The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 Read Online Free PDF Page B

here.”
    Guan Yu was present at the time and heard Zhuge Liang so highly praised. He said, “Guan Zhong and Yue Yi were famous men in the period of Spring and Autumn and their merits greatly surpassed the rest of mankind. Is it not too conceited for Zhuge Liang to compare himself with these two?”
    “In my opinion he should not be compared with these two, but rather with two others,” said Sima Hui.
    “Who are these two?’ asked Guan Yu.
    “One of them is Lu Shang, who laid the foundations of the Zhou Dynasty so firmly that it lasted 800 years, and the other is Zhang Liang, who made Han glorious for four centuries.”
    Before the surprise caused by this startling statement had subsided, the visitor walked down the steps and took his leave. Liu Bei would have kept him longer if he could, but he would not stay. As he stalked proudly away he looked up at the sky and said, laughing heartily: “Though the Sleeping Dragon has found his lord, he has not been born at the right time. It’s a pity.”
    “What a wise hermit!” sighed Liu Bei in admiration.
    The next day, the three brothers set out to find the abode of the wise man. When they were near the spot they saw several peasants hoeing in a field and as they worked they sang:
The earth is a chequered board,
    And the sky hangs over all,
Under it men are contending,
Some rise, but many more fall.
For those who succeed, ‘tis well,
But for those who go under, rough.
There’s a dozing dragon nearby,
But his sleep isn’t deep enough.
    They stopped to listen to the song and, calling one of the peasants, asked who composed it.
    “It was made by Master Sleeping Dragon,” said the laborer.
    “Where does he live?”
    “South of this hill there is a ridge called The Sleeping Dragon and close by is a sparse wood. In it stands a modest cottage. That is where Master Zhuge takes his repose.”
    Liu Bei thanked him and the party rode on. Soon they came to the ridge, most aptly named, for indeed it lay wrapped in an atmosphere of calm beauty.
    A poem has been composed to describe it:
Not far from Xiangyang’s ancient walls
    There stands clear cut against the sky,
A lofty ridge, and at its foot
A gentle stream goes gliding by.
    The hills, curving upward to join
The scudding clouds, arrest the eye.
Gurgling water falls from the top
Meets the rocks as its journey stops.
    There, like a sleeping dragon coiled,
Or phoenix hid among thick pines, *
You see, secure from prying eyes,
A hut, reed-built on rustic lines.
    The rough-joined doors, pushed by the wind,
Swing idly open and disclose
The greatest genius of the world
Enjoying still his calm repose.
    The air is full of woodland scents,
Around are hedgerows trim and green,
Close-growing intercrossed bamboo
Replace the painted doorway screen.
    But look within and books you see
By every couch, near every chair;
    And you may guess that common men
Are very seldom welcomed there.
    The hut seems far from human ken,
So far, one might expect to find
Wild forest denizens there, trained
To serve in place of human kind.
    Outside, a hoary crane † might stand
As warden of the outer gate;
    Within, a long-armed gibbon come
To offer fruit upon a plate.
    But enter—there refinement reigns;
Brocaded silk the lutes protect,
    And burnished weapons on the walls
    The green of pines outside reflect.
For he who dwells within that hut
Is talented beyond compare,
Although he lives the simple life
And farming seems his only care.
    He waits until the thunderous call
Rouses him from his blissful dreams;
Then will he come and at his word
Peace over all the land shall reign.
    Liu Bei soon arrived at the abode of the recluse, dismounted, and knocked at the rough door of the cottage. A youth appeared and asked what he wanted.
    Liu Bei replied, “I am Liu Bei, General of the Han Empire, Lord of Yicheng, Prefect of Yuzhou and uncle of the Emperor. I have come to salute the Master.”
    “I cannot remember so many titles,” said the lad.
    “Then simply say that