lusu：heis“syledzijingfromdongchuaninlinhuaiheisamineofsraegies，asorehouseofmachinaionsearlyinlifeheloshisfaherandhasservedhismohersincewihuerdevoionlusu’sfamilyisexremelywealhy，andheisknownforhisgenerosiyohepoorwhenyuwasaprecincleaderinjuchao，hewasakingseveralhundredmenhroughlinhuaiwhenheyshorofgrainpeopleoldhemhahelufamilyhadwogranaries，eachholdinghreehousandbushelsaheirurgenrequeslusupuoneofhegranariesaheirdisposalha’sanexampleofhisrgenssinaddiion，hehasasrongineresinswordsmanshipandhorsebackarcheryhishomeisinqu’e，buhehasreurnedodongchengforhisgrandmoher’sfuneralaferheformaliieszhouyurespecfullyreyedsunquan’sinenionlusuaccepedzhouyu’sinviaionsunquanreceivedlusuwihhegreaesrespec，andheyhelddaylongdiscussionsoneday，afercourhadadjourned，sunquankeplusubehindoshareasimplerepas；henheywenobedaopposieendsofhesamecouchinhemiddleofhenighsunquanasked，‘howshouldiproceed？’lusureplied：‘inmyjudgmen，hehanispasrecovery；andcaocaoca

obefinallyremovedhereforehebespnforyou，general，isomakehesouhndhefirmfooofheripod，consolidaeyourregion，andlookforopporuniiesoakeacionyoucanexploihemanypreoccupaionsofhenorh：knockouhuangzu’sposiion，aackliubiaoinjingzhou，andakeconrolofhegreariverinisenireyhisdone，esablishyourimperialileandurnyourambiionsowardheresofherealm’(chpaer29)”whaaperainganalysis！iisruehaallheroeshinkalikehissraegicideaisesseniallyofhesameviewhazhugeliangexpressedinhelongzhongdialoguebeweenhimandliubeihismaybecalledhesouhnddialogue，orhedialoguebeweensunquanandlusuinhesouhnd，buhisisabouenyearsearlierexpressedhanzhugeliang’sjusassunquansaysinchaper77，“lusu，ahisveryfirsinerviewwihme，broachedagrandimperialsraegyforhesouhnd—hefirsboon”hisislusu’sfirsgreaconribuion—“broachedagrandimperialsraegyforhesouhnd”

“江东孙权，屯兵柴桑郡，闻曹操大军至襄阳，刘琮已降，今又星夜兼道取江陵，乃集众谋士商议御守之策。鲁肃曰：‘荆州与国邻接，江山险固，士民殷富。吾若据而有之，此帝王之资也。今刘表新亡，刘备新败，肃请奉命往江夏吊丧，因说刘备使抚刘表众将，同心一意，共破曹操；备若喜而从命，则大事可定矣。’权喜从其言，即遣鲁肃赍礼往江夏吊丧。”（第四十二回）“孙权沉吟不语。张昭又曰：‘主公不必多疑。如降操，则东吴民安，江南六郡可保矣。’孙权低头不语。须臾，权起更衣，鲁肃随于权后。权知肃意，乃执肃手而言曰：‘卿欲如何？’肃曰：‘恰才众人所言，深误将军。众人皆可降曹操，惟将军不可降曹操。’权曰：‘何以言之？’肃曰：‘如肃等降操，当以肃还乡党，累官故不失州郡也；将军降操，欲安所归乎？位不过封侯，车不过一乘，骑不过一匹，从不过数人，岂得南面称孤哉！众人之意，各自为己，不可听也。将军宜早定大计。’权叹曰：‘诸人议论，大失孤望。子敬开说大计，正与吾见相同。此天以子敬赐我也！但操新得袁绍之众，近又得荆州之兵，恐势大难以抵敌。’肃曰：‘肃至江夏，引诸葛瑾之弟诸葛亮在此，主公可问之，便知虚实。’”（第43回）“曹操东下，诸人皆劝孤降，子敬独劝孤召公瑾逆而击之，此二快也。”（第七十七回）这是鲁肃的第二大贡献——他首倡与刘备结成孙刘联盟以抗曹，结果在赤壁之战大败曹操，打下了三国鼎立的基础。

