Liu Bei’s success shows that the highest form of hypocrisy is honesty. (2016-08-02 09:06:28)

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This post was last edited by yinkuilin6868 on August 3, 2016, at 10:33. Liu Bei is the best actor in “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”; it’s no exaggeration to call him the acting prodigy of the Three Kingdoms era. Although Cao Cao and Sima Yi were both very good at acting, they still fell far short compared to Liu Bei. Liu Bei’s skill in acting lay in raising the banner of legitimacy, using morality as a pretext, and winning people’s hearts through benevolence and righteousness ； Liu Bei’s mastery in acting lies in his ability to convey emotions vividly, bringing tears to the audience’s eyes, and using his vulnerability to earn sympathy and trust ； Liu Bei’s skill in acting lay in hiding his true abilities and pretending to be foolish; he acted stupid where he should have been smart, thereby giving his opponents a sense of security. Of these three qualities, aside from Liu Bei (Liu Xuande), just who among the men of the Three Kingdoms could possess them? In “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”, there are countless scenes where Liu Bei acts. For example: throwing Ah Dou to buy over Zhao Yun, saying \"You may rule Chengdu on your own\" so that Zhuge Liang would feel at ease helping Liu Shan, hiding his true abilities and engaging in various deceptions to fool Cao Cao, and becoming brothers with Liu Biao in order to seize Xuzhou... There are truly too many such tactics. Next, we will examine three major turning points in Liu Bei’s life to analyze how he performed. This will allow us to appreciate the superb acting skills of this master actor. Liu Bei’s first major turning point in life: a fish entering the sea, a bird taking to the sky. Liu Bei once said to Guan Yu, “I am a bird in a cage, a fish in a net.” ——This line is like a fish in the ocean or a bird in the sky, free from the constraints of cages and nets! ”It refers to Liu Bei leaving Xuchang, breaking free from Cao Cao’s grasp, and escaping unharmed from that dangerous situation. So how did Liu Bei break free from Cao Cao’s control? Not by anything else, but through acting. Liu Bei surrendered to Cao Cao in Xiapi; after Liu Bu was executed, he followed Cao Cao back to Xuchang. During his time in Xuchang, Liu Bei and Dong Cheng, along with others, plotted to assassinate Cao Cao. To prevent Cao Cao from discovering his ambitions, Liu Bei began to grow vegetables in the garden behind his residence, watering them himself as a tactic to conceal his true intentions. ”Liu Bei’s tactic of growing vegetables failed to fool Cao Cao. To test Liu Bei further, Cao Cao invited him to drink green plum wine. At the dinner table, Cao Cao uttered those astonishing words: \"Among all the heroes in the world, only you and I qualify as heroes!\" ”. Cao Cao wanted to use these words to test Liu Bei, in order to further determine whether Liu Bei had any ambitions. As a result, Liu Bei’s performance successfully dispelled Cao Cao’s doubts. Liu Bei was so frightened that his chopsticks fell out when Cao Cao saw through his thoughts. He must have thought this was the end for him. Just then, thunder rumbled. Taking advantage of this, Liu Bei brought it into the conversation; in a casual manner, yet with humor and self-deprecation, he said, “The power of one single thunderclap is truly remarkable.” ”By this time, Cao Cao no longer had any concerns; he believed Liu Bei’s words, so he laughed and said, “Does a man also fear thunder?” ”Liu Bei then took the opportunity to say, “The sage knows that sudden storms bring about change; how can one not fear them?” ”What future does a man who is afraid of thunder have? Cao Cao therefore had no doubts about Liu Bei. It was people like Guo Jia and Cheng Yu who saw things clearly; they said that Cao Cao’s decision to release Liu Bei was equivalent to releasing a dragon into the sea or a tiger back into the mountains. They compared Liu Bei to a dragon and a tiger. Unfortunately, Cao Cao was deceived by Liu Bei’s tactics and said, “I have Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao with him; I doubt that Xuande would dare to change his heart.” ” Why is the episode of \"Discussing Heroes over Wine\" considered a turning point in Liu Bei’s life? For through Cao Cao’s words, Liu Bei became widely renowned from then on. Liu Bei also formed an alliance with Dong Cheng and others; the title of “Imperial Uncle” was recognized by Emperor Xian of Han, thereby establishing his legitimate status through action. From then on, Liu Bei officially became an opponent of Cao Cao. Thus, this was the first major turning point in Liu Bei’s life. The second major turning point in Liu Bei’s life: seizing Western Shu and establishing his territory. The Shu Han state founded by Liu Bei encompassed most of Jing Province, Yi Province, Hanzhong, and other regions. After conquering Meng Huo, it also included the Nanman territories (parts of present-day Yunnan and Guizhou). However, the foundation of the State of Shu lay in Yi Province; its capital, Chengdu, was located within this province. Yizhou originally belonged to Liu Zhang; Liu Bei’s seizure of Yizhou had a strong element of performance. Liu Bei’s goal was to seize Yizhou, but he made his actions seem justified. So he was acting from beginning to