Liu Biao (142–208), courtesy name Jingsheng, was a native of Gaoping County, Shanyang County (in present-day Weishan County, Jining, Shandong Province). At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, he was a courtier, a famous scholar, and a prince, after Liu Yu, the King of Lugong of the Western Han Dynasty. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Biao was a prince on a par with Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Lü Bu, and Sun Quan. At that time, Liu Biao was able to divide Jingzhou and compete with many princes, and naturally many talents were indispensable under his command. Among them, xiang lang, as far as the author wants to say, was also a subordinate of Liu Biao. Of course, when he was under Liu Biao, Xiang Lang was not famous.
In 208 AD, after Liu Biao's death, Xiang Lang chose to follow Liu Bei and was used heavily. However, Xiang Lang was later deposed by Zhuge Liang, why was this?
One
Specifically, Xiang Lang (向朗), also spelled Juda, was born in Yicheng County, Xiangyang County (present-day Yichang City, Xiangyang City, Hubei Province). Xiang Lang lost his father at an early age and was raised by his elder brother. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms and other historical records, Xiang Lang was a teacher of Sima Hui when he was a teenager, and he had a close friendship with Xu Shu, Han Song, and Pang Tong. From this, it is very obvious that Xiang Lang not only had a famous scholar such as Sima Hui (Mr. Shui Jing) as a teacher, but also befriended xu Shu, Pang Tong and other famous strategists of the Three Kingdoms period, which prompted him to attract the attention of Liu Biao, the mu of Jingzhou. On this basis, Liu Biao let Xiang Lang administer Linfeng County. It is worth noting that in 220 AD, Guan Yu later defeated Maicheng and was eventually beheaded by Eastern Wu soldiers in Linfeng.
In the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208), Liu Biao, the mu of Jingzhou, died of illness, and Cao Cao led a large army to the south. For Xiang Lang, he did not choose to defect to the powerful Cao Cao, but followed the relatively weak Liu Bei. In the same year, Liu Bei joined forces with Sun Quan to win the Battle of Chibi, laying the foundation for the establishment of the Three Kingdoms. In 209, taking advantage of Cao Cao's serious injury, Liu Bei led a large army to capture four counties in southern Jingzhou. In the context of the expansion of his territory, Liu Bei sent to Lang Du to lead the affairs of the four counties of Zigui, Yidao, Wushan, and Yiling. Therefore, compared with Liu Biao, Liu Bei can be said to reuse Xiang Lang.
In 211, at the invitation of Liu Zhang, Liu Bei led a large army into Yizhou. A year later, Liu Bei and Liu Zhang broke up and the Battle of Yizhou officially broke out. After a fierce battle, Liu Bei defeated Liu Zhang in 214 and captured the land of Yizhou. On this basis, Liu Bei appointed Xiang Lang as the Taishou of Bashi County, and soon transferred to the post of Taishou of Mumu County.
Two
In 217, after three years of recuperation, Liu Bei launched the Battle of Hanzhong. In 219, Liu Bei defeated Cao Cao and captured the land of Hanzhong. In the same year, Liu Bei sent Meng Da and Liu Feng to capture the three counties of Shangyong, Xicheng, and Fangling. In response, Liu Bei also appointed Xiang Lang as the Taishou of Fangling County.
In 220, due to the failure to rescue Guan Yu and other reasons, Meng Da, who was guarding Shangyong County, betrayed Shu Han and surrendered to Cao Wei. In addition, Meng Da also joined forces with Cao Wei's army to capture the eastern three counties. In this context, Fangling County, where Xiang Lang was located, was naturally also captured by Cao Wei, so he returned to Chengdu.
In 223, after Liu Bei died of illness in Yong'an White Emperor's City, the later lord Liu Chan took the throne and made Xiang Lang a lieutenant of the infantry. In the same year, after the death of Shi Wanglian, the chancellor, Xiang Lang took over the former's official position. In this regard, in the author's opinion, Xiang Lang and Zhuge Liang are both from the land of Jingzhou, and they also have common friends such as Xu Shu and Pang Tong, which prompts the relationship between the two to be relatively close.
In 225 AD, Zhuge Liang personally led a large army to pacify Nanzhong, leaving Xiang Lang to stay in Chengdu and deal with the affairs of the rear. In the fifth year of Jianxing (227), Xiang Lang followed Zhuge Liang to garrison Hanzhong. A year later, Xiang Lang followed Zhuge Liang on the first Northern Expedition to the Central Plains. In this battle, due to the defeat of Ma Mo Street Pavilion, the Northern Expedition was defeated. Ma Mo fled, xiang lang had greatly admired Ma Liang and Ma Mo's brothers before, so he had a good relationship with Ma Mo, so this time he did not report it, Zhuge Liang was very angry, deposed Xiang Lang's official position and let him return to Chengdu.
Three
In this regard, in the author's opinion, Zhuge Liang's removal of Xiang Lang from his official position naturally reflects his own impartial and selfless side. Although Xiang Lang had been used by Liu Bei before and had a friendship with himself, Zhuge Liang had to deal with Xiang Lang seriously, otherwise Shu Han would also have the problem of laxity in the Fa. Therefore, from 228 AD to 234 AD, Zhuge Liang died of illness in Wuzhangyuan, and Xiang Lang remained idle at home.
In the twelfth year of Jianxing (234), Zhuge Liang died, and Xiang Lang was transferred to the post of General of the Left, posthumously discussing the old merits, and was given the title of Marquis of Xianmingting. In the first month of the first year of Yanxi (238), Liu Chan made Zhang Shi empress (Empress Zhang) and ordered Xiang Lang to be awarded the empress dowager with the post of general of the left. In the same month, Liu Chan also ordered Xiang Lang to appoint Liu Xuan as crown prince. In this regard, in the author's opinion, although Xiang Lang later reinstated his official position. However, Xiang Lang did not have the opportunity to participate in the battles and other affairs of the Shu Han front, that is, he was deposed from his official position by Zhuge Liang, which prompted Xiang Lang not to be reused again.
Four
Finally, although Xiang Lang dabbled in literature when he was young, he did not study it in depth. However, in the years after losing his official position, Xiang Lang studied the classics more intensively and tirelessly. When he was over eighty years old, he still proofread books by himself, pointing out the fallacies, and he had the largest collection of books at that time. Opening the door to Lang to receive guests, instructing the local youth of Yizhou, and only talking about the meaning of ancient books, it was quite famous at that time.
In the tenth year of Yanxi (247), Xiang Lang died, and his son Xiang Tiao attacked his title. Xiang Lang's writings are very rare, and only one of the "Last Words and Precepts" is included in the "Xiangyang Chronicle" (also known as the "Xiangyang Old Record"), and the "All Three Kingdoms" is also included.