第90部分(第4/7 页)

h　of　the　hermit　Water　Mirror；　and　he　woke　as　one　from　a　drunken　sleep。　At　the　head　of　his　officers；　he　retook　the　road　to　the　city　and　having　prepared　rich　gifts　set　out；　with　his　brothers；　for　Nanyang。

Under　the　influence　of　his　emotions　at　parting；　Xu　Shu　had　mentioned　the　name　and　betrayed　the　retreat　of　his　friend。　Now　he　thought　of　the　possibility　that　Zhuge　Liang　would　be　unwilling　to　play　the　part　of　helper　in　Liu　Bei's　scheme；　so　Xu　Shu　determined　to　go　to　visit　him。　He　therefore　took　his　way　to　Sleeping　Dragon　Ridge　and　dismounted　at　the　cottage。

Asked　why　he　had　e；　Xu　Shu　replied；　〃I　wished　to　serve　Liu　Bei　of　Yuzhou；　but　my　mother　has　been　imprisoned　by　Cao　Cao；　and　has　sent　to　call　me。　Therefore　I　have　had　to　leave　him。　At　the　moment　of　parting　I　mended　you　to　him。　You　may　expect　him　speedily　and　I　hope；　Sir；　you　will　not　refuse　your　aid　but　will　consent　to　use　your　great　talents　to　help　him。〃

Zhuge　Liang　showed　annoyance　and　said；　〃And　so　you　have　made　me　a　victim　of　the　world's　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。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　37　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　37

Chapter　37

Sima　Hui　Remends　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　confidan