〃Wait　a　little　time；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃It　would　be　better　to　return；〃　said　Guan　Yu；　〃then　we　might　send　to　find　out　when　this　man　had　e　back。〃

So　Liu　Bei　agreed；　first　saying　to　the　boy；　〃When　the　Master　returns；　tell　him　that　Liu　Bei　has　been　here。〃

They　rode　away　for　some　miles。　Presently　Liu　Bei　stopped　and　looked　back　at　the　surroundings　of　the　little　cottage　in　the　wood。

The　mountains　were　picturesque　rather　than　grand；　the　water　clear　rather　than　profound；　the　plain　was　level　rather　than　extensive；　the　woods　luxuriant　rather　than　thick。　Gibbons　ranged　through　the　trees；　and　cranes　waded　in　the　shallow　water。　The　pines　and　the　bamboos　vied　with　each　other　in　verdure。　It　was　a　scene　to　linger　upon。

While　Liu　Bei　stood　regarding　it；　he　saw　a　figure　ing　down　a　mountain　path。　The　man's　bearing　was　lofty。　He　was　handsome　and　dignified。　He　wore　a　fortable…looking　bonnet　on　his　head；　and　a　black　robe　hung　about　his　figure　in　easy　folds。　He　used　a　staff　to　help　him　down　the　steep　path。

〃Surely　that　is　he！〃　said　Liu　Bei。

He　dismounted　and　walked　over　to　greet　the　stranger；　whom　he　saluted　deferentially；　saying；　〃Are　you　not　Master　Sleeping　Dragon；　Sir？〃

〃Who　are　you；　General？〃　said　the　stranger。

〃I　am　Liu　Bei。〃

〃I　am　not　Zhuge　Liang；　but　I　am　a　friend　of　his。　My　name　is　Cui　Zhouping。〃

〃Long　have　I　known　of　you！　I　am　very　glad　to　see　you；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。　〃And　now　I　pray　you　be　seated　just　where　we　are；　and　let　me　receive　your　instruction。〃

The　two　men　sat　down　in　the　wood　on　a　stone；　and　the　two　brothers　ranged　themselves　by　Liu　Bei's　side。

Cui　Zhouping　began；　saying；　〃General；　for　what　reason　do　you　wish　to　see　Zhuge　Liang？〃

Liu　Bei　replied；　〃The　empire　is　in　confusion；　a