not regain consciousness for a long time. The next morning, as he washed his face, he noticed that the water reeked strongly of blood. He berated his maidservants, who changed the basin dozens of times, but every basin smelled exactly the same.

While Zhuge Ke was still alarmed and suspicious, a sudden report came that an imperial envoy had arrived to summon the Grand Tutor to a banquet. Zhuge Ke ordered his carriage and retinue prepared. Just as he was about to leave his residence, a yellow dog seized his clothes in its jaws and began whining as if it were weeping. Zhuge Ke angrily said: “Is this dog making sport of me?” He shouted for his attendants to drive it away, then boarded his carriage and left the residence. He had gone only a few paces when a white rainbow appeared before the carriage, rising from the ground like a strip of white silk and soaring into the sky. Zhuge Ke was greatly alarmed by this strange sight. His trusted general Zhang Yue approached the carriage and secretly warned him: “There is a banquet in the palace today, but we do not know whether it bodes good or ill. My lord, you must not enter lightly.” After hearing this, Zhuge Ke ordered the carriage turned around. Before it had gone another ten paces, Sun Jun and Teng Yin rode up and stopped in front of it. “Why is the Grand Tutor returning?” they asked. Zhuge Ke replied: “I have suddenly developed severe abdominal pains and cannot appear before the Son of Heaven.” Teng Yin said: “Since the Grand Tutor returned from the campaign, the court has had no chance to speak with you face to face. That is why this special banquet has been prepared and you have been summoned. There are also important matters to discuss. Though the Grand Tutor may be suffering from illness, you should make an effort to come.” Zhuge Ke followed his advice and entered the palace with Sun Jun and Teng Yin. Zhang Yue accompanied them. Zhuge Ke appeared before Sun Liang, ruler of Wu, performed the proper courtesies, and took his seat at the banquet. Sun Liang ordered wine to be served. Zhuge Ke remained suspicious and declined, saying: “In my present illness, I cannot bear to drink wine.” Sun Jun said: “The Grand Tutor regularly drinks medicinal wine at his residence. Could we bring some for you?” Zhuge Ke said: “Yes.” He therefore ordered an attendant to return to his residence and bring back his own specially prepared medicinal wine. Only then did Zhuge Ke relax and begin to drink.

After several rounds of wine, Sun Liang, ruler of Wu, excused himself on the pretext of other business and left first. Sun Jun went down from the hall, removed his long robe, and put on short garments with ring-mail armor underneath. Carrying a sharp blade, he returned to the hall and shouted: “The Son of Heaven has issued an edict to execute the traitor!” Zhuge Ke was greatly alarmed. He hurled his cup to the floor and tried to draw his sword to meet the attack, but his head had already fallen to the ground. When Zhang Yue saw Sun Jun behead Zhuge Ke, he brandished his sword and attacked. Sun Jun quickly dodged the point of the blade, though it wounded a finger on his left hand. He wheeled around and struck Zhang Yue’s right arm with his sword. The armed guards rushed out together, cut Zhang Yue down, and hacked his body into pulp. Sun Jun ordered the guards to arrest Zhuge Ke’s family. At the same time, he had Zhang Yue’s and Zhuge Ke’s corpses wrapped in reed mats, loaded onto a small cart, and carried outside the southern gate of the city, where they were thrown into an unmarked burial pit on Shizigang.

Meanwhile, Zhuge Ke’s wife was in her room, feeling dazed and deeply uneasy, unable to sit or stand in peace. Suddenly, a maid entered the room. Zhuge Ke’s wife asked her: “Why does your entire body reek of blood?” The maid suddenly rolled back her eyes and ground her teeth. She sprang and leaped about, striking her head against the roof beam, and cried out loudly: “I am Zhuge Ke! I have been murdered by the treacherous villain Sun Jun!” Every member of Zhuge Ke’s household, old and young alike, wailed in terror. Before long, soldiers arrived and surrounded the residence. They bound every member of Zhuge Ke’s family, young and old, dragged them to the public execution ground, and beheaded them. It was the tenth month of winter in the second year of Jianxing in Wu. In earlier days, when Zhuge Jin was still alive, he saw that Zhuge Ke displayed all his cleverness openly and sighed: “This boy is not a man who will preserve his family!” Zhang Ji, Guanglu Grandee of Wei, had also once said to Sima Shi: “Zhuge Ke will soon die!” Sima Shi asked him why, and Zhang Ji replied: “When a subject’s power overawes his ruler, how can he last long?” Now his words had proved true.

After Sun Jun killed Zhuge Ke, Sun Liang, ruler of Wu, appointed him Chancellor, General-in-Chief, and Marquis of Fuchun, placing him in overall command of all military affairs both inside and outside the court. From then on, all authority rested in Sun Jun’s hands.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wei was in Chengdu when he received Zhuge Ke’s letter asking for his assistance in attacking Wei. He therefore entered the imperial court and obtained the Later Emperor’s approval, then once again raised a great army for a northern campaign into the Central Plains. As the verse says:

Once he raised an army but achieved no success;Now a second time he went to crush the rebels, hoping to prevail.

What the outcome was will be revealed in the next chapter.