The imperial cause at the end of the Han Dynasty was not one of partial peace.

Chapter 79 Zhuge Liang's Entrustment of His Son and the Position of the New Prefect: The Direction of a Foundation in a Chaotic World

In March, the debate about the Luoyang court meeting, which had lasted for more than a month, finally reached Liu Bei in a clear and comprehensive manner.

In fact, Liu Bei was quite understanding of both sides in this debate.

The one who destroyed the Han dynasty was Liu Bei!

The one who revived the Han Dynasty was Liu Bei!

These two points are not contradictory.

Throughout history, whenever a dynasty falls into decline, those who first raise the banner of reform are often not the ones who reap the ultimate rewards.

While the court's efforts to revitalize the government and implement new policies were commendable in their initial intentions, they often caused widespread turmoil amidst the upheavals.

When the dust settled, it was the local warlords who sat back and watched the situation change that reaped the rewards.

The imperial court went to great lengths, and although its initial intentions were good, it ultimately benefited others.

Just like the river management during the Yuan Dynasty, when the Yellow River flooded year after year, causing people to be displaced. The question of whether or not to manage the river was also a subject of endless debate between two factions in the court.

This seems unbelievable to later generations. The Yellow River overflowed, causing floods, and they were still debating whether or not to control the floods?

However, the court officials who opposed river management at the time were not truly incompetent. On the contrary, most of them genuinely cared about the interests of the Yuan court.

River management could deplete the national treasury and, more importantly, could lead to popular uprisings due to the large influx of young men. While river management might be a sound long-term strategy for stability, the Yuan court might not ultimately reap its benefits. The good policies implemented now might ultimately benefit others.

Those ministers who insisted on river management were not necessarily loyal and virtuous. Many of them wanted to use the name of river management to pursue their own private interests.

They instigate factional strife at the top, seize power at the bottom, and line their own pockets in between.

The final result is well known: the prophecy "A stone man with one eye will stir up the Yellow River and the world will rebel" spread throughout Hebei. Han Shantong and Liu Futong killed Bai Ma and drowned Wu Niu, and the Red Turban Army rose up from the river work camp.

A great undertaking to control the river unexpectedly became the fuse that led to the downfall of the Yuan Dynasty.

This is strikingly similar to the current administration of Mount Tai. Are all those high-ranking officials who shout "Liu Bei is the one who will destroy the Han Dynasty" truly corrupt and incompetent?

Some of them probably genuinely believed that the Han Dynasty should not rashly implement new policies during this turbulent time, and they were probably also genuinely worried about the alienation of powerful clans, the resentment of the people, and the decline of the empire.

Of course, were all the members of the imperial family and high-ranking officials who strongly supported "Liu Bei, the one who will restore the Han Dynasty" truly sincere and selfless?

Many of them were probably using Liu Bei's new policies as a pretext to establish their own independent regimes.

For example, Liu Yan strongly supported Liu Bei because it aligned with his own wishes, advising the emperor to select a reputable and respected minister to govern and stabilize the region.

However, Liu Bei remained calm and unperturbed by the turbulent political situation.

Because he had already received Jian Yong's reply, the emperor had announced that he was the best in the country in last year's performance evaluation, and the emperor personally praised him as "a model for the world".

The imperial court is currently deliberating on which major prefecture Liu Bei should be appointed as governor.

Liu Bei was also very much looking forward to this.

The term "large prefecture" refers to those prefectures in the Han Dynasty with a population of over one million.

Among them, Nanyang, Runan, and Yingchuan are particularly important, with each of these three prefectures having a population of around two million.

However, Liu Bei immediately ruled out these three counties.

It's not that they dared not hope for it, but these three prefectures were the strongholds of the clans. The Yuan clan of Runan, the Xun clan of Yingchuan, and the Yin clan of Nanyang—these powerful clans with generations of official rank would never allow the new policies to be implemented in their own ancestral lands.

Although everyone praises the new policies as good, benefiting both the country and the common people.

If hidden land is investigated, the treasury will be full and the national treasury will be self-sufficient.

If taxes are levied based on the area of ​​the land, the powerful and wealthy will not be able to evade taxes, and the poor will bear the burden fairly.

By attracting refugees, the wilderness was transformed into fertile land and the population increased daily.

