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| Simplified Chinese version |
《玄德用计袭樊城，元直走马荐诸葛 - Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou Is Captured; Xu Shu's Affection: Zhuge Liang Is Recommended》 |
| 1 | 玄德用计... : | 却说曹仁忿怒，遂大起本部之兵，星夜渡河，意欲踏平新野。 |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: | In hot anger, Cao Ren lost no time in marching out to avenge the loss of so many of his army. He hastily crossed the River Yu to attack Xinye and trample it in the dust. | |
| 2 | 玄德用计... : | 且说单福得胜回县，谓玄德曰：“曹仁屯兵樊城，今知二将被诛，必起大军来战。”玄德曰：“当何以迎之？”福曰：“彼若尽提兵而来，樊城空虚，可乘间袭之。”玄德问计。福附耳低言如此如此。玄德大喜，预先准备已定。忽探马报说：“曹仁引大军渡河来了。”单福曰：“果不出吾之料。”遂请玄德出军迎敌。两阵对圆，赵云出马唤彼将答话。曹仁命李典出阵，与赵云交锋。约战十数合，李典料敌不过，拨马回阵。云纵马追赶，两翼军射住，遂各罢兵归寨。 |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
When Shan Fu got back into the city, he said to Liu Bei, "When Cao Ren, now at Fancheng, hears of his losses, he will try to retrieve them and will come to attack us." "What is the counter move?" asked Liu Bei. "As he will come with all his force, his own city will be left undefended. We will surprise it." "By what ruse?" The adviser leaned over and whispered to his chief. Whatever the plan was, it pleased Liu Bei, who made arrangements. Soon the scouts reported Cao Ren crossing the river with a mighty host. "Just as I guessed," said Shan Fu, hearing of it. Then he suggested that Liu Bei should lead out one army against the invaders. Liu Bei did so, and, when the formation was complete, Zhao Zilong rode to the front as champion and challenged the other side. Li Dian rode out and engaged. At about the tenth bout Li Dian found he was losing and retired toward his own side. Zhao Zilong pressed after him, but was checked by a heavy discharge of arrows from the wings. Then both sides stopped the battle and retired to their camps. | |
| 3 | 玄德用计... : | 李典回见曹仁，言：“彼军精锐，不可轻敌，不如回樊城。”曹仁大怒曰：“汝未出军时，已慢吾军心；今又卖阵，罪当斩首！”便喝刀斧手推出李典要斩。众将苦告方免。乃调李典领后军，仁自引兵为前部。次日鸣鼓进军，布成一个阵势，使人问玄德曰：“识吾阵否？” |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
Li Dian reported to his chief: "Our enemy are brave, very full of spirit, and we will be hard to overcome. We had better retreat to Fancheng and wait for reinforcements." Cao Ren angrily replied, "You damped the army's spirit before we started, and now you betray us. You have been bought, and you deserve death." Cao Ren called in the executioners, and they led away their victim. But the other officers came to intercede, and Li Dian was spared. However, he was transferred to the command of the rear, while Cao Ren himself led the attack. Next day the drums beat an advance and Cao Ren, having drawn up his soldiers, sent a messenger over to ask if Liu Bei recognized his plan of battle array. | |
| 4 | 玄德用计... : | 单福便上高处观望毕，谓玄德曰：“此‘八门金锁阵’也。八门者：休、生、伤、杜、景、死、惊、开。如从生门、景门、开门而入则吉，从伤门、惊门、休门而入则伤，从杜门、死门而入则亡。今八门虽布得整齐，只是中间还欠主持。如从东南角上生门击入，往正西景门而出，其阵必乱。” |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
So Shan Fu went on a hill and looked over it. Then he said to Liu Bei, "The arrangement is called 'The Eight Docked Gates,' and the names of the gates are Birth, Exit, Expanse, Wound, Fear, Annihilation, Obstacle, and Death. If you enter by one of the three Birth, Exit, or Expanse you succeed. If by one of the gates Wound, Fear, or Annihilation, you sustain injuries. The other two gates Obstacles and Death will bring the end. Now, though the eight gates are all there quite correct, the central key-post is lacking, and the whole formation can be thrown into confusion by entry from the southeast and exit due west." | |
