Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms podcast.

This is episode 149.

Last time, the armies of Wei were closing in on the Shu capital, Chengdu.

The Shu commander Jiang Wei was mounting a stiff defense against the forces led by Zhong Hui

at the Sabre Pass, the main road leading to Chengdu.

But, unbeknownst to Jiang Wei, the other Wei commander, Deng Ai, had led a small detachment

of troops on a daring trek across

treacherous mountain terrain to sneak around him. Now Deng Ai was on his way to attack Chengdu.

The Shu Emperor Liu Shan asked his courtiers what he should do. Most of the officials had no

ideas. One official, Xi Zheng, stepped forward and said,

With the situation so dire, your highness should summon the son of the Marquis of Wu

to discuss how to repel the enemy.

The Marquis of Wu, of course, was Zhuge Liang, and his son was named Zhugezan. Zhugezan was known for his intelligence

even as a child. But really, how could he not? I mean, the guy is the child of Zhuge Liang.

And as we discussed in the supplemental episode on Zhuge Liang, his mother was also known for her

talent, and might have even been smarter than Zhuge Liang.

Later, Zhuge Zhen was married to Liu Shan's daughter, making him the emperor's son-in-law,

and he assumed his father's marquiship. In the year 261, he was promoted to acting supervisory

general, but when Huang Hao began to control the affairs of the court,

Zhuge Zhen decided to just stay home on the pretext of illness.

But now, there was nowhere for him to hide.

Liu Shan sent three decrees back to back, summoning him to court, so Zhuge Zhang went.

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