Ziwu Campaign

The Ziwu Campaign was a military counter offensive launched in 230 by the state of Cao Wei against his rival state Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China. The campaign was initiated by Wei's Grand Marshal, Cao Zhen following the numerous Northern Expeditions and more recently the battle of Jianwei.

Ziwu Campaign
Part of the wars of the Three Kingdoms period
DateAugust[lower-alpha 1] – October 230[lower-alpha 2]
Location
Qinling, Wushan County, Gansu, China
Result Inconclusive, Cao Zhen retreat
Belligerents
Cao Wei Shu Han
Commanders and leaders
Cao Zhen
Xiahou Ba
Guo Huai		 Zhuge Liang
Li Yan
Wei Yan
Strength
Unknown At least 20 000
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

Background

Following Zhuge Liang's return after the battle of Jianwei, Liu Shan issued an imperial decree to congratulate him on his recent successes. He also restored Zhuge Liang to the position of Imperial Chancellor (丞相).[1][2]

While in Wei, Cao Rui summoned Cao Zhen to the imperial capital Luoyang, where he promoted him to Grand Marshal (大司馬) for his successful defense of Wei territory against Shu Han's expeditions.[3] During this meeting, Cao Zhen proposed that in response to Shu Han multiple invasions. Cao Wei should launch their own invasion and that if the various generals proceeded along several routes simultaneously then there could be great success. Chen Qun prevailed against such a plan on the basics that Cao Cao when he conquered Zhang Lu already met difficulty with the transport of the provisions, he also said that the territory makes it hard to advance and retreat with great danger to the troops and a waste of resources. Cao Rui along with Cao Zhen discussed this matter but Cao Zhen was adamant in his decision and the campaign began.[1][4]

The Campaign

In August 230, Cao Zhen led an army from Chang'an to attack Shu via the Ziwu Valley (子午谷). At the same time, another Wei army led by Sima Yi, acting on Cao Rui's order, advanced towards Shu from Jing Province by sailing along the Han River. The rendezvous point for Cao Zhen and Sima Yi's armies was at Nanzheng County (南鄭縣; in present-day Hanzhong, Shaanxi). Other Wei armies also prepared to attack Shu from the Xie Valley (斜谷) or Wuwei Commandery.[5]

When he heard of Wei recent movements, Zhuge Liang urged Li Yan to lead 20,000 troops to Hanzhong Commandery to defend against the Wei invasion. However, Li Yan did not want to leave his home base and serve under Zhuge Liang, so he refused at first until Zhuge Liang appeased him by allowing his son, Li Feng, to replace him if he did come. Li Yan finally went to Hanzhong Commandery under persuasion and pressure from Zhuge Liang.[1][6]

Lieutenant-General (偏将军) Xiahou Ba asked to be name as the vanguard of this expedition. He then led a force towards Hanzhong Commandery taking a route through the 330 km Ziwu Trail (子午道), and camped in a crooked gorge, near the Xingshi camp set up earlier by Shu general, Wei Yan. There, Xiahou Ba was identified by the local residents, who reported his presence to the Shu forces led by Li Yan. Xiahou Ba was under heavy attack. As the main army of Cao Zhen had not caught up with the vanguard. Xiahou Ba was put into a dire situation where he relied on his own valor to defend the barricades until reinforcements arrived, only then Xiahou Ba and his soldiers were able to withdrew.[7]

Away from the main operation, Wei Yan led some troops towards Yangxi (陽谿; southwest of present-day Wushan County, Gansu) to encourage the Qiang people to join them against Wei, Wei did the same and sent Guo Huai along with Fei Yao to counter those uprising. When both armies met on the field, Wei Yan managed to inflict them a heavy defeat which allowed him to rise more troops and prevented Zhang He from joining the expedition.[8]