end; through that acting, such an act of seizing territory turned out to be regarded as a act of kindness and generosity. Let’s see how he does it. Seizing Yizhou was made possible by Zhang Song’s submission of the maps – a crucial step. Zhang Song originally intended to present the map to Cao Cao, but unfortunately Cao Cao neglected Zhang Song. This information must have been gleaned by Liu Bei’s “spies”; thus, Liu Bei knew exactly what Zhang Song’s itinerary was, which is why he sent Zhao Yun to greet him. At the banquet, Liu Bei deliberately did not mention matters related to Xichuan. Zhang Song tried to probe things out with words, and as a result, Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, and Pang Tong put on a joint act, gradually earning Zhang Song’s trust and sympathy. Let’s take a look at the dialogue in Chapter 60 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Song provoked him by saying, “Now that the Imperial Uncle is guarding Jingzhou, how many more commanderies does he have?” ” Kongming replied, “Jing Province is merely on temporary loan from Eastern Wu; we often send people to demand its return.” At present, my lord is the son-in-law of Eastern Wu, so I am temporarily settling here. ” Song said, “Eastern Wu controls six commanderies and eighty-one provinces; its people are wealthy and its state is strong. Yet it still isn’t satisfied?” ” Pang Tong said, “My lord is the imperial uncle of the Han dynasty, yet he is unable to seize control of the provinces and prefectures.” ； The rest are all Han traitors; they rely on their strength to seize land, and only the wise find this unjust. ” Xuande said, “My lords, stop speaking.” What merits do I have to deserve so much? ” Matsuki said, “That’s not right.” Your Excellency is a member of the Han royal family, whose virtue and righteousness are renowned throughout the world. If Xiu Dao seizes control of the provinces and counties, it is only natural for him to take the imperial throne in place of the legitimate ruler. ” Through the performances of Liu Bei and others, Zhang Song had already determined the recipient of the map. Zhang Song was about to leave, so Liu Bei held a banquet to see him off. At this point, Liu Bei still hadn’t obtained the map, so he resorted to the same trick again. After a particularly emotional farewell, there were tears once again. As those tears flowed, Zhang Song was completely conquered. He advised Liu Bei to take Western Sichuan. Liu Bei said that Liu Zhang was his relative, and he couldn’t bear to take him away. Zhang Song said that Liu Zhang was too cowardly and unable to hold the territory; Yizhou would eventually be taken away by someone else. If you don’t seize it, you’ll be giving it to others for free ； He also talked about the importance of Yizhou. Liu Bei certainly knew this, but the question was how to obtain it? At this point, Liu Bei finally said what he had wanted to say for a long time: “Although I wish to take it, what good strategy should be used?” ”Upon saying this, Liu Bei’s true intentions became unmistakable. By this time, Zhang Song had already been conquered by Liu Bei. Not only did he provide maps, but he also made Fa Zheng and Meng Da his inside agents, enabling Liu Bei to effortlessly enter and subsequently claim Western Sichuan for himself. It is said that those involved are often confused while outsiders can see things more clearly, and there is truth to this saying. After Liu Bei entered Xichuan, many of Liu Zhang’s subordinates advised him to kill Liu Bei. It’s a pity that Liu Zhang had already been deceived by Liu Bei’s acting skills, mistaking the loyal and upright for unkind people. Liu Bei engaged in banditry yet claimed to uphold \"benevolence and righteousness,\" just as the saying goes: Even a prostitute tries to erect a memorial arch. Wang Lei, an official in Liu Zhang’s camp, advised before Liu Bei entered Sichuan that, “Zhang Lu’s violation of the border is but a minor issue, like an itch or rash.” ； Liu Bei’s entry into Sichuan posed a serious threat to his inner circle. Moreover, Liu Bei was a hero of his time; having served under Cao Cao initially, he still harbored intentions of harming him ； Later, following Sun Quan, he seized Jingzhou. With such a heart, how can one live together? ”Wang Lui saw through Liu Bei very well. Unfortunately, Liu Zhang would not listen to his advice. The reason Liu Zhang trusted Liu Bei so much was, first, his belief that Liu Bei was from the same clan as him, and he did not bear to harm him. II. He believed that Liu Bei was a kind and generous gentleman. Liu Zhang forgot that Liu Biao of Xuzhou was also a clansman of Liu Bei. But what was the outcome? Liu Bei wanted to take Yizhou, but he was concerned that others would accuse him of seizing land belonging to his own kin, so he delayed making a decision and did not speak openly; he simply sat there in deep thought. A smart man like Pang Tong certainly understood Liu Bei’s concerns. So they spouted a bunch of grand theories, describing the act of seizing cities as the \"way of Tang and Wu\". Only then did Liu Bei \"realize it suddenly\". Liu Bei captured the strategic town of Fuguan without a single battle, and was extremely excited; he held a celebration banquet. At the banquet, he said to Pang Tong, “Is today’s gathering a pleasure?” ” Pang Tong said, “To attack another country for pleasure is not the way of a benevolent