Zhuge Liang (181 - 234) sometimes spelled Tchou-kö Lieang , Tchou-KB Lieang or Chu-KB Liang (zh-Hant 諸葛亮, Pinyin: Zhūge Liàng ) was a famous Chinese strategist and, with Sima Yi and Zhou Yu, one of the most brilliant tacticians of the time of the Three Kingdoms. It was combined with Liu EIB and as a Prime Minister of the Shu, carried out five invasions of the Royaume of Wei with an aim of restoring the Dynastie Han.

The name of Zhuge Liang became legendary and synonymous in China with intelligence and spirit. Marquis de Wu, it is often refers to him under his social Prénom of Kongming (zh-Hant 孔明, Kǒngmíng ) or under his nickname taoist of “ Dragon squatted ” (zh-Hant 臥龍, Wòlóng ). This same nickname became in Japanese an expression meaning “exceptional man” (ja 臥龍, garyū or garyō ). Zhuge Liang is known in Japan under the name of Shokatsuryō Kōmei and in Korea under that of Jegalryang Gongmyeong .

Zhuge Liang was born in the year 181 (during the last years of the Han dynasty) with Yangdu, Shandong, China. Young orphan, it is obliged to flee the Shandong during the massacre of: 400000 civilians by CAD CAD, powerful lord of war of the central plains.

During a few years, he lives a small farm of Longzhong, cultivating the ground and forming friendships with literary, military, philosophical celebrities (inter alia) of time. Its reputation increases so much that, according to the legend, Liu EIB comes by three times to visit it, begging it to become its strategist. Always according to the legend, after a long discussion, touched by the sincerity of Liu EIB it accepts and leaves its farm to join has this one. It does not have whereas twenty-six years.

With Liu EIB, it forms the kingdom of Shu. Being combined with Sun Quan, chief of the kingdom of Wu, they gain in particular the Bataille of Red Cliff. Later, it is appointed Prime Minister when Liu EIB crowns emperor. But this one dies in 223, following a disastrous campaign against the kingdom of Wu. Wu had killed the lord Guan Yu, his/her brother in arms. The crown passes to the son of Liu EIB, Liu Shan, that Kongming serves until its death in 234.

During its administration the prosperous kingdom and can resist and even attack the powerful kingdom of Wei in north. During its last years, it assembles five forwardings to conquer Wei, but all fail. During the last program, suffering of excess of tiredness and patient, he dies. Jiang Wei, a general of Wei which he had convinced to join it succeeds to him. The entire kingdom cried and Shu, in spite of qualities of Jiang Wei, did not recover from this blow.

Biography

Youths

Zhuge Liang is born in 181 in Yangdu, in the district of Langye (today Yinan in the province of Shandong). It goes down from Zhuge Feng, a director of the servants under the Dynastie Han. His/her father, Zhuge Gin, are an assisting officer. Zhuge Liang becomes orphan at twelve years. Yuan Shu appoints his/her uncle Zhuge Xuan large administrator of Yuzhang and the latter takes Zhuge Liang and its brother Zhuge Jin with him until the court of Han decides to replace it by Zhu Hao following the conquest of Shangdong by CAD CAD in 195.

Zhuge Xuan then leaves to serve Liu Biao which he knew for a long time. To died his/her uncle, Zhuge Liang leaves to plow the fields in the province of Gansu while studying the traditional ones, of which the Chant of Liangfu (zh-Hant 梁父吟, Liángfù yín ). According to annals of the Han dynasty and Dynasty Jin, it would then have been high of eight chi (either more 2,6  m) and would have been frequently compared with Guan Zhong and Yi but nobody at the time would have really recognized to him such aptitudes apart from his/her friends Cui Zhouping de Boling and Xu Shu de Yingchuan.

Meet with Liu EIB - Development of the strategy of Longzhong

In 207, Liu EIB is posted in Xinye and Xu Shu, an adviser to whom it dedicated a great admiration, comes to visit him. This last would have said to him: “My general, don't you want to meet Zhuge Kongming, which one also knows under the nickname of Wolong (Squatted Dragon)? ”.

