Chapter 112

Yu Quan Dies Loyally Rescuing Shouchun; Jiang Wei Fights Fiercely to Take the Great Wall

Now Sima Zhao heard that Zhuge Dan had joined forces with the troops of Wu and was advancing to seek a decisive battle. He therefore summoned Pei Xiu, Chief Clerk to the Cavalier Attendants, and Zhong Hui, Palace Attendant of the Yellow Gates, to discuss a plan for defeating the enemy. Zhong Hui said, “The troops of Wu have come to aid Zhuge Dan solely for gain. If we tempt them with gain, we shall surely prevail.” Sima Zhao followed his counsel. He ordered Shi Bao and Zhou Tai each to lead a force into ambush near Shitou City, with Wang Ji and Chen Qian commanding picked troops behind them. Then he sent the subordinate general Cheng Cui ahead with several tens of thousands of men to lure the enemy on. He also ordered Chen Jun to bring wagons, military stores, oxen, horses, donkeys, and mules laden with rewards for the troops, and to mass them all around the encampment, abandoning them if the enemy came.

That day Zhuge Dan placed the Wu general Zhu Yi on the left and Wen Qin on the right. Seeing that the men and horses in the Wei formation were in disorder, Zhuge Dan drove his entire army straight forward. Cheng Cui turned and fled; Zhuge Dan pressed after him with his troops, striking down the fugitives. But when they saw oxen, horses, donkeys, and mules covering the countryside, the southern soldiers began scrambling to seize them and lost all thought of battle. Suddenly a cannon boomed, and two forces charged upon them: Shi Bao from the left and Zhou Tai from the right. Zhuge Dan was greatly alarmed and was about to retreat when the picked troops of Wang Ji and Chen Qian fell upon him. Zhuge Dan’s army was utterly defeated. Sima Zhao then led forward another force in support. Zhuge Dan gathered his routed troops and fled into Shouchun, where he shut the gates and held firm. Sima Zhao ordered his men to surround the city on all sides and assail it with their combined strength.

At this time the troops of Wu had withdrawn to encamp at Anfeng, while the Emperor of Wei’s imperial carriage was stationed at Xiangcheng. Zhong Hui said, “Though Zhuge Dan has now been defeated, Shouchun still contains abundant provisions and fodder, while the Wu troops at Anfeng form a supporting horn. If we surround and attack them from every side, they will hold firm when we ease our assault and fight to the death when we press them hard. The Wu troops may seize the moment to attack us from both sides, and our army will gain nothing. It would be better to attack from three sides, leaving the main road through the southern gate open so that the rebels may flee of their own accord. If we strike them while they are fleeing, we can win a complete victory. The Wu troops have come from afar, and their provisions cannot last. If I lead light cavalry around behind them, they can be broken without a battle.” Sima Zhao stroked Zhong Hui’s back and said, “You are truly my Zhang Liang!” He thereupon ordered Wang Ji to withdraw the troops from the southern gate.

Meanwhile, the troops of Wu were encamped at Anfeng. Sun Chen summoned Zhu Yi and rebuked him, saying, “If you cannot even relieve a single city like Shouchun, how can we hope to annex the Central Plain? If you fail again, you shall be beheaded!” Zhu Yi returned to his own camp to deliberate. Yu Quan said, “The southern gate of Shouchun is not surrounded. I am willing to lead a force through that gate and enter the city to help Zhuge Dan defend it. Let the general challenge the Wei army while I charge out from within the city. By attacking from two sides, we can break the Wei troops.” Zhu Yi approved his proposal. Quan Yi, Quan Duan, Wen Qin, and the others all volunteered to enter the city. They therefore joined Yu Quan and led ten thousand troops in through the southern gate. Having received no command from their general, the Wei soldiers dared not engage the enemy without authorization and allowed the Wu troops to enter the city. They then reported the matter to Sima Zhao. Sima Zhao said, “They intend to attack our army from within and without in concert with Zhu Yi and thus defeat us.” He summoned Wang Ji and Chen Qian and instructed them, “Lead five thousand troops, cut off Zhu Yi’s line of advance, and strike him from behind.” The two received their orders and departed. Zhu Yi was leading his troops forward when suddenly a tremendous clamor arose behind him. Wang Ji attacked from the left and Chen Qian from the right, and the Wu army suffered a crushing defeat. Zhu Yi returned to see Sun Chen. In a fury, Sun Chen said, “What use have I for a general who suffers defeat after defeat?” He shouted to the soldiers to drag Zhu Yi out and behead him. Then he reproached Quan Yi, the son of Quan Duan, saying, “If you fail to drive back the Wei army, neither you nor your father need ever come before me again!” Sun Chen then returned to Jianye.

Zhong Hui said to Sima Zhao, “Now that Sun Chen has withdrawn, there are no relief troops outside. We may surround the city.” Sima Zhao agreed and urged his troops onward to encircle and attack it. Quan Yi led his soldiers against Shouchun, but when he saw the overwhelming strength of the Wei army, he realized that there was no path either forward or back. He therefore surrendered to Sima Zhao, who appointed him General of a Separate Command. Grateful for Sima Zhao’s favor, Quan Yi wrote a family letter to his father, Quan Duan, and his uncle, Quan Yi, declaring that Sun Chen was without benevolence and that it would be better to surrender to Wei. He then had the letter shot into the city. When Quan Yi received his nephew’s letter, he and Quan Duan led several thousand men out through the opened gate and surrendered. Within the city Zhuge Dan was sunk in anxious gloom. His advisers Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi remonstrated with him, saying, “There is little grain in the city and a great multitude of troops; we cannot hold out for long. We should lead the soldiers of Wu and Chu forth and fight the Wei army in a battle to the death.” Zhuge Dan flew into a rage. “I wish to defend, while you wish to fight. Can it be that you harbor treacherous intentions? Speak of this again, and you will be beheaded!” The two raised their faces to heaven and sighed deeply. “Zhuge Dan is doomed! Better that we surrender at once than perish with him!” That night, during the second watch, Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi climbed over the wall and surrendered to Wei. Sima Zhao entrusted them with important posts. After this, though there were men in the city who dared to fight, none dared speak of battle.