“inhesouhndsunquan，saionedachaisang，heardhacaocaohadaccepedliuzong’ssubmissionandwasmarchingonjianglingdoubleimehehereforeassembledhiscounselorsodiscusshedefenseofhesouhndlususaid，‘jingzhouadjoinsourerrioryriversandmounainsproeci

ispeopleareprosperousifwecanseizeandholdheprovince，wewillacquireheresourcesoesablishourruleoverheempireiproposehayousendmeojiangxiaoofferyourofficialcondolencesonheoccasionofliubiao’sdeahibelieveicanpersuadehenewlydefeaedliubeioencourageliubiao’scommandersomakecommoncausewihusagainscaocaoliubei’scooperaionwouldprovideafirmbasisforourgrandsraegy’sunquanadopedheproposalanddispachedlusuojiangxiawihmourninggifs”(chaper42)“busunquanponderedinsilence‘havenodoubs，mylord，’zhangzhaoconinued‘ifwesubmiocao，hepeopleofheregionwillbeproecedandhesixdisricsofhesouhndpreserved’sunquanloweredhisheadandsaidnohingamomenersunquanroseogooheprivylusufollowedawarehasudidnoshareheviewsofzhangzhao，quanurnedohimandasked，‘buwhaisyourmindonhis？’‘hemajoriy’sview，general，willbeyourruin，’sureplied‘heycansubmiocao，buyouca

o’‘whaareyousaying？’quanasked‘forsomeonelikeme，’suwenon，‘submissionmeansbeingsenhomeomycn，myvilgeevenuallyi’llregainhighofficebuwhahaveyouogohomeo？aminoresae？asinglecarriage？asinglemoun？ahandfuloffollowers？andwhaofyourcimoroyaly？youradvisersallconsideronlyhemselvesyoumusnoheedhemiisimeomakeamaserpnforyourself’ahesewordssunquansighed‘heircounselfailsmyhopes’hesaid‘buhepoinyoumake—hemaserpn—accordswellwihmyhinkingyoucomeomebyheaven’sfavorcaocao，however，hasyuanshao’slegionsaswellasheroopsofjingzhouheseemsimpossibleoresis’‘ihavebroughbackwihme，’suwenon‘zhugejin’syoungerbroher，liangpuyourquesionsohim，mylord，andhewillexpinhowhingssand’(chaper43)”“whencaocaodescendeduponus，iwasuniversallycounseledosurrenderlusualoneurgedmeocallinzhouyu，oopposeandaackcaocao—hesecondboon(chaper77)”hisislusu’ssecondgreaconribuion—hefirsadvocaedheformingofanalliancewihliubeiagainscaocao，andconsequenly，heydefeaedcaocaoseverelyahebaleofheredcliffsandidhefoundaionofhedesinyofhehreekingdoms

周瑜欲起兵与刘备、诸葛亮共决雌雄。鲁肃告曰：“不可。方今与曹操相持，尚未分成败；主公现攻合淝不下。不争自家互相吞并，倘曹兵乘虚而来，其势危矣。况刘玄德旧曾与曹操相厚，若逼得紧急，献了城池，一同攻打东吴，如之奈何？”（第五十二回）由此可见，鲁肃是多么的深谋远虑啊！他不愧为三国时期四大战略家之一！尽管有时看似愚蠢，如他劝孙权借荆州与刘备，但那确实是他为维护孙刘联盟抗曹的大智若愚之壮举，也是他对东吴的第三大贡献。因为“荆襄九郡，非东吴之地，乃刘景升之基业。”“物必归主。”“以叔辅侄，而取荆州，有何不可？”此外，“诸葛亮自得了南郡，遂用兵符，星夜诈调荆州守城军马来救，却教张飞袭了荆州。”“夏侯罥在襄阳，被诸葛亮差人赍兵符，诈称曹仁求救，诱罥引兵出，却教云长袭取了襄阳。”（第五十一回）所有的城池都是从曹军手中夺得的。在这种情况下，鲁肃说：“孔明之言，怕不有理；争奈鲁肃身上甚是不便。”孔明曰：

