To lay a strange stratagem that entangles Sima amid the Han generals; to depose Cao Fang and bring retribution on the house of Wei.

In the sixteenth year of Yanxi in Shu-Han, in the autumn, Jiang Wei raised an army of two hundred thousand and sent Liao Hua and Zhang Yi forward as left and right vanguards, Xiahou Ba as his adviser, and Zhang Ni as the supply officer. The main force marched out through Yangping Pass to strike Wei.

Jiang Wei conferred with Xiahou Ba. “Earlier we marched against Yong Province, failed, and withdrew. If we go out again now, they will be ready. What better course do you have?”

Xiahou Ba replied, “Among the commanderies above Long Pass, only Nan’an has the broadest stores of grain and silver. If we take it first, it is enough to secure our base. We failed before because the Qiang did not arrive. Send men now to meet the Qiang on the right of the Longs, then advance from Shiying and strike straight for Nanan.”

Jiang Wei was greatly pleased. “Your suggestion is excellent.” He then dispatched Qizheng as envoy with gold, jewels, and Shu silk to the Qiang and made peace with the Qiang king. Min-dang, delighted by the gifts, raised five thousand troops and had his general E He Shaoge lead a huge vanguard, then marched south toward Nanan.

When Guihai, the Left General of Wei, learned the report, he sent a flying dispatch to Luoyang. Sima Shi asked the assembled officers, “Who is willing to advance against the Shu forces?” Fuguo General Xu Zhi answered, “I volunteer.” Sima Shi had long known Xu Zhi to be exceptionally brave; in his heart, he was greatly pleased. He appointed Xu Zhi vanguard and named Sima Zhao chief commander-in-chief, commanding the army west toward Longxi.

When their army reached Dongting, they met Jiang Wei and the two armies immediately formed battle lines. Xu Zhi brandished a mountain-cleaving great axe, rode out, and called for single combat. Liao Hua rode to meet him in the Shu lines. After not many exchanges, Liao Hua was thrown off in retreat, while Zhang Yi pressed forward with his horse and spear; after not many exchanges, he too was driven out into the ranks. Xu Zhi drove his troops to envelop and slaughter, and the Shu army was routed and withdrew more than thirty li. Sima Zhao also called his men back and withdrew each to his camp.

Jiang Wei conferred with Xiahou Ba again. “Xu Zhi is exceedingly brave. By what plan can we capture him?”

Xiahou Ba said, “Tomorrow, feign a defeat and win him with an ambush.”

Jiang Wei replied, “Sima Zhao is Zhongda’s son. Does he not know the laws of war? If he sees the terrain shielding him, he will not dare pursuit. I have seen the Wei soldiers cut our supply lines more than once. If we use this stratagem now and draw him in, we can behead Xu Zhi.”

He called for Liao Hua and gave him specific instructions, then did the same with Zhang Yi, and both officers took their troops away. At the same time he ordered the soldiers to scatter iron caltrops along the road and to stack many deer antler stakes outside the camp, as if making a long plan.

For several days, Xu Zhi repeatedly drew out his men and prodded at skirmishes while the Shu troops did not come out. A scouting rider reported to Sima Zhao, “The Shu troops are behind Iron-Cage Pass, using wooden oxen and flow horses to move grain. They seem to be making long-term preparations and are only waiting for Qiang support.”

Sima Zhao summoned Xu Zhi. “When we won against Shu before, it was because we cut their supply route. Now the Shu are carrying supplies behind Iron-Cage Pass. Tonight you are to lead five thousand men and cut their supply road. The Shu troops will then withdraw on their own.”

Xu Zhi took the order. Near the first watch of the night, he moved toward Iron-Cage Pass. He truly saw more than two hundred Shu soldiers driving over a hundred wooden oxen and flow horses loaded with provisions.

At one command the Wei force shouted and Xu Zhi immediately blocked them. The Shu dropped all the grain and fled. Xu Zhi split his men in half: one half escorted the captured grain back to camp, and he led the other half in pursuit.

Within ten li they could not catch them. In front, chariot engines suddenly blocked the road. Xu Zhi ordered his men to dismount and break apart the heavy carts. Instantly, fire sprang up on both sides. He hauled back his horse and turned away.