From within the city Zhuge Dan saw the Wei troops raising earthen ramparts on every side to hold back the waters of the Huai. He hoped only for a flood that would sweep the earthworks away, whereupon he could drive out his troops and attack. But contrary to his hopes, from autumn until winter there were no prolonged rains, and the Huai did not flood. Provisions in the city were visibly nearing exhaustion. Wen Qin, who was defending the inner city with his two sons, saw the soldiers gradually collapsing from hunger. He had no choice but to report to Zhuge Dan, saying, “Our grain and fodder are utterly exhausted, and the soldiers are wasting away from hunger. We should release all the northern troops from the city to lessen the number of mouths we must feed.” Zhuge Dan was enraged. “You urge me to send away all the northern troops because you mean to plot against me!” He shouted for Wen Qin to be dragged out and beheaded. When Wen Yang and Wen Hu saw that their father had been killed, each drew a short sword and slew several dozen men on the spot. Then they raced up the wall, leapt down from it, crossed the moat, and went to the Wei camp to surrender. Sima Zhao still hated Wen Yang for the old humiliation of having had his army driven back by a lone horseman and wished to behead him. Zhong Hui remonstrated, saying, “The guilt belonged to Wen Qin, and Wen Qin is now dead. His two sons have come over to us because they had no other recourse. If you kill generals who surrender, you will only harden the resolve of those within the stout walls.” Sima Zhao accepted his counsel. He summoned Wen Yang and Wen Hu into his tent, soothed them with kindly words, bestowed fine horses and brocade robes upon them, appointed them Generals of Separate Commands, and enfeoffed them as Marquises Within the Passes. The two brothers bowed in gratitude, mounted their horses, and rode around the city shouting, “We two have received pardon and rank from the General-in-Chief! Why do you not surrender at once?” When the people within the city heard them, they all said among themselves, “Wen Yang was an enemy of the Sima clan, yet even he has been given high office. How much more favorably will we be treated?” Thus they all wished to surrender. When Zhuge Dan heard of this, he was furious. Day and night he personally patrolled the walls, using executions to inspire fear.

Zhong Hui knew that the hearts of the people within the city had changed, so he entered Sima Zhao’s tent and said, “Now is the time to storm the city.” Sima Zhao was overjoyed. He roused the three armies, which massed like clouds on every side and attacked all at once. The defending general Zeng Xuan offered up the northern gate and admitted the Wei troops into the city. When Zhuge Dan learned that the Wei army had entered, he hurriedly led several hundred of his followers out by a narrow lane within the city. Reaching the drawbridge, he ran directly into Hu Zun, who raised his blade and brought it down, cutting Zhuge Dan from his horse. The several hundred followers were all bound. Wang Ji led his troops to the western gate, where he encountered the Wu general Yu Quan. Wang Ji shouted, “Why did you not surrender sooner?” Yu Quan replied in a fury, “I came forth under orders to rescue another from peril. Having failed to save him, am I then to surrender to his enemy? Honor forbids it!” He flung his helmet to the ground and cried aloud, “For a man born into this world, what greater fortune is there than to die upon the battlefield?” He brandished his sword and fought desperately for more than thirty bouts. At last, exhausted himself and his horse spent, he was slain amid the disorderly host. A later poet praised him:

In days of old Sima ringed Shouchun round;Countless surrendered, bowing in the chariot’s dust.Though Eastern Wu had many heroic men,Who rivaled Yu Quan, so resolved to give his life?

Sima Zhao entered Shouchun and had every member of Zhuge Dan’s household, old and young, beheaded and their heads exposed. He exterminated Zhuge Dan’s three clans. Armed guards then brought in several hundred captured soldiers from Zhuge Dan’s command, all bound. Sima Zhao asked, “Will you surrender?” They all cried aloud, “We wish to die with Lord Zhuge! We will never surrender to you!” Sima Zhao was enraged and ordered the guards to drag them all outside the city. There each man was asked in turn, “Those who surrender shall be spared.” Not one of them spoke a word of submission. They were killed one after another until none remained, and to the very end not one surrendered. Sima Zhao sighed deeply and without cease, then ordered that they all be buried. A later poet lamented:

True to their lord, they vowed not to steal life—The soldiers beneath Lord Zhuge’s command.The strains of “Dew upon the Shallots” surely have not ceased;Their legacy sought to follow Tian Heng’s.

