Qin Liang 秦良

In Chapter 100 of the Romance, when the Wei army, worn down by heavy rain, withdraws, Kongming does not pursue, saying that when Sima Yi withdraws his troops there must surely be an ambush, and divides his troops to go out by the Ji Valley and the Xie Valley and take Mount Qi. Sima Yi says that the Shu troops will come out after them, but Cao Zhen does not believe it, and the two make a wager with ten days as the limit. Sima Yi says that if the Shu troops do not come he will paint his face with rouge and powder, put on women's clothes and accept punishment, and Cao Zhen says that if the Shu troops come he will give him a jade belt and an imperial horse bestowed by the Son of Heaven. Cao Zhen camps at the mouth of the Xie Valley west of Mount Qi, and Sima Yi at the mouth of the Ji Valley east of Mount Qi. Romance, Ch. 100 §1 · 3–5

Kongming has Ma Dai and Wang Ping, and Ma Zhong and Zhang Yi, go out by mountain paths to the left and right of Mount Qi and raid Cao Zhen's camp together, and gives Guan Xing and Liao Hua, and Wu Ban and Wu Yi, separate secret plans. Meanwhile Cao Zhen, not believing the Shu troops will come, lets his soldiers rest at ease and waits only for ten days to pass without incident, but on the seventh day a report comes that a few Shu troops are coming out of the valley. Cao Zhen tells his deputy general Qin Liang to take 5,000 troops and reconnoitre, and not to let the Shu troops come near the border, and when Qin Liang reaches the mouth of the valley he sees the Shu troops withdrawing. Romance, Ch. 100 §15–17

Qin Liang hastily leads his troops in pursuit, but after going 50 or 60 li without seeing the Shu troops he grows suspicious and has his men dismount and rest. When a scout reports that Shu troops are lying in ambush ahead, he mounts his horse and looks, and sees great clouds of dust rising in the mountains; soon Wu Ban and Wu Yi charge in with their troops from the front, and Guan Xing and Liao Hua from the rear. With mountains to left and right and no way of escape, the Shu troops on the mountains shout that those who dismount and surrender will be spared, and most of the Wei troops surrender. Qin Liang fights to the death, but is cut down from his horse by a single stroke of Liao Hua's blade. Romance, Ch. 100 §18–19

Kongming confines the surrendered soldiers in the rear army, dresses 5,000 Shu soldiers in Wei clothing and armor to disguise them as Wei troops, and sends them to Cao Zhen's camp under Guan Xing, Liao Hua, Wu Ban and Wu Yi. Cao Zhen is overjoyed when a messenger says that there were only a few Shu troops and they have all been driven off, and when it is reported that Qin Liang has returned with his troops he goes out of his tent in person to meet them, but fires break out front and rear, the Shu troops charge in from all sides, and he suffers a great defeat. After Sima Yi comes to his rescue, Cao Zhen falls ill from vexation and takes to his bed, and Kongming later sends Qin Liang's surrendered soldiers to Cao Zhen bearing a letter. Romance, Ch. 100 §20–24 · 27–28