When Sima Yi learned that Cao Shuang had taken his brothers Cao Xi, Cao Xun, and Cao Yan, along with his trusted confidants He Yan, Deng Yang, Ding Mi, Bi Gui, and Li Sheng, as well as the Imperial Guard, to accompany the Wei Emperor Cao Fang out of the capital to pay homage at the tomb of Emperor Ming and then go hunting, he was overjoyed. Yi immediately went to the Imperial Secretariat and ordered Gao Rou, the Minister of Education, to assume the authority of Grand General with the ceremonial axe and staff, and first seize control of Cao Shuang's camp. He then ordered Wang Guan, the Grand Coachman, to take command of the Central Army and seize Cao Xi's camp. Yi then led his former officials into the inner palace to petition Empress Dowager Guo, stating that Shuang had betrayed the late Emperor's dying trust, was corrupt and treasonous, and deserved to be deposed. The Empress Dowager was greatly alarmed and said, "The Son of Heaven is outside the city. What can be done?" Yi replied, "I have a memorial to present to the Emperor and a plan to eliminate the traitors. Your Majesty need not worry." The Empress Dowager, in fear, could only comply. Yi urgently ordered Jiang Ji, the Grand Commandant, and Sima Fu, the Imperial Secretary, to jointly draft a memorial, which was then sent by a eunuch out of the city to be presented directly to the Emperor. Yi himself led his main army to seize the imperial armory.
News of this quickly reached Cao Shuang's household. His wife, Lady Liu, hurried to the front hall and summoned the steward of the estate, asking, "Our lord is away. What does Sima Yi mean by raising an army?" The gatekeeper, Pan Ju, replied, "Do not be alarmed, my lady. I will go and find out." He then took several dozen crossbowmen and climbed the gate tower to observe. He saw Sima Yi leading his troops past the mansion. Pan Ju ordered his men to fire a volley of arrows, preventing Yi from passing. A deputy commander, Sun Qian, stopped him from behind, saying, "The Grand Tutor is acting for the sake of the state. Do not loose your arrows!" He gave this order three times before Pan Ju ceased fire. Sima Zhao then shielded his father, Sima Yi, as they passed, leading the army out of the city to encamp by the Luo River and guard the floating bridge.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhi, a subordinate commander under Cao Shuang, saw the upheaval in the city and came to discuss it with the military advisor Xin Chang. "Sima Yi has started a rebellion. What should we do?" Zhi asked. Chang replied, "We should lead our troops out of the city to see the Emperor." Zhi agreed. Chang hurried into the inner quarters. His sister, Xin Xianying, saw him and asked, "What is the matter that you are in such a frantic rush?" Chang told her, "The Emperor is outside, and the Grand Tutor has sealed the city gates. He must be planning a rebellion." Xianying said, "The Grand Tutor may not be planning a rebellion; he likely only intends to kill General Cao Shuang." Startled, Chang asked, "What will come of this?" Xianying replied, "General Cao is no match for Sima Yi. He will surely be defeated." Chang then asked, "Lu Zhi has asked me to go with him. Should I go?" Xianying answered, "Upholding one's duty is a great principle of righteousness. When others are in peril, one should still show compassion. To abandon one's post is the greatest of misfortunes." Following her advice, Chang joined Lu Zhi with several dozen horsemen, fought their way through the city gates, and escaped. When this was reported to Sima Yi, he feared that Huan Fan might also flee, so he urgently summoned him. Huan Fan discussed the situation with his son, who said, "The Emperor's carriage is outside. It would be better for us to head south." Huan Fan agreed, mounted his horse, and rode to the Pingchang Gate, only to find it already sealed. The gatekeeper was Si Fan, a former subordinate of Huan Fan.
