Jiang Wan, styled Gongyan, was from Xiangxiang in Lingling, Hunan. When he was young, he and his nephew, Liu Min from Quanling, were both well-known.
Jiang Wan joined Liu Bei in Shu and became a clerk, later appointed as the magistrate of Guangdu County. Once, Liu Bei visited Guangdu in disguise and found Jiang Wan doing nothing and drunk. Liu Bei was furious and wanted to punish him and even considered executing him. At that moment, Zhuge Liang stepped forward and pleaded, stating, "Jiang Wan is a pillar of the country, not merely a petty local official. His governing philosophy is to pacify the people, not to engage in superficial actions. I hope you can reconsider, my lord." Liu Bei always respected Zhuge Liang, so he spared Jiang Wan but hastily removed him from his position.
After his dismissal, Jiang Wan had a nightmare in which he saw a bleeding cow's head in front of his house, which left him feeling very unsettled. He quickly visited a fortune-teller, Zhao Zhi, about the dream. Zhao Zhi said, "Seeing blood in a dream indicates clarity. The horns and nose of the cow resemble the character 'Gong,' indicating that you will rise to a high position. This is a sign of great fortune!" Before long, Jiang Wan was appointed magistrate of Shifang County. Later, when Liu Bei became King of Hanzhong, Jiang Wan was promoted to Official of the Ministry of Personnel. In the first year of the Jianxing era, Zhuge Liang established his office and summoned Jiang Wan to serve as an aide in the Eastern Bureau.
Later, Jiang Wan was recommended as a person of great talent, but he declined the recommendation and instead put forward Liu Yong, Yin Hua, Pang Yan, Liao Chun, and others. Zhuge Liang responded, saying, "Consider this: those who harm the people for personal gain, everyone is well aware of this, and people near and far do not understand their actions. Therefore, you should clearly outline your contributions and the individuals you recommended, in order to demonstrate your fairness and rigor in selecting talents." Jiang Wan was later promoted to serve as a military officer. In the fifth year of Jianxing, Zhuge Liang was stationed in Hanzhong, while Chief Clerk Zhang Yi remained in Chengdu to manage the affairs of the prefecture. In the eighth year of Jianxing, Jiang Wan succeeded Zhang Yi as the Chief Clerk and was also appointed as the General Who Pacifies the Army. Zhuge Liang frequently went on military campaigns, and Jiang Wan always ensured that the army had sufficient provisions and troops. Zhuge Liang often said, "Gong Yan is loyal, upright, and of noble character, and will definitely assist me in achieving great accomplishments with the future emperor." He also secretly recommended Jiang Wan to the future emperor Liu Chan, saying, "If I unfortunately pass away, the future matters should be entrusted to Jiang Wan."
After Liang's death, Wan was appointed as the Minister of Personnel, and soon after was promoted to the Protector of the Capital, granted the title of Commander-in-Chief, appointed as the Inspector of Yizhou, and later promoted to Grand General, overseeing the affairs of the Masters of Writing, and given the title of Marquis of Anyang. At that time, having just lost their Grand Marshal, everyone was very fearful and uneasy. However, Wan excelled, outperforming the other officials. He exhibited neither sorrow nor arrogance, carrying himself as he always did. As a result, he gradually earned the admiration of everyone.
In the first year of the Yanxi era, the emperor issued a decree to Wan, saying, "The enemy has not yet been defeated, Cao Rui is arrogant and ruthless, and the three counties in Liaodong are suffering from his oppression, which has severed our ties. Cao Rui is also mobilizing troops on a large scale and waging war against each other. In the past, the Qin Dynasty perished because Sheng and Guang rebelled first. Now such changes have occurred again; this is all a matter of fate! You must enforce strict governance, command all armies to station in Hanzhong, closely monitor the movements of the Wu Kingdom, restrain each other from both sides, and seize the opportunity to attack." The emperor also ordered Wan to establish a government office, and the following year promoted him to Grand Marshal.
