Jiang Wei, fearing that relief troops might arrive, withdrew the command wagons, war chariots, and all military stores first. He sent the foot soldiers back first, and then had the cavalry pull back and close the rear.

A covert agent reported this to Deng Ai. Deng Ai laughed: “Jiang Wei knows that the Great General is arriving, so he withdraws first. Do not pursue him. If you do, you will fall into his design.” He then sent scouts, and they reported that at the narrow pass of Luogu he had piled up brushwood and prepared it to burn pursuing troops. Everyone praised him: “The General is truly a master of calculation!” He sent a memorial in a messenger. Sima Zhao rejoiced greatly and once again rewarded Deng Ai.

But the Grand General of Eastern Wu, Sun Chen, upon hearing that Quan Duan, Tang Zi, and the others had submitted to Wei, flew into a rage and had all of them beheaded, along with their households. Their young lord, Sun Liang, was then seventeen years old. Seeing Sun Chen’s slaughter was excessive, he felt deeply uneasy. One day he went out to the western garden, ate fresh plum fruit, and ordered the palace attendant to fetch honey. Soon it was brought. Inside, there were several clumps of mouse dung. He summoned the court storekeeper and questioned him. The attendant kowtowed and said, “My lord, I locked the storehouse securely. How could any mouse dung have gotten in?”

Sun Liang said, “Have you asked this attendant for honey before?”

The storekeeper said, “A few days ago he did ask for honey. I dared not give him any.”

Sun Liang pointed to the attendant and said, “He must have gotten angry at your refusing him, and put dung in the honey to implicate you.”

The attendant refused to concede.

Sun Liang said, “This matter is plain enough. If dung had been in honey for long, both outside and inside would be wet. If it was put in just now, the outside will be moist and the inside dry.” He ordered it to be cut open. Indeed, the inside was dry. The attendant confessed his guilt.

Much of Sun Liang’s shrewdness was like this. Yet he was controlled by Sun Chen and could not assert himself. Sun Chen’s brother, the Great General at Weiyuan, Sun Ju, entered Canglong and was assigned the palace guard duty. General of the Wu Guard, Sun En; Associate General, Sun Gan; and Changshui Captain, Sun Kai, were stationed separately in the camps.

One day Sun Liang sat in silent frustration, while his court attendant Quan Ji stood at his side. Quan Ji was his father-in-law’s family relative. Sun Liang wept and said, “Sun Chen has monopolized authority and kills without restraint. He has deceived me beyond measure. If this is not met, it will become trouble for the future.”

Quandi replied, “If Your Majesty has use for your servant, I am ready to die a thousand times.”

Sun Liang said, “Now you can quietly raise the palace guard and have Commander Liu Cheng hold each city gate with his men. I will go out myself and kill Sun Chen. This must not be known to your mother. Your mother is Sun Chen’s sister. If it leaks out, it is not a small error.”

Quandi said, “Please let Your Majesty draft an edict for me.”

He continued, “When the time comes for me to move, I will show the edict to everyone so that Sun Chen’s followers dare not act rashly.”

Sun Liang agreed and had a secret edict written and delivered to Quandi. Quandi returned home and quietly told his father, Quan Shang. Shang understood the matter and told his wife, “In three days Sun Chen will be killed.” She answered, “Then kill him.” Although she answered so, she secretly had the letter carried to Sun Chen. Sun Chen grew furious and that very night called his brothers and four brothers-in-arms, raised the elite troops, first surrounding the inner palace. At the same time he had Quan Shang, Liu Cheng, and their families seized.

By dawn, Sun Liang heard the great din of bronze drums and gongs outside the palace gates. A palace attendant hurried in to report, “Sun Chen has brought troops and has encircled the inner garden.” Sun Liang was furious and pointed at Empress Quan, scolding, “Your father and brother have ruined great matters for me!” He drew his sword and tried to go out.

Empress Quan, with attendants and close officials, clung to his robes and wept, refusing to let him leave.

Sun Chen first executed Quan Shang, Liu Cheng, and their household. Then he summoned all civil and military officials into the hall and issued orders:

The Son of Heaven has fallen into indulgence and illness for long, and, confused and unworthy, has ruled without order. He is not fit to offer incense to the ancestral temple. We therefore depose him. If any among you dare not obey, it is treason by rebellion.

The officials all trembled and answered, “We are willing to follow the General’s command.”

