Battle of Wuzhang Plains
On his last northern expedition Zhuge Liang camped on the Wuzhang Plains and faced Sima Yi for over a hundred days. Sima Yi refused battle; when Zhuge Liang died of illness, the Shu army withdrew.
In the spring of 234 Zhuge Liang led some 100,000 troops to the Wuzhang Plains south of the Wei River and set up military farms for a long stay. Sima Yi held fast and refused to fight. When Zhuge Liang died of illness in camp in the eighth month, the Shu army withdrew. Sima Yi pursued but pulled back when the Shu rearguard turned to face him, giving rise to the saying "a dead Zhuge put a living Zhongda to flight."