Sima Yi, the emperor of all dynasties and the founder of the Jin Dynasty, was the "Three Sima"

Three horses in Zhongshan are like a pack of wolves - Sima Yi, Emperor Xuan of Jin Dynasty

Sima Yi (179-251), who was a literary minister in 208, gradually won the trust of Cao Cao. Cao Cao granted the title of Queen of Wei and made Sima Yi the crown prince's bastard son to assist Cao Pi. When Cao Pi was dying, he ordered Sima Yi, Cao Zhen and others to serve as auxiliary ministers to assist Wei Ming Emperor Cao Rui. During the reign of Emperor Ming, Sima Yi was repeatedly promoted to important positions such as general, general, and lieutenant in the Fu army. When Emperor Ming died, he entrusted the young emperor Cao Fang with Sima Yi and Cao Shuang. After Cao Fang succeeded to the throne, Sima Yi was first ostracized by Cao Shuang and moved to the post of Tai Tu with no real power. In the tenth year of Zhengshi (249), Sima Yi took advantage of Cao Shuang and accompanied Cao Fang to visit Luoyang's graves, launched a coup and took control of Kyoto. Since then, the military power of Cao Wei fell into the hands of the Sima family. In the third year of Jiaping (251), Sima Yi died of illness. In 265, Sima Yan, son of Sima Yi's second son Sima Zhao, proclaimed himself emperor and established the Western Jin Dynasty. Respect Sima Yi as Emperor Xuan.

Sima Yi’s early years

Sima Yi, courtesy name Zhongda, was born in Xiaojingli, Wen County, Hanoi (now Zhaoxian Town, Wen County, Henan Province). Sima Yi first descended from Chongli, the son of Emperor Gaoyang, and served as Zhurong, the Xia official. He lived through Tang, Yu, Xia and Shang, and his positions were sequenced throughout the world. In the Zhou Dynasty, Xia Guan was the Sima. Later, during the reign of King Xuan of Zhou Dynasty, Cheng Baixiu's father used the official family to defeat Xu Fang, and Xi used the official family, so he became the surname. During the Chu and Han Dynasties, Sima Yang served as a Zhao general and fought with the princes against Qin. After the death of Qin, he was established as King of Yin and his capital was Hanoi. The Han Dynasty regarded its land as a county, and its descendants considered it their home. From the eighth generation of Yang, to the time of Emperor An of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Jun, the general of the Western Conquest, was born, named Shuping. Sima Jun was born as Liang, the prefect of Yuzhang, with the courtesy name Gongdu. Sima Jun, the prefect of Yingchuan, was born in Qiang, with different characters. Jun was born in Jingzhao Yin Sima Fang, named Jiangong. Sima Fang is Sima Yi's father. Sima Yan, Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty, said in one of his edicts: "Every family is born, and the propagation of rites will last for a long time."

Sima Yi was the second son of Sima Fang. History books said that he had "few oddities, a lot of intelligence, a lot of strategy, a lot of erudition, and a following of Confucianism." At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the world was in chaos. Sima Yi was born in troubled times and "always worried about the world."

Yang Jun, the prefect of Nanyang, was known for his ability to know people and be kind to them. Before Sima Yi was twenty years old, Yang Jun had met him and said that he was by no means ordinary. Cui Yan, the minister, had a good relationship with Sima Yi's brother Sima Lang and once treated Sima Yi. Lang said: "My younger brother is smart, smart, tough and talented, beyond the reach of my son."

In the sixth year of Jian'an (201), the county elected him as a top official. At that time, Cao Cao was serving as Sikong. After hearing about his reputation, he sent someone to summon him to serve in the government. Sima Yi saw that the fortunes of the Han Dynasty were declining and he did not want to be under Cao Cao, so he used the excuse that he had wind paralysis and was unable to live in good health. Cao Cao didn't believe it and sent people to spy on the news at night. Sima Yi lay there motionless, as if he was really suffering from wind paralysis.

