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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 one's 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 in their faces； and the snow began to fly。 Soon the mountains were of jade and the trees of silver。
〃It is very cold and the earth is frozen hard； no fighting is possible now；〃 said Zhang Fei。 〃Yet we are going all this way to get advice which will be useless to us。 Where is the sense of it？ Let us rather get back to Xinye out of the cold。〃
Liu Bei replied； 〃I am set upon proving my zeal to Zhuge Liang。 But if you； my brother； do not like the cold； you can return。〃
〃I do not fear death： Do you think I care for the cold？ But I do care about wasting my brother's energies；〃 said Zhang Fei。
〃Say no more；〃 said Liu Bei； and they traveled on。
When they drew near the little wood； they heard singing in a roadside inn and stopped to listen。 This was the song：
Although possessed of talent rare；
This man has made no name；
Alas！ The day is breaking late
That is to show his fame。
O friends you know the Lu Wang's tale：
The aged man constrained to leave
His cottage by the sea；
To follow in a prince's train
His counselor to be。
Eight hundred feudal chieftains met
Who came with one accord；
The happy omen； that white fish；
That leapt the boat aboard；
The gory field in distant wilds。
Whence flowed a crimson tide；
And him acknowledged chief in war
Whose virtues none denied；
That Zhang Liang； a Gaoyang rustic；
Fond of wine； who left； his native place
And went to serve so faithfully
The man of handsome face；
And one who spoke of ruling chiefs
In tones so bold and free；
But sitting at the festive board
Was full of courtesy；
And one； that was he who laid in dust
Walled cities near four score
But humans of doughty deeds like these
On earth are seen no more。
Now had these humans not found their lord
Would they be known to fame？
Yet having found； they served him well
And so achieved a name。
The song ended； the singer's panion tapping the table sang：
We had a famous founder；
Who drew his shining sword；
Cleansed all the land within the seas
And made himself its lord。
In time his son succeeded him；
And so from son to son
The lordship passed； held firm until
Four hundred years had run。
Then dawned a day of weaklier sons；
The fiery virtue failed；
Then ministers betrayed their trust；
Court intrigues vile prevailed。
The omens came； a serpent
Coiled on the dragon throne；
While in the hall of audience
Unholy haloes shone。
Now bandits swarm in all the land
And noble strives with chief；
The mon people； sore perplexed；
Can nowhere find relief。
Let's drown our sorrows in the cup；
Be happy while we may；
Let those who wish run after fame
That is to last for aye。
The two men laughed loud and clapped their hands as the second singer ceased。 Liu Bei thought full surely the longed for sage was there； so he dismounted and entered the inn。 He saw the two merry…makers sitting opposite each other at a table。 One was pale with a long beard； the other had a strikingly refined face。
Liu Bei saluted them and said； 〃Which of you is Master Sleeping Dragon？〃
〃Who are you； Sir？〃 asked the long…bearded one。 〃What business have you with Sleeping Dragon？〃
〃I am Liu Bei。 I want to inquire of him on how to restore tranquillity to the world。〃
〃Well； neither of us is your man； but we are friends of his。 My name is Shi Guangyuan and my friend here is Meng Gongwei。〃
〃I know you both by reputation；〃 said Liu Bei gladly。 〃I am indeed fortunate to meet you in this haphazard way。 Will you not e to Sleeping Dragon's retreat and talk for a time？ I have horses here for you。〃
〃We idle folks of the wilds know nothing of tranquilizing states。 Please do not trouble to ask。 Pray mount again and continue searching Sleeping Dragon。〃
So he remounted and went his way。 He reached the little cottage； dismounted； and tapped at the door。 The same lad answered his knock； and he asked whether the Master had returned。
〃He is in his room reading；〃 said the boy。
Joyful indeed was Liu Bei as he followed the lad in。 In front of the middle door he saw written this pair of scrolls：
By purity inspire the inclination；
By repose affect the distant。
As Liu Bei was looking at this couplet； he heard someone singing in a subdued voice and stopped by the door to peep in。 He saw a young man close to a charcoal brazier； hugging his knees while he sang：
〃The phoenix dies high； O！
And only will perch on a magnolia tree。
The scholar is hidden； O！
Till his lord appear he can patient be。
He tills his fields； O！
He is well…content and loves his home；
He awaits his day； O！
His books and his lute to leave and roam。
As the song ended Liu Bei advanced and saluted； saying； 〃Master； long have I yearned for you； but have found it impossible to salute you。 Lately Water Mirror spoke of you and I hastened to your dwelling； only to e away disappointed。 This time I have braved the elements and e again and my reward is here。 I see your face； and I am indeed fortunate。〃
The young man hastily returned the salute and said； 〃General； you must be that Liu Bei of Yuzhou who wishes to see my brother。〃
〃Then； Master； you are not Sleeping Dragon！〃 said Liu Bei； starting back。
〃I am his younger brother； Zhuge Jun。 He has another elder brother； Zhuge Jin； now with Sun Quan in the South Land as a counselor。 Zhuge Liang is the second of our family。〃
〃Is your brother at home？〃
〃Only yesterday he arranged to go a jaunt with Cui Zhouping。〃
〃Whither have they gone？〃
〃Who can say？ They may take a boat and sail away among the lakes； or go to gossip with the priests in some remote mountain temple； or wander off to visit a friend in some far away village； or be sitting in some cave with a lute or a chessboard。 Their goings and ings are uncertain and nobody can guess at them。〃
〃What very poor luck have I！ Twice have I failed to meet the great sage。〃
〃Pray sit a few moments； and let me offer you some tea。〃
〃Brother； since the master is not here； I pray you remount and go；〃 said Zhang Fei。
〃Since I am here； why not a little talk before we go home again？〃 said Liu Bei。
Then turning to his host he continued； 〃Can you tell me if your worthy brother is skilled in strategy and studies works on war？〃
〃I do not know。〃
Grumbled Zhang Fei； 〃The wind and snow are getting worse。 We ought to go back。〃
Liu Bei turned on him angrily and told him to stop。
Zhuge Jun said； 〃Since my brother is absent； I will not presume to detain you longer。 I will return your call soon。〃
〃Please do not take that trouble。 In a few days I will e again。 But if I could borrow paper and ink； I would leave a note to show your worthy brother that I am zealous and earnest。〃
Zhuge Jun produced the 〃four treasures〃 of the scholar； and Liu Bei； thawing out the frozen brush between his lips； spread the sheet of delicate note…paper and wrote：
〃Liu Bei has long admired your fame。 He has visited your dwelling twice； but to his great regret he has gone empty away。 He humbly remembers that he is a distant relative of the Emperor； that he has undeservedly enjoyed fame and rank。 When he sees the proper government wrested aside and replaced by pretense； the foundation of the state crumbling away； hordes of braves