Save Shou-chun as Yuquan keeps faith to death;\ Take Longcheng while Boryue wages a grim battle.

Sima Zhao heard that Zhuge Dan had joined Wu troops and prepared for a decisive engagement, so he summoned Pei Xiu, Scattered Cavalry Gentleman, and Zhong Hui, Palace Gentleman of the Yellow Gates, to discuss a plan to break the enemy. Zhong Hui said, “Wu aid to Zhuge Dan is real gain. If we lure them with advantage, we will surely win.” Sima Zhao followed his advice. He ordered Shi Bao and Zhou Tai to march their armies in advance and lie in ambush at Shitou City. Wang Ji and Chen Qian led an elite force in the rear. He also ordered the subordinate general Cheng Cui to take several tens of thousands of soldiers forward to tease the enemy first. Chen Jun was told to gather wheeled gear, arms, horses, cattle, donkeys, and mules, load them with prize goods, and bunch them around the formation on all sides to abandon at once if the enemy came.

That day, Zhuge Dan posted Zhu Yi on the left and Wen Qin on the right. Seeing that the Wei ranks and men were not in order, Dan drove infantry and cavalry straight forward in a rush. Cheng Cui withdrew, and Dan charged to strike through. Seeing the plain carpeted with oxen, horses, donkeys, and mules, the southern troops scrambled to seize them and had no heart to remain in battle. A cannon boomed suddenly, and from two directions troops came in to kill. On the left was Shi Bao, on the right Zhou Tai. When Dan was startled and tried to fall back in haste, Wang Ji and Chen Qian’s elite arrived in a killing rush. Dan’s army was decisively beaten. Sima Zhao then brought in more troops to reinforce. Dan withdrew with his ruined force into Shou-chun, shut the gates, and held fast. Sima Zhao ordered the army to surround him on all four sides and press the city together.

Meanwhile the Wu troops withdrew to encamp at Anfeng, while the Wei sovereign’s mobile court was at Xiangcheng. Zhong Hui said, “Zhuge Dan may have suffered defeat, yet food stores inside Shou-chun are still abundant. Worse still, Wu forces are still posted at Anfeng as a flanking position. If Wu besieges on all four sides, if they are slow they will hold; if they rush they will fight to die. If they later join from two sides, our army gains nothing. Better we besiege Shou-chun on three sides and leave the southern gate road so the enemy may break out; when he runs, we strike him and gain full victory. Those Wu troops came from far away, and their supplies will not hold. If I lead light cavalry behind them, they can collapse without one real battle.” Sima Zhao patted his shoulder and said, “You are truly my own Zifang.” He ordered Wang Ji to pull back the troops of the south gate.

At Anfeng, where Wu troops were stationed, Sun Chen called Zhu Yi and reproached him, “Shou-chun cannot be saved by one push alone. How could one think to seize all the Central Plains on such a basis? If there is no victory again, he will be executed.” Zhu Yi went back to his own camp to consult.

Yuquan said, “The south gate of Shou-chun is not yet under close encirclement. I am willing to lead one army through it to enter and help Zhuge Dan defend the city. You engage Sima's army and test them; I will break out from within and strike from both sides. Then the Wei troops can be broken.” Zhu Yi accepted those words. Quán Yi, Quán Duan, Wen Qin, and others all volunteered to enter Shou-chun. So they entered together with Yuquan, a force of ten thousand, through the south gate.

Wei soldiers had no clear command and did not dare to be reckless. They let Wu soldiers enter and then reported it to Sima Zhao. He said, “This is intended to strike us from inside and outside together.” He summoned Wang Ji and Chen Qian and said, “You may take five thousand men, cut off Zhu Yi’s route, and strike him from behind.” The two obeyed and set out.

When Zhu Yi was bringing his troops forward, shouts rose violently from behind. From the left came Wang Ji, from the right Chen Qian, and two columns of armies rushed in. The Wu army was smashed. Zhu Yi returned to Sun Chen. Sun Chen grew furious: “For a general already beaten again and again, of what use are you?” He shouted at the soldiers to drag him out and execute him. He also scolded Quán Yí, son of Quán Duan: “If you cannot get away from Wei’s troops, you and your father need not come before me again!” So Sun Chen returned to Jianye.

Zhong Hui told Sima Zhao, “Now that Sun Chen has withdrawn and no rescuer is outside, the city can be fully besieged.” Sima Zhao followed this and ordered the army to press the encirclement.

Quán Yi led his men into Shou-chun, saw the overwhelming force of Wei and found himself with no way out, and submitted to Sima Zhao. Sima Zhao promoted Yi to Deputy General. Feeling his mercy, Yi wrote a family letter to Quán Duan and his uncle Quán Yí, saying Sun Chen had no humanity and that it was better to surrender to Wei, then shot the letter into the city.

