诸葛亮：“琅琊阳都（在今天的山东省）人，覆姓诸葛，名亮，字孔明，乃汉司隶校尉诸葛丰之后。其父名罥，字子贡，为泰山郡丞，早卒；亮从其叔玄。玄与荆州刘景升有旧，因往依之，遂家于襄阳。后玄卒，亮与弟诸葛均躬耕于南阳。尝好为梁父吟。所居之地有一冈，名卧龙冈，因自号为‘卧龙先生’。此人乃绝代奇才。”（第三十六回）孔明“熟谙韬略，日看兵书”。“床头堆积皆黄卷，座上往来无白丁”。“孔明与徐庶和博陵崔州平、颍川石广元、汝南孟公威四人为密友。此四人务于精纯，惟孔明独观其大略。”孔明时常和朋友去实地考察，“或驾小舟游于江湖之中，或访僧道于山岭之上，或寻朋友于村落之间，或乐琴棋于洞府之内”（第三十七回），真是广交朋友，见多识广，博览群书，无所不知。
Zhuge Liang：“He is from Yangdu in Langye (in today’s Shandong Province)， and bears the doublesurname Zhuge. His given name is Liang； his style， Kongming. He is a descendant of Zhuge Feng， formercommander of the Capital Districts. His father， Zhuge Gui (styled Zigong)， was a governor’s deputy in Taishandistrict. Zhuge Gui died young， leaving Liang in the care of his younger brother Xuan. Zhuge Xuan， Liang’suncle， was a long-standing friend of Liu Biao， protector of Jingzhou. That is why they made their home inXiangyang， under Liu Biao’s protection. After Zhuge Xuan died， Liang and his younger brother Jun workedon the family’s farm in Nanyang. Liang enjoyed chanting the Liangfu elegies. Where they lived there was astretch of hills known as Sleeping Dragon Ridge； he took the sobriquet Master Sleeping Dragon from that.
His talents are indeed transcendent.”(Chapter 36)“Kongming is known for his mastery of military arts. Heapplies himself to the subject daily.”“Learned words are piled around his bed； No common men have comebefore his seat.”“Kongming befriended Xu Shu and three others： Cui Zhouping of Boling， Shi Guangyuanof Yingchuan， and Meng Gongwei of Runan. These four dedicated themselves to esoteric rituals of spiritualrefinement. Kongming， however， was the only one who contemplated the doctrine in its entirety.”Kongmingand his friends go on-the-spot investigation now and then.“They might have gone rowing down some lakeor river， or to visit some Buddhist or Taoist on his hilltop retreat. Or to look for friends in the villages. Or theymight have simple decided to entertain themselves with lutes and chess in some cavern den.”(Chapter 37)It is true that he makes friends extensively and has wide experience and extensive knowledge. He is trulylearned and knows every subject.
诸葛亮有两个兄弟、两个姐姐。诸葛瑾是大哥，长亮七岁，在东吴做幕僚（第四十四回）。亮之弟诸葛均，遵照亮的吩咐：“躬耕于此，勿得荒芜田亩。待我功成之日，即当归隐。”（第三十八回）曹操“便使人往隆中搜寻孔明妻小，却不知去向。——原来孔明已令人搬送至三江内隐避矣。”（第四十一回）他的一个姐姐嫁给了沔南名士庞德公之子庞山民（庞统的堂兄），另一个姐姐嫁给了中庐大族蒯祺。诸葛亮十七岁时也娶了名士黄承彦的女儿。她貌丑陋，但有奇才。黄承彦是襄阳大族蔡讽（蔡瑁之父）的大女婿，而荆州牧刘表是二女婿。因此，诸葛亮能“见多识广”，“座上往来无白丁”。这也是为什么即使他过着隐士生活时仍能密切掌握世上正在发生的情况的原因。
Zhuge Liang has two brothers and two sisters. Zhuge Jin is the eldest of the three brothers， seven yearsolder than Liang. He serves as a civil official in the Southland (Chapter 44). Liang’s younger brother ZhugeJun does what Liang has told him：“Remain at your labors and do not let our acres go fallow. When my workis done， I shall return to resume my life of seclusion”(Chapter 38).“Cao Cao also searched for Kongming’sfamily in Longzhong， but on Kongming’s instructions they had long since moved to Three Rivers”(Chapter41). One of Liang’s elder sisters has been married to Pang Shanmin， son of the famous man Pang Degong inthe south of Mian (Pang Tong’s elder male cousin with the same surname) while the other elder sister hasbeen married to Kuai Qi from a notable family and great clan of Zhonglu. At the age of seventeen， ZhugeLiang himself has married Huang Chengyan’s daughter. She has an ugly look but an extraordinary talent.
