Appreciation of Ancient Prose - Zhuge Liang's "The Later Disciple"

Today I took a late nap and didn't get up until almost 9 o'clock, which made my mind feel comfortable all day long. When I was lying on the sofa reading in the afternoon, I accidentally saw the "Guwen Guanzhi" "The Master's Guide". Many people memorize the example of how to be a good teacher when they were in school. Today I will give you an appreciation of the example of how to be a teacher after that, which should put an end to the shortcomings of a young life.

The latter set an example [Zhuge Liang]

Edition: Qing dynasty, edited and selected by Wu Chucai and Wu Tiaohou, compiled by Wu Zhaoji; published by Great Wall Publishing House, first edition in March 1999.

PS: Before reading the article, did you feel familiar when you saw the pseudonyms of the editors and compilers?

This article is selected from Pei Song's notes in "The Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, the Chronicles of Shu, and the Biography of Zhuge Liang". There are many contradictions in the historical facts in the article, at least not all of them were written by Zhuge Liang, but they have always been passed down. At that time, Wei general Cao Xiu was defeated by Soochow, and the main force of Wei was advancing eastward. Zhuge Liang wanted to take advantage of Wei's weakness to send troops to attack Wei. However, many ministers expressed doubts about Zhuge Liang's idea, and Liu Chan, the later leader, was also hesitant. In this essay, Zhuge Liang mainly analyzed the situation at that time and said, "I will do my best and die."

The late emperor was worried about the conflict between Han and thieves, and the royal family was not in peace, so he asked his ministers to fight against thieves. Based on the wisdom of the late emperor, the talents of ministers were measured. Therefore, knowing that ministers are capable of defeating thieves will only make them weak and their enemies strong. However, if you don't attack the thieves, the royal family will also perish. If you just sit and wait for death, who will attack them? This is why I entrust my ministers with no doubts. On the day when I received the order, I couldn't sleep well and couldn't eat well. I thought about the northern expedition and it was better to go south first. Therefore, we crossed Lu in the fifth month, penetrated deeply into the barren area, and ate the sun. I am not without pity for myself, and I should not be content with Shu in consideration of the king's career, so I risk the danger and fail to fulfill the late emperor's wishes. But those who discussed it said it was not a plan. Nowadays, the thieves are tired of working in the west, and they are working in the east. The art of war is taking advantage of the work. This is the time to advance. I would like to state the matter as follows:

[Translation] The late emperor considered that the Han Dynasty and Cao Cao could not stand on both sides, and the emperor's career could not be based on one side, so he decided to attack Wei Entrust me with the task of being a thief. With the wisdom of the late emperor, when measuring my talents, it is not difficult to know that when I go to beg a thief, my talents are weak but my enemy is strong. However, if we do not attack the Wei thieves, the king's industry will also be defeated. Instead of sitting back and waiting for death, why not raise an army to attack them? Therefore, entrust me to punish thieves without hesitation. From the day I accepted the order, I couldn't sleep well and couldn't taste food. When considering the Northern Expedition, I should first stabilize the south. Therefore, in the fifth month, they crossed the Lu River and penetrated into the barren land, only to have enough food for one day in two days. It's not that I don't cherish myself, but Wang Ye can't live in the capital of Shu, so he risked his life to fulfill the late emperor's last wish. But those in the DPRK and China think it is not a good idea. Now the enemy has just been exhausted from fighting in the west, and is now engaged in war in the east. According to the art of war, you must take advantage of the enemy's fatigue to attack. This is a good time to attack. Please allow me to state my opinions on these matters as follows:

Emperor Gao Ming merged with the sun and the moon, and his advisers were deeply involved. However, he was involved in danger and was injured. After danger, he was safe. Today, Your Majesty is not as good as Emperor Gao, and his advisers are not as good as those who are good and fair. Instead, it is customary to rely on long-term strategies to win and secure the world. This minister has not yet been solved.

[Translation] Emperor Gao was as wise as the sun and the moon, and his advisers were far-sighted. However, he also experienced hardships and suffered trauma. After the danger, Only then can you find peace. Now His Majesty is not as good as Emperor Gao, and his advisers are not as good as Zhang Liang and Chen Ping, but he still wants to rely on long-term planning to win and calm down the world. This is the first point that I cannot understand.

Liu Yao and Wang Lang, each based in the prefectures and counties, discussed the plan of peace talks and attracted the saints. The crowd was full of doubts and difficulties. They would not fight this year or conquer next year, so that Sun Ce could become powerful and merge with Jiangdong. Solution two.

【Translation】Liu Yao and Wang Lang each occupy the prefectures and counties, discussing safety and security, talking about strategies, and quoting the words of saints at every turn , everyone was filled with doubts and problems. They could not go to war this year or next year, so Sun Ce naturally became stronger and annexed Jiangdong. This is the second point that puzzles me.

Cao Cao's wisdom and planning were unmatched by others, and his military use was just like that of Sun and Wu. However, he was trapped in Nanyang, in danger of Wuchao, in danger of Qilian, and forced by Liyang. He was almost defeated in Beishan, almost died in Tongguan, and then he pretended to be settled for a while. Kuang Chen's talent is weak, but he wants to make sure that he is not in danger. This minister has three unsolved problems.

[Translation] Cao Cao's resourcefulness and strategy are beyond ordinary people, and his military use is like Sun Bin and Wu Qi. However, he was trapped in Nanyang, was in danger in Wuchao, was in danger in Qilian, was forced in Liyang, was almost defeated in Beishan, and almost died in Tongguan. After that, he established a puppet regime and maintained peace for a while. What's more, I am weak in ability, but I want to use a non-dangerous method to pacify the world. This is the third point that puzzles me.

