Romance, Chapter 117

Chapter 117. Deng Shizai Secretly Crosses Yinping; Zhuge Zhan Dies in Battle at Mianzhu

Meanwhile Dong Jue, Senior General Who Supports the State, hearing that the Wei army had crossed the border by more than ten routes, led twenty thousand troops to hold Jiange. That day he saw a great cloud of dust rising in the distance and, suspecting it was the Wei army, hurriedly led his men to guard the mouth of the pass. Dong Jue went himself to the front of his troops to look, and found that it was Jiang Wei, Liao Hua and Zhang Yi. Dong Jue was overjoyed and welcomed them up into the pass. When the courtesies were over, he wept as he told them about the Latter Ruler and Huang Hao. Jiang Wei said, “Do not be anxious, sir.

卻說輔國大將軍董厥，聞魏兵十餘路入境，乃引二萬兵守住劍閣；當日望塵頭大起，疑是魏兵，急引軍把住關口。董厥自臨軍前視之，乃姜維、廖化、張翼也。厥大喜，接入關上，禮畢，哭訴後主黃皓之事。維曰：“公勿憂慮。

As long as I am here, I will never let Wei swallow up Shu. Let us hold Jiange for now and take our time working out a plan to drive back the enemy.” Dong Jue said, “This pass can be held, but what about the fact that there is no one in Chengdu? If the enemy should take it by surprise, everything will fall apart.” Jiang Wei said, “Chengdu lies among steep mountains and rugged ground; it cannot be taken easily. There is no need to worry.” Just as they were speaking, word came that Zhuge Xu had led his troops right up to the foot of the pass. Jiang Wei, furious, hurriedly led five thousand troops down from the pass and charged straight into the Wei lines, striking left and right, and routed Zhuge Xu, who fled and fell back several dozen li before making camp. Countless Wei soldiers were killed. The Shu troops seized many horses and weapons, and Jiang Wei gathered his men and returned to the pass.

若有維在，必不容魏來吞蜀也。且守劍閣，徐圖退敵之計。”厥曰：“此關雖然可守，爭奈成都無人；倘爲敵人所襲，大勢瓦解矣。”維曰：“成都山險地峻，非可易取，不必憂也。”正言間，忽報諸葛緒領兵殺至關下，維大怒，急引五千兵殺下關來，直撞入魏陣中，左衝右突，殺得諸葛緒大敗而走，退數十里下寨，魏軍死者無數。蜀兵搶了許多馬匹器械，維收兵回關。

Meanwhile Zhong Hui had made camp twenty li from Jiange, and Zhuge Xu came of his own accord to confess his fault. Zhong Hui said angrily, “I ordered you to hold the bridgehead at Yinping and cut off Jiang Wei’s road home. How did you let him get away? And now, without any orders from me, you advanced on your own authority and brought about this defeat!” Zhuge Xu said, “Jiang Wei is full of tricks. He pretended to make for Yong Province. Fearing that Yong Province might be lost, I led my troops to save it, and Jiang Wei seized the chance to slip past. So I chased him to the foot of the pass, and never expected to be defeated again.”

卻說鍾會離劍閣二十里下寨，諸葛緒自來伏罪。會怒曰：“吾令汝守把陰平橋頭，以斷姜維歸路，如何失了！今又不得吾令，擅自進兵，以致此敗！”緒曰：“維詭計多端，詐取雍州；緒恐雍州有失，引兵去救，維乘機走脫；緒因趕至關下，不想又爲所敗。”

Zhong Hui, enraged, shouted for him to be beheaded. The Army Supervisor Wei Guan said, “Zhuge Xu may be at fault, but he is a man under the command of Deng, General Who Conquers the West. If you kill him, General, I fear it will damage the harmony between you.” Zhong Hui said, “I have received the Son of Heaven’s clear edict and the Duke of Jin’s solemn command, and I have come expressly to attack Shu. Even if Deng Ai himself were at fault, he too should be beheaded!” Everyone pleaded earnestly. So Zhong Hui had Zhuge Xu put in a cage cart and sent to Luoyang for the Duke of Jin to deal with, and then took the troops Zhuge Xu had commanded under his own command.

會大怒，叱令斬之。監軍衛瓘曰：“緒雖有罪，乃鄧徵西所督之人；不爭將軍殺之，恐傷和氣。”會曰：“吾奉天子明詔、晉公鈞命，特來伐蜀。便是鄧艾有罪，亦當斬之！”衆皆力勸。會乃將諸葛緒用檻車載赴洛陽，任晉公發落；隨將緒所領之兵，收在部下調遣。

Someone reported this to Deng Ai. Deng Ai was furious. “You and I are of equal rank,” he said, “and I have long guarded the frontier and laboured hard for the state. How dare you set yourself up so arrogantly!” His son Deng Zhong urged him, “Lack of patience in small things ruins great plans. Father, if you fall out with him, it is sure to harm the great affairs of the state. Please bear with him for now.” Deng Ai took his advice. But in the end, still harbouring anger in his heart, he took a dozen or so horsemen and went to see Zhong Hui.

