三国演义英文版-第102部分

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The　rider　got　off　his　donkey　and　returned　the　bow；　while　Zhuge　Jun　from　behind　said；　〃This　is　not　my　brother。　It　is　his　father…in…law　Huang　Chenyan。〃
Liu　Bei　said；　〃I　chanced　to　hear　the　song　you　were　singing。　It　is　very　beautiful。〃
Huang　Chenyan　replied；　〃It　is　a　little　poem　I　read　in　my　son　in…law's　house；　and　I　recalled　it　as　I　crossed　the　bridge　and　saw　the　plum　trees　in　the　hedge。　And　so　it　happened　to　catch　your　ear；　Noble　Sir。〃
〃Have　you　seen　your　son…in…law　lately？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃That　is　just　what　I　have　e　to　do　now。〃
At　this　Liu　Bei　bade　him　farewell　and　went　on　his　way。　The　storm　was　very　grievous　to　bear；　but　worse　than　the　storm　was　the　grief　in　his　heart　as　he　looked　back　at　Sleeping　Dragon　Ridge。

One　winter's　day　through　snow　and　wind
A　prince　rode　forth　the　sage　to　find；
Alas！　His　journey　was　in　vain；
And　sadly　turned　he　home　again。
The　stream　stood　still　beneath　the　bridge
A　sheet　of　ice　draped　rock　and　ridge；
His　steed　benumbed　with　biting　cold
But　crawled　as　he　were　stiff　and　old。
The　snowflakes　on　the　rider's　head
Were　like　pear…blossoms　newly　shed；
Or　like　the　willow…catkins　light
They　brushed　his　cheek　in　headlong　flight。
He　stayed　his　steed；　he　looked　around；
The　snow　lay　thick　on　tree　and　mound；
The　Sleeping　Dragon　Ridge　lay　white
A　hill　of　silver；　glistening　bright。

After　the　return　to　Xinye；　the　time　slipped　away　till　spring　was　near。　Then　Liu　Bei　cast　lots　to　find　the　propitious　day　for　another　journey　in　search　of　Zhuge　Liang。　The　day　being　selected；　he　fasted　for　three　days　and　then　changed　his　dress　ready　for　the　visit。　His　two　brothers　viewed　the　preparations　with　disapproval　and　presently　made　up　their　minds　to　remonstrate。

The　sage　and　the　fighting　generals　never　agree；
A　warrior　despises　humility。

The　next　chapter　will　tell　what　they　said。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　38　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　38
　Chapter　38
Zhuge　Liang　Plans　For　The　Three　Kingdoms；
Sun　Quan　Attacks　Xiakou　To　Take　Revenges。
Nothing　discouraged　by　two　unsuccessful　visits　to　the　retreat　of　the　sage　whose　advice　he　sought　to　secure；　Liu　Bei　made　preparations　for　a　third　visit。
His　brothers　disapproved；　and　Guan　Yu　said；　〃Brother；　you　have　sought　him　twice。　Surely　this　is　showing　even　too　much　deference。　I　do　not　believe　in　this　fame　of　his　for　learning。　He　is　avoiding　you　and　dare　not　submit　to　the　test。　Why　so　obstinately　hold　this　idea？〃

