Jiang Wei, fearing that enemy reinforcements might arrive, first ordered the infantry to withdraw, taking with them all the carts, weapons, and military supplies. He then had the cavalry serve as the rear guard. Spies reported this to Deng Ai, who laughed and said, “Jiang Wei knows that the Grand General’s army is approaching, so he has retreated first. There is no need to pursue him; to do so would be to fall into his trap.” He sent scouts to investigate, and they returned to confirm that, in the narrow passes of the Lu Valley, Jiang Wei had piled up brushwood and kindling, ready to set fire to any pursuing force. All his officers praised Deng Ai, saying, “General, your calculations are truly divine!” He then sent a messenger with a memorial to the Wei court. Sima Zhao was greatly pleased and bestowed additional rewards upon Deng Ai.
Now, the Grand General of Eastern Wu, Sun Chen, upon learning that Quan Duan and Tang Zi had surrendered to Wei, flew into a furious rage. He ordered the execution of all their family members. The Wu ruler, Sun Liang, who was only sixteen years old at the time, saw that Sun Chen’s killings were excessive and felt deep disapproval. One day, while walking in the Western Garden, Sun Liang was eating raw plums and ordered a eunuch to fetch some honey. When the honey was brought, he noticed several grains of rat droppings in it. He summoned the keeper of the stores and reprimanded him. The keeper kowtowed and said, “Your servant sealed the container tightly; how could there be rat droppings inside?” Sun Liang asked, “Has this eunuch ever asked you for honey to eat?” The keeper replied, “A few days ago, the eunuch did ask me for honey, but I dared not give him any.” Sun Liang pointed at the eunuch and said, “This must be because you were angry that the keeper refused you honey, so you put the droppings in the honey to frame him.” The eunuch refused to confess. Sun Liang said, “This is easy to determine. If the droppings had been in the honey for a long time, they would be wet both inside and out. If they were just placed there, the outside would be wet but the inside would be dry.” He ordered the droppings to be cut open, and indeed, the inside was dry. The eunuch then confessed his crime. Such was the intelligence of Sun Liang. Clever as he was, however, he was completely controlled by Sun Chen and could not act on his own authority. Sun Chen ordered his younger brother, Sun Ju, the General of Majestic Might, to enter the palace and serve as the imperial bodyguard, while his other brothers—Sun En, the General of Military Might; Sun Gan, the Lieutenant-General; and Sun Kai, the Colonel of the Changshui Regiment—were stationed in various camps.
One day, the Wu ruler, Sun Liang, sat in melancholy. Quan Ji, the Gentlemen of the Yellow Gate, was at his side. Quan Ji was the emperor’s maternal uncle. Sun Liang, weeping, said to him, “Sun Chen monopolizes power and kills recklessly, oppressing me too harshly. If we do not deal with him now, he will surely become a future calamity.” Quan Ji replied, “Your Majesty need only command me, and I will face a thousand deaths without regret.” Sun Liang said, “You must immediately muster the Imperial Guard. You and General Liu Cheng will each take charge of a city gate, while I myself will go out and kill Sun Chen. But you must not, under any circumstances, let your mother know of this, for she is Sun Chen’s sister. If it is leaked, the harm to me will be no small matter.” Quan Ji said, “I beg Your Majesty to write a secret edict for me. When the time comes to act, I will show the edict to the troops, so that Sun Chen’s men will not dare to move rashly.” Sun Liang agreed and wrote a secret edict, which he gave to Quan Ji. Quan Ji received the edict and returned home, where he secretly informed his father, Quan Shang. When Quan Shang learned of this, he told his wife, “Within three days, Sun Chen will be killed.” His wife replied, “It is right that he should be killed.” Though she said this, she secretly sent a man with a letter to inform Sun Chen.
