Now the south has been determined, the armor has been sufficient, when the award led the three armies, the north fixed the Central Plains, shu exhausted the blunt, eliminated the traitors, revived the Han room, and returned to the old capital.
Zhuge Liang has made it very clear in the "Table of Renunciation" that his ideal in life is to go north to the Central Plains and restore the Han Dynasty, which is also the reason why he followed Liu Bei in the first place.
When Liu Beisan was in Maolu, Zhuge Liang analyzed the Longzhong Pair for Liu Bei and formulated a strategic policy. As long as Liu Bei followed this strategic policy, the Han Dynasty could be revived.
Originally, Liu Bei had already reached the basic condition for reviving the Han Dynasty, that is, to occupy Jingzhou and Yizhou. However, Guan Yu carelessly lost Jingzhou and lost a strategic area.
Originally, Zhuge Liang's strategic policy was to send troops from Jingzhou and Hanzhong, so that Cao Wei could be destroyed. Now that Jingzhou was lost, Zhuge Liang could only send troops from Hanzhong.
In the sixth year of Jianxing of the Shu Han Dynasty (228 AD), Zhuge Liang led an army to attack the three counties of Longxi and began the Northern Expedition. After analyzing the route of Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition, we will find a problem, the places where Zhuge Liang entered the army are basically in Gansu, such as Tianshui, Qishan, Wudu and other places are in Gansu.
Zhuge Liang shouted all day about the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains, but wasn't the Central Plains Henan? Why did Zhuge Liang always run to Gansu? In fact, this is zhuge liang's poisonous spicy.
First, Gansu has a high geographical location
In the "General Classic", it is recorded: "Climbing the Long Mountain and looking at the Qin River, the eyes are very clear." ”
After Zhuge Liang occupied Gansu, he marched from west to east, showing a condescending trend, which greatly enhanced the combat effectiveness of the Shu army. The Wei army marched from east to west, that is, to attack from the back, which was very difficult.
The marching army pays attention to the favorable time, place, and people, and if it occupies the geographical advantage, it will grasp a one-third chance of victory, so Zhuge Liang must first take Gansu.
Second, plot against the Hu people
The Gansu region is far from the Central Plains, and has always been inhabited by a large number of Hu people. These Hu people wavered, surrendering to Cao Wei today and rebelling tomorrow.
If Zhuge Liang could win over these Hu people and let them join his own camp, it would greatly improve the combat effectiveness of the Shu army, and the chances of victory in the Northern Expedition would be much greater.
Third, look for horses
Chengdu is the "kingdom of heaven" and is rich in grain. Food is very important for fighting, but horses are also very important for fighting.
Yizhou does not produce horses, so there is a shortage of horses, while Gansu is rich in horses, and they are all tall horses, and the horse resources are very rich. Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition to the Central Plains required a large number of cavalry, and the cavalry needed a large number of horses, so Gansu became the main target of the attack.
When Zhuge Liang conquered Gansu, what benefits would he have?
First, Zhuge Liang was given horses and manpower, which increased the combat effectiveness of the Shu army;
Second, Zhuge Liang had the advantage of being able to strike at Cao Wei even more. These two aspects represent people and geographical advantages respectively, and if you add the time of day, Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition will definitely be victorious.
However, when Zhuge Liang was partially missing the heavens, the heavens did not help him, and in the end, the Northern Expedition failed, and Zhuge Liang regretted his death.
References: Sangokushi, Wei, Gyoku, and Sorcery