"As the White Emperor said in his speech, "Thousands of miles of rivers and mountains are returned in one day." The poet Li Bai was exiled to Yelang and learned the news of the amnesty in Baidi City. The sentence "The boat has passed the Ten Thousand Mountains" vividly expresses his joy at regaining freedom. It was just over 500 years ago that Li Bai arrived here. Liu Bei defeated Xiaoting and retreated to Baidi City, but he was extremely worried, angry and depressed.
In the spring of 223 AD, before his death, Liu Bei said to Zhuge Liang, "If you are ten times more talented than Cao Pi, you will definitely be able to stabilize the country and make great decisions." Your talents are ten times better than Cao Pi, and you will definitely be able to stabilize the country. Governing the country will fulfill my wish to revive the Han Dynasty. You have to assist Liu Chan, but "if he is not talented" you can choose the right person yourself. Liu Bei's words of entrustment made Zhuge Liang burst into tears. The trust and commitment between the emperor and his ministers ultimately led to Zhuge Liang's glorious life of devoting himself to death.
After Liu Bei's death, Zhuge Liang spent five years developing production, restoring national strength, re-alliing with Soochow, and quelling the rebellion in Nanzhong. After solving these worries, Zhuge Liang began to lead his army to cross the Qinling Mountains again and again and launch attacks on Cao Wei, in order to realize his long-cherished wish to revive the Han Dynasty and return to the old capital.
When the Shu Han army gathered in Hanzhong and prepared for the first Northern Expedition, Wei Yan proposed to Zhuge Liang that he should divide his troops into five thousand and leave the Ziwu Valley to reach the city of Chang'an within ten days. Zhuge Liang thought this was too risky, so he chose the farthest route, which was to leave Qishan, seize the three counties of Longyou, and then attack Guanzhong. As a result, the first Northern Expedition fell short because Ma Su lost the Jieting. Many people believe that because he did not adopt Wei Yan's suggestion, Zhuge Liang lost the most advantageous opportunity to "set the Central Plains in the north and drink Maheluo". Some people also questioned Zhuge Liang's military ability because of this, saying that he "wasted his troops and troops on expeditions year after year and failed to enter the area within easy reach." This statement seems to confirm Chen Shou's "Response Strategy" for Zhuge Liang in "Three Kingdoms" Not what he is good at".
Chen Shou believed that Zhuge Liang's view that "governing the army is a long-term strategy, and managing the people is better than general strategy" had a great influence on later generations. Based on this analysis, many commentators believe that Zhuge Liang's military strategy is relatively lacking. The final failure of the five Northern Expeditions is clear evidence. "Suggestions are shortcomings" refers to the lack of strategies to win by surprise. So if it is true as Chen Shou evaluated, is Zhuge Liang still the well-known Zhuge Liang who is resourceful and sure of victory? Who is the protagonist of setting fire to Bowang Slope, borrowing arrows from a straw boat, borrowing the east wind, using three qi to attack Zhou Yu, capturing Meng Huo seven times, and the empty city strategy, but Zhuge Liang who is holding a feather fan?
It can be seen that these classic plots are not made up by Luo Guanzhong out of thin air. After the Three Kingdoms, people highly respected Zhuge Liang. Under the combined influence of literati and folk artists of the past dynasties, the legend given to Kong Ming became more and more intense. The author of the novel, Luo Guanzhong, transplanted or reconstructed the historical facts based on these unofficial rumors, especially the relevant plots of "Three Kingdoms". Even the purely fictitious plots are generally arranged to be reasonable. It is precisely this kind of artistic technique that achieves the artistic purpose of beautifying and deifying Zhuge Liang.
Qing Dynasty critic Mao Zonggang commented that "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" has three unique features. Among them, he called Zhuge Liang the most amazing person among the sages in ancient and modern times, and he was extremely wise. Mao Zonggang summarized Zhuge Liang in the novel as a man of extreme wisdom. Both accurate and popular. But leave the novel and return to history. Is Zhuge Liang still the man who relies on clever tricks to defeat people thousands of miles away? Where is Zhuge Liang's wisdom reflected?
In 207 AD, Liu Bei, who was stationed in Xinye, visited the thatched cottage three times and met Zhuge Kongming, who was twenty years younger than him. When the two met, they had a wonderful conversation, which was later known as the "Longzhong pair" or "Thatched Cottage pair". Among them, Zhuge Liang clearly analyzed the general trend of the world and formulated specific strategies. That is to capture Jingzhou first, then Yizhou, then conquer the Rong in the west, pacify the Yiyue in the south, and tie up with Sun Quan outside. When the time is right, he will divide his troops from Jing and Yi prefectures for the northern expedition, and the world will respond. "If this is the case, hegemony can be achieved and the Han Dynasty can flourish."
