The Battle of Wuzhang Plains (五丈原之戰) is a famous standoff between the kingdoms of Wei and Shu in 234 A.D. during the Three Kingdoms period of China. The battle is part of the fifth and last of the Northern Expeditions led by Shu statesman Zhuge Liang, who fell ill and died during the standoff. The Northern Expeditions (北伐) were a series of five military campaigns launched by the state of Shu against the northern state of Wei from A.D. 228 to 234. ... The Three Kingdoms period (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is a period in the history of China, part of an era of disunity called the Six Dynasties. ... Events Wei Yan revolts against the kingdom of Shu Han Births Emperor Wu of Jin China (approximate date) Deaths Li Yan, general of the Shu Kingdom Wei Yan, Shu general, executed by Ma Dai Zhuge Liang of the Shu Kingdom in China, dies on the Wu Zhang Plains in a... Events Wei Yan revolts against the kingdom of Shu Han Births Emperor Wu of Jin China (approximate date) Deaths Li Yan, general of the Shu Kingdom Wei Yan, Shu general, executed by Ma Dai Zhuge Liang of the Shu Kingdom in China, dies on the Wu Zhang Plains in a... The Wuzhang Plains (五丈原) are plateaus near the Wei River in China. ...   (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ShÇŽnxÄ«; Wade-Giles: Shan-hsi; Postal map spelling: Shensi) is a north-central province of the Peoples Republic of China, and includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River as well as the Qinling Mountains across the... The territories of Cao Wei (in yellow), AD 262 Capital Luoyang Language(s) Chinese Government Monarchy Emperor  - 220 - 226 Cao Pi  - 226 - 239 Cao Rui  - 239 - 254 Cao Fang  - 254 - 260 Cao Mao  - 260 - 265 Cao Huan Historical era Three Kingdoms  - Cao Pi taking over the throne of the Later... The Kingdom of Shu (蜀 shǔ) (221 – 263) was one of the Three Kingdoms competing for control of China after the fall of the Han Dynasty. ... Sima Yi (179 - 251) was a general, military strategist, and politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhuge (諸葛) Zhuge Liang (181 - 234) was one of the greatest Chinese strategists of the Three Kingdoms period, as well as a statesman, engineer, scholar, and inventor. ... This article or section may be confusing for some readers, and should be edited to be clearer or more simplified. ... Fei Yi (費禕) (d. ... The Northern Expeditions (北伐) were a series of five military campaigns launched by the state of Shu against the northern state of Wei from A.D. 228 to 234. ... Combatants Cao Wei Shu Han Commanders Sima Yi Meng Da† Zhuge Liang The battle of Xincheng was a total of two rebellions from 227 to 288 A.D. each led by Meng Da and co-ordinated with Zhuge Liang against Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period in China. ... Combatants Shu Han Cao Wei Commanders Zhuge Liang  ? The Battle of Tianshui was a battle between Shu and Wei in the spring of 228 during the Three Kingdoms period in China as part of Zhuge Liangs northern expeditions. ... The Battle of Jieting was a battle fought during the First Northern Expedition led by Zhuge Liang. ... Combatants Cao Wei Shu Han Commanders Hao Zhao† Zhuge Liang Strength estimated 1,000 estimated 20,000 The Siege of Chencang was a battle between Wei and Shu from December 228 to 229 A.D. during the Three Kingdoms period in China as part of Zhuge Liangs northern expeditions. ... The Kingdom of Wei (ch. ... The Kingdom of Shu (蜀 shǔ) (221 – 263) was one of the Three Kingdoms competing for control of China after the fall of the Han Dynasty. ... Events Wei Yan revolts against the kingdom of Shu Han Births Emperor Wu of Jin China (approximate date) Deaths Li Yan, general of the Shu Kingdom Wei Yan, Shu general, executed by Ma Dai Zhuge Liang of the Shu Kingdom in China, dies on the Wu Zhang Plains in a... The Three Kingdoms period (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is a period in the history of China, part of an era of disunity called the Six Dynasties. ... The Northern Expeditions (北伐) were a series of five military campaigns launched by the state of Shu against the northern state of Wei from A.D. 228 to 234. ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhuge (諸葛) Zhuge Liang (181 - 234) was one of the greatest Chinese strategists of the Three Kingdoms period, as well as a statesman, engineer, scholar, and inventor. ...

