Chapter 1663

Under Liu Bei's careful governance, his sphere of influence gradually expanded, and his influence also increased day by day. However, just at this moment, a new force quietly rose, and that was Cao Cao. Cao Cao used Xu Chang as his base and quickly unified most of the northern regions, and his strength was already enough to compete with Liu Bei.

Cao Cao's rise made Liu Bei feel unprecedented pressure. He knew deeply that to continue to develop in this chaotic world, he must have a decisive contest with Cao Cao. Thus, Liu Bei began to actively prepare for war, and at the same time was looking for the best time to fight Cao Cao.

Finally, in a meeting of warlords, Liu Bei and Cao Cao had a fierce conflict because of territorial disputes. Both sides stuck to their own arguments and would not give in to each other, and finally decided to solve the dispute by force. Liu Bei and Cao Cao each led their armies and launched a thrilling battle on the Central Plains.

This war not only concerned the personal destiny of Liu Bei and Cao Cao but also concerned the ownership of the entire world. Therefore, both sides tried their best, and the battle was exceptionally tragic. Liu Bei, relying on the heroic fighting of his subordinates and his own excellent command ability, fought Cao Cao to a standstill.

However, just when the war was in a stalemate, an unexpected piece of news reached Liu Bei's ears. It turned out that internal chaos had occurred in Cao Cao's rear, and an important general under his command had rebelled, causing Cao Cao's army to be in chaos. Liu Bei seized this opportunity, led his army to launch a fierce attack, and defeated Cao Cao's army in one fell swoop.

This victory was of great significance to Liu Bei. He not only defeated Cao Cao, this powerful opponent, but also took the opportunity to expand his sphere of influence, making the situation of the world undergo major changes. Liu Bei's prestige also reached an unprecedented height because of this, and he became a true hero in people's hearts.

However, Liu Bei was not satisfied because of this. He knew deeply that the world was not yet settled, and the people were still in deep water. Thus, he continued to lead his soldiers to fight south and north, committed to pacifying the world. Under his efforts, Liu Bei's strength continued to grow, and finally established the Shu Han dynasty, becoming one of the three major regimes that stood side by side with Cao Wei and Dong Wu.

After establishing Shu Han, Liu Bei did not stop his forward footsteps. He knew deeply that to truly unify the world, he must also eliminate Cao Wei and Dong Wu. Thus, he continued to work hard, strengthen internal construction, and at the same time was actively preparing for external military actions.

However, just when Liu Bei was preparing to show his ambitions, a sudden change broke his plan. That was Guan Yu losing Jingzhou and being defeated and fleeing to Maicheng. This incident not only made Liu Bei lose an important strategic stronghold but also made him lose his dear second brother, Guan Yu.

Guan Yu's death was a heavy blow to Liu Bei. He knew deeply that Guan Yu's bravery and loyalty were the precious wealth of Shu Han and also his most important assistant. Therefore, he decided to lead the army personally to avenge Guan Yu, and also to recapture Jingzhou, this strategic location.

Thus, Liu Bei led his army and marched towards Dong Wu in a mighty manner. However, just at this critical moment, another change happened. That was Zhang Fei's murder. It turned out that after Zhang Fei learned of Guan Yu's death, he was heartbroken, drank heavily all day, and was finally killed by his subordinates after a drunken state.

Liu Bei lost two sworn brothers in succession, and his heart was heartbroken. But he also knew deeply that he could not sink like this. He must cheer up and continue to lead Shu Han towards prosperity. Thus, he endured the pain and continued to command the army to march towards Dong Wu.

However, Liu Bei's eastern expedition did not achieve the expected results. Sun Quan of Dong Wu, relying on the natural barrier of the Yangtze River and the heroic fighting of his subordinates, successfully resisted Liu Bei's attack. Liu Bei suffered repeated setbacks in the battle and finally had to retreat helplessly.

This failure was a heavy blow to Liu Bei. He knew deeply that although he had established the Shu Han dynasty, there was still a long way to go to truly unify the world. Thus, he began to reflect on his strategy and decisions, looking for a new direction for development.

In reflection, Liu Bei gradually realized that to unify the world, relying on military power alone was not enough. He must strengthen internal construction and improve the country's comprehensive strength. At the same time, he must also strengthen diplomatic relations with other countries and strive for more allies and support.

However, Liu Bei knew deeply that to truly realize the great ambition of unifying the world, in addition to the stability of internal affairs and the cleverness of diplomacy, he must also have a more far-reaching strategic vision and unyielding determination. He began to set about cultivating a new generation of generals and strategists, hoping that they could become the pillars of Shu Han's future. Liu Bei paid special attention to the selection and cultivation of talent; whether they were from poor backgrounds or famous families, as long as they had talent, he reused them.

In this process, Zhuge Liang's role became increasingly prominent. As the Prime Minister of Shu Han, Zhuge Liang was not only super wise but also loyal to Liu Bei. He put forward many far-sighted strategic suggestions, such as the long-term strategy of "Northern Expedition to the Central Plains to Restore the Han House" and the diplomatic strategy of "Uniting with Wu to Resist Cao". Liu Bei's trust in Zhuge Liang increased day by day, and the cooperation between the two became closer.

To strengthen the power of the Northern Expedition, Liu Bei decided to go to the south personally to pacify the rebellion there and stabilize the rear. He led his army through hardships and finally pacified the rebellion of the Southern Barbarians, subdued local leaders like Meng Huo, and made the southern border of Shu Han stable. This series of victories not only enhanced the strength of Shu Han but also won more hearts for Liu Bei.

However, just when Liu Bei was preparing to go all out for the Northern Expedition, his body began to weaken day by day. Years of fighting and hard work made this once heroic warrior feel unprecedented fatigue. But he did not give up because of this, but strengthened his determination to unify the world even more. Liu Bei knew that his time was running out, and he must complete the unfinished cause as soon as possible.

Under Zhuge Liang's suggestion, Liu Bei began to prepare a detailed plan for the Northern Expedition. He mobilized a large amount of troops and materials, and was also actively looking for a suitable opportunity. However, heaven did not fulfill people's wishes; just on the eve of Liu Bei's preparation for a large-scale Northern Expedition, his condition suddenly worsened. Liu Bei knew that he did not have much time left, but he still insisted on seeing Zhuge Liang and other important generals to explain the aftermath.

Before the sickbed, Liu Bei said to Zhuge Liang: "Kongming, the greatest wish of my life is to be able to unify the world and restore the glory of the Han house. However, I know that I can no longer complete this mission. After I die, the future of Shu Han will be handed over to you. You must continue to lead everyone to the Northern Expedition and realize our common ideal."

Zhuge Liang was in tears; he held Liu Bei's hand tightly and said firmly: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will definitely do my best to assist the Crown Prince and complete your last wish. As long as I have a breath left, I will definitely not give up the great cause of the Northern Expedition."

Hearing this, Liu Bei nodded with satisfaction. He also said some encouraging words to other generals before closing his eyes and leaving peacefully. His death plunged the entire Shu Han into huge grief. ===== CHAPTER 1664 =====