According to the Xiangyang Ji , Him EIB had before met Sima Hui, which had recommended two taoists to him particularly to the volume of the businesses of the time present which had as a nickname “Squatted Dragon” (the nickname taoist of Zhuge Liang) and “Young Phoenix” (that of Pang Tong).

Liu EIB thus jumps on the occasion and requires to meet it, but Xu Shu answers him that Zhuge Liang is the kind of man who deserves that one has goes to his meeting and not the reverse and advises to him to go in person at his place. He EIB takes the advice of Xu Shu and share to the meeting of Zhuge Liang. After two unfruitful visits, he manages to make his knowledge with the third.

He EIB would then have held this speech to him: “The Han dynasty is declining, the corrupted ministers adapt the capacity and the Emperor is trailed in dust! In spite of my aspiration to bring back the virtue under the sky, I am unable to judge my own position what was worth me to fall victim from simplest stratagems so far. I however still kept my ideals. Which strategy advise me? ”

Zhuge Liang then exposes its famous to him Stratégie of Longzhong: “Since the fall of Dong Zhuo, of many heroes appeared the list of those which direct provinces and districts is too long to be enumerated. CAD CAD missed prestige and partisans to deal with Yuan Shao but was however able to reverse it and pass from a weak position to a solid position. CAD CAD counts its partisans to the million now and has constrained the Son of the Skies to exert his authority on the lords. One cannot openly face it. Sun Quan, already the third of its line, occupies Jiangdong. The ground is not very practicable there, its vassal obeying and it adapted the talent of men of merit. It can make excellent allied and one should not conspire against him. The town of Jingzhou includes in north the rivers Han and Mian and has access to all the resources of the South Sea. It is also related to the east in Wu and Today and on the west with Ba and Shu. It has an important strategic position but its leader is not able to exploit it. It is a celestial occasion, my general, perhaps will you thus intend to make the capture of it? The ground of Jizhou is difficult and represents thousands of miles of fertile ground. It is a celestial ground since your back great-grandfather built his empire there. Liu Zhang is an imbecile and weak and has like neighbor Zhang Lu in north. The people are easy and the prosperous state but Liu Zhang is without pity. The wise and able officers aspire to be directed by an intelligent lord. My general, you go down from the imperial clan and you are famous through the four seas for your faith. You rejoin with you the heroes and you are thirsty for their aptitudes. Made the conquest of Jing and Yi and their points strategic, subdue the people of Rong in the west, take care of the Yi people and Yue of the south, you in Sun Quan combine and occupy you interior matters. When there is a change in the empire, it is necessary that a highly skilled general receives the army of Jingzhou and directs it against Wan and Luo. Direct the troops of Yizhou out of the valley of Qin. Isn't it certain that the inhabitants will accommodate you with food and wine? If you manage to complete hegemony, you will have succeeded in restoring the Han dynasty. ”

Liu EIB expresses its approval of the plan of Zhuge Liang and a deep affection with the displeasure testifies to him consequently to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Liu EIB says to them: “When I am with Kongming, I am like fish in water. Known as more nothing on this subject. ” This quotation is often deformed in the more popular form: “I need Zhuge Liang as the fish needs water. ”

Meet with Liu IQ

In 208, Zhuge Liang meets Liu IQ, the second wire of Liu Biao, which, influenced by his second wife, privileges her young person wire Liu Zong with the detriment of Liu IQ. This last often seeks to discuss with Zhuge Liang a way of defending oneself but in vain.

One day, Liu IQ visits a garden with Zhuge Liang and both climb in top of a tower. Whereas they drank, Liu IQ is arranged so that somebody withdraws the scale, and he says to Zhuge Liang: “Summons Us today neither sitted with the paradise, nor on Earth. The words of your mouth can reach only my ears. Can we now discuss? ” Zhuge Liang answered: “Lord, do you remember Shen Sheng, endangered in its palate while Zhong er owed its safety with the escape? ” Liu IQ includes/understands allusion and organizes in secrecy its escape. Huang Zu came shortly after by its death to provide the occasion for Liu IQ to flee and to go to Jiangxia where the task of large governor was entrusted to him.

