The First Northern Expedition and the Battle of Jieting

The Invasion of the West

...occupied Jigu The "Ji Valley," used as a feint to distract the Wei forces.. The State of Wei dispatched Cao Zhen A senior general and relative of the Wei imperial family. to supervise the various armies and defend Mei to resist them. Liang Zhuge Liang, the Chancellor of Shu Han. then led the main army to attack Mount Qi. His military formations were perfectly organized, and his orders were clear and solemn.

The brilliance lay in the silence.

Initially, the State of Wei believed that because the Emperor Zhaolie original: "昭烈" (Zhaolie); the posthumous title of Liu Bei, the first emperor of Shu Han. had already passed away, the Shu forces would remain quiet for several years. Indeed, there had been no news of movement. Consequently, they were largely unprepared. When they suddenly heard that Liang had set out, the entire court and the countryside were filled with terror. Following this, the commanderies of Tianshui, Nan'an, and Anding all raised their armies to respond to Liang’s call; the entire Guanzhong GuanzhongThe "Land Within the Passes," a strategic region central to the defense of the Wei capital. region was shaken with shock.

The Turning Point at Jieting

Cao Rui, the Emperor of Wei, traveled to Chang'an and dispatched the General of the Right, Zhang He, to lead fifty thousand infantry and cavalry to resist the invasion. Liang sent his Military Consultant Ma Su A close protégé of Zhuge Liang known for his theoretical knowledge of tactics. to supervise the various armies and engage Zhang He at Jieting.

However, Su violated Liang’s strategic instructions. His movements were confused and disruptive; he abandoned the water source and moved his troops up the mountain rather than descending to hold the fortified city. Zhang He cut off their supply route to the water and launched a strike, dealing them a massive defeat.

As a result, Liang was forced to evacuate over a thousand households from West County and return to Hanzhong. Originally, Liang had believed Su’s talent and strategic skill to be extraordinary and had held him in high regard. However, when the Emperor Zhaolie was on his deathbed, he had told Liang: "Su’s words exceed his actual abilities..."