有人報與鄧艾。艾大怒曰：“吾與汝官品一般，吾久鎮邊疆，於國多勞，汝安敢妄自尊大耶！”子鄧忠勸曰：“小不忍則亂大謀，父親若與他不睦，必誤國家大事。望且容忍之。”艾從其言。然畢竟心中懷怒，乃引十數騎來見鍾會。

When Zhong Hui heard that Deng Ai had arrived, he asked his attendants, “How many troops has Deng Ai brought?” They replied, “Only a dozen or so horsemen.” Zhong Hui then had several hundred armed guards drawn up inside and outside his tent.

會聞艾至，便問左右：“艾引多少軍來？”左右答曰：“只有十數騎。”會乃令帳上帳下列武士數百人。

Deng Ai dismounted and went in. Zhong Hui welcomed him into his tent, and they exchanged courtesies. Seeing how stern and orderly the troops were, Deng Ai grew uneasy and sounded him out, saying, “Your capture of Hanzhong, General, is a great blessing for the court. You should settle on a plan to take Jiange soon.” Zhong Hui said, “What is your enlightened view, General?” Deng Ai protested again and again that he had no ability. Zhong Hui pressed him, and Deng Ai answered, “In my humble opinion, one could lead a force along the byway from Yinping, come out at Deyang Pavilion in Hanzhong, and use a surprise force to strike straight at Chengdu. Jiang Wei would be sure to withdraw his troops to come to the rescue, and you, General, could take advantage of the gap to seize Jiange and win complete success.”

艾下馬入見。會接入帳禮畢。艾見軍容甚肅，心中不安，乃以言挑之曰：“將軍得了漢中，乃朝廷之大幸也，可定策早取劍閣。”會曰：“將軍明見若何？”艾再三推稱無能。會固問之。艾答曰：“以愚意度之，可引一軍從陰平小路出漢中德陽亭，用奇兵徑取成都，姜維必撤兵來救，將軍乘虛就取劍閣，可獲全功。”

Zhong Hui was delighted. “Your plan is excellent, General!” he said. “Go at once with your troops. I will wait here for news of your victory!” The two drank together and parted. Zhong Hui went back to his own tent and said to his generals, “Everyone says Deng Ai is able. Having seen him today, I find he is a mediocre man!” They asked why. Zhong Hui said, “The byway from Yinping runs entirely over high mountains and steep ridges. If Shu guarded the passes with a hundred or so men and cut off his retreat, Deng Ai’s troops would all starve to death.

會大喜曰：“將軍此計甚妙！可即引兵去。吾在此專候捷音！”二人飲酒相別。會回本帳與諸將曰：“人皆謂鄧艾有能。今日觀之，乃庸才耳！”衆問其故。會曰：“陰平小路，皆高山峻嶺，若蜀以百餘人守其險要，斷其歸路，則鄧艾之兵皆餓死矣。

I will simply advance by the main road. Why should I worry that the land of Shu will not fall?” He then set up scaling ladders and catapult frames and did nothing but attack Jiange Pass.

吾只以正道而行，何愁蜀地不破乎！”遂置雲梯炮架，只打劍閣關。

Meanwhile Deng Ai went out through the gate of the camp, mounted his horse, and turning to his attendants asked, “How did Zhong Hui treat me?” They said, “Judging from his words and looks, he did not think much of what you said at all, General; he was only agreeing with you for form’s sake.” Deng Ai laughed. “He thinks I cannot take Chengdu. Well, I am determined to take it!” When he got back to his own camp, Shi Zuan, Deng Zhong and the other officers came out to meet him and asked, “What lofty counsel did you exchange today with Zhong, General Who Guards the West?”

卻說鄧艾出轅門上馬，回顧從者曰：“鍾會待吾若何？”從者曰：“觀其辭色，甚不以將軍之言爲然，但以口強應而已。”艾笑曰：“彼料我不能取成都，我偏欲取之！”回到本寨，師纂、鄧忠一班將士接問曰：“今日與鍾鎮西有何高論？”

Deng Ai said, “I told him honestly what I thought, and he looked on me as a mediocre man. Now he has taken Hanzhong and thinks it the greatest of achievements. But if I had not been stationed at Tazhong to tie down Jiang Wei, how could he have succeeded? If I take Chengdu now, it will be a greater feat than taking Hanzhong!” That night he gave orders to strike camp entirely and advance along the byway towards Yinping, and made camp seven hundred li from Jiange. Someone reported to Zhong Hui, “Deng Ai is going to take Chengdu.” Zhong Hui laughed at Deng Ai’s folly.

