Looking North, the Qilin: Jiang Wei Rebuilds the Han Realm

In the sixth year of the Jingyao era, Shu Han teetered on the brink of collapse. Jiang Wei fought desperately at Jiange, only to fall victim to Huang Hao's slander and Liu Shan's suspicions. His army was forced to retreat to Mianzhu. As Zhong Hui's forces closed in and Deng Ai's surprise troops crossed Yinping, Jiang Wei unexpectedly awakened the Seal of the Qilin's Heartslayer. It let him glimpse fragments of the future, but each vision cost him years of life.

To defy fate, he pretended to obey the emperor's will and surrendered his command, while secretly laying plans. He wove a network of jianghu forces and trade routes, forging connections with Nanzhong and Eastern Wu, and even infiltrating the powerful families of Cao Wei. He saved Zhang Yi and Zhuge Shang, who were supposed to die in battle, persuaded the Wei general Xiahou Ba to defect, and made the Qiang tribes of Longxi a surprise force. Right under Sima Zhao's nose, he spun a covert web spanning kingdoms.

Yet the future kept shifting. Would Liu Shan's surrender still go through? Would Deng Ai still die at the hands of Tian Xu? Was Zhong Hui's rebellion actually part of the Sima family's plan?

Jiang Wei burned away his lifespan to change fate, his hair turning completely white. This time, he would not die in lonely loyalty or remain trapped in Shu. He would look north toward Chang'an, ally with the Qiang tribes in the west, pacify the southern tribes, and make the whole realm his chessboard, drawing Cao Wei and Eastern Wu into the game!

“Chancellor, if your spirit still watches over us, then see how Boyue plays the realm like a game of chess. This time, the Han banner will fly far beyond Mount Qishan.”