Historically, the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu and Wu were not evenly matched.
Especially the strength comparison between Cao Wei and Shu Han is far apart. Cao Wei occupied the most economically developed Central Plains region, with a registered population of more than 4.4 million. During Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition, the Shu Han only occupied Yizhou, with a registered population of less than one million, and the military strength of the two countries was even more disparate. In this case, Zhuge Liang always insisted on the military strategy of the Northern Expedition. What was his intention?
More than thirty years after Zhuge Liang's death, some people still can't let go of the reason why he failed to achieve success despite his repeated Northern Expeditions. At that time, an official from Soochow named Zhang Yan had a discussion with Jin minister Yuan Zhun in Luoyang. This dialogue in history is very famous and is called the Seven Questions and Seven Answers by later generations. Zhang Yan asked, "With Zhuge Liang's outstanding talent, why does he always work in vain?" Yuan Zhun replied, "Zhuge Liang is based on prudence, but military adaptability is not his strong point, so he does not dare to use his shortcomings." Yuan Zhun replied It is said that the day Zhuge Liang sent out his troops, the world was shaken. The fundamental reason why his repeated Northern Expeditions failed was that the strength gap between Cao Wei and Shu Han was too great. Yuan Zhun also said that the Shu army has strong strengths but lacks good generals. As the saying goes, there are no generals in Shu, and Liao Hua is the vanguard. In fact, it reflects that Shu Han's talents, military power, and national power are weaker than Cao Wei. Some commentators in later generations believed that the relatively weak Shu Han at that time should stay in seclusion and stay safe. If we adhere to this strategy, not only will the Shu Han country be stable, but the people will also be able to live and work in peace and contentment.
Zhuge Liang’s repeated Northern Expeditions and his use of troops for consecutive years were obviously an act of brutality. The weak national power of Shu Han was exhausted. In the 5th year of Jianxing, that is, 227 AD, Zhuge Liang sent a memorial to his lord Liu Chan. At the end of the memorial, Zhuge Liang said, "I must stay away from you now. I am in tears and don't know what to say." He is about to bid farewell to your majesty and set off for the Northern Expedition. I was crying while writing the list, I really didn’t know what to say. This memorial table is the "Commentary Table" that has been passed down through the ages.
If we want to explore Zhuge Liang’s motivations for insisting on the Northern Expedition, "Chu Shi Biao" should be the best entry point. "The reason why this minister repays the kindness of the late emperor is to be loyal to His Majesty." It should be said that this was the spiritual power of his Northern Expedition and the spirit of all Zhuge Liang's activities in the second half of his life.
"The Later Discipline" is not only famous in history because of the famous line "Dedicate yourself to the end, and die", but more importantly, Zhuge Liang clearly stated in the table that "the Han and the traitors are not at odds, and the king's industry is not in peace." Political opinions. It is precisely this kind of Spring and Autumn righteousness of supporting orthodoxy and restoring Han Dynasty that is so consistent with the highest political ethics of traditional Chinese Confucianism that more than 900 years later, the Southern Song Dynasty poet Lu You lamented, "If you are a master, you can show your true name to the world, and who can be the best in a thousand years?" , it is said that the "List of Disciples Before and After" preserved in the Wuhou Temple in Nanyang is handwritten by Yue Fei, a famous anti-gold general. In 1138 AD, Yue Fei stayed at Wuhou Temple on his way north to fight against the Jin Dynasty. That night, there was a steady autumn rain and a cold wind, making Xiao Yue unable to sleep at night. He stood up, held the lamp, and looked at the sages' speeches in the temple. When he saw Zhuge Liang's "Execution of the Master", Yue Fei was fascinated and burst into tears. He couldn't help but start copying with his pen
Wen Tianxiang, a famous minister of the Southern Song Dynasty, was captured when he resisted the Yuan Dynasty. When he was escorted to the north, he couldn't hide his anger and wrote "Huai Kongming":
So far, he has been a teacher. , I cried when I read it.
The Han thieves are righteous and their hearts are as pure as the sky.
Wen Tianxiang said in his "Song of Righteousness" that has been passed down through the ages:
The heaven and earth have righteousness, which is mixed and endowed with manifolds.
Perhaps to show off one's teachings, ghosts and gods weep heroically.
What Wen Tianxiang calls righteousness is the moral foundation of traditional society. "When times are poor and festivals are good, things are wise" is the spirit of the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation. Therefore, it can be said that it was Wen Tianxiang who elevated Zhuge Liang and "Chu Shi Biao" to the level of the soul of the Chinese nation.