If agriculture and sericulture are encouraged, the people will have food and clothing, and education can flourish.

The new policy, which is a vivid practice of the saying in Xunzi, "Without wealth, one cannot nourish the people's feelings; without education, one cannot regulate the people's nature," is a vivid example of this statement.

But no one wants that blow to their own body! When it comes to killing other powerful figures, they all praise them. But if it comes to killing themselves, that's absolutely unacceptable; it's a fight to the death!

Therefore, with the strong opposition from the gentry, Liu Bei was almost certain that if he were to be transferred to a large prefecture, it would be none other than these three prefectures.

There weren't many large prefectures with populations exceeding one million left in the Han Dynasty; they were only Bohai, Chen, Changsha, Lingling, and Shu.

Several places including Hanyang.

Liu Bei naturally wanted to go to Bohai. He was from Youzhou and was a powerful figure in Hebei. He had saved countless lives in Jizhou and was deeply loved by the people of Hebei.

Hebei has been the heartland of the Central Plains since ancient times—a place with a large population, abundant resources, and generous people from Yan and Zhao.

Emperor Guangwu of the Ming Dynasty once led a solo campaign in Hebei, traveling south from Jicheng, crossing the Tuo River, capturing Handan, and gathering hundreds of thousands of bronze horses, ultimately achieving the restoration of the Ming Dynasty.

Hebei then and Hebei today, the landscape remains unchanged, and the spirit of heroes still lives on.

It could be said that if he were the governor of Bohai, he could directly replicate the path of Emperor Guangwu.

Once chaos erupts, as long as he gathers troops from Hebei, establishes his base in Youji, controls the Taihang Mountains to the west and the Yellow River to the south, and focuses all his efforts on defeating Yuan Shao, he will gain control of the prosperous lands of Hebei. At that time, none of the other warlords in the world will be able to subdue him.

No need for seven years!

No, he might not even need five years to sweep across the world and pacify it with a single proclamation.

However, if he could think of all this, the court officials must also be able to think of it.

With the prophecy "The one who will restore the Han Dynasty will surely be Liu Bei," the court had no choice but to consider whether Liu Bei would follow in the footsteps of Liu Xiu!

After all, Wang Mang was humble before he usurped the throne.

When Liu Xiu went to Hebei, he was also a general under Emperor Gengshi. However, he only led the troops in Hebei for three years before ascending the throne and changing the era name to Jianwu.

Given the current state of affairs and the court's suspicions, Liu Bei estimated that the probability of him being appointed to Bohai Commandery was extremely low.

Before Liu Bei could figure out where the court might transfer him, a series of hurried footsteps approached.

Zhao Yun strode in, his face grave. He clasped his hands and said, "My lord, Prefect Zhuge's condition has worsened and is beyond medical help. His son, Zhuge Jin, just came to report that the Prefect wishes to invite you over for a talk."

Liu Bei's heart sank. Since last winter, the prefectural assistant Zhuge Gui had caught a cold. He had thought it was just a minor ailment that would heal in a few days. But the illness dragged on for months, sometimes better and sometimes worse, and had never been completely cured.

By the time spring arrived this year, he was emaciated and needed assistance to walk. Now, he is completely unable to continue.

"Prepare the horses, let's go to Zhuge's residence."

Zhuge Gui's residence was located in the east of Fenggao City, just one street away from the prefectural government.

When Liu Bei arrived, Zhuge Jin was already waiting at the door. The child was only eleven or twelve years old, with delicate features and a resemblance to his father.

Her eyes were slightly red, but she forced herself not to shed tears and respectfully bowed to Liu Bei: "My lord, my father is in the inner room."

Liu Bei followed him into the inner room, where he saw Zhuge Gui lying on the couch, his face sallow and his eyes sunken.

When Liu Bei visited him a few days earlier, there was much more to see. Having witnessed the deaths of many disaster victims, Liu Bei could tell at a glance that Zhuge Gui was on his last legs and looked like he was about to die.

Kneeling beside the bed was a young child, none other than Zhuge Liang. The little fellow did not understand the pain of separation and death; he only knew that his father was ill, and he knelt there obediently. Lady Zhuge Gui held her infant son, Zhuge Jun, who was still wrapped in swaddling clothes, and was secretly wiping away tears.

