Which tiger general was promoted by Liu Bei before his death, not only avenging Guan Yu, but also angering Zhuge Liang? This tiger general was secretly promoted by Liu Bei in his later years, and although he was not famous, his military mind was no worse than Jiang Wei's. He successively quelled the civil strife, repelled foreign enemies, and continued the national fortune of Shu Han for twenty years. However, why did Liu Bei choose to promote this person on his deathbed? What is the special feature of this tiger general that can make Liu Bei so important?
The dilemma that Liu Bei faced in his later years
In 219 AD, Liu Bei was defeated in the Battle of Dingjun Mountain, losing his troops and losing his vitality. What made him even more grief-stricken was that his two ministers, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, were killed one after another. Guan Yu died at the hands of Eastern Wu, and Zhang Fei was killed by his subordinates Fan Qiang and Zhang Da. Liu Bei was heartbroken, and his health deteriorated after years of fighting.
Although Shu Han occupies the rich land of Yizhou, compared with Eastern Wu and Cao Wei, it is at a disadvantage in terms of military strength and national strength. Liu Bei knew that if Shu Han could not rise as soon as possible, he would probably be unable to resist the attacks of Eastern Wu and Cao Wei, and eventually it would be difficult to escape the fate of extinction of the country.
What worries Liu Bei even more is that although his subordinate Wei Yan is brave and good at fighting, he is stubborn and self-serving, and Zhuge Liang is suspicious of his loyalty. Once Liu Bei is a hundred years old, will Wei Yan become a hidden danger for Shu Han? Liu Bei is very worried about this.
Time passed day by day, and Liu Bei's body became weaker and weaker. He knew that his time was running out, and he had to choose a general for Shu Han who could be entrusted with important tasks as soon as possible. This person must not only be brave in martial arts, but also loyal and able to make suggestions for the future of Shu Han.
Liu Bei carefully recalled the words and deeds of each general on the sickbed, and repeatedly weighed the pros and cons. Suddenly, he had an idea and thought of a candidate - that is Wang Ping!
Although Wang Ping's background was not high, Liu Bei had long noticed the extraordinary talent of this young man. He came from a humble background, but he was diligent and studious, and he knew everything about the art of war. What is even more commendable is that Wang Ping is humble and low-key, and he is never arrogant.
Liu Bei secretly observed Wang Ping for a long time, and saw that he was decisive, not chaotic in the face of danger, and outstanding in military talent. Especially after Ma Tan was defeated and walked through the street pavilion, Wang Ping was ordered to command the Shu army to retreat successfully, preserving the vital forces. This performance made Liu Bei even more impressed.
So, Liu Bei decided to secretly promote Wang Ping and entrust him with important tasks. He first promoted Wang Ping to General Yamen and General Pi, and asked him to assist Zhuge Liang in handling military affairs. Then, let Wang Ping lead an elite army in case of emergency.
Liu Bei's decision was wise. Wang Ping lived up to his trust, made many miraculous achievements in the military, successively quelled the civil strife between Wei Yan and Yang Yi, repelled Cao Wei's attack, and won a respite for Shu Han.
Liu Bei, who was lying on the sickbed, heard these good news, and a relieved smile appeared on his face. He knew that Wang Ping was the person he had been looking for, and he was the pillar of talent who could entrust Shu Han with the future. With Wang Ping, even if Liu Bei dies, he can be blinded.
At the last moment of his life, Liu Bei called Wang Ping to the bed and said earnestly: "General Wang, I can't do it. After my death, the future of Shu Han will depend on you. You have to assist the crown prince Liu Chan, assist Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, and lead Shu Han to become strong. I believe that with you, there is hope for Shu Han!"
Wang Ping bowed down with tears in his eyes and said to Liu Bei: "Don't worry, the lord will do his best, and after death, he will never live up to the trust of the lord!"
Liu Bei listened, nodded with satisfaction, and slowly closed his eyes. He knew that with a loyal and talented general like Wang Ping, there was hope for the future of Shu Han.
Wang Ping's first appearance
Wang Ping, whose name is Wenshou, is a native of Zhijiang County, Nanyang County. He came from a humble background, but he was diligent and studious since he was a child, and he especially loved the art of war. When Wang Ping was a teenager, he worshipped Zhuge Liang as his teacher and learned the art of war from him, which benefited him a lot. Later, Wang Ping defected to Liu Bei, and with his outstanding military talent, he was soon appreciated by Liu Bei.