艾曰：“吾以實心告彼，彼以庸才視我。彼今得漢中，以爲莫大之功；若非吾屯沓中絆住姜維，彼安能成功耶！吾今若取了成都，勝取漢中矣！”當夜下令，盡拔寨望陰平小路進兵，離劍閣七百里下寨，有人報鍾會說：“鄧艾要去取成都了。”會笑艾不智。

Meanwhile Deng Ai sent a secret letter by a messenger riding at full speed to report to Sima Zhao, and at the same time gathered his generals in his tent and asked them, “I now mean to seize this opportunity to go and take Chengdu, and to win with you a fame that will never die. Are you willing to follow me?” The generals replied, “We will obey your orders, even if we die ten thousand deaths!” Deng Ai first ordered his son Deng Zhong to take five thousand picked troops, wearing no armour and each carrying axes, chisels and other tools. Wherever they met steep and dangerous places, they were to cut through the mountains to open a road and build bridges and plank walkways so that the army could pass.

卻說鄧艾一面修密書遣使馳報司馬昭，一面聚諸將於帳下問曰：“吾今乘虛去取成都，與汝等立功名於不朽，汝等肯從乎？”諸將應曰：“願遵軍令，萬死不辭！”艾乃先令子鄧忠引五千精兵，不穿衣甲，各執斧鑿器具，凡遇峻危之處，鑿山開路，搭造橋閣，以便軍行。

Deng Ai picked thirty thousand troops, each carrying dried rations and ropes, and set off. After about a hundred li he picked three thousand men to stay behind and make camp there; after another hundred li or so he picked another three thousand to make camp. In the tenth month of that year they advanced from Yinping among towering cliffs and deep gorges, for more than twenty days in all, covering over seven hundred li, all through country without a soul in it. The Wei troops left several camps along the way, until only two thousand men and horses remained.

艾選兵三萬，各帶乾糧繩索進發。約行百餘里，選下三千兵，就彼紮寨；又行百餘里，又選三千兵下寨。是年十月自陰平進兵，至於巔崖峽谷之中，凡二十餘日，行七百餘里，皆是無人之地。魏兵沿途下了數寨，只剩下二千人馬。

Ahead lay a ridge called Motianling. The horses could go no farther, so Deng Ai climbed the ridge on foot, and there he found Deng Zhong and the men clearing the road all weeping. Deng Ai asked why. Deng Zhong told him, “West of this ridge there is nothing but sheer walls and towering cliffs. We cannot cut a way through, and all our labour so far has been in vain. That is why we are weeping.” Deng Ai said, “Our army has already come more than seven hundred li to get here. Beyond this lies Jiangyou. How can we turn back now?”

前至一嶺，名摩天嶺，馬不堪行，艾步行上嶺，正見鄧忠與開路壯士盡皆哭泣。艾問其故。忠告曰：“此嶺西皆是峻壁巔崖，不能開鑿，虛廢前勞，因此哭泣。”艾曰：“吾軍到此，已行了七百餘里，過此便是江油，豈可復退？”

Then he called all his troops together and said, “How can you catch a tiger cub without going into the tiger’s den? You and I have come all this way. If we succeed, we will share wealth and honour together.” They all replied, “We will follow your command, General.” Deng Ai had the weapons thrown down first. Then he took a felt blanket, wrapped himself in it and rolled down the slope ahead of everyone. Those of his officers who had felt coats wrapped themselves up and rolled down; those without felt coats each tied ropes round their waists and, clinging to trees and hanging from branches, went down one after another in single file.

乃喚諸軍曰：“不入虎穴，焉得虎子？吾與汝等來到此地，若得成功，富貴共之。”衆皆應曰：“願從將軍之命。”艾令先將軍器攛將下去。艾取氈自裹其身，先滾下去。副將有氈衫者裹身滾下，無氈衫者各用繩索束腰，攀木掛樹，魚貫而進。

Deng Ai, Deng Zhong, the two thousand troops and the men who had cut through the mountains all crossed Motianling. They had just put their clothes, armour and weapons in order and were setting off when they suddenly saw a stone tablet by the roadside. On it was carved: “Inscribed by the Chancellor, Zhuge, the Martial Marquis.” The text read: “When the two fires first flare up, someone will cross this place. The two scholars will contend, and before long both will die of themselves.” When Deng Ai had read it, he was greatly alarmed. He hastily bowed twice before the tablet and said, “The Martial Marquis was truly a divine being!

鄧艾、鄧忠，並二千軍，及開山壯士，皆度了摩天嶺。方纔整頓衣甲器械而行，忽見道傍有一石碣，上刻：“丞相諸葛武侯題”。其文雲：“二火初興，有人越此。二士爭衡，不久自死。”艾觀訖大驚，慌忙對碣再拜曰：“武侯真神人也！

What a pity I could not serve him as my teacher!”

艾不能以師事之，惜哉！”

A later poet wrote:
The steep ridges of Yinping rise level with the sky,
Where even black cranes circle, afraid to fly across;
Deng Ai, wrapped in felt, rolled down from here—
Who knew that Zhuge had foreseen it all?

