Comments on Guan Yu

(A) Guan Yu worship phenomenon

Guan Yu is the most special figure in the history of China. He was a general and a marquis. After his death, he was gradually promoted to be a public, king, emperor and emperor, until he reached the peak and became the main god of the "Wu Temple" and worshipped Confucius' "Confucius Temple". This process is also the process that Guan Yu changed from a person to a god with the same belief in all walks of life in feudal society. According to the Records of Jingmen, the Guandi Temple of Yuquan Jingde Temple in Dangyang County, Hubei Province "was built between Liang and Chen in the Southern Dynasties, when the wise master started the mountain." From Sui Dynasty to Tang Dynasty, it was salty and sacred. "In the eighteenth year of Tang Zhenyuan (802)," Jingnan sent Yin Feijun to Jiangling to expand the ancestral temple and add the old system ". This is the earliest sacrifice in Guandi Temple. In the Tang Dynasty, Guan Yu, as a famous soldier, once entered the "Wu Temple" (when the Lord God was Jiang Taigong) to accompany him. In the Northern Song Dynasty (1101125), in the first year of Chongning (1 102), Guan Yu was granted the title of Gong Hui, and he was proclaimed for five years (102). Xiaozong cherished spring for fourteen years (1 187), and even named him king of Ying Ji. In the first year of Yuan Wenzong (1328), King Ji of Wu 'an was granted. According to the history books, Guan Yu of the Yuan Dynasty was "strong and righteous all over the world, so it was a blessing to worship in the temple. His divine power is impressive, the people fear salt and respect him, and there are temples in counties, countries, counties and towns in Jingchu, Zhao Yan ... For thousands of years, he has been admired and admired. " In the twenty-seventh year of Hongwu (1394), the Ming Dynasty built a temple in "Jinling Jilong Shanyang". After Emperor Yongle moved to Beijing, he also "offered temples to the capital". In the 13th year of Chenghua (1477), it was officially decided to take the Xiguan Emperor Temple in Di 'anmen as the official sacrificial place of Taichang Temple. In addition to regular sacrifices every year, it also "declares the national disaster." In the 22nd year of Wanli (1594), Guan Yu was promoted from king to emperor, and was called "the emperor who helped heaven and protected the country and was loyal and righteous". In the forty-second year of Wanli (16 14), it was renamed as "Three Realm Demons, Great God Weiyuan Town, and Heaven Zun Guan Sheng Di Jun." Fang Ming Xiao Ru's "Wang Guan Temple Monument" said: "(Guan Yu died) for more than a thousand years, he was poor and far away, but as a teenager, everyone knew that he respected his name, feared his power and did not forget his strength." At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Guandi was honored as the God of the "Wu Temple", and was enshrined side by side with Confucius' "Confucian Temple".

