Liu Bei (161-223), courtesy name Xuande, was a native of Zhuojun (now Zhuozhou, Hebei) during the Eastern Han Dynasty. A famous military strategist and statesman during the Three Kingdoms period of China. The founder of the Shuhan Dynasty.
Liu Bei was born into the declining royal family of the Han Dynasty and was a descendant of Liu Sheng, Prince Jing of Zhongshan, the son of Emperor Jing of the Western Han Dynasty. In terms of seniority, he was the clan uncle of Emperor Xian of Han Dynasty.
During the warlord melee at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Bei's group was relatively weak and had no stable base. It has been in a state of displacement. He once lived under the great warlords Cao Cao, Yuan Shao and Liu Biao. However, Liu Bei's character and character are most in line with traditional Chinese political and ideological concepts, so he is well received and respected wherever he goes.
In 188, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei organized a local armed force in Zhuoxian County and participated in the war of the Eastern Han Dynasty to extinguish the Yellow Turban Rebel Army. Historical records record that he: "has numerous military exploits" and "has military courage." ". After the war, Liu Bei established the regular armed forces of his military group and served as Pingyuan Xiang (county magistrate) in the Eastern Han Dynasty. In 196, he was promoted to Xuzhou Mu, and was granted the title of General Zhendong and the title of Tinghou of Yicheng. After Xuzhou was captured by Lu Bu, he was appointed pastor of Yuzhou.
In 207, Zhuge Liang joined Liu Bei's group as military advisor. Liu Bei followed Zhuge Liang's strategic policy: occupy Jingzhou, join Sun Wu, retreat Cao's troops, and enter Sichuan.
In 221, he proclaimed himself emperor in Chengdu and established the Shuhan Dynasty. Its territory included present-day Sichuan and Yunnan, northern Guizhou, and the old Hanzhong Prefecture in Shaanxi. Became one of the countries in the Three Kingdoms period. He married the Gan family, the Mi family, the Sun family and the Wu family successively. His son Liu Chan succeeded to the throne.
In 223, he failed in the war against Wu launched to avenge Guan Yu and retreated to Shu. He died of illness in Baidicheng (today's Fengjie, Chongqing) in April of the same year, and his posthumous title was "Zhaolie". Liu Bei has two tombs in China. One is the "Huiling" in Wuhou Temple in Chengdu; the other is in Lianhua Dam in Pengshan, Sichuan.
Evaluation
As an excellent politician and military strategist, Liu Bei has many advantages, such as loving the people and talents, being generous and righteous, knowing people well and being fair and sincere in treating others. "Three Kingdoms" commented on Liu Bei: "The forefather's fortitude and generosity, his understanding of people and his treatment of scholars are all the style of the great ancestor, and he is the weapon of a hero. The whole country is entrusted to Zhuge Liang, but his mind is not divided, and he is sincere to the emperor and his ministers. This is the prosperity of ancient and modern times." . The opportunity to use power and strategy does not catch Wei Wu. Therefore, Ji Yu is also a chivalrous person. However, he does not give up and never looks down. He restrains his strength and will not tolerate himself. He is not only seeking benefits, but also avoiding harm. "He was able to use a large number of outstanding political and military talents for his own use. The most typical example is Zhuge Liang. According to the "Three Kingdoms" record, Liu Bei's last words to Zhuge Liang before his death were: "The king is ten times more talented than Cao Pi, and he will be able to stabilize the country and determine major events. If the heir can assist, he will assist; if he is not talented, the king can do it himself." "Be the Lord of Chengdu", but when Zhuge Liang was in control of the power, he never forgot to fulfill Liu Bei's legacy, and finally "dedicated himself to the end and died for himself" in the Northern Expedition. Liu Bei's political character and characteristics are the embodiment of traditional Chinese political ideas. The political opinions of Confucius and Mencius emphasized "rule by virtue" and "benevolent governance", and warned rulers to "conquer people with virtue" and to use their own character and noble morality to influence their subjects and conquer the people. In the practice of complex political struggles, Liu Bei realized the importance of following Confucian political ideas in competing for the world. He paid great attention to the cultivation of his own moral character and established the demeanor of a virtuous king. When he died, he still did not forget to leave a legacy to warn Liu Chan: "Do not Do it when the evil is small, and do not do it when the good is small. "Only the virtuous and virtuous can serve others." It is this basic political concept of "Only the virtuous and virtuous, who can serve others" that shaped Liu Bei's life. Liu Bei's respected political character contributed to Liu Bei's lifelong hegemony.