At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, due to the cruel oppression of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the fierce attack of natural disasters, the vast number of farmers' homes were ruined and displaced, and they were forced to take risks. In the first year of Zhong Ping, the Emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty (A.D. 184), under the leadership of the Zhang Jiao brothers, the famous Yellow Scarf Uprising broke out. The rebel army wrapped its head in the yellow turban insurrectionary and shouted the slogan, "The sky will die, the yellow sky will stand, and the year will be in Jiazi, and the world will be at peace." The rebels are everywhere. "Every house was burned, the city was robbed, the county was lost, and the chief executive fled. In ten days, the world responded and the capital shook. " The Yellow Scarf Uprising in Sichuan quickly swept across the vast area north of the Yangtze River, which dealt a heavy blow to the reactionary rule of the powerful landlords in the Eastern Han Dynasty. In order to maintain the crumbling rule, the Eastern Han Dynasty faced the disaster of extinction, and quickly dispatched troops to fight back against the peasant rebels. Powerful forces all over the country also took this opportunity to recruit and suppress the ranks of peasant rebels.
After the heavy blow of the Yellow turban insurrectionary, the Eastern Han Dynasty was dying in name only. In the process of suppressing the yellow turban insurrectionary uprising, "heroes rose side by side, and countless people crossed the state and joined the county." Warlords all over the world rallied and split themselves into one side in order to respect themselves. After playing for more than ten years, Gongsun Zan occupied Youzhou; Gongsun Du occupied Liaodong; Yuan Shao occupied Jizhou, Qingzhou and Bingzhou; Yuan Shu occupied Yangzhou; Cao Cao occupied two states, Chong and Yu. Liu Biao occupied Jingzhou; Sun Ce and Sun Quan occupied Jiangdong; Han Sui and Marten occupy Liangzhou; Ada, Liu Zhang and his son occupied Yizhou, but Liu Bei had no fixed territory, and led the troops everywhere, and successively attached to Gongsun Zan, Cao Cao, Yuan Shao and Liu Biao.
In the first year of Jian 'an (A.D. 196), Cao Cao welcomed the Han Dynasty to offer the emperor's promise, and politically gained the favorable position of "relying on the emperor to make the princes". He led the army to wipe out the separatist forces such as Lu Bu, Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, occupied Hebei, Youzhou, Qinghai and Hehe, pacified the north, and had the potential to pacify the south and unify China in one fell swoop.
Zhuge Liang was born in a noble family. When he was young, he was brilliant and outstanding. History calls it "a rare talent who escaped from the crowd, a weapon of British hegemony, eight feet long and graceful, unique." [z] The Biography of Zhuge Liang in the Three Kingdoms records: "Zhuge Liang is famous, and Lang Xie is also a human being. Zhuge Feng, a captain transferred from the Han Dynasty, is also a queen. Father Jue, word, Taishan County Cheng at the end of Han Dynasty. Liang was lonely in his early years, and his father, Zhuge Xuan, was the prefect of Yuan Shu Department. Liang and Liang's younger brother, Xuan Jiangdu, was an officer. In the Han Dynasty, Zhu Hao was chosen as Xuanzong. Su Xuan and Jingzhou Liu Mu are both old, so we should follow their example. Xuanzu, smart and diligent, is good at Fu Liangyin. He is eight feet long, and every time he compares himself with Guan Zhong and Le Yi, he is incomparable. Bolingcui and Yingchuan are generous, hearty and friendly, and they can be called loyal. " Zhuge Liang was born and grew up in the war years at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. He witnessed the suffering brought by the war to the people. Especially in the process of Zhuge Liang accompanying his uncle Zhuge Xuannan, the sad and tragic scene of "white bones exposed in the wild, a thousand miles without chickens crowing" left a deep imprint on the young Zhuge Liang's heart, which also laid the ideological foundation for Zhuge Liang to later eliminate the separatist regime and unify the world. When Zhuge Xuan died in 197, Zhuge Liang, who was 17 years old, began to live independently and "cultivated Long Mu" in Gulong, 20 miles west of Xiangyang, Hubei. In Longzhong, Zhuge Liang spent ten years in cold and heat.