Though Huang Chengyan has never been an official， he has married the eldest daughter of Cai Feng (CaiMao’s father) from a great clan of Xiangyang while Liu Biao， the Protector of Jingzhou， has married theyounger daughter of Cai Feng. That is why Zhuge Liang can have wide experience and extensive knowledgeand“No common men have come before his seat”. This is also why he can still have an intimate grasp ofwhat is going on in the world even when he is living the life of a hermit.
玄德见孔明身长八尺，面如冠玉，头戴纶巾，身披鹤氅，飘飘然有神仙之概。玄德下拜曰：“昨两次晋谒，不得一见，已书贱名于文几，未审得如览否？”孔明曰：“昨观书意，足见将军忧民忧国之心；但恨亮年幼才疏，有误下问。”玄德曰：“大丈夫抱经世奇才，岂可空老于林泉之下？愿先生以天下苍生为念，开备愚鲁而赐教。”孔明曰：“自董卓造逆以来，天下豪杰并起。曹操势不及袁绍，而竟能克绍者，非惟天时，抑亦人谋也。今操已拥兵百万之众，挟天子以令诸侯，此诚不可与争锋。孙权据有江东，已历三世，国险而民附，此可用为援而不可图也。”言罢，命童子取出画一轴，挂于中堂，指谓玄德曰：“此西川五十四州之图也。将军欲成霸业，北让曹操占天时，南让孙权占地利，将军可占人和。先取荆州为家，后即取西川建基业，以成鼎足之势，然后可图中原也。”玄德拜请孔明曰：“备虽名微德薄，愿先生不弃鄙贱，出山相助。备当拱听明诲。”孔明见其意甚诚，乃曰：“将军既不相弃，愿效犬马之劳。”次日，诸葛均回，孔明嘱付曰：“吾受刘皇叔三顾之恩，不容不出。”正如孔明在《出师表》中所说：“由是感激，遂许先帝以驱驰。后值倾覆，受任于败军之际，奉命于危难之间。”
To Xuande， Kongming appeared singularly tall， with a face like gleaming jade and a plaited silkenband around his head. Cloaked in crane down， he had the buoyant air of a spiritual transcendent. Xuandeprostrated himself and said，“Twice before I have presented myself and， failing to gain audience， finally setmy worthless name to a letter. I have never learned whether it was brought to your discerning attention.”“Icould see in your letter，”Kongming began，“a compassionate concern for the people and the dynasty. But Ifear that you are mistaken in seeking the help of one so young and so limited in ability.”“How can a manwith the ability to shape the times waste himself among the groves and springs？”Xuande continued.“Ibeg you to consider the living souls of this land and for their sake enlighten me， free me of ignorance andfolly.”“Since the time of Dong Zhuo’s sedition，”Kongming began，“powerful and aggressive figures havecome into their own. Cao Cao could overcome Yuan Shao， though his strength was initially inferior， thanks towise planning and favorable occasion. Now Cao has an army of one million and uses his hold on the Emperorto make the feudal barons do his bidding. There is no way you can cross spear points with him. As for SunQuan， he has a firm grip on the Southland and represents the third generation of his family’s power there. Theterritory is difficult of access， and the people are devoted to him. Hence， the south may serve as a supportingally， but it is not a strategic objective.”Kongming hung a map and continued：“These are the fifty-fourcounties of the west. To establish your hegemony， let Cao Cao in the north have the advantage of timelycircumstance； let Sun Quan in the south have his geographical advantages； you， my general， will have theallegiance of men. First， take Jingzhou and make it your home base. Then move into the Riverlands and buildyour third of the triangle of power. Eventually， the northern heartland will become your objective.”Xuandehumbly petitioned Kongming：“Though my name be inconsiderable， my virtue meager， I beg you not to spurnme as a vulgar man of little worth. Come out from these hills to lend us your aid， and I will listen obediently toyour enlightening instruction.”Kongming， moved by the sincerity of his intent， said，“If you will have me，then， General， I shall serve you like a hound or horse.”The next day Kongming told Zhuge Jun， who hadcome back，“I am accepting the kind generosity of Imperial Uncle Liu， who has favored me with three calls.
