Preface
The Three Kingdoms period coincided with an extremely turbulent and chaotic era in Chinese history. The heroes were divided, the war continued, and Liu Bei, the lord of Shu Han, also fell into the crisis of defeat and death. His only hope is pinned on his confidant Zhuge Liang.
It is no accident that Liu Bei entrusted Gu Zhuge Liang during his lifetime. This is his last resort for the sake of the Shuhan Jiangshan Society at the last moment. However, letting go of such a heavy responsibility, is Liu Bei's heart also quite conflicted and uneasy?
Liu Bei was dying and tested Zhuge Liang's loyalty
In the winter of 223 AD, Liu Bei, the lord of Shu Han, was defeated by Eastern Wu and almost lost his life. When he heard the news of his death in White Emperor City, his liver and intestines were broken. At this time, Liu Bei was already in his last years, and he knew that the deadline was approaching.
Liu Bei's life was magnificent, starting from the alliance of the three brothers in Taoyuan, and finally burning the company camp. But who else can bear his hard work and career? Liu Bei's only son, Liu Chan, is simple and cowardly, and he is unable to take charge of the overall situation alone.
Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Liang and Liu Chan in front of the bed, and the two people in front of him turned out to be the last concern in his life. One is his own bloodline, and the other is his bosom friend. What the two of them shoulder is the hope that he has worked so hard to build the country.
Zhuge Liang was the greatest discovery and the greatest pride in his life! At the beginning, Pang Tong only valued the foundation of his painstaking management, and despised his ambition and courage. Only Zhuge Liang knew himself and did his best to help. Without him, maybe this life would stop at a small Jingzhou pastor.
However, is Zhuge Liang loyal and reliable? Liu Bei couldn't help but become suspicious. Liu Chan is incapable of commanding, and he will be in power with the government and the opposition, what should he do if he has a different heart in his life? I am afraid that this country will not be able to be saved. In order to determine Zhuge Liang's loyalty, Liu Bei reluctantly asked a difficult question.
Liu Bei said with tears in his eyes: "If you are ten times more talented than Cao Pi, you will be able to stabilize the country...... If the heir is not talented, you can also be the lord of Chengdu. The implication is that if Liu Chan is incompetent, Zhuge Liang can stand on his own. It was a very cruel temptation.
Zhuge Liang was shocked when he heard this, where did he ever think of seizing power and usurping the throne? He immediately wept bitterly and swore to Shangcang that he would never have two hearts and would definitely assist Liu Chan in governing the country. Seeing that he was so loyal, Liu Bei was relieved to entrust Shu Han Jiangshan.
Although he has obtained Zhuge Liang's assurance, Liu Bei is a scheming politician after all. Under his trade-off, he still put a question mark on Zhuge Liang's loyalty. This also indicates that Zhuge Liang will have to face a more severe test of loyalty in the future.
Zhuge Liang was assisted by the regent, and Liu Chan was enjoying himself
In May 223, Liu Bei passed away. Liu Chan, who was only 19 years old, succeeded to the throne as emperor, and Zhuge Liang was appointed prime minister of the empire and took charge of the government. For a time, everyone had doubts about whether this cowardly new monarch could stand alone in the overall situation.
At this moment, Liu Chan is under tremendous mental pressure. He was the head of a new regime that was growing in size and strength. But as soon as the first emperor drove the crane west, the surrounding hostile forces were eyeing each other and jointly dealing with the time bomb of Shu Han.
Lu Xun, the governor of Eastern Wu, remembered the fiasco of the first emperor at Yiling, and decided that the army of Shu was empty, and it was time to attack. He is ready to go and ready to be drawn at any time. Cao Pi in the north also has a heart of encroachment. Once Shu Han was in civil strife or defeated, he would definitely take advantage of the fire to rob.
So many problems hit Liu Chan in one fell swoop, making him feel pressured. He was originally a weak scholar, how could he know how to command the army and strategize? Now without Liu Bei's backer, Liu Chan only felt that the world was spinning and he was helpless.
