As Jiang Wei's army advanced, they encountered Sima Shi leading troops to intercept them. When Jiang Wei had attacked Yong Province, Guo Huai had sent a swift report to the court. The Wei emperor and Sima Yi had discussed the matter and decided that Sima Yi's eldest son, Sima Shi, would lead fifty thousand troops to reinforce Yong Province. Hearing that Guo Huai had driven back the Shu forces, Sima Shi judged the Shu army weakened, so he struck them on the march. He pursued them all the way to Yangping Pass, but Jiang Wei used the repeating crossbows that the late Marquis Wu, Zhuge Liang, had taught him. He had hidden over a hundred of these weapons on both sides of the pass. Each crossbow fired ten bolts at once, all tipped with poison. From both flanks, the bolts flew in a deadly volley, killing countless men and horses in the vanguard. Sima Shi barely escaped with his life from the chaos.
In the city of Qushan, the Shu general Ju An, seeing no reinforcements arriving, opened the gates and surrendered to Wei. Jiang Wei had lost tens of thousands of troops. He led his defeated army back to Hanzhong to regroup. Sima Shi returned to Luoyang. In the autumn of the third year of the Jiaping era, in the eighth month, Sima Yi fell gravely ill. As his condition worsened, he summoned his two sons to his bedside and commanded them: "I have served Wei for many years, rising to the rank of Grand Tutor—the highest honor a subject can attain. Many have suspected me of harboring treacherous ambitions, and I have lived in constant fear. After I am gone, you two must govern the state with care. Be vigilant! Be vigilant!" With these words, he died. His eldest son, Sima Shi, and his younger brother, Sima Zhao, reported his death to the Wei emperor, Cao Fang. Cao Fang granted Sima Yi a lavish funeral with generous posthumous honors and titles. He appointed Sima Shi as Grand General, placing him in charge of all confidential matters of the Imperial Secretariat, and Sima Zhao as General of the Flying Cavalry.
Now, the Wu emperor, Sun Quan, had first named his eldest son, Sun Deng, born of Lady Xu, as crown prince. Sun Deng died in the fourth year of the Chiwu era. Sun Quan then appointed his second son, Sun He, born of Lady Wang of Langye, as crown prince. Sun He fell out of favor with Princess Quan, who slandered him. Sun Quan deposed him, and Sun He died of grief and resentment. The emperor then named his third son, Sun Liang, born of Lady Pan, as crown prince. By this time, both Lu Xun and Zhuge Jin had passed away. All matters of state, great and small, fell to Zhuge Ke. On the first day of the eighth month in the autumn of the first year of the Taiyuan era, a great wind suddenly arose. The rivers and seas surged, and the flatlands were flooded to a depth of eight feet. The pine and cypress trees planted at the tomb of Wu's former emperor were all uprooted and carried through the air to the southern gate of Jianye, where they landed upside down on the road. Sun Quan was so frightened by this omen that he fell ill. By the fourth month of the following year, his condition was critical. He summoned Grand Tutor Zhuge Ke and Grand Marshal Lü Dai to his bedside to entrust them with the affairs of state. After giving his final instructions, he died. He had reigned for twenty-four years and lived to the age of seventy-one. It was the fifteenth year of the Yanxi era of Shu Han.
A poet of the time recorded: "With purple beard and sea-green eyes, he was called a hero, able to command the loyalty of his ministers. For twenty-four years he built a great enterprise, a coiled dragon and a crouching tiger in the land east of the river."
