Fresh from Thatched Cottage

Liu Bei visited the thatched cottage three times and finally succeeded in inviting¹ Zhuge Liang to be his military adviser². Yet his sworn brothers， Guan Yu and Zhang Fei， did not take Zhuge seriously. Before long， Cao Cao dispatched an army of 100，000 to attack Liu Bei's headquarters at Xinye. Cao's troops were at the command of General Xiahou Chun. When Liu Bei turned to Zhuge Liang for advice， Zhuge said： “Ihave to borrow your majesty's sword of authority in that I am f\afraid that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei will not listen to me.” Liu lost no time in lending his sword of authority to Zhuge who then started to dispatch Liu's army for the defence.

Zhuge ordered Guan Yu to Lück and wait at Mount Yushan with 1，000 troops. Guan was not to attack the enemy but rather let them pass. He would charge at the enemy as soon as he saw fire break out in the enemy procession. Zhang Fei was ordered to Lürk³ and wait in the valley with another 1，000 troops. Zhang was to attack the town of Bowang as soon as he saw fire break out in the enemy procession. Guan Ping， adopted son of Guan Yu and General Liu Feng were ordered to each guide 500 troops to wait behind the slope of Bowang. They would set fire to the enemy procession as soon as the enemy arrived at the slope. Zhuge recalled Zhao Yun from Fancheng to be the vanguard of Liu's army. But Zhao was ordered not to defeat the advancing enemy but rather pretend to be defeated. Liu Bei was given 1，000 troops as the back up force.

Guan Yu was so curious that he asked： “We all go out to fight the battle. But what will you do？” Zhuge Liang answered smiling， “I will sit and wait here in town.” Zhang Fei burst into larghter and said： “We all go out to risk our lives while you enjoy your time carefree inside the town！” Zhuge said： “I have the sword of authority. Those who disobey my orders will be executed.” Guan and Zhang had nothing more to say， but they walked away sneeringly⁴.

Since the generals carried out Zhuge Liang's orders to the letter， the enemy was routed Zhuge's first military advice truned out to be smart and farsighted. Guan Yu， Zhang Fei and other generals in the Liu camp soon came to respect the new military adviser.

初出茅庐

刘备三顾茅庐请出诸葛亮并拜为军师。而关羽、张飞对此不以为然。没过多久，曹操派大将夏侯惇领十万大军打新野，刘备找诸葛亮商议，诸葛亮说：“ 怕众将不听我令，愿借主公印剑一用。”刘备忙将印剑交给诸葛亮。诸葛亮开始集众点将。命关羽带一千人马埋伏在豫山，放过敌人先头部队，看到起火，迅速出击。张飞带一千人马埋伏在山谷里，待起火后，杀向博望城。关平、刘封带五百人马，在博望坡后面分两路等候，敌军一到，立刻放火。又把赵云从樊城调来当先锋，只许败不许胜。刘备带一千人马作后援。关羽忍不住问：“我们都去打仗，先生干什么？”诸葛亮说：“我在城中坐等。”张飞大笑说：“我们都去拼命，先生你好逍遥！”诸葛亮说：“印剑在此，违令者斩！”关羽、张飞无话，冷笑着走了。在战斗中，各将按诸葛亮吩咐行事，直杀得曹兵丢盔弃甲。诸葛亮初次用兵，神机妙算，大获全胜。使关羽、张飞等佩服得五体投地。