Translated by Hongyun Chen and J. M. Yates
　　諸葛亮（181年－234年），字孔明，三國時(shí)期蜀漢丞相，中國歷史上著名政治家、軍事家、文學(xué)家、發(fā)明家。東漢末期徐州瑯琊陽都（今山東省沂南縣）人。青年時(shí)耕讀于南陽郡，人稱“臥龍先生”。因受劉備三顧茅廬邀請(qǐng)出仕，促成孫劉聯(lián)盟，對(duì)建立蜀漢政權(quán)起到了決定性的作用。劉備死后，諸葛亮受封爵位武鄉(xiāng)侯，盡心竭力輔佐劉禪，成為蜀漢政治、軍事上的實(shí)際領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者。諸葛亮先后五次率軍北伐曹魏，在第五次北伐時(shí)病逝于五丈原，追謚為忠武侯。諸葛亮一生“鞠躬盡瘁、死而后已”，是忠臣的楷模、智慧的化身，世稱“智圣”。
　　Zhuge Liang (181–234), courtesy name Kongming, was a Prime Minister of the Shu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period. Known as one of the greatest military strategists in Chinese history, he was also a famous statesman, writer, and inventor. Born in Yangdu, Langya, near the end of East Han Dynasty, Zhuge led a simple life when young--farming by day and studying at night--in Nanyang. People called him Master Sleeping Dragon. Touched by the sincerity of Liu Bei, who paid him three personal visits in order to recruit him, Zhuge succeeded in forging an alliance between Liu Bei and Sun Quan, a fundamental step to the establishment of the Shu Kingdom with Liu Bei as the King and Zhuge as the Prime Minister. After Liu's death, Zhuge was granted the title of Lord of Wuxiang by Liu Bei's son, Liu Shan. He devoted himself to assisting the young king, being practically the decision maker of both political and military affairs of the kingdom. From 228 until his death in 234, Zhuge Liang led five northern expeditions against the Wei Kingdom. On the fifth time, unfortunately, he died in the Wuzhang Plain. Sparing no effort performing his duty until his heart stopped beating, Zhuge was a paragon of loyal officials and an incarnation of wisdom. He was a sage, indeed.
　　劉玄德三顧草廬
　　徐庶臨別時(shí)，向劉備力薦諸葛亮。劉備求賢若渴。翌日，其帶著關(guān)羽、張飛等人來到隆中。劉備策馬而行，遙望臥龍崗，果然清靜異常。劉備來到莊前，下馬輕叩柴扉。一童子出來說，先生剛剛外出，歸期不定。劉備叮囑，如先生回，請(qǐng)告知?jiǎng)�備來訪。回到新野數(shù)日后，傳來消息，臥龍先生已回。劉備即刻上馬，關(guān)羽、張飛乘馬相隨。時(shí)值隆冬，天氣嚴(yán)寒，瑞雪霏霏。劉備到莊前下馬叩門，沒承想諸葛亮跟好友出外閑游去了。
　　Liu Bei Pays Two Visits To The Sleeping Dragon Ridge
　　Before parting, Xu Shu gave his highest recommendation to Zhuge Liang. Thirsty for talent, Liu Bei rode his horse along with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, his two blood brothers, to the Sleeping Dragon Ridge. Drawing near, Liu found the place indeed extraordinarily serene. Arriving at the door of Zhuge's cottage, Liu dismounted and knocked on the door, only to be informed by a youth that the master had left home earlier and there was no telling when he would be back. "When he returns, please tell your master that Liu Bei was here," Liu entreated the boy. A few days later, he set out with his brothers to pay Zhuge another visit after knowing the latter was back. It was a bitterly cold winter, and snow was flying all the way. Nevertheless, they reached the simple house. Liu dismounted and tapped on the door. To his dismay, Zhuge was again nowhere to be seen: He had just gone out with a good friend.