後人有詩曰：“陰平峻嶺與天齊，玄鶴徘徊尚怯飛。
鄧艾裹氈從此下，誰知諸葛有先機。
”

Meanwhile, as Deng Ai, having secretly crossed Yinping, was leading his troops on, he came upon another large, empty camp. His attendants told him, “We hear that while the Martial Marquis was alive he assigned a thousand troops to guard this narrow pass, and now the Ruler of Shu, Liu Shan, has done away with it.” Deng Ai sighed again and again, and said to his men, “We have a road that brought us here, but no road back! Ahead, in the city of Jiangyou, there is grain enough and to spare. If you go forward you may live; if you fall back you will die. We must join our strength and attack it.”

卻說鄧艾暗度陰平，引兵行時，又見一個大空寨。左右告曰：“聞武侯在日，曾撥一千兵守此險隘。今蜀主劉禪廢之。”艾嗟呀不已，乃謂衆人曰：“吾等有來路而無歸路矣！前江油城中，糧食足備：汝等前進可活，後退即死，須併力攻之。”

They all replied, “We will fight to the death!” So Deng Ai, on foot, led more than two thousand men, pressing on day and night at double speed, to seize the city of Jiangyou. Now Ma Miao, the general guarding Jiangyou, had heard that Dongchuan was already lost. Though he had made preparations, he was guarding only the main road; and relying on Jiang Wei’s whole army holding Jiange Pass, he did not take the military situation seriously. That day, after drilling his men and horses, he went home and sat drinking with his wife, Lady Li, beside the brazier.

衆皆應曰：“願死戰！”於是鄧艾步行，引二千餘人，星夜倍道來搶江油城。卻說江油城守將馬邈，聞東川已失，雖爲準備，只是提防大路；又仗着姜維全師守住劍閣關，遂將軍情不以爲重。當日操練人馬回家，與妻李氏擁爐飲酒。

His wife asked, “I keep hearing that things on the frontier are very urgent, yet you show no sign of worry at all, General. Why is that?” Ma Miao said, “The great affairs are in Jiang Boyue’s hands. What have they to do with me?” His wife said, “Even so, the city you guard is no small matter.” Ma Miao said, “The Son of Heaven listens to Huang Hao and is sunk in wine and women. I reckon disaster is not far off. If the Wei army comes, the best course is to surrender. Why worry?”

其妻問曰：“屢聞邊情甚急，將軍全無憂色，何也？”邈曰：“大事自有姜伯約掌握，幹我甚事？”其妻曰：“雖然如此，將軍所守城池，不爲不重。”邈曰：“天子聽信黃皓，溺於酒色，吾料禍不遠矣。魏兵若到，降之爲上，何必慮哉？”

His wife flew into a rage and spat in his face. “You are a man,” she said, “yet you have already set your heart on disloyalty and faithlessness, and you have taken the state’s titles and pay for nothing. How can I bear to look you in the face!” Ma Miao was too ashamed to say a word. Suddenly a servant rushed in and reported, “The Wei general Deng Ai has come from who knows where with over two thousand men, and they have swarmed into the city!” Ma Miao, aghast, hurried out to surrender. He prostrated himself below the hall of his office and said, weeping, “I have long wanted to submit.

其妻大怒，唾邈面曰：“汝爲男子，先懷不忠不義之心，枉受國家爵祿，吾有何面目與汝相見耶！”馬邈羞慚無語。忽家人慌入報曰：“魏將鄧艾不知從何而來，引二千餘人，一擁而入城矣！”邈大驚，慌出納降，拜伏於公堂之下，泣告曰：“某有心歸降久矣。

Now I will summon the people of the city and the men and horses under my command, and all of us will surrender to you, General.” Deng Ai accepted his surrender. He took the troops of Jiangyou under his own command and at once made Ma Miao his guide. Suddenly word came that Ma Miao’s wife had hanged herself. Deng Ai asked why, and Ma Miao told him the truth. Deng Ai, moved by her virtue, had her buried with full honours and went in person to offer sacrifice. Of the men of Wei who heard of it, there was none who did not sigh in admiration.

今願招城中居民，及本部人馬，盡降將軍。”艾準其降。遂收江油軍馬於部下調遣，即用馬邈爲嚮導官。忽報馬邈夫人自縊身死。艾問其故，邈以實告。艾感其賢，令厚禮葬之，親往致祭。魏人聞者，無不嗟嘆。

A later poet wrote in her praise:
The Latter Ruler was befuddled and Han’s fortunes fell,
So Heaven sent Deng Ai to take Xichuan.
Alas, of all the famous generals of Ba and Shu,
Not one could match the virtue of Lady Li of Jiangyou.