warrior.” ” Xuande said, “I’ve heard that in ancient times, when King Wu waged war against Zhou, music was composed to commemorate his achievements. Isn’t this also the conduct of a benevolent army?” Why is what you say not reasonable? Can be withdrawn immediately. ” Liu Bei entered Sichuan under the pretense of protecting Liu Zhang, but in reality he aimed to seize it for himself. Otherwise, why would there be joy? What is the difference between Liu Bei’s words spoken in a drunken state and Cao Cao’s slogan “Those who follow me will prosper; those who oppose me will perish”? Liu Bei’s third major turning point in life: seizing control of China and becoming emperor. As we analyzed in previous articles, Liu Bei’s goal in life was to become an emperor. So, once he had a solid foothold and established a \"base camp,\" declaring himself emperor came onto the agenda. Of course, he couldn’t propose becoming emperor on his own. Zhuge Liang wisely took on the role of initiator. Zhuge Liang said, “Currently, Cao Cao holds all power; the people have no leader.” ； My lord, your benevolence and righteousness are renowned throughout the land. Now that you have pacified the lands of the Two Rivers, it is time to respond to Heaven’s will and the desires of the people by ascending the imperial throne. This would be completely justified, enabling you to punish the traitors to the state. There’s no time to waste; please choose an auspicious day. ” Liu Bei put on a show: Expression: Great shock. Reason: “Although Liu Bei is a member of the Han royal family, he is still a subject.” ； If this is the case, it’s anti-Han. ” Zhuge Liang advised again. Liu Bei firmly refused. Zhuge Liang lowered the standards and honored Xuande as the King of Hanzhong. Liu Bei finally “reluctantly agreed”. Liu Bei’s goal was to become emperor; why was he willing to call himself the King of Hanzhong instead of declaring himself emperor outright? There is a reason for this. As the old saying goes, \"The first to show their head gets shot.\" It was not yet the right time to proclaim oneself emperor. Liu Bei’s national policy was to ally with Sun Quan in order to resist Cao Cao; if he were to declare himself emperor at this time, he would surely be caught off guard by Cao Cao, and Sun Quan would not agree either. If Sun and Cao unite, Liu Bei will be in danger. Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were both fully aware of the current situation. So, Zhuge Liang made a proposal – Liu Bei objected – Zhuge Liang lowered his demands – Liu Bei agreed. Through this back-and-forth, the goal was achieved and his reputation spread far and wide; as the saying goes, he gained both fame and profit. When Cao Pi declared himself emperor, Liu Bei showed concern. What is he worried about? It is not mentioned in \"Romance of the Three Kingdoms,\" but Kongming said it; Kongming said, \"The world cannot go a single day without a ruler.\" These words cannot come from Liu Bei’s mouth; only people like Zhuge Liang can say them. So Liu Bei was merely worried—why worried? I originally didn’t want to be an emperor, but for the sake of the people of the world, I had no choice but to accept it! ——This is Liu Bei’s underlying message. In order to further emphasize that Liu Bei’s ascension to the throne was done out of necessity, Zhuge Liang and the other officials played a trick, turning the entire solemn ceremony of becoming emperor into a joyful \"comedy\". Some might say this is Zhuge Liang’s “strategy”. I think those who hold this view are too naive. In the society of the Three Kingdoms, hierarchical structures were very strict. As a minister, could Zhuge Liang have done such a thing without Liu Bei’s authorization or indication? Would he dare to do that? In terms of performing skills, Cao Pi was far inferior to Liu Bei. Cao Pi forced Emperor Xian to abdicate. Emperor Xian had no choice but to issue an edict to \"transfer the throne\" to Cao Pi. After reading the imperial edict, Cao Pi was overjoyed and rushed to take his throne. It was Sima Yi who reminded him. The cunning Sima Yi suggested, “It’s not possible.” Although the imperial seal has arrived, Your Highness should submit a letter of refusal to avert criticism from the whole world. ” See, it’s still the scheming Sima Yi with his excellent acting skills. From Liu Bei’s skill in acting, we can draw the following lessons: 1. What is the highest level of hypocrisy? It is honesty. As the saying goes: Falsehood turns into truth, hypocrisy turns into honesty. For many years, those who have read Romance of the Three Kingdoms have considered Liu Bei to be an honest person. In fact, in \"Romance of the Three Kingdoms\", Liu Bei is the most hypocritical person. Because Liu Bei had reached the highest level of hypocrisy, people thought he was an honest person. So, we must either be honest or reach the highest level of hypocrisy. 2. When sufficient initiative has been secured. Let others do for you what you want to do yourself. Let others speak what you want to say. Liu Bei wanted to take Xuzhou; he never said anything about it, but Liu Biao willingly gave up Xuzhou. Liu Bei wanted to be emperor; he never said, “I want to be emperor,” but it was his subordinates who said, “Boss, we ask you to be our emperor.” Wasn’t it exactly like this when Zhao Kuangyin was clothed in the yellow robe and forced to relinquish his military power through a drink?