　　定三分隆中決策
　　劉備第三次前往隆中，諸葛亮雖在家，卻晝寢未醒。劉備恭敬地立于階下等候。張飛等得火起，竟想到屋后放一把火，關(guān)羽再三勸住。劉備立了一個(gè)時(shí)辰，諸葛亮方醒。二人敘禮畢，分賓主而坐。劉備誠心誠意向諸葛亮討教，諸葛亮從董卓造逆談起，高屋建瓴，縱論天下形勢。他給劉備謀劃的藍(lán)圖是：將軍欲成霸業(yè)，北讓曹操占天時(shí)，南讓孫權(quán)占地利，將軍可占人和。先取荊州為家，后即取西川建基業(yè)，以成鼎足之勢，然后可圖中原也。諸葛亮未出茅廬，已知三分天下。
　　Zhuge Liang Plans For The Three Kingdoms
　　When Liu Bei and his two blood brothers visited the Sleep Dragon Ridge for the third time, Zhuge Liang was finally home, taking a nap. Waiting for him to wake up, Liu stood respectfully on the door step. Time passed slowly, and the impatient and irritated Zhang Fei even thought of setting a fire to the cottage at the back. Guan Yu had to spend a great deal of effort to pacify him. An hour later, Zhuge awoke. After exchanging bows and courteous remarks, the host and the guests sat down. Liu sincerely sought Zhuge's advice; Zhuge thus began with the rebel Dong Zhuo and talked about China's situation from a strategic vantage point. Zhuge drew a blueprint for Liu: to achieve his grand goal, Liu had to allow Cao Cao to take advantage of the time in the north, let Sun Quan take advantage of the location in the south, and then give himself the advantage of favorable human resources in the southwest. Liu could first take Jingzhou as a home, next the West Rivers area for the foundation, and then China would reach a triangular balance of power. Once Liu firmly established himself, the whole empire could be attained. This conversation proved that Zhuge knew and foresaw the tripod division of China even though he had never gone far from his thatched cottage.
　　荊州城公子三求計(jì)
　　東吳攻殺了黃祖，屯兵于柴桑。劉表差人請(qǐng)劉備赴荊州議事。劉備帶諸葛亮來見劉表，寒暄過后，劉表商議報(bào)復(fù)之策。劉備不主張南征，憂心曹操來攻。劉表說自己年老多病，欲將荊州托付劉備。劉備當(dāng)面辭謝。二人回到驛館，公子劉琦拜倒求救，泣言繼母加害，性命危在旦夕。劉備說此乃家事，不敢多言。送劉琦出驛館時(shí)，劉備附耳低語，如此這般，定有妙計(jì)相告。翌日，諸葛亮回拜，劉琦再求活命之計(jì)，諸葛亮不答。劉琦欲拔劍自刎，諸葛亮止之道，公子上言，乞屯兵守江夏，便可避禍。劉琦再拜謝教。
　　In Jingzhou Liu Qi Thrice Begs Advice
　　Sun Quan's army slew Huang Zu and stationed troops in Chaisang. A messenger from Liu Biao came to Liu Bei, begging him to go to Jingzhou. Liu Bei did so while taking Zhuge Liang along. Liu Biao wanted to attack Sun Quan for revenge, but Liu Bei disagreed, worrying that Cao Cao would exploit the situation. Liu Biao then said he wanted to entrust Jingzhou to Liu Bei since he was getting old and feeble. Liu declined politely and went back with Zhuge to their guesthouse. As soon as they returned, Liu Qi, the eldest son of Liu Biao, arrived and bowed down, crying for help because his stepmother had tried to kill him. Liu Bei replied that he could not interfere because it was a family matter. However, when seeing Liu Qi off, he whispered, “You can do so and so, and there will be an excellent plan for you.” The next day, Liu Qi saw Zhuge and pleaded again for a strategy to stay alive. The former said nothing, so Liu Qi pulled out his sword to kill himself. Stopping him, Zhuge said, “Ask to be sent to Jiangxia, and you should be out of harm's way.” Liu Qi thanked him with a deep bow.