Translation and Appreciation of Rong Zhai's Prose Zhuge Gong

Zhuge gong

original text

There are 1000 people in Zhu Gekongming [1], and its tactics of fighting, fighting and fighting are based on benevolence and restraint, which has never been seen in three generations. Cover its worry system [2], one out of sincerity, was born in troubled times, devoted to farming in Long Mu, so that there was no Xu Shu's words, Liu Bei's three cares, and he did not ask Wen Da all his life. At first, I met Liu Bei and said that Cao could not fight with others, but could fight with others for help, but could not seek benefits. Life is not easy, just like a turtle [3]. For more than 20 years, the monarch believed in it, the scholar-officials admired it, the Yi Xia [4] took it, and the enemy feared it. There are things in the world to win the trust of the Lord, so Liu Bei died and said, "If you are incompetent, you can take it yourself." Although the late ruler was weak, the whole country undoubtedly obeyed him. Some people believed others, so Liao Li wept when he was abolished, and Li Yan died when he was abolished. People on both sides of the emperor were raped [5], and no one meant to be harmful to the disease. Wei did everything according to Zhongzhou. After Cao Cao and Pi, the warriors were like a forest, and they dared not send arrows west to Shu. Gong Liu's mission to Wei feared Shu as a tiger. Sima yi's case was carried out in his camp, sighing the world's wizards. Zhong will attack Shu, make people go to Hanchuan to worship its temple, and forbid sergeant to collect firewood near the tomb. Is it possible to achieve this through intellectual planning? Every time Wei Yan went out with the public, he had to recruit 10 thousand soldiers and meet the public in Tongguan [6], and the metric system was not allowed; Also want to recruit five thousand soldiers, along the Qinling Mountains [7] to the east, straight to Chang 'an, thinking that Xianyang West can make a decision in one fell swoop. Mitchell said that the public thought there was no need for dangerous plans, but this was not the case. Gong Zhen's so-called vigilante, without scheming, will be built by hundreds of thousands of people in accordance with the right path, pointing directly at Dewey and telling him to fly. Choose a day to fight together, and don't steal back [8]. Once it's over [9], you can rule Xianyang! Sima Yi was four years older than Gong, but she died at the age of 54. Not a person. "Domineering southwest Hugh, determined to win." Du Fu's poems are complete.

To annotate ...

[1] Thousands of people: a thousand-year-old great man. [2] Worry behavior: thoughts and behaviors. [3] turtle (shρ): yarrow and tortoise shell, both of which are used for divination, which means divination and divination here. [4] Yi people: refers to ethnic minorities and Central Plains people. [5] Wei: eloquent, flattering. [6] Tongguan: In the southeast of Tongguan in Shaanxi today. [7] Qinling Mountains: The mountain range from Tianshui in Gansu to Sanmenxia in Henan. [8] Stealing step: secretly sending troops to sneak attack. [9] jué: The meaning of fraud.

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Zhuge Liang is a great man for thousands of years. His way of using troops in marching is based on the principle of benevolence and righteousness. Since three generations, there has never been anyone like Zhuge Liang. His thoughts and actions, out of loyalty to the country, were born in troubled times and made a living by farming. Without Xu Shu's recommendation and Liu Bei's care, Zhuge Liang would have stopped seeking fame and life. When Zhuge Liang first met Liu Bei, he discussed that he could not compete with Cao Cao and could support Sun Quan, but he could not plot against him. Only Jingzhou and Yizhou can catch him. These words are as accurate as divination, and sure enough, this situation has not changed in his life. For more than twenty years, Liu Bei trusted him, the scholar-officials admired him, the ethnic minorities and the people of the Central Plains admired him, and the enemy feared him. In fact, he completely gained the trust of the monarch, so when Liu Bei died, he said to Zhuge Liang, "If my son has no talent for governing the country, you can be emperor instead of him." The late ruler Liu Chan was mediocre and cowardly, but he dared to hand over the country to Zhuge Liang and never doubted him. By the way, everyone is convinced of his integrity and prestige, so although both Liao Li and Li Yan were impeached by Zhuge Liang, I heard that Zhuge Liang died, Liao Li cried bitterly, and Li Yan died of grief. The treacherous court official around Liu Chan, the late ruler, was eloquent and eloquent, and spread all over the ruling and opposition parties, but no one had any ulterior motives. When Wei completely occupied Zhongzhou, he still had the prestige of Cao Cao and Cao Pi before his death. The army was brave as a forest, but did not dare to shoot an arrow at Shu, but Zhuge Liang led a great army to crusade against Wei six times, which made Wei fear Shu like a tiger. After carefully examining Zhuge Liang's camp, Sima Yi lamented that he was a genius in the world. When Zhong Hui conquered Shu, he sent people to worship Zhuge Liang Temple in Hanchuan and prohibited soldiers from cutting firewood around Zhuge Liang's tomb. Does this depend only on Zhuge Liang's superb talent and resourcefulness? Every time Wei Yan, the general of Shu, went out with Zhuge Liang, he always wanted 10 thousand troops to meet Zhuge Liang from the back channel to Tongguan, but Zhuge Liang never agreed. Wei Yan also asked Zhuge Liang to give him five thousand chosen men. He wants to go east along the Qinling Mountains and go straight to Chang 'an. And think that this can pacify the west of Xianyang. Mitchell thought Zhuge Liang thought Wei Yan's plan was too dangerous, so he refused to adopt it. In fact, this is not the case. Zhuge recognized that the teacher of justice could not use tricks, so he led hundreds of thousands of troops and occupied the main roads to crusade against the enemy. He raised the flag, sounded the drums and pointed to the capital of Wei. He was going to send someone to fight in Wei Jun another day. How could he secretly send troops to sneak attack and occupy Xianyang by deception? Sima Yi is four years older than Zhuge Liang, but Sima Yi is alive and Zhuge Liang is dead, only 54 years old. God does not bless the shelter of the Han Dynasty, which is beyond human power. "Domineering southwest Hugh, determined to win." Du Fu's two poems tell this story to the fullest.

Comment and analysis

Zhuge Liang is the prime minister of Shu and Han, an outstanding politician, strategist, inventor and writer. In order to help the Shu-Han regime, he worked hard, devoted himself to it, and died, becoming a model for later prime ministers. In the eyes of ordinary people, Zhuge Liang's greatest feature is his strategy, so Mr. Lu Xun once commented that The Romance of the Three Kingdoms made Zhuge Liang "wise and close to the demon". But in fact, Zhuge Liang's success depends more on his strong personality charm. Personality charm is not innate, nor is it naturally formed. It is the concentrated expression of the tolerance, tolerance and tolerance that people should have, and it is the result of people setting an example and setting an example first. If you have first-class mind and knowledge, you will have first-class charm.