後人有詩讚曰：“後主昏迷漢祚顛，天差鄧艾取西川。
可憐巴蜀多名將，不及江油李氏賢。
”

Having taken Jiangyou, Deng Ai brought up all the troops from the Yinping byway, assembled them at Jiangyou, and went straight on to attack Fucheng. His subordinate general Tian Xu said, “Our army has come through dangerous country and is utterly exhausted. We should rest for a few days before advancing.” Deng Ai was furious. “In war speed is everything! How dare you undermine the spirit of my army!” He shouted to his attendants to take him out and behead him, and only the earnest pleas of the other generals saved him. Deng Ai drove his troops on in person to Fucheng. The officials, soldiers and people in the city suspected they had dropped from the sky, and all of them surrendered.

鄧艾取了江油，遂接陰平小路諸軍，皆到江油取齊，徑來攻涪城。部將田續曰：“我軍涉險而來，甚是勞頓，且當休養數日，然後進兵。”艾大怒曰：“兵貴神速，汝敢亂我軍心耶！”喝令左右推出斬之。衆將苦告方免。艾自驅兵至涪城。城內官吏軍民疑從天降，盡皆投降。

The men of Shu sent word flying to Chengdu. When the Latter Ruler heard it, he hastily summoned Huang Hao and questioned him. Huang Hao said, “This is only a false report. The divine being would never mislead Your Majesty.” The Latter Ruler then sent for the sorceress to question her, but no one knew where she had gone. By now memorials reporting emergencies from far and near were coming in like snowflakes, and messengers came and went in an unbroken stream. The Latter Ruler held court to discuss the matter, but the officials only stared at one another, and not one of them said a word.

蜀人飛報入成都。後主聞知，慌召黃皓問之。皓奏曰：“此詐傳耳。神人必不肯誤陛下也。”後主又宣師婆問時，卻不知何處去了。此時遠近告急表文，一似雪片，往來使者，聯絡不絕。後主設朝計議，多官面面相覷，並無一言。

Xi Zheng stepped out from the ranks and said, “Matters are already urgent! Your Majesty should summon the Martial Marquis’s son to discuss a plan to drive back the enemy.” Now the Martial Marquis’s son was Zhuge Zhan, courtesy name Siyuan. His mother, Lady Huang, was the daughter of Huang Chengyan. She was very plain in looks but extraordinarily gifted: above, she understood the patterns of Heaven; below, she knew the lie of the land; and of all the books on strategy and the art of Dunjia there was none she did not know. When the Martial Marquis was in Nanyang, he heard of her worth and sought her as his wife.

郤正出班奏曰：“事已急矣！陛下可宣武侯之子商議退兵之策。”原來武侯之子諸葛瞻，字思遠。其母黃氏，即黃承彥之女也。母貌甚陋，而有奇才：上通天文，下察地理；凡韜略遁甲諸書，無所不曉。武侯在南陽時，聞其賢，求以爲室。

The lady contributed much to the Martial Marquis’s learning. After the Martial Marquis died, she too soon passed away, and her dying instruction was simply to urge her son Zhan to be loyal and filial. Zhuge Zhan was intelligent from childhood. He married a daughter of the Latter Ruler, becoming an Imperial Son-in-Law with the post of Commandant of Escort Cavalry, and later inherited his father’s title of Marquis of Wuxiang. In the fourth year of Jingyao he was promoted to General Who Guards the Marching Army. Because Huang Hao was in power at that time, he had pleaded illness and stayed away from court. Now the Latter Ruler followed Xi Zheng’s advice and at once issued three edicts one after another, summoning Zhuge Zhan to the palace.

武侯之學，夫人多所贊助焉。及武侯死後，夫人尋逝，臨終遺教，惟以忠孝勉其子瞻。瞻自幼聰敏，尚後主女，爲駙馬都尉。後襲父武鄉侯之爵。景耀四年，遷行軍護衛將軍。時爲黃皓用事，故託病不出。當下後主從郤正之言，即時連發三詔，召瞻至殿下。

The Latter Ruler said tearfully, “Deng Ai’s army is already camped at Fucheng, and Chengdu is in danger. For your late father’s sake, save my life!” Zhuge Zhan too wept as he replied, “My father and I have received such great kindness from the late Emperor and such special favour from Your Majesty that even if my liver and brains were dashed upon the ground, I could not repay it. I beg Your Majesty to send out all the troops in Chengdu, and let me lead them to fight a battle to the death.” The Latter Ruler at once gave Zhuge Zhan seventy thousand officers and men from Chengdu.

後主泣訴曰：“鄧艾兵已屯涪城，成都危矣。卿看先君之面，救朕之命！”瞻亦泣奏曰：“臣父子蒙先帝厚恩、陛下殊遇，雖肝腦塗地，不能補報。願陛下盡發成都之兵，與臣領去決一死戰。”後主即撥成都兵將七萬與瞻。

Zhuge Zhan took leave of the Latter Ruler, put his army in order, gathered his generals and asked, “Who dares to lead the vanguard?” Before he had finished speaking, a young officer stepped forward and said, “Since you, Father, hold supreme command, I wish to lead the vanguard.” They all looked and saw that it was Zhuge Zhan’s eldest son, Zhuge Shang. Zhuge Shang was then nineteen years old. He had read widely in books on war and had trained in many martial arts. Zhuge Zhan was delighted and made Zhuge Shang his vanguard. That day the main army left Chengdu to meet the Wei troops.

