The Battle of Wuzhang Plain (234 A.D.) was a showdown between the kingdoms of Wei and Shu.

In the legend from The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it was said that Zhuge Liang led six expiditions from Hanzhong through Qishan to battle with Sima Yi

In the 1st expidition, his efforts were undermined by the lost of Jieting a passageway into Hanzhong due to the defiance of Ma Su to listen to the Prime Minister's orders to barricade the pathway. This forced Zhuge Liang to retreat as the lost of Jieting meant that there is imminent danger for Hanzhong. He used his wits and reverse psychology to scare off Sima Yi when he deployed the 'empty city' tactic. He opened the city gates and sat high up on the gates and played the zither calmly. This made Sima Yi think that Zhuge Liang had an ambush in the city and thus retreated. This was aided by the shout and roars of the Shu soldiers.

Unfortunately, the commander and strategist Zhuge Liang died of an illness on the battlefield. Once Sima Yi caught wind of the mishap he immediately issued an all out attack. When the Kingdom of Shu heard of the charging Wei forces they immediately devised ambush parties and traps. When Sima Yi thought he had finally gotten the Shu forces were he wanted them, the Shu forces dressed a soldier up like Zhuge Liang, and placed him with the counter forces. When Sima Yi saw the figure he immediately took it as a trap and retreated. Many ambush parties took the Wei forces by surprise creating a Shu victory. Thus the leaderless troops of the Kingdom of Shu could return safely to their own country.

When Sima Yi was fleeing, Wei Yan chased after him against orders and Shu thought this to be a rebellion by Wei Yan.

See also: Three Kingdoms