(I'm a bit busy with something at home, so I won't have much time these next couple of days. I also have to drive for eight hours every day, and I feel like I'm going to die from exhaustion. I'll take two days off, but I really can't spare the time. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll resume updating the day after tomorrow. Please forgive me!)
The following are just excuses to reach the word count for posting individual chapters and requesting leave; please don't mind.
With the passing of Zhuge Liang, the Five-Zhang-Zhang general, the Shu Han, like autumn leaves, gradually lost its former vitality. Huang Hao, a eunuch, seized the opportunity and began stirring up trouble in the court. While Zhuge Liang was still alive, Huang Hao was relatively restrained, but after the fall of this pillar of Shu Han, Huang Hao's ambition and greed began to swell unchecked. Liu Shan's doting on him further fueled his arrogance.
The internal rifts within Shu Han became increasingly apparent. After losing the support of Jing Province, officials in both Yi Province and Jing Province became embroiled in a power struggle, forming two distinct factions. In this tug-of-war, Liu Shan appeared powerless to reverse the situation, forced to watch helplessly as the foundations of the state were gradually eroded.
The external situation was equally precarious. Although Zhuge Liang was gone, Jiang Wei shouldered the heavy responsibility of the Northern Expeditions, repeatedly venturing deep into the northern territories in an attempt to revive the glory of the Han Dynasty. Unfortunately, these valiant actions ultimately became the catalyst for the rapid demise of Shu Han, not only depleting the country's financial and human resources but also bringing Shu Han's military talent to the brink of depletion.
When Sima Zhao unleashed Deng Ai, this fierce tiger, aimed directly at the heart of Shu, the fate of Shu Han was already sealed. Deng Ai cleverly bypassed Jiang Wei's defenses, launching a surprise attack all the way to Chengdu. This threw Liu Shan, who had initially thought he could sit back and watch the tigers fight, into a panic, ultimately forcing him to open the gates and surrender.
However, amidst this turbulent period, not everyone chose to submit. The heroic suicide of King of Beidi Liu Shen, in Liu Bei's Temple, and the unwavering loyalty of Zhuge Zhan and his family to the Han dynasty, became the most moving memories of that era. Liu Shan and his family were relocated to Luoyang; although their lives were not in danger, they were merely clinging to life.
Of all these records, there is a mysterious force that has never appeared. They are the last elite of Shu Han, carrying Zhuge Liang's prophecy, silently fleeing this war-torn land, setting sail on unknown seas. Their whereabouts remain a mystery, but legend has it that in the distant future, they fulfilled that great prophecy, allowing the soul of Shu Han to continue.
Amidst the turbulent Three Kingdoms, the Qiang Army left its unique mark on the long river of history. The iron cavalry, forged by Ma Teng of Xiliang, was inherited by his son Ma Chao after Ma Teng's tragic demise. Driven by revenge, Ma Chao's forces struck fear into the hearts of Cao Cao's army in numerous battles.
A twist of fate led Ma Chao and his cousin Ma Dai to ultimately join Liu Bei, granting Shu Han the unique advantage of the Xiliang cavalry. However, historical records only scratch the surface of their story; Ma Chao's tale ended abruptly, and the fate of the Qiang Army remains a mystery.
During the Northern Expeditions and the Southern Campaigns of Shu Han, Ma Dai and his Qiang Army were undoubtedly the backbone of the Shu Han army. Especially after Shu Han's burning of the enemy camps, their figures frequently appeared on the battlefields of Shu Han, establishing immortal achievements. However, after Shu Han killed Wei Yan, news of the Qiang Army seemed to disappear into the dust of history, and there were no more written records of their presence.
However, their fate may not have been as ephemeral as it appears. Legend has it that Zhuge Liang left behind a secret plan guiding the Qiang Army to migrate to distant overseas lands. At the end of the Shu Han, the Qiang Army seems to have embarked on a long march to the southwest, eventually finding a place to settle in what is now Myanmar.
This hypothesis is not unfounded. In the area, numerous ancient sites and legends have been discovered, involving the tribe known as the "Qing Qiang" and the cities they built, such as Meng Huo City, Kong Ai City, and even a Marquis Wu Shrine. These relics and legends seem to whisper that the Hero deeds of Zhuge Liang and the Qiang Army left a deep imprint on this land.