走马荐诸葛

走马荐诸葛

　　徐庶反奔刘备后，很得刘备重用。曾帮助刘备几次打败曹兵，被封为军师。曹操得知此事很惊讶。曹操的谋士程昱献计说：丞相如果想用此人，召来不难，徐庶是个孝子，丞相派人把他母亲接到许昌，再仿他母亲的笔体写信让他来许昌，他必来。“徐庶接信，果然大哭一场，拿信找刘备辞行。刘备见信也哭，强留徐庶叙情一夜。第二天，刘备在城外排宴替徐庶饯行。刘备拉着徐庶的手说：”先生这一走，你我天各一方，不知何时才能再见？“说完又痛哭流涕。徐庶行数里又拍马返回对刘备说：”忘了一件大事，襄阳城外二十里的隆中，有一位天下奇人叫诸葛亮，将军想不想见他？“刘备说：”我当然愿意见他，不知他能比上先生吗？“徐庶说：”他抬头能知天文，低头能察地理，见面能识人心，是天下第一才人，如他能出来帮助兄，将军就可以稳坐天下了。“刘备见徐庶这样了解诸葛亮，想请徐庶辛苦一趟把诸葛亮请来。徐庶摇头说：”这样的人才，只能将军亲自去请，他愿不愿出来，还得看将军的诚意。“徐庶说完，策马离去。之后引出刘备三顾茅庐的故事。

RecommendingZhugeLiangonHorseback

　　XuShuwasmuchvaluedbyLiuBeiforhisstrategictalents.AfterseveralvictoriesonthebattlegroundagainstCaoCao，Xuwasmadethechiefmilitaryadvisor.Atthenews，CaoCaowasbegrudging.“Ifyouwantthisperson，”oneofhisadvisorssaid，“youcanbringhismothertoXuchangandsendaforgedletterinhismother’shandwriting，askingXuShutodesertLiuBeiandcomehere.AsXuiswell-knownforastrongfilialaffection，surelyhewillcome.”Thisplotworked，forXu，onreceivingtheletter，criedtearfully，askingLiuBeiforanimmediatedeparture.Feelingsad，though，Liupersistedinhisstayforanothernight，duringwhichthetwoairedtheirsadfeelings.

　　thenextdayLiulaidabanquetoutsidethecityforXu.Holdingthelatter’shand，Liusaid，“Afterweseparatetoday，onlyheavenknowswhenandwherewewillmeetagain.”Heweptbittertears.Aftersettingoffonhisway，Xusuddenlyturnedhishorseandreturned.“Ialmostforgotanimportantmatter，”hesaidtoLiu.“TenkilometersfromXiangyangCity，inaplacecalledLongzhong，Doyouwanttomeethim？”Liuexpressedhiswillingnessatonce，butalsoaireddoubtaboutwhetherZhugeLiangwasastalentedasXu.“Hetellsconfigurationsofstarsintheheavens，”Xuassuredhim，“andrecognizeseverythingonearth.Heknowsaperson’srealnatureatthefirstmeeting-thenumberonetalentundertheheaven.Ifyouhavehimasyourmilitaryadvisor，you’llhavethecountryunderyourname.”LiusuggestedavisittoZhugebyXuonhisbehalf，atthis，thelattershookhisheadindisapproval.“Youmustgoandofferyourinvitationpersonally，andhisacceptancedependsentirelyonyoursincerity.”Withthesewordssaid，Xuturnedhishorseandleft.Later，LiupaidthreetripstoZhuge’sstrawhouse，anotherfavoritestoryamongChinesepeople.