After Sun Quan's death, Zhuge Ke installed Sun Liang as emperor, declared a general amnesty, and changed the reign title to the first year of the Jianxing era. He posthumously honored Sun Quan as the Great Emperor and buried him at Jiangling. Spies soon learned of these events and reported them to Luoyang. When Sima Shi heard that Sun Quan had died, he proposed raising an army to attack Wu. The Imperial Secretary Fu Gu argued: "Wu is protected by the natural barrier of the Yangtze River. Our late emperor attacked them many times without success. The best policy is for each side to guard its own borders." Sima Shi replied, "The Way of Heaven changes every thirty years. How can the three kingdoms remain locked in a perpetual stalemate? I intend to conquer Wu." Sima Zhao added, "Sun Quan has just died, and Sun Liang is young and weak. This is the perfect opportunity to strike." They ordered the General Who Conquers the South, Wang Chang, to lead one hundred thousand troops against Nan Commandery; the General Who Conquers the East, Hu Zun, to lead one hundred thousand troops against Dongxing; and the Commander of the Southern Campaign, Guanqiu Jian, to lead one hundred thousand troops against Wuchang. The three armies advanced simultaneously. Sima Zhao was appointed Commander-in-Chief to oversee all three forces.
In the twelfth month of that winter, Sima Zhao's army reached the Wu border and made camp. He summoned Wang Chang, Hu Zun, and Guanqiu Jian to his tent for a council. "The most critical point in Wu is Dongxing Commandery," he said. "They have built a great dike there, with two fortresses on either side, to guard against attacks from the rear at Lake Chao. You must all be cautious." He ordered Wang Chang and Guanqiu Jian each to lead ten thousand troops and take positions on the left and right flanks. "Do not advance until Dongxing has been taken. Then we will all move together." The two generals received their orders and departed. Sima Zhao then commanded Hu Zun to lead the vanguard of all three armies. "First, build a floating bridge to cross to the great dike at Dongxing. If you can capture the two fortresses, it will be a great victory." Hu Zun led his troops to construct the bridge.
In Wu, Grand Tutor Zhuge Ke learned that the Wei forces were advancing on three fronts. He assembled his officers for a council. The General Who Pacifies the North, Ding Feng, said, "Dongxing is a vital point in Wu. If we lose it, Nan Commandery and Wuchang will be in danger." Zhuge Ke replied, "Your assessment matches my own. You may take three thousand marines and proceed by river. I will order Lü Ju, Tang Zi, and Liu Zan to each lead ten thousand infantry and cavalry in three columns to support you. When you hear the signal of three consecutive signal bombs, all forces will advance together. I will follow with the main army." Ding Feng accepted his orders. He took three thousand marines in thirty boats and set out for Dongxing.
Hu Zun crossed the floating bridge and encamped his army on the dike. He ordered Huan Jia and Han Zong to assault the two fortresses. The left fortress was held by the Wu general Quan Duan, the right by the Wu general Liu Lüe. Both fortresses were high and strongly fortified, and the assaults made no headway. Quan Duan and Liu Lüe, seeing the overwhelming strength of the Wei army, dared not risk a sortie and held their ground in a desperate defense. Hu Zun set up his camp at Xutang. It was the dead of winter, and a heavy snow began to fall. Hu Zun hosted a grand feast for his officers. Suddenly, a report came that thirty warships had appeared on the river. Hu Zun went out of his camp to see. He saw the boats approaching the shore, each carrying about a hundred men. He returned to his tent and told his officers, "That's no more than three thousand men. Nothing to fear!" He merely sent scouts to keep watch and continued drinking.
Ding Feng ordered his boats to form a line on the water. He told his officers, "For a man of true valor, the time to win fame and fortune is right now!" He commanded his men to remove their armor and helmets, abandon their long spears and halberds, and take only short swords. The Wei soldiers saw this and burst into laughter, making no preparations. Suddenly, three signal bombs exploded in succession. Ding Feng drew his sword and leaped ashore first. All his men drew their short swords and followed him, charging into the Wei camp. The Wei troops were caught completely off guard. Han Zong hurriedly grabbed a halberd from his tent to meet the attack, but Ding Feng rushed into his reach, raised his blade, and cut him down with a single stroke. Huan Jia emerged from the left, hastily leveling his spear at Ding Feng. Ding Feng seized the shaft. Huan Jia abandoned the spear and tried to flee, but Ding Feng threw his sword, striking Huan Jia in the left shoulder. Huan Jia fell backward. Ding Feng ran up and finished him with the spear. The three thousand Wu troops rampaged through the Wei camp, cutting down all before them. Hu Zun desperately mounted his horse and fought his way to safety. The Wei soldiers all rushed toward the floating bridge, but the bridge had been broken. Most of them fell into the water and drowned. Countless others were slaughtered in the snow. Wagons, horses, and weapons all fell into Wu hands. When Sima Zhao, Wang Chang, and Guanqiu Jian learned of the defeat at Dongxing, they halted their armies and withdrew.
