Welcome to the romance of the Three Kingdoms podcast.

This is episode 83.

Last time, Liu Zhang had reached out to his nemesis Zhang Lu for help against Liu Bei.

Zhang Lu sent the general Ma Chao to lead a relief force, but Ma Chao ended up joining Liu Bei and volunteered to go

force Liu Zhang to surrender. When Liu Zhang saw the help he had been pinning his hopes on,

showing up on his doorstep, demanding his surrender, he collapsed on the wall of

the city of Chengdu. When his officials brought him back around, he lamented, I was blind,

and now it's too late for regrets. Let's open the gates and surrender so as to save the civilians.

One of his officials objected,

We still have more than 30,000 troops inside the city,

and enough money and provisions to last us a year.

How can we just surrender?

But Liu Zhang would not hear of it.

My father and I have reigned in Shu for 20-some years,

and we have done nothing for the people, he said.

After three years of war, the fields are covered with blood and bodies,

and it is all my fault.

How can I live with myself?

I would rather surrender to protect the people.

These words made everyone around him tear up.

But just then, someone spoke up and said,

My lord, your words are in accordance with heaven.

...