Romance, Chapter 36

Chapter 36. Capture of Fancheng: Zhuge Liang Recommended

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 to attack Xinye and trample it in the dust. When Shan Fu got back into the city he said to his master, “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 Xuande. “As he will come with all his force his own city will be left undefended; we will surprise it.” “By what ruse?”

卻說曹仁忿怒，遂大起本部之兵，星夜渡河，意欲踏平新野。且說單福得勝回縣，謂玄德曰：“曹仁屯兵樊城，今知二將被誅，必起大軍來戰。”玄德曰：“當何以迎之？”福曰：“彼若盡提兵而來，樊城空虛，可乘間奪之。”玄德問計。

The adviser leaned over and whispered to his chief. Whatever the plan was it pleased Xuande, 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 Xuande should lead out one army against the invaders. He did so, and, when the formation was complete, Zhao Yun 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.

福附耳低言如此如此。玄德大喜，預先準備已定。忽報馬報說：“曹仁引大軍渡河來了。”單福曰：“果不出吾之料。”遂請玄德出軍迎敵。兩陣對圓，趙雲出馬喚彼將答話。曹仁命李典出陣，與趙雲交鋒。約戰十數合，李典料敵不過，撥馬回陣。

Zhao Yun 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. Li Dian reported to his chief that their opponents were brave, very full of spirit, and that they would be hard to overcome and advised a retreat on Fancheng. Cao Ren angrily replied, “You damped the men’s spirits before we started, and now you betray us. You have been bought and you deserve death.” He called in the executioners and they led away their victim. But the other officers came to intercede and Dian was spared. However, he was transferred to the command of the rear, while Cao Ren himself led the attack.

雲縱馬追趕，兩翼軍射住，遂各罷兵歸寨。李典回見曹仁，言：“彼軍精銳，不可輕敵，不如回樊城。”曹仁大怒曰：“汝未出軍時，已慢吾軍心；今又賣陣，罪當斬首！”便喝刀斧手推出李典要斬；衆將苦告方免。乃調李典領後軍，仁自引兵爲前部。

Next day the drums beat an advance and Cao Ren, having drawn up his men, sent a messenger over to ask if his opponent recognised his plan of array. So Shan Fu went on a hill and looked over it. Then he said to Liu Bei “The arrangement is called ‘The Eight Gates and Golden Lock,’ and each ‘gate’ has a name. If you enter by one of the three named ‘Birth,’ ‘Bellevue’ and ‘Expanse’ you succeed; if by one of the ‘gates’ ‘Wounds,’ ‘Fear,’ or ‘Rest,’ you sustain injuries. The other two ‘gates’ are named ‘Obstacles’ and ‘Death,’ and to enter them means the end.

次日鳴鼓進軍，布成一個陣勢，使人問玄德曰：“識吾陣勢？”單福便上高處觀看畢，謂玄德曰：“此八門金鎖陣也。八門者：休、生、傷、杜、景、死、驚、開。如從生門、景門、開門而入則吉；從傷門、驚門、休門而入則傷；從杜門、死門而入則亡。

Now, though the eight ‘gates’ are all there quite correct, the central ‘key-post’ is lacking and the formation can be thrown into confusion by entry from the south-east and exit due west.” Wherefore certain orders were issued and Zhao Yun, leading half a company, rode out on his prancing steed to break the array. He burst in, as directed, at the south-east and, with great clamour and fighting, reached the centre.

今八門雖布得整齊，只是中間還欠主持。如從東南角上生門擊入，往正西景門而出，其陣必亂。”玄德傳令，教軍士把住陣角，命趙雲引五百軍從東南而入，徑往西出。雲得令，挺槍躍馬，引兵徑投東南角上，吶喊殺入中軍。

Cao Ren made for the north, but Zhao Yun, instead of following him, made a dash westward and got through. Thence he turned round to the south-east again and smote till Cao Ren’s army was in disarray. A general advance was signalled and the defeat was severe. 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 and he sent for him to consult. “They certainly have some very able person in Liu Bei’s army since my formation was so quickly broken,” said Cao Ren.

