Battle of Wuzhang Plains

Part of the fifth of Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions

A Qing dynasty illustration of Romance of the Three Kingdoms depicting Sima Yi being scared away by a statue of Zhuge Liang.

Date	April – Autumn of 234 CE
Location	Wuzhang Plains, Shaanxi, China
Result	Inconclusive; Shu Han retreat

Belligerents

Cao Wei

Shu Han

Commanders and leaders

Sima Yi

Zhuge Liang

Strength

200,000

100,000

Battle of Wuzhang Plains

Traditional Chinese

五丈原之戰

Simplified Chinese

五丈原之战

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Wǔzhàng Yuán Zhī Zhàn

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Wǔzhàng Yuán Zhī Zhàn

The Battle of Wuzhang Plains was fought between the contending states of Cao Wei and Shu Han in 234 CE during the Three Kingdoms period. The battle was the fifth and last of a series of Northern Expeditions led by Shu's chancellor, Zhuge Liang, to attack Wei. Zhuge Liang fell ill and died during the stalemate, after which the Shu forces retreated.

In the spring of 234, Zhuge Liang led 100,000 troops through Xiagu Pass (斜谷口) after three years of preparation since his last Northern Expedition. At the same time, Zhuge Liang sent an emissary to Shu Han's ally state, Eastern Wu, hoping that Wu would attack Cao Wei concurrently. In April, Shu forces reached the Wuzhang Plains near the Wei River and made camp there. The Cao Wei commander, Sima Yi, was well-prepared with a 200,000 strong army, which held a fortified position on the southern bank of the Wei River.

Guo Huai suggested that Sima Yi form a position in the northern part of the Plains, since Zhuge Liang would likely strike there. Sima Yi agreed, and sent Guo Huai to encamp there. Shu forces attacked the Wei camp there while it was being built, but Guo Huai was able to hold them off.

Sima Yi would not engage the Shu forces, instead trying to make the enemy retreat through attrition. Zhuge Liang understood the problem, and implemented the tuntian system to sustain his troops.

The Shu army awaited an agreed offensive by Wu for the moment to strike. However, Sun Quan's armies in the Huai River region were defeated by forces led by the Wei emperor, Cao Rui, and succumbed to an endemic disease. Thus the stalemate remained in place and continued for hundreds of days. Shu forces tried to engage the Wei forces several times, but Sima Yi remained firmly in camp and refused to engage the enemy.

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Wikipedia