生平

浮华一生

诸葛诞曾任尚书郎、荥阳县令、吏部郎、御史中丞尚书等职，并与散骑侍郎夏侯玄等人交好。后因魏明帝曹睿厌恶夏侯玄和诸葛诞等人沽名钓誉、追求浮华而免去两人官职。明帝死后，曹芳继位，并由大将军曹爽辅政专权，曹爽任用夏侯玄等人，复职诸葛诞，并出任扬州刺史，加昭武将军。

王凌之乱

嘉平元年（249年），太傅司马懿发动高平陵之变，诛杀曹爽。

嘉平三年（251年），太尉王淩计划起兵推翻司马懿，并另立曹彪为帝；事情被兖州刺史黄华揭发后，司马懿领兵镇压，并任命诸葛诞为镇东将军，假节都督扬州诸军事，封山阳亭侯。

东兴之战

嘉平四年（252年），诸葛诞判断东吴新筑东兴大堤、修筑两城并留兵戍守，认为是即将入侵魏国的行为，于是提议分兵三路攻吴：由王昶进逼江陵、毌丘俭进攻武昌，以牵制上游吴军；再以精兵直攻东兴二城。当时王昶、毌丘俭及胡遵都献计伐吴，因诸将的战略皆不同，司马师最终决定由征南将军王昶进攻南郡；镇南将军毌丘俭进攻武昌；镇东将军诸葛诞、征东将军胡遵率军七万进攻东兴，作浮桥渡水，攻打两城。但由于城池位处高处，一时无法攻下，东吴太傅诸葛恪得知东兴告急，亲率四万军日夜兼程驰援东兴。

当时天降大雪，胡遵等人正在聚会饮酒，魏军轻于戒备，留赞率部轻装突袭魏军前部营垒，吕据和丁奉等部也相继赶到。魏军惊恐溃逃、争渡浮桥，桥因超载而断，落水及自相践踏而死者达数万人，魏军前部督韩综和乐安太守桓嘉先后溺死。毌丘俭、王昶等以东兴兵败，烧营退走，此役为诸葛恪所击败。东兴之败后，司马师将所有责任归咎于自己，并说：「我不听公休，以至于此。此我过也，诸将何罪？」最后，司马昭因为是监军所以被降职，诸葛诞和毌丘俭等将都被降职，但只不过是防区对调，从镇东将军转为镇南将军罢了。

毌丘俭文钦之乱

正元二年，毌丘俭与文钦在寿春叛乱，并派使者联络诸葛诞，要他招引豫州士民。诸葛诞斩杀其使者，并向全国宣布二人叛乱。司马师讨伐毌丘俭时，诸葛诞亦率兵前往寿春。及后文钦兵败，毌丘俭弃守逃亡，诸葛诞率先率兵进占叛军的据点寿春，稳定战局。诸葛诞因为长期在淮南驻守，于是被任命为镇东大将军，仪同三司，都督扬州。此时东吴丞相孙峻率领吕据和留赞支援毌丘俭，知道毌丘俭和文钦兵败和寿春被占后撤退，诸葛诞于是派部将蒋班追击东吴军，斩杀留赞。战后诸葛诞获封高平侯，邑三千五百户，转任征东大将军。

诸葛诞之乱

诸葛诞见好友邓扬、夏侯玄等先后被诛杀，而王淩和毌丘俭亦被夷灭三族，心中十分不安，于是在当地收买人心，又蓄养数千死士自保。甘露元年（256年），诸葛诞以东吴有意进攻为由，向朝廷要求增兵十万和沿淮河筑城抵御。同时，贾充从寿春回来，知道诸葛诞不会支持司马氏，而且诸葛诞很得淮南民心；为免司马氏夺权时诸葛诞领兵反抗，建议司马昭徵召他入朝，尽管认定他必定不会应命，但此举对司马氏的影响程度相对较低，司马昭听从。

