Zhuge Dan
Encyclopedia
Zhuge Dan style named
Chinese style name
A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...

 Gongxiu (公休), was a military general of Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...

 during the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...

 period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...

. When he held military positions during his middle to late career, he got involved in all Three Rebellions in Shouchun
Three Rebellions in Shouchun
The Three Rebellions in Shouchun, also known as Three Rebellions in Huainan, were a series of revolts that occurred in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The rebellions broke out in the later years of Cao Wei when the Sima clan, headed by Sima Yi, usurped...

, which aimed to drive the de facto ruler of Cao Wei, Sima clan, out of power. During the second rebellion of 255, he actively assisted Sima Shi
Sima Shi
Sima Shi , style name Ziyuan , was a military general and regent of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. In 249, he assisted his father Sima Yi in overthrowing the emperor Cao Fang's regent Cao Shuang, allowing the Sima family to become paramount authority in the state, and he...

 to destroy Guanqiu Jian
Guanqiu Jian
Guanqiu Jian , style name Zhonggong , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.-Biography:...

 and his rebels; however, in the third rebellion, he would be the main performer on stage, wherein he initiated an even larger revolution under exactly the same reason Guanqiu once held.

As an imperial agent

Zhuge was born in Yangdu County, Langya Commandery (present-day Yinan County
Yinan County
Yinan is a county of Linyi in the Chinese province of Shandong.The population was in 1999.-Notable people:...

, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...

), just like many other members of the Zhuge clan. As a direct descendant of Gate Commandant Zhuge Feng, Zhuge Dan was educated, and became a clerk working in the Imperial Secretariat Office. Although his position was not very high, he held an intimate connection with many celebrities of Cao Wei, his best friends were Xiahou Xuan
Xiahou Xuan
Xiahou Xuan , style name Taichu , was a minister of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the son of Xiahou Shang. Xiahou Xuan's mother was Cao Shuang's aunt , and thus he was close to Cao Shuang's faction. Despite this, he survived the overthrow and execution of Cao...

 and Deng Yang (鄧颺), both were well-known associates of Cao Shuang
Cao Shuang
Cao Shuang , style name Zhaobo , was a military general, politician and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the son of Cao Zhen...

. Furthermore, Zhuge would later have one of his daughters married to Sima Yi
Sima Yi
Sima Yi was a general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He is perhaps best known for defending Wei from Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions...

's son, Sima Zhou
Sima Zhou
Sima Zhou was an official of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the sixth son of Sima Yi. Sima Zhou was known in Cao Wei as the "Fire General"...

, and another daughter to Wang Ling
Wang Ling
Wang Ling , style name Yanyun , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.-Early life and career:...

's son, Wang Guang.

With the help of his powerful connection, Zhuge entered the imperial agency and moved up the ranks smoothly until he reached the position of Imperial Secretariat Assistant Clerk (御史中丞尚书, a senior clerk, as well as an imperial agent, that directly assists the Imperial Secretariat). This was the zenith of his career as a civil officer, and along with his friends, they enjoyed the highest praise at the time. During his tenure, he would do a favor for anyone who went for him for a position, so he was loved by his men, but started to draw resentment from the emperor. Furthermore, the reason his faction received such a good fame was due to the propaganda of their affiliates instead of solid accomplishments, so they were eventually demolished by the emperor Cao Rui
Cao Rui
Cao Rui , formally known as Emperor Ming of Wei, was the second emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a son of Cao Wei's first emperor Cao Pi according to Liu Song dynasty historian, Pei Songzhi, but was a son of Yuan Xi according to modern...

, who got Zhuge removed from office as a punishment.

Incident of Wang Ling

After Cao Rui's death, Xiahou Xuan exerted his authority and reinstated Zhuge as Imperial Secretariat Assistant Clerk, and granted him the title of a general before promoting him to be the Governor of Yang Province. At the time, Cao Shuang
Cao Shuang
Cao Shuang , style name Zhaobo , was a military general, politician and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the son of Cao Zhen...

 and his affiliates including Xiahou and Deng represented the dominant faction which controlled the court of Cao Wei. However, the situation was reversed after the Incident at Gaoping Tombs
Incident at Gaoping Tombs
The Incident at Gaoping Tombs in 249 was a coup d'etat that occurred in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The parties involved were Cao Shuang and Sima Yi. Sima Yi seized power during the coup and had Cao Shuang killed...

