Season 1 · Episode 46 · 3 min read
Jiang Wei Avoids Disaster in Shu Han
Jiang Wei kept fighting for Shu Han, but the danger behind him in Chengdu became almost as serious as the armies in front of him.
After Fei Yi's death, Jiang Wei had more freedom to command.
That freedom did not mean security.
Shu Han's frontier pressure increased, but so did the danger inside Chengdu.
Jiang Wei Keeps Attacking
Jiang Wei believed Shu had to keep pressure on Wei.
He had inherited Zhuge Liang's northern ambition, but not Zhuge Liang's authority. He could command armies, yet he could not fully control the court.
His campaigns produced mixed results.
At times he defeated Wei forces and threatened the northwest. At other times he ran short of supplies, met strong resistance, or withdrew without major gains.
The problem was not simply Jiang Wei's ability.
Shu was small.
Every campaign cost grain, labor, horses, and soldiers. Wei could absorb pressure more easily than Shu could sustain it.
Still, Jiang Wei kept trying.
To him, stopping meant letting Shu slowly die.
The Rise of Huang Hao
In Chengdu, Huang Hao became more powerful.
He was a eunuch close to Liu Shan. His influence came from palace access, not public achievement.
Jiang Wei disliked him and understood the danger.
Huang Hao favored others and helped turn opinion against Jiang Wei. Some at court argued that Jiang Wei's campaigns exhausted the state and brought little result.
This criticism was not entirely invented.
The wars were costly.
But Huang Hao's role made the matter worse. Military policy was becoming mixed with palace favoritism and personal survival.
Jiang Wei even considered removing Huang Hao.
Liu Shan refused.
The emperor told Jiang Wei that Huang Hao was only a minor servant and not worth such concern.
That answer revealed the problem.
The man who seemed minor was already shaping what the emperor saw.
Staying Away From Chengdu
Jiang Wei realized that returning to court could be dangerous.
If Huang Hao and his allies accused him, he might be removed or killed. A general with troops is useful on the frontier, but frightening inside the capital.
So Jiang Wei chose to remain away.
He went to Tazhong and stationed troops there, partly to farm and support the army, partly to avoid palace disaster.
This was not a normal solution.
One of Shu's leading generals was keeping distance from his own court because he could no longer trust it.
That weakened coordination at exactly the wrong time.
Wei Sees the Opening
In the north, Sima Zhao watched Shu closely.
Wei had already changed. The Cao emperor remained, but the Sima clan held real power. Sima Zhao wanted a great achievement that would strengthen his position further.
Shu looked vulnerable.
Its court was divided. Jiang Wei was away from Chengdu. The mountain defenses were strong, but not impossible to bypass. If Wei moved quickly, it might break Shu before Jiang Wei could respond.
Some Wei officials hesitated.
Campaigning into Shu was dangerous. Mountain roads had defeated large armies before.
But Sima Zhao decided to act.
He ordered a major invasion.
Deng Ai would move against Jiang Wei at Tazhong. Zhong Hui would lead the main force toward Hanzhong.
The Last Warning
Jiang Wei sensed danger and sent warnings to Chengdu.
Huang Hao trusted divination and claimed Wei would not come. The warning was not handled with the seriousness it deserved.
By the time the court reacted, Wei armies were already moving.
Shu's last crisis had begun.
Jiang Wei had avoided one disaster at court by staying away.
But that distance also meant he was not in Chengdu when the state needed clear command.
Next, Wei's invasion breaks through the mountains, and Liu Shan faces the choice that will define his memory.