Liu Bei’s Deathbed Trust at Yong’an

Summoned to Yong’an, Zhuge Liang was told by the dying Liu Bei that his talent was ten times Cao Pi’s and that he would surely secure the state. If Liu Bei’s heir could be helped, he should help him; if the heir had no talent, Zhuge Liang could take the state himself.

Zhuge Liang wept and answered that he would give every ounce of his strength and keep faith and steadfastness, carrying on until death.

Liu Bei also left an edict for Liu Shan telling him to work with the Chancellor and to serve him as he would a father.

Pei Songzhi’s annotation quotes Sun Sheng, who condemned Liu Bei’s words as disorderly: if Zhuge Liang was loyal no such speech was needed, and if he was not, it should not have opened the way to usurpation. Sun Sheng notes that some said Liu Bei meant to secure Zhuge Liang’s commitment and unite the will of the Shu people, but he rejects that reading, and adds that Shu was fortunate that Liu Shan was weak and unsuspicious and Zhuge Liang strong enough to keep dissent in check.

Liu Bei died at Yong’an in 223 after entrusting his son and the state to Zhuge Liang and other ministers.

In his closing assessment of Liu Bei, Chen Shou praised him for entrusting the whole state to Zhuge Liang without a second thought, calling it the highest fairness between ruler and minister.

After the defeat at Yiling, Liu Bei abandoned his boats, went back by land to Yufu and renamed the county Yong’an. The same chapter says Sun Quan, alarmed to hear that Liu Bei was staying at Baidi, sent envoys to ask for peace, and Liu Bei agreed.

Before dying, Liu Bei entrusted Zhuge Liang and other ministers with supporting Liu Shan.

After Liu Bei’s death, Zhuge Liang became regent and handled state affairs for the young Liu Shan.

Liu Bei treated Zhuge Liang as a close strategic partner and entrusted him with the government before his death.