Quán Yí received the letter and then with his father Quán Duan opened the gate for several thousand men and surrendered. Zhuge Dan was depressed in the city. Strategist Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi spoke up: “The city has little grain and too many soldiers, and cannot endure long. We should take the combined Wu and Chu troops out and force a life-ending battle with Wei.”

Dan snapped, “I want to hold, you want battle—must one of you have a different heart? Speak again and I will execute you.” The two raised their eyes to the sky and sighed, “Dan is doomed to fall. It is better we surrender early and avoid one complete death!” On the second watch of that night, Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi climbed over the walls and surrendered to Wei. Sima Zhao used them heavily, so though there were still men in the city willing to fight, none dared to speak of battle.

In the city, Dan saw Wei soldiers building earthen embankments all around, blocking the Huai, and looked only to flooding water to break them and drive his troops against it. Yet from autumn into winter there was no continuous rain, and the Huai did not flood.

Soon granaries ran dry. Wen Qin and his two sons held out inside the minor fort, and as soldiers gradually fainted from hunger they had no choice but to report to Dan: “Food is exhausted; soldiers waste away from hunger. Better to send the northern troops out entirely to reduce consumption.” Dan roared in anger, “You ask me to release all northern soldiers. Are you plotting against me?” He kicked one out and had him executed.

Wen Yang and Wen Hu saw their father killed. Each drew a short saber, cut down several people at once, leapt onto the wall, jumped down, crossed the ditch, and surrendered at the Wei camp. Sima Zhao still remembered Wen Yang’s single-handed retreat earlier and wanted to execute him. Zhong Hui remonstrated: “The guilt is Wen Qin’s. Wen Qin is dead, and these two have come in only out of desperation. If you kill surrendered generals, the city’s defenders will only grow firmer.”

Sima Zhao agreed and summoned Wen Yang and Wen Hu to camp, calmed them with kind words, rewarded them with swift horses and brocade robes, made them Deputy Generals, and enfeoffed them as Marquises within the Pass. The two bowed and thanked him, mounted their horses, and rode around the city shouting, “We two have received amnesty and ennoblement from the Great General. Why do you not surrender early?” The men inside heard and discussed among themselves. “Even Wen Yang, who was an enemy of the Sima clan, was used again; how could we be treated differently?” they said. All then wanted to surrender. Zhuge Dan, hearing this, became furious and patrolled wall and gate day and night, ruling by killing.

Zhong Hui saw how city hearts had already turned and entered camp to tell Sima Zhao, “This is the time to attack.” Sima Zhao was delighted and immediately called all four armies together in one surge. The defending commander Zeng Xuan opened the northern gate and admitted Wei soldiers. Dan saw Wei soldiers had entered and in panic led a few hundred under his banners through a side path out of the city to Diqiao bridge, where he collided with Hu Zun. Hu Zun raised the blade and struck; Dan was cut from the saddle. Hundreds were bound.

Wang Ji led troops to the west gate and ran into Wu general Yuquan.

“Why not surrender early?” Wang Ji shouted.

“Given orders, I set out to answer disaster for the living. If I cannot save and yet submit to another, that is not righteousness!” Yuquan threw his helmet to the ground and shouted, “To live in this world and die on the field is the one fortune! My life is enough!” He then wielded his saber and fought with fury for over three dozen exchanges. As man and horse tired, he was killed by the disorderly ranks.

Later people wrote poems in praise:

Sima once besieged Shou-chun, and the countless surrendered ran to kiss the dust of his chariot. East Wu may have heroes in abundance, but who among them would die when Yuquan chose death?

When Sima Zhao entered Shou-chun, he had the old and young of Zhuge Dan all beheaded and exterminated three of his clans. Wei officers brought with them several hundred of Dan’s captured soldiers, bound.

Sima Zhao asked, “Will you surrender?”

All shouted, “We wish to die with Lord Zhuge and not surrender to you.”

Sima Zhao grew furious and ordered the guards to drag all of them outside the city and question each one in turn: “Those who surrender will be spared.” Not one spoke of surrender. He killed them all until none remained. Sima Zhao gave a long, repeated sigh and ordered them all buried.

Later people wrote poems of lament:

Loyal to the lord with unbending will, they choose no stolen life but death beside General Zhuge’s ranks. The song of onions and dew would not yet have ceased; the trail left behind seems only to follow Tian Heng.

Later, most of the Wu soldiers surrendered to Wei. Fei Xiu told Sima Zhao, “These Wu men include old and young, and all are now in the southeastern lands by the Yangtze and Huai. If we keep them, they will become rebellion in time. Better to bury them all.”

