Chapter 1505

His physical condition also gradually deteriorated due to long-term exhaustion. However, he remained steadfast at the front line, sharing the joys and sorrows with his soldiers, and facing difficulties and challenges together.

During the Northern Expedition, Zhuge Liang also focused on cultivating the younger generation of generals and talents. He knew deeply that only by cultivating more capable and responsible generals and talents could he ensure the long-term peace and stability of Shu Han.

Therefore, he actively selected young generals and gave them more opportunities and platforms to showcase their talents.

In the long river of Shu Han's history, although the era of Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang had become the past, their influence was profound, as brilliant as the stars, illuminating the path for those who came later. Liu Chan, the monarch who grew up under the protection of his father and the Prime Minister, gradually showed his talent for governing the country. Although his brilliance might not be as dazzling as his predecessors, he was also working hard to maintain the peace and stability of Shu Han.

Liu Chan knew deeply that it was difficult to support the entire country by his own strength alone, so he paid more attention to uniting the ministers in the court and listening to opinions from all sides. He established a more perfect remonstrance system, encouraged ministers to speak bluntly, and discussed national affairs together. Under his efforts, the political atmosphere of Shu Han became more open and inclusive, and ministers offered suggestions one after another, contributing their strength to the prosperity of the country.

In terms of military affairs, Liu Chan did not abandon the ambition of the Northern Expedition, but he also understood that conquest by force alone was not a long-term solution. Therefore, he began to pay attention to diplomatic relations with surrounding countries, expanding Shu Han's network of allies through marriage and alliances to jointly resist foreign enemies. At the same time, he also strengthened domestic military construction, improved the quality and combat effectiveness of the army, and ensured that the country had sufficient self-protection capabilities when facing external threats.

In terms of economy, Liu Chan continued to implement the policies left by Zhuge Liang, focusing on the development of agriculture, handicrafts, and commerce. He encouraged farmers to reclaim wasteland and plant crops to improve agricultural production efficiency; supported craftsmen to innovate technology and improve product quality; at the same time, he also promoted the prosperity of commerce, opened more markets, allowed merchants to trade freely, and promoted economic prosperity and development.

However, Liu Chan's rule was not all smooth sailing. During his reign, Shu Han also encountered multiple internal and external troubles.

Cao Wei in the north was still powerful and constantly launched attacks on Shu Han; while the ethnic minorities in the south also frequently rebelled, threatening the frontier security of Shu Han. Facing these challenges, Liu Chan showed a firm will and decisive decision-making ability. He personally led the army to go on an expedition to quell the rebellion; at the same time, he also strengthened cooperation with allies to jointly resist Cao Wei's attacks. Under his leadership, Shu Han gradually overcame these difficulties and maintained the stability and prosperity of the country.

With the passage of time, although Shu Han maintained relative peace and prosperity under Liu Chan's governance, the Cao Wei forces in the north did not give up their covetousness for the Central Plains and even the world. After the Cao Wei monarch Cao Pi, his son Cao Rui succeeded to the throne. He was young, vigorous, and ambitious, determined to unify the world and completely eliminate Shu Han and Eastern Wu.

Under Cao Wei's careful preparation, a war of unprecedented scale was quietly brewing. Cao Rui mobilized the elite troops of the whole country, appointed Sima Yi as the Grand Commander, led hundreds of thousands of troops, divided into several routes, and marched towards the border of Shu Han in a mighty manner. When the news reached Chengdu, the entire Shu Han court was shocked, and Liu Chan immediately summoned civil and military officials to discuss countermeasures.

Facing the aggressive onslaught of Cao Wei, different voices emerged within Shu Han. Some advocated for holding the cities firmly, utilizing the advantage of the terrain to wait for the enemy to tire themselves out; others advocated for taking the initiative to strike, giving the Cao army a head-on blow while they were not yet firmly established. At this critical moment, the Chancellor's Office Chief Clerk Jiang Wan stepped forward. He analyzed the current situation and believed that Cao Wei's power was too great to be resisted by force, but the Shu roads were treacherous and easy to defend but difficult to attack; as long as the strategy was appropriate, it was entirely possible to repel the enemy army.

Liu Chan adopted Jiang Wan's suggestion, decided to adopt a defensive posture, and sent the great general Jiang Wei to lead troops to the front line to set up defenses relying on the dangerous terrain. At the same time, he also strengthened the alliance with Eastern Wu, sent envoys to Eastern Wu to seek help, and jointly resisted Cao Wei's attack.

The Cao Wei army, under the command of Sima Yi, was like a hot knife through butter, continuously capturing multiple cities on the border of Shu Han. However, when they penetrated deep into Shu and prepared to march towards Chengdu, they encountered stubborn resistance from the Shu army led by Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei used the terrain advantage to set up multiple lines of defense, making the Cao army unable to move an inch.