甘露二年（257年），下诏升诸葛诞为司空，并入朝任职。诸葛诞接得诏命后十分害怕，于是发动叛变，徵集淮南将士和一年粮食据守寿春，又杀扬州刺史乐綝，派长史吴纲领儿子诸葛靓和牙门子弟到东吴请求援兵。曹髦亲征至项县，司马昭则率军征伐诸葛诞，并派王基与安东将军陈骞领兵围困寿春；同时东吴对此大喜，以诸葛诞为左都护、假节、大司徒、骠骑将军、青州牧、寿春侯，并派文钦与全怿、全端、唐咨和王祚等领兵救援。诸葛诞因已经联吴，无需再防御魏吴边境的合肥要塞而将其守军撤走，故吴军可以畅通无阻地通过合肥，并趁王基包围圈未完成而领兵进入寿春城。诸葛诞也一度击败司马昭的弟弟东中郎将广阳乡侯司马亮，导致其免官。但随著外围由东吴方面朱异率领的援兵两度被石苞和胡烈等击退，孙綝以军法为由处决朱异并退回建业，而寿春则被重重包围，文钦等多次试图突围亦失败。

在司马昭围困寿春的时候，诸葛诞就哈哈大笑。因为寿春一带每年都会下大雨，一下雨淮河就要涨水，一直淹到寿春城下。所以诸葛诞看见司马昭在城下扎营非常高兴，他说：「是固不攻而自败也。」可让他没想到的是，自从司马昭扎营开始，就一滴雨都没下，是少有的大旱。等到城破，魏军进入寿春，当天就下了一场暴雨，把城外魏军的大营都给淹了。蒋班和焦彝于是劝诸葛诞不要再等东吴援兵，率全军攻向一方突围，但诸葛诞不听，更意图要斩杀二人，于是二人出城投降。不久，司马昭听从锺会的计谋，令全怿和全端等人率数千兵出降，寿春守军因而震惊恐惧。

兵败死节

次年正月，城中粮食渐渐枯竭，诸葛诞、文钦和唐咨于是拼命突围，但伤亡惨重，被逼撤回城内。诸葛诞更因为与文钦以往的嫌隙，以及不苟同文钦建议尽释北方人以节省粮食的分歧，进而杀死文钦，令其子文鸯和文虎向曹魏投降。司马昭纳降二人，更封为关内侯，并以二人降后的待遇瓦解寿春军民反抗之心，最终于二月成功攻克寿春，诸葛诞率领数骑逃出寿春，被大将军司马胡奋手下士兵杀死并诛灭三族。诸葛诞麾下亲兵数百人被俘，坚决不降，更说：「为诸葛公死，不恨。」行刑时排成一列，每斩杀一人便招降下一人，直到最后始终无人投降。

孙綝原本命弟弟孙恩代替朱异援救诸葛诞，但在孙恩得知诸葛诞已经败亡，便引兵返回。

轶事

诸葛诞担任尚书郎时期，与尚书仆射杜畿为魏文帝曹丕制作楼船，两人在陶河试航时遇上大风沉没，当时虎贲以小船拯救诸葛诞，诸葛诞呼吁虎贲先去救杜畿。之后杜畿淹死；反而诸葛诞昏去，飘至海岸后苏醒。

