Chapter 37

Sima Hui Again Recommends a Great Scholar; Liu Bei Pays Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage

Now Xu Shu hastened on to Xuchang. When Cao Cao learned that he had arrived, he ordered Xun Yu, Cheng Yu, and a company of other counselors to go welcome him. Xu Shu entered the Chancellor’s residence and paid his respects to Cao Cao. Cao Cao said, “You, sir, are a man of exceptional wisdom. Why did you stoop to serve Liu Bei?” Xu Shu replied, “In my youth I fled from disorder and wandered homeless through the rivers and lakes. By chance I came to Xinye, where I formed a close friendship with Xuande. My aged mother still lives, and I am profoundly ashamed and grateful that you have been so kind as to concern yourself with her.” Cao Cao said, “Now that you are here, you may attend upon your honored mother morning and evening, while I too shall have the privilege of hearing your enlightened counsel.”

Xu Shu bowed his thanks and withdrew. He hurried to see his mother and, weeping, bowed before her at the foot of the hall. His mother exclaimed in astonishment, “Why have you come here?” Xu Shu replied, “Recently I was serving Liu, Governor of Yuzhou, at Xinye. Because I received a letter from Mother, I traveled here by night without delay.” At once Mother Xu flew into a towering rage. Striking the table, she cursed him: “You disgraceful son! You wandered the rivers and lakes for several years, and I believed you must have advanced in your studies. How is it that you are instead worse than before? Since you have read the classics, you should know that loyalty and filial duty cannot always both be fulfilled. Do you not recognize Cao Cao as a traitor who deceives his sovereign and defies his superiors? Liu Xuande’s benevolence and righteousness are renowned throughout the realm, and moreover he is a scion of the imperial house of Han. Having entered his service, you had found your rightful lord. Yet now, on the strength of a single forged letter, without investigating it carefully, you have abandoned the light and cast yourself into darkness, earning an evil name by your own doing. You are a fool indeed! With what face can I ever look upon you? You have stained the honor of your ancestors and were born into this world in vain!” So fiercely did she revile him that Xu Shu prostrated himself upon the floor and dared not raise his eyes. His mother turned and went behind the screen.

A short while later, a servant came out and reported, “The old lady has hanged herself from a roof beam.” Xu Shu rushed in to save her, but her breath had already ceased. A later poet wrote this eulogy for Mother Xu:Worthy indeed was Mother Xu!Her fragrance shall endure forever.Her constancy remained unblemished;Her household gained by her endeavor.In many ways she taught her son,While hardship was her chosen part.Her spirit towered like a mountain;Righteousness sprang from her heart.She praised the Governor of Yuzhou,And boldly censured Cao of Wei.She feared no cauldron’s boiling torment,Nor sword nor ax that barred her way.She feared but that her own descendantMight bring dishonor on his sires.With those who fell upon their swords,And those who cut the loom, she vies.In life she earned undying fame;In death she found her rightful place.Worthy indeed was Mother Xu!Through all the ages blooms her grace.

When Xu Shu saw that his mother was dead, he wailed until he collapsed upon the floor. Only after a long while did he revive. Cao Cao sent men with gifts of condolence and also went in person to offer sacrifice. Xu Shu buried his mother’s coffin on the southern plain outside Xuchang, then observed mourning beside her grave. He refused every gift bestowed on him by Cao Cao. At that time Cao Cao wished to discuss a southern campaign, but Xun Yu remonstrated: “The weather is cold, and troops should not yet be employed. Let us wait until spring brings warmth; then we may drive south in full force.” Cao Cao followed his advice. He diverted water from the Zhang River to form a lake, which he named Black Tortoise Lake, and there trained a naval force in preparation for the southern campaign.

Meanwhile, Xuande was arranging gifts for his intended visit to Zhuge Liang at Longzhong when someone suddenly reported, “A gentleman is outside the gate. He wears a lofty cap and a broad sash, and his bearing is extraordinary. He has come expressly to see you.” Xuande said, “Can this be Kongming himself?” He straightened his robes and went out to welcome the visitor. But when he looked, he saw that it was Sima Hui. Overjoyed, Xuande invited him into the rear hall, seated him in the place of honor, bowed, and said, “Since I last took leave of your immortal countenance, I have been daily overwhelmed by military affairs and have failed to pay you a visit. Your gracious arrival today greatly consoles my private feelings of admiration.” Sima Hui said, “I heard that Xu Yuanzhi was here and came especially to meet him.” Xuande replied, “Recently Cao Cao imprisoned his mother, and Mother Xu sent a messenger with an urgent letter summoning him back to Xuchang.” Sima Hui said, “This is one of Cao Cao’s schemes! I have always heard that Mother Xu is a woman of the highest virtue. Though imprisoned by Cao Cao, she would never have sent a letter summoning her son. The letter must have been false. Had Yuanzhi not gone, his mother would still be alive; now that he has gone, she will surely die.”

Startled, Xuande asked the reason. Sima Hui replied, “Mother Xu possesses a lofty sense of honor. She will surely be ashamed to face her son.” Xuande said, “Before Yuanzhi departed, he recommended Zhuge Liang of Nanyang. What sort of man is he?” Sima Hui laughed. “If Yuanzhi wished to leave, he had only to leave. Why drag that man forth as well and make him pour out his heart’s blood?” Xuande asked, “Why do you say this, sir?” Sima Hui replied, “Kongming is an intimate friend of Cui Zhouping of Boling, Shi Guangyuan of Yingchuan, Meng Gongwei of Runan, and Xu Yuanzhi. Those four devote themselves to mastering particular fields, but Kongming alone surveys the grand design. He often clasps his knees and chants at length, and once, pointing to the four of them, he said, ‘If you gentlemen enter official service, you may rise to be provincial inspectors or commandery governors.’ They asked Kongming what his own ambition was, but he merely smiled and did not answer. He constantly compares himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi. His talents are beyond measure.” Xuande said, “Why does Yingchuan produce so many worthy men?” Sima Hui replied, “In former times Yin Kui, who was skilled in observing the heavens, once said that the stars were gathering over Yingchuan’s celestial division, and therefore that region was certain to produce many men of worth.”