Behind him, at another narrow and steep place in the mountain, another line of cart engines also blocked the way, and another flash of fire burst forth. Through smoke and fire they plunged forward, horses and men erupting through. A loud signal report came from afar. Two lines of troops surged in: Liao Hua on the left, Zhang Yi on the right. They slaughtered for a stretch, and the Wei force was routed.

Xu Zhi fought on in desperation and alone. His men were exhausted, his horse spent. As he ran, a detachment of troops reached him from ahead—Jiang Wei himself.

Xu Zhi was shocked and at a loss. Jiang Wei drove his spear through him, pitching him off the saddle; he fell backward from the horse, and the press of blades from the surrounding soldiers cut him down. The men Xu Zhi had left to escort the grain were also captured by Xiahou Ba and all surrendered. Xiahou Ba ordered the Wei soldiers to put on Shu armor and ride with horses, then told them to sit in harness, wave Wei battle flags, and slip back to Wei camp by a side route. The Wei troops, seeing their own men return, opened the gate and brought them in. The Shu men then slaughtered within the camp.

Sima Zhao was greatly shocked. He mounted in haste and turned to leave, but Liao Hua came at him head-on. Sima Zhao could not push forward. As he tried to retreat, Jiang Wei was already leading men in through the side path.

With no way to flee in any direction, Sima Zhao could only order his men to hold and defend atop Iron-Cage Mountain. That mountain had only one road, and all other sides were steep and hard to climb. At its top there was but one spring that could barely water a hundred men. At that moment, six thousand men stood under Zhao, and Jiang Wei had cut off all the passes. The spring water atop the mountain was not enough; men and horses were dried with thirst.

Looking up at the sky, Sima Zhao sighed deeply: “I will die on this ground.”

A later poet wrote:

Jiang Wei’s wonderful design does not wait idly; the Wei army is trapped in Iron-Cage. When Pang Juan first entered Maling Way, Xiang Yu first encircled Jiuli Mountain.

Master Clerk Wang Tao interjected, “Formerly Geng Gong was trapped and knelt at a well to find its spring. Why does the general not do the same?”

Zhao followed his counsel. He climbed to the top spring, knelt again, and prayed:

“I, Zhao, come by imperial order to drive away the Shu army. If death comes to me here, let the Sweet Spring run dry. I will then sever my own throat and command all my troops to surrender at once. If Heaven has not ended my years, may it send up the Sweet Spring at once and preserve my men’s lives.”

The prayer ended; the water surged up, and no one could say it would not run dry. Thus they did not die.

Meanwhile Jiang Wei held the Wei force trapped below and told his officers, “Once upon a time, Chancellor Zhuge Liang in Shangfang Valley failed to capture Sima Yi. I have long rued it. Now Sima Zhao must surely be caught by me.”

When Guihai heard that Sima Zhao was besieged on Iron-Cage Mountain, he prepared to bring troops. Chen Tai said, “Jiang Wei has already joined with the Qiang and intends to seize Nanan first. The Qiang have now arrived. If General Guihai now withdraws to rescue him, they will use the opening to strike our rear. Let us first send men to feign surrender to the Qiang and win from within. Only after this troop is removed can we rescue the siege on Iron-Cage.”

Guihai agreed. He ordered Chen Tai to lead five thousand men straight into the Qiang king’s camp, unarmored, and kneel in tears.

“Guo Huai has falsely grown proud and always had a heart to kill Tai. For that reason, I have come to surrender. The strength and weakness of Guo Huai’s army are all known to me. Tonight I would be able to lead one force to sack your camp. Then it will surely succeed. Once we reach the Wei camp, there will already be accomplices inside.”

Min-dang rejoiced. He therefore ordered E He Shaoge to accompany Chen Tai in leading the raid on Wei camp.

E He Shaoge told Tai’s men to follow behind and had Tai lead the Qiang vanguard. In the second watch of the night they all reached the Wei camp. Its gates were flung open. Tai entered first on horseback.

As E He Shaoge rode hard with spear aloft into the camp, he called out only one cry of pain and, with horse and body, fell headlong into a pit. Tai charged in from behind. Guihai came from the left, and the Qiang ranks descended into confusion. They trampled one another in panic; the dead were countless, and those who lived all surrendered. E He Shaoge cut his own throat.

Guihai and Chen Tai drove their men straight to the Qiang camp. When the Great King Min-dang hurried out of his tent and mounted, he was taken alive by Wei soldiers and brought before Guihai.