Zhuge Liang spent ten years "ploughing for a long time" and did not live a secluded paradise life. In Longzhong, Zhuge Liang carefully studied historical records and summarized the experiences and lessons of the rise and fall of past dynasties; Pay close attention to the political situation at that time, and calmly observe and analyze the strength of various political groups and the success or failure of their struggles. He often talks about the changes of the current situation, exchanges political views and talks about the future with local celebrities such as Xu Shu, Meng and others who fled to Jingzhou to escape the war.
He worshiped Guan Zhong, a famous state of Qi in the Spring and Autumn Period, and a famous state of Yan in the Warring States Period, and "compared himself with Guan Zhonghe", determined to do something beneficial to unifying the world like Guan Zhonghe. To this end, Zhuge Liang lay high in the middle of the year, quietly watching the changes in the world, waiting for the opportunity, and expecting to meet the Lord in order to realize his political ideal and grand ambition.
How can I realize my ambition? Looking at the results of the warlord melee at that time, before the Chibi War, only Cao Cao, Sun Quan, Liu Bei, Liu Biao, Liu Zhang, Gongsun Du, Han Sui, Marten and others were left. Then, why didn't Zhuge Liang rely on Cao Cao, who pacified the north, or Sun Quan, the "three generations of Jiangdong", to make suggestions for Liu Bei, who was running around and had no fixed site? I think there are several main reasons: 1. Although Cao Cao was the strongest, he gained a favorable position in politics. He led the army to annihilate the separatist forces such as Lu Bu, Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, occupied Hebei, Youzhou, Qinghai and Hehe, and pacified the north, which greatly pacified the south and unified China in one fell swoop. But Zhuge Liang knew that Cao Cao had a group of talented advisers such as Yu Xun and Guo Jia, and it was difficult for him to display his talents. At the same time, although the Eastern Han Dynasty existed in name only, it still had a great influence among the scholars at the end of the Han Dynasty. In the eyes of many scholars at the end of the Han Dynasty, Cao Cao was called Han Cheng Xiang, but in fact he was a Han thief. Zhuge Liang naturally refused to give him advice. 2. Although Sun Quan has occupied the land of Jiangdong for three generations, he lacks the ambition to unify the world, and Zhuge Liang wants to end the separatist situation and complete the great cause of reunification. Besides, Sun Quan has inherited the inheritance of his father and brother, and his subordinates have already had a number of elders and ministers such as Zhang Zhao and Zhou Yu. Zhuge Liang knew that if he went to Sun Quan's place, it would be difficult for him to display his unparalleled talents. So when Zhang Zhao recommended Sun Quan to shine, Zhuge Liang refused to stay, and people asked him why. Zhuge Liang said, "General Sun is an outstanding person. However, judging from his academic qualifications, he can be gorgeous, so I won't stay. " Although Liu Bei had no foothold at that time and was attached to Liu Biao in Jingzhou, he was respected by people at that time despite repeated setbacks since he started his army. Even Cao Cao thought: "The only heroes in the world today are the monarch (Liu Bei) and Cao Er." Zhuge Liang sized up the situation and thought that Liu Bei could seize Jingzhou and Yizhou as the foundation of the country, follow Liu Bang's example of renting land at a high price and achieve imperial career. At the same time, Liu Bei has always lacked a real strategist. Zhuge Liang believes that assisting Liu Bei can give full play to his talents and realize his ambitions. So when Liu Bei visited the cottage, Zhuge Liang readily agreed to go out to assist Liu Bei.