Sun Chen was enraged. That very night, he summoned his four brothers and mustered elite troops. First, they surrounded the imperial palace. At the same time, he had Quan Shang, Liu Cheng, and all their families arrested. By daybreak, the Wu ruler, Sun Liang, heard a great clamor of drums and gongs outside the palace gates. An inner attendant rushed in to report, “Sun Chen has led his troops to surround the inner palace!” Sun Liang flew into a rage and, pointing at Empress Quan, shouted, “Your father and brother have ruined my great enterprise!” He drew his sword and prepared to go out. The empress and his close attendants all grabbed his robes and wept, refusing to let him leave. Sun Chen first had Quan Shang and Liu Cheng executed. Then he summoned all the civil and military officials to the court and issued an order: “The sovereign has long been dissolute and ill, confused and without the Way. He is unworthy to uphold the ancestral temples. He is to be deposed today. If any of you civil or military officials dares to disobey, he will be judged as a conspirator!” All the officials trembled with fear and replied, “We are willing to follow the General’s command.” Huan Yi, the Imperial Secretary, was furious. He strode forward from the ranks, pointed at Sun Chen, and shouted, “Our present sovereign is a wise and intelligent ruler! How dare you speak such treason! I would rather die than obey the orders of a traitorous minister!” Sun Chen, enraged, drew his sword and cut Huan Yi down on the spot. He then entered the palace, pointed at the Wu ruler, Sun Liang, and cursed, “You benighted, tyrannical sovereign! You deserve to be slain to atone for your crimes against the realm! But out of regard for the late emperor, I will depose you and make you the Prince of Kuaiji. I will choose a virtuous man to take your place!” He ordered Zhongshu Lang Li Chong to seize the imperial seal and sent Deng Cheng to collect it. Sun Liang, weeping bitterly, departed.
History records a verse lamenting him: The rebels slandered Yi Yin, the traitors pretended to be Huo Guang. How pitiful that a wise and intelligent ruler could not sit upon the throne of his court.
Sun Chen then sent Sun Kai, the Director of the Imperial Clan, and Dong Chao, a Secretary of the Central Secretariat, to Hulin to welcome Sun Xiu, the Prince of Langye, to become the new ruler. Sun Xiu, whose style name was Zilie, was the sixth son of Sun Quan. While at Hulin, he dreamed one night that he rode a dragon up into the sky. Looking back, he could not see the dragon’s tail. He woke with a start, greatly alarmed. The next day, Sun Kai and Dong Chao arrived, bowed, and invited him to return to the capital. As he traveled, he reached Qu’e, where an old man who called himself Gan Xiu kowtowed and said, “If matters are delayed, they will surely change. I pray Your Highness will hasten your journey.” Sun Xiu thanked him. When he reached the Buse Pavilion, Sun En arrived with the imperial carriage to greet him. Sun Xiu did not dare to ride in the palanquin but entered the city in a small cart. The civil and military officials bowed to welcome him by the roadside. Sun Xiu hastily dismounted from his cart and returned their bows. Sun Chen came forward, helped him to his feet, and invited him into the great hall, where he ascended the imperial throne. Sun Xiu declined repeatedly before finally accepting the imperial seal. After the civil and military officials had all paid their respects, a general amnesty was declared for the realm, and the reign title was changed to Yong’an (Eternal Peace), the first year. Sun Chen was enfeoffed as Chancellor and Governor of Jing Province. Various officials were given rewards and titles. Sun Xiu also enfeoffed his elder brother’s son, Sun Hao, as the Marquis of Wucheng. Five members of Sun Chen’s family were made marquises, and they all commanded the Imperial Guard, their power overshadowing the sovereign. Wu’s new ruler, Sun Xiu, fearing internal revolt, outwardly showed Sun Chen favor and grace, but inwardly he was on guard against him. Sun Chen grew ever more arrogant and overbearing.