The worship of Guan Yu by the rulers of the Qing dynasty began as early as outside the customs. In the eighth year of Chongde (1**3 years), it was convenient for Shengjing (now Shenyang) to establish Guandi Temple. Huang taiji also personally gave a plaque of "Yongyi" and decided that "the official will give incense when he is old." After entering the customs, it followed the practice of offering sacrifices to Guan Temple in the Ming Dynasty. The worship of Guan originated in Song Dynasty, developed in the middle of Yuan and Ming Dynasties, and prevailed in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Dong Liu said, "Guan Yu was worshiped in Gyeonggi, beating drums and ringing bells, and the years increased and the months increased." According to the statistics of Wanli, there are 5 1 Guandi Temple in wanping county alone. At that time, both inside and outside Beijing belonged to Daxing and Wanping counties. Together with the Guandi Temple in Daxing County, the total number of Guandi temples inside and outside Beijing in the late Ming Dynasty was "at least close to 100". In the ninth year of Shunzhi (1652), Guan Yu was named "loyal Emperor Guan Sheng of SHEN WOO". During the Yongzheng period, Guan Yu's father and ancestors were made three generations of dukes. He ordered that "the military and civilians in all counties and counties in the world should be guarded, and the spring and autumn festivals are like the ritual of the Confucian temple, and the sacrifices are too strong." In the thirty-third year of Qianlong (1768), it was named "the loyalty and righteousness god Wuling helps Guan Sheng Emperor" because "Guandi has been respected by all generations, especially by the national dynasty". At the same time, it is stipulated that the eulogy is written by the Hanlin Academy, the sacrifices are prepared by the Taichang Hall, and the number of seats in the official hall is set by the Ministry of Industry. It is also specially approved that the main hall and gatehouse tiles of Guandi Temple outside Di 'anmen are changed to pure yellow Ryukyu, which is consistent with the Confucius Temple. In the 19th year of Jiaqing (18 14), after quelling the uprisings in the capital and hua county, Henan Province, the Qing court added the word "Yong" with the title of "paying tribute to the spirit of Guan Di again and again" and "awarding the imperial tablet of hua county Temple to help the people". In the second year of Xianfeng (1852), add "protecting the country", the following year "protecting the people", the sixth year (1856) and the seventh year (1857). By the fifth year of Guangxu (1879), the title of Guan Yu by the Qing government had increased to 22 words, which were collectively called: "Loyalty, SHEN WOO spirit, helping others, showing people's sincere appeasement and praise for Xuande Guan Sheng the Great". According to statistics, there are more than 480 Guandi temples in 50 prefectures, counties and townships. According to the statistics of Taiwan Province province 1930, there are 150 Guandi temples. In addition, there are Sanyi Temple 12 dedicated to Liu, Guan and Zhang, Bazhou Sanyi Temple 14 and Jizhou Sanyi Temple 3. Guangxu's "Huailai County Records" said: "There is no village temple outside." Xianfeng's "Yinan County Records" said: "Countless people are in the village. "Qianlong's" Baoji County Records "said: There are even" one village and two temples ". Guangxu's "The Picture of Haimen Hall" said: "The private worship of Guandi Temple is everywhere". Guangxu's "Lanxi County Records" contains: Guandi Temple "has many townships". Qianlong's Wanquan County Records said: "Those who set sacrifices are not prepared." Guangxu's "Changzhi County Records" said: "The Guandi of villages and towns all worship". Guangxu's "Changting County Records" said: "Guandi Temple, every township and every square, is difficult to count. Tongzhi's "Qiyang County Records" said: "In towns and villages, there are many places dedicated to Guan and Yue Er's life, either exclusively or concurrently, but the temples are unknown. "Tongzhi's" Guiyang Zhili Prefecture Records "said:" People from all over the world worship Guandi Temple. "Daoguang's" Chengjiang Fuzhi "said:" Every village has built (Guandi Temple) for sacrifice. "It can be seen that the popularity of Guan Yu's belief has touched the towns below the county level, which is rare in feudal countries since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. With regard to the time of building temples, take wei county as an example. There are 27 temples in this county, including 15 each year, 1 in Song Dynasty, 1 in Yuan Dynasty, 8 in Ming Dynasty and 5 in Qing Dynasty. Tongzhou (now Tongxian County, Beijing) has 2 1 buildings, of which one was built in the second year of Yuan Dynasty (1329), four were in the Ming Dynasty and the rest were in the Qing Dynasty. There are 7 temples in Shulu County Records, except 1 which was built in Qing Dynasty. Among the other six temples, 1 was built in the 13th year of Hongzhi in Ming Dynasty (1 500), two in Wanli and three in Chongzhen. There are four temples built in Ming Dynasty in Guangdong Xingyu County Records, which were first built in Zheng Dejiu (15 14), the other three temples were built in Chongzhen, and one temple was built in Qianlong (177). In Lanxi County, Zhejiang Province, one Guandi Temple was built during the Song and Shaoxing Dynasties, and the other four were built in the Qing Dynasty.

In the Qing Dynasty, the frontier expanded, and with the continuous transfer of the ruling forces to the frontier, Guandi temples were established in Mongolia, Xinjiang, Tibet, Northeast China and other places. When Zhang Peng 'ao and cabinet minister Suo Otu went to Russia for peace talks via Mongolia, they saw the Guandi Temple in Guihua City (now Hohhot) along the way. His note read: "Only when you travel far can you know loyalty and righteousness." According to records, in the Qing Dynasty, "Mongolians believed in Lama, and Guan Yu was the most respected". In the early Qing Dynasty, Guandi Temple was gradually established in Lhasa, Xigaze, Mopanshan (now Gulong County) in Tibet, Litang and Dajian Road (now Kangding) in Sichuan. In some places, it is said that "ghosts do harm to people, and people are uneasy". Later, it was said that "except the sages, people began to enjoy themselves, and scholars worshipped them, calling them' Gesai Jiebo'. In Tibet, "the monks and nuns of the Han Dynasty only worship (Guan Di) devoutly" or "barbarians also know how to fear. "In Xinjiang, since the early Qing Dynasty, Guan Temple has also been established. In the early years of Jiaqing, when Hong was exiled to Yili, he went west from Jiayuguan to Huiyuan City (where General Yili built his teeth). " There are many households in Zhenbao City, ranging from as few as 100 to as many as 10, from as few as 6 to as many as 7, but there must be temples, which must be dedicated to SHEN WOO. The two walls of the temple must be painted with Er Shen, with a shoulder pole and a son ... a Zhou Cang ". Zhao Yi of the Qing Dynasty once said: "Today, the South Pole ridge is on the surface and the North Pole wall is blocked. All women and children without exception. The prosperity of incense will be immortal with the earth. "

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, China worshipped Guan Yu, which also had a strong influence on neighboring countries. In the 20th year of Wanli (1592), the Ming and Qing regimes sent troops to Korea to aid the Anti-Japanese War. "Look at the worship of Guandi in all parts of North Korea." Countries such as Vietnam and Ryukyu also set up temples to worship Guan Yu. Cheng Shunze, a drifter in China, wrote in the Story of the Founding of Guandi Temple in a Wandering Country: "I don't know what the meaning of the son of heaven is, and I don't know that the meaning of the son of heaven can fill the heavens and the earth. The meaning of the son of heaven can run through ancient and modern times, making the latter a courtier, and I don't know the father of the monarch and the minister." The conferring of the Qing Dynasty made people pay homage to the temple every time they drooled. In Vietnam, some Guandi temples are still spectacular. For example, the Guan Temple in Nanbianhe Town is a very famous place, which is "east of Nansanjie Street in Dapu, overlooking Fujiang, with majestic temples and tall statues".

