Now, the Grand General Who Protects the State, Dong Jue, upon hearing that Wei forces had invaded through more than ten routes, led twenty thousand troops to hold the Sword Gate Pass. That day, seeing a great cloud of dust rising in the distance, he suspected it was the Wei army and hastily brought his men to block the pass. Dong Jue himself went to the front to observe, and saw that it was Jiang Wei, Liao Hua, and Zhang Yi. Overjoyed, Dong Jue welcomed them into the pass. After the formalities, weeping, he recounted the matters of the Later Ruler and Huang Hao. Jiang Wei said, "Sir, do not worry. As long as I am here, I will not allow Wei to swallow Shu. For now, let us defend Sword Gate Pass and slowly devise a plan to repel the enemy." Dong Jue replied, "Though this pass can be held, unfortunately, Chengdu is left undefended. If the enemy should attack there, the entire situation will collapse." Jiang Wei answered, "Chengdu is protected by steep mountains and difficult terrain; it is not easily taken. Do not be anxious." As they were speaking, a sudden report came that Zhuge Xu had led troops to attack the base of the pass. Jiang Wei, enraged, immediately took five thousand men and charged down from the pass, plunging directly into the Wei formation. He charged left and right, routing Zhuge Xu's army completely. The Wei forces fled for several miles before making camp, and countless soldiers were killed. The Shu army seized many horses and weapons. Jiang Wei then withdrew his troops back to the pass.
Meanwhile, Zhong Hui had encamped twenty miles from Sword Gate Pass. Zhuge Xu came to confess his fault. Zhong Hui angrily said, "I ordered you to hold the Yinping Bridgehead to cut off Jiang Wei's retreat. How did you lose it? And now, without my command, you have advanced recklessly, leading to this defeat!" Zhuge Xu replied, "Jiang Wei is full of cunning schemes. He deceived me by pretending to attack Yong Province. Fearing Yong Province would be lost, I led my troops to its rescue, and Jiang Wei took the opportunity to escape. I pursued him to the base of the pass, only to be defeated again." Zhong Hui, in a fury, ordered him executed. The Army Supervisor, Wei Guan, advised, "Though Zhuge Xu is guilty, he is under the command of Deng, the General Who Conquers the West. If you kill him, it may damage the harmony between you." Zhong Hui retorted, "I am here on the express decree of the Son of Heaven and the orders of the Duke of Jin to attack Shu. Even if Deng Ai were guilty, I would have him executed!" The assembled officers pleaded earnestly, and Zhong Hui relented. He had Zhuge Xu placed in a prisoner's cart and sent to Luoyang, to be dealt with by the Duke of Jin. The troops under Zhuge Xu's command were then absorbed into Zhong Hui's own forces.
Someone reported this to Deng Ai. Deng Ai was furious and said, "He and I hold the same rank, yet I have long guarded the frontier and labored for the state. How dare he be so arrogant!" His son, Deng Zhong, advised him, "If one cannot endure small grievances, great plans are ruined. Father, if you are at odds with him, it will surely harm the great affairs of the state. I hope you can tolerate this." Deng Ai heeded his son's advice, but the anger still burned in his heart. He took a dozen riders to visit Zhong Hui. When Zhong Hui heard that Deng Ai had arrived, he asked his attendants, "How many troops has Deng Ai brought?" The attendants replied, "Only a dozen riders." Zhong Hui then ordered several hundred armed guards to line both inside and outside his tent.
Deng Ai dismounted and entered. Zhong Hui received him into the tent, and after the formalities, Deng Ai, noticing the strict military discipline, felt uneasy. He probed with words, saying, "General, your capture of Hanzhong is a great fortune for the court. You should now formulate a plan to take Sword Gate Pass quickly." Zhong Hui asked, "What is your esteemed opinion, General?" Deng Ai repeatedly demurred, claiming he had no ability. Zhong Hui pressed him for an answer. Deng Ai finally replied, "In my humble opinion, you could lead an army from the small Yinping road to Deyang Pavilion in Hanzhong, then use a surprise force to strike directly at Chengdu. Jiang Wei will be forced to withdraw his troops to save it, and then you, General, can take advantage of the situation to seize Sword Gate Pass. This would achieve complete success." Zhong Hui was delighted and said, "General, this plan is excellent! You should lead your troops immediately. I will await the good news here!" The two men drank wine and parted. Back in his own tent, Zhong Hui said to his officers, "Everyone says Deng Ai is capable. But observing him today, he is nothing but a mediocre talent!" When asked why, he explained, "The Yinping road is all high mountains and steep ridges. If Shu stations a hundred men to guard the strategic points and cut off his retreat, Deng Ai's entire army will starve to death. I will simply advance by the main road. Why should I worry about not conquering Shu?" He then set up scaling ladders and siege catapults to attack Sword Gate Pass.