“若恐先生面上不好看，我劝主人立纸文书，暂借荆州为本；待我主别图得城池之时，便交付还东吴……若不准我文书，我翻了面皮，连八十一州都夺了。今只要两家和气，休教曹贼笑话。”（第五十四回）因此，鲁肃不得不劝孙权借荆州与刘备。更重要的是，借荆州给刘备是孙刘联盟抗曹最有效的手段，看似鲁肃被诸葛亮愚弄了，而实际上是鲁肃获得了正式的证据，荆州是借东吴的，迟早是要还的。

zhouyuwanedoassembleanarmyorecoverheirciiesandhaveiouwihliubeiandkongming

lusuadvised：“nohingdoingwihoursruggleagainscaocaoundecidedandwihlordsun’sadvanceonhefeisalled，webecomeeasypreyforcaocaoifweurnononeoherourwholeposiionwillcrumble

wha’smore，liuxuandewasoncecaocao’sgoodfriendifwepushhiminoenderinghisciiesocaocaoandhewoofhemunieagainsus—henwha？”(chaper52)fromherewecanseehowcircumspecandfarsighedlusuisheisreallyworhyofheileofgreasraegis—oneofhefourgreasraegissduringhehreekingdomsperiodalhoughlususomeimeslookslikeafool，forinsance，hehasalkedsunquaninoallowingliubeioborrowjingzhou，i’sindeedamagnificenfeaofbeinghewisesmanakinghelooksoffollysoasoupholdhealliancewihliubeiagainscaocaoi’salsohishirdgreaconribuionohesouhndbecause“jingzhou’sninedisricsarenohesouhnd’serriory，buraherheesaeofliubiao”“hingsbelongoheirowners”“foranuncleosupporanephewinakingjingzhou—whacanherebeoobjeco？”(chaper52)furhermore，“aferzhugeliangseizednanjun，heusedcapuredmiliarycredenialsodeceiveheguardajingzhouinocomingohelphenhehadzhangfeiseizeheciy”“xiahoudunwasholdingxiangyangwhenzhugeliangsensomeonewihcredenialsciminghacaorenneededhishelpdunwasluredouofheciy，andlordguancapuredi”(chaper51)allofheseciiesarecapuredfromcao’sarmyundersuchcircumsances，lusucommened：“hereissomeruh，i’mafraid，inwhayousayhehingis，ipusmeinamosdifficulposiion”kongmingreplied：“ifi’sabioffaceyou’reafraidoflosing，icanhavelordliugiveioyouinwriinghaweareborrowingheprovinceasouremporarybase，andhaoncelordliuhascompleedhisarrangemensforakinganoher，hewillreurnjingzhouohesouhndifourdocumenisnoacceped，we’llshowadifferenfaceandyorueighyoownshipswillbelosbohsidesneedgoodreionsorheraiorcaowillmakefoolsofusall”(chaper54)hisiswhylusuhasoalksunquaninoallowingliubeioborrowjingzhouwhaismoreimporan，iishemoseffecivemeansofallyingsunquanhimselfwihliubeiagainscaocao

iseemshalusuhasbeenfooledbyzhugeliangbu，infac，lusuhasgoheofficialdocumenhajingzhouisborrowedfromhesouhndimeanshajingzhoumusbereurnedohesouhndsoonerorer

