In "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", after Liu Bei's death, there was a long-term confrontation between Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang between Wei and Shu. In order to complete the strategic deployment of the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains in the Longzhong Countermeasures, Zhuge Liang left Qishan and led troops to attack Wei. The two sides battled wits and courage, with ups and downs. The fierceness of the battle and the use of wisdom exceeded any previous confrontation between the three kingdoms.
There was only one real decisive battle between Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi, which was the Battle of Shangfang Valley.
This battle was carefully planned by Zhuge Liang. The purpose is to kill or capture Sima Yi, fundamentally defeat the Wei State, and complete the ambition of the Northern Expedition. Facing Zhuge Liang's plan, Sima Yi had many doubts. Although he was extremely reluctant, he eventually fell into Zhuge Liang's trap. When the surrounding fire burned, it was too late to regret everything. Sima Yi got off his horse and hugged his two sons and cried loudly. It was all over.
However, the sky could not destroy Wei, and suddenly it rained heavily, and Sima Yi and his son narrowly escaped death. Zhuge Liang was truly defeated in the pouring rain.
The Battle of Shangfang Valley was a turning point for the warring parties of Wei and Shu. From then on, Sima Yi never had the courage to face Zhuge Liang and refused to come out. Zhuge Liang sent him women's clothes to humiliate him. He was furious, but he still pretended to smile and said: "Kong Ming regards me as a woman." For a man and an army commander to be so cowardly, it can be seen that he was defeated. Zhuge Liang stationed troops on the banks of the Weishui River. Although he adopted the "garrison method", it took so long that the lamp oil ran out and he died. He left this world full of helplessness. Sima Yi was frightened as early as Shangfang Valley. In the end, "Zhuge died and Zhongda came back to life", and his death was not far away.
It should be said that there is no winner in this confrontation. Sima Yi fought repeatedly and was defeated, using defeats in exchange for time and space, and finally brought down Zhuge Liang. "Died before leaving the army, it makes the hero burst into tears." In terms of who is more powerful, Zhuge Liang is undoubtedly higher than Sima Yi.
Zhuge Liang, courtesy name Kongming, nickname Wolong (also known as Fulong), Han nationality, native of Langya Yangdu, Xuzhou (now Yinan County, Linyi City, Shandong Province), prime minister of the Shu Han Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period, an outstanding statesman and military strategist , diplomat, essayist, calligrapher, inventor, writer. In his early years, he followed his uncle Zhuge Xuan to Jingzhou. After Zhuge Xuan's death, Zhuge Liang started farming in Longzhong. Later, Liu Bei visited the thatched cottage three times and asked to come out to assist Liu Bei in establishing the Shu Han Dynasty.
Zhuge Liang "dedicated his life to death" and was a representative figure of loyal ministers and wise men in traditional culture.
Sima Yi, courtesy name Zhongda, was from Xiaojingli, Wen County, Hanoi County (now Wen County, Jiaozuo City, Henan Province). He was an outstanding statesman, military strategist, and strategist of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period, and the founder of the Western Jin Dynasty.
Sima Yi once served as the governor, general, captain, and tutor of Cao Wei. He was an important minister who assisted Tuogu for three generations in the Wei state, and later became a powerful minister in control of the Wei state's affairs. He was good at making ingenious strategies and made meritorious achievements in many expeditions. Among them, the most significant achievement was that he led the army to successfully resist Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition twice and expedition to pacify Liaodong. It has made important contributions to the development of agricultural economy such as farming and water conservancy. He died at the age of 73. He resigned from the county and was buried in Shouyang Mountain with special rites. His posthumous title was Xuanwen; his second son, Sima Zhao, was granted the title of Queen of Jin, and Sima Yi was posthumously named King Xuan; after Sima Yan became emperor, he posthumously honored Sima Yi as Emperor Xuan, with the temple name Gaozu.