234 AD · Wei River valley (modern Shaanxi) Theater
234 AD
Zhuge Liang's final campaign. He marched north one last time with 100,000 men and attempted to force Sima Yi into a decisive battle. Sima Yi, content to let time and attrition do his work, refused to engage despite Zhuge Liang sending him women's clothing as an insult. After one hundred days in the field, Zhuge Liang's health collapsed from years of overwork, and he died in his camp. His army withdrew in perfect order — and when Sima Yi cautiously pursued and found the Shu rearguard prepared, he retreated, spawning the saying 'A dead Zhuge scares away a living Sima.'
Commanders