Total War: Three Kingdoms – Fates Divided — Liu Yan and Liu Zhang guide

Liu Yan’s 194 CE campaign – Quick Aspirations and Inheritance in three turns

My goal in the 194 CE (A World Betrayed) campaign is to complete a few more Aspirations for Liu Yan before triggering Liu Zhang’s Inheritance. Since I was going for the “Timely Inheritance” bonuses, it meant that I only had three turns left (turn 4 is when 195 CE begins).

Turn 1 and 2

Have trade agreements with Ma Teng and Zhang Lu.

• Give ministerial positions to Zhu Gui and Fan Min (who’ll die within a few turns) to placate them. Make Fa Zheng the administrator of Shu on your next turn.
• Choose “Reward the Filial & Incorrupt,” “Industrial Exploitation,” and “Stimulate Markets” in Shu.
• Click on the Aspirations tab to see that “Flowing Markets” has been completed.
• Add Fa Zheng’s retinue to the main army. Make Liu Zhang the leader of that army and move closer to Ba – Jiangzhou (it’s owned by your enemy, Hu Mao). Try to recruit a few extra soldiers if you want.

Note: I would suggest activating all or most of the Tradeoffs so you can have a few extra Aspiration Points within the next few turns.

Turn 3

It’s the winter of 194 CE and our last shot to get the “Timely Inheritance” bonuses. You’ll also see that Liu Zhang only needs to lead one battle and win one duel to complete “Experienced General” and “Lethal Duelist.”

Anyway, go ahead and attack Jiangzhou. You should get a particular battle scenario where Hu Mao’s army will arrive as reinforcements. You’ll be able to deploy your army right in front of him. Eliminate some hostile troops with your soldiers. Then, use your units afterward to make Hu Mao’s HP drop to around 13-14K.

Quickly use Fa Zheng’s “Mock” ability on Hu Mao (it applies a DOT and an attack debuff to a general), then challenge him to a duel using Liu Zhang. If you have Liu Yan near a hostile officer, his “Stifling Deluge” aura debuff will still be applied during the duel. All of these should help Liu Zhang defeat Hu Mao.

Since we captured Jiangzhou (a port city), we’ll see the remaining factions in Total War: Three Kingdoms‘ campaign map. This completes “Worldwide Contacts.”

The only things we don’t have are (a) instant construction, (b) campaign movement/morale buff, and (c) reduced recruitment costs in a county. I’d say that’s fine. Go ahead and trigger the Inheritance mechanic to make Liu Zhang the new faction leader to obtain the “Timely Inheritance” bonuses.

Even if we don’t have a lot of Aspiration Points, you can use “Investment in Education” (faction-wide), as well “Private Tutelage” on Fa Zheng so he can have the +commerce income administrator perk.

From here onwards, you’ll want to defend against the Nanman. This is also a good way to farm additional Aspiration Points if you let them capture your weaker settlements (just retake them back). Ultimately, it’s up to you if you wish to continue your Total War: Three Kingdoms – Fates Divided run with Liu Zhang as your heir, or if you want to replace him.

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