曹仁便投北走。雲不追趕，卻突出西門，又從西殺轉東南角上來。曹仁軍大亂。玄德麾軍衝擊，曹兵大敗而退。單福命休追趕，收軍自回。卻說曹仁輸了一陣，方信李典之言；因復請典商議，言：“劉備軍中必有能者，吾陣竟爲所破。”

“My chief anxiety is about Fancheng,” said Li Dian. “I will raid their camp this night,” said Ren. “If I succeed we will decide upon what should be done next. If I fail, we will return to Fancheng.” “The camp will be well prepared against such a thing and you will fail,” said Li. “How can you expect to fight successfully when you are so full of doubts?” said Ren, angrily. He held no more converse with his cautious colleague, but himself took command of the van and set out. Dian was relegated to the rear. The attack on the enemy’s camp was fixed for the second watch.

李典曰：“吾雖在此，甚憂樊城。”曹仁曰：“今晚去劫寨。如得勝，再作計議；如不勝，便退軍回樊城。”李典曰：“不可。劉備必有準備。”仁曰：“若如此多疑，何以用兵！”遂不聽李典之言。自引軍爲前隊，使李典爲後應，當夜二更劫寨。

Now as Shan Fu was discussing plans with his chief a whirlwind went by, which Fu said foretold a raid on the camp. “How shall we meet it?” said Xuande. “The plans are quite ready,” was the reply. He 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.

卻說單福正與玄德在寨中議事，忽狂風驟起。福曰：“今夜曹仁必來劫寨。”玄德曰：“何以敵之？”福笑曰：“吾已預算定了。”遂密密分撥已畢。至二更，曹仁兵將近寨，只見寨中四圍火起，燒着寨柵。曹仁知有準備，急令退軍。

This was the signal for Zhao Yun to fall on and that cut his 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 his colleague he got into a boat, but most of the men were drowned in the stream. As soon as he got to the farther shore he bolted for Fancheng. He reached the wall and hailed the gate.

趙雲掩殺將來。仁不及收兵回寨，急望北河而走。將到河邊，才欲尋船渡河，岸上一彪軍殺到：爲首大將，乃張飛也。曹仁死戰，李典保護曹仁下船渡河。曹軍大半淹死水中。曹仁渡過河面，上岸奔至樊城，令人叫門。

But, instead of a friendly welcome, he heard the rolling of drums, which was soon followed by the appearance of a body of men. Guan Yu led them. “I took the city a long time ago,” shouted Guan Yu. This was a severe shock to Ren, who turned to flee. As soon as he faced about Guan Yu attacked and killed many of his men. The remnant hastened to Xuchang. On the road the beaten general learned that it was Shan Fu, serving as adviser, who had laid the plans for his opponents.

只見城上一聲鼓響，一將引軍而出，大喝曰：“吾已取樊城多時矣！”衆驚視之，乃關雲長也。仁大驚，撥馬便走。雲長追殺過來。曹仁又折了好些軍馬，星夜投許昌。於路打聽，方知有單福爲軍師，設謀定計。不說曹仁敗回許昌。

While the defeated general had to find his way back to the capital, Xuande had scored a great success. Afterwards he marched to Fancheng, where he was welcomed by the magistrate Liu Mi, himself a scion of the ruling family, who had been born in Changsha. He received Xuande as a guest in his own house and gave banquets and treated him exceedingly well. In the train of the magistrate, Xuande 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 the Kou family, Marquis of Luo. His parents are both dead, and so he lives with me.”

且說玄德大獲全勝，引軍入樊城，縣令劉泌出迎。玄德安民已定。那劉泌乃長沙人，亦漢室宗親，遂請玄德到家，設宴相待。只見一人侍立於側。玄德視其人器宇軒昂，因問泌曰：“此何人？”泌曰：“此吾之甥寇封，本羅侯寇氏之子也；因父母雙亡，故依於此。”

Xuande 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 Xuande left, he took his adopted son with him. He 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 Xuande and Shan Fu began further discussions of strategy and they decided to leave Zhao Yun with a thousand men to guard Fancheng, while Xuande led the rest back to Xinye.