Zhuge Ke led his army to Dongxing. After gathering his forces and rewarding them, he addressed his officers: "Sima Zhao has been defeated and fled north. This is the perfect opportunity to advance into the Central Plains." He sent a letter to Shu, requesting Jiang Wei to attack Wei from the north, promising to divide the empire equally. He then raised a massive army of two hundred thousand to invade the Central Plains. Just as he was about to depart, a white vapor suddenly rose from the ground, obscuring the entire army so that no one could see the man in front of him. The officer Jiang Yan said, "This vapor is a white rainbow—an omen of military disaster. Grand Tutor, you should return to the capital and not attack Wei." Zhuge Ke was furious. "How dare you speak such inauspicious words to demoralize my army!" He ordered the guards to execute Jiang Yan. The other officers pleaded for his life, so Zhuge Ke spared him but reduced him to commoner status. He then urged the army forward. Ding Feng said, "Wei considers Xincheng its most vital stronghold. If we can take this city first, Sima Shi will be terrified." Zhuge Ke was delighted and hurried his army directly to Xincheng. The defending commander, Colonel Zhang Te, seeing the massive Wu army approaching, closed the gates and prepared for a siege. Zhuge Ke ordered the city surrounded on all sides. A fast rider reported the news to Luoyang. The Recorder Yu Song advised Sima Shi: "Zhuge Ke has Xincheng under siege. Do not engage him in battle yet. His army has come from afar; they are many but have little food. When their supplies run out, they will retreat on their own. When they are about to withdraw, then strike and you will win a complete victory. However, we must also guard against a Shu invasion." Sima Shi agreed. He ordered Sima Zhao to lead a force to assist Guo Huai in guarding against Jiang Wei, while Guanqiu Jian and Hu Zun held the line against the Wu army.
Zhuge Ke besieged Xincheng for months without success. He issued a decree to his officers: "Concentrate all efforts on taking the city. Anyone who shows negligence will be executed on the spot." The officers drove their men forward with renewed fury. The northeastern corner of the wall began to crumble. Inside the city, Zhang Te devised a plan. He sent a skilled orator bearing official registers to the Wu camp to see Zhuge Ke. The envoy announced: "The law of Wei states: if a defending commander holds a city against siege for one hundred days without receiving reinforcements, and then surrenders, his family will not be punished. You, General, have besieged us for over ninety days. We beg you to grant us a few more days. Our commander will then lead all the troops and civilians out of the city to surrender. Here are the registers as proof." Zhuge Ke believed this completely. He called off the assault and stopped the siege. In truth, Zhang Te was using a delaying tactic. He tricked the Wu army into withdrawing, then tore down houses inside the city to repair the breach in the wall. Once the repairs were complete, he mounted the wall and shouted insults: "I still have six months' worth of food in my city! Do you think I would surrender to you Wu dogs? Fight us if you dare!" Zhuge Ke was enraged and ordered the assault to resume. A hail of arrows rained down from the walls. One arrow struck Zhuge Ke in the forehead, knocking him from his horse. His officers carried him back to camp, where his wound festered. The soldiers lost all will to fight. The weather turned oppressively hot, and many fell ill. When Zhuge Ke's wound had partially healed, he tried to push the attack again. His camp steward reported, "Every man is sick. How can they fight?" Zhuge Ke roared, "Anyone who speaks of illness again will be executed!" When the soldiers heard this, they began to desert in droves. Suddenly, a report arrived that Commander Cai Lin had defected to Wei with his entire unit. Zhuge Ke was shocked. He mounted his horse and rode through the camps, seeing for himself that the soldiers were indeed pale and swollen with sickness. He ordered the army to withdraw to Wu. Spies informed Guanqiu Jian, who raised his entire army and pursued the retreating Wu forces.