Guan Yu, who was standing nearby, said, “I have heard that Guan Zhong and Yue Yi were famous men of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States eras, whose achievements overshadowed the whole world. Does Kongming not go too far in comparing himself to those two?” Sima Hui laughed. “As I see it, he should not be compared to either of them. I would compare him to two others.” Guan Yu asked which two. Sima Hui replied, “He may be compared to Jiang Ziya, who established the Zhou for eight hundred years, and Zhang Zifang, who brought the Han four hundred years of prosperity.” Everyone was astonished. Sima Hui descended the steps, took his leave, and made ready to depart. Xuande tried to detain him, but could not. Outside the gate, Sima Hui raised his face to heaven and laughed. “Though Sleeping Dragon may find his lord, he will not find his proper time. What a pity!” With these words, he drifted away. Xuande sighed. “He is truly a worthy recluse!” The next day, Xuande went with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and their attendants to Longzhong. From afar they saw several men on the hillside carrying hoes and working in the fields as they sang:The azure sky is like a rounded canopy;The broad earth lies beneath, a chessboard square.The people of the world divide in black and white,And come and go, contending over shame and honor.The honored live in comfort and contentment;The shamed are doomed to toil without renown.In Nanyang there dwells a hidden recluse,Who sleeps on high and never has his fill.

Hearing the song, Xuande reined in his horse and called to the farmers, asking, “Who composed that song?” They replied, “It was composed by Master Sleeping Dragon.” Xuande asked, “Where does Master Sleeping Dragon live?” A farmer answered, “South of this mountain is a chain of high ridges called Sleeping Dragon Ridge. In a sparse grove before the ridge stands a thatched cottage, and there Master Zhuge lies in seclusion.” Xuande thanked him and urged his horse onward. Before he had gone many miles, he saw Sleeping Dragon Ridge in the distance, and its pure scenery was indeed extraordinary. A later poet wrote an old-style ballad devoted solely to the place where Sleeping Dragon dwelt:Twenty miles west of Xiangyang’s walls,A chain of lofty ridges rests beside a stream.The winding heights press down upon the roots of clouds;The murmuring waters spray the marrow of the stones.Its form is like a dragon coiled in hardship on a rock,Its shape a solitary phoenix in the shade of pines.A brushwood gate stands half-closed before a thatched retreat;Within, a lofty man lies sleeping and will not arise.Tall bamboo interweaves to form green screens;Through all four seasons wildflowers scent the hedge.Beside his couch are piled the yellow scrolls;No vulgar visitor ever takes a seat.Gray apes knock at his door and offer fruit;An aged crane guards the gate and hears the scriptures by night.A famous zither wrapped in ancient brocade rests within its case;A precious sword upon the wall reflects the grain of pine.The master of the cottage dwells alone in quiet elegance;At leisure he himself works diligently at the plow.He waits only for the spring thunder to awaken him from dreams,Then with one long cry he will bring peace beneath Heaven.

Xuande reached the farmstead, dismounted, and personally knocked at the brushwood gate. A young boy came out and asked his business. Xuande said, “Liu Bei, Left General of the Han, Marquis of Yicheng Village, Governor of Yuzhou, and Imperial Uncle, has come expressly to pay his respects to your master.” The boy replied, “I cannot remember so many names.” Xuande said, “Just tell him that Liu Bei has come to visit.” The boy said, “The master went out early this morning.” Xuande asked, “Where has he gone?” The boy answered, “His whereabouts are uncertain. I do not know where he went.” Xuande asked, “When will he return?” The boy replied, “The time of his return is uncertain as well. It may be three or five days, or perhaps ten days or more.”

Xuande was filled with disappointment. Zhang Fei said, “Since he is not here, let us simply go home.” Xuande replied, “Let us wait a while.” Guan Yu said, “It would be better to return for now and send someone later to inquire.” Xuande accepted his advice and instructed the boy, “If your master returns, tell him that Liu Bei came to pay him a visit.” He then mounted his horse. After riding several miles, he reined in and looked back at the scenery of Longzhong. The mountains were not high, yet graceful and refined; the waters were not deep, yet limpid and clear. The land was not broad, yet level and open; the forests were not vast, yet luxuriant and dense. Apes and cranes lived there in harmony, while pines and bamboo mingled their green. He could not cease gazing upon it. Suddenly he saw a man of imposing countenance and handsome, spirited bearing. He wore a carefree scholar’s kerchief and a robe of black cloth, and came down a secluded mountain path leaning on a staff of chenopod. Xuande said, “This must be Master Sleeping Dragon.” He hastily dismounted, went forward, and saluted him. “Are you not Sleeping Dragon, sir?” The man replied, “Who are you, General?” Xuande said, “I am Liu Bei.” The man answered, “I am not Kongming, but Kongming’s friend, Cui Zhouping of Boling.” Xuande said, “I have long heard your great name and am fortunate to meet you. I beg you to sit with me here upon the ground for the moment and favor me with your instruction.”

The two sat facing each other on stones in the forest, while Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stood in attendance nearby. Cui Zhouping asked, “Why do you wish to see Kongming, General?” Xuande replied, “The realm is now in great disorder, with turmoil gathering like clouds in every quarter. I wish to see Kongming and seek from him a plan to pacify the state and restore order to the nation.” Cui Zhouping laughed. “Your principal desire is to end the disorder, and though this springs from a benevolent heart, order and disorder have alternated without constancy since ancient times. When Gaozu slew the serpent and raised the standard of righteousness, destroying the lawless Qin, the realm passed from disorder into order. Two hundred years later, during the reigns of Emperors Ai and Ping, peace had endured so long that Wang Mang usurped the throne and rebelled, and the realm passed from order back into disorder. Emperor Guangwu restored the Han and rebuilt its foundations, so once again the realm passed from disorder into order. Now another two hundred years have gone by, and the people have long lived in peace; therefore war has once more broken out on every side. This is precisely an age in which order is passing into disorder, and peace cannot suddenly be restored. You wish Kongming to turn Heaven and Earth upon their axis and mend the fabric of the universe, but I fear that will not be easily done and will only waste his heart and strength. Have you not heard, ‘He who follows Heaven finds ease; he who opposes Heaven must toil’? And again, ‘What is fixed by destiny cannot be wrested away by reason; what is ordained by fate cannot be forced by man’?”