＇e＇　Guan　Zhong　was　priminister　of　Duke　Huan　of　Qi。　Guan　Zhong　made　Qi　a　powerful　state　during　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　。。。。。
＇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。　。。。。。
〃You　are　wrong；　my　brother。　In　the　Spring　and　Autumn　Period　Prince　Huan　of　Qi　paid　five　visits　to　the　Eastern　Suburb　before　he　got　to　see　Guan　Zhong*。　And　my　desire　to　see　Zhuge　Liang　is　even　greater　than　his。〃
〃I　think　you　are　mistaken；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。　〃How　can　this　villager　be　such　a　marvel　of　wisdom？　You　should　not　go　again　and；　if　he　will　not　e；　I　will　bring　him　with　a　hempen　rope。〃
〃Have　you　forgotten　the　great　King　Wen's　visit　to　Lu　Wang*；　the　old　man　of　the　River　Wei？　If　King　Wen　could　show　such　deference　to　a　wise　man；　where　am　I　too　deferential？　If　you　will　not　go；　your　brother　and　I　will　go　without　you；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃If　you　two　go；　how　can　I　hang　back？〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
〃If　you　go；　then　you　must　be　polite。〃
Zhang　Fei　said　he　would　not　forget　himself；　and　the　three　set　out。　When　they　were　a　quarter　of　mile　from　the　little　cottage；　Liu　Bei　dismounted；　deciding　to　show　his　respect　by　approaching　the　house　on　foot。　Very　soon　he　met　Zhuge　Jun；　whom　he　saluted　with　great　deference；　inquiring　whether　his　brother　was　at　home。
〃He　returned　last　evening。　You　can　see　him　today；　General。〃
As　Zhuge　Jun　said　this；　he　went　off　with　some　swagger。
〃Fortune　favors　me　this　time；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃I　am　going　to　see　the　Master。〃
〃That　was　a　rude　fellow；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。　〃It　would　not　have　hurt　him　to　have　conducted　us　to　the　house。　Why　did　he　go　off　like　that？〃
〃Each　one　has　his　own　affairs；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃What　power　have　we　over　him？〃
Soon　the　three　stood　at　the　door；　and　they　knocked。　The　serving　lad　came　out　and　asked　their　business。
Liu　Bei　said　very　deferentially；　〃I　would　trouble　the　servant　of　the　genius；　gentle　page；　to　inform　the　Master　that　Liu　Bei　wishes　to　pay　his　respects　to　him。〃
〃My　master　is　at　home；　but　he　is　asleep。〃
〃In　that　case　do　not　announce　me。〃
Liu　Bei　bade　his　two　brothers　wait　at　the　door　quietly；　and　he　himself　entered　with　careful　steps。　There　was　the　man　he　sought；　lying　asleep　on　the　couch；　stretched　on　a　simple　mat。　Liu　Bei　saluted　him　with　joined　hands　at　a　respectful　distance。
The　time　passed　and　still　the　sleeper　did　not　wake。　The　two　brothers　left　without；　beginning　to　feel　impatient；　also　came　in；　and　Zhang　Fei　was　annoyed　at　seeing　his　revered　elder　brother　respectfully　standing　by　while　another　slept。
〃What　an　arrogant　fellow　is　this　Master？〃　said　he。　〃There　is　our　brother　waiting；　while　he　sleeps　on　perfectly　carelessly。　I　will　go　to　the　back　of　the　place　and　let　off　a　bomb　and　see　if　that　will　rouse　him。〃
〃No；　no；　you　must　do　nothing　of　the　kind；〃　whispered　Guan　Yu；　and　then　Liu　Bei　told　them　to　go　out　again。
Just　then　Liu　Bei　noticed　that　the　Master　moved。　He　turned　over　as　though　about　to　rise；　but；　instead；　he　faced　the　wall　and　again　fell　asleep。　The　serving　lad　made　as　if　he　would　rouse　his　master；　but　Liu　Bei　forbade　him　to　be　disturbed；　and　Liu　Bei　waited　yet　another　weary　hour。　Then　Zhuge　Liang　woke　up　repeating　to　himself　the　lines：

〃Can　any　know　what　fate　is　his？
Yet　have　I　felt　throughout　my　life；
The　day　would　e　at　last　to　quit
The　calm　retreat　for　toil　and　strife。〃

