In the autumn of the sixth year of Jianxing, Lu Xun of Wu crushes Cao Xiu, grand commander of Wei, at Shiting. Cao Xiu loses all his carts, horses and grain, broods over it, develops a boil on his back and dies. Wu sends a letter to Shu proposing that they strike at Wei together.
Kongming in Hanzhong has strong soldiers, sturdy horses and ample grain, and is just about to send out his army. As he holds a feast with his generals to discuss the campaign, a great wind suddenly rises from the north-east and breaks the pine in the courtyard. Kongming casts a divination and says this wind foretells the loss of a great general.
Just then Zhao Yun’s eldest son Zhao Tong and second son Zhao Guang arrive. Kongming throws his cup to the ground. Zilong is gone. The two sons kneel and weep. At the third watch last night our father’s illness grew worse and he died.