Now, as Deng Ai left the camp gate and mounted his horse, he turned to his followers and asked, "How did Zhong Hui treat me?" His followers replied, "Judging by his words and expression, he did not take your plan seriously at all. He merely responded with empty politeness." Deng Ai laughed and said, "He thinks I cannot take Chengdu. I am determined to do just that!" Returning to his own camp, his officers Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong greeted him and asked, "What deep discussion did you have with Zhong, the General Who Conquers the West, today?" Deng Ai replied, "I spoke to him with a sincere heart, but he regards me as a fool. He thinks capturing Hanzhong is a great achievement, but if I had not pinned down Jiang Wei at Tazhong, how could he have succeeded? If I can take Chengdu now, that will surpass taking Hanzhong!" That very night, he ordered the entire camp to break ground and march toward the Yinping road. They encamped seven hundred miles from Sword Gate Pass. Someone reported to Zhong Hui, "Deng Ai is going to take Chengdu." Zhong Hui laughed at Deng Ai's folly.
Deng Ai then sent a secret letter by swift messenger to report to Sima Zhao. He also gathered his officers in his tent and asked, "I am now going to take advantage of the enemy's weakness to seize Chengdu, and achieve immortal fame with you all. Are you willing to follow me?" The officers answered as one, "We will obey your command, even if it means ten thousand deaths!" Deng Ai first ordered his son, Deng Zhong, to lead five thousand elite troops. They were to wear no armor, but each carry axes and chisels. Whenever they encountered steep and dangerous places, they were to cut a path through the mountains and build bridges and plank roads to allow the army to pass. Deng Ai selected thirty thousand troops, each carrying dry rations and ropes, and set out. After marching about a hundred miles, he left three thousand men to establish a camp. After another hundred miles, he left another three thousand to build another camp. It was October of that year when they advanced from Yinping into a land of sheer cliffs and deep gorges. For over twenty days, they marched more than seven hundred miles through completely uninhabited territory. Having established several camps along the way, only two thousand men remained. They then came to a ridge called the Heaven-Scraping Ridge. The horses could go no further. Deng Ai dismounted and climbed on foot. There he found Deng Zhong and the vanguard soldiers all in tears. Deng Ai asked why. Deng Zhong reported, "To the west of this ridge are all vertical cliffs and precipices. We cannot cut a path through them. All our previous efforts have been wasted.
That is why we weep." Deng Ai said, "Our army has come this far, having marched over seven hundred miles. Beyond this is Jiangyou. How can we turn back now?" He then called out to the army, "If you do not enter the tiger's lair, how can you capture its cubs? You and I have come to this place. If we succeed, we will share wealth and honor together." The troops all responded, "We will follow the general's orders." Deng Ai ordered the weapons and equipment to be thrown down the cliff first. He then wrapped himself in felt and rolled down. His subordinate officers who had felt coats wrapped themselves and rolled down as well. Those without felt coats tied ropes around their waists, grasped trees and vines, and descended one after another, like a string of fish. Thus, Deng Ai, Deng Zhong, the two thousand troops, and the vanguard soldiers all crossed the Heaven-Scraping Ridge. As they were adjusting their armor and weapons, they suddenly saw a stone tablet by the roadside with an inscription: "Composed by the Imperial Chancellor, Marquis Wu of Zhuge." The text read: "When the two fires first rise, a man will cross this place. When two warriors contend, they will soon die." After reading this, Deng Ai was greatly shocked. He hurriedly bowed to the tablet and said, "Marquis Wu was truly a divine man! What a pity that I could not study under him!"
A poet of the time lamented: The towering peaks of Yinping scraped the very heavens, even the black storks hesitated to fly over them. Deng Ai, wrapped in felt, rolled down from here, but who knew that Zhuge Liang had foreseen it all?
As Deng Ai secretly crossed the Yinping mountains and led his troops forward, they also came upon a large, empty camp. His attendants told him, "It is said that when Marquis Wu was alive, he once stationed a thousand men to guard this dangerous pass. But the current Shu ruler, Liu Shan, abolished the post." Deng Ai sighed deeply and said to his men, "We have a way in but no way back! Ahead, in the city of Jiangyou, there are ample provisions. If you advance, you may live; if you retreat, you will surely die. We must attack with all our strength!" The troops all responded, "We will fight to the death!" So Deng Ai, on foot, led his two thousand men, marching double-time day and night to seize the city of Jiangyou.
