si-mexico Chapter 490 (Must Read) The Death of Zhuge Liang, Who Was His Successor in the Northern Expedition?
Chapter 490 (Must Read) The Death of Zhuge Liang, Who Was His Successor in the Northern Expedition?
[Note before reading this chapter: This chapter is independent of the main storyline and has a different timeline. It is a historical deduction. You can treat it as a historical story or for entertainment. Different opinions are welcome to be discussed at the end of the chapter, but please refrain from criticizing the author.]
AD 234
The autumn wind is chilly, and fallen leaves cover the ground, like the candlelight at Wuzhang Plain, burning to its last moment.
Shu Army Camp
Wei Yan looked worried.
People say he is arrogant, but he is the one who least wants Zhuge Liang to die.
Only he knew that with Zhuge Liang around, the Northern Expedition had cohesion and a chance of success!
If the Prime Minister were no longer here...
that……
All is over!
Suddenly, the curtain of Zhuge Liang's tent was lifted, and Jiang Wei walked out.
"General Wei, the Prime Minister is looking for you."
Jiang Wei's youthful vigor contrasted sharply with Wei Yan's advanced age.
Wei Yan quickly responded:
"The Prime Minister is here! Wait for me, Old Wei!"
Seeing Wei Yan rush into the tent in a panic, Zhuge Liang smiled slightly, his face showing kindness and compassion.
Although the two were about the same age, Wei Yan always acted like a child in front of Zhuge Liang.
This is perhaps a true expression of one's personality.
The Shu Han state had talents like Wei Yan and Jiang Wei, which were invaluable treasures.
"Wen Chang, how many years have we known each other?"
Zhuge Liang asked Wei Yan.
Wei Yan counted on his fingers and replied:
"Prime Minister, it's been twenty-six years!"
"Has twenty-six years already passed?"
Zhuge Liang's eyes were slightly red, as if he was recalling the past.
Wei Yan had known him for twenty-six years.
It has been twenty-eight years since he met the late emperor!
Twenty-eight years have passed, and the former Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun are no longer here.
Now, his life is also about to come to an end.
Does the Great Han Dynasty still have a chance of winning in the future?
As if guessing what Zhuge Liang was thinking, Wei Yan said to him:
"Prime Minister, I will lead the army back to Hanzhong safely."
"No matter how cunning Sima Yi is, I will make sure he suffers the consequences!"
"Please get well soon."
"Everyone... is still waiting for you to lead us into Chang'an, recapture Luoyang, and return the old capital!"
Zhuge Liang gave a bitter smile:
"Wen Chang, I don't have much time left."
"Now, I have only one request."
"Prime Minister, please don't just make one request, even if you make ten thousand, I will definitely grant it!"
Zhuge Liang nodded and asked Wei Yan to wait a moment.
Fifteen minutes later, Yang Yi, looking travel-worn and with red eyes, walked in.
"Yang Yi! You scoundrel..."
When Wei Yan saw Yang Yi, his eyes were filled with barely suppressed anger.
After Ma Su's death, Yang Yi became the Right Chief Secretary of the Northern Expeditionary Army.
The role of the Chief Secretary is to advise on military matters.
When the commander is absent, he has the authority to make decisions before departure.
In short, Yang Yi was Zhuge Liang's deputy and the undisputed second-in-command of the Northern Expeditionary Army.
This position used to belong to Ma Su.
The question is, who was the Left Chief Secretary of the Northern Expeditionary Army?
It was Wei Yan!
Note that these were not official positions, but rather duties during the Northern Expedition.
Wei Yan was the General Who Conquers the West and the Marquis of Nanzheng.
But his official position was of no use whatsoever except for showing off.
Like Li Yan, whose official rank was even higher than Zhuge Liang's.
However, the main task of Shu Han was the Northern Expedition.
If you don't participate in the main storyline of the Northern Expedition, you'll only end up as a high-ranking mascot.
Yang Yi glanced at Wei Yan sideways and sneered:
"Wei Wenchang, you mustn't come up with that far-fetched plan of launching a surprise attack on Chang'an through the Ziwu Valley again!"
"Our Han army is small and its generals are few. Every soldier and every penny must be used wisely."
"It has been three years since the last Northern Expedition. The Prime Minister and we have gone through many years of hardship to finally raise enough funds for the army."
"No matter how much you plead, I will never agree to let you lead my Han men on a surprise attack on Ziwu Valley!"
After saying that, Yang Yi glared fiercely at Wei Yan.
Normally, the core military affairs of the Northern Expeditionary Army were discussed by Zhuge Liang, Yang Yi, and Wei Yan.
Yang Yi is steady and has strong military supply management skills, which are essential qualities for every second-in-command.
Wei Yan was an extremely capable commander with a brilliant and unconventional military mindset.
In fact, Zhuge Liang almost agreed to his Ziwu Valley surprise attack strategy.
But in the end, despite Yang Yi's persuasion, he still didn't dare to gamble.
If they lose the bet, it could cost the lives of tens of thousands of men from Yizhou!
Seeing Wei Yan and Yang Yi locked in a tense standoff, Zhuge Liang, instead of being angry, smiled and grasped their hands, saying:
"Everyone outside thinks that you two are like oil and water, and that you don't talk to each other."
"But only Liang knows that the so-called conflict between the two of you is just a difference in military views."
"From now on... if Liang isn't around, you two must never do this again!"
"If someone with malicious intent were to exploit this, given your personalities, you would surely be doomed!"
"We will heed the Prime Minister's instructions!"
Wei Yan and Yang Yi bowed in unison.
Zhuge Liang then chatted with the two of them for a long time.
As for Jiang Wei, he stood behind and listened the whole time.
Yang Yi and Wei Yan are not young anymore.
The future belongs to Jiang Wei!
Therefore, after Ma Su's death, Zhuge Liang spared no effort in cultivating Jiang Wei.
Jiang Wei was also diligent in learning and asking questions, and he became a lubricant between Wei Yan and Yang Yi, reconciling their differences on military matters.
It can be said that all three of them were Jiang Wei's teachers.
Zhuge Liang was like this, and so were Yang Yi and Wei Yan!
……
It's getting late.
Zhuge Liang felt extremely tired and dismissed Wei Yan, Yang Yi, and Jiang Wei.
Six of the seven star lamps have gone out without anyone noticing.
The Seven Stars Extend Life is, of course, just a rumor.
Zhuge Liang's body was already on its last legs.
Suddenly a guard came to report:
"Reporting to the Prime Minister, His Majesty has sent Li Fu here."
"Oh? Is it Li Fu? He is a close advisor to His Majesty, so it is only right that he come."
Speaking of Li Fu, we must mention Liu Shan.
Zhuge Liang recalled the kind-hearted boy who used to surround him every day, asking him all sorts of questions.
"It's a pity, I'm afraid I won't be able to return to Chengdu in time, nor will I be able to see His Majesty one last time."
"Let Li Fu pass on my message to His Majesty."
Li Fu walked in.
Li Fu represents Liu Shan at this moment.
Such a top-secret conversation was impossible for even Jiang Wei, Yang Yi, or Wei Yan to hear, let alone Yang Yi.
Half an hour later.
With a bitter expression, Li Fu stepped out of the tent and announced Zhuge Liang's death to everyone.
"Prime Minister!!!"
Wei Yan, Yang Yi, and Jiang Wei all wept.
Although we knew that Zhuge Liang's passing was an inevitable outcome.
But when that moment arrives, the emotions are simply uncontrollable.
As night falls
Fei Yi arrived at Wuzhangyuan from Hanzhong!
Jiang Wan is still in Chengdu.
……