Zhang Fei's death was like a thunderclap that broke the tranquility of Shu Han. The sudden death of this fierce general not only shocked the entire Shu Kingdom, but also set off endless waves in Liu Bei's heart. thought that at this time of grief, Liu Bei's orders would be responded to loyally as in the past, but it backfired, and Zhuge Liang, Zhao Yun, Wei Yan and other important ministers collectively showed unusual resistance. What kind of knots and unspeakable secrets are hidden behind this? Is it just because of strategic differences, or are there other reasons that are hidden deeply? How will Liu Bei face all this in this treacherous political and psychological game? Will the relationship between them change forever because of this?
Zhang Fei's death and Liu Bei's revenge
In 221 AD, the summer was scorching, and the climate in Shuzhong was unusually hot and humid, but this heat was far less intense than the anger in Liu Bei's heart. Zhang Fei, the brother who shared the hardships with Liu Bei, was killed by his close generals Zhang Da and Fan Qiang on an undefended night. When the news came, it shocked the whole of Chengdu, and Liu Bei was even more grief-stricken and vowed to avenge Zhang Fei.
Although Zhang Fei's personality is irritable, his bravery on the battlefield is obvious to all. In Liu Bei's conquest career, he has repeatedly performed miraculous feats, especially in the battle of Changbanpo, Zhang Fei whipped immediately, shook the valley, and successfully covered Liu Bei's retreat, which can be called a good story. However, it is this kind of personality that also makes him treat his subordinates extremely harshly on weekdays, and even excessively, which finally leads to tragedy.
When the news of Zhang Fei's killing reached Liu Bei's ears, he was discussing state affairs with Zhuge Liang. After Liu Bei heard this, he was filled with grief and indignation, tears rained down, and he immediately ordered to investigate the truth and buried Zhang Fei's body. At the funeral, Liu Bei couldn't cry silently, and vowed to break the murderer's body into thousands of pieces to vent his hatred.
The fire of revenge burned in Liu Bei's heart, and he began to plan a war of revenge against Eastern Wu, because he believed that Eastern Wu's constant provocations against Shu Han were one of the sources of internal instability. Liu Bei's revenge plan was very fast, and he ordered Zhuge Liang, Zhao Yun and others to begin preparing military supplies, mobilizing troops and horses, and preparing for the Eastern Expedition.
However, this decision was opposed by Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun. Zhuge Liang believes that at present, the internal stability of Shu Han is not yet stable, the people's hearts have not gathered, and they are eager to use troops externally, which is very easy to cause internal and external troubles. Zhao Yun analyzed from a military point of view, believing that although Shu Han had a certain military strength, compared with Eastern Wu, it was at a significant disadvantage in terms of troops and materials. In addition, Zhao Yun was also worried that once he went all out to the east, he might leave an opportunity for Cao Wei in the north.
Although Liu Bei understood the starting point of Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun, his revenge was hardly able to suppress the anger and grief in his heart. Deep down in his heart, he always believed that only by avenging this blood feud could he be worthy of his brother Zhang Fei's spirit in the sky. Therefore, despite facing the opposition of important ministers, Liu Bei's revenge did not diminish in the slightest.
Under such circumstances, there were unprecedented differences between the Shu Han court and the court because of this revenge action. For a time, the entire city of Chengdu was shrouded in a tense and depressing atmosphere. Liu Bei's fire of revenge is not only a war with the outside world, but also a deep torture of deep emotions.
Strategic considerations of Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun
In the long history of Shu Han, Zhuge Liang's wisdom and Zhao Yun's bravery have been praised by the world. However, after Zhang Fei was brutally murdered, the fire of revenge in Liu Bei's heart burned brightly, but Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun showed a different kind of caution and calmness than usual.
Zhuge Liang, known as Wolong, has outstanding intelligence, is well versed in the art of war, and has a unique insight into the general trend of the world. After learning of Liu Bei's decision to take revenge, he was well aware of the great risks of this move. He sat alone in his study late at night, flipping through military books and repeatedly deliberating on various strategic layouts. Zhuge Liang knew that although Shu Han had a place in Xichuan, his national strength was still weak, and his people's livelihood was not stable, so he urgently needed to recuperate and recuperate in order to consolidate his foundation. If he rashly went east at this time, he would not only fail in success, but also leave Cao Wei with an opportunity to take advantage of, thus endangering the safety of Shu Han.
Zhao Yun, known for his bravery and courage, was also a far-sighted general. After Zhang Fei was killed, although Zhao Yun also had grief and anger in his heart, he was more concerned about the overall interests of Shu Han. He made rounds in the barracks, communicated with the officers and men, and learned about the actual situation in the army. Zhao Yun knew that although there was no shortage of warriors among the elites of Shu Han, there was still a big gap between them and Dongwu in terms of number and equipment. In addition, the soldiers have been exhausted by the prolonged war, and it may be difficult to sustain another large-scale war.
In a secret meeting, Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun exchanged views with each other. Zhuge Liang proposed that the most important thing in Shu Han at present is to stabilize the rear, improve the living standards of the people, and enhance the national strength. Zhao Yun suggested that the border defense should be strengthened to prevent Cao Wei's prying eyes, and at the same time maintain sufficient vigilance against Eastern Wu, but it is not appropriate to act rashly.
The two also gave an up-to-date interpretation of Soochow's intelligence. The information they gathered from various sources showed that the Eastern Wu was under the rule of Sun Quan, and the national power was growing day by day, and it had a good military performance. If Shu Han rashly launched a war, even if it could achieve a temporary victory, it would not be able to last, but it might fall into a long-term war of attrition.