, during which Cao's political enemy, Sima Yi
Sima Yi
Sima Yi was a general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He is perhaps best known for defending Wei from Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions...

, wiped the whole clan of Cao Shuang out, close aides like Deng and several friends of Zhuge were put to death, and Xiahou Xuan was replaced by Guo Huai
Guo Huai
Guo Huai , style name Boji , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He started his career during the late Han Dynasty under the warlord Cao Cao. During Cao Pi's reign, Guo rose up the ranks and became a grand marshal under Sima Yi...

. Facing political instability, many once influential gentries wavered on their belief that Cao Wei would continue to have a member of the Cao clan on the throne.

Wang Ling, the grand commander who held the authority to mobilize troops around Yang Province, suspected Sima had controlled the court and actually was the one wielding state power. His belief was reinforced when Sima sent an envoy to announce Wang's promotion to Grand Commandant (太尉), which was a post that did not have the direct command of armed forces. Therefore, he secretly contacted his nephew Linghu Yu, who was recorded to be a talented civil officer, to plan for the overthrow of Sima Yi. Linghu acted as Wang's strategist, and told his uncle that Price of Chu, Cao Biao, was a brave sage, and suggested Wang to replace the young emperor with Cao Biao. Wang then started preparation for a coup d'état; however, Linghu died of an illness during the process, and Wang was unable to draw much support. His intention was later reported to Sima by a traitor, in response, Sima granted Zhuge the staff of authority, and granted him the title of General who Pacifies the East to assist him on his operation against Wang. The expedition army advanced swiftly and pressed Wang within 100 paces, and the latter submitted without a fight. Even Wang did not actually start a revolt, this incident was regarded as the First Rebellion of Shouchun.

Battle of Dongxing

After the whole clan of Wang was executed, Zhuge became the new district commander of Yang Province, and he was made a marquis. Not long after Wang's demise, Sima Yi also died, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Sima Shi
Sima Shi
Sima Shi , style name Ziyuan , was a military general and regent of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. In 249, he assisted his father Sima Yi in overthrowing the emperor Cao Fang's regent Cao Shuang, allowing the Sima family to become paramount authority in the state, and he...

, who continued to control the court. In 252, Sima devised a three-pronged offensive on Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...

. One of the attack point was Dongxing, which was tasked to Zhuge and his 70,000 strong army. Upon arrival, Zhuge took quick control of the Dongxing Dam (東興隄, in present-day Chaohu, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...

), which was destroyed in 241, but was rebuilt by the Eastern Wu regent, Zhuge Ke
Zhuge Ke
Zhuge Ke , style name Yuanxun , was a military general and regent of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He was the son of Zhuge Jin and nephew of Zhuge Liang. He succeeded Lu Xun after the latter's death...

, recently to create a reservoir near the Chaohu Lake, with the dual purpose of using it as a defense against potential Cao Wei attacks and, with two castles built nearby, as forward attack mechanism for Eastern Wu ships. There were only 1,000 defenders for each castle under the command of Liu Lue
Liu Lue
Liu Lue was a military general of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the son of the general Liu Zan. He was tasked with defending the Right City of Dongxing Commandery, while the Left City was defended by Quan Duan. When the Cao Wei army led by Hu Zun attacked...

 and Quan Duan, so Zhuge Ke immediately took 40,000 men with him as reinforcement. At the time, Zhuge Ke was near the battlefield, Zhuge Dan had already laid siege upon the castles, stationed his troops on the dam, and set up camps beneath. Despite possessing both geographic and numerical advantages, Zhuge Dan was outmaneuvered by Wu vanguard, Liu Zan (留賛, father of Liu Lue) and Ding Feng, when the two adopted an unusual strategy and charged recklessly towards him with only 3,000 men.