瞻辭了後主，整頓軍馬，聚集諸將問曰：“誰敢爲先鋒？”言未訖，一少年將出曰：“父親既掌大權，兒願爲先鋒。”衆視之，乃瞻長子諸葛尚也。尚時年一十九歲，博覽兵書，多習武藝。瞻大喜，遂命尚爲先鋒。是日，大軍離了成都，來迎魏兵。

Meanwhile Deng Ai had obtained a map that Ma Miao presented to him. It set out in full the mountains, rivers and roads along the three hundred and sixty li from Fucheng to Chengdu, where they were broad or narrow, steep or rugged, every detail clear. When Deng Ai had studied it, he was greatly alarmed. “If we only hold Fucheng and the men of Shu occupy the hills ahead, how can we succeed? If we delay here long and Jiang Wei’s army arrives, our army will be in danger.” He quickly summoned Shi Zuan and his son Deng Zhong and instructed them, “Take a force and go straight to Mianzhu through the night to hold off the Shu army.

卻說鄧艾得馬邈獻地理圖一本，備寫涪城至成都三百六十里山川道路，闊狹險峻，一一分明。艾看畢，大驚曰：“若只守涪城，倘被蜀人據住前山，何能成功耶？如遷延日久，姜維兵到，我軍危矣。”速喚師纂並子鄧忠，分付曰：“汝等可引一軍，星夜徑去綿竹，以拒蜀兵。

I will follow close behind. On no account be slow or slack. If you let them seize the strategic points first, I will certainly have your heads!”

吾隨後便至。切不可怠緩。若縱他先據了險要，決斬汝首！”

As Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong were nearing Mianzhu with their troops, they ran into the Shu army. Both sides drew up their battle lines. Shi and Deng reined in their horses beneath their standards and saw that the Shu troops were drawn up in the Eight Array formation. When the drums had rolled three times, the Shu standards parted, and several dozen officers came out escorting a four-wheeled carriage. Seated upright in it was a man in a silk turban, holding a feather fan, and wearing a crane-feather cloak with square hems. Beside the carriage a yellow banner was unfurled, inscribed: “Chancellor of Han, Zhuge, the Martial Marquis.”

師、鄧二人引兵將至綿竹，早遇蜀兵。兩軍各布成陣。師、鄧二人勒馬於門旗下，只見蜀兵列成八陣。三鼕鼓罷，門旗兩分，數十員將簇擁一輛四輪車，車上端坐一人：綸巾羽扇，鶴氅方裾。車傍展開一面黃旗，上書：“漢丞相諸葛武侯”。

Shi and Deng were so terrified that sweat poured down their whole bodies. They turned to their men and said, “So Kongming is still alive! We are finished!” As they hastily turned their troops back, the Shu army swept down on them, and the Wei troops were routed and fled. The Shu army pursued them for more than twenty li, until it met Deng Ai’s relief force coming to their support. Both sides then drew off their troops. Deng Ai took his seat in his tent, summoned Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong and rebuked them. “Why did you two retreat without fighting?”

唬得師、鄧二人汗流遍身，回顧軍士曰：“原來孔明尚在，我等休矣！”急勒兵回時，蜀兵掩殺將來，魏兵大敗而走。蜀兵掩殺二十餘里，遇見鄧艾援兵接應。兩家各自收兵。艾升帳而坐，喚師纂、鄧忠責之曰：“汝二人不戰而退，何也？”

Deng Zhong said, “We saw Zhuge Kongming leading the troops in the Shu array, so we fled back.” Deng Ai said angrily, “Even if Kongming had come back to life, what would I have to fear? You retreated lightly and brought about a defeat. You should be beheaded at once to uphold military law!” Everyone pleaded earnestly, and at last Deng Ai’s anger abated. He sent men to scout, and they came back to report that Kongming’s son Zhuge Zhan was the commanding general and Zhuge Zhan’s son Zhuge Shang was the vanguard. The figure seated in the carriage was a wooden carving made in Kongming’s likeness.

忠曰：“但見蜀陣中諸葛孔明領兵，因此奔還。”艾怒曰：“縱使孔明更生，我何懼哉！汝等輕退，以致於敗，宜速斬以正軍法！”衆皆苦勸，艾方息怒。令人哨探，回說孔明之子諸葛瞻爲大將，瞻之子諸葛尚爲先鋒。——車上坐者乃木刻孔明遺像也。

When Deng Ai heard this, he said to Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong, “Success or failure hangs on this one move. If you two fail to win again, you will certainly be beheaded!” Shi and Deng led another ten thousand troops to fight. Zhuge Shang, alone on his horse with a single spear, summoned up all his spirit and fought them both off. Zhuge Zhan led the troops on both wings in a charge straight into the Wei lines, striking left and right, cutting back and forth dozens of times. The Wei troops were routed, and those killed were beyond counting.