Zhong Hui said, “No. In war, the well-governed state comes first: strike at the root of great evil and only that. If we bury all of them, it is not humane. Better release them back south to show the breadth of the Son of Heaven’s magnanimity.”

Sima Zhao said, “This is a fine argument.” He released all the Wu soldiers and sent them home. Tang Zi, fearing Sun Chen, dared not return to his own country and also came over to Wei. Sima Zhao used them all well and stationed them across Sanhe. Nanhan was pacified.

He was about to pull back when there came news that Jiang Wei from Shu was marching to take Changcheng to intercept supplies. Sima Zhao was greatly startled and consulted many officials on how to withdraw troops.

It was the twentieth year of Yanxi under Shu-Han, later changed to the first year of Jingyao. Jiang Wei in Hanzhong had chosen two river commanders, Jiang Shu and Fu Qian, and trained men and horses with them daily. He favored both greatly.

News came that in Huainan Zhuge Dan had raised troops against Sima Zhao and had Sun Chen of Wu helping him. Sima Zhao drew up two Huai armies and brought both the Wei empress dowager and the Wei sovereign on campaign.

Jiang Wei rejoiced, “This time I have truly accomplished a great task!” He petitioned the later ruler and wished to raise troops against Wei. Qiao Zhou, a Gentleman of the Court and Internal Attendants, heard of it and sighed, “Lately the court is sunk in wine and lust, trusting mid-level nobles like Huang Hao and ignoring state affairs for mere pleasure. Boyue has long sought punitive war and does not care for soldiers. The state is in danger!” He then composed an essay, Essay on Vengeful Wars, and sent it to Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei opened it and read.

The argument said:

One may ask: how did the weak in the past triumph over the strong? The answer: in a great state with few concerns, arrogance grows; in a small state with burdens, one learns to pursue prudence. Arrogance breeds disorder; prudence brings order. This is the constant order of things. So King Wen of Zhou nourished the people and overcame the many with the few; Goujian cared for the common people and from weakness brought down strength. This is the method.

Another asks: once Chu was strong and Han weak, and they divided by the Honggou agreement. Zhang Liang held that once the people's purpose was fixed, it could not be moved. He gathered troops to pursue Yue and finally overthrew the house of Xiang. Was this only a matter like King Wen and Goujian?

Again: in the time between Shang and Zhou, lords and kings enjoyed hereditary power and the bond between ruler and minister was fixed. In such times, even if there were Han, how could one seize all under heaven with sword alone? Yet after Qin removed lords and set commanders, the people were exhausted by Qin labor, the realm collapsed in pieces, and heroes contested alike. As for us and them, dynasties have already changed hands repeatedly. This is not a Qin-end frenzy; there are truly six kingdoms holding ground together. Therefore one may become like Wenwang, hard to become like the Founding Emperor of Han. Move only when the hour is right and raise arms after several combinations of strength. Thus Tang and Wu’s armies did not need a second campaign to conquer all. It was truly a matter of respecting the people’s burden and judging the time. If one presses into full-blown military arrogance, and misfortune comes, even the clever cannot devise a way through.

Jiang Wei, after reading, burst with anger: “This is the discourse of a corrupt scholar!” He threw it to the floor, then raised his river troops to march to the Central Plains.

He then asked Fu Qian, “By your reckoning, from where should we strike first?”

Fu Qian said, “Wei’s grain stockpiles are all at Longcheng. We can go straight for Luogu. Cross Mount Shenling to Longcheng, burn the supplies first, then ride directly to Qinchuan. Then the Central Plains can be taken in days.”

Wei said, “Your view and my plan are in accord.” He immediately led his force to Luogu, crossed Shenling, and came toward Longcheng.

The general stationed to defend Changcheng, Sima Wang, was in fact Sima Zhao’s uncle by clan. The city had much grain, but few men and horses. When Sima Wang heard of the Shu army’s arrival, he hurried with generals Wang Zhen and Li Peng to set camp twenty li outside. The next day the Shu army arrived, and Sima Wang brought out the two generals to face them in formation.

Jiang Wei mounted and addressed Sima Wang, saying, “Now that Sima Zhao has moved the lord to the army, there must be intent like Li Jue and Guo Si. I come now by imperial order to punish an offense. You should surrender at once. If you still cling to delusion, all your household will be exterminated!”

Wang Zhen answered loudly, “You are rude. You have violated the sovereign state repeatedly. If you do not withdraw at once, not a coat sleeve of yours will return.”

He had not finished when Sima Wang’s man Wang Zhen lunged his spear forward from behind. Fu Qian of the Shu formation stepped out to receive. Before ten exchanges they gave him an opening. Wang Zhen immediately thrust again. Fu Qian dodged and captured him alive from horseback, then returned to his own formation.

