What to pay attention to when traveling? Let's take a look at Xu Shu's trip to Jingzhou

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Xu Shu of Yingchuan set off for Jingzhou, carrying a sword pouch and a book chest. Traveling in those days was nothing like strolling through a temple fair—there were displaced refugees, bandits on the road, and if you were unlucky, imperial soldiers might press you into military service. Xu Shu had mulled over every possible travel precaution a hundred times along the way.

When he reached the border of Ye County, he was caught in a stretch of steady rain. The mountain paths were as slippery as if coated with malt syrup, and the dry rations he’d brought had grown moldy. The innkeeper warned him that the mountain pass ahead had been unsafe lately and advised him to wait a while longer. Crouching under the inn’s veranda, Xu Shu watched the rain strings weave into a curtain, his mind troubled: How do you adjust when things go wrong? He couldn’t just hole up in this tiny inn until the New Year, could he?

He fished out the crumpled *Book of Changes* from his bosom, flipped to the Qian Hexagram, and tapped his finger on the line for the Nine Second Yao: “Seeing a dragon in the field, it is favorable to meet a great man.” He stared at the words for half an incense stick’s time, then suddenly slapped his thigh and laughed.

The next day, as soon as the rain let up, Xu Shu did not hurry to take the main road. Instead, he detoured to the nearby Lumen Mountain. In a mountain hollow, an old herb gatherer was crouching on the ground sorting through medicinal herbs. Xu Shu straightened his robes, stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and asked about the path down the mountain. The old man looked him over, then pointed to a small trail behind the mountain: “There are rebel soldiers on the main road these days. Take this stream valley to go around—though it adds twenty li to your journey, it’s safe and steady.”

Xu Shu then asked for advice on how to handle difficulties and setbacks. The old man stroked his beard and smiled: “The Nine Second Yao of the Qian Hexagram says ‘seeing a dragon in the field.’ After lurking for so long, the dragon has just emerged onto the ridge of the field. The most important thing is not to charge forward recklessly, but to look up and see if there is someone who can guide you. You are young, yet you carry a sword without flaunting your bravery, and bear books without getting stuck in rigid thinking—that is the right way.”

Xu Shu’s mind grew clear. He thanked the old man and headed south along the small trail. The journey was indeed smooth, and he met several other scholars also traveling to Jingzhou. They journeyed together, discussing classics and history along the way, and the trip was far from lonely.

Upon reaching Xiangyang City, he did not rush around to pay calls on influential people. Instead, he audited lectures at the Academic Hall west of the city for half a month. One day, the *Zuo Zhuan* (Zuo’s Commentary) was being taught. In the middle of the hall sat a gentleman eight chi tall, with a face as fair as polished jade. When he discussed the general trends of the world, his reasoning was as clear as viewing the lines on one’s own palm. Xu Shu listened for half a day, and when the lecture ended, he stepped forward to strike up a conversation. The two talked from Guan Zhong and Yue Yi all the way to the current state of the empire, finding more and more common ground as they spoke.

At parting, the gentleman folded his hands in salute and smiled: “I am Zhuge Liang of Langya, styled Kongming. Sir, you have great talent—why not stay in Jingzhou a while longer?”

Xu Shu stood at the entrance of the Academic Hall, watching the distant Han River glint with golden light. Suddenly, he recalled the old man’s words from Lumen Mountain, and then the four characters of the Qian Hexagram’s Nine Second Yao. It turned out that “seeing a dragon in the field” never meant turning oneself into a dragon soaring to the heavens. It meant that when walking along the road, one should not only stare at the mud pits beneath one’s feet, but also look around to see if there are wise fellow travelers nearby.

The wind blew from the south, carrying the scent of rice blossoms. He touched the bamboo slips in his bosom, and suddenly felt that this journey to Jingzhou had only just begun.