艾聞之，謂師纂、鄧忠曰：“成敗之機，在此一舉。汝二人再不取勝，必當斬首！”師、鄧二人又引一萬兵來戰。諸葛尚匹馬單槍，抖擻精神，戰退二人。諸葛瞻指揮兩掖兵衝出，直撞入魏陣中，左衝右突，往來殺有數十番，魏兵大敗，死者不計其數。

Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong were wounded and fled. Zhuge Zhan drove his men and horses after them, cutting them down for more than twenty li, and then pitched camp to face the enemy. When Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong returned to Deng Ai, he saw that both were wounded and did not think it right to punish them further. Instead he conferred with his generals, saying, “Shu has Zhuge Zhan, who carries on his father’s purpose well. Twice now he has killed more than ten thousand of our men and horses. If we do not defeat him quickly, he will surely bring disaster on us later.” The Army Supervisor Qiu Ben said, “Why not write him a letter to lure him over?”

師纂、鄧忠中傷而逃。瞻驅士馬隨後掩殺二十餘里，紮營相拒。師纂、鄧忠回見鄧艾，艾見二人俱傷，未便加責，乃與衆將商議曰：“蜀有諸葛瞻善繼父志，兩番殺吾萬餘人馬，今若不速破，後必爲禍。”監軍丘本曰：“何不作一書以誘之？”

Deng Ai took his advice and wrote a letter, which he sent by a messenger to the Shu camp. The officer guarding the gate brought the messenger to the tent, and he presented the letter. Zhuge Zhan broke the seal and read it. The letter said: “Deng Ai, General Who Conquers the West, to Zhuge Siyuan, General Who Guards the Marching Army: I have observed, in my humble way, that among the worthy and talented men of recent times there has been none to equal your honoured father. When he first came out of his thatched cottage, with a single speech he had already divided the realm into three kingdoms. He swept Jing and Yi clean and so built up a mighty realm—few in any age have matched him. Later, when he marched six times out through Mount Qi, it was not that his wisdom or strength fell short; it was simply the will of Heaven.

艾從其言，遂作書一封，遣使送入蜀寨。守門將引至帳下，呈上其書。瞻拆封視之。書曰：“徵西將軍鄧艾，致書於行軍護衛將軍諸葛思遠麾下：竊觀近代賢才，未有如公之尊父也。昔自出茅廬，一言已分三國，掃平荊、益，遂成霸業，古今鮮有及者；後六出祁山，非其智力不足，乃天數耳。

Now the Latter Ruler is benighted and weak, and the royal aura has run its course. I have received the Son of Heaven’s command to attack Shu with a mighty army, and I have already taken all its land. Chengdu may fall any day. Why do you not answer the will of Heaven and follow the wishes of the people, and come over to us for the sake of righteousness? I shall petition the throne to make you King of Langya, to bring glory to your ancestors. These are not empty words. I beg you to consider them.” When Zhuge Zhan had read it, he flew into a rage. He tore the letter to pieces, shouted to his guards to behead the messenger on the spot, and made the messenger’s attendants carry the head back to the Wei camp to show Deng Ai.

今後主昏弱，王氣已終，艾奉天子之命，以重兵伐蜀，已皆得其地矣。成都危在旦夕，公何不應天順人，仗義來歸？艾當表公爲琅琊王，以光耀祖宗，決不虛言。倖存照鑑。”瞻看畢，勃然大怒，扯碎其書，叱武士立斬來使，令從者持首級回魏營見鄧艾。

Deng Ai, furious, wanted to go out and fight at once. Qiu Ben remonstrated, “You must not go out rashly, General. We should win by using a surprise force.” Deng Ai took his advice and ordered Wang Qi, Prefect of Tianshui, and Qian Hong, Prefect of Longxi, to lay two ambushes in the rear, while Deng Ai himself advanced with his troops. Just then Zhuge Zhan was about to offer battle when word suddenly came that Deng Ai had arrived with his troops in person. Zhuge Zhan, enraged, led his troops out at once and charged straight into the Wei lines.

艾大怒，即欲出戰。丘本諫曰：“將軍不可輕出，當用奇兵勝之。”艾從其言，遂令天水太守王頎、隴西太守牽弘，伏兩軍於後，艾自引兵而來。此時諸葛瞻正欲搦戰，忽報鄧艾自引兵到。瞻大怒，即引兵出，徑殺入魏陣中。

Deng Ai fled in defeat, and Zhuge Zhan came after him in pursuit. Suddenly the ambushing troops burst out on both sides. The Shu army was routed and fell back into Mianzhu. Deng Ai had it surrounded, and the Wei troops, shouting all together, encircled Mianzhu as tight as an iron bucket. In the city, Zhuge Zhan saw that the situation was desperate, and ordered Peng He to fight his way out with a letter and go to Eastern Wu to ask for help. When Peng He reached Eastern Wu, he saw the Ruler of Wu, Sun Xiu, and presented the letter pleading for urgent aid.

