Novel scene
Zhang He Falls into the Trap at Jiange 奔劍閣張郃中計
About this event
"Zhang He Falls into the Trap at Jiange" is the latter scene of the chapter title of Chapter 101 of the Romance, "Zhuge Liang Disguises Himself as a Spirit on Going Out to Longshang; Zhang He Falls into the Trap at Jiange." It covers the story up to the point where Zhuge Liang, having repulsed Sima Yi and Guo Huai at Lucheng, withdraws his army on Li Yan's false urgent report, shoots dead the pursuing Zhang He at the Mumen Road, and on his return has Li Yan reduced to a commoner. It is one episode of the Battle of Mount Qi as the Romance depicts it. Romance, Ch. 101 §24–29 · 37–49 · 53–55
Chen Shou's text also records events of the same year. The biography of Zhang He says that Zhang He, pursuing the withdrawing Zhuge Liang as far as Mumen, was struck by an arrow and died, and the biography of Li Yan records that Li Ping (Li Yan), unable to supply grain, called Zhuge Liang back and was made a commoner. Records, Wei 17 §55Records, Shu 10 §46–49
Course of events in the Records
In the 9th year of Jianxing (231) Zhuge Liang marched out to Mount Qi again and carried grain with the wooden oxen. The Annals of Emperor Ming say that in the 3rd month of that year, when Zhuge Liang attacked Tianshui, Sima Yi was ordered to resist him, and the biography of Zhang He records that Zhang He, on receiving an edict, led the generals west to Lueyang. Records, Shu 5 §37Records, Wei 3 §21Records, Wei 17 §55
When the long rains between summer and autumn kept the grain transport from getting through, Li Ping (Li Yan), who was overseeing the transport, sent men to call Zhuge Liang back, and Zhuge Liang withdrew his army. Zhang He pursued him as far as Mumen and, while fighting, was struck in the right knee by a flying arrow and died, and the Biography of Zhuge Liang records that when his grain ran out and he withdrew, he shot Zhang He dead. The Annals of Emperor Ming say that in the 7th month, when Zhuge Liang withdrew, merit was assessed and ranks were granted. Records, Shu 10 §46Records, Wei 17 §55Records, Shu 5 §37Records, Wei 3 §22
When the army withdrew, Li Ping instead pretended to be surprised, asking why it had come back when grain was plentiful, and told the Later Ruler that the army was feigning withdrawal to lure the enemy. When Zhuge Liang produced all of Li Ping's letters in his own hand, his wrongdoing came to light, and Li Ping was made a commoner and moved to Zitong Commandery. Records, Shu 10 §46–49
In the Romance
Following Guo Huai's advice, Sima Yi and Guo Huai reach Lucheng by two routes and surround the city at night, but are badly defeated by the crossbows on the walls, by the troops of Jiang Wei, Wei Yan, Ma Dai and Ma Zhong, four columns hidden in the wheat fields, and by troops sallying from the city, and fall back onto a hill. Romance, Ch. 101 §24–29
Guo Huai proposes calling up the troops of Yong Province and Liang Province to attack Jiange and cut off the way back, and Sun Li comes with 200,000 men. Just then the term for the hundred-day rotation comes up, and Zhuge Liang rejects Yang Yi's suggestion that the troops due for relief be kept back, intending to keep faith and send them home; the troops, moved, ask to stay and fight, and crush the troops of Yong and Liang, worn out from their long march. Romance, Ch. 101 §30–36
When Li Yan sends an urgent report that Eastern Wu has joined hands with Wei to attack Shu, Zhuge Liang withdraws his army. He sends the troops at Mount Qi back first, places Yang Yi and Ma Zhong in ambush on the Mumen Road at Jiange, and dresses Lucheng up as an empty city. Zhang He insists on pursuing despite Sima Yi's attempts to stop him, is lured on alternately by Wei Yan and Guan Xing, and toward dusk enters the Mumen Road, where the way is blocked by tumbling logs and stones and he is shot dead by crossbows from both sides together with over a hundred of his officers. Romance, Ch. 101 §37–49
Zhuge Liang, on the hill, says that he meant to shoot a horse but hit a roe deer and has this conveyed to Sima Yi, and Sima Yi, lamenting that Zhang He's death was his fault, returns to Luoyang. Back in Hanzhong, Zhuge Liang finds out that Li Yan, unable to supply grain, called him back with a false letter and also made false reports to the Later Ruler, and the Later Ruler, on Jiang Wan's advice, reduces Li Yan to a commoner and has him live in Zitong Commandery. Romance, Ch. 101 §51–55
Where the Romance differs
Zhang He's death: In Chapter 101 of the Romance, Zhang He pursues despite Sima Yi's attempts to stop him and dies on the Mumen Road under crossbow fire together with over a hundred of his officers. In Chen Shou's text, Zhang He pursued as far as Mumen and, while fighting, was struck in the right knee by a flying arrow and died. Romance, Ch. 101 §41–49Records, Wei 17 §55
Li Yan's urgent report: In the Romance, Li Yan calls Zhuge Liang back with a false urgent report that Eastern Wu is invading. In Chen Shou's text, Li Ping (Li Yan) called Zhuge Liang back when the long rains cut off the grain transport, and after the army withdrew he made the excuse that grain was plentiful. Romance, Ch. 101 §37 · 53–54Records, Shu 10 §46
Lucheng and the relief troops: The night battle at Lucheng, Sun Li's 200,000 men and the fierce fighting of the hundred-day relief troops in the Romance are not in the Biography of Zhuge Liang or the Annals of Emperor Ming in Chen Shou's text. The Biography of Zhuge Liang says only that he withdrew that year when his grain ran out. Romance, Ch. 101 §25–36Records, Shu 5 §37Records, Wei 3 §21–22
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.