Now most of the Wu soldiers had surrendered to Wei. Pei Xiu said to Sima Zhao, “The families of these Wu soldiers, old and young, all dwell in the southeastern lands along the Yangtze and Huai. If we keep the men here, in time they will surely rebel. Better to bury them alive.” Zhong Hui said, “No. Those who used armies in ancient times held the preservation of a state to be the highest aim and executed only the chief evildoers. To bury all these men alive would be inhumane. Better to release them and let them return south of the Yangtze, thereby displaying the magnanimity of the Central Kingdom.” Sima Zhao said, “This is excellent counsel.” He therefore released all the Wu soldiers and allowed them to return to their own country. Tang Zi, fearing Sun Chen, dared not return home and also came over to Wei. Sima Zhao gave all the surrendered officers important appointments and distributed them throughout the region of the Three Rivers. Huainan was now pacified. Just as Sima Zhao was preparing to withdraw his army, a sudden report arrived that Jiang Wei of Western Shu was leading troops against the Great Wall and intercepting the supply trains. Sima Zhao was greatly alarmed and consulted his many officers on a plan for withdrawing the army.

At this time, in the twentieth year of Yanxi under the Han of Shu, the reign era was changed to the first year of Jingyao. In Hanzhong, Jiang Wei had chosen two generals from Shu whom he trained daily with their men and horses. One was Jiang Shu, the other Fu Qian; both possessed considerable courage and valor, and Jiang Wei esteemed them highly. Suddenly word came that Zhuge Dan had risen in Huainan to wage war against Sima Zhao, that Sun Chen of Eastern Wu was aiding him, and that Sima Zhao had mobilized the armies of both banks of the Huai and taken the Empress Dowager of Wei and the Emperor of Wei with him on campaign. Jiang Wei was overjoyed. “This time my great enterprise will succeed!” He therefore submitted a memorial to the Latter Ruler, requesting permission to raise an army against Wei. When Qiao Zhou, Grand Master of Palace Accord, heard of this, he sighed and said, “Of late the court has wallowed in wine and women, placing its trust in the favored palace eunuch Huang Hao. Affairs of state are neglected, and pleasure alone is sought. Boyue repeatedly desires to campaign without pity for the soldiers. The state is about to fall into peril!” He therefore composed an essay entitled “Discourse on Rival States” and sent it to Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei broke the seal and read it. The discourse said:

Someone asked: “In ancient times, those who could overcome the strong with the weak—what was their method?” The reply was: “Those who dwell in a great state free from danger are commonly given to arrogance; those who dwell in a small state beset by cares are commonly intent upon good government. Much arrogance breeds disorder; intentness upon good government produces order. This is a constant principle. Thus King Wen of Zhou nurtured his people and, with the few, overcame the many; Goujian cherished his people and, with the weak, destroyed the strong. Such was their method.”

Someone said: “Formerly, when Chu was strong and Han was weak, they agreed to divide the realm at the Hong Canal. Zhang Liang held that once the people’s allegiance was settled, it would be difficult to stir them again; yet he led the army in pursuit of Xiang Yu and in the end destroyed the house of Xiang. Must success necessarily follow the examples of King Wen and Goujian?” The reply was: “At the transition between Shang and Zhou, kings and lords had enjoyed honor for generations, and the bonds between ruler and subject were secure. At such a time, even had the Founder of Han appeared, how could he have taken up his sword and seized the empire? But after Qin abolished the feudal lords and established commanderies, the people were exhausted by Qin’s levies, and the empire collapsed like crumbling earth. Heroes then rose and contended on every side. Today both our state and theirs have been handed down through successive reigns. This is not the seething turmoil that marked the end of Qin, but rather a condition like that of the six states standing side by side. Thus one may emulate King Wen, but it is difficult to emulate the Founder of Han. One should move only when the time is ripe and act only when the circumstances accord. Therefore the armies of Tang and King Wu conquered without having to fight a second battle, for they truly valued the people’s labor and carefully judged the proper time. If instead one pursues war to its utmost and recklessly embarks upon campaign after campaign, then should misfortune arise, even the wise will be unable to devise a remedy.”

When Jiang Wei finished reading, he was furious. “This is the argument of a pedantic scholar!” He flung it to the ground. Then he led the troops of Shu forth to seize the Central Plain. He asked Fu Qian, “In your judgment, by which route should we advance?” Fu Qian replied, “Wei’s stores of grain and fodder are all at the Great Wall. We should now advance directly through Luo Valley, cross Shen Ridge, and go straight to the Great Wall. First we shall burn their provisions, and then advance directly upon the Qin Riverlands. The Central Plain will then be ours within a matter of days.” Jiang Wei said, “Your judgment accords perfectly with my own design.” He immediately led his troops straight through Luo Valley, crossed Shen Ridge, and advanced toward the Great Wall.