As　he　finished；　he　turned　to　the　lad；　saying；　〃Have　any　of　the　usual　people　e？〃
〃Liu　Bei；　the　Uncle　of　the　Emperor　is　here；〃　said　the　boy。　〃He　has　been　waiting　a　long　time。〃
〃Why　did　you　not　tell　me？〃　said　he；　rising　from　the　couch。　〃I　must　dress。〃
Zhuge　Liang　rose　and　turned　into　a　room　behind　to　dress。　In　a　short　time　he　reappeared；　his　clothing　properly　arranged；　to　receive　his　visitor。
Then　Liu　Bei　saw　ing　toward　him　a　young　man　of　medium　height　with　a　refined　face。　He　wore　a　head…wrap　and　a　long　crane…white　gown。　He　moved　with　much　dignity　as　though　he　was　rather　more　than　mortal。
Liu　Bei　bowed；　saying；　〃I　am　one　of　the　offshoots　of　the　Han　family；　a　simple　person　from　Zhuo。　I　have　long　known　the　Master's　fame；　which　has　indeed　thundered　in　my　ear。　Twice　I　have　e　to　visit　you；　without　success。　Once　I　left　my　name　on　your　writing　table。　You　may　have　my　note。〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃This　hermit　is　but　a　dilatory　person　by　temperament。　I　know　I　have　to　thank　you　for　more　than　one　vain　visit；　and　I　am　ashamed　to　think　of　them。〃
These　courteous　remarks　and　the　proper　bows　exchanged；　the　two　men　sat　in　their　relative　positions　as　host　and　guest；　and　the　serving　lad　brought　tea。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃From　your　letter　I　know　that　you　grieve　for　both　people　and　government。　If　I　were　not　so　young　and　if　I　possessed　any　talent；　I　would　venture　to　question　you。〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃Sima　Hui　and　Xu　Shu　have　both　spoken　of　you。　Can　it　be　that　their　words　were　vain？　I　trust；　O　Master；　that　you　will　not　despise　my　worthlessness　but　will　condescend　to　instruct　me。〃
〃The　two　men　you　speak　of　are　very　profound　scholars。　I　am　but　a　peasant；　a　mere　farmer；　and　who　am　I　that　I　should　talk　of　empire　politics？　Those　two　misled　you　when　they　spoke　of　me。　Why　do　you　reject　the　beautiful　jewel　for　a　worthless　pebble？〃
〃But　your　abilities　are　world　embracing　and　marvelous。　How　can　you　be　content　to　allow　time　to　pass　while　you　idle　away　life　in　these　secluded　haunts？　I　conjure　you；　O　Master；　to　remember　the　inhabitants　of　the　empire　and　remove　my　crass　ignorance　by　bestowing　instruction　upon　me。〃
〃But　what　is　your　ambition；　General？〃
Liu　Bei　moved　his　seat　nearer　to　his　host　and　said；　〃The　Hans　are　sinking：　Designing　ministers　steal　away　their　authority。　I　am　weak；　yet　I　desire　to　restore　the　state　to　its　right　mind。　But　my　ignorance　is　too　vast；　my　means　are　too　slender；　and　I　know　not　where　to　turn。　Only　you；　Master；　can　lighten　my　darkness　and　preserve　me　from　falling。　How　happy　should　I　be　if　you　would　do　so！〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃One　bold　person　after　another　has　arisen　in　various　parts　of　the　empire　ever　since　the　days　of　the　rebel　Dong　Zhuo。　Cao　Cao　was　not　so　powerful　as　Yuan　Shao；　but　he　overcame　Yuan　Shao　by　seizing　the　favorable　moment　and　using　his　soldiers　properly。　Now　he　is　all…powerful：　He　rules　an　immense　army　and；　through　his　control　of　the　court；　the　various　feudal　lords　as　well。　You　cannot　think　of　opposing　him。　Then　the　Suns　have　held　their　territory　in　the　South　Land　for　three　generations。　Their　position　in　that　old　state　of　Wu　may　not　appear　too　secure；　but　they　have　popularity　to　appeal　to。　You　can　gain　support　but　win　no　success　there。
〃The　Region　of　Jingzhou　rests　on　the　two　Rivers　Han　and　Mian　to　the　north；　and　their　interests　lie　in　all　to　the　south　of　these　rivers。　On　the　east　they　touch　Wu；　and　on　the　west　they　extend　to　the　ancient　states　of　Ba　and　Shu。　This　is　the　area　in　which　decisive　battles　have　to　be　won；　and　one　must　hold　it　in　order　to　be　secure；　and　Heaven　has　virtually　made　it　yours。
〃The　Region　of　Yizhou　in　the　west　is　an　important　place；　fertile　and　extensive；　a　country　favored　of　Heaven　and　that　through　which　the　Founder　of　Han　obtained　the　empire。　Its　ruler　Liu　Zhang　is　ignorant　and　weak。　The　people　are　noble　and　the　country　prosperous；　but　he　does　not　know　how　to　hold　it　all；　and　all　the　able　people　of　the　region　are　yearning　for　an　enlightened　prince。
〃As　you　are　a　scion　of　the　Family；　well　known　throughout　the　land　as　trusty　and　righteous；　a　whole…hearted　hero；　who　greatly　desires　to　win　the　support　of　the　wise；　if　you　get　possession　of　Yizhou　and　Jingzhou；　if　on　the　west　you　are　in　harmony　with　the　Rong　Tribes；　on　the　south　win　over　the　ancient　states　of　Yi　and　Viet；　make　an　alliance　with　Sun　Quan　of　Wu；　and　maintain　good　government；　you　can　await　confidently　the　day　when　Heaven　shall　offer　you　the　desired　opportunity。　Then　you　ma