Before the liberation of our country, Guandi Temple popularized rural areas and urban hinterland. As far as I can see with my own eyes, in my hometown of northern Sichuan, such as Nanchong, Nanbu, Xichong, Jianting, Langzhong and other counties, all towns and villages are related to temples, and some villages are also related to temples, and incense is flourishing. Hongkong, Taiwan Province and Southeast Asia are still similar to those before the liberation of the mainland. A piece of news in Beijing Evening News from June 5438+1October 65438+March 2000, with the title "Hong Kong Police Station pays homage to Emperor Guan", said that in recent months, a series of unfortunate accidents occurred in Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station in Hong Kong, such as a police chief killed in a car accident, a policewoman committed suicide, a police officer 12-year-old only son fell to his death, and so on. The new commander of the foreign army, for the peace of mind of his subordinates, specially asked all the staff to hold a ceremony of "worshiping Guan Di to exorcise evil spirits". Japan, Singapore, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries also believe in Guan Di. Especially when China people stay in Tokyo, the golden wall of Guandi Temple is bright and the incense is immortal day and night. In the middle and late feudal system of our country, why did people choose Guan Yu as their idol instead of others? In other words, Guan Yu, as a separate general, has become a god widely believed by people all over the country and even abroad. There may be many reasons, but is it related to the true image of Guan Yu in history? What kind of person was Guan Yu in history?

(2) Guan Yu's life

Although the number of words in The Story of the Three Kingdoms Shu Shu Guan Yu Chuan is more than that of Zhang Fei (780 words), Ma Chao (660 words), Huang Zhong (250 words) and Zhao Yun (370 words) in the same volume, it is only 950 words, which is still too few. Many important historical facts are unknown, so it is necessary to analyze them to show his achievements in his life.

Guan Yu was a general of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period, and his date of birth and death is unknown. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Shu Shu and Ancestors, Liu Bei died in Zhangwu, Shu Han for three years (223 years) at the age of 63, so he was born in Yan Xi in the Eastern Han Dynasty for four years (16 1 year). In the first year of Zhong Ping in the Eastern Han Dynasty (184), the Yellow Scarf Uprising took place. Liu Bei was 24 years old when he joined forces in his hometown of Zhuoxian (now Zhuozhou, Hebei Province). Guan Yu was born in Xie Xian County (now Xie Xian County, Shaanxi Province) in the east of the river, and he was cornered in Zhuoxian County. He and Zhang Fei are now taking refuge in Liu Bei. History says that Zhang Fei "had little to do with Guan Yu in advance." Faisal is a few years older, and Xiong Fei is doing just that. "It can be seen that Guan Yu is older than Zhang Fei, and Guan Yu and Zhang are" Liu Bei brothers ". The ancients knew each other and generally took their brothers as brothers. Guan Yu followed Liu Bei's example and said, "The rich man sits wide and stands all day. "Liu Heguan attaches great importance to Confucian ethics, and they were not at that time. If Guan Yu were not younger than Liu Bei, the above situation seemed impolite at that time. The ancients regarded the 20-year-old adult as a "weak crown", the weak body as a weak crown, and the young as a weak crown along the back. Accordingly, anyone under the age of 20 can be called young. Zhang Fei should be at least 17 or 8 years old when he went to fight with Liu Bei. Then, Guan Yu is a few years older than Zhang Fei and a few years younger than Liu Bei. He was about 2 1 or 2 years old when he took refuge in Liu Bei. According to the age of 22, Guan Yu was born in Yan Xi in the Eastern Han Dynasty for six years (163) and died in Jian 'an for twenty-four years (2 19). He fought side by side with Liu Bei for about 35 years and died at the age of 57.

The relationship between Liu, Guan and Zhang is extraordinary. According to historical records, Liu Bei "joined his disciples in Zhai and kept them with Zhang Fei." Liu Bei said, "If two people sleep in the same bed, they will share the same bed, so they should be brothers." . Guan Yu left Cao Ying to go to Liu Bei and said, "General Liu is very kind. I swear to be loyal to the death and I can't carry it back." . After Guan Yu died, did the ministers of Wei expect Liu Bei to avenge Guan Yu and attack Wu? Liu Ye once said: "Guan Yu is prepared, righteousness is the monarch and minister, and benevolence is the father and son." It can be seen that the relationship between Liu, Guan and Zhang is as deep as that between father and son.

In the first year of Zhong Ping in the Eastern Han Dynasty (184), after Liu Bei rose up in Zhuoxian, he asked Zou Jing, a captain, for meritorious service, except An Xiwei. Guan Yu was a subordinate of Liu Bei when he was about 22 years old. In the early peacetime (190- 193), during the suppression of the Yellow Scarf Uprising, the Kanto generals "merged their affairs to strengthen themselves". In the second year of Chuping (19 1), Gongsun Zan, Hebei sent Tian Kai and Liu Bei to capture Qingzhou, taking Liu Bei as the plain facies (both as the satrap). Guan Yu was about 29 years old when he was preparing another Sima to unify his headquarters. In the first year of Xingping (194), Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou for grazing, Liu Bei saved money and led four thousand troops. Liu Bei went to Tiankaiqian, and Qian Biao was a thorn in the history of Yuzhou, so he moved to Xiaopei (now Peixian County, Jiangsu Province). In December of the same year, Tao Qian was seriously ill and said, "Don't drive Mi Zhu." . Modest, Zhu led the people of Quanzhou to meet Liu Beiling in Xuzhou. Guan Yu is a 32-year-old subordinate.