Xuande said, “What you say, sir, is truly a lofty judgment. But I am a descendant of the Han and am bound by duty to uphold the imperial house. How could I dare abandon it to destiny and fate?” Cui Zhouping replied, “I am only a rustic of the mountains and fields, unfit to discuss the affairs of the realm. I spoke rashly only because you honored me with your enlightened question.” Xuande said, “I am grateful for your instruction, sir, but do you know where Kongming has gone?” Cui Zhouping answered, “I too wished to visit him, but I likewise do not know where he has gone.” Xuande said, “Would you come with me to my humble county?” Cui Zhouping replied, “By nature I delight in leisure and freedom, and I have long had no desire for rank or fame. Let us meet again another day.” With that, he gave a long bow and departed. Xuande, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei mounted and rode away. Zhang Fei said, “We failed to find Kongming again and instead met this pedantic scholar, wasting so much time in idle talk!” Xuande replied, “Those too were the words of a recluse.”

The three returned to Xinye. Several days later, Xuande sent someone to inquire about Kongming. The man came back and reported, “Master Sleeping Dragon has returned.” Xuande at once ordered his horse prepared. Zhang Fei said, “He is no more than a country rustic. Why must Elder Brother go in person? Send someone to summon him, and that will be enough.” Xuande rebuked him: “Have you not heard the words of Mencius? ‘To desire to see a worthy man without following the proper way is like desiring him to enter while barring the gate.’ Kongming is a great sage of this age. How could he be summoned?” He mounted and set out once more to visit Kongming. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei also mounted and followed him.

It was deep winter, and the weather was bitterly cold beneath thick banks of crimson cloud. After they had traveled many miles, a piercing north wind suddenly rose and auspicious snow began to whirl through the air. The mountains seemed clusters of jade, and the forests beds of silver. Zhang Fei said, “The ground is frozen and the weather so cold that even troops should not be employed. How can it be fitting to travel so far to see a useless man? We would do better to return to Xinye and escape the wind and snow.” Xuande replied, “This is precisely how I mean to show Kongming the sincerity of my devotion. If you brothers fear the cold, you may return first.” Zhang Fei said, “I do not fear death itself—how could I fear the cold? I only fear Elder Brother is spending his care and thought in vain.” Xuande said, “Say no more. Simply follow me.” As they drew near the thatched cottage, they suddenly heard someone singing in a roadside tavern. Xuande halted his horse to listen. The song went:A brave man’s fame and merit are not yet achieved;Alas, how long since last he met the warmth of spring!Have you not seen the aged fisherman of the Eastern SeaLeave thorn and bramble, then ride in King Wen’s following carriage?Eight hundred lords assembled there without appointment;A white fish leaped into the boat as they crossed at Meng Ford.In one battle on the Mu Plain, blood floated the pestles;His eagle-soaring exploits crowned all warriors.And have you not seen the Gaoyang drinker rise from the grass,And bow erect before the high-nosed lord of Mang and Dang?His lofty discourse on the ways of king and hegemon startled every ear;The lord stopped washing, offered him a seat, and revered his heroic air.Eastward he went and won the seventy-two cities of Qi;No man beneath Heaven could follow in his track.Had those two not encountered sagely sovereigns,Who to this day would recognize their heroism?

When the song ended, another man struck the table and began to sing:Our sovereign raised his sword and cleansed the world,Founding a realm whose line endured four hundred years.In Huan and Ling’s last days, the virtue of fire declined;Treacherous ministers and rebel sons handled the vessels of state.A green serpent flew down beside the imperial throne;Then a baleful rainbow descended through the palace hall.Bandits gathered everywhere like swarming ants;A hundred ruthless heroes rose like soaring hawks.We raise long cries and clap our hands in vain;When care oppresses us, we drink the village wine.Content to perfect ourselves, we pass our days in peace;What need have we for names immortal through the ages?

When the two men had finished singing, they clapped their hands and laughed heartily. Xuande said, “Can Sleeping Dragon be here?” He dismounted and entered the tavern. There he saw two men leaning over a table and drinking together. The man in the higher seat had a pale face and a long beard; the other possessed pure, remarkable features and an antique countenance. Xuande bowed and asked, “Which of you gentlemen is Master Sleeping Dragon?” The long-bearded man said, “Who are you, sir, and why do you seek Sleeping Dragon?” Xuande replied, “I am Liu Bei. I wish to visit the master and seek from him the art of saving the age and bringing peace to the people.” The long-bearded man said, “Neither of us is Sleeping Dragon; we are both his friends. I am Shi Guangyuan of Yingchuan, and this is Meng Gongwei of Runan.” Delighted, Xuande said, “I have long heard the great names of you both and am fortunate to meet you by chance. I have spare horses with my party. May I ask you gentlemen to accompany me to Sleeping Dragon’s farmstead for a conversation?” Shi Guangyuan replied, “We are both lazy fellows of the mountains and fields and understand nothing of governing a state or bringing peace to its people. You need not trouble to seek our counsel. Please mount your horse, illustrious sir, and go in search of Sleeping Dragon.”

Xuande took leave of the two men, mounted, and rode toward Sleeping Dragon Ridge. On reaching the farmstead, he dismounted and knocked at the gate. He asked the boy, “Is your master at home today?” The boy replied, “He is reading in the hall.” Xuande was overjoyed and followed the boy inside. At the inner gate, he saw a large couplet written upon the door:Through simplicity, one’s purpose shines clear;Through tranquility, one reaches far.While Xuande was reading it, he suddenly heard the sound of chanting. Standing beside the door, he peered inside and saw a young man in the thatched hall, seated by the brazier with his knees clasped, singing:The phoenix soars a thousand fathoms high;Save on the wutong tree, it will not rest.The scholar lies concealed within his province;Save to his rightful lord, he will not cleave.I gladly till the ridges and the fields,For dearly do I love my humble home.In zither and in books I lodge my pride,And wait until the season Heaven appoints.

