Zhuge Liang declared family assets before death in 234 AD

In 234 AD, while leading the Shu Han army at Wuzhang Plains against Cao Wei forces, Zhuge Liang fell ill and passed away at the age of 54. Before his death, he submitted a final memorial to Emperor Liu Shan that included both a strategic blueprint for the survival of the Shu Han state and a voluntary declaration of his family's assets.

According to historical records in the ‘Records of the Three Kingdoms’ by historian Chen Shou, Zhuge Liang was the first official in Chinese feudal history to proactively disclose his wealth to the emperor. He reported that his family in Chengdu possessed 800 mulberry trees and 15 mu of poor-quality land, stating that his family's needs were met and that he had no private means to increase his wealth beyond his official salary.

Despite his reputation, some court officials expressed skepticism regarding the poverty of a Chancellor who had held supreme military and political power for over a decade. However, upon Liu Shan's orders, officials conducted an inspection of the Zhuge residence. They found the estate to be simple and modest, lacking luxury, servants, or precious artifacts, ultimately confirming that his declared assets were accurate.