The statements in this article are based on reliable sources of information and are detailed at the end of the article
Speaking of the Three Kingdoms, Zhuge Liang is definitely the embodiment of wisdom and strategy.
After coming out of the mountain, Zhuge Liang assisted Liu Bei and made suggestions for the growth of Shu Han.
Therefore, later generations generally believed that Zhuge Liang was a well-deserved first strategist of the Three Kingdoms.
However, the interpretation of historical figures in later generations is often controversial, although Zhuge Liang is indeed very prominent, but there are still some people who do not recognize.
So there was another saying: "Guo Jia is not dead, and Wolong is not out."
Guo Jia, as a strategist beside Cao Cao, contributed a lot when Cao Cao pacified the north, this person was ambitious and strategic, but unfortunately he didn't have how to use his fists and feet, so he died young.
Cao Cao suffered a defeat in the Battle of Chibi back then, and he also sighed: If filial piety is here, don't make you lonely here! Feng Xiao here is talking about Guo Jia.
It is precisely because of this that some people think that if Guo Jia is still there, there will be nothing to do with Zhuge Liang, and with the help of Guo Jia, maybe Cao Cao will have unified the Three Kingdoms a long time ago, and there will be no change of dynasty in Sima Yi later.
Everyone has been chattering about the identities of Guo Jia and Zhuge Liang's first strategist, so according to history, who is the first strategist of the Three Kingdoms?
01
Zhuge Liang's exploits and shortcomings
First of all, let's talk about Zhuge Liang, when it comes to Zhuge Liang's fame or merit, naturally there is no need to say much, Zhuge Liang alone has changed the people's views on the surname Zhuge , and now when the surname Zhuge is mentioned, it will give people a very smart feeling.
But looking at Zhuge Liang's life, he really can't find any problems, and he has worked hard for Shu Han all his life, which can only be described as having died with all his might.
And the famous battles and inventions left by Zhuge Liang are countless, such as the wooden oxen and flowing horses that greatly improved the efficiency of transportation, the Zhuge crossbow that increased the efficiency of archery, and the Bagua Array that rescued Liu Bei from Lu Xun.
Zhuge Liang in the first half of his life was smooth, but the road of the Northern Expedition in the second half of his life was full of ruggedness, and on the road of the first Northern Expedition, because of Zhuge Liang's mistakes in employing people, the street pavilion was lost, and the Northern Expedition was declared a failure.
After that, although Zhuge Liang readjusted and continued the Northern Expedition, he missed a move every time, and finally died of illness in Wuzhangyuan, and did not complete the Northern Expedition.
02
Why Guo Jianeng and Zhuge Liang are on a par
There are many strategists in the Three Kingdoms, and Guo Jia was only ranked among the second-rate strategists of the Three Kingdoms because of his untimely death, why do future generations often compare Guo Jia and Zhuge Liang?
In fact, Guo Jia is far from the only strategist who died young in the Three Kingdoms, and there are two other people who are also very famous, one is Zhou Yu, who is secretly competing with Zhuge Liang, and the other is Pang Tong, who is known as the phoenix.
Let's talk about Zhou Yu first, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang joined forces to defeat the menacing Cao Wei army in the Battle of Chibi.
During this period, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang fought with each other, and many people must know that no matter how hard Zhou Yu tried his best, in the end, Zhuge Liang was always superior in skills and could never fight Zhuge Liang.
It was the defeat in the battles again and again that made Zhou Yu rush again and again, and finally died young, leaving a sentence: "Both Shengyu and He Shengliang." ”
This sentence is not only a recognition of Zhuge Liang's talent, but also shows Zhou Yu's jealousy vividly.
Let's talk about Pang Tong again, he can be side by side with Zhuge Liang as the Wolong and Phoenix Chicks, Pang Tong is not an extraordinary person, there is a saying called the Wolong and Phoenix Chicks, and they can settle the world once they can, it can be seen that Pang Tong's strength is not above Zhuge Liang, at least it can be side by side with Zhuge Liang.
Pang Tongyi did not worship Liu Bei directly at the beginning, but first served as a staff member by Zhou Yu's side, but during this period of being a staff member, Pang Tong did not have a suitable opportunity to display himself.
In fact, Pang Tong's talent is not unrecognized by others, but Pang Tong is born ugly, judging people by appearance is not only modern times, and ancient people will also judge people by appearance.
So because of his ugliness, Pang Tong's career did not go smoothly. Later, it was not until Zhou Yu died that Pang Tong was finally seen by Liu Bei and came to Liu Bei's account for Liu Bei's use.
Later, Pang Tong's official position was equal to Zhuge Liang, and he was also a military general, which shows that Pang Tong's status is not lower than Zhuge Liang.
It's a pity that in the later war, Pang Tong was shot by an arrow and was finally buried in Luofengpo, and Luofengpo also corresponded to the name of Pang Tong's phoenix, as if it had already been arranged in the dark.
03
Guo Jia's extraordinary strategy
The two mentioned above also died young, and these two can be compared with Zhuge Liang when they are taken out alone, so Guo Jia, who also died young, will naturally not be left behind to compare with Zhuge Liang.
So what kind of person is Guo Jia, first of all, Guo Jia is still very decisive and can accurately grasp the opportunity and flexibly change strategies and tactics according to the change of conditions.
Liu Bei said that he got Zhuge Liang like a fish in water, but Guo Jia took refuge in Cao Cao like a fish in water, originally Guo Jia was a rare talent, and then met Cao Cao, a person who appreciates talents.
Guo Jia soon began to show his skills, before the battle of Guandu, almost no one was optimistic about Cao Cao, after all, the difference in strength between the two sides was very large, but Guo Jia held the opposite opinion, he believed that Yuan Shao would lose, and listed ten reasons why Yuan Shao would lose, and Cao Cao was able to win.
After the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao also successfully pacified the north and became the most powerful prince at that time.
Later, when Cao Cao attacked Lü Bu, Lü Bu adopted a strategy of stubborn defense, no matter how Cao Cao attacked, he was still helpless, consuming a lot of grain, grass and troops, and finally Cao Cao was ready to give up, but Guo Jia offered a plan to let Cao Cao launch the final onslaught.
He concluded that Lu Bu was already a trapped beast in the city, and he couldn't hold on for long, and sure enough, Cao Cao successfully took Xuzhou and captured Lu Bu alive.
It was with Guo Jia's assistance that Cao Cao was able to rapidly expand and unify the north, forming a three-kingdom situation with Shu and Wu.
One died young, the other did his best, if you really want to compare the high, as the saying goes, there is no first, no second.
The two have never had a head-to-head confrontation in history, and who is the first strategist of the Three Kingdoms between Guo Jia and Zhuge Liang can only be said to be benevolent and wise.
Resources
Huai'an Political and Legal Affairs: March 9, 2023 - Cao Cao's "chief staff" - military secretary Guo Jia
Today's headlines: February 21, 2023 - N truths you must know about Zhuge Liang