Chapter 28 Third, let’s talk about Liu Bei

There are differences and differences between Liu Bei and Sun Quan. In terms of family background, Liu Bei is better than Cao Cao and Sun Quan.After Cao Cao's eunuch, Sun Quan came from a poor family, which was looked down upon by the gentry.However, Liu Bei is known as a descendant of King Jing of Zhongshan in the Western Han Dynasty, and a student of Confucian Lu Zhi.This is not to be underestimated, and the rich people of Zhongshan even offered real money to support him. Liu Bei is also very good at being a man.He is reticent, willing to do good deeds, and shows his emotions and anger, but he makes friends with heroes and warriors.Since his debut coincided with the Yellow Turban Rebellion and the people lacked food and clothing, Liu Bei scattered all his wealth and shared weal and woe with his friends.As a result, many talents gathered around him, including Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

Liu Bei's behavior even saved him from disaster.When he was a magistrate, someone bought a murderer to kill him.Liu Bei didn't know that the visitor was an assassin, so he entertained him warmly as usual.The assassin told the truth while being moved and respected, and then left. This is very similar to Sun Quan. Sun Quan is also a man.When Lu Su came to join him, Sun Quan sent his mother clothes, mosquito nets, and daily necessities, much like a nephew to his aunt.When Lü Meng was seriously ill, Sun Quan took him to live in his hall, and was afraid that Lv Meng would be too tired to meet and salute, so he dug a small hole in the wall to observe Lv Meng's condition from time to time.

It can be said to be so caring. Therefore, Sun Quan and Liu Bei were surrounded by talents and heroes, which made Cao Cao and Cao Pi amazed.In September 224 AD, Cao Wei defeated Wu, and the reason for his retreat is said to be that Cao Pi discovered this advantage of Sun Quan.It is indeed no accident that Liu Bei and Sun Quan, who had little strength, finally achieved great success. However, Sun and Liu have different paths. Unlike Sun Quan who owns the six counties in Jiangdong, Liu Bei has nothing.Even his ideals, goals, and blueprints were given by Zhuge Liang later, while he himself has only the ambition of being unwilling to do nothing.Once when he went to the toilet, Liu Bei saw fat growing on his thighs, and he burst into tears.Liu Biao asked him why, and he said: Seeing that old age is approaching, but the achievements cannot be established, how can we not be sad!

It is not clear where Liu Bei's ambition comes from, but it is this spirit that makes him persevere, falling and standing up again and again.This is admirable.Cao Cao believes that the only heroes in the world are himself and Liu Bei, maybe because of this? The big and small warlords value Liu Bei because he has a certain appeal among the gentry.Especially after Yuan Shao's death, the gentry and celebrities who opposed Cao Yonghan can place their hopes on Liu Bei.Moreover, if God bless the great man, Liu Bei might become another living and dying figure after Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu.

Liu Bei is also more or less aware of this.Therefore, if Sun Quan, who survived in the cracks, played the diplomatic card, then Liu Bei, the empty-handed white wolf, played the political card.Before the Battle of Chibi, others expanded their territories, and he expanded his prestige.As a result, many warlords treated him with courtesy, and Liu Bei looked for opportunities among them. The opportunity was given by Cao Cao and Sun Quan. This is the Battle of Chibi.Liu Bei, who was almost killed in Huangquan, has embarked on the road of emperor since then.This is indeed a reward from heaven, but it also made him forget himself, and then he committed a series of irreversible strategic mistakes, including the loss of Jingzhou and the defeat of Yiling.

In fact, Liu Bei knew his mistakes and could correct them.Since he became a shepherd in Yizhou, in order to save food and fight against drought and disaster relief, he once ordered a ban on alcohol.The law enforcement officials act vigorously, and ordinary people who have wine-making utensils hidden in their homes will also be arrested and brought to justice, and they will also be punished.Such an overcorrection naturally made people panic and complained. General Jian Yong of Zhaode made criticisms. One day, while Jian Yong was walking with Liu Bei, he happened to see a man and a woman walking together on the road.Jian Yong immediately said: They want to commit adultery, arrest them quickly.

Liu Bei was surprised: how do you know? Jian Yong said: "They have adulterous organs on their bodies. Isn't this the same as the utensils for brewing wine hidden in the house?" Liu Bei laughed and immediately corrected the harsh law. In fact, Liu Bei is not small.When he launched the Battle of Yiling, General Huang Quan advocated being cautious and steady.Liu Bei refused to listen and sent Huang Quan to Jiangbei.After the defeat, Huang Quan's retreat was blocked, so he had to surrender to Cao Pi. Cao Pi said: "The general abandons the dark and turns to the bright, do you want to learn from Han Xin and Chen Ping?"

Huang Quan replied: "I have received Liu Lord's kindness. I can't surrender to Wu. There is no way to return to Shu. I have to return to Your Majesty."The general of the defeated army dare not speak bravely, Gou Quan's life is lucky, how dare he pretend to be passionately admiring the ancients? Cao Pi said: The general's family has been killed by Liu Bei, let me mourn for you! Huang Quan said: "Your Majesty, please don't be in a hurry to mourn." Facts have proved that Huang Quan's guess was not wrong.The law enforcement department of the Shuhan did put forward the idea of ​​killing Huang Quan's family, but it was rejected by Liu Bei.Liu Bei said: This time I failed Huang Quan, and Huang Quan did not fail me.Huang Quan, who surrendered to Cao Wei, respected Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang all his life, and even Sima Yi was amazed by this.

However, Liu Bei's stinginess is also unimaginable.Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong are all first-class "famous generals", but Zhao Yun is always only a second-class "miscellaneous general".Later, Liu Chan pursued the posthumous general, and Guan, Zhang, Ma, and Huang all had a share, and there was no Zhao Yun.The Liu family's father and son were really ungrateful to Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun was unpopular because of his loyal words; Liu Bei made mistakes repeatedly because the victory came too fast and too suddenly.Perhaps, he really thought that he was favored by the emperor, why did he take Zhao Yun's different opinions seriously?

Even Zhuge Liang could only keep silent. In fact, Liu Bei had ups and downs in the early stage, turned around in the middle stage, and made mistakes again and again in his later years. It was not fate, luck, or feng shui, but the current situation.The current situation determines that the trend of history can only be that way, and Liu Bei's road to nation-building can only be "plagiarizing history and plagiarizing neighboring countries."It can be said that his success was originally unexpected, and his failure should be expected. Liu Bei is the hero of the times, and Sun Quan is the hero of the times.

However, Liu Bei is still remarkable.He joined the army at the age of 24, started at the age of 34, stood up at the age of 48, became king at the age of 59, became emperor at the age of 61, and died of illness at the age of 63.But he was never discouraged, nor paranoid, so he stood out and became a generation of heroes. Two months before his death, Liu Bei made the last and most correct choice and arrangement in his life: Tuo Guo Tuo Gu Yu Zhuge Liang.In fact, only Zhuge Liang, who is loyal, prudent and pragmatic, can take care of the "sorrowful and sick body" of the Shu Han, even though this regime does not have any "appearance of overwhelming the country and the city".