Now the general defending the Great Wall was Sima Wang, an elder clansman of Sima Zhao. The city held abundant grain and fodder, but few men and horses. When Sima Wang learned that the Shu army was approaching, he hastily led the two generals Wang Zhen and Li Peng twenty li from the city and established a camp. The next day the Shu army arrived, and Sima Wang led the two generals out to deploy for battle. Jiang Wei rode forward, pointed at Sima Wang, and said, “Sima Zhao has taken the sovereign into his army; he must harbor the same intentions as Li Jue and Guo Si. I have now come under the court’s enlightened command to call him to account. You should surrender at once. If you persist in your blind folly, your entire family will be put to death!” Sima Wang answered in a loud voice, “You are insolent! Time and again you have invaded the superior state. Unless you withdraw at once, I shall see that not one shard of armor returns!” Before he had finished speaking, Wang Zhen galloped out from behind him with leveled spear. Fu Qian rode forth from the Shu ranks to meet him. They had fought fewer than ten bouts when Fu Qian feigned an opening, and Wang Zhen thrust his spear at once. Fu Qian swerved aside, seized Wang Zhen alive from his horse, and turned back toward his own lines. Li Peng flew into a rage and spurred forward, whirling his sword, to rescue his comrade. Fu Qian deliberately slowed his pace. When Li Peng had drawn near, he gathered his strength and hurled Wang Zhen to the ground, while secretly taking a four-edged iron mace in hand. Li Peng overtook him and raised his sword to strike, but Fu Qian twisted around and struck him squarely in the face with the mace. His eyeballs burst from their sockets, and he fell dead beneath his horse. Wang Zhen was stabbed to death by a hail of Shu spears. Jiang Wei drove his troops forward in full force. Sima Wang abandoned the camp, entered the city, shut the gates, and refused to come out. Jiang Wei gave an order: “Tonight the soldiers shall rest for one night to restore their keen edge. Tomorrow we must enter the city.” At daybreak the next morning, the Shu troops vied with one another to advance and surged in a mass beneath the walls. They loosed fire arrows and hurled incendiary missiles into the city. The thatched buildings along the walls caught fire everywhere, throwing the Wei soldiers into confusion. Jiang Wei also ordered his men to pile dry brushwood beneath the walls and set it all alight at once. The fierce flames leapt to the sky. The city was on the verge of falling, and the Wei soldiers within wailed bitterly, their cries carrying across the surrounding countryside.

In the midst of the assault, a tremendous clamor suddenly arose behind them. Jiang Wei reined in his horse and looked back. He saw Wei soldiers beating drums, shouting, and waving banners as they came on in a vast and mighty host. Jiang Wei ordered his rear ranks to become the vanguard and took his position beneath the commander’s standard to await them. From the Wei formation rode a young general in full armor, spear leveled and horse at the gallop. He appeared to be a little over twenty years of age, with a face like powdered jade and lips as though painted with vermilion. In a fierce voice he shouted, “Do you recognize General Deng?” Jiang Wei thought to himself, “This must be Deng Ai.” Leveling his spear, he spurred forward. The two summoned all their vigor and fought for thirty or forty bouts, with neither gaining the advantage. The young general’s spearmanship did not slacken in the least. Jiang Wei thought, “Unless I use this stratagem, how can I prevail?” He wheeled his horse and fled toward a mountain path on the left. The young general galloped after him. Jiang Wei hung his steel spear at his side and secretly took out his carved bow and feathered arrow to shoot at his pursuer. But the young general had keen eyes and had already seen him. At the twang of the bowstring, he threw himself forward over his horse and let the feathered shaft fly past. Jiang Wei looked back and saw that the young general had already overtaken him and was thrusting with his spear. Jiang Wei dodged; the spear passed beside his ribs, and he trapped it under his arm. The young general abandoned the weapon and fled toward his own formation. Jiang Wei sighed, “What a pity! What a pity!” Then he wheeled his horse again and gave chase. When they reached the front of the Wei lines, a general came out with sword in hand and cried, “Wretch Jiang Wei, do not pursue my son! Deng Ai is here!” Jiang Wei was greatly startled. The young general was in fact Deng Zhong, the son of Deng Ai. Jiang Wei marveled inwardly. He wished to fight Deng Ai but feared that his horse was weary, so he pointed at Deng Ai as a feint and said, “Today I have come to know both father and son. Let us each withdraw our troops for now and decide the issue tomorrow.” Seeing that the field was unfavorable, Deng Ai also reined in his horse and replied, “If that is your wish, let each side withdraw its troops. A man who resorts to secret treachery is no true man.” Thus both armies retired. Deng Ai established his camp along the Wei River, while Jiang Wei encamped astride two mountains. After examining the terrain occupied by the Shu army, Deng Ai wrote to Sima Wang: “We must on no account offer battle, but should hold fast. When the troops from Guanzhong arrive, the Shu army’s grain and fodder will be exhausted. If we attack from three sides, victory is certain. I am now sending my eldest son, Deng Zhong, to assist in the defense of the city.” At the same time, he dispatched a messenger to Sima Zhao to request aid.

Jiang Wei now sent a letter of challenge into Deng Ai’s camp, arranging a great battle for the following day. Deng Ai pretended to accept. At the fifth watch next morning, Jiang Wei ordered the three armies to prepare their meal, and at daybreak he deployed his formation and waited. In Deng Ai’s camp, however, banners were furled and drums silent, as though no one were there. Jiang Wei did not return until evening. The next day he sent another letter of challenge, reproaching Deng Ai for failing to keep the appointed time. Deng Ai entertained the messenger with wine and food and replied, “This humble body has suffered a minor illness and was unable to meet you as agreed. We shall join battle tomorrow.” The next day Jiang Wei again led out his troops, but Deng Ai once more refused to emerge.

After this had happened five or six times, Fu Jian said to Jiang Wei, “There must be a scheme behind this. We should guard against it.” Jiang Wei replied, “He is surely waiting until the troops from Guanzhong arrive so that they may attack me from three sides. I shall now send a letter to Sun Chen of Eastern Wu and ask him to join forces with us in the assault.” Suddenly a scout rode in and reported that Sima Zhao had taken Shouchun, killed Zhuge Dan, and received the surrender of all the Wu troops. Sima Zhao had withdrawn his army to Luoyang and was about to lead troops to relieve the Great Wall. Jiang Wei was greatly alarmed. “This campaign against Wei has once again become nothing but a painted cake. We had better withdraw for now.” Indeed:

Four times already, deeds of merit proved hard to gain;Now for the fifth, success eludes him yet again.