"Lord Liu—" Zhuge Gui struggled to get up when he saw Liu Bei, but Liu Bei gently pressed down on his shoulder.

"Brother Jun Gong, there's no need for such formalities. Please rest well."

Zhuge Gui shook his head: "I know my days are numbered, and I have taken the liberty of inviting you here because I have a matter to entrust to you."

He turned his head with difficulty, his gaze falling on the two children kneeling beside the bed, his eyes filled with reluctance and concern.

"Gui lived a life of poverty and left behind nothing but his three sons. His eldest son, Jin, was not particularly intelligent, but he was diligent in his studies and practiced good conduct. He might become a local official in the future."

"The second son, Liang, was said by the Prefect to be exceptionally intelligent and destined for greatness. The youngest son, Jun, is still an infant."

"I dare not hope that they will rise to prominence. I only ask that Your Excellency, in consideration of my meager contributions over the past year, take care of these three children for me, so that they will not be homeless and will not be led astray."

Zhuge Liang was still unaware of what had happened, while Zhuge Jin was already in tears.

Liu Bei bent down and grasped Zhuge Gui's hand, his expression also filled with sorrow.

Unexpectedly, he experienced the orphanage of entrusting his child to someone else at a very young age.

However, it was not he who entrusted his son to Zhuge Liang, but rather Zhuge Liang who was entrusted with his son's care.

Liu Bei then straightened his clothes, looked at Zhuge Gui, and said, "Brother Jungong, I was able to achieve the good governance I have today thanks to your assistance when I was at Mount Tai. I will always remember your integrity and talent."

"Today, my brother entrusts his three sons to me. I hereby swear that I will treat them as my own, protect them, and raise them to adulthood."

"Jin'er is diligent and studious, and I will hire a renowned teacher to instruct her; Liang'er is naturally intelligent, and I will personally supervise her so that her talent will not be wasted. If I disobey this, may Heaven and Earth not forgive me."

A smile finally appeared on Zhuge Gui's gaunt face. He turned to look at Zhuge Jin and Zhuge Liang and said, "Lord Liu is a man of great virtue and integrity, a gentleman of his time. Once his words are spoken, no one in the world can change them. Since Lord Liu is your adoptive father, you two must treat him as your own father."

Zhuge Jin and Zhuge Liang both nodded, saying they would remember it.

The so-called adoptive father means that the two do not need to change their surnames and can still keep their original surname, Zhuge.

Although this would disqualify them from inheritance, it would also be a good thing, preventing a situation like Liu Feng's, where brothers fought and killed each other.

Seeing this, Zhuge Gui finally felt relieved and slowly closed his eyes.

Two days later, Zhuge Gui died at home, and Liu Bei personally presided over the funeral.

March is probably a season of farewells. Before the mourning period for Zhuge Gui had passed, Liu Bei once again bid farewell to him at the long pavilion outside the city by breaking off willow branches.

After Zang Ba was recommended as a filial and incorruptible official, the imperial court appointed him as the magistrate of Langling.

Langling is located in Runan, a large county with a large population. Although it does not have 10,000 households, it still has 6,000 to 7,000 households, making it a crucial county.

Zang Ba was from Chongzhou, so it was only natural that he was appointed as the magistrate of Yuzhou County, which was a great favor from the imperial court.

Generally, the first appointment made by the imperial court would not take the person too far from their hometown. It would not directly assign a person from Liangzhou to Yangzhou, Qingzhou, or other places in the East China Sea.

This also means that the relationship between Liu Bei and Zang Ba as ruler and subject had to come to an end.

It was highly unlikely that Liu Bei would be appointed as the governor of Runan.

Zang Ba then decided to manage Runan on his own. It was now the fourth year of the Zhongping era, 187 AD.

With just over a year left before the emperor's death and Dong Zhuo's period of chaos, the place where he was appointed would essentially become the foundation of the chaotic era.

Liu Bei was quite looking forward to seeing who would ultimately conquer Runan and then serve a regional warlord, between the bandit Zang Ba and the powerful Li Tong.

Outside the pavilion, Liu Bei personally plucked a new willow branch and handed it to Zang Ba. Holding his hand, he said gently, "Xuan Gao, you are going to Langling to take charge of a region on your own. Runan is a place where powerful clans are entrenched, and the Yuan family's protégés and former officials are all over the counties. After you take office, you must remain calm and not easily contend with others."

