第一种意见认为该打，该打也包括两个内容：第一个内容叫必打，怎么叫必打呢？就是襄樊这个地方刘备集团迟早是要打的，因为襄樊是荆州的治所所在地，只有拿下襄樊才能全部地据有荆州；那么现在荆州几个重要的地方，江陵这个地方已经是刘备的了，襄樊还是曹操的，那么必须把它拿下，这叫做必打。第二就是能打，为什么能打呢？第一，前一年，南阳地区爆发了反对曹操的起义，说明曹操在荆州北部的统治是不稳定的，这是第一点；第二点呢，刘备刚刚在汉中取得了重大胜利，士气正旺，这是第二点；第三点呢，就是孙权这个时候正在东边攻打合肥，可以和孙权的军事行动相呼应。这叫做能打。必打加能打等于该打，这是一派意见。
另一派意见仍然以何兹全先生为代表，何先生的说法是，关羽发动的襄樊战争是在一个错误的时间的一次军事冒险。为什么这样讲？有以下理由：第一，刘备刚刚取得了汉中，现在要做的事情是稳定局势、休养生息、巩固成果，这个时候不宜有任何军事行动，要把脚跟站稳了再说，这是第一点。第二点，关羽的这个行动不符合诸葛亮隆中对策的战略规划和战略设计，不是天下有变，也不是两路出兵。第三点呢，就是关羽的力量貌似强大，其实有限，其实没有人们说得想象得那么强大。水淹七军之后关羽降于禁、斩庞德，也就如此而已，再无进展。没有孙权在后面插一刀子的结果，何先生估计的结果是关羽退回江陵，江陵保得住，脑袋也保得住，但是拿不下襄樊。因此，何先生认为这场战争是不该打的。
The first opinion is that there should be a fight, and the fight also includes two contents: the first content is called “must fight”, how can it be called “must fight”? It is in Xiangfan that the Liu Bei Group will fight sooner or later, because Xiangfan is the seat of Jingzhou, and only by taking Xiangfan can Jingzhou be fully occupied; So now there are several important places in Jingzhou, Jiangling, which is already owned by Liu Bei, and Xiangfan, which is still owned by Cao Cao. Therefore, it is necessary to take it down. This is called “must fight”. The second is to be able to play. Why can I play? First, the year before, an uprising against Cao Cao broke out in Nanyang, indicating that Cao Cao’s rule in northern Jingzhou was unstable. This is the first point; The second point is that Liu Bei has just achieved a significant victory in Hanzhong and his morale is strong, which is the second point; The third point is that Sun Quan is attacking Hefei in the east at this time, which can echo Sun Quan’s military actions. This is called being able to fight. It is a school of opinion that “must hit” plus “can hit” equals “should hit”.
Another group of views is still represented by Mr. He Ziquan, who claims that the Xiangfan War launched by Guan Yu was a military adventure at the wrong time. Why do you say that? There are the following reasons: First, Liu Bei has just achieved Hanzhong, and now the task to be done is to stabilize the situation, recuperate, and consolidate the achievements. At this time, it is not appropriate to engage in any military action, but to stand firm. This is the first point. Secondly, Guan Yu’s action is not in line with the strategic planning and design of Zhuge Liang’s Longzhong strategy. It is not a change in the world, nor is it a two-way deployment of troops. The third point is that Guan Yu’s seemingly powerful power is actually limited, but it is not as powerful as people think. After flooding the seventh army, Guan Yu was forced to surrender and behead Pound. That was all, and there was no further progress. Without Sun Quan’s stab in the back, Mr. He estimated that Guan Yu would return to Jiangling, where Jiangling and his head could be protected, but Xiangfan could not be defeated. Therefore, Mr. He believes that this war should not be fought.
