小说园

第90部分（第2页）

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　Beis　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　worlds　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　Ministers　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　mothers　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！〃