In the summer of the second year of Zhangwu, Liu Bei, beaten at Yiling, comes back to Baidi. When Ma Liang arrives and passes on Kongming’s words, Liu Bei sighs. Had I listened to the chancellor early on, I would not have lost like this today. With what face can I go back to Chengdu and see my officials? Liu Bei stays at Baidi and renames the guesthouse the Palace of Lasting Peace. At news that Feng Xi, Zhang Nan, Fu Tong and Cheng Ji have all died in the state’s service, Liu Bei grieves.
An official reports. Huang Quan has led the troops north of the river and surrendered to Wei, so hand his family over to the officials for punishment. Liu Bei answers. Huang Quan was cut off on the north bank by Wu’s troops with no way back, and had no choice but to surrender to Wei. It was I who failed Huang Quan, not Huang Quan who failed me. How could I punish his family? Liu Bei goes on paying his family’s stipend.
In Wei, one of Cao Pi’s officials tells Huang Quan that the lord of Shu has killed his whole family. Huang Quan answers. The lord of Shu and I trusted each other in sincerity. He knows my true heart, so he will never kill my wife and children.