My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Zhuge Liang was suddenly jolted.

Liu Bei's question was truly unexpected.

In Zhuge Liang's view, conversations between the emperor and his ministers in the imperial court were always subtle and delicate, especially when it came to such important and sensitive topics as the foundation of the state.

At this moment, the emperor was so frank and unreserved, asking him directly whether Liu Shan was suitable to be the crown prince!
This straightforward question, which concerned the very foundation of the nation, left Zhuge Liang somewhat at a loss.

It's important to understand that if this were any other emperor, it would undoubtedly have been a life-or-death situation.

Most emperors regarded the matter of choosing an heir as their own private affair and were extremely averse to their ministers' involvement in it.

When it comes to choosing the crown prince, they prefer to make the decision unilaterally in order to demonstrate their absolute authority; any interference from anyone is seen as a challenge to imperial power.

After all, the crown prince is the heir apparent, the future leader of the country, and the symbol of imperial power.

For a subject to speak recklessly about the crown prince is itself a violation of the proper conduct of a subject, an overstepping of authority, and a disrespect for the monarch's authority.

Furthermore, who can guarantee that the emperor's inquiry is not a test?

If a subject expresses dissatisfaction with the crown prince, it will inevitably breed suspicion in the emperor's heart.

Whom do you want to make crown prince?
Do you harbor ambitions to seize the throne?
If the crown prince were to ascend the throne in the future, would you harbor any rebellious intentions?
Or perhaps you are trying to replace the crown prince so that you can seize power in the future and become a powerful minister who holds sway over the court.

All of these are manifestations of the emperor's mindset.

If it were any other ruler, faced with this thorny problem, Zhuge Liang would naturally not dare to answer directly, but would only carefully avoid the main issue.

However, when faced with Liu Bei's question, Zhuge Liang was not worried at all that Liu Bei was setting a trap for him or deliberately testing him.

Zhuge Liang understood that Liu Bei's question stemmed from his deep disappointment and even dissatisfaction with Liu Shan, and he had already conceived the idea of ​​deposing Liu Shan and establishing a new crown prince.

The reason for asking for his opinion was simply because of the immense trust placed in him; he regarded him as a trusted advisor and confidant, someone who could stand with him to safeguard the future of the Han Dynasty.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhuge Liang, with a solemn expression, slowly spoke:

"Judging from His Highness the Crown Prince's recent actions, whether in terms of magnanimity, talent, or strategy, he is indeed far inferior to His Majesty."

"Perhaps His Highness is still young, like an unpolished gem, and needs more experience and careful guidance from His Majesty. He will surely improve one day."

Although Zhuge Liang knew that Liu Bei trusted him, he still did not dare to speak frankly.

After all, Liu Shan was Liu Bei's own son, and blood was thicker than water. The bond between father and son was unparalleled by any outsider.

It would be inappropriate for him to say to himself that Liu Shan was not good enough and not suitable to be the crown prince.

However, Zhuge Liang's attitude was already clear:

Liu Shan was indeed unsuitable to be the crown prince.

Why would we make such a judgment?

In terms of magnanimity, Liu Shan lacked the broad-mindedness to embrace all things.

His vision was far inferior to Liu Bei's; he was unable to plan from the perspective of the nation and only focused on his own immediate interests.

How can someone who is neither virtuous nor wise be worthy of being the Crown Prince of my Great Han?

Of course, although Zhuge Liang expressed his attitude in a roundabout way, he also advised Liu Bei in the second half of his sentence to give Liu Shan a chance to repent.

Liu Bei sighed softly and said slowly:

“If my health weren’t so poor, I would naturally choose a renowned teacher for A Dou and teach him well. I also hope that he can become a qualified monarch and carry on my legacy.”

"However, my health is deteriorating, and I am afraid my time is not far off, within the next year or two. I do not have much time to wait for the Crown Prince to repent and prove himself again."

"I must make proper arrangements for my affairs before I pass away, so as not to leave any hidden dangers for my Great Han Dynasty. I cannot stand by and watch the Great Han Dynasty, which I and you have worked so hard to restore, be destroyed because of choosing the wrong crown prince, and let the people fall into misery again." Zhuge Liang's heart trembled again, and an indescribable sadness washed over him like a tide.

Liu Bei's implication was that he wanted to select a qualified crown prince for the Han Dynasty before his death.

If Liu Shan is not up to the task, then replace him with someone else.

In short, we must not leave any future troubles for the Han Dynasty.

"Your Majesty is in the prime of life, why would you utter such ominous words? Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

Zhuge Liang choked up, tears welling in his eyes, before finally bursting into tears.

Looking back, when Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage three times and discussed the state of the world, he was full of vigor and ambition.

Now, after years of hard work, the great cause has been accomplished, the Han Dynasty has been restored, and the world is about to be unified.

That once unattainable ideal is almost coming true.

However, the once spirited General Zuo is now old and nearing the end of his life.

As memories flooded Zhuge Liang's mind, he was overcome with sadness and shed tears.

Liu Bei smiled nonchalantly, a smile that carried a hint of magnanimity and helplessness, as if he had seen through the cycle of life and death.

He gently patted Zhuge Liang's shoulder and comforted him:
"I have gained the chancellor and Bowen, and thus brought order to the chaotic world. This is the mandate of Heaven."

"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all ordained by Heaven; why should the Prime Minister be saddened?"

Zhuge Liang could only wipe away his tears, his face showing shame, and he cupped his hands in apology:

"Your Majesty's magnanimity is no less than that of Emperor Gaozu, and I am far from being able to match it."

"What virtue or ability do I possess to dare to be compared with Emperor Gaozu?"

Liu Bei chuckled self-deprecatingly, his thoughts returning to the present matter, and sighed:
"However, the Prime Minister's words make sense. A Dou is still young. Perhaps this defeat will make him reflect deeply and repent."

"I will give him another chance. If he can show me the shadow of a wise ruler in the upcoming war to reclaim Liangzhou and destroy the pseudo-Wei, I am not unwilling to hand over the Han Dynasty to him."

"If he remains unrepentant, stubborn, narrow-minded, and prioritizes personal gain over public duty, then for the sake of the future of the Han Dynasty and the well-being of all people, I will have no choice but to depose him from his position as Crown Prince!"

"I cannot allow an immoral and incompetent person to ruin the Han Dynasty and plunge the people into misery once again."

"I must live up to the expectations of my ancestors, the people of the land, and all of you who have assisted me in restoring the Han Dynasty!"

With Liu Bei's words, Zhuge Liang felt reassured.

A leopard can't change its spots. How could that arrogant and self-willed crown prince, who tried to overthrow these meritorious officials of Jingzhou, possibly reform himself in such a short time?

Unless the emperor recalls Liu Shan and prevents him from continuing to lead troops.

Staying in the capital and doing nothing would actually be most advantageous for Liu Shan.

As long as Liu Shan continues to command troops on the front lines, he will inevitably make mistakes again and reveal his true colors once more.

The more you do, the more mistakes you make.

At that time, without them all petitioning, the emperor himself will be angry and depose the crown prince.

All they had to do was go with the flow.

Thinking of this, Zhuge Liang breathed a sigh of relief, a weight finally lifted from his heart. (End of Chapter)