Three Kingdoms

Chapter 45 The Death of Zhuge Liang (1)
The Wei army rushed to Qishan Dazhai, and the Shu army shouted and ran around, bluffing, pretending to rescue Qishan Dazhai.

Sima Yi saw that the Shu army was going to rescue Qishan Dazhai, so he immediately led an army with his two sons to rush up to Shangfanggu.

Wei Yan was guarding the entrance of the valley above, hoping that Sima Yi would come soon, when suddenly he saw a Wei army approaching aggressively, Wei Yan took a closer look and found that it was Sima Yi.Wei Yan yelled: "Sima Yi takes his life!" Sima Yi and Wei Yan fought, and after only a few rounds, Wei Yan turned his horse's head and fled into the valley.Seeing that only Wei Yan's army was guarding the upper valley, Sima Yi felt relieved and chased and killed Wei Yan non-stop.Wei Yan fled to the Seven Star Banner.Sima Yi saw that Wei Yan had fled into the upper valley, so he just stood at the entrance of the valley and did not enter the valley. He ordered the former army sentry to go into the valley to investigate the situation.Sima Yi said: "This must be the granary of the Shu army." So he ordered the troops to advance, and after a while, all the Wei troops entered the valley.Sima Yi suddenly saw that the hut was full of hay and firewood, and Wei Yan's troops had disappeared.

Sima Yi suddenly became suspicious, and said to his two sons: "If the Shu army cuts off our retreat, we will die."

Sima Yi hadn't finished speaking when suddenly shouts of killing continued from all directions in the upper valley, rolling stones and big trees fell from the mountain one after another, blocking the entrance of the valley in a short while.The Shu army on the mountain kept throwing down torches, and all the huts in the valley above were set alight, the landmines exploded, the hay was burning in the fire, thick smoke and flames spread in front of and behind the valley, and the valley above was burnt red.Wei Jun died, wounded, lost soldiers and generals, and suffered heavy casualties.Sima Yi jumped off the horse, hugged his two sons and cried loudly: "We, father and son, are going to die here."

At this time, suddenly the sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind was strong, the sky was covered with black air, the thunder rumbled continuously, and it rained cats and dogs after a while.All the fires in the upper valley were extinguished; the mines could no longer explode, and the gunpowder could no longer be ignited.

Sima Yi laughed three times, and said loudly: "If you don't rush out at this time, when will you wait!" Sima Yi led his two sons to fight desperately.At this time, Wei Jun generals Zhang Hu and Le Wei led troops to rescue Sima Yi.There were not many soldiers under Ma Dai, so he dared not chase after him.Sima Yi and his son, Zhang Hu, and Le Wei joined forces to fight, finally broke a bloody road, and fled to the Weinan camp together. Unexpectedly, the Weinan camp had already been seized by the Shu army.Guo Huai and Sun Li were fighting the Shu army on the pontoon bridge. Sima Yi came with troops, and the Shu army retreated.Sima Yi ordered to burn down the pontoon bridge and guard the north bank.

The other generals of the Wei army were attacking the Qishan Dazhai of the Shu army. When they learned that Sima Yi had been ambushed by Zhuge Liang in the upper valley, he was defeated and fled. He also lost the Weinan camp. Going down, the Shu army took the opportunity to launch a large-scale counterattack.The Wei army was defeated and fled again, with countless casualties and heavy casualties. There were only a few remaining soldiers. The remaining troops fled Weibei and never dared to look back.

Zhuge Liang was very happy when he saw Sima Yi and his two sons leading troops into the upper valley, and were surrounded by fire in a short while, thinking that Sima Yi would definitely burn to death in the upper valley this time.Unexpectedly, it rained heavily and put out the fire, and Sima Yi and his son took the opportunity to escape.Zhuge Liang looked up to the sky and sighed: "It depends on people to make plans and do practical things. The success of major events depends on heaven. You can't force it."

Sima Yi issued an order in the big camp on the north bank of the Weihe River: "Our army has been defeated, and now the Weinan camp is lost. If anyone dares to say that he will lead the army to fight, I will kill him according to the military law." He didn't dare to fight.

Guo Huai said to Sima Yi: "In the past few days, Zhuge Liang led his troops to inspect the terrain and choose a place to set up camp."

Sima Yi said: "If Zhuge Liang chose Wugong Mountain to camp, our army would definitely be wiped out by the Shu army; but if Zhuge Liang chose Wuzhangyuan to camp, then we would be in no danger."

