These two people are rivals who have been fighting for a lifetime, and to put it bluntly, they can be regarded as close friends, but there is no exchange of actions. As far as the empty city plan that everyone recognizes is concerned: it is really a willing to sing, and after one hears it, one eye understands each other. Only to leave this relished empty city plan.
Both eventually reached the pinnacle of power.
Let's first analyze Sima Yi's situation.
Cao Cao said to Cao Pi: Sima Yi could use it, but he had to let it go; Sima Yi was an ambitious person who would sooner or later participate in the affairs of the Cao family, that is to say, he would interfere in the Cao family's regime. Before his death, Cao Cao, a traitor who could clearly see the essence of the matter at a glance, left a sentence that cut off Sima Yi's path of ascension to the throne. Obviously, this sentence has the feeling that things are like gods, but Sima Yi can oppose it, and I have to say that there is also the impetus of this sentence.
Therefore, the very important reason why Sima Yi launched the coup d'état is that he is not trusted, and he has to rebel, which is equivalent to the height of his life being covered, and it is not loyal that can be changed.
Let's look at Zhuge Liang's situation again.
In the White Emperor's city, when Liu Bei was seriously ill, he issued an instruction to Zhuge Liang and said, "If the heir can be assisted, he can be supplemented; if he is not talented, the king can take it himself." After hearing this, Zhuge Liang said busily: "The subject dares to exert all his strength to be loyal to the Festival of Chastity, and then die." ”
Liu Bei's words allowed Zhuge Liang to enjoy power in an open and upright manner.
In this regard, it is very different from Sima Yi's treatment, which may be a small reason why Zhuge Liang did not usurp power.
It is also possible that Liu Bei's entrustment is a kind of temptation, let's see Liu Bei's approach.
Liu Bei did not give the most important military power to Zhuge Liang but to another chancellor, Li Yan.
Before the White Emperor Tuoguo, Zhuge Liang had already become the chancellor of the Shu Han Dynasty, overseeing internal and external affairs, and if he handed over the internal and external military power to Zhuge Liang, it would make the power of the chancellor too heavy, and the later lord Liu Chan would have great power. This is something that Liu Bei does not want to see under any circumstances.
In addition, looking at the precedents of the previous dynasties, if the power is concentrated in the hands of one person, it will naturally pose a threat to the imperial autocracy, so it is the correct way to stabilize the imperial power by dividing the powers and checks and balances and preventing the subordinates from having too much power.
But people are ambitious, and we should also appreciate Zhuge Liang's ambitions.
In addition to Zhuge Liang, Li Yan was also a chancellor of the Shu Kingdom, and at the beginning, Li Yan wrote a letter to Zhuge Liang, persuading Zhuge Liang to accept jiuxi and become a king. (Yan and Liang Shu advised Liang to accept Jiu Xi and become king.) ）
You must know that Wang Mang's usurpation of Han is the way to take the path of centralizing power, accepting jiuxi, and being an emperor. When Li Yan let Zhuge Liang receive the Nine Tins, he had the meaning of letting Zhuge Liang receive Zen and replace Liu Chan. It was impossible for the clever and resourceful Zhuge Liang not to see Li Yan's original intentions, but the loyal Zhuge Liang did not accuse Li Yan with righteous words.
Zhuge Liang wrote back to Li Yan, saying: "Join me in the successful Northern Expedition, destroy the State of Wei, and kill Cao Rui, not to mention the Nine Tins, even if it is ten Tins, I can bear it." (If Wei is destroyed, the emperor will return to his former residence and ascend with his sons, although ten lives can be endured, but the situation is nine tin.) The Han Dynasty had a rule that not the liu clan could not be crowned king, Cao Cao was crowned king by Jiu Xi, and Cao Cao's unworthy heart was well known.
Zhuge Liang also wanted to receive the Nine Tins, and also wanted to be king, didn't he show Zhuge Liang's ambition to replace Liu Chan? However, it is a pity that Zhuge Liang did not succeed in the Northern Expedition, and did not receive the capital of Jiu Xi and enter the title of king. If Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition is successful and has a long lifespan, history will be another direction.