“鲁肃忠烈，临事不苟，可以代瑜之任。”“孙权览毕，哭曰：‘公瑾有王佐之才，今忽短命而死，孤何赖哉？既遗书特荐子敬，孤敢不从之。’即日便命鲁肃为都督，总统兵马。”（第五十七回）鲁肃为保卫东吴，鞠躬尽瘁，死而后已。建安二十二年（217年），鲁肃病逝在任上，享年仅四十六岁。

“lusu，disinguishedforhisloyalyanddedicaion，seriousandscrupulousinallaffairs，mayrepcemeaschiefcommander”“sunquanfinishedreadingandsaidearfully，‘zhouyu，wihhealenofaking’srighhandman，isdead，suddenlyandpremaurelywhomelsehaveiodependon？howcaniignorehisrecommendaion？’hadayheappoinedlusuchiefcommander”(chaper57)lusugiveshisallillhishearceasesobeasoasoproechesouhndinhewenysecondyearofjianan(ad217)，lusudiedofillnessahisposofchiefcommander，aheageofonlyforysix

司马懿：字仲达，河内温人也：颍川太守司马隽之孙，京兆尹司马防之子，主簿司马朗之弟也。曹操任丞相时，用司马懿为文学椽。后来作为曹操的主簿，他向曹进言：“刘备以诈力取刘璋，蜀人尚未归心。今主公已得汉中，益州震动。可速进兵攻之，势必瓦解。智者贵于乘时，时不可失也。’”（第六十七回）曹操没采纳他的建议，后来对此很后悔。

simayi：he，syledzhongda，camefromwencounyheneidisrichewashegrandsonofsimajuan，governorofyingchuan；hesonofsimafang，governorofheweserncapialdisricjingzhao；andyoungerbroherofsimang，chiefofheadvisorysaffsimayiwasmadecaocao’schiefofhebureauofdocumenswhencaobecameheprimeminiserandhenascaocao’sfirssecreary，simayi，advancedaproposal：“liubeihasoverhrownliuzhangbydecepionandforce；hepeopleofshuhaveyeogivehimheirrueallegianceaackaonceandheywillfallaparwisemenknowhevalueofimelyacionhisisauniqueopporuniy”(chaper67)caocaodidnoadophissuggesion，veryregreedhiseron

“曹操在邺郡闻知玄德自立汉中王，大怒曰：‘织席小儿，安敢如此！吾誓灭之！’懿曰：‘江东孙权，以妹嫁刘备，而又乘间窃取回去；刘备又据占荆州不还：彼此俱有切齿之恨。今可差一舌辩之士，赍书往说孙权，使兴兵取荆州；刘备必发两川之兵以救荆州。那时大王兴兵去取汉川，令刘备首尾不能相救，势必危矣。’”（第七十三回）曹操采纳了司马懿的建议，结果把孙刘联合抗曹的格局变成了孙曹联合抗刘的格局。

“caocaowasinyewhenhelearnedhaxuandehadinsalledhimselfaskingofhanzhonginagrearagehecried，‘helowdownmaweaverpresumesoomuchivownowoa

ihiehim！’‘sunquan，lordofhesouhnd，’simayisuggesed，‘marriedhissiseroliubei，onlyoseizeheoccasionosealherbackagainliubeiholdsjingzhouandrefusesoreurnihus，bierenmiyexissbeweenhewonowisheimeosendamanofpersuasivepowerswihaleeroconvincesunquanosendanarmyocapurejingzhouhashouldforceliubeiosendhisenirearmyorescuei，andyourhighnesswillbeableocapurehanzhongwhileliubei，unableocoordinaehisfrons，willbeinperil’(chaper73)”caocaoadopedsimayi’ssuggesionconsequenly，heychangedheunionbeweensunquanandliubeiagainscaocaoinoheunionbeweensunquanandcaocaoagainsliubei