Senior Secretary Huan Yi was furious. From among the body of officials he strode forth and pointed at Sun Chen, shouting: “Our present sovereign is a wise lord. How dare you speak such disorderly words! I would rather die than obey a rebel.”

Sun Chen was furious. He drew his sword and beheaded him, then entered the inner hall, pointed at Sun Liang, and shouted, “A wicked and deluded ruler deserves death and mutilation, to satisfy Heaven and men. By the late sovereign’s face, I depose you to King of Kuaiji. I will choose a worthy one and enthrone him!”

He shouted at Mid-level Secretary Li Chong, seized his seals and title, and ordered Deng Cheng to arrest him. Sun Liang wept loudly and withdrew.

In later years, people sang a lament:

The traitors defame Yi Yin, while wicked ministers fill Huo Guang’s role.

Pity the sovereign of wit, denied the hall of court.

Sun Chen sent the Court Master, Sun Kai, and Mid-level Secretary Dong Chao to Hulin to invite Prince of Langye, Sun Xiu, to come. Sun Xiu had the courtesy name Zilie and was Sun Quan’s sixth son. In Hulin, he had a dream at night: he rode a dragon up to Heaven and, glancing back, saw that he could no longer see the dragon’s tail, and awakened in terror. The next day, Sun Kai and Dong Chao arrived and begged him to return to the capital.

As they passed Quya, an elderly man, surname Gan, name Xiu, knelt and said, “Change is certain when things endure too long. Your Highness should hurry.” Sun Xiu thanked him. On reaching Busei Pavilion, General Sun En drove out to welcome him. Sun Xiu dared not ride a palanquin, but entered in a small cart. Ministers and officials lined the road and bowing as he passed. Sun Chen came out and helped him up, inviting him inside. In the main hall he was led to the imperial seat as Son of Heaven.

Sun Xiu twice refused with formal humility before finally receiving the Jade Seal.

After the ceremonies of civil and military officers were complete, Sun Xiu issued a general amnesty over the realm and proclaimed the first year of Yong’an. He appointed Sun Chen as Chancellor and Governor of Jing Province. Many officers received offices and rewards. He also made Sun Hao, son of his brother, Marquis of Wucheng. The Sun family became five marquesses in all, each commanding the palace guard, and their power tilted the court toward themselves. Under Emperor Sun Xiu, though he feared inner treachery, he outwardly bestowed grace while quietly setting precautions. Sun Chen’s arrogance grew more and more.

In the twelfth month, Sun Chen brought beef and wine into the palace to offer congratulations for Sun Xiu’s life and longevity. Sun Xiu refused to receive them. Angered, Sun Chen went in a drunken state to the residence of General Zhang Bu and drank there. When he was very drunk he said, “When I deposed the King of Kuaiji, everyone urged me to take the throne. I did not, because Your Majesty is worthy. I therefore set him up. Yet today I come to offer your life-congratulatory drink and am refused; this treats me like a lesser man. I will make you learn how we should meet, sooner or later.”

Zhang Bu only assented. The next day he reported this to Sun Xiu in secret. Sun Xiu, greatly frightened, was uneasy day and night.

Within days Sun Chen sent Mid-level Secretary Meng Zong and assigned fifteen thousand of the Central Camp’s best troops to station at Wuchang, and gave them all the military gear from the armory.

Generals Wei Miao and the Wu Guard Officer Shi Shuo secretly reported to Sun Xiu: “Sun Chen has moved troops outward and moved out all weapons from the armory. Before long, he is certain to stage another coup.”

Sun Xiu was alarmed. He quickly summoned Zhang Bu to confer.

Boastingly, Bu said, “The veteran General Ding Feng has a mind keener than most and can decide grave matters. Invite him to meet us.”

Sun Xiu then summoned Ding Feng inside. Ding Feng reported, “Your Majesty need not worry. I have one stratagem to remove this danger from the state.” Sun Xiu asked what it was.

Ding Feng said, “On the coming year-end sacrificial day, summon all ministers together and call Sun Chen to sit with them. I will handle the rest of the arrangements.” Sun Xiu was delighted.

Ding Feng ordered Wei Miao and Shi Shuo to handle external matters, and Zhang Bu to stand ready within.

That night, wild wind came up. Sand and pebbles flew, old trees were torn out by the roots. By dawn when the wind settled, an envoy arrived with an imperial order: Sun Chen was to come to the palace for a banquet.

