Translated & Authored by Jonathan
Wu
Place of Birth: Zhou County, Zhou district (Presently
Zhuo Zhou, He Bei Province)
Lifespan: 161 – 223 A.D. (62 years)
Titles: Emperor of Shu, King of Han Zhong, King Zhao Di
Liu Bei was a descendant of Prince Sheng of Zhongshan, a
great-great-grandson of the fourth Han Emperor Jing. Liu Bei lived in poverty
during his youth, his father passed away while he was still young so he and
his mother made a living weaving and selling grass mats and straw sandals.
At the age of fifteen, Liu Bei became a pupil of the Han scholar Lu Zhi, along
with his friend Gongsun Zan.
During the Yellow Turbans rebellion, he was appointed to
the position of Judicial Officer in Anxi County. He did not stay there for
long, as he was forced to retire the position after beating a corrupt official
with a tree branch (1).
Liu Bei started his military career under Regent Marshall
He Jin and sough the patronage of Gongsun Zan. He was appointed as Auxiliary
Corps Commanding Officer and Magistrate of Ping Yuan County.
When Cao Cao was invading Tao Qian’s Xu Zhou, Liu
Bei moved his armies to rescue the Imperial Protector. In the first year of
Rebuilt Tranquility (196 A.D.), Liu Bei received recommendations for the rank
of General Who Guards the East and was given the title Lord of Yicheng Precinct.
Next, Liu Xuande assisted Cao Cao in capturing Lü Bu
alive and was promoted to General of the Left. Around this time, Emperor Xian
officially recognized Liu Bei’s relation to the Prince of Zhongshan
and styled him “Imperial Uncle.”
Between the third and fourth year of Rebuilt Tranquility
(198 – 199 A.D.), Liu Bei lost favor with Cao Cao by participating a
plot to assassinate him. He first took shelter in Xia Pi, and later in the
fifth year of Rebuilt Tranquility (200 A.D.), Liu Bei sought refuge Yuan Shao.
Liu Bei left Yuan Shao and after reuniting with his brothers
Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, he traveled to Jing Zhou, seeking asylum with Liu Biao.
Cao Cao pursued Liu Bei, and thus Xuande abandoned his post in Fan Cheng and
withdrew to Xia Kou. Later Liu Bei allied himself with Sun Quan of the southlands,
setting up a trap for Cao Cao to fall in. At the decisive battle of Chi Bi,
Liu Bei successfully retreated to southern Jing while Cao Cao’s navy
was destroyed by Zhou Yu.
After the deaths of Liu Biao and Liu Qi, Liu Bei occupied
several counties in Jing Zhou. He then married Sun Quan’s sister and
was officially made Protector of Jing Zhou.
In the sixteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquility (211 A.D.),
Liu Bei went to Yi Zhou under the pretense of helping Liu Zhang fight Zhang
Lu. At this time, Liu Bei received two recommendations for the posts of Great
Minister of War and Commander of the Capital Districts. In the nineteenth
year of Rebuilt Tranquility (214 A.D.), Liu Bei turned on Liu Zhang and Xuande
occupied Cheng Du and the Western Riverlands (2).
He assumed Protectorship of Yi Zhou and in the twenty-fourth year of Rebuilt
Tranquility declared himself King of Hanzhong.
After a series of wars with both Wu and Wei, Liu Xuande,
at the urging of Zhuge Liang, proclaimed himself Emperor in April of the 221
A.D. His last war was fought against the Kingdom of Wu, as an act of revenge
after Wu’s successful campaign against Jing Zhou caused the death of
Xuande’s brother Guan Yu. Liu Bei was defeated by Sun Quan’s general
Lu Xun at Yi Ling, and retreated to Bai Di Cheng (3).
On April 24th 223, Liu Bei died of illness and was buried in Hui Ling. Liu
Xuande was posthumously title King Zhao Di.
(1) In the novel San Guo Yan Yi, it was Zhang Fei who
beat the Inspector. <return>
(2) The actual text reads: Liu Bei fell out of favor with Liu
Zhang. I changed it for literary purposes only. <return>
(3) The text only mentioned Sun Quan, and not Lu Xun, but in
this case it would be unfair to attribute the victory to Sun Quan, who was
not even present in Yi Ling. <return>
© Copyright Jonathan
Wu 2002
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