The story of Zhuge Liang’s adulthood

Gongping Long Mu

Zhuge Liang was born in an official family in Yangdu County, Langye County in the fourth year of Emperor Guanghe of Han Ling (AD 181). An evil family, the ancestor Zhuge Feng once served as a Sili school captain during the reign of Emperor Yuan of the Western Han Dynasty, and Zhuge Liang's father Zhuge Gui served as the magistrate of Taishan County in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Zhuge Liang's mother Zhang died of illness when he was 3 years old. Zhuge Liang lost his father when he was 8 years old, and together with his younger brother Zhuge Jun. Following his uncle Zhuge Xuan, who was appointed by Yuan Shu as the governor of Yuzhang, he went to Yuzhang to take up his post. The Eastern Han Dynasty court sent Zhu Hao to replace Zhuge Xuan, and Zhuge Xuan went to join Liu Biao in Jingzhou. [3]

In the second year of Jian'an (197), Zhuge Liang's uncle Zhuge Xuan died of illness; Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty had escaped from Chang'an Li Jue and moved to Cao Cao's Xu County. Zhuge Liang was 16 years old at this time. He often read "The Song of Liang Fu" and often compared himself with Guan Zhong and Le Yi. People at that time looked down upon him. Only his friends Xu Shu and Cui Zhou believed in his talent. [4]

He had friendships with Sima Hui, Pang Degong, Huang Chengyan and others who were famous in Xiangyang at that time. Huang Chengyan once said to Zhuge Liang: "I heard that you want to choose a wife. There is an ugly girl in my family with yellow hair and dark skin, but her talent can match yours." Zhuge Liang agreed to this marriage and married her. People at that time used it as a joke, and there was even a proverb in the village: "Don't be like Kong Ming when choosing a wife, or you will get an ugly girl like A Cheng." However, there is also a saying that Huang Yueying is extremely beautiful, so she is disliked by other young women in the village. He disparaged her appearance out of jealousy.

Longzhong Countermeasures

Zhuge Liang in Romance of the Three Kingdoms 12

Zhuge Liang in Romance of the Three Kingdoms 12

At that time, Liu Bei was attached to Liu Biao and stationed troops in Xinye. Later, when Sima Hui met with Liu Bei, he said: "Those Confucian scholars are all ignorant people. How can they understand the current affairs and situation? Only those who can understand the current affairs and situations are outstanding. At this time, only Wolong (Zhuge Liang) and Fengchu (Pang Tong) )."[5] Zhuge Liang was recommended by Xu Shu, and Liu Bei hoped that Xu Shu would invite Liang to see him, but Xu Shu suggested: "You can go see this man, but you can't let him come here. The general should condescend to visit him."[6 ]

Liu Bei went to Longzhong in person and visited Zhuge Liang three times (known as "Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage" in history). After meeting Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei asked others to avoid him and asked him: "Now the Han Dynasty is in decline, traitors are using the emperor's orders to do things, and the emperor has lost his power. I did not measure my own virtue and ability, and wanted to revive the world with great righteousness, but my wisdom and strategy were short and insufficient, so I often failed until today. However, my ambition has not yet calmed down. Do you have any plans to help me? ”

Zhuge Liang then presented to him the plan of dividing the world into three parts, and analyzed the situation in which Cao Cao was undesirable and Sun Quan could come to his aid; He also told Liu Bei the strategy of attacking the Central Plains. Liu Bei praised it and invited Zhuge Liang to help him. After leaving the mountain, Liu Bei often discussed with him, and the relationship became increasingly close. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and others were very unhappy. Liu Bei explained to them: "I have Kong Ming, just like a fish in water. I hope you will stop talking." "" Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and others no longer complained. [7]

The "Longzhong Dui" proposed by Zhuge Liang was the basic national policy of Liu Bei and the Shu Han in the following decades.

