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〃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　e？〃　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　e。〃
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。〃
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　mon　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？〃
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　e　and　help　you。〃
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　San　Fu。　He　claimed　to　have　a　letter　from　home　for　him。　The　soldiers　led　the　man　to　San　Fu。　The　man　said　he　was　an　official　carrier　of　letters　and　had　been　told　to　bring　this　one。　San　Fu　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　Prime　Minister　Cao　Cao　inveigled　me　into　ing　to　the　capital；　and　now　he　says　you　are　a　rebel；　and　he　has　throw　me　into　bonds。　However；　thanks　to　Cheng　Yu；　my　life　has　been　spared　so　far；　and；　if　you　would　only　e　and　submit　too；　I　should　be　quite　safe。　When　this　reaches　you；　remember　how　I　have　toiled　for　you　and　e　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。〃
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。〃
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　e；　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　mit。〃
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。〃
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　bee　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　e　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。　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。〃
Suddenly　they　saw　Xu　Shu　galloping　back。
Said　Liu　Bei；　〃He　is　returning：　Can　it　he　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？〃

＇e＇　Lu　Wang　was　a　master　strategist；　founding　minister　of　Zhou　Dynasty；　counselor　to　King　Wen。　Before　joining　King　Wen；　Lu　Wang　had　been　a　fisher；　who　mediated　on　the　river　bank　on　political　events。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Zhang　Liang　was　Liu　Bang's　counselor。　。。。。。
＇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。　。。。。。
〃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　pare　with　yourself？〃
〃With　me？　pared　with　him　I　am　as　a　worn…out　carthorse　to　a　palomino；　an　old　duck　to　a　phoenix。　This　man　often　pares　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。〃
〃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　position　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　remended　Zhuge　Liang：

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。

Thus　was　Zhuge　Liang　remended　to　Liu　Bei；　and　Xu　Shu　rode　away。
Now　Liu　Bei　u