Ma Su, why did you climb that mountain?

There are only a few records about the battle of Jieting in history. "Three Kingdoms" says: "Su was on the water and mountain, and his actions were troublesome. He even tried to admonish Su, but Su couldn't use it. He was defeated in Jieting." ”

There is a group of people who believe that maybe anyone can guard the street pavilion. Zhuge Liang said, “There are only street pavilions that disobey orders.” It is because he does not know the people he employs. From this point of view, it seems that the general will not disobey orders or make mistakes. So they were able to defend the street pavilion. In fact, Ma Di sent his troops in front and Zhang He led his troops behind. Shu Han did have the upper hand. However, Ma Di set up a formation on the mountain and the army was defeated. If he had replaced him with an experienced general, he could have rewritten history. This This statement has its own truth.

One faction believes that no one may be able to defend the street pavilion. Ma Di was only magnified because of his obvious command misconduct. Zhang He has made outstanding military achievements in his life, Cao Wei has a military advantage, and other Shu Han generals are also difficult to attack. The only difference between retreating from Zhang He is the difference between a major defeat and a minor defeat. This argument seems to make sense.

However, let us return to the original question, which was also the same question shared by the Shu Han people at that time and today's audiences─

Ma Su, why did you climb that mountain? Mountain?

Most people think it's because Ma Su is a fool who doesn't understand the situation.

I must admit that this is probably the correct answer, but I try to put forward different ideas. After all, historical figures do not have only one side. The following discussion may reveal another side of Ma Su.

According to historical facts, Ma Su was known for his resourcefulness. He once said to Zhuge Liang: "Nanzhong has been dissatisfied for a long time because of its danger and distance. Although it is defeated today, it will be repeated tomorrow... The way I use troops is to attack the heart." The top is to attack the city, the top is to fight with the heart, and the bottom is to fight with soldiers. "The original Duke only obeyed his heart." The incident of Kong Ming's seven captures of Meng Huo is indeed recorded in the "Han, Jin and Spring and Autumn Annals". Recovering Nanzhong and appeasing the ethnic minorities to stop causing rebellion, Zhuge Liang was able to let go of the Northern Expedition. Ma Di can be said to have contributed a lot.

"Three Kingdoms" says: Zhuge Liang took Ma Di as a soldier, and every time he introduced him, he talked about it from day to night. Zhuge Liang had heavy military affairs. If Ma Su was an incompetent person, he would not waste time discussing the art of war with him. Kong Ming not only valued Ma Su, but also wanted to train him to become his future successor. These all illustrate Ma Su's ability.

In this case, why did Ma Su commit suicide by climbing a mountain and camping?

I think Ma Su did this just to "win."

First, Wei is famous for its elite cavalry, while the main army of the Shu Han Dynasty is mostly infantry. Using infantry to resist cavalry in mountainous areas is indeed the right way to fight from a high position. Huang Zhong killed Xia Houyuan in the battle of Dingjun Mountain. , can be described as a model in the mountaineering world. It is reasonable for Ma Su to want to imitate his predecessors.

Secondly, Sun Tzu's Art of War states that the method of using troops is to surround an enemy with ten times. On the other hand, if there are not ten times the number of troops, it is really difficult to besiege the enemy. Ma Su believed that the Wei army may not have such strength. If the troops were divided and surrounded, the strength would be weakened, and the Shu Han would be able to attack the enemy's weaknesses from a high position.

Third, Ma Di camped in Nanshan, but Wang Ping tried to dissuade him, thinking that the enemy army would definitely surround the mountain. This shows that Ma Di was not ignorant of the risks involved. He knew the dangers and still wanted to win in danger; The key to victory is to predict the enemy's aircraft first. Since you know that the opponent will definitely surround the mountain and attack, you can use this to set up a formation, which has the advantage of the location. If you charge down with one force, as long as you succeed, you will be successful. A great victory that will go down in history...

That's exactly the problem.

The storyteller boldly proposed an idea. The above three points of "not going down to occupy the city, abandoning the water to go up the mountain" have always been identified as the main reasons for Ma Su's failure. This may be true, but the more serious problem is that Ma Su wanted to fight. A great victory.

Don’t forget, Zhuge Liang’s mission is to defend the street pavilion, not to win a battle!

Looking back on the Northern Expedition, Kong Ming raised his voice and attacked the Xiegu Road, using Zhao Yun as a suspect, but he personally led the army to attack Qishan. The street pavilion is in the north of Qishan, located at the center of Nan'an, Tianshui and Anding counties. The zone can be said to be a battleground between the two armies. The importance of vanguard warfare can be imagined.

While marching, Zhuge Liang mobilized the three counties to respond to the rebellion against Wei and attack other counties in Longyou that were still resisting. In fact, Ma Di only had to hold on to the street pavilion until Longyou was stabilized. Zhuge Liang marched here, and the Wei army Most of the time, they can only choose to retreat. Therefore, the Shu Han clearly has the initiative, but the goal is not to "attack north", but to "defend the street pavilion".

──The Prime Minister only asked me to guard the street pavilion, which is too petty. Watch me do a big job for you!

