Everyone knows that Liu Chan is the last emperor of the Shu Han Dynasty, but few people know that he reigned for 41 years. Liu Chan, who is known as "Adou who can't be helped", what is so special? Why can it sit firmly in the turbulent times of the division for decades? What's even more puzzling is that he is as wise as Zhuge Liang, why did he not understand Liu Chan's true face until he was dying? Is Liu Chan hiding too deeply, or is Zhuge Liang too conceited? Or is there some kind of tacit understanding between the two? Let's uncover the dust of history and find out the true face of this last monarch of Shu Han. What kind of person is Liu Chan? How did he grow up under Zhuge Liang's wings and eventually become an emperor who could control the overall situation?
Liu Chan's tragic childhood
In the twelfth year of Jian'an (207 AD), Liu Chan was born in Jingzhou. His mother, Mrs. Gan, was originally the maid of Liu Biao, the pastor of Jingzhou, and because Liu Bei met him when he was in Jingzhou, she became Liu Bei's concubine. According to the "Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms", when Mrs. Gan was pregnant, she dreamed of swallowing the Big Dipper, so she gave Liu Chan a nickname "Adou". This nickname pinned on Mrs. Gan's high hopes for her son, hoping that he would shine like the Big Dipper. However, fate played a cruel joke on Liu Chan.
Liu Chan had just turned one year old, and he encountered the first test of life and death in his life. In the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208 AD), Cao Cao led his army south, and Liu Bei evacuated Jingzhou in a hurry. In this famous Battle of Changbanpo, Liu Chan and his mother were left behind by Liu Bei and almost fell into the hands of Cao Cao. If it weren't for Zhao Yun risking death to save him, Liu Chan's life would probably come to an abrupt end. However, although Zhao Yun went in and out seven times and rescued Liu Chan, he failed to save Mrs. Gan.
This battle not only caused the young Liu Chan to lose his mother, but also left an indelible shadow on his young heart. Since then, Liu Chan has become a motherless child and spent his childhood in exile. Liu Bei was busy with the war and had no time to take care of his young son, so Liu Chan could only follow the army to various places, lacking the care and education that normal children should have.
However, Liu Chan's suffering did not end there. In the eighteenth year of Jian'an (213 AD), after Liu Bei entered Shu, in order to consolidate the alliance with Sun Quan, he married Sun Quan's sister Sun Shangxiang. After Sun Shangxiang came to Chengdu, he was very fond of Liu Chan, who was only six years old, and often took it with him. Who knew that this would become another disaster for Liu Chan.
In the nineteenth year of Jian'an (214 AD), Zhou Yu, the governor of Eastern Wu, set up a trick to hold Liu Chan hostage by Sun Shangxiang's hand, so as to coerce Liu Bei to return to Jingzhou. Sun Shangxiang took Liu Chan to prepare to return to Soochow, if it wasn't for Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei to find out in time, Liu Chan would have become a hostage and fall into danger. This incident once again made Liu Chan feel the fragility of life, and also made him more aware of the importance of preserving himself in troubled times.
These childhood experiences made Liu Chan gradually develop a cautious and forbearant character. He learned how to survive in the face of adversity and how to protect himself in a perilous environment. These seemingly tragic experiences laid the foundation for him to become an emperor who was good at hiding his true thoughts and was well versed in power.
As he grew older, Liu Chan gradually understood his identity and situation. He is Liu Bei's eldest son, the prince of Shu Han, and shoulders the heavy responsibility of continuing the bloodline of the Han family. However, he also clearly knew that his father Liu Bei did not expect much from him. Liu Bei's heart was on reviving the Han family, and he had no time to teach this young son personally, nor did he show much kindness.
In such an environment, Liu Chan learned to cultivate obscurity. He does not fight or grab, behaves humbly and gently, and seems to have no interest in power. This attitude allowed him to avoid a lot of unnecessary troubles, and also gave him the opportunity to observe and learn in secret. Although he seems mediocre and incompetent on the surface, in fact, Liu Chan is accumulating experience and wisdom in governing the country in the future.