The sentry immediately reported that Zhuge Liang chose to set up camp in Wuzhangyuan.Sima Yi clapped his hands on his forehead, laughed three times, and said, "This is the blessing of Emperor Wei, and God will help me to succeed!" Immediately, he sent an order to the three armies: stick to the camp, the enemy will be defeated in a short time. If there is a change, you are not allowed to play.

Zhuge Liang set up camp in Wuzhangyuan, and sent people to challenge the Wei army every day, but the Wei soldiers just didn't fight.So Zhuge Liang took out the mourning clothes worn by women and put them in a big box. He also wrote a letter mocking Sima Yi's cowardice, and put them in the big box together.Zhuge Liang sent someone to the camp of the Wei army and handed it over to Sima Yi.

Sima Yi opened the big box in front of his generals at all levels, and everyone saw the mourning clothes worn by women and a letter inside the box.

Sima Yi opened the letter written by Zhuge Liang and saw that it was all ridiculing him. Sima Yi was furious, but still smirked: "Zhuge Liang regards me as a woman!" Sima Yi accepted the gift box and set up a banquet for the Shu soldiers who delivered the letter .

While drinking, Sima Yi asked the Shu soldiers: "How many documents does Zhuge Liang review in the barracks every day? What is his daily life like sleeping and eating?"

The Shu soldier said: "Prime Minister Zhuge forgets to eat and sleep every day, constantly reviewing various documents. He also eats very little, just a few small bowls."

Sima Yi said to his generals: "Zhuge Liang's body will soon collapse if he continues to work like this, and he will die soon."

The Shu soldier returned to Wuzhangyuan and reported to Zhuge Liang about his mission to Weizhai. He said to Zhuge Liang: "Sima Yi read the letter and collected the mourning clothes for women. He was not angry all the time, but asked the prime minister about his life. But he didn’t mention anything about the military. I told the truth, but he said: If you continue to work like this, your body will definitely break down and you will die soon.”

Zhuge Liang said: "He knows me very well!" He couldn't help sighing.

Yang Yuye, the chief secretary of the Shu army, advised Zhuge Liang: "I think the prime minister carefully examines and approves documents no matter how big or small. This is unnecessary. You are the commander-in-chief of the entire army, and your health is related to the survival of the Shu army. Please take care of your health, prime minister."

Zhuge Liang burst into tears and said, "It's not that I don't know this. I was entrusted by the late Emperor, and I can't live up to his expectations. I'm worried that other people can't do their best like me!" All the generals under his command shed tears.

From then on, Zhuge Liang's health became worse and worse.The generals of the Shu army did not dare to challenge the Wei army anymore.

After Sima Yi accepted Zhuge Liang's women's mourning clothes, the generals at all levels were very angry and demanded a duel with the Shu army.Sima Yi advised them: "It's not that I don't want to fight to the death with the Shu army, but the emperor has an imperial decree here, and I dare not disobey the imperial decree and send troops rashly." The generals were still angry, and Sima Yi took the opportunity to say: "If you must go to war, Just wait for me to play the emperor and let the emperor order us to fight, and when the time comes, I will kill the generals of Shu together with all the generals, how about it?" The generals had to say: "That's it."

Sima Yi immediately wrote a memorial and sent someone to Luoyang to present it to Cao Rui.

After Cao Rui saw it, he immediately said to the civil and military officials: "Sima Yi has always insisted not to fight, why is he writing a memorial now asking for orders to fight?"

General Xin Pi replied: "Sima Yi didn't want to fight at first, but his generals couldn't be more angry than Zhuge Liang's taunts, so he wrote a memorial, hoping His Majesty's approval not to fight, so as to calm the hearts of his generals."

Cao Rui came to his senses and immediately wrote down the prohibition: no battle, stick to the camp, wait for the opportunity, and obey the arrangement.Order Xin Pi to personally send him to the camp of Sima Yi on the front line.

As soon as Xinpi arrived in the camp, he immediately read Cao Rui's ban, and Sima Yi's generals never dared to ask for orders to fight again.

The news soon let Zhuge Liang know.Zhuge Liang smiled and said to the generals at all levels: "This is Sima Yi's way to stabilize the morale of the army."

Jiang Wei asked, "How did the prime minister know?"

