小说园

第93部分（第2页）

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　Masters　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　may　depute　a　worthy　leader　to　go　to　the　northeast　while　you　take　mand　of　an　expedition　to　the　northwest；　and　will　you　not　find　the　warmest　wele　prepared　for　you　by　the　people？　This　done；　the　pletion　of　the　task　will　be　easy。　The　Hans　will　be　restored。　And　these　are　my　counsels　in　all　these　operations；　if　you　will　only　undertake　them。〃

＇e＇　The　River　Lands　were　West　River　Land；　which　was　the　region　of　Yizhou；　and　East　River　Land；　which　corresponded　to　Hanzhong。　Both　River　Lands　were　the　mountainous　lands　west　of　Jingzhou。

Zhuge　Liang　paused　while　he　bade　the　lad　bring　out　a　map。　As　this　was　unrolled　Zhuge　Liang　went　on；　〃There　you　see　the　fifty…four　counties　of　the　west。　Should　you　wish　to　take　the　overlordship；　you　will　yield　the　Heavens　favor　to　Cao　Cao　in　the　north；　and　you　will　relinquish　the　Earths　advantage　to　Sun　Quan　in　the　south。　You；　General；　will　hold　the　Humans　heart　and　plete　the　trinity。　Jingzhou　is　to　be　taken　first　as　a　home；　the　River　Lands*　next　for　the　foundation　of　domination。　When　you　are　firmly　established；　you　can　lay　your　plans　for　the　attainment　of　the　whole　empire。〃

As　Zhuge　Liang　ceased　his　harangue；　Liu　Bei　left　his　place　and　saluted　him；　saying；　〃Your　words；　O　Master；　render　everything　so　clear　that　the　clouds　are　swept　aside　and　I　see　the　clear　sky。　But　Jingzhou　belongs　to　Liu　Biao；　my　kinsman；　and　Yizhou　to　another　kinsman　Liu　Zhang。　I　could　hardly　take　the　lands　from　them。〃

〃I　have　studied　the　stars　and　I　know　Liu　Biao　is　not　long　for　this　world。　Further；　Liu　Zhang　is　not　the　sort　of　man　to　endure。　Both　places　will　certainly　fall　to　you。〃

Liu　Bei　bowed　his　acknowledgments。　And　so；　in　one　conversation；　Zhuge　Liang　proved　that　he；　who　had　lived　in　plete　retirement　all　his　life；　knew　and　foresaw　the　tripod　division　into　which　the　empire　was　to　break。　True；　indeed；　is　it　that　throughout　all　the　ages　no　one　has　ever　equaled　his　intelligence　and　mastery　of　the　situation。

Behold；　when　Liu　Bei　frets　that　he　is　weak；

Then　Sleeping　Dragon　is　not　far　to　seek；

When　he　desires　to　know　how　things　will　hap；

The　Master；　smiling；　shows　him　on　the　map。

〃Though　I　be　of　small　repute　and　scanty　virtue；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃I　hope；　O　Master；　you　will　not　despise　me　for　my　worthlessness；　but　will　leave　this　retreat　to　help　me。　I　will　assuredly　listen　most　reverently　to　your　words。〃

Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃I　have　long　been　happy　on　my　farm　and　am　fond　of　my　leisure。　I　fear　I　cannot　obey　your　mand。〃

Liu　Bei　wept。　〃If　you　will　not；　O　Master；　what　will　bee　of　the　people？〃

The　tears　rolled　down　unchecked　upon　the　lapel　and　sleeves　of　Liu　Beis　robe。　This　proved　to　Zhuge　Liang　the　sincerity　of　his　desire。

Hence；　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃General；　if　you　will　accept　me；　I　will　render　what　trifling　service　I　can。〃

Liu　Bei　was　greatly　delighted。　He　called　in　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　to　make　their　bow　and　brought　out　the　gifts　he　had　prepared。　Zhuge　Liang　refused　all　the　gifts。

〃These　are　not　gifts　to　engage　your　services；　but　mere　proof　of　my　regard；〃　sa