家属

祖先

• 诸葛丰，西汉时官员，官至司隶校尉，以刚直著称。

堂兄弟

• 诸葛瑾，为东吴大臣，官至大将军。

• 诸葛亮，为蜀汉丞相，历史著名政治家。

• 诸葛均，为蜀汉官吏，官至长水校尉。

子

• 诸葛靓，字仲思，于曹魏任职，诸葛诞叛乱时，被送至东吴当人质。

• 诸葛氏，诸葛诞长女，嫁与琅琊武王司马伷，生琅琊恭王司马觐、武陵王司马澹、东安王司马繇。西晋301—304年间卒。

• 诸葛氏，诸葛诞次女，嫁与太尉王凌之子王广，后因王凌受罪牵连，与丈夫同被诛杀。时人称其不改诸葛家风。

孙

• 诸葛颐，字道回，诸葛靓长子，弱冠知名，官至太常。

• 诸葛恢，字道明，诸葛靓次子，在东晋官至尚书令，死后追赠左光禄大夫开府。

评价

• 《三国志》评曰：「王淩风节格尚，毌丘俭才识拔干，诸葛诞严毅威重，锺会精练策数，咸以显名，致兹荣任，而皆心大志迂，不虑祸难，变如发机，宗族涂地，岂不谬惑邪!」

• 《世语》：「是时，当世俊士散骑常侍夏侯玄、尚书诸葛诞、邓扬之徒，共相题表，以玄、畴四人为四聪，诞、备八人为八达，中书监刘放子熙、孙资子密、吏部尚书卫臻子烈三人，咸不及比，以父居势位，容之为三豫，凡十五人。帝以构长浮华，皆免官废锢。」

• 《魏书》：诞赏赐过度。有犯死者，亏制以活之。

• 干宝《晋纪》：时人比之田横。

• 《世说新语》：「诸葛瑾弟亮，及从弟诞，并有盛名，各在一国。于时以为『蜀得其龙，吴得其虎，魏得其狗』。诞在魏与夏侯玄齐名；瑾在吴，吴朝服其弘量。」（余嘉锡《笺疏》曰：狗意指「功狗」，意指有功的战将，诸葛诞在魏与夏侯玄齐名，狗意并不是讽刺或是认为诸葛诞不如两位堂兄。）

• 《钦定胜朝殉节诸臣录》：郑樵谓晋史党晋而不有魏，凡忠于魏者，目为叛臣，王凌、诸葛诞、毌丘俭之徒，抱屈黄壤。

• 《三国演义》载诗赞曰：「忠臣矢志不偷生，诸葛公休帐下兵，《薤露》歌声应未断，遗踪直欲继田横！」

• 柳成龙：「孔明兄弟分事三国，时人以为汉得龙、吴得虎、魏得狗，讥诞无成。然观诞之为人，亦过人远，当司马氏专国，毋丘俭、王陵等相继族灭，魏之诸臣俛首奔走，不敢出一气，诞独慷慨，不顾灭门夷族之祸，举义讨贼，事虽无成，其义可嘉。况诞旣死，其从者数百人，拱手就列不降，每斩一人，降其次者，终不从，以至于尽。田横以后，仅见此人，其忠义之节，素结于人心者如此，是岂寻常人所能及乎。然则以诞为狗者，必当时附司马氏者为之，不足为定论也。然诞未免有失，智者作事，不先期而败事，不后时而失几。诞旣有讨贼之心，则当与毋丘俭同起，时司马师病笃，二人合力，事或可成。乃抚几不发，俭已死，昭势益盛，然后欲孤起建事，其败也宜矣。」（『西厓集』 别集，卷4，杂著，诸葛诞）

• 成海应：「诸葛诞在广陵为魏起兵，虽败死，不徒食人之禄，可谓忠贞之士也。然司马氏之潜谋魏室，自懿而始，非徒昭也。苟欲为魏而效忠，何不如王凌之图魏。而迨毋邱俭之称兵也，又斩其使也，计其举衆者自危故也，非专为魏室也。然当昭专政，魏朝之人，皆倾身事之，独公休能为魏室倡，而亦能以身殉之，故麾下数百人，坐不降见斩，皆曰为诸葛公死不恨，亦感其义也。」（『硏经斋全集续集』10册，史论，诸葛诞）

• 卢弼：当时勤王诸将，惟文钦父子，粗猛武夫，反覆无常，彦云、仲恭皆为儒将，懋著功勋，事之成否，岂可概论？公休谋定后动，子上至督中外诸军二十六万众临淮讨之，倾全国之力，挟两宫以行，用兵十月之久，侭乃克之。公休力竭智穷，而麾下壮士数百人拱手为列，无一降者，田横得士，何以加兹！此皆魏之忠臣义士，承祚合为一传，有微旨焉。君子平情论事，不能以成败相绳，不佞考订事实，不为空论，偶因姜氏之说，特发其凡于此。