玄德愛之，欲嗣爲義子。劉泌欣然從之，遂使寇封拜玄德爲父，改名劉封。玄德帶回，令拜雲長、翼德爲叔。雲長曰：“兄長既有子，何必用螟蛉？後必生亂。”玄德曰：“吾待之如子，彼必事吾如父，何亂之有！”雲長不悅。玄德與單福計議，令趙雲引一千軍守樊城。玄德領衆自回新野。

In the meantime Cao Cao’s defeated generals had gone back. When they saw the 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 Ren. “Who is he?” asked Cao. Cheng Yu said, “The man is not Shan Fu. When young this man was fond of fencing. Once, toward the end of the Zhongping reign, after killing a man to avenge another’s wrong, he let down his hair, muddied 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 any one recognised him. Nobody dared own to knowing him, if they did so. However, his companions managed to release him secretly.

卻說曹仁與李典回許都，見曹操，泣拜於地請罪，具言損將折兵之事。操曰：“勝負乃軍家之常。但不知誰爲劉備畫策？”曹仁言是單福之計。操曰：“單福何人也？”程昱笑曰：“此非單福也。此人幼好學擊劍；中平末年，嘗爲人報仇殺人，披髮塗面而走，爲吏所獲；問其姓名不答，吏乃縛於車上，擊鼓行於市，令市人識之，雖有識者不敢言，而同伴竊解救之。

He then changed his name and ran away. 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 (Yuanzhi) and he comes from Yingchuan. Shan Fu is merely an assumed name.” “How does he compare with yourself?” asked Cao. “Ten times cleverer.” “It is a pity that so able a man has gone over to Liu Bei. His wings are grown. 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.

乃更姓名而逃，折節向學，遍訪名師，嘗與司馬徽談論。此人乃潁川徐庶，字元直。單福乃其託名耳。”操曰：“徐庶之才，比君何如？”昱曰：“十倍於昱。”操曰：“惜乎賢士歸於劉備！羽翼成矣？奈何？”昱曰：“徐庶雖在彼，丞相要用，召來不難。”

“How could I make him come?” said 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, Xu Kang, is dead and his mother 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.”

操曰：“安得彼來歸？”昱曰：“徐庶爲人至孝。幼喪其父，止有老母在堂。現今其弟徐康已亡，老母無人侍養。丞相可使人賺其母至許昌，令作書召其子，則徐庶必至矣。”

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.”

操大喜，使人星夜前去取徐庶母。不一日取至，操厚待之。因謂之曰：“聞令嗣徐元直，乃天下奇才也。今在新野，助逆臣劉備，背叛朝廷，正猶美玉落於汙泥之中，誠爲可惜。今煩老母作書，喚回許都，吾於天子之前保奏，必有重賞。”

Cao bade his secretaries bring along the “four precious things of the study,” with which the dame could write to her son. “What sort of a man is Liu Bei?” asked she. Cao replied, “A common sort of person from Peijun, 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.” The dame answered in a hard voice, “Why do you malign him so bitterly? I have long heard that Xuande is a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan and a great-great-grandson of the Emperor Jing. He humbles himself before men of worth and is respectful to all men. He has a reputation for benevolence. Every one, 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.

遂命左右捧過文房四寶，令徐母作書。徐母曰：“劉備何如人也？”操曰：“沛郡小輩，妄稱皇叔，全無信義，所謂外君子而內小人者也。”徐母厲聲曰：“汝何虛誑之甚也！吾久聞玄德乃中山靖王之後，孝景皇帝閣下玄孫，屈身下士，恭己待人，仁聲素著，世之黃童、白叟、牧子、樵夫皆知其名：真當世之英雄也。

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 truth you tell me Xuande 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?” As she 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. The adviser Cheng Yu, however, hastily stopped him and went in to remonstrate, saying, “Mother Xu has affronted you, O Minister, because she seeks death.

