Three Kingdoms

Chapter 28 The Death of Liu Bei in Baidi City

After Liu Bei, the lord of Shu, was defeated by Lu Xun of Eastern Wu, he fell ill.Liu Bei lived in Yong'an Palace in Baidi City.His condition was getting worse and worse, and he lay on the bed moaning in pain every moment.Liu Bei often thought of the days when he was with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, his eyes were dim and he didn't want to see anyone.

One night, Liu Bei slept alone on the dragon couch.Suddenly a dark wind came over and blew out the lights.After a while, the lights came on again.Liu Bei saw two people standing still under the shadow of the lamp.Liu Bei said angrily, "I'm in a bad mood and told you to back down, why are you back!" Liu Bei said several times, but the two people still stood there motionless.Liu Bei raised his head and looked at the two people, only to see that the person standing in front was Guan Yu, and the person standing behind Guan Yu was Zhang Fei.

Liu Bei was startled when he saw Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and said, "So you are still alive!" Guan Yu said, "My third brother and I have become ghosts. The Jade Emperor knows that we both have faith in our lives." We are heavy, so we are specially named as gods. The three of us brothers will meet soon."

Liu Bei grabbed Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's hands and burst into tears.At this time Liu Bei suddenly came to his senses, and Guan Yu and Zhang Fei disappeared immediately.At this time, it was already midnight.

Liu Bei sighed and said: "I will die soon. Hurry up and invite Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, Shang Shuling Li Yan and other civil and military officials to come to see me." Some of his soldiers rushed to Chengdu to invite Zhuge Liang and other civil and military officials.

Zhuge Liang brought Liu Bei's second son Lu Wang Liu Yong, Liang Wang Liu Li, and some civil and military officials to Yong'an Palace in Baidi City to listen to Liu Bei's last order, leaving only Prince Liu Chan to guard Chengdu.

When Zhuge Liang and others arrived at Yong'an Palace, they saw Liu Bei sick on the bed and unable to move. Everyone knelt in front of Liu Bei's bed in shock and panic.Liu Bei asked Zhuge Liang to get up and sit on the edge of the bed on his left. Liu Bei stroked Zhuge Liang's back and said, "I was able to become emperor and achieve a great career because of your help, Prime Minister. I was so stupid that I didn't listen to the prime minister's advice. I was defeated by Lu Xun of Eastern Wu. Now I regret it too much. I feel sad and sad. I think I will die soon. The prince and the three brothers Liu Yong and Liu Li are young and ignorant. I hope the prime minister can help them well." Liu Bei said burst into tears.

Zhuge Liang also wept loudly, he said: "May Your Majesty take good care of your health and don't worry too much, I will definitely assist His Highness the Crown Prince."

Liu Bei saw Ma Di standing beside him, Liu Bei ordered Ma Di to leave the palace first, and Ma Di retreated.Liu Bei said to Zhuge Liang, "What does the prime minister think of Ma Di's talent?" Zhuge Liang said, "He is a man of talent!" Liu Bei said, "That's not the case.

I have observed this person, he can only talk on paper and cannot be reused.The prime minister should be aware. "

After Liu Bei finished his orders, he issued an order to order all the civil and military officials to enter the palace to meet him.Liu Bei wrote the will, handed it to Zhuge Liang, and then sighed and said: "I haven't read many books, and I just know a little bit about some things. The sage said: When a bird is about to die, its voice is also very sad; when a person is about to die At the time, the words I spoke were also very sincere. I originally wanted to fight against the Wei thieves together with you and restore the Han Dynasty. Unfortunately, I have to say goodbye to you halfway. I would like to ask Prime Minister Zhuge to pass on my will to the prince. Liu Chan, tell him to treat the will I wrote with caution, and ask Cheng Xiang to help him with some things."

Zhuge Liang and others wept and knelt down on the ground and said, "May Your Majesty take good care of the dragon's body! The ministers will definitely devote all their efforts to assist His Highness the Crown Prince in governing the country, in order to repay His Majesty's kindness."

Liu Bei ordered his bodyguard to help Zhuge Liang get up, and while wiping his tears with his left hand, he held Zhuge Liang's right hand with his right hand, saying: "I am going to die now, and I have something important to tell you!" Zhuge Liang said: "Hear your majesty's holy words!" Liu Bei cried again, and said, "Your talent is more than ten times that of Cao Pi, and you will surely be able to stabilize the country and achieve a great cause. If the prince can assist, assist; if not, you Just abolish him, and you will be the emperor of Shuchuan." After Zhuge Liang heard this, he couldn't help sweating, lost his hands and feet, and fell to the ground crying: "I will definitely do my best to assist the prince and be loyal to my duty and Lord, and then I will do my best. Die!" After he finished speaking, he kowtowed non-stop, his forehead was pierced, and a lot of blood flowed out.