• 郝经：王凌之欲废僭孽，立宗子，澄汰王室，大臣之节也。议者谓凌于齐王君臣分定，并俭诞等为淮南三叛。此晋之臣子尊晋之志也，凌欲废而诛之，师遂废之，昭又杀之而无为诛之。则淩知所废而非叛也，俭诞继起声罪致讨。闻雒中禅代之语，投袂致死，有古义士之风。夫岂叛乎哉？诞之得士，至麾下数百人拱手待斩以尽，不为司马氏屈，义烈挺然，未之前闻也。

艺术形象

游戏

• 真三国无双系列/无双OROCHI系列（光荣公司开发，桐本琢也配音）

三国演义

《三国演义》话说诸葛诞忠于曹魏，于寿春起兵讨伐司马昭，兵败被杀。

Early career

Zhuge Dan was from Yangdu County (阳都县), Langya Commandery, which is in present-day Yinan County, Shandong. He was a descendant of Zhuge Feng (诸葛丰) and a cousin of Zhuge Jin and Zhuge Liang. He started his career as a Gentleman of Writing (尚书郎). There was once when he and Du Ji, a Supervisor (仆射), test-rode a boat in the river. The boat capsized after being hit by a wave and both men were thrown overboard. When the huben guards came to save him, Zhuge Dan told them to save Du Ji first. He lost consciousness later, drifted to the shore, and eventually recovered.

Later, Zhuge Dan became the Prefect (令) of Xingyang County (荥阳县) and then served as a Gentleman (郎) in the Ministry of Personnel (吏部). During this time, when his colleagues recommended people to him, he would publicly reveal what they told him in private before giving jobs to the people they recommended. When he evaluated officials' performance, he would take into account what others said regardless of whether it was positive or negative. As a result, his colleagues were especially careful when they recommended people to him.

After gaining some experience in the Ministry of Personnel, Zhuge Dan was then reassigned to be a Palace Assistant Imperial Secretary and Master of Writing (御史中丞尚书). He was close friends with Xiahou Xuan and Deng Yang. They enjoyed much praise from other officials and the citizens in the imperial capital. Later, someone told the Wei emperor Cao Rui that Zhuge Dan and his friends, along with other "celebrities", were engaging in superficial and fame-seeking behaviour. Cao Rui felt disgusted and wanted to discourage such behaviour among his subjects, so he removed Zhuge Dan from office.

After Cao Rui's death in January 239, Cao Fang became the new Wei emperor. He restored Zhuge Dan as Palace Assistant Imperial Secretary and Master of Writing, and subsequently promoted him to Inspector (刺史) of Yang Province and General of Illustrious Martial Might (昭武将军).

Battle of Dongxing

In 251, Wei imperial forces led by the regent Sima Yi suppressed a rebellion by the Wei general Wang Ling. After that, the Wei imperial court appointed Zhuge Dan as General Who Guards the East (镇东将军), granted him imperial authority, put him in charge of military affairs in Yang Province, and enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Shanyang Village (山阳亭侯). After Sima Yi died later that year, his son Sima Shi succeeded him as regent and continued to control the Wei government.

Around early or mid 252, Zhuge Dan pointed out to Sima Shi that Eastern Wu forces had been making incursions on Wei territory and had constructed a large dam, complete with exterior defences, at Dongxing (东兴; southeast of present-day Chaohu, Anhui). He suggested to Sima Shi to send Wang Chang and Guanqiu Jian to lead troops to attack and destroy the dam. Later that year, Sima Shi devised a strategy for launching a three-pronged attack on Eastern Wu. He sent Wang Chang to attack Nan Commandery (南郡; present-day Jingzhou, Hubei), Guanqiu Jian to attack Wuchang (武昌; present-day Ezhou, Hubei), and Hu Zun and Zhuge Dan to lead 70,000 troops to attack the Dongxing dam. In response, the Wu general Zhuge Ke led 40,000 troops to Dongxing to counter the invaders. The Battle of Dongxing concluded with a tactical victory for the Wu forces. Zhuge Dan was reassigned to the position of General Who Guards the South (镇南将军) after he returned from the battle.

Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qins Rebellion

In early 255, the Wei generals Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin started a rebellion in Shouchun (寿春; present-day Shou County, Anhui) because they were unhappy with the Sima family's control over the Wei government. Both of them were close to the former Wei regent Cao Shuang and his followers, who were ousted from power in a coup in 249 by Sima Yi. Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin sent a messenger to Zhuge Dan, urging him to rally troops in Yu Province to support them. However, Zhuge Dan executed the messenger and publicly announced that Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin had rebelled.

Sima Shi personally led Wei imperial forces to deal with the rebels. He ordered Zhuge Dan to lead troops from Yu Province and advance to Shouchun via Anfeng Ford (安风津). After Sima Shi quelled the revolt, Zhuge Dan and his forces were the first to enter Shouchun. By then, the civilian population of Shouchun, numbering over 100,000, had fled into the countryside or escaped to Eastern Wu for fear of being killed.

The Wei imperial court appointed Zhuge Dan as Senior General Who Guards the East (镇东大将军), with honours equivalent to those of the Three Ducal Ministers, and ordered him to oversee military affairs in Yang Province. Earlier on, when news of Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin's rebellion reached Eastern Wu, the Wu regent Sun Jun, along with Lü Ju, Liu Zan and others, had led Wu forces to Shouchun to support the rebels. However, by the time they showed up, Wei forces had recaptured Shouchun so the Wu forces retreated. Zhuge Dan sent his subordinate Jiang Ban (蒋班) to lead troops to attack the retreating Wu forces. Jiang Ban killed Liu Zan in the ensuing battle and obtained his official seal. For his achievements, Zhuge Dan was promoted from a village marquis to a county marquis – "Marquis of Gaoping (County)" (高平侯) – and awarded 3,500 taxable households to form his marquisate. The Wei government also changed his appointment to "Senior General Who Attacks the East" (征东大将军).

Zhuge Dans Rebellion

Making preparations to rebel

As Zhuge Dan was close friends with Xiahou Xuan and Deng Yang (邓扬) – both were Cao Shuang's associates – and had witnessed the downfall of Wang Ling and Guanqiu Jian, he felt very uneasy and was worried that he would become a victim of the Sima family's purges. Thus, when he was stationed in Shouchun (寿春; present-day Shou County, Anhui), he attempted to increase his popularity among the masses in the Huai River area by being very generous. He also used his personal wealth to bribe his subordinates and hire thousands of mercenaries as bodyguards. He even pardoned criminals who committed capital offences.

Around the winter of 256, Zhuge Dan found an excuse to entrench himself further in Shouchun and build up his defences. He wrote to the Wei imperial court, claiming that he heard that Eastern Wu forces were planning to attack the Huai River region. He asked for 100,000 troops and permission to build more defensive structures in the area. At the time, as Sima Shi had died in 255, his younger brother Sima Zhao had taken over the reins of power as the regent of Wei. Jia Chong suggested to Sima Zhao to keep a close watch on the generals who were guarding strategic locations throughout the Wei Empire and assess whether they were loyal to him. Sima Zhao heeded his words and sent him to Shouchun to meet Zhuge Dan. Jia Chong told Zhuge Dan, "Many wise men in Luoyang hope to see the Emperor abdicate in favour of a better ruler. You already know this. What do you think?" Zhuge Dan replied sternly, "Aren't you Inspector Jia's son? The State has treated your family generously for generations. How can you betray the State and let it fall into the hands of others? I can't stand this. If there is trouble in Luoyang, I'll die for the State." Jia Chong remained silent. After returning to Luoyang, Jia Chong told Sima Zhao, "Zhuge Dan has high prestige and popularity in Yang Province. If you summon him here and he doesn't obey, it's a small problem. But if you don't summon him, it'll become a big problem." Around the early summer of 257, Sima Zhao issued an order in the imperial court's name, ordering Zhuge Dan to return to Luoyang to serve as Minister of Works (司空) in the central government. While the order ostensibly promoted Zhuge Dan to a prestigious ministerial office (one of the Three Ducal Ministers, in fact), it was actually a move to remove him from power in Shouchun and put him under Sima Zhao's control in Luoyang.

