Water Mirror laughed, saying, "Why this mystery? Why must you conceal the
truth? You have certainly just escaped from a grave danger." |
Then Liu Bei told the story of the banquet and the
flight. |
"I knew it all from your appearance," said his host.
"Your name has long been familiar, but whence comes it that, up to the present,
you are only a homeless devil?" |
"I have suffered many a check during my life," said
Liu Bei, "and through one of them am I here now." |
"It should not be so. But the reason is that you still
lack the one person to aid you." |
"I am simple enough in myself, I know. But I have Sun
Qian, Mi Zhu, and Jian Yong on the civil side, and for warriors I have Guan Yu,
Zhang Fei, and Zhao Zilong. These are all most loyal helpers, and I depend upon
them not a little." |
"Your fighting generals are good: Fit to oppose a
legion. The pity is you have no really able adviser. Your civilians are but
pallid students of books, not people fitted to weave and control destiny." |
"I have always yearned to find one of those marvelous
recluses who live among the hills till their day arrive. So far I have sought in
vain." |
"You know what the Teacher Confucius said, 'In a
hamlet of ten households there must be one true person.' Can you say there is no
one?" |
"I am simple and uninstructed. I pray you enlighten
me." |
"You have heard what the street children sing: |
|
"In eight and nine years begins decay, Four years, then comes
the fateful day, When destiny will show the way, And the dragon flies
out of the mire! |
|
"This song was first heard when the new reign style
was adopted. The first line was fulfilled when Imperial Protector Liu Biao lost
his first wife, and when his family troubles began. The next line relates to the
approaching death of Liu Biao, and there is not a single person among all his
crowd of officers who has the least ability. The last two lines will be
fulfilled in you, General." |
Liu Bei started up in surprise, crying, "How could
such a thing be?" |
Water Mirror continued, "At this moment the
marvelously clever people of the earth are all here and you, Sir, ought to seek
them." |
"Where are they? Who are they?" said Liu Bei
quickly. |
"If you could find either Sleeping Dragon or Young
Phoenix, you could restore order in the empire." |
"But who are these two?" |
His host clapped his hands, smiled and said, "Good,
very good!" |
When Liu Bei persisted and pressed home his questions,
Water Mirror said, "It is getting late. You might stay the night here, General,
and we will talk over these things tomorrow."
|