快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


Thus　was　Zhuge　Liang　remended　to　Liu　Bei；　and　Xu　Shu　rode　away。
Now　Liu　Bei　understood　the　speech　of　the　hermit　Water　Mirror；　and　he　woke　as　one　from　a　drunken　sleep。　At　the　head　of　his　officers；　he　retook　the　road　to　the　city　and　having　prepared　rich　gifts　set　out；　with　his　brothers；　for　Nanyang。
Under　the　influence　of　his　emotions　at　parting；　Xu　Shu　had　mentioned　the　name　and　betrayed　the　retreat　of　his　friend。　Now　he　thought　of　the　possibility　that　Zhuge　Liang　would　be　unwilling　to　play　the　part　of　helper　in　Liu　Bei's　scheme；　so　Xu　Shu　determined　to　go　to　visit　him。　He　therefore　took　his　way　to　Sleeping　Dragon　Ridge　and　dismounted　at　the　cottage。
Asked　why　he　had　e；　Xu　Shu　replied；　〃I　wished　to　serve　Liu　Bei　of　Yuzhou；　but　my　mother　has　been　imprisoned　by　Cao　Cao；　and　has　sent　to　call　me。　Therefore　I　have　had　to　leave　him。　At　the　moment　of　parting　I　mended　you　to　him。　You　may　expect　him　speedily　and　I　hope；　Sir；　you　will　not　refuse　your　aid　but　will　consent　to　use　your　great　talents　to　help　him。〃
Zhuge　Liang　showed　annoyance　and　said；　〃And　so　you　have　made　me　a　victim　of　the　world's　sacrifice。〃
So　saying；　Zhuge　Liang　shook　out　his　sleeves　and　left　the　room。　The　guest　shamefacedly　retired；　mounted　his　horse；　and　hastened　on　his　way　to　the　capital　to　see　his　mother。

To　help　the　lord　he　loved　right　well；
He　summoned　the　aid　of　another
When　he　took　the　distant　homeward　way
At　the　call　of　a　loving　mother。

What　was　the　sequel　will　appear　in　the　following　chapters。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　37　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　37
　Chapter　37
Sima　Hui　Remends　A　Scholar　To　Liu　Bei；
Liu　Bei　Pays　Three　Visits　To　The　Sleeping　Dragon　Ridge。
As　has　been　said　Xu　Shu　hastened　to　the　capital。　When　Cao　Cao　knew　Xu　Shu　had　arrived；　he　sent　two　of　his　confidants；　Xun　Yu　and　Cheng　Yu　to　receive　the　newer　at　the　city　gate；　and　so　Xu　Shu　was　led　first　to　the　Prime　Minister's　palace。
〃Why　did　such　an　illustrious　scholar　as　you　bow　the　knee　to　Liu　Bei？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃I　am　young；　and　I　fled　to　avoid　the　results　of　certain　escapades。　I　spent　some　time　as　a　wanderer　and　so　came　to　Xinye　where　I　became　good　friends　with　him。　But　my　mother　is　here；　and　when　I　thought　of　all　her　affection；　I　could　no　longer　remain　absent。〃
〃Now　you　will　be　able　to　take　care　of　your　mother　at　all　times。　And　I　may　have　the　privilege　of　receiving　your　instructions。〃
Xu　Shu　then　took　his　leave　and　hastened　to　his　mother's　dwelling。　Weeping　with　emotion；　he　made　his　obeisance　to　her　at　the　door　of　her　room。
But　she　was　greatly　surprised　to　see　him　and　said；　〃What　have　you　e　here　for？〃
〃I　was　at　Xinye；　in　the　service　of　Liu　Bei　of　Yuzhou；　when　I　received　your　letter。　I　came　immediately。〃
His　mother　suddenly　grew　very　angry。
Striking　the　table　she　cried；　〃You　shameful　and　degenerate　son！　For　years　you　have　been　a　vagabond　in　spite　of　all　my　teaching。　You　are　a　student　and　know　the　books。　You　must　then　know　that　loyalty　and　filial　piety　are　often　opposed。　Did　you　not　recognize　in　Cao　Cao　a　traitor；　a　man　who　flouts　his　king　and　insults　the　mighty　ones？　Did　you　not　see　that　Liu　Bei　was　virtuous　and　upright　as　all　the　world　knows？　Moreover；　he　is　of　the　House　of　Han；　and　when　you　were　with　him　you　were　serving　a　fitting　master。　Now　on　the　strength　of　a　scrap　of　forged　writing；　with　no　attempt　at　any　inquiry；　you　have　left　the　light　and　plunged　into　darkness　and　earned　a　disgraceful　reputation。　Truly　you　are　stupid。　How　can　I　bear　to　look　upon　you？　You　have　besmirched　the　fair　fame　of　your　forefathers　and　are　of　no　use　in　the　world！〃
The　son　remained　bowed　to　the　earth；　not　daring　to　lift　his　eyes　while　his　mother　delivered　this　vilifying　tirade。　As　she　said　the　last　word；　she　rose　suddenly　and　left　the　room。　Soon　after　one　of　the　servants　came　out　to　say　Lady　Xun　had　hanged　herself。　Xu　Shu　rushed　in　to　try　to　save　her；　but　was　too　late。　A　eulogy　of　her　conduct　has　been　written　thus：

