The Three Kingdoms was a turbulent period in China's history, and in a broad sense, it was located between the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the early years of the Western Jin Dynasty, which lasted for nearly a hundred years. The so-called Three Kingdoms refers to the three major forces of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Sun Wu, and among these three kingdoms, Liu Bei claimed to be a relative of the Han Dynasty and was known for his benevolence, so he was praised in later generations and regarded as orthodox by many people.
Unfortunately, the Shu Han established by Liu Bei was the weakest of the Three Kingdoms and was the first to be destroyed. When it comes to the demise of the Shu Han, some people will attribute Deng Ai's strange plan, but some people say that the failure of Guan Yu's Northern Expedition has already laid the foundation for defeat.
In the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an (219), Guan Yu went north from Jingzhou to attack Cao Cao, and along the way, the momentum was like a bamboo, and at one point "threatened Huaxia", which frightened Cao Cao into preparing to move the capital to avoid the front. However, while Guan Yu concentrated on the north, Sun Wu sent troops to attack his rear and cut off his supplies.
In the end, Guan Yu was defeated and killed, and Eastern Wu's actions angered Liu Bei, who dispatched all the troops that could be mobilized to the East, resulting in the loss of soldiers and the loss of his own illness. In the third year of Zhang Wu (223), Liu Bei entrusted the orphan to Zhuge Liang in the White Emperor's City, and this time the orphan entrustment touched many people, and was also praised by Chen Shou as: "The supreme justice of the king and the subject, the grand track of ancient and modern times." "
However, some people who believe in conspiracy theories believe that this is a temptation arranged by Liu Bei, and if Zhuge Liang does not answer properly, he will be killed on the spot.
In the second year of Zhang Wu (222), Liu Bei's army was defeated by Lu Xun at Yiling, and the Shu Han Emperor was defeated by the love general Guan Yu Zhang Fei and the hope of reviving the Han Dynasty further, and soon after he became seriously ill. According to Liu Bei's letter to Liu Chan, "The initial disease but diarrhea in the ear, and then turned to other diseases, and he could not help himself" We can know that at first he was only a little diarrhea, but soon after he developed other symptoms and gradually became difficult to treat.
Perhaps it was "people will die, and their words are good", or perhaps it was to make plans for the future of Shu Han, in the face of the emissaries sent by Sun Quan to seek peace, Liu Bei chose to put aside his hatred and return to goodwill. In March of the following year, Liu Bei, who had been recuperating in the White Emperor City for more than half a year, finally came to the end of his life, and he summoned Zhuge Liang, who had planned for himself to divide the world into three parts, and prepared to entrust the aftermath. In the Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms, Chen Shou recorded the scene in detail.
In the face of Zhuge Liang, who had arrived from Chengdu, Liu Bei, who was on the sickbed, entrusted: "The juncai is ten times cao pi, and he will be able to secure the country and finally make great things happen." If the heir can be supplemented, he shall be supplemented; if he is not talented, he may take it upon himself. Throughout the ages, almost no emperor could say to the minister when he was alone, "If he is not useful, you can become the emperor yourself", and in the face of the lord's push, Zhuge Liang immediately wept bitterly and said: "The minister dares to exert all his strength, be loyal to the festival of chastity, and then die!" After handing over the important matter to Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei also specially wrote a letter telling Liu Chan to regard Zhuge Liang as a father and respect and trust him.
If you just look at this scene, it can be said that Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang can be called a model of harmony between the monarchs and subjects in ancient China, and it is sad that the attitude of posterity is basically touched.
However, just as there are a thousand Hamlets in the hearts of a thousand people, a thousand people will also have a thousand interpretations of Liu Beitou's lonely scene. First of all, some people said that Liu Bei, as a generation of tyrants, would not trust Zhuge Liang, who was still an outsider in the end, and the so-called "if he is not talented, jun can take it upon himself" is used to test Zhuge Liang's ambitions, if Zhuge Liang agreed at that time, I am afraid that he will be killed on the spot.
Admittedly, as the king of a country and the self-proclaimed orthodoxy of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bei is unlikely to hand over his inheritance to outsiders, even if Liu Chan is stupid, but it is still his own flesh and bones.
Therefore, to say that Liu Bei was testing Zhuge Liang can indeed be justified. However, on the basis of temptation, some people believe that Liu Bei is still hinting at Zhuge Liang, based on the principle of "Juncai Ten Times Cao Pi". For these six words, most people may understand that Liu Bei praised Zhuge Liang's ability when they saw them, to indicate that he could gain the upper hand in the contest with Cao Pi.
However, some people thought of Cao Pi's way of ascending the throne, that is, coercing Emperor Xian of Han to take the throne to himself, and believed that Liu Bei mentioned Cao Pi when he was entrusted with loneliness, hoping to use the example of Cao Pi's usurpation of Han to hint and warn Zhuge Liang not to follow suit.
In short, in the eyes of conspiracy theorists, the relationship between Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang was not good, and for Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei was only used as a tool to help govern Shu Han, and did not have much trust. In fact, starting from historical facts, it is easy to see the problems of conspiracy theories.
In history, Zhuge Liang can be called a model of a virtuous courtier. First of all, he did things meticulously and conscientiously, almost every detail had to be personally checked by himself, so that everything must be done personally, and the worries of the monarch were shared. Secondly, because of the lack of ability of the later lord, he exercised power on his behalf, but every move was strictly in accordance with the entrustment of the former emperor, and he did not dare to have the slightest trespass in etiquette.
Before the Northern Expedition, the "Table of Renunciation", which he poured his affection into writing, was praised by posterity as "those who read Zhuge Kongming's "Table of Renunciation" without falling into tears will be disloyal." In the end, despite his high position, he lived frugally and did not have any surplus in his family after his death. Zhuge Liang's admirable character is actually the best response to all conspiracy theories.