Zheng Wen 鄭文

In Chapter 102 of the Romance, in the 2nd month of spring in the 2nd year of Qinglong (234), Wei hears that the Shu army is coming out along five routes and makes Sima Yi Grand Commander. Kongming again marches out to Mount Qi and tries to seize the land south of the Wei River, but he is blocked by Sima Yi's preparations and more than half of his soldiers are killed or wounded. Kongming sends Fei Yi to Wu to ask Sun Quan to attack in the north. Romance, Ch. 102 §6 · 9 · 12–14 · 21–22

As Kongming is conferring with his commanders about an advance, the Wei Lieutenant General Zheng Wen comes over in 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 favour, has promoted Qin Lang to General of the Front while treating him like so much straw, so that he has come to surrender out of resentment. Just then Qin Lang arrives outside the camp and challenges Zheng Wen alone to come out and fight, and Kongming says that if Zheng Wen kills Qin Lang first he will no longer doubt him. Zheng Wen gladly goes out, and in a single bout cuts off his opponent's head and comes back with it. Romance, Ch. 102 §27–29

Kongming takes his seat in his tent and angrily orders Zheng Wen to be dragged out and beheaded: he knows Qin Lang, he says, and the man just slain was not Qin Lang. When Zheng Wen reports that it was Qin Lang's younger brother Qin Ming, Kongming says that Sima Yi has sent him to feign surrender and stir up trouble from within, and that he will behead him unless he tells the truth. Zheng Wen confesses the false surrender and begs tearfully for his life, and, as Kongming directs, writes a letter to make Sima Yi come in person to raid the camp, after which he is placed in confinement. 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 this man was killed in a single bout, so he was not Qin Lang. Romance, Ch. 102 §29–32

Kongming sends a smooth-tongued soldier with the letter to tell Sima Yi that Zheng Wen has been made vanguard and that he should raid the camp when a fire is raised the following evening. Following the advice of his eldest son Sima Shi, Sima Yi gives Qin Lang ten thousand troops to go ahead while he himself follows in support; Qin Lang enters the empty Shu camp, is surrounded on all sides and dies amid the confused fighting, and Sima Yi flees with the remnants of his defeated troops. Kongming returns victorious to his camp, has Zheng Wen beheaded, and again discusses plans for seizing the land south of the Wei River. Romance, Ch. 102 §32–33 · 35–37 · 39