I am obliged to go.”Just as Kongming says in his“Petition on Taking the Field”： Grateful for his regard， Iresponded to his appeal and threw myself heart and soul into his service. Hard times followed for the cause ofthe late Emperor. I assumed my duties at a critical moment for our defeated army， accepting assignment in aperiod of direst danger.”
自孔明答应刘备“愿效犬马之劳”以来，他用其战略之才支持刘备反对曹操并在多年的一系列有深远影响的战役中使刘备摆脱了在东汉帝国一分为三之中处于失败方的处境。通过劝说孙权与刘备结盟反曹，在赤壁之战打下了三国命运的基础。他指导刘备取荆州，征蜀汉，建立蜀汉王朝。刘备死后，他的继承人阿斗无能，蜀汉江山岌岌可危，在这危急关头，诸葛亮挺身而出，极力平定西南，“七擒七纵”孟获，以六出祁山北伐的宏伟壮举而告终。
正如孔明在前后“出师表”和“遗表”中所说：“先帝虑汉，贼不两立，王业不偏安，故托臣以讨贼也。以先帝之明，量臣之才，故知臣伐贼，才弱敌强也。然不伐贼，王业亦亡。惟坐而待亡，孰与伐之？是故托臣而弗疑也。臣受命之日，寝不安席，食不甘味；思惟北征，宜先入南：故五月渡泸，深入不毛，并日而食。——臣非不自惜也：顾王业不可偏安于蜀都，故冒危难以奉先帝之遗意。”“此臣所以报先帝而忠陛下之职分也。”“——然后吴更违盟，关羽毁败，秭归蹉跌，曹丕称帝：凡事如是，难可逆见。臣鞠躬尽瘁，死而后已；至于成败利钝，非臣之明所能逆睹也。”“何期病入膏肓，命垂旦夕，不及终事陛下，饮恨无穷！伏愿陛下：清心寡欲，约己爱民；达孝道于先皇，布仁恩于宇下；提拔幽隐，以进贤良；屏斥奸邪，以厚风俗。”（第九十一回、第九十七回，第一○四回）孔明日夜操劳，积劳成疾，于建兴十二年（公元234年）秋八月二十三日，病逝在五丈原，享年五十四岁。
Since Kongming promised to serve Liu Bei“like a hound or horse”， he has used his talent for militarystrategy to support Liu Bei in his struggle against Cao Cao， and in a series of far-ranging battles over a periodof many years he has enabled Liu Bei to extricate himself from the position of being the underdog in the threegold division of the empire. By persuading Sun Quan to join forces with Liu Bei against Cao Cao at the Battleof the Red Cliffs he has laid the foundation of the destiny of the Three Kingdoms. He has guided Liu Bei to theoccupation of Jingzhou， the conquest of Yizhou and Hanzhong， and the creation there of the kingdom of Shu-Han (the Riverlands). After the death of Liu Bei， his successor Ah Dou proves incompetent， and the kingdomof Shu-Han falls into dire straits. At this critical juncture， Zhuge Liang rises to the occasion and pacifies thesouthwest in a campaign which demands his utmost efforts， having Meng Huo“seven times captured， seventimes freed”， culminating in the magnificent Six Sorties from Mount Qi. Just as Kongming says in bothhis“Petitions on Taking the Field”and his“Testament for the Second Emperor”：“Painfully recognizingthat either the kingdom of Han or the kingdom of Wei must fall and that our royal rule would never knowsecurity if confined to a part of the realm， the Emperor empowered me to wage righteous war against thenorthern traitors. Accurately appraising his vassal’s abilities， he knew full well what feeble talent I had to pitagainst so strong an enemy； but not to go forward spelled our doom. To arms， rather than to bow to fate！ Thus，the late Emperor charged me， and he wavered in that commitment. The day I received his mandate， I neitherslept nor ate； the northern expedition occupied my thoughts. But first we had to move into the region south ofus. In the fifth month I crossed the River Lu and penetrated deep into aboriginal territory， going without foodfor days at a time—not because I threw caution to the winds but because， knowing that Your Majesty’s rulecould never have survived confined to the Shu capital， we would have faced any danger， any difficulty， to carryout the late Emperor’s last wishes. This is the way I mean to honor my debt to the late Emperor and fulfill myduty to Your Majesty.”“But the Southland turned on its Riverlands ally； Lord Guan perished， Zigui fell，and Cao Pi proclaimed a new dynasty. That’s how things happen； it is difficult to anticipate things to come.
Humbly I shall toil to the last ounce of my strength， until my end； but whether the outcome will favor us or notis beyond my powers of prediction.”“Now， stricken by unforeseen and incurable illness， I face imminentdeath， and I despair that my service to Your Majesty remains unfinished. I humbly beg that Your Majestykeep an honest mind and limit your desires， disciplining yourself and caring tenderly for the people. Serve thelate Emperor in a spirit of filial piety； show humane generosity throughout your kingdom. Promote those not inthe public eye to advance the cause of true excellence； deny access to the vicious and depraved to strengthenthe moral tone of the realm.”(Chapter 91， Chapter 97， Chapter 104) Kongming works indefatigably day andnight， and breaks down from constant overwork. He died at Wuzhangyuan on the twenty-third day of theeighth month， the autumn of the twelfth year of Jian Xing (A.D.234)， at the age of fifty-four.
诸葛亮是圆满实现了古典儒家德才兼备的完美典型。他不屈不挠地献身蜀汉事业：他无限忠诚于他的两辈君主（刘备及其儿子刘禅）；他有民事和军事上的管理才能；他有战略眼光；他理解下属意见；他谦虚谨慎并愿意为失败承担责任；他执法公正并赏罚分明；他有创新精神——创造了木牛流马，发明了“连弩”之法；他高尚地拒绝以权谋私。他谋权不为自己，而只是为了实现他正确管理的理念。他是我们很多中国人心目中的典范。
Zhuge Liang has consummated the classical Confucian ideal of the conjunction of great virtue andtalent. He has dedicated his life to the cause of the Han： his absolute devotion to his lieges (Liu Bei and hisson Liu Shan)； his ability in civil and military administration； his strategic insight； his receptivity to the viewsof subordinates； his personal humility and willingness to accept responsibility for failure； his fairness inapplying the law and assigning reward and punishment； his enterprising spirit—having created wooden bullsand gliding horses， having invented a bow that releases arrows simultaneously； and his honorable refusal touse his position to enrich himself. He seeks not power for himself but only to realize his notions of propergovernment. He is the ideal of many of us Chinese people.
