To be clear, Cao Cao's army had arrived in Wancheng at that time, only 100 km away from Liu Bei, that is, a day and a night's journey of the trotters. After Liu Biao's death, Jingzhou Mu was Liu Biao's second son, and Liu Cong surrendered to Cao Cao. Liu Bei, who was stationed in Fancheng, was caught between Scylla and Charybdis, and Fancheng could not stay any longer, because Liu Bei immediately retreated to the south. Liu Bei is running for his life. Anyone can surrender to Cao Cao, but not Liu Bei. Since he is running for his life, is it necessary to make a show of the people "crossing the river with them"? Is it important to show off or to live?
Besides, these scholars and people in Jingzhou volunteered to follow Liu Bei south because they didn't want to take refuge in Cao Cao. Why don't they want to surrender to Cao Cao? Because Cao Cao has many precedents for killing cities, and Liu Bei has never done it once in his life. In addition, Liu Bei has been in Xinye and Fancheng in the north of Jingzhou for almost seven years. Local scholars and people have already felt Liu Bei's benevolence and righteousness. In the troubled times at that time, it was as difficult to find a good official with benevolence and family as when I was a child, so the people would rather follow Liu Bei for their lives than take refuge in Cao Cao.
Let's look at a record in the "History of the Three Kingdoms": It's still what our ancestors said: "It's advisable to protect Jiangling while it's early. Although there are few people today, if Cao arrives, why refuse? " The late Lord said, "Man must be the foundation of a great cause. Now that people are mine, why can't I give them up? " ! Someone told Liu Bei: Let's hurry to Jiangling City. There are so many people now, but few can fight. If Cao Cao's soldiers and horses catch up, what shall we do? Liu Bei said: People should be the foundation of great achievements. Now that the people have come to take refuge in me, how can I have the heart to leave?
Is there any chance for Liu Bei to escape? Of course, without hundreds of thousands of people, Liu Bei can reach Jiangling City in just a few days. Jiangling City, now Jingzhou City, Hubei Province, was the seat of the Southern Army in Jingzhou at that time and the most important strategic base in central Jingzhou. At that time, Jiangling city stored a large number of ordnance materials. If Liu Bei can get these ordnance materials, he can arm more people to join the army against Cao Cao. At the same time, he has a strategic stronghold and base. Liu Bei could not bear to attack Xiangyang City where Liu Cong was located. Will he not have the heart to attack Jiangling city?
With Jiangling City, Liu Bei has a foothold. Then he will send someone to unite with Sun Quan, and he will have enough capital to fight against Cao Cao. As long as Liu Bei occupies Jiangling City, he can control the whole Nanjun, Nanjun and Jingnan four counties. Without Battle of Red Cliffs, Liu Bei would have five counties in Jingzhou, accounting for five-sevenths of the whole Jingzhou. As a politician, will Liu Bei not understand the importance of getting to Jiangling City quickly? But Liu Bei didn't do this. He left the people and went straight to Jiangling City. Liu Bei once said an eternal famous saying: "People-oriented, first achieve great things", which may be the earliest people-oriented statement.
When Liu Bei fled from the south of Pancheng, there were almost 10 thousand troops, of which 5 thousand followed Guan Yu's water army south, and the other 5 thousand followed Liu Bei to retreat to Jiangling by land. When Liu Bei retreated by land, 5000 soldiers escorted 65438+ ten thousand people to flee south. It was a disaster. The direct result was that Cao Cao overtook Liu Bei and suffered a crushing defeat. Cao Gong took Jiangling as his army, fearing that the late Lord would follow him, so he released the trench and went to Xiangyang lightly. When Cao Gong heard that his late master had passed away, he led five thousand horses to chase him, and traveled more than three hundred miles day and night, reaching Dangyang Changban. My late Lord abandoned his wife and rode away with dozens of others, such as Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun, and Tsao Gong was greatly rewarded by him. Knowing that Jiangling had military supplies, Cao Cao was worried that Liu Bei would get it first. He gave up the trench and went to Xiangyang City lightly. When Cao Cao heard that Liu Bei had escaped, he led five thousand elite butch riders to chase Liu Bei. He walked more than 300 miles a day and night and caught up with Liu Bei in Dangyang Changban. In World War I, Liu Bei abandoned his wife and children and fled with Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun. Cao Cao got it.
It is necessary for Liu Bei to put on a good show of one hundred thousand people. As a result, 100 thousand people were finally robbed by Cao Cao? Is it necessary for Liu Bei to put on a show and compensate his wife and children? Is it necessary to abandon your wife and children and run for your life during the performance? If it weren't for the critical situation, where would Liu Bei lose so badly? Liu Bei's name of benevolence and righteousness is world-famous. When Liu Bei was in the plain in his early years, out of benevolence and love for the people, a powerful landlord who was dissatisfied with Liu Bei sent an assassin to assassinate Liu Bei. Liu Bei knows nothing about this, but he is still very enthusiastic about assassins. As a result, the assassin was moved by Liu Bei Not only did he not kill Liu Bei, but he also told Liu Bei the truth and left.
An official who is benevolent and loves the people will naturally be loved by the people. Liu Bei doesn't need to put on a show, and these people will continue to flee south with Liu Bei. Although Liu Beinan fled with 100,000 people in order to build up his own ambition and achieve Wang Ba's career in the future, this process was based on confronting the people's righteousness. Liu Bei neither forced the people to follow nor abandoned them for their lives. How can this be a show?
Therefore, Liu Bei's "hundreds of thousands of people crossing the river in Jingzhou" is not a show, but actually to safeguard their own people's hearts and righteousness and strive for resources for the future.