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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
could do this without fear of detection； he wrote one and sent it by the hand of a trusty person to Xinye。
One day a man arrived inquiring for one San Fu。 He claimed to have a letter from home for him。 The soldiers led the man to San Fu。 The man said he was an official carrier of letters and had been told to bring this one。 San Fu quickly tore it open and read：
〃On your brother's death recently I was left alone： No relative was near； and I was lonely and sad。 To my regret； the Prime Minister Cao Cao inveigled me into ing to the capital； and now he says you are a rebel； and he has throw me into bonds。 However； thanks to Cheng Yu； my life has been spared so far； and； if you would only e and submit too； I should be quite safe。 When this reaches you； remember how I have toiled for you and e at once； that you may prove yourself a filial son。 We may together find some way of escape to our own place and avoid the dangers that threaten me。 My life hangs by a thread； and I look to you to save me。 You will not require a second summon。〃
Tears gushed from Xu Shu's eyes as he read； and with the letter in his hand he went to seek his chief； to whom he told the true story of his life。
〃I heard that Liu Biao treated people well and went to him。 I happened to arrive at a time of confusion。 I saw he was of no use； so I left him very soon。 I arrived at the retreat of Sima Hui the Water Mirror late one night and told him； and he blamed me for not knowing a master when I saw one。 Then he told me of you and I sang that wild song in the streets to attract your attention。 You took me； you used me。 But now my aged mother is the victim of Cao Cao's wiles。 She is in prison； and he threatens to do worse。 She has written to call me； and I must go。 I hoped to be able to render you faithful service； but； with my dear mother a captive； I should be useless。 Therefore I must leave you and hope in the future to meet you again。〃
Liu Bei broke into loud moans when he heard that his adviser was to leave。
〃The bond between mother and son is divine；〃 said Liu Bei； 〃and I do not need to be reminded where your duty lies。 When you have seen your venerable mother； perhaps I may have again the happiness of receiving your instruction。〃
Having said farewell； Xu Shu prepared to leave at once。 However； at Liu Bei's wish； he consented to stay over the night。
Then Sun Qian said privately to his master； 〃Xu Shu is indeed a genius； but he has been here long enough to know all our secrets。 If you let him go over to Cao Cao； he will be in his confidence； and that will be to our detriment。 You ought to keep him at all costs and not let him go。 When Cao Cao sees Xu Shu does not e； he will put the mother to death； and that will make Xu Shu the more zealous in your service； for he will burn to avenge his mother's death。〃
〃I cannot do that。 It would be very cruel and vile to procure the death of his mother that I might retain the son's services。 If I kept him； it would lead to a rupture of the parental lien； and that would be a sin I would rather die than mit。〃
Both were grieved and sighed。
Liu Bei asked the parting guest to a banquet； but he declined； saying； 〃With my mother a prisoner I can swallow nothing； nay； though it were brewed from gold or distilled from jewels。〃
〃Alas！ Your departure is as if I lost both my hands；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃Even the liver of a dragon or the marrow of a phoenix would be bitter in my mouth。〃
They looked into each other's eyes and wept。 They sat silent till dawn。 When all was ready for the journey； the two rode out of the city side by side。 At Daisy Pavilion they dismounted to drink the stirrup cup。
Liu Bei lifted the goblet and said； 〃It is my mean fortune that separates me from you； but I hope that you may serve well your new lord and bee famous。〃
Xu Shu wept as he replied； 〃I am but a poor ignorant person whom you have kindly employed。 Unhappily I have to break our intercourse in the middle； but my venerable mother is the real cause。 Though Cao Cao use all manner of means to coerce me； yet will I never plan for him。〃
〃After you are gone； I shall only bury myself in the hills and hide in the forests；〃 said Liu Bei。
Xu Shu said； 〃I had in my heart for you the position of leader of the chieftains； but my plans have been altogether upset by my mother。 I have been of no advantage to you； nor should I do any good by remaining。 But you ought to seek some person of lofty wisdom to help you in your great enterprise。 It is unseemly to be downcast。〃
