The rolling Yangtze River flows eastward,
The waves wash away the heroes.
Success or failure turns into nothing.
The green mountains are still there, and the sunsets are red several times.
The white-haired fisherman and woodcutter on the Nagisa River,
are used to watching the autumn moon and spring breeze.
Happy encounter with a pot of wine.
Many things in ancient and modern times are all discussed in a joke.
Why Zhuge Liang died and was buried at the foot of Dingjun Mountain in Hanzhong has far-reaching political and military significance from the historical background at that time. Hanzhong is the northern barrier of Shuhan. "If there were no Hanzhong, there would be no Shu."
After Guan Yu lost Jingzhou, the geographical location of Hanzhong became even more important. It was related to the survival of Western Shu. Therefore, since the "Battle of Dingjun Mountain" between Shu and Wei in 219 AD, Huang Zhong attacked and killed Xia Houyuan. After Liu Bei captured Hanzhong, the Shu Han Dynasty occupied Hanzhong and set up a fortified position. Liu Bei set up an altar here and proclaimed himself king, which laid a solid foundation for the establishment of the Shu Han regime. Zhuge Liang used Hanzhong as his camp during the Northern Expedition against Cao Wei and stationed troops at the foot of Dingjun Mountain for eight years. This was the basis for the deployment and withdrawal of troops during the five Northern Expeditions.
However, Zhuge Liang's five Northern Expeditions in eight years failed to realize his wish to "defeat the Central Plains in the north and revive the Han Dynasty" and let the Queen of Shu "return to the old capital". As a result, he died of illness during the Northern Expedition. Therefore, his last order to "be buried in Dingjun Mountain in Hanzhong after his death" is a memory of his former master Liu Bei, a reflection of his loyalty to the emperor, and a tribute to his "dedicated himself to the end of his life" to assist the Shu Han's foundation. Nostalgia for the arduous achievements of the Northern Expedition to Cao Wei. More importantly, he must use his "dead tiger's remaining power" to shock and guard Hanzhong, educate and encourage the Shu Han soldiers to use Dingjun Mountain in Hanzhong as a base to continue the northern expedition to Cao Wei, to complete and realize his "northern settlement of the Central Plains, revival of the Central Plains" The last wish of the Han Dynasty.
In August 234 AD, Zhuge Liang ushered in the last moment of his life in the Wuzhangyuan Army. He died before leaving the army. This was also the saddest moment in his life. At this time, what he couldn't let go of the most was the safety of Hanzhong, the northern gate of Xishu. He asked people to bury him at the foot of Dingjun Mountain, and built a tomb close to the mountain that could accommodate the coffin. The person was buried wearing ordinary clothes and did not need to have any burial utensils.
He was born to rule Shu, and even in death he was still protecting Shu. In the tomb of Marquis Wu in Dingjun Mountain, there is a couplet like this: When he was born, he promoted Liu Zunhan's career; when he died, he protected Shu and was buried in Junshan. It is generally believed that this couplet reflects Zhuge Liang's hidden intention behind his "legendary order" to bury Dingjun Mountain. "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" also created the story of Zhuge Liang's "manifestation" at Dingjun Mountain based on this, and entrusted a dream to Zhong Hui, the general who conquered Shu: "After you enter the country, you must not kill any living beings" and so on.
The ambition of the Northern Expedition has not been fulfilled. Liu Chunfan's "The Biography of Zhuge Liang" believes that the reason why Zhuge Liang wanted to be buried in Dingjun Mountain in Hanzhong was because his ambition of the Northern Expedition was not fulfilled, and he wanted future generations not to forget the Northern Expedition to Cao Wei. Only for this reason did Zhuge Liang's successor Jiang Wei insist on the "Eight Expeditions of the Central Plains" regardless of everything.
In the feudal era, it was difficult to be a loyal minister, especially for those like Zhuge Liang who concentrated power but failed to complete the important task of "reviving the Han Dynasty". He had to be careful at all times. At that time, some people actually had doubts about Zhuge Liang's supreme power. Zhuge Liang, who knew everything, would not have been unaware of this. Therefore, his "legendary order" to be buried in Dingjun Mountain may be to avoid being suspected by the emperor and his ministers after his death, and to protect the safety of the country and his family. Since his death, the people have asked to build a temple, but the court has always disagreed. This shows that Zhuge Liang's difficulties are not unreasonable.
Throughout his life, Zhuge Liang worked hard to assist the Shu Han emperor, and he was diligent and honest. His intelligence and wisdom were praised by generations, and his moral thoughts were respected by the world. In particular, his loyal and professional spirit of sacrificing himself in life and never returning home was admired and lamented by later generations. In the tomb of Marquis Wu, there are still couplets in this regard, such as: "The Central Plains has not been settled, how can this spirit return home?" Homeland: I will cherish Western Shu forever, and I will be buried in Junshan after drinking hatred." "If you don't return to your homeland, you will never achieve your ambitions in the Central Plains; your loyal soul will still be there, and you will see the Han Dynasty's tomb on the road." "When he was born, he promoted Liu Zun and the Han Dynasty; when he died, he protected Shu and was buried in the army mountain." These couplets accurately tell the reason why Zhuge Liang was buried in Dingjun Mountain in Hanzhong, and they are also a tribute to Zhuge Liang's high integrity.