Chapter 117: Deng Shizai Secretly Crosses the Yinping Mountains; Zhuge Zhan Dies Fighting at Mianzhu

Chapter 117: Deng Shizai Steals Through Yinping; Zhuge Zhan Dies in Battle at Mianzhu

Now, the Defender of the State General, Dong Jue, upon hearing that Wei troops had entered the realm in over ten columns, led twenty thousand soldiers to hold Jiange Pass. That day, seeing dust rising to the sky, he suspected it was Wei troops and hastily led his men to secure the pass. Dong Jue went personally to the front to observe, and saw that it was Jiang Wei, Liao Hua, and Zhang Yi. Overjoyed, Dong Jue welcomed them up to the pass. After the formalities, he wept as he recounted the affairs of the Later Lord, Liu Shan, and the eunuch Huang Hao. Jiang Wei said, "You need not worry. As long as I, Jiang Wei, am here, I will never allow Wei to swallow Shu. For now, hold this pass, and we will slowly devise a plan to drive back the enemy." Dong Jue replied, "This pass can be defended, but unfortunately, Chengdu is left unguarded. If the enemy launches a surprise attack, the whole situation will collapse." Jiang Wei said, "Chengdu’s mountainous terrain is steep and high; it is not easy to take. There is no need for concern." Just as they were speaking, a report came that Zhuge Xu had led troops to the foot of the pass. Jiang Wei, enraged, quickly led five thousand men down from the pass and charged straight into the Wei formation. He charged left and right, routing Zhuge Xu’s army, who fled in defeat and set up camp several tens of li away. Countless Wei soldiers died. The Shu troops captured many horses and weapons. Jiang Wei withdrew his forces back to the pass.

Now, Zhong Hui set up camp twenty-five li from Jiange Pass. Zhuge Xu came personally to admit his fault. Zhong Hui angrily said, "I ordered you to hold Yinping Bridgehead to cut off Jiang Wei’s retreat; how did you lose it? And now, without my command, you advanced on your own, leading to this defeat!" Zhuge Xu said, "Jiang Wei is full of tricks; he feigned an attack on Yongzhou, and I feared Yongzhou might fall, so I led troops to rescue it. Jiang Wei took the chance to escape, and I pursued him to the pass, only to be defeated by him again." Zhong Hui grew furious and ordered him beheaded. The Army Supervisor, Wei Guan, said, "Though Zhuge Xu is guilty, he is under the command of Deng, the Western Expedition General (Deng Ai). It would not be proper for you, General, to execute him, lest it harm relations." Zhong Hui said, "I act on the clear imperial edict and the strict orders of the Duke of Jin (Sima Zhao), specially sent to punish Shu. Even if Deng Ai were guilty, he should be beheaded." All present strongly urged restraint. Zhong Hui then had Zhuge Xu put in a prison cart and sent to Luoyang, to be dealt with by the Duke of Jin. He then took the troops originally under Zhuge Xu’s command into his own force. Someone reported this to Deng Ai. Deng Ai was furious and said, "He and I hold the same rank. I have long guarded the frontier and rendered many services to the state. How dare he act so arrogantly!" His son, Deng Zhong, advised him, "‘If you cannot endure small matters, you will ruin great plans.’ Father, if you fall out with him, it will surely harm the nation’s affairs. I hope you will tolerate it for now." Deng Ai heeded his words, but still harbored anger in his heart. He then took a dozen cavalrymen to see Zhong Hui.

