First analyze Liu Bei's trust in Zhuge Liang. According to The History of the Three Kingdoms Shu Shu and Zhuge Liang Chuan, Liu Bei died in the third year of Zhangwu (223). Shu's national strength is weak, and Cao Wei's regime is eyeing the outside world, but there is no wise monarch at home. Because Shu has lost Guan Yu and Zhang Fei at this time, Shu is in a very dangerous situation at this time. It can be said that a little carelessness may be annexed by Wei and Wu. In the reflection of Shu Shu Zhuge Liang biography, Liu Bei said to Zhuge Liang in public:
If you are only ten times as big as xelloss, you will be able to secure the world and eventually achieve great things. If the heir can supplement it, supplement it; If he is incompetent, you can bear it yourself. Zhuge Liang sobbed and said, "I dare to do my best until I die!" " The first Lord also wrote to the second Lord, saying, "If you work with the Prime Minister, you are like a father.
This highlights Liu Bei's trust in Zhuge Liang and makes Zhuge Liang willing to die for Shu. It can be seen that Liu Bei's trust in Zhuge Liang is an important reason for Zhuge Liang's northern expedition to promote Shu. No matter whether you choose the Northern Expedition or rest, the purpose is to "revive the Han Dynasty, return to the old capital, exhaust its dullness and get rid of traitors and murderers" as Zhuge Liang said in the TaiFuBiao. Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition was also an act of expanding his own strength. This is not only Zhuge Liang's choice, but also represents the same choice of the older generation of soldiers in Shu and Han dynasties to some extent. Therefore, Zhuge Liang's choice of the Northern Expedition is widely expected.
Second, from the analysis of Zhuge Liang's own great wisdom. Zhuge Liang's talent in the eight fights is well known to the world. Although Liu Bei's death left Zhuge Liang with such a mess, Zhuge Liang continued to work hard for Shu. I believe that Zhuge Liang's cleverness must know the benefits of recuperation, but in the end, Zhuge Liang did not recuperate and restore national strength, but launched the Northern Expedition. This is even more inseparable from Zhuge Liang's great wisdom.
The Northern Expedition is the general name of five wars launched by Zhuge Liang against Cao Wei regime from the spring of 228 to the winter of 234. At this time, Zhuge Liang has been pursuing the strategic policy of "resisting Cao Wei in the north and Sun Wu in the east". It is intended to unite Sun Wu to suppress Cao Wei. The enemy of the enemy is a friend. Zhuge Liang used the purpose of the Northern Expedition to ease the relationship with Dongwu and weaken the strength of his strong enemy. Why not? The reflection of Shu Shu Zhuge Liang biography records:
In the spring of three years, the brightness rate led south, and its autumn was flat. Military capital, enriching the country and strengthening the people, is a big move to run the army and talk about martial arts.
This can prove Zhuge Liang's great wisdom and great plan from the overall perspective, and also provide an opportunity for the strengthening of Shu's strength and national strength.
Third, analyze the overall situation of the Three Kingdoms period.
As mentioned earlier, Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition was after Liu Bei's death, and Liu Chan was ignorant, so he was no match for Cao Cao and Sun Quan. Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition can also be said to be a helpless move to some extent. Because only after the Northern Expedition will the strength of Shu continue to grow, and then the unity and stability of Shu can be guaranteed. If Zhuge Liang chooses to recuperate, it will take at least ten years to recover. During this period, perhaps Wu Dong will join hands with the Cao Wei regime to jointly destroy the Han Shu regime. The chances of this happening will not be too small. In the reflection, Wu Shu Wu said:
When everyone saw that Zhou Zhen was purged by the soldiers, they sighed, "My son should be like this, and Liu Jingsheng's son should be like a dolphin dog!" Cao Quan said, "Spring water is coming, so you should go at once." Don't just say, "You can't live alone until you die.
This reflects Sun Quan's extraordinary strength to some extent. Under the impetus of Wu Wei, the existence of the Northern Expedition was inevitable. Therefore, from the overall situation of the Three Kingdoms period, it is reasonable for Zhuge Liang to choose the Northern Expedition instead of recuperation. Although there were victories and defeats in the five northern expeditions, they were all wars that not only stabilized the people's hearts of Shu, but also strengthened diplomatic ties with Soochow. This not only prevented Soochow and Cao Wei from jointly defeating the Shu-Han regime, but also provided an excellent opportunity for Shu's own soldiers to practice in actual combat. With Zhuge Liang's wisdom, choosing the Northern Expedition is the best defense strategy.
During the Three Kingdoms period, Wei, Shu and Wu were in a balance of power, and the weakness of Shu was bound to bring hidden dangers to the balance of power of the three countries. Zhuge Liang's choice of the Northern Expedition may also be the expected result of Wu Dong. So Zhuge Liang chose the Northern Expedition instead of recuperation for a reason. The above factors are enough to prove.