White Emperor Cheng Tuogu and Liu Chan ascended the throne
In the first year of Jianxing (223 AD), Liu Bei was seriously ill and dying in the White Emperor City. At this time, Liu Chan was 17 years old, and it stands to reason that he had reached the age where he could be independent. However, Liu Bei didn't have much confidence in this son. At the last moment of his life, Liu Bei summoned his most trusted advisor Zhuge Liang and left behind the famous words of Tuogu.
Liu Bei said to Zhuge Liang: "If Adou can assist, you can assist; If you are not talented, you can take it yourself. These words fully reflected Liu Bei's doubts about Liu Chan's ability. He gave Zhuge Liang two choices: if Liu Chan was capable, he would assist him; If Liu Chan is incompetent, Zhuge Liang can replace him himself. This kind of support is rare in Chinese history, and it also reflects Liu Bei's deep anxiety about the future of Shu Han.
Liu Bei's words not only showed his distrust of his son, but also implied his absolute trust in Zhuge Liang. In Liu Bei's view, Zhuge Liang's talent is far better than Liu Chan's, and he can better control the situation. This trust gave Zhuge Liang great power, and also laid the groundwork for the delicate power relationship between Liu Chan and Zhuge Liang in the future.
After Liu Bei's death, Liu Chan officially succeeded to the throne and became the second emperor of Shu Han. However, the situation in Shuhan at this time was not optimistic. Cao Wei in the north was eyeing him, and Sun Wu in the east was not a reliable ally. To make matters worse, Shu Han also faces many internal challenges. Many of the old ministers were not convinced by this young new monarch, and they preferred to follow the respected Zhuge Liang.
Faced with this situation, Liu Chan adopted a seemingly negative but actually wise strategy. He handed over the power to Zhuge Liang, and he showed that he had no interest in court politics. This approach had several advantages: first, it was able to appease the old ministers who were skeptical of Liu Chan's ability; secondly, it gave Zhuge Liang room to fully display his talents; Finally, and most importantly, it gives Liu Chan the opportunity to observe and learn behind the scenes without having to take on too much responsibility.
Zhuge Liang accepted this important task and became the de facto ruler of Shu Han. He was named the Marquis of Wuxiang, opened the government and was responsible for handling major affairs such as the government and the military. On the surface, Liu Chan seems to have become a puppet emperor, only appearing at some major festivals or sacrificial events, performing some symbolic duties.
However, the truth is far from what it seems. Although Liu Chan delegated power to Zhuge Liang, he did not completely let it go. He silently observed everything in the court and learned how to govern the country. Liu Chan is well aware that in this turbulent era, rash display of the edge may lead to disaster. As a result, he chose a more discreet and secure way to accumulate experience and power.
In this process, Liu Chan showed patience and wisdom beyond ordinary people. He is not in a hurry to express himself, but waits for the moment. This attitude is reminiscent of the later Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, who was good at hiding their strength in unfavorable situations and waiting for the right moment.
Liu Chan's approach also gave Zhuge Liang an illusion that Liu Chan was really just an incompetent person. Zhuge Liang devoted himself to governing the country and devoted himself to the development of Shu Han. He made many northern expeditions, trying to fulfill Liu Bei's last wish, but he fell short every time. During these difficult years, Liu Chan has always kept a low profile and seems to be indifferent to national affairs.
However, it is in this seemingly inactive state that Liu Chan is silently accumulating strength. He established his own network with the ministers of the DPRK and China, and secretly understood the movements of various forces. He observed Zhuge Liang's decision-making, learned his way of governing the country, and also thought about how to control the overall situation in the future.
This state of affairs lasted until Zhuge Liang's death. During this time, Liu Chan succeeded in creating an incompetent but harmless image that would neither arouse the vigilance of Zhuge Liang nor the envy of other ministers. This kind of hidden method is the key to Liu Chan's 41-year reign.
Liu Chan's taoguang is obscure
During Zhuge Liang's reign, Liu Chan showed amazing forbearance and wisdom. He adopted an extremely clever ruling strategy: on the surface, he delegated power to Zhuge Liang, but in fact secretly observed and learned. This approach not only allowed him to avoid direct conflict with Zhuge Liang, but also accumulated valuable experience for his independent government in the future.