Fan produced a bamboo slip from his sleeve and said, "I have an imperial edict from the Empress Dowager. Open the gate immediately." Si Fan said, "Let me see the edict." Fan shouted, "You were once my officer! How dare you question me?" Si Fan had no choice but to open the gate and let him out. Once outside the city, Fan called back to Si Fan, "The Grand Tutor has rebelled! Come with me quickly!" Si Fan was horrified, but Fan was already too far away to pursue. When Sima Yi was informed, he exclaimed in alarm, "The man with the brains has escaped! What now?" Jiang Ji said, "A worn-out horse still yearns for its stable and its fodder. He will be of no real use." Yi then summoned Xu Yun and Chen Tai, saying, "Go and see Cao Shuang. Tell him that the Grand Tutor has no other intention than to strip your brothers of their military command." The two men departed. Yi then summoned Yin Damu, a colonel of the palace guard, and had Jiang Ji write a letter for Yin to deliver to Shuang. Yi instructed him, "You are on close terms with Shuang, so you are suited for this task. When you see him, tell him that I, along with Jiang Ji, have sworn an oath by the Luo River that this is only about military power, nothing more." Yin Damu left to carry out his orders.
As for Cao Shuang, he was in the midst of flying his falcons and coursing his hounds when a sudden report arrived of the upheaval in the city and a memorial from the Grand Tutor. Shuang was so shocked he nearly fell from his horse. A eunuch official knelt before the Emperor, holding the memorial. Shuang took it, broke the seal, and ordered a close attendant to read it aloud. The memorial read: "Your subject, Sima Yi, Grand Tutor and Commander-in-Chief of the Western Expedition, in all trepidation, prostrates himself and presents this memorial. I remember when I returned from Liaodong, the late Emperor summoned Your Majesty, the Prince of Qin, and myself to his bed, took my arm, and deeply entrusted the future to my care. Now, the Grand General Cao Shuang has abandoned the late Emperor's dying charge, perverted the laws of the state, assumed prerogatives within the court, and arrogated authority without. He has appointed the eunuch Zhang Dang as his supervisor to manage his clandestine dealings, spied upon Your Majesty, coveted the imperial regalia, sowed discord between the two palaces, and harmed the imperial family. The realm is in turmoil, and the people live in fear. This was not the late Emperor's wish when he entrusted Your Majesty and commanded me. Though I am old and decrepit, how dare I forget his words? The Grand Commandant Jiang Ji, the Imperial Secretary Sima Fu, and others all agree that Shuang has no regard for his sovereign and that his brothers should not be allowed to command the palace guard. We have petitioned the Yongning Palace, and the Empress Dowager has commanded me to act according to this petition. I have therefore ordered the relevant officials and eunuchs to relieve Shuang, Xi, and Xun of their commands and troops, and to send them back to their estates as marquises, not to delay the imperial carriage. Any who resist will be dealt with by military law. I have, despite my illness, led troops to encamp at the floating bridge on the Luo River to guard against any contingency. I humbly submit this for Your Majesty's wisdom."
After hearing the memorial, the Wei Emperor Cao Fang summoned Cao Shuang and said, "The Grand Tutor's words are these. How do you propose to handle this?" Shuang was at a complete loss, his hands and feet trembling. He turned to his two brothers and asked, "What can we do?" Cao Xi said, "I have often advised you, brother, but you were stubborn and refused to listen. Now we have come to this. Sima Yi is infinitely cunning and deceitful. Even Zhuge Liang could not defeat him. How can we, his brothers, hope to prevail? It would be better to bind ourselves and surrender to him in the hope of escaping death." Before he had finished speaking, the military advisor Xin Chang and the commander Lu Zhi arrived. Shuang asked them for their opinion. They replied, "The city is sealed as tight as an iron bucket. The Grand Tutor has encamped his army at the floating bridge on the Luo River. It seems impossible to return. You must decide on a course of action quickly." As they were speaking, Huan Fan, the Minister of Agriculture, galloped up on horseback and said to Shuang, "The Grand Tutor has rebelled! General, why not ask the Emperor to move his court to Xuchang and then summon outside troops to punish Sima Yi?" Shuang replied, "My entire family is in the city. How can I go elsewhere to seek aid?" Huan Fan said, "Even a common man in danger longs to live! You, my lord, are with the Emperor himself and can issue commands to all under Heaven. Who would dare not respond? How can you walk willingly into the jaws of death?" Shuang, hearing this, could not make up his mind and only wept. Huan Fan continued, "It is no more than a day's journey to Xuchang. There are enough provisions in the city to last for years. Your other camps are nearby, south of the palace, and can be summoned in an instant. I have the seal of the Grand Marshal with me. My lord, you must act quickly! Delay and all is lost!" Shuang said, "Do not press me so hard, all of you. Let me think it over carefully."
