Do you know where Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei discussed state affairs?
🌈 Highlights: Han Yishitai in Xinye, where Liu Bei recruited talents. How did Zhuge Liang win Liu Bei's trust?
Han Yishitai is where Liu Bei recruited talents. Zhuge Liang impressed Liu Bei with his vision and wisdom, making this place a historical site.
Historical background: Liu Bei built Yishitai in Xinye to recruit talents and plan military strategies. Zhuge Liang's contribution: Zhuge Liang suggested that Liu Bei absorb refugees to strengthen the army, demonstrating his talent for governing the country.
Cultural significance: Han Yishitai, as a historical site, symbolizes the relationship between Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang.
Xinye has a long history and rich culture, among which the most famous Han Dynasty site is Han Yishitai near the South Gate.
Yishitai, originally called Yishitang, was built by Liu Bei when he took refuge with Liu Biao, the governor of Jingzhou, and guarded Xinye. He built a high circular platform near the South Gate, with three halls on it. To prevent military information from being leaked, Liu Bei and his ministers often came here to discuss military affairs.
To commemorate Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, this hall has been rebuilt many times since the Wei and Jin Dynasties.
It was not until the Ming Dynasty that the platform was changed to a rectangular platform 80 meters long, 4 meters wide, and 5 meters high. The building on it was also changed to a two-story octagonal pavilion.
Why do people commemorate this place?
First of all, like the "Golden Platform" built by King Zhao of Yan, this platform has the meaning of recruiting talents.
After Liu Bei, who was unwilling to be inferior to others, led more than 1,000 old troops to guard this place, he began to look for local talents.
First of all, Xu Shu, who sang loudly in the market, attracted Liu Bei's attention. After a conversation, Liu Bei hired him as a strategist.
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, there is also a chapter called "Shan Fu Meets a Wise Lord in Xinye".
However, after hearing this, Cao Cao sent someone to take Xu Shu's mother to Xudu and forced Xu Shu to leave Liu Bei.
When Xu Shu left Xinye, he strongly recommended Zhuge Liang. Records of the Three Kingdoms records: "At that time, the First Lord was stationed in Xinye. Xu Shu met the First Lord, who appreciated him. Xu Shu said to the First Lord: 'Zhuge Kongming is a sleeping dragon. Would you like to meet him?' "
This is the story of the famous "Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage".
After Zhuge Liang joined Liu Bei's team, did he really burn Bowang Slope and Xinye as described in Romance of the Three Kingdoms?
In fact, Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a novel, and there are many fictional parts. How could Liu Bei, who is known for his benevolence and righteousness, be willing to ignore the people of the whole city and burn down the county?
So, the question is, how did Zhuge Liang win Liu Bei's trust?
This is clearly stated in Records of the Three Kingdoms. Zhuge Liang once suggested to Liu Bei at Yishitai, "Now there are not few people in Jingzhou, but few registered people. If you recruit them, they will be unhappy. You can tell Zhen Nan to let all the people in the country register, and then recruit them to increase the number of people. Liu Bei followed his plan, so the number of people increased, and Liu Bei knew that Zhuge Liang had great talent, so he treated him as a distinguished guest."
This means that Zhuge Liang found that due to the war in the north, many people were displaced here and had no household registration. Zhuge Liang persuaded Liu Bei to include them in the government household registration and recognize their status, so that he could recruit soldiers and collect taxes from them.
Liu Bei soon recruited thousands of soldiers and horses, and from then on, he treated Zhuge Liang as a distinguished guest.
It can be seen that Zhuge Liang is indeed a talented person who can be compared with Guan Zhong and Xiao He, but he is far inferior to Han Xin and Le Yi in leading troops to fight.
In addition, Liu Bei implemented benevolent governance in Xinye and won the hearts of the people. There was a nursery rhyme circulating among the people: "Xinye Mu, Liu Huangshu, since he came here, the people are rich."
Therefore, the ruins of Han Yishitai have been preserved to this day.
Standing beside Yishitai, a magnificent two-story octagonal pavilion is located on the high platform. The high platform is built with blue bricks. The upper floor of the pavilion has eight corners, and each ridge is occupied by a ceramic dragon, which is vivid and lifelike. The center of the pavilion is in the shape of a wheel-shaped gourd. The lower eaves are decorated with sea horses, small lions, and other animals. The whole pavilion is unique and elegant, which makes people think infinitely.
Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang are the models of wise lords and loyal ministers. After thousands of years, this high platform and this pavilion are still telling the stories of the past.
🎟️ Ticket information: Free admission
🕐️ Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
💗 Other tips: You can drive there. As it is an ancient city and old street, the road is relatively narrow and parking is inconvenient. You can take a bus to Xinye County from Nanyang Railway Station, Nanyang East Railway Station, or the airport. You can also take a bus to Xinye County from Xiangyang Railway Station, Xiangzhou Railway Station, Xiangyang East Railway Station, or Xiangyang Airport. You can also take a bus to Xinye County from Dengzhou Railway Station or Dengzhou East Railway Station. You can also get off at Tanghe Railway Station and take a bus to Xinye County. After arriving in Xinye, you can scan the code of a red electric bicycle to go there. You can taste local delicacies, such as Xinye Zhang Fei Noodles and Xinye Guokui.