Guihai leaped from the saddle, personally unbound himand spoke gently: “The court has ever regarded you as loyal and upright. Why, then, aid the men of Shu?” Min-dang was ashamed and confessed guilt.

Guihai said, “You, in your role as vanguard, now go and break the encirclement on Iron-Cage. Disperse the Shu army, and when you have done so I will petition the Son of Heaven to grant you rich rewards.”

Min-dang obeyed. He led the Qiang in front and the Wei soldiers in the rear and rushed straight to Iron-Cage Mountain.

It was the third watch. He sent men ahead first to report to Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei was overjoyed and ordered him to enter and be received.

Most Wei soldiers were mixed among the Qiang ranks; by the time they reached the Shu camp, Jiang Wei had ordered the main force to encamp outside the camp. Min-dang then led more than one hundred men to the center-tent. Jiang Wei and Xiahou Ba came out to welcome them. Before the Qiang king could begin to speak, a Wei general struck from behind and sprang up to kill. Jiang Wei was shocked and quickly mounted and fled.

Qiang and Wei soldiers entered together; the Shu army tore itself apart in confusion and each man fled to save himself.

Jiang Wei had no weapon at hand. Only a bow and a quiver at his waist. In his haste, his arrows all fell away, leaving the quiver empty. He ran toward the hills. Behind him Guihai advanced, driving troops. Seeing Jiang Wei with no blade or spear, he spurred his horse and chased him with steel spear in hand.

As they came near, Jiang Wei pulled the bowstring as if loading it, and for more than ten times it twanged. Guihai dodged several times and could not see an arrow strike; realizing Jiang Wei had no arrows, he hooked his steel spear, set arrowhead and bow to it, and shot.

Jiang Wei darted away sharply, caught it in a motion, and pulled it back against the bowstring. When Guihai closed in, Jiang Wei aimed at the front of his face and loosed with all his strength. Guihai was hit in the string and tumbled from the horse.

Jiang Wei wheeled his horse back to strike Guihai. Wei troops surged up. There was no time for him to finish the stroke. He only managed to wrench out Guihai’s spear and ride on. Wei soldiers did not dare to chase further; they carried Guihai back to camp and pulled out the arrowhead. Blood would not stop and he died.

Sima Zhao came down from the mountain and pursued, then returned halfway.

Xiahou Ba escaped shortly afterward and fled with Jiang Wei together. Jiang Wei had broken many men and horses on the way; he could not keep his forces assembled and withdrew back to Hanzhong. Though he had been defeated in battle, he had shot and killed Guo Huai, slain Xu Zhi, and struck fear into the Wei state, compensating for some of his failures with merit.

Later Sima Zhao rewarded the Qiang soldiers and dispatched them home, then returned to Luoyang. He and his brother Sima Shi then monopolized the court, and all ministers dared not disobey.

Whenever Cao Fang, the Son of Heaven, saw Shi enter court, he shuddered uncontrollably, as if pricked by a needle in the back. One day when he convened court, he saw Sima Shi arriving with his sword hung on his waist on the main hall platform and hurried from his seat to receive him.

Shi laughed. “There is no ritual for a ruler to welcome one who serves him as a subject. Please remain at ease.”

Soon, when officials presented matters, Sima Shi settled each individually and offered no report to Cao Fang. After a short while he withdrew, stepped proud from the hall, and took his carriage out of the inner court. He was surrounded before and behind by not fewer than several thousand armed men and horsemen. Cao Fang returned to the rear hall. Looking around, only three attendants remained at his side: Xiàxiu (Xiahou Xuan), Grand Minister of Rites, Li Feng, director of the Central Secretariat, and Zhang Ji, Grand Master of the Imperial Household. Zhang Ji was Empress Zhang’s father, and thus Cao Fang’s father-in-law.

Fang drove away nearby attendants and spoke in seclusion with the three. He took Zhang Ji’s hand and wept. “Sima Shi treats me like a child, and he tramples the hundred officials like weeds. The realm and altars surely will pass to him before long!” After speaking, he wept aloud.

Li Feng pleaded, “Your Majesty need not worry. Though I am not accomplished, I will obey your decree and gather the virtuous and strong of all quarters to wipe out this traitor.”

