Adou: A Legendary Life from Changban Slope to the Last Emperor of Shu Han

Brief Introduction

Adou, i.e., Liu Shan (207–271), courtesy name Gongsi, childhood nickname Adou, was the eldest son of Liu Bei, the Emperor Zhaolie of Shu Han, and the second emperor of the Shu Han regime. He was a key figure in the transition of Shu Han's power, reigning for as long as forty years. Although later generations often use the phrase "an Adou who cannot be propped up" to describe the incompetent, his life was filled with drama and historical controversy, making him an indispensable part of understanding the history of the Three Kingdoms.

Core Knowledge Points

1. Identity and Status
Liu Shan was the son of Liu Bei's principal wife, Lady Gan. As a member of the Han imperial clan, he became the Crown Prince after Liu Bei declared himself emperor. As the second ruler of Shu Han, his governing ability was directly related to the fate and survival of the state.

2. Rescue at Changban Slope
In the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208 AD), Liu Bei was pursued by Cao Cao's massive army at Changban Slope in Dangyang. Lady Gan and Liu Shan were separated from the main group. Zhao Yun charged into the Cao army single-handedly, entering and exiting seven times, finally locating Liu Shan amidst the chaos. He held the infant in his arms and successfully broke out of the encirclement. This episode is the peak moment showcasing Zhao Yun's loyalty and bravery in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

3. Rule and End
After Liu Bei's deathbed entrustment at Baidi City, Liu Shan ascended the throne with the support of Zhuge Liang. He was diligent in governance in the early years but later trusted the eunuch Huang Hao, leading to corruption in the court. When the Wei army attacked Shu, Liu Shan chose to surrender. He was titled the Duke of Anle and eventually died in Luoyang. The idiom "Happy in Shu, Forgetting Home" (乐不思蜀) originates from his behavior after surrendering.

4. Cultural Symbol
In the Chinese context, the term "Adou" often refers to an incompetent or hopeless person. The formation of this image stems from both his historical actions and the literary processing in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Connection to "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"

In the narrative structure of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Adou's image runs through the entire work:

* Chapter 41 "Zhao Yun Saves the Master on a Single Ride": This chapter details the process of Zhao Yun saving Adou at Changban Slope, establishing the tone of Zhao Yun's "loyalty and righteousness" and Adou's "debt of gratitude."
* Chapter 85 "Liu Xianzhu Entrusts His Orphan in His Deathbed Edict": Before his death, Liu Bei entrusted Adou to Zhuge Liang, who promised to "serve with all my heart until my dying day." This marks the starting point of the political landscape in the late Shu Han period.
* Chapter 119 "Fake Surrender and Clever Stratagem Attack Lin Qiong": This chapter describes the plot of Adou surrendering to the Wei army, marking the formal end of the Shu Han regime and introducing the famous episode of "Happy in Shu, Forgetting Home."

Summary

Adou is not only a historical figure but also a key link connecting Liu Bei's founding of the state to the fall of Shu Han in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. From an infant held in Zhao Yun's arms to a king who forgot his homeland in comfort, his fate reflects the rise and fall of the Three Kingdoms era. Understanding Adou helps readers interpret the themes of loyalty, responsibility, and historical fate in Romance of the Three Kingdoms more deeply, providing a multi-dimensional historical perspective.