The deeds of Zhuge Liang Sanqi Zhou Yu are widely known, and Zhou Yu died early and died at the age of thirty-six, which makes people sigh. In the Qin opera, there is a witty dialogue, asking: "What is the name of Zhou Yu's father? What is the name of Zhuge Liang's father?" Answer: "Zhou Yu's father is called Zhou Ji, and Zhuge Liang's father is called Zhu He." Ask: "Why is this so?" Answer: "Isn't it often said that 'if you are born of Yu, you will be born of Liang'!"
Looking back on the history of the Three Kingdoms, Zhuge Liang not only made Zhou Yu angry and died, but also caused the other two characters to die in Huangquan.
One of them was Situ Wang Lang of Wei. Wang Lang was a famous scholar in the Three Kingdoms period, from Shandong, and was ranked as the third prince together with Zhong Xuan and Hua Xin, and was nicknamed Chenghou.
He was originally an old minister of the Han Dynasty, successively served as the magistrate of Jiangqiu County, engaged in the governance of Xuzhou, and was even appointed by Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty as the Taishou of Huiji, with outstanding political achievements. However, after being defeated by Sun Ce of Jiangdong, he held on to the city and was eventually defeated. Fortunately, Cao Cao recognized his talent and made him a counselor. After the establishment of the Wei State, he held a number of important positions, and Cao Pi obeyed him. However, this outstanding talent was angered by Zhuge Liang's words in front of the two armies and died angrily.
In 227 AD, Zhuge Liang led his troops to defeat Xiahou Mao, subdued Jiang Wei, captured the three cities, and marched to Weishui. At that time, Wang Lang, who was already 76 years old, did not choose to enjoy his old age in the capital, but he accompanied Cao Zhen on the expedition with high spirits, and vowed to persuade Zhuge Liang to surrender. When the two armies faced each other, the conversation between the two was as follows:
Wang Lang said: "I have admired the name for a long time, and I am really honored to see it today." Since the public knows the destiny of heaven and the current affairs, why should he raise troops to invade the country?"
Zhuge Liang responded: "I am ordered to beg for thieves, how can I say that I am nameless?"
Wang Lang continued: "The general trend of the world is that virtuous people live in it. Since Huan and Ling, the world has been in turmoil. My Emperor Taizu Wu swept away Liuhe, and all the people returned to their hearts, which is really the destiny of heaven. Why don't you follow the heavens and surrender to me?"
Zhuge Liang retorted: "I thought that the old ministers of the Han Dynasty must have lofty opinions, but I didn't expect such contemptuous remarks! If you live in the East China Sea, you should support the Han family, why should you help the rebels usurp the throne! The crime is so great that heaven and earth will not tolerate it!"
When Wang Lang heard this, he was so angry that he died in the army that night.
Zhuge Liang provoked Wang Lang in three ways: first, he directly attacked his weakness and pointed out his suspicion of betraying the Han and aiding the thief; second, his words were progressive, layered, and spicy and sharp; third, he used heavy language to directly denounce him for his deep crimes and shamelessness in seeing the emperor.
Another person who was angry with Zhuge Liang was Cao Zhen, the general of Wei.
Cao Zhen is Cao Cao's nephew and adopted son, who is powerful and brave, and is the right-hand man of Wei. Cao Zhen's prominent position in the Wei State was not only based on relatives, but also on his own ability. The description in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" may be different from the official history, Cao Zhen is portrayed in the book as brave and resourceless, repeatedly defeated at the hands of Zhuge Liang, and even by Sima Yi. However, the most surprising thing was that he was by a letter from Zhuge Liang.
At that time, Zhuge Liang learned that Cao Zhen was seriously ill and thought that this was a good opportunity. He pretended to have an appointment with Cao Zhen and asked Wei to send a letter to Cao Zhen. After reading the letter, Cao Zhen was so angry that he "filled his chest with hatred" and died in the army that night.
Zhuge Liang used the edge of words to push Cao Zhen into a desperate situation, and the three threats contained in it are terrifying. First of all, he ruthlessly exposed Cao Zhen's shortcomings, ridiculing him as a "junior with shallow knowledge" who did not know the art of war, and even "lost his armor in the sloping valley and suffered from the torrential rain in Chencang". Secondly, he accurately attacked Cao Zhen's sore spot. The flaw in Cao Zhen's character is jealousy and self-esteem, Zhuge Liang bluntly said that he has lost face, and it is hopeless to return to Guanzhong, and even his defeat will leave a heavy mark in the long river of history. In the end, he skillfully exploited Cao Zhen's arrogance. Cao Zhen thought very highly of himself and had a short temper, but Zhuge Liang made a lot of nonsense, claiming to "turn the Wei State into ruins", which undoubtedly made Cao Zhen angry and even more angry.
In short, Zhuge Liang, with his outstanding intellect and rhetoric, succeeded in Zhou Yu, Wang Lang and Cao Zhen, three heavyweights of the Three Kingdoms period, showing his extraordinary political and military talents.