Shortly after, the palace attendant Xu Yun and the Imperial Secretary Chen Tai arrived. They said to Shuang, "The Grand Tutor is only concerned that you have too much power. He merely wants to strip you of your military command. He has no other intentions. You should return to the city quickly." Shuang remained silent. Then Colonel Yin Damu arrived. He said, "The Grand Tutor has sworn an oath by the Luo River. He has no other intentions. Here is a letter from Grand Commandant Jiang Ji. If you will but give up your military command, you may return to your mansion in peace." Shuang believed these words to be good counsel. Huan Fan again warned him, "The situation is critical! Do not listen to these outsiders and walk to your doom!" That night, Cao Shuang was still unable to decide. He drew his sword and paced, sighing and pondering. From dusk until dawn, he wept, but remained irresolute and uncertain. Huan Fan entered his tent and urged him, "My lord, you have been thinking for a whole day and night. Why can you not decide?" Shuang threw down his sword and sighed, "I will not raise an army. I am willing to give up my office. It is enough for me to be a wealthy landowner!" Huan Fan wept bitterly, and as he left the tent, he cried out, "Cao Zidan prided himself on his wisdom and strategy! Now his three sons are nothing but pigs and calves!" He wept without ceasing.
Xu Yun and Chen Tai then advised Shuang to first surrender his seal of command to Sima Yi. Shuang ordered the seal to be sent. The registrar Yang Zong clutched the seal and wept, saying, "My lord, if you give up your command and go to surrender, you will surely be executed in the marketplace!" Shuang said, "The Grand Tutor will not break his word to me." So Cao Shuang handed his seal to Xu Yun and Chen Tai, who took it to Sima Yi. When the soldiers saw that their general's seal was gone, they scattered in all directions. Only a few horsemen and officials remained with Shuang. When they reached the floating bridge, Sima Yi issued an order for Cao Shuang and his two brothers to return to their private residences, while the rest were to be detained pending the Emperor's decree. As Shuang and his brothers entered the city, not a single attendant accompanied them. When Huan Fan reached the floating bridge, Sima Yi pointed at him from his horse and said, "Why have you acted this way, Minister Huan?" Fan lowered his head in silence and entered the city. Sima Yi then requested the Emperor to strike camp and return to Luoyang. After Cao Shuang and his brothers returned home, Sima Yi had their gates locked with a great lock and set eight hundred commoners to guard their mansion. Cao Shuang was deeply distressed. Cao Xi said to him, "We are out of food in the house. You should write a letter to the Grand Tutor asking for grain. If he is willing to give it to us, it will mean he has no intention of harming us." Shuang wrote the letter and sent it. After reading it, Sima Yi sent a hundred hu of grain to the Cao mansion. Shuang was overjoyed, saying, "The Grand Tutor never meant to harm me!" And he ceased to worry.
What Shuang did not know was that Sima Yi had already arrested the eunuch Zhang Dang and put him in prison for interrogation. Zhang Dang confessed, "I am not alone. There are also He Yan, Deng Yang, Li Sheng, Bi Gui, and Ding Mi. We all conspired to usurp the throne." With Zhang Dang's confession in hand, Sima Yi arrested He Yan and the others and interrogated them until they confessed, all stating that they had planned to rebel in the third month. Yi had them put in heavy cangues and shackles. The gatekeeper Si Fan then reported, "Huan Fan forged an imperial edict to leave the city, claiming that the Grand Tutor was rebelling." Sima Yi said, "To falsely accuse another of treason is a crime punishable by the same penalty." He then had Huan Fan arrested and thrown into prison. Finally, he had Cao Shuang, his two brothers, and all the other accused criminals executed in the marketplace, and their entire clans—three generations of each family—were wiped out. Their properties and assets were all confiscated and entered into the state treasury.
