Summary: Liu Bei comes into some new possessions, and then tries to wiggle out of having to pay back his creditors in Dongwu.<br> <br> * <a href="http://www.3kingdomspodcast.com/2016/07/11/episode-083-iou-iou-not/#transcript">Transcript</a><br> * <a href="http://www.3kingdomspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ep_083.png">Map of Key Locations</a><br> * <a href="https://www.google.com/fusiontables/DataSource?docid=12U9o1oZzR_y45xv41y41wyJWvJ2KTxtvoWuCA-h1">Graph of Key Characters and Relationships</a><br> <br> <br> <a id="transcript"></a>Transcript<br> <a href="http://www.3kingdomspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/3Kingdoms083.pdf">PDF version</a><br> Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast. This is episode 83.<br> 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.<br> When Liu Zhang saw the help he had been waiting 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.”<br> 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?”<br> But Liu Zhang would not hear of it. <br> “My father and I have reigned in Shu for 20-some years and have not done anything 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.”<br> <br> 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.”<br> This was a man named Qiao (2) Zhou (1), and he was known for his knowledge of astrology. Liu Zhang asked him to elaborate, and Qiao (2) Zhou (1) said, “When I observed the night sky, I saw many stars clustered over Shu, and the main star was as bright as the moon. This is the imperial sign. Also, a year ago, there was a children’s limerick that said, ‘If you want fresh rice, you must wait until the First Ruler comes.’ This is a clear omen. We must not go against heaven’s will.”<br> A couple of the loyal officials, like Huang Quan and Liu Ba (1), were outraged by these words and wanted to kill this Qiao (2) Zhou (1), but Liu Zhang stopped them. Just then, word came that the district governor of Shu had already said see ya later and slipped out of the city to surrender to Liu Bei. Seeing his men abandoning him, Liu Zhang wept bitterly and returned to his residence.<br> <br> The next morning, Liu Bei sent his aide Jian (3) Yong (1) to request an audience with Liu Zhang. Liu Zhang ordered the gates to be opened, and Jian Yong entered in his carriage. As he rode through the streets, he was feeling and acting mighty smug, until suddenly, an official named Qin (2) Mi (4) pulled out a sword and shouted, “Just because you upstarts got your way, do you think you are above us all? How dare you slight us, the worthy men of Shu?!”<br> This little outburst set Jian Yong straight, and he immediately got out of his carriage to greet Qin (2) Mi (4). “Forgive me, sir. I did not recognize you,” he said.<br> Thus somewhat appeased, Qin Mi accompanied Jian Yong to go see Liu Zhang. Jian Yong told Liu Zhang how Liu Bei was generous and magnanimous and bore no ill will toward him, nevermind that big army he’s got parked outside your city. This convinced Liu Zhang to make up his mind and surrender. <br> <br> The next day, Liu Zhang personally carried his seal and cord of command, along with other paperwork, and rode out of the city with Jian Yong in his carriage.