In the winter of the twelfth month, Sun Chen brought oxen and wine to the palace to offer birthday congratulations. Wu ruler Sun Xiu refused to accept them. Sun Chen was angry, so he took the oxen and wine to the residence of Zhang Bu, the General of the Left, and drank with him. When the wine had made him tipsy, he said to Zhang Bu, “When I deposed the Prince of Kuaiji, everyone urged me to take the throne myself. But I thought the present sovereign was virtuous, so I established him. Now, when I offer him birthday congratulations, he refuses me. He treats me as if I were nothing! I will show you what is what, soon enough!” Zhang Bu only murmured in reply. The next day, Zhang Bu entered the palace and secretly reported this to Sun Xiu. Sun Xiu was terrified and could find no peace, day or night. A few days later, Sun Chen sent Meng Zong, a Secretary of the Central Secretariat, to take 15,000 elite troops from the central camp and garrison them at Wuchang. He also had all the weapons and equipment from the imperial armory moved there. The general Wei Miao and the imperial guard Shi Shuo secretly reported to Sun Xiu, “Sun Chen has transferred troops outside the capital and emptied the armory. Sooner or later, he will revolt.” Sun Xiu was greatly alarmed and hastily summoned Zhang Bu to discuss the matter. Zhang Bu memorialized, “The veteran general Ding Feng has extraordinary strategic insight and can handle great affairs. He should be consulted.” Sun Xiu then summoned Ding Feng to the palace and secretly told him the situation. Ding Feng memorialized, “Your Majesty need not worry. Your servant has a plan to rid the state of this scourge.” Sun Xiu asked what the plan was. Ding Feng said, “Tomorrow is the winter sacrifice festival. We can use the pretext of a grand assembly of all officials, summon Sun Chen to the feast, and I will make the necessary arrangements.” Sun Xiu was overjoyed. Ding Feng, along with Wei Miao and Shi Shuo, took charge of the external arrangements, while Zhang Bu served as the inside contact.
That night, a great wind raged, hurling sand and stones, and uprooting ancient trees. By dawn, the wind had calmed. A messenger arrived with an imperial decree, inviting Sun Chen to the palace feast. As Sun Chen was just getting out of bed, he stumbled and fell as if pushed by an unseen hand, which made him uneasy. A dozen or more attendants then crowded around him and escorted him inside. His family tried to stop him, saying, “The wind raged all night without ceasing, and this morning you fell for no reason. This is an ill omen. You must not go to the feast.” Sun Chen replied, “My brothers and I command the Imperial Guard. Who would dare come near me? If there is any trouble, set fire to the mansion as a signal.” Having given these instructions, he mounted his carriage and entered the palace. Wu ruler Sun Xiu hastily descended from his throne to greet him and invited Sun Chen to take the seat of honor. After several rounds of wine, the guests cried out in alarm, “A fire has started outside the palace!” Sun Chen immediately rose to leave. Sun Xiu stopped him, saying, “Be at ease, Chancellor. The troops outside are numerous. What is there to fear?” Before he had finished speaking, Zhang Bu, the General of the Left, drew his sword and led over thirty armed warriors, rushing up into the hall. In a stern voice, he shouted, “By imperial decree, we are to arrest the rebel Sun Chen!” As Sun Chen tried to flee, he was immediately seized by the warriors. He kowtowed and pleaded, “I beg to be exiled to Jiaozhou, to return to my fields.” Sun Xiu shouted at him, “Why did you not exile Teng Yin, Lü Ju, and Wang Dun, then?” He ordered Sun Chen to be taken out and beheaded. Zhang Bu then dragged Sun Chen out from the eastern side of the hall and executed him. None of Sun Chen’s followers dared to move. Zhang Bu read the imperial decree: “The crime lies with Sun Chen alone. No one else will be held accountable.” The hearts of the crowd were then at ease. Zhang Bu invited Sun Xiu to ascend the Five Phoenix Tower. Ding Feng, Wei Miao, and Shi Shuo then brought Sun Chen’s brothers as prisoners. Sun Xiu ordered them all to be executed in the marketplace. Several hundred members of his clan and followers were killed, and his entire lineage was wiped out. Sun Xiu ordered soldiers to open Sun Jun’s grave and mutilate his corpse. For those who had been wronged, like Zhuge Ke, Teng Yin, Lü Ju, and Wang Dun, their graves were rebuilt to honor their loyalty. Those who had been implicated and exiled were pardoned and allowed to return to their homes. Ding Feng and the others were heavily rewarded.