After his embarrassing defeat, Zhuge Dan was demoted to General who Pacifies the South, and Guanqiu Jian
Guanqiu Jian
Guanqiu Jian , style name Zhonggong , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.-Biography:...

 replaced him as the Governor and District commander of Yang Province.

Incident of Guanqiu Jian

Following the death of Sima Yi, Sima Shi inherited his father and became the new de facto ruler of Wei politics. In AD 254, Sima Shi deposed the emperor Cao Fang
Cao Fang
Cao Fang , formally known as Duke Li of Shaoling, was the third emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He retained the title Prince of Qi after he was deposed by the regent Sima Shi...

 because the latter was unhappy with the former's authoritarian attitude. In an attempt to reserve the sovereignty of their state, generals Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin
Wen Qin
Wen Qin , style name Zhongruo , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He served as the protector of Yang Province. Enraged at Sima Shi on the displacement of the emperor Cao Fang, then starting a rebellion with Guanqiu Jian. During the rebellion, Wen...

 rose up and challenged the Sima faction. The two sent a secret letter to Zhuge Dan, asking the latter to join them to bring Sima Shi (Sima Yi's oldest son) down. However, Zhuge, on the other hand, executed Guanqiu's messenger and reported the case to the central government under Sima's grip. He then joined the expedition forces under Sima Shi to quell the military uprising known as the second rebellion in Shouchun. After Guanqiu was assasinated by a traitor and Wen fled for his life, Zhuge breached the city of Shouchun. When the Wu forces led by Sun Jun arrived at Dongxing (present-day Dongxing, Guangxi), they heard that Shouchun had been overtaken by Zhuge Dan so they retreated as well. Zhuge Dan sent Jiang Ban (蔣班) to pursue and attack the retreating Wu forces. The Wu general Liu Zan was seriously ill at the time and insisted to stay behind to let the main Wu troops get away. As a result, Zhuge was able to take revenge for his humiliating loss in Dongxing by killing Liu in the ensuing battle.

Death at Shouchun

Not long after the revolt by Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin was suppressed, Sima Shi died of illness and his second brother Sima Zhao inherited his place in the Wei court. Shouchun was guarded by the East-Conquering General Zhuge Dan after the second rebellion was suppressed. Zhuge Dan had witnessed the deaths of Wang Ling and Guanqiu Jian after their failed rebellions and he felt uneasy. He tried to increase his popularity amongst the people in the Huai River region and gain their support. At the same time, he hired a group of bodyguards to protect himself.

Sima Zhao wanted to eliminate the remaining loyalists to the state, so he heeded Jia Chong's advice to force Zhuge Dan to rebel. Zhuge Dan received an imperial decree to report to the Wei court and assume the post of Excellency of Works. However, Zhuge Dan became afraid after receiving the decree, so he killed the Inspector of Yang Province, Yue Lin, and rose in rebellion against Sima Zhao. He sent his Chief Clerk Wu Gang (吳綱) to Eastern Wu with his son Zhuge Jing (諸葛靚) as a hostage, asking for reinforcements from Wu.

Sima Zhao personally led 260,000 troops to suppress the rebellion and stationed his army in Qiutou (丘頭). He sent Wang Ji and Chen Qian (陳騫) to lead an army to besiege Shouchun. He sent Shi Bao (石苞), Hu Zhi (胡質) and Zhou Tai (州泰) to hold off the Eastern Wu forces. The Wu forces led by Wen Qin, Tang Zi and Quan Yì (全懌) managed to enter Shouchun before the encirclement by the Wei forces was completed. Subsequently, Wen Qin led his men to break out of the siege several times but failed. The Wu general Zhu Yi garrisoned at Anfeng (安豐), southwest of Shouchun, as backup, but was defeated by Zhou Tai. Sun Lin moved his army to Chaohu. He sent Zhu Yi, along with Ding Feng and Li Fei (黎斐) to break the siege on Shouchun, but were defeated by Shi Bao and Zhou Tai. The Wei general Hu Lie (胡烈) led a surprise attack on the Wu forces and succeeded in destroying the enemy's supplies.