The Battle of Chibi

In the 13th year of Jian'an (208), Liu Biao's wife Liu Qi's stepmother Cai made repeated slanders, and Liu Biao gradually became dissatisfied with Liu Qi. Liu Qi asked Zhuge Liang several times for advice on self-defense, but Zhuge Liang always declined. During a banquet, Liu Qi used a trick to get out of the house and asked Zhuge Liang to come up with a solution. Zhuge Liang asked Liu Qi: "Don't you see that in the Spring and Autumn Period, Shen Sheng was in danger, but Chong'er (referring to Jin Wengong) was outside? But can it be safe? "At that time, Huang Zu was killed by Soochow, and Liu Qi recommended him as the prefect of Jiangxia to protect himself. In August of the same year, Liu Biao died of illness, and his second son Liu Cong succeeded to the throne. When he heard the news of Cao Cao going south, he sent his envoys to surrender. After Liu Bei learned about it in Fancheng, He led his army and people to flee south, and Cao's army caught up with Liu's army at Dangyang Changban. [8]

Zhuge Liang in the board game "Three Kingdoms" (standard version)

Table. Zhuge Liang in "Three Kingdoms" (Standard Edition)

Liu Bei was defeated in Xiakou, and Sun Quan had previously sent Lu Su to observe the situation and suggested to Liu Bei that he ask Sun Quan for help. Zhuge Liang then recommended himself to Chaisang as a Lobbyist and befriended Lu Su.

After arriving at Chaisang, Zhuge Liang met Sun Quan and first gave Sun Quan two choices using a dichotomy: "If we can compete with the Central Plains countries with the military power of Wu and Yue, it is better to break off diplomatic relations with Cao Cao as soon as possible"; One option is to provoke the generals, "If you think you can't resist, why don't you stop military operations and surrender to the north!" Sun Quan asked Zhuge Liang, why Liu Bei didn't surrender. Zhuge Liang then raised Liu Bei's status, saying that Liu Bei had integrity and would never surrender, in order to show Liu Bei's determination to Sun Quan. Sun Quan was furious and vowed not to surrender to Cao Cao, but he was worried about how many troops Liu Bei still had to fight. Zhuge Liang finally analyzed the situation of the two armies. He first said that the scattered soldiers from the army returned and Guan Yu's navy had ten thousand people. In addition, Liu Qifan's Jiangxia soldiers were no less than ten thousand. He then said that Cao's army was exhausted from afar. When chasing Liu Bei, he used Qingqi to attack Liu Bei. After traveling more than three hundred miles day and night, it was "the end of the strong crossbow, and the force could not penetrate Lu Zhen"; and the northerners were not used to water warfare, and the people of Jingzhou were forced to obey Cao Cao, not convinced; in the end, it was definitely said that Cao Cao could be defeated. Sun Quan was very happy. Later, he was persuaded by Lu Su and Zhou Yu and decided to join forces with Liu to fight against Cao Cao. He sent Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu, Lu Su and others to lead 30,000 naval troops to go to war with Cao Cao.

Zhuge Liang returned to Liu Bei with his army; in November, Cao Cao's army encountered a fire attack by Sun and Liu's coalition forces in Chibi. Cao Cao's army suffered very heavy losses. At this time, a plague broke out in Cao Cao's army, and Cao Cao had no choice but to Lead the army back north. [9]

Enough food and sufficient troops

After the Battle of Chibi, Liu Bei pacified the four counties of Jingnan in December of the 13th year of Jian'an, and appointed Zhuge Liang as the military advisor Zhonglang General. Yu Linhao supervised the three counties of Lingling, Guiyang and Changsha, and was responsible for adjusting taxes and enriching military resources. [10]

In the 16th year of Jian'an (211), Yizhou Mu Liu Zhang sent Fazheng and Meng Da to ask Liu Bei to assist Zhang Lu. Zhuge Liang then guarded Jingzhou with Guan Yu,

Three Kingdoms Diagram

Three Kingdoms Diagram

Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and others. By December of the following year, Liu Bei broke with Liu Zhang and also attacked Chengdu. Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and others went to Shu to help, leaving Guan Yu in charge of the defense of Jingzhou, dividing his troops to pacify various counties, and together with Liu Bei besieged Chengdu. In the 19th year of Jian'an (214), Liu Zhang surrendered and Liu Bei took control of Yizhou.

Zhuge Liang received five hundred catties of gold, one thousand catties of silver, fifty million yuan, and one thousand pieces of brocade. He was also appointed as military advisor general and assigned to the left general's office.

Whenever Liu Bei sent out troops to conquer, Zhuge Liang was responsible for guarding Chengdu and providing Liu Bei with enough food and troops. For example, in the Battle of Hanzhong, he provided financial aid for Liu Bei.

