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ed。 Now that the brightness has descended upon me； I hope this dereliction of duty may be pardoned。〃
〃I hear Xu Shu is here。 I have e expressly to see him；〃 replied Water Mirror bluntly。
〃He has lately left for Xuchang。 A messenger came with a letter telling of the imprisonment of his mother。〃
〃Then he has just fallen into Cao Cao's trap； for that letter was a forgery。 I have known his mother to be a very noble woman。 Even if she were imprisoned by Cao Cao； she would not summon her son like that。 Certainly the letter was a forgery。 If the son did not go； the mother would be safe； if he went； she would be a dead woman。〃
〃But how？〃 asked Liu Bei dismayed。
〃She is a woman of the highest principles； who would be greatly mortified at the sight of her son under such conditions。〃
Liu Bei said； 〃Just as your friend was leaving； he mentioned the name of a certain Zhuge Liang。 What think you of him？〃
Water Mirror laughed； saying； 〃If Xu Shu wanted to go； he was free to go。 But why did he want to provoke Zhuge Liang into ing out and showing passion for someone else？〃
〃Why do you speak like that？〃 asked Liu Bei
He replied； 〃Five persons； Zhuge Liang of Nanyang； Cui Zhouping of Boling； Shi Guangyuan of Yingchuan； Meng Gongwei of Runan； and Xu Shu of Yingchuan were the closest of friends。 They formed a little coterie devoted to meditation on essential refinement。 Only Zhuge Liang arrived at a perception of its meaning。 He used to sit among them with his arms about his knees muttering and then； pointing to his panions； he would say； 'You； gentlemen； would bee governors and protectors if you were in official life。'
〃When they asked him what was his ambition； he would only smile and always pared himself with the great ancient scholars Guan Zhong and Yue Yi。 No one could gauge his talents。〃
〃How es it that Yingchuan produces so many able humans？〃 said Liu Bei。
〃That old astrologer； Yin Kui； used to say that the stars clustered thick over the region； and so there were many wise people。〃
＇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。 。。。。。
Now Guan Yu was there。 When he heard Zhuge Liang so highly praised； he said； 〃Guan Zhong* and Yue Yi* are the two most famous leaders mentioned in the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States Periods。 They well overtopped the rest of humankind。 Is it not a little too much to say that Zhuge Liang pares with these two？〃
〃In my opinion he should not be pared with these two； but rather with two others；〃 said Water Mirror。
〃Who are these two？〃 asked Guan Yu。
〃One of them is Lu Wang； who laid the foundations of the Zhou Dynasty so firmly that it lasted eight hundred years； and the other Zhang Liang； who made the Han glorious for four centuries。〃
Before the surprise called forth by this startling statement had subsided； Water Mirror walked down the steps and took his leave。 Liu Bei would have kept him if he could； but he was obdurate。
As he stalked proudly away； he threw up his head and said； 〃Though Sleeping Dragon has found his lord； he has not been born at the right time。 It is a pity！〃
〃What a wise hermit！〃 was Liu Bei's ment。
Soon after the three brothers set out to find the abode of the wise man。 When they drew near the Sleeping Dragon Ridge； they saw a number of peasants in a field hoeing up the weeds； and as they worked they sang：
〃The earth is a checkered board；
And the sky hangs over all；
Under it humans are contending；
Some rise； but a many fall。
For those who succeed this is well；
But for those who go under rough。
There's a dozing dragon hard by；
But his sleep is not deep enough。〃
Liu Bei and his brothers stopped to listen to the song and； calling up one of the peasants； asked who made it。
〃It was made by Master Sleeping Dragon；〃 said the laborer。
〃Then he lives hereabout。 Where？〃
〃South of this hill there is a ridge called the Sleeping Dragon； and close by is a sparse wood。 In it stands a modest cottage。 That is where Master Zhuge Liang takes his repose。〃
Liu Bei thanked him and the party rode on。 Soon they came to the ridge； most aptly named； for indeed it lay wrapped in an atmosphere of calm beauty。
A poet wrote of it thus：
Not far from Xiangyang
There stands； clear cut against the sky；
A lofty ridge； and at its foot
A gentle stream goes gliding by。
The contour； curving up and down；
Although by resting cloud it's marred；
Arrests the eye； and here and there
The flank by waterfalls is scarred。
There； like a sleeping dragon coiled；
Or phoenix hid among thick pines；