Now, the defending general of Jiangyou, Ma Miao, had heard that the eastern regions of Shu had been lost. Though he made some preparations, he only guarded the main road. Relying on Jiang Wei's full army holding Sword Gate Pass, he did not take the military situation seriously. That day, after training his troops, he returned home and sat drinking with his wife, Lady Li, by the fire. His wife asked, "I have repeatedly heard that the border situation is extremely urgent, yet you, General, show no sign of worry. Why is that?" Ma Miao replied, "The great affairs are all in the hands of Jiang Wei. What do they have to do with me?" His wife said, "Even so, the city you guard is not unimportant." Ma Miao answered, "The Son of Heaven listens to Huang Hao and indulges in wine and women. I fear disaster is not far off. If the Wei army comes, surrendering would be the best course. Why should I worry?" His wife was furious and spat in his face, saying, "You are a man, yet you harbor such disloyal and unrighteous thoughts. You are unworthy of the rank and salary the state has given you. What face do I have to see you again?" Ma Miao was ashamed and speechless.
Suddenly, a servant rushed in to report, "The Wei general Deng Ai has come from somewhere unknown with over two thousand men and has stormed into the city!" Ma Miao was terrified. He hurriedly went out to surrender, prostrating himself in the public hall, weeping as he said, "I have long wished to surrender. Now I am willing to gather the city's residents and my own troops to submit to you, General." Deng Ai accepted his surrender. He then incorporated the Jiangyou troops into his own command and appointed Ma Miao as his guide. Suddenly, a report came that Ma Miao's wife had hanged herself. Deng Ai asked why, and Ma Miao told him the truth. Deng Ai, moved by her virtue, ordered a lavish funeral and personally went to pay his respects. All who heard of it in Wei sighed in admiration.
A poet of the time praised her: The Later Ruler was blind and foolish, the fate of Han was overturned, Heaven sent Deng Ai to take Western Shu. What a pity that Ba and Shu had so many famous generals, none could match the virtue of Lady Li of Jiangyou.
Having taken Jiangyou, Deng Ai then summoned all the troops from the Yinping road to assemble there. They then marched to attack Fucheng. His subordinate, Tian Xu, said, "Our army has come through great danger and is exhausted. We should rest for a few days before advancing." Deng Ai angrily replied, "Speed is the essence of war! How dare you disrupt my army's morale!" He ordered Tian Xu executed on the spot. Only after the earnest pleas of all the other officers was Tian Xu spared. Deng Ai then drove his army forward to Fucheng. The officials, soldiers, and people within the city, feeling as if the army had dropped from the sky, all surrendered.
A swift report of this reached Chengdu. When the Later Ruler heard of it, he panicked and summoned Huang Hao to ask about it. Huang Hao memorialized, "This is a false rumor. The gods would never betray Your Majesty." When the Later Ruler then summoned the witch, she was nowhere to be found. At this time, urgent memorials from near and far came like falling snowflakes, and messengers came and went without cease. The Later Ruler held court to discuss the matter, but the assembled officials looked at each other in silence, not a single word spoken. Xi Zheng stepped forward and said, "The situation is critical! Your Majesty should summon the son of the late Marquis Wu to discuss a plan to repel the enemy." This son was Zhuge Zhan, styled Siyuan. His mother was Lady Huang, the daughter of Huang Chengyan. Lady Huang was very plain in appearance, but possessed extraordinary talent: she was versed in astronomy above and geography below, and was proficient in all the books on strategy and the esoteric arts. When the Marquis Wu was at Nanyang, he heard of her virtue and sought her hand in marriage. The Marquis Wu owed much of his learning to his wife's assistance. After the Marquis Wu's death, Lady Huang soon passed away as well. On her deathbed, she exhorted her son, Zhuge Zhan, to be loyal and filial. Zhan was intelligent from a young age. He married the Later Ruler's daughter and became a Commandant of the Imperial Carriages. He later inherited his father's title of Marquis of Wuxiang. In the fourth year of the Jingyao era, he was promoted to General Who Guards the Army. At this time, because Huang Hao was in power, he feigned illness and refused to serve.
