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The Battle of Mount Qi was a major battle of Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions. While Chencang was besieged, Zhuge Liang ordered Wei Yan, Wu Ban, and Gao Xiang to attack Guo Huai, Fei Yao, and Sima Yi at Mt. Qi. Wei general Zhang He planned a night attack on the Shu camp, but was ambushed and killed in the Mumen Trail defile.
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Prior to this conflict, the Shu army had performed a siege at Chen Cang. Zhang He was ordered by Cao Rui to deal with Zhuge Liang, granting him an army of 30,000. The Wei soldiers were worried by Zhang He's late arrival, as they feared his forces would have come too late to do any good. Zhang He was undeterred, knowing that Zhuge Liang's army came from a great distance and their supplies were already exhausted. He predicted that the enemy commander would retreat at once since Shu hardly had enough food to last ten more days of their siege. Nonetheless, Zhang He planned a night attack on the same day. Zhuge Liang retreated before the raid commenced. Zhang He's cunning, keen perceptions of the northern terrain, and exceptional leadership made Zhuge Liang fear him.
During Shu's Fourth Northern Campaign, Zhuge Liang ordered Mount Qi to be surrounded. The Hanjin Chunqui records he sent Wei Yan, Wu Ban, and Gao Xiang to attack Guo Huai, Fei Yao, and Sima Yi. On the other hand, the Record of the Three Kingdoms only notes Wang Ping charging into battle. The Wei army countered with Zhang He's leadership, but they were repulsed by Wang Ping's troops. Zhuge Liang then ordered the Shu army to withdraw at once. According to the Weilue, Zhang He was ordered by Sima Yi to pursue. The general was resistant and stated, "It is a common military tactic to leave one side open for the enemy in order to surround them. We shouldn't chase a cornered foe." However, Sima Yi was in a position where he didn't hear the protest in time and Zhang He was ambushed by arrows. He died during the assault. The Record of the Three Kingdoms doesn't record any protest from Zhang He as he closed in on Zhuge Liang's troops. During the pursuit, Zhuge Liang turned his troops around and awaited the general. When the Wei general passed through a wooden gate, he and his forces were attacked by arrows. Zhang He was wounded in his right knee and died during the fighting.
What happened after Zhang He's death is unclear. The Book of Jin claims that Zhuge Liang then pressed onward toward the mountain and met with Sima Yi's remaining army. Sima Yi lead his troops and they repelled their enemies promptly. All other records of the battle note a conflict resulting in Zhang He's demise, but they have no recorded accounts of a "victor". The Wei forces did have a boost in promotions after the battle, but it's not clear if it was because of their supposed victory. Since Zhuge Liang had no demotions within his ranks -which would have happened if he had suffered defeat as the Book of Jin has written, it is presumed that he ordered the army to retreat. The reasonable suggestion for this plan was due to the lack of supplies to continue the expedition and the rainy weather.