Rising in revolt

When Zhuge Dan received the order, he knew that Sima Zhao was suspicious of him and became fearful. According to the Wei Jin Shiyu, he suspected that Yue Lin (乐綝; son of Yue Jin), the Inspector (刺史) of Yang Province, had instigated Sima Zhao to remove him from power in Shouchun and summon him to Luoyang. He then led a few hundred soldiers to Yue Lin's office to kill him. When he arrived, he saw that the gates were closed so he shouted at the guards, "Weren't you my subordinates last time?" He then forced his way in and killed Yue Lin. Another account from the Wei Mo Zhuan (魏末传) mentioned that Zhuge Dan hosted a party after receiving the order and lied that he wanted to take a day off from work and go outside Shouchun. He brought along 700 soldiers with him. When Yue Lin heard about it, he ordered the city gates to be shut. Zhuge Dan then ordered his men to force the gates open, set fire to the Inspector's office, and killed Yue Lin. He then wrote a memorial to the imperial court, accusing Yue Lin of secretly collaborating with Eastern Wu and claiming that he executed Yue Lin after discovering his treachery. The historian Pei Songzhi believed the Wei Mo Zhuan account to be untrue, given how it described Zhuge Dan's behaviour. In any case, Zhuge Dan killed Yue Lin and started a rebellion in Shouchun against the Wei government.

When Zhuge Dan rose in revolt, he had about 100,000 troops under his command in the Huai River region. Most of these troops were stationed as part of the Wei government's tuntian policy. He also managed to recruit another 40,000 to 50,000 troops in Yang Province. He had stockpiled a year's worth of supplies and was completely capable of being self-sufficient in that region. He then sent Wu Gang (吴纲), a Chief Clerk (长史), to bring his son Zhuge Jing to seek help from Eastern Wu. In return, Zhuge Jing would remain in Wu as a hostage.

The Wu regent Sun Chen was overjoyed. He ordered Quan Yi (全怿), Quan Duan (全端), Tang Zi, Wang Zuo (王祚) and other officers to lead 30,000 Wu troops to support Zhuge Dan's rebellion. He also secretly asked Wen Qin, who had defected to Wu after Guanqiu Jian's defeat, to help Zhuge Dan. The Wu government granted Zhuge Dan imperial authority and the following appointments: Left Protector-General (左都护), Grand Minister Over the Masses (大司徒), General of Agile Cavalry (骠骑将军), and Governor of Qing Province (青州牧). They also enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Shouchun (寿春侯).

Battles

Among the various Wei imperial forces sent to suppress Zhuge Dan's rebellion, the army led by Wang Ji arrived at Shouchun first and started to surround the city. Before the encirclement was complete, the Wu forces led by Tang Zi and Wen Qin managed to cut across mountainous terrain in the northeast of Shouchun and enter the city to meet up with Zhuge Dan.

Around July 258, Sima Zhao reached Xiang County (项县; present-day Shenqiu County, Henan), where he took overall command of the 260,000 troops mobilised from throughout the Wei Empire to suppress the rebellion, and advanced towards Shouchun. He remained at Qiutou (丘头), while sending Wang Ji and Chen Qian (陈鶱) to surround Shouchun and reinforce their encirclement with defensive structures such as earth walls and moats. At the same time, he also ordered Shi Bao (石苞) and Zhou Tai to lead some troops to patrol the perimeter and guard against any forces coming to help Zhuge Dan. When Wen Qin and others attempted to break out of the siege, they were driven back by the Wei forces.