The Shu Han regime had been in confrontation with the powerful Cao Wei and Soochow for 40 years. If Zhuge Liang's colorful aura of knowing everything about his plans is gone, and historical truth is restored, what will be the source of his political stability and the people's support? In this regard, what is Zhuge Liang's excellence?
Dujiangyan is the greatest project in the history of water conservancy in China. After Zhuge Liang entered Sichuan, he abolished the previous practice of maintaining the Dujiangyan Irrigation Project mainly by the private sector.
A dedicated weir officer and a 1,200-person weir patrol team were set up to bring the maintenance, dredging and flood control supervision of the entire irrigation area into the scope of national jurisdiction. September 223 AD. Zhuge Liang promulgated a decree: Protect the capital according to the Jiuli Embankment and use it to prevent floods. We are now building a dredging site and informing the residents not to allow any encroachment or damage. Any violations will be treated strictly according to the law. This is the first flood control law in the history of Chinese water control. It is also one of the many laws promulgated by Zhuge Liang since he entered Shu. "Treat the offenders with strict laws" has gradually become the will of the country that all people and officials abide by. Therefore, when Zhang Yan and Yuan Zhun discussed Zhuge Liang's gains and losses in governing Shu, Yuan Zhun praised him for "implementing the law strictly and the people of the country are satisfied with it, and using the people to do their best without complaining." When summarizing Zhuge Liang's life achievements, Chen Shou, the author of "Three Kingdoms", also commented that "Those who have no complaints despite severe administration can use their calm intentions and wise warnings."
In 265 AD, Sima Yan forced Emperor Wei Yuan to abdicate and became the founding king of the Western Jin Dynasty. He was known as Emperor Wu of Jin in history. Sima Yan has always admired Zhuge Liang. When he asked Fan Jian, the adviser who had followed Zhuge Liang in the Northern Expedition, where the Han prime minister's wisdom in governing the country was reflected, Fan Jian answered with certainty, that is, "If you hear evil, you will change it, and you will not be cautious about your mistakes. Faith in rewards and punishments is enough." Feeling divine." When Ma Su violated military orders, he lost the street pavilion. Zhuge Liang did not bend the law for personal gain because of his appreciation of Ma Di. Not only did he "kill Ma Su with tears", but he also wrote to Liu Chan, the empress leader, "please demote yourself to the third rank" and took the initiative to blame himself for the defeat of Jieting.
Before his execution, Ma Di left a suicide note. He said, "Even though I died, I had no hatred for the yellow soil." Even though I, Ma Su, died, I had no hatred, and even though I died, I had no resentment. Law enforcement must be impartial and without selfish motives. Only by being fair can rewards and punishments be clearly defined. This is what Zhuge Liang said in "Chu Shi Biao" that "it is not advisable to be partial and use different methods internally and externally." Xi Zhichi, a famous historian in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, sincerely lamented, "If you punish them without getting angry, there will be those who are dissatisfied in the world." Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, no one can be like this. Zhuge Liang makes good use of the rule of law.
Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage is a very exciting chapter in "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms". When Liu Bei came to Zhuge Thatched Cottage in Wollongong, he looked up and saw a couplet written on the middle door, "Indifferent to clear one's ambition, tranquility to go far." Not long after, Kong Ming woke up from his sleep. He recited a poem and said, "Who wakes up first from a big dream? I know it all my life. I sleep enough in the spring in the thatched cottage, and the sun gets late outside the window." "Xuande saw that Kong Ming was eight feet long and had a face like a crown jade. He was wearing a silk scarf on his head and a crane cloak." It's like a fairy. A few words written by Luo Guanzhong. An elegant and confident Zhuge Kongming appears on the page. However, according to the description in "Yu Lin" written by Pei Qi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Zhuge Liang's image is "riding on a plain horse, wearing a Ge scarf and a white fan, commanding the three armies, and all the armies follow him." Compared with the novel, Zhuge Liang in real history Obviously much simpler and plainer.
Long before the publication of "Three Kingdoms", Chen Shou had compiled twenty-four chapters of "The Collection of Zhuge Liang". When Sima Yan, Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty, mentioned above, he said that under the rule of Zhuge Liang, the Shu Han Dynasty "does not pick up the Tao, the strong does not invade the weak, and the demeanor is awe-inspiring." Even after Zhuge Liang's death, the people still remembered him. To this day, the people of Liang and Yizhou admire that his words can still be heard in their ears.
