隆中对

                                     The Tallks in Longzhong

                                                               木子藤上 译

    亮躬耕陇亩，好为《梁父吟》。身长八尺，每自比于管仲、乐毅，时人莫之许也。惟博陵崔州平、颍川徐庶元直与亮友善，谓为信然。

    Zhuge Liang done the ploughing work in person and enjoyed singing the LiangFu bard. He has a long stature of eight-foot and often assimilates himself with Kuan Chung, the famous statesman and military strategist in the Spring and Autumn Period, and Yue Yi, the general of Yan Kingdom in the Warring States Period, while was disapproved by people in that time. Only Cui Zhouping from Boling and Xu Shu of Yingchuan county on friendly terms with Liang and identified his talent. 

    时先主屯新野。徐庶见先主，先主器之，谓先主曰：“诸葛孔明者，卧龙也，将军岂愿见之乎？”先主曰：“君与俱来。”庶曰：“此人可就见，不可屈致也。将军宜枉驾顾之。”

    At that time, Liu Bei stationed at Xinye. Xu Shu payed a formal visit to Liu Bei whom later regarded him highly. Xu Shu recommended, ”Zhuge Kongming is an extraordinary talent called ‘the laid dragon’. Do you want to meet him?” Hsien Chu said,”You can ask him to come here together with you.” Xu Shu replied,”You should meet him in person while he never came to see you. You’d better call on the person.” 

    由是先主遂诣亮，凡三往，乃见。因屏人曰：“汉室倾颓，奸臣窃命，主上蒙尘。孤不度德量力，欲信大义于天下；而智术浅短，遂用猖蹶，至于今日。然志犹未已，君谓计将安出？”亮答曰：“自董卓已来，豪杰并起，跨州连郡者不可胜数。曹操比于袁绍，则名微而众寡。然操遂能克绍，以弱为强者，非惟天时，抑亦人谋也。今操已拥百万之众，挟天子而令诸侯，此诚不可与争锋。孙权据有江东，已历三世，国险而民附，贤能为之用，此可以为援而不可图也。荆州北据汉、沔，利尽南海，东连吴会，西通巴蜀，此用武之国，而其主不能守，此殆天所以资将军，将军岂有意乎？益州险塞，沃野千里，天府之土，高祖因之以成帝业。刘璋暗弱，张鲁在北，民殷国富而不知存恤，智能之士思得明君。将军既帝室之胄，信义著于四海，总揽英雄，思贤如渴，若跨有荆、益，保其岩阻，西和诸戎，南抚夷越，外结好孙权，内修政理；天下有变，则命一上将将荆州之军以向宛、洛，将军身率益州之众出于秦川，百姓孰敢不箪食壶浆，以迎将军者乎？诚如是，则霸业可成，汉室可兴矣。”
    So Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang three times till finally met him. They dismissed others and then Liu Bei said, ” Nowadays, the Han Dynasty has crumbled with traitorous ministers seized power and the emperor disgraced. I never estimated my moral or material strength while planned to promote the justice in the world. Although I had suffered repeated defeats for my narrow resourcefulness, I still keep the great aspiration. Would you please give some advices to me?” Zhuge Liang replied, ” Heroes sprang up since Dong Zhuo rouse in rebellion who had set up separatist regimes by force of arms. Compared with Yuan Shao, Tsao Tsao was menial in fame and weak in armament. However, the reason why Tsao ultimately triumphed over Yuan Shao that defeated the strong by the weak is not only the favorable climate but also the sagacious strategies. Now Tsao Tsao has millions of troops meanwhile controled the emperor and commanded the nobles which is an unconquerable strength for the moment. Sun Quan has been entrenched in the east  of Yangtze River for three generations, which possessed strategically location and the common aspiration of the people that only can be our ally while never try to occupy. Jing Province contained Han and Mian River in the north and abundant resources southward also bordered on the east Wu and Ba shu area in the west, which is the godsend place for its coward governor and strategic position. Do you have the will for Jing Province? The Yi Province has precipitous frontier fortress and vast expanse of fertile land where Kaotsu relyed on and achieved the great cause. Liu Zhang was fatuous and also threatened by Zhang Lu north. Though the nation is prosperous and the people are strong and powerful, he never performed compassion for them while the able and virtuous men all starve for the wise leader. You are the decendent of imperial family with good name spreads far and wide at the same time desire greatly to win the support of the wise. If you occupy Jing and Yi two provinces and defend the strategic place, then establish diplomatic relations with minority west and placate barbarians south in the meantime externally ally Sun Quan and internally reform the politics. If the state is in a tumult, you can dispatch a general who conducted the army of Jing Province to advance forward Wan county and Luo yang meanwhile you command the army of Yi Province set off from Qin plain. On that condition, shouldn’t all the common people greet you with food and wine? If it comes true, you can accomplish the great cause and revive Han Dynasty.”

   先主曰：“善！”于是与亮情好日密。
  关羽、张飞等不悦，先主解之曰：“孤之有孔明，犹鱼之有水也。愿诸君勿复言！”羽、飞乃止。

    Liu Bei acclaimed,” Excellent! ” From then on, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang intimated with increasing daily. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were displeased so Liu Bei explained,” Since Kong Ming came, I felt just like a fish in water. There is no need to say.” So they two stopped their arguments.