Many people looked down on Deng Ai, believing the fellow had destroyed the Shu Kingdom through sheer luck.
But leading his soldiers across over seven hundred li of a human forbidden zone, then rolling down a cliff, then leading that exhausted army to defeat Zhuge Dan's imperial guards head-on, and finally storming Chengdu-this was practically a god descending to earth, a miracle in the history of warfare.
Many people pitied Deng Ai, believing his death had been a terrible injustice.
But the fellow really had sat in Liu Shan's seat and, in the name of the Son of Heaven, conferred appointments on the civil and military officials and appointed an Inspector of Yi Province, without reporting a single word.
He had no intention of rebelling. In truth, after taking Chengdu, even with the Shu Kingdom's army absorbed into his ranks, he was no match for the main army. He could defeat the Shu Kingdom while outnumbered, but against Wei, against its finest Central Army and a whole host of commanders and fierce generals, did he really think he could repeat that feat?
If he dared give the order to rebel, his own soldiers would be the first to flee.
Their families were all in Wei territory.
Since he did not want to rebel, why do things that would enrage the emperor?
Cao Mao had foreseen these circumstances, but he was not particularly alarmed.
The commander this time was not Zhong Hui. Zhuge Dan was relatively rational, and with men like Chen Qian there as well, even if Deng Ai did these things, they would not act against him directly. They would still have to send a dispatch asking Cao Mao's wishes before dealing with him.
As long as it did not spark a civil war and turmoil in Chengdu, there