吾兒輔之，得其主矣。汝雖託名漢相，實爲漢賊。乃反以玄德爲逆臣，欲使吾兒背明投暗，豈不自恥乎！“言訖，取石硯便打曹操。操大怒，叱武士執徐母出，將斬之。程昱急止之，入諫操曰：“徐母觸忤丞相者，欲求死也。

If you kill her, you will get a name for injustice and make her virtue complete. Once she is dead, Xu Shu will devote himself heart and soul to Liu Bei to avenge her. 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.” So the outspoken old lady was saved. She was given quarters and cared for.

丞相若殺之，則招不義之名，而成徐母之德。徐母既死，徐庶必死心助劉備以報仇矣；不如留之，使徐庶身心兩處，縱使助劉備，亦不盡力也。且留得徐母在，昱自有計賺徐庶至此，以輔丞相。”操然其言，遂不殺徐母，送於別室養之。

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 enquiring for one Shan Fu, a secretary; he had a letter from home for him. The soldiers led him to Xu Shu.

程昱日往問候，詐言曾與徐庶結爲兄弟，待徐母如親母；時常饋送物件，必具手啓。徐母因亦作手啓答之。程昱賺得徐母筆跡，乃仿其字體，詐修家書一封，差一心腹人，持書徑奔新野縣，尋問“單福”行幕。軍士引見徐庶。

The man said he was an official carrier of letters and had been told to bring this one. Xu Shu quickly tore it open and read:— “On your brother’s death recently I was left alone; no relative was near and I was lonely and sad. To my regret, the 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.

庶知母有家書至，急喚入問之。來人曰：“某乃館下走卒，奉老夫人言語，有書附達。”庶拆封視之。書曰：“近汝弟康喪，舉目無親。正悲悽間，不期曹丞相使人賺至許昌，言汝背反，下我於縲絏，賴程昱等救免。若得汝降，能免我死。

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 summons.” Tears gushed from Xu Shu’s eyes as he read, and with the letter in his hand he went to see Xuande and said, “I am really Xu Shu, styled Yuanzhi, of Yingchuan; when I had to flee, I changed my name to Shan Fu. I heard that Liu Biao treated men well and went to him. But when I discussed affairs with him, I saw he was of no use, so I wrote him a letter of farewell and left him.

如書到日，可念劬勞之恩，星夜前來，以全孝道；然後徐圖歸耕故園，免遭大禍。吾今命若懸絲，專望救援！更不多囑。”徐庶覽畢，淚如泉湧。持書來見玄德曰：“某本潁川徐庶，字元直；爲因逃難，更名單福。前聞劉景升招賢納士，特往見之；及與論事，方知是無用之人，故作書別之。

I arrived at the retreat of Sima Shuijing (‘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.

夤夜至司馬水鏡莊上，訴說其事。水鏡深責庶不識主，因說劉豫州在此，何不事之？庶故作狂歌於市以動使君；幸蒙不棄，即賜重用。爭奈老母今被曹操奸計賺至許昌囚禁，將欲加害。老母手書來喚，庶不容不去。

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.” Xuande broke into loud moans when he heard that his adviser was to leave. “The bond between mother and son is divine,” said he, “and you must not let any thought of me hold you back. 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 Xuande’s wish he consented to stay over the night.

非不欲效犬馬之勞，以報使君；奈慈親被執，不得盡力。今當告歸，容圖後會。”玄德聞言大哭曰：“子母乃天性之親，元直無以備爲念。待與老夫人相見之後，或者再得奉教。”徐庶便拜謝欲行。玄德曰：“乞再聚一宵，來日餞行。”

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, 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 sees he 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.” All who heard him were moved to admiration.

孫乾密謂玄德曰：“元直天下奇才，久在新野，盡知我軍中虛實。今若使歸曹操，必然重用，我其危矣。主公宜苦留之，切勿放去。操見元直不去，必斬其母。元直知母死，必爲母報仇。力攻曹操也。”玄德曰：“不可。使人殺其母，而吾用其子，不仁也；留之不使去，以絕其子母之道，不義也。吾寧死，不爲不仁不義之事。”衆皆感嘆。

Xuande 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 Xuande. “Even the liver of a dragon or the marrow of a phoenix would be bitter in my mouth.” 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 Long Pavilion they dismounted to drink the stirrup cup.