Second, "Longzhong Dui" was ambitious and formulated the strategy of "dividing the world into three parts" and "Northern Expedition"
In the 12th year of Jian 'an in the Eastern Han Dynasty (207), Zhuge Liang's good friend Xu Shu recommended Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei. At this time, Liu Bei was attached to Liu Biao's door in Jingzhou. Although Liu Biao treated Liu Bei as a guest of honor with the friendship of imperial clan, Liu Bei and his men were stationed in Xinye (now Xinye, Henan). As a lean generation, Liu Bei is unwilling to rely on others, and is eager to strengthen his own strength in order to realize his ambition of competing for the Central Plains. Liu Bei has long heard of Zhuge Liang. According to Xiangyang Ji, "Liu Bei traveled all over the world in Sima. Cao De said, "Do Confucian scholars and the people know current events? People who know the times care about Jie Jun. There are dragons, winds and chickens here. Therefore, when Xu Shu recommended Zhuge Liang, he said, "Zhu Gekongming is also Wolong. Would the general like to see it? "Liu Bei, 47, can't wait to brave the cold and heavy snow in the middle of winter and go to Longzhong to beg Zhuge Liang, 27, for a plan to unify the world. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Luo Guanzhong described "three visits to the thatched cottage" as a very wonderful story. Zhuge Liang thought that Liu Bei was a like-minded and trustworthy master of democracy, so he told the whole story about his observation and analysis of the social situation at that time, and put forward a set of strategic policies for Liu Bei, namely "Long Zhong Dui".
"Longzhong Dui" said: "Since Dong Zhuo, there have been heroes, and countless people have entered the county from Yuezhou. Compared with Yuan Shao, Cao Cao is less famous and has fewer people. However, Cao overcame salt and took the weak as the strong, which was not only the right time, but also the right place. Today, millions of Cao Cao are vassals with the emperor. This sincerity is indisputable. According to Sun Quan, he lived in Jiangdong for three generations, and the country was in danger of the people. He can use it. It can be used for aid, but not for profit. Jingzhou is bordered by Han and Mian in the north, benefiting from the South China Sea, connected to the east, and adjacent to Tongba and Shu in the west. This is a martial arts country, but its owner can't keep it. This is almost heaven, so it is a general. Does the general care? Yizhou is a dangerous place, fertile land is thousands of miles away, and the land of abundance is the reason why Gaozu became emperor. Liu Zhang is weak, Zhang Lu is in the north, the people are rich but don't know how to keep shirts, and the wise think of the wise. The general is both the emperor's palace and loyal to the four seas. He is a hero, eager for wisdom. If there are advantages and interests, he will protect his rock resistance, he will be brave in the west and south, and he will have good external relations and internal politics with Sun Quan. If the world changes, a general will be ordered to lead Jingzhou troops to Wan and Luo, and the general will lead Yizhou people out of Qinchuan. Who dares to meet the general without eating kettle pulp? If this is the case, the hegemony can be reached and the Han family can flourish. "
It can be seen from Longzhong Dui that Longzhong Dui is Zhuge Liang's view on the political situation at that time and a far-sighted strategic policy put forward in view of the unfounded situation of Liu Bei Group. To sum up, the contents of Zhuge Liang's Longzhong Dui mainly include the following four aspects:
1. At that time, the situation was that "Cao Cao now has millions of people and is a vassal with the help of the emperor. This sincerity cannot be compared with others. " Sun Quan lived in Jiangdong for three generations. Saints can use it. This can be for aid, but not for profit. "But Jingzhou, Yizhou is a place where we can make use of the failure of Liu Biao and Zhang in Jingzhou. Instead, let Liu Biao and Liu Zhang, who are independent of Jing and Yi, establish a reliable base area and share the world with Cao Cao and Sun Quan.
2. While seizing Jingzhou and Yizhou, we should make use of the reputation of "the Imperial Palace is full of loyalty and faithfulness" to recruit talents and "internal strength" and gradually enhance political, economic and military strength.
3. In Yizhou, it is necessary to properly handle the relationship with the southwest ethnic minorities, "building the army in the west and helping foreigners in the south" to relieve the worries of the Northern Expedition.
4. In Jingzhou, we should "have a good relationship with Sun Quan" and form an alliance with Sun Quan against Cao Cao. When "the world has changed", we will be divided into two ways. "I will order a general to lead Jingzhou's army to Wanhe Luo and lead Yizhou's people out of Qinchuan." If so, Liu Bei "will be successful in his career and prosperous in the Han Dynasty." 、
Throughout the later historical process, Zhuge Liang's analysis of the situation in Longzhong basically conforms to the objective reality, and the strategic decision made for Liu Bei Group is generally effective.