In the summer of the first year of Jian 'an (196), Yuan Shu attacked Liu Bei, contended for Xuzhou, and prepared Sima Zhang Fei to defend Pi (Xuzhou Zhisuo). He refused to accept Guan Yu and others. Prepare for defeat, surrender Lu Bu, and prepare for the history of Yuzhou. In the winter of the same year, Yuan Shu sent 30,000 troops to prepare for rescue. Later, when the troops were strong, they deployed a counterattack and prepared to be defeated. Cao Cao thought that he was grazing in Yuzhou. In February of the third year of Jian 'an (198), Liu Bei captured Lu Bu from Cao Cao and returned it to Xuchang. Cao Cao worshipped Liu Bei as the left general, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei as the corps commander. Guan Yu was about 36 years old. In the fourth year of Jian 'an (199), Liu Bei left Cao Cao Dong and attacked Xuzhou Shi Che Zhou. "Three Kingdoms Shu Shu and Guan Yu Chuan" records: Liu Bei asked Guan Yu to be the satrap of Xuzhou, and he was the satrap himself. Liu Bei is a historian in Yuzhou, who led the troops in Xiaopei. Chen Wang's Wei Shu said that Liu Bei took Guan Yu as the leader in Xuzhou history. Liu Bei once led two states, Xu and Yu, eager to control them. At this time, he killed Che Zhou, a historian of Xuzhou, and named Guan Yu as a historian of Xuzhou. Because he was stationed in Xuzhou, he went to Pi and became a satrap, thus taking control of Xuzhou. This possibility is relatively large. Guan Yu was about 37 years old.

(2) Guan Yu's life

In the first month of the fifth year of Jian 'an (200), Cao Caodong levied Liu Bei, ready to be defeated by Yuan Shao. Cao Cao attacked Xiapi and captured Guan Yu. "It is very generous to worship the generals." In April of the same year, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were at loggerheads in Guandu. Shao sent general Yan Liang to attack the satrap Ada, and Cao Cao sent Zhang Liao and Guan Yu as pioneers to attack the good, and his feathers were chopped in the armies. Fuck, worship the feather for the pavilion. Guan Yu was about 38 years old. Shortly thereafter, Guan Yu defected from Cao Ying to Liu Bei. In the autumn of the same year, Liu Bei went to Runan in the name of Liu Biao, who was not the main commander of Yuan Shao's hegemony and wanted to leave. Cao Cao sent general Cai Yang to prepare for the attack and was killed by Liu Bei and Guan Yu.

In the autumn of the sixth year of Jian 'an (20 1), after Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao's main force, he led an army to attack Liu Bei in Runan. Guan Yu followed Liu Bei south and stabbed Liu Biao to death according to Jingzhou. Liu Biao is Liu Bei's "benefit his soldiers and open up new fields in Tun". Guan Yu followed Liu Bei to Xinye around the age of 39. In the autumn and winter of the seventh year of Jian 'an (202), Liu Biao sent Liu Bei to the northern border, and Guan Yu went with the army to the place under the jurisdiction of Cao Cao in Ye County, Nanyang County. Cao Cao sent generals such as Xia Houdun and Yu Jin to reject Liu Beijun. Bei and Guan Yu pretended to retreat from the ambush and defeated Cao Jun. Guan Yu was forty years old.

In the winter of the twelfth year of Jian 'an (2007), Liu Bei visited the cottage, and Zhuge Liang made a strategy for Liu Bei. Based on Jingzhou and Yizhou, Shu was established, politics was cultivated in the south, Yiyue was assisted in the east, Sun Quan was connected in the east, and Jingzhou and Yizhou were on standby to explore the Central Plains in the north, realizing the policy of political and war integration. Guan Yu was about 45 years old.

