Zhuge Zhan had been known as a clever lad and had married a daughter of the Latter Ruler； so that he was an Imperial Son…in…Law。 His father's rank； Lord of Wuxiang； had descended to him。 In the fourth year of Wonderful Sight （AD 261） Zhuge Zhan received the rank of General of the Guard as well。 But he had retired when Huang Hao； the eunuch； as first favorite； began to direct state affairs。
As suggested； the Latter Ruler summoned Zhuge Zhan to court； and he said； weeping； 〃Deng Ai has defeated Fucheng； and the capital is seriously threatened。 You must think of your father and rescue me！〃
〃My father and I owe too much to the First Ruler's and Your Majesty's kindness for me to think any sacrifice too great to make for Your Majesty。 I pray that you give me mand of the troops in the capital； and I will fight a decisive battle。〃
So the soldiers； seventy thousand； were placed under Zhuge Zhan's mand。
When he had gathered all together； he said； 〃Who dares be Leader of the Van？〃
His son； Zhuge Shang； then nineteen； offered himself； saying； 〃Since my father mands the army； I volunteer to lead the van！〃
Zhuge Shang had studied military books and made himself an adept in the various exercises。 So he was appointed； and the army marched to find the enemy。
In the meantime the surrender general； Ma Miao； had given Deng Ai a very plete map of the country showing the whole sixty miles of road to Chengdu。 However； Deng Ai was dismayed when he saw the difficulties ahead of him。
〃If they defend the hills in front； I shall fail； for if I am delayed； Jiang Wei will e up； and my army will be in great danger。 The army must press on。〃
He called Shi Zuan and his son Deng Zhong and said； 〃Lead one army straight to Mianzhu to keep back any Shu soldiers sent to stop our march。 I will follow as soon as I can。 But hasten； for if you let the enemy forestall you； I will put you to death。〃
They went。 Nearing Mianzhu they met the army under Zhuge Zhan。 Both sides prepared for battle。 The Shu armies adopted the Eight Diagrams formation and presently； after the usual triple roll of drums； Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong saw their opponents' ranks open in the center； and therefrom emerge a light carriage in which sat a figure looking exactly as Zhuge Liang used to look when he appeared on the battlefield。 Everybody knew the Taoist robes and the feather fan。 The standard bore his name and titles The Han Prime Minister Zhuge Liang 。
The sight was too much for Deng Zhong and Shi Zuan。 The cold sweat of terror poured down them； and they stammered out。
〃If Zhuge Liang is still alive； that is the end of us！〃
They led their army to flee。 The troops of Shu came on； and the army of Wei was driven away in defeat and chased a distance of seven miles。 Then the pursuers sighted Deng Ai； and they turned and retired。
When Deng Ai had camped； he called the two leaders before him and reproached them for retreating without fighting。
〃We saw Zhuge Liang leading the enemy；〃 said Deng Zhong； 〃So we ran away。〃
〃Why should we fear； even if they bring Zhuge Liang to life again？ You ran away without cause； and we have lost。 You ought both to be put to death。〃
However； they did not die； for their fellows pleaded for them； and Deng Ai's wrath was mollified。
Then the scouts came in to say： 〃The leader of the army is a son of Zhuge Liang； Zhuge Zhan。 The Van Leader is Zhuge Zhang's son； Zhuge Shang。 They had set up on the carriage the old wooden image of the late strategist。〃
Deng Ai； however； said to Deng Zhong and Shi Zuan； 〃This is the critical stage。 If you lose the next battle； you will certainly lose your lives with it！〃
At the head of ten thousand troops； they went out to battle once more。 This time they met the vanguard led by Zhuge Shang； who rode out alone； boldly offering to repulse the leaders of Wei。 At Zhuge Zhan's signal the two wings advanced and threw themselves against the Wei line。 The center portion of the Wei line met them； and the battle went to and fro many times； till at length the force of Wei； after great losses； had to give way。 Both Deng Zhong and Shi Zuan being badly wounded； they fled and the army of Shu pursued and drove the invaders into their camp。
Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong had to acknowledge a new defeat； but； when Deng Ai saw both were severely wounded； he forbore to blame them or decree any penalty。
To his officers Deng Ai said； 〃This Zhuge Zhan well continues the paternal tradition。 Twice they have beaten us and slain great numbers。 We must defeat them； and that quickly； or we are lost。〃
Then Military Inspector Qiu Ben said； 〃Why not persuade their leader with a letter？〃
Deng Ai agreed and wrote a letter； which he sent by the hand of a messenger。 The warden of the Shu camp gate led the messenger in to see Zhuge Zhan； who opened the letter and read：
〃Deng Ai； General Who Conquers the West； writes to Zhuge Zhan； General of the Guard and Leader of the army in the field。
