6 replies to this topic

[snowybeagle]

It was recorded in SGZ that when Cao Cao invaded Jingzhou, Liu Biao had died and succeeded by Liu Cong. Liu Cong surrendered to Cao Cao and Liu Bei who was in the city of Fan, hurriedly departed for Jiangling. It was also recorded that more than 100,000 people chose to evacuate, slowing down Liu Bei's progress who opted "not to abandon them".

I wondered though why the people of Jingzhou chose to leave their homes.

Usually, mass evacuation in the face of approaching hostile army is understandable. But when no resistance was offered, there would be a lot less for the commoners to worry about becoming collateral damage. Cao Cao's army had taken many cities before, and were generally quite disciplined.

There was only 1 incident which occurred more than a decade before where Cao Cao ordered a massacre, that was in Xuzhou, ostensibly prompted by the murder of Cao Cao's father, Cao Song.

So what prompted the people of Jingzhou to flee?

Perhaps some of them were originally refugees from Xuzhou who recalled Cao Cao's earlier massacre (the Zhuge family was said to have been refugees from Xuzhou too), but was that the only reason?

[kong_wei_liang]

first of all, was this recorded in actual history?
regardless of if it was or not, i believe that they just wanted to live in a society under liu bei, some of that may be related to some of them being pro-han

[snowybeagle]

first of all, was this recorded in actual history?

That depends on whether you consider SGZ as actual history.

《三国志·卷三十二·蜀书二》
比到当阳，众十馀万，辎重数千两，日行十馀里，别遣关羽乘船数百艘，使会江陵。

regardless of if it was or not, i believe that they just wanted to live in a society under liu bei,

Liu Bei was also fleeing - and no guarantee he could establish rule elsewhere.

some of that may be related to some of them being pro-han

That might be romantising it a bit ...

[kong_wei_liang]

Than I see no reason for the massive evactuation.

[dr4gon]

Bc Cao cao was after Liu bei, some historian claim that Liu would use the people of Fan city as *shield* to prevent cao cao from catching up (liu bei is not a righteuos guy )

[snowybeagle]

Bc Cao cao was after Liu bei, some historian claim that Liu would use the people of Fan city as *shield* to prevent cao cao from catching up (liu bei is not a righteuos guy )

Liu Bei was not inexperienced, he'd have realised the masses slowed him down and allow Cao's troops to catch him rather than the other way. If that was his intent, he'd have left them after day 1.

[Ma Su]

I think it is a mixture of remembering Cao Cao's massacre at Xu and any possible other dubious scary things he did and Liu Bei's own qualities as a governor/ruler, his kindness and charisma may have urged a scared people to take the gamble.