Reborn Liu Bei: I'll lead this Three Kingdoms to victory!

Spring of the eighth year of Jian'an, Luoyang.

Liu Bei sat on his throne, with his civil and military officials standing below him. Xun You presented the newly revised "Han Codex" to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, I have finally finished writing."

Liu Bei took it; it was a thick stack of dozens of volumes, heavy with weight. He flipped through it, then looked up: "Gongda, this is not your book, it is the law of the Han Dynasty."

Xun You knelt down, tears streaming down his face.

A voice announced from outside the door: "The envoy from Jiangdong has arrived!"

Lu Su walked in, stood in the hall, and bowed deeply to the ground: "Lord Liu, my lord has sent me to congratulate His Majesty on the pacification of the north."

Liu Bei looked at him: "Zijing, what did Zhongmou say?"

Lu Su raised his head: "My lord is willing to relinquish the title of emperor, become a subject, and pay tribute."

Liu Bei remained silent. Pang Tong interjected, "Accepting all authority? Is that all?"

Lu Su's expression changed.

Zhuge Liang stepped forward and said, "Zijing, go back and tell Zhongmou that he may submit to Zhuge Liang, but he must come to Luoyang in person."

Lu Su was stunned.

"This is His Majesty's will," Zhuge Liang said. "If Zhongmou comes, the position of Duke of Wu will remain unchanged. If he does not come..."

He didn't finish speaking, but Lu Su understood.

After Lu Su returned, Sun Quan couldn't sleep for three days and three nights. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "Go!"

In the summer of Jian'an 8 (208 AD), Sun Quan arrived in Luoyang. Liu Bei personally went out of the city to greet him and took his hand as they entered the city. The two talked in the palace all night, but what they discussed remains unknown. Early the next morning, Sun Quan announced: Jiangdong belongs to Han, he relinquishes his imperial title, will be called Duke of Wu, and will move to Luoyang.

When the news reached Jiangdong, Zhou Yu was on his sickbed. After hearing it, he smiled and said, "Zhongmou, you made the right move."

Those around him asked, "General, aren't you going to Luoyang?"

Zhou Yu shook his head: "I can't walk anymore. But Zijing can go. Tell Zijing to assist Zhongmou well."

That night, Zhou Yu died of illness.

When Lu Su arrived in Luoyang, news of Zhou Yu's death also arrived. He knelt before Sun Quan, weeping uncontrollably. Sun Quan helped him up, his own eyes reddening.

"Zijing, Gongjin is gone. Please help me from now on."

Lu Su nodded.

Liu Bei watched from the side and sighed. He recalled the scene when he first met Zhou Yu, that spirited young man, who was no longer there.

He stood up and walked to the window. The sunlight outside was perfect, shining on the streets of Luoyang, where people were coming and going.

"Gongjin, do you see? The world is about to be settled."

In the ninth year of Jian'an, in Luoyang.

Fa Zheng finally met Liu Bei.

He knelt in the hall, not daring to raise his head. Liu Bei personally went down and helped him up, saying, "Sir, I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Fa Zheng was stunned.

Liu Bei took something out of his pocket—a letter. Fa Zheng took it and saw that it was a letter written by Xun Yu.

"Lord Xun..." Fa Zheng's hands were trembling.

Liu Bei said, "Before he died, he wrote me a letter. In the letter, he mentioned you. He said that there is a man in Yizhou named Fa Zheng who is very capable."

Fa Zheng's tears flowed down his cheeks.

He took out the map of Yizhou from his pocket and presented it to Liu Bei with both hands. Liu Bei took it, unfolded it, and saw that the mountains, passes, cities, and roads were clearly marked.

"Sir, how should we proceed in this round?" Liu Bei asked.

Fa Zheng wiped away his tears and pointed to the map: "Three steps. First, I will return and tell you that Zhang Lu is going to attack Yizhou. Second, Your Majesty will enter Sichuan under the pretext of providing assistance. Third—the gates of Chengdu will open by themselves."

Liu Bei nodded: "Let's do it that way."

When Fa Zheng returned to Chengdu, Liu Zhang panicked as expected. He grabbed Fa Zheng's hand: "Xiaozhi, what should we do? Zhang Lu is coming!"

Fa Zheng said, "My lord, Liu Bei's reputation for benevolence and righteousness is known throughout the land. Why not invite him to Sichuan to lend his assistance?"

