Twenty-eight civil and military officials?
A subtle shift passed through the hall as Liu Bei looked more closely.
With Jingzhou only just established and Jiangling newly secured, Liu Bei was in a state of unprecedented scarcity.
Other than virtue, he lacked almost everything.
This list wasn't just history; it was a recruitment directory.
Thus, he placed great expectations on these twenty-eight officials.
Could he follow this list and recruit them one by one… no, summon them into service?
---
[Lightscreen]
[It should be noted that the composition of these twenty-eight civil and military officials changed across dynasties. The final revision during the Qing was overseen by Liu Yuan.
His selection standard was very simple: those who could stand beside Emperor Zhaolie must be pure ministers of unshakeable loyalty.
Fa Zheng, Xu Jing, and Liu Ba, who were originally included, were therefore removed.]
---
So strict?
Liu Bei frowned slightly.
He had formed a rather favorable impression of Fa Zheng from earlier mentions, so how had the man become unfit even to stand beside him?
Huang Zhong, meanwhile, felt a trace of unease.
Pure ministers?
"A loyal and upright man whose name is still whispered with respect a thousand years later, what do you have to fear, Hansheng?"
Guan Yu comforted him.
"This Liu descendant also praised your deeds in Hanzhong. You are destined to be Big Brother's right hand."
Only then did Huang Zhong feel somewhat relieved.
---
[Lightscreen]
[First, on the side of the generals, Zhao Yun naturally takes the lead.
Next comes Sun Qian.
As for why Sun Qian, who never commanded troops, appears among the generals, I personally believe it may be because after the pacification of Yizhou, he was appointed General of Loyal Service.
Although this was a miscellaneous general title created by Liu Bei, its rank was second only to Mi Zhu. It seemed more like a transitional post for future promotion.
Unfortunately, Sun Qian soon fell ill and died, so nothing further came of it.]
---
Died of illness?
Liu Bei froze for a moment, clearly unprepared for this.
Sun Qian was part of his old Xuzhou inner circle, men who had stood by him when he had nothing, no land, no power, no certainty.
And yet, even they could not escape birth, aging, sickness, and death.
"Gongyou works diligently, but he overexerts himself," Kongming said gently.
"If he dies only after entering Yizhou, then there are still three to five years. He should be ordered to rest more and labor less. Tonight, summon him back and have Physician Zhang examine him."
Liu Bei nodded, then countered:
"If Gongyou is like this, are you any different, Kongming?"
"I have already instructed that unfinished work be left for the next day. When have you ever listened?"
Under Liu Bei's reproachful gaze, and Huang Yueying's worried eyes beside him, Kongming could only smile wryly.
"From today onward, Liang will supervise each other with Gongyou."
"Good!"
Liu Bei raised his brows, I'll have the guards literally carry Kongming out of the office and lock the doors with two heavy bolts.
As this thought formed, Liu Bei found himself grinning at Kongming.
Kongming felt a chill.
Lord, please behave normally.
---
[Lightscreen]
[Zhang Yi and Jiang Wei rank fourth and tenth respectively.
Jiang Wei inherited the Chancellor's will and persisted in the northern campaigns.
Zhang Yi, however, believed that the state was small and the people exhausted, and warned against reckless warfare.
The two often clashed in opinion.
After the fall of Shu, Jiang Wei attempted to incite the Wei general Zhong Hui to rebel, seeking a final chance to restore the Han amid chaos.
But Zhong Hui was defeated, and Jiang Wei died with regret.
Zhang Yi likewise perished in the ensuing turmoil.]
---
The name Jiang Wei was not unfamiliar.
The Light Screen had previously given him high praise.
"To inherit the Chancellor's will."
Now, another layer of mystery surrounding him had been lifted.
Yet the stark contrast between the two men's views left everyone silent.
After the loss of Jingzhou, with only Yizhou and a hollowed-out Hanzhong remaining, and after Kongming's six northern campaigns, it was indeed a case of a small state with exhausted people.
And yet…
"The kingly enterprise cannot endure in partial peace," Kongming said softly.
Even if they rested and recovered, how could a single province contend with the north?
There was still a chance in campaigning north.
If they ceased, then the enterprise itself would perish.
Liu Bei cast Kongming an apologetic glance.
No words were spoken, yet everything was understood.
Where had such a disastrous situation come from?
