The death of its indispensable man is just the start of the Riverlands’ troubles.

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Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast. This is episode 134.

Last time, Zhuge Liang was on his deathbed. He had just lost consciousness when the court official Li (3) Fu (2) returned. Li Fu had come earlier on behalf of the emperor to ask Zhuge Liang for final instructions, and now, for some reason, he was back. When Li Fu saw that Zhuge Liang was unconscious, he wept and cried that he had failed his kingdom.

But moments later, Zhuge Liang opened his eyes again. As he scanned the tent, he spotted Li Fu standing by his bed.

“I know why you have returned,” Zhuge Liang said.

“I came on his majesty’s command to ask your excellency who should be entrusted with your responsibilities after you have passed on,” Li Fu said. “But in my distress, I forgot to ask you, so I have returned.”

Really, man? You had one job. ONE JOB! But Zhuge Liang had no time for that now. He said in a low voice, “After my death, Jiang (2) Wan (3) may be entrusted with the responsibilities.”

“And what about after Jiang Wan?” Li Fu asked. “Who can succeed him?”

“Fei Yi would do,” Zhuge Liang whispered.

“And what about after Fei Yi? Who then?”

But there was no answer. When everyone stepped closer, they saw that Zhuge Liang had expired. It was 23rd day of the 8th month in the year 234, and Zhuge Liang was just 54 years old.

 

So yeah, oh my god! Zhuge Liang, THE pivotal character of the novel, THE indispensable man for the kingdom of Shu, is dead. You can bet we’re going to have a poem, or three, before we move on. The first comes from Du (4) Fu (3), a great Tang Dynasty poet who lived some 500 years after Zhuge Liang, and whose work we have already referenced elsewhere in the novel.

The star that dropped last night upon his camp

Announced to all: “The master fell this day.”

No longer from his tent will orders flow;

The Hall of Fame will honor his success.

Three thousand followers left masterless,

The hosts in his mind’s eye denied their day.

Nor, in the green woods, clear and sunlit,

Will Zhuge Liang’s fine-voiced chants be heard again.

 

The next poem also comes from another Tang Dynasty poet, and it goes something like this:

Ensconced in hills, the master hid his tracks;

By twist of fate a sage king sued three times.

Only in Nanyang (2,2) could “fish” and “water” meet:

“The dragon flies to heavenly Han — a wholesome rain.”

To Liu Bei’s heir Zhuge Liang gave zealous care;

Serving the state, he poured forth his loyal heart.

And still today his calls to war live on;

How many readers can restrain their tears?

 

And finally, our third poem comes from another Tang dynasty poet. Yeah, you get the feeling that Tang dynasty poets were crushing hard on Zhuge Liang.

To set the times aright he backed Liu Bei;

With earnest zeal he took the orphan king.

His splendid gifts surpassed Guan (3) Zhong (4) and Yue (4) Yi (4);

His unique schemes outshined those of Sun Zi and Wu (2) Qi (3).

How awe-inspiring his two-part call to war!