“曹操大惊，聚文武商议曰：‘某素知云长智勇盖世，今据荆襄，如虎生翼。于禁被擒，庞德被斩，魏兵挫锐；倘彼率兵直至许都，如之奈何？孤欲迁都以避之。’司马懿谏曰：‘今孙、刘失好，云长得志，孙权必不喜；大王可遣使去东吴陈说利害，令孙权暗暗起兵蹑云长之后，许事平之日，割江南之地以封孙权：则樊城之危自解矣。’操依允，遂不迁都。”（第七十五回）曹操一面遣使致书东吴，一面令徐晃为将以挡云长之锐。结果，樊城围解，关公父子皆遇害。

“caocaosummonedhisadvisersandsaidinarm，‘ihavealwaysknownhalordguansurpassedallohersinwisdomandvalornowheholdsxiangyang：heigerhasgrownwings！yujinhasbeencapured，pangdekilled，andourownkeenmeleblunedwhaifheycomesraighohecapial？ihinkweshouldakeheprecauionofransferringhegovernmen’simayiobjecedohisproposal，‘currendiscordbeweenheliuandsunhousesmeanshaiflordguangeswhahewans，sunquanwillbeveryunhappy

hisisheime，yourhighness，osendsomeonedownherewho，byjudiciousargumen—andbyofferingheeniresouhndosunquanashisfiefoncepeaceisresored—willbeableoconvincesunquanomuseraforceandquielypounceonlordguanfrombehindhaishoworelievehesiegeafan’caocaoassened，andheideaofmovinghecapialwasdropped’(chaper75)”caocaosenamanwihhisleerohesouhndonheonehandonheoherhandheappoinedxuhuangashecommanderochecklordguan’sadvanceconsequenly，hesiegeoffanwaslifedbohlordguanandhissonwerebeheaded

“操召曹洪、陈群、贾诩、司马懿等，同至卧榻前，嘱以后事。操曰：‘惟长子曹丕，笃厚恭谨，可继我业。卿等宜辅佐之。’”（第七十八回）“曹丕听毕（禅国之诏），便欲受诏。司马懿谏曰：‘不可。虽然诏玺已至，殿下宜且上表谦辞，以绝天下之谤。’丕从之……三辞而诏不许，然后受之。”（第八十回）“曹丕大喜曰：‘刘备已亡，朕无忧矣。何不乘国中无主，起兵伐之？’贾诩谏曰：‘刘备虽亡，必托孤于诸葛亮。亮感备知遇之恩，必倾心竭力，扶持嗣主。陛下不可仓卒伐之。’司马懿奋然而出曰：‘不乘此时进兵，更待何时？若只起北方之兵，急难取胜。须用五路大兵，四面夹攻，令诸葛亮首尾不能救应，然后可图。’……魏调五路大兵，来取西川。”（第八十五回）魏王曹丕大怒曰：

“吴、蜀连和，必有图中原之意也。不若朕先伐之。”“司马懿奏曰：‘吴有长江之险，非船莫渡。陛下必御驾亲征，可选大小战船，从蔡、颍而入淮，取寿春，至广陵，渡江口，径取南徐：此为上策。’丕从之……前后水陆军马三十余万，克日起兵。封司马懿为尚书仆射，留在许昌，凡国政大事，并皆听懿决断。”（第八十六回）由此可见，魏帝曹丕对司马懿的信任。

“caocaocalledforcaohong，chenqun，jiaxu，andsimayi；whenheywereahisbedside，heinsrucedhemonhemaerofhesuccession‘onlyheeldes，pi，isreliable，generous，respecfuloohers，andscrupulousinwordanddeed—fi，herefore，osucceedomyesaeihopeyouwillgivehimallsupporandassisance’(chaper78)”“whenheedichadbeenread，caopiwasanxiousoaccephedecree，busimayiwarnedhim，‘hawouldbewrongevenhoughheedicandsealwerebroughhere，leyourhighnessdeclineinduemodesysoasoforesallcriicisminheousideworld’

