Mythical Three Kingdoms

The strategies of Kushan and Parthia were not actually wrong, but taking the same path led to vastly different outcomes for both.

The Thirty-Six States of the Western Regions served as a buffer zone between Parthia and the Han Dynasty. Parthia couldn’t make a move, considering that the Huns were once a top-tier imperial power but were directly crushed by the Han. Even strong as the Huns were, they suffered greatly, so naturally, Parthia would avoid courting disaster. Of course, had they sent troops back then, they might have gained some advantage.

After all, in the late years of Martial Emperor’s reign, the Han Court was already in dire straits, but the bloody warfare between the Han Dynasty and the Huns was brutal, not a battle won by strategic calculations. The blood nearly stained the Great Prairie red.

This kind of madness made Parthia abandon the east. The Han envoy was welcomed by more than twenty thousand cavalry because Parthia was truly frightened by the ferocious battles between the Huns and the Han Court, fearing that a victory over the Huns by the Han would mean they were next.

Anyone witnessing two brave warriors clashing in the center of a field, with each blow drawing blood, would be intimidated, even if they themselves were quite manly.

The goods circulating along the Silk Road from the Han Dynasty were priceless for those in the Western Regions. In the eyes of Parthia, the Han Dynasty was a prosperous and powerful super empire. While it indeed was a super empire, prosperity was debatable; the Martial Emperor’s actions could arguably be labeled as reckless military ventures.

This was recorded as one of the most stunning diplomatic receptions in history, with twenty thousand cavalry sent to greet a foreign envoy...

However, this indeed startled Martial Emperor, and with the Han Dynasty’s finances already stretched thin at the time, he could only suppress his impulses. Both sides, wary of each other, managed to peacefully exchange a couple of envoys.

A hundred years later, both sides suffered a major setback. While Parthia knew the Han Court was in trouble, a thin camel is still larger than a horse, right? Moreover, the Han Court wasn’t dead yet.

So Parthia ventured westward, annexing many small countries and greatly enhancing its national strength. As nation-destroying became habitual, it was difficult for the country to restrain itself since the benefits of conquest spread generously across all societal levels.

In this situation, Parthia suddenly realized that no method of gaining wealth matched the speed of war. War brought them all benefits, and the strength of the Parthian Empire allowed them to swiftly subdue small countries!

Through war, Parthia gained land, through war, Parthia gained slaves, through war, Parthians gained everything, and finally, through war, Parthians ran into disaster.

Simply put, traveling the dark road often enough, you’re bound to encounter a ghost eventually. Parthia kept fighting and advancing westward driven by insatiable greed, ultimately crashing into Rome...

Over the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, in the Mesopotamia, Rome and Parthia clashed for over a century, fighting over that fertile land, and in the end, Rome, with its superior national power, wore Parthia down.

Yet, Parthia was still an empire. The Rome that wore down Parthia was also past its peak and began a decline.

As for Kushan, doing the same as Parthia, but armed with sharper wits. As descendants of the Great Yuezhi, who were routed by the Huns and Han before they could act, they knew not to act rashly, opting for thorough investigations before taking action.

With such caution, Kushan naturally avoided any unexpected issues, successfully acquiring a wealth of fertile land, with a population rapidly exceeding ten million, and its combat power aimed directly at Rome.

But the cautious Kushan didn’t fall into a martial trap; instead, they stumbled into a cultural pit. The cultural legacy of the Great Yuezhi was not particularly high, especially considering it was a state established by exiled descendants. First, they encountered Nepal, the birthplace of Buddhism, and then plunged into the trap of the Indian caste system...

This is an issue of cultural resistance. Originally with the potential to rise, Kushan, lacking its own cultural foundation, became brainwashed by Buddhism. Several successive monarchs either became Buddhist fanatics or fervent believers, and the entire nation was manipulated by Buddhism and Indian people...

Thus, while this era is referred to as one of Four Great Empires, aside from the Han Dynasty and Rome, which were powerhouses, the other two were riddled with internal problems.

Though Han Dynasty and Rome were also rife with troubles internally, at least they maintained a commanding combat power, exuding significant presence amid a precarious situation surrounded by wolves.

”Seize it.” Guo Jia indeed acknowledged this sentiment, ”It is certainly an effective way to divert conflicts, and it indeed suits us. However, plundering small countries isn’t very meaningful; we should set our sights on Parthia. I believe conquering an empire would be unprecedented for the Central Plains.”

”I think so too. How can we tolerate others snoring at our bedside?” Lub Su stated firmly, shedding previous urgency, confident that with ten years as a buffer, they would fear nothing.

Given the current situation, in another ten years, while unifying the Central Plains, they would also elevate the Central Plains to heights far exceeding any previous era. With such circumstances, Lub Su was confident that even if there were dozens of empires in the world, they would undoubtedly rank on the same level as the aristocratic family Chen-Xun within the empires!

”So, we still have time. For us now, we must prepare for the next great battle before unification. The war in the Central Plains is merely a small-scale skirmish for us, and all of you mustn’t lose face over it.” Chen Xi said with a smile, making Jia Xu and others keenly feel the pressure.

”We will surely win, and it will definitely be a flawless victory. The scenario like Yuan Shao’s battle will never happen again. Everyone with a name and reputation is extremely valuable to us now, so I need more resources invested in the intelligence system.” Jia Xu nodded, offering assurance.

”You want to investigate Parthia? Hmm, it’s hard to probe there. I just acquired a map of the Southern Silk Road, which I can give you. As for resources, you might have to wait a bit for money, while Zijing can approve the rest for you.” Chen Xi knew what Jia Xu intended, and did not refuse.

”We will handle the funding ourselves.” Li Youu gestured to Chen Xi, indicating he still had plenty of the ten billion currency left unspent.

”Oh, then we’ll rely on you, Wen Ru. Wen He, try to see if your intelligence system can penetrate the enemy’s backyard. We don’t need them to transmit any intelligence, just ensure the safety of the enemy’s family when necessary, as you said they are indeed treasures from some perspectives.” Chen Xi added more tasks to Jia Xu’s workload.

”Leave it to me, everyone put in the effort. Our opponents are no longer Cao Cao and Yuan Shu, but the true overlords of the world.” Jia Xu’s expression remained largely unchanged, though his tone grew much more solemn. (To be continued. If you like this work, please go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)