Chapter 697: Chapter 336: [Tianshui Qilin, Blue Star Netizens in Confusion]

By the time everyone reacted the next day, it was too late to catch up. After finally arriving at Shanggui, they found the city gates tightly shut, unwilling to open no matter how they called out.

No choice.

The group turned towards Ji County.

But Ji County also refused to allow Jiang Wei and his companions entry.

Meanwhile, the Shu army had already appeared behind them, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Jiang Wei and his companions could only surrender to Shu Han.

He then followed Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu, on the Northern Expeditions, but Ma Su’s defeat at Jieting led to their failure. The Shu army retreated, and Jiang Wei was forced to leave his mother.

Seeing this.

The viewers from Blue Star in the livestream were stunned, and the comments flooded in:

[What the hell? That Ma Zun is too over the top, isn’t he? He ran just because he doubted?]

[6666, what the hell is this?]

[Honestly, anyone would be scared in this situation. The Shu army is coming, and all the counties under his rule surrender. With so many people around him, if any has disloyal intentions, it would be disastrous.]

[Stop explaining, the guy is just cowardly. How did someone like this become a governor?]

[It’s hilarious. Not only did Shanggui refuse to open the gates, but so did Ji County, sending the group gift-wrapped to Shu Han.]

[Exactly, how funny is that.]

No one knew what to say, this is.... truly pushing them over to the other side.

Coming to one city, the gates are closed. Coming to another city, still closed, with the Shu army watching them. They were too few to stand against them.

They had no choice but to surrender together.

As Jiang Wei entered Shu.

The scene shifted to Chancellor Zhuge’s side.

Zhuge Liang appointed Jiang Wei as a secondary general. Observing him secretly, he grew more satisfied, even writing in a letter to Zhang Yi and Jiang Wan:

"Jiang Wei is diligent and thoughtful in affairs, with meticulous thinking. His talents surpass even Li Shao and Ma Liang."

"He is a noble talent from Liangzhou."

The praise was unreserved.

And at this moment, Jiang Wei had no idea how lucky he was going to be.

The scene shifted again.

After severe trials and impressive ability to train soldiers.

Zhuge Liang decided to impart all his skills to Jiang Wei.

In the scene.

Jiang Wei dismounted and knelt respectfully, Zhuge Liang raised him and then passed on his Eight Formation Arrays to Jiang Wei.

The scenes flickered by.

Jiang Wei studying by candlelight in a military tent.

Standing by Zhuge Liang’s side while observing his commands, with Zhuge Liang explaining, Jiang Wei listened intently.

Zhuge Liang entrusted his written military books to Jiang Wei, whose body shuddered as tears filled his eyes, bowing in respect.

The scenes flashed by rapidly.

Until the mourning cloth came into view as Zhuge Liang passed away at Wuzhangyuan.

The banner emblazoned with "Recapture the Central Plains" fluttered in the wind as Jiang Wei stared at the large characters with unwavering determination.

But....

Things would not proceed as smoothly as he imagined.

Though Jiang Wei hoped to inherit Zhuge Liang’s will, after Zhuge Liang’s death, Jiang Wan and Fei Yi successively took charge, and for 19 years, all of Shu adhered to the policy of ’defending the state and ruling the people, safeguarding the social order’.

This period saw Shu Han’s stable development, but its military made little progress.

Jiang Wei’s path to advancement was slow and difficult.

From 234 to 247.

There were minor skirmishes, but they were unable to launch a Northern Expedition.

It wasn’t until Jiang Wei rose from Assistant General of Han to General of Zhenxi and then to Governor of Liangzhou that he finally gained partial military autonomy.

But by then, 13 years had passed since Zhuge Liang’s death.

Fei Yi explicitly limited Jiang Wei’s troop numbers to "no more than ten thousand men."

Until 253.

Fei Yi was assassinated by Guo Xiu, a surrendered officer of the Wei Kingdom.

It was then that Jiang Wei took command of the military.

In the same year.

Zhuge Ke, a minister of Eastern Wu, planned to take advantage of the great victory at Dongxing to launch a Northern Expedition and sent word to Jiang Wei to join forces.

Jiang Wei agreed.

In the spring of the 16th year of Yanxi (253)....

In the summer of the 17th year of Yanxi (254)....

....

In the 20th year of Yanxi (257)....

In the first year of Jingyao (258)....

....

In the 5th year of Jingyao (262).

On both banks of the Mang River, Wei and Shu armies faced each other across the water.

Jiang Wei rode solo to the riverbank, loudly calling out Deng Ai’s name, challenging him to a duel.

Yet from across the river.

Deng Ai sat calmly, smiling but saying nothing.

The standoff increasingly drained resources, till the point where the Shu army’s provisions were used up, soldiers were visibly suffering from hunger, and any battle would end in defeat.

In deep night.

Jiang Wei stood in the midst of the military camp, looking up at the bright moon, and couldn’t help but draw his sword and cry out to the heavens:

"Heaven does not help Han!"

"What can I do? What can I do?!!!"

