Qin Ming 秦明

In Chapter 102 of the Romance, Wei learns in spring, in the 2nd month of the 2nd year of Qinglong (234), that more than 300,000 Shu troops, divided into five columns, have come out of Qishan once more, and Cao Rui makes Sima Yi Grand Commander. Kongming feigns an attack on Beiyuan while secretly trying to seize the bank of the Wei River, but loses both the troops sent to Beiyuan and those sent to the floating bridge. Romance, Ch. 102 §6 · 9 · 13 · 20

As Kongming is deliberating with his generals on an advance, Zheng Wen, a Lieutenant General of Wei, comes over to surrender. Zheng Wen says that he had lately been leading troops together with Qin Lang under Sima Yi's command, but that Sima Yi, swayed by personal favor, promoted Qin Lang to General of the Front while treating him like so much straw, so that he came to surrender out of resentment. Just then a report comes in that Qin Lang has led troops outside the camp and is challenging Zheng Wen to come out and fight him alone, and Kongming tells Zheng Wen that if he first kills Qin Lang, he will not doubt him. Romance, Ch. 102 §27–28

When Zheng Wen mounts and leaves the camp, his opponent levels his spear and charges straight at him, roaring, 'Traitor, you stole my warhorse and came here with it. Give it back at once!' Zheng Wen spurs his horse and meets him with his blade swinging, cutting off his head in a single bout and sending him tumbling from his horse, and the Wei troops all flee. When Zheng Wen enters the camp carrying the head, Kongming angrily orders Zheng Wen dragged out and beheaded, saying that he has long known Qin Lang and that the man just slain is certainly not Qin Lang. Romance, Ch. 102 §28–29

Zheng Wen bows and admits that the man is in fact Qin Lang's younger brother, Qin Ming. Kongming says that Sima Yi has sent Zheng Wen to surrender falsely and plot from within, and threatens to behead him unless he tells the truth; Zheng Wen confesses the false surrender and, as Kongming directs, writes a letter inviting Sima Yi to come and raid the camp. Kongming explains his reasoning to Fan Jian: if Sima Yi had promoted Qin Lang to General of the Front, he must have been highly skilled in arms, yet the man died in a single bout against Zheng Wen, so he certainly was not Qin Lang. Romance, Ch. 102 §30–32

Deceived by the letter, Sima Yi follows the advice of his eldest son Sima Shi and gives Qin Lang 10,000 troops to raid the Shu camp, but Qin Lang is surrounded on all sides and dies amid the confused fighting, and Sima Yi flees with his defeated troops. Kongming returns to camp victorious and has Zheng Wen beheaded. Qin Ming's name never appears in the Romance again. Romance, Ch. 102 §35–37 · 39