有一些历史学家提出来说，诸葛亮难逃其咎，为什么呢？因为关羽攻打襄樊是按诸葛亮隆中对策的战略规划在行动，所以诸葛亮也有间接的责任。我认为我不同意这个看法，为什么呢？第一，诸葛亮的隆中对策是战略规划，不是实施方案，它是一个总体的规划。懂规划的人都知道有总规、有详规，还有实施方案。何况诸葛亮并没有向关羽直接下达命令要关羽去进攻襄樊，而且诸葛亮也没有这个权力直接下达命令，他有什么责任呢？这是第一点。第二点，诸葛亮的隆中对策是怎么说的？诸葛亮说：“天下有变，则命一上将将荆州之众以向宛、洛，将军身率益州之众出于秦川”，这里这个将军指的是刘备了，这段话说得非常明确。它包括两个内容：第一是天下有变，那么请问，关羽打襄樊的时候天下有变吗？没有。第二，诸葛亮的这个战略规划也说得很清楚：“命一上将将荆州之众以向宛、洛”，这个上将可能心目中指的也就是关羽吧，姑且这么猜测吧；“将军身率益州之众出于秦川”，——是两路出兵，同时进攻。那么襄樊战争的时候，两路出兵了吗？也没有。
Some historians have suggested that Zhuge Liang cannot escape the blame. Why? Because Guan Yu’s attack on Xiangfan was carried out in accordance with the strategic plan of Zhuge Liang’s Longzhong strategy, Zhuge Liang also had indirect responsibilities. I don’t think I agree with this view. Why? First, Zhuge Liang’s Longzhong strategy is a strategic plan, not an implementation plan, but an overall plan. Anyone who understands planning knows that there are general plans, detailed plans, and implementation plans. Moreover, Zhuge Liang did not directly issue orders to Guan Yu to attack Xiangfan, and Zhuge Liang did not have the authority to directly issue orders. What responsibility does he have? This is the first point. Secondly, what does Zhuge Liang’s Longzhong strategy say? Zhuge Liang said, “If there is a change in the world, a general will be appointed to lead the people of Jingzhou to Wan and Luo, and the general will lead the people of Yizhou out of Qinchuan.” Here, the general refers to Liu Bei, which is very clear. It includes two aspects: The first is that the world has changed, so did the world change when Guan Yu attacked Xiangfan? No, Secondly, Zhuge Liang’s strategic plan is also very clear: “Appoint the first general to lead the people of Jingzhou to Wan and Luo.” This general may be referring to Guan Yu, let’s guess so; “The general led the troops of Yizhou out of Qinchuan” – sending troops from both sides and attacking at the same time. During the Xiangfan War, did the two armies send troops? either.
所以不能说关羽的襄樊之战是实施诸葛亮的战略规划；相反，在我看来，关羽的行动破坏了诸葛亮的战略规划。关羽没有很好地领会诸葛亮的战略思想，匆匆忙忙地就出兵了。结果呢？使诸葛亮这个一旦天下有变就从荆州和益州两路出兵消灭曹魏的这个设想，永远没有办法实现了。所以不能够因为诸葛亮有一个“隆中对策”，就把襄樊战争失败的责任加在诸葛亮身上，这对诸葛亮是很不公平的。那么这里头又有一个问题，既然如此，关羽攻打襄樊的时候，诸葛亮为什么不阻止呢？这个问题我们姑且留一个悬念，以后再讲。
第二个小问题，为什么要打襄樊？
Therefore, it cannot be said that Guan Yu’s Battle of Xiangfan was the implementation of Zhuge Liang’s strategic plan; On the contrary, in my opinion, Guan Yu’s actions undermined Zhuge Liang’s strategic plan. Guan Yu did not understand Zhuge Liang’s strategic thinking very well, so he hurriedly dispatched troops. What’s the result? The idea of Zhuge Liang sending troops from Jingzhou and Yizhou to eliminate Cao Wei once the world changes will never be realized. Therefore, it is not fair for Zhuge Liang to place the responsibility for the failure of the Xiangfan War on him just because Zhuge Liang has a “Longzhong Strategy”. So here’s another question. In that case, why didn’t Zhuge Liang stop Guan Yu from attacking Xiangfan? Let’s leave this question for a moment in suspense and talk about it later.
Second little question, why should we fight Xiangfan?
这个问题史学界也有两种不同的意见。吕思勉先生的观点是认为这是配合刘备在汉中的行动。吕先生说：“逐利之兵，亦宜同时并出，首尾相应。故刘备之兵未还，关羽之师已起矣。”因为刘备在打汉中，所以关羽这边配合行动打襄樊，牵制曹操。这个说法呢，我有点疑问。所以我比较倾向于赞同另一种观点，那就是得寸进尺。刘备在汉中取得了胜利，称了汉中王，关羽当了前将军，这时候刘备集团觉得自己很了不得，那么再干一下。那汉中你看也没怎么打，曹操不也就走了吗？曹操也没那么可怕嘛，也没那么恐惧嘛。所以，关羽的这个得寸进尺，我们从好的方面、从肯定的方面讲，叫做乘胜前进、再接再厉；那说得不好听呢，就叫贪得无厌、自不量力。
那么究竟是乘胜前进、再接再厉，还是贪得无厌、自不量力呢？我们就要回答下面一个小问题，就是该不该打襄樊？这个问题学术界又有两种相反的意见。
There are also two different opinions in the field of history on this issue. Mr. Lv Simian’s view is that this is to cooperate with Liu Bei’s actions in Hanzhong. Mr. Lv said, “It is also advisable for troops seeking profits to be launched simultaneously, beginning with end. Therefore, before Liu Bei’s troops are returned, Guan Yu’s army has already risen.” Because Liu Bei is fighting Hanzhong, Guan Yu’s side cooperates to fight Xiangfan and contain Cao Cao. I have some doubts about this statement. Therefore, I tend to agree with another view, that is, to take advantage of every inch. Liu Bei won the victory in Hanzhong and became the king of Hanzhong. Guan Yu became a former general. At this time, Liu Bei’s group felt very embarrassed, so let’s do it again. “You didn’t see much fighting in Hanzhong, didn’t Cao Cao just leave?”? “Cao Cao is not so terrible, nor is he so afraid.”. Therefore, Guan Yu’s strategy of advancing every inch is, on the positive side and in the positive side, called “taking advantage of victory to advance and making persistent efforts”; “That doesn’t sound good, it’s called insatiable greed and overestimation.”.
So is it to take advantage of victory and move forward, to make further efforts, or to be insatiable and overestimated? We are about to answer the following small question, should we fight Xiangfan? There are two opposing opinions on this issue in the academic community.