The Wu army was routed. Zhuge Ke was deeply humiliated. He feigned illness and refused to attend court. The Wu emperor, Sun Liang, personally visited his mansion to inquire after his health, and all the civil and military officials came to pay their respects. Fearing that others would speak ill of him, Zhuge Ke began to investigate the faults of the officials. For minor offenses, he exiled them to the frontiers; for serious ones, he had them beheaded and their heads displayed. All officials, both in and out of the court, trembled in fear. He placed his trusted generals, Zhang Yue and Zhu En, in command of the Imperial Guard, making them his claws and teeth. Now, Sun Jun, whose style name was Ziyuan, was a great-grandson of Sun Jing, the younger brother of Sun Jian, and the son of Sun Gong. During his lifetime, Sun Quan had been very fond of him and had placed him in charge of the Imperial Guard. When Sun Jun heard that Zhuge Ke had appointed Zhang Yue and Zhu En to command the Imperial Guard, stripping him of his authority, he was furious. The Grand Master of Ceremonies, Teng Yin, who had long been at odds with Zhuge Ke, took the opportunity to speak to Sun Jun: "Zhuge Ke has become a tyrant, killing ministers at will. He harbors rebellious intentions. You are a member of the imperial clan. Why not deal with him early?" Sun Jun replied, "I have long thought of this. I will now petition the emperor and request permission to execute him." Sun Jun and Teng Yin went to see the Wu emperor, Sun Liang, and secretly reported the matter. Sun Liang said, "I myself am terrified of that man. I have often wanted to eliminate him but never found the opportunity. Since you are both loyal, we must plan this in secret." Teng Yin said, "Your Majesty should host a banquet and summon Zhuge Ke. Hide armed guards behind the tapestries. When you drop your cup as a signal, they can kill him at the feast, eliminating the threat forever." Sun Liang agreed.
Zhuge Ke, having returned from his military defeat, stayed home feigning illness. His mind was unsettled. One day, as he walked through the main hall, he suddenly saw a man in mourning clothes enter. Zhuge Ke shouted at him, demanding who he was. The man was terrified and speechless. Zhuge Ke ordered him seized and interrogated. The man said, "My father has just died, and I came into the city to hire monks to perform the funeral rites. I thought I was entering a monastery, but I did not realize it was the Grand Tutor's mansion. How did I end up here?" Zhuge Ke was furious. He summoned the gate guards and questioned them. They replied, "There are dozens of us, and we have been standing guard at the gate without a moment's rest. We saw no one enter." In a rage, Zhuge Ke had them all executed. That night, he could not sleep. He heard a sound like a thunderclap from the main hall. He went to investigate and saw that the central beam had snapped in two. Startled, he returned to his bedchamber. A cold wind suddenly arose, and he saw the man in mourning and the dozens of executed guards, each holding their severed head, demanding his life. Zhuge Ke collapsed in terror and lay unconscious for a long time. The next morning, as he washed his face, he smelled the water, which reeked of blood. He cursed his maids, who changed the water dozens of times, but each basin smelled the same. As he stood there in shock, a messenger arrived from the emperor, summoning the Grand Tutor to a banquet.