Background

In the spring of 234, Zhuge Liang led 100,000 soldiers through Xiagu Pass (斜谷口) after three years of preparation since his last northern expedition. At the same time, Zhuge Liang sent an emissary to the allied Eastern Wu, hoping that Wu would attack Wei at the same time. In April, the Shu forces reached the Wuzhang Plains near the Wei River and made camp there. The Wei commander, Sima Yi, well prepared for such a move with a 200,000-strong army, built a fortified position on the southern bank of the Wei River. The territories of Eastern Wu (in green), AD 262 Capital Jianye Language(s) Chinese Government Monarchy Emperor  - 222 - 252 Sun Quan  - 252 - 258 Sun Liang  - 258 - 264 Sun Xiu  - 264 - 280 Sun Hao Historical era Three Kingdoms  - Establishment 222  - Sun Quan declares himself emperor 229  - Conquest of Wu by Jin... The Wuzhang Plains (五丈原) are plateaus near the Wei River in China. ... The Wei River (渭河, pinyin: Wei He; Wade-Giles: Wei Ho) is a river in central China. ... Sima Yi (179 - 251) was a general, military strategist, and politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. ...

The battle

Initial clashes

Guo Huai suggested that Sima Yi should form a position in the plains' north, since Zhuge Liang would likely strike there. Sima Yi agreed, and sent Guo Huai to set camp there. Shu forces attacked the Wei camp there while it was being built, but Guo Huai was able to repel them. Guo Huai was a minor Wei general who served under Cao Cao. ...

Stalemate

Sima Yi would not engage the Shu forces, instead trying to make the Shu forces to retreat through attrition. Zhuge Liang understood the problem, and implemented Cao Cao's tuntian system to keep his troops fed. This article is about the military strategy. ... Cáo Cāo (155 – March 15, 220, pronounced Tsau Tsau) was a regional warlord and the second last Chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during its final years in ancient China. ... The Tuntian or Duntian system (屯田制) was a system of government-encouraged agriculture in Imperial China, the most famous example of which was practiced by the warlord Cao Cao during the Three Kingdoms Period. ...

The Shu army awaited an agreed offensive by Wu for the moment to strike. However, Sun Quan's armies in the Huai region were defeated by Cao Rui and succumbed to an endemic disease. Thus the stalemate remained in place and continued for hundreds of days. Shu forces tried to engage the Wei forces several times, but Sima Yi kept his place and would not meet the enemy. Image:Huaihe-mapriver. ... Cao Rui, ch. ...

Once Zhuge Liang sent women's clothes to Sima Yi, suggesting that he was a woman for not daring to attack. The Wei officers were enraged by this, but Sima Yi would not be provoked. To appease his officers, Sima Yi asked the Wei Emperor Cao Rui for permission to engage the Shu forces. Cao Rui, understanding the situation, sent his advisor Xin Pi to Sima Yi telling the Wei forces to be patient. Cao Rui, ch. ...

Death of Zhuge Liang

In an attempt to engage the Wei forces, Zhuge Liang sent Sima Yi an emissary urging him to battle. Sima Yi, however, would not discuss military matters with the emissary, instead enquired about Zhuge Liang's tasks. The emissary replied that Zhuge Liang personally manages matters both big and small in the military, from military tactics to meals for the night, but he consumes very little. Sima Yi then told an aide that Zhuge Liang would not last long.

In August, Zhuge Liang fell sick due to exhaustion and his condition became worse everyday. The news reached Shu Emperor Liu Shan, who sent Li Fu to ask Zhuge Liang for Shu's future plans. Zhuge Liang replied that Jiang Wan could take his position after he dies, and after Jiang Wan dies Fei Yi could take over. When asked about Fei Yi's successor, Zhuge Liang fell silent. Li Fu then returned to the capital. Liu Shan, (commonly mispronounced as Liu Chan[1]), (207 – 271) was the second and last emperor of the Kingdom of Shu during the Three Kingdoms era in ancient China. ... Jiang Wan (? - 246 AD) was an officer of the Shu Kingdom. ... Fei Yi (費禕) (d. ...

Zhuge Liang also gave instructions on how the Shu forces should withdraw back to Hanzhong: Yang Yi and Fei Yi would lead the forces while Jiang Wei and Wei Yan would guard the rear; if Wei Yan disobeyed, the Shu forces were to leave without him. In the early autumn of 234, Zhuge Liang died at the age of 54. Hanzhong (Simplified Chinese: 汉中; Traditional Chinese: 漢中; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Hanchung) is a city in Shaanxi province, in central China. ... This article or section may be confusing for some readers, and should be edited to be clearer or more simplified. ... Jiang Wei (姜維, 202-264), or Jiang Boyue, was amongst some of the greatest generals (chiangchun, or jiangjun) during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The Shu retreat

Following Zhuge Liang's death, the Shu forces quietly withdrew from their camps while keeping Zhuge Liang's death a secret. Sima Yi, convinced by the locals that Zhuge Liang had died, gave chase to the retreating Shu forces. Jiang Wei then had Yang Yi turn around and pretend to strike. Seeing this, Sima Yi feared that Zhuge Liang only pretended he was dead to lure him out, and immediately retreated. Common folklore tells of a double, or a wooden statue, that was dressed as Zhuge Liang, driving Sima Yi away in this incident. In any case, word that Sima Yi fled from the already dead Zhuge Liang spread, spawning a popular saying, "A dead Zhuge scares away a living Zhongda" (死諸葛嚇走活仲達), referring to Sima Yi's courtesy name. When Sima Yi heard of such ridicule, he laughingly responded, "I can predict the living, but not the dead." Cha can also refer to a Latin American dance, also called the Cha-cha-cha. ...