The relationship between Liu Chan and Zhuge Liang can be described as extremely delicate. On the surface, Liu Chan obeyed Zhuge Liang's words and almost didn't ask about the government. Whenever Zhuge Liang made a suggestion or decision, Liu Chan always showed great agreement. However, an attentive observer will see that Liu Chan is not completely hands-off. He often learned about the major affairs of the DPRK and China through side-by-side attacks, and put forward his own views at the appropriate time.
At one point, Zhuge Liang proposed a Northern Expedition. As is customary, Liu Chan should agree immediately. However, this time Liu Chan raised a seemingly inconsequential question: "Prime Minister, how much grain and grass is needed for this Northern Expedition?" This may seem like a simple question, but it actually has a deep meaning. It not only shows Liu Chan's concern for national affairs, but also subtly reminds Zhuge Liang to consider logistics issues. After Zhuge Liang heard this, he couldn't help but look at the young emperor with admiration.
Liu Chan's approach will not arouse Zhuge Liang's vigilance, but also show his own opinions at the right time. This kind of balance is exactly what Liu Chan is brilliant about. He made Zhuge Liang feel that he was still in control of the overall situation, and at the same time he was secretly accumulating strength in preparation for an independent government in the future.
Among the people, there are many legends about the wisdom of Liu Chan. One of the stories tells how Liu Chan skillfully tested the minister's loyalty. It is said that once Liu Chan pretended to be drunk and said some indecent things in the court. Most of the ministers remained silent, and only one old minister stood up and gently advised Liu Chan. Afterwards, Liu Chan not only did not punish the old minister, but entrusted him with a heavy responsibility. Although this story is difficult to verify, it reflects the people's recognition of Liu Chan's wisdom.
Another widely circulated legend is about how Liu Chan handled the dispute between Korea and China. It is said that two ministers were at loggerheads because of political disagreements. Liu Chan did not intervene directly, but arranged for the two ministers to work together on a thorny matter. In the process of cooperation, the two gradually let go of their prejudices and eventually became the right-hand men of the court. This story shows Liu Chan's superb personnel management skills.
Liu Chan's taoguang is not only reflected in politics, but also in daily life. He often went out on patrol as an ordinary person to understand the people's suffering. Once, he went to a remote village and found that the local people were struggling to live because of their heavy tax burden. After returning to the palace, Liu Chan did not immediately order a tax cut, but asked Zhuge Liang to send someone to investigate the matter. Eventually, at Zhuge Liang's suggestion, the imperial court promulgated a more reasonable tax policy. This approach not only solved the problem, but also maintained Zhuge Liang's authority.
This delicate relationship between Liu Chan and Zhuge Liang is extremely rare in history. Often, young monarchs are eager to show their abilities and can easily contradict powerful prime ministers. However, Liu Chan was able to restrain his ambitions and maintain a good relationship with Zhuge Liang. This not only reflects Liu Chan's political wisdom, but also shows his grasp of the overall situation.
Liu Chan's strategy of taoguang and obscurity provided an important guarantee for the stable development of Shu Han. During Zhuge Liang's reign, although Shu Han faced tremendous pressure from the Wei state, it maintained relative stability internally. This stable situation is largely due to Liu Chan's wise choice.
However, this practice of Liu Chan has also brought some negative effects. Due to the long-term lack of sharpness, many people gradually formed the impression that Liu Chan was incompetent. This impression not only influenced the evaluation of Liu Chan at that time, but also had a profound impact on the historical evaluation of later generations. It was not until much later that people began to re-examine Liu Chan's abilities and contributions.
Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition and Liu Chan's attitude
Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition was an important chapter in the history of Shu Han, and Liu Chan's attitude and performance in this series of military operations also became an important basis for future generations to judge his ability. On the surface, Liu Chan seems to have a negative attitude towards the Northern Expedition, but the actual situation is far more complicated than it seems.
In 227 AD, Zhuge Liang launched the first Northern Expedition. Prior to this, Shu Han had been in a relatively passive defensive state. Zhuge Liang believes that only by taking the initiative can the disadvantages of Shu Han be changed. When Zhuge Liang proposed the Northern Expedition to Liu Chan, Liu Chan's reaction was quite intriguing. He did not immediately express his position, but raised a series of questions involving specific details such as the supply of military rations and logistical support. This approach not only showed Liu Chan's concern for national affairs, but also skillfully avoided direct confrontation with Zhuge Liang.