When Zhong Hui heard that Deng Ai had arrived, he asked his attendants, "How many troops did Deng Ai bring?" They replied, "Only a dozen cavalry." Zhong Hui then ordered several hundred armed warriors to line up both inside and outside the tent. Deng Ai dismounted and entered to meet him. Zhong Hui welcomed him into the tent, and after the formalities, Deng Ai, seeing the military array was extremely strict, felt uneasy. He tested him with words, saying, "General, your capture of Hanzhong is a great fortune for the court. You can now devise a strategy to take Jiange Pass early." Zhong Hui said, "What is your esteemed opinion?" Deng Ai repeatedly declined, claiming incompetence. Zhong Hui insisted on asking. Deng Ai replied, "In my humble view, you can lead a force from the small path at Yinping to Deyang Pavilion in Hanzhong, then use a surprise force to strike directly at Chengdu. Jiang Wei will surely withdraw to rescue it. Then, General, you can take Jiange Pass while it is undefended and achieve complete success." Zhong Hui was overjoyed and said, "Your plan is excellent! You may set out immediately. I will await your news of victory here." The two drank together and parted. Returning to his own tent, Zhong Hui said to his officers, "Everyone says Deng Ai is talented, but today I see he is merely a mediocrity!" When asked why, Zhong Hui said, "The small path at Yinping is all high mountains and steep ridges. If Shu uses a hundred men to hold the key points and cut off his retreat, Deng Ai’s troops will all starve to death. I only need to advance by the main route—why worry about Shu not falling?" He then set up scaling ladders and siege engines and continued to assault Jiange Pass.

Now, Deng Ai left the camp gate, mounted his horse, and turned to his followers, saying, "How did Zhong Hui treat me?" They replied, "Judging by his words and expression, he did not take your words seriously at all; he merely agreed reluctantly." Deng Ai laughed and said, "He thinks I cannot take Chengdu, but I am determined to take it!" Returning to his own camp, his officers Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong welcomed him and asked, "What high discussions did you have with Zhong, the Zhenxi General (Zhong Hui) today?" Deng Ai said, "I spoke to him in good faith, but he treated me as a mediocrity. Now that he has taken Hanzhong, he thinks it a great achievement. But if I had not stationed my troops at Tazhong to hold Jiang Wei in check, how could he have succeeded? If I now take Chengdu, it will surpass taking Hanzhong!" That night, he gave orders to break camp entirely and advance along the small path at Yinping, setting up camp seven hundred li from Jiange Pass. Someone reported to Zhong Hui, "Deng Ai is going to take Chengdu." Zhong Hui laughed at Deng Ai’s lack of wisdom.

Now, Deng Ai, on the one hand, wrote a secret letter and sent a messenger to report to Sima Zhao by rapid courier. On the other hand, he gathered all his officers before his tent and asked, "I am now going to take Chengdu while it is undefended, to establish immortal fame with you. Are you willing to follow me?" The officers replied, "We will obey your orders, even if it means death ten thousand times!" Deng Ai then ordered his son, Deng Zhong, to lead five thousand elite troops, without armor, each carrying axes and chisels. Whenever they encountered steep and impassable terrain, they were to cut through the mountains and build bridges and plank roads to facilitate the march. Deng Ai selected thirty thousand troops, each carrying dry rations and ropes, and set out. After traveling about a hundred li, he left three thousand troops to set up a camp. After another hundred li, he left another three thousand troops to camp. This was in the tenth month, advancing from Yinping. They entered a region of sheer cliffs and deep valleys. After more than twenty days, they had traveled over seven hundred li through uninhabited wilderness. The Wei troops had set up several camps along the way, leaving only two thousand men. Ahead, they came to a ridge called Motian Ridge. Horses could not proceed. Deng Ai climbed the ridge on foot and saw Deng Zhong and the road-opening soldiers all weeping. Deng Ai asked why. Deng Zhong reported, "Beyond the western side of this ridge is a steep, sheer cliff that cannot be cut through. All our previous efforts have been wasted, and so we weep." Deng Ai said, "My troops have come this far, traveling over seven hundred li. Beyond here is Jiangyou. How can we retreat now?" He then said to the troops, "‘If you do not enter the tiger’s den, how can you catch the tiger’s cub?’ I am with you in this place. If we succeed, we shall share wealth and honor." The troops all replied, "We will follow the General’s orders." Deng Ai ordered the weapons thrown down first. He then took felt, wrapped himself in it, and rolled down first. Among the subordinate officers, those with felt coats wrapped themselves and rolled down. Those without felt coats tied ropes around their waists, clung to trees and vines, and advanced one after another. Deng Ai, Deng Zhong, and the two thousand soldiers, along with the road-opening laborers, all crossed Motian Ridge. Only then did they adjust their armor and weapons and continue. Suddenly, they saw a stone tablet by the roadside, engraved with the inscription: "Inscribed by the Chancellor, Marquis Wu, Zhuge." The text read: "When the two fires first arise, a man will cross this place. When two scholars contend, they will soon die of themselves." Deng Ai, greatly startled, hastily knelt and bowed before the tablet repeatedly, saying, "Marquis Wu is truly a divine man! That I, Deng Ai, could not serve him as my teacher—what a pity!" Later, someone wrote a poem:

The steep ridges of Yinping touch the sky;

Even black cranes hesitate, afraid to fly.

Deng Ai, wrapped in felt, rolled down from here;

Who knew Zhuge had foresight so clear?

The steep ridges of Yinping touch the sky;

Even black cranes hesitate, afraid to fly.

Deng Ai, wrapped in felt, rolled down from here;

Who knew Zhuge had foresight so clear?

Now, as Deng Ai stole through Yinping and led his troops forward, he also saw a large, empty camp. His attendants told him, "It is said that when the Marquis Wu was alive, he once stationed a thousand men to guard this strategic pass. Now the Shu ruler, Liu Shan, has abandoned it." Deng Ai sighed deeply and then said to his men, "We have a way here but no way back. Ahead, in the city of Jiangyou, there are ample provisions. If you advance, you live; if you retreat, you die. We must attack with all our might." The troops all replied, "We will fight to the death here!" Deng Ai, on foot, led the two thousand-plus men, marching day and night to seize Jiangyou City.

Now let me speak of Ma Miao, the defending general of Jiangyou City. When he heard that the Eastern Riverlands had already fallen, though he made some preparations, they were only to guard the main roads; and relying on the fact that Jiang Wei’s entire army was holding the Sword Pass, he did not take the military situation very seriously. That day, after training his troops and returning home, he sat drinking with his wife Li around the brazier. His wife asked, “I have heard repeatedly that the border situation is very urgent, yet you, General, show no sign of concern—why is that?” Ma Miao said, “The great affairs are all in the hands of Jiang Boyue (Jiang Wei); what do they have to do with me?” His wife said, “Even so, the city you guard cannot be called unimportant.” Ma Miao said, “The Son of Heaven trusts Huang Hao and wallows in wine and women; I foresee that disaster is not far off. When the Wei troops arrive, surrendering will be the best plan—why worry?” His wife was greatly angered and spat in Ma Miao’s face, saying, “You are a man, yet you harbor a disloyal and unrighteous heart first, wasting the state’s rank and salary in vain—what face have I to meet you?” Ma Miao was ashamed and speechless. Suddenly a servant rushed in to report, “The Wei general Deng Ai has come from somewhere unknown, leading over two thousand men, and has surged into the city.” Ma Miao was greatly startled and hurried out to surrender, kneeling in the main hall and weeping as he said, “I have long had the intention to surrender. Now I am willing to gather the city’s residents and my own troops and surrender them all to the general.” Deng Ai accepted his surrender. He then incorporated the Jiangyou troops into his own command and immediately appointed Ma Miao as his guide. Suddenly it was reported that Ma Miao’s wife had hanged herself. Deng Ai asked the reason, and Ma Miao told him the truth. Moved by her virtue, Deng Ai ordered her buried with full honors and personally went to offer sacrifices. When the Wei people heard of this, none were not moved with admiration. Later, someone wrote a poem in praise:

The Later Lord was benighted, the Han dynasty toppled;

Heaven sent Deng Ai to take the Western Riverlands.

Pity that Ba and Shu had many famed generals,

But none matched the virtue of Li of Jiangyou!

The Later Lord was benighted, the Han dynasty toppled;

Heaven sent Deng Ai to take the Western Riverlands.

Pity that Ba and Shu had many famed generals,

But none matched the virtue of Li of Jiangyou!