Cao Cao failed to defeat Changba after five attacks and failed to cross Chaohu. He appointed Li Fu, who planned to conquer the area, and appointed Xiahou, who was defeated. Every time the late emperor praised Cao Cao as capable, he still failed in this way. How can he win with his subordinates? This minister has four unsolved problems.

【Translation】Cao Cao failed to attack Changba five times and failed to cross Chaohu four times. He appointed Li Fu but Li Fu murdered him. ; He appointed Xia Houyuan but was defeated. The late emperor often praised Cao Cao for his talent, but he still failed like this. Not to mention my poor talent, how can I be sure of victory? This is the fourth point that puzzles me.

When I arrived in Hanzhong, I lost several years in the middle of the year, but lost Zhao Yun, Yang Qun, Ma Yu, Yan Zhi, Ding Li, Bai Shou, Liu He, Deng Tong, etc., as well as more than 70 Qu Chang and Tun generals. ; There are more than a thousand people of Ji, Sou and Qingqiang, scattered and armed cavalry. These are the elites from all over the world that have been gathered within a few decades, and cannot be owned by one state. If it takes several years, two-thirds of the damage will be lost. Why should we target the enemy? This minister has five unsolved problems.

[Translation] Since I went to Hanzhong to fight, it has only been one year, but I have lost Zhao Yun, Yang Qun, Ma Yu, and Yan Zhi, Ding Li, Bai Shou, Liu He, Deng Tong, etc., as well as more than 70 Qu Chang and Tun generals, these are all fierce generals and warriors who charge invincibly. There are also more than a thousand Qingqiang casual cavalry and martial cavalry. people. These are elite troops from all directions that have been gathered together over the past few decades, and are not owned by one state. If in a few years we will lose two-thirds, what else should we use to deal with the enemy? This is the fifth point that puzzles me.

The people nearby are poor and the soldiers are exhausted, but the situation cannot stop. If things cannot stop, then living and traveling will equal labor and expense. If you don't plan it early, you want to use the land of one state to fight with the thieves for a long time. This minister has not solved the problem.

【Translation】Now the people are poor and the soldiers are tired, but the war cannot stop. The war cannot be stopped, so the labor and cost of defense and attack are equal. And if we don’t plan early and want to use the land of one state to fight the enemy for a long time, this is the sixth point that I don’t understand.

It is difficult for a husband to calm down. In the past, the first emperor was defeated by Chu. At this time, Cao Cao raised his hand and said that the world was settled. Then the late emperor connected Wu and Yue to the east, took Ba and Shu to the west, raised his troops to march north, and was appointed the leader of Xiahou. This was a miscalculation, and the Han Dynasty was about to succeed. Then Wu Geng violated the alliance, Guan Yu was defeated, Zigui fell, and Cao Pi became emperor. Everything is so unpredictable. I have dedicated myself to death and died. As for success or failure, it is not something that I can oppose.

【Translation】What is unpredictable is war. In the past, the late emperor was defeated in Chu. At this time, Cao Cao clapped his hands and cheered, thinking that the world was settled. But later, the late emperor united Wu and Yue in the east, captured Ba and Shu in the west, sent troops to the north, and killed Xiahou Yuan. This was Cao Cao's mistake, and the cause of the Han Dynasty was about to be achieved. But later Soochow broke the treaty again, Guan Yu was defeated and died, the first emperor was defeated in Zigui, and Cao Pi deposed the Han Dynasty and proclaimed himself emperor. As with everything, it's hard to predict. I just want to do my best and die. As for the success or failure of things, success or setbacks, they are beyond my wisdom.

--------Not a gorgeous dividing line--------

Table is a special style of writing in ancient China. The following is Baidu’s explanation of table.

About 1,800 years ago, two articles signed by Zhuge Liang were written with great eloquence and eloquence in quoting scriptures. It can be seen that the author's writing power and the wisdom of ancient people can be seen. There are some suspicious things in the article, such as the explicit statement that Liu Chan is inferior to Liu Bei in the text, which are worthy of scrutiny by readers.

In my opinion, the table is equivalent to the current suggestion plan. With the development of culture, knowledge and office software, workers in the new era have more powerful tools to let the other party understand and make suggestions when making suggestions to senior management or customers. Accept yourself. The most commonly used one is Office software. The most commonly used presentation file in Office software is PPT. Here are some tips on making PPT:

1. Determine the type of PPT: Before starting to write PPT, think clearly about the type of PPT. PPT commonly used in work are plans, reports and presentation documents. According to the type and purpose of PPT, we must think about it in advance. The structure and beautification style of PPT;

2. Tips for writing PPT: Nowadays, there are many kinds of PPT and beautification templates from all walks of life circulating on the Internet. You must not directly apply PPT templates, and start from scratch to write a new PPT according to your actual needs. , is the most high-quality, efficient and time-saving method, otherwise it will be very troublesome;

3. Collect PPT templates: It is recommended that everyone keep a template file for their own use. When they see good PPT layouts or ideas, it is recommended to make a blank page and add it to their own template file. If the company has a template file, pay attention to the layout and style to strictly comply with the company or customer's PPT format requirements;

4. Planning PPT structure: Writing PPT is actually the same as writing articles and speaking. The key is to figure out why you write, what to write, and how to write. After you figure out these reasons, you will find that Everything is so easy. Usually when I write PPT, I am used to considering four aspects: background analysis, conclusion, solution, and specific implementation plan.

Just imagine, if Zhuge Liang quickly made a PPT presentation to Liu Chan more than a thousand years ago to convince him, and the Shu army took advantage of the situation and marched straight into the capital of Wei, would Shu be able to dominate the world?

The answer is of course no. In that era, military power was the real say. Of course, it is the same now. Strength determines everything. So for an individual, what is his true core strength?