Now, following Xi Zheng's advice, the Later Ruler immediately issued three edicts, summoning Zhuge Zhan to the palace. The Later Ruler wept and said, "Deng Ai's army is already at Fucheng. Chengdu is in danger. For the sake of your late father, save my life!" Zhuge Zhan also wept and replied, "Your servant and his father have received the profound grace of the late Emperor and Your Majesty's exceptional favor. Even if I were to grind my bones and scatter my ashes, I could not repay it. I beg Your Majesty to issue all the troops of Chengdu to me, so that I may lead them to fight to the death." The Later Ruler then mustered seventy thousand troops from Chengdu and placed them under Zhuge Zhan's command. Zhuge Zhan took his leave of the Later Ruler, organized his forces, and gathered his officers, asking, "Who dares to be the vanguard commander?" Before he finished speaking, a young officer stepped forward and said, "Father, since you hold the great command, your son is willing to be the vanguard." When all looked, it was Zhuge Zhan's eldest son, Zhuge Shang. Shang was nineteen years old. He had extensively studied military texts and practiced martial arts. Zhuge Zhan was overjoyed and appointed Shang as the vanguard commander. That day, the great army left Chengdu to meet the Wei forces.
Meanwhile, Deng Ai had obtained from Ma Miao a geographical map detailing the 360 miles of mountains, rivers, and roads from Fucheng to Chengdu, with their widths and steepness clearly marked. After examining it, Deng Ai was greatly alarmed and said, "If we only defend Fucheng, and the Shu forces occupy the mountains ahead, how can we succeed? If we delay, and Jiang Wei's army arrives, our situation will be perilous." He quickly summoned Shi Zuan and his son Deng Zhong and instructed them, "You will lead a force and march day and night to Mianzhu to block the Shu army. I will follow shortly. Do not be negligent. If you allow them to occupy the strategic points first, I will have your heads cut off!"
Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong led their troops toward Mianzhu and soon encountered the Shu army. Both sides drew up their formations. Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong reined in their horses beneath their command banners. They saw the Shu army arrayed in the Eight Formations. After three drum rolls, the command flags parted, and dozens of officers surrounded a four-wheeled carriage. Seated upright in the carriage was a man wearing a silk headband and a feather fan, with a crane-feather cloak and square-collared robe. Beside the carriage unfurled a yellow banner bearing the inscription: "The Imperial Chancellor of Han, Marquis Wu of Zhuge." Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong broke out in a cold sweat all over their bodies. They turned to their soldiers and said, "So Kongming is still alive! We are finished!" They hastily wheeled their horses around to retreat, but the Shu army charged forward and slaughtered them. The Wei army was utterly routed. The Shu army pursued them for over twenty miles until they encountered Deng Ai's reinforcements. Both sides then withdrew their troops. Deng Ai ascended his tent and sat down. He summoned Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong and berated them, "You two retreated without a fight. Why?" Deng Zhong replied, "We saw Zhuge Kongming leading the Shu formation and so fled back." Deng Ai angrily said, "Even if Kongming had come back to life, what would I fear? Your cowardly retreat led to this defeat. You should be beheaded immediately to uphold military law!" The assembled officers pleaded earnestly, and only then did Deng Ai's anger subside. He sent scouts to investigate. They returned and reported that the general was Zhuge Liang's son, Zhuge Zhan, and the vanguard was his son, Zhuge Shang. The man in the carriage was only a wooden statue of Kongming.
Upon hearing this, Deng Ai said to Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong, "The fate of our success or failure rests on this one battle. If you two do not win this time, you will be beheaded!" Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong again led ten thousand troops into battle. Zhuge Shang, alone on his horse with a single spear, fought with all his spirit and drove both of them back. Zhuge Zhan then commanded the wings of his army to charge out, plunging directly into the Wei formation. They charged left and right, attacking back and forth dozens of times. The Wei army was badly defeated, with countless dead. Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong were wounded and fled. Zhuge Zhan pursued them for another twenty miles, then set up camp to confront the enemy. Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong returned to Deng Ai. Seeing they were both wounded, Deng Ai did not punish them further. He gathered his officers and said, "Shu has Zhuge Zhan, who has inherited his father's spirit. In two battles, he has killed over ten thousand of our men. If we do not break him quickly, he will surely become a great calamity." The Army Supervisor, Qiu Ben, suggested, "Why not write a letter to tempt him?" Deng Ai agreed and wrote a letter, sending a messenger to the Shu camp. The guard at the gate led the messenger to Zhuge Zhan's tent, where he presented the letter. Zhuge Zhan tore open the seal and read it. The letter read: "Deng Ai, General Who Conquers the West, writes to General Zhuge Siyuan, Who Guards the Army: I observe that among the worthy talents of recent times, none can compare to your esteemed father. From the time he first emerged from his thatched cottage, a single word from him divided the realm into three. He pacified Jing and Yi and established a hegemon's enterprise, a feat rarely matched in history. Later, he made six sorties from Mount Qi; it was not a lack of ability but the will of Heaven. Now, the Later Ruler is weak and foolish, and the royal destiny has come to an end. I, Deng Ai, by the decree of the Son of Heaven, am attacking Shu with a great army and have already taken its lands. Chengdu's peril is imminent. Sir, why do you not obey Heaven and follow the will of the people, and come over in righteousness? I will memorialize the court to make you the King of Langye, to bring glory to your ancestors. This is no empty promise. I hope you will consider this." After reading it, Zhuge Zhan flew into a rage. He tore the letter to pieces and ordered the warrior guards to behead the messenger on the spot. He then ordered the messenger's attendants to take the head back to Deng Ai's camp.