In August of the 13th year of Jian 'an (2008), Cao Cao's minions went south to collect Liu Biao. Liu Bei went south from Fancheng. Don't send Guan Yu to lead a water army of more than 10 thousand people. Prepare to join forces in Jiangling (now jiangling county, Hubei Province) under the jurisdiction of Nanjun County. Cao Cao claimed that Jiangling had a solid army, and he was afraid that the first master would chase it. He led a light horse to chase it for 5,000 days and nights, and occupied Jiangling first. Guan Yu had to lead an army to help Hanshui (called Mianshui in ancient times) and Liu Beijun, and happened to meet Liu Qi (the eldest son of the table) with more than 10,000 troops and arrived at Xiakou (now Wuhan, Hebei Province), where Jiangxia County is located. Guan Yu was about 46 years old. In the winter of the same year, after Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao was defeated and returned to the north. When he left, Le Jin kept Xiangyang, while Coss and Huang Xu kept Jiangling. Liu Bei and Zhou Yu "surrounded Cao Ren in Jiangling, not Guan Yu in North Road" to stop Xiangyang from going south to reinforce troops. Cao Cao Runa, the satrap of Li Tong, saved Ren and fought Guan Yu's army in the north of Jiangling. Li Tong "dismounted his horse and pulled out his antlers (building a city in ancient times, sharpening branches and burying them in the ground to prevent the enemy from attacking) and was shortlisted to meet Ren Jun before the war". Guan Yu was about 46 years old. In December of the same year, Liu Bei occupied Wuling, Changsha, Guiyang and Lingling counties in the south of Jingzhou. Taking Guan Yu as a bandit general, he led Xiangyang prefect and stationed in Jiangbei. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Xiangyang was the county and the south was the county. Xiangyang was occupied by Cao Jun at that time, and Liu Beixin set Xiangyang County as the remote leader of Guan Yu. This arrangement clearly indicates that Guan Yu will shoulder the heavy responsibility of developing northward. Guan Yu was about 46 years old at this time.

In the 14th year of Jian 'an (2009), 65438+ February, Cao Ren retreated to Fancheng from Jiangling. Sun Quan led the Southern Group satrap Zhou Yu, according to Jiangling. In the winter of the fifteenth year of Jian 'an, Sun Quan took Liu Bei as the capital of Nanjun instead of * * * rejecting Cao Cao. Liu Bei's presence in Jiangling created the necessary conditions for Guan Yu's development to the north.

In the winter from the 15th year of Jian 'an (2 10) to the 16th year (2 1 1 year), Guan Yu went north and fought against Cao Cao's garrison commanders Le Jin and Wen Pin successively. In Kou Xun (now southwest of Zhongxiang City, Hebei Province) and Beijing (now east and west banks of Hanshui River in Zhongxiang City, Hebei Province), he was in Hanjin with Huang Xu and Man Chong.

In December of the 16th year of Jian 'an (2 1 1), Liu Bei left Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu and Zhao Yun in Jingzhou and led tens of thousands of people into Yizhou. Guan Yu was about 49 years old. In December of the seventeenth year of Jian 'an (2 12), Guan Yu expanded his territory to the north and fought against Cao Cao, commander-in-chief of Xiangyang. According to Han Kangzu's research, according to the military situation at that time, Ni Qing should not be in Niqinghe, three miles northwest of Xiangyang City, but actually in the south of Zhongxiang City, Hubei Province, about 1 10 km away from Jiangling and about 90 km away from Xiangyang. Let's just say. Guan Yu was about 50 years old at this time. During this period, Guan Yu used the advantages of Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun in Jingzhou to expand the land to the north. Later, during the Northern Expedition, Xiangyang and Fancheng had no resistance to the south, which showed that they were expanding northward.

In the summer of the 19th year of Jian 'an (2 14), Liu Bei defended Luojiu in Yizhou. Zhuge Liang left Guan Yu to guard Jingzhou, and Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun led the troops into Yizhou. At this point, Guan Yu has full authority to supervise Jingzhou's military and political affairs. This shows Guan Yu's important position in the Shu-Han regime. Guan Yu is about 5 1 year old. In the twentieth year of Jian 'an (2 15), Sun Quan took Yizhou with Liu Bei and wanted to take Jingzhou, so he was appointed as the county magistrate of Changsha, Lingling and Guiyang. Guan Yu expelled all his officials. Have the right to send more than twenty thousand people to take three counties and then surrender. Liu Bei led 50,000 troops to the public security and sent Guan Yu to lead 30,000 troops to Yiyang (now Yiyang City, Hunan Province) to fight for the three southern counties. Sun Quan was in Lukou, which was a festival for all the troops, so that Lu Su turned ten thousand people into Yiyang and refused to feather. But also urgently called to help Sue. At this time, Cao Cao attacked Hanzhong, and Liu Bei was afraid that Yizhou would fall and made up with Sun Quan. The two sides of the strait are bounded by Xiangshui, and Changsha, Jiangxia and Guiyang belong to Sun Quan. Nanjun, Lingling and Wuling belong to Liu Bei. Guan Yu was about 53 years old. After Sun Quan's war in Jingzhou, Guan Yu knew the difficulty of developing northward based on Jingzhou, so he spent three or four years, on the one hand, strengthening the defense to the east of Jingzhou and building Jiangling Nancheng; On the other hand, a large number of military assets and weapons were accumulated, ships were built, and the water army was trained in order to stand by and observe the northern expedition along the Hanshui River. According to the Lu Wu, "Nanjun (Jiangling) City caught fire, which quite burned military equipment". Lu Meng attacked Jiangling, which was called "Sun Quan seized the feather trench" in history. He also said: "The treasures in the Jade (Jiangling) Treasury are all closed for future rights." Prior to this, Wen Pin had "cut in the Han Dynasty and burned in the Jingcheng ship". All this shows that Guan Yu made a lot of preparations for military supplies before the Northern Expedition, so the Northern Expedition lasted for five months and there was no shortage of military supplies.

