During the Three Kingdoms period, the last emperor of Shu Han, Liu Shan, chose to surrender when faced with the offensive of the Wei Kingdom, a decision that sparked widespread discussion in history. There are two main viewpoints regarding why Liu Shan chose to surrender: one believes that he did so to spare the people from further war, while the other suggests that he was motivated by fear of personal sacrifice. So, what was Liu Shan's true motivation?

First, let's look at the background of Liu Shan's surrender. At that time, the power of Shu Han was declining, while the Wei Kingdom was extremely powerful. Under such circumstances, continuing to resist seemed to only lead to more casualties and was unlikely to change the ultimate outcome. From this perspective, Liu Shan's choice to surrender seemed to be aimed at reducing unnecessary sacrifices, demonstrating his benevolence.

However, another viewpoint argues that Liu Shan's surrender was motivated by fear of personal sacrifice. This view holds that Liu Shan lacked the determination and courage to sacrifice for the country and the people, preferring instead to preserve his own life. Evidence for this view is his behavior after surrendering. According to historical records, Liu Shan did not exhibit any sadness or regret after being moved to Luoyang, instead living a comfortable life, which seems to indicate that he was not deeply saddened by the loss of his country.

However, we cannot conclusively determine Liu Shan's motivation based solely on this evidence. After all, his calm demeanor after surrendering may have been a survival strategy to protect himself and his family. In that era, the life of an emperor often depended on the victor's will, and Liu Shan may have understood this and chosen to surrender.

Overall, we cannot give a definite answer to why Liu Shan chose to surrender. But it is certain that his decision was made after weighing various factors. Whether it was to avoid unnecessary sacrifices or motivated by fear of personal sacrifice, Liu Shan's choice reflects the responsibilities and helplessness of a ruler.

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