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Major Events
Longzhong PlanUpon the death of his uncle in 197, the seventeen-year-old Zhuge Liang struck out on his own as a farmer-scholar in the area of Longzhong, southwest of Xiangyang, an important intellectual centre on the Han River. Here he pursued a life of study pertaining to the classics of ancient literature, history, and military affairs as well as discussion with the refugee-scholars from North China. The life of a Daoist recluse who shunned politics did not appeal to Zhuge Liang, who found stimulation and nourishment in the Legalist tradition of analysing the situation and integrating knowledge with the practical struggle for power. In particular he admired the career and achievements of Guan Zhong (-645 BC) and the military exploits of Yue Yi (c. 3rd century BC). In 207, the young Zhuge joined Liu Bei as moushi, an advisor on strategic matters. It was at this time that he outlined the famous 'Longzhong Dui' (Longzhong Plan) which was the grand strategy of Liu Bei's climb to hegemony.It envisaged that Liu Bei would take over a regional base of power, namely the Jingzhou and Yizhou provinces, both of which were ruled by relative incompetents. The Longzhong Plan noted that Cao Cao controlled the Central Plain, which was key to mastery of China, and that Sun Quan held the lower Yangzi region, known as Jiangdong. In view of this, a move to occupy Jingzhou and Yizhou was vital for success. The essential outlines of the plan held remarkable foresight in envisaging the tripartite division of China. The other crucial aspect of the plan was the proposal for forming an alliance with Sun Quan in order to deter and resist the more powerful and intimidating Cao Cao. Other minor aspects included the institution of economic, legal and administrative reforms as well as developing cordial relations with the non-Han people located in the west and south. Such a policy would reduce resistance and increase manpower and economic resources which were sorely needed. The culminating clause was a two-pronged northern campaign which would end in the seizure of the Central Plain and the reestablishment of the Han court. One advance would be from Yizhou in the west, north from the Qinling, debouching into the Wei River valley and achieving a strategic position in the west from which to dominate the great bend of the Yellow River and Guanzhong. The second advance would be from Jingzhou north toward the political centre of Luoyang and the surrounding regions. Such a campaign would presumably occur at an opportune moment of destabilisation of Wei but that moment was not specified. Nor was the role of Sun Quan in the offensives identified; though it would be assumed that he would tie down at least some of Cao Cao's forces. As history unfolded, however, the alliance with Wu broke down over the issue of the occupation of Jingzhou. Whilst Guan Yu, Liu Bei's commander at Jingzhou struck north against Cao Cao's positions on the Han River (in what may have been the first phase of the Longzhong Plan) Sun Quan treacherously assaulted his rear. In this way the province of Jingzhou was lost and an offensive by Liu Bei failed to recover it. The Wu-Shu alliance was soon patched up again by Zhuge Liang but the loss of Jingzhou took its toll. His six Northern Expeditions failed to break through the Wei lines and he died a disappointed man in 234.
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