Liu Bei speaks to Cui Zhouping
May 27th, 2026
Liu Bei spoke to Cui Zhouping to join his cause. Cui Zhouping replied that the fate of the world was predestined to follow cycles of order and chaos. Cui Zhouping was pointing towards what western minds think of as nhilism, but to a Taoist is rather called... the truth.
I don't dispute in the slightest that we, human beings, are under guidance and influence of forces much larger than ourselves, and that any amount of squirming against the will of the tide will practically do nothing. I don't disagree with that, there are forces that are much larger and much more evidently powerful that destroys all legacies, all meaning, and all our strivings. In the eyes of Ozymandias, all our efforts will turn to sand.
But the beauty of this, is how Liu Bei replies. He's aware. He knows that it's fruitless, and that the cycle of chaos and order will return. But:
Master, your insight is indeed deep, and your words of wide meaning; but I am a scion of the House of Han and must help it. Dare I talk of the inevitable and trust to fate?
Liu Bei is aware. He knows that it is inevitable. And yet, he cannot turn away from his duty to the suffering of the people.
I admire him deeply for that. It is that although he has wisdom, his duty and compassion still is stronger. He cannot yield to the waves; he must do what he can to alleviate the suffering of the people.
The refugees at Chang Ban, he weeps for them, and he would not leave them behind.
The sandal-maker at Chang Ban is who I envy the most.