Novel scene
Two Generals Vie for Glory Entering the West 入西川二士爭功
About this event
This scene is the episode named in the chapter title of Chapter 118 of the Romance, "Entering Xichuan, two generals vie for merit," a passage that sets the stage for Zhong Hui's Rebellion. On the Later Sovereign's edict, Jiang Wei at Jiange surrenders to Zhong Hui and they become sworn brothers, and as Deng Ai, having taken Chengdu, flaunts his merit and handles affairs on his own authority, Zhong Hui, egged on by Jiang Wei, reports that Deng Ai intends to rebel, so that Sima Zhao sets out in person at the head of an army. Romance, Ch. 118 §17–21 · 24 · 29–33
Chen Shou recorded this in the Biographies of Deng Ai and Zhong Hui, Records of Wei 28, and the Biography of Jiang Wei, Records of Shu 14. The Biography of Deng Ai records that Deng Ai, acting in the emperor's name, conferred on the Later Sovereign the post of General of Agile Cavalry, sent Sima Zhao (King Wen) a letter on preparations to attack Wu and on enfeoffing the Later Sovereign as Prince of Fufeng, and was summoned in a prison cart after Zhong Hui, Hu Lie, Shi Zuan and others reported that his conduct was treasonous. Records, Wei 28 §73 · 77–80 · 115–121Records, Shu 14 §47–48
In the Romance
In Chapter 118 of the Romance, when the Grand Coachman Jiang Xian delivers the Later Sovereign's edict at Jiange, the generals strike rocks with their swords and wail, and Jiang Wei, saying he has a plan to revive the house of Han, whispers it into their ears, then raises surrender flags on Jiange Pass and surrenders to Zhong Hui together with Zhang Yi, Liao Hua and Dong Jue. When Zhong Hui asks why he has come so late, Jiang Wei replies that since the whole army of the state was in his hands, coming even today is quick, and flatters him by saying that had it been Deng Ai, he would have fought to the death. Zhong Hui breaks an arrow in an oath and becomes Jiang Wei's sworn brother. Romance, Ch. 118 §17–19
Deng Ai in Chengdu makes Shi Zuan Inspector of Yi Province, builds a terrace at Mianzhu to display his war merits and boasts to the Shu officials that they owe their present lives to having met him, but on hearing that Jiang Wei has surrendered to Zhong Hui he comes to hate Zhong Hui bitterly. Deng Ai sends Sima Zhao a letter proposing to rest the weary troops while building boats to prepare to attack Wu and to enfeoff the Later Sovereign as Prince of Fufeng, and in reply to Sima Zhao's letter in his own hand telling him to report matters and await an answer, he writes again that when a general is in the field there are royal commands he does not accept. Romance, Ch. 118 §20–26
Suspicious of Deng Ai, Sima Zhao, on Jia Chong's advice, makes Zhong Hui Minister over the Masses to keep him in check, and Jiang Wei, telling Zhong Hui that Deng Ai is trying to win the hearts of the people of Shu, hands him the map of Yi Province that the Marquis Wu is said to have presented to the late emperor and urges him to report Deng Ai's treason. Zhong Hui sends up a memorial and intercepts and rewrites Deng Ai's memorial; Sima Zhao, enraged, orders Zhong Hui to arrest Deng Ai, sends Jia Chong with thirty thousand men to the Xie Valley, and then takes the field in person together with the Wei sovereign Cao Huan. Romance, Ch. 118 §27–35
Where the Romance differs
Jiang Wei's surrender: In Chapter 118 of the Romance, Jiang Wei receives the edict at Jiange and, with a plan in mind, raises surrender flags and goes to Zhong Hui. In the Biography of Jiang Wei in the Records, when Jiang Wei and the others heard that Zhuge Zhan had been defeated, unable to tell what the Later Sovereign intended, they went by way of Guanghan and Qi to ascertain the facts, and only when they received the Later Sovereign's edict did they throw down their spears, take off their armor and go to Zhong Hui's army at Fu County, whereupon the officers and men were all enraged and struck rocks with their swords. Romance, Ch. 118 §17–18Records, Shu 14 §47
Jia Chong's troops: In Chapter 118 of the Romance, Sima Zhao gives Jia Chong thirty thousand men and sends him into the Xie Valley. Sima Zhao's letter quoted in the Biography of Zhong Hui in the Records states that Jia Chong would enter the Xie Valley with ten thousand infantry and cavalry and garrison Lecheng, while Sima Zhao himself would garrison Chang'an with a hundred thousand. Romance, Ch. 118 §33Records, Wei 28 §123
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.