In the first year of Yankang (220), the first year of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, Cao Pi usurped the Han Dynasty and established itself. In the second year of Wei Huangchu (221), the ministers heard the news of the murder of Emperor Xian of Han Dynasty and persuaded Liu Bei, who had become the king of Hanzhong, to ascend the throne as emperor. Liu Bei did not agree. Zhuge Liang used the story of Geng Chun to persuade Liu Xiu to ascend the throne to persuade Liu Bei. So Liu Bei agreed, appointing Zhuge Liang as prime minister, recording ministerial affairs, and taking a holiday. In the same year, Zhang Fei was killed, and Zhuge Liang took the post of Sili Xiaowei. [11]

Baidicheng Tuogu

In August of the second year of Zhangwu (222), Liu Bei was defeated during the Eastern Expedition to recapture Jingzhou and retreated to Yong'an. Zhuge Liang sighed : "It's a pity that Fazheng passed away, otherwise Liu Bei would have been prevented from marching to the east."

1994 CCTV version of "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" Bai Di Tuogu

1994 CCTV version of "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" Bai Di Tuogu

In February of the third year of Zhangwu (223), Liu Bei was seriously ill and summoned Zhuge Liang to Yong'an to take care of the funeral arrangements with Li Yan. Liu Bei said to Zhuge Liang: "Your talents are ten of Cao Pi's." If the heir (Liu Chan) can help, you can help him." Zhuge Liang cried and said, "I will do my best. Repay loyalty and loyalty until death!" Liu Bei also asked Liu Chan to regard Zhuge Liang as his father.

In April, Liu Bei passed away and Liu Chan succeeded to the throne. He made Zhuge Liang the Marquis of Wuxiang and opened official offices. Soon after, he took over the post of Yizhou Mu again. Liu Chan relied on Zhuge Liang for all political matters, big and small, and was decided by Zhuge Liang. Originally, the Nanzhong region took the opportunity to rebel due to the death of Liu Bei. Zhuge Liang did not send troops because the country had just lost its monarch, but sent Deng Zhi and Chen Zhen to Soochow to repair it. [12]

Southern Expedition and Northern Expedition

Southern Expedition

In the spring of the third year of Jianxing (225), Zhuge Liang led his army to the south. Before leaving, Liu Chan Zhuge Liang was given a golden axe, a curved lid, one Yubao drum at the front and the back, and sixty men.

Later, Zhuge Liang went deep into the barren land to attack Yong Kai and Meng Huo. Zhuge Liang adopted Ma Su's suggestion of joining the army and focused on attacking the enemy's mind. He first defeated Yong Kai's army, and then captured and manipulated Meng Huo seven times. By the autumn, all the chaos was settled. The Shu Han settled in Nanzhong and obtained a large amount of resources, and formed a powerful force called the Wudang Flying Army. After long-term accumulation, we have the foundation for the Northern Expedition. [13-14]

Northern Expedition

In the spring of the sixth year of Jianxing (228), Zhuge Liang raised his voice in advance to take the slanting valley road to capture the camp, and asked Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi to set up suspicious troops to attract Cao Zhen's heavy troops. He led a large army to attack Qishan. The three counties of Nan'an, Tianshui and Anding on the right side of Longyi rebelled against Wei and attached themselves to Shu, and there was an earthquake in Guanzhong. Emperor Wei Ming made a western town in Chang'an and ordered Zhang He to lead 50,000 people on foot and cavalry to attack the street pavilion. At the same time, Zhao Yun Outnumbered and defeated in Jigu, Zhuge Liang returned to Hanzhong with more than a thousand families. [15]

In the winter of the same year, Zhuge Liang took advantage of the Wei army's eastward movement and the weakness of Guanzhong to send troops to the north. Sanguan (southwest of today's Baoji City, Shaanxi Province) besieged Chencang (east of today's Baoji City, Shaanxi Province), but was rejected by Wei general Hao Zhao. Zhuge Liang failed to persuade him to surrender, and because he could not keep food and supplies, he had to return to Hanzhong. Wei general Wang Shuang came to pursue him, but he was killed. .