How Jiang Wei withdrew his army will be revealed in the next chapter.

Yu Quan Dies Loyally Rescuing Shouchun; Jiang Wei Fights Fiercely to Take the Great Wall

Now Sima Zhao heard that Zhuge Dan had joined forces with the troops of Wu and was coming to seek a decisive battle, so he summoned Pei Xiu, Chief Clerk to the Cavalier Attendants, and Zhong Hui, Palace Attendant of the Yellow Gates, to discuss a plan for defeating the enemy. Zhong Hui said, “The troops of Wu are helping Zhuge Dan solely for profit. If we lure them with profit, we are certain to win.” Sima Zhao followed his advice. He ordered Shi Bao and Zhou Tai to lead two armies and lie in ambush near Shitou City, with Wang Ji and Chen Qian commanding elite troops behind them. He then ordered the deputy general Cheng Cui to lead tens of thousands of soldiers ahead to lure the enemy, and had Chen Jun bring carts, oxen, horses, donkeys, and mules loaded with rewards for the troops and mass them on all sides within the formation, to be abandoned if the enemy came.

That day, Zhuge Dan placed the Wu general Zhu Yi on the left and Wen Qin on the right. Seeing that the men and horses in the Wei formation were in disorder, Zhuge Dan drove his troops straight forward in a massive advance. Cheng Cui turned and fled, and Zhuge Dan urged his troops on in pursuit. When the southern soldiers saw oxen, horses, donkeys, and mules covering the countryside, they scrambled to seize them and lost all desire to fight. Suddenly, a cannon blast sounded and two forces charged out. Shi Bao attacked from the left and Zhou Tai from the right. Zhuge Dan was greatly alarmed and was about to retreat when the elite troops of Wang Ji and Chen Qian came charging in. Zhuge Dan’s army suffered a crushing defeat. Sima Zhao then personally led troops forward in support. Zhuge Dan led his defeated soldiers back into Shouchun, shut the gates, and held the city fast. Sima Zhao ordered his troops to surround it on every side and combine their strength in an assault.

At that time, the Wu troops withdrew and encamped at Anfeng, while the Emperor of Wei’s carriage halted at Xiangcheng. Zhong Hui said, “Although Zhuge Dan has now been defeated, Shouchun still contains abundant provisions and fodder, and the Wu troops encamped at Anfeng can support it from the flank. If we surround and attack from all four sides, the enemy will hold firm if we press them slowly and fight to the death if we press them hard. The Wu troops might seize the opportunity to attack us from the other side, and our army would gain nothing. It would be better to attack from three sides and leave the main road through the south gate open, allowing the rebels to flee. Then we can attack them as they run and win a complete victory. The Wu troops have come from far away, so their provisions cannot last. If I lead light cavalry around behind them, they will collapse without a battle.” Sima Zhao patted Zhong Hui on the back and said, “You are truly my Zhang Liang!” He then ordered Wang Ji to withdraw the troops from the south gate.

Now the Wu troops were encamped at Anfeng. Sun Chen summoned Zhu Yi and rebuked him, saying, “If you cannot even relieve a single city like Shouchun, how can we hope to annex the Central Plains? If you fail again, I will have you beheaded!” Zhu Yi returned to his own camp to discuss the situation. Yu Quan said, “The south gate of Shouchun is not under siege. I am willing to lead a force in through the south gate and help Zhuge Dan defend the city. General, you can challenge the Wei troops to battle while I charge out from within the city. By attacking them from two sides, we can defeat the Wei army.” Zhu Yi approved his plan. Quan Yi, Quan Duan, Wen Qin, and the others all volunteered to enter the city. Together with Yu Quan, they led ten thousand soldiers through the south gate into Shouchun. The Wei troops had received no order from their commander and did not dare engage the enemy on their own, so they allowed the Wu troops to enter the city and then reported the matter to Sima Zhao. Sima Zhao said, “They intend to coordinate with Zhu Yi and attack us from inside and outside to defeat our army.” He summoned Wang Ji and Chen Qian and instructed them, “Lead five thousand soldiers to cut off Zhu Yi’s route and attack him from behind.” The two accepted their orders and departed. Zhu Yi was just advancing with his troops when a great roar suddenly arose behind him. Wang Ji attacked from the left and Chen Qian from the right, their two armies charging in together. The Wu troops suffered a crushing defeat. Zhu Yi returned to see Sun Chen. Sun Chen furiously said, “What use are you, a general who loses battle after battle?” He shouted for the soldiers to drag Zhu Yi out and behead him. He then rebuked Quan Yi, the son of Quan Duan, saying, “If you fail to drive back the Wei troops, neither you nor your father need ever come before me again!” Sun Chen then returned to Jianye by himself.