Yang Xi, an official in the Eastern Bureau, was rather brief in his remarks. Wan sometimes did not respond to him. Someone wanted to report Yang Xi's behavior in front of Wan, saying, "You talk to Yang Xi and he doesn't respond; isn't that a bit disrespectful to a superior?" Wan said, "Everyone's hearts are different, just like everyone's faces are different; judging people by their appearance alone has been warned against by the ancients. Is Yang Xi praising me, or opposing me? Those aren’t his genuine feelings. If he wants to oppose me, it will only show that I am right, so I don't speak; this is the best result for Yang Xi."
There was also a farm inspector named Yang Min, who once criticized Wan, saying, "You are procrastinating; you truly are not as capable as my predecessors." Someone told Wan about this, and the supervisor wanted to punish Yang Min. Wan said, "I truly am not as capable as my predecessors; I cannot punish him." The supervisor insisted on punishing him, so he asked Wan in what way Yang Min was procrastinating. Wan said, "If he does things improperly, it is definitely against the rules; actions that go against the rules are bound to be delayed. What else is there to ask?" Later, Yang Min was imprisoned for committing a crime, and everyone feared for his life, but Wan remained completely unfazed and ultimately helped him avoid a severe punishment. Wan's conduct and behavior were like this.
Wan felt that Zhuge Liang had tried several times to scout Qin Chuan, but the journey was perilous and logistics were challenging. In the end, he ultimately failed to conquer it, so it would be wiser to take boats downstream. Therefore, he built many boats and planned to attack Wei Xing and Shangyong from the Han River and Mian River. However, his old illness flared up again, preventing him from setting out. It was generally believed that if a swift victory was not achieved, the journey back would be extremely challenging, and this was not a long-term plan. Therefore, they dispatched Fei Yi, the Minister of Personnel, and Jiang Wei, the Central Supervisory Officer, to persuade him.
After accepting the order, Wan wrote a memorial saying, "It is my duty to eradicate evil and restore order. Since I was ordered to guard Hanzhong, it has been six years. I lack the necessary abilities, and with illness plaguing me, I have not achieved anything, burdened with worry day and night. Now that Wei has a firm hold over the Nine Provinces, with deep roots and immense power, it is not easy to completely eliminate it. If we launch attacks from both the east and west, keeping each other in check, even if we cannot achieve our goal quickly, we can gradually weaken its power. However, after several battles with Wu, we have yet to secure a decisive victory, and I am restless day and night. After discussing with Fei Yi, I believe the Hu region in Liangzhou is crucial, strategically advantageous for both offense and defense, and highly valued by the enemy. Moreover, the Qiang and Hu tribes are keen to align themselves with the Han dynasty. Our army previously sent a detachment to the Qiang region, defeating Guo Huai. After weighing the pros and cons, I believe we should start from here, so I suggest appointing Jiang Wei as the Governor of Liangzhou. If Jiang Wei leads an expedition and secures the Hexi region, I can lead the army as his backup. Now that the transportation in Fuling is convenient, we need to react quickly. If there is an urgent situation in the northeast, providing support will be manageable." Therefore, Wan finally returned to Fuling. His condition deteriorated, and he passed away in the ninth year and was posthumously honored with the title Gong.