Deng Ai, having taken Jiangyou, then summoned the various troops from the Yinping side paths to assemble at Jiangyou, and marched straight to attack Fucheng. His officer Tian Xu said, “Our army has come through perilous terrain and is extremely weary; we should rest for a few days before advancing.” Deng Ai said angrily, “Speed is the essence of war—how dare you disturb my army’s morale!” He ordered the guards to take him out and behead him. The other generals pleaded earnestly, and so his life was spared. Deng Ai personally drove the army to Fucheng. The officials, soldiers, and people within the city, suspecting that the troops had descended from heaven, all surrendered. The Shu people sent a swift report into Chengdu. When the Later Lord heard of it, he hastily summoned Huang Hao to inquire. Huang Hao memorialized, “This is but a false rumor. The divine one will surely not fail Your Majesty.” The Later Lord then summoned the shamaness to consult, but she was nowhere to be found. At this time, urgent memorials from near and far came like snowflakes, and messengers came and went without cease. The Later Lord held court to deliberate, but the many officials looked at one another, and not one spoke. Xi Zheng stepped out from the ranks and memorialized, “The matter is already urgent; Your Majesty should summon the son of the Martial Lord to discuss a strategy to repel the enemy.”

Now the son of the Martial Lord was named Zhuge Zhan, styled Siyuan. His mother, née Huang, was the daughter of Huang Chengyan. His mother was very ugly in appearance but possessed extraordinary talent: she understood the heavens above and discerned the earth below; and all books on strategy, the hidden arts, and the like, she knew without exception. When the Martial Lord was in Nanyang, he heard of her virtue and sought her as his wife. The Martial Lord’s learning was much aided by his wife. After the Martial Lord died, his wife also passed away not long after, leaving a final instruction at death, urging her son Zhuge Zhan only with loyalty and filial piety. Zhuge Zhan was clever from childhood, married the Later Lord’s daughter, and held the office of Commandant of the Imperial Carriages. Later he inherited his father’s title of Marquis of Wuxiang. In the fourth year of the Jingyao reign, he was promoted to the post of General of the Mobile Guard. At that time, Huang Hao was in power, so he pretended to be ill and did not take up his post.

At present, the Later Lord followed Xi Zheng’s advice and immediately issued three consecutive edicts, summoning Zhuge Zhan to the palace hall. The Later Lord wept and said, “Deng Ai’s army is already encamped at Fucheng; Chengdu is in dire peril. For the sake of your late father’s face, save my life!” Zhuge Zhan also wept and memorialized, “Your servant and his father have received the great kindness of the late Emperor and Your Majesty’s special favor; even if I were to grind my liver and brains into the ground, I could not repay it. I hope Your Majesty will transfer all the troops of Chengdu to me, to lead them in a decisive battle to the death.” The Later Lord then transferred seventy thousand troops from Chengdu to Zhuge Zhan. Zhuge Zhan took leave of the Later Lord, mustered his army, and assembled his officers, asking, “Who dares to serve as the vanguard?” Before he had finished speaking, a young officer stepped out and said, “Since my father holds the command, I am willing to be the vanguard.” The crowd looked at him; it was Zhuge Zhan’s eldest son, Zhuge Shang. Zhuge Shang was then nineteen, widely read in the military classics, and well practiced in martial arts. Zhuge Zhan was greatly pleased and appointed Zhuge Shang as the vanguard. That day the army left Chengdu and marched to engage the Wei troops.

Now let me speak of Deng Ai. He received from Ma Miao a map of the terrain, which detailed the one hundred and sixty li from Fucheng to Chengdu, with mountains, rivers, roads, passes, and defiles all clearly marked. After reading it, Deng Ai was greatly alarmed and said, “If I only hold Fucheng and the Shu people occupy the front mountains, how can I succeed? If we delay too long and Jiang Wei’s army arrives, our troops will be in danger.” He hastily summoned Shi Zuan and his son Deng Zhong and instructed them, “You can lead a force and march straight through the night to Mianzhu to block the Shu troops. I will follow shortly. By no means be lax or slow. If you allow them to seize the strategic points first, I will surely have your heads cut off!”

Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong, leading their troops, were about to reach Mianzhu when they encountered the Shu army. The two armies drew up in formation. Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong reined in their horses beneath the gate banners and saw the Shu troops arrayed in the Eightfold Formation. After three drum rolls, the gate banners parted to both sides, and several dozen officers surrounded a four-wheeled carriage. Seated upright in the carriage was a man wearing a silk headband, holding a feather fan, clad in a crane-feather cloak, with a square skirt below, and a yellow banner unfurled on the carriage bearing the inscription: “The Han Chancellor, Zhuge, the Martial Lord.” This so terrified Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong that sweat poured all over their bodies. Turning to their soldiers, they said, “So Kongming is still alive! We are finished!” They hastily ordered the troops to retreat, but the Shu troops charged forward, and the Wei army was heavily defeated and fled. The Shu troops pursued for over twenty li, until they met Deng Ai’s reinforcements coming to their aid. Both sides withdrew their forces. Deng Ai ascended his tent and sat down, summoning Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong to rebuke them, saying, “You two retreated without fighting—why?” Deng Zhong said, “We saw the Shu army with Zhuge Kongming leading them in their formation, and so we fled back.” Deng Ai said angrily, “Even if Kongming were to come back to life, what would I fear from him! You lightly retreated, causing defeat, and should be beheaded immediately to uphold military law!” The other officers earnestly interceded, and only then did Deng Ai calm his anger. He sent scouts to investigate; they returned and reported that Zhuge Zhan, Kongming’s son, was the commanding general, and Zhuge Zhan’s son, Zhuge Shang, was the vanguard, and that the figure in the carriage was a carved wooden image of Kongming.

Hearing this, Deng Ai summoned Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong and said, “The outcome of success or failure rests on this one move. If you two cannot prevail again, you shall surely be beheaded!” Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong again led ten thousand troops to battle. Zhuge Shang, alone on his horse, roused his spirit and drove both of them back. Zhuge Zhan directed the flanking troops to surge out, charging into the Wei formation, attacking left and right, surging back and forth several dozen times, and the Wei army suffered a great defeat, with countless dead. Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong, wounded, fled. Zhuge Zhan drove his troops in pursuit for over twenty li and then set up camp to hold the ground. Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong returned to see Deng Ai. Seeing that both were wounded, Deng Ai did not immediately rebuke them but instead conferred with his officers, saying, “Shu has Zhuge Zhan, skilled in carrying on his father’s ambitions; he has killed over ten thousand of my men in two encounters. If we do not break him quickly, he will surely become a disaster later.” The army supervisor Qiu Ben said, “Why not write a letter to lure him?” Deng Ai followed his advice, wrote a letter, and sent an envoy to deliver it to the Shu camp. The gate guards brought him to the tent, and he presented the letter. Zhuge Zhan opened it and read it. The letter said:

The General Who Conquers the West, Deng Ai, sends this letter to the Campaigning Guard General, Zhuge Si-yuan, beneath your command: I observe that among the talented men of recent times, none can compare with your late father. From the moment he left his thatched cottage, with a single speech he divided the empire into three, pacified Jingzhou and Yizhou, and thereby achieved a hegemony rarely matched in ancient or modern times. Later, he made six expeditions from Qishan; it was not that his wisdom and strength were insufficient, but rather the will of Heaven. Now the Later Ruler is dull and weak, and the royal aura of Shu has already ended. I, Deng Ai, acting on the mandate of the Son of Heaven, have used a great army to punish the state of Shu, and have already taken their lands. Chengdu is in imminent danger. Why do you not follow Heaven and accord with the people, uphold righteousness and come over to our side? I, Deng Ai, shall surely submit a memorial to the throne enfeoffing you as the Prince of Langya, to bring glory to your ancestors. This is no empty promise. I hope you will clearly discern this.

