In this troubled world, a young man named Zhuge Liang came to prominence. From experiencing war in his childhood, to living in seclusion in Longzhong for ten years, and then assisting Liu Bei to start a business, Zhuge Liang's life is full of legends. However, compared with the magic calculations in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Zhuge Liang in the official history is even more extraordinary. He not only made many miraculous achievements in military affairs, but also made outstanding contributions in the fields of politics, diplomacy, science and technology. What's even more amazing is that Zhuge Liang's personality charm can make an ethnic minority pass on from generation to generation and remain loyal after 1700. What made Zhuge Liang so great?
A boy in troubled times, Wolong rises
Zhuge Liang was born in 181 AD, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, on the eve of the chaos in the world. Although his family is also famous, it has already declined a little.
As soon as Xiao Zhuge was born, he caught up with the great turmoil that turned the country upside down. At that time, the emperor Han Lingdi had a low level of governance, and when Zhuge Liang was 3 years old, the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, and the world was in chaos.
When he was 5 years old, Zhuge Liang's mother died. Three years later, my father also passed away. Fortunately, there is an uncle Zhuge Xuan to take care of their brother.
At the age of 11, Zhuge Liang witnessed the chaos of Dong Zhuo's murder by Lu Bu. Warlords in various places rebelled one after another, and the entire Central Plains region was in flames.
The people could only flee to Xuzhou, which was relatively stable. Zhuge Liang has seen the miserable life of the people in the war since he was a child. Among them, there was a person who fled with his family, Cao Cao's father, Cao Song.
At the age of 13, Cao Song was killed on his way back to Cao Cao's territory. Cao Cao was angry with Mu Taoqian in Xuzhou and led a large army to attack Xuzhou.
After Cao Cao conquered Pengcheng, he slaughtered and slaughtered, and the corpses of innocent people piled up, and Surabaya was cut off. If Liu Bei hadn't led the troops to rescue, Tao Qian might not have escaped.
Although there is no record in the history books of the young Zhuge Liang's views on these things, it is conceivable that these tragic situations must have been deeply rooted in his heart. He began to think, who of these so-called heroes and heroes really cares about the lives of the people?
Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou twice, like a devil entering the village. Zhuge Xuan realized that Xuzhou could not stay for a long time, and it happened that Yuan Shu appointed him as the Taishou of Nanchang.
So, Zhuge Xuan fled with Zhuge Liang's family, first to Nanchang, and later to Xiangyang to join his old friend Liu Biao. However, before he could gain a firm foothold with Liu Biao, Zhuge Xuan died of illness.
At this time, Zhuge Liang was 17 years old and had to think about how to earn money to support his family. His two elder sisters were married to large local families in Xiangyang, and could have used their brother-in-law's relationship to find an official position under Liu Biao.
But Zhuge Liang didn't want to step into the official career. At that time, the famous institutions of higher learning in the late Han Dynasty had been burned down by Dong Zhuo. Liu Biao founded a new school in Jingzhou called Xuetang.
Many well-known scholars gathered here to teach and study at the same time, forming a unique Jingzhou school. Zhuge Liang decided that instead of rushing to find a job, it would be better to follow the masters of the Jingzhou School for further study.
He hopes to think about the direction of his life and how to change the tragic situation of chaos and displacement of people. So, Zhuge Liang took his younger brother to buy a piece of land in Longzhong and farmed while studying.
In Longzhong, Zhuge Liang spent ten years of cultivation. His second brother-in-law was a relative of the famous scholar Pang Degong at that time, and Zhuge Liang often used the excuse of visiting the second sister, but in fact asked Pang Degong for advice.
Pang Degong soon discovered that this young man was very intelligent, so he recommended him to Sima Hui, a famous scholar in the late Han Dynasty. Under the guidance of Sima Hui, Zhuge Liang's studies improved by leaps and bounds.
Studying with Zhuge Liang was Pang Degong's nephew Pang Tong. They often hold academic salons with other young scholars such as Xu Shu and Cui Zhouping.
Zhuge Liang often compares himself to Zhong Leyi, saying that this is just an ordinary analogy of his life. Pang Degong's residence also gathered many scholars who had taken refuge from the north.
Among them, there are Wang Cang, one of the seven sons of Jian'an, Du Xi, one of the four famous men of Yingchuan, and many calligraphers and musicians. Studying in such an environment with a strong academic atmosphere, Zhuge Liang's intelligence has been greatly improved.