Zhuge Ke ordered his carriage prepared. As he was about to leave the mansion, a yellow dog grabbed hold of his robe and whimpered like a person weeping. Zhuge Ke was angry. "The dog is mocking me!" He ordered his attendants to drive it away and rode out in his carriage. He had not gone far when he saw a white rainbow rising from the ground before his chariot, like a bolt of white silk shooting into the sky. Zhuge Ke was alarmed. His trusted general, Zhang Yue, approached the chariot and whispered, "Today's banquet at the palace is of uncertain intent. My lord should not enter lightly." Hearing this, Zhuge Ke ordered the carriage to turn back. Before he had gone a dozen paces, Sun Jun and Teng Yin rode up on horseback and asked, "Why is the Grand Tutor turning back?" Zhuge Ke said, "I have a sudden stomach pain and cannot appear before the emperor." Teng Yin said, "The court specially prepared this banquet because the Grand Tutor returned from the campaign without a formal audience. They wish to discuss matters of state. Though you are unwell, you should make an effort to attend." Zhuge Ke agreed and accompanied Sun Jun and Teng Yin into the palace. Zhang Yue followed as well.
Zhuge Ke paid his respects to the Wu emperor, Sun Liang, and took his seat. Sun Liang ordered wine to be served. Zhuge Ke was suspicious. He declined, saying, "My illness prevents me from drinking." Sun Jun said, "The Grand Tutor often takes medicinal wine at home. Could we bring some of that?" Zhuge Ke said, "That would be acceptable." He sent a servant back to his mansion to fetch his own prepared medicinal wine. Only then did he feel safe enough to drink. After several rounds of wine, the Wu emperor, Sun Liang, excused himself on a pretext and left. Sun Jun went down from the hall, removed his long robes, and changed into a short coat, over which he wore chain mail. He drew a sharp blade, ascended the hall, and shouted, "By imperial decree, the traitor is to be executed!" Zhuge Ke was stunned. He dropped his cup and reached for his sword, but his head had already been severed. Zhang Yue saw Sun Jun kill Zhuge Ke and drew his sword to attack. Sun Jun dodged, but the sword tip grazed his left finger. Sun Jun turned and struck, cutting Zhang Yue's right arm. The armed guards rushed out and cut Zhang Yue down, hacking his body to pieces. Sun Jun ordered the guards to seize Zhuge Ke's family. He also ordered Zhang Yue's and Zhuge Ke's corpses to be wrapped in reed mats, loaded onto a small cart, and dumped into a common grave for rebels outside the southern gate of the city.
Back at Zhuge Ke's mansion, his wife was in her room, her mind disturbed and her body restless. Suddenly, a maidservant entered. Lady Zhuge asked her, "Why do you reek of blood all over?" The maidservant suddenly rolled her eyes, gnashed her teeth, and leaped into the air, crashing her head against the roof beam. She screamed, "I am Zhuge Ke! I have been murdered by the traitor Sun Jun!" The entire household, young and old, wailed in terror. Soon, soldiers arrived and surrounded the mansion. They bound Zhuge Ke's entire family—young and old—and took them to the market, where they were all beheaded. It was the tenth month of the second year of the Jianxing era of Wu. In his lifetime, Zhuge Ke's father, Zhuge Jin, had seen how his son's intelligence was too openly displayed and had sighed, "This son is not one to preserve a family." The Wei Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Zhang Ji, had once said to Sima Shi, "Zhuge Ke will not live long." When Sima Shi asked why, Zhang Ji replied, "When a man's authority overshadows his ruler, how can he last?" And so these words came true. After Sun Jun killed Zhuge Ke, the Wu emperor, Sun Liang, appointed him as Chancellor, Grand General, and Marquis of Fuchun, placing him in command of all military affairs. From that day forward, all power fell into the hands of Sun Jun.
Meanwhile, in Chengdu, Jiang Wei received Zhuge Ke's letter requesting assistance in attacking Wei. He went to court, obtained the approval of the Later Ruler, and raised a great army once more to launch a northern campaign against the Central Plains.
Truly, the cycles of war turn ever onward: one campaign had failed to achieve its goal, but a second attempt was launched, hoping for success. Whether Jiang Wei would win or lose, the next chapter will reveal.