Zi Bin, the official title is General of Suiwu and Defender of Hancheng. Zhong Hui, the Grand General of Wei, arrived in Hancheng and wrote to him: "The Ba Shu region has many talented and intelligent individuals who are well-versed in both literature and military affairs. People like you and Zhuge Siyuan are truly like my peers, my good friends. This 'respect for one's hometown' has been revered throughout history. I have traveled west to pay my respects to the noble kings and the tombs of the lords, personally cleaning the graves and making offerings. Could you please tell me where their tombs are?" Zi Bin replied: "I am aware of your kindness and care for me; I cannot refuse your generous invitation. My father fell ill before and passed away in Fu County; we chose a suitable location to lay him to rest. I know you are heading west and still want to come and pay respects at my father's tomb. You regard my father as your own, which is truly as benevolent as Yan Hui! Hearing your message fills me with both gratitude and sorrow, deepening my longing for my father." Zhong Hui received Zi Bin's reply and deeply appreciated his sentiments, and when he arrived in Fu County, he did as the letter instructed. Later, after the surrender of the Emperor, Zi Bin went to Fu County to see Zhong Hui, who treated him like a friend. They went to Chengdu together, but were tragically killed by marauders. Zi Bin's younger brother, Zi Xian, served as an attendant to the Crown Prince, and Zhong Hui also recognized his talent, but he too met the same fate as Zi Bin.
Liu Min served as the Left Guard and General Yangwei, together with General Wang Ping, guarding Hanzhong. When Wei sent General Cao Shuang to attack Shu Han, some people thought they should only defend the city and not go out to resist the enemy, believing that the enemy would retreat on their own. However, Liu Min believed that the common people were working in the fields, and the food was in the fields. If the enemy entered, it would spell disaster. So, he led his troops with Wang Ping to occupy the high ground and set up numerous flags that stretched over a hundred miles. When General Fei Yi arrived from Chengdu, the Wei army retreated, and Liu Min was rewarded for his achievements and titled the Marquis of Yunting.
Fei Yi, styled Wenwei, was from Meixian, Jiangxia (Meixian pronounced as Mang). He became orphaned at a young age and lived with his father's brother Ren. Ren's aunt was the mother of Liu Zhang, the Governor of Yizhou. Liu Zhang sent someone to invite Ren, and Fei Yi went to study in Shu with Ren. When Liu Bei conquered Shu, Fei Yi stayed in Shu and became famous alongside Xu Shulong from Runan and Dong Yun from Nanchun.
Once, when the son of Xu Jing passed away, Dong Yun and Fei Yi wanted to attend the funeral together. Dong Yun asked his father Dong He for a carriage, and Dong He sent him a broken-down ox cart. Dong Yun looked embarrassed, and Fei Yi took the initiative to help and got on the cart first. At the funeral, Zhuge Liang and many other dignitaries were present, with only a few carriages available. Dong Yun still appeared discontented, while Fei Yi was relaxed and at ease. When the cart driver returned and reported to Dong He, he understood the situation and said to Dong Yun, "I’ve always been uncertain about who is more capable, you or Fei Yi, but now I see it clearly."
Liu Bei established his crown prince, and Fei Yi and Dong Yun served as retainers together, later being promoted to sons of the state. After Liu Shan succeeded to the throne, Fei Yi became the Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. When Prime Minister Zhuge Liang returned from his southern campaign, many officials went to greet him from dozens of miles away. Many officials held higher positions than Fei Yi, but Zhuge Liang intentionally had Fei Yi ride in the same carriage with him, leading everyone to regard Fei Yi in a new light. When Zhuge Liang returned from the south for the first time, he sent Fei Yi as the Colonel of the Zhaoxin to visit the state of Wu. Sun Quan was a humorous person, speaking in a humorous and indirect way. Zhuge Ke, Yang Mao, and others were talented and sharp in debate, while Fei Yi spoke gently and respectfully, giving logical and well-founded answers, and ultimately managed to hold his ground against Sun Quan. Sun Quan highly valued him, saying to Fei Yi, "A person of your virtue will surely become a pillar of the Shu Han court. I fear I may not see you often in the future." Upon returning to Shu, Fei Yi was promoted to Palace Attendant. Zhuge Liang, stationed in Hanzhong, appointed Fei Yi as his aide due to his multiple missions to Wu and his competence in his duties. In the eighth year of Jianxing, Fei Yi was promoted to Central Protector-General, and later became the Marshal. At that time, the military advisor Wei Yan and the chief clerk Yang Yi harbored mutual hatred, arguing whenever they were together. Wei Yan even drew his sword to threaten Yang Yi, who was left in tears. Fei Yi often intervened between them, persuading them to separate. While Zhuge Liang was alive, Wei Yan and Yang Yi could each fulfill their roles, thanks to Fei Yi's mediation. After Zhuge Liang's death, Fei Yi was appointed Rear Military Advisor. Shortly after, he succeeded Jiang Wan as the Prefect of the Masters of Writing. When Jiang Wan returned from Hanzhong to Fuling, Fei Yi was promoted to Grand General and oversaw the affairs of the Masters of Writing.
