Chen Qun

Opens the chapter with the wedge plan: strike Sun Quan, whose ally covets the west and will not come - 'the South Land will be yours for the taking.' The three-hundred-thousand-man expedition it launches dies at the news of Changan.

Presses the dying prince to take the throne Sun Quan dangles — and is one of the four advisers called to the deathbed for the last wishes.

Among the nine named leaders of the forty-official deputation urging Emperor Xian to yield the throne.

Directed to draft the abdication manifesto itself — the document that ends four centuries of Han.

Called to Cao Pi's deathbed as General Who Guards the West, one of the three named guardians of the heir, and made Minister of Works in the honours of the new reign. Cao Zhen cites that trust — 'His Late Majesty confided his son to the care of certain officers of state, of whom Sima Yi is one' — as the argument against killing Sima Yi.

As General Chen Qun he challenges the whole conduct of the siege - 'When you besieged Shangyong, O Commander, you attacked all round at eight points, and the city fell in eight days. Meng Da was taken… Now your forty thousand troops have borne their armors many days over long marches and you do not press the attack, but keep them in the mud and mire and let the enemy gather supplies' - and draws out the chapter's clearest statement of Sima Yi's method: at Shangyong the enemy had supplies and few men and Wei had the reverse, so speed was right; here Liaodong has the numbers and no food while Wei is fed, so the gate is left open and the garrison is allowed to desert. He acknowledges the correction.