Although Liu Bei admired Wang Ping a lot, he was not entrusted with important tasks at the beginning. Until 219 AD, the Shu Han general Ma Tan was defeated in the Battle of Jieting, and the situation was extremely critical. Liu Bei made a decision immediately and ordered Wang Ping to lead the army to support and assist Zhuge Liang, Zhao Yun and other generals in retreating.
Wang Ping was ordered to deal with the danger calmly. On the one hand, he sent elite troops to block the pursuit of Cao's army; on the other hand, he personally commanded the rapid withdrawal of the main force and rationally arranged the supply of grain and grass, so as to ensure that the army was not disturbed on the way to retreat. After several days and nights of arduous trekking, Wang Ping finally led his army to join Zhuge Liang and successfully retreated to Hanzhong.
This retreat preserved the vital forces of Shu Han and created conditions for future counteroffensives. Zhuge Liang praised Wang Ping's performance, believing that he was worthy of being a talent who could be entrusted with important tasks. Liu Bei was also very happy when he heard the news, and immediately promoted Wang Ping to the general of the Yamen, in charge of the Praetorian Guard, and gave him the title of "General Pei".
Since then, Wang Ping has been given more opportunities to display his talents. He first accompanied Zhuge Liang to Qishan, defeated Cao Zhen, a famous general of Cao Wei, and forced him to retreat to the street pavilion. Then, Wang Ping followed Zhao Yun to conquer the Yizhou rebel general Meng Da, conquered the city, killed Meng Da, and pacified the turmoil in Yizhou.
In these battles, Wang Ping repeatedly performed miraculous feats and displayed extraordinary military command skills. He can assess the situation, make decisions flexibly, and be good at adapting to local conditions. Whether it is a siege or a surprise attack in the field, Wang Ping can strategize and achieve victory.
In addition to military talent, Wang Ping also has a valuable advantage, that is, he is humble and not arrogant. Although he made great achievements, he was never complacent, and always attributed the credit to the officers and men of the whole army. This has won the love and respect of the soldiers.
Once, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang discussed and talked about Wang Ping. Liu Bei said to Zhuge Liang: "What do you think of Wang Ping? I feel that he is not only outstanding in military talent, but also has the style of a general, and he is a person who can be entrusted with important tasks. ＂
Zhuge Liang nodded yes and said, "What the lord said is extremely true. Although Wang Ping is young, he is a pillar of the country because of his great strategy and ability to unite soldiers. If you can cultivate it well, you will become a great tool. ＂
Liu Bei was very happy when he heard this. He secretly thought to himself: With the assistance of a strategist like Zhuge Liang, and a good general like Wang Ping to lead the army, the future of Shu Han will definitely be bright!
As a result, Liu Bei decided to further promote Wang Ping and entrust him with more important responsibilities. He first put Wang Ping in command of an elite army, which was specifically responsible for the defense of Hanzhong. Then, Wang Ping was appointed as the division of the Chinese military to participate in the decision-making of major military affairs.
Wang Ping lived up to his trust and performed well in these positions. He governed the army strictly, rewarded and punished clearly, and the soldiers respected and loved him. At the same time, Wang Ping was able to give advice and provided many valuable suggestions for the development of Shu Han.
In this way, under Liu Bei's cultivation and trust, Wang Ping gradually grew into the mainstay of Shu Han. He was not only an excellent general, but also a far-sighted military strategist. Liu Bei has high hopes for him, believing that he can become the pillar of Shu Han and contribute to the future of Shu Han.
Wang Ping's military talents
As Wang Ping's status continued to improve, his military talents also got more opportunities to show. He first quelled a rebellion within Shu Han, and then led his army to repel Cao Wei's attack, giving Shu Han a precious respite.
Wei Yan and Yang Yi were originally important generals of Shu Han, but the two fought for power and profit, and the contradiction deepened day by day. In 228 AD, Wei Yan led an army to garrison Hanzhong, while Yang Yi led an army to garrison Nanzheng. The two of them each occupy one side, and the saber rattling is on the verge of breaking out.