In the blink of an eye, Zhuge Liang is in his 20s, and it is time to consider the direction of future development. With his talent and connections, whether it is through the relationship between his father-in-law or the recommendation of his teacher Sima Hui, he can easily get an official position in the imperial court.
Some of his friends had already gone north to join Cao Cao, after all, Cao Cao's power was in full swing and he was well paid. But Zhuge Liang is not in a hurry about becoming an official.
In his opinion, although Cao Cao is powerful, he has never been for the sake of the world. He began to think, what exactly should a person's worth be measured? Is it money status, or is it for the benefit of the people?
Zhuge Liang did not rush to find a job, but waited. He was waiting for someone who was like-minded with him, someone who really cared about the common people. At this time, Liu Bei's entrepreneurial team recruited talents in Xinye, which brought a turnaround to Zhuge Liang's life.
Strategize, vertical and horizontal
Zhuge Liang's military talent to assist Liu Bei can be described as amazing. His first major battle was the Battle of Nagasaka Slope, which was a thrilling battle.
At that time, Cao Cao's army attacked, Liu Bei's army was defeated and retreated, and it was about to be annihilated. Zhuge Liang was ordered to stand up and command the remnants of the defeated army to fight and retreat.
He took advantage of the terrain and set up an ambush on Changban Slope, which caught Cao Cao by surprise. This battle not only preserved Liu Bei's vitality, but also allowed Zhuge Liang to establish his prestige in the army.
The ensuing Battle of Chibi was the pinnacle of Zhuge Liang's military talent. Faced with the threat of Cao Cao's 800,000 troops, Zhuge Liang joined forces with Zhou Yu and devised a clever plan to burn the company camp.
They took advantage of the southeast wind and completely destroyed Cao Cao's naval army with fire. This battle not only saved Jiangdong, but also laid the foundation for the establishment of the Three Kingdoms.
Zhuge Liang's military talent is not only reflected in grand strategy, but also in tactical use. In the process of seizing Jingzhou, he skillfully took advantage of the contradictions between Cao Cao and the Liu Biao family, and finally took this strategic place at the lowest cost.
In the Battle of Yizhou, Zhuge Liang showed superb diplomatic skills. He first persuaded Liu Zhang to send troops to support Liu Bei, and then took advantage of Liu Zhang's suspicion to give Liu Bei a legitimate reason to send troops to Yizhou.
In the end, Liu Bei occupied Yizhou without a single soldier, laying a solid foundation for the establishment of the Shu Han regime in the future.
The Northern Expedition to Cao Wei was another peak in Zhuge Liang's military career. Although he did not succeed in the end, his strategic thinking and tactical application are still worth learning from future generations.
The "Longzhong Pair" strategy proposed by him, that is, the three-step strategy of uniting Wu to resist Cao, seizing Hanzhong, and the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains, became the basic national policy of the Shu Han regime. In the course of the Northern Expedition, Zhuge Liang won more with less many times, which made Cao Wei frightened.
The most famous is the Battle of the Street Pavilion. In the face of the attack of Cao Wei's elite troops, Zhuge Liang skillfully used the terrain to set up an ambush and annihilated the main force of the enemy army in one fell swoop.
This battle not only played the prestige of the Shu Han army, but also greatly boosted the morale of the army. Even in the last Northern Expedition, Zhuge Liang still showed superb military talent.
He laid down the "Eight Arrays" in Wuzhangyuan, so that Sima Yi did not dare to act rashly. Even when he was seriously ill and dying, Zhuge Liang still commanded Ruoding, using wooden oxen and horses to transport grain and grass to ensure the supply of the army.
In addition to the frontal battlefield, Zhuge Liang also showed superb wisdom in dealing with the issue of ethnic minorities. In the process of conquering Meng in the south, he did not use violent means, but used virtue to convince people.
Zhuge Liang captured Meng Shu seven times and released him seven times, and finally convinced Meng Shu and took the initiative to surrender. This strategy of subduing people with virtue not only solved the problems of the time, but also provided a model for later generations to deal with ethnic relations.
What's even more amazing is that Zhuge Liang's influence can span thousands of years. After 1700, the Wa people still remember the oath made by their ancestors and Zhuge Liang to defend the borders of the motherland to the death.
This kind of far-reaching influence is probably beyond the reach of Zhuge Liang in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". It is this superb military talent and profound personality charm that makes Zhuge Liang in the official history more powerful than the image in the novel.
He was not only an outstanding military strategist, but also a statesman who knew how to govern the country and secure the country. Zhuge Liang's talent is far more than the use of soldiers like a god, and his contributions to governing the country, developing the economy, and scientific and technological innovation are even more breathtaking.