Zhong Hui said to Sima Zhao, “Now that Sun Chen has withdrawn, the city has no relief force outside. We may surround it.” Sima Zhao followed his advice and pressed his troops to tighten the siege. Quan Yi led his soldiers in an attack on Shouchun, but when he saw the overwhelming strength of the Wei forces, he realized that there was no way forward or back and surrendered to Sima Zhao. Sima Zhao appointed Quan Yi Deputy General. Grateful for Sima Zhao’s kindness, Quan Yi wrote a family letter to his father, Quan Duan, and his uncle, Quan Yi, saying that Sun Chen was inhumane and that it would be better to surrender to Wei. He then had the letter shot into the city. When Quan Yi received the letter, he and Quan Duan led several thousand men out through the gates and surrendered. Inside the city, Zhuge Dan was filled with worry. His advisers Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi remonstrated with him, saying, “The city has little grain and many soldiers, so we cannot hold out for long. We should lead the men of Wu and Chu into a decisive battle to the death with the Wei army.” Zhuge Dan furiously said, “I want to defend, but you want to fight. Could it be that you harbor disloyal intentions? If you speak of this again, I will have you beheaded!” The two looked up to heaven and sighed deeply. “Zhuge Dan is doomed! We would do better to surrender early and escape death!” That night, during the second watch, Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi climbed over the wall and surrendered to Wei. Sima Zhao gave them important posts. After that, although there were men in the city willing to fight, none dared advocate battle.

Inside the city, Zhuge Dan saw the Wei troops building earthen ramparts on all sides to hold back the waters of the Huai River. He could only hope that the river would flood and wash down the ramparts, allowing him to drive his troops out against them. But unexpectedly, from autumn into winter there was no prolonged rain, and the Huai did not flood. As the city’s grain visibly dwindled toward exhaustion, Wen Qin, who was holding the inner city with his two sons, saw the soldiers gradually collapsing from hunger. He had no choice but to go to Zhuge Dan and say, “Our grain and fodder are completely exhausted, and the soldiers are being lost to starvation. We should send all the northern troops out of the city to reduce the number of mouths we must feed.” Zhuge Dan furiously said, “You are telling me to send away all the northern troops because you are plotting against me!” He shouted for Wen Qin to be dragged out and beheaded. When Wen Yang and Wen Hu saw that their father had been killed, each drew a short sword and instantly killed several dozen men. They then raced up the wall, leaped down from it, crossed the moat, and went to the Wei camp to surrender. Sima Zhao still hated Wen Yang for the old grudge of having driven back an army single-handedly and wanted to execute him. Zhong Hui remonstrated, “The guilt lay with Wen Qin, and Wen Qin is now dead. His two sons have come over to us only because they had no other way out. If you kill generals who surrender, you will only harden the resolve of those inside the fortified city.” Sima Zhao accepted his advice. He summoned Wen Yang and Wen Hu into his tent, soothed them with kind words, presented them with fine horses and brocade robes, appointed them Deputy Generals, and enfeoffed them as Marquises Within the Passes. The two bowed in thanks, mounted their horses, and rode around the city shouting, “The General-in-Chief has pardoned our crimes and granted us rank. Why do you not surrender at once?” When the people inside the city heard them, they all discussed the matter, saying, “Wen Yang was an enemy of the Sima clan, yet he has still been entrusted with high office. How much more leniently will they treat us?” After this, they all wanted to surrender. When Zhuge Dan heard of it, he was furious and personally patrolled the walls day and night, using executions to intimidate the people.

Zhong Hui learned that the people inside the city had changed their allegiance, so he entered Sima Zhao’s tent and said, “Now is the time to attack the city.” Sima Zhao was overjoyed. He roused the entire army, which massed on all four sides and attacked at once. The defending general Zeng Xuan surrendered the north gate and allowed the Wei troops into the city. When Zhuge Dan learned that the Wei troops had entered, he hurriedly led several hundred of his followers out through a narrow street inside the city. When he reached the drawbridge, he ran straight into Hu Zun, who raised his saber and brought it down, cutting Zhuge Dan from his horse. His several hundred followers were all bound. Wang Ji led troops to the west gate, where he encountered the Wu general Yu Quan. Wang Ji shouted, “Why did you not surrender earlier?” Yu Quan furiously replied, “I received orders to march out and relieve another man’s peril. Having failed to save him, how could I then surrender to someone else? Honor forbids it!” He threw his helmet to the ground and cried, “For a man living in this world, there is no greater fortune than to die on the battlefield!” He swung his saber and fought desperately for more than thirty bouts. When both man and horse were exhausted, he was killed amid the melee. A later poet praised him:In bygone days, Sima besieged Shouchun;Countless surrendered soldiers bowed before his carriage in the dust.Though Eastern Wu possessed many heroic men,Who could match Yu Quan, who willingly gave his life?

Sima Zhao entered Shouchun and had all the old and young members of Zhuge Dan’s household beheaded, exterminating his clan to the third degree. Armed guards brought forward several hundred captured soldiers from Zhuge Dan’s command, all bound. Sima Zhao said, “Will you surrender?” They all cried out, “We are willing to die with Lord Zhuge! We will never surrender to you!” Sima Zhao was enraged and ordered the guards to drag them all outside the city. They were questioned one by one: “Anyone who surrenders will be spared.” Not one of them spoke a word of surrender. They were killed until none remained, yet not one had surrendered. Sima Zhao sighed over them again and again, and ordered that they all be buried. A later poet lamented:Resolved to serve their lord, they would not cling to life,These soldiers who had served beneath Zhuge Gongxiu.The dirge “Dew on the Shallots” must still echo without end;Their legacy sought to follow that of Tian Heng.