The following morning.

The Wei army discovered that the Shu army across the river had quietly withdrawn during the night.

In the 6th year of Jingyao (263).

When Jiang Wei heard that Wei’s famous general Zhong Hui was preparing troops at the Central Pass, he wrote to Liu Shan asking him to dispatch generals to guard Yang’an Pass and Yinping Bridge to prevent disaster.

But Liu Shan’s interior minister, Huang Hao, believed in superstitions and told Liu Shan that Wei would not attack, which ultimately led to the Wei Army’s five-route attack on Shu, initiating the war of annihilation. By the time Zhong Hui advanced through the Luo Valley and Deng Ai entered Tazhong, Liu Shan finally reacted.

But at this moment, it is already too late.

Having lost the initiative, with the Shu general Jiang Shu opening the city to surrender, the pass was easily seized, allowing them to drive straight into the heart of Shu.

Upon learning of Zhong Hui’s entry into Shu, Jiang Wei could only lead his troops to retreat and fight defensively, engaging and retreating simultaneously.

But the Wei cavalry relentlessly pursued from behind.

Until they fell back to Jiange.

Though leveraging the treacherous terrain of Jiange, they managed to hold off the Wei main force.

However, Deng Ai stealthily crossed Yinping and captured Chengdu, delivering only the news of Shu’s downfall and Liu Chan’s surrender to the distant Jiang Wei at the front.

In the scene.

The moment he received the news, the greying Jiang Wei spat a mouthful of blood, lamenting:

"I was prepared to fight to the death, why did Your Majesty surrender first!!!"

Inside the military tent.

A group of generals gathered around, looking at Jiang Wei with concern, someone supporting the nearly fainting Jiang Wei.

The scene shifts.

Deep into the night, Jiang Wei knelt before Zhuge Liang’s spirit tablet, his voice wailing in sorrow:

"I, Jiang Wei, am incompetent, bringing harm to the nation and its people."

"I have failed the Chancellor’s great trust."

"I may be lacking in talent and wisdom, but my loyalty is evident, and I will protect the foundation established by the late emperor to my last breath."

It seems a decision was made.

Jiang Wei took out brush and ink, and sent a handwritten letter to Chengdu.

Up till now.

Since the death of Zhuge Liang, Jiang Wei had led nine punitive expeditions against the Central Plains, yet heaven seemed not to favor Shu Han.

In the live broadcast room, Blue Star netizens sighed.

Turning around.

It showed Jiang Wei surrendering to Zhong Hui.

This scene.

Left the Blue Star netizens watching in the live broadcast room bewildered.

Wasn’t it?

Just now he was protecting the foundation, how did he surrender in an instant?

The scene shifts.

When this letter reached Liu Chan’s hands.

Liu Chan had already accepted the fact that he was a surrendered lord, yet when he opened the envelope, he couldn’t help but shudder:

"I have a plan, certainly it can bring light back to Han and restore stability from danger."

"But I implore Your Majesty to endure a few days of disgrace...."

Though it wasn’t explicitly stated.

The Blue Star netizens in the live broadcast room had already figured it out.

Jiang Wei must have made a fake surrender.

This....

Isn’t this a bit too bold?

Based on their understanding of the history of the Three Kingdoms, Shu Han ultimately did not succeed, which means Jiang Wei’s strategy failed.

Then according to the earlier scene.

Jiang Wei’s record in later generations would likely brand him as a traitor.

His reputation after death was all wagered on it.

The Blue Star netizens familiar with the Huaxia series naturally understood how important posthumous reputation is in the land of Huaxia, especially in ancient times.

While pondering.

Suddenly.

The scene showed Liu Chan making an unexpected move.

He did not burn the letter.

Instead, he carefully hid it away, and even felt uneasy, changing its hiding place several times.

This scene.

Made the minds of Blue Star netizens buzz.

If this secret letter were discovered.

Liu Chan would surely be torn apart, dying a gruesome death.

The best solution is to destroy it immediately after reading.

What was Liu Chan’s purpose in doing this?

The Blue Star netizens in the live broadcast room did not understand.

Suddenly.

A comment floated by:

"Perhaps... Liu Chan knew it was impossible, but kept the secret letter to vindicate Jiang Wei in the future?"

The appearance of this comment.

Brought a moment of silence in the live broadcast room.

This perspective?

They hadn’t thought of it, but based on Liu Chan’s previous actions, could he really have such an idea?

Maybe... he would?

It’s hard to believe, yet this seems to be the closest answer to the truth.

Since once such a secret letter was exposed.

Liu Chan would certainly be tortured in all manners and then killed.

After all, being a stable mascot was fine, but he harbored thoughts of restoration?

Wasn’t it restoration?

Fine.

Then they would just kill this last bloodline of Shu Han and see how those people restore any kingdom, whose kingdom?

One could say Liu Chan was gambling with his life.

This contrast.

With the previous scene of him opening the city gates in surrender, drinking and making merry with the Wei general in the hall, it was a huge contrast.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com