Three generals—dead before their time.
And this time, the names were painfully familiar.
"Feng Xiuyuan! Zhang Wenjin!"
Liu Bei called out their courtesy names at once, his voice tightening. "Before Zhou Yu captured Nan Commandery last year, the two of them crossed the river together to pledge their service to me. How could it be that…"
Zhuge Liang's expression was grave.
"While we were in Jingzhou, Xiang Lang once spoke to me of his young nephew, Xiang Chong. He described the boy as intelligent and courteous, though not yet capped."
Xiang Lang—now magistrate of Linju, north of Jiangling—had crossed paths with Kongming back when both men were guests under Liu Biao.
"It must be the War of Jing–Xiang mentioned by the light screen," Guan Yu said, stroking his beard. "After we retook Linju, Xiang Lang surrendered to Elder Brother and later recommended his nephew."
"Dead in a chaotic skirmish?" Zhang Fei scoffed. "The southern tribes are weak. How could they kill a fine general unless treachery was involved?"
Liu Bei glanced at his third brother's massive frame and sighed inwardly.
Is there anyone in this world who doesn't seem 'weak' to you, Yide?
Turning to Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei forced a bitter smile.
"I fear I've burdened you most of all, Kongming. At Yiling, Yide, Feng Xi, and Zhang Nan all perished. Xiang Chong and Liao Hua suffered defeat. These were the finest talents of the Han, lost in a single stroke. No wonder Liao Hua still had to don armor even in his seventies."
"Then, my lord," Zhuge Liang replied solemnly, "you must proceed with utmost caution, lest we ever fall into such dire straits again."
Liu Bei nodded.
[Voiceover]
"Ma Zhong, ranked eleventh, functioned more as a civil official than a military one.
Liu Bei praised his abilities highly. During Zhuge Liang's regency, he helped pacify the Southern Man rebellion and administered the seven southern commanderies.
Under Jiang Wan and Fei Yi, Ma Zhong assisted in state policy. When Fei Yi led troops against Cao Shuang, Ma Zhong even managed affairs in Chengdu itself.
He was a model of a worthy minister—and died peacefully of natural causes."
A collective sigh of relief passed through the hall.
Finally—someone spared an early, violent end.
Feeling the room's gaze upon him, Jiang Wan scratched his head helplessly.
I know I'm capable, he thought, but I truly don't want to be this busy. If possible, I'd rather just remain a humble clerk.
"This Ma Zhong truly harbored loyalty to Han," Liu Bei said in surprise. "When I passed through Dantǔ, he was merely a subordinate under Pan Zhang. Who would have thought such talent lay hidden there?"
He nodded decisively.
"Once Jiangling is settled, I'll send him a letter. Why should such a man waste himself under Pan Zhang?"
Zhang Fei laughed loudly. "Brother, I misjudged you! Who knew that trip to Dantǔ would uncover such a treasure?"
The hall shared in Liu Bei's satisfaction.
Only Zhuge Liang felt a faint unease—something subtle, difficult to name. But he chose not to speak.
[Voiceover]
"Fu Qian and his father Fu Rong were both generals. To avoid listing father and son together, Fu Rong was placed among the civil officials.
During the Battle of Yiling, Fu Rong volunteered to cover Liu Bei's retreat. Before his death, he cursed the Wu generals:
'Dogs of Wu! Since when has a Han general ever surrendered?!'
His son Fu Qian was brave and resourceful, much admired by Jiang Wei.
In 263, he defended Yangping Pass against Wei. When his deputy Jiang Shu betrayed him, the pass fell.
Fu Qian refused surrender and died on the eve of the state's collapse."
A family of unyielding loyalty.
Guan Ping stared at Fu Qian's statue, then glanced at his own father—silent, immovable, like a mountain.
What did that other Guan Ping think, he wondered, when Father and I were executed together?
And Fu Qian?
His father died shielding Elder Uncle.
He himself died defending A-Dou.
No—Guan Ping corrected himself.
Fu Qian did not die merely for A-Dou.
He died for Han.
Just as Father and I did.
"That traitor Jiang Shu deserves death," Guan Yu said coldly, killing intent heavy in his voice.
Everyone understood.
Fu Qian had been betrayed by Jiang Shu.
Guan Yu had been betrayed by Sun Quan.
Different men. Same knife.
"We will not let such a fate befall this father and son again," Liu Bei said softly—comforting Guan Yu, and vowing it to himself.
Fu Rong had joined his banner only last year as a supervising officer. Liu Bei had never imagined such fire burned within him.
[Voiceover]
"From the fates of Shu's generals, one may glimpse the destiny of Shu-Han itself.
Of the fourteen, only Zhao Yun, Ma Zhong, and Wang Ping died of natural causes.
The rest fell to illness or the blade.
The civil officials fared little better."
The screen shifted to the opposite gallery.
Liu Bei's gaze fixed immediately on the first statue's name.
Pang Tong.
I wonder how much longer Zhou Yu can last…
The thought surfaced unbidden—impolite, fleeting.
Then Liu Bei stiffened.
What does it mean—the civil officials fared little better?
A general dying in battle was fate.
But civil officials?
[Voiceover]
"The fourteen civil officials are: Pang Tong, Jian Yong, Lü Kai, Fu Rong, Fei Yi, Dong He, Deng Zhi, Chen Zhen, Jiang Wan, Dong Yun, Qin Mi, Yang Hong, Ma Liang, and Cheng Ji.
Lü Kai, like Xiang Chong, died suppressing a tribal rebellion.
Cheng Ji and Ma Liang perished at Yiling.
Jiang Wan died of illness."
Physician Zhang must take on apprentices—immediately.
For once, everyone agreed.
As Ma Liang and Jiang Wan copied down their own causes of death, their expressions were complex.
Ma Liang wondered whether his four brothers would remember him—and whether his younger brother, Ma Su, would ever learn restraint.
Jiang Wan thought only of his mother.
Please, he prayed silently, don't let her white hair bury her son.
Zhuge Liang made a quiet note to himself.
The Southern Man problem cannot be delayed. It must be resolved.
[Voiceover]
"Another admirable father-son pair: Dong He and Dong Yun.
Dong He was famously incorruptible. When he died, his household possessed not even a single bushel of grain.
Dong Yun was more renowned—one of Shu-Han's Four Chancellors.
Sadly, none of the Four met a good end.
Zhuge Liang died of illness at Wuzhang Plains.
Jiang Wan died of illness.
Dong Yun died of illness.
Fei Yi was assassinated by a Wei spy."
"Cao the traitor!" Liu Bei roared. "To use such despicable means against my ministers!"
Illness could be blamed on Heaven's jealousy.
Assassination was nothing but filth.
"Didn't Cao's dogs do something similar to Brother-in-Law's side?" Zhang Fei muttered.
"Yin Fan," Zhuge Liang said coldly. "Feigning surrender to Wu. Stirring rebellion. Forcing Hao Pu to suicide."
"Disgusting," Zhao Yun said.
Between Sun Quan's betrayal and Cao Wei's assassins, the hall simmered with shared loathing.
[Voiceover]
"We will not linger on the civil officials here; many will appear again later.
Next, let us proceed to the Main Hall.
Since this is the Marquis of Wu Temple, it would be improper not to pay respects to Liu Bei himself.
The Main Hall, flanked by the civil and military galleries, enshrines Emperor Zhaolie at its center.
To his right stands Liu Chen, Prince of Beidi.
And to his left—
is a piece of rotten wood."