Wise　Mother　Xun；　fair　is　your　fame；
The　storied　page　glows　with　your　name；
From　duty's　path　you　never　strayed；
The　family's　renown　you　made。
To　train　your　son　no　pains　you　spared；
For　your　own　body　nothing　cared。
You　stand　sublime；　from　us　apart；
Through　simple　purity　of　heart。
Brave　Liu　Bei's　virtues　you　extolled；
You　blamed　Cao　Cao；　the　basely　bold。
Of　blazing　fire　you　felt　no　fear；
You　blenched　not　when　the　sword　came　neat；
But　dreaded　lest　a　willful　son
Should　dim　the　fame　his　fathers　won。
Yes；　Mother　Xun　was　of　one　mold
With　famous　heroes　of　old；
Who　never　shrank　from　injury；
And　even　were　content　to　die。
Fair　meed　of　praise；　while　still　alive；
Was　yours；　and　ever　will　survive。
Hail！　Mother　Xun；　your　memory；
While　time　rolls　on；　shall　never。

At　sight　of　his　mother　dead；　Xu　Shu　fell　in　a　swoon　and　only　recovered　consciousness　after　a　long　time。　By　and　bye　Cao　Cao　heard　of　it　and　sent　mourning　gifts；　and　in　due　course　went　in　person　to　condole　and　sacrifice。　The　body　was　interred　on　the　south　of　the　capital；　and　the　dead　woman's　unhappy　son　kept　vigil　at　her　tomb。　He　steadily　rejected　all　gifts　from　Cao　Cao。
At　that　time　Cao　Cao　was　contemplating　an　attack　on　the　south。
His　adviser　Xun　Yu　dissuaded　him；　saying；　〃The　winter　is　not　favorable　for　this　campaign。　My　lord　should　await　milder　weather。〃
And　Cao　Cao　yielded。　But　he　began　to　prepare；　and　led　the　River　Zhang's　waters　aside　to　form　a　lake；　which　he　called　the　Aquamarine　Lake；　where　he　could　accustom　his　soldiers　to　fight　on　the　water。
As　has　been　said；　Liu　Bei　prepared　gifts　to　offer　to　Zhuge　Liang　on　his　visit。　One　day　his　servants　announced　a　stranger　of　extraordinary　appearance；　wearing　a　lofty　headdress　and　a　wide　belt。
〃Surely　this　is　he；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　and；　hastily　arranging　his　dress；　he　went　to　wele　the　visitor。
But　the　first　glance　showed　him　that　it　was　the　recluse　of　the　mountains；　Sima　Hui。　However；　Liu　Bei　was　glad　to　see　him　and　led　him　into　the　inner　apartment　as　he　would　an　old　friend。
There　Liu　Bei　conducted　him　to　the　seat　of　honor　and　made　his　obeisance；　saying；　〃Since　leaving　you　that　day　in　the　mountains；　I　have　been　overwhelmed　with　military　preparations　and　so　have　failed　to　visit　you　as　courtesy　demanded。　Now　that　the　brightness　has　descended　upon　me；　I　hope　this　dereliction　of　duty　may　be　pardoned。〃
〃I　hear　Xu　Shu　is　here。　I　have　e　expressly　to　see　him；〃　replied　Water　Mirror　bluntly。
〃He　has　lately　left　for　Xuchang。　A　messenger　came　with　a　letter　telling　of　the　imprisonment　of　his　mother。〃
〃Then　he　has　just　fallen　into　Cao　Cao's　trap；　for　that　letter　was　a　forgery。　I　have　known　his　mother　to　be　a　very　noble　woman。　Even　if　she　were　imprisoned　by　Cao　Cao；　she　would　not　summon　her　son　like　that。　Certainly　the　letter　was　a　forgery。　If　the　son　did　not　go；　the　mother　would　be　safe；　if　he　went；　she　would　be　a　dead　woman。〃
〃But　how？〃　asked　Liu　Bei　dismayed。
