Novel scene
Sima Yi Invades Western Shu 司馬懿入寇西蜀
About this event
"Sima Yi Invades Western Shu" is the latter scene of the chapter title of Chapter 99 of the Romance, "Zhuge Liang Routs the Wei Army; Sima Yi Invades Western Shu." It covers the story up to the point where, in the autumn of the 8th year of Jianxing (230), at the request of Cao Zhen, recovered from his illness, Cao Zhen and Sima Yi set out with 400,000 men to attack Shu, meet heavy rain that does not let up for a month at Chencang, and are recalled by imperial edict. Zhuge Liang, having foreseen the heavy rain, has only a small force guard the passes and waits while resting his main army. Romance, Ch. 99 §39–40 · 43–49 · 52–54
Chen Shou's text records the same affair. The Biography of Cao Zhen in Records of Wei 9, the Annals of Emperor Ming in Records of Wei 3, and the Biography of the Later Ruler in Records of Shu 3 record that in the 4th year of Taihe (230) Wei attacked Hanzhong along several routes but went back when heavy rain cut the roads. Records, Wei 9 §66–67Records, Wei 3 §19Records, Shu 3 §11
Course of events in the Records
In the 4th year of Taihe (230), Cao Zhen, now Grand Marshal, proposed that since Shu kept invading the frontier, Wei should attack it by entering along several routes together, and the emperor agreed. Cao Zhen left Chang'an in the 8th month and entered southward by the Ziwu Road, Sima Yi was to go up the Han River and meet him at Nanzheng, and other forces entered by the Xie Valley road or from Wuwei. The Biography of the Later Ruler records that Sima Yi came by way of Xicheng, Zhang He by way of Ziwu and Cao Zhen by way of the Xie Valley to attack Hanzhong. Records, Wei 9 §66–67Records, Wei 3 §19Records, Shu 3 §11
Zhuge Liang waited for them at Chenggu and Chipo. When heavy rain fell for more than thirty days and the plank roads were cut, Wei issued an edict in the 9th month ordering Cao Zhen and the others to turn back. The Cavalier Regular Attendant Wang Su submitted a memorial urging that the troops be rested, saying that grain was being carried a thousand li and that the long rains had made the mountain slopes slippery, so that more than a month after setting out Cao Zhen had passed only halfway through the valley, and Hua Xin too submitted a memorial saying that toiling deep into rugged country would bring no merit of victory. Records, Shu 3 §11Records, Wei 9 §67Records, Wei 3 §19Records, Wei 13 §71–73 · 38–41
In the Romance
In Chapter 99 of the Romance, in the 7th month, in autumn, of the 8th year of Jianxing, Cao Zhen, recovered from his illness, submits a memorial asking to enter Hanzhong together with Sima Yi. The Palace Attendant Liu Ye urges Cao Rui to attack Shu and explains that he had said it could not be attacked in front of the ministers because military matters must be kept secret. When Sima Yi too says that Wu will not be able to move, Cao Rui makes Cao Zhen Grand Marshal and Grand Commander Who Conquers the West and Sima Yi General-in-Chief and Vice Commander Who Conquers the West, and sends them out to Chang'an with 400,000 men. Romance, Ch. 99 §39–43
Zhuge Liang, recovered from his illness, gives Zhang Ni and Wang Ping only 1,000 men to guard the old road to Chencang, and reassures the two worried generals by saying that the Net star is lodged in the sector of Taiyin, so heavy rain will fall within the month. He has the main army rest for a month and lay in firewood and provisions in advance. Romance, Ch. 99 §44–47
On reaching the city of Chencang, Cao Zhen stays inside the walls as Sima Yi advises. When heavy rain falls for thirty days, the water stands three feet deep even on level ground and countless horses die, Wang Su, Yang Fu and Hua Xin submit memorials, and the ruler of Wei recalls the two men. Cao Zhen and Sima Yi leave ambushes behind and withdraw slowly, and Zhuge Liang, stationed at Chenggu and Chipo, does not pursue, saying he has another plan for defeating Wei. Romance, Ch. 99 §48–55
Where the Romance differs
The line of advance: In Chapter 99 of the Romance, Cao Zhen and Sima Yi come out together to Chencang. In Chen Shou's text, Cao Zhen entered by the Ziwu Road (by the Xie Valley according to the Biography of the Later Ruler), and Sima Yi came up the Han River from the direction of Xicheng. Romance, Ch. 99 §43 · 48Records, Wei 9 §66–67Records, Shu 3 §11
The heavy rain: In Chapter 99 of the Romance, Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi read the heavens and foresee the heavy rain, and Zhuge Liang has 1,000 men guard the passes. Chen Shou's text says only that heavy rain fell for more than thirty days and the plank roads were cut, and Zhuge Liang waited at Chenggu and Chipo. Romance, Ch. 99 §46 · 48Records, Wei 9 §67Records, Shu 3 §11
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.