onhisadvicecaopideclinedhreeimesbufinallyaccepedasheedicrequired”(chaper80)“caopisaiddelighedly，‘wihliubeigone，myworriesareoverleusaackwhileheyhavenoking’bujiaxuremonsraedwihhim，‘liubeimushavechargedzhugeliangwihhecareofhissonmindfulofliubei’skindness，zhugeliangwillrenderoheheirhefullesmeasureofdevoionyourmajesyca

oinvadeprecipiaely’simayiseppedoufromherowsofofficialsandcriedwihfervor，‘suchanopporuniyoaackwillnevercomeagain！roopsfromnorhchinaaloneca

osucceedoaainourobjeciveswillrequireavasforcecomposedoffivefieldarmiesconceredinanallroundaackoprevenzhugeliangfromcoordinainghisvanandhisrear’hekingdomofweihasfieldedfivearmiesinorderoconquerherivernds”(chaper85)heweiemperor，caopi，decredangrily，“analliancebeweenwuandshuwillhavehenorhasisnexobjeciveweshouldaackhemfirs”“simayiaddressedcaopi，‘we’llneedboasocrosshegreariver，hesouhnd’ssraegicdefensehebespnisforyourmajesyoleadheexpediionselecafleeofrgeandsmallcraf，henenerhehuairegionfromcaiandyingandcapureshouchunwhenyoureachguangling，crossheriverandcapurenanxu’caopiadopedhepnhendandnavalforces，allold，cameomorehanhreehundredhousandadaywasseounchheinvasionsimayi，appoinedsupervisorofhesecrearia，remainedinxuchangandassumedoveralladminisraiveresponsibiliy”(chaper86)fromherewecanseeheweiemperor，caopi，russsimayiverymuch

“丕感寒疾，医治不痊，乃召中军大将军曹真、镇军大将军陈群、抚军大将军司马懿三人入寝宫。丕唤曹睿至，指谓曹真等曰：‘今朕病已沉重，不能复生。此子年幼，卿等三人可善辅之，勿负朕心。’言讫，堕泪而薨。时年四十岁，在位七年。于是……曹睿被立为大魏皇帝，曹真为大将军……司马懿为骠骑大将军。时雍、凉二州缺人守把，司马懿上表乞守西凉等处。曹睿从之，遂封懿提督雍、凉等处兵马。领诏去讫。早有细作飞报入川。孔明大惊曰：‘曹丕已死，孺子曹睿即位，余皆不足虑：司马懿深有谋略，今督雍、凉兵马，倘训练成时，必为蜀中之大患。不如先起兵伐之。’参军马谡曰：‘司马懿虽是魏国大臣，曹睿素怀疑忌。何不密遣人往洛阳、邺郡等处，布散流言，道此人欲反；更作司马懿告示天下榜文，遍贴诸处。使曹睿心疑，必然杀此人也。’孔明从之，即遣人密行此计去了。”（第九十一回）结果，魏主曹丕把司马懿削职回乡了。

“caopiwasafflicedwihseverechillshahedocorscouldnoconrolhesummonedhreemenohisresingchamber：caozhen，supremecommanderofhecenralarmy，supremecommanderchenqun，conrollerofhearmy，andsupremecommandersimayi，rallierofhearmycaopihencalledforcaoruiand，poiningahim，saidocaozhenandhewoohers，‘myillnessisgrave；recoveryimpossible