玄德請徐庶飲酒，庶曰：“今聞老母被囚，雖金波玉液不能下嚥矣。”玄德曰：“備聞公將去，如失左右手，雖龍肝鳳髓，亦不甘味。”二人相對而泣，坐以待旦。諸將已於郭外安排筵席餞行。玄德與徐庶並馬出城，至長亭，下馬相辭。

Xuande 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 Xuande.

玄德舉杯謂徐庶曰：“備分淺緣薄，不能與先生相聚。望先生善事新主，以成功名。”庶泣曰：“某才微智淺，深荷使君重用。今不幸半途而別，實爲老母故也。縱使曹操相逼，庶亦終身不設一謀。”玄德曰：“先生既去，劉備亦將遠遁山林矣。”

Xu Shu said, “All I had to rely on in planning with you the enterprise of a king was this heart of mine. Now, because of my mother, my heart is in turmoil; even if I stayed, I should be of no use to you. But you ought to seek some man of lofty wisdom to help you in your great emprise. Why lose heart like this?” “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.”

庶曰：“某所以與使君共圖王霸之業者，恃此方寸耳；今以老母之故，方寸亂矣，縱使在此，無益於事。使君宜別求高賢輔佐，共圖大業，何便灰心如此？”玄德曰：“天下高賢，無有出先生右者。”庶曰：“某樗櫟庸材，何敢當此重譽。”

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 man who has left his work half done.” They were all deeply affected. Xuande could not bring himself to part from his friend. He escorted him a little further, and yet a little further, till Shu said, “I will not trouble you, O Princely One, to come further. Let us say our farewell here.” Xuande, from his saddle, took Xu Shu by the hands and said, “Alas! we part. Each goes his way and who knows if we shall meet again?”

臨別，又顧謂諸將曰：“願諸公善事使君，以圖名垂竹帛，功標青史，切勿效庶之無始終也。”諸將無不傷感。玄德不忍相離，送了一程，又送一程。庶辭曰：“不勞使君遠送，庶就此告別。”玄德就馬上執庶之手曰：“先生此去，天各一方，未知相會卻在何日！”

His tears fell like rain and Shu wept also. But the last goodbyes were said and when the traveller had gone Xuande 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 travellers from his sight and he testily pointed at it, saying, “Would that I could cut down every tree in the countryside!” “Why?” said his men. “Because they hinder my sight of Xu Yuanzhi.”

說罷，淚如雨下。庶亦涕泣而別。玄德立馬於林畔，看徐庶乘馬與從者匆匆而去。玄德哭曰：“元直去矣！吾將奈何？”凝淚而望，卻被一樹林隔斷。玄德以鞭指曰：“吾欲盡伐此處樹木。”衆問何故。玄德曰：“因阻吾望徐元直之目也。”

Suddenly they saw Xu Shu galloping back. Said Xuande, “He is returning; can it be that he is going to stay?” So he hastened forward to meet him 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 man of wonderful skill living about twenty li from the city of Xiangyang, why not seek him?”

正望間，忽見徐庶拍馬而回。玄德曰：“元直復回，莫非無去意乎？”遂欣然拍馬向前迎問曰：“先生此回，必有主意。”庶勒馬謂玄德曰：“某因心緒如麻，忘卻一語：此間有一奇士，只在襄陽城外二十里隆中。使君何不求之？”

“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 consent you will be as fortunate as the Zhou when they got the aid of Lü Wang, or 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 cart-horse to a kilin, an old crow to a phoenix. This man often compares himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi, but, in my opinion, Guan and Yue are hardly his equals.

