Zhang Song and his friend decide that honor and ethics demand that they betray their master and give his land to Liu Bei.

* Transcript

* Map of Key Locations

* Graph of Key Characters and Relationships

Transcript

PDF version

Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast. This is episode 75.

Before we pick up from where we left off, I’d like to remind you to give the show a rating or review in iTunes or whatever podcasting app you are using. Of course, if you’ve been following the show for 75 episodes, I’m guessing you’ve already done that. But just in case you haven’t, please consider taking a minute to do so, as it helps others discover the podcast.

Alright, so last time, Zhang (1) Song (1), an official serving under Liu Zhang (1), the ruler of Yi (4) Province in the Riverlands, had volunteered to go to the capital to dissuade Cao Cao from having any designs on the region. But in reality, Zhang Song was planning to offer the Riverlands to Cao Cao because he thought Liu Zhang was weak and undeserving of such a prized piece of real estate. Zhang Song even brought along a map of the region containing all the key information one would need to plan an invasion.

However, Zhang Song got a rude reception from Cao Cao, thanks in no small part to Zhang Song’s own rude and arrogant display. Cao Cao threatened to kill him before letting him off with a beating. Thus snubbed, Zhang Song was slinking back to the Riverlands when he got it into his head that, “Hey, if I can’t betray my lord to Cao Cao, maybe I can betray him to Liu Bei.”

Funny enough, Liu Bei had the same thought at the same time, and he rolled out the red carpet for Zhang Song, welcoming him with great ceremony and humility, just to show his admiration for the man, of course. But while they feasted for three days in Jing Province, not once did Liu Bei so much as mention the Riverlands.

On the fourth day, it was time for Zhang Song to go, and Liu Bei saw him out. No, not out of the house or out of the neighborhood or out of the city. Liu Bei escorted Zhang Song several miles outside the city and held a feast there to see him off.

Offering a toast to his guest, Liu Bei said, “I’m deeply grateful that you spent three days with us. But after our parting today, who knows when I would once again receive the benefit of your wisdom?”

As he spoke those words, Liu Bei began to tear up. Seeing this, Zhang Song thought to himself, “Liu Bei is so magnanimous and humane, and such a lover of talented men. How can I pass him over? I should convince him to take the Riverlands.”

So Zhang Song said to Liu Bei, “I have long wished to be of service to you, but regrettably have not had the chance. In my view, Jing Province is no place to stay long term, what with Sun Quan in the east like a tiger poised to strike, and Cao Cao in the north with the appetite of a whale.”

“I am aware of that,” Liu Bei said, “but I haven’t found a secure place to call home.” Hint hint.

“Yi (4) Province is protected by formidable geographic barriers,” Zhang Song said. “It possesses hundreds of miles of fertile soil. The people are thriving and the state is prosperous. The learned men of the region have long admired your virtue. If you mobilize the army of Jing Province and march westward, you will establish your hegemony, and the house of Han will be revitalized.”

“I dare not do such a thing,” Liu Bei said. “Liu Zhang is a fellow member of the imperial house and has long bes...