| 5 | 玄德用计... : | 玄德传令，教军士把住阵角，命赵云引五百军从东南而入，迳往西出。云得令，挺枪跃马，引兵迳投东南角上呐喊，杀入中军。曹仁便投北走。云不追赶，却突出西门，又从西杀转东南角上来。曹仁军大乱。玄德麾军冲击，曹兵大败而退。单福命休追赶，收军自回。 |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
Wherefore certain orders were issued and Zhao Zilong, leading five hundred troops, rode out on his prancing steed to break the array. He burst in, as directed, at the southeast and, with great clamor and fighting, reached the center. Cao Ren made for the north, but Zhao Zilong, instead of following him, made a dash westward and got through. Thence he turned round to the southeast again and smote till Cao Ren's army was in disarray. Liu Bei gave a general advance signal, and the victory was complete. The beaten enemy retired. Shan Fu forbade pursuit, and they returned. The loss of the battle convinced Cao Ren of the wisdom of his colleague Li Dian, and he sent for Li Dian to consult. "They certainly have some very able person in Liu Bei's army since my formation was so quickly broken," said Cao Ren. | |
| 6 | 玄德用计... : | 却说曹仁输了一阵，方信李典之言；因复请典商议，言：“刘备军中必有能者，吾阵竟为所破。”李典曰：“吾虽在此，甚忧樊城。”曹仁曰：“今晚去劫寨。如得胜，再行计议；如不胜，便退军回樊城。”李典曰：“不可。刘备必有准备。”仁曰：“若如此多疑，何以用兵？”遂不听李典之言。自引军为前队，使李典为后应，当夜二更劫寨。 |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
"My chief anxiety is about Fancheng," said Li Dian. "I will raid their camp this night," said Cao Ren. "If I succeed, we will decide upon what should be done next. If I fail, we will return to Fancheng." "Their camp will be well prepared against such a thing, and you will fail," said Li Dian. "How can you expect to fight successfully when you are so full of doubts?" said Cao Ren, angrily. He held no more converse with his cautious colleague, but himself took command of the van and set out. Li Dian was relegated to the rear. The attack on the enemy's camp was fixed for the second watch. | |
| 7 | 玄德用计... : | 却说单福正与玄德在寨中议事，忽狂风骤起。福曰：“今夜曹仁必来劫寨。”玄德曰：“何以敌之？”福笑曰：“吾已预算定了。”遂密密分拨已毕。至二更，曹仁兵将近寨，只见寨中四围火起，烧著寨栅。曹仁知有准备，急令退军。赵云掩杀将来。仁不及收兵回寨，急望北河而走。将到河边，才欲寻船渡河，岸上一彪军杀到，为首大将，乃张飞也。曹仁死战，李典保护曹仁下船渡河。曹军大半淹死水中。 |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
Now as Shan Fu was discussing plans with his chief a whirlwind from the northeast went by, which Shan Fu said, "There will be a raid on the camp tonight." "How shall we meet it?" said Liu Bei. "The plans are quite ready," was the reply. Shan Fu whispered them to the chief. So at the second watch, when the enemy arrived, they saw fires on all sides, the stockades and huts burning. Cao Ren understood at once that all hope of a surprise was vain, and he turned to get away as quickly as possible. This was the signal for Zhao Zilong to fall on, and that cut Cao Ren's return road. He hastened north toward the river, and reached the bank, but, while waiting for boats to cross the stream, up came Zhang Fei and attacked. By dint of great efforts and with the support of Li Dian, Cao Ren got into a boat, but most of the soldiers were drowned in the stream. | |
| 8 | 玄德用计... : | 曹仁渡过河面，上岸奔至樊城，令人叫门。只见城上一声鼓响，一将引军而出，大喝曰：“吾已取樊城多时矣！”众惊视之，乃关云长也。仁大惊，拨马便走。云长追杀过来。曹仁又折了好些军马，星夜投许昌。于路打听，方知有单福为军师，设谋定计。 |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
