Shu Han After Kongming's Death

Zhuge Liang's death felt like an ending.

For Shu Han, it was also a test.

Could the state continue without the man who had managed its law, army, supply, and political purpose?

At first, the answer was yes.

Jiang Wan Holds the State

Before Zhuge Liang died, he named Jiang Wan as the man who could take responsibility after him.

Jiang Wan did not try to become another Zhuge Liang.

That was important.

He governed steadily, reduced unnecessary pressure, and focused on keeping Shu intact. The northern expeditions had consumed enormous resources. After years of war, the state needed breathing room.

Jiang Wan still understood the goal of restoring Han.

But he did not rush into large campaigns.

He considered different routes and possibilities, including movement along the Han River, but his health declined before any great plan could be carried out.

Under Jiang Wan, Shu did not expand.

But it did not fall apart.

Fei Yi Chooses Restraint

After Jiang Wan, Fei Yi became the main minister.

Fei Yi was careful, moderate, and good at balancing people.

He also restrained Jiang Wei.

Jiang Wei wanted to continue Zhuge Liang's northern strategy. He believed Shu could not simply sit inside the mountains and wait. If Wei was controlled by the Sima clan and internally unstable, there might still be chances.

Fei Yi disagreed with large campaigns.

He allowed Jiang Wei to lead troops, but limited the scale. He did not want Shu's small population and treasury to be exhausted by repeated attacks.

This created a tension that would define Shu's last decades.

Jiang Wei wanted pressure.

Fei Yi wanted survival.

Huang Hao Enters the Story

Another danger grew inside the palace.

Liu Shan, the emperor of Shu, increasingly trusted the eunuch Huang Hao.

Huang Hao was not a battlefield commander and not a great minister. His power came from access.

He could influence what the emperor heard, who received favor, and which warnings were taken seriously.

As long as Jiang Wan and Fei Yi were strong, Huang Hao could be contained.

But the more the old ministers disappeared, the more space he gained.

This mattered because Shu's situation required clear judgment.

The state was small. Its enemies were larger. Bad information at court could become a national danger.

Jiang Wei Takes the Front

In 253, Fei Yi was assassinated by Guo Xiu, a man who had once come from Wei territory.

With Fei Yi gone, Jiang Wei had more freedom.

He launched repeated northern campaigns.

Some brought tactical gains. Others ended in withdrawal. None broke Wei's control of the northwest.

Jiang Wei was talented and loyal, but he inherited a hard problem.

Shu lacked the manpower and supply base to keep forcing decisive war. Wei could lose battles and still survive. Shu could not afford endless costly failure.

At court, not everyone supported him.

As Huang Hao's influence grew, Jiang Wei's enemies found more room to attack.

A State Living on Momentum

Shu Han after Zhuge Liang was not immediately weak because Zhuge Liang had left institutions behind.

Jiang Wan and Fei Yi used those institutions to slow decline.

But the state still faced the same basic problem.

It claimed to restore the Han, yet it lacked the strength to conquer the north. If it stopped campaigning, its founding mission faded. If it kept campaigning, its resources drained.

Jiang Wei chose action.

The court around Liu Shan increasingly chose comfort, faction, and avoidance.

Those two directions could not remain together forever.

Next, Jiang Wei is forced away from Chengdu as palace politics turns against him.