"But if someone bullies you too much, you don't have to swallow your anger. You just need to act impartially, and I will be behind you, speaking up for you. Don't be afraid of public opinion or criticism."

Zang Ba nodded heavily: "I can never repay the kindness of the Prefect in this lifetime. Back then, I was a fugitive in the East Sea, nothing more than a bandit. The Prefect did not reject me because of my lowly status, but recommended me as a candidate for the civil service examination, allowing me to enter the civil service through the proper path. I could not repay even a fraction of this kindness and virtue, even if I gave my life."

He took a deep breath, stepped back, and bowed deeply to Liu Bei, saying with deep emotion, "This parting today may be our last. But if you, my lord, ever summon me, I will travel a thousand miles to attend, even at the cost of my life. Heaven and earth bear witness to this, and the sun and moon shine upon it!"

Liu Bei helped him up with both hands and patted his arm: "The green hills remain unchanged, and the clear waters flow on forever. You should go now. The bond between us, ruler and subject, is not confined to a moment or a place. When the times change in the future, we will meet again."

Not long after Zang Ba left, in early April, the imperial court's appointment of a new prefectural magistrate arrived in Fenggao.

The visitor was none other than Ying Shao, a renowned scholar from Qingzhou and Xuzhou.

That is, Ying Shao, the famous scholar who wrote "The sun and moon do not lose their essence, so they are obscured and then shine again; the Yangtze and Han rivers do not lose their source, so they are exhausted and then flow again."

His courtesy name was Zhongyuan. He was from Nandun, Runan, and came from the Ying family of Runan. He was one of the most renowned scholars of his time.

His work, *Fengsu Tongyi*, examined names and objects and commented on contemporary customs, and was highly regarded by scholars; he also had a deep understanding of Han law and wrote *Han Yi*.

Several volumes.

What is even more commendable is his literary talent—when the court wanted to abandon Liangzhou, there was a heated debate in the court, and Ying Shao submitted a memorial strongly advocating against it.

Among them is the line, "The sun and moon do not lose their essence, therefore they are obscured and then shine again; the Yangtze and Han rivers do not lose their source, therefore they are exhausted and then flow again." It was widely copied and regarded as a famous saying.

This person was recommended as a high-ranking official last year and was appointed as the magistrate of Beihai Yingling. However, after only five months, he was promoted to the position of assistant magistrate of Taishan County.

Liu Bei knew that with Ying Shao's reputation and qualifications, this position of prefectural assistant was probably only temporary and would not last long. Once Liu Bei was transferred to another prefecture, the position of governor of Mount Tai would be his.

Liu Bei was already prepared to step down, and Liu Bei was about to be transferred to another prefecture as governor.

However, by May, the imperial court had not yet issued an appointment for him.

It wasn't that the imperial court no longer valued this renowned scholar, but rather that the court needed him to guard too many places.

Because the fourth year of Zhongping was indeed an extremely turbulent year for the Han Dynasty.

Before the new policy of taxing by acreage could be implemented in the localities, the Han Dynasty was already in turmoil.

In February, right before the emperor's eyes, a rebellion broke out in Zhongmu County, Henan Province. The rebellion was very powerful, and the rebels killed Luo Hao, the magistrate of Zhongmu, and Pan Ye, the chief clerk.

The emperor had no choice but to issue an edict ordering He Miao, the governor of Henan, to quell the rebellion, and promoted him to General of Chariots and Cavalry to guard the capital region.

In March, Han Sui, a rebel leader in Liangzhou, killed Bian Zhang and Beigong Boyu, and with an army of 100,000, he besieged Longxi. Prefect Li Xiangru rebelled and allied with Han Sui.

The situation in Liangzhou was completely hopeless. Grand Commandant Zhang Wen was dismissed due to the unfavorable war situation in Liangzhou and was replaced by Commandant of the Guards Zhang Yan.

In May, Ma Xiang, a member of the Yellow Turban rebels in Yizhou, gathered tens of thousands of followers, attacked and captured Mianzhu, killed the county magistrate, and forced Xi Jian, the governor of Yizhou, to abandon the city and flee.

Liu Yan's words in court were also words of warning. Now that the court is in turmoil, whether or not there is a policy of taxation based on land area is already a sign of a chaotic world! How can the officials keep this a secret?