As soon as he got to the farther shore, he bolted for Fancheng. He reached the wall and hailed the gate, but, instead of a friendly welcome, he heard the rolling of drums, which was soon followed by the appearance of a body of troops. Guan Yu led them. "I took the city a long time ago!" shouted Guan Yu. This was a severe shock to Cao Ren, who turned to flee. As soon as he faced about, Guan Yu attacked and killed many of his force. | |
| 9 | 玄德用计... : | 不说曹仁败回许昌。且说玄德大获全胜，引军入樊城，县令刘泌出迎。玄德安民已定。那刘泌乃长沙人，亦汉室宗亲，遂请玄德到家，设宴相待。只见一人侍立于侧，玄德视其人器宇轩昂，因问泌曰：“此何人？”泌曰：“此吾之甥寇封，本罗侯寇氏之子也；因父母双亡，故依于此。”玄德爱之，欲嗣为义子。刘泌欣然从之，遂使寇封拜玄德为父，改名刘封。玄德带回，令拜云长、翼德为叔。云长曰：“兄长既有子，何必用螟蛉？后必生乱。”玄德曰：“吾待之如子，彼必事吾如父，何乱之有？”云长不悦。玄德与单福计议，令赵云引一千军守樊城。玄德领众自回新野。 |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
The remnant hastened to Xuchang. On the road the beaten general wondered who had advised his opponents with such success, and he asked the natives for the answer. While the defeated Cao Ren had to find his way back to the capital, Liu Bei had scored a great success. Afterwards he marched to Fancheng, where he was welcomed by Magistrate Liu Mi, himself a scion of the ruling family, who had been born in Changsha. Liu Mi received Liu Bei as a guest in his own house and gave banquets and treated him exceedingly well. In the train of the Magistrate, Liu Bei saw a very handsome and distinguished-looking young man, and asked who he was. Liu Mi replied, "He is my nephew, Kou Feng, son of Lord Kou of Luo. I have taken care of him after his parents died." Liu Bei had taken a great liking for the lad and proposed to adopt him. His guardian was willing, and so the adoption was arranged. The young man's name was changed to Liu Feng. When Liu Bei left, he took his adopted son with him. Liu Feng was then made to bow before Guan Yu and Zhang Fei as uncles. Guan Yu was doubtful of the wisdom of adopting another son, saying, "You have a son. Why do you think it necessary to adopt another? It may cause confusion." "How? I shall treat him as a father should, and he will serve me as befits a son." Guan Yu was displeased. Then Liu Bei and Shan Fu began further discussions of strategy, and they decided to leave Zhao Zilong with one thousand soldiers to guard Fancheng, and they returned to Xinye. | |
| 10 | 玄德用计... : | 却说曹仁与李典回许都，见曹操，泣拜于地请罪，具言损将折兵之事。操曰：“胜负乃兵家之常。但不知谁为刘备画策？”曹仁言是单福之计。操曰：“单福何人也？”程昱笑曰：“此非单福也。此人幼好学击剑。中平末年，尝为人报雠杀人，披发涂面而走，为吏所获。问其姓名不答，吏乃縳于车上，击鼓行于市，令市人识之，虽有识者不敢言。而同伴窃解救之，乃更姓名而逃，折节向学，遍访名师。尝与司马徽谈论。此人乃颍川徐庶，字元直。单福乃其托名耳。”操曰：“徐庶之才，比君何如？”昱曰：“十倍于昱。”操曰：“惜乎贤士归于刘备！羽翼成矣，奈何？”昱曰：“徐庶虽在彼，丞相要用，召来不难。”操曰：“安得彼来归？”昱曰：“徐庶为人至孝。幼丧其父，止有老母在堂。现今其弟徐康已亡，老母无人侍养。丞相可使人赚其母至许昌，令作书召其子，则徐庶必至矣。” |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
In the meantime Cao Cao's defeated generals had gone back. When they saw the Prime Minister, Cao Ren threw himself on the ground weeping and acknowledging his faults. He told the tale of his losses. "The fortune of war," said Cao Cao. "But I should like to know who laid Liu Bei's plans." "That was Shan Fu," said Cao Ren. "Who is he?" asked Cao Cao. Cheng Yu said, "The man is not Shan Fu. When young this man was fond of fencing and used to take up the quarrels of other people and avenge their wrongs. At the end of Emperor Ling, he