When the princes of the Three Kingdoms competed for hegemony, heroes emerged. In addition to the princes of all parties who have become famous all over the world and recorded in the annals of history and commented by later generations, the good generals and strategists under the princes' accounts have also become historical figures who have been commented on or praised by later generations because of their respective experiences and achievements.
As we all know, the status of a strategist in the Three Kingdoms period can be compared with the status of a strategist in the Warring States period. If the princes have one or more advisers who can give advice, they will be able to grasp the opportunity on the battlefield. The role of strategists is an important factor that cannot be ignored in the struggle for hegemony among princes.
Reading the history of the Three Kingdoms period, we can know that Zhang Yi under Cao Cao's account, Li Ru and Jia Xu under Dong Zhuo's account, Zhuge Liang and others under Liu Bei's account are all very important strategists under the accounts of all princes. In Wu Guanzhong's "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Zhuge Liang's resourceful military image is even more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. In fact, Zhuge Liang is not only resourceful, but also has a lot of routines.
Zhuge Liang was born in a very prestigious family of officials in Langya County. Since he was a child, Zhuge Liang's father sent Zhuge Liang books on the art of war, such as "The Art of War", "Sun Bin's Art of War", and "One Hundred Chapters of the Book of War", and explained the contents of the books to him every day.
When Zhuge Liang was eight years old, his father Zhuge Si died of illness. Uncle Zhuge Xuan took pity on Zhuge Liang's brothers and lost their father and mother at a young age, and decided to take Zhuge Liang and the two brothers with him to teach them personally. However, when Zhuge Liang was sixteen years old, his uncle Zhuge Xuan also died.
Although the elders have passed away one after another, there is no close elder who can guide Zhuge Liang's knowledge. However, Zhuge Liang always remembered the teachings of his father and uncle, and always was strict with himself and studied the art of war. Under the teachings of his father and uncle, Zhuge Liang knew that he cared about the people, worried about the country and the people since he was a child, and set up a lofty ideal of making contributions and serving the country.
Zhuge Liang admired Yan Ying, the prime minister of Qi in the Spring and Autumn Period, and he often sang "Liang's Father's Yin" to express his admiration and admiration for Yan Ying. Zhuge Liang hopes that he can also use his wisdom and talents to safeguard the dignity and interests of the country like Yan Ying.
In addition, Zhuge Liang also admired Guan Zhong and Le Yi in the Spring and Autumn Period. Zhuge Liang often compares himself to Guan Zhong and Le Yi, hoping that he can achieve great things like them and leave a name in history. It can be said that Zhuge Liang's ideal in life is to be like Yan Ying, Guan Zhong, Le Yi and others, to be able to assist the princes of one side and achieve the hegemony of talents.
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the incompetent Eastern Han court made many people no longer have hope for the country. Therefore, many people also cannot understand Zhuge Liang's grand wishes, and Zhuge Liang completely ignores these people who do not understand him. Zhuge Liang only made friends with people who recognized his talents, including Xu Shu, Sima Hui, etc.
In order to devote himself to studying the art of war and the way of governing the country, Zhuge Liang lived in the deep mountains of Wollongong, Longzhong County. Only when invited by friends do you go out of the mountain and talk to your friends about the situation in the world. Therefore, Zhuge Liang is also known as "Mr. Wolong".
Zhuge Liang's close friends admire the resourceful Zhuge Liang very much, and they also hope that Zhuge Liang can find an opportunity to display his ambitions. Sima Hui, Xu Shu and other people who intersected with Zhuge Liang were also seeking opportunities for Zhuge Liang to display his ambitions.
In the Battle of Guandu, after Liu Bei was defeated by Cao Cao, Liu Bei was attached to Liu Biao's forces. At the same time, Liu Bei is also searching for good generals and strategists everywhere, hoping to strengthen his strength as soon as possible to take revenge.
One day, Liu Bei met Sima Hui. When the two talked about the world's talents, Sima Hui praised Zhuge Liang's talent and strategy when he mentioned his friend Zhuge Liang. This aroused Liu Bei's interest in Zhuge Liang.
Xu Shu, another friend of Zhuge Liang, also recommended Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei when he knew that Liu Bei was looking for a talented strategist. At this time, Liu Bei's interest in Zhuge Liang became even deeper. Liu Bei hoped that Xu Shu could bring Zhuge Liang to meet him. But Xu Shu said: Zhuge Liang, you'd better invite him in person.
onYes, Liu Bei personally went to Longzhong County, Anyang, to invite Zhuge Liang out of the mountain. However, Zhuge Liang already knew that Liu Bei would come to invite him, and he also prepared in advance. Zhuge Liang hopes that the lord he assists should be a person who has both ability and political integrity, cares about the world, and is in line with his own concept of governing the country and the army. So Zhuge Liang decided to give Liu Bei some tests.
When Liu Bei first came to Zhuge Liang's house, Zhuge Liang deliberately went out to march. Liu Bei could only return disappointed. When Liu Bei came to Zhuge Liang's house again, Zhuge Liang still deliberately went out to visit friends. Liu Bei returned disappointed again. Zhuge Liang asked his servants to pay attention to Liu Bei's reaction when he learned that he was not at home, so as to test Liu Bei.
Zhuge Liang was satisfied with the results of the first two tests against Liu Bei. Therefore, when Liu Bei came to his home for the third time, Zhuge Liang decided to see him. This is the story of the famous "Three Visits to the Thatched House". It can be said that Liu Bei looked at the thatched house three times, and it was Zhuge Liang who was testing and tricking Liu Bei.
After Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang met, the two had a discussion according to the situation in the world at that time. Liu Bei told Zhuge Liang about his situation and the difficulties he faced, and asked him for advice. Liu Bei believes: Today, the royal family of the Eastern Han Dynasty has declined. And the traitors in the court did a lot of things that were not beneficial to the people of the world by virtue of the emperor's power, and the court of the Eastern Han Dynasty had already existed in name only.
As a descendant of the Han royal family, Liu Bei wanted to support the Han family and unify the world, so that the people would no longer fall into a dire war. However, in the battles with Cao Cao, Dong Zhuo and other local princes, they were at a disadvantage many times. Therefore, Liu Bei wanted Zhuge Liang to provide a plan to help him.
After Zhuge Liang listened to Liu Bei's words, he analyzed the situation in the world at that time with Liu Bei. Zhuge Liang believes that now there has been a situation where the three princes divide the world, if you want to further expand your power, you need to recognize the advantages and disadvantages of all forces, and then gradually break through.
Zhuge Liang suggested to Liu Bei that Cao Cao in the north occupied the hinterland of the Central Plains and could not easily confront Cao Cao's army at present; Sun Quan of Eastern Wu also has the geographical advantage of the Yangtze River moat, which is easy to defend and not easy to break, and cannot easily fight against the Eastern Wu army.
If you want to expand your power, you can only expand to the west. Jingzhou and Yizhou in the west did not have an advantageous geographical location as a defensive condition, and the garrisons of these two states were relatively cowardly, so they were good targets for attack. After attacking Jingzhou and Yizhou, you can slowly try to attack the Central Plains and Eastern Wu.
This is the famous "Longzhong countermeasure" in history. After talking with Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei saw Zhuge Liang's talent, and he was even more determined to invite Zhuge Liang to come out of the mountain to assist him. And after inviting Zhuge Liang to his account, Liu Bei was convinced of Zhuge Liang's suggestions and schemes.