Before this, I also laughed at Ma Su, but I never delved into his inner world. No matter what decision a person makes, there must be a motive behind it, especially for smart people. Although the following is only my opinion Reasoning and guessing can explain many questions.

"Wuchang of the Ma family, white eyebrows are the best." Ma Di lives in the shadow of his outstanding brother. The point is that this brother is dead, which means that he can never surpass him. In the past, Zhuge Liang and Ma Liang were considered brothers. , Zhuge Liang valued this wise brother very much. These are the reasons why Ma Di may want to prove himself.

Why did Ma Di not listen to Wang Ping's words and occupy the main road, but instead camped on the mountain?

If you want to take a defensive position, it is naturally the best choice to build a stronghold on the ground and defend the city. However, Ma Su never thought about defending at all. This also explains why he does not pay attention to the water source issue. After all, he does not think about it at all. He has no intention of resisting the war for a long time, he only wants to decide the country in one battle.

In this way, Ma Su not only ignored Wang Ping's opinions, but also defied Zhuge Liang's strategic policy. How is it possible?

Comparing the history books, it is very possible that victory or defeat is a common thing for military strategists. According to common sense, Ma Su's crime will not lead to death. Although the incident of beheading Ma Su with tears is a romance plot, it is not far from historical records.

Three versions of Ma Di's ending are written in "Three Kingdoms". The biography of Xiang Lang writes that Ma Di fled and Xiang Lang failed to report the knowledge. The biography of Ma Liang writes that Ma Di was imprisoned and died in prison. The biography of Zhuge Liang and the biography of Wang Ping also write about Zhuge Liang. He was killed to thank the crowd; based on the above statements, Ma Su may have been defeated and fled among the rebels, but was later beaten back to prison and eventually executed.

"Three Kingdoms" quotes "Xiangyang Ji", Su wrote a book before his death: "Ming Gong regarded Su as his son, Su regarded Ming Gong as his father. Yuan Shen only believed in killing Gun and rejuvenating Yu, so he made A life-long friendship is worthy of this, and even if he dies, he will not regret the yellow soil." At that time, hundreds of thousands of people shed tears for him. Liang came to offer sacrifices and treated the orphan as if he were a lifetime.

Ma Di said in the letter that Zhuge Liang treated him like a son, and he also regarded Zhuge Liang as his biological father. He would die without any resentment. He only hoped that Zhuge Liang could keep his family safe (Gun was killed for failing to control the flood, and others were killed). Ziyu succeeded in controlling floods, which is a metaphor for crimes that do not implicate relatives). After Ma Su wrote this suicide note in prison, Zhuge Liang beheaded him in public, shed tears for him, and treated his family and orphans kindly.

Jiang Wan once said: "When the world is uncertain, you will kill those who are wise and strategizing. Wouldn't you hesitate!" But Kong Ming made this difficult decision with tears in his eyes, and Ma Su knew that he would die and had no face to meet Zhuge Liang. It must have been An unforgivable mistake was made.

Some people have put forward different ideas. Instead of seizing the city, the Sheshui Mountain may be because the Jieting stronghold has long been in disrepair and cannot be defended, or the Wei army is already approaching when they are setting up camp and building a walled city. Ma Di As a last resort, we had no choice but to venture up the mountain.

This statement may make sense, but after all, there is no other historical evidence and it can only be used as a speculation. It is difficult to know the true situation now.

Why climb mountains? I'm afraid this is also the question Ma Su wanted to ask himself before he died.

However, if it were not for his lofty ambitions, Ma Su would not have climbed that mountain.

This article does not intend to overturn history, but only provides different ideas. Ma Di may not be simply stupid. Before this, Huang Zhongwei shocked Dingjun Mountain, Zhang Liao raided Bailang Mountain, and later Deng Ai climbed over the mountains. A surprise attack on Chengdu, which battle is not extremely dangerous? Which battle is not about risking your life to survive?

If Ma Su succeeds in one fell swoop, the results of this Northern Expedition will even exceed Zhuge Liang's original imagination.

In the past, as a believer of Wuhou, I really couldn’t agree with Ma Di at all, but if I try to think about his thoughts, in the face of Zhuge Liang’s defensive strategy, Ma Di may want to use this to prove: Prime Minister, you Watch it! If you dare not take the risk, let me do it! I'm here to create a new future for you!

Of course, Ma Su himself did not have the force and leadership to charge into battle, but he chose the strategy of attacking by force, which was unwise. But he was not just a fool who couldn't see the danger clearly. He knew the danger but still bravely challenged it. fool.

Because the mountain is there.

Many people think this is a quote from a winner by the British mountaineer Mallory.

In fact, it was not the case. In 1922, he challenged Mount Everest and failed to reach the summit. In 1923, he uttered this famous saying and challenged again in 1924. Then, he slept on Mount Everest and never came back. It was impossible to tell from his body whether he had ever climbed to the top before his death, leaving only this famous mystery.

The amazing coincidence is that Ma Su was 38 years old, and Mallory happened to be 38 years old when he passed away.

The romance and courage in the prime of life may have written the final annotation for this story.

—

Because the mountain is there.

And death is there too.