Liu Zhang hesitated: "Liu Bei... will he come?"

Fa Zheng said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to make the trip."

Liu Zhang nodded: "Okay, go quickly."

Fa Zheng made another trip to Luoyang and brought back a message from Liu Bei: "Lord Liu is willing to enter Sichuan to provide assistance."

Liu Bei led an army of 50,000 into Shu, and the prefectures and counties along the way surrendered without resistance. Zhang Ren planned to ambush them halfway, but Fa Zheng saw through his plan beforehand. Zhao Yun then launched a counter-encirclement, and Zhang Ren was captured.

Liu Bei personally untied him: "General, you are loyal and brave; I respect you greatly. Are you willing to surrender?"

Zhang Ren stared at him for a long time before finally kneeling down: "I am willing to surrender."

Outside Chengdu, Liu Bei arrayed his troops. Liu Zhang stood atop the city wall, his legs trembling. Fa Zheng entered the city and uttered only three sentences: "Lord Liu has decreed that Liu Zhang be enfeoffed as the Duke of Anle, relocated to Luoyang, and his title be hereditary. Open the gates, and you will enjoy wealth and honor. Refusal will result in war."

Liu Zhang opened the door.

When Liu Bei entered Chengdu, he did not commit any offenses against the people. That same day, he announced: the people of Yizhou would be exempt from taxes for one year, and the land tax reform would be implemented within three years. The news spread, and the entire city cheered.

Fa Zheng stood beside Liu Bei, looking at the cheering crowd, and said softly, "Your Majesty, Yizhou is pacified."

Liu Bei nodded.

In the first month of the first year of Zhangwu, in Luoyang.

Liu Bei ascended the throne and declared himself emperor.

At the grand ceremony, he wore ordinary cloth clothes, with only a red sash tied around his neck. The courtiers were puzzled, and he said, "I was originally a commoner, and I dare not forget my origins."

Below the stage, Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Pang Tong, Fa Zheng, Xun You, Xu Shu, and Tian Yu were all kneeling. In the distance, there were also Zhou Cang, Gao Shun, Ma Jun, Kong Shao, Fu Shou, Xun Yun, Zhao Yan, Wang Wu, and those who had come from Xuchang, Jingzhou, and Yizhou.

Liu Bei looked at them for a long time.

Then he spoke, his voice not loud, but everyone heard him: "Thirty years ago, I was selling straw sandals in Zhuojun. At that time, I thought, 'When will I be able to eat my fill?'"

Some people in the audience laughed.

Liu Bei continued, "Later, I met Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhuge Liang, and all of you. Step by step, I have come to where I am today."

He paused.

"Today, the world is united."

The audience was silent.

"But that's not enough," Liu Bei said. "Unifying the world is just the beginning. What I want is for everyone to have enough to eat, for every child to be able to go to school, and for every elderly person to be able to live out their old age in peace."

He looked at Xun You: "Gongda, your 'Han Dian' must be passed down."

Xun You knelt down, tears streaming down his face.

In the tenth year of Zhangwu, Guan Yu died of illness. Liu Bei held his coffin and wept for three days and three nights. In the same year, Zhang Fei also passed away.

In the fourteenth year of Zhangwu, Zhao Yun died of illness. Before his death, he held Liu Bei's hand and said, "Your Majesty, the world will be better."

Liu Bei nodded: "It will be alright, Zilong."

In the spring of the sixteenth year of Zhangwu, Liu Bei fell seriously ill.

He summoned Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi to his bedside, and held their hands, saying, "Kongming, Zhongda, my life has been worthwhile."

Zhuge Liang knelt down, tears streaming down his face.

Sima Yi knelt, without uttering a word.

Liu Bei looked at them and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth: "You guys...do a good job."

Then he closed his eyes.

In March of the sixteenth year of Zhangwu, Liu Bei died in Luoyang Palace at the age of sixty-seven.

After his death, only a bamboo scroll and a pair of straw sandals were found in his coffin. The bamboo scroll was inscribed with:

"I was originally a commoner, and it was through the efforts of you all that I gained this empire. The way to govern a country lies in the hearts of the people, in the system, and in the talent. Future generations should remember: benevolence and righteousness are the outward appearance, and one must treat the people with sincerity; laws and regulations are the foundation, and one must treat everyone equally; scheming and power are the blade, and one must be extremely cautious."

End of the book