The fall of Shu (蜀汉灭亡) in 263 CE was the conquest of Shu Han by the armies of Cao Wei, by then effectively controlled by the Sima family. Sima Zhao sent Deng Ai and Zhong Hui to invade. Jiang Wei held the passes, but Deng Ai led a force through the supposedly impassable Yinping route, emerged in the Chengdu plain, and forced Liu Shan to surrender.
The invasion
Zhong Hui’s army advanced through the passes and engaged Jiang Wei. Deng Ai took a small force through the mountains and reached Jiangyou and Mianzhu. The Shu capital Chengdu was exposed; Liu Shan’s court debated resistance or surrender. With Zhuge Zhan killed in the field and no relief in sight, Liu Shan surrendered to Deng Ai. Jiang Wei, learning of the surrender, laid down his arms before Zhong Hui.
Aftermath
Shu Han was abolished; its territory was incorporated into Wei. Liu Shan was moved to Luoyang and given a title. Jiang Wei later persuaded Zhong Hui to rebel against Sima Zhao; the revolt collapsed and both Jiang Wei and Zhong Hui were killed. The fall of Shu left only Eastern Wu to face the soon-to-be Jin dynasty and marked the beginning of the end of the Three Kingdoms period.