From the flames of Yiling. From complacency after reclaiming Hanzhong.
"If only Sun Wu hadn't betrayed us... if only Lu Su had lived longer..." Guan Yu said with regret.
"Second Brother, did you forget?" Zhang Fei tapped his temple. "That cheap brother-in-law of ours has something wrong up here."
Liu Bei's eyelids twitched.
Better to pretend he had not heard that.
---
[Lightscreen]
[Ma Chao and Huang Zhong are familiar, so we will skip them.
Wang Ping ranks fifth. He was a surrendered general taken by Liu Bei during the Hanzhong campaign.
The Wudang Flying Army he later led became something of a legend.
Later scholars believe this unit was primarily composed of tribal troops, skilled in mountain warfare and rapid response tactics.
After the Chancellor's death, Wang Ping guarded Hanzhong and eventually died in office.
The Wudang Flying Army was then handed over to Zhang Ni, ranked twelfth.
In 254, during Jiang Wei's seventh northern campaign, Zhang Ni, though ill, led five thousand Wudang troops against nearly twenty thousand Wei soldiers.
The entire force was annihilated, and Zhang Ni died in battle to repay his country]
---
To die for the country.
Zhang Ni's statue in the Light Screen appeared gentle, yet the killing intent in those words was overwhelming.
"Could they not retreat if they could not win?"
"Such men… why must it end like this?"
There was a trace of tears in Liu Bei's eyes. It was he who had called for the restoration of the Han.
Zhang Ni, those tribal soldiers, they had not only died for the Han, but for him, Emperor Zhaolie.
How could he face that without guilt?
"Righteous ministers, soldiers who died for their cause, loyal generals of the Han."
Kongming raised his hands in salute toward the distance, honoring those departed souls.
Zhang Fei sighed.
"Second Brother, you and your son are going to become gods at this rate. Make sure you protect men like these."
Guan Yu stared at Zhang Ni's image without blinking.
Guan Ping added, "Third Uncle, such loyal men will surely be cherished even by the Lord of Mount Tai."
---
[Lightscreen]
[Ranked eighth is Liao Hua, perhaps the greatest witness to the Shu Han.
After the defeat in Jingzhou, he survived and returned to the Han with his mother.
He survived Yiling as well.
After Liu Shan ascended the throne, he served as Administrator of Yinping, watching from afar as the Chancellor made his six northern campaigns.
At fifty, he followed Jiang Wei on campaign.
In his seventies, he defended Jian'ge alongside Jiang Wei.
Later, following Liu Shan's orders, he surrendered.
The following year, while being relocated to Luoyang, he fell ill again and died on the road, as the state itself had already fallen.]
---
Zhang Ni's end was tragic, but Liao Hua's life was one of sorrow.
The atmosphere in the hall eased slightly.
"He truly was a pure minister," Zhang Fei sighed.
"But what a bitter life that was."
"If given the choice, who would want to share the fate of a fallen state? Would it not be better to serve as a regional administrator in times of peace?"
Liu Bei, however, could not take his eyes off one line.
'Liu Shan ordered Jiang Wei to surrender.'
The words were too glaring. He could not help but reflect inwardly.
Should I make Adou fast? Should I make him toil in the fields? Should I double his swordsmanship practice tonight?"
---
Guan Ping suddenly asked directly:
"A general in his seventies still taking the field. Was there truly no one left in the state?"
Several gazes immediately turned toward Huang Zhong. The old general chuckled and recited calmly:
"Do not lament white hair that consumes heroes."
Guan Yu said nothing.
He had already decided to review the registers that night and locate this Liao Hua.
The matter passed, but Kongming felt a weight in his heart.
By that time… perhaps there truly had been no one left in Shu.
---
[Lightscreen]
[Ranked ninth is Xiang Chong, mentioned in the Memorial on the Expedition. He understood military affairs and was fair and modest.
During the Battle of Yiling, although his unit was defeated, it did not collapse, earning Liu Bei's praise.
Ranked thirteenth and fourteenth are Zhang Nan and Feng Xi, both of whom died in Yiling.
Later generations praised them:
Feng Xi, loyalty was second to none,
Zhang Nan, righteous without equal.
They died gladly on the battlefield, their names enduring in history.
In 240, when tribal unrest broke out in Hanjia, Xiang Chong was sent to suppress it and died in the melee.]