Amidst this turmoil, the emperor, driven by his own selfish desires, forcibly implemented the land-based tax system, ordering his ministers to recommend capable and skilled military and civil officials to serve in prefectures and kingdoms, and to guard local areas.

The first to be recommended was Sun Jian. The three ministers recommended him as the chancellor of Chen.

Chen State, located in the heart of Yu Province, was a large and prosperous state with a registered population of one million. It was one of the few remaining large prefectures in the Han Dynasty with a population of over one million.

King Liu Chong of Chen was skilled in archery and had a long-standing reputation for bravery. When the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, he personally led several thousand of the kingdom's strongest crossbowmen to defend the city walls, his prowess shaking the borders and deterring the Yellow Turban rebels from invading. The fact that the Kingdom of Chen was able to remain unscathed amidst the chaos was largely due to the leadership of this king.

However, the emperor disregarded the dire situation in Xiliang and the urgent reports of the Liangzhou rebels breaking through counties one after another, and insisted on transferring Sun Jian away from the front line of the expedition and settling him in this large county with a population of one million.

The firmness of their attitude is evident!

Even amidst the raging flames of war, he still needed to collect enough taxes to repair his unfinished palaces.

Even amidst the chaos and turmoil of the world, nothing compares to the beauty of a single garden; even in the face of national peril, nothing surpasses the splendor of a single palace.

The second person recommended was Gongsun Zan.

He was recommended by the officials to be the governor of Yuyang, having previously held the position of cavalry commandant.

Yuyang was a major prefecture in Youzhou, and more importantly, it was located in the heart of Youzhou, giving it the power to command respect from all directions.

These two arrangements by the emperor were indeed a firm implementation of his strategy of "where can we find brave warriors to guard the four directions?"

This also largely helped Liu Bei rule out several of his guesses. With Gongsun Zan in Youzhou and Sun Jian in Yuzhou, it was almost impossible for Liu Bei to take up a post in Youzhou or Chenguo.

While Liu Bei was still wondering where the court would transfer him, two urgent reports in May made him completely certain of the outcome.

A bandit leader in Changsha gathered a crowd to rebel, proclaimed himself general, commanded over ten thousand men, and attacked and destroyed cities.

Immediately afterwards, urgent reports arrived from Lingling and Wuling prefectures one after another. Taking advantage of the situation, the Lingling barbarians rose up and plundered villages and counties; the Wuling barbarians crossed the river and invaded, attacking and destroying several cities. Three of the four prefectures in southern Jing were shaken.

Almost at the same time, Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun of Youzhou allied with Qiu Liju, the leader of the Wuhuan, and gathered more than 100,000 people to raid the four provinces of Qing, Xu, You, and Ji.

Zhang Ju proclaimed himself emperor, and Zhang Chun proclaimed himself General Mitian and King of Anding. They sent letters to the prefectures and counties, declaring that they would replace the Han dynasty. They killed Wuhuan Commandant Gong Qichou, Liaodong Prefect Yang Zhong, and others, and their army grew to 100,000. They sent letters to the prefectures and counties, saying that they would replace the Han dynasty, and asked the emperor to abdicate. They ordered the officials to welcome them.

With war raging simultaneously in the north and south, the imperial court placed even greater emphasis on valiant generals.

Soon the imperial envoys arrived in Fenggao. This time, they were not the arrogant eunuchs under Zhao Zhong, but envoys from the Ministry of Personnel, with solemn ceremonies.

In the main hall of the prefectural government, Liu Bei, along with his various officials and clerks, stood respectfully to welcome him.

An angel unfurled a crimson edict and read aloud: "I hereby decree to Liu Bei, Prefect of Mount Tai: The land of Jingnan, with its strategic location near Dongting Lake and the wealth of Changsha, boasts a population of one million and abundant resources, making it a vital stronghold in the southern territories of the Han Dynasty. However, bandits have gathered in Changsha, instigating rebellion, proclaiming themselves generals, and commanding over ten thousand troops, attacking and conquering cities and towns. Meanwhile, in Lingling and Wuling prefectures, barbarians have seized the opportunity to plunder and pillage villages and counties. Three out of the four prefectures of Jingnan are shaken. The southern border of the state is as precarious as a pile of eggs."