youhreewillhaveoguidehischildandkeepfaihwihmywishes’asearfell，andhepassedfromhisworldaheageoffory；hehadreignedforsevenyearshencaoruiwasesablishedasaugusemperorofhegreaweidynasycaozhenwasmaderegenmarshalsimayichiefgeneralofheflyingcavalryahisimehewoprovincesyongandliangneededsomeoogovernanddefendhemsimayipeiionedobecomedefenderofxiliangandoherpoinswescaoruiapproved，andsimayiwasappoinedsuperinendenofyong’sandliang’sarmedforcessimayiaccepedhisedicofappoinmenanddeparedrvierndsspiesswiflyreporedhesechangesaheweicoursarled，kongmingsaid，‘caopiisdead，heboyruienhronedhereislileoconcernusherebusimayi，amanofdeepsraegy，hasakenchargeofheliangandyongarmies；andoncehehasrainedhem，heriverndswillhaveaseriousproblemiwouldbebesoacfirsandaackhem！’hemiliaryadvisermasusaid，‘alhoughsimayiisaleadingminiserofheweicour，caoruihasalwaysregardedhimwihsuspicionandfearirecommendspreadingrumorsinluoyang，ye，andoherkeyciiesofweihasimayiisploingorebelinaddiion，hroughouheenemy’sdisricswecanposforgedprocimaionsbysimayioheempireargehashouldu

ervecaoruienoughohavehimkilled’kongmingapprovedhepnandsensecreagensocarryiou”(chaper91)consequenly，heweiemperor，caorui，srippedsimayiofhisofficeandorderedhimbackohisvilge

为什么曹睿要把司马懿削职回乡？除他中了马谡的奸计之外，他也心疑，因为太尉华歆奏曰：“司马懿上表乞守雍、凉，正为此也。先时太祖武皇帝尝谓臣曰：‘司马懿鹰视狼顾，不可付以兵权，久必为国家大祸。’今日反情已萌，可速诛之。”司徒王朗奏曰：“司马懿深明韬略，善晓兵机，素有大志；若不早除，久必为祸。”大将军曹真奏曰：“文皇帝托孤于臣等数人，是知司马仲达无异志也。今事未知真假，遽尔加兵，乃逼之反耳。或者蜀、吴奸细行反间之计，使我君臣自乱，彼却乘虚而击，未可知也。陛下幸察之。”睿曰：

“司马懿若果谋反，将奈何？”……“曹休出曰：‘仲达受先帝托孤之重，何故反耶？’懿大惊失色，汗流遍体，乃问其故。休备言前事。懿曰：‘此吴、蜀奸细反间之计，欲使我君臣自相残害，彼却乘虚而袭。某当自见天子辨之。’遂急退了军马，至睿车前俯伏泣奏曰：

‘臣受先帝托孤之重，安敢有异心？必是吴、蜀之奸计。臣请提一旅之师，先破蜀，后伐吴，报先帝与陛下，以明臣心。’睿疑虑未决。华歆奏曰：‘不可付之兵权。可即罢归田里。’睿依言，将司马懿削职回乡。”（第九十一回）如果司马懿不“大惊失色，汗流遍体”，不“俯伏泣奏”，不顺从地“削职回乡”，后果不堪设想！正是这种“怯”，给了他东山再起的机会。