诸葛亮不仅是足智多谋的军事家和“运筹帷幄之中，决胜于千里之外”的谋划家，还是伟大的政治家和贤明的宰相。他说：“吾今威之以法，法行则知恩；限之以爵，爵加则知荣。恩荣并济，上下有节。为治之道，于斯着矣。”（第六十五回）“却说诸葛丞相在于成都，事无大小，皆亲自从公决断。两川之民，忻乐太平，夜不闭户，路不拾遗。又幸连年大熟，老幼鼓腹讴歌，凡遇差徭，争先早办。因此军需器械应用之物，无不完备；米满仓廒，财盈府库。”（第八十七回）难怪同时代曹操的主要谋士贾诩和刘晔都赞扬孔明的治蜀能力。后来，孔明甚至受到不主张蜀汉反魏人们的尊敬。唐朝的第二代皇帝李世民说到孔明时也说他尽管为软弱的后主效力，仍不愧为优秀的宰相。南宋时的改革家王安石为他献上了赞诗。白居易亦有诗曰：“先生晦迹卧山林，三顾那逢圣主寻。鱼到南阳方得水，龙飞天汉便为霖。托孤既尽殷勤礼，报国还倾忠义心。前后出师遗表在，令人一览泪沾襟。”（第一○四回）
Zhuge Liang is not only a wise， resourceful strategist and a tactician who can have“plans evolvedwithin the tent decide victories a thousand li away”， but also a great statesman and a prime minister ofinsight and ability. He says：“Our new administration must win respect through legal authority； when thelaws are carried out， then the people will appreciate our kindnesses. Moreover， we must use rank to limitambition so that when rank is granted， the honor wil be appreciated. Balanced bestowing of kindness andhonor will restore proper relations between lord and vassal， and the principles of good governance willagain be manifest.”(Chapter 65)“From the Riverlands capital of Chengdu， Prime Minister Zhuge Liangadministered the government， personally handling affairs of state， whether great or small， in a spirit of fairness.
The inhabitants of the region welcomed the reign of peace； a climate of honesty and mutual trust prevailed，and fortune favored the land with generous harvests several years in a row. Both old and young tapped theircontented bellies rhythmically as they rejoiced in song. Compulsory labor service was eagerly undertaken，with the result that the army was amply supplied and the granaries and treasury overflowed.”(Chapter 87)No wonder in his own time， key advisers to Cao Cao， Jia Xu and Liu Ye praised Kongming for his skill inadministering Shu. In later times， Kongming was honored even by those who did not advocate the cause ofShu-Han against Wei. Li Shimin， the second Tang emperor， spoke of Kongming’s excellence as a primeminister despite having to serve under a weak ruler. And the Northern Song reformer， Wang Anshi， dedicateda poem of praise to him. Bai Juyi has also left a poem：“Ensconced in hills， the master hid his tracks； / Bytwist of fate a sage king sued three times. / Only in Nanyang could‘fish’and‘water’meet： /‘Thedragon flies to Heavenly Han—a wholesome rain.’/ To Liu Bei’s heir Kongming gave zealous care； / Servingthe state， he poured forth his loyal heart. / And still today his calls to war live on； / How many readers canrestrain their tears？”(Chapter 104)
孔明对姜维说：“吾本欲竭忠尽力，恢复中原，重兴汉室；奈天意如此，吾旦夕将死。 吾平生所学，已着书二十四篇，计十万四千一百一十二字，内有八务、七戒、六恐、五惧之法……吾有‘连弩’之法，不曾用得。其法矢长八寸，一弩可发十矢，皆画成图本。汝可依法造用。”孔明于卧榻上手书遗表：“何期病入膏肓，名垂旦夕，不及终事陛下，饮恨无穷！伏愿陛下：清心寡欲，约己爱民；达孝道于先皇，布仁恩于宇下；提拔幽隐，以进贤良；屏斥奸邪，以厚风俗。臣家成都，有桑八百株，薄田十五顷，子弟衣食，自有余饶。至于臣在外任，别无调度，随身衣食，悉仰于官，不别治生，以长尺寸。臣死之日，不使内有余帛，外有赢财，以负陛下也。”（第一○四回）这就是诸葛亮留给我们中国人的遗产。这是多么宝贵的文化遗产啊！
Kongming says to Jiang Wei：“I have tried my best to return the heartland to Han rule. But Heaven’swishes rule us all. My end is near， very near. The results of a lifetime of study are written in these twenty-fouressays in 104， 112 characters. They contain esoteric information on the Eight Principal concerns， the SevenPrecautions， the Six Dangers， and the Five Alerts... I have invented a bow that releases arrows simultaneously，but I have never had a chance to test it in combat. It shoots ten eight-inch arrows at a time. The sketcheshave been collected into a volume. Have the weapon built according to design.”Kongming in his bed penshis testament for the Second Emperor：“Now， stricken by unforeseen and incurable illness， I face imminentdeath， and I despair that my service to Your Majesty remains unfinished. I humbly beg that Your Majestykeep an honest mind and limit your desires， disciplining yourself and caring tenderly for the people. Serve thelate Emperor in a spirit of filial piety； show humane generosity throughout your kingdom. Promote those not inthe public eye to advance the cause of true excellence； deny access to the vicious and depraved to strengthenthe moral tone of the realm. My home in Chengdu， with its eight hundred mulberry trees and a meager fifteenhundred mu of land， should provide for my children. On assignment outside the capital I have acquirednothing of value； beyond the food and clothing that Your Majesty’s officers supplied， I have had no otherincome. Hence， after my death no excess silks， no surplus wealth， nor any other violation of Your Majesty’strust will be discovered.”(Chapter 104) This is what Zhuge Liang has handed down to us Chinese people.
