第一小说网

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第91部分（第4页）

〃It　would　be　better　to　return；〃　said　Guan　Yu；　〃then　we　might　send　to　find　out　when　this　man　had　e　back。〃

So　Liu　Bei　agreed；　first　saying　to　the　boy；　〃When　the　Master　returns；　tell　him　that　Liu　Bei　has　been　here。〃

They　rode　away　for　some　miles。　Presently　Liu　Bei　stopped　and　looked　back　at　the　surroundings　of　the　little　cottage　in　the　wood。

The　mountains　were　picturesque　rather　than　grand；　the　water　clear　rather　than　profound；　the　plain　was　level　rather　than　extensive；　the　woods　luxuriant　rather　than　thick。　Gibbons　ranged　through　the　trees；　and　cranes　waded　in　the　shallow　water。　The　pines　and　the　bamboos　vied　with　each　other　in　verdure。　It　was　a　scene　to　linger　upon。

While　Liu　Bei　stood　regarding　it；　he　saw　a　figure　ing　down　a　mountain　path。　The　mans　bearing　was　lofty。　He　was　handsome　and　dignified。　He　wore　a　fortable…looking　bonnet　on　his　head；　and　a　black　robe　hung　about　his　figure　in　easy　folds。　He　used　a　staff　to　help　him　down　the　steep　path。

〃Surely　that　is　he！〃　said　Liu　Bei。

He　dismounted　and　walked　over　to　greet　the　stranger；　whom　he　saluted　deferentially；　saying；　〃Are　you　not　Master　Sleeping　Dragon；　Sir？〃

〃Who　are　you；　General？〃　said　the　stranger。

〃I　am　Liu　Bei。〃

〃I　am　not　Zhuge　Liang；　but　I　am　a　friend　of　his。　My　name　is　Cui　Zhouping。〃

〃Long　have　I　known　of　you！　I　am　very　glad　to　see　you；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。　〃And　now　I　pray　you　be　seated　just　where　we　are；　and　let　me　receive　your　instruction。〃

The　two　men　sat　down　in　the　wood　on　a　stone；　and　the　two　brothers　ranged　themselves　by　Liu　Beis　side。

Cui　Zhouping　began；　saying；　〃General；　for　what　reason　do　you　wish　to　see　Zhuge　Liang？〃

Liu　Bei　replied；　〃The　empire　is　in　confusion；　and　troubles　gather　everywhere。　I　want　your　friend　to　tell　me　how　to　restore　order。〃

〃You；　Sir；　wish　to　arrest　the　present　disorder；　although　you　are　a　kindly　man　and；　from　the　oldest　antiquity；　the　correction　of　disorder　has　demanded　stern　measures。　On　the　day　that　Liu　Bang　first　put　his　hand　to　the　work　and　slew　the　wicked　ruler　of　Qin；　order　began　to　replace　disorder。　Good　government　began　with　the　Supreme　Ancestor　（BC　206）；　and　endured　two　hundred　years………two　centuries　of　tranquillity。　Then　came　Wang　Mangs　rebellion；　and　disorder　took　the　place　of　order。　Anon；　arose　Liu　Xiu；　who　restored　the　Han　Dynasty；　and　order　once　more　prevailed。　We　have　had　two　centuries　of　order　and　tranquillity；　and　the　time　of　trouble　and　battles　is　due。　The　restoration　of　peace　will　take　time。　It　cannot　be　quickly　acplished。　You；　Sir；　wish　to　get　Zhuge　Liang　to　regulate　times　and　seasons；　to　repair　the　cosmos；　but　I　fear　the　task　is　indeed　difficult；　and　to　attempt　it　would　be　a　vain　expenditure　of　mental　energy。　You　know　well　that　he　who　goes　with　the　favor　of　Heaven　travels　an　easy　road；　he　who　goes　contrary　meets　difficulties。　One　cannot　escape　ones　lot；　one　cannot　evade　fate。〃

〃Master；〃　replied　Liu　Bei；　〃your　insight　is　indeed　deep；　and　your　words　of　wide　meaning。　But　I　am　a　scion　of　the　House　of　Han　and　must　help　it。　Dare　I　talk　of　the　inevitable　and　trust　to　fate？〃

Cui　Zhouping　replied；　〃A　simple　denizen　of　the　mountain　wilds　is　unfitted　to　discuss　the　affairs　of　empire。　But　you　bade　me　speak　and　I　have　spoken………perhaps　somewhat　madly。〃

〃Master；　I　am　grateful　for　your　instruction。　But　know　you　whither　Zhuge　Liang　has　gone？〃

〃I　also　came　to　see　him；　and　I　know　not　where　he　is；〃　said　Cui　Zhouping。

〃If　I　asked　you；　Master；　to　acpany　me　to　my　poor　bit　of　territory；　would　you　e？〃

〃I　am　too　dilatory；　too　fond　of　leisure　and　ease；　and　no　longer　have　any　ambitions。　But　I　will　see　you　another　time。〃

And　with　these　words　Cui　Zhouping　saluted　and　left。　The　three　brothers　also　mounted　and　started　homeward。

Presently　Zhang　Fei　said；　〃We　have　not　found　Zhuge　Liang；　and　we　have　had　to　listen　to　the　wild　ravings　of　this　so…called　scholar。　There　is　the　whole　result　of　this　journey。〃

〃His　words　were　those　of　a　deep　thinker；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。

Some　days　after　the　return　to　Xinye；　Liu　Bei　sent　to　find　out　whether　Zhuge　Liang　had　returned；　and　the　messenger　came　back　saying　that　he　had。　Wherefore　Liu　Bei　prepared　for　another　visit。

Again　Zhang　Fei　showed　his　irritation　by　remarking；　〃Why　must　you　go　hunting　after　this　villager？　Send　and　tell　him　to　e。〃

〃Silence！〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃The　Teacher　Mencius　said；　To　try　to　see　the　sage　without　going　his　way　is　like　barring　a　door　you　wish　to　enter。　Zhuge　Liang　is　the　greatest　sage　of　the　day。　How　can　I　summon　him？〃

So　Liu　Bei　rode　away　to　make　his　visit；　his　two　brothers　with　him　as　before。　It　was　winter　and　exceedingly　cold。　Floating　clouds　covered　the　whole　sky。　Before　they　had　gone　far；　a　bitter　wind　began　to　blow　i