三國演義雙語故事(13):走馬薦諸葛

Recommending Zhuge Liang on Horseback

Xu Shu was much valued by Liu Bei for his strategic talents. After several victories on the battleground against Cao Cao， Xu was made the chief military advisor. At the news， Cao Cao was begrudging. “If you want this person，” one of his advisors said， “you can bring his mother to Xuchang and send a forged letter in his mother's handwriting， asking Xu Shu to desert Liu Bei and come here. As Xu is well-known for a strong filial affection， surely he will come.” This plot worked， for Xu， on receiving the letter， cried tearfully， asking Liu Bei for an immediate departure. Feeling sad， though， Liu persisted in his stay for another night， during which the two aired their sad feelings.

the next day Liu laid a banquet outside the city for Xu. Holding the latter's hand， Liu said， “After we separate today， only heaven knows when and where we will meet again.” He wept bitter tears. After setting off on his way， Xu suddenly turned his horse and returned. “I almost forgot an important matter，” he said to Liu. “Ten kilometers from Xiangyang City， in a place called Long zhong， Do you want to meet him？” Liu expressed his willingness at once， but also aired doubt about whether Zhuge Liang was as talented as Xu. “He tells configurations of stars in the heavens，” Xu assured him， “and recognizes everything on earth. He knows a person's real nature at the first meeting-the number one talent under the heaven. If you have him as your military advisor， you'll have the country under your name.” Liu suggested a visit to Zhuge by Xu on his behalf， at this， the latter shook his head in disapproval. “You must go and offer your invitation personally， and his acceptance depends entirely on your sincerity.” With these words said， Xu turned his horse and left. Later， Liu paid three trips to Zhuge's straw house， another favorite story among Chinese people.

走馬薦諸葛

徐庶反奔劉備後，很得劉備重用。曾幫助劉備幾次打敗曹兵，被封爲軍師。曹操得知此事很驚訝。曹操的謀士程昱獻計說：丞相如果想用此人，召來不難，徐庶是個孝子，丞相派人把他母親接到許昌，再仿他母親的筆體寫信讓他來許昌，他必來。“徐庶接信，果然大哭一場，拿信找劉備辭行。劉備見信也哭，強留徐庶敘情一夜。第二天，劉備在城外排宴替徐庶餞行。劉備拉着徐庶的手說：”先生這一走，你我天各一方，不知何時才能再見？“說完又痛哭流涕。徐庶行數裏又拍馬返回對劉備說：”忘了一件大事，襄陽城外二十里的隆中，有一位天下奇人叫諸葛亮，將軍想不想見他？“劉備說：”我當然願意見他，不知他能比上先生嗎？“徐庶說： ”他擡頭能知天文，低頭能察地理，見面能識人心，是天下第一才人，如他能出來幫助胸，將軍就可以穩坐天下了。“劉備見徐庶這樣瞭解諸葛亮，想請徐庶辛苦一趟把諸葛亮請來。徐庶搖頭說：”這樣的人才，只能將軍親自去請，他願不願出來，還得看將軍的誠意。“ 徐庶說完，策馬離去。之後引出劉備三顧茅廬的故事。