How precious this cultural heritage is！
当然，诸葛亮也不是没有过错和缺点。例如，“使者辞去，回到五丈原，见了孔明，具说：‘司马懿受了巾帼女衣，看了书札，并不嗔怒，只问丞相寝食及事之烦简，决不提起军旅之事。某如此应对，彼言：‘食少事烦，岂能长久？’……主簿杨罥谏曰：‘某见丞相常自校簿书，窃以为不必。夫为治有体，上下不可相侵。譬之治家之道，必使仆执耕，婢典爨，私业无旷，所求皆足，其家主从容自在，高枕饮食而已。若皆身亲其事，将形疲神困，终无一成。岂其智之不如婢仆哉？失为家主之道也……今丞相亲理细事，汗流终日，岂不劳乎？——司马懿之言，真至言也。’孔明泣曰：‘吾非不知。但受先帝托孤之重，惟恐他人不似我尽心也！’”（第一○三回）由此可见，他不相信他人，不相信魏延，他不相信刘封。但事实上他是错的。结果，他死于持续地过度劳累。
Naturally， Zhuge Liang is not without his faults and limits. For instance，“The envoy returned toWuzhangyuan and told Kongming，‘Sima Yi expressed no anger when he took the clothing and read theletter. He simply asked how you were eating and sleeping and inquired about your workload. He said nothingat all about military matters. When I answered his questions he said， He eats too little and works too hard.
How long can he last？’... First Secretary Yang Yong tried to get Kongming to reduce his workload：‘I haveseen Your Excellency checking over our books and records personally. It seems to me unnecessary. Everygoverning system has to have a structure whose higher and lower levels function independently， much asthe operation of a household requires menials to farm and maids to prepare food. No chores are neglectedand all needs are supplied； thus， the master of the house can eat and drink carefree and at ease. But if themaster busies himself with every last detail， it leads to physical and mental exhaustion， and in the end nothinggets done. Does that mean his knowledge is inferior to that of a menial or a maid？ No. It means he has notfound the right way to run the household... Now Your Excellency wastes energy attending to the most trivialmatters—and for what？ What Sima Yi said is all too ture.’Weeping， Kongming replied，‘I am not unawareof this. But I carry the heavy responsibility given to me by the late Emperor， and I fear that others may not beso conscientious.’(Chapter 103)”From here we can see he does not believe in others. He does not believein Wei Yan. He does not believe in Liu Feng. But in fact he is mistaken. Consequently， he died from constantoverwork.