A little later in the same year, Liu Biao dies and Liu Zong learns that CAD CAD undertook a campaign against him. It dispatches an emissary offering his rédition and Liu EIB, then in Fan takes note of the situation and starts its army towards the south, accompanied by Zhuge Liang and Xu Shu. They are put in rout by CAD CAD which had captured the mother of Xu Shu and kept this one as an hostage. Xu Shu left Liu EIB to join CAD CAD.

Negotiations with Sun Quan

Liu EIB, pursued by CAD CAD, reached Xiakou. Zhuge Liang proposes to him to be combined in Sun Quan and is sent as an emissary. It would then have held this speech in Sun Quan: “The world is in chaos. You raised an army to conquer Jiangdong while Liu EIB of Yuzhou gathered its men in the south, thus disputing the empire with CAD CAD. CAD CAD now pacified many conflicts and imposed peace in many areas. It conquered Jingzhou and its prestige extends between the four seas. Liu EIB had to flee because its heroes did not on a occasion to show their power. If you can analyze the situation of your force, if you can be opposed to the kingdom medium by unifying Wu and Yue, perhaps would be it to better cross as of now any relationship to CAD CAD. If you cannot face it, better is worth to demobilize your troops, to throw your armor and to subject to you to north. You reconciling are now seen outside and yet elaborative of the undecided plans inside. You do not dare to undertake any action the day before the disaster! ”

Sun Quan would have required of him: “If the situation is such as you describe it, why Liu de Yuzhou didn't it thus subject itself? ”

Zhuge Liang answered: “It is such Tian Heng, the hero of IQ which defends justice and refuses dishonor. Moreover, Liu EIB is downward of the imperial family and a hero of her time. Its partisans run to him like the rivers to the ocean. If it had suddenly failed, it is that such was the will of the Sky. Never it will be subjected to CAD CAD. ”

Sun Qian, excited, required: “I cannot offer the hundred miles hearts of Wu to the authority of a man. I thus already made my decision! Except Liu de Yuzhou, no one cannot be measured with CAD CAD. But is Yuzhou is already overcome, still able to fight? ”

Zhuge Liang answered: “Although the army of Yuzhou was demolished in Changban, the dispersed soldiers gathered, and added to the marine elite of Guan Yu, the ten thousand men reach. He IQ of Jiangxia also orders him with step less than ten thousand soldiers. The army of CAD CAD made a long way and is found tired and handicapped. I have hearsay that to pursue Yuzhou, their light cavalry was seen forced to make more than three hundred miles in one day and a night. It is precisely what means the saying “arrow in end of the road cannot bore the Lu silk costume”. It is it against what the Art of the war warns by saying “the commander will end up falling”. Moreover, those of north are not accustomed to the naval war. And although those of Jingzhou yielded to CAD CAD, they had to yield under the constraint and their rendering is not sincere. You can thus today ask your generals to carry out tens of thousands of co-operative and plain men with Yuzhou. The army of CAD CAD will be surely overcome and will have to be folded up in north while Jing and Wu will benefit from it to be reinforced and a tripartite consensus will settle. Victoire or defeat, it is now that it is necessary to decide. ”

Sun Quan is satisfied and dispatches Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu and Lu Known with the head of a naval army of thirty thousand men to return visit in Liu EIB and to link their forces against CAD CAD. The confrontation, called since “Battle of red Cliff” mark the greatest defeat of CAD CAD and the effective separation of China in three great powers which Zhuge Liang during its discussion with Sun Quan had predicted. CAD CAD folds up its army with Ye while Liu EIB takes possession of the province of Jing and names Zhuge Liang general-adviser of noble (zh-Hant 軍師中郎將, jūnshī zhōng láng jiāng ) and gives him the direction of the districts of Lingling, Guiyang and Changsha as well as the load of tax collector.