A report of these events was sent to Chengdu. The Later Ruler, Liu Shan, sent an envoy with a message of congratulations. Wu sent Xue Xu as a return envoy. After Xue Xu returned from Shu, Wu ruler Sun Xiu asked him about the recent activities in Shu. Xue Xu memorialized, “Recently, the eunuch Huang Hao has been wielding power, and most of the high officials curry favor with him. Entering their court, one hears no straight talk; traveling through their countryside, one sees the hungry pallor of the people. It is like the sparrows and swallows nesting in the hall, unaware that the great house is about to burn down.” Sun Xiu sighed and said, “If Zhuge Liang, the Marquis of Wu, were still alive, how could things have come to this?” He then wrote a state letter and sent a man to Chengdu, saying that Sima Zhao would soon usurp the Wei throne and would certainly invade Wu and Shu to display his might, and that both kingdoms should prepare accordingly.
When Jiang Wei received this news, he was overjoyed and submitted a memorial to the throne, once again proposing a campaign against Wei. It was the winter of the first year of Jingyao in Shu Han. The Grand General, Jiang Wei, appointed Liao Hua and Zhang Yi as vanguard commanders, Wang Han and Jiang Bin as commanders of the left army, Jiang Shu and Fu Qian as commanders of the right army, and Hu Ji as commander of the rear guard. Jiang Wei himself, along with Xiahou Ba, commanded the central army. They raised a total of 200,000 troops from Shu. After taking leave of the Later Ruler, they marched directly to Hanzhong. Jiang Wei consulted with Xiahou Ba about which place to attack first. Xiahou Ba said, “Mount Qi is a strategic location from which to advance. That is why the late Chancellor, Zhuge Liang, launched six campaigns from there—there is no other suitable route.” Jiang Wei heeded his advice and ordered the three armies to advance toward Mount Qi. They made camp at the mouth of the valley.
At that time, Deng Ai was at his camp on Mount Qi, organizing the troops from Longyou. Suddenly, a fast-moving scout reported that the Shu army had set up three camps at the mouth of the valley. Upon hearing this, Deng Ai climbed to a high vantage point to observe. Returning to his tent, he ascended his command seat, overjoyed, and said, “Just as I expected!” It turned out that Deng Ai had already surveyed the terrain and had deliberately left the spot where the Shu army now camped unguarded. He had secretly dug a tunnel from his own camp on Mount Qi all the way to the Shu camp, planning to use it when the Shu army arrived. At this moment, Jiang Wei had divided his forces into three camps at the mouth of the valley. The tunnel ran directly beneath the left camp, where Wang Han and Jiang Bin were stationed. Deng Ai summoned his son, Deng Zhong, and the officer Shi Zuan, ordering each to lead 10,000 men for a simultaneous assault from left and right. He then called his deputy, Zheng Lun, and ordered him to lead 500 sappers. At the second watch that night, they were to go through the tunnel directly into the left camp, emerging from underground behind the command tents.
Now, Wang Han and Jiang Bin, because their camp was not yet fully established and they feared a night raid by the Wei forces, had not removed their armor before sleeping. Suddenly, they heard a great commotion in the center of their camp. Hastily grabbing their weapons and mounting their horses, they saw Deng Zhong’s troops attacking from outside the camp. Attacked from both within and without, Wang and Jiang fought desperately but could not hold their ground and abandoned their camp, fleeing. Jiang Wei, in his own tent, heard the cries from the left camp and deduced that the enemy had both an internal and external force. He quickly mounted his horse and stood before the central command tent, issuing an order: “Anyone who moves without authorization will be executed! Even if the enemy reaches the edge of the camp, do not engage them. Only shoot them with arrows and crossbows!” He also sent word to the right camp, forbidding any movement there as well. True to his command, the Wei forces charged more than ten times, but each time they were driven back by volleys of arrows. They fought until dawn, but the Wei army dared not enter the camp. Deng Ai withdrew his troops back to his own camp and sighed, “Jiang Wei has truly mastered Zhuge Liang’s methods! His troops are not startled by a night attack, and his generals remain calm in the face of crisis. He is a true talent!” The next day, Wang Han and Jiang Bin gathered their defeated troops and knelt before the main camp to confess their failure. Jiang Wei said, “This is not your fault. It is because I did not properly survey the terrain.” He then assigned them more troops and ordered them to set up camp again. He then had the bodies of the dead and wounded soldiers used to fill the tunnel, covering it with earth. He sent a challenge to Deng Ai, demanding a decisive battle the next day. Deng Ai gladly accepted.