In December of the 22nd year of Jian 'an (2 17), Cao Cao was in Yeh, and Prime Minister Wang Bidian was appointed as Xu DuDu. The history book says: "When Guan Yu was strong, Zhao Jing Jin Yi saw that Han Zuo was going to move, and he was accompanied by Ji Geng of Shaofu, Wei Huang of Sizhi, and gibbon, a physician. There must be a murder, and the emperor will be used to make the princes attack Wei and lead Guan Yu to the south. " In October of the 23rd year of Jian 'an (2 18), Cao Wei, the satrap of Nanyang, led Hou Yin to rise up and rebel, and became the magistrate of Dongli Prefecture, "making peace with Guan Yu". Guan Yu was about 56 years old.

In May of the 24th year of Jian 'an (2 19), Liu Bei occupied Hanzhong, and then sent Meng Da and Liu Feng to occupy Fangling, Shang Yong and Xicheng counties, from northwest to southeast along Hanshui River to Jingzhou. In July of the same year, in order to cooperate with the deployment of the war after Liu Bei occupied Hanzhong, that is, Hanzhong was connected with Jingzhou along the Hanshui River, Guan Yu left Mi Fang, the satrap of Nanjun, to guard Jiangling, and Sergeant Renshou was on guard against Wu, leading the army to attack Xiangyang and Fancheng in the north, thus completing the war preparations for the future battle between Wan and Luo for the Central Plains. Cao Cao sent Man Chong and Yu Jin to lead seven armies to help Coss defend Fancheng. In August, during the rainstorm, the Hanshui River rose by dozens of feet, and Yu Jin, Pound and other troops were submerged. Yu Jin surrendered and Pound was killed. Cao Cao urgently called Huang Xu to supervise the army and helped Coss to clear the way. He also sent 12 battalions including Yin Department and Zhu Gai to help out. Huang Xu fought Guan Yu's army in the north of Fancheng. Guan took the initiative to retreat from Fancheng, but the water army still took Hanshui as its stronghold.

In October, just as Guan Gong's army was fighting fiercely with Cao Renhe's army, Wu violated the alliance, and Sun Quan and Guan Yu conspired to take Guan Yu's main force north, sneak attack on the public security and surrender to the post of sergeant. To Gangneung, Mi Fang. Guan Yu heard of the fall of Nanjun and returned to the south by Qingqi. Sun Quan took Monroe as the satrap of Nanjun and Ling Xun as the satrap (Liu Bei took Xiling as Yiling). In November, Fan You, the satrap of Yidu in Shu and Han, abandoned the county, and Lu Xun defeated Zhucheng Guanman. The right to take Xun as the general of the sky, to move Yiling, and to guard the gorge for the Shu army. When Guan Yu arrived in Maicheng (about 40 kilometers away from Jiangling), he had the right to let Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang return to China. In December, Guan Yu was captured and killed in Xiangyang (now east of Yuan 'an County, Hubei Province) and Zhang Xiang in Linshu County. He is about 57 years old. At this point, the Jingzhou army of Shu Han was destroyed, and the three counties of Jingzhou were occupied by Sun Wu.

Jing Yao, the queen of Shu and Han Dynasties, reigned for three years (260 years), and was proud of Guan Yu as a strong Hou. According to Han Kangzu's textual research, Miao Zhuang written by the ancient temple and Mu Tongyong is similar to Wu Mu written by Yue Fei. There is another cloud: "Judge the law of death, and Bude upholds justice and says he admires it.".

(3) The elegant demeanor of famous stars

Wei Wendi's monarchs and ministers all called Guan Yu a "great warrior" of Shu. Is this kind of praise consistent with the historical truth? The answer should be yes. Guo Jia, the most famous counselor of Cao Cao, said, "Zhang Fei and Guan Yu are all enemies." . [2] Cheng Yu, a famous minister of Wei, also said: "Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are ten thousand enemies." Chen Shouyun, the author of the Three Kingdoms, said: Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are "ten thousand enemies, and the world is worried." At that time, people often praised military commanders as "enemies of ten thousand people" and counselors as "English of ten thousand people". Here, "ten thousand people" is a rough figure, and military commanders say that they are brave and good at fighting, and their martial arts are superior; Counselors say that national security, civil and military are above everything else. Ye Liu, the counselor of Cao Wei, even said, "Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are the champions of the three armed forces". Zhou Yu, a famous official of Sun Wu, called Guan Yu a "bear tiger and general". Monroe counted: "Guan Yu is a bear tiger"; "Guan Yu's courage is hard to defeat"; "Close the bear". Lu Xun called Guan Yu "the hero of the world"; Guan Yu has Xiao Qi. The so-called "bear tiger" here means that the tiger is the king of all animals and the bear is the fiercest of all animals, which means that Guan Yu is the best among military commanders. The so-called "hero", "hero" and "spirit" all refer to Guan Yu's heroic spirit, bravery and demeanor as a famous soldier. In short, the above-mentioned people's praise for Guan Yu shows that Guan Yu embodies the heroic spirit and qualities that a famous soldier should have, such as extraordinary bravery and unparalleled martial arts, and is invincible.

