In response to a common question: Historically, Shu fell in 263, Wei lost de facto control in 265, and Wu was finally conquered in 280. Chronologically, Shu seems to have been the first of the Three Kingdoms to perish, but why is there an opinion that Wei was actually the first to "exist in name only"? In fact, since Sima Shi and Sima Zhao brothers successively assisted the government, the actual ruling power of Wei has gradually declined. In the sixth year of Jiaping (254), Sima Shi deposed Emperor Cao Fang of Wei, renamed Cao Chao as emperor, and monopolized the government; In the first year of Jingyuan (260), Sima Zhao went further, killed the lord Cao Chao, and then established Cao Huan, making the descendants of the Cao family completely reduced to puppets. Therefore, from a certain perspective, Wei was indeed the first of the three countries to lose its independent right to rule.
Entering the later period of the Three Kingdoms, the long-term war led to a sharp decline in population, and only 280,000 households remained, about 940,000 people in Shu; Wu is slightly more, 520,000 households, about 2.3 million people; The Wei State was far ahead with 1.3 million households and 4.43 million people, with the widest area and the largest population. However, such a powerful Wei state was the first to fall into decline, much to the surprise of many scholars of the history of the Three Kingdoms. The author believes that there are four main reasons:
1. The long-term effects of the shadow of usurpation
Cao Cao, the cornerstone of the Wei State, was originally an important minister of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and later coerced the Son of Heaven with military strength to order the princes, which indirectly prompted Cao Pi to abolish the Han Dynasty and establish the Wei State. This move not only subverted the 400-year foundation of the Han Dynasty, but also provided a precedent and a basis for "legitimacy" for the later usurpation of Wei by the Sima clan. Cao Pi's usurpation of the throne invisibly inspired the Sima clan and allowed the vicious circle of power change to continue.
Second, the depletion of human resources
In the Cao Cao era, the road was widespread, and the civil and military generals gathered together. However, by the time of Cao Pi and Cao Rong, the dependence on the Cao clan led to the neglect of the foreign surname Nengchen, and the talent reserve gradually became insufficient. The military over-reliance on Sima Yi made the Wei State tend to be single in terms of talent structure, and most of the talents gradually moved closer to Sima's family, forming a situation of talent monopoly.
Third, the strategic complexity of geographical location
Located in the hinterland of the Central Plains, the Wei State is densely populated and economically prosperous, and has been a battleground for soldiers since ancient times, and is regarded as the place of orthodoxy. Therefore, Wei not only faced the covetousness of external forces, but also prone to internal turmoil. Sima Yi is well versed in this, and has always regarded the Central Plains as the core defense area, and strives to ensure that it is not lost.
Fourth, the mistake of employing people
Although Cao Cao had the heart to guard against Sima Yi before his death, he still entrusted him with important tasks because of his military talents, and arranged for many people to check and balance. However, with the accession of Cao Pi and Cao Rui to the throne, the constraints on Sima Yi gradually weakened, until Cao Rui mistakenly listed Sima Yi and the incompetent Cao Shuang as auxiliary ministers, and finally Sima Yi monopolized power, and the Wei state existed in name only. The successive assuming of power by Sima Yi and his descendants marked a fundamental change in the political ecology of the Wei state.
In summary, the "first death" of Wei is not a simple matter of time, but is based on the comprehensive consideration of many factors such as its internal political ecology, talent structure, geographical location and employment strategy. This historical phenomenon not only profoundly reflects the complexity of the political struggle during the Three Kingdoms period, but also provides a valuable historical mirror for future generations.