Rise at the post of Prime Minister

In 211 (sixteenth year of Jian' year), the governor of Yizhou, Liu Zhang, dispatch F Zhang to start talks with Liu EIB and to incite it to attack Zhang Lu. Liu EIB prefers to be turned over against Liu Zhang and besieges Jiameng. Zhuge Liang, accompanied by Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun directs forwarding a time, then the three separated on their side to pacify the various districts. Zhuge Liang leaves to join Liu EIB and to besiege Chengdu.

In 214, once Chengdu conquered, Zhuge Liang are named general-adviser (zh-Hant 軍師將軍, jūnshī jiāngjūn ).

In 217, he sees himself offering the responsibility of manage the businesses of the general of the left, to maintain peace with Chengdu and to ensure the good transport of the supply.

In 220, CAD CAD dies and his/her son CAD pi dispossesses the emperor Xiandi of Han and proclaims first emperor of the Dynastie Wei.

In 221 (twenty-sixth year of Jian' year), Liu EIB is pressed by its advisers to proclaim emperor. Zhuge Liang would then have said to him: “Formerly, Wu Han, Geng Chun and others pressed Liu Xiu (the emperor Guangwu, founder of the dynasty of Han Eastern) to take the throne, but this one refused with four recoveries. Geng Chun says to him then: “The heroes of the empire await many you. If you refuse to listen to the opinions of your advisers, those from there will seek another lord who will listen to them.” Liu Xiu included/understood the wisdom of these words and took the throne. The clan of the CAD usurped Han and the empire is now without sovereign. Large king, you are downward of the imperial clan Liu and only legitimate heir. Here is moment to go up on the imperial throne. The noble ones which followed you and suffered wish them also the merits praised by Geng Chun. ”

Liu EIB thus proclaims emperor and fact of Zhuge Liang its Prime Minister (zh-Hant 丞相, chéngxiàng ). The official edict gives:

“Our clan suffered from misfortune and We decided to go up on the imperial throne. We will be careful and conscientious, and although not daring to disturb the wellbeing of the people, We fear to be able to offer to him. Liang Prime Minister! Include/understand Our wishes and cures Our errors! Helps us to propagate the radiation which illuminates the empire and applies to the task! ”

Three months later, Zhang Fei is made assassinate and Zhuge Liang receives its warhead.

With the service of Liu Shan - Regency

In spring 223 (3rd year of Zhangwu), Liu EIB, on its bed of death, makes come Zhuge Liang de Chengdu to inform him of its last wills: “Your talent is worth ten times that of CAD pi and I know that you are able to maintain the stability of the kingdom and to complete our large company. If it is necessary you to assist my to inherit, Liu Shan, assists it. If it misses aptitudes, compensate there. ” Zhuge Liang accepts and Liu EIB made proclaim a decree for submission to its successor:

“Am the businesses of the State in agreement with the Prime Minister and see in him your own father. ”

In May 223 (1 year of Jianxing), at the time of its accession on the throne, Liu Shan names Zhuge Liang duke of Wuxiang, confirms it in its post of Prime Minister and makes him establish a department so that it can manage the state. A little later Zhuge Liang is named governor of Yizhou and all the businesses of states, small like large, are subjected to its discretion.

In June 223, all the districts of Nanzhong revolt. Zhuge Liang considers the use of the force disproportionate after the loss of the emperor and does not raise an army. It sends an emissary to Wu to reinforce the relations. In 224, Sun Quan dispatches its own diplomatic mission and returns the emissary.

In spring 225 (3rd year of Jianxing), Zhuge Liang directs a forwarding to the south and completes to pacify the revolts with the autumn of the same year. Thanks to the resources of these new conquests, the state starts to thrive and Zhuge Liang prepares its great offensive.

