三國演義 第三十六回｜玄德三顧茅廬，臥龍諸葛亮出山 | The Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage: Zhuge Liang Enters the World
亂世之中，得人心者未必得天下，得賢才者方能定乾坤。劉備雖志在匡漢，卻勢單力薄，唯有求才若渴，方見轉機。他三入草廬，不為權勢，只為一位隱於山林的智者。風雪之中，一場等待，換來改變天下格局的關鍵相遇。臥龍將出，三分天下之局，正悄然揭開序幕。
In a world fractured by ambition and war, true power lies not only in armies, but in wisdom. Liu Bei, a lord of virtue but limited means, seeks the one mind capable of reshaping destiny. His journey is not marked by conquest, but by humility—returning again and again to a quiet thatched cottage. There, hidden from the chaos of the age, lives a man whose vision will divide the world into three. This is the story of patience, sincerity, and the meeting of fate and intellect.
於是劉備與關羽、張飛商議，決意親往隆中拜訪。
一日，劉備備好禮物，與關羽、張飛同往隆中。三人騎馬行至山間，只見山勢清秀，松竹蒼翠。村人指引之下，終於來到諸葛亮草廬之前。
劉備下馬整衣，親自叩門。只見一童子出來應門。
劉備問道：「此處可是諸葛孔明先生住處？」
童子答道：「正是。只是先生今早出門去了。」
劉備聞言，十分失望，只得留下名帖而去。
回到新野後，劉備心中仍念諸葛亮之名。過了一些時日，劉備再次前往隆中。
第二次來到草廬，只見屋舍依舊，山林寂靜。劉備再次叩門。
童子出來說道：「先生昨日方回，今日又出門訪友去了。」
張飛聞言大怒，說道：「這人好生無禮！哥哥兩次親來，他竟不在！」
劉備卻笑道：「賢士隱居山林，自有其事。我等不可失禮。」
於是三人又空手而回。
又過了些日子，劉備再次準備禮物，第三次前往隆中。
這一天風雪交加，山路難行。關羽說道：「天寒地凍，不如改日再來。」
劉備卻說：「求賢若渴，豈可因風雪而退？」
於是三人頂風冒雪來到草廬。
童子開門後說道：「先生正在屋內休息。」
劉備聽後大喜，卻不敢打擾，只在門外靜候。
過了許久，童子方才進屋通報。諸葛亮醒來後，聞劉備三次前來求見，心中感動，便整衣出迎。
只見諸葛亮身長八尺，面如冠玉，頭戴綸巾，身披鶴氅，氣度不凡。
劉備見其風采，連忙施禮說道：「久聞先生大名，今日得見，實乃三生有幸。」
諸葛亮回禮，請三人入內。
席間劉備談及天下形勢，歎息漢室衰微，群雄並起。諸葛亮靜聽良久，忽然說道：
「自董卓亂政以來，天下分崩。今曹操據北方，孫權據江東，將軍雖有仁義之名，然地小兵寡。若欲成大業，當先據荊州，再取益州，聯孫抗曹，如此方可三分天下。」
這一番話，正是後世著名的「隆中對」。
劉備聽後大為震驚，說道：「先生之言，如撥雲見日！」
當即起身拜請諸葛亮出山輔佐。
諸葛亮原本不願出仕，但見劉備三顧之誠，又胸懷大志，終於答應出山。
關羽、張飛見狀，亦十分敬佩。
於是諸葛亮收拾行裝，隨劉備離開隆中。
自此臥龍出山，劉備如虎添翼。三國鼎立的大局，也由此逐漸形成。
後人有詩讚曰：
三顧茅廬情意深，
隆中對策定乾坤。
臥龍一出天下動，
漢室江山再有春。
自此之後，諸葛亮輔佐劉備，運籌帷幄，為蜀漢基業奠定基礎。亂世英雄的篇章，也將由此展開新的傳奇。
English Version
After Xu Shu recommended a man known as the “Sleeping Dragon,” Liu Bei could not shake the name from his thoughts. Before departing, Xu Shu had urged him earnestly: in Longzhong lived Zhuge Liang, styled Kongming—a man of extraordinary insight. “If you gain his service,” Xu Shu said, “the realm may yet be secured.”
Taking these words to heart, Liu Bei resolved to visit him in person. Accompanied by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, he journeyed into the quiet hills of Longzhong. The landscape was serene—lush bamboo, whispering pines, and a sense of calm far removed from the turmoil of the world.
At last, they arrived at a humble cottage. Liu Bei dismounted, adjusted his attire, and knocked respectfully. A young attendant answered the door.
“Yes, this is Master Zhuge’s residence,” the boy said. “But he has gone out.”
Though disappointed, Liu Bei left his name and withdrew.
Time passed, but Liu Bei’s determination did not fade. He returned a second time, only to learn that Zhuge Liang had once again stepped out. Frustrated, Zhang Fei fumed at the perceived slight, but Liu Bei remained composed.
“A man of talent lives by his own rhythm,” he said calmly. “We must not be discourteous.”
They left once more, empty-handed.
On the third visit, winter had set in. Snow swept across the mountains, and the path was harsh and unforgiving. Guan Yu suggested postponing the journey, but Liu Bei refused.
“If one truly seeks talent,” he said, “how can hardship be an excuse?”
Braving the storm, they arrived again at the cottage. This time, the attendant informed them that Zhuge Liang was inside, resting.
Overjoyed, Liu Bei chose not to disturb him. Instead, he waited patiently outside in the cold.
After a long while, Zhuge Liang was informed of Liu Bei’s repeated visits. Moved by such sincerity, he rose and came out to greet him.
He appeared refined and composed—tall, graceful, with a scholar’s bearing and a quiet authority that spoke volumes.
Liu Bei bowed deeply. “I have long admired your name. To meet you today is my great fortune.”
Zhuge Liang returned the courtesy and invited them inside.
As they spoke, Liu Bei lamented the collapse of the Han dynasty and the rise of competing warlords. Zhuge Liang listened in silence before finally offering his vision:
“Since the chaos began, the realm has split apart. Cao Cao commands the north, Sun Quan holds the east. You, though known for your virtue, lack both land and strength. If you wish to achieve great things, you must first secure Jing Province, then take Yi Province. Form an alliance with Sun Quan and resist Cao Cao. Only then can the world be divided into three.”
This strategy—later known as the Longzhong Plan—left Liu Bei astonished.
“Your insight,” he said, “has cleared the fog before my eyes.”
He immediately invited Zhuge Liang to join him.
Though reluctant at first, Zhuge Liang was deeply moved by Liu Bei’s persistence and sincerity. At last, he agreed.
With that, the Sleeping Dragon emerged from obscurity. From this moment on, Liu Bei gained not just an advisor, but the architect of his future. And the balance of the world began to shift.
Closing Verse
Three visits proved a lord’s devotion,
A single plan reshaped the land.
When the Sleeping Dragon rose,
The fate of kingdoms turned by hand.
From this point forward, Zhuge Liang would stand at the heart of Liu Bei’s cause—guiding strategy, shaping destiny, and laying the foundation for the kingdom of Shu. The legend of the Three Kingdoms had entered a new chapter.
