Mythical Three Kingdoms

”We are here to train troops, to assist, not to engage in a death struggle. Zhuge Kongming, have you considered the limits of Roman expansion? Have you considered the limits of Parthian expansion?” Sheni Pei, after finishing the lengthy talk above, calmed down a bit and then looked at everyone and said.

”The extreme boundary of Roman expansion eastward is roughly in the area of Media. As for Parthia...” Zhuge Liang paused for a while before speaking. He really couldn’t bring himself to discuss the limits of Parthian expansion; he had thoroughly understood Sheni Pei’s intention.

”The difficulty in deploying force will lead to the limits of national control, which is what you taught me. Since Rome’s ultimate control range is in Media, what is the point of competing with them? We can assist, we can train troops, but fighting to the death is absolutely out of the question.” Sheni Pei directly made his stance clear.

”If Rome, after conquering Parthia, can threaten our Han Dynasty, then without you having to say it, we should strike as fiercely as possible now. After all, a war occurring on someone else’s land is always better than on ours.” Seeing Zhuge Liang silent, Sheni Pei narrated everything he had thought through.

”But you have also seen the poor land route between Rome and Parthia. Compared to the Han Dynasty, they are far behind in this aspect. Given that, Rome poses no threat to us. What is the point of our fighting Rome desperately to protect Parthia?” Although Sheni Pei had personal motives, he indeed did not see the significance of helping Parthia fight Rome.

With the map, positions were determined. For Sheni Pei, neither Parthia nor Kushan were truly what the Han Dynasty should target. As for Rome, it’s too far, and given their advantage, attacking an empire across 30,000 li in this era, a victory for the Han Dynasty would be exceedingly difficult, let alone conquest.

Therefore, assisting Parthia in fighting Rome, Sheni Pei expressed no problem. Rome was too strong, it needed to bleed a bit, but Zhuge Liang was misguided; it should be our Han Army restraining Rome, while Parthia fights desperately, not Parthia restraining Rome and the Han Dynasty fighting desperately.

All the troops led by the Han Army were elite, made for decisive actions, not to waste against miscellaneous soldiers—that would be insane!

Moreover, once Sheni Pei received the map, determined positions for himself and the likes of Li Jue, he knew the Han Dynasty would definitely take action against Kushan and Parthia because, once Li Jue completely mastered the Onion Ridge Region, the Han Dynasty effectively shared borders with Parthia and Kushan.

Just how strong Parthia and Kushan were, Kushan, Sheni Pei hadn’t seen, but Li Jue mentioned they sent a Super Elite Legion to probe, and indeed, Parthia was very strong.

Once Parthia, through foreign conquest, truly suppressed internal noble conflicts and restored the empire’s peak, the Onion Ridge Region occupied by Li Jue and others would inevitably clash with Parthia. As for alliances, the Han Dynasty and Huns were supposed to be brother countries, right? Can you believe it?

Look where the Huns are now; that’s a joke. Not expanding when strong? That would be insanity!

After all, for any nation, no matter how the previous generation acquired fertile lands, whether by deceit or theft or other unscrupulous means, if this generation loses it, it is a disgrace. So don’t be fooled by Parthia’s current rhetoric about easily gifting the land east of the Caspian Sea to the Han Dynasty.

If Parthia’s strength returns, then if they do not covet these territories, they are fundamentally being foolish.

This is reality; everything else is nonsense. The Han Dynasty is respected by surrounding countries because of strength, not other nonsensical reasons.

Parthia currently listening to you, Zhuge Liang, is not because of your wisdom; without you, Zhuge Liang, Parthia would certainly have its own Staff Group. What they need is the Han Dynasty behind you.

”This aspect was my oversight.” Zhuge Liang paused for a while before speaking. Although Sheni Pei’s words were radical, his position was not wrong. The other party had considered the necessary details.

”Zheng Nan, the map you requested has been prepared.” Chen Gong, seeing Zhuge Liang admitting his mistake, took out a large roll of maps from his sleeve and handed it to Sheni Pei.

”This was pieced together from maps collected by Gongtai. Although due to issues with maps from various places, this map has certain omissions, the general position and distance are accurate. Come, see the extreme control range I drew.” Sheni Pei opened the map, bearing a strong resemblance to the Eurasian portion of the map Chen Xi made years ago.

”Taysi is here; Parthia can control up to the Aegean Sea to the west, and to the Onion Ridge to the east. Rome’s eastward extreme can control up to Media, while our westward control, if the previous plan is executed—roads constructed and Ma Zheng successfully implemented—can reach here!” Sheni Pei pointed at the extreme position on the map.

”Unfortunately, from this aspect, Parthia must either submit or perish because, according to Chen Zichuan’s plan, Parthia and Kushan are definite targets for action. If I estimate correctly, if we are truly to divide territory in the Central Asia region, Media as our boundary with Rome makes complete sense.” Sheni Pei pointed at the red line he drew on the Parthian lands, sneering.

”Chen Zichuan absolutely intends to reach here, and it happens that in this era, our military force and national power can deploy to this region. Previously I might have had doubts, but paired with Chen Zichuan’s words at the time, the logistics in Central Asia would likely be supplemented by aristocratic families!” Sheni Pei sneered, pointing at the scarlet line, ”Divide Parthia in two, Chen Zichuan is not as benevolent as you think!”

Zhuge Liang remained speechless; once Sheni Pei marked the control range, Zhuge Liang already thoroughly understood that the Han Dynasty and Parthia had no possibility of reconciliation!

Building roads from Chang’an to Onion Ridge, with enough pack horses, the Han Dynasty’s extreme control range indeed reached Media; while once Parthia regained strength, their eastern control limit also reached the Onion Ridge, resulting in territorial conflict between the restored Han Dynasty and Parthia.

”So, we can assist Parthia, but we are not aiding their recovery of national strength to become capable of threatening us, rather we are helping Parthia fend off Rome, making Rome bleed.” Sheni Pei slowly rolled up the map, looking at everyone and said.

”Our army is all elite. What we should do is not waste against miscellaneous soldiers, killing countless won’t make Parthians realize our importance. Our correct action is to help Parthia restrain Rome’s Super Elite or Military Spirit Legions, preventing them from operating freely, allowing Parthia to bleed Rome, weakening Rome, rather than allowing Parthia to grow uncontrollable in strength.” Sheni Pei spoke with cold, ruthless eyes.