Following those events, the conflict became a prolonged stalemate with few skirmishes. After more than a month of slow progress and by fear of significant losses and waste of resources, more and more officials sent memorials to end the campaign. Among them were Hua Xin,[1] Yang Fu[1] and Wang Su,[1] son of Wang Lang. The situation wasn't helped by the difficult topography and constant heavy rainy weather lasting more than 30 days. After this, Cao Rui decided to abort the campaign and recall the officers by October 230.[1][9]

Aftermath

Although the campaign failed, Cao Zhen timely retreat allowed Wei to limit their losses. The leading commander of the Wei forces, Cao Zhen himself fell sick on the journey back to Luoyang and became bedridden in the subsequent months. He eventually died of illness in April or May 231. Cao Rui honoured him with the posthumous title "Marquis Yuan" (元侯).[10]

For his success against Guo Huai and Fei Yao. the Shu government promoted Wei Yan to Vanguard Military Adviser (前軍師) and Senior General Who Attacks the West (征西大將軍), and elevated him from a village marquis to a county marquis under the title "Marquis of Nanzheng" (南鄭侯).[11] While Li Yan was not permitted to go back to the east; instead, he became a subordinate of Zhuge Liang to help him during his future expeditions.[12]

Cao Zhen own son, Cao Shuang would be the leading commander of a similar expedition in 244 which resulted into the battle of Xingshi.[13]

Notes
  1. The campaign started in the 7th month of the 3rd year of the Taihe era of Cao Rui's reign. This month corresponds to 28 July to 26 August 230 in the Gregorian calendar.[1]
  2. The troops retreated in the 9th month of the 3rd year of the Taihe era of Cao Rui's reign. This month corresponds to 25 September to 24 October 230 in the Gregorian calendar.[1]

References
  1. Sima (1084), vol. 71.
  2. (詔策亮曰：「街亭之役，咎由馬謖，而君引愆，深自貶抑，重違君意，聽順所守。前年耀師，馘斬王雙；今歲爰征，郭淮遁走；降集氐、羌，興復二郡，威鎮凶暴，功勳顯然。方今天下騷擾，元惡未梟，君受大任，幹國之重，而乆自挹損，非所以光揚洪烈矣。今復君丞相，君其勿辭。」) Sanguozhi vol. 35.
  3. ([太和]四年，朝洛陽，遷大司馬，賜劒履上殿，入朝不趨。) Sanguozhi vol. 9.
  4. (真當發西討，帝親臨送。) Sanguozhi vol. 9.
  5. (真以八月發長安，從子午道南入。司馬宣王泝漢水，當會南鄭。諸軍或從斜谷道，或從武威入。) Sanguozhi vol. 9.
  6. (八年，迁骠骑将军。以曹真欲三道向汉川，亮命严将二万人赴汉中。亮表严子丰为江州都督督军，典为后事。) Sanguozhi vol. 40.
  7. (黃初中為偏將軍。子午之役，霸召為前鋒，進至興勢圍，安營在曲谷中。蜀人望知其是霸也，指下兵攻之。霸手戰鹿角間，賴救至，然後解。) Weilue annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 9.
  8. (八年，使延西入羌中，魏後將軍費瑤、雍州刺史郭淮與延戰于陽谿，延大破淮等，遷為前軍師征西大將軍，假節，進封南鄭侯。) Sanguozhi vol. 40.
  9. (會大霖雨三十餘日，或棧道斷絕，詔真還軍。) Sanguozhi vol. 9.
  10. (真病還洛陽，帝自幸其第省疾。真薨，謚曰元侯。) Sanguozhi vol. 9.
  11. (遷為前軍師征西大將軍，假節，進封南鄭侯.) Sanguozhi vol. 40.
  12. (亮以明年當出軍，命嚴以中都護署府事。嚴改名為平。) Sanguozhi vol. 40.
  13. (七年春，魏大將軍曹爽率步騎十餘萬向漢川，前鋒已在駱谷。時漢中守兵不滿三萬，諸將大驚。) Sanguozhi vol. 43.
  • Chen, Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
  • Pei, Songzhi. Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).
  • Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.
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