现在我们可以对第一个大问题得出以下结论：第一，襄樊战争是关羽自作主张发动的，刘备没有授意也没有授权，但同时也没有反对。第二，关羽发动襄樊战争的原因是胜利冲昏头脑，错误估计形势。第三点，关羽发动这场战争，时机不对，准备不足。归根结底，是因为他本人，他个人刚愎自用、骄傲自满、好大喜功。
＊襄樊战役对于关羽来说，是个永远的遗憾。易中天先生认为，在襄樊战役的发动上关羽本人是有不可推卸的责任的，他自作主张发动的这次战争是对形势的错误估计，再加上关羽本人的性格刚愎自用，致使战争的失败，荆州丢失。但是与此同时，一个问题又浮出水面，荆州是曹、孙、刘三家的必争之地，如此重要的地方刘备为什么如此大意，单单派关羽镇守？刘备的用意何在呢？
Now we can draw the following conclusions on the first major issue: First, the Xiangfan War was initiated by Guan Yu on his own initiative, and Liu Bei neither inspired nor authorized it, but he also did not oppose it. Secondly, the reason why Guan Yu launched the Xiangfan War was that he was dazed by victory and miscalculated the situation. Third, Guan Yu launched this war at the wrong time and was inadequately prepared. In the final analysis, it is because of himself. He is personally headstrong, arrogant, and happy with his achievements.
The Battle of Xiangfan was a perpetual regret for Guan Yu. Mr. Yi Zhongtian believed that Guan Yu himself had an unshirkable responsibility for launching the Xiangfan Campaign. The war he launched on his own initiative was a miscalculation of the situation, coupled with Guan Yu’s stubborn personality, which led to the failure of the war and the loss of Jingzhou. However, at the same time, a question has surfaced: Jingzhou is a must-have place for the Cao, Sun, and Liu families. Why is Liu Bei so careless in sending Guan Yu to guard such an important place? What is Liu Bei’s intention?
当时刘备让关羽都督荆州，是不是用错了人？这个问题也是不好回答的，为什么这样讲呢？我们首先讲该的一面。刘备当时采纳庞统的建议，出兵去夺取益州，要留一个人守荆州，当时留下的人很多，诸葛亮、关羽、张飞、赵云他们都留下来了。后来刘备打益州的时候兵力不够，把诸葛亮、张飞、赵云都调到前线，最后留下是关羽。那么留的这个人对不对？至少可以肯定地说，当时的情况下是对的。为什么是对的呢？因为关羽这个人，作为留守荆州的人选，他有三个优点：第一是忠诚，这个不要论证了，这个大家都承认的，关羽绝对对刘备是忠诚的；第二是能干，关羽历来有独当一面的能力，我们读《三国志》就可以发现刘备不分兵则已，一旦要分兵就是自己带一支军队，关羽带一支军队，关羽从来就是独当一面的；第三呢，内行。守荆州，要会带水军，刘备集团是北方来的军事集团，水军将领的人选一直是很困难的。但是关羽就有这个本事，虽然是北方人，他一到了南方，马上就能够训练和率领水军，这说明关羽确实是有能力的。当时刘备败走当阳的时候，就是关羽率水军来接应嘛，后来赤壁之战的时候刘备这边的兵力也是关羽的一万水军和刘琦的一万人马嘛。这样一个人选来都督荆州是再合适也没有了。
At that time, Liu Bei had Guan Yu in charge of Jingzhou. Did he use the wrong person? This question is also difficult to answer. Why do you say this? Let’s start with the right side. At that time, Liu Bei adopted Pang Tong’s suggestion to send troops to capture Yizhou and leave one person to defend Jingzhou. Many people remained at that time, including Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun. Later, when Liu Bei attacked Yizhou, his troops were insufficient. He transferred Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun to the front, leaving Guan Yu behind. So, is this person you left behind right? To be sure at least, the situation was right. Why is it right? Because Guan Yu, as a candidate to stay in Jingzhou, has three advantages: First, loyalty. Let’s not argue about this. Everyone agrees that Guan Yu is absolutely loyal to Liu Bei; The second is ability. Guan Yu has always had the ability to take charge of his own affairs. As we can see from reading the “Three Kingdoms Annals”, Liu Bei does not divide his troops, but he does. Once he wants to divide his troops, he brings his own army. Guan Yu brings an army, and Guan Yu has always taken charge of his own affairs; The third one is expert. To defend Jingzhou, it is necessary to be able to lead the water army. The Liu Bei Group is a military group from the north, and the selection of water army generals has always been difficult. However, Guan Yu had this ability. Although he was a northerner, he was able to train and lead the navy as soon as he arrived in the south, indicating that Guan Yu was indeed capable. At that time, when Liu Bei was defeated in Dangyang, it was Guan Yu who led the water army to meet him. Later, during the Battle of Chibi, Liu Bei’s forces were also Guan Yu’s 10000 water army and Liu Qi’s 10000 men. It is no longer suitable for such a person to be chosen as the governor of Jingzhou.
