Life Wisdom in the Three Kingdoms

Author: Ouyang Zhengde
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhuge Liang's wisdom, judgment, and foresight are unmatched. For example, during the Battle of Red Cliffs, when he and Zhou Yu were determining tactics, they both independently mentioned fire and wrote the character "fire" on their hands. The scene seemed light-hearted—one wrote a character, and the other wrote a character, and in the end, both had written "fire," reaching the same conclusion. In reality, using today's terms, this was a high-level military conference to determine the strategic tactics against Cao Cao, a very significant matter. When the two reached a consensus, the command of the war went smoothly. However, it's important to note that while Zhou Yu proposed fire attack, he hadn't considered the wind factor at that moment, which is why there was later the phrase "Everything is ready, except for the wind." On the other hand, Zhuge Liang's proposal for fire attack already took the wind into account. Although both proposed fire attack, Zhuge Liang thought more deeply and was indeed superior to Zhou Yu.
In the story of "Burning the Tengjia Soldiers" and capturing Meng Huo, Zhuge Liang's strategic prowess is further demonstrated. To pacify the south and ensure no rear threats while preparing for the northern campaign against Cao Wei, Zhuge Liang adopted a strategy of winning hearts and minds, capturing and releasing the southern barbarian leader Meng Huo. Predictably, Meng Huo was no match for Zhuge Liang and was defeated six times in six battles. After his sixth release, Meng Huo sought aid from the king of the Wugu tribe, leading 30,000 Tengjia soldiers to confront Zhuge Liang at Peach Blossom Ferry. Zhuge Liang sent his general Wei Yan to meet them, but the Tengjia soldiers were incredibly formidable, impervious to blades and arrows, and the Shu army struggled to resist, ultimately retreating in defeat. The Tengjia soldiers did not pursue and returned to Peach Blossom Ferry. Since their armor was soaked in oil, it floated on the water, allowing the Wugu soldiers to cross the river with ease. When Wei Yan reported this to Zhuge Liang, his subordinates advised him to retreat. Zhuge Liang replied, "I have come this far—how can I retreat so easily?"
Zhuge Liang personally went to survey the terrain and suddenly came upon a valley shaped like a coiled snake, surrounded by cliffs on both sides, devoid of trees or grass, with only a road in the middle. He asked a local, "What is this place?" The local replied, "This is Coiled Snake Valley." Zhuge Liang exclaimed with joy, "This is heaven-given opportunity for me to succeed." He returned to his camp, ordering Ma Dai to prepare black oil carts and bamboo poles to be placed at both ends of the valley. He instructed Zhao Yun to guard the entrance with necessary supplies and ordered Wei Yan to engage the Tengjia soldiers in battle, ensuring they would lose fifteen consecutive battles and abandon seven camps within half a month, luring the Tengjia soldiers into Coiled Snake Valley. The generals all took their orders.
Meanwhile, Meng Huo reported to the Wugu king Wutugubu, "Congratulations on your initial victory! The Shu army is no match for your Tengjia soldiers. However, Zhuge Liang is skilled in setting ambushes and using fire attacks. From now on, in battle, if you see trees or grass in the valley, do not enter." Wutugubu said, "You are right. Tengjia armor fears fire but not water. We must guard against Zhuge Liang's fire attacks."
A few days later, Wei Yan fought against Wutugubu and was defeated in every battle. Over half a month, he lost fifteen battles and seven camps. The Tengjia soldiers advanced, chasing them relentlessly. Wutugubu, however, refused to advance when he saw dense forests and sent scouts who reported seeing military flags in the shadows. He smiled and told Meng Huo, "Indeed, Zhuge Liang plans to set an ambush in the forest with fire. I won't fall for it—he will surely lose."
On the sixteenth day, Wei Yan challenged Wutugubu again and was defeated. Wei Yan fled through Coiled Snake Valley, and Wutugubu pursued, only to find no trees inside the valley. Suddenly, they saw black oil carts at the entrance. The soldiers called them "their supply carts," and Wutugubu, overjoyed, advanced into the valley. However, just as he did, a fire broke out at the entrance, and dry wood blocked their path. Wutugubu panicked and tried to break through, only to see fire torches scattered on both sides of the valley. Wherever the torches fell, firecrackers exploded, and the 30,000 Tengjia soldiers were trapped, surrounded by flames and killed. Meng Huo, who had come to support Wutugubu, was finally captured by Zhuge Liang. At this point, he could only admit defeat and surrender to Shu.
After the battle, Zhuge Liang gathered his generals and said, "I knew the enemy would guard against fire traps in the forest, so I deliberately placed military flags to make them believe it. I had Wei Yan lose fifteen battles to make Wutugubu overconfident and lightly pursue the bare Coiled Snake Valley. I used firecrackers and black oil to set the fire. As the saying goes, "What thrives in water fears fire." Tengjia armor, soaked in oil, is bound to catch fire." All the generals bowed in awe, praising him, "The Prime Minister understands his enemy and himself, with divine strategy beyond human comprehension!"
It was precisely because of Zhuge Liang's extraordinary foresight and judgment that he was regarded by the world as "possessing divine strategy," and the name "Zhuge Liang" became synonymous with wisdom. P3-4