Zhuge Liang

Zhuge Liang

In the spring of the seventh year of Jianxing (229), Zhuge Liang sent Chen Shi to attack Wudu (around present-day Chengxian County, Gansu Province), Guo Huai, the governor of Yongzhou, led troops to rescue the two counties of Yinping (now around Wenxian County, Gansu Province), and Liang moved to Jianwei (now west of Xihe County, Gansu Province). Guo Huai retreated and gained the two counties.

In the autumn of the eighth year of Jianxing (230 years), the Wei army attacked Hanzhong in three directions. Sima Yi went to Xicheng (now northwest of Ankang City, Shaanxi Province), Zhang He went to Ziwu Valley, and Cao Zhen went to Xie Valley to garrison in Chenggu (now Shaanxi Province). It rained heavily for more than 30 days, and the Wei army retreated. In the same year, Zhuge Liang sent Wei Yan and Wu Yi to the west to attack Qiangzhong, and defeated the Wei general Fei Yao. , Guo Huai, the governor of Yongzhou, came to Yangxi (in Nan'an County, southwest of Wushan in present-day Gansu Province) [16]

In February of the ninth year of Jianxing (231), Zhuge Liang led an army to attack Qishan. At that time, Cao Zhen was seriously ill, and the generals in Guanzhong, Sima Yi, refused to go out to cut wheat in Shanggui (now Tianshui County, Gansu Province). Sima Yi chased Liang to Lucheng (between today's Tianshui City and Gansu Province). , dug a camp to defend himself, and was ridiculed as "fearing Shu as much as fearing a tiger". According to the "Han, Jin, Spring and Autumn Annals", in May of the same year, Zhuge Liang sent Wei Yan, Gao Xiang, and Wu Ban to resist and defeated Sima Yi. The Han army captured 3,000 soldiers. He had 5,000 Xuankai soldiers and 3,100 horned crossbows, so Sima Yi returned to the Bao camp. In June, Li Yan ordered Liang to return due to lack of food. Zhang He pursued Liang and retreated to Mumen, where he was killed by an arrow. [17]

In February of the twelfth year of Jianxing (234 years), Zhuge Liang led his army out of Xiegu Road, based at Wugong Wuzhangyuan (now south of Qishan, Shaanxi Province), and settled in Weibin, where he and Sima Yi Regarding Weinan, Zhuge Liang also asked the generals of the Wu State to send troops together. During this period, Zhuge Liang repeatedly sent envoys to declare war, and also sent women's decorations to anger Xuan Wang Sima Yi. Zhuge Liang's ingenious plan calmed the general's anger. He divided his troops into farming and cultivated the same food as the Wei people to be self-sufficient. He planned to stay there for a long time, but Zhuge Liang became seriously ill due to overwork. [18]

Died of illness in Wuzhangyuan

In August, Zhuge Liang died of illness in Wuzhangyuan (in Baoji) at the age of fifty-four. Yang Yi and others led the army back, but Jiang Wei and others followed Zhuge Liang's will and did not announce the funeral secretly, and slowly retreated. Sima Yi led his army in pursuit and saw the commander-in-chief of the Shu army flying his flag, and Kong Ming sitting in the car with a feather fan and silk scarf. Sima Yi suspected that Kong Ming was using a trick to lure the enemy, so he quickly rode back his troops. This led to the incident of "dead Zhuge scaring away the living Zhongda". [19]

Of these six military campaigns, only two went out of Qishan; the fourth time was when the Wei army took the initiative to attack and the Shu army defended. Due to continuous heavy rains, flash floods broke out and the plank roads were destroyed, Shu and Wei did not fight. [20]

Zhuge Liang’s last words ordered his subordinates to bury him in Dingjun Mountain in Hanzhong, and build a tomb according to the mountain. The tomb can only accommodate a coffin, and he should be buried in ordinary clothes without using other utensils.

Zhuge Liang was buried in the Tomb of Marquis Wu in Mian County, Dingjun Mountain. Zhuge Liang once pointed out in the above table that he had no extra property, only 800 mulberry trees and 15 hectares of land, and all he had was granted by the court. Even though his son was self-sufficient, he had no extra property.

Sure enough, Zhuge Liang was like this until his death. Even before his death, he ordered that he only need to dig a hole for burial. It is enough for the coffin to be put in. He can wear ordinary clothes and does not need other burial objects. [21] Thirty years after Zhuge Liang's death, his eldest son Zhuge Zhan and eldest grandson Zhuge Shang died in the Battle of Mianzhu.