In 227 (5th year of Jianxing), Zhuge Liang leads its generals to north to put them in garrison at Hanzhong. Before taking the debate, he writes a report with Liu Shan:

“Fire the emperor is deceased before to have been able to achieve its work, and the Empire is now divided into three. Yizhou is with end and times are serious. However, the subjects which defend your Majesty will continue their efforts at the court, while your honest soldiers will continue to fight outside. There is not any doubt that they remember the generosity of fire the emperor and wish to pay their debt towards your Majesty. Your Majesty, increase the size of your wise audience to propagate the luminous virtues of fire the emperor and to amplify the resolution of your officers. You do not devaluate and do not use of false pretexts to pass in addition to honourable protests.

the imperial palace and the seats of the government do only one and promotions, retrogradations, praises and criticisms must be distributed equitably. If criminals crafty beggars or the benevolent honest ones appear, that their punishment or their reward share with the competent authorities in order to show your government right and enlightened. That there is no favoritism or of treatment different from the laws inside or out of the court. The servants of the palate and advisers Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi and Dong Yun are benevolent and honest and their honest and right spirits and fire the emperor recommended them to your service. Please consult them for the businesses of the palate, large or small, before making the least least decision: that will surely make it possible to avoid error count of judgment or omissions.

the general Xiang Chong is generous and right and has great experience of the military businesses and fire the emperor regarded it as able. Your servant thus recommends it as superintendent (zh-Hant 督, dū ). Consult it for the businesses of the army, which will bring back the harmony in the rows as well as satisfaction for the officers and for the soldiers to occupy their stations. To bind on able subjects and to be detached from poor were the secrecy of the success of the founders of the Han dynasty. To be combined with poor and to reject the able ones are the reason of the fall of the Han last. When fire the emperor was in life, he discussed on the least occasion this kind subject and never failed to cry the decisions of the emperors Huan and Ling. The servants of the palate, Masters of the writings, spiritual leaders and military advisers all are devoted to their task and inébranlables, even in death and I cherish the hope which your Majesty accepts them and trusts them because then the prosperity of Han will perdurera.

Your servant was a man of the people, vêtu simply and cultivating its fields with Nanyang. I aspired only to my personal safety in these chaotic times and wished not to be known lords. Fire the emperor, far from being counterirritated by my low condition, visited me to three recoveries in my hut to consult businesses of a range historical and grateful of his generosity I followed it and was useful. Later, the wind turned and I received my command per hour of the defeat and the disaster, here is blackjack years. Fire the emperor knew me careful and thus its great task entrusted to me on its bed of death. Since I received his orders, I am anxious day and night for fear its will cannot be carried out or that its glory does not grow blurred. This is why I crossed the river Lu in May to venture in the wild regions. Now that the South is pacified and that arms manufacture is filled up, we should direct the three armies to make safe the central plains of North. Higher of my capacities, I will exterminate the bad ones, will restore the clan of Han and will turn over to the old capital. Such is the duty of your servant towards fire the emperor and to confirm my allegiance towards Your Majesty.

From now on, the evaluation of the political matters and the councils honest will be the responsibility for Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi and Dong Yun. I wish that Your Majesty give to your servant the task to eliminate the gangsters and to restore the clan of Han. If I had suddenly failed, punish me for my crimes and bring back to it to the spirit of fire the emperor. If they had not suddenly offered enlightened and virtuous councils to you, return Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi and Dong Yun and décriez their faults with the people. That Your Majesty is pensive and implements the moralities. That It lends the orreille to the councils of good quality and continues the will of fire the emperor. I profited from a sagacious benevolence and to express my recognition I miss the words. In this my departure day before, I pour tears in front of this memory, hardly giving an account of to me what I marked there. ”

Zhuge Liang leaves for Mianyang and is established there in garrison.