In the first Northern Expedition, Zhuge Liang achieved certain results, but eventually had to withdraw due to lack of food and grass. After returning to Chengdu, when Zhuge Liang reported the battle situation to Liu Chan, Liu Chan did not blame Zhuge Liang for failing to achieve a decisive victory, but praised him. Liu Chan said: "Although the prime minister's northern expedition failed to capture Chang'an in one fell swoop, it has shocked the Wei army and shown the power of our Shu Han. That's a big deal. These words not only appeased Zhuge Liang, but also showed Liu Chan's deep understanding of the battle situation.
In the years that followed, Zhuge Liang made several northern expeditions. Before each expedition, Liu Chan would hold a court meeting to listen to Zhuge Liang's battle plan. Interestingly, Liu Chan always asks seemingly simple but meaningful questions at critical moments. For example, before the Third Northern Expedition, Liu Chan asked: "In this Northern Expedition, how should our army deal with the Wei army's strategy of luring the enemy into depth?" This question not only shows Liu Chan's understanding of military strategy, but also reminds Zhuge Liang to be cautious.
During the Northern Expedition, Liu Chan was not completely out of the way. He repeatedly sent his henchmen to the front to find out what was going on. These ministers not only brought Liu Chan's condolences, but also brought back real information from the front. In this way, Liu Chan maintained control of the battle without directly intervening in military operations.
Once, news came from the front that Zhuge Liang was seriously ill. The ministers of the DPRK and China suggested that Liu Chan personally go to offer condolences. However, Liu Chan made an unexpected decision. He sent his henchman Imperial Physician to the front line with precious medicinal herbs. This decision not only showed concern for Zhuge Liang, but also avoided the wavering of the army's morale that might be caused by the emperor's presence at the front.
During the Northern Expedition, Liu Chan also paid special attention to people's livelihood issues. He repeatedly ordered to reduce the burden on the civilian population in order to ensure stability in the rear. Once, when he learned that farmland was abandoned due to conscription, Liu Chan immediately ordered officials to be sent to deal with it, and formulated a series of policies to encourage agricultural production. These measures not only relieved the pressure on the people, but also provided a solid logistical support for the Northern Expedition.
During Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition, Shu Han was not calm inside. Some ministers expressed dissatisfaction with the continued military campaign, believing that it would deplete the country's strength. Faced with this situation, Liu Chan adopted a clever balancing act. He neither fully supports these opponents nor suppresses them. On the contrary, he often summoned these ministers to discuss state affairs and listen to their advice. In this way, Liu Chan both maintained the unity of the imperial court and avoided possible internal divisions.
During Zhuge Liang's last Northern Expedition, the situation became particularly critical. News came from the front that Zhuge Liang was seriously ill and difficult to treat. At this time, there were two voices in the court: one advocated the immediate recall of Zhuge Liang to preserve the vitality of Shu Han; The other believed that the Northern Expedition should continue to be supported in order to fulfill Zhuge Liang's last wish. Faced with this situation, Liu Chan made a surprising decision. He neither recalled Zhuge Liang nor gave the order to continue the attack. Instead, he sent an elite force, nominally to reinforce the front line, but in reality to ensure that the large army could retreat safely.
Zhuge Liang finally died of illness in Wuzhangyuan. When the news reached Chengdu, Liu Chan showed great grief. He not only held a grand funeral for Zhuge Liang, but also personally wrote a memorial for him. In the memorial text, Liu Chan spoke highly of Zhuge Liang's exploits, especially mentioning his contribution to the Northern Expedition. This memorial is not only a compliment to Zhuge Liang, but also an affirmation of Liu Chan's Northern Expedition policy.
The decline and fall of Liu Chan and Shu Han
After Zhuge Liang's death, the Shu Han court entered a new period. Liu Chan began to take full control of the government, which was the result of his years of obscurity. However, as time passed, Shu Han gradually went into decline. In this process, Liu Chan's decision-making and behavior played a key role.