Sun Chen had just risen; as if someone had pushed him flat on level ground, and his mood soured. More than ten envoys crowded around and entered with him. His household tried to stop him: “All night, there has been storm and wind. This morning he rose without cause and stumbled as if stumbling without reason. We fear this is no good sign. Do not go.”

Sun Chen said, “My brothers and I jointly command the palace guard. Who dares to come near me? If there is any movement, raise signal fire in my residence.” After issuing this instruction, he mounted and entered.

Sun Xiu anxiously came down from the throne to receive him and asked him to sit high.

After several rounds of drinking, many cried out in alarm, “There is fire rising outside the palace!” Sun Chen tried to rise. Sun Xiu stopped him: “Chancellor, sit steady. There are many outer troops. Why need you fear?”

Before he could finish speaking, Left General Zhang Bu drew his sword, thirty soldiers at his back, and rushed onto the hall. With raised voice, he cried, “There is an edict to arrest the rebel Sun Chen!”

When Sun Chen suddenly tried to run, soldiers already had him. He knelt and begged, “Please, send me to Jiaozhou to return to my fields.”

Sun Xiu shouted at him, “Why did you not send Teng Yin, Lu Ju, and Wang Dun there?” and ordered him pushed down and beheaded.

Then Zhang Bu pulled Sun Chen down the hall and beheaded him. None of his followers dared to move.

Zhang Bu read out an edict: “The guilt rests on Sun Chen alone. Let the others go unpunished.” The crowd then calmed.

Zhang Bu asked Sun Xiu to ascend Wufeng Tower. Ding Feng, Wei Miao, and Shi Shuo brought Sun Chen’s brothers and household in, and Sun Xiu ordered all of them beheaded in the city market.

Among those linked to the clique, several hundred died and three lineages were annihilated. Sun Xiu ordered soldiers to dig open Sun Jun’s grave and slay his head corpse. For the families of the already executed, such as Zhuge Ke, Teng Yin, Lu Ju, and Wang Dun, he ordered their tombs rebuilt to show their loyalty.

As for those whose ties were distant but who had fled, he pardoned them and sent them back to their hometowns. Ding Feng was rewarded heavily.

A dispatch reached Chengdu. Liu Shan, the Later Lord, sent an envoy in return congratulations, and the Wu envoy Xue Xu replied in kind. Xue Xu came back from Shu, and Sun Xiu asked what had been happening in Shu lately.

Xue Xu reported, “Of late, the eunuch Huang Hao has run affairs at court, and all ministers have followed him. In his court no one speaks frankly; outside, the people look thin-faced and pale. As the saying goes, swallows roost in the main hall unaware that the high hall is about to burn.”

Sun Xiu sighed, “If only Zhuge Wuhou had been alive, how could things have come to this?”

He then wrote an official state letter and had it delivered to Chengdu. In it he said Sima Zhao would in no long time seize Wei and then invade Wu and Shu for display of force, so each should make preparations.

When Jiang Wei heard this missive, he rejoiced and submitted another memorial, pressing again for an expedition against Wei. In the winter of the first year of Jingyao, Jiang Wei, Great General of Shu, led Liao Hua and Zhang Yi as the vanguard, Wang Han and Jiang Bin as the left army, Jiang Shu and Fu Qian as the right army, and Hu Ji as the reserve. Jiang Wei and Xiahou Ba served as central commanders-in-chief over two hundred thousand Shu troops. After taking leave of the Later Lord, he went straight to Hanzhong. There he conferred with Xiahou Ba about which place to strike first.

Xiahou Ba said, “Qishan is the place where weapons are matched and war is done. It was there that the Grand Chancellor once advanced his army six times. Other fields are not open for us now.” Jiang Wei followed his advice, ordered all three wings to advance toward Qishan together, and set camp at the valley pass.

At that time Deng Ai was already in the Qishan camps, organizing troops from Longyou. All of a sudden a horseman came rushing with news that the Shu army had set down three camps at the valley entrance. Deng Ai saw this and, ascending to a high point to look, returned to his camp and sat in his pavilion. He exclaimed in great delight, “It is just as I had expected!”

In truth, Deng Ai had already measured the veins of the ground and so left this area for Shu to set camp. From earth to Qishan camp all the way to Shu camps, he had dug an underground passage, waiting for the Shu troops to arrive and then to strike from within.

By then, Jiang Wei had come to the valley entrance and split his forces into three camps. The tunnel lay in the left camp, where Wang Han and Jiang Bin had camped.