Guan Yu's famous demeanor is embodied in his battle with Yan Liang, the general of Yuan Shao. In April of the fifth year of Jian 'an (200), two great north military groups, Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, fought for the Central Plains in Guandu (now northeast of zhongmou county, Henan Province). Yuan Shao sent general Yan Liang to attack Cao Jun's satrap in Baima (now east of hua county, Henan). Cao Cao sent Zhang Liao and Guan Yu as pioneers to stop Yan Liang Jun. According to the biography of Guan Yu in the Three Kingdoms, Guan Yu "saw (Yan) Liang Hui's cover (referring to the general's chariot, with a cover), rode a horse and stabbed the beam in the people, beheaded its head, and (Yuan) General Shao was beyond his power, so he solved the siege of the white horse." Chen Shou's vivid records show that when two military commanders in Cao Yuan confronted each other, the images of Guan Yu's heroes, tigers and brave stars were vividly presented to readers. Guan Yu "stabbed Liang to death", apparently with a halberd or spear and beheaded with a broadsword. Halberd, spear and broadsword were common weapons used by military commanders and soldiers at that time. Zhang Fei also killed the enemy with a spear. Dian Wei, a general under Cao Cao, "held a spear to raise a halberd" or "held a big double halberd sword" in battle. Gongsun Zan killed the enemy with a self-sustaining double-edged spear. Later in the Three Kingdoms, Chen An, a warrior in the Qianlong period of the former Zhao Dynasty, fought a battle of "seven-foot broadsword in his left hand, eight snake spears in his right hand, inbred swords and spears, and looked around from afar". Ran Min, the general of the post-Zhao Dynasty, was invincible in attack and war. Facing the battle, he rode a red horse, Zhu Long, with a double-edged spear in his left hand and a halberd in his right.

Guan Yu beheaded the general in the enemy line, so bold and natural, so leisurely, that it became a much-told story in later military commanders, and he took Guan Yu as an example. For example, Xia Liu in the Eastern Jin Dynasty was "brave" and "worthy of the chaos in the world, and he was the owner of the dock. Every time a thief is attacked, a strong man pushes the front, and Hebei wins Zhang Fei and Guan Yu. " Tan Daoji, a famous Liu and Song player in the Southern Dynasties, has a great reputation. His subordinates joined the army of Xue Tong and AG. They were "brave", "battle-hardened" and "comparable to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei". In the first month of the first year of Liu Song (454), he set out in Yuzhou, and the famous soldiers were ordered to levy a cool army. Before the battle began, Andubo jumped on the horse, let out a cry, and stabbed him straight, only to find that he fell down ... The world was cold, and the fairy cloud was full of enemies. Andu went straight into the prison car and returned alone. At that time, it was not too much for Guan Yu to behead Yan Liang. "In 573, Chen Taijian was established in the Southern Dynasties, and Chen Mingche led an army to the Northern Expedition, and the Northern Qi attacked Qin County (now Liuhe County, Jiangsu Province). Wei Bohu, a general of the Northern Qi Dynasty, led 654.38+million reinforcements, and his vanguard was skilled. "Hu in the western regions is better than bows and arrows, and the strings are not empty, and all armies are afraid of it." Ming Che told the famous novel: "If this is successful, his army will seize the air superiority. If it is related to you, Zhang's famous soldier will kill Yan Liang." After drinking, Moko rode Ma Chong to the Qi army. "Hu of the Western Regions" walked out of more than ten steps, and before he could bow, Moco threw a milling machine right in the forehead, which should be a servant. And the qi army was struck forward to more than ten people, and the qi army was defeated. Yang Dayan and Cui Yanbo of the Northern Wei Dynasty were "the top generals" and were known as "the great names of the country". As a general, geese often charge the front. "The conflict is firm, there is no doubt about it. When it is a front, it must be destroyed. " "The world pushes its fruit and thinks that Guan and Zhang Fu are wrong." During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, there were 13 similar generals. Their fighting spirit is high, their bravery is unusual, and their martial arts are extraordinary. At that time, people were similar to the famous Guan Yu, indicating the influence of Guan Yu's fighting style on later generations and the worship of Guan Yu by later military commanders.

Guan Yu not only has the heroic fighting style of a general famous soldier, but also has the superior quality of martial arts and the ability to command large-scale battles. Take Guan Yu's Northern Expedition as an example. After Guan Yu was fully in charge of Jingzhou's military and political affairs, after careful consideration, he made three preparations to stand by and watch the Northern Expedition. First, in order to guard against Wu's attack, Jiangling City was built, and the inner and outer coat cities were built, forming two solid defense lines. Second, in addition to accumulating grain and military supplies, we should also build ships and practice the water army, so that during the Northern Expedition, we can use the Hanshui Buqi and the water army to jointly fight and enhance our combat effectiveness. Third, unite the anti-Cao forces in Wei as internal forces to expand the momentum of the Northern Expedition. For example, in the 22nd year of Jian 'an (2 17), it provided assistance to Ji Geng, a Shaofu in Xuchang; In the 23rd year of Jian 'an (2 18), he joined forces with Hou Yin, the governor of Nanyang.

