Liu Bei's Expedition against Wu: The Clash Between Righteous Indignation and Strategy

Brief Introduction

Liu Bei's Expedition against Wu, historically known as the Battle of Yiling (also called the Battle of Xiaoting), was a large-scale war launched by Liu Bei, the Shuhang Emperor Zhaolie, against Eastern Wu to avenge Guan Yu and reclaim Jingzhou. This campaign took place between 221 and 222 AD. It was not only a turning point for Shuhang's national fortune but also one of the most emotionally intense and tragic chapters in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It marked the final solidification of the Three Kingdoms standoff.

Core Knowledge Points

* War Background: In 219 AD, Guan Yu lost Jingzhou and was killed, followed by Zhang Fei's assassination. After declaring himself emperor, Liu Bei insisted on launching an eastern expedition despite opposition from his ministers.
* Key Figures: On the Shuhang side were Liu Bei, Huang Quan, and Feng Xi; on the Eastern Wu side were Sun Quan and Lu Xun.
* Campaign Process: Liu Bei led his army deep into Wu territory. Due to the intense summer heat, he relocated his navy into the forests, establishing camps stretching over 700 li (approx. 350 km). Lu Xun adopted a strategy of holding his ground and refusing battle. Once the Shu army was exhausted, he utilized a fire attack to decisively defeat them.
* War Outcome: Shuhang lost its elite forces. Liu Bei retreated to White Emperor City and died shortly thereafter. This battle further solidified the Three Kingdoms standoff, significantly weakened Shuhang's national strength, and left it incapable of launching northern expeditions against the Central Plains again.
* History vs. Fiction: Historically, Liu Bei's forces numbered around 40,000, whereas the novel exaggerates this to 700,000, highlighting the brutality of the war and Liu Bei's tragic heroism.

Connection with Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In Chapters 81 to 85 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the author Luo Guanzhong depicts this history with rich detail, imbuing it with profound literary significance:

1. Brotherhood vs. The Big Picture: The novel emphasizes Liu Bei's emotional drive of "brothers being like hands and feet," which conflicts with Zhuge Liang's Longzhong Plan strategy of "allying with Wu to resist Cao." This contradiction between personal emotion and national interest deepens Liu Bei's character image and reveals the internal logic behind Shuhang's failure.
2. The Rise of Lu Xun: Through Lu Xun's strategy of burning the linked camps, his image of patience and intellect is crafted, contrasting with Liu Bei's rage and underestimation of the enemy. This plot showcases the rise of Eastern Wu's new generation, contrasting with the decline of Shuhang's veteran officials.
3. Entrustment at White Emperor City: The failure of the expedition directly leads to the famous "Entrustment at White Emperor City" plot. On his deathbed, Liu Bei entrusted his son Liu Shan to Zhuge Liang, marking the end of the Liu Bei era and the beginning of Zhuge Liang's era of assisting Liu Shan, setting the stage for the subsequent "Six Expeditions to Qishan."

Historical Insights

This war was not merely a military failure but a major strategic error for Shuhang. It warns future generations that in political gaming, emotional indignation cannot overcome the general trend. The tragedy of Liu Bei's expedition against Wu remains an indelible mark in Three Kingdoms history, leaving a profound lesson for posterity regarding strategic stability and emotional control.