In the year 244 AD, the Wei forces stationed at Xingshi, (Zhuge) Dan received orders to lead a large army to defend. The Grand Commandant Lai Min went to see Dan, wanting to play a game of Go with him. At that time, war reports were coming in rapidly, soldiers were wearing armor, preparing for battle, and everything was ready, but Dan and Lai Min were focused on playing Go, without a hint of urgency. Lai Min said, "I just wanted to test your character! You are indeed a reliable person; you will surely defeat the enemy!" Dan arrived at the front line, and the enemy indeed retreated; he was granted the title of Marquis of Chengxiang. Dan resolutely declined the post of Governor of Yizhou, but eventually took on the role. His achievements and status in the court were nearly on par with those of (Zhuge) Dan.
In the year 248 AD, Dan was stationed at Hanzhong. From Zhuge Liang to Dan, although they were both away, major matters such as rewards, punishments, and laws had to be consulted with the court and approved before execution, demonstrating the court's trust and reliance on them. Fourteen years later in the summer, Dan returned to Chengdu. Some fortune tellers in Chengdu said that there was no position for a chancellor in the capital, so he was transferred to garrison Hanshou in the winter. In the year 252 AD, the court ordered Dan to establish a government residence and office. In early 253 AD, a grand banquet was held, and Guo Xiu, who surrendered to the Wei kingdom, was also in attendance. Dan got drunk and was killed by Guo Xiu, and was posthumously honored with the title of Jing Marquis. His son inherited the title and became a Court Attendant; his brother married a princess; his eldest daughter married Crown Prince Sima Xuan and became the Crown Princess.
Jiang Wei, known as Boyue, was from Tian Shui Ji County. He lost his father at a young age and lived with his mother. He was very fond of studying the teachings of Zheng Xuan. Later, he became the Senior Clerk of the county and was later called up to serve as an Attendant. Because his father Jiang Ji previously served as a county magistrate and was killed in battle while defending the county governor during rebellions by the Qiang and Rong tribes, the court appointed Jiang Wei as a Junior Officer and allowed him to participate in military affairs in his home county.
In the sixth year of Jianxing, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang led an attack on Qishan. At that time, the Prefect of Tian Shui was away on an inspection, and Jiang Wei, along with Clerk Liang Xu, Registrar Yin Shang, and Recorder Liang Qian, accompanied him. When the Prefect heard that the Shu army was approaching and that all counties were supporting them, he suspected Jiang Wei and the others of being disloyal, so he fled in the middle of the night and hid in Shanggui County. Jiang Wei and the others discovered the Prefect had fled and quickly pursued him, but when they arrived at the city gates, they were closed and were denied entry. They had no choice but to return to Ji County, where they were turned away as well. They decided to look for Zhuge Liang. They ran into him as he was retreating after Ma Su's defeat at Jieting. Zhuge Liang withdrew his troops, took over a thousand households from Xixian, and brought Jiang Wei and his group back to Chengdu, which led to Jiang Wei being separated from his mother.