News of Zhuge Liang's death was withheld until the Shu army had reached the safety of the Baoye valley to return to Hanzhong. Sima Yi, fearful that the announcement was false and merely another opportunity for Zhuge to demonstrate his talent for ambuscade, hesitated to pursue. Only after his inspection of the empty Shu encampment did he resolve that pursuit was appropriate, but after reaching Baoye and deciding the advance could not be supported with supplies, the Wei army returned to the Wei River.

Aftermath

Conflict between Wei Yan and Yang Yi

Wei Yan, dismayed that the Shu forces are retreating "over the death of one man", collected his men and rode ahead of the main army and razed the gallery road behind them to prevent the main army from returning home. Yang Yi, who held a personal grudge against Wei Yan, sent the emperor a letter accusing Wei Yan of treason; Wei Yan did the same against Yang Yi. Emperor Liu Shan asked Dong Yun and Jiang Wan for their opinions, and both were suspicious of Wei Yan. Liu Shan then sent Jiang Wan to lead a force of imperial bodyguards north to cope with the disorders. A gallery road. ... For other uses, see Treason (disambiguation) or Traitor (disambiguation). ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Jiang Wan (? - 246 AD) was an officer of the Shu Kingdom. ... Jiang Wan (? - 246 AD) was an officer of the Shu Kingdom. ...

Later, Yang Yi led the main army through the mountains despite the loss of the gallery roads and confronted Wei Yan's detachment at Nangu Pass (南谷口). There, Wei Yan sent troops to attack Yang Yi while Yang Yi commanded Wang Ping to resist Wei Yan. Upon meeting, Wang Ping scolded Wei Yan, "His Excellency so lately died that his body is not yet cold; how dare you act this way!" Hearing this, Wei Yan's forces scattered, knowing their commander was in the wrong. Wei Yan, along with his sons and a few followers, fled to Hanzhong. Yang Yi sent Ma Dai to give chase, and soon Ma Dai chopped Wei Yan's head off and sent it to Yang Yi. Yang Yi then ordered the execution of Wei Yan's family to the third degree. Wang Ping is a figure in Chinese military history. ... Ma Dai was a general of the kingdom of Shu during the Three Kingdoms period and former officer under Ma Teng, and later Ma Chao. ...

Jiang Wan was about ten li away from the Shu capital Chengdu when he heard news of Wei Yan's death, so he returned. The li (里 lǐ) is a Chinese unit of distance, until recently usually considered to be about 576 metres, but is now standardised at a half a kilometre or 500 metres (547 yards). ...   (Chinese: ; Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Cheng-tu), located in southwest China, is the capital of Sichuan province and a sub-provincial city. ...

Long-term influences

After Zhuge Liang's death Jiang Wan took his post, but Jiang Wan was more interested in domestic matters than military expansion. Thus the death of Zhuge Liang ended a huge strategic threat to Wei and the Wei court soon began development of ambitious public works.

Sima Yi's success and subsequent rise in prominence paved the way for his grandson Sima Yan's foundation of the Jin Dynasty, which would eventually bring an end to the Three Kingdoms period. Format of naming convention in English is under discussion at Wikipedia talk:Naming conventions (Chinese) and Wikipedia talk:Naming conventions (Chinese)/monarchical titles. ... The Jin Dynasty (晉 pinyin: jìn, 265-420), one of the Six Dynasties, followed the Three Kingdoms and preceded the Southern and Northern Dynasties in China. ...

In popular culture

Ever since the beginning of the Dynasty Warriors series on the Playstation 2, the Battle of Wu Zhang Plains has always been one of the final stages of the game. The Logo of Shin Sangokumusou 5 (Dynasty Warriors 6) Dynasty Warriors ( 真・三國無双:Shin Sangokumusou in Japan; literally meaning True - Unrivaled Three Kingdoms) is a series of video games created by Koei based loosely around the Romance of the Three Kingdoms epic, and is a spinoff series of another Koei game Romance... “PS2” redirects here. ...

References

• Chen, Shou. Sanguo Zhi [1]
• Sima, Guang. Zizhi Tongjian Vol. 72 [2]