Across the planes familiar with the Three Kingdoms and those unfamiliar with it alike, as people watched the Celestial Screen portray the turbulent and wandering first half of Liu Bei's life, many put themselves in his shoes and empathized with his journey.
They were terrified to discover: wasn't this precisely their own story?
Full of youthful spirit and ambition, wishing to serve the country and the people, longing to display their talents—only to be slapped fiercely across the face by reality due to all sorts of circumstances.
Was it because they didn't work hard enough? Because their talent wasn't dazzling enough? Because their family background wasn't distinguished enough?
Put themselves in his position: looked down upon by everyone, repeatedly hunted down, defeated over and over again, without even a place to settle down.
They probably would have drawn their swords and taken their own lives long ago, or else abandoned their ideals and lived in seclusion from the world.
They could never be like Lord Xuande—unyielding through all setbacks, growing bolder with every failure.
Even as he traveled a rocky road from his forties all the way to knowing the mandate of Heaven, he still held fast to the ideals and ambitions of his youth, along with the promise in his heart.
"Lord Xuande is a true hero."
"It's just a pity that Lord Xuande cared too much for brotherhood; the Battle of Yiling cost him his troops and generals, and ultimately himself as well."
"In the Three Kingdoms, L…
Chapter 51