The Wu general Zhu Yi led another force to Shouchun to assist Zhuge Dan. Zhou Tai attacked Zhu Yi at Lijiang (黎浆) and defeated him. The Wu regent Sun Chen was furious with Zhu Yi's failure and had him executed.

Defections

After some time, Shouchun gradually ran low on supplies and became increasingly isolated from the outside world. Two of Zhuge Dan's close aides, Jiang Ban (蒋班) and Jiao Yi (焦彝), told their general: "Zhu Yi came with a large army but failed to achieve anything. Sun Chen executed Zhu Yi and returned to Jiangdong. He is actually putting on a front when he sent troops to help us. His decision to turn back already shows that he is adopting a wait-and-see attitude. Now, since our troops are still high on morale and eager to fight, we should focus all efforts on breaking one side of the siege. Even if we cannot drive back the enemy, we can at least allow some of our forces to escape and survive."

Wen Qin disagreed and told Zhuge Dan, "Jiangdong forces are known for having scored victories; their enemies in the north can't stop them. Sir, you have led over 100,000 men to join Jiangdong. Quan Yi, myself and the others from Jiangdong are trapped here too with you. Our families are still in Jiangdong. Even if Sun Chen doesn't want to save us, do you think our Emperor and his relatives will abandon us? There were times in the past when our enemy unexpectedly suffered a plague. Now that we have been stuck here for almost a year, if we stir up any feelings of divisiveness, a mutiny might happen. We should continue to hold out and maintain our hopes that help will arrive soon."

Wen Qin became angry when Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi repeatedly urged Zhuge Dan to follow their plan. Zhuge Dan also became increasingly frustrated with Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi and wanted to execute them. The two of them feared for their lives and realised that Zhuge Dan was destined to fail, so in December 257 or January 258, they escaped from Shouchun and surrendered to Sima Zhao.

Sima Zhao later used a ploy to persuade Quan Yi (全怿) and Quan Duan (全端) to surrender. The Quans fell for the ruse and led a few thousand men with them out of Shouchun to defect to Sima Zhao's side. Their defection caused much fear and panic among Zhuge Dan's forces.

Attempting to break the siege

In February or March 258, Wen Qin told Zhuge Dan, "Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi left because we didn't follow their idea to attack the enemy. Quan Duan and Quan Yi have defected too. The enemy must have lowered their guard. Now is the time to attack them." Zhuge Dan agreed, so he, Wen Qin and Tang Zi led their troops out to attack and attempt to break out of the siege.

Their efforts proved futile because the Wei forces, due to having constructed walls and other defensive structures earlier, were in a more advantageous position over them. The Wei soldiers rained boulders and flaming arrows on Zhuge Dan's forces; thousands were wounded or killed, and the ground was soaked with blood. Unable to break the siege, Zhuge Dan and his forces retreated back to Shouchun, which had run out of food supplies by then. Thousands of Zhuge Dan's men came out of the city and surrendered to Sima Zhao.

Downfall and death

Earlier on, Wen Qin wanted Zhuge Dan to reduce food rations and send all his men to break the siege, while he and the troops from Eastern Wu would remain behind to guard Shouchun. Zhuge Dan strongly disapproved and quarrelled with Wen Qin over this. Although they initially cooperated, they became more suspicious and distrustful of each other as the situation in Shouchun became more desperate. Zhuge Dan eventually had Wen Qin executed.

Upon learning of their father's death at Zhuge Dan's hands, Wen Qin's sons Wen Yang and Wen Hu (文虎) attempted to flee from Shouchun. After failing to persuade their men to join them, they escaped on their own and surrendered to Sima Zhao. When an officer advised Sima Zhao to execute them, Sima Zhao said, "Wen Qin's crimes don't warrant death. Although his sons should be executed, they have surrendered to us. Besides, as the city has yet to be recaptured, executing them will only harden the rebels' resolve." He pardoned Wen Yang and Wen Hu, and ordered a few hundred riders to escort them on a tour around Shouchun and announce to the rebels in the city: "See? Wen Qin's sons have been spared. What's there to be afraid of?" Sima Zhao later appointed Wen Yang and Wen Hu as military officers and enfeoffed them as secondary marquises.