At this time, there was the wife of Cao Wen, a younger cousin of Cao Shuang. She was the daughter of Xiahou Lingnu. She had been widowed early without children, and her father wanted her to remarry, but she cut off her own ear to swear she would not. After Cao Shuang was executed, her father again tried to marry her off, and she cut off her own nose. Her family was horrified and said to her, "Life in this world is like a speck of dust alighting on a fragile blade of grass. Why must you inflict such suffering on yourself? Besides, your husband's family has been wiped out by the Simas. For whom are you keeping this vow?" The woman wept and replied, "I have heard that a benevolent person does not change their principles because of fortune or misfortune, and a righteous person does not change their heart because of life or death. When the Cao clan was powerful, I intended to remain faithful to the end. Now that they have fallen, how could I bear to abandon them? That would be the act of a beast. How could I do such a thing?" When Sima Yi heard of this, he praised her virtue and allowed her to adopt a child to continue the Cao family line.
A poet of the time wrote of her: "She saw the world as fragile grass and fleeting dust, yet Xiahou's daughter was as steadfast as a mountain. Men of spirit, with their beards and brows, would blush with shame to be outdone by a woman's virtue."
After Sima Yi had executed Cao Shuang, Grand Commandant Jiang Ji said, "Lu Zhi and Xin Chang fought their way out through the city gates, and Yang Zong refused to hand over the seal. None of them should be let off." Yi replied, "Each of them was acting for his own lord. They are righteous men." He therefore restored them all to their former offices. Xin Chang sighed, "If I had not consulted my sister, I would have lost all sense of righteousness!" A later poet praised Xin Xianying: "A minister who receives a salary should think of repaying it; when serving his lord in times of crisis, he should be utterly loyal. Xin Xianying once advised her brother, and for a thousand years her noble spirit will be praised."
Sima Yi spared Xin Chang and the others and issued a proclamation stating that all who had been in Cao Shuang's service were pardoned from death, and those with official rank were to be reinstated. The army and the people were to return to their occupations, and peace and order were restored both inside and outside the city. He Yan and Deng Yang met their deaths, fulfilling the prophecy of Guan Lu. A later poet praised Guan Lu: "He transmitted the true and wondrous methods of the sages; Guan Lu of Pingyuan had a spirit that pierced the heavens. He distinguished the ghostly gloom of He and the restless gloom of Deng; before they fell, he knew they were as good as dead."
The Wei Emperor Cao Fang then enfeoffed Sima Yi as Imperial Chancellor and granted him the Nine Distinctions. Yi firmly refused to accept them. Cao Fang would not allow him to refuse and ordered Yi and his two sons to jointly manage the affairs of the state. Sima Yi then suddenly remembered, "Although Cao Shuang and his entire family have been executed, there is still Xiahou Xuan, who is guarding Yong Province and other areas. He is a relative of Shuang's clan. If he suddenly rebels, how will we be prepared? I must deal with this." He immediately issued an imperial edict and sent an envoy to Yong Province to summon Xiahou Xuan, the General of the Western Expedition, to Luoyang for discussions. When Xuan's uncle, Xiahou Ba, heard of this, he was greatly alarmed and rebelled, leading his own three thousand troops. Guo Huai, the Provincial Inspector of Yong Province, heard of Xiahou Ba's rebellion and led his own troops to engage him. Guo Huai rode out and cursed him, "You are a member of the great Wei imperial clan! The Son of Heaven has not wronged you. Why do you rebel?" Xiahou Ba cursed back, "My grandfather and father rendered great service to the state! Now that Sima Yi, that base fellow, has exterminated my brother Cao Shuang's clan, he is also coming for me. Sooner or later, he will usurp the throne. I am acting out of righteousness to punish the traitor. What rebellion is this?" Guo Huai, enraged, raised his spear and charged at Xiahou Ba. Ba brandished his blade and met him. After less than ten exchanges, Guo Huai feigned defeat and fled, with Ba in hot pursuit. Suddenly, Ba heard shouting from his rear. He wheeled his horse around just as Chen Tai led a force to attack him. Guo Huai then turned back, and the two armies attacked Xiahou Ba from both sides. Ba was utterly defeated, losing more than half his men. Seeing no other option, he fled to Hanzhong to surrender to the Later Sovereign of Shu.
