隆 中 對 陳 壽〔魏晉〕 亮躬耕隴畝，好為《梁父吟》。身長八尺，每自比於管仲、樂毅，時人莫之許也。惟博陵崔州平、潁川徐庶元直與亮友善，謂為信然。 時先主屯新野。徐庶見先主，先主器之，謂先主曰：“諸葛孔明者，臥龍也，將軍豈願見之乎？”先主曰：“君與俱來。”庶曰：“此人可就見，不可屈致也。將軍宜枉駕顧之。” 由是先主遂詣亮，凡三往，乃見。因屏人曰：“漢室傾頹，奸臣竊命，主上蒙塵。孤不度德量力，欲信大義於天下；而智術淺短，遂用猖蹶，至於今日。然志猶未已，君謂計將安出？” 亮答曰：“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。孫權據有江東，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。劉璋暗弱，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，思賢如渴，若跨有荊、益，保其岩阻，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。” 先主曰：“善！”於是與亮情好日密。 關羽、張飛等不悅，先主解之曰：“孤之有孔明，猶魚之有水也。願諸君勿復言。”羽、飛乃止。
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The Longzhong Dialogue (隆中對) From the Records of the Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou Zhuge Liang personally worked the fields and often chanted the song “Liangfu Yin.” He was eight chi tall and frequently compared himself with Guan Zhong and Yue Yi, though people of his time did not acknowledge such comparisons. Only Cui Zhouping of Boling and Xu Shu (styled Yuan-zhi) of Yingchuan, who were his close friends, believed that he truly possessed such ability. At that time the Former Lord (Liu Bei) was stationed at Xinye. Xu Shu met Liu Bei, who recognized his talent and valued him. Xu Shu said to Liu Bei: “Zhuge Kongming is a Crouching Dragon. Would the General wish to meet him?” Liu Bei replied, “Please bring him here with you.” Xu Shu said, “This man may be visited, but he cannot be summoned. The General should personally go and call on him.” Therefore Liu Bei went to visit Zhuge Liang. After going three times, he was finally able to meet him. Liu Bei then dismissed the attendants and said: “The House of Han has declined; treacherous ministers have usurped authority, and the Emperor has been driven from his rightful position. I have not measured my own virtue or strength, yet I wish to uphold righteousness throughout the empire. But my wisdom and ability are shallow and limited, and thus I have suffered repeated failures until now. Nevertheless my ambition has not ceased. In your view, what course should I take?” Zhuge Liang replied: “Since the rebellion of Dong Zhuo, heroes have risen everywhere. Those who command provinces and control regions are too numerous to count. Cao Cao, compared with Yuan Shao, once had less reputation and fewer troops. Yet Cao was able to overcome Shao, transforming weakness into strength—not merely through heaven's timing, but also through human planning. Now Cao Cao commands an army of a million men and holds the Son of Heaven in his control, thereby issuing orders to the feudal lords. Under such conditions he cannot be directly opposed. Sun Quan occupies the region of Jiangdong and his family has ruled it for three generations. The land is naturally fortified, the people support him, and able men serve under him. Therefore he may be taken as an ally but should not be attacked. Jing Province is guarded in the north by the Han and Mian rivers; its resources extend southward to the seas. To the east it connects with Wu and Kuaiji; to the west it leads to Ba and Shu. It is a land suited for military action, yet its present ruler cannot defend it. This may well be Heaven’s provision for you, General—Do you intend to seize it? Yi Province is protected by dangerous passes and possesses fertile fields stretching a thousand li. It is a land of heavenly abundance from which Emperor Gaozu once established the Han Empire. Liu Zhang is weak and incapable; Zhang Lu occupies the north. The people are prosperous and the state wealthy, yet their rulers do not know how to care for them. Men of talent and wisdom there long for an enlightened lord. You, General, are a descendant of the imperial house, renowned throughout the realm for trustworthiness and righteousness. You gather heroes and thirst for worthy men. If you can possess Jing and Yi, hold their natural defenses, make peace with the western tribes, win over the southern peoples, ally outwardly with Sun Quan, and cultivate good government within, then when great changes occur in the empire you should send a capable general to lead the army of Jing Province toward Wan and Luoyang, while you yourself lead the forces of Yi Province out through Qin-chuan. Then which among the people would not come bearing baskets of food and jars of drink to welcome you? If this plan succeeds, the hegemonic enterprise can be achieved and the House of Han can be restored.” Liu Bei said, “Excellent!” From that time onward his relationship with Zhuge Liang grew closer day by day. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were displeased by this. Liu Bei explained to them: “With Kongming by my side, I am like a fish that has found water. I hope you will say no more about this.” Guan Yu and Zhang Fei then ceased their objections.
Translated by ChatGPT
2026-03-08 | 