Zhuge Liang appointed Jiang Wei as the Cangcao Clerk, promoted him to the rank of General of Righteousness, and granted him the title of Marquis of Dangyang. At that time, Jiang Wei was only twenty-seven years old. Zhuge Liang wrote a letter to his Chief Clerk Zhang Yi and his Military Advisor Jiang Wan, saying, "Jiang Boyue is loyal to his duties, works diligently and considers issues thoroughly. He is more capable than Yongnan and Jichang. He is a rare talent in Liangzhou!" Zhuge Liang also wrote in the letter, "Train the Zhonghu Infantry of five to six thousand soldiers first. Jiang Boyue is very sharp in military matters, has courage and a sense of justice, and understands military tactics. He has the Han Dynasty's legacy in his heart, surpassing others. He should be well taught in military matters, and then sent to the palace to meet the emperor." Later, Jiang Wei was promoted to Central Military Supervisor and General Who Conquers the West.
Twelve years later, Zhuge Liang passed away, and Jiang Wei returned to Chengdu, where he was appointed as Right Supervisor of the Army and Assistant General Supporting the Han, commanding various armies and titled Marquis of Pingxiang. In the first year of Yanxi, he followed the Grand General Jiang Wan to guard Hanzhong. After Jiang Wan was promoted to Grand Marshal, he appointed Jiang Wei as his Marshal, leading some troops to the west for battle. In the sixth year, Jiang Wei was promoted to Grand General of the Western Defense and Governor of Liangzhou. Ten years later, he was promoted to Guard General and collaborated with Grand General Fei Yi on administrative matters. That year, the Yi tribes in Wenshan and Pingkang revolted, and Jiang Wei led the army to quell the rebellion. He also led troops to Longxi, Nan'an, and Jincheng, where he fought against the Wei generals Guo Huai and Xiahou Ba in Taosi. The tribal leaders, including Hu Wangzhi, surrendered, and Jiang Wei resettled them. In the twelfth year, the court granted Jiang Wei command authority, and he led troops to the west, but returned empty-handed. Jiang Wei believed that he was familiar with the customs of the west, had talent and military strength, and wanted to unite with the Qiang and Hu people as his allies, believing that he could seize and control the territory stretching west from Longxi. He consistently sought to launch a large-scale offensive, but Fei Yi consistently imposed restrictions and disagreed, resulting in his forces never exceeding ten thousand troops.
In the spring of the sixteenth year of the reign, Fei Yi passed away. In the summer, Jiang Wei led tens of thousands of troops from Shiyin, passed through Dongting, surrounded Nan'an, and Wei's Governor of Yongzhou, Chen Tai, led troops to relieve the siege, advancing towards Luomen. Due to a shortage of supplies, Jiang Wei had to retreat. The following year, Jiang Wei was appointed as the Supervisor of Military Operations. He led troops to Longxi, where the defender of Dida, Li Jian, surrendered. Jiang Wei then besieged Xiangwu, fought against Wei general Xu Zhi, achieved a great victory, causing the Wei army to be defeated. Jiang Wei pursued the enemy and recovered many territories, reclaiming the territories and their people of Heguan, Dida, and Lintao. Eighteen years later, Jiang Wei, alongside General Xiahou Ba, led troops from Dida, defeating Wei's Governor of Yongzhou, Wang Jing, in Taosi, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties. Wang Jing retreated to Dida, and Jiang Wei besieged the city. Wei's General of Conquest in the West, Chen Tai, led troops to relieve the siege, forcing Jiang Wei to retreat to Zhongti.
In the spring of the nineteenth year, Jiang Wei was promoted to the rank of Grand General. He reorganized the army and planned to meet with West General Hu Ji in Kuaiji. However, Hu Ji broke the agreement and did not show up, leading to Jiang Wei's defeat by Wei general Deng Ai in Duangu, resulting in heavy casualties and the army scattered. The people were resentful, and the region west of Longxi fell into turmoil. Jiang Wei apologized to the court and requested to be demoted. He was eventually appointed as Rear General but retained the powers of a Grand General.