Now more than half the Wu troops had surrendered to Wei. Pei Xiu said to Sima Zhao, “The families of the Wu soldiers all live in the southeastern lands around the Yangtze and Huai rivers. If we keep the soldiers here, they are certain to cause trouble eventually. It would be better to bury them alive.” Zhong Hui said, “No. The ancient masters of warfare held that preserving an enemy state intact was best and that only the chief evildoers should be put to death. If we bury them all alive, it would be inhumane. It would be better to release them and send them back south of the Yangtze, thereby displaying the magnanimity of the central realm.” Sima Zhao said, “That is an excellent argument.” He therefore released all the Wu soldiers and sent them home. Tang Zi, fearing Sun Chen, did not dare return to his country and also came over to Wei. Sima Zhao gave them all important posts and ordered them stationed throughout the Three Rivers region. Huainan had now been pacified. Just as Sima Zhao was preparing to withdraw his troops, a sudden report arrived that Jiang Wei of Western Shu was leading an army against the Great Wall and intercepting the grain convoys. Sima Zhao was greatly alarmed and discussed with his many officers how the army should withdraw.

At that time, the twentieth year of Yanxi in Shu-Han was changed to the first year of Jingyao. In Hanzhong, Jiang Wei selected two generals from Shu and drilled their troops and horses every day. One was Jiang Shu and the other Fu Qian. Both were quite brave and courageous, and Jiang Wei thought highly of them. A sudden report came that Zhuge Dan had raised an army in Huainan to campaign against Sima Zhao, that Sun Chen of Eastern Wu was assisting him, and that Sima Zhao had mobilized a great force from both sides of the Huai and taken the Empress Dowager of Wei and the Emperor of Wei with him on the expedition. Jiang Wei was overjoyed and said, “This time, my great undertaking will succeed!” He submitted a memorial to the Latter Emperor requesting permission to raise an army and attack Wei. When Qiao Zhou, Grand Master of Palace Accord, heard about it, he sighed and said, “Recently, the court has sunk into wine and sensual pleasure. It trusts the favored eunuch Huang Hao, neglects affairs of state, and seeks only amusement. Boyue repeatedly wishes to launch campaigns without sparing any thought for the soldiers. The state is in danger!” He therefore wrote an essay titled “Discourse on Rival States” and sent it to Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei broke the seal and read it. The essay said:

Someone asked: “In ancient times, how did those who could use weakness to overcome strength accomplish it?” The answer was: “Those who dwell in a great state free from danger are always inclined toward arrogance; those who dwell in a small state beset by anxieties are always inclined to consider good government. Great arrogance gives rise to disorder, while consideration of good government gives rise to order. This is a constant principle. Thus King Wen of Zhou nurtured his people and used the few to overcome the many; Goujian cared for his people and used weakness to destroy strength. This was their method.”

Someone said: “Formerly, when Chu was strong and Han weak, they agreed to divide the realm at the Hong Canal. Zhang Liang believed that once the people’s allegiance had become settled, it would be difficult to change it, so he urged the army to pursue Xiang Yu, ultimately destroying the Xiang clan. Why must one necessarily follow the examples of King Wen and Goujian?” The answer was: “At the transition from Shang to Zhou, kings and lords had enjoyed honor for generations, and the bonds between rulers and ministers were firm. At such a time, even if Gaozu of Han had appeared, how could he have taken the empire by the sword? But after Qin abolished the feudal lords and established commandery governors, the people were exhausted by Qin’s forced labor, and the empire collapsed. Heroes then rose everywhere to contend for power. Both our state and theirs have now passed through changes of ruler and generations of succession. This is not the seething chaos at the end of Qin, but rather the circumstances in which the Six States stood side by side. Therefore, one may act like King Wen, but it is difficult to act like Gaozu of Han. One should move only when the time is right and undertake action only when circumstances are favorable. Thus the armies of Tang and King Wu achieved victory without needing to fight a second battle, for they truly valued the labor of the people and carefully judged the times. If one instead carries warfare to extremes and recklessly launches campaigns, then should disaster unfortunately arise, even a wise man will be unable to devise a remedy.”

When Jiang Wei finished reading, he furiously said, “This is the argument of a pedantic scholar!” He threw the essay to the ground. He then led the troops of Shu toward the Central Plains. He asked Fu Qian, “In your judgment, by what route should we advance?” Fu Qian replied, “Wei’s grain and fodder are all stored at the Great Wall. We can now go straight through the Luo Valley, cross Shen Ridge, and advance directly to the Great Wall. First we burn their grain and fodder, then march directly into the Qin Riverlands. The Central Plains can then be ours within days.” Jiang Wei said, “Your view coincides perfectly with my own plan.” He immediately led his army straight through the Luo Valley, crossed Shen Ridge, and advanced toward the Great Wall.