Xuande waited until the song was finished, then entered the thatched hall and saluted. “I have long admired you, sir, but have had no opportunity to pay my respects. Yesterday, on Xu Yuanzhi’s recommendation, I respectfully came to your immortal farmstead, but failed to meet you and returned in vain. Today I have ventured through wind and snow, and to behold your venerable countenance is truly my greatest good fortune!” The young man hurriedly returned his courtesy and said, “Can you be Liu, Governor of Yuzhou, who wishes to see my elder brother?” Xuande exclaimed in surprise, “Then you, sir, are not Sleeping Dragon?” The young man replied, “I am Zhuge Jun, Sleeping Dragon’s younger brother. There are three of us brothers. Our eldest brother, Zhuge Jin, is presently an adviser to Sun Zhongmou in Jiangdong. Kongming is my second elder brother.” Xuande asked, “Is Sleeping Dragon at home now?” Zhuge Jun replied, “Yesterday Cui Zhouping invited him out, and he has gone wandering for pleasure.” Xuande asked, “Where has he gone?” Zhuge Jun replied, “At times he takes a small boat and roams among the rivers and lakes; at times he visits Buddhist monks and Daoist priests upon the mountains; at times he seeks friends among the villages; and at times he enjoys the zither and chess in some secluded grotto. His comings and goings cannot be foretold, and I do not know where he has gone.” Xuande said, “Can Liu Bei’s fortune truly be so meager that twice he has failed to meet this great worthy?” Zhuge Jun said, “Please sit a while and take tea.” Zhang Fei said, “Since that master is not here, Elder Brother, please mount your horse.” Xuande replied, “Having come all this way, how can I return without saying a word?” He then asked Zhuge Jun, “I have heard that your elder brother, Master Sleeping Dragon, is thoroughly versed in military strategy and reads books of war every day. May I hear something of it?” Zhuge Jun replied, “I know nothing of that.” Zhang Fei said, “Why question him? The wind and snow are growing fierce. We had better return quickly.” Xuande angrily silenced him. Zhuge Jun said, “As my elder brother is absent, I dare not detain your horses and escort for long. Allow me to return your courtesy another day.” Xuande replied, “How could I dare expect you to trouble yourself with a visit? After several days I shall come again. I ask only to borrow paper and brush so that I may leave a letter for your elder brother, expressing the sincerity of Liu Bei’s devotion.” Zhuge Jun accordingly brought out the Four Treasures of the Study. Xuande breathed warmth upon the frozen brush, spread out a sheet of cloud-patterned paper, and wrote:I have long admired your lofty reputation. Twice I have come to pay my respects, and twice, failing to meet you, have returned in vain. How may I express my disappointment? I reflect that I, Bei, am a descendant of the imperial house of Han and have undeservedly received titles and rank. Yet I behold the decline of the court, the ruin of law and order, rival lords throwing the state into confusion, and wicked factions deceiving the sovereign, until my heart and courage are both torn apart. Though I sincerely desire to sustain the dynasty and save the age, I lack any strategy for ordering the realm. I look up to your benevolence, loyalty, and righteousness, and pray that you will generously display the mighty talents of Lü Wang and employ the magnificent strategy of Zifang. How fortunate that would be for all beneath Heaven! How fortunate for the altars of soil and grain! I send this letter first to convey my purpose. Permit me hereafter to fast, purify myself, bathe, and once more pay special homage before your honored countenance, that I may pour out the humble sincerity of my heart. I earnestly beg your understanding and forgiveness in all these matters.

When Xuande had finished writing, he handed the letter to Zhuge Jun, who put it away. Xuande bowed farewell and went out. Zhuge Jun escorted him to the gate, and Xuande repeatedly expressed his earnest regards before parting. Just as he mounted and was about to leave, he suddenly saw the boy waving outside the hedge and calling, “The old master is coming!” Xuande looked and saw, west of the little bridge, a man with a warm cap covering his head and a fox-fur robe wrapped around his body. He rode a donkey, followed by a young servant in blue carrying a gourd of wine, and came treading through the snow. As he crossed the little bridge, he recited a poem:All night the northern wind blew cold;For ten thousand miles the crimson clouds hung deep.Through the vast sky the wild snow whirls,Transforming all the rivers and hills of old.I lift my face and gaze into the void,And wonder if jade dragons battle there.Their scales and armor scatter thick and fast,Till in an instant they fill all the universe.Riding my donkey across the little bridge,Alone I sigh at the plum blossoms’ leanness.

When Xuande heard the verses, he said, “This must truly be Sleeping Dragon!” He rolled from the saddle, hurried forward, and saluted. “It was no easy thing for you to brave this cold, sir! Liu Bei has been waiting a long while!” The man hastily dismounted from his donkey and returned the salute. Behind them Zhuge Jun said, “This is not my elder brother Sleeping Dragon, but my brother’s father-in-law, Huang Chengyan.” Xuande said, “The verses you just recited were exceedingly sublime.” Huang Chengyan replied, “At my son-in-law’s home I was reading the ‘Liangfu Chant’ and remembered this poem. As I crossed the little bridge, I happened to see the plum blossoms by the hedge and was moved to recite it. I did not expect an honored guest to overhear me.” Xuande asked, “Have you seen your worthy son-in-law?” Huang Chengyan replied, “I too have come expressly to see him.” Hearing this, Xuande took leave of Huang Chengyan, mounted, and returned. The wind and snow were now fiercer than ever. He looked back at Sleeping Dragon Ridge, his heart oppressed with disappointment. A later poet wrote solely of Xuande’s journey through wind and snow to visit Kongming:Through a whole day of wind and snow he sought the worthy man;Failing to meet him, he returned in sorrow.Ice sealed the stream and bridge, the mountain stones were slick;Cold pierced horse and saddle, and the road stretched long.Above his head, pear blossoms fell in flake on flake;Against his face, willow catkins wildly swarmed.He turned, checked his whip, and gazed afar:A mound of gleaming silver covered Sleeping Dragon Ridge.

After Xuande returned to Xinye, time slipped swiftly by, and soon it was early spring. He ordered a diviner to sort the yarrow stalks and choose an auspicious day. He fasted and purified himself for three days, burned incense, bathed, and changed his robes, intending once more to visit Kongming at Sleeping Dragon Ridge. When Guan Yu and Zhang Fei heard this, they were displeased and went together to remonstrate with Xuande. Thus it was said:The lofty sage had not yet yielded to the hero’s will;The hero’s humble deference stirred his brothers’ doubts.What they said remains unknown; read on to learn how the tale unfolds.