Twenty years prior, General Zhuge Dan of the Wei Kingdom rebelled in Huainan, which led the Wei Kingdom to mobilize troops from Guanzhong to quell the uprising. At this time, Jiang Wei saw an opportunity to attack Guanzhong, so he led tens of thousands of troops from Luogu and headed straight for the Great Wall. At that time, the Great Wall was stocked with a substantial amount of provisions, but there were few defenders, and the news of Jiang Wei's approach terrified them. The Wei Kingdom's generals Sima Wang and Deng Ai rushed from Longyou to set up defenses along the Great Wall. Jiang Wei arrived at Mangshui and set up camp in the mountains. Sima Wang and Deng Ai encircled Jiang Wei near the Wei River, but despite Jiang Wei's repeated challenges, they refused to engage in battle. In the first year of the Jingyao era, Jiang Wei learned that Zhuge Dan had been defeated, so he withdrew his troops to Chengdu and was subsequently reappointed as a general.
Initially, Liu Bei ordered Wei Yan to guard Hanzhong, deploying strong contingents at various strongholds to defend against external enemies and prevent them from entering. During the Battle of Xingshi, Wang Ping resisted Cao Shuang employing a similar strategy. Jiang Wei proposed a new plan, believing that the strategy of dispersing troops to defending multiple strongholds, although in line with the concept of "fortifying the gates" in the Book of Changes, merely defended against enemies without yielding any advantages. Instead, he suggested that in the event of enemy invasion, all strongholds should consolidate troops and food supplies, retreat to the fortified cities of Hancheng and Lecheng, prevent the enemy from entering, and then heavily guard the passes to resist the enemy. If conflict arose, the mobile units would exploit opportunities to strike. With the enemy unable to breach the passes and with no scattered provisions available in the wilderness, they would naturally become exhausted from transporting supplies over long distances. When the enemy retreated, troops from various cities would unite with the mobile units to thoroughly defeat them. Therefore, Jiang Wei ordered Hu Ji, who was in charge of military affairs in Hanzhong, to guard Hanshou, Wang Han to defend Lecheng, Jiang Bin to defend Hancheng, and established strongholds for defense in Xi'an, Jianwei, Wuwei, Shimen, Wucheng, Jianchang, Linyuan, and other strategic areas.
After five years, Zhuge Liang set out from Hanzhong and Houhe with his troops, but was defeated by Deng Ai, forcing him to retreat to Tazhong. Zhuge Liang, who was originally from another region, had relied on the state for many years of military campaigns but achieved little recognition. Eunuchs in the palace, particularly Huang Hao, wielded significant power, and the Right Grand General Yan Yu were in collusion with Huang Hao. Huang Hao secretly aimed to oust Zhuge Liang and elevate Yan Yu in his stead. Zhuge Liang had his suspicions about this. As a result, he felt quite apprehensive and chose not to return to Chengdu.
After six years, Zhuge Liang advised the Emperor, "I heard that Zhong Hui is leading troops in Guanzhong and is planning to attack. We should send Zhang Yi and Liao Hua to respectively guard Yang'an Pass and Yinping Bridge to guard against any eventualities." However, Huang Hao believed the words of those charlatans and said that the enemy would not attack proactively, so he advised the Emperor to ignore the matter, keeping the other ministers in the dark. When Zhong Hui was about to attack Luogu, and Deng Ai was about to attack Dazhong, they sent General Liao Hua to support Zhuge Liang at Dazhong, and General Zhang Yi, along with General Dong Jue and others, to support Yang'an Pass. When they arrived at Yinping, they heard that Wei General Zhuge Xu was about to attack Jianwei, so they halted and awaited further orders. One month later, Zhuge Liang was defeated by Deng Ai and retreated to Yinping. Zhong Hui laid siege to Hanshou and Lecheng, and sent other generals to attack the pass. Jiang Shu opened the city gates and surrendered, while Fu Qian resisted to death. Zhong Hui attacked Lecheng but was unable to capture it. Upon hearing that the pass was lost, he pressed forward. Zhang Yi and Dong Jue had just arrived at Hanshou when Zhuge Liang and Liao Hua also abandoned Yinping and retreated, encountering Zhang Yi and Dong Jue to defend the strategic position at Jiange against Zhong Hui. Zhong Hui wrote a letter to Zhuge Liang, saying, "You hold the title of Marquis, excelling in both civil and military affairs, possessing a strategic vision that transcends the times. Your achievements are renowned throughout Ba and Shu, your name is respected far and wide. Thinking back to our past collaboration, it was like that of Wu Qi and Zheng Qiao, where we could understand each other." Zhuge Liang did not reply, instead setting up defenses to hold the strategic position. Unable to break through, and with supply lines stretched thin, Zhong Hui resolved to withdraw his forces.