Zhuge Liang said: "Sima Yi originally had no fighting spirit. The reason why he wrote the memorial to ask for war is to show that he has always been united with the whole army. Don't you know that when a general fights on the front line, he can dispatch troops according to his own methods , Even if the imperial decree arrives, you don’t have to obey it. How can someone write a memorial to ask for a battle? This is Sima Yi borrowing the decree of Wei Emperor Cao Rui to calm the hearts of his generals. Let your guard down."

While discussing, the soldiers suddenly reported that Fei Yi had something important to see the prime minister outside the camp.

Fei Yi hurried into Zhuge Liang's camp. As soon as he saw Zhuge Liang, he said: "Cao Rui heard that Dongwu attacked Wei in three ways, so he immediately led the army to rescue Hefei, and ordered Man Chong, Tian Yu, and Liu Shao to divide their troops. Three routes resisted the Soochow army. Man Chong made a plan to burn the food and grass of the Soochow warship. The Wu army was defeated and fell seriously ill. Lu Xun asked Sun Quan to withdraw the soldiers from Xincheng to cut off the return of the Wei army, and attacked back and forth. Unexpectedly, the news was passed by the Wei army The secret letter was seized and learned. Wu Jun retreated without success.”

As soon as Zhuge Liang heard what Fei Yi said, he immediately passed out on the ground, and only woke up after the first aid of his generals.

Zhuge Liang sighed: "I'm in a daze now, and my old illness has relapsed. I'm afraid I won't be able to live on."

That night, Zhuge Liang walked out of the camp sick and looked up at Tianwen. He was startled and returned to the camp and said to Jiang Wei, "I will die soon." Jiang Wei said, "Why did the prime minister say such a thing? Zhuge Liang said: "I watched the astronomy. Among the three stars, the guest star is getting brighter and the main star is getting darker. The sky is always like this. I think I am going to die." In this way, the Prime Minister can use magic to restore it." Zhuge Liang said: "Although I can do it, I don't know what God's will is. You immediately take 49 soldiers, each holding a soap flag in their left hand, wearing soap clothes, and standing outside the barracks; I myself made the Big Dipper in the barracks. If the main lamp does not go out within seven days, then I can live for another ten years; , as long as two little boys carry it."

Jiang Wei led the order and went out to prepare the things Zhuge Liang needed.

The time has come to the Mid-Autumn Festival in August, the Milky Way is bright at night, and the flag of the Shu army does not waver.All was quiet.

Jiang Wei personally led 49 people to guard outside the barracks.Zhuge Liang set up fragrant flower offerings in the barracks, seven large lamps were placed on the ground, 49 small lamps were placed outside, and a natal lamp was placed in the barracks.After praying, I bowed and knelt in the barracks until dawn.

The next day, I went through all kinds of documents while sick again and kept vomiting blood.During the day, Zhuge Liang discussed military affairs with his generals, and at night he marched in battle to pray for longevity.

Sima Yi stood firm in the camp. One night, when he went out to watch astronomy, he saw that the guest star was getting brighter and the main star was getting dimmer. If the astronomy is lost and the stars are dimming, Zhuge Liang must be seriously ill and will die soon. You immediately lead a thousand soldiers to Wuzhangyuan to test the Shu army. If the Shu soldiers are in chaos and dare not fight, it means that Zhuge Liang must be seriously ill. Our army can do it The whole army is dispatched." Xia Houba led his troops and set off.

Zhuge Liang was praying in the barracks at dawn, and he was very happy to see the main light gradually brighten.When Jiang Wei entered the barracks, he saw Zhuge Liang holding his sword in his hair, stepping into the formation and suppressing the general.

Suddenly he heard shouts from outside the village, and Jiang Wei was about to send someone out to ask what was going on, when Wei Yan hurried into the barracks to report: "Wei's army has arrived!" Wei Yan walked in such a hurry that he extinguished the main lamp.

Zhuge Liang dropped the sword in his hand and sighed: "Life and death are fate, prayer is useless."

Wei Yan hurriedly knelt on the ground and begged for mercy; Jiang Wei was angry and drew his sword to kill Wei Yan.

Zhuge Liang stopped him and said: "My fate is like this, it's not Wei Yan's fault." Jiang Weicai withdrew his sword.

Zhuge Liang vomited a few mouthfuls of blood, fell ill on the bed, and said to Wei Yan: "This is Sima Yi sending troops to investigate the situation of our army. You immediately lead the troops to fight."