killed a man to avenge his friend, and then he let down his hair, muddled his face, and was trying to escape when a lictor caught him and questioned him. He would not reply. So they carted him through the streets beating a drum and asking if anyone recognized him. Nobody dared own to knowing him, even if they did so. However, his comrades managed to release him secretly, and he ran away under some other name. Then he turned to study and wandered hither and thither wherever scholars were to be found. He was a regular disputant with Sima Hui. His real name is Xu Shu and he comes from Yingchuan. Shan Fu is merely an assumed name." "How does he compare with yourself?" asked Cao Cao. "Ten times cleverer." "It is a pity. If able people gather to Liu Bei, his wings will soon grow. What is to be done?" "Xu Shu is there now. But if you wanted him, it would not be difficult to call him," replied Cheng Yu. "How could I make him come?" said Cao Cao. "He is noted for his affection for his mother. His father died young, leaving his mother a widow with one other son. Now that son is dead, and his mother, Lady Xun, has no one to care for her. If you sent and got his mother here and told her to write and summon her son, he would surely come." | |
| 11 | 玄德用计... : | 操大喜，使人星夜前去取徐庶母。不一日取至。操厚待之，因谓之曰：“闻令嗣徐元直，乃天下奇才也。今在新野，助逆臣刘备，背叛朝廷，正犹美玉落于污泥之中，诚为可惜。今烦老母作书，唤回许都，吾于天子之前保奏，必有重赏。” |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
Cao Cao sent without loss of time and had the old lady brought to the capital, where he treated her exceedingly well. Presently he said, "I hear you have a very talented son, who is now at Xinye helping on that rebel Liu Bei against the government. There he is like a jewel in a muck heap: It is a pity. Supposing you were to call him, I could speak of him before the Emperor, and he might get an important office." | |
| 12 | 玄德用计... : | 遂命左右捧过文房四宝，令徐母作书。徐母曰：“刘备何如人也？”操曰：“沛郡小辈，妄称皇叔，全无信义，所谓外君子而内小人者也。”徐母厉声曰：“汝何虚诳之甚也！吾久闻玄德乃中山靖王之后，孝景皇帝阁下玄孙，屈身下士，恭己待人，仁声素著。世之黄童、白叟、牧子、樵夫皆知其名。真当世之英雄也。吾儿辅之，得其主矣。汝虽托名汉相，实为汉贼，乃反以玄德为逆臣，欲使吾儿背明投暗，岂不自耻乎！” |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
Cao Cao bade his secretaries bring along paper and ink, with which Lady Xun could write to her son. "What sort of a man is Liu Bei?" asked she. Cao Cao replied, "A common sort of person from Zhuo, irresponsible enough to style himself Imperial Uncle, and so claiming some sort of connection with the Hans. He is neither trustworthy nor virtuous. People say he is a superior man as far as externals go, but a mean man by nature." Lady Xun answered in a hard voice, "Why do you malign him so bitterly? Everyone knows he is a descendant of one of the Han princes and so related to the House. He has condescended to take a lowly office and is respectful to all people. He has a reputation for benevolence. Everyone, young and old, cowherds and firewood cutters, all know him by name and know that he is the finest and noblest man in the world. If my son is in his service, then has he found a fitting master. You, under the name of a Han minister, are really nothing but a Han rebel. Contrary to all truths, you tell me Liu Bei is a rebel, whereby you try to induce me to make my son leave the light for darkness. Are you devoid of all sense of shame?" | |