The next day, the two armies were arrayed before Mount Qi. Jiang Wei arranged his forces according to Zhuge Liang’s Eight Formation method, deploying them in the patterns of Heaven, Earth, Wind, Cloud, Bird, Snake, Dragon, and Tiger. Deng Ai rode out and saw that Jiang Wei had formed the Eight Trigram formation. He then arrayed his own troops in the same pattern, with the same gates on the left, right, front, and rear. Jiang Wei, gripping his spear and urging his horse forward, shouted, “You have imitated my Eight Formation. Can you also change its formations?” Deng Ai laughed and said, “Do you think you are the only one who can set up this formation? Since I know how to set it up, how could I not know how to change it?” Deng Ai then rode into the formation and ordered the signal officer to wave the flags left and right, transforming it into sixty-four gates. He then rode out again and asked, “What do you think of my change?” Jiang Wei replied, “It is not incorrect. But do you dare to let me surround you with my Eight Formation?” Deng Ai answered, “Why would I not dare!” The two armies advanced in their respective formations. Deng Ai directed the battle from his central army. The two forces clashed, but neither formation was disrupted. Jiang Wei, from the center, waved his flag, and suddenly his formation transformed into the Long Serpent Coiling the Earth formation, trapping Deng Ai in the center. A great cry arose from all sides. Deng Ai did not recognize this formation and was greatly alarmed. The Shu forces gradually closed in. Deng Ai led his officers in a desperate attempt to break out, but they could not. The Shu soldiers shouted in unison, “Surrender, Deng Ai!” Deng Ai looked up to the heavens and sighed, “In my pride, I overestimated my own ability. I have fallen for Jiang Wei’s trap!”
Suddenly, a detachment of troops charged in from the northwest corner. Seeing that they were Wei soldiers, Deng Ai seized the opportunity and fought his way out. The man who had rescued Deng Ai was Sima Wang. By the time Deng Ai was rescued, all nine of his camps on Mount Qi had been captured by the Shu forces. Deng Ai led his defeated troops and retreated to a camp south of the Wei River. He said to Sima Wang, “How did you know this formation and how to rescue me?” Sima Wang replied, “In my youth, I traveled and studied south of Jing Province. I was a friend of Cui Zhouping and Shi Guangyuan, and we discussed this formation. The one Jiang Wei used today is the Long Serpent Coiling the Earth formation. If it had been attacked from any other point, it could not have been broken. But I saw that its head was in the northwest, so I attacked from the northwest, and it broke naturally.” Deng Ai thanked him and said, “Although I have studied formations, I do not know the methods of changing them. Since you know this method, can we use it tomorrow to retake the camps on Mount Qi?” Sima Wang replied, “What I have learned may not fool Jiang Wei.” Deng Ai said, “Tomorrow, you engage him in a contest of formations on the battlefield. I will lead a force to secretly attack the rear of Mount Qi. With a chaotic battle on both sides, we can retake the old camps.” He then ordered Zheng Lun to lead the vanguard, while Deng Ai himself led the force to attack the mountain’s rear. At the same time, he sent a challenge to Jiang Wei, demanding a contest of formations the next day. Jiang Wei approved the challenge and then said to his officers, “I have received the secret texts passed down by Zhuge Liang, the Marquis of Wu. The changes of this formation number 365, corresponding to the days of the year. For him to challenge me to a contest of formations is like showing off one’s skill with an axe before the master carpenter. But there must be a deceitful scheme behind this. Do you all understand?” Liao Hua said, “This must be a trick to engage you in a formation contest while he leads a force to attack our rear.” Jiang Wei laughed and said, “That is exactly what I think.” He then ordered Zhang Yi and Liao Hua to lead 10,000 men and lay an ambush behind the mountain.