In spring 228 (6th year of Jianxing), Zhuge Liang announces its intention to go through the valley of Xie to capture Mei. It dispatches Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi towards the valley of Ji in order to delude the general CAD Zhen with Wei. Zhuge Liang directs the head office of Qishan in person. The chronicle retains the strong discipline of its armies, the clearness of its kinds and balance between rewards and punishments. The three districts of Nan' year, Tianshui and Anding are raised against Wei and go to Zhuge Liang. The emperor CAD Rui of Wei then launches a forwarding towards the West in order to maintain peace with Chang' year and sends Zhang He to face Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang on its side entrusts to My Known the command of the avant-garde and it is the latter which faces Zhang He in Jieting. My Known contravenes the orders of Zhuge Liang and decides to apply its own tactics which show a total defeat of its army. Zhuge Liang returns in Hanzhong after having annexed more than thousand hearths with Xixian, and makes carry out My Known. It sends a letter of excuse to the emperor Liu Shan:

“Your servant counted too much on his low capacities to undertake a task which exceeded it with three armies. I was unable to maintain my authority and my vigilance, which was worth our defeat in the valley of Ji. The fault was with my lack of moral judgment to decide on the general to whom to delegate my authority. My wisdom is insufficient to determine kindness or mischievousness at the others. Your servant must be held responsible such as it is prescribed in the Annales Springs and Falls concerning the sanction of the overcome commanders. I solicit with being degraded of three rows in remission of my errors. ”

Liu Shan retrogresses Zhuge Liang with the row of general of the right-hand side (zh-Hant 右將軍, yòu jiāngjūn ). Zhuge Liang however keeps all the duties and tasks of Prime Minister.

In winter 228, Zhuge Liang crosses the passage of San again and encircles Chencang. CAD Zhen faces him and Zhuge Liang must once beat in retraire the exhausted vivres. The general Wang Shuang of Wei then carries out his cavalry to attack it but is made beat and decapitate.

In 229 (7th year of Jianxing), Zhuge Liang sends Chen Shi to besiege Wudu and Yinping. The governor of Yongzhou, Guo Hooted, considers one moment to direct a forwarding against Chen Shi, but it is attacked by another army directed by Zhuge Liang itself. Gua Hai must beat a retreat and the two districts are annexed to the profit of Shu. In reward of its victories, Zhuge Liang sees its position of Prime Minister officially restored by Liu Shan:

“the person in charge of the defeat of Jieting My Was known and you however decided to reject the responsibility on your own person, and not wishing to oppose your wishes, We followed you. The year spent, you illustrated yourself at the time of your countryside by killing Wang Shuang. This year you defied Guo Huai, Di and Qiang were subjected and we recovered two districts. Your force pacifies brutality and your exploits are obvious. Today, the Empire is not in peace and any source of mischievousness was not éradiquée. You accepted a large company as well as the load of the state and yet you lower yourself and depreciate you. It is not a way of propagating the glory of your large and glorious successes. As from now, you are restored in your load of Prime Minister and let us ask We you not to refuse it. ”

In April, Sun Quan proclaims emperor of Wu. Zhuge Liang sends Chen Zhen to congratulate it.

In 231 (9th year of Jianxing), Zhuge Liang leaves to shift by using “oxen wood” (zh-Hant 木牛運, mù niú yùn ) to transport the vivres but must once withdraw the exhausted provisions. It beats the army of Wei with Lu in May and Sima Yi prefers to be cut off, refusing to face it openly. In June, the army of Zhuge Liang faces that of Zhang He and this last pursues it until Mumen where it is killed in a ambush by archers.

To spring 234 (12th year of Jianxing), Zhuge Liang led its army of valley of Xie for the plains of Wuzhang by using this time of the “floating horses” (zh-Hant 流馬, liú mǎ) to ensure the transport of the vivres. He faces Sima Yi in Weinan. Anxious on still having to face a lack of supply, it decides to make establish agrarian colonies (Tuntian).

In August, Zhuge Liang ends up dying of tiredness and disease at the age of fifty-three years. He asked to be buried simply on the Dingjun mount and asked the emperor so that its family not profit more than necessary of her generosity.

References and notes

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