Sima Hui Again Recommends a Great Scholar; Liu Bei Pays Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage

Meanwhile, Xu Shu hurried on to Xuchang. When Cao Cao learned that he had arrived, he ordered Xun Yu, Cheng Yu, and a group of other advisers to welcome him. Xu Shu entered the prime minister’s residence and paid his respects to Cao Cao. Cao Cao said, “You are a man of great wisdom. Why did you lower yourself to serve Liu Bei?” Xu Shu replied, “In my youth I fled from disaster and wandered through the country. By chance I came to Xinye and formed a close friendship with Xuande. My aged mother is still alive, and I am deeply ashamed and grateful that you were kind enough to show concern for her.” Cao Cao said, “Now that you are here, you can attend upon your honored mother morning and evening, while I too may have the benefit of hearing your wise counsel.”

Xu Shu bowed his thanks and withdrew. He hurried to see his mother and, weeping, bowed before her in the hall. His mother was greatly startled and said, “Why have you come here?” Xu Shu replied, “Recently I was serving Liu, Governor of Yuzhou, at Xinye. Then I received a letter from Mother, so I traveled here through the night.” Mother Xu flew into a rage. Striking the table, she cursed him: “Disgraceful son! You wandered through the country for several years, and I thought your learning must have improved. How is it that you are now worse than before? Since you have studied the classics, you ought to know that loyalty and filial duty cannot always both be fulfilled. Do you not recognize Cao Cao as a traitor who deceives his sovereign and defies his superiors? Liu Xuande’s benevolence and righteousness are known throughout the land, and moreover he is a scion of the imperial house of Han. In serving him, you had found your rightful lord. But now, on the strength of a single forged letter, without making any careful inquiry, you have abandoned the light and cast yourself into darkness, bringing an evil name upon yourself. You are truly a fool! How can I have the face to see you? You have disgraced your ancestors and were born into this world for nothing!” She berated Xu Shu until he prostrated himself on the floor, not daring to raise his eyes. His mother then turned and went behind the screen.

A short while later, a servant came out and reported, “The old lady has hanged herself from a beam.” Xu Shu rushed in to save her, but her breath had already ceased. A later writer composed this eulogy for Mother Xu:

Worthy indeed was Mother Xu,Whose fragrance lives a thousand years!Her honor remained wholly unstained,And by her death she helped her house.In many ways she taught her son,While harshly disciplining herself.Her spirit towered high as a mountain;Righteousness sprang from her heart.She praised the Governor of YuzhouAnd denounced Wei’s mighty lord.She feared neither boiling cauldronsNor the edge of ax or blade.Her only fear was that her heirMight bring disgrace upon his ancestors.She ranks with those who fell on swordsAnd with the mother who cut her loom.In life she earned a worthy name;In death she found her rightful place.Worthy indeed was Mother Xu,Whose fragrance lives a thousand years!

When Xu Shu saw that his mother was dead, he collapsed to the ground in grief and did not revive for a long time. Cao Cao sent men with gifts and condolences, and personally went to offer sacrifice. Xu Shu buried his mother’s coffin on the southern plain outside Xuchang, then observed mourning and kept watch beside her grave. He refused every gift Cao Cao bestowed upon him. At that time Cao Cao wished to discuss a southern campaign, but Xun Yu advised him, “The weather is cold, and troops should not yet be deployed. Wait until the warmth of spring, and then the army may drive far south in a great advance.” Cao Cao accepted his advice. He diverted water from the Zhang River to form a lake, named it Black Tortoise Lake, and trained naval forces there in preparation for the southern campaign.

Meanwhile, Xuande was arranging gifts for a visit to Zhuge Liang at Longzhong when someone suddenly reported, “A gentleman is outside the gate. He wears a lofty cap and broad sash and has the extraordinary bearing of a man of the Way. He has come especially to see you.” Xuande said, “Could this be Kongming himself?” He straightened his clothes and went out to welcome him, only to discover that it was Sima Hui. Overjoyed, Xuande invited him into the rear hall, gave him the seat of honor, and bowed before asking, “Since I last had the privilege of seeing your venerable face, military affairs have kept me so busy that I have failed to pay you a visit. Your honored arrival today greatly comforts my longing to see you.” Sima Hui said, “I heard that Xu Yuanzhi was here, so I came especially to meet him.” Xuande said, “Recently Cao Cao imprisoned his mother, and she sent a messenger with a letter summoning him back to Xuchang. He has gone.” Sima Hui said, “This was one of Cao Cao’s schemes! I have always heard that Xu’s mother is a woman of the highest virtue. Though imprisoned by Cao Cao, she would never have sent a letter calling her son back. The letter must have been a forgery. Had Yuanzhi not gone, his mother would still be alive. Now that he has gone, she is certain to die.”

Startled, Xuande asked why. Sima Hui replied, “Xu’s mother possesses a lofty sense of honor. She will surely be ashamed to see her son.” Xuande said, “Before Yuanzhi left, he recommended Zhuge Liang of Nanyang. What sort of man is he?” Sima Hui laughed and said, “If Yuanzhi wished to leave, he should simply have left. Why did he have to drag that man out and make him exhaust his heart’s blood?” Xuande asked, “Why do you say that, sir?” Sima Hui replied, “Kongming is a close friend of four men: Cui Zhouping of Boling, Shi Guangyuan of Yingchuan, Meng Gongwei of Runan, and Xu Yuanzhi. Those four devote themselves to mastering details, but Kongming alone grasps the larger design. He would often clasp his knees and chant at length, then point to the four and say, ‘If you gentlemen enter official service, you may rise to become provincial inspectors or commandery governors.’ When they asked what ambitions Kongming himself had, he merely smiled and gave no answer. He often compares himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi. His abilities are beyond measure.” Xuande said, “Why does Yingchuan produce so many worthy men?” Sima Hui replied, “Long ago there was a man named Yin Kui who was skilled at reading the heavens. He once said that the stars were gathering over the celestial region corresponding to Yingchuan, and that the land beneath was certain to produce many worthy men.”