In addition, Zhuge Liang also learned from internal letters that many officials in the DPRK and China had objections to the Eastern Crusade. They were worried that once the war started, it would consume a lot of financial and human resources of the country, which would be extremely detrimental to the long-term development of Shu Han. Although these officials did not dare to openly oppose Liu Bei's decision, they were secretly trying to lobby others in the hope of preventing this seemingly inevitable war.
Although the discussion between Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun was not directly conveyed to Liu Bei, they tried their best to show Liu Bei the risks and disadvantages of war through various means. They hoped that Liu Bei would reconsider and not make decisions that might jeopardize Shu Han's future because of a momentary anger.
Liu Bei's isolation and the intensification of internal contradictions
As the revenge plan gradually progressed, Liu Bei's determination increased day by day, however, this decision caused unprecedented controversy and contradictions within Shu Han. The cautious attitude of Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun, as well as the dissenting opinions of other generals, made Liu Bei feel deeply isolated.
At a court meeting, Liu Bei publicly announced plans for the Eastern Crusade, hoping to gain the support of the courtiers. However, unlike usual, this time he was faced with silence and hesitation. At the meeting, Zhuge Liang elaborated on his analysis of the current situation at home and abroad, and suggested that Liu Bei postpone the Eastern Crusade and give priority to stabilizing the domestic political situation. From a military point of view, Zhao Yun pointed out that Shu Han's military strength had not yet recovered, and now was not the best time to launch a large-scale war.
In addition, other generals such as Wei Yan also expressed their concerns. Wei Yan bluntly said that the military strength of Eastern Wu should not be underestimated, and the geographical advantage and people are superior, if Shu Han rashly attacks, it is likely to suffer heavy losses. He suggested that more attention should be paid to domestic development and the strengthening of border defenses, rather than to plunging into an unknown war.
After Liu Bei heard this, although he was unhappy in his heart, he could not dismiss these reasonable suggestions. He is vengeful, but he also understands that a monarch cannot decide national affairs solely by personal feelings. This ambivalence made him hesitate to deal with state affairs.
Over time, Liu Bei's revenge plan progressed slowly due to a lack of adequate support. He tried to convince the court's important ministers in various ways, but with little success. This internal discord and lack of support made Liu Bei feel more isolated and helpless than ever.
Under this pressure, Liu Bei had to reconsider his decision. He began to have more in-depth exchanges with Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun, trying to find a compromise solution. Zhuge Liang suggested that a small number of troops could be sent to the border for harassment warfare first, which could not only test the reaction of Eastern Wu, but also not cause heavy losses to Shu Han. Zhao Yun suggested strengthening the collection and analysis of intelligence to more accurately grasp the military dynamics of Soochow.
Although these discussions temporarily eased the tension between the DPRK and China, the flame of revenge in Liu Bei's heart was not extinguished. He began to prepare secretly, adjusting his forces, accumulating supplies, and preparing for a possible war. At the same time, he also paid more attention to communication with courtiers, hoping to gradually resolve internal contradictions and unify the will of the whole country.
During this period, although the Shu Han Dynasty seemed calm on the surface, the internal contradictions and controversies were surging. Liu Bei's isolation is not only a political isolation, but also a strategic isolation, and he must find a delicate balance between safeguarding personal feelings and national interests.
Outcomes and far-reaching implications
In the long history of Shu Han, Liu Bei's revenge was never completely released. After a series of internal discussions and trade-offs, in the end, Liu Bei's plan for the Eastern Crusade was forced to be shelved. Although this decision avoided a possible military catastrophe, it also laid a profound impact on the future of Shu Han.
Liu Bei, at the suggestion of Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun, adopted a more conservative strategy. He ordered Zhao Yun to strengthen the border to prevent Cao Wei's invasion of the north, while sending small forces to harass the Eastern Wu border to test the enemy's strength and reactions. Although this strategy did not directly trigger a large-scale war, it effectively contained Soochow and made it dare not act rashly.
In addition, Liu Bei also strengthened the management of internal affairs. With Zhuge Liang's assistance, he implemented a series of reforms aimed at improving agricultural production and economic development in Shu Han. These measures gradually stabilized the situation in the country, enhanced the people's sense of belonging and satisfaction, and laid the foundation for the long-term development of Shu Han.
However, Liu Bei's revenge was not completely extinguished. In his later years, this unfulfilled wish often made him feel depressed. He often mentioned Zhang Fei in the court, expressing regret for failing to avenge him. This emotional entanglement also affected his judgment of some political decisions, making him appear overly cautious and even a little hesitant in handling certain state affairs.
After Liu Bei's death, the political situation in Shu Han entered a new stage. Liu Bei's various decisions and wishes during his lifetime had a profound impact on his successor, Liu Chan, and his auxiliary minister Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang continued to pursue Liu Bei's policies, striving to maintain the stability of Shu Han and trying to strengthen Shu Han's position through diplomacy and local conflicts.
Although Liu Bei was unable to complete his revenge in person, his efforts and decisions eventually enabled Shu Han to maintain relative independence and security in the situation of the Three Kingdoms. His philosophy of governing the country and his emphasis on internal affairs provided a solid foundation for the later development of Shu Han. And his dedication to revenge, although it was not realized, has also become a legendary memory in the history of Shu Han, which has been repeatedly mentioned by later generations to discuss its impact on the fate of Shu Han.
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Liu Bei's life is full of contradictions between war and peace, revenge and forgiveness. His political legacy and personal emotional entanglements have woven a complex story of power, responsibility, and humanity that has left a rich history and reflection for future generations.