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second singer ceased. Liu Bei thought that his longed-for sage might be one of the two, 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, while the other had a strikingly refined face. Liu Bei saluted them and asked, “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 consult 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 Guang-yuan and my friend here is Meng Gong-wei.”
    “I have long known you both by reputation,” said Liu Bei happily. “I am indeed fortunate to meet you in this way. Would you not come to the Sleeping Dragon’s retreat and talk with me for a while? I have horses here ready to take you there.”
    “We idle folk of the wilds know nothing of the affairs of state. Do not trouble to ask, please. Pray mount again and go your way in search of the Sleeping Dragon.”
    So Liu Bei and his brothers remounted and went on with the journey. At the little cottage, they dismounted and tapped at the door. The same lad answered the knock and Liu Bei asked him 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 a pair of scrolls on which were written the following two lines:
By purity manifest the inclination;
    By repose affect the distant.
    As he was looking at this couplet he heard someone reciting a poem in a soft voice, so he stopped by the door to peep in. He saw a young man sitting close to a charcoal brazier, hugging his knees while he sang:
The phoenix flies high, ah me!
    And only will perch on a plane tree.
    The scholar is hid, ah me!
    Till his lord appears he can patient be.
    He tills his fields, ah me!
    He is well-content and he loves his cot,
He awaits his day, ah me!
    And seeks comfort in his lute and his books.
    As the song ended Liu Bei advanced and saluted the young man. He said, “Master, long have I yearned to meet you, but have been prevented by ill fortune. Lately Xu Shu recommended you to me and I hastened to your dwelling, only to come away disappointed. This time I have braved the elements and come again. Indeed my reward is great, for I am fortunate enough to see you.”
    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, sir, you are not Master Sleeping Dragon?” said Liu Bei, starting back.
    “I am his younger brother, Zhuge Jun. There are three of us: my eldest brother Zhuge Jin is now with Sun Quan in the southeast as a secretary. Zhuge Liang is my second brother.”
    “Is your brother at home?”
    “Only yesterday he went on a jaunt with Cui Zhouping.”
    “Where have they gone?’
    “Who can say? They may take a boat and sail away among the lakes, or go to visit monks in some remote mountain temple, or wander off to visit a friend in some far away village, or sit in some cave with a lute or a chess-board. Their comings and goings are uncertain and nobody has any clues.”
    “How very unlucky I am! Twice have I failed to meet the great sage.”
    “Please sit down for a few moments and let me offer you some tea.”
    “Brother, since the master’s not here, I think you should remount and go,” urged Zhang Fei.
    “Well, I’m here already, how can I just leave without a word?” said Liu Bei.
    Then turning to his host he continued, “I was told that your worthy brother is very much skilled in military strategy and studies works on warfare every day. Do you know anything about that?’
    “I do not know.”
    “What’s the use of asking him?” 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 say no