| 13 | 玄德用计... : | 言讫，取石砚便打曹操。操大怒，叱武士执徐母出，将斩之。程昱急止之。入谏操曰：“徐母触忤丞相者，欲求死也。丞相若杀之，则招不义之名，而成徐母之德。徐母既死，徐庶必死心助刘备以报雠矣；不如留之，使徐庶身心两处，纵使助刘备，亦不尽力也。且留得徐母在，昱自有计赚徐庶至此，以辅丞相。” |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
As Lady Xun finished speaking, she picked up the inkstone to strike Cao Cao. This so enraged him that he forgot himself and the need for caution and bade the executioners lead off the old woman and put her to death. Adviser Cheng Yu, however, stopped this act, saying, "This old lady wished to die. But if you kill her, your reputation will be damaged and hers enhanced. Beside that will add a keen desire for revenge to the motives which led Xu Shu to labor in the interest of Liu Bei. You had better keep her here so that Xu Shu's body and his thoughts may be in different places. He can not devote all his energies to helping our enemy while his mother is here. If you keep her, I think I can persuade the son to come and help you." | |
| 14 | 玄德用计... : | 操然其言，遂不杀徐母，送于别室养之。程昱日往问候，诈言曾与徐庶结为兄弟，待徐母如亲母；时常馈送物件，必具手启。徐母因亦作手启答之。程昱赚得徐母笔迹，乃仿其字体，诈修家书一封，差一心腹人，持书迳奔新野县，寻问单福行幕。军士引见徐庶。庶知母有家书至，急唤入问之。来人曰：“某乃馆下走卒，奉老夫人言语，有书附达。”庶拆封视之。书曰： |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
So the outspoken old lady was saved. She was given quarters and cared for. Daily Cheng Yu went to ask after her health, falsely claiming to being a sworn brother of her son's, and so entitled to serve her and treat her as a filial son would have done. He often sent her gifts and wrote letters to her so that she had to write in reply. And thereby he learned her handwriting so that he could forge a "home" letter. When he could do this without fear of detection, he wrote one and sent it by the hand of a trusty person to Xinye. One day a man arrived inquiring for one Shan Fu. He claimed to have a letter from home for him. The soldiers led the man to Shan Fu. The man said he was an official carrier of letters and had been told to bring this one. Shan Fu quickly tore it open and read: | |
| 近汝弟康丧，举目无亲。正悲凄间，不期曹丞相使人赚至许昌，言汝背反，下我于缧绁，赖程昱等救免。若得汝来降，能免我死。如书到日，可念劬劳之恩，星夜前来，以全孝道；然后徐图归耕故园，免遭大祸。吾今命若悬丝，专望救援！更不多嘱。 | ||
| "On your brother's death recently I was left alone: No relative was near, and I was lonely and sad. To my regret, the Prime Minister Cao Cao inveigled me into coming to the capital, and now he says you are a rebel, and he has thrown me into bonds. However, thanks to Cheng Yu, my life has been spared so far, and, if you would only come and submit too, I should be quite safe. When this reaches you, remember how I have toiled for you and come at once, that you may prove yourself a filial son. We may together find some way of escape to our own place and avoid the dangers that threaten me. My life hangs by a thread, and I look to you to save me. You will not require a second summon." | ||
| 15 | 玄德用计... : | 徐庶览毕，泪如泉涌，持书来见玄德曰：“某本颍川徐庶，字元直；为因逃难，更名单福。前闻刘景升招贤纳士，特往见之。及与论事，方知是无用之人；作书别之，夤夜至司马水镜庄上，诉说其事。水镜深责庶不识主，因说：刘豫州在此，何不事之？庶故作狂歌于市，以动使君。幸蒙不弃，即赐重用。争奈老母，今被曹操奸计，赚至许昌囚禁，将欲加害。老母手书来唤，庶不容不去。非不欲效犬马之劳，以报使君；奈慈亲被执，不得尽力。今当告归，容图后会。” |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