Deng Ai launched a surprise attack from Yingping through the Jinggu path and defeated Zhuge Zhan in Mianzhu. Liu Shan surrendered to Deng Ai, who swiftly took control of Chengdu. When Zhuge Liang and his men heard of Zhuge Zhan's defeat, some said Liu Shan wanted to hold out in Chengdu, some said he wanted to escape to Eastern Wu, and some said he wanted to flee to Jianning in the south. Therefore, Zhuge Liang and his men led troops from Guanghan and Qidao to gather intelligence. Later, upon receiving the Emperor's orders, they surrendered to Zhong Hui at Fucheng after laying down their weapons. The soldiers were angry and started striking stones with their blades.
After Zhuge Liang's death, Liu Shan, the Emperor of Shu Han, was generous to Jiang Wei and the others, returning the seals and official insignia that Zhuge Liang had entrusted to them. Liu Shan and Jiang Wei were inseparable, always side by side. Liu Shan even told his Chief Clerk Du Yu: "When it comes to Jiang Boyue's reputation in the Central Plains, those so-called Gongxiu and Taichu are no match for him!" Later, Liu Shan was manipulated by Deng Ai, who arrived in a prison cart to summon Liu Shan to Chengdu. Liu Shan took the opportunity to bring Jiang Wei and others to Chengdu, proclaiming himself the rebel governor of Yizhou. He even wanted to give Jiang Wei 50,000 troops to lead as vanguard! This infuriated the Wei soldiers, who swiftly executed Liu Shan and Jiang Wei, along with Jiang Wei's family.
Xia Zheng wrote an article evaluating Jiang Wei, saying: "Jiang Wei, known as Jiang Boyue, served as a general, with a high position and great power, but he lived in a dilapidated house and had very little wealth, with no concubines, and no entertainment like singing or dancing in the backyard. He wore only what was necessary, had just enough horses for riding, and his meals were very modest, neither extravagant nor stingy. He spent the court's funds responsibly; upon reflection, one might wonder why he lived this way, not out of a desire to show off or to deliberately restrain himself, but because he felt that this was enough, and he didn't care about having more. Many people assess historical figures, often praising the successful while belittling the failures, believing that Jiang Wei ultimately failed and perished, they dismiss him, which contrasts with the principles of commendation and condemnation found in the 'Spring and Autumn Annals.' A person like Jiang Wei, who was eager to learn, honest, and thrifty, truly exemplified the ideals of that era!"
When Jiang Wei accompanied Zhuge Liang to Shu, Liang Xu became the Grand Herald, Yin Shang became the Golden Guard, and Liang Qian became the Grand Chancellor. All of these individuals died before the fall of Shu-Han.
In conclusion: Jiang Wan was known for his steadiness and prestige, and Fei Yi was kind and loving. They both inherited Zhuge Liang's strategies and proceeded methodically without significant changes, so the borders were peaceful and the country was unified, yet they still did not effectively manage the finer details of governance necessary for maintaining national stability. Although Jiang Wei was skilled in both civil and military affairs, driven by an unwavering desire for success, he relied excessively on military strength, and his decision-making lacked thoroughness, which ultimately led to his demise and the fall of the state. As Laozi said, "Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish; it requires gentleness and meticulous care." Moreover, how could the small state of Shu-Han be so easily unsettled?