〃She　is　a　woman　of　the　highest　principles；　who　would　be　greatly　mortified　at　the　sight　of　her　son　under　such　conditions。〃
Liu　Bei　said；　〃Just　as　your　friend　was　leaving；　he　mentioned　the　name　of　a　certain　Zhuge　Liang。　What　think　you　of　him？〃
Water　Mirror　laughed；　saying；　〃If　Xu　Shu　wanted　to　go；　he　was　free　to　go。　But　why　did　he　want　to　provoke　Zhuge　Liang　into　ing　out　and　showing　passion　for　someone　else？〃
〃Why　do　you　speak　like　that？〃　asked　Liu　Bei
He　replied；　〃Five　persons；　Zhuge　Liang　of　Nanyang；　Cui　Zhouping　of　Boling；　Shi　Guangyuan　of　Yingchuan；　Meng　Gongwei　of　Runan；　and　Xu　Shu　of　Yingchuan　were　the　closest　of　friends。　They　formed　a　little　coterie　devoted　to　meditation　on　essential　refinement。　Only　Zhuge　Liang　arrived　at　a　perception　of　its　meaning。　He　used　to　sit　among　them　with　his　arms　about　his　knees　muttering　and　then；　pointing　to　his　panions；　he　would　say；　'You；　gentlemen；　would　bee　governors　and　protectors　if　you　were　in　official　life。'
〃When　they　asked　him　what　was　his　ambition；　he　would　only　smile　and　always　pared　himself　with　the　great　ancient　scholars　Guan　Zhong　and　Yue　Yi。　No　one　could　gauge　his　talents。〃
〃How　es　it　that　Yingchuan　produces　so　many　able　humans？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃That　old　astrologer；　Yin　Kui；　used　to　say　that　the　stars　clustered　thick　over　the　region；　and　so　there　were　many　wise　people。〃

＇e＇　Guan　Zhong　was　priminister　of　Duke　Huan　of　Qi。　Guan　Zhong　made　Qi　a　powerful　state　during　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Yue　Yi　was　a　great　general　of　Yan。　Yue　Yi　helped　Yan　overe　Qi；　which　was　a　dominant　state　during　the　Warring　States　period。　。。。。。
Now　Guan　Yu　was　there。　When　he　heard　Zhuge　Liang　so　highly　praised；　he　said；　〃Guan　Zhong*　and　Yue　Yi*　are　the　two　most　famous　leaders　mentioned　in　the　Spring　and　Autumn　and　the　Warring　States　Periods。　They　well　overtopped　the　rest　of　humankind。　Is　it　not　a　little　too　much　to　say　that　Zhuge　Liang　pares　with　these　two？〃
〃In　my　opinion　he　should　not　be　pared　with　these　two；　but　rather　with　two　others；〃　said　Water　Mirror。
〃Who　are　these　two？〃　asked　Guan　Yu。
〃One　of　them　is　Lu　Wang；　who　laid　the　foundations　of　the　Zhou　Dynasty　so　firmly　that　it　lasted　eight　hundred　years；　and　the　other　Zhang　Liang；　who　made　the　Han　glorious　for　four　centuries。〃
Before　the　surprise　called　forth　by　this　startling　statement　had　subsided；　Water　Mirror　walked　down　the　steps　and　took　his　leave。　Liu　Bei　would　have　kept　him　if　he　could；　but　he　was　obdurate。
As　he　stalked　proudly　away；　he　threw　up　his　head　and　said；　〃Though　Sleeping　Dragon　has　found　his　lord；　he　has　not　been　born　at　the　right　time。　It　is　a　pity！〃
〃What　a　wise　hermit！〃　was　Liu　Bei's　ment。
Soon　after　the　three　brothers　set　out　to　find　the　abode　of　the　wise　man。　When　they　drew　near　the　Sleeping　Dragon　Ridge；　they　saw　a　number　of　peasants　in　a　field　hoeing　up　the　weeds；　and　as　they　worked　they　sang：