Tears gushed from Xu Shu's eyes as he read, and with the letter in his hand he went to seek his chief, to whom he told the true story of his life. "I heard that Liu Biao treated people well and went to him. I happened to arrive at a time of confusion. I saw he was of no use, so I left him very soon. I arrived at the retreat of Sima Hui the Water Mirror late one night and told him, and he blamed me for not knowing a master when I saw one. Then he told me of you and I sang that wild song in the streets to attract your attention. You took me; you used me. But now my aged mother is the victim of Cao Cao's wiles. She is in prison, and he threatens to do worse. She has written to call me, and I must go. I hoped to be able to render you faithful service, but, with my dear mother a captive, I should be useless. Therefore I must leave you and hope in the future to meet you again." | |
| 16 | 玄德用计... : | 玄德闻言，大哭曰：“母子乃天性之亲，元直无以备为念。待与老夫人相见之后，或者再得奉教。”徐庶便拜谢欲行。玄德曰：“乞再聚一宵，来日饯行。”孙乾密谓玄德曰：“元直天下奇才，久在新野，尽知我军中虚实。今若使归曹操，必然重用，我其危矣。主公宜苦留之，切勿放去，操见元直不去，必斩其母。元直知母死，必为母报雠，力攻曹操也。”玄德曰：“不可。使人杀其母，而吾用其子，不仁也；留之不使去，以绝其母子之道，不义也。吾宁死，不为不仁不义之事。”众皆感叹。玄德请徐庶饮酒，庶曰：“今闻老母被囚，虽金波玉液不能下咽矣。”玄德曰：“备闻公将去，如失左右手，虽龙肝凤髓，亦不甘味。” |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
Liu Bei broke into loud moans when he heard that his adviser was to leave. "The bond between mother and son is divine," said Liu Bei, "and I do not need to be reminded where your duty lies. When you have seen your venerable mother, perhaps I may have again the happiness of receiving your instruction." Having said farewell, Xu Shu prepared to leave at once. However, at Liu Bei's wish, he consented to stay over the night. Then Sun Qian said privately to his master, "Xu Shu is indeed a genius, but he has been here long enough to know all our secrets. If you let him go over to Cao Cao, he will be in his confidence, and that will be to our detriment. You ought to keep him at all costs and not let him go. When Cao Cao sees Xu Shu does not come, he will put the mother to death, and that will make Xu Shu the more zealous in your service, for he will burn to avenge his mother's death." "I cannot do that. It would be very cruel and vile to procure the death of his mother that I might retain the son's services. If I kept him, it would lead to a rupture of the parental lien, and that would be a sin I would rather die than commit." Both were grieved and sighed. Liu Bei asked the parting guest to a banquet, but he declined, saying, "With my mother a prisoner I can swallow nothing, nay, though it were brewed from gold or distilled from jewels." "Alas! Your departure is as if I lost both my hands," said Liu Bei. "Even the liver of a dragon or the marrow of a phoenix would be bitter in my mouth." | |
| 17 | 玄德用计... : | 二人相对而泣，坐以待旦。诸将已于郭外安排筵席饯行。玄德与徐庶并马出城，至长亭，下马相辞。玄德举杯谓徐庶曰：“备分浅缘薄，不能与先生相聚，望先生善事新主，以成功名。”庶泣曰：“某才微智浅，深荷使君重用。今不幸半途而别，实为老母故也。纵使曹操相迫，庶亦终身不设一谋。”玄德曰：“先生既去，刘备亦将远遁山林矣。”庶曰：“某所以与使君共图王霸之业者，恃此方寸耳。今以老母之故，方寸乱矣，纵使在此，无益于事。使君宜别求高贤辅佐，共图大业，何便灰心如此？”玄德曰：“天下高贤，无有出先生右者。”庶曰：“某樗栎庸材，何敢当此重誉。”临别，又顾谓诸将曰：“愿诸公善事使君，以图名垂竹帛，功标青史，切勿效庶之无始终也。”诸将无不伤感。玄德不忍相离，送了一程。又送一程。庶辞曰：“不劳使君远送，庶就此告别。”玄德就马上执庶之手曰：“先生此去，天各一方，未知相会却在何日！”说罢，泪如雨下。庶亦涕泣而别。 |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
