自董卓以來，豪傑並起，跨州連郡者不可勝數，曹操比於袁紹，則名微而眾寡，然操遂能克紹，以弱為強者，非惟天時，抑亦人謀也。今操已擁百萬之眾，挾天子而令諸侯，此誠不可與爭鋒。孫權具有江東，已歷三世。國險而民附，賢能為之用，此可以為援而不可圖也。荊州北據漢、沔，利盡南海，東連吳、會，西通巴、蜀，此用武之國，而其主不能守，此殆天所以資將軍，將軍豈有意乎？益州險塞，沃野千里，天府之土，高祖因之以成帝業。劉璋闇弱，張魯在北，民殷國富而不知存恤，智能之士思得明君，將軍既帝室之胄，信義著於四海，總攬英雄，思賢若渴，若跨有荊、益，保其巖阻，西和諸戎，南撫夷、越，外結好孫權，內修政理，天下有變，則命一上將將荊州之軍以向宛、洛，將軍身率益州之眾出於秦川，百姓孰敢不簞食壺漿以迎將軍者乎？誠如是，則霸業可成，漢室可興矣。
The followings come from the English version of "Romance of three Kingdoms"
One bold man after another has arisen in various parts of the Empire ever since the days of the great rebel Tung Cho. Tsao Tsao was not so powerful as Yuan Shao, bot he overcame him by seizing the favourable moment and using his men properly. Now he is all-powerful, he rules an immense army and, through his control of the Count, the various feudal lords as well. You cannot think of opposing him. Then the Sun have held then territory in Chiangtung for three generations. Their position may not appear too secure, but they have popularity to appeal to. You can gain support but win no success there. Chingchou on the north rests on the two river Han and Mien; their interests lie in all to the south of them; on the east they touch Wu and on the west they extend to the ancient states Pa and Shu. This is the area in which decisive battles have to be won and one must hold it in order to be secure and Heaven has virtually made it yours. Yichou is an important place, fertile and expensive, a country favoured of Heaven and that through which the Founder of Han obtained the Empire, its ruler Liu Chang is ignorant and weak. The people are noble and the country prosperous, but he does not know how to hold it all, and all the able men of the district are yearning for an enlightened prince. As you are a scion of the Family, well known throughout the land as trusty and righteous, a whole-hearted hero, who greatly desires to win the support of the wise, if you get possession of Yi and Ching, if on the west you are in harmony with the Jung tribes, on the south win over I and Yueh, make an alliance with Sun Chuan, and maintain good government, you can await confidently the day when heaven shall offer you the desired opportunity. Then you may depute a worthy leader to go to the north-east while you take command of an expedition to the north-west, and will you not find the warmest welcome prepared for you by the people? This done the completion of the task will be easy. The Hans will be restored.