〃I shall find none to help better than you； my master。〃
〃How can I permit such extravagant praise？〃 said Xu Shu。 〃I am only a useless blockhead。〃
As he moved off； he said to the followers； 〃Officers； I hope you will render the Princely One good service； whereby to write his name large in the country's annals and cause his fame to glow in the pages of history。 Do not be like me； a person who has left his work half done。〃
They were all deeply affected。 Liu Bei could not bring himself to part from his friend。 He escorted him a little further； and yet a little further； till Xu Shu said； 〃I will not trouble you； O Princely One； to e further。 Let us say our farewell here。〃
Liu Bei dismounted； took Xu Shu by the hands； and said； 〃Alas！ We part。 Each goes his way； and who knows if we shall meet again？〃
His tears fell like rain and Xu Shu wept also。 But the last goodbyes were said。 When the traveler had gone； Liu Bei stood gazing after the little party and watched it slowly disappear。 At the last glimpse he broke into lamentation。
〃He is gone！ What shall I do？〃
One of the trees shut out the traveler from his sight； and Liu Bei pointed at it； saying； 〃Wish that I could cut down every tree in the countryside！〃
〃Why？〃 said his officers。
〃Because they hinder my sight of Xu Shu。〃
Suddenly they saw Xu Shu galloping back。
Said Liu Bei； 〃He is returning： Can it he that he is going to stay？〃
So he hastened forward to meet Xu Shu； and when they got near enough； he cried； 〃This return is surely for no slight reason。〃
Checking his horse； Xu Shu said； 〃In the turmoil of my feelings； I forgot to say one word。 There is a person of wonderful skill living about seven miles from the city of Xiangyang。 Why not seek him？〃
〃Can I trouble you to ask him to visit me？〃
＇e＇ Lu Wang was a master strategist； founding minister of Zhou Dynasty； counselor to King Wen。 Before joining King Wen； Lu Wang had been a fisher； who mediated on the river bank on political events。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Zhang Liang was Liu Bang's counselor。 。。。。。
＇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。 。。。。。
〃He will not condescend to visit you。 You must go to him。 But if he consents； you will be as fortunate as the Zhou when they got the aid of Lu Wang*； or the Han when Zhang Liang* came to help。〃
〃How does the unknown pare with yourself？〃
〃With me？ pared with him I am as a worn…out carthorse to a palomino； an old duck to a phoenix。 This man often pares himself with the ancient sages Guan Zhong* and Yue Yi* but； in my opinion； he is far their superior。 He has the talent to measure the heavens and mete the earth。 He is a man who overshadows every other in the world。〃
〃I would know his name。〃
〃He belongs to Langye； and his name is Zhuge Liang。 He is of the family of the former General Zhuge Feng。 His father； Zhuge Gui； was the Deputy Governor of Taishan but died young； and the young fellow went with his uncle Zhuge Xuan to Jingzhou。 Imperial Protector Liu Biao was an old friend of his uncle； and Zhuge Liang became settled in Xiangyang。 Then his uncle died； and he and his younger brother； Zhuge Jun； returned to their farm in Nanyang and worked as farmers。 They used to amuse themselves with the position of songs in the Liangfu style。
〃On their land was a ridge of hills called the Sleeping Dragon； and the elder of the brothers took it as a name and called himself Master Sleeping Dragon。 This is your man。 He is a veritable genius。 You ought really to visit him。 And if he will help you； you need feel no more anxiety about peace in the empire。〃
〃Water Mirror spoke that time of two persons； Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix； and said if only one of them could be got to help me all would be well。 Surely he； whom you speak of； is one of them。〃
〃Young Phoenix is Pang Tong of Xiangyang； and Sleeping Dragon is Zhuge Liang。〃
Liu Bei jumped with delight； 〃Now at last I know who the mysterious ones are。 How I wish they were here！ But for you I should have still been an unclued man；〃 said he。
Someone has celebrated in verse this interview where Xu Shu from horseback remended Zhuge Liang：
Liu Bei heard that his able friend
Must leave him； with saddened heart；
For each to the other had grown very dear；
Both wept when it came to part。
But the parting guest then mentioned a name
That echoed both loud and deep；
Like a thunder clap in a spring…time sky；
And there wakened a dragon from sleep。
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 vi