Xiahou Xuan added, “My brother Xiahou Ba surrendered to Shu because he feared Sima brothers plotting him. If we now exterminate this traitor, my brother will surely return. I am an old kinsman of the state. How could I stand by while treacherous usurpers disturb the realm? I am ready to join your edict and pursue him.”

Cao Fang said, “I only fear we cannot do it.”

The three together wept and declared, “We swear to unite in heart and suppress this rebel bandit, and report our loyalty to Your Majesty.”

Cao Fang removed his dragon-and-phoenix silk robe, bit his fingertip, and wrote a blood edict, giving it to Zhang Ji with this charge: “My ancestor Emperor Wu executed Dong Cheng, because he did not keep matters close. You must be cautious and not let this slip outside.”

Li Feng said, “How can Your Majesty now speak such dangerous words? We are not men of Dong Cheng’s sort, and Sima Shi does not compare with the founder Wu. Do not doubt us.”

The three withdrew to the left of Donghua Gate. There they met Sima Shi coming with sword drawn and with hundreds of armed men at his back and side.

The three stood by the roadside. Shi asked, “Why are you three delayed in withdrawing from audience?”

Li Feng replied, “His Majesty is in the inner court reading, and the three of us were merely attending to reading with him.”

Shi asked, “What book did he read?”

Li Feng answered, “Books of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties.”

Shi said, “What does the Son of Heaven ask of those stories?”

Li Feng answered, “His Majesty asks: when Yi Yin steadied Shang and Duke of Zhou governed for regency, we all submitted that Sima Dajiang jun is both Yi Yin and Duke of Zhou.”

Shi laughed coldly. “Do you truly compare me with Yi Yin and Duke of Zhou? Your hearts in truth point to me as Wang Mang and Dong Zhuo!”

The three said, “We are all men under your command. How could we speak so?”

Shi was greatly angered. “You are all people of face-serving flattery! What was the crying in the intimate chamber with the Son of Heaven?”

The three answered, “It is not so.”

Shi barked, “Your eyes are still red with tears. How can you deny it?”

Xiahou Xuan knew the matter had leaked and shouted angrily, “What we wept for was the terror you brought upon your ruler. We feared you planned a usurpation!”

Shi in fury shouted for guards to seize Xiahou Xuan. Xiahou Xuan bared his sleeve, drew back his fists, and struck directly at Sima Shi but was caught by soldiers.

Shi ordered all three searched. Near Zhang Ji’s side a dragon-and-phoenix silk robe was found with blood writing on it. Presenting it to Shi, he saw that it was indeed the secret edict.

The edict read:

Sima Shi and my brother together hold the greater power and plot a usurpation. All the decrees issued by them are not by my will. All officials and officers in every command and camp, join in loyal duty and righteous service, overthrow these rebel ministers, and uphold the state. Great rewards will follow the accomplishment of this task.

On reading it, Sima Shi leapt in fury. “So you truly wished to plot the destruction of my brother and me! This cannot be endured!” He ordered all three to be beheaded by the waist in the market and for their three lineages to be exterminated. They never stopped cursing.

When brought to the eastern market, their teeth were all knocked out; each muttered curses until death.

Shi entered straight into the inner palace. Cao Fang was then speaking with Empress Zhang on the matter. Empress Zhang said, “There are many ears and eyes in the inner court; if this becomes known, it will endanger my rank and ranklessness in disgrace.” While she spoke, they saw Shi arrive; Empress Zhang was greatly startled.

Pressing his sword, Shi told Fang, “My father established Your Majesty as ruler; our merit is no less than that of Duke of Zhou. In serving Your Majesty, how am I different from Yi Yin? Yet now you return your grace into enmity and call merit a fault, gathering two or three minor ministers to plot against my brothers. Why?”

Fang replied, “I had no such intention.”

Shi drew from his sleeve the silk robe and cast it to the ground. “Who made this?”

Fang recoiled as if cast from heaven, color drained from him, and trembled as he answered, “These words were forced from me by others. How could I have dared this thought?”

Shi asked, “What penalty is for slandering a minister with false charges of revolt?”

Fang knelt and pleaded, “If I have any fault, I beg the Great General to pardon me.”

Shi replied, “Your Majesty, please rise. State law cannot be set aside.”

He then pointed toward Empress Zhang. “She is Zhang Ji’s daughter and must be removed.”

