Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature
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In 227 AD, following the successful pacification of the Nanzhong rebellion, Zhuge Liang returned to Chengdu to prepare for his long-planned Northern Expeditions against Cao Wei. With the death of Emperor Cao Pi and the ascension of the young Cao Rui (Emperor Ming of Wei), Zhuge Liang saw a strategic opening.
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Following Liu Bei’s death in 223 CE, the fledgling state of Shu Han faced internal instability and external threats. In the southern frontier – comprising modern-day Yunnan, Guizhou, and parts of Sichuan – local leaders saw an opportunity to break away.