The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 by Luo Guanzhong Read Free Book Online Page B

also came in. Zhang Fei was greatly annoyed at seeing his revered eldest brother respectfully standing by while the sage slept.
    “What an arrogant fellow this master is!” he cried. “There is our brother standing below the steps, yet he pretends to be asleep. I’ll go to the back of the cottage and set it on fire. See if that will rouse him.”
    “No, no, you mustn’t do anything of the kind,” whispered Guan Yu, and then Liu Bei told them to go out again.
    Just then he noticed that the master moved. He turned over as though about to rise, but instead, he faced the wall and again fell asleep. The lad wanted to rouse his master but Liu Bei would not let him be disturbed and he waited yet another weary hour. Only then did Zhuge Liang wake up, reciting to himself the lines:
Can any know what fate is his?
    Yet have I felt throughout my life,
The day will come at last to quit
The calm retreat for toil and strife.
    As he finished he turned to the lad and asked, “Has any visitor come?”
    “General Liu, uncle of the Emperor, is here,” said the boy. “He has been waiting some time.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” he said, rising from the couch. “I’ll go in and dress.”
    He rose and went inside. Again, there was a long wait before he reappeared, his clothing properly arranged, to receive his visitor.
    Liu Bei saw coming toward him a very superior-looking man. He was taller than himself and his face was so refined that it resembled jade. He wore a silk head-wrap and a long crane-white gown. He moved with an air of perfect ease so that he seemed to be more like a god than a mortal.
    Liu Bei bowed and said, “I am one of the last descendants of the Han family, an ignorant person from Zhuojun. I have long known your fame, which has indeed thundered in my ear. Twice I have come to visit you, but without success. The last I came here I left a note with my signature on your writing table. I wonder if you have read it.”
    Zhuge Liang replied, “I am but a native of Nanyang, a dilatory person by temperament yet you have come time and again to visit me. I am very sorry I have been away on both occasions.”
    After the exchange of these courteous remarks and the proper greetings, the two men sat down in their seats as host and guest and the serving lad brought tea.
    Then Zhuge Liang said, “From your letter I know that you grieve for both the people and the state. Unfortunately I am young and untalented, not the right person to provide answers to your questions.”
    Liu Bei replied, “Sima Hui and Xu Shu have both spoken very highly of you. How could it be that their words were vain? I earnestly hope, sir, that you will not despise me for my worthlessness but will condescend to instruct me.”
    “The two men you just mentioned are very profound scholars while I am but a mere farmer. How dare I talk about state affairs? Those two misled you when they recommended me. Why do you reject the valuable jade for a worthless pebble?”
    “But your superior abilities are unrivaled throughout the country. How can you be content to allow time to pass while you idle away your life in these secluded haunts? I entreat you, sir, to think of the interests of the entire people and remove my crass ignorance by bestowing instruction upon me.”
    “But what is your ambition, General?” asked Zhuge Liang with a smile.
    Liu Bei moved his seat nearer to his host and said, “The Hans are sinking and evil ministers have usurped their authority. Weak as I am, I desire to restore justice to the country. But hampered by my ignorance and shallowness, I have been unable to achieve anything. Only you, sir, can enlighten me and lead me out of the difficult situation. What a great fortune it will be to me!”
    Zhuge Liang replied, “Bold and ambitious men have arisen one after another in various parts of the country since the days of the arch rebel Dong Zhuo. In the north, there is Cao Cao, who was not so powerful as Yuan Shao, but he