Guan Yu, who was standing nearby, said, “I have heard that Guan Zhong and Yue Yi were famous men of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, whose achievements overshadowed the whole world. Is it not rather excessive for Kongming to compare himself to those two?” Sima Hui laughed and said, “In my view, he should not be compared with either of them. I would compare him with two other men.” Guan Yu asked which two. Sima Hui replied, “He may be compared with Jiang Ziya, who established the Zhou for eight hundred years, and Zhang Zifang, who made the Han prosper for four hundred.” Everyone was astonished. Sima Hui descended the steps, took his leave, and prepared to depart. Xuande tried but failed to persuade him to stay. Outside the gate, Sima Hui looked up at the sky and laughed loudly. “Though Sleeping Dragon has found his lord,” he said, “he has not found his time. What a pity!” With that, he drifted away. Xuande sighed and said, “He is truly a worthy recluse!” The next day, Xuande went with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and their attendants to Longzhong. From a distance they saw several men on the hillside, carrying hoes and working in the fields as they sang:

The blue heavens are a rounded canopy;The broad earth is a chessboard.The people of the world divide into black and white,Coming and going as they contend for glory and disgrace.Those who gain glory rest secure;Those disgraced must toil and fret.In Nanyang there dwells a recluseWho sleeps on, never sleeping enough.

Hearing the song, Xuande reined in his horse and called to the farmers, asking, “Who composed that song?” One answered, “Master Sleeping Dragon composed it.” Xuande asked, “Where does Master Sleeping Dragon live?” The farmer replied, “South of this mountain is a chain of high ridges called Sleeping Dragon Ridge. In a sparse grove before the ridge stands a thatched cottage. That is where Master Zhuge lies at ease.” Xuande thanked him and urged his horse onward. After only a few miles, he saw Sleeping Dragon Ridge in the distance, and its clear scenery was indeed extraordinary. A later writer composed an old-style poem describing Sleeping Dragon’s dwelling alone:

Twenty miles west of Xiangyang’s walls,A line of lofty ridges rests beside flowing water.The winding heights press down upon the roots of clouds;The murmuring stream sends spray from the marrow of stone.Its contours are like a captive dragon coiled upon a rock,Its form a solitary phoenix beneath the shade of pines.A brushwood gate stands half-closed before a thatched cottage,Wherein a lofty man lies sleeping and will not rise.Tall bamboo interlaces to form green screens;Wildflowers scent the fences in all four seasons.Beside the bed lie heaps of yellow-bound books;No common man ever comes or goes before the seat.Gray apes knock at the door and offer fruit;An old crane guards the gate and hears the scriptures by night.A famous lute lies wrapped in ancient brocade;A treasured sword on the wall reflects the grain of pinewood.The master of the cottage alone possesses secluded grace;In leisure he personally labors at plowing and sowing.He waits only for spring thunder to wake him from his dream,Then with one long cry he will bring peace to the world.

Xuande reached the farmstead, dismounted, and personally knocked on the brushwood gate. A young boy came out and asked his business. Xuande said, “Liu Bei, Left General of the Han, Marquis of Yicheng Village, Governor of Yuzhou, and Imperial Uncle, has come especially to pay his respects to your master.” The boy said, “I cannot remember that many names.” Xuande said, “Just say that Liu Bei has come to visit.” The boy replied, “The master went out early this morning.” Xuande asked, “Where did he go?” The boy answered, “His movements are uncertain. I do not know where he has gone.” Xuande asked, “When will he return?” The boy said, “The time of his return is uncertain too. It may be three or five days, or perhaps more than ten.”

Xuande was deeply disappointed. Zhang Fei said, “Since he is not here, let us go home.” Xuande replied, “Let us wait a little while.” Guan Yu said, “It would be better to return for now and send someone later to make inquiries.” Xuande accepted his advice and instructed the boy, “When your master returns, tell him that Liu Bei came to visit.” He then mounted his horse. After riding several miles, he reined in and looked back at the scenery of Longzhong. The mountains were not high, yet graceful; the waters were not deep, yet clear. The land was not broad, yet level; the woods were not vast, yet luxuriant. Apes and cranes lived together in harmony, while pine and bamboo mingled their green. He could not stop gazing. Suddenly he saw a man coming along a secluded mountain path. The man had a dignified appearance and a handsome, spirited bearing. He wore a carefree scholar’s cap and a robe of black cloth and carried a staff of goosefoot. Xuande said, “This must be Master Sleeping Dragon.” He hurriedly dismounted, stepped forward, saluted, and asked, “Are you not Sleeping Dragon, sir?” The man replied, “Who are you, General?” Xuande said, “I am Liu Bei.” The man said, “I am not Kongming. I am Kongming’s friend, Cui Zhouping of Boling.” Xuande said, “I have long heard your great name and am fortunate to meet you. May we sit here on the ground for a moment so that I may ask your instruction on one matter?”

The two sat facing each other on stones in the woods, while Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stood in attendance beside them. Zhouping asked, “Why do you wish to see Kongming, General?” Xuande replied, “The empire is now in great disorder, and turmoil swirls in every direction. I wish to see Kongming to seek a strategy for securing the state and bringing peace to the realm.” Zhouping laughed and said, “You make the suppression of disorder your chief purpose. Though this springs from a benevolent heart, order and disorder have always alternated throughout history. When Emperor Gaozu slew the serpent and raised the banner of righteousness, destroying the lawless Qin, the realm passed from disorder into order. By the reigns of Emperors Ai and Ping, peace had endured for two hundred years, but Wang Mang usurped the throne and rebelled, and order again turned into disorder. Emperor Guangwu restored the Han and rebuilt its foundations, so disorder once more became order. Another two hundred years have now passed, and the people have long enjoyed peace; therefore weapons of war have risen again everywhere. This is precisely a time when order is passing into disorder, and it cannot be brought to a sudden end. You wish Kongming to turn heaven and earth and mend the fabric of the universe, but I fear that will not be easy. It would only waste his thought and strength. Have you not heard, ‘Those who follow Heaven find ease; those who oppose Heaven labor in vain’? Or, ‘What is fixed by destiny cannot be seized away by reason; what is fixed by fate cannot be forced by man’?”

