Liu Bei showed his talents for the first time, but he often relied on others and was unable to realize his ambitions. Although he had strong generals such as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, he deeply felt that he lacked an adviser to help him make suggestions. In 207 AD, Liu Bei was stationed in Xinye, and counselor Xu Shu recommended the reclusive genius Zhuge Liang to him. So Liu Bei personally went to Longzhong (today's west of Xiangyang, Hubei Province) to ask for advice, and this is the famous story of "Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage".
After Liu Bei went to Wolong Village for the second time to seek an audience with Zhuge Liang but failed, he left a letter. In the letter, Liu Bei expressed his sincerity that he had "long admired his high reputation", but "I have been to the Jin Dynasty twice, but I didn't come back empty-handed, how can I be melancholy?" After briefly outlining his life ambitions, Liu Bei hoped that Zhuge Liang could come out to assist.
"Exhibit Lu Wang's great talent and apply Zifang's great strategy", and said that he would "fast and bathe" before visiting again. The feeling of longing for talents is vivid on the page. As an imperial uncle, being able to be so courteous to a virtuous corporal can be said to be extremely benevolent and righteous. It was because of Liu Bei's sincerity that Zhuge Liang agreed to assist Liu Bei in conquering the world.
Zhuge Liang (AD 181-234), courtesy name Kongming, Taoist name Mr. Wolong, was a native of Yangdu, Langya County, Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period (today's Yishui County, Shandong Province). Both of his parents died when he was young, so he followed his uncle to escape chaos in Jingzhou and lived in seclusion in Longzhong, Nanyang. He often compared himself to Guan Zhong and Le Yi. He loved to sing "Liang Fu Yin" and made friends with Pang Degong, Pang Tong, Sima Hui, Huang Chengyan, Shi Guangyuan, etc. Cui Zhouping, Xu Shu and other celebrities.
He is eight feet tall, has a great appearance, is well-read, and has unique insights into the current situation. Many people think that he is extraordinary and his intelligence is recognized by everyone.
When he agreed to allow Liu Bei to come out, Zhuge Liang was like a prophet. In Longzhong, he analyzed the world situation and how Liu Bei could achieve hegemony, predicting that the world would be divided into three parts in the future. He said that Cao Cao had a vast territory and a large number of people, and "he held the emperor in power to command the princes. This sincerity cannot be compared with that of Cao Cao."
Sun Quan occupies Jiangdong. "The country is in danger but the people are attached to it. The virtuous can be used for it, but they can be used for reinforcements but not for gain." Liu Biao and Liu Zhang are weak, so they can take Jing and Yi as their bases. Then he made peace with the Rong in the west, pacified the Yiyue in the south, befriended Sun Quan externally, and cultivated politics internally. When the opportunity arose, he divided his army into two groups and went northward, and finally completed the cause of unifying the whole country.
However, although he agreed to Liu Bei's resignation, Zhuge Liang was not a worldly person, and he regarded fame and fortune in the world of mortals very lightly. He told his younger brother Zhuge Jun: "I have received the kindness of uncle Liu Huang three times, and I can't bear to leave. You can work hard here and don't get the barren acres.
When I succeed, I will go back to seclusion. Later, before his death, Zhuge Liang wrote to his successor, Liu Chan, "I have 800 mulberry trees in Chengdu and 15 hectares of thin fields. I have enough food and clothing for my children. As for my duties abroad, I have no other arrangements. I will take my food and clothing with me." Relying on the officials, not caring about life, in order to grow in size. When the minister dies, he will not have any money left inside, so as to lose his Majesty."
This is Zhuge Liang's ambition, he came out of the mountain. Assisting Liu Bei was not for fame and fortune, for being prominent in the public eye, or for honoring one's ancestors, but to comply with God's arrangements and fulfill one's historical mission. His extraordinary wisdom is reflected in the history of the Three Kingdoms, and it also makes people today marvel.
Extended information
Zhuge Liang (181-October 8, 234), courtesy name Kongming and nickname Wolong, was a native of Yangdu, Langya, Xuzhou (now Yinan County, Linyi City, Shandong). Prime Minister of the Shu Han Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period, he was an outstanding politician, strategist, writer, calligrapher, and inventor.
In his early years, he followed his uncle Zhuge Xuan to Jingzhou. After Zhuge Xuan died, Zhuge Liang lived in seclusion in Longzhong. Later, Liu Bei visited the thatched cottage three times to invite Zhuge Liang, and joined forces with Sun Quan of Eastern Wu to defeat Cao's army in the Battle of Chibi. Forming the power of the Three Kingdoms, they also captured Jingzhou. In the 16th year of Jian'an (211), Yizhou was captured. Then he defeated Cao Jun and captured Hanzhong. In the first year of Shu Zhangwu (221), Liu Bei established the Shu Han regime in Chengdu, and Zhuge Liang was appointed prime minister to preside over the government.
The later master Liu Chan succeeded to the throne, and Zhuge Liang was named the Marquis of Wuxiang and led the pastoral care of Yizhou. Be diligent and prudent, handle all political affairs personally, and strictly enforce rewards and punishments; alliance with Soochow to improve relations with all ethnic groups in the southwest; implement the policy of farming and strengthen war preparations. Six Northern Expeditions to the Central Plains were carried out, but most of them used food to achieve no success.
He eventually became ill due to overwork.
He died of illness in Wuzhangyuan (now Qishan, Baoji, Shaanxi) in the twelfth year of Jianxing Shu (234) at the age of 54. Liu Chan posthumously named him Zhongwuhou, and later generations often called Zhuge Liang the honorific name Wuhou. The Eastern Jin regime named him King Wuxing because of his military prowess.
Zhuge Liang's representative prose works include "The Master's Guide" and "The Book of Commandments". He invented the wooden cow and flowing horse, the Kongming lantern, etc., and modified the repeating crossbow, called the Zhuge repeating crossbow, which can fire ten arrows with one crossbow. Zhuge Liang "dedicated his life to death" and was a representative figure of loyal ministers and wise men in traditional Chinese culture.
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