During the Three Kingdoms period, a battle that decided the fate of Shu Han was quietly staged. The Wei army led by Deng Ai unexpectedly attacked Chengdu, the heart of Shu Han, through the Yinping Path, and this strategic move directly accelerated the demise of Shu Han. Behind this, there is a voice that has been ignored by history: "If Wei Yan were still here, Shu Han might not have perished so quickly!" Wei Yan, a general who was misunderstood and neglected at the end of Shu Han, how appropriate and forward-looking was his military thinking and strategic deployment? Today, let us lift the dust of history together and pursue those truths that have been forgotten by time. Is the disagreement between Wei Yan and Jiang Wei really the catalyst for the demise of Shu Han?
It is said that the world is divided into three parts, Wei Shu and Wu, each with a ghost fetus, and they are dumping each other. As one of the three legged parties, although its geographical location is dangerous, it is also facing the crisis of being annexed at any time because of the small and sparsely populated area. In this case, Wei Yan's military talent and strategic vision are particularly important.
Wei Yan, a general from a humble background but rising step by step, his military career almost ran through Shu Han. The most praised is his military exploits in Hanzhong. Hanzhong, located in a dangerous location, is a battleground connecting Shuzhong and the north. Wei Yan guarded Hanzhong for many years, making it difficult for the Wei army to penetrate deep into Shuzhong.
Wei Yan's strategy was very clear: stick to the key passes, strictly defend to the death, he knew that in a weak country like Shu Han, once he took the initiative to attack, he was likely to be swallowed up by the enemy due to insufficient troops. What he advocated was a defensive tactic, which coincided with the policy of his predecessor Zhuge Liang. Under Wei Yan's insistence, Hanzhong became a strong barrier for Shu Han.
The good times did not last long, and after Zhuge Liang's death, the military command of Shu Han was gradually transferred to Jiang Wei. The differences between Jiang Wei and Wei Yan in military thinking became increasingly obvious. Although Jiang Wei was brave, his use of troops was biased towards attack, and he was very happy, which was very different from Wei Yan's defensive strategy. Jiang Wei's successive Northern Expeditions, although they were huge, had little effect, but instead made Shu Han's national strength increasingly depleted.
What is particularly critical is that Jiang Wei's big mistake in decision-making gave up the yin level that Wei Yan adhered to. According to the records of the "Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms", Jiang Wei took the initiative to evacuate Yinping in order to mobilize more troops for the Northern Expedition, which directly opened the door for Deng Ai's surprise attack. Deng Ai was overjoyed when he saw the hunt, seized the vacancy left by Jiang Wei, and led the elite soldiers to penetrate the hinterland of Shu Han from the Yinping path. Along the way, Deng Ai's army encountered almost no major resistance, which shows how fragile the defenses around Yinping were. If Wei Yan is still around, will he stick to Yinping and continue his defensive strategy, so as to win more living space for Shu Han?
Although Wei Yan's strategy was denied by Jiang Wei, his military talent and foresight were unquestionable. In his view, the way to survive in Shu Han lies in stabilizing the interior and consolidating the border defense, rather than attacking blindly. This shift in strategy is not just a military choice, but also a thoughtful consideration of the country's future destiny.
The wheel of history has rolled forward, and although Jiang Wei's Northern Expedition has not been rewarded, it also shows the bravery and unyielding of the soldiers at the end of the Shu Han Dynasty. After the success of Deng Ai's surprise attack, the fate of Shu Han was a foregone conclusion. In the first battle of Mianzhu, Shu general Zhuge Zhan died, Chengdu was self-defeating, Liu Chan, the queen of Shu Han, surrendered, a generation of heroes, a legend, with Deng Ai's order, drew an end.
This period of history not only reflects the struggle between Wei, Shu, and Wu, but also reflects the importance of internal strategic choices. Although Wei Yan's strategy was ignored by later generations, his military thinking and deep understanding of the safety of Shu Han are worthy of deep consideration by future generations. In the long river of history, although it is impossible to verify whether Wei Yan can change the fate of Shu Han, his persistence and wisdom in strategy are indeed worth remembering.
Looking back on Wei Yan and Jiang Wei, one can't help but sigh: the process of history is complex and changeable, and behind every decision, there may be hidden forces that change the course of history. Wei Yan's defensive strategy and Jiang Wei's aggressive mentality constituted a complex strategic map in the late Shu Han period. Although the outcome of history cannot be changed, by exploring these "ifs", we can better understand the richness and complexity of history, as well as the choices and efforts of each person in it. Wei Yan's strategic thinking may really provide some enlightenment for decision-making in today's world, that is, how to make the most realistic choice between change and change.