Xuande said, “What you say, sir, is truly profound. But I am a descendant of the Han and ought to support and restore the imperial house. How could I dare abandon the matter to destiny and fate?” Zhouping replied, “I am only a rustic of the hills and fields, unworthy to discuss the affairs of the empire with you. I spoke recklessly only because you honored me with your discerning question.” Xuande said, “I am grateful for your instruction, sir, but do you know where Kongming has gone?” Zhouping replied, “I too wished to visit him, but I do not know where he has gone.” Xuande asked, “Would you accompany me to my humble county?” Zhouping replied, “By nature I take great pleasure in idleness and freedom, and I have long had no interest in rank or fame. Let us meet again another day.” Having said this, he gave a deep bow and departed. Xuande, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei mounted their horses and rode on. Zhang Fei said, “We failed to find Kongming again, but instead met this pedantic scholar and wasted all that time in idle talk!” Xuande said, “Those too were the words of a recluse.”

The three returned to Xinye. Several days later, Xuande sent someone to inquire after Kongming. The man returned and reported, “Master Sleeping Dragon is back.” Xuande at once ordered the horses prepared. Zhang Fei said, “He is only a village rustic. Why must you go yourself, Brother? Just send someone to summon him.” Xuande rebuked him: “Have you not heard the words of Mencius? ‘To desire to see a worthy man without following the proper way is like inviting him to enter while shutting the door against him.’ Kongming is one of the greatest worthies of our age. How could he be summoned?” He mounted his horse and set out once more to visit Kongming. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei also mounted and followed him.

It was now the depths of winter, and the weather was bitterly cold beneath dense crimson clouds. After they had traveled several miles, a piercing north wind suddenly arose and auspicious snow began to fall thickly. The mountains looked like clusters of jade, and the forests like beds of silver. Zhang Fei said, “In this freezing weather even armies are not deployed. Why should we travel so far to see a useless man? We had better return to Xinye and take shelter from the wind and snow.” Xuande replied, “This is precisely how I mean to show Kongming the sincerity of my intentions. If you two are afraid of the cold, you may go back first.” Zhang Fei said, “I am not afraid even of death, so how could I fear the cold? I only fear that all your thought and effort will be wasted.” Xuande said, “Say no more. Just follow me.” As they neared the thatched cottage, they suddenly heard someone singing in a roadside tavern. Xuande halted his horse and listened. The song went:

A brave man’s fame and deeds remain unmade;Alas, how long since kindly spring has come!Have you not seen the old man by the Eastern Sea,Who left the thorns and brush behindAnd rode in King Wen’s following carriage?Eight hundred lords assembled without summons,As the white fish leapt into the boat at Meng Ford.At the single battle on the fields of Muye,Blood flowed deep enough to float the pestles;His eagle-soaring, mighty deedsSurpassed those of every warrior.Have you not seen the Gaoyang wine-drinker,Who rose from among the common grassAnd bowed with clasped hands to the high-nosed lord of Mang and Dang?His lofty talk of kingship and dominion startled every ear;The lord stopped washing, invited him to sit,And honored his heroic bearing.Marching east, he won seventy-two cities of Qi;No one beneath Heaven could follow his path.Had these two men not encountered sage-born sovereigns,Who even now would know them as heroes?

When the song ended, another man struck the table and began to sing:

Our emperor raised his sword and cleansed the world,Founding a dynasty whose legacy has endured four hundred years.In the declining reigns of Huan and Ling, the virtue of fire waned,While treacherous ministers and rebel sons handled the vessels of state.A green serpent descended beside the imperial throne,And then a baleful rainbow appeared in the Jade Hall.Bandits gathered like ants in every quarter,And scores of ruthless heroes soared like hawks.Men such as we can only cry aloud and clap our hands;When gloom descends, we drink country wine in a village tavern.Content to preserve ourselves alone, we pass our days in peace;What need have we for names that live a thousand years?

When the two had finished singing, they clapped their hands and laughed loudly. Xuande said, “Could Sleeping Dragon be in this place?” He dismounted and entered the tavern. There he saw two men leaning over a table and drinking together. The man in the place of honor had a fair face and a long beard, while the other had a remarkable, ancient-looking countenance. Xuande saluted them and asked, “Which of you two gentlemen is Master Sleeping Dragon?” The long-bearded man said, “Who are you, and why do you seek Sleeping Dragon?” Xuande replied, “I am Liu Bei. I wish to visit the master and ask him for the means to save the age and bring peace to the people.” The long-bearded man said, “Neither of us is Sleeping Dragon. We are both his friends. I am Shi Guangyuan of Yingchuan, and this gentleman is Meng Gongwei of Runan.” Delighted, Xuande said, “I have long heard your great names and am fortunate to meet you by chance. We have horses with us. May I ask you both to accompany me to Sleeping Dragon’s farmstead for a conversation?” Guangyuan replied, “We are merely lazy fellows from the hills and fields and understand nothing of governing the state or bringing peace to the people. You need not trouble to ask us. Please mount your horse, my lord, and seek out Sleeping Dragon yourself.”

Xuande took leave of the two men, mounted, and rode toward Sleeping Dragon Ridge. When he reached the farmstead, he dismounted, knocked at the gate, and asked the boy, “Is your master at home today?” The boy replied, “He is in the hall reading.” Xuande was overjoyed and followed the boy inside. When he reached the inner gate, he saw a large couplet written upon it:

Through simplicity, one makes one’s purpose clear;Through tranquility, one attains the far-reaching.

While Xuande was reading it, he suddenly heard the sound of chanting. Standing beside the door, he looked in and saw a young man in the thatched hall, sitting with his knees clasped beside the brazier and singing:

The phoenix soars at a height of a thousand fathoms,And will perch on no tree but the parasol;A scholar lives hidden in some corner of the world,And will follow none but his rightful lord.Gladly I plow the ridges and fields,For I love my humble cottage;Proudly I pass my days with lute and books,Waiting for the appointed time of Heaven.