玄德曰：“敢煩元直爲備請來相見。”庶曰：“此人不可屈致，使君可親往求之。若得此人，無異周得呂望、漢得張良也。”玄德曰：“此人比先生才德何如？”庶曰：“以某比之，譬猶駑馬並麒麟、寒鴉配鸞鳳耳。此人每嘗自比管仲，樂毅；以吾觀之，管、樂殆不及此人。

He has the talent to measure the heavens and mete the earth; he is a man who overshadows every other in the world.” “I would know his name.” “He belongs to Yangdu of Langya; his surname, a double surname, is Zhuge, and his name is Liang. His minor name is Kongming. He is a descendant of Zhuge Feng, who was Colonel Director of Retainers under the Han. His father, Zhuge Gui, styled Zigong, was Deputy Governor of Taishan and died young, and Liang went with his uncle Xuan. Xuan was an old friend of Liu Jingsheng of Jingzhou and went to him for refuge, and so the family settled in Xiangyang.

此人有經天緯地之才，蓋天下一人也！”玄德喜曰：“願聞此人姓名。”庶曰：“此人乃琅琊陽都人，複姓諸葛，名亮，字孔明，乃漢司隸校尉諸葛豐之後。其父名珪，字子貢，爲泰山郡丞，早卒；亮從其叔玄。玄與荊州劉景升有舊，因往依之，遂家於襄陽。

Then his uncle died and he, with his younger brother Zhuge Jun, farmed in Nanyang. They used to amuse themselves with the composition of songs in the ‘Old Father Liang’ style. “On their land was a ridge of hills called the Sleeping Dragon and the elder of the two 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 men, Fulong and Fengchu, and said if only one of them could be got to help me all would be well.

後玄卒，亮與弟諸葛均躬耕於南陽。嘗好爲《梁父吟》。所居之地有一岡，名臥龍岡，因自號爲臥龍先生。此人乃絕代奇才，使君急宜枉駕見之。若此人肯相輔佐，何愁天下不定乎！”玄德曰：“昔水鏡先生曾爲備言：‘伏龍、鳳雛，兩人得一，可安天下。’

Surely he, whom you speak of, is one of them.” “Fengchu, or ‘Phoenix Fledging,’ is ‘Pang Tong’: and Fulong, or ‘Hidden Dragon,’ is ‘Zhuge Kongming.’ ” Xuande jumped with delight, “Now at last I know who the mysterious ones are. Who would have thought so great a sage was right before my eyes! But for you I should have still been like a blind man,” said he. Some one has celebrated in verse this interview where Xu Shu from horseback recommended Kongming:— Xuande 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.

今所云莫非即伏龍、鳳雛乎？”庶曰：“鳳雛乃襄陽龐統也。伏龍正是諸葛孔明。”玄德踊躍曰：“今日方知伏龍、鳳雛之語。何期大賢只在目前！非先生言，備有眼如盲也！”後人有贊徐庶走馬薦諸葛詩曰：“痛恨高賢不再逢，臨岐泣別兩情濃。

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 the famous Kongming recommended to the lord he was to serve, and Xu Shu rode away. Now Xuande understood the speech of the hermit Sima Hui, 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.

片言卻似春雷震，能使南陽起臥龍。”徐庶薦了孔明，再別玄德，策馬而去。玄德聞徐庶之語，方悟司馬德操之言，似醉方醒，如夢初覺。引衆將回至新野，便具厚幣，同關、張前去南陽請孔明。

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 Kongming would be unwilling to play the part of helper in Xuande’s scheme, so he determined to go to visit him. He therefore took his way to Reposing Dragon Ridge and dismounted at the cottage. Asked why he had come, he 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.

且說徐庶既別玄德，感其留戀之情，恐孔明不肯出山輔之，遂乘馬直至臥龍岡下，入草廬見孔明。孔明問其來意。庶曰：“庶本欲事劉豫州，奈老母爲曹操所囚，馳書來召，只得舍之而往。臨行時，將公薦與玄德。

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.” Kongming showed annoyance and said, “And so you have made me the victim of your sacrifice.” So saying he 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.

玄德即日將來奉謁，望公勿推阻，即展平生之大才以輔之，幸甚！”孔明聞言作色曰：“君以我爲享祭之犧牲乎！”說罷，拂袖而入。庶羞慚而退，上馬趲程，赴許昌見母。

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.

正是：囑友一言因愛主，赴家千里爲思親。
未知後事若何，下文便見。