When Liu Bei learned of this, he was very worried. He knew that if the conflict between Wei Yan and Yang Yi was allowed to escalate, it would likely lead to civil strife, and Shu Han would be under attack from the enemy at that time, and it would be difficult for him to deal with the attacks of Eastern Wu and Cao Wei.
So, Liu Bei decided to send Wang Ping to mediate. After Wang Ping received the order, he immediately rushed to Hanzhong with his troops. He first found Wei Yan, understood it with reason, moved him with affection, and persuaded him to put aside his prejudices and focus on the overall situation. Then, Wang Ping came to Nanzheng again and had a long talk with Yang Yi, pointing out the harm of the infighting between the two, and strongly persuading Yang Yi to put the interests of the country first.
After Wang Ping's bitter words, Wei Yan and Yang Yi finally let go of their previous suspicions and shook hands. Wang Ping also coordinated the division of military jurisdiction between the two to avoid further disputes. The turmoil was thus subsided under the mediation of Wang Ping.
Liu Bei was overjoyed when he heard the news and was full of praise for Wang Ping's diplomatic skills. He believes that it is really rare for a general like Wang Ping to be able to speak well and judge the situation. With Wang Ping's assistance, Shu Han was able to maintain unity and defend against foreign enemies.
Soon after quelling the civil strife, Wang Ping established an elite army, the Wudang Fei Army. This unit was personally trained by Wang Ping, with strict military discipline and brave combat, and soon became the trump card division of Shu Han.
The advent of the Wudang Flying Army coincided with the white-hot confrontation between Shu Han and Cao Wei. In 229 AD, Zhang He, a famous general of Cao Wei, led an army to attack Hanzhong, and the momentum was like a bamboo. At the critical moment, Wang Ping led the Wudang Flying Army to attack and launched a desperate struggle with Zhang He.
This battle can be called a classic battle in the Three Kingdoms period. The two sides went back and forth, fighting wits and courage, and the battle situation was extremely tragic. Zhang He thought that he would be able to take Hanzhong in one fell swoop, but he did not expect to be met with Wang Ping's stubborn resistance.
Wang Ping's command was determined and he responded calmly. On the one hand, he sent surprise troops to attack Zhang He's rear and disturb his morale, and on the other hand, he led the main force to confront Zhang He head-on, gradually depleting his vital forces. After several days of fierce fighting, Zhang He finally led the remnants to retreat in a hurry, while Wang Ping led his army to pursue and won a lot.
This great victory is a concentrated embodiment of Wang Ping's military talent. He is not only clever in tactics and good at adapting measures to the enemy's conditions, but also can unite soldiers and boost morale. Under the leadership of Wang Ping, the Wudang Flying Army is like an unstoppable sword, invincible.
In addition to commanding troops, Wang Ping also made considerable achievements in military theory. He read a lot of military books, and had a unique insight into the art of war. Zhuge Liang once commented on Wang Ping: "This son is talented and intelligent, and his understanding is extremely high, if he can concentrate on military affairs, he will become a great weapon." ＂
Wang Ping also learned the art of war with Jiang Wei, another famous general of the Shu Han Dynasty, and the two expressed their own opinions and witty words, which can be called a good story. When Jiang Wei later recalled this experience, he praised Wang Ping: "General Wang is worthy of being a soldier in the world, and he has been taught a lot. ＂
In addition to his military talents, Wang Ping also had outstanding performances in Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition. He first went out with Zhuge Liang to Qishan, broke Cao Zhen, and forced him to retreat to the street pavilion. Then, Wang Ping followed Zhuge Liang to conquer Longxi, conquered many strongholds, and expanded the territory of Shu Han.
In these battles, Wang Ping was not only brave and good at fighting, but also able to give advice and solve problems for Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang praised him and once said: "Wang Ping is the pillar of the country, if there is no Wang Ping, I am afraid that Shu Han will be difficult to continue." ＂
In this way, Wang Ping, with his outstanding military talents, won the high trust of Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang. He was not only an outstanding general, but also the mainstay of Shu Han. Internally, the rebellion can be quelled, and externally it can resist strong enemies, Wang Ping can be described as the Dinghai Divine Needle of Shu Han.