鄧艾敗走，瞻隨後掩殺將來。忽然兩下伏兵殺出。蜀兵大敗，退入綿竹。艾令圍之。於是魏兵一齊吶喊，將綿竹圍的鐵桶相似。諸葛瞻在城中，見事勢已迫，乃令彭和齎書殺出，往東吳求救。和至東吳，見了吳主孫休，呈上告急之書。

When the Ruler of Wu had read it, he conferred with his ministers, saying, “Since Shu is in peril, how can I sit by and watch without going to its rescue?” At once he appointed the veteran general Ding Feng as commander-in-chief, with Ding Feng and Sun Yi as his deputies, to lead fifty thousand troops to the rescue of Shu. Ding Feng received the order and set out with the army. He sent Ding Feng and Sun Yi with twenty thousand troops towards Mianzhong, while he himself led thirty thousand towards Shouchun, dividing his forces into three routes to come to the rescue.

吳主看罷，與羣臣計議曰：“既蜀中危急，孤豈可坐視不救。”即令老將丁奉爲主帥，丁封、孫異爲副將，率兵五萬，前往救蜀。丁奉領旨出師，分撥丁封、孫異引兵二萬向沔中而進，自率兵三萬向壽春而進：分兵三路來援。

Meanwhile Zhuge Zhan, seeing that no relief was coming, said to his generals, “Holding out for long is no good plan.” So he left his son Shang and the Secretary Zhang Zun to guard the city, while he himself put on his armour, mounted his horse, and led the whole army out, flinging open three gates to attack. When Deng Ai saw the troops coming out, he pulled back his own. Zhuge Zhan pursued with all his might, when suddenly a bombard boomed, troops closed in from all four sides, and Zhuge Zhan was trapped in the middle. He led his men striking left and right and killed several hundred of the enemy.

卻說諸葛瞻見救兵不至，謂衆將曰：“久守非良圖。”遂留子尚與尚書張遵守城，瞻自披掛上馬，引三軍大開三門殺出。鄧艾見兵出，便撤兵退。瞻奮力追殺，忽然一聲炮響，四面兵合，把瞻困在垓心。瞻引兵左衝右突，殺死數百人。

Deng Ai ordered all his troops to shoot arrows at them, and the Shu troops scattered in all directions. Struck by an arrow, Zhuge Zhan fell from his horse and cried out, “My strength is spent. I will repay the state with my death!” He drew his sword and cut his own throat. His son Zhuge Shang, on the city wall, saw his father die on the field. Filled with sudden fury, he put on his armour and mounted his horse. Zhang Zun remonstrated, “Young General, you must not go out rashly.” Zhuge Shang sighed. “My grandfather, my father and I have all received the state’s great kindness. Now that my father has died at the enemy’s hands, what use is there in my living on?”

艾令衆軍放箭射之，蜀兵四散。瞻中箭落馬，乃大呼曰：“吾力竭矣，當以一死報國！”遂拔劍自刎而死。其子諸葛尚在城上，見父死於軍中，勃然大怒，遂披掛上馬。張遵諫曰：“小將軍勿得輕出。”尚嘆曰：“吾父子祖孫，荷國厚恩，今父既死於敵，我何用生爲！”

He whipped up his horse, charged out, and died in the battle.

遂策馬殺出，死於陣中。

A later poet wrote in praise of Zhan and Shang, father and son:
It was not that these loyal men alone lacked skill in planning;
Blue Heaven had resolved to end the fiery Liu.
The fine heirs that Zhuge left behind in those days
Were truly worthy, in loyalty and honour, of the Martial Marquis. Deng Ai, pitying their loyalty, had father and son buried together. Then, taking advantage of the city’s weakness, he attacked Mianzhu.

後人有詩讚瞻、尚父子曰：“不是忠臣獨少謀，蒼天有意絕炎劉。
當年諸葛留嘉胤，節義真堪繼武侯。
”鄧艾憐其忠，將父子合葬。
乘虛攻打綿竹。

Zhang Zun, Huang Chong and Li Qiu each led a force out to fight. The Shu troops were few and the Wei troops many, and all three died fighting. Thus Deng Ai took Mianzhu. When he had finished rewarding his troops, he set out to take Chengdu.

張遵、黃崇、李球三人，各引一軍殺出。蜀兵寡，魏兵衆，三人亦皆戰死。艾因此得了綿竹。勞軍已畢，遂來取成都。

Indeed:
Look at the Latter Ruler in his hour of peril—
It was no different from when Liu Zhang was hard-pressed.
How Chengdu was defended will be told in the next chapter.

正是：試觀後主臨危日，無異劉璋受逼時。
未知成都如何守禦，且看下文分解。