Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuande (玄德), was a warlord in the late Eastern Han dynasty who founded the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period and became its first ruler. Although he was a distant relative of the Han imperial family, Liu Bei's father died when he was a child and left his family impoverished. To help his mother, he sold shoes and straw mats. When he reached the age of fifteen, his mother sent him to study under Lu Zhi. In his youth, Liu Bei was known as ambitious and charismatic. He gathered a militia army to fight the Yellow Turbans. Liu Bei fought bravely in many battles and grew famous for his exploits. Later, he participated in the coalition against Dong Zhuo, following this joined his childhood friend Gongsun Zan and fought under him against Yuan Shao.
Only wisdom and virtue can truly win men's devotion.
All men have their appointed time; that's something no horse can change.
Traitors! I shall oppose you in the name of the Han!
The northern people are riders and the southern people sailors; it is said quite true.
Your words bring me joy. Let the two of us unite to bring forth a world of peace and virtue.
Be vigilant! Be vigilant! If an evil is minor, resist it nonetheless. If a good deed is trifling, perform it all the same. Only wisdom and virtue can truly win men's devotion.
Never do an evil act just because it is trivial; never leave a good act undone just because it's small.
Do no evilness because it is a small one; do not leave a small deed undone because it is just a petty one.