These achievements may be the real reason why Zhuge Liang's reputation has been passed down through the ages. As the saying goes, "Wen can raise the pen to calm the world, and Wu can go to the horse to determine the world", Zhuge Liang can be said to interpret this sentence to the extreme.
His life is not only a wonderful personal biography, but also a magnificent historical picture. From him, we see the demeanor of a true politician, military strategist and thinker.
Govern the country and create a prosperous era of Shu and Han
Zhuge Liang's talent in governing the country can be described as a little-known side. When he took over the Shu Han regime, he was faced with a situation in which everything was in ruins.
Although Shu is rich, after years of war, the people's livelihood has withered, and the people are miserable. At the beginning of Zhuge Liang's tenure, he began a series of drastic reforms.
He first set about rectifying the rule of officials. At the beginning of the establishment of Shu Han, many officials followed Liu Bei to fight the world. Although these people have contributed to the country, they may not know how to govern.
Zhuge Liang boldly used newcomers, and at the same time formulated a strict assessment system. Every year, he personally evaluates the performance of officials, promotes and reuses those who perform well, and resolutely recalls those who are incompetent.
This system of rewards and punishments has given Shu Han's officialdom a new look. The officials did not dare to slack off, and they worked diligently and loved the people, and asked for the people's lives.
In terms of economy, Zhuge Liang has shown superb talent. He knew that agriculture was the foundation of the country, so he vigorously promoted advanced agricultural technology.
He ordered craftsmen to make many new agricultural tools, such as waterwheels and ploughs, which greatly improved the efficiency of agricultural production. At the same time, he also popularized the "two taxation laws", which levied taxes according to the land area and harvest, which not only guaranteed the state revenue, but also did not increase the burden on the people.
In addition to agriculture, Zhuge Liang also attached great importance to the development of handicrafts and commerce. He encouraged the development of folk handicrafts, especially Shu brocade, Shu silk and other characteristic industries.
These products are not only sold well in China, but also exported to Central Asia and the Western Regions. Zhuge Liang also opened up a number of trade routes, such as "five-foot road" and "plank road", which promoted the trade between Shu and the outside world.
In terms of scientific and technological innovation, Zhuge Liang has made outstanding contributions. His invention of the "Wooden Ox Flowing Horse" was the most advanced means of transport at that time, which greatly improved the mobility and supply capacity of the army.
Zhuge Liang also improved the design of the crossbow machine and invented the Zhuge repeater, which became the magic weapon of the Shu Han army. In terms of agricultural technology, he popularized the curved plow, which can greatly reduce the difficulty of cultivation and improve efficiency.
In terms of education, Zhuge Liang has also made outstanding contributions. He is well aware that talent is the foundation of national development, so he attaches great importance to education.
He set up a higher education institution "Shuxue" in Chengdu to recruit talents from all over the world. Here, not only traditional knowledge such as the subset of classics and history is taught, but also practical knowledge such as the art of war, astronomy, and geography are taught.
Zhuge Liang also personally compiled the "Book of Commandments", which was not only his family motto for educating his son, but also became a classic work of education for later generations. The concept of "quiet self-cultivation and thrift to cultivate virtue" advocated by him has influenced countless future generations.
In the building of the legal system, Zhuge Liang also made important contributions. He formulated a series of laws and regulations to improve the legal system of Shu Han.
He particularly emphasized that everyone is equal before the law, and even if the princes and nobles violate the law, they must be dealt with according to the law. This strict legal system made the Shuhan society orderly, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment.
Zhuge Liang's concept of governing the country can be summed up by the word "Shangde". He believes that the way to govern the country lies in the administration of morality, not in strict punishment and strict law.
In his opinion, only by implementing benevolent government can the people truly support the imperial court. This philosophy is particularly evident in his approach to minority issues.
He advocated subduing people by virtue rather than conquering by force. In the course of his southern expeditions, he repeatedly released prisoners and entrusted important tasks to the leaders of the ethnic minorities who returned to Shun.
This policy not only solved the problems of the time, but also set an example for later generations in handling ethnic relations. It was under Zhuge Liang's governance that Shu Han, although the territory was not large, became the most stable and prosperous country among the Three Kingdoms.
The people live and work in peace and contentment, social order is in order, and culture and education are flourishing. Even many years after Zhuge Liang's death, Shu Han still maintained relative stability and prosperity, which is the best proof of his ability to govern the country.