The next day, Jiang Wei withdrew all his troops from the nine camps and deployed them before Mount Qi. Sima Wang led his troops from south of the Wei River and arrived before Mount Qi. He rode out and exchanged words with Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei said, “You have challenged me to a contest of formations. You may set up your formation for me to see first.” Sima Wang arrayed the Eight Trigram formation. Jiang Wei laughed and said, “This is the same Eight Formation method that I used. You have merely stolen it. There is nothing remarkable about it!” Sima Wang retorted, “You have merely stolen it from another!” Jiang Wei asked, “How many changes does this formation have?” Sima Wang laughed and replied, “Since I can set it up, how could I not know its changes? This formation has eighty-one changes.” Jiang Wei laughed again and said, “Then show me a change.” Sima Wang entered the formation, changed it several times, then rode out again and asked, “Do you recognize my changes?” Jiang Wei laughed and said, “My formation has 365 changes, corresponding to the cycle of the heavens. You are like a frog at the bottom of a well. How could you understand its profound mysteries?” Sima Wang knew that this many changes existed but had never fully learned them. He forced himself to argue, saying, “I do not believe you. You show me a change.” Jiang Wei said, “Tell Deng Ai to come out. I will demonstrate it for him.” Sima Wang replied, “General Deng has his own strategies. He is not well-versed in formations.” Jiang Wei laughed loudly and said, “What strategies! He only told you to keep me here displaying formations while he leads his troops to attack my rear!” Sima Wang was greatly alarmed and was about to order a general advance, but Jiang Wei pointed with his whip, and his two flanking armies surged forward. The Wei soldiers, throwing away their armor and weapons, fled for their lives.
Meanwhile, Deng Ai was urging the vanguard, Zheng Lun, to attack the rear of the mountain. Zheng Lun had just rounded a corner of the mountain when a cannon boomed, drums and horns shook the heavens, and ambushing troops sprang out. The leading general was Liao Hua. Before the two men could even exchange words, their horses met, and Liao Hua, with a single stroke of his blade, cut Zheng Lun from his horse. Deng Ai was horrified. As he hastily ordered his troops to retreat, Zhang Yi led a force in a charge. Attacked from both sides, the Wei army was utterly routed. Deng Ai, risking his life, fought his way out, but he was struck by four arrows. When he fled back to his camp south of the Wei River, Sima Wang also arrived. The two men discussed their strategy for retreat. Sima Wang said, “Recently, the Shu ruler, Liu Shan, has been doting on the eunuch Huang Hao, indulging in wine and women day and night. We can use a wedge-driving scheme to recall Jiang Wei. This crisis can then be resolved.” Deng Ai asked his staff, “Who can go to Shu and make contact with Huang Hao?” Before he had finished speaking, a man replied, “I am willing to go.” Deng Ai looked at him and saw that it was Dang Jun of Xiangyang. Deng Ai was overjoyed. He immediately ordered Dang Jun to take large amounts of gold, pearls, and treasures, go directly to Chengdu, and bribe Huang Hao to spread rumors that Jiang Wei resented the emperor and would soon defect to Wei. Soon, everyone in Chengdu was saying the same thing. Huang Hao reported this to the Later Ruler, who then sent an urgent summons for Jiang Wei to return to court.
Now, Jiang Wei had been challenging the enemy to battle for days, but Deng Ai held his position and refused to come out. Jiang Wei was growing suspicious. Suddenly, an imperial messenger arrived with a summons for Jiang Wei to return to court. Not knowing the reason, Jiang Wei could only order the army to withdraw and return to the capital. Deng Ai and Sima Wang, knowing that Jiang Wei had fallen for their scheme, immediately led their troops from south of the Wei River in pursuit.
Truly, as the old saying goes: Yue Yi, in his campaign against Qi, was thwarted by slander; Yue Fei, in his victory over the enemy, was recalled by false accusations. What would be the outcome of this conflict? The next chapter will reveal.