Liu Pei Dies

I n 219 Kuan Yu died, and Ch'ang Fei followed two years later. The two warriors of Shu served for Liu Pei since he launched on an enterprise and he loves them like his own brother. Their deathes are related to Wu, making his fury crush against the kingdom. In 222 he marches against there to revenge, entrusting his sons and kingdom to K'ung-ming. Without the strategist, Liu Pei is defeated due to his poor tactics and escapes to a castle along the Chao river. When K'ung-ming arrives, Liu Pei is facing death. His anxiety is the future of his crown prince and of his kingdom. In his last moment, he depends on his faithful retainer, entrusting his everything to him. "K'ung-ming," he says under a hard breath. "I should have listened to you. I shouldn't have made the expedition as you advised. My misjudge has brought the catastrophy to my soldiers." K'ung-ming listens quietly. Liu Pei continues, his eyes catching K'ung-ming's dimmed ones. "If you think my prince is worth to support, serve for him just as you did for me. But if you find he is not, you succeed me to be the emperor." The old monarch trusts him from the bottom of his heart,so that he wishes him, a mere retainer, to take over his position. Tears rolls down K'ung-ming's cheeks. "Don't, Majesty. I promise I will protect my crown prince with all my might." Soon later Liu Pei expires, aged 63. Grief and nostargia takes K'ung-ming, reminded of the long road with him for the past twenty years.