After Deng Ai led a group of elite soldiers across mountains and valleys to attack Chengdu, Liu Shan, the last ruler of Shu Han, surrendered without any resistance. Deng Ai brought Liu Shan and all the Shu Han ministers back to the Wei Kingdom and handed them over to Sima Zhao for disposition. Sima Zhao did not make things difficult for Liu Shan; instead, he provided him with fine food and drink, granted him the title of Duke of Anle, rewarded him with many servants to attend to him, and allowed him to receive a monthly stipend, enabling him to live a carefree and comfortable life. Liu Shan showed no sorrow as a conquered ruler but spent his days laughing and enjoying himself everywhere. To demonstrate his magnanimity, Sima Zhao even prepared a banquet to entertain Liu Shan.
During the banquet, performances and dances were arranged, and Sima Zhao deliberately had Shu opera staged to observe Liu Shan's reaction. Liu Shan sat at the feast, eating and watching the show, occasionally laughing heartily with joy. Among the attendees were some Shu ministers who had followed Liu Shan to the Wei kingdom, and these ministers longed every day to return to Shu. However, seeing that their own emperor not only showed no grief over the fall of his kingdom but instead indulged in eating and drinking, thoroughly enjoying himself, they were both angered and saddened, unable to hold back their tears. Liu Shan naturally noticed the expressions of these ministers, but he continued eating and drinking as if nothing had happened.
Sima Zhao glanced at Liu Shan, whose mouth was greasy from eating, and asked with feigned concern, "Does the Duke of Anle ever miss Shu in Wei?" Liu Shan paused and said in confusion, "I am very happy here, carefree every day—why would I miss Shu?" Sima Zhao chuckled at this, while the faces of the Shu ministers grew even more somber.
After a while, Liu Shan got up to go to the restroom, and the Shu minister Xi Zheng followed him out, whispering in Liu Shan's ear, "Your Majesty, if Sima Zhao asks again whether you want to return to Shu, you should cry and say you do, so he will allow Your Majesty to return to Shu." Liu Shan nodded in agreement.
Liu Shan returned to the banquet to continue drinking and watching the performance. As the feast was nearing its end, Sima Zhao asked again, "Do you truly not miss the Kingdom of Shu, Duke of Anle?" Liu Shan, following Xi Zheng's advice, replied, "My ancestors' legacy is there—how could I not miss it? I dream of returning!" His words were indeed moving, but Liu Shan wore a grim expression without a single tear. Sima Zhao, seeing his demeanor, knew these words had been coached. He teased, "Just now, Xi Zheng went out with you—did he tell you to say all this?" Liu Shan looked surprised and asked, "He did indeed teach me—how did you know?" Sima Zhao was amused by Liu Shan's reaction and burst into laughter, and the Wei officials joined in laughing heartily. Liu Shan, watching them, laughed along as well.
From then on, people used the phrase "too happy to think of Shu" to mock Liu Shan's incompetence and self-indulgence, and the world generally regarded him as an ineffective emperor, with some even labeling him a fatuous ruler who lost his kingdom. But was Liu Shan truly the person everyone believed him to be?
After arriving in the Kingdom of Wei, if Liu Shan had been the slightest bit careless in his daily words and actions, he would have faced mortal danger. It was precisely for this reason that he pretended to be weak and incompetent in front of Sima Zhao, dispelling Sima Zhao's suspicions; otherwise, Sima Zhao could have found any excuse to kill him. His claim of being "so happy he forgot about Shu" made Sima Zhao let down his guard, successfully saving Liu Shan's life. Given the circumstances at the time, Liu Shan's approach was correct and could be considered a case of great wisdom appearing foolish.
Although Shu Han was in a weak position during the Three Kingdoms period, it still managed to endure for several decades. If Liu Shan had no real talent or ability, how could he have sustained a country for such a long time? Therefore, when examining historical events, one should consider them from multiple perspectives in order to arrive at a more objective conclusion.