By then, most of Zhuge Dan's men had lost their will to fight after being trapped in the city for months without food. Zhuge Dan, Tang Zi and the remaining officers in Shouchun were also at their wits' end. Sima Zhao came to Shouchun and personally directed his forces to press on the siege and call for battle. The defenders did not respond. Zhuge Dan then attempted to break out of the siege with a few of his subordinates. Hu Fen (胡奋), a military officer under Sima Zhao, led his men to attack Zhuge Dan and killed him. Zhuge Dan's severed head was put on display and his family members were executed. Zhuge Dan had recruited a few hundred mercenaries as bodyguards. After his death, they were rounded up and each was offered the chance to surrender and be spared, but none accepted and all were executed. The loyalty of these bodyguards towards Zhuge Dan was comparable to the loyalty of the 500 retainers towards Tian Heng (田横). Yu Quan (于诠), a Wu officer, said, "I have received orders from my lord to lead troops to help others. I failed in my mission and can't do anything to defeat the enemy. I won't stand for this." He then removed his body armour and charged towards the enemy and was killed. Tang Zi, Wang Zuo (王祚) and the other Wu officers surrendered to Sima Zhao. The weapons and equipment captured from the Wu forces formed huge piles like hills.

Family

Zhuge Dan had at least one son and two daughters.

One of Zhuge Dan's daughters married Wang Guang (王广), Wang Ling's son. On her wedding night, Wang Ling told her, "You resemble Gongxiu (Zhuge Dan) so much in your facial expressions!" She replied, "You can't be like Yanyun (Wang Ling), so you compare your wife to a hero!" She was most likely executed along with the rest of the Wang family after Wang Ling's downfall.

Zhuge Dan's other daughter married Sima Zhou, Sima Yi's sixth son, who became a prince during the Jin dynasty. She was then known as "Grand Consort Zhuge" (诸葛太妃). She bore Sima Zhou four sons: Sima Jin (司马觐), Sima Yao (司马繇), Sima Cui (司马漼) and Sima Dan (司马澹). Sima Jin's son Sima Rui became the founding emperor of the Eastern Jin dynasty (317-420), and Zhuge Dan is related to each of the emperors of the Eastern Jin.

Zhuge Dan's son, Zhuge Jing, was sent as a hostage to Eastern Wu in 257 in return for support from Wu forces for his father's rebellion. He remained in Wu and served as Minister of War (大司马). In 280, after the Jin dynasty conquered Wu, Zhuge Jing went into hiding in the home of his sister (the one who married Sima Zhou). The Jin emperor Sima Yan (Emperor Wu) considered Zhuge Jing his relative (Sima Zhou was an uncle of Emperor Wu) and knew that Zhuge Jing was hiding in his sister's home, so he paid them a visit. When Zhuge Jing heard that the emperor had come to visit him, he hid in the latrine and refused to come out. The emperor insisted on seeing him and said, "Today, we finally meet each other again." Zhuge Jing replied tearfully, "I regret not being able to cover my body in paint and remove the skin from my face before I meet Your Majesty again!" Emperor Wu appointed him as a Palace Attendant (侍中), but he refused to accept, returned to his hometown and lived the rest of his life as a commoner. Zhuge Jing had two sons: Zhuge Yi (诸葛颐) and Zhuge Hui (诸葛恢). Zhuge Yi served as Minister of Ceremonies (太常) during the Jin dynasty and was favoured by Emperor Yuan. Zhuge Hui served as Prefect of the Masters of Writing (尚书令), and had his own biography in the Book of Jin (volume 77).

In popular culture

Zhuge Dan is first introduced as a playable character in the seventh installment of Koei's Dynasty Warriors video game series.