Fang wept and begged for mercy, but Shi refused. He shouted to his attendants to seize Empress Zhang. She was taken inside Donghua Gate and strangled to death with white silk cord.

A later poet wrote:

In former days the fallen Empress left the palace gate, Barefoot, she lamented, parting from the supreme one. Sima follows her precedent today; Heaven gives return in sons and grandsons for what was sown.

The next day Sima Shi convened the ministers in full court. “His Majesty is now licentious and without way, degraded by courtesans and favorites, listening to slander and closing the road of the worthy. His crime is worse than that of the Han’s Changyi; he cannot rule all under heaven. I shall, in accordance with the examples of Yi Yin and Huo Guang, set a new sovereign to preserve the state and pacify all beneath heaven. What say you?”

All responded, “Great General, to act as Yi Yin and Huo Guang did is to follow Heaven and the people. Who would dare to disobey?”

Shi then, with many officials, entered Yongning Palace and reported to the Empress Dowager.

She asked, “For whom does Great General seek to enthrone as ruler?”

Shi replied, “I have watched Prince Cao Ju of Pengcheng; he is intelligent and compassionate and filial, and can be lord of the world.”

The empress dowager answered, “Prince Pengcheng is my old mother’s uncle. How can I set him as ruler? We have Gaozu of Gaoguixiang, Cao Mao, who is the Son of Wen Emperor and grandson as it should be. He is calm, respectful, and easy to yield. He can be established. All ministers, consider this carefully and at length.”

One official spoke, “Her words are correct. He can be established.”

They all turned to Sima Shi’s clan uncle, Sima Fu. Shi then sent an envoy to Yuancheng, summoning Cao Mao. He ordered the Empress Dowager to ascend Taiji Hall and summon Cao Fang, to rebuke:

“You are promiscuous and unrestrained in your debauchery, and lewdly keep close with courtesans and singers. You cannot bear the mandate of heaven. Submit the jade seals and belt immediately, recover the rank of King of Qi, and set out at once. Do not enter court until officially called.”

Fang knelt and wept before the Empress Dowager, gave over the regalia, mounted a royal carriage, and left in tears. Only a few loyal and righteous ministers accompanied him with sorrow.

A later poet wrote:

In former days Cao Man served Han and cheated the widows and orphans. Who would guess, more than forty years later, the widows and orphans would also be cheated?

In truth Cao Mao, style Yanshi, was a grandson of Emperor Wen and son of Ding Wang of Donghai, Lin. On that day, by Sima Shi’s order and with the empress dowager’s command, civil and military officials and guards assembled in full array outside Xiye Gate to greet him.

As Cao Mao arrived, he hurriedly offered respectful ritual. Grand Commandant Wang Su said, “Your Majesty should not be receiving ritual greetings.” Cao Mao said, “I am also a subject and how could I fail to offer the proper greetings?”

Officials and soldiers helped Cao Mao ascend the litter into the palace. He said, "I do not know why Her Excellency called me in this manner; how dare I ride in the carriage?" and then chose to walk on foot to the east hall of Taiji.

Sima Shi greeted him there, and Cao Mao prostrated first. Shi quickly helped him rise. Formalities being exchanged, Sima Shi introduced him to the empress dowager.

She said, “I saw in your youth the signs of a Son of Heaven. Now you may be lord of all under heaven. Be reverent and frugal, measure your means, spread virtue, and exercise benevolence. Do not dishonor your forefather.”

Cao Mao declined again and again. Shi ordered the ministers to escort him out of Taiji Hall. That day he was established as the new ruler; the Jianping Sixth Year became the first year of Zhengyuan. A general amnesty was issued for all under heaven. Sima Shi was granted the jade ceremonial ax as Great General. He entered court without dismounting, submitted memorials without naming to the throne, and carried his sword to the hall. All civil and military officials received titles and gifts.

In the spring of the second year of Zhengyuan, in the first month, a secret informer arrived in flight, reporting that Zhendong General Guanqiu Jian and Yangzhou Inspector Wen Qin had raised troops under the pretext of deposing this ruler.

Sima Shi was startled.

It was this:

Han ministers once carried a zeal to aid the Son of Heaven; yet Wei generals rise again to crush the rebel commander. How this will fare when meeting the enemy, How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.