In July of the 24th year of Jian 'an (2 19), before the Northern Expedition, Guan Yu not only sent more troops to strengthen the defense of public security and Jiangling, but also set up a "waiting station" along the river near the public security and Jiangling, so as to detect Wu Jun's contribution at any time. In fact, four lines of defense were formed against Wu, namely, waiting along the river, public security and the inner and outer cities of Jiangling. Moreover, Jiangling is only 180 km away from the front line of Fancheng. At that time, Qingqi walked three hundred miles a day and a night, and it only took more than a day to come back. In Guan Yu's view, the prevention of Wu Can can be said to be foolproof.

The strategic and tactical deployment of the Northern Expedition can be divided into five points: first, the strategic goal of this Northern Expedition is to seize two strongholds of Cao Wei in northern Jingzhou, Xiangyang and Fancheng, as the base areas for going north to Wanluo in the future; Third, Xiangyang is in the north of the confluence of Hanshui River and Ganshui River, and Fancheng is 9 kilometers away from Xiangyang along Hanshui River. Both cities are close to the Hanshui River, so it is decided to make a northern expedition in autumn and rainy season, which can make full use of the Hanshui River and give full play to the advantages of the navy. Third, concentrate superior forces to surround Xiang and Fan Shoujun, especially Coss' main defenders in Fancheng; Fourth, write to Liu Feng and Meng Da in the upper reaches of Hanshui River, asking them to send troops from the northwest to support Fancheng. Fifth, send a small army north. What about Wei? # 123; Xuchang, to shake Xiang and Fan Shoujun.

After the war began, Guan Yu led the army to surround Coss in Fancheng with lightning speed. Cao Cao first sent Man Chong, the satrap of Runan, to help Coss, and then sent Ban and other seven armies to help Coss. In August, during the rainstorm, the Hanshui River rose by tens of feet, and Yu Qi's army and Pound's Coss' army were flooded. Yu Jin and Pound climbed the levee to avoid water. Guan Yu used a powerful "boatman" to attack in a big ship, shooting arrows on all sides, and the battle was extremely fierce. From the morning battle to Japan and China, he surrendered under the imperial situation, Pound was captured and killed, and * * * captured more than 30,000 people of Cao Jun. After Guan Yu destroyed the imperial reinforcements, the siege was heavy and the inside and outside were cut off. Fancheng ran out of food and was in danger. The faction also surrounded Coss and Bieshuai Lu Chang in Xiangyang to prevent them from rescuing Fancheng, and forced Cao Wei to assassinate Shi Hu Xiu in Jingzhou and surrender Fu Fang, the satrap of Nanxiang.

Guan Yu first sent troops to Jia County, Yingchuan County (now Jia County, Henan Province), about 75 kilometers away from Xuchang, the capital of Cao Wei (now east of Xuchang City, Henan Province). The light cavalry will arrive in a day. So, the north shook. In October, in Luhun County, hongnong county (now Songxian County, Henan Province, about 60 kilometers away from Luoyang), Sun Lang, a citizen, confronted the government and the people, and "made an insurrection, killed the princess book and attached Guan Yu to the south". Feather "to the Wolf, to the soldiers, is also a thief. From the south of Xuchang, it is often a long way to answer the feathers, and the feathers will reach China. "Cao Cao" is close to the Han Emperor "and" proposes to move Xu to avoid his sharpness ". Jiang Ji and others discouraged. Cao Cao sent the army to help him to solve his worries. Zhao Yan was also sent to discuss Lang's participation in Coss' military affairs. Guan Yu sent people to Yancheng, five miles north of Fancheng, to stop Huang Xu's reinforcements. Because of "how many recruits to bring, it is difficult to compete with the former", Huang Xu went to Yangling Beitun Camp, ten miles northwest of Yancheng, and hesitated. Cao Cao also sent generals Xu Shang and Lv Jian to help him. At this time, Cao Wei was very excited and thought that if he didn't go out in person, Cao Cao and Huang Xu would fail. Cao Cao went south from Luoyang and wanted to personally conquer Guan Yu. He was stationed in Mobei (in the southeast of jia county). It's 45 kilometers from Xuchang. Cao Cao is stationed here, in fact, one is to shock the north of the city and defend the security of the capital; Then remotely control Xiang and Fan to lure the enemy into battle. After Cao Cao entered Mobei, he sent 12 armies including Yin Department and Zhu Gai to help out. Still afraid of waiting for the army to be breached by Guan Yu, Zhang Liao stationed in the nest (now south of Tongcheng County, Anhui Province) was ordered to defend Wu, and Zhou Shi Peiqian and Yuzhou Shi led the troops to save Coss. When reinforcements from all walks of life arrived one after another, the military situation gradually developed in an unfavorable direction after a great war between the north and the south of Fancheng. Guan Yu decided to take the initiative to retreat in a planned way. First, retreat from Yancheng to Weitou and Sizhutun in the north of Fancheng, and then retreat to Fancheng and Xiangyang with the Hanshui Boat Division. At this moment, Jiangling and the public security fell.

During the five-month Northern Expedition, Guan Yu, according to the predetermined strategy, used the Hanshui River to jointly fight on foot, horseback riding and navy, focusing on besieging Xiang and Fan, blocking reinforcements, and sending troops to patrol the north to jointly resist Cao forces.