〃Now having carefully observed all the talents of the time； I see not one of them is equal to your most honored father。 From the moment of his emergence from his retreat； he said that the country was to be in tripod division。 He conquered Jingzhou and Yizhou and Hanzhong and thus established a position。 Few have been his equal in all history。 He made six expeditions from Qishan； and； if he failed； it was not that he lacked skill………it was the will of Heaven。
〃But now this Latter Ruler is dull and weak； and his kingly aura is already exhausted。 I have a mand from the Son of Heaven to smite Shu with severity； and I already possess the land。 Your capital must quickly fall。 Why then do you not bow to the will of Heaven and fall in with the desires of people by acting rightly and ing over to our side？ I will obtain the rank of Prince of Langye for you； whereby your ancestors will be rendered illustrious。 These are no vain words if happily you will consider them。〃
The letter made Zhuge Zhan furiously angry。 He tore it to fragments and ordered the bearer thereof to be put to death immediately。 He also ordered the escort to bear the head of the messenger to the camp of Wei and lay it before Deng Ai。
Deng Ai was very angry at this insult and wished to go forth at once to battle。 But Qiu Ben dissuaded him。
〃Do not go out to battle；〃 said he。 〃Rather overe him by some unexpected stroke。〃
So Deng Ai laid his plans。 He sent Wang Qi； Governor of Tianshui； and Qian Hong； Governor of Longxi； to lie in wait in the rear while he led the main body。
Zhuge Zhan happened to be close at hand seeking battle。 When he heard the enemy was near； he led out his army eagerly and rushed into the midst of the invaders。 Then Deng Ai fled as though worsted； so luring on Zhuge Zhan。 But when the pursuit had lasted some time； the pursuers were attacked by those who lay in wait； and the Shu troops were defeated。 They ran away into Mianzhu。
Therefore Deng Ai besieged Mianzhu； and the troops of Wei shouted about the city and watched the ramparts； thus keeping the defenders close shut in as if held in an iron barrel。
Zhuge Zhan was desperate； seeing no way of escape without help from outside。 Wherefore he wrote a letter to East Wu begging for assistance； and he gave this letter to Peng He to bear through the besiegers。
Peng He fought his way through and reached Wu； where he saw the Ruler of Wu； Sun Xiu。 And he presented the letter showing the wretched plight of Zhuge Zhan and his urgent need。
Then the Ruler of Wu assembled his officers and said to them； 〃The land of Shu being in danger； I cannot sit and look on unconcerned。〃
He therefore decided to send fifty thousand troops； over whom he set the Veteran General Ding Feng； with two able assistants………Sun Yin and Ding Fung。 Having received his edict； Ding Feng sent away his manders with twenty thousand troops to Mianzhu； and he himself went with thirty thousand troops toward Shouchun。 The army marched in three divisions。
In the city of Mianzhu； Zhuge Zhan waited for the rescue which never came。
Weary of the hopeless delay； he said to his generals； 〃This long defense is useless。 I will fight！〃
Leaving his son Zhuge Shang and Chair of the Secretariat Zhang Zun………Zhang Fei's grandson………in the city； Zhuge Zhan put on his armor and led out three thousand troops through three gates to fight in the open。 Seeing the defenders making a sortie； Deng Ai drew off and Zhuge Zhan pursued him vigorously； thinking Deng Ai really fled before his force。 But there was an ambush； and falling therein he was quickly surrounded as is the kernel of a nut by the shell。 In vain he thrust right and shoved left； he only lost his troops in the raining arrows and bolts。 The troops of Wei poured in more flights of arrows； so that his army were all shattered。 Before long； Zhuge Zhan was wounded and fell。
〃I am done；〃 cried he。 〃But in my death I will do my duty！〃 He drew his sword and slew himself。
From the city walls his son Zhuge Shang saw the death of his father。 Girding on his armor he made to go out to fight。
But Zhang Zun told him； 〃Young general； do not go out immediately！〃
Cried Zhuge Shang； 〃My father and I and all our family have received favors from the state。 My father has died in battle against our enemies； and can I live？〃
He whipped his horse and dashed out into the thick of the fight； where he died。 A poem has been written extolling the conduct of both father and son。
In skill he was found wanting； not in loyalty；
But the Lord's word had gone forth；
That the Ruler of Shu was to be cut off；
Noble were Zhuge Liang's descendants。
In miseration of their loyalty； Deng Ai had both father and son buried fittingly。 Then he began attacking the city vigorously。 Zhang Zun； Huang Chong； and Li Qiu； the defenders； however； held the city desperately； but to no avail for their numbers being small； and the three leaders were slain。 This was the end of the defense； and Deng Ai then entered as conqueror。 Having rewarded his army； he set out for Chengdu。
The closing days of the Latter Ruler were
As had been those of Liu Zhang。
The next chapter will tell of the defense of Chengdu。
Main Next to Chapter 118 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 118
Chapter 118
Weeping At The Ancestral Temple； A Filial Prince Dies；
Marching To The West River Land； Two Leaders