Deng Ai was furious and wanted to go out and fight immediately. Qiu Ben advised him, "General, you should not go out rashly. You must use an unexpected stratagem to win." Deng Ai heeded his advice. He ordered Wang Qi, the Grand Administrator of Tianshui, and Qian Hong, the Grand Administrator of Longxi, to lay an ambush with their troops in the rear, while he himself led the main force forward. At this time, Zhuge Zhan was about to challenge the enemy. Suddenly, a report arrived that Deng Ai was leading his army in person. Zhuge Zhan, enraged, immediately led out his troops and charged directly into the Wei formation. Deng Ai feigned defeat and fled, with Zhuge Zhan pursuing him. Suddenly, the ambush forces from both sides struck. The Shu army was badly defeated and withdrew into Mianzhu. Deng Ai ordered the city surrounded. The Wei troops raised a great shout and surrounded Mianzhu as tightly as an iron bucket. Inside the city, Zhuge Zhan saw that the situation was desperate. He ordered Peng He to carry a letter and fight his way out to seek help from Eastern Wu. Peng He reached Eastern Wu and presented the urgent plea to the Wu ruler, Sun Xiu. After reading it, Sun Xiu discussed the matter with his ministers and said, "Since Shu is in such danger, how can I sit idly by and not rescue them?" He immediately appointed the veteran general Ding Feng as commander-in-chief, with Ding Feng and Sun Yi as his deputies, leading fifty thousand troops to rescue Shu. Ding Feng received his orders and set out. He divided his forces: Ding Feng and Sun Yi led twenty thousand men toward the Mian River, while he himself led thirty thousand toward Shouchun. Thus, three separate columns advanced to aid Shu.
Now, Zhuge Zhan, seeing that no reinforcements were arriving, said to his officers, "A prolonged defense is not a good plan." He left his son Shang and the Imperial Secretary Zhang Zun to guard the city. He himself donned his armor, mounted his horse, and led his army out through the three main gates. When Deng Ai saw the Shu army emerge, he ordered his troops to feign a retreat. Zhuge Zhan pursued with all his might. Suddenly, a cannon blast sounded, and the Wei forces closed in from all sides, trapping Zhuge Zhan in the center. He led his troops left and right, killing several hundred men. Deng Ai ordered his men to shoot arrows. The Shu soldiers scattered. Zhuge Zhan was hit by an arrow and fell from his horse. He cried out, "My strength is exhausted! I will die to repay my country!" He then drew his sword and cut his own throat. His son, Zhuge Shang, on the city wall, saw his father die in battle. He was filled with a burning rage and donned his armor to mount his horse. Zhang Zun advised him, "Young General, do not go out recklessly!" Shang sighed and said, "My father, my son, and my grandfather have all received the state's great favor. Now that my father has died in battle, why should I live?" He then spurred his horse and charged out, dying in the midst of the enemy ranks.
A poet of the time praised the father and son: It was not that this loyal minister lacked strategy, but that Heaven had willed the end of the Flame of Liu. In those days, Zhuge Liang left a worthy heir, whose integrity and righteousness truly matched the Marquis Wu.
Deng Ai, moved by their loyalty, had the father and son buried together. He then took advantage of the situation to attack Mianzhu. Zhang Zun, Huang Chong, and Li Qiu each led a force out to fight. But the Shu army was small and the Wei army large, and all three were killed in battle. Thus, Deng Ai captured Mianzhu. After rewarding his troops, he then marched to take Chengdu.
Truly, when the Later Ruler faced his final hour, it was no different from Liu Zhang when he was forced to surrender.
We do not yet know how Chengdu was defended. Let us see in the next chapter.