When Jiang Wei was informed of this, he did not believe it at first. He sent men to investigate and, only after confirming the truth, allowed Xiahou Ba to enter the city. Ba paid his respects and tearfully recounted the events. Jiang Wei said, "In ancient times, Weizi left the Shang dynasty and earned a name that lasted ten thousand generations. If you can help restore the Han dynasty, you will be no less worthy than the ancients." He then hosted a banquet in Ba's honor. During the feast, Jiang Wei asked, "Now that Sima Yi and his sons hold all the power, do they have designs on our state?" Xiahou Ba replied, "That old villain is busy plotting his usurpation and has no time for external affairs. However, there are two new men in Wei, both in the prime of their youth. If they are given command of troops, they will be a great threat to both Wu and Shu." Jiang Wei asked, "Who are these two men?" Ba replied, "One is currently a Secretary in the Imperial Library. He is from Changshe in Yingchuan, named Zhong Hui, styled Shiji. He is the son of the Grand Tutor Zhong Yao. He was clever and bold even as a child. Yao once took his two sons to see Emperor Wen. Hui was seven years old then, and his elder brother Yu was eight. Yu was so terrified in the Emperor's presence that his face was drenched in sweat. The Emperor asked Yu, 'Why are you sweating?' Yu replied, 'In fear and trembling, my sweat flows like a stream.' The Emperor then asked Hui, 'Why are you not sweating?' Hui replied, 'In fear and trembling, my sweat dare not come out.' The Emperor was singularly impressed by him. As he grew older, he developed a love for military texts and a deep understanding of strategy. Both Sima Yi and Jiang Ji marveled at his talent. The other man is a clerk in the government offices. He is from Yiyang, named Deng Ai, styled Shizai. He lost his father in childhood but always had great ambitions. Whenever he saw a high mountain or a large marsh, he would study it and point out where troops could be encamped, where provisions could be stored, and where ambushes could be laid. People laughed at him for this, but Sima Yi alone recognized his talent and appointed him as a military advisor. Ai has a stutter. Whenever he reports on official business, he always stammers, 'Ai... Ai...' Sima Yi once joked with him, saying, 'When you say "Ai Ai," how many Ai are there?' Ai immediately replied, 'The phoenix is called a phoenix, but it is still one phoenix.' His quick-wittedness is generally like this. These two men are truly formidable." Jiang Wei laughed and said, "What is there to fear from such mere boys?"