They looked into each other's eyes and wept. They sat silent till dawn. When all was ready for the journey, the two rode out of the city side by side. At Daisy Pavilion they dismounted to drink the stirrup cup. Liu Bei lifted the goblet and said, "It is my mean fortune that separates me from you, but I hope that you may serve well your new lord and become famous." Xu Shu wept as he replied, "I am but a poor ignorant person whom you have kindly employed. Unhappily I have to break our intercourse in the middle, but my venerable mother is the real cause. Though Cao Cao use all manner of means to coerce me, yet will I never plan for him." "After you are gone, I shall only bury myself in the hills and hide in the forests," said Liu Bei. Xu Shu said, "I had in my heart for you the position of leader of the chieftains, but my plans have been altogether upset by my mother. I have been of no advantage to you, nor should I do any good by remaining. But you ought to seek some person of lofty wisdom to help you in your great enterprise. It is unseemly to be downcast." "I shall find none to help better than you, my master." "How can I permit such extravagant praise?" said Xu Shu. "I am only a useless blockhead." As he moved off, he said to the followers, "Officers, I hope you will render the Princely One good service, whereby to write his name large in the country's annals and cause his fame to glow in the pages of history. Do not be like me, a person who has left his work half done." They were all deeply affected. Liu Bei could not bring himself to part from his friend. He escorted him a little further, and yet a little further, till Xu Shu said, "I will not trouble you, O Princely One, to come further. Let us say our farewell here." Liu Bei dismounted, took Xu Shu by the hands, and said, "Alas! We part. Each goes his way, and who knows if we shall meet again?" His tears fell like rain and Xu Shu wept also. But the last goodbyes were said. | |
| 18 | 玄德用计... : | 玄德立马于林畔，看徐庶乘马与从者匆匆而去。玄德哭曰：“元直去矣！吾将奈何？”凝泪而望，却被一树林隔断。玄德以鞭指曰：“吾欲尽伐此处树木。”众问何故玄德曰：“因阻吾望徐元直之目也。” |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
When the traveler had gone, Liu Bei stood gazing after the little party and watched it slowly disappear. At the last glimpse he broke into lamentation. "He is gone! What shall I do?" One of the trees shut out the traveler from his sight, and Liu Bei pointed at it, saying, "Wish that I could cut down every tree in the countryside!" "Why?" said his officers. "Because they hinder my sight of Xu Shu." | |
| 19 | 玄德用计... : | 正望间，忽见徐庶拍马而回。玄德曰：“元直复回，莫非无去意乎？”遂欣然拍马向前迎问曰：“先生此回，必有主意？”庶勒马谓玄德曰：“某因心绪如麻，忘却一语。此间有一奇士，只在襄阳城外二十里隆中。使君何不求之？”玄德曰：“敢烦元直为备请来相见。”庶曰：“此人不可屈致，使君可亲往求之。若得此人，无异周得吕望、汉得张良也。”玄德曰：“此人比先生才德何如？”庶曰：“以某比之，譬犹驽马并麒麟、寒鸦配鸾凤耳。此人每尝自比管仲、乐毅；以吾观之，管、乐殆不及此人。此人有经天纬地之才，盖天下一人也。” |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
Suddenly they saw Xu Shu galloping back. Said Liu Bei, "He is returning: Can it be that he is going to stay?" So he hastened forward to meet Xu Shu, and when they got near enough, he cried, "This return is surely for no slight reason." Checking his horse, Xu Shu said, "In the turmoil of my feelings, I forgot to say one word. There is a person of wonderful skill living about seven miles from the city of Xiangyang. Why not seek him?" "Can I trouble you to ask him to visit me?" "He will not condescend to visit you. You must go to him. But if he consents, you will be as fortunate as the Zhou when they got the aid of Lu Wang, or the Han when Zhang Liang came to help." "How does the unknown compare with yourself?" "With me? Compared with him I am as a worn-out carthorse to a palomino, an old duck to a phoenix. This man often compares himself with the ancient sages Guan Zhong and Yue Yi but, in my opinion, he is far their superior. He has the talent to measure the heavens and mete the earth. He is a man who overshadows every other in the world." | |