Zhu Yi's army was unable to advance any further as they had lost their supplies. Sun Lin was furious and had Zhu Yi executed. Sun Lin then ordered a retreat to the Wu capital Jianye (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu). Zhuge Dan's forces were besieged in Shouchun for a long time without any reinforcements arriving. Zhuge Dan's deputies Jiang Ban (蔣班) and Jiao Yi (焦彝) advised him to concentrate on attacking a single flank of the encirclement to break the siege. Wen Qin opposed the suggestion and insisted that Wu reinforcements will arrive soon. Zhuge Dan did not heed Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi's advice and wanted to kill them instead. Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi escaped from Shouchun and defected over to Sima Zhao's side. Sima Zhao followed Zhong Hui's strategy, by faking letters from Quan Hui (全輝) and Quan Yí (全儀) to trick Quan Yī (全禕) and Quan Duan (全端) to surrender. When Quan Yī received the letters, he thought that they were real and surrendered to Sima Zhao. Zhuge Dan's forces were taken by surprise.

In the first lunar month of the second year, Zhuge Dan, Wen Qin and Tang Zi attempted to break out of the siege again but failed and suffered heavy casualties. By then, supplies in the city were running out soon and several troops had surrendered. Wen Qin suggested release the northerners and Wu forces in the city to conserve supplies. Zhuge Dan ignored Wen Qin's suggestion and had him killed in anger. Wen Qin's sons, Wen Yang and Wen Hu, heard of their father's death and escaped from Shouchun and surrendered to Sima Zhao. The surrender of Wen Yang and Wen Hu caused the rebel army's morale to further plummet. In the second lunar month, Sima Zhao's forces succeeded in penetrating Shouchun. Zhuge Dan fled from the city and was killed by Hu Fen (胡奮)'s men during his escape. The Wu general Yu Quan was killed in battle while Tang Zi and Wang Zuo (王祚) of Wu surrendered to Sima Zhao.

Family

  • Ancestor: Zhuge Feng (諸葛豐), served as Colonel of Sili during the Western Han Dynasty

  • Cousins:
    • Zhuge Jin
      Zhuge Jin
      Zhuge Jin , style name Ziyu , was a military general and politician of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.-Early life:...

      , served Eastern Wu
      Eastern Wu
      Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...

    • Zhuge Liang
      Zhuge Liang
      Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....

      , served Shu Han
      Shu Han
      Shu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...

    • Zhuge Jun (諸葛均), served Shu Han

  • Children:
    • Zhuge Jing (諸葛靚), served Cao Wei, sent to Eastern Wu as a hostage during Zhuge Dan's rebellion
    • Daughter, personal name unknown, married Sima Zhou
      Sima Zhou
      Sima Zhou was an official of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the sixth son of Sima Yi. Sima Zhou was known in Cao Wei as the "Fire General"...

    • Daughter, personal name unknown, married Wang Ling's son Wang Guang (王廣), executed along with the rest of the Wang family when Wang Ling rebelled

  • Grandsons:
    • Zhuge Yi (諸葛頤), Zhuge Jing's oldest son
    • Zhuge Hui (諸葛恢), Zhuge Jing's second son, served as Imperial Secretary during the Jin Dynasty

Modern references

Zhuge Dan is first introduced as a playable character in the seventh installment
Dynasty Warriors 7
is a hack and slash video game and the seventh official installment of the Dynasty Warriors series. It is developed by Omega Force and published by Koei. The game has been confirmed to be PS3 exclusive in Japan. The story is based on Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms....

 of Koei's Dynasty Warriors
Dynasty Warriors
is a series of tactical action video games created by Omega Force and Koei. The award-winning series is a spin-off of Koei's turn-based strategy Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, based loosely around the Chinese classical novel of the same name. The first game titled Dynasty Warriors,...

video game series.
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