Liu Bei, “I hope, sir, 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 contented with my life on the farm and cherished my leisure. I fear I cannot obey your command.”
Liu Bei wept. “If you will not, sir, what will become of the people?”
Tears rolled down unchecked upon the lapel and sleeves of his robe. This proved to Zhuge Liang the sincerity of his desire and at last he said, “General, if you insist I will render what trifling service I can.”
Liu Bei was overjoyed. He called in Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to pay their respects to Zhuge Liang and presented the gifts he had prepared. Zhuge Liang firmly refused to accept them.
“These are not gifts to engage your services, but mere proof of my regard,” said Liu Bei.
Then the presents were accepted. They all remained that night at the farm. The next day, Zhuge Jun returned and his brother said to him: “General Liu has come thrice to see me and I feel I must go and help him. Keep up the farm in my absence and do not let the fields lie wasted. As soon as my work is accomplished, I will certainly return.”
A poem was written to portray this:
Then, turning from his humble home,
He thought of peaceful days to come,
When he should take the homeward way
And ne’er beyond the valley stray.
But duty kept him in the west,
And there he found his place of rest.
An old poem may be quoted here:
The Founder of Han seized his gleaming blade
And at Mangdang the blood of the white snake flowed.
He conquered Qin, destroyed Chu, and entered Xiangyang.
After two centuries of rule the line was near broken,
But Guangwu, the great, restored the glory at Luoyang.
And his offspring occupied the throne
Till decay began in the days of Huan and Ling,
Then Emperor Xian removed the capital to Xuchang.
And, within the four seas, all was confusion.
Bold spirits started up in fierce contention.
Cao Cao seized the favorable moment
And the imperial authority passed into his hands,
While the Suns made to themselves
A glorious heritage east of the river,
Solitary and poor, Liu Bei wandered from place to place,
Till he found a haven in Xinye.
Sorely distressed he was at the sorrows of the people,
But the Sleeping Dragon conceived a noble ambition.
Within his breast were remarkable plans
Of great things to be accomplished by force of arms.
Then, because of the parting words of Xu Shu,
And by the three repeated visits to his retreat,
The great hero found and knew his mentor,
When at the age of but thrice nine years
He turned from his books, put aside his lute
And left the peaceful fields he had loved,
Under his guidance Jingzhou was taken,
And the land of West Chuan conquered,
He unrolled great schemes, as one all knowing
In speech, he went to and fro in the land,
The sound of war drums rolled loud from his tongue,
The words from his heart stirred one to the utmost depths,
The dragon pranced, the tiger glared,
And peace was brought to the land.
Through all the ages his fame will never decay.
After taking leave of the younger brother, Liu Bei and his followers left for Xinye, with Zhuge Liang as companion. When they took up their abode there, Zhuge Liang was treated as a respected master, eating at the same table and sleeping on the same couch with Liu Bei. They spent whole days conversing over the affairs of the state.
Zhuge Liang said, “Cao Cao is training his men for naval service and so certainly intends to invade the country south of the river. We can send our spies to ascertain what he is really doing.”
So spies were dispatched to gather information.
Now after Sun Quan had succeeded his brother to rule his territory he welcomed men of ability from every side to aid him. He even built guest-houses in Wu and directed two officials to receive and entertain all those who came. And year by year they flocked in, one recommending another. Among
Zhuge Liang replied, “I have long been contented with my life on the farm and cherished my leisure. I fear I cannot obey your command.”
Liu Bei wept. “If you will not, sir, what will become of the people?”
Tears rolled down unchecked upon the lapel and sleeves of his robe. This proved to Zhuge Liang the sincerity of his desire and at last he said, “General, if you insist I will render what trifling service I can.”
Liu Bei was overjoyed. He called in Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to pay their respects to Zhuge Liang and presented the gifts he had prepared. Zhuge Liang firmly refused to accept them.
“These are not gifts to engage your services, but mere proof of my regard,” said Liu Bei.
Then the presents were accepted. They all remained that night at the farm. The next day, Zhuge Jun returned and his brother said to him: “General Liu has come thrice to see me and I feel I must go and help him. Keep up the farm in my absence and do not let the fields lie wasted. As soon as my work is accomplished, I will certainly return.”
A poem was written to portray this:
Then, turning from his humble home,
He thought of peaceful days to come,
When he should take the homeward way
And ne’er beyond the valley stray.
But duty kept him in the west,
And there he found his place of rest.
An old poem may be quoted here:
The Founder of Han seized his gleaming blade
And at Mangdang the blood of the white snake flowed.
He conquered Qin, destroyed Chu, and entered Xiangyang.
After two centuries of rule the line was near broken,
But Guangwu, the great, restored the glory at Luoyang.
And his offspring occupied the throne
Till decay began in the days of Huan and Ling,
Then Emperor Xian removed the capital to Xuchang.
And, within the four seas, all was confusion.
Bold spirits started up in fierce contention.
Cao Cao seized the favorable moment
And the imperial authority passed into his hands,
While the Suns made to themselves
A glorious heritage east of the river,
Solitary and poor, Liu Bei wandered from place to place,
Till he found a haven in Xinye.
Sorely distressed he was at the sorrows of the people,
But the Sleeping Dragon conceived a noble ambition.
Within his breast were remarkable plans
Of great things to be accomplished by force of arms.
Then, because of the parting words of Xu Shu,
And by the three repeated visits to his retreat,
The great hero found and knew his mentor,
When at the age of but thrice nine years
He turned from his books, put aside his lute
And left the peaceful fields he had loved,
Under his guidance Jingzhou was taken,
And the land of West Chuan conquered,
He unrolled great schemes, as one all knowing
In speech, he went to and fro in the land,
The sound of war drums rolled loud from his tongue,
The words from his heart stirred one to the utmost depths,
The dragon pranced, the tiger glared,
And peace was brought to the land.
Through all the ages his fame will never decay.
After taking leave of the younger brother, Liu Bei and his followers left for Xinye, with Zhuge Liang as companion. When they took up their abode there, Zhuge Liang was treated as a respected master, eating at the same table and sleeping on the same couch with Liu Bei. They spent whole days conversing over the affairs of the state.
Zhuge Liang said, “Cao Cao is training his men for naval service and so certainly intends to invade the country south of the river. We can send our spies to ascertain what he is really doing.”
So spies were dispatched to gather information.
Now after Sun Quan had succeeded his brother to rule his territory he welcomed men of ability from every side to aid him. He even built guest-houses in Wu and directed two officials to receive and entertain all those who came. And year by year they flocked in, one recommending another. Among
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