Li Peng grew furious and spurred his horse in with a wheel-like saber.

Fu Qian feigned slowness; when Li Peng came near, he hurled a heavy effort and threw him down. He had also prepared a four-pronged iron dart in his hand. Li Peng gained ground and raised his saber to strike, but Fu Qian twisted back, looked over his shoulder, and sent one short iron dart into Li Peng’s face. It burst from his eyes and he died at the horse’s feet. Wang Zhen was then pierced by a disorderly thrust from the Shu line and killed.

Jiang Wei drove his force hard forward. Sima Wang abandoned camp and entered the city, shutting his gate and not coming out.

Wei ordered, “This night the soldiers are to rest one night and gather sharpness. Tomorrow we must enter the city.”

At dawn the next day Shu soldiers rushed in in a mass and reached the walls. Fire arrows and fire-lances were sent into the city. The thatched structures on the walls blazed, and the Wei troops were thrown into confusion. Wei then ordered piles of dry brush packed beneath the walls and set them all afire at once; towering flames rose into the sky. The city was close to collapse, and Wei soldiers cried out in rage inside. Their screams were heard across the fields.

Just as they were attacking, a massive shout came from behind. Jiang Wei drew rein and looked back. Wei troops stamped and waved banners, surging toward him. He ordered the rear contingents to move forward as the front. He held under the gate banner to receive them.

A young Wei officer then rode out fully armed with armor and sash, about twenty years old, his face white like talcum, lips red as drawn cinnabar. He shouted in fierce voice, “Can you identify General Deng?”

Wei thought, “This must be Deng Ai.” The young officer rode forward with spear in hand. Both stirred themselves to full force and fought for thirty or forty exchanges with no clear advantage. The young general’s spearmanship had not a trace of slackness. Wei thought, “Without this plan, how could we win?” He turned his horse toward a mountain path on the left. The young officer chased hard. Wei hooked his steel spear and silently took out a crossbow and feathered bolt and shot. The young officer moved with sharp foresight. He had seen it already; with the twang of string he leaned forward and let the arrow pass.

Wei looked back to see the young man had arrived and thrust his spear; Wei dodged. The spear passed by his side, and Wei caught it. The young officer dropped his spear and ran back toward his own ranks.

Wei sighed, “Alas, alas!” and urged his horse to chase again. At the command gate he met an officer wading through with a saber raised:

“Jiang Wei, to chase my son is not fitting! Deng Ai is here!” Wei was startled. The young officer was indeed Deng Ai’s son, Deng Zhong.

Wei inwardly admired him in surprise. He wanted to fight Deng Ai but feared his horse was exhausted. He pointed loosely toward Ai and said, “Today I know you and your father. Withdraw for now and we will settle it in battle tomorrow.”

Ai saw the field not in his favor and also checked his horse in agreement: “So be it. Each of us should withdraw. One who hides an ambush is no man.”

So both armies withdrew. Deng Ai held camp below the Weishui, and Jiang Wei camped at the crossing between two mountains. Seeing the Shu troops’ terrain, Ai wrote to Sima Wang, “We must not fight at all; we should hold fast. When troops from Guanzhong arrive, the Shu grain will be gone and their supply will fail, and with a three-sided attack there is no victory for them. I am sending my eldest son, Deng Zhong, to help guard the city.” He also sent men to request aid from Sima Zhao.

Back at the forward camp, Jiang Wei sent a challenge letter demanding battle next day, and Deng Ai pretended to respond. At the fifth watch before dawn the next day Wei instructed the three armies to prepare food; by dawn they formed ranks and waited. The Ai camp hoisted its banners in silence and seemed as if no one remained. Wei only returned by evening.

The next day he sent another battle letter again accusing him of missing the set time. Deng Ai received him with wine and food and said, “My small body suffers slight illness; our timing has not held. We meet in battle tomorrow.”

The next day Jiang Wei again brought troops, and Ai still refused to come out.

After five or six such rounds, Fu Jian told Wei, “This must be a trick. We should guard against it.”

Wei said, “Certainly they will endure until Guanzhong troops arrive and then strike us from three sides. I will now send a letter to Sun Chen of Wu so that he joins our attack.”

Just then a courier galloped in: Sima Zhao had moved on Shou-chun, killed Zhuge Dan, and all Wu soldiers had surrendered. Sima Zhao was returning to Luoyang and intended to bring troops to rescue Changcheng. Wei was greatly startled: “This campaign against Wei has become a painted scheme again. We should instead retreat for now.”

Already mourning four attempts and failing to secure worthy achievements, and sighing for five campaigns that have still not succeeded. How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.