If you could have one person die sooner...Who?

[Striga]

They may still exist, just without a bloodline based leader, so Zhou Yu, then Lu Su and so on may still live and keep Wu and Shu alive.

Really, I think the Wu dudes that killed Guan Yu and the traitors who killed Zhang Fei - the two of them were really pro.

The people who killed Zhang Fei were his lieutenants, so soldiers from Shu. I believe Wu executed them.

[Aventador951]

If you had different viewpoints, you could have a whole list of people you would want to die earlier.

If you were a Wei supporter, Zhuge Liang would probably be top priority - he caused too much grief to Cao Cao and SIma Yi.
If you were a Wu supporter, you could have Liu Bei die earlier - then Jingzhou wouldn't be a nightmare to take.
If you were a Han-Shu supporter, then Cao Cao should have died earlier - the whole kingdom would be restored back to the Han.

Even though I'm officially a Shu supporter, I think the Ten Eunuchs and Dong Zhuo should have died before this even happened - but then there would basically be no Three Kingdoms era. However, the Yellow Turban Rebellion brought LIu Bei, Zhang Fei, Guan Yu and Cao Cao to fame. But I think without the Dong Zhuo corruption thing, the four dudes wouldn't be known known today.

[Shen Ai]

Probably, but if you want to cripple Shu, just kill Liu Bei. The charisma and respect he had was very dangerous. Zhuge Liang could keep things together, but if Cao Cao were to assault his forces, then I don't think he would hold out.

[Striga]

If you were a Han-Shu supporter, then Cao Cao should have died earlier - the whole kingdom would be restored back to the Han.

This might not work out very well. Cao Cao did save the Emperor, and keep him from starving. Liu Bei would have noone to uphold otherwise.

[Crazedmongoose]

I'd want Sima Yi to die earlier, so the Cao clan can retain power.

If you were a Han-Shu supporter, then Cao Cao should have died earlier - the whole kingdom would be restored back to the Han.

Yeah to echo Striga, Han might have ceased to exist if Cao Cao died TOO early. Remember he was the only warlord at the time with both the will and the ability to maintain the Emperor and central government, even if it's just as a puppet.

[Shen Ai]

If Sima Yi were to die, I would prefer after he "defended" against Zhuge Liang. Sometime before Cao Rui's death so that Cao Rui would have to choose a new regent to join Cao Shuang. Chen Qun's son Chen Tai would seem likely, since Chen Qun died just a year before Cao Rui. Or he might have appointed one of his friends like Qin Lang or Xiahou Xian. I think Wei might have still followed the same path, though maybe conquering the Three Kingdoms would take longer and Cao Fang would probably not be changed as Emperor.

[Crazedmongoose]

I am not of the opinion that Sima Yi was the only person who could stop Zhuge Liang. In fact, had Sima Yi not been there, I assume defense would have been left to Zhang He who I think would have been able to stop Zhuge Liang (without getting himself killed, no less).

[Mestre Will]

Liu Chan , just after ZGL die. I dont know who would become ruler but i realy doubt it would surrender later.

[Dong Zhou]

Liu Chan , just after ZGL die. I dont know who would become ruler but i realy doubt it would surrender later.

Liu Xuan. He wasn't noticeably brave/suicidal/psychopathic/stupid so I think surrender remains on the cards.

[Shen Ai]

I am not of the opinion that Sima Yi was the only person who could stop Zhuge Liang. In fact, had Sima Yi not been there, I assume defense would have been left to Zhang He who I think would have been able to stop Zhuge Liang (without getting himself killed, no less).

Cao Zhen did good enough, and he kept Shu out of Wei for at least three invasions. Sima Yi did a horrendous job defending. No doubt that Zhang He was more capable than him and probably a little more than Cao Zhen as well. He could have done excellently, provided he didn't die from illness like the younger Cao Zhen did.