Preface
Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, was known as a wise man through the ages, but if he had chosen Cao Cao, who was powerful at that time, what kind of changes would history have ushered in? This assumption makes people immerse themselves in the great variables of history. However, it is worth noting that Mr. Shui Jing had a unique opinion on this issue as early as ancient times.
This article will delve into this assumption and reveal what kind of dramatic changes would have taken place in Zhuge Liang's life and history had he chosen Cao Cao. Through the tracing of history, we will restore the political situation of the Three Kingdoms period, and deeply analyze the possible confrontation and cooperation between Zhuge Liang and Cao Cao, two famous generals through the ages.
Traveling through time together, we will feel the vagaries of history and explore Mr. Shui Jing's wise insights in the intersection of history that he has already seen. Through in-depth interpretation, we may be able to understand more comprehensively that if Zhuge Liang chose Cao Cao, the great possibilities of ancient history and the outstanding wisdom of Mr. Shui Jing.
1. Loyalty and treachery, the collision of two qualities
In 208 AD, after the Battle of Chibi, Cao Cao was defeated but still powerful. At this time, Zhuge Liang, the wise strategist in the world, was still living in seclusion in a simple thatched hut, waiting for his destined monarch.
Cao Cao, a traitorous male, has always used heavy money to recruit talents. After he learned of Zhuge Liang's reputation, he immediately sent someone to invite him to join the office. Zhuge Liang hesitated at first, and finally refused Cao Cao's employment. However, what would have happened if Zhuge Liang had chosen to follow Cao Cao at that time?
With Zhuge Liang's loyal character, it will be difficult to endure Cao Cao's methods of forcibly pulling talents. Xu Shu's mother was coerced, and Xu You was deceived three times before entering the office, Cao Ying can be described as a treacherous place. Zhuge Liang is a righteous gentleman, but I am afraid that he needs to go through a torturous run-in period in order to adapt to Cao Cao's black-bellied and treacherous way of doing things.
What's more, Cao Cao has always treated doctors in his own way and careless of people's lives. Loyal people like Hua Xiong, Cui Yan, Mao Jue and other loyal people all died under Cao Cao's suspicion. It is conceivable that Zhuge Liang must be unable to endure Cao Cao's cruel and unkind actions. The two are incompatible in terms of political philosophy and philosophy of life. This will inevitably bring about violent contradictions and conflicts, and bring great pressure to Zhuge Liang's survival in Cao Ying.
Not only that, Cao Ying also gathered many traitors and villains at that time, such as Hua Jin, Li Ru, Guo Tu, etc. They often flattered Cao Cao with flattery, and spread rumors to divide those loyal and righteous ministers. If Zhuge Liang enters the Cao camp, I am afraid that he will not be able to escape the fate of being framed and slandered by these villains. In such an environment, it is even more difficult to gain a foothold to save lives, and it is even more difficult to gain the trust of reuse.
Therefore, the camp of the loyal and righteous is destined to be difficult to run-in. Zhuge Liang's conduct is very different from Cao Cao's, and this contradiction and conflict is bound to bring him huge mental pressure and seriously affect his prospects in Cao Ying.
2. There are many power schemes, and it is difficult to dominate
It is even more difficult to claim the king and hegemony in Cao Ying. At that time, Cao Cao's account gathered the country's first-class strategists, such as Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Sima Yi, etc., all of whom were scheming and anxious. Even if Zhuge Liang is talented, it is difficult to stand out from this group of people.
Xun Yu is knowledgeable, Guo Jia's clever plan is linked, and Sima Yi is unfathomable. Each of these strategists has their own strengths, and each is unique in their field. And the most terrifying thing is that they often connect with each other in teams, exchange power and schemes, and balance each other's forces. If Zhuge Liang wants to fight his way out of the encirclement, the difficulty can be imagined.
What's more, even if Zhuge Liang really succeeds in ascending to the throne, he will still have to face competition from Guo Jia and other strategists. It is conceivable that there will be many power wrestling in Cao Ying, and Zhuge Liang doesn't know if he can have the last laugh in such a fierce competition. These strategists are all very deep in the city, and their methods are vicious.
They will work together to set up all kinds of obstacles for this talented newcomer. If he wants to gain a foothold in Cao Ying, Zhuge Liang will inevitably have to compete with these traitors and villains, and it is very likely that he will fall into the whirlpool of power and intrigue and cannot extricate himself.
Even if he can get out of the trap with his intelligence, it is extremely difficult to truly dominate this group of scheming strategists. Cao Cao has many strategists, and if he wants to truly dominate, I am afraid that it will be as difficult as ascending to the sky.
3. The art of checks and balances is difficult to accomplish
What's more, Cao Cao, a traitorous male, will definitely not let his subordinates' power grow too strong. It is foreseeable that once Zhuge Liang occupies a place in the court, Cao Cao will inevitably arrange for henchmen such as Sima Yi to check and balance and prevent him from becoming king.
Sima Yi, a treacherous villain, is best at divisive calculations. He will definitely try to slander Zhuge Liang in front of Cao Cao, make Cao Cao suspicious, and prevent Zhuge Liang from gaining too much trust. may even unite with Xun Yu, Guo Jia and others to besiege this talented newcomer. At that time, Zhuge Liang will lose the opportunity to build a career in the court, and even have to guard against the hidden arrows of these traitors to hurt people.
In such an environment, even if Zhuge Liang has outstanding talents, it is difficult to have room to fully display them. He will not be able to carry out his ideal political ideas, and it will be difficult for him to control the overall situation. And Cao Cao and others will also deliberately suppress his power, for fear that he will control heavy troops and be unfavorable to himself. With only the might of a tiger but a lack of tiger generals, I am afraid that it will be difficult to achieve hegemony in Cao Yingzhong and realize his political ideals.
4. The water mirror prophesied, the achievement is limited
Therefore, why did Mr. Shui Jing's sentence "only have the master, not the time" so accurately comment on Zhuge Liang's life? Under Cao Cao's command, he was destined to just waste his outstanding mind and ambition, and it was difficult to display his ambitions, and in the end he could only pass away gloomily, and his future was uncertain.
Zhuge Liang chose Liu Bei, although the process was quite difficult, but in the end he did become the first assistant of the Hanzhong Dynasty, assisting the young master Liu Chan to stabilize the Shu Han Dynasty. He was able to exercise his political ambitions, implement benevolent government, and make the people of Shu prosperous and healthy. This is all thanks to Liu Bei's delegation of power. If you follow Cao Cao, I am afraid that I will not be able to display my talent for the rest of my life, so I can only end up helplessly.
It can be said that Zhuge Liang's life is so lucky that he met Liu Bei who can understand him and trust him. If it weren't for the fact that when he was in seclusion, Liu Bei invited him out of the mountains and forests in the thatched house, maybe we wouldn't be able to see the benevolent politics of Shu today. The pinnacle of Zhuge Liang's achievements is all due to the full trust and space given to him by Liu Bei. This is what Mr. Shui Jing calls the importance of "winning the master"!
epilogue
Dear readers, what do you think of the hypothetical assumptions of this history? Does it make you think more about the history of the Three Kingdoms? If you like my text, please like and collect support, and welcome to leave a message in the comments to exchange and discuss!