Deng Ai ordered his son Deng Zhong and Shi Zuan each to lead ten thousand men, one to the left and one to the right, to strike in force. He then ordered his deputy commander, Zheng Lun, and five hundred sappers to move at the second watch of the night through the tunnel straight to the left camp and emerge from beneath the camp after it from the rear.

Wang Han and Jiang Bin, for their part, had only just raised camp and feared the Wei troops would swoop in, so they could not even take off their armor to sleep. Hearing in the middle camp that the formation was in confusion, they quickly armed their mounts and drew weapons. At the camp’s edge Deng Zhong marched in with troops.

They were attacked from inside and outside at once. The two commanders Wang and Jiang fought desperately but could not withstand it; they abandoned their camps and fled.

Jiang Wei, in the main pavilion, heard the cries from the left camp and understood there were troops from both within and without attacking together. He immediately mounted his horse and stood before the central tent, ordering, “If anyone makes a disorderly move, execute him. If enemy troops have reached the edge of camp, ask no questions: have them all shot with bow and crossbow.”

At the same time he instructed the right camp likewise and allowed no impulsive movement. In truth Wei troops made more than ten charges, each rebuffed and turned away by arrows. They struck only into dawn, and the Wei troops dared not break into the camp.

When Deng Ai drew his men back, he sighed in admiration and said, “Jiang Wei has learned thoroughly the method of Wu Hou! Though stationed in the night, he did not panic; he heard the change and did not fall into disorder. He is truly a commander of quality.”

The next day Wang Han and Jiang Bin gathered their broken men and knelt before the great camp to plead for pardon.

Jiang Wei said, “This is not your fault. It is because I did not understand the terrain.”

He then sent away the cavalry and ordered the two commanders to settle down and establish the camp. He had the badly wounded dead and killed men filled into the tunnel, then covered with earth.

He sent a single challenge letter to ask Deng Ai to meet in battle the next day. Deng Ai was pleased and accepted.

The next day both armies lined up before Qishan. Jiang Wei, following the Eight Formations of Master Kongming, had arranged deployment according to Heaven, Earth, Wind, Clouds, Bird, Snake, Dragon, and Tiger.

When Deng Ai came riding out and saw Jiang Wei spread in eight-trigram form, he arranged himself likewise, with front, back, left, right, and gates all similar. Jiang Wei held his spear and, shouting over the mounted ranks, said, “You copied my Eight Formation. Can you also change it?”

Deng Ai laughed, “Do you think only you can lay such a formation? If I know how to lay one, how could I not know how to transform it?”

He then checked his horse and entered the formation. He ordered the judges of standards to wave the flags left and right, transforming it into sixty-four gates in an 8-by-8 arrangement. Before leaving, he asked, “What do you make of this transformation?”

Jiang Wei said, “Though close enough, do you dare encircle me within your own array?”

Deng Ai replied, “Why should I not?”

Both armies advanced in rank and file. Deng Ai directed his force from the central command. When they collided, neither array deviated from position.

Jiang Wei moved into the center and with a sudden flag signal changed it into the “Long-Serpent Earth-rolling Formation,” trapping Deng Ai at the core, while shouts shook the four sides.

Deng Ai did not know this formation and was alarmed. The Shu troops steadily pressed in. Deng Ai ordered his commanders to keep clashing, and no one could break out.

Then everyone heard the Shu troops cry together, “Deng Ai, surrender at once!”

Looking at the sky, Deng Ai sighed: “I sought to show my talent for one moment and at once I have fallen into Jiang Wei’s scheme.”

Suddenly a squad from the northwest broke in. Seeing it was Wei troops, Deng Ai seized the moment and cut through. The one who came to rescue him was Sima Wang.

When this occurred, all nine camps at Qishan had been taken by Shu. Deng Ai withdrew with the remnants and retreated to his camp south of the Wei River.

Deng Ai said to Sima Wang, “How did you know this formation well enough to rescue me?”

Sima Wang said, “In my youth I studied in Jingnan. I was friends with Cui Zhouping and Shi Guangyuan, and we discussed this formation. What Jiang Wei changed was the Long-Serpent Earth-rolling Formation. If one presses it in the usual places, it cannot be broken. I saw its head at the northwest and so struck from the northwest. It broke of itself.”

Deng Ai said in thanks, “Though I have learned formation, I truly do not know the transforms. If I know this one now, how shall we retake the Qishan stockades tomorrow?”

Sima Wang replied, “My learning may not cover what Jiang Wei has mastered.”

