Zhuge Liang Northern Expeditions
Creator: starhal || First Published: 09/20/2025 || Players: 2 || Size: 50x30
Categories: None
Rating: 0 in 0 ratings
For design map discussion or to get suggestions from other users, visit the AWBW Discord Chat!
Comments:
starhal (09/20/2025 05:09am):
In 220s China was divided between three regimes. In the north Cao Pi, after succeeding his father Cao Cao, declared
himself the emperor of Wei. Second in power was the kingdom of Wu, formally a vassal of Wei until 222 but in reality
already independent, but it's ruler Sun Quan was yet to declare himself emperor. The final and weakest regime, barring
minor states such as the kingdom of Yan on the border with Goguryeo, was Shu Han, allied to Wu, the king of which, Liu
Bei, wished to restore the Han Empire and to that end declared himself emperor in 221 in direct response to Cao Pi's
declaration. However, in the next two years despite seizing the commandery of Hanzhong, Liu Bei faced a crushing defeat
when the kingdom of Wu betrayed their alliance and invaded, surprising general Guan Yu who left his defensive post to
attack Wei towards Luoyang, capturing and executing him, and in 222 defeated Liu Bei himself in the battle of Xiaoting.

A year later, Liu Bei died, and was succeeded by his son Liu Shan, although actual power alongside both emperors'
complete trust lied in the hands of Grand Chancellor Zhuge Liang, courtesy name Kongming. To salvage the situation he
proposed a strategy of inner stability before outwards expansion, and securing a truce and alliance with Wu in order to focus
on the primary enemy and usurper in Wei. He commenced a campaign in the south in the year 225, in which he succeeded
in defeating rebels fighting to secede to Wu or achieve independence, and after his diplomacy with Wu proved a success he
turned his attention back north. From 227 until his death in 234, Zhuge Liang commenced five invasions with the goal of
capturing the old "Western capital" of Chang'an, in order to open the way towards Han capital of Luoyang and the entire
Central Plains. The difficulty with these invasions was that Zhuge Liang needed to cross through one of few valleys leading
from Hanzhong to the Central Plains. His adversary troughout that time was Sima Yi, and their rivalry was immortalised in
legend.

While in hindsight this campaign was doomed to failure, Zhuge Liang was likely aware that the weakest of the three
countries would eventually be the first to fall if they acted passively. War also would provide justification to reign in local
nobility with martial law, helping his own plan of promoting internal stability. Finally, and most importantly, Zhuge Liang was
loyal to the goal of Han restoration, which required reunification of the country and destruction of Wei. For these reasons,
Zhuge Liang had no choice but adopt an offensive stance.
starhal (09/20/2025 05:22am | Edited: 11/11/2025 02:20pm):
Rules
- Jade Sun is Shu Han, while Teal Galaxy is Cao Wei
- Neutral properties in the west signify trade and alliance with the Qiang tribes
- Comtower reflects Zhuge Liang and his eventual death. After it, Jade Sun has a short window of opportunity to win, before
the new Grand Chancellor historically switches to a defensive stance and Wei achieve victory
- 500 funds
- Fog of war, random or clear weather
- Either no CO powers, or any below tier 0 (Treat Kindle and global damage COs as 1 tier higher)
- Only naval transport and the following land units allowed (Don't bother to ban air units): Infantry, mech (Light and heavy
infantry respectively), tanks (Light cavalry), medium tanks (Heavy cavalry), artillery (Archers), APCs (Transport carts).



Advance Wars is (c) 1990-2001 Nintendo and (c) 2001 Intelligent Systems. All images are copyright their respective owners.