At the news that Guan Yu and his son have been killed, Liu Bei, King of Hanzhong, weeps and collapses to the ground. Kongming comforts him. From of old it has been said that life and death are decided by fate. Lord Guan was always unbending and thought highly of himself, and that is why this disaster befell him today. Liu Bei answers. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and I swore in the peach garden to die together. Now that Yunchang is dead, how could I enjoy wealth and honour alone?
When Guan Xing comes in weeping, Liu Bei collapses again. Three or four times a day he loses his senses, and for three days he weeps without swallowing a drop of water. His tears soak his collar until it is stained as if with blood. Liu Bei speaks. I will not live under the same sun and moon as Eastern Wu.
Kongming holds him back. Wu wants us to attack Wei, and Wei wants us to attack Wu. Cao Cao burying Lord Guan with the rites of a prince is also meant to turn my lord’s grievance against Wu. Do not move troops now, but hold Lord Guan’s mourning, and wait until Wu and Wei fall out before you strike. Only then does Liu Bei eat, and the commanders and soldiers of Shu all put on mourning.