Novel scene
Wang Shuang Slain Pursuing the Han Army 追漢軍王雙受誅
About this event
"Wang Shuang Slain Pursuing the Han Army" is the former scene of the chapter title of Chapter 98 of the Romance, "Wang Shuang Slain Pursuing the Han Army; Zhuge Liang Takes Chencang by Surprise." It covers the story up to the point where the Wei army, holding firm on Sima Yi's advice, tries to lure the Shu army with Sun Li's fake grain carts but is instead badly defeated, and Zhuge Liang, short of grain, withdraws and has the pursuing Wang Shuang beheaded through Wei Yan's secret plan. It is one episode of the Siege of Chencang as the Romance depicts it. Romance, Ch. 98 §1–2 · 6 · 14–18 · 21–24
Chen Shou's text records the same affair. The Biography of Zhuge Liang in Records of Shu 5 and the Biography of the Later Ruler in Records of Shu 3 record that in the winter of the 6th year of Jianxing (228), when Zhuge Liang withdrew from Chencang after his grain ran out, the Wei general Wang Shuang pursued him and was defeated and beheaded. Records, Shu 5 §35Records, Shu 3 §9
Course of events in the Records
In the winter of the 6th year of Jianxing (228) Zhuge Liang again marched out through San Pass and besieged Chencang, but when Cao Zhen blocked him, his grain ran out and he went back. The Annals of Emperor Ming record that in the 12th month of that year, when Zhuge Liang besieged Chencang, Cao Zhen sent the general Fei Yao and others to resist him. The Biography of Cao Zhen records that Cao Zhen, judging that Zhuge Liang, having been chastened at Mount Qi, would surely come out by way of Chencang next time, had the generals Hao Zhao and Wang Sheng guard Chencang and repair its walls, so that when Zhuge Liang besieged Chencang the following spring he could not prevail. Records, Shu 5 §35Records, Wei 3 §10Records, Wei 9 §65–66
When Zhuge Liang withdrew, the Wei general Wang Shuang pursued him at the head of cavalry, but Zhuge Liang fought him, defeated him and beheaded Wang Shuang. In the following year an edict of the Later Ruler praised Zhuge Liang for having displayed the might of the army the year before and taken the head of Wang Shuang. Records, Shu 5 §35–36Records, Shu 3 §9
In the Romance
In Chapter 98 of the Romance, Sima Yi says the Shu army has only a month's grain and will withdraw of its own accord if Wei simply holds firm, and Cao Rui tells Cao Zhen not to go out and fight. Following Guo Huai's advice, Cao Zhen has Wang Shuang patrol the narrow roads, and Sun Li tries to lure the Shu army with fake grain carts loaded with dry firewood and sulfur and burn them. Romance, Ch. 98 §1–7
Zhuge Liang sees through this and has Ma Dai set fire to the carts from upwind, surrounds Sun Li with Ma Zhong and Zhang Ni, sends Guan Xing and Zhang Bao to strike the Wei forward camp that will be left empty, and has Wu Ban and Wu Yi cut off the way back. Zhang Hu and Yue Chen, who come out to attack the Shu camp, find it empty and on returning lose even their own camp, and Cao Zhen does nothing but hold firm. Romance, Ch. 98 §8–17
Saying that with no grain he must withdraw while he has the upper hand, Zhuge Liang withdraws at night, leaving only gongs and drums behind, and sends a secret plan to Wei Yan at the mouth of the Chencang road. Wang Shuang, pursuing Wei Yan, turns back on hearing that his rear camp is on fire, and is cut down by Wei Yan's blade as Wei Yan bursts out of a wood. Wei Yan had left thirty horsemen behind in advance to set fire to Wang Shuang's camp. Grieving over Wang Shuang's death, Cao Zhen falls ill and returns to Luoyang. Romance, Ch. 98 §17–25
Where the Romance differs
Who beheaded Wang Shuang: In Chapter 98 of the Romance, Wei Yan lies in wait as the secret plan directs and beheads Wang Shuang. In the biography of Zhuge Liang and the Biography of the Later Ruler in the Records, Zhuge Liang turned to fight Wang Shuang, who was pursuing him as he withdrew, defeated him and beheaded him. Romance, Ch. 98 §21–24Records, Shu 5 §35Records, Shu 3 §9
The reason for the withdrawal: In Chapter 98 of the Romance, Zhuge Liang withdraws from Mount Qi for lack of grain even after foiling Sun Li's plan. In the Records, he besieged Chencang but, with Cao Zhen blocking him and Hao Zhao and others having repaired the walls in advance, he could not prevail and went back when his grain ran out. Romance, Ch. 98 §17–18Records, Shu 5 §35Records, Wei 9 §65–66
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.