Wei Yan took the order, mounted his horse with a knife in hand, and led his troops out of the camp.Xia Houba saw Wei Yan approaching aggressively, and retreated in a hurry. Wei Yan led his troops to chase for more than 20 li before retreating back to the camp.Zhuge Liang ordered Wei Yan to guard the camp strictly.

Jiang Wei came to Zhuge Liang's bedside and greeted him.

Zhuge Liang said: "I originally wanted to do my best to restore the Han Dynasty, but I didn't expect that God's will would be like this, and I would die soon. The knowledge I have learned in my life is broad and profound, and it is as vast as the ocean. I summarized it and compiled it into a military book. I have been looking for an heir, and now I finally found it. You can inherit my knowledge and military methods, and you are the most suitable candidate. Now I will pass on this military book to you, and you must study hard. Remember what I said!" Jiang Wei cried and bowed down and accepted the book of war that Zhuge Liang handed him.

Zhuge Liang said again: "I still have the magical skill of Liannu, but I have never used it. I have drawn a sketch for making it, and you can make it later." Jiang Wei bowed down again and accepted it.

Zhuge Liang went on to say: "There is no need to worry about the dangerous fortresses in Shuchuan, but you must be careful and vigilant in the Yangping area. Although Yangping's terrain is dangerous, it is easy to defend and difficult to attack. If you don't take precautions for a long time, there will definitely be loopholes." Then he called Ma Daijin The barracks listened to orders.Ma Dai walked in immediately.Zhuge Liang whispered in his ear, and Ma Dai nodded and agreed to leave the barracks.After a while, Yang Yi came in, and Zhuge Liang also called him to the bedside, took out a kit, and secretly ordered: "Once I die, Wei Yan will definitely rebel; you wait until he rebels, and then open this kit." , at that time, someone will naturally kill Wei Yan."

After Zhuge Liang finished giving orders one by one, he fainted on the ground again and didn't wake up until night.Zhuge Liang wrote another memorial to inform the later master Liu Chan of the frontline war.

After the master Liu Chan read the watch, he knew that Zhuge Liang was seriously ill and was dying.The Empress Liu Chan was taken aback and flustered. He hurriedly summoned Shangshu Li Fu and ordered Li Fu to go to the barracks to visit Zhuge Liang.

Li Fu rushed to Wuzhangyuan without stopping.After entering the barracks, he saw Zhuge Liang lying on the bed unable to move.When Zhuge Liang saw Li Fu, he burst into tears and said: "I am about to die, but I have delayed the important affairs of the country, and my crimes are serious. After my death, you must assist Your Majesty well. The country's system cannot be changed; the people I use cannot be changed. Easily abolished. I have taught Jiang Wei all my military methods, and he will definitely live up to his expectations and contribute to the country. I am about to die, and I have a will to present to the emperor on my behalf." Li Fu continued After passing the will, Zhuge Liang bid farewell and hurried back to Chengdu.

Being seriously ill, Zhuge Liang ordered his officers and soldiers to help him into the cart. After leaving the barracks, he inspected the barracks again. At this time, he felt the autumn wind blowing on his face, making his bones cold.

When he returned to the camp, his condition became serious, and he asked Yang Yi to come to him and tell him: "Wang Ping, Liao Hua, Zhang Yi, Zhang Yi, and Wu Yi are all people who serve the country loyally. The meritorious deeds are great and can be reused. After I die, everything will be carried out according to the original method. You must retreat slowly and don't be impatient. You are well versed in strategy, so I will not give you more instructions. Jiang Wei is wise and brave, and can cover the retreat of the army behind. "

Yang Yi burst into tears, knelt on the ground and took orders.

Zhuge Liang said to Yang Yi again: "After I die, don't mourn. You order your subordinates to make a big box and put my body in the big box. I will have seven grains of rice in my mouth and a bright lamp under my feet; The army must be as quiet as usual, and remember not to cry, so that the general will not fall. My ghost will come out to calm everything. Seeing that the general will not fall, Sima Yi thinks that I am still alive, so he dare not come after me. You Immediately order the front army to cover, and the rear army to retreat first, and then retreat one battalion after another. If Sima Yi comes after you, you immediately set up a formation and dispatch troops. When Sima Yi comes after you, you push out my wooden statue and order Soldiers, big and small, are lined up around the statue. Sima Yi will surely retreat in fright after seeing it."

Yang Yi accepted the order while crying.

(End of this chapter)