Zhuge Liang's way of governing the country not only had a far-reaching impact at that time, but also had important inspiration for later generations. His philosophy of focusing on people's livelihood, education, and the rule of law is still of great significance today.
Do your best, and then die
Zhuge Liang's life can be described as a legend within a legend. His ending made future generations sigh.
At the last moment of his life, Zhuge Liang was still thinking about the future of Shu Han. It was in 234 A.D. that Zhuge Liang led his army on a northern expedition and confronted Sima Yi, the general of Wei, at Wuzhangyuan.
The two sides were at loggerheads, but Zhuge Liang's body was getting worse. He knew that his time was short, but he still held on to his sick body and worked day and night.
Zhuge Liang understood that this might be his last Northern Expedition. He didn't want to let go of this opportunity and wanted to create a bright future for Shu Han.
However, the heavens did not grant the wish. Zhuge Liang's physical condition was getting worse and worse, but he still insisted on commanding the army.
Every day, he had to convene his generals to discuss the military situation and formulate battle plans. Even on the sickbed, he did not forget to care about the situation at the front.
Zhuge Liang knew that his departure would have a huge impact on Shu Han. In order not to be noticed by the enemy, he came up with a clever plan.
He ordered someone to make a wooden puppet, and let people carry this "Mu Zhuge " around the barracks every day. This strategy deceived Sima Yi and allowed the Shu army to retreat in an orderly manner.
In the last moments of his life, Zhuge Liang summoned his most trusted general, Jiang Wei. He poured his life's work into this young man.
Zhuge Liang taught Jiang Wei his art of war, statecraft, and even the future Northern Expedition plan. He hoped that Jiang Wei would inherit his legacy and continue to fight for the revival of Shu Han.
In the end, Zhuge Liang left the famous saying: "Do your best, and then die." This is not only a summary of his life, but also an entrustment to future generations.
After the news of Zhuge Liang's death spread, the entire Shu Han fell into grief. From Emperor Liu Chan to ordinary people, everyone mourned for this great prime minister.
Liu Chan personally wrote a eulogy for Zhuge Liang, praising him for "being loyal to the sun and the moon, and his ambition is the crown of the past and the present". This is not only an affirmation of Zhuge Liang's life, but also a recognition of his unparalleled talent.
Zhuge Liang's death was undoubtedly a huge blow to Shu Han. However, the political, military and cultural heritage he left behind became the driving force for Shu Han to continue to move forward.
The Shu Han under his rule, although the territory is not large, is the most stable and prosperous country among the Three Kingdoms. Even years after his death, Shu Han remained relatively stable and prosperous.
Zhuge Liang's military thinking also continued to play a role after his death. His proud disciple Jiang Wei inherited his legacy and made several northern expeditions to the Wei state.
Although it did not succeed in the end, this indomitable spirit has deeply influenced future generations. Zhuge Liang's concept of governing the country has become a model for later generations of politicians.
His philosophy of focusing on people's livelihood, education, and the rule of law is still of great significance today. Zhuge Liang's cultural heritage is even more far-reaching.
His works such as "The Teacher's Table" and "The Book of Commandments" have become treasures of classical Chinese literature. These works are not only brilliant in writing, but also contain profound philosophical ideas, and have become the objects of imitation by later generations of literati and artists.
The image of Zhuge Liang has been constantly beautified and deified in the literary works of later generations. In Luo Guanzhong's "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Zhuge Liang was portrayed as the embodiment of wisdom and loyalty.
His stories such as "Three Visits to the Thatched House", "Straw Boat Borrowing Arrows", and "Empty City Strategy" have become well-known allusions. However, the real Zhuge Liang is far greater than the image in the novel.
He was not only an outstanding military strategist, but also a statesman who knew how to govern the country and secure the country. His talent is far more than the use of soldiers like a god, and his contributions to governing the country, developing the economy, and scientific and technological innovation are even more breathtaking.
Zhuge Liang's influence even crossed the boundaries of time and space. More than 1,700 years after his death, legends about Zhuge Liang still circulate in some ethnic minority areas in southwest China.
They called Zhuge Liang "the embodiment of wisdom" and regarded him as a spiritual totem. This kind of far-reaching influence is probably beyond the reach of Zhuge Liang in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".
Zhuge Liang's life is not only a wonderful personal biography, but also a magnificent historical picture. From him, we see the demeanor of a true politician, military strategist and thinker.
His wisdom, his talents, and his character are all worthy of learning and admiration for future generations. As he himself said, "Do your best, and then die", these eight words are not only a portrayal of his life, but also a precious legacy he left to future generations.