Xuande waited until the song was finished, then entered the thatched hall, saluted, and said, “I have long admired you, sir, but have had no opportunity to pay my respects. Yesterday, following Xu Yuanzhi’s recommendation, I respectfully came to your noble retreat, but you were absent and I returned in vain. Today I have ventured here through the wind and snow. To behold your venerable countenance is truly my greatest good fortune!” The young man hurriedly returned his salute and said, “Can you be Liu, Governor of Yuzhou, who wishes to see my elder brother?” Surprised, Xuande asked, “Then you are not Sleeping Dragon, sir?” The young man replied, “I am Zhuge Jun, Sleeping Dragon’s younger brother. There are three of us brothers. Our eldest brother, Zhuge Jin, is presently serving on Sun Zhongmou’s staff in the Southland. Kongming is my second elder brother.” Xuande asked, “Is Sleeping Dragon at home now?” Zhuge Jun replied, “Yesterday Cui Zhouping invited him out for a leisurely excursion.” Xuande asked, “Where has he gone on this excursion?” Zhuge Jun replied, “At times he takes a small boat and wanders over rivers and lakes; at times he visits Buddhist monks and Daoist priests among the mountains; at times he seeks friends in country villages; and at times he enjoys the lute and chess in secluded caves. His comings and goings cannot be predicted, and I do not know where he has gone.” Xuande said, “Can Liu Bei’s affinity with him truly be so slight that twice now I have failed to meet this great worthy?” Zhuge Jun said, “Please sit for a while and have some tea.” Zhang Fei said, “Since that master is not here, Brother, let us mount and leave.” Xuande replied, “Now that I have come all this way, how can I return without saying a word?” He therefore asked Zhuge Jun, “I have heard that your honored brother, Master Sleeping Dragon, is thoroughly versed in military strategy and reads books on warfare every day. Might I hear something of his views?” Zhuge Jun replied, “I know nothing about them.” Zhang Fei said, “Why bother asking him? The wind and snow are worsening. We had better return at once.” Xuande rebuked him and made him stop. Zhuge Jun said, “Since my elder brother is away, I dare not detain your party long. Allow us to return your courtesy another day.” Xuande replied, “How could I dare expect you to trouble yourself with a visit? In a few days I will come again. I would like to borrow paper and brush to write a letter for you to give your honored brother, so that I may express the sincerity of my intentions.” Zhuge Jun brought out the four treasures of the scholar’s desk. Xuande breathed warmth onto the frozen brush, smoothed out a sheet of patterned paper, and wrote:

I have long admired your lofty reputation. Twice I have come to pay my respects, and twice, finding you absent, I have returned in vain. How can I describe my disappointment? I reflect that I am a descendant of the Han dynasty, though unworthily favored with rank and title. I humbly observe that the imperial court is declining, law and order are collapsing, rival heroes are throwing the state into turmoil, and wicked factions are deceiving the sovereign. At this, my heart and courage are both torn apart. Though I sincerely desire to restore and save the dynasty, I truly lack a strategy for ordering the realm. I look up to your benevolence, loyalty, and righteousness, sir, and pray that you will generously display the great talents of Lü Wang and employ the magnificent strategies of Zifang. Great indeed would be the good fortune of the world! Great indeed would be the good fortune of the altars of state! I send this message in advance. Permit me later to fast, purify myself, bathe, and once more pay special homage to your honored countenance, so that I may personally pour out my humble thoughts. I trust you will examine my sincerity and pardon my presumption.

When Xuande had finished writing, he handed the letter to Zhuge Jun, who took it. Xuande bowed farewell and went out. Zhuge Jun accompanied him to the gate, and Xuande repeatedly expressed the earnestness of his intentions before parting from him. Just as he mounted and was about to leave, he suddenly saw the boy beckoning from outside the fence and calling, “The old master is coming!” Xuande looked and saw a man west of the little bridge, his head covered by a warm cap and his body wrapped in a fox-fur coat. He rode a donkey and was followed by a young servant in blue carrying a gourd of wine. As he came through the snow and turned past the little bridge, he recited a poem:

All night the northern wind blew cold;For ten thousand miles the crimson clouds hung thick.Across the boundless sky the snowflakes whirled,Transforming all the old landscape.I raise my face and gaze into the heavens,Wondering if jade dragons are at war.Their scales and armor fly in profusion,And in an instant fill the universe.Riding my donkey across the little bridge,Alone I sigh at the plum blossoms’ frailty.

Hearing the poem, Xuande said, “This truly must be Sleeping Dragon!” He swung down from the saddle, stepped forward, and saluted. “It cannot have been easy for you to brave the cold, sir! Liu Bei has waited for you a long time!” The man hurriedly dismounted from his donkey and returned the salute. From behind, Zhuge Jun said, “This is not my elder brother Sleeping Dragon. He is my brother’s father-in-law, Huang Chengyan.” Xuande said, “The verses you just recited were exceedingly subtle and profound.” Chengyan replied, “At my son-in-law’s house, I read the ‘Liangfu Chant’ and remembered this poem. As I was crossing the little bridge just now, I happened to see the plum blossoms beside the fence, and the sight moved me to recite it. I did not expect that an honored guest would hear me.” Xuande asked, “Have you seen your worthy son-in-law?” Chengyan replied, “I myself have come to see him.” Hearing this, Xuande took leave of Chengyan, mounted his horse, and returned home. Just then the wind and snow grew even fiercer. He looked back at Sleeping Dragon Ridge and was overwhelmed with disappointment. A later poet wrote these verses specifically about Xuande visiting Kongming through the wind and snow:

Through a whole day’s wind and snow he sought the worthy man,But, failing to meet him, turned back grieved at heart.Ice sealed the stream and bridge; the mountain stones were slick;The cold pierced saddle and horse; the road stretched long.Above his head, pear blossoms seemed to fall in flakes;Against his face, willow down flew wildly in the wind.He turned his head, checked his whip, and gazed into the distance:A mound of gleaming silver buried Sleeping Dragon Ridge.

After Xuande returned to Xinye, time passed swiftly, and before long it was early spring. He ordered a diviner to arrange yarrow stalks, choose an auspicious date, fasted and purified himself for three days, burned incense, bathed, and changed his clothes, intending to visit Sleeping Dragon Ridge once more and pay his respects to Kongming. When Guan Yu and Zhang Fei heard of this, they were displeased and went together to remonstrate with Xuande. As the verse says:

The great worthy had not yet yielded to the hero’s will;His humbling of himself instead aroused his brothers’ doubts.

What they said remains to be seen in the next chapter.