Deng Ai said, “Tomorrow you fight him in formation, and I will lead one force to strike at the rear of Qishan. If we throw them into a two-front melee, we can recover the old camps.”

He then gave command for Zheng Lun to lead the vanguard, while he led the main army to strike the rear of the mountain. At the same time he sent a challenge for Jiang Wei to fight formation tactics again the next day.

Jiang Wei sent back his brief reply. He said to all the commanders, “I inherited the secret text of Wuhou, where this formation can be transformed three hundred sixty-five times, matching the number of the weekly cycle. What he has challenged me to is merely ‘showing a blade at the gate.’ But there must be deceit in its middle, do you all understand?”

Liao Hua said, “This must be him trying to bait our array and bring another force against our rear.”

Jiang Wei smiled, “That is exactly what I thought.” He ordered Zhang Yi and Liao Hua to lead ten thousand soldiers to hide behind the mountain.

The next day Jiang Wei gathered all nine camps and arrayed them before Qishan. Sima Wang marched out from the south bank of the Wei River and, riding forward, took position before Jiang Wei to answer him.

Jiang Wei said, “You challenged me to a battle of formation. Show me your array first.”

Wang set out the eight-trigram form.

Jiang Wei said, “This is the same form as my Eight Formation. You now copied my method; how is that astonishing?”

Wang said, “You too have stolen others’ methods.”

Jiang Wei said, “How many changes does this formation have?”

Wang laughed: “If I can lay it, can I not change it? This formation has eighty-one changes.”

Jiang Wei said with a smile, “Try then.”

Wang transformed several times and then came out asking, “Do you know my transformations?”

Jiang Wei smiled, “Mine has three hundred sixty-five by the cycle of Zhou heaven. You are a frog in a well: how can you fathom the mysterious depths?”

Wang knew he had not fully mastered this art and, forcing his voice, argued defensively: “I do not believe it. Try your own transformations.”

Jiang Wei replied, “Call out Deng Ai. I will lay it for him to see.”

Wang said, “General Deng has sound strategy and does not care for formations.”

Jiang Wei laughed broadly. “What sound strategy? It is only this: to trick me into arraying here while he takes troops against my rear.”

Sima Wang was alarmed and was about to move into close battle when Jiang Wei pointed at the left and right wings with the tip of his whip handle. The two wings advanced first, and the Wei soldiers who had come threw down armor and cast away spears, each fleeing to save their lives.

Deng Ai, meanwhile, ordered Vanguarding Commander Zheng Lun to rush the mountain rear. Just as Zheng Lun turned the mountain’s edge, there was suddenly a cannon report and trumpet blasts, and a hidden force surged out; the leading general was Liao Hua.

Before either side exchanged words, horse met horse and Liao Hua struck in one cut, beheading Zheng Lun under his horse.

Deng Ai, greatly startled, pressed hard on the reins and tried to pull back his force, but Zhang Yi came charging with another army. The two sides attacked from both sides. The Wei troops were badly defeated. Deng Ai barely broke free, but his body had taken four arrows.

When he reached the camp south of the Wei River, Sima Wang had also arrived. They discussed how to withdraw.

Sima Wang said, “Recently our Shu lord Liu Shan has favored the noble Huang Hao and passes his days in wine and girls. We can use counterintelligence and summon Jiang Wei back to Shu. This encirclement can then be lifted.”

Deng Ai asked the assembled strategists, “Who can go into Shu to contact Huang Hao?”

Before the discussion ended, one man called out, “I will go.” Deng Ai saw him and knew him as Dang Jun of Xiangyang.

Deng Ai was delighted. He ordered Dang Jun with jewels and gold, send him straight to Chengdu to ingratiate himself with Huang Hao, and spread rumors that Jiang Wei harbored resentment toward the Son of Heaven and would soon defect to Wei. Word quickly spread through Chengdu that this was what everyone believed.

Huang Hao reported to the Later Lord, who ordered an all-night dispatch to summon Jiang Wei to court.

Jiang Wei had challenged Deng Ai to battle day after day, while Deng Ai held firm and would not come out. Jiang Wei grew deeply doubtful. Suddenly an order of summons arrived, calling him into court. He did not know the reason, so he had to retreat from the field and return to the capital.

Deng Ai and Sima Wang knew that Jiang Wei had fallen into the stratagem. They withdrew the Wei River south forces and then ambushed him on the road after they left.

It was so:

Le Yi’s campaign against Qi was blocked by intrigue,

Yue Fei broke the enemy only to be recalled by slander.

How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.