In the early years of Zhuge Liang's death, Liu Chan showed considerable political wisdom. He did not immediately abolish Zhuge Liang's policy, but continued to pursue the Northern Expedition strategy. This decision not only showed respect for Zhuge Liang, but also maintained the stability of the imperial court. However, as time went on, the number of failures of the Northern Expedition increased, and the national strength of Shu Han was gradually exhausted.
Under these circumstances, Liu Chan made an important decision: to stop the Northern Expedition and instead strengthen internal affairs. This decision caused quite a bit of controversy at the time. The ministers who supported the continuation of the Northern Expedition believed that giving up the offensive meant giving up the opportunity to unify the world. But Liu Chan insisted on his own opinion, he believed that only by recuperating can he accumulate strength for future development.
In order to implement this policy, Liu Chan took a series of measures. First of all, he made a massive reduction in the army, using the savings to develop agriculture and handicrafts. Secondly, he ordered the construction of water conservancy projects to improve the conditions for agricultural production. These measures did have some effect in the short term, and Shuhan's economy showed a short-lived recovery.
However, these decisions of Liu Chan also brought some negative effects. Large-scale disarmament has led to the inability to resettle a large number of veterans, some of whom have become a source of social instability. At the same time, due to the long absence of war, the combat effectiveness of the Shu Han army was gradually declining.
In terms of domestic affairs, Liu Chan has also made some noteworthy measures. He reused a number of young officials, the most famous of whom was Chen Yi. Chen Yi came from a humble background, but he was talented. Liu Chan ignored the opposition of the ministers of the court and promoted him to the rank of Shangshuling. After Chen took office, he did implement some beneficial reforms, but he was eventually deposed because he offended many powerful people.
Liu Chan also attaches great importance to education. He ordered the construction of schools throughout the country and personally inscribed the names of some schools. Once, he paid a private visit to a newly built school. When he saw that the students were enthusiastically discussing a passage in the Analects, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "With such a studious style, why don't I worry about Shu Han? This sentence was later recorded and became a good story in the history of Shu Han education.
However, as time went on, some problems began to arise with Liu Chan's rule. He became more and more addicted to pleasures and often held large banquets in the palace. At one point, he even ordered the construction of a huge artificial lake in the city of Chengdu for recreation. These moves not only cost a lot of money to the state treasury, but also caused dissatisfaction among the people.
When it comes to foreign relations, Liu Chan has adopted a relatively conservative strategy. He does not take the initiative to provoke wars, but he also does not easily succumb to the pressure of external enemies. Once, Wei sent an envoy to Shu and asked Shu Han to be a vassal. Liu Chan did not refuse directly, but set an ingenious trap. He deliberately made the messenger drunk at the banquet and then induced him to make some inappropriate remarks. The next day, Liu Chan expelled the envoy on the grounds that he was rude. This practice not only maintained the dignity of Shu Han, but also avoided direct confrontation with Wei.
With the decline of Shu Han's national power, border defense also began to have problems. The Wei general Deng Ai discovered a loophole in Shu Han's defenses and decided to launch a surprise attack. When the news reached Chengdu, there was a panic in the DPRK and China. Some ministers suggested moving the capital immediately, but Liu Chan surprisingly kept his composure. He ordered the fortifications of the city to be strengthened, and at the same time sent emissaries to negotiate with the Wei army.
However, the negotiations did not produce the desired results. Deng Ai led the army commander to drive straight in, and soon attacked the city of Chengdu. Faced with this situation, Liu Chan made a surprising decision: he chose to surrender.
Liu Chan's surrender announced the end of the Shu Han Dynasty. At the surrender ceremony, Liu Chan behaved unusually calmly. He said to Wei general Deng Ai: "Today's destiny has gone, and my Shu Han spirit has been exhausted." However, I descended to you for the sake of the people, and I hope you will treat the people of Shu well. These words not only show Liu Chan's helplessness, but also reflect his concern for the people.
After surrendering, Liu Chan was named the Duke of Anle by the State of Wei. During his time in Luoyang, he lived a relatively comfortable life. It is rumored that Liu Chan often sighs: "I am happy here, but I don't think about it." This phrase has since become synonymous with being content with the status quo and not wanting to make progress. However, there are also historical records that Liu Chan often reminisced about the past of Shu Han in private and expressed deep regret for the demise of the country.