〃it　is　fitting　to　follow　political　changes　and　suit　one's　conduct　to　circumstances。　Wherefore　first　take　the　princedom；　and　then　memorialize　the　Throne。〃

Liu　Bei　declined　two　or　three　times；　but　as　there　seemed　no　other　option；　he　listened　and　plied。　In　the　twenty…fourth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　219）；　in　the　seventh　month；　an　altar　was　set　up　at　Mianyang；　half　a　square　mile；　which　was　set　around　with　the　proper　flags　and　banners　and　symbols。　In　the　presence　of　all　his　civil　and　military　officers　assembled　according　to　their　rank；　and　at　the　request　of　the　two　Ministers　Xu　Jing　and　Fa　Zheng；　Liu　Bei　received　the　headdress　and　seat　of　a　prince。　Then　he　took　his　seat；　facing　the　south　as　a　ruler　should；　and　received　the　salutes　and　felicitations　of　all　his　officers　as　the　Prince　of　Hanzhong。　And　his　son　Liu　Shan　was　nominated　his　heir…apparent。

Xu　Jing　was　given　the　title　of　Imperial　Guardian；　Fa　Zheng　that　of　Chair　of　the　Secretariat。　Zhuge　Liang　was　reappointed　Directing　Instructor　of　the　Forces；　with　the　additional　powers　of　control　over　the　whole　state　policy。　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　Zhao　Yun；　Huang　Zhong；　and　Ma　Chao　were　the　Five　Tiger　Generals。　Wei　Yan　was　made　Governor　of　Hanzhong；　and　all　the　others　who　had　assisted　were　given　ranks　and　offices。

As　soon　as　the　investiture　was　pleted；　Liu　Bei　posed　a　memorial　and　sent　it　to　Capital　Xuchang。　This　is　the　document：

〃I；　Liu　Bei；　have　but　ordinary　talents；　yet　was　I　made　a　general　of　high　rank　and　led　a　great　army。　Though　I　received　a　mission　to　purge　the　empire　of　rebels；　I　was　unable　to　cleanse　it　and　so　renew　the　tranquillity　to　Your　Majesty's　house　and　restore　the　dynasty。　Too　long　have　I　delayed　to　spread　Your　Majesty's　sacred　governance。　The　world　is　evil　and　not　in　good　case；　and　a