〃The　earth　is　a　checkered　board；
And　the　sky　hangs　over　all；
Under　it　humans　are　contending；
Some　rise；　but　a　many　fall。
For　those　who　succeed　this　is　well；
But　for　those　who　go　under　rough。
There's　a　dozing　dragon　hard　by；
But　his　sleep　is　not　deep　enough。〃

Liu　Bei　and　his　brothers　stopped　to　listen　to　the　song　and；　calling　up　one　of　the　peasants；　asked　who　made　it。
〃It　was　made　by　Master　Sleeping　Dragon；〃　said　the　laborer。
〃Then　he　lives　hereabout。　Where？〃
〃South　of　this　hill　there　is　a　ridge　called　the　Sleeping　Dragon；　and　close　by　is　a　sparse　wood。　In　it　stands　a　modest　cottage。　That　is　where　Master　Zhuge　Liang　takes　his　repose。〃
Liu　Bei　thanked　him　and　the　party　rode　on。　Soon　they　came　to　the　ridge；　most　aptly　named；　for　indeed　it　lay　wrapped　in　an　atmosphere　of　calm　beauty。
A　poet　wrote　of　it　thus：

Not　far　from　Xiangyang
There　stands；　clear　cut　against　the　sky；
A　lofty　ridge；　and　at　its　foot
A　gentle　stream　goes　gliding　by。
The　contour；　curving　up　and　down；
Although　by　resting　cloud　it's　marred；
Arrests　the　eye；　and　here　and　there
The　flank　by　waterfalls　is　scarred。
There；　like　a　sleeping　dragon　coiled；
Or　phoenix　hid　among　thick　pines；
You　see；　secure　from　prying　eyes；
A　cot；　reed…built　on　rustic　lines。
The　rough…joined　doors；　pushed　by　the　wind；
Swing　idly　open　and　disclose
The　greatest　genius　of　the　world
Enjoying　still　his　calm　repose。
The　air　is　full　of　woodland　scents；
Around　are　hedgerows　trim　and　green；
Close…growing　intercrossed　bamboos
Replace　the　painted　doorway　screen。
But　look　within　and　books　you　see
By　every　couch；　near　every　chair；
And　you　may　guess　that　mon　persons
Are　very　seldom　weled　there。
The　hut　seems　far　from　human　ken；
So　far　one　might　expect　to　find
Wild　forest　denizens　there；　trained
To　serve　in　place　of　humankind。
Without　a　hoary　crane　might　stand
As　warden　of　the　outer　gate；
Within　a　long…armed　gibbon　e
To　offer　fruit　upon　a　plate。
But　enter；　there　refinement　reigns；
Brocaded　silk　the　lutes　protect；
And　burnished　weapons　on　the　walls
The　green　of　pines　outside　reflect。
For　he　who　dwells　within　that　hut
Is　talented　beyond　pare；
Although　he　lives　the　simple　life
And　harvest　seems　his　only　care。
He　waits　until　the　thunderous　call
Shall　bid　him　wake；　nor　sleep　again；
Then　will　he　forth　and　at　his　word
Peace　over　all　the　land　shall　reign。

Liu　Bei　soon　arrived　at　the　door　of　the　retreat；　dismounted；　and　knocked　at　the　rough　door　of　the　cottage。　A　youth　appeared　and　asked　what　he　wanted。
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃I　am　Liu　Bei；　General　of　the　Han　Dynasty；　Lord　of　Yicheng；　Imperial　Protector　of　Yuzho