Sima Yi became an official

In the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208), after Cao Cao became prime minister, he began to use coercive means to appoint Sima Yi as a literary official. Cao Cao told the envoy, "If Panhuan is restored, he will take it back." Sima Yi was afraid of this and had no choice but to take office. Cao Cao allowed him to travel with the prince, and he successively held the posts of Huangmen Shilang, Yilang, Prime Minister Dong Cao, and Prime Minister Zhu Bo. When Sima Yi served under Cao Cao, he was cautious and diligent. "As for the husbandry and herding, he did everything he could."

In the 20th year of Jian'an (215), Cao Cao conquered Zhang Lu, and Sima Yi accompanied the army. He said to Cao Cao: "Liu Bei used deceptive force to capture Liu Zhang. The Shu people did not join and fought for Jiangling far away. This opportunity cannot be missed. If Yao Wei is powerful in Hanzhong, Yizhou is shaken, and the army approaches, it will inevitably collapse. Therefore, the situation is easy to change. For power. A sage cannot go against the times, and he will not lose the time. "Cao Cao said: "People are miserable and want to win Shu after they have gained Longyou." His advice was not followed.

In the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an (219), Sun Quan expressed his vassalage to Cao Cao and encouraged Cao Cao to proclaim himself emperor. Cao Cao said: "This son wants to sit on the charcoal of my furnace!" Sima Yi said: "The fate of the Han Dynasty is coming to an end. Your Highness is worthy of the world and has nine of them to serve it. The right to call a minister is the intention of heaven and man. Yu, Those who did not show humility in Xia, Yin and Zhou Dynasty were afraid of Heaven and knew their fate.” At that time, many of the powerful bureaucrats under Cao Cao supported the Han Dynasty, and they were deeply tabooed by Cao Cao. Xun, Cui Yan and other famous figures did not end well because they had objections to Cao's succession to the Han Dynasty. Probably Sima Yi had already expressed support for Cao Cao on this key issue, so Cao Cao gradually turned from suspicion to trust.

> Cao Cao was granted the title of Queen of Wei, and was promoted to Sima Yi as the crown prince's concubine, assisting Cao Pi. At that time, Sima Yi "always came up with clever strategies every time he had big plans". He was trusted and reused by Cao Pi, so the relationship has always been very good. Sima Yi was also known as the Four Friends together with Chen Qun, Wu Zhi, and Zhu Shuo.

After that, Sima Yi often planned state affairs and came up with many strange strategies. Soon, Sima Yi became Prime Minister and Army Sima. He pointed out that Hu Xiu, the governor of Jingzhou, was rude, and Fu Fang, the governor of Nanxiang (governing Nanxiang, southeast of today's Xichuan, Henan Province), was arrogant and extravagant, and they should not be stationed at the border. Cao Cao did not pay attention to them.

The Battle of Fancheng and Jiangling in 219

In June 219, after Liu Bei captured Hanzhong, he sent Meng Da and Liu Feng to capture Fangling, Shangyong and other places in the eastern part of Hanzhong County , the power has expanded.

In July, Sun Quan wanted to attack Hefei, so most of the Wei army mobilized Huainan to defend against the Wu army. Guan Yu, the former Shu general who was guarding Jingzhou, took this opportunity to stay in Nanjun (governing Jiangling, today's Jiangling, Hubei). , now Xinye, Henan; Xiangyang County governs Xiangyang, now Xiangfan, Hubei).

Encircling Wei general Cao Ren, the water flooded the forbidden seven armies and killed Pang De.

At that time, there were only a few thousand defenders in Fancheng, and the city walls collapsed in many places due to flooding. Cao Ren considered abandoning Fancheng, but was dissuaded by Man Chong, the prefect of Runan who assisted Cao Ren. Cao Ren was determined to resist bravely. As expected, Hu and Fu took the opportunity to descend to Shu. At this time, Sun Lang and others from Luhun (now northeast of Song County, Henan Province) also killed officials and raised troops to respond to Guan Yu. Guan Yu's momentum "shocked China" for a while.