Zhuge Zhan finished reading and flew into a violent rage. He tore the letter to shreds and ordered the guards to behead the messenger on the spot, commanding his attendants to take the head back to the Wei camp to present to Deng Ai. Deng Ai was furious and wanted to go into battle immediately. Qiu Ben remonstrated, saying, "General, you should not engage the enemy lightly; you ought to use an unexpected stratagem to achieve victory." Deng Ai heeded his advice and ordered the Grand Administrator of Tianshui, Wang Qi, and the Grand Administrator of Longxi, Qian Hong, to ambush their troops in two positions to the rear. Deng Ai himself led the main force forward. At this moment, Zhuge Zhan was preparing to offer battle when a report suddenly arrived that Deng Ai himself had come with his troops. Zhuge Zhan was enraged and immediately led out his army, charging straight into the Wei ranks. Deng Ai feigned defeat and retreated. Zhuge Zhan pursued and attacked. Suddenly, the ambushing troops from both sides sprang out. The Shu army suffered a great defeat and retreated into Mianzhu. Deng Ai ordered the city of Mianzhu to be surrounded. The Wei troops then raised a great shout and encircled Mianzhu as tightly as an iron bucket.

Zhuge Zhan, inside the city, saw that the enemy situation was critical. He then ordered Peng He to carry a letter and break through the siege to seek aid from Eastern Wu. Peng He reached Eastern Wu, saw the Wu ruler Sun Xiu, and presented the urgent letter for help. After reading it, the Wu ruler discussed with his ministers, saying, "Since Shu is in such dire straits, how can I sit idly by and not rescue them?" He then ordered the veteran general Ding Feng to be the chief commander, with Ding Feng and Sun Yi as deputy commanders, leading fifty thousand troops to go to Shu's aid. Ding Feng received the imperial edict and set out, dividing his forces: Ding Feng and Sun Yi led twenty thousand troops toward the Mian River, while he himself led thirty thousand toward Shouchun, advancing in three separate routes to provide relief.

Meanwhile, Zhuge Zhan, seeing that no relief troops were arriving, said to his generals, "Prolonged defense is not a good strategy." He then left his son Zhuge Shang and the Imperial Secretary Zhang Zun to guard the city, while Zhuge Zhan himself donned his armor, mounted his horse, and led the three armies out, throwing open the three city gates. Deng Ai, seeing the troops emerge, withdrew his forces and fell back. Zhuge Zhan pursued fiercely. Suddenly, a cannon boomed, and troops converged from all sides, trapping Zhuge Zhan in the center. Zhuge Zhan led his men left and right in desperate charges, killing several hundred men. Deng Ai ordered his troops to shoot arrows at them, and the Shu soldiers scattered. Zhuge Zhan was struck by an arrow and fell from his horse. He then cried out, "My strength is exhausted! I must die to repay my country!" So saying, he drew his sword and cut his own throat, dying on the spot. His son Zhuge Shang, on the city wall, saw his father die in battle and flew into a rage. He then donned his armor and mounted his horse. Zhang Zun admonished him, saying, "Young general, do not go out rashly." Zhuge Shang sighed and said, "My father, my grandfather, and I have received the state's great favor. Now that my father has died at the enemy's hands, what use is it for me to live?" He then spurred his horse and charged out, dying in the battle line. Later generations composed a poem praising the father and son Zhuge Zhan and Zhuge Shang:

It is not that this loyal vassal lacked strategy,

But Heaven willed to sever the Flame of Liu.

In former days Zhuge left a worthy heir,

Whose honor and righteousness truly could succeed Marquis Wu.

Deng Ai, moved by their loyalty and righteousness, had the father and son buried together in one grave. Then, taking advantage of the city's weakness, he attacked Mianzhu. Zhang Zun, Huang Chong, and Li Qiu each led a unit of troops out of the city. The Shu force was small, the Wei force large, and all three men fell in battle. Deng Ai thus captured Mianzhu. After rewarding his troops, he led his army to seize Chengdu. Truly:

Witness how the Later Ruler, in his day of peril,

Was no different from Liu Zhang when he was forced to yield.

Witness how the Later Ruler, in his day of peril,

Was no different from Liu Zhang when he was forced to yield.

We do not know how Chengdu was defended; let the next chapter explain.