preface
During the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Bei, the ancestor of the Shu Han Dynasty, entrusted his son Liu Chan and national affairs to him when he was critically ill after losing the war with Eastern Wu
Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, this historical event is known as "White Emperor City Tuogu", and it is also a classic plot in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".
When Liu Bei was entrusting Gu, he said to Zhuge Liang, "If you are not talented, you can take it yourself", which caused countless speculations and controversies in later generations.
Some people believe that this sentence reflects Liu Bei's righteousness and trust, and he did not hesitate to give his country to Zhuge Liang, just to be able to revive the Han Dynasty;
Some people also believe that this sentence conceals Liu Bei's cunning and defense, and he is not worried about Zhuge Liang's loyalty, so he deliberately gave him a difficult problem.
So, does Liu Beituo Gu Kongming really have the heart to give up the country? We might as well explore Liu Bei's true intentions and motives from a historical perspective.
The historical background of Liu Bei Tuogu
To understand Liu Bei's true intentions, we must first understand the historical background of Liu Bei Tuogu. Liu Beituogu occurred in 223 AD, when the situation of the Three Kingdoms was divided into Wei, Shu, and Wu, with Cao Wei occupying the Central Plains, Shu and Han occupying Yizhou, and Eastern Wu controlling Jiangdong.
Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor in 221 AD and established the Shu Han regime to inherit the orthodoxy of the Han dynasty and fight against the usurpation of Cao Wei. However, Liu Bei's first military operation after ascending the throne was not the northern expedition to Cao Wei, but the southern expedition to Eastern Wu, in order to avenge the killing of Guan Yu, Liu Bei personally led a large army to attack Sun Quan, but was attacked by Lu Xun's fire, defeated in Yiling, suffered heavy losses, and had to retreat to the White Emperor City.
Liu Bei was ill in the White Emperor City and felt that his life had come to an end, so he summoned Zhuge Liang and entrusted his son Liu Chan and national affairs to him, hoping that he could assist Liu Chan to continue the northern expedition against Cao Wei and revive the Han dynasty.
This is the historical background of Liu Bei Tuogu.
Liu Bei's true intentions
So, what is Liu Bei Tuogu's true intention? We can analyze it from the following three aspects:
One is to demonstrate trust.
When Liu Bei was lonely, he said to Zhuge Liang, "Cao Pi, who is ten times more talented, will be able to stabilize the country and finally decide on great things", this sentence is a full affirmation of Zhuge Liang's talent and ability, and it is also a full appreciation of Zhuge Liang's loyalty and merit.
Liu Bei knew that Zhuge Liang was his confidant and the minister of Shu Han, he gave advice to himself, and established a solid political, military, economic and cultural foundation for Shu Han, he was the soul and pillar of Shu Han, and he was the hope for Shu Han's continued existence and development.
Liu Bei's trust in Zhuge Liang is also his trust in Shu Han, he believes that as long as Zhuge Liang is there, Shu Han will not perish easily, the people of Shu Han will not be bullied by Cao Wei, and Shu Han's ideals will not be shattered.
Liu Bei's trust is also an encouragement to Zhuge Liang, who hopes that Zhuge Liang can inherit his legacy, give full play to his talents, and fight for the rise and fall of Shu Han.
The second is to dispel doubts.
When Liu Bei was lonely, he said to Zhuge Liang, "If you are not talented, you can take it yourself", this sentence is an authorization and delegation of power to Zhuge Liang, and it is also a test and temptation for Zhuge Liang.
Liu Bei knew that his son Liu Chan was a mediocre and incompetent person, he did not inherit his heroism and political ambitions, he did not have the ability and courage to lead Shu Han, and he could not fulfill his long-cherished wish and mission.
Liu Bei also knows that Zhuge Liang is a person with lofty aspirations and talents, he has lofty ideals and ambitions, he has wisdom and talent beyond the times, and he has the ability to complete his long-cherished wishes and missions.
Liu Bei wanted to see if Zhuge Liang was really loyal to his son, whether he was really loyal to his country, whether he could really give up his selfish desires and ambitions, and whether he could really sacrifice his interests and honor for the interests and honor of Shu Han.
Liu Bei's dispelling of doubts is also a challenge to Zhuge Liang, he hopes that Zhuge Liang can prove his loyalty and morality, be able to make the most suitable and favorable choice according to his own situation and judgment, and be able to take responsibility for the future and fate of Shu Han.
The third is to express regret.
When Liu Bei was lonely, he said to Zhuge Liang "You can take it yourself", which is a tactful and subtle to Zhuge Liang, and it is also helplessness and sorrow for himself.
Liu Bei knows that his life is full of hardships and setbacks, he started from a cloth cloth with bare hands, experienced countless wars and changes, and reluctantly established a not very stable regime, his dream is to restore the glory and dignity of the Han family, his goal is to unify the great cause of the world, but he has not been able to achieve these, he can only give these to Zhuge Liang before he dies, hoping that he can continue his career and complete his wish.
Liu Bei's expression of regret is also an expectation for Zhuge Liang, he hopes that Zhuge Liang can understand his mood and will, inherit his spirit and ideals, and work hard for the future and happiness of Shu Han.
epilogue
Liu Beituo Gu Kongming is a famous event in history and a literary classic, which shows the deep friendship and trust between Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, and also reflects the complex psychology and motivation between Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang.
Liu Beituo Gu Kongming, does he really have the intention to give up the country? We can't answer with a simple yes or no, we have to analyze it from multiple angles, we have to consider it comprehensively from the historical background, from Liu Bei's character, from Zhuge Liang's talent, from the situation of Shu Han, from Liu Bei's language, from Zhuge Liang's reaction, and so on, to draw a reasonable conclusion.