For more than 1,700 years, farmers in Bashu could often be seen wearing white scarves. If you ask about the reason, many people will say that it was passed down from their ancestors to show filial piety to Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, so the descendants follow it until today.
Chengdu Wuhou Temple is famous all over the world. When people come there in admiration, they will find that the inscription on the plaque on the gate of Wuhou Temple is not Wuhou Temple, but Han Zhaolie Temple. The Liu Bei Temple, which was supposed to have a history of more than 1,700 years, became the well-known Wuhou Temple among the people at some unknown time. During the Republic of China, some people wrote poems about it:
The large inscription on the forehead is in Zhaolie Temple,
Everyone knows about Wuhou Temple.
The reason is that fame and position are inferior to merit.
The prime minister’s merits are as high as those of a hundred generations.
The Wuhou Temple in Chengdu is actually a temple where monarchs and ministers worship together. "When fish and water are united, storms and clouds arise all over the world." The poet Li Bai used the relationship between fish and water to describe the ever-lasting story of Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang's sincere love for each other. Liu Bei's magnanimity as a virtuous corporal, Zhuge Liang's spirit of promising a thousand pieces of gold, and the spirit of a scholar dying for his confidant are what countless people who come after him yearn for. The joint worship of the monarch and his ministers is the most appropriate embodiment of this good intention.
To the west of Wuhou Temple is Liu Bei’s Huiling Mausoleum. This is the geomantic treasure land chosen by Zhuge Liang personally for Liu Bei. Chinese emperors of all dynasties regarded the construction of palaces and mausoleums as a top priority, and they were often extremely luxurious. Under Zhuge Liang's rule, the Huiling Mausoleum of the Shu Han Dynasty became one of the smallest among the tombs of feudal emperors in China.
The Tomb of Marquis Wu built at the foot of Dingjun Mountain is even more simple. Because Zhuge Liang had ordered before his death, "Because the mountain is a tomb, the tomb is large enough to accommodate the coffin, and the burial can be carried out according to the time and no utensils are needed." After Zhuge Liang was buried here, there was not even a grave. It is said that the local people spontaneously added earth to the tomb, which resulted in the raised tomb. Thirty years later, Cao Wei's Zhenxi General Zhong Hui made a special trip to Zhuge Liang's tomb to worship him on his way to conquer Shu, and ordered that no one should cut down trees here. These two Han osmanthus trees have been guarding the tomb of Marquis Wu for more than 1,700 years, and they are still luxuriant and fragrant when the flowers are in bloom. The couplets written by later generations are still moving when read today: "The sound of swallowing water echoes the tears of the heroes of the Han Dynasty in the river. There are no woodcutters in the mountains to collect the fragrance of the grass and trees of the Dingjun ten miles away."
In the autumn of 234 AD, Zhuge Liang and his old rival Sima Yi had been confronting each other for hundreds of days at Wuzhangyuan on the bank of the Wei River. No matter how Zhuge Liang challenges. Sima Yi, who was as afraid of Shu as a tiger, just couldn't hold on. After years of fighting and working hard, Zhuge Liang finally collapsed at the age of fifty-four.
In terms of success or failure, Zhuge Liang failed to achieve his ideal after all, which made future generations sigh with regret. However, since I started my career at the age of 27, I have worked hard and worked hard for the past thirty years. Zhuge Liang not only created the history of Shu Han, but also created the situation of dividing the world into three parts. His personality and virtue are enough to become a role model for future generations to admire. Therefore, Mr. Qian Mu believes that Zhuge Liang is the embodiment of the ideal personality in Chinese cultural tradition. He said that with Zhuge Liang, the history of the entire Three Kingdoms would become brighter, and everything would become colorful and meaningful. One Zhuge can already make the Three Kingdoms shine on future generations, just like the two Han Dynasties. "More than five hundred years later, the poet Du Fu came to Chengdu, and with the help of his friends, he temporarily ended his wandering life. At this time, the Anshi Rebellion had not yet subsided. He witnessed the national crisis and the devastation of the people, and he had no way out to serve the country. No way. He came to Wuhou Temple and wrote a sad and eternal song for himself and for future generations.
"Three visits have troubled the world, and two dynasties have helped the hearts of old officials." He died before leaving the army. It makes the hero burst into tears. Six years later, the poet traveled to Kuizhou again, and saw the Xiuzhu Temple in Baidi City and Wuhou Temple built adjacent to each other. He recalled that the two monarchs and ministers met and became one, and finally became a three-point hegemony. He left a poem with emotion:
Zhuge's fame is immortalized in the universe,
The portraits of Zong and his ministers are highly respected.
Three divisions are planned,
A feather in the eternal sky.