Convincing People with Virtue (1/2)
 
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty (184-220 AD), the land of China was divided into three nations: Wei, Shu, and Wu. The emperor of Shu nation, Liu Bei, left instructions in his will before he died asking Prime Minister Zhuge Liang to invade the North and revitalize the Han nation.
 
At that time, the regions to the south of Shu invaded Shu under the leadership of Meng Huo. Zhuge Liang immediately organized the army for a southern expedition.
 
When the army arrived in the southern territory and fought the army led by Meng Huo, Zhuge Liang used a strategy of appearing defeated. Superior in numbers, Meng Huo led his army to chase Zhuge Liang. As a result they fell into the trap Zhuge had set. The southern invaders were defeated and Meng Huo was captured.
 
Meng Huo was taken to see Zhuge Liang in the main camp. He thought to himself: I will certainly die this time. Surprisingly, Zhuge Liang ordered soldiers to untie the rope and kindly persuaded him to surrender. But Meng Huo was not convinced. He said, "Victory or defeat is common in battle. I was not careful and fell into your trap. How can I be convinced?"
 
Zhuge Liang did not force him. Instead he took Meng Huo on a tour of his army camp on horseback. He then asked Meng Huo, "What do you think of my army?" Meng Huo said arrogantly, "I failed because I was not clear about the proportions of your army. After you showed me your formations today, I have to say that it is not that impressive. It would not be that difficult to defeat you." Zhuge Liang laughed and said, "Since you think this way, then go back and prepare better next time. We will have another battle."
 
After his release, Meng Huo prepared his army and once again fought the Shu army. However, he was a person with courage but no wisdom. He was not nearly as competent as Zhuge Liang. Once again Meng was captured. However, Meng still refused to surrender. Zhuge Liang once again released him.
 
The generals in the Shu army were all puzzled. How could we let go of our enemy easily after marching so far away from our homeland? Zhuge Liang had his own reasons, "In order to have long-term stability of the southern border of Shu, the only way is to convince them with virtue and then they would be convinced from the bottom of their heart. Overcoming the issue with a show of strength would prove troublesome in the future." All officials admired his insights.
 
When Meng Huo once again came back, his brother Meng You came up with a plot. At midnight, Meng You led trooops to the Shu Camp and pretended that they would surrender. Seeing his true intention at first glance, Zhuge Liang treated his soldiers to a large amount of good wine. As a result, Meng You's soldiers were all drunk. At that time, Meng Huo led his army to strike but he received no help from the drunk soldiers. He was captured again. But he was still not convinced. Zhuge Liang then let him go for the third time.
 
Upon returning, Meng Huo prepared his army for another strike. One day, his spy suddenly reported to him, "Zhuge Liang is exploring the terrain all alone." Meng Huo was so excited and led his people to capture Zhuge Liang. However, he once again fell into a trap and was captured for the fourth time. Knowing that he would not be convinced this time, Zhuge Liang once again let him go.
 
One general of Meng Huo's army, Yang Feng, fought alongside Meng Huo and was captured and freed numerous times. He was very grateful for the generosity of Zhuge Liang. To return the favor, he and his wife captured Meng Huo after they made him drunk and took him to the Han Camp. Meng Huo was captured for the fifth time but he was still not convinced and said that he was framed by traitors. Zhuge Liang then let him go for the fifth time and asked him to fight again.

以德服人心悦诚服 (上)



东汉末年，魏、蜀、吴三分天下。蜀丞相诸葛亮受昭烈帝刘备托孤遗诏，立志北伐，以重兴汉室。
 
就在这时，蜀南方之南蛮总领孟获领大兵又来犯蜀，诸葛亮当即点兵南征。
 
到了南蛮之地，诸葛亮用智谋，在蜀军和孟获军队交锋的时候，让蜀军故意败退下来。孟获仗其人多，领兵追了过去，很快就中了蜀军的埋伏。南兵被打的四处逃散，孟获本人也被活捉。
 
孟获被押到大营，心里想，这回一定没有活路了。没想到进了大营，诸葛亮立刻叫人给他松了绑，好言劝说他归降。但孟获不服气，说：「胜败乃兵家常事，是我自己不小心，中了你的计，怎么能叫人心服？」
 
诸葛亮不勉强他，陪着他一起骑马在大营外兜了一圈，看看蜀军的营垒和阵容。然后又问孟获：「你看我们的人马怎么样？」孟获傲慢的说：「以前我没弄清楚你们的虚实，所以败了。今天承蒙你给我看了你们的阵势，我看也不过如此。像这样的阵势，要打赢你们也不难。」诸葛亮爽朗的笑了起来，说：「既然这样，你就回去好好准备一下再打吧。」
 
孟获被释放以后，重整旗鼓，又一次进攻蜀军。但他本是一个有勇无谋之人，哪里是诸葛亮的对手，第二次又被活捉。诸葛亮劝他，见孟获还是不服，又放了他。
 
汉营大将们都有些想不通。他们认为大家远涉而来，就这么轻易的放走敌人。诸葛亮却自有道理：「要想蜀汉南部边境得到长治久安，只有以德服人才能真的让人心服，以力服人将必有后患。」众将佩服。
 
孟获再次回到洞中，他的弟弟孟优给他献了个计谋。半夜时分，孟优带人来到汉营诈降，诸葛亮一眼就识破了他，于是下令赏了大量的美酒给南蛮之兵，使孟优带来的人喝的酩酊大醉。这时孟获按计划前来劫营，却不料自投罗网，被再次擒获。这回孟获仍是不甘心，诸葛亮便第三次放虎归山。
 
孟获回到大营，立即整顿军队，待机而发。一天，忽有探子来报：诸葛亮正独自在阵前察看地形。孟获听后大喜，立即带了人赶去捉拿诸葛亮。不料这次他又中了诸葛亮的计谋，第四次被擒。诸葛亮知他这次肯定还是不会服气，再次放了他。
 
他营中一员大将带来洞主杨峰，因跟随孟获亦数次被擒数次被放，心里十分感激诸葛亮。为了报恩，他与夫人一起将孟获灌醉后押到汉营。孟获五次被擒仍是不服，大呼是内贼陷害。诸葛亮第五次放了他，命他再来战。