| 20 | 玄德用计... : | 玄德喜曰：“愿闻此人姓名。”庶曰：“此人乃琅琊阳都人，覆姓诸葛，名亮，字孔明。乃汉司隶校尉诸葛丰之后其父名圭，字子贡，为泰山郡丞，早卒。亮从其叔玄。玄与荆州刘景升有旧，因往依之，遂家于襄阳。后玄卒，亮与弟诸葛均躬耕于南阳尝好为梁父吟。所居之地，有一冈，名卧龙冈，因自号为卧龙先生。此人乃绝代奇才，使君急宜枉驾见之。若此人肯相辅佐，何愁天下不定乎？”玄德曰：“昔水镜先生曾为备言：‘伏龙、凤雏，两人得一，可安天下。’今所云莫非即伏龙、凤雏乎？”庶曰：“凤雏乃襄阳庞统也。伏龙正是诸葛孔明。”玄德踊跃曰：“今日方知伏龙、凤雏之语。何期大贤只在目前。非先生言，备有眼如盲也！”后人有赞徐庶走马荐诸葛诗曰： |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
"I would know his name." "He belongs to Langye, and his name is Zhuge Liang. He is of the family of the former General Zhuge Feng. His father, Zhuge Gui, was the Deputy Governor of Taishan but died young, and the young fellow went with his uncle Zhuge Xuan to Jingzhou. Imperial Protector Liu Biao was an old friend of his uncle, and Zhuge Liang became settled in Xiangyang. Then his uncle died, and he and his younger brother, Zhuge Jun, returned to their farm in Nanyang and worked as farmers. They used to amuse themselves with the composition of songs in the Liangfu style. "On their land was a ridge of hills called the Sleeping Dragon, and the elder of the brothers took it as a name and called himself Master Sleeping Dragon. This is your man. He is a veritable genius. You ought really to visit him. And if he will help you, you need feel no more anxiety about peace in the empire." "Water Mirror spoke that time of two persons, Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix, and said if only one of them could be got to help me all would be well. Surely he, whom you speak of, is one of them." "Young Phoenix is Pang Tong of Xiangyang, and Sleeping Dragon is Zhuge Liang." Liu Bei jumped with delight, "Now at last I know who the mysterious ones are. How I wish they were here! But for you I should have still been an unclued man," said he. Someone has celebrated in verse this interview where Xu Shu from horseback recommended Zhuge Liang: | |
| 痛恨高贤不再逢，临岐泣别两情浓。片言却似春雷震，能使南阳起卧龙。 | ||
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Liu Bei heard that his able friend 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. | ||
| 21 | 玄德用计... : | 徐庶荐了孔明，再别玄德，策马而去。玄德闻徐庶之语，方悟司马德操之言，似醉方醒，如梦初觉，引众将回至新野，便具厚币，同关、张前去南阳请孔明。 |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
Thus was Zhuge Liang recommended 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. | |
| 22 | 玄德用计... : | 且说徐庶既别玄德，感其留恋之情，恐孔明不肯出山辅之，遂乘马直至卧龙冈下，入草庐见孔明。孔明问其来意。庶曰：“庶本欲事刘豫州，奈老母为曹操所囚，驰书来召，只得舍之而往。临行时，将公荐与玄德。玄德即日将来奉谒，望公勿推阻，即展平生之大才以辅之，幸甚。” |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
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 Bei's 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 come, 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 commended 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." | |
| 23 | 玄德用计... : | 孔明闻言作色曰：“君以我为享祭之牺牲乎？”说罢，拂袖而入。庶羞惭而退，上马趱程，赴许昌见母。正是：嘱友一言因爱主，赴家千里为思亲。未知后事若何，且看下文分解。 |
| Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou...: |
Zhuge Liang showed annoyance and said, "And so you have made me a victim of the world's 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. |
URN: ctp:sanguo-yanyi/ch36