Chapter 62 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms marks the irreversible descent of Liu Bei’s western campaign from diplomatic maneuver into open warfare. What began as a mission to “aid” Liu Zhang against Zhang Lu now transforms into a full-scale conquest of Yizhou (modern Sichuan), driven by strategic necessity but stained by betrayal and loss. As tensions escalate, moral restraint clashes with political realism, rivalries among generals ignite on the battlefield.
While Luo Guanzhong dramatizes key episodes – such as the failed ambush at Fushui Pass and the fatal rivalry between Huang Zhong and Wei Yan – the core narrative aligns with historical records like Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi): Liu Bei did break with Liu Zhang in 212 CE, execute Yang Huai and Gao Pei, and suffer Pang Tong’s death during the siege of Luo City.
Yet the novel deepens the human dimension, portraying Liu Bei not as a cold usurper, but as a reluctant warlord torn between kinship and destiny – while revealing how ambition, impatience, and fate shape the birth of a kingdom.
The Fractured Banquet: From hospitality to hostility
Upon entering Chengdu, Liu Bei is warmly received by Liu Zhang, who hosts lavish feasts and grants him supplies and troops – though only elderly and poorly equipped soldiers, stationing him at Jiameng Pass to guard against Zhang Lu.
Behind the scenes, Pang Tong and Fa Zheng urge Liu Bei to assassinate Liu Zhang immediately and seize Yizhou. But Liu Bei refuses, citing their shared Han imperial lineage:
“I cannot bear to harm my kinsman for the sake of land.”
This moment crystallizes Liu Bei’s enduring persona: the virtuous ruler who delays ruthless action, even at strategic cost.
Historically, the Sanguozhi confirms that Liu Zhang treated Liu Bei generously, but grew suspicious after learning of secret communications between Liu Bei and his own defectors – especially Zhang Song, who was indeed executed by Liu Zhang upon discovery of his treason. This execution becomes the official pretext for war.
The First Blood: Betrayal at Fushui Pass
With Zhang Song dead and trust shattered, Liu Bei follows Pang Tong’s advice: lure and kill Yang Huai and Gao Pei, two of Liu Zhang’s generals guarding Fushui Pass, under the guise of bidding them farewell.
The ruse succeeds. Liu Bei seizes the pass, absorbs their troops, and marches toward Luo City – the gateway to Chengdu.
This act marks the point of no return: diplomacy gives way to conquest. Historically, Yang Huai and Gao Pei were real officers, and their deaths (212 CE) signaled the outbreak of open hostilities, as recorded in both the Sanguozhi and Pei Songzhi’s annotations.
Rivalry and Rescue: Huang Zhong vs. Wei Yan
At Luo City, Huang Zhong and Wei Yan compete fiercely for the honor of leading the vanguard. Liu Bei assigns each a separate enemy camp to attack.
But Wei Yan, eager for glory, disobeys orders and attempts to assault both camps alone. He falls into an ambush and is surrounded.
Just in time, Huang Zhong arrives, fights through enemy lines, and rescues him. Together, they rout the defenders.
This episode – though likely embellished – reflects a recurring theme: individual ambition must yield to discipline, or risk catastrophe. The Sanguozhi notes both generals served valiantly in the Yizhou campaign, though it does not record this specific clash.
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