诸葛亮是一位伟大的学者。他学识渊博。他知道天文、地理、历史、政治、军事、文化等等。“七星坛诸葛祭风”，因为他知天文，“冬至一阳生，来复之时，安得无东南风？”（第四十九回）但“孔明巧布八阵图”，如何可能“每日每时，变化无端，可比十万精兵”？又为何“变化无穷，不能学也”？（第八十四回）“出陇上诸葛妆神”，可以理解。
但他如何能使“六甲天书内‘缩地’之法”？为何“众军不可追之”？（第一○一回）“五丈原诸葛禳星”，如何可能“若七日内主灯不灭，吾寿可增一纪”（十二年）？（第一○三回）难怪说“状诸葛之多智而近妖”。
Zhuge Liang is a great scholar. He has learned a lot of knowledge. He knows astronomy， geography，history， politics， military affairs， culture， etc.“On Seven Star Altar Kongming Supplicats the Wind”， for heknows astronomy.“The winter’s yin phase is spent； the yang now begins its cycle. A southeast wind is quitenormal.”(Chapter 49) But“Kongming Deploys the Eightfold Ramparts Maze”， how can it be that“duringevery time period of every day the openings move unpredictably， like ten crack legions in constantmotion”？ And why can it be that“the transformations never end. They cannot be mastered”？ (Chapter84)“Disguised as a God， Kongming Comes Forth from Longshang”， it can be understood. But how canhe“use the technique‘Foreshortening the Land’from the divine text of the Six Jia”？ And why“can thearmy not overtake him”？ (Chapter 101)“At Wuzhangyuan Zhuge Prays to Reverse His Star-told Fate”，how can it be that“if the main lamp stays lit seven more days， my life may last another circuit of the zodiac(i.e. twelve years)”？ (Chapter 103) No wonder it is remarked“Kongming is a man of much wisdom thoughverging on wizardry”.
关羽：字长生，后改云长，河东解良（今山西运城）人。身长九尺，髯长二尺；面如重枣，唇若涂脂；丹凤眼，卧吞眉：相貌堂堂，威风凛凛。因本处势豪，倚势凌人，被他杀了；逃难江湖，五六年矣。今闻此处招军破贼，特来应募。他遇见刘备、张飞并与他们结为兄弟，愿同心协力，救困扶危，上报国家，下安黎庶。这就是众所周知的“宴桃园豪杰三结义 斩黄巾英雄首立功”。
Guan Yu： His style， Changsheng， is later changed to Yunchang. He is from Jieliang in Hedong (Today’sYuncheng， Shanxi). He is a man of enormous height， nine spans tall， with a two-foot-long beard flowing fromhis rich， ruddy cheeks. He has glistening lips， eyes sweeping sharply back like those of the crimson-facedphoenix， and brows like nestling silkworms. His stature is imposing， his bearing awesome. After killing a localbully who was persecuting his neighbours， Guan Yu has been on the move these five or six years. As soon ashe heard about the recruitment， he came to sign up. He met with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei. He joined them inbrotherhood here， combining strength and purpose， to relieve the present crisis and perform their duty to theEmperor and protect the common folk of the land. This is what is known to all that“Three Bold Spirits PlightMutual Faith in the Peach Garden； Heroes and Champions Win First Honors Fighting the Yellow Scarves”.
关羽武艺高超，神勇无比。例如，“云长停盏施英勇，酒尚温时斩华雄”（第五回）；“美髯公千里走单骑，汉寿侯五关斩六将”（第二十七回）；“关云长单刀赴会”，表现出他的英雄气慨（第六十六回）；“关云长刮骨疗毒”，神威罕及惟关公（第七十五回）等等。
Guan Yu is extraordinarily brave and his military arts excel all. For instance，“The hero put the cupaside to slake his combat lust： Before the wine had time to cool， Hua Xiong lay in the dust.”(Chapter 5)；“TheMan of the Magnificent Beard Rides Alone a Thousand Li / The Lord of Hanshou Slays Six Generals andBreaches Five Passes”(Chapter 27)；“A Lone Swordsman， Guan Presents Himself at Lu Su’s Feast”andby this displays his heroic vein. (Chapter 66)；“Hua Tuo Scrapes the Poison from Lord Guan’s Bone”， forsuperhuman might， Lord Guan may take the crown (Chapter 75)， etc.
