Heroes in history have always shown extraordinary talent and courage in troubled times. What would have happened if history had given them more time? For example, Wang Meng, Murong Chui, Liu Yu, Tuoba Tao and Yu Wenyong, if they can live for another 20 years, who will be the most likely to unify this land full of smoke?
Before discussing the possibilities of these historical figures, let's review their respective historical backgrounds and personal abilities. Wang Meng, this name may not be well known among today's young people, but during the period of the Sixteen Kingdoms, he was definitely a well-known figure. As Fu Jian's right-hand man, Wang Meng's wisdom and strategy were the key to the Former Qin's ability to briefly unify the north. He is not only a prime minister who is well versed in internal affairs, but also a military strategist who is good at using soldiers, comparable to Zhuge Liang in ancient times.
If Wang Meng can live for another 20 years, by 395 years, although he is old, his rich political and military experience will definitely make the former Qin's national strength to a higher level. Think about it, a septuagenarian can still hold a lot of power and continue to give advice to Fu Jian, can those young enemies still escape his calculations?
The historical Fu Jian did not listen to Wang Meng's last words, which led to the rapid decline of the former Qin. If Fu Jian could listen to Wang Meng's words, the civil strife in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and Murong Chui's Northern Yan would not be a concern at all, and the former Qin would probably dominate the country.
Speaking of Murong Chui, the military talent of this generation of heroes is also top-notch, but his political wisdom is far inferior to his military force. If Murong Trai lived for another 20 years, in 416, even if he practiced it, he lacked the foresight and wisdom to govern the country, and I am afraid it would be difficult to truly unify the whole country. Coupled with the continuous political mistakes, Murong Chui's Northern Yan Dynasty has always been in turmoil.
Liu Yu is another type of hero. He rose from an ordinary general to the pinnacle of power, and eventually established the Southern Song Dynasty. Liu Yu's political and military talents are balanced, and if he can live another 20 years, his dream of unifying the north and the south is likely to come true. After all, he has enough ability to quell civil unrest and the foresight to lay out the whole country.
Tuoba Tao and Yu Wenyong were also rulers with their own merits. Tuoba Tao's strong military strength and steady policy made the Northern Wei Dynasty gradually stronger, if he lived for another 20 years, the territory of the Northern Wei Dynasty may be even larger, and even go south to directly threaten the Southern Dynasty. Tuobatao's political skill and military prowess gave him the upper hand in the war of unification, but his rule still relied on force and force, and lacked more civil rule.
Yu Wenyong's situation is more complicated. He was able to stabilize his position in the situation, making it possible for the Western Wei Dynasty to unify the Northern Zhou Dynasty. If Yuwen Yong lived for another 20 years, his successor might inherit his political strategy and military skills to further consolidate and expand the power of the Northern Zhou.
Now, let's do a thought experiment. If these figures in history had lived for 20 more years, what would have happened to their respective countries and forces? Wang Meng's wisdom and experience were enough for Former Qin to continue to grow strong under his guidance, and even expand his territory again in his later years. Murong Chui may miss the opportunity due to internal political instability, and Liu Yu's Southern Song Dynasty may succeed in the Northern Expedition under his leadership, sweeping away many forces in the north.
The situation of Tuoba Tao and Yu Wenyong is even more interesting. Tuobatao's Northern Wei Dynasty may have had more time to plan and execute his Southern Expedition plans because of his longevity, while Yuwen Yong may have laid out the plan in advance so that the Northern Zhou would be more stable after his death and would not have too much civil strife due to succession issues.
While these assumptions cannot change history, they can provide a deeper understanding of the energies and limitations of these historical figures. Every decision, every war, and even every fortuitous event can rewrite the course of history. In this process, Wang Meng's strategy, Liu Yu's perseverance, Tuoba Tao's bravery, and Yu Wenyong's wit were all indispensable colors of that era.
Whether from a military, political, or humanistic point of view, the role of these leaders should not be underestimated. Their existence is not only their personal history, but a microcosm of the entire era. If they could live another 20 years, their talent and ambition would make it possible to redraw the map of China's history. But all this can only be a hypothetical game of history.
Through this hypothetical analysis of "time and space travel", although the process of history is composed of thousands of accidents and inevitabilities, individual ability and decision-making undoubtedly play an important role in it. If Wang Meng, Murong Chui, Liu Yu, Tuoba Tao, and Yu Wenyong can really live for 20 more years, their wisdom and strength may bring us a completely different historical situation.