Fortunately, Zhuge Liang is here, and people's hearts are a little settled. With the strength of one person, he rectified the military and political affairs and worked hard to manage them. Under his rule, the Shu Han kingdom flourished, and the soldiers were strong. Six years later, in 228, he personally led a large army to the northern expedition to the hinterland of the Central Plains.
After the defeat, the scene of Xiao Gui and Cao Sui immediately came to Liu Chan's mind. He remembered that the first emperor had always taken it as his mission to restore the orthodoxy of the Han dynasty, but in the end, he tried his best to stop the decline trend. Liu Chan didn't dare to love power, nor did he dare to covet pleasure, and lived in fear all day long.
During this period, Liu Chan, the lord who held it in the palm of his hand, lived cautiously. He ignored the government and spent his days cautiously muttering about the rise and fall of history. There are three thousand beauties in the harem, and he has no intention of falling in love. Only qin, chess, calligraphy and painting can make him forget his worries for a while. He was happy to be idle and let Zhuge Liang work.
Liu Chan is so low-key that it is difficult for the outside world to spy on his true thoughts. However, his caution is exactly what Zhuge Liang wants. In the hands of a diligent and benevolent monarch like him, Zhuge Liang could never seek real power. The ministers of the court also admired the loyalty and character of Liu Chan and Zhuge Liang. But at this moment, a test came abruptly!
On the way back from the peak, Liu Chan tried Zhuge Liang's inheritance
In the winter of 234 AD, Zhuge Liang, who failed again in the Northern Expedition, fell ill in Wuzhang Plain. At this time, he was already at the end of his crossbow, and soon he was completely unlucky. However, at the last moment of his life, Liu Chan once again sent someone to tempt him.
This time, it was Shang Shu who shot Li Fu. It is a very important celebrity in the DPRK. Li Fu was instructed to ask two questions: first, how would Zhuge Liang settle his son after a hundred years; Second, who can take over Zhuge Liang's position.
The real intention of these two issues is nothing more than to test Zhuge Liang's power coveting. If he had sought high fortune for his son before he died, it would have proved that he really had ulterior motives; On the contrary, it can be innocent and loyal.
This may be the final test. Zhuge Liang's heart was cold, and he felt a faint pain. His state of mind at the moment is extremely complicated, and he can't say why. His only wish in this life is to repay Liu Bei's kindness and do his best to protect his country and people. But why is it that at the last moment, Liu Chan is still testing his loyalty?
In this life, the wind is surging, the Liang Zhu outside the threshold has been dispersed, and the two don't know where to return. The feelings of my generation have been scrutinized by the world, do we have to be wronged on the final road?
Zhuge Liang sighed softly and put aside the grumbling. He knew in his heart that this was the last game of trust between the monarch and the minister. Since Liu Chan is still testing himself, then he will accompany him to the end and show his sincerity.
At this time, Zhuge Liang still has any ambition and power? He just wants to repay Liu Bei's kindness and promise the country with his body. replied very succinctly: after his death, his sons had their own surplus wealth, and they did not need to be treated by the court exceptionally; The successors are Jiang Wan and Fei Yi. Li Fu woke up from a dream and took the order. And Zhuge Liang also had a clear conscience on the final road.
epilogue
This long history of danger has been full of several legendary figures with grievances and hatreds. Liu Bei's temptations before his death showed his vigilance and prudence; Liu Chan's repeated tests showed Zhuge Liang's loyalty and perseverance.
In that troubled era, there was an urgent need for someone to exert their residual heat to protect this regime that was on the verge of collapse. With Zhuge Liang's courtiers who scolded Fang Xuan and managed carefully, Shu Han's hope still exists. And if he loses him, Liu Chan can only be slaughtered and captured.
The rise and fall of the country, the gains and losses of the people; These schemings are all good stories of the ups and downs of the fate of the common people. When the wind and clouds are gone, the last year can be reminiscent of all the ups and downs. Knowing what you have lost is a great thing in life!