Jiang Wei then led Xiahou Ba to Chengdu to see the Later Sovereign. Wei reported, "Sima Yi murdered Cao Shuang and then tried to trick Xiahou Ba, who has therefore surrendered to us. At present, Sima Yi and his sons are monopolizing power, and Cao Fang is weak and indecisive. The state of Wei is in danger. I have been in Hanzhong for many years, and my troops are well-trained and my granaries full. I am willing to lead the imperial army, with Ba as my guide, to recover the Central Plains and restore the Han dynasty. This is how I will repay Your Majesty's kindness and fulfill the late Chancellor's ambition." The Imperial Secretary Fei Yi admonished him, saying, "Recently, Jiang Wan and Dong Yun have both died one after another. There is no one to manage internal affairs. You, Bo Yue, should only bide your time and not act rashly." Jiang Wei replied, "Not so. A man's life is like a white colt flashing past a crack in the wall. If we delay like this, day after day, year after year, when will we ever recover the Central Plains?" Fei Yi argued, "Sunzi said, 'Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will win a hundred battles out of a hundred.' None of us are even close to the late Chancellor in ability. If the Chancellor himself could not recover the Central Plains, how can we?" Jiang Wei said, "I have lived long in the Long region and know the hearts of the Qiang people well. If I can now form an alliance with them for support, even if I cannot fully recover the Central Plains, I can at least cut off and hold all the territory west of Long." The Later Sovereign said, "Since you are determined to attack Wei, exert your utmost loyalty and effort. Do not let your spirit flag and fail my command." So Jiang Wei received his orders, took leave of the court, and went directly to Hanzhong with Xiahou Ba to plan the campaign. Wei said, "First, we should send an envoy to the Qiang people to form an alliance. Then we will march out from Xiping, approaching Yong Province. We will first build two forts at the foot of Qu Mountain, garrison them with troops, and use them as a pincer formation. We will then send all our provisions to the mouth of the river and, following the late Chancellor's old system, advance in stages."
In the autumn of that year, in the eighth month, Jiang Wei first dispatched the Shu generals Gou An and Li Xin with 15,000 troops to build two forts at the foot of Qu Mountain. Gou An was to guard the eastern fort, and Li Xin the western fort. Soon, spies reported this to Guo Huai, the Provincial Inspector of Yong Province. Huai reported the matter to Luoyang and also sent his deputy general Chen Tai with 50,000 troops to engage the Shu army. Gou An and Li Xin each led their forces out to meet them, but being outnumbered, they were forced to retreat into their forts. Chen Tai ordered his troops to besiege the forts on all sides and also cut off the road for Shu's supplies from Hanzhong. Food began to run out in the forts. Guo Huai himself arrived with more troops. After surveying the terrain, he was delighted and, returning to his camp, discussed the situation with Chen Tai. "The terrain here is high and mountainous," Huai said. "Water must be scarce. The enemy must come out of the forts to fetch water. If we dam the stream upstream, the Shu troops will die of thirst." He ordered his men to dig earth and build a dam to cut off the flow upstream. As expected, there was no water inside the forts. Li Xin led his men out to fetch water, but the Yong Province troops besieged them fiercely. Xin fought desperately but could not break through and had to retreat back into the fort. Gou An's fort was also without water. He joined forces with Li Xin and led their troops out, merging them into one body. They fought for a long time but were again defeated and forced back into the forts. The soldiers were parched with thirst. Gou An said to Li Xin, "The army of Commander Jiang Wei has still not arrived. I wonder why." Xin replied, "I will risk my life to break out and seek reinforcements." He then took several dozen horsemen, opened the fort's gate, and charged out. The Yong Province troops surrounded them on all sides. Xin fought with desperate courage and barely managed to break free, but he was the only one to escape, and he was severely wounded. All the others perished in the melee. That night, a strong north wind arose, clouds gathered, and a heavy snow fell. The Shu troops inside the forts were able to divide the snow and eat it to survive.
Li Xin, having broken through the encirclement, traveled for two days along a small path through the western hills until he finally met up with Jiang Wei's force. Xin dismounted and prostrated himself on the ground, reporting, "The two forts at Qu Mountain are both surrounded by Wei troops, and the water supply has been cut off. Fortunately, Heaven sent a heavy snow, so we have been eating snow to survive. The situation is extremely critical." Jiang Wei said, "I am not late. I was delayed because the Qiang troops I summoned have not yet arrived." He then had Li Xin sent to Shu to recover from his wounds. Jiang Wei asked Xiahou Ba, "The Qiang troops have not arrived, and the siege of Qu Mountain is very urgent. What is your opinion, General?" Xiahou Ba replied, "If we wait for the Qiang troops, the two forts at Qu Mountain will surely fall. I calculate that the Yong Province army must have committed all its forces to the attack on Qu Mountain, leaving Yong Province city itself empty. General, you could lead your troops directly to Ox-Head Mountain, circle around behind Yong Province. Guo Huai and Chen Tai will have to return to save Yong Province, and the siege of Qu Mountain will be lifted." Jiang Wei was overjoyed and said, "This is an excellent plan!" He then led his army towards Ox-Head Mountain.