At that time, the capital was in Xuchang, which was very close to Fancheng. Cao Cao felt threatened, and in order to avoid Guan Yu's attack, he once prepared to move the capital to Hebei. Sima Yi, Cao Rong, and Jiang Ji promptly dissuaded him: "The ban was lost by the water, and it was not lost in battle. It did not harm the country's plan, so they moved the capital. This not only showed that the enemy was weak, but also made the people of Huaimian very uneasy." Sun Quan "Liu Bei, who is not close to the outside but is sparse at home, can be said to be in a position of power, and if he is ordered to follow him, then Fan Wei will be relieved." Cao Cao followed his plan, and Sun Quan sent Lu Meng to attack Jiangling, and Guan Yu was captured and killed.

With the victory of this battle, Cao Cao took advantage of the conflict between Sun and Liu competing for Jingzhou, fully utilized diplomatic strategies, and reaped the benefits. He not only defeated Guan Yu's powerful offensive and lifted the siege of Fancheng, but also made Zhuge Liang's original plan The plan to hit Yuan with a double-sided pincer all the way to Wanluo and all the way out of Qinchuan could not be realized. More importantly, he destroyed the alliance between Sun and Liu, changed the strategic situation at that time, and took the initiative.

After Xu Huang defeated Guan Yu, Cao Cao disliked the people in Jingzhou and nearby and wanted to move them all away. Sima Yi believed: "Jingchu is easily escaped, and it is easy to move but difficult to secure. Guan Yu is newly broken, and those who do evil are hiding and watching. Now that those who are good are moving away, it will hurt their intentions and make those who left dare not return." Since then, there have been no immigrants. As expected, all those who fled from hiding came back and became naturalized.

In the first year of Yankang (220 years), Cao Cao passed away, and the government and the public were in danger. Sima Yi managed the funeral affairs, and he was solemn both inside and outside. In the same year, Cao Pi ascended the throne of Wei, and Sima Yi was granted the title of Marquis of Hejin Ting, and became the Prime Minister.

At that time, Sun Quan led his army to the west. The court officials believed that Fancheng and Xiangyang lacked food and could not resist the Wu army, so they asked Cao Ren to return to Wancheng. Sima Yi believed that the two cities should not be abandoned: "Sun Quan has recently defeated Guan Yu, and when he wants to make his own alliance, he must not dare to cause trouble. The rush of water and land in Xiangyang is a key point for the imperial invaders, so it cannot be abandoned." Cao Pi did not follow his advice and ordered Cao Ren to set fire to the two cities. Later, Sun Quan did not invade. Cao Pi regretted it.

From September 222 to March 223, Cao Wei failed in his southern attack on Soochow.

In the same year, Cao Pi ascended the throne and was known as Emperor Wen of Wei in history. Because Sima Yi had done a lot for Cao Pi to "usurp the Han Dynasty", after he ascended the throne, Cao Pi appointed Sima Yi as Shangshu, and soon he was transferred to military governor, censor Zhongcheng, and was granted the title of Marquis of Anguo Township.

In the second year of Huangchu (221), he was removed from the post of governor and promoted to Shizhong and Shangshu Youpushe.

In the third year of Huangchu (222) and the fifth year of Huangchu (224), Cao Pi attacked Wu twice. In both cases, Sima Yi was appointed to guard Xuchang, and Sima Yi was granted the title of Xiangxiang Marquis. In the spring and February of the sixth year of the sixth year of Huangchu (225), he was transferred to the post of general of the Fu army, Jiajie, and led five thousand troops. He was also added to Shizhong and Lu Shangshushi. When Sima Yi resigned, Cao Pi said: "I am engaged in common affairs, night and day, without a moment's rest. This is not to take pride, but to share worries" ("Book of Jin: Chronicles of Emperor Xuan").

In the same year, Cao Pi launched a large naval army to attack Wu, but still ordered Sima Yi to stay behind and "control the people inside and provide military supplies from outside" ("Book of Jin·Xuan Emperor Ji"). Before leaving, he issued an edict to Sima Yi and said: "I am deeply concerned about the future, so I appoint you. Although Cao Shen has military exploits, Xiao He is the most important. It does not allow me to worry about going west." ("Book of Jin· Emperor Xuan Ji")! Later, Cao Pi returned to Luoyang from Guangling and issued an edict to Sima Yi: "To the east, the Fu army should be the chief of the west; to the west, the Fu army should be the chief of the east" ("Book of Jin Xuan Di Ji"). So Sima Yi stayed in Xuchang.