Convincing People with Virtue (2/2)

Upon returning, Meng Huo joined forces with King Mulu. The army camp of King Mulu was situated in an extremely remote location. Leading his army, Zhuge Liang went through many difficulties to arrive there. Plus, King Mulu’s army trained wild animals to fight. As a result, the Han army was defeated. After returning to the army camp, Zhuge Liang made fake animals that were several times larger than their real counterparts. When they fought again with King Mulu’s army, the real animals were frightened by the size of the fake animals. The Han army was victorious and Meng Huo once again was captured. Although he was still not convinced, he did not have any reason. Zhuge Liang perceived Meng Huo’s state of mind so he still let him go.
 
Meng Huo then joined forces with the Wuge nation. The king of Wuge nation had a brave and veteran army fitted with rattan armor that was impenetrable by swords and spears. This rattan armor was made through a special technique using rattan only available in the southern region. Zhuge Liang prepared accordingly and won the battle by using fire as part of the strategy. Meng Huo was captured for the seventh time. He knelt down on his knees in front of Zhuge Liang’s tent. Zhuge Liang ordered him untied and treated to wine and food in another tent.
 
Meng Huo was drinking with his brothers, wife and advisors when someone came and reported, "The Prime Minister is reluctant to see you. He ordered me to release you. You can prepare once again for battle. Now you can leave."
 
Meng Huo shed tears and said, "It is unprecedented for someone to be captured seven times and released seven times. Although I come from a small country, I also know about justice and righteousness. How could I be this shameless?" He then led his people and knelt down. He apologized, "The Prime Minister is powerful and mighty. The southern people will no longer attempt an invasion!" Zhuge Liang said, “Are you convinced now?” Meng Huo cried, “Our future generations all thank you for your grace and generosity!” Zhuge Liang then invited Meng Huo to the banquet to celebrate. He returned all the invaded lands to Meng Huo. Meng Huo and his officials were all very grateful and left graciously. When Meng Huo returned, he also convinced other tribes to surrender.
 
The officials asked Zhuge Liang, "Now that we finally conquered the South, why didn’t we send our officials there to govern instead of letting these current leaders?"
 
Zhuge Liang said, "If we send our officials, we have to also send soldiers. It not only wastes manpower and army supplies, more importantly, it would cause distrust of each other. We let every tribe govern itself and we make peace with each of them. Isn't it better this way?" They were all convinced.
 
Zhuge Liang was ready to return to the Shu nation. Meng Huo led all of the officials and heads of all tribes to accompany him. Zhuge Liang asked him to care for his people and tend to agriculture. Meng Huo and others shed tears and said good-bye. Along the way, Zhuge Liang gave local farmers crop seeds and irrigation tools. The southern people were very grateful. They built temples and worshiped him as the compassionate father. They also sent medicine, paint, cattle and horses to support the military.
 
Many years later, Zhuge Liang passed away in 234 AD. Emperor Wudi of Jin dynasty, Sima Yan (236 – 290 AD), unified the three nations. The head of Shu nation Liu Chan was abducted to Luoyang. Meng Huo was still grateful for the generosity of Zhuge Liang. Every summer he would lead his soldiers to Luoyang to visit Liu Chan. He also asked the emperor to kindly treat Liu Chan and the people of Shu. The emperor was also deeply moved.
 
Using his superior wisdom and tolerance, Zhuge Liang had captured and released Meng Huo seven times and eventually convinced him willingly not to fight. Throughout history, all wise people won support with virtue. One first has to be a proper human being before doing anything. It is the same principle for officials. The priority is to establish their virtue. One needs to be righteous to govern the country and secure his people. One should be devoted and selfless. This is what people would appreciate and the whole world would be in peace. For those who took power through violence, they could never exist for long and will eventually be eliminated by history.


以德服人心悦诚服 (下)



这次，孟获回去后不敢大意，他去投奔了木鹿大王。这木鹿大王之营极为偏僻，诸葛亮带兵前往，一路历尽艰险，加上蛮兵使用了野兽参战，使汉兵败下阵来。回营后，诸葛亮造了大于真兽几倍的假兽。当他们再次与木鹿大王交战时，木鹿的野兽见了假兽十分害怕不战自溃了。这次孟获被俘心里虽仍有不服，但再没理由开口了，诸葛亮看出他的心思，仍旧放了他。
 
孟获被释后又去投奔了乌戈国，这乌戈国国王兀突骨拥有一支英勇善战的籐甲兵，所装备的籐甲刀枪不入。诸葛亮对此却早有所备，他用火攻破了乌戈国籐甲军。孟获第七次被擒，跪于帐下。诸葛亮令去其缚，教且在别帐与酒食压惊，又唤管酒食官至坐榻前，如此如此，吩咐而去。
 
孟获与兄弟妻子及各部首领在别帐饮酒。忽一人入帐对孟获说：「丞相面羞，不想与您相见。特令我来放您回去，再招人马来决胜负。您现在可以速去。」
 
孟获流着眼泪说：「七擒七纵，自古未尝有啊。我虽化外之人，颇知礼义，直如此无羞耻乎？」于是带领众人，都匍匐跪在帐下，肉袒谢罪说：「丞相天威，南人不复反矣！」诸葛亮说：「公今服乎？」孟获哭着感谢说：「某子子孙孙皆感覆载生成之恩，安得不服！」诸葛亮就请孟获上帐，设宴庆贺。所夺之地，尽皆退还。孟获各部及诸蛮兵，无不感戴，皆欣然而去。孟获回去以后，还说服各部落全部投降。
 
将士们对诸葛亮说：「我们好不容易征服了南中，为甚么不派官吏来，反倒仍旧让这些头领管呢？」
 
诸葛亮说：「我们派官吏来，就要留下士兵，不仅浪费人力、军粮，更重要的是容易造成彼此互不信任。让各部落自己管理，汉人和各部落相安无事，岂不更好？」大家信服。
 
诸葛亮犒军已毕，班师回蜀。孟获率引大小洞主酋长及诸部落，罗拜相送。诸葛亮嘱其要勤政抚民，勿失农务，孟获等涕泣拜别。诸葛亮沿途又传给当地百姓农作物种子和灌溉工具等，蛮方百姓感恩不尽，乃为其立生祠，四时享祭，皆呼之为慈父。各送丹漆药材、耕牛战马，以资军用。
 
数年后，诸葛亮已死，晋武帝司马炎统一三国，把蜀主刘禅掳到洛阳。孟获感诸葛亮恩德，仍然每年立夏日带了亲兵护卫前往洛阳看望刘禅并要晋武帝善待刘禅和蜀民，晋武帝也很受感动。
 
诸葛亮以超人的智慧和忍耐力对孟获七擒七纵，最终使其心悦诚服。由此可见，古往今来的大智慧者都是以德服人。未曾做事，先要做人。为官也一样，首先要立德，治国安民要有一身正气，奉公尽职应无半点私心，这样才能民心所向，天下太平。以暴力作恶者虽能逞凶一时，但是却不能长存于世间，终为世人所唾弃，注定被历史所淘汰。