Chen Tai, seeing that Li Xin had broken out of the siege, said to Guo Huai, "If Li Xin reports the urgency to Jiang Wei, Wei will assume that our main army is all at Qu Mountain and will try to take Ox-Head Mountain to attack us from the rear. General, you should take one force and seize the Tao River, cutting off the Shu army's supply line. I will divide my troops in half and go directly to Ox-Head Mountain to attack him. When he learns that his supply line is cut, he will surely retreat on his own." Guo Huai agreed. He led one force to secretly take the Tao River, while Chen Tai led another force directly to Ox-Head Mountain.
As Jiang Wei's army arrived at Ox-Head Mountain, he suddenly heard shouting from his vanguard. A report came that Wei troops had blocked their path. Jiang Wei hurried to the front to see for himself. Chen Tai shouted at him, "You wanted to attack my Yong Province! I have been waiting for you for a long time!" Jiang Wei was enraged. He raised his spear, spurred his horse, and charged directly at Chen Tai. Tai wielded his blade and met him. After less than three exchanges, Chen Tai feigned defeat and fled. Jiang Wei ordered his men to pursue and slaughter the retreating enemy. The Yong Province troops fell back and occupied the top of the mountain. Jiang Wei withdrew his forces and set up camp at the foot of Ox-Head Mountain. Every day, he sent men to challenge the enemy to battle, but neither side could gain a decisive advantage. Xiahou Ba said to Jiang Wei, "This is not a place where we can stay for long. After days of fighting with no decisive outcome, this must be a strategy to lure us in. There must be another plan afoot. It would be better to retreat for now and devise a better strategy." As he was speaking, a sudden report arrived that Guo Huai had led a force to seize the Tao River and cut off their supply line. Jiang Wei was greatly alarmed and urgently ordered Xiahou Ba to retreat first, while he himself covered the rear. Chen Tai divided his troops into five columns and pursued them. Jiang Wei single-handedly held the junction of five roads, fighting off the Wei troops. Chen Tai's soldiers climbed the mountain and rained down arrows and stones.
Jiang Wei hurriedly retreated to the Tao River, only to find Guo Huai's troops attacking him. Jiang Wei charged back and forth, trying to break through. The Wei troops blocked his path, forming an encirclement as tight as an iron bucket. Jiang Wei fought with desperate courage and finally broke out, but he had lost more than half his men. He fled at full speed towards Yangping Pass. But ahead, another force blocked his way. At the head of this army was a great general on horseback, wielding a sword. This man had a round face, large ears, a square mouth, and thick lips. Below his left eye grew a black tumor, from which sprouted several dozen black hairs. He was Sima Shi, the eldest son of Sima Yi, holding the rank of General of Chariots and Cavalry. Jiang Wei shouted in fury, "How dare a mere boy block my path home!" He slapped his horse, raised his spear, and thrust it directly at Sima Shi. Shi met him with his sword. After only three exchanges, Jiang Wei defeated Sima Shi and made his escape, galloping straight for Yangping Pass. The men on the wall opened the gate and let Jiang Wei in. Sima Shi also tried to seize the pass, but from both sides of the wall, hidden crossbows fired simultaneously. Each crossbow loosed ten arrows at once, a technique handed down by the late Marquis Wu, Zhuge Liang, on his deathbed.
Truly, it was: "Hard-pressed on this day, the army suffered defeat; they relied only on the legacy of the ten-arrow volley from years past." Whether Sima Shi would live or die would be revealed in the next chapter.