You see； secure from prying eyes；
A cot； reed…built on rustic lines。
The rough…joined doors； pushed by the wind；
Swing idly open and disclose
The greatest genius of the world
Enjoying still his calm repose。
The air is full of woodland scents；
Around are hedgerows trim and green；
Close…growing intercrossed bamboos
Replace the painted doorway screen。
But look within and books you see
By every couch； near every chair；
And you may guess that mon persons
Are very seldom weled there。
The hut seems far from human ken；
So far one might expect to find
Wild forest denizens there； trained
To serve in place of humankind。
Without a hoary crane might stand
As warden of the outer gate；
Within a long…armed gibbon e
To offer fruit upon a plate。
But enter； there refinement reigns；
Brocaded silk the lutes protect；
And burnished weapons on the walls
The green of pines outside reflect。
For he who dwells within that hut
Is talented beyond pare；
Although he lives the simple life
And harvest seems his only care。
He waits until the thunderous call
Shall bid him wake； nor sleep again；
Then will he forth and at his word
Peace over all the land shall reign。
Liu Bei soon arrived at the door of the retreat； dismounted； and knocked at the rough door of the cottage。 A youth appeared and asked what he wanted。
Liu Bei replied； 〃I am Liu Bei； General of the Han Dynasty； Lord of Yicheng； Imperial Protector of Yuzhou； and Uncle of the Emperor。 I am e to salute the Master。〃
〃I cannot remember so many titles；〃 said the lad。
〃Then simply say that Liu Bei has e to inquire after him。〃
〃The Master left this morning early。〃
〃Whither has he gone？〃
〃His movements are very uncertain。 I do not know whither he has gone。〃
〃When will he return？〃
〃That also is uncertain。 Perhaps in three days； perhaps in ten。〃
The disappointment was keen。
〃Let us go back； since we cannot see him；〃 said Zhang Fei。
〃Wait a little time；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃It would be better to return；〃 said Guan Yu； 〃then we might send to find out when this man had e back。〃
So Liu Bei agreed； first saying to the boy； 〃When the Master returns； tell him that Liu Bei has been here。〃
They rode away for some miles。 Presently Liu Bei stopped and looked back at the surroundings of the little cottage in the wood。
The mountains were picturesque rather than grand； the water clear rather than profound； the plain was level rather than extensive； the woods luxuriant rather than thick。 Gibbons ranged through the trees； and cranes waded in the shallow water。 The pines and the bamboos vied with each other in verdure。 It was a scene to linger upon。
While Liu Bei stood regarding it； he saw a figure ing down a mountain path。 The man's bearing was lofty。 He was handsome and dignified。 He wore a fortable…looking bonnet on his head； and a black robe hung about his figure in easy folds。 He used a staff to help him down the steep path。
〃Surely that is he！〃 said Liu Bei。
He dismounted and walked over to greet the stranger； whom he saluted deferentially； saying； 〃Are you not Master Sleeping Dragon； Sir？〃
〃Who are you； General？〃 said the stranger。
〃I am Liu Bei。〃
〃I am not Zhuge Liang； but I am a friend of his。 My name is Cui Zhouping。〃
〃Long have I known of you！ I am very glad to see you；〃 replied Liu Bei。 〃And now I pray you be seated just where we are； and let me receive your instruction。〃
The two men sat down in the wood on a stone； and the two brothers ranged themselves by Liu Bei's side。
Cui Zhouping began； saying； 〃General； for what reason do you wish to see Zhuge Liang？〃
Liu Bei replied； 〃The empire is in confusion； and troubles gather everywhere。 I want your friend to tell me how to restore order。〃
〃You； Sir； wish to arrest the present disorder； although you are a kindly man and； from the oldest antiquity； the correction of disorder has demanded stern measures。 On the day that Liu Bang first put his hand to the work and slew the wicked ruler of Qin； order began to replace disorder。 Good government began with the Supreme Ancestor （BC 206）； and endured two hundred years………two centuries of tranquillity。 Then came Wang Mang's rebellion； and disorder took the place of order。 Anon； arose Liu Xiu； who restored the Han Dynasty； and order once more prevailed。 We have had two centuries of order and tranquillity； and the time of trouble and battles is due。 The restoration of peace will take time。 It cannot be quickly acplished。 You； Sir； wish to get Zhuge Liang to regulate times and seasons； to repair the cosmos； but I fear the task is indeed difficult；