Sima Yi

Appointed literary secretary as Cao Cao absorbs the great offices - introduced by lineage alone: grandson of Sima Juan, son of Sima Fang, younger brother of Sima Lang, a man of Henei. The quietest debut of the book's longest game.

Sima Yi; backs Liu Ye's advice to push into Yi Province now; Cao Cao refuses the gamble.

Sima Yi; at Cao Cao's court.

Sima Yi; first major counsel - proposes goading Sun Quan to attack Jingzhou to relieve Wei pressure. The strategy that produces the Lu Meng raid.

Sima Yi; on Cao Cao's council; with Jiang Ji presses the Sun Quan back-channel - let Wu attack Jingzhou.

Sima Yi; advises Cao Cao to bury Guan Yu's head honourably so the vengeance goes to Wu, not Wei. The classic deflection move.

Sima Yi; senior on Cao Cao's deathbed council; positioned as the steady hand under Cao Pi.

Sima Yi; in the Wei court; senior official in the new dynasty.

Sima Yi; designs the Five-Route plan against Shu; the cool strategist behind Cao Pi's offensive. Defused by Zhuge Liang routing each of the five separately without ever assembling them in battle.

Sima Yi; in the Wei court - rising.

Sima Yi; named regent at Cao Pi's death; despatched to govern Yongliang to control the western frontier - the post he will hold against Zhuge Liang's expeditions.

Sima Yi; the chapter's pivot. Recalled to active command at Cao Rui's order; immediately moves on Xincheng and crushes Meng Da's planned defection from the inside before it can take effect - riding day-night to surprise Shen Yi's mole-action; Meng Da is beheaded by his own subordinates Shen Dan and Shen Yi who switch sides at the last moment. Sima Yi's classic strike-first style; Zhuge Liang's intended ally inside Wei evaporates in a week.

Sima Yi; takes Jieting through Zhang He's siege of Ma Su; arrives at Xicheng; falls for Zhuge Liang's empty-city bluff and withdraws. The two great minds' draw - Zhuge Liang's wits saving him from Sima Yi's overcaution.

Sima Yi; in the Wei central command; sends Jia Kui to relieve Cao Xiu.

Sima Yi; in the Wei command; reviewing Cao Zhen's deployments.

Sima Yi; on the Wei command; the rising star against Zhuge Liang.

Sima Yi; takes overall command of the Wei front from the ailing Cao Zhen. Pursues a defensive strategy of refusing battle; Zhuge Liang tries every trick to draw him out. The long game begins; Sima Yi's caution will eventually break Zhuge Liang at Wuzhang Plains by attrition.

Sima Yi; engineers the Gou An rumour; loses the chance to capture Zhuge Liang on the retreat when the firelight bluff fools him.

Sima Yi; against his judgment is goaded by Zhang He into pursuing - and loses Zhang He in the gorge. Continues the defensive game; refuses to engage Zhuge Liang in open battle.

Sima Yi; the great refusal. Cao Rui personally sends Xin Pi with the imperial flag-of-restraint to ensure Sima Yi doesn't engage, sealing his strategy. The plan: outlast Zhuge Liang. It works.

Sima Yi; narrowly escapes the Shangfang Valley fire when the storm breaks. Receives the women's clothes from Zhuge Liang and refuses to be goaded; the iron-nerved defensive game continues. Quietly examines the envoy and learns Zhuge Liang is barely eating, working day and night - concludes the campaign will end itself by Zhuge Liang's collapse.

Sima Yi; sees the great red star fall and rejoices, then advances; sees the Shu army withdraw in order with what appears to be a living Zhuge Liang at the front; panics and retreats over a dozen miles before learning he was tricked. The novel's last laugh against him.

Sima Yi; in the Wei command; takes the field briefly during the Liaodong rebellion of Gongsun Yuan; subdues it; consolidates his hold on the army.

Sima Yi; the High Plains Tomb coup (Gaoping Ling). With Cao Shuang and the new emperor Cao Fang away at the imperial cemetery, Sima Yi (long feigning illness - receives Li Sheng with the famous bedridden-doddering act of dribbling porridge down his front to deceive the spies) suddenly seizes the capital. Closes the gates; secures Empress Guo's authority; charges Cao Shuang with treason. Cao Shuang surrenders on Sima Yi's promise of mercy; promptly executed with three clans wiped out. Sima Yi takes Wei. The coup that founds Jin.

Sima Yi; consolidates the coup; appoints his own men through the Wei government; dies of old age toward the chapter's end. Hands command to Sima Shi. The figure who has stalked Zhuge Liang through every late chapter passes to his sons.

Sima Yi; named in passing - already dead.

Sima Yi; named in passing - already dead.

Sima Yi; named in passing - long dead.

Sima Yi; named in passing - long dead.