Читаем Three Kingdoms Romance полностью

The tears rolled down unchecked upon the lapel and sleeves of Liu Bei's robe. This proved to Zhuge Liang the sincerity of his desire, and Zhuge Liang said, “General, if you will accept me, I will render what trifling service I can.”

Then Liu Bei was greatly delighted. He called in Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to make their bow and brought out the gifts he had prepared. Zhuge Liang refused all the gifts.

“These are not gifts to engage your services, but mere proof of my regard,” said Liu Bei.

Then the presents were accepted. They all remained that night at the farm. Next day Zhuge Jun returned, and his brother said to him, “Uncle Liu Bei has come thrice to see me, and now I must go with him. Keep up the farm in my absence and do not let the place go to ruin for, as soon as my work is accomplished, I will certainly return.”

Then, turning from his humble home,

He thought of peaceful days to come,

When he should take the homeward way

And never beyond the valley stray.

But duty kept him in the west,

And there he found his place of rest.

An old poem may be quoted here:

The Founder of Han seized his gleaming blade

And at Mangdang Hills the blood of the white snake flowed.

He conquered Qin, destroyed Chu, and entered Xianyang.

After two centuries of rule the line was near broken,

But Liu Xiu restored the glory at Capital Luoyang.

And his children occupied the throne

Till decay began in the days of Huan and Ling.

The Emperor Xian removed the capital to Xuchang,

And, within the four seas, all was confusion.

Bold spirits started up in fierce contention.

Cao Cao, seized the favorable moment

And the imperial authority passed into his hands.

While the Suns made to themselves

A glorious heritage at the Great River,

Solitary and poor, Liu Bei wandered from place to place,

Till he found a haven in Xinye.

Sorely distressed he was at the sorrows of the people,

But Sleeping-Dragon conceived a noble ambition,

Within his breast were thoughts

Of great things to be accomplished by force of arms.

Then, because of the parting words of Xu Shu,

And by the thrice repeated visits to his retreat,

The great hero found and knew his mentor.

When the age of Zhuge Liang was but thrice nine years,

He turned from his books, put aside his lute,

And left the peaceful fields he had loved,

Under his guidance Jingzhou was taken

And the two Lands of the Rivers conquered.

He unrolled great schemes, as one all knowing,

In speech, he went to and fro in the world,

The sound of war drums rolled from his tongue,

The words from his heart stirred one to the utmost depths.

The dragon pranced, the tiger glared,

And peace was brought to the world.

Through all the ages his fame shall never decay.

After taking leave of Zhuge Jun, Liu Bei and his followers left for Xinye, with Zhuge Liang as companion. When they took up their abode there, Zhuge Liang was treated as a mentor, eating at the same table, sleeping on the same couch as Liu Bei. They spent whole days conversing over the affairs of the empire.

Zhuge Liang said, “Cao Cao is training his troops for naval service in Aquamarine Lake and hence certainly intends to invade the country south of the Great River. We ought to send our spies to ascertain what Cao Cao and Sun Quan are really doing.”

So spies were dispatched.