Wang Ping's loyalty continued the national fortunes for Shu Han
In 243 AD, Shu Han ushered in an unprecedented crisis. Cao Shuang, the general of Cao Wei, led an army of 100,000 to attack Hanzhong, in a vain attempt to take this important town of Shu Han in one fell swoop. Most of the Shu Han generals who guarded Hanzhong advocated abandoning the peripheral passes and retreating to the two cities of Han and Le. They believed that with the existing strength in Hanzhong, they could not resist Cao Shuang's army at all.
Wang Ping, however, disagreed. He advocated that the pass should be guarded and the Cao army should be blocked. Wang Ping pointed out that although the pass is small, it is the main way in and out of Hanzhong. If the pass is abandoned, the Cao army will be able to directly attack the Han and Le two cities, and then the Shu Han will be attacked by the enemy on the back and will be difficult to parry.
Wang Ping's opinion was supported by Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang. Liu Bei immediately ordered Wang Ping to lead all the defenders and swear to defend Hanzhong to the death. After Wang Ping received the order, he immediately began to deploy defenses. On the one hand, he strengthened the passes and built fortifications, and on the other hand, he deployed heavy troops outside the passes and waited for an opportunity to attack.
Cao Shuang led the army to the outside of the pass, and when he saw that the Shu army was heavily defended, he couldn't help but hesitate. He originally thought that the Shu army would avoid its edge, but he didn't expect to adopt such a tough attitude. Cao Shuang couldn't make up his mind for a while, and he was in a dilemma.
Seeing this, Wang Ping immediately made a decision and ordered a surprise attack. The Shu army attacked suddenly, taking the Cao army by surprise. Cao Shuang responded to the battle in a hurry, but he was never able to resist the fierce offensive of the Shu army. After a day of fierce fighting, Cao's army finally collapsed and retreated in disarray.
This great victory is another demonstration of Wang Ping's military talent. He not only judged the situation and made the right decision, but also was able to seize the opportunity and win by surprise. Although Cao Shuang had the advantage of troops, he was defeated by Wang Ping's resourcefulness.
After Cao Shuang was defeated, Wang Ping did not stop there. He led his army to pursue Cao's army, attacking cities and plundering land all the way to expand the results of the war. Cao Wei's army was in turmoil and lost many cities one after another. Seeing that the general trend had gone, Cao Shuang had to give up the attack and retreat to Chang'an.
This battle completely thwarted Cao Wei's attempt to attack Shu Han. According to historical records, Cao Shuang was severely punished by the Cao Wei court because of this defeat, and he has been in a state of collapse ever since. And Shu Han got a precious respite because of Wang Ping's merits.
Zhuge Liang praised Wang Ping's performance and called him "the pillar of the country". When he reported to Liu Bei, he said: "Wang Ping is both loyal and brave, resourceful, and has made great contributions to the defense of Hanzhong this time. If there is no Wang Ping, I am afraid that Shu Han will be difficult to continue. ＂
After Liu Bei heard this, he nodded again and again. He sighed with emotion: "Wang Ping is worthy of being a good general promoted by me, and he really lives up to expectations." With Wang Ping's assistance, there is hope for Shu Han. ＂
For more than a decade after that, under Wang Ping's insistence, Eastern Wu and Cao Wei were never able to invade the territory of Shu Han. The national fortune of Shu Han has lasted for more than 20 years. This not only avenged Guan Yu, who was previously brutalized by Dongwu, but also gave Zhang Fei a bad breath for the traitor.
More importantly, Wang Ping's loyalty and courage also gave Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition a foundation for realization. Zhuge Liang once said to Wang Ping: "If you guard Hanzhong, you can rest assured that you can go on the Northern Expedition." Without Qing's help, I am afraid that the Northern Expedition will be difficult to continue. ＂
Wang Ping replied humbly: "This is all the plan of the lord and the prime minister, and the minister is just doing his duty." It is an honor for the minister to contribute to Shu Han. ＂
After Zhuge Liang heard this, he patted Wang Ping's shoulder and said, "Qing is too modest. Shu Han can have today, and Qing has made great contributions. ＂
end
In this way, under Liu Bei's promotion and trust, and with Zhuge Liang's appreciation and support, Wang Ping gradually grew into the mainstay of Shu Han. He was not only a good general with outstanding military talents, but also a loyal courtier. As later historians commented: "Wang Ping is both loyal and brave, resourceful, and can be described as the pillar of Shu Han." ＂