Now the general commanding the defense of the Great Wall was Sima Wang, an elder kinsman of Sima Zhao. The city contained a great deal of grain and fodder, but few men and horses. When Sima Wang learned that the Shu army had arrived, he hastily led the two generals Wang Zhen and Li Peng out of the city and made camp twenty li away. The next day, the Shu troops arrived, and Sima Wang led the two generals out to form ranks. Jiang Wei rode forward, pointed at Sima Wang, and said, “Sima Zhao has now removed the sovereign into the army, which shows that he must harbor the same intentions as Li Jue and Guo Si. I have come under the court’s explicit command to punish his crimes. You should surrender at once. If you persist in your delusion, your entire family will be put to death!” Sima Wang answered loudly, “You men have no respect! You have repeatedly invaded our great state. If you do not withdraw at once, I will see that not one scrap of your armor returns!” Before he had finished speaking, Wang Zhen charged out from behind him with leveled spear. Fu Qian rode from the Shu formation to meet him. Before they had fought ten bouts, Fu Qian deliberately exposed an opening, and Wang Zhen thrust his spear at him. Fu Qian dodged and captured Wang Zhen alive from his horse, then turned back toward his own formation. Li Peng was furious and galloped after him, whirling his saber as he came to the rescue. Fu Qian deliberately slowed down. When Li Peng drew near, he exerted all his strength and hurled Wang Zhen to the ground, while secretly taking a four-edged iron mace in hand. Li Peng caught up and raised his saber to strike, but Fu Qian twisted around and struck him once squarely in the face with the mace. His eyeballs burst out, and he fell dead beneath his horse. Wang Zhen was stabbed to death by the Shu soldiers’ spears. Jiang Wei drove his troops forward in a great advance. Sima Wang abandoned his camp, entered the city, shut the gates, and refused to come out. Jiang Wei gave the order, “The soldiers will rest for one night to restore their fighting spirit. Tomorrow we must enter the city.” At daybreak the next morning, the Shu troops rushed eagerly forward and swarmed beneath the walls. They fired flaming arrows and incendiary cannonballs into the city. The thatched buildings on the walls caught fire all at once, throwing the Wei troops into confusion. Jiang Wei also ordered his men to pile dry firewood all around the foot of the walls and set it ablaze at once. The fierce flames soared into the sky. The city was on the verge of falling, and the Wei troops inside wailed and wept so loudly that they could be heard throughout the surrounding countryside.

In the midst of the assault, a tremendous roar suddenly arose behind them. Jiang Wei reined in his horse and looked back. He saw Wei troops beating their drums, waving their banners, and advancing in a vast mass. Jiang Wei ordered his rear ranks to become the front and took his position beneath the gate banner to await them. From the Wei formation rode a young general in full armor, leveling his spear and galloping forward. He appeared to be just over twenty, with a face as fair as powdered jade and lips as red as vermilion. He shouted fiercely, “Do you recognize General Deng?” Jiang Wei thought to himself, “This must be Deng Ai.” He leveled his spear and galloped forward. The two summoned all their spirit and fought for thirty or forty bouts, with neither able to gain the advantage. The young general’s spear technique showed not the slightest weakness. Jiang Wei thought, “If I do not use this plan, how can I win?” He turned his horse and fled toward a mountain road on the left. The young general spurred his horse in pursuit. Jiang Wei secured his steel spear, secretly took out his carved bow and feathered arrow, and shot at him. The young general’s eyes were sharp, and he had already seen what Jiang Wei was doing. The moment the bowstring sounded, he leaned forward over his horse and let the feathered arrow pass over him. Jiang Wei looked back and saw that the young general had already caught up and was thrusting his spear at him. Jiang Wei dodged, and as the spear passed beside his ribs, he trapped it under his arm. The young general abandoned his spear and fled toward his own formation. Jiang Wei sighed, “What a pity! What a pity!” He turned his horse again and pursued. When he reached the front of the enemy formation, a general rode out with saber in hand and shouted, “Jiang Wei, you wretch! Do not pursue my son! Deng Ai is here!” Jiang Wei was greatly startled. The young general was actually Deng Zhong, Deng Ai’s son. Jiang Wei secretly marveled at him. He wanted to fight Deng Ai but feared that his horse was tired, so he pointed at Deng Ai as a feint and said, “Today I have come to know both father and son. Let each side withdraw for now, and tomorrow we will fight a decisive battle.” Deng Ai saw that the situation on the battlefield was unfavorable, so he too reined in his horse and replied, “If that is what you wish, let each side withdraw. A man who resorts to secret tricks is no true man.” The two armies then withdrew. Deng Ai established a camp beside the Wei River, while Jiang Wei encamped astride two mountains. After Deng Ai observed the terrain occupied by the Shu army, he wrote to Sima Wang: “We must on no account give battle, but should only hold firm. When the troops from Guanzhong arrive, the Shu army’s provisions will be exhausted. If we then attack from three sides, we cannot fail to win. I am now sending my eldest son, Deng Zhong, to help defend the city.” At the same time, he sent a messenger to Sima Zhao to request reinforcements.

Now Jiang Wei sent a letter of challenge into Deng Ai’s camp, arranging a great battle for the following day, and Deng Ai pretended to accept. During the fifth watch the next morning, Jiang Wei ordered the entire army to prepare its meal, then formed ranks at daybreak and waited. In Deng Ai’s camp the banners were furled and the drums silent, as though no one were there. Jiang Wei did not return until evening. The next day, he again sent a letter of challenge, reproaching Deng Ai for failing to appear at the appointed time. Deng Ai treated the messenger to wine and food and replied, “I have been suffering from a slight illness, which has delayed our engagement. Tomorrow we will meet in battle.” The next day, Jiang Wei again led his troops out, but Deng Ai once more refused to appear.

After this had happened five or six times, Fu Jian said to Jiang Wei, “There must be a scheme behind this. We should be on our guard.” Jiang Wei said, “He must be delaying until the troops from Guanzhong arrive, so that they can attack me from three sides. I will now send a letter to Sun Chen of Eastern Wu and have him join forces with us in the attack.” Just then a scout reported that Sima Zhao had captured Shouchun and killed Zhuge Dan, and that all the Wu troops had surrendered. Sima Zhao was returning with his army to Luoyang and intended to lead troops to relieve the Great Wall. Jiang Wei was greatly alarmed and said, “This campaign against Wei has once again become an empty dream. We had better withdraw for now.” Indeed:Already four times he lamented that his deeds had borne no fruit;Now for the fifth he sighed that success had eluded him.How the army withdrew will be revealed in the next chapter.