e　again。　But　if　I　could　borrow　paper　and　ink；　I　would　leave　a　note　to　show　your　worthy　brother　that　I　am　zealous　and　earnest。〃

Zhuge　Jun　produced　the　〃four　treasures〃　of　the　scholar；　and　Liu　Bei；　thawing　out　the　frozen　brush　between　his　lips；　spread　the　sheet　of　delicate　note…paper　and　wrote：

〃Liu　Bei　has　long　admired　your　fame。　He　has　visited　your　dwelling　twice；　but　to　his　great　regret　he　has　gone　empty　away。　He　humbly　remembers　that　he　is　a　distant　relative　of　the　Emperor；　that　he　has　undeservedly　enjoyed　fame　and　rank。　When　he　sees　the　proper　government　wrested　aside　and　replaced　by　pretense；　the　foundation　of　the　state　crumbling　away；　hordes　of　braves　creating　confusion　in　the　country；　and　an　evil　cabal　behaving　unseemly　toward　the　rightful　Prince；　then　his　heart　and　gall　are　torn　to　shreds。　Though　he　has　a　real　desire　to　assist；　yet　is　he　deficient　in　the　needful　skill。　Wherefore　he　turns　to　the　Master；　trusting　in　his　kindness；　graciousness；　loyalty；　and　righteousness。　Would　the　Master　but　use　his　talent；　equal　to　that　of　Lu　Wang；　and　perform　great　deeds　like　Zhang　Liang；　then　would　the　empire　be　happy　and　the　throne　would　be　secure。

〃This　is　written　to　tell　you　that；　after　purification　of　mind　with　fasting　and　of　body　with　fragrant　baths；　Liu　Bei　will　e　again　to　prostrate　himself　in　your　honored　presence　and　receive　enlightenment〃

The　letter　written　and　given　to　Zhuge　Jun；　Liu　Bei　took　his　leave；　exceedingly　disappointed　at　this　second　failure。

As　he　was　mounting；　he　saw　the　serving　lad　waving　his　hand　outside　the　hedge　and　heard　him　call　out；　〃The　old　Master　is　ing！〃

Liu　Bei　looked　and　then　saw　a　figure　seated　on　a　donkey　leisurely　jogging　along　over　a　bridge。

The　rider　of　the　donkey　wore　a　cap　with　long　flaps　d