"You, Liu Bei, are a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, a great-grandson of Emperor Jing of Han, and a member of the Han imperial family, with generations of loyal and virtuous officials. When the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, shaking eight provinces, you, a commoner, gathered righteous men and achieved the greatest merit in the entire army, earning praise throughout the land. Later, you governed Mount Tai for a year, investigated hidden farmland, levied taxes based on acreage, recruited displaced people, encouraged agriculture and sericulture, developed water conservancy projects, and attracted renowned scholars. Your achievements were unparalleled, making you a model for the world. You possess both literary and military talents, and your loyalty and righteousness are unmatched. You are precisely the bulwark I rely on to govern the south."

"Now I hereby appoint you as the Prefect of Changsha. You shall be in charge of all military campaigns and strategic decisions regarding advances and retreats in Changsha, Lingling, Wuling and other prefectures, and shall act at your own discretion. The prefectural and county officials shall provide you with provisions and allow you to mobilize soldiers and horses without obstruction."

"I have heard that the people of Changsha are suffering from the chaos caused by the rebels and are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the royal army. You shall set out immediately, advance your troops to Changsha, annihilate the rebels, and pacify the southern lands. You were once in charge of Mount Tai, and within a year the prefecture was well-governed; now I have sent you to govern Changsha in the south, and I hope that within three years, the southern part of Jingzhou will also be as well-governed as Mount Tai. You shall strive diligently and not fail my expectations."

Liu Bei bowed his head to receive the imperial edict, overwhelmed with emotion. After more than three months of disputes, his new post had finally been decided.

The governor of Changsha?

The waves of Dongting Lake and the waters of the Xiang River are completely different from the scenery along the banks of the Wen River.

After the angel left, Zhang Fei was the first to lose his composure. His eyes gleamed, and he excitedly exclaimed, "Brother, Changsha Prefecture! That's a major prefecture with a million households!"

"I've heard that this place is vast, with a population of millions, and abundant resources. Only in such a vast land can the big brother truly unleash his power!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei nodded slightly.

With the world on the verge of chaos, Changsha was indeed the place where he could realize his life's ambitions.

However, he felt a pang of emotion at this moment, realizing that he was following in the footsteps of Sun Jian.

However, upon closer examination, in the eyes of the imperial court, he was probably indeed an all-around enhanced version of Sun Jian.

In terms of martial arts, during the suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he captured Zhang Liang and beheaded Zhang Bao, achieving the greatest merit in the entire army, surpassing even Sun Jian.

The following year, Sun Jian went to Liangzhou to quell the bandits, but the campaign was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Liu Bei in Hebei decisively defeated hundreds of thousands of troops from the Black Mountain bandits, establishing his formidable reputation throughout the Hebei region.

As for integrity and civil administration, Sun Jian was no match for Liu Bei.

To this day, in the eyes of the world, Sun Jian is nothing more than a military man. Though fierce and brave, he only gained some military merit through brute force. He needed the Yuan family's support to enter officialdom. In the end, he was merely a valiant general working for the Yuan family.

But Liu Bei was completely different! He was a renowned scholar, whom Zheng Xuan personally praised as having "the strategies of Sun Tzu and the integrity of Yan Hui and Zengzi."

At the Ministry of Personnel, his theory that "if internal affairs are not well managed, external troubles will inevitably follow" made him famous throughout the land.

Furthermore, his identity as a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan and a great-great-grandson of Emperor Xiaojing, with his lineage personally recorded by the Imperial Clan Court, made him a legitimate member of the Han imperial family.

In terms of martial prowess, he was a formidable figure in Hebei, twice defeating an army of a million men; in terms of civil administration, his achievements were unparalleled, bringing order to the prefecture within a year; in terms of reputation, his loyalty and righteousness were unmatched, and he was admired by all within the country.

In terms of reputation, strength, and foundation, Liu Bei is far superior to an ordinary prefect. To say that he can be compared to the Yuan family, which has held high office for four generations, is premature.

But he could rival the Yuan family without a doubt. Even if Yuan Shao or Yuan Shu were to appear before him, he could stand on equal footing and would not be regarded as anyone's vassal.

Therefore, if the emperor wanted to use fierce generals to guard the four directions, Liu Bei was indeed a more perfect talent to stand alone than Sun Jian.