Zhuge Liang showed annoyance and said, “And so you have made me the victim of the world sacrifice.”

So saying, Zhuge Liang shook out his sleeves and left the room. The guest shamefacedly retired, mounted his horse, and hastened on his way to the capital to see his mother.

To help the lord he loved right well,

He summoned the aid of another

When he took the distant homeward way

At the call of a loving mother.

What was the sequel will appear in the following chapters.

CHAPTER 37. Sima Hui Recommends A Scholar To Liu Bei; Liu Bei Pays Three Visits To The Sleeping Dragon Ridge.

As has been said Xu Shu hastened to the capital. When Cao Cao knew Xu Shu had arrived, he sent two of his confidants, Xun Yu and Cheng Yu to receive the newcomer at the city gate, and so Xu Shu was led first to the Prime Minister's palace.

“Why did such an illustrious scholar as you bow the knee to Liu Bei?” said Cao Cao.

“I am young and I fled to avoid the results of certain escapades. I spent some time as a wanderer and so came to Xinye where I became good friends with him. But my mother is here, and when I thought of all her affection, I could no longer remain absent.”

“Now you will be able to take care of your mother at all times. And I may have the privilege of receiving your instructions.”

Xu Shu then took his leave and hastened to his mother's dwelling. Weeping with emotion, he made his obeisance to her at the door of her room.

But she was greatly surprised to see him and said, “What have you come here for?”

“I was at Xinye, in the service of Liu Bei of Yuzhou, when I received your letter. I came immediately.”

His mother suddenly grew very angry. Striking the table she cried, “You shameful and degenerate son! For years you have been a vagabond in spite of all my teaching. You are a student and know the books. You must then know that loyalty and filial piety are often opposed. Did you not recognize in Cao Cao a traitor, a man who flouts his king and insults the mighty ones? Did you not see that Liu Bei was virtuous and upright as all the world knows? Moreover, he is of the House of Han, and when you were with him you were serving a fitting master. Now on the strength of a scrap of forged writing, with no attempt at any inquiry, you have left the light and plunged into darkness and earned a disgraceful reputation. Truly you are stupid. How can I bear to look upon you? You have besmirched the fair fame of your forefathers and are of no use in the world.”

The son remained bowed to the earth, not daring to lift his eyes while his mother delivered this vilifying tirade. As she said the last word, she rose suddenly and left the room. Soon after one of the servants came out to say Lady Xun had hanged herself. Xu Shu rushed in to try to save her, but was too late. A eulogy of her conduct has been written thus:

Wise Mother Xun, fair is your fame,

The storied page glows with your name,

From duty's path you never strayed,

The family's renown you made.

To train your son no pains you spared,

For your own body nothing cared.

You stand sublime, from us apart,

Through simple purity of heart.

Brave Liu Bei's virtues you extolled,

You blamed Cao Cao, the basely bold.

Of blazing fire you felt no fear,

You blenched not when the sword came neat,

But dreaded lest a willful son

Should dim the fame his fathers won.

Yes, Mother Xun was of one mold

With famous heroes of old,

Who never shrank from injury,

And even were content to die.

Fair meed of praise, while still alive,

Was yours, and ever will survive.

Hail! Mother Xun, your memory,

While time rolls on, shall never.

At sight of his mother dead, Xu Shu fell in a swoon and only recovered consciousness after a long time. By and bye Cao Cao heard of it and sent mourning gifts, and in due course went in person to condole and sacrifice. The body was interred on the south of the capital, and the dead woman's unhappy son kept vigil at her tomb. He steadily rejected all gifts from Cao Cao.