Liu Bei asked Zhuge Liang to sit on the edge of the bed again, and called Lu Wang Liu Yong and Liang Wang Liu Li to come over. Liu Bei told them two: "You must remember what I just said. After I die, you three brothers, treat the prime minister like your father. The same." After Liu Bei finished his order, he ordered Liu Yong and Liu Li to kneel down and worship Zhuge Liang.After the two of them paid their respects, Zhuge Liang immediately said to Liu Bei: "Even if I'm completely utterly insane, I can't repay Your Majesty's kindness of knowing you!"

Liu Bei said to the civil and military officials again: "I have entrusted all the affairs to the prime minister, and ordered my son to treat the prime minister as he treats me. You must not relax, and do not live up to my expectations." He also asked Zhao Yun: "I used to share weal and woe with you, until now, I never expected to part here. You should always think about the days when we were together. I hope you can discipline my son and don't disappoint what I just said." Zhao Yun He also cried and bowed in front of Liu Bei and said: "I will do my best to serve the country!" Liu Bei said to other officials: "Everyone, I won't tell you one by one, I hope everyone loves themselves." Liu Bei died after speaking , died at the age of 63.

After Liu Bei's death, all civil and military officials burst into tears.Zhuge Liang led all civil and military officials to transport Liu Bei's coffin back to Chengdu.Prince Liu Chan went out of the city to meet the coffin and placed it in the hall.After weeping and mourning and performing the etiquette, he began to read the will.

As soon as the edict was read, Zhuge Liang said: "Now the prince Liu Chan is invited to inherit the throne." All civil and military officials bowed down and supported Liu Chan's ascension.

Liu Chan became emperor and changed his reign name to Jianxing.Zhuge Liang was posthumously granted the title of Marquis of Wuxiang and concurrently served as the shepherd of Yizhou.Liu Bei was buried in Huiling, and he was called Emperor Zhaolie.

The news of Liu Bei's death was reported to the superiors by Wei soldiers who had been inquiring about the military situation, and Cao Pi was informed by the ministers of the DPRK and China.Wei Lord Cao Pi laughed and said: "Liu Bei is dead, I don't have to worry anymore. Why don't you take advantage of the opportunity that Shu has no king and send troops to attack?" Jia Xu stood up and said: "Although Liu Bei is dead, he took Shu Zhuge Liang is responsible for all matters of state and size. Zhuge Liang will definitely be grateful for Liu Bei’s kindness, and will do his best to support Liu Chan. Your Majesty, don’t rush to attack.”

At this time, a person suddenly stood up and said: "If you don't send troops at this time, when will you have to wait?" Everyone saw that it was Sima Yi.

Cao Pi was very happy and asked Sima Yi what good strategy he had.Sima Yi said: "If you only use your own army, it may be difficult to win for a while. You must use the five armies to attack together, so that Zhuge Liang can't look at each other, and then you can defeat the Shu army and capture Shuchuan."

Cao Pi asked which five roads it was.

Sima Yi said: "You can write a letter to Ke Bineng, King of the Xianbei Kingdom in Liaodong, bribe gold and silver treasures, and ask him to send 50 elite soldiers from Liaoxi to attack Xiping Pass from the main road. This is the first way. Then write another letter to Meng Huo, the king of the Southern Barbarians, also bribed gold and silver treasures, and asked Meng Huo to send [-] troops to attack the local states and counties around Yizhou. Sun Quan sent [-] troops to attack the mouth of the Liangchuan Gorge and took Fucheng directly. This was the third route. Then he ordered Meng Da, who surrendered from Shuchuan, to lead [-] mediocre soldiers to attack the Hanzhong area from the west. This was the fourth route. Road. Finally, General Cao Zhen was ordered to lead [-] troops to start from the north of Beijing, meet at Pingyang Pass, and then attack the Xichuan Shu army. This is the fifth route. The army of the five routes has a strength of [-]. If the five routes attack together, Zhuge Liang will be able to With Jiang Ziya's talent, he can't deal with this mighty Five Route Army."

After hearing this, Cao Pi was very happy, and immediately sent four eloquent officials as envoys to persuade the leaders of Liaodong, Nanman, Dongwu, and Shangyong.He also ordered Cao Zhen to be the governor and lead an army of [-] to Pingyang Pass.Zhang Liao and other former squadrons have all been conferred Marquis Jinjue, guarding the pass cities in Jizhou, Xuzhou, Qingzhou and Hefei, etc., and dare not relax.

(End of this chapter)