whydidcaoruisripsimayiofhisofficeandorderhimbackohisvilge？besideshavingfalleninmasu’srap，hewasalsoindoubbecausegrandcommandanhuaxinaddressedhissovereign，“nowweseesimayi’sruepurposeinseekingmiliaryauhoriyinhewesernprovincesofyongandliangirememberhegreaancesorcaocao，augusemperorwu，onceellingme，‘simayihashungryeyes，likeaneagle’sorwolf’sgivenmiliarypower，hewillruinhedynasy’hisrevolmusbepudownbeforeisars”miniserofheineriorwangngaddressedheweisovereign，“simayi，wihhisdeepcomprehensionofsraegyandhoroughundersandingofmiliaryacion，haslongharboredgrandioseambiionsremovehimorsufferheconsequences”regenmarshalcaozhensaid，“heesovereign，caopi，enrusedhesuccessoromycolleaguesandme，andiamcerainhasimayihasnosubversiveinenhefacsofhesiuaionremainunclear，andprecipiaemiliaryacionwillonlyforcehiminorebellioniispossiblehaagensofheriverndsorhesouhndareaempingosowdiscordbeweenoursovereignandhissubjecsinorderocreaedisorderbeforeanaackyourmajesyshouldinquiremoscarefullyinohismaer”caoruisaid，“buwhaifsimayiisploingorevol？”moreover，“caoxiucameforwardandsaid，‘simayi，youareoneofhosewhomheeemperorchargedwihhecareofhisheirapparen，nowoursovereignwhyareyouinrebellion？’simayiurnedpaleandsweapouredfromhimasheaskedforanexpnaioncaoxiurecounedheprecedingevens，andsimayisaid，‘hisisheworkofriverndsandsouhndagensryingournanemperorandaloyalsubjecinomoralenemiessohaheycanexploihechaosandaackusishallhaveoseehesonofheavenandcrifyhis’simayiorderedhisarmyowihdrawhenhewenocaorui’scarriageand，bowingabjecly，earfullyaddressedhissovereign：‘yourefaherenrusedyouome，andmyhoughscouldneverbebuwhollyloyalhesesndersagainsmearehereacheryofhesouhndandheriverndsgranmecommandofanexpediionaryforce，andiwilldefeafirsshuandhenwuorequieheeemperor’sandyourmajesy’sgraceandomanifesmyloyaly’caorui，unsurewhaodo，madenodecisionhuaxinaddressedheemperor，‘heshouldnohavemiliaryauhoriyrelievehimofofficeandsendhimhomeaonce’accordingly，caoruisrippedsimayiofhisofficeandorderedhimbackohisvilge”(chaper91)ifsimayididno“urnpale”and“sweapouringfromhim”，no“bowingabjecly，earfullyaddressinghissovereign”，noobedienly“beingsrippedofhisofficeandsenbackohisvilge”，heconsequenceswereooghaslyoconempeiishe“imidiy”hagiveshimachanceoresumehisformerposiion

“魏主曹睿设朝，近臣奏曰：‘大都督曹真，数败于蜀，折了两个先锋，羌兵又折了无数，其势甚急。今上表求救，请陛下裁处。’睿大惊，急问退军之策。太傅钟繇奏曰：‘臣以全家良贱，保举一人，可退蜀兵。未知圣意准否？’睿曰：‘有何贤士，可退蜀兵，早召来与朕分忧。’钟繇奏曰：‘向者，诸葛亮欲兴师犯境，但惧此人，故散流言，使陛下疑而去之，方敢长驱大进。今若复用之，则亮自退矣。’睿问何人。繇曰：‘骠骑大将军司马懿也。’睿叹曰：‘此事朕亦悔之。今仲达现在何地？’繇曰：‘近闻仲达在宛城闲住。’睿即降诏，遣使持节，复司马懿官职，加为平西都督，就起南阳诸路军马，前赴长安……忽报天使持节至。懿听诏毕，遂调宛城诸路军马。忽又报金城太守申仪家人，有机密事求见。懿唤入密室问之，其人细说孟达欲反之事……即传令教人马起程，一日要行二日之路，如迟立斩；一面令参军梁畿赍檄星夜去新城，教孟达等准备征进，使其不疑。梁畿先行，懿随后发兵……懿入城来见魏主。睿大喜曰：‘朕一时不明，误中反间之计，悔之无及。今达造反，非卿等制之，两京休矣！’懿奏曰：‘臣闻申仪密告反情，意欲表奏陛下，恐往复迟滞，故不待圣旨，星夜而去。若待奏闻，则中诸葛亮之计也。’言罢，将孔明回孟达密书奉上。睿看毕，大喜曰：‘卿之学识，过于孙、吴矣！’赐金钺斧一对，后遇机密重事，不必奏闻，便宜行事。就令司马懿出关破蜀。”（第九十四回）蜀相诸葛亮是司马懿的对手，诸葛亮与司马懿一直是互相斗将、斗兵、斗降法、斗智斗力，真是棋逢敌手。

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