Permit me to observe： the late emperor was taken from us before he could finish his lifes work， the restoration of the Han. Today， the empire is still divided in three， and our very survival is threatened.

Yet still the officials at court and the soldiers throughout the realm remain loyal to you， your majesty. Because they remember the late emperor， all of them， and they wish to repay his kindness in service to you.

This is the moment to extend your divine influence， to honor the memory of the late Emperor and strengthen the morale of your officers. It is not the time to listen to bad advice， or close your ears to the suggestions of loyal men.

The emperors of the Western Han chose their courtiers wisely， and their dynasty flourished. The emperors of the Eastern Han chose poorly， and they doomed the empire to ruin.

Whenever the late Emperor discussed this problem with me， he lamented the failings of Emperors Huan and Ling.

I began as a common man， farming in my fields in Nanyang， doing what I could to survive in an age of chaos. I never had any interest in making a name for myself as a noble.

The late Emperor was not ashamed to visit my cottage and seek my advice. Grateful for his regard， I responded to his appeal and threw myself into his service.

The late Emperor always appreciated my caution and， in his final days， entrusted me with his cause.

Since that moment， I have been tormented day and night by the fear that I might let him down. That is why I crossed the Lu river at the height of summer， and entered the wastelands beyond.

Now the south has been subdued， and our forces are fully armed. I should lead our soldiers to conquer the northern heartland and attempt to remove the hateful traitors， restore the house of Han， and return it to the former capital.

This is the way I mean to honor my debt to the late Emperor and fulfill my duty to you.

My only desire is to be permitted to drive out the traitors and restore the Han. If I should let you down， punish my offense and report it to the spirit of the late Emperor.

Your Majesty， consider your course of action carefully. Seek out good advice， and never forget the late words of the late Emperor. I depart now on a long expedition， and I will be forever grateful if you heed my advice.

Blinded by my own tears， I know not what I write.

臣亮言：先帝創(chuàng)業(yè)未半而中道崩殂，今天下三分，益州疲弊，此誠危急存亡之秋也。

然侍衛(wèi)之臣不懈于內(nèi)，忠志之士忘身于外者，蓋追先帝之殊遇，欲報之于陛下也。

誠宜開張圣聽，以光先帝遺德，恢弘志士之氣，不宜妄自菲薄，引喻失義，以塞忠諫之路也。

親賢臣，遠(yuǎn)小人，此先漢所以興隆也；親小人，遠(yuǎn)賢臣，此后漢所以傾頹也。

先帝在時，每與臣論此事，未嘗不嘆息痛恨于桓、靈也。

臣本布衣，躬耕于南陽，茍全性命于亂世，不求聞達(dá)于諸侯。

先帝不以臣卑鄙，猥自枉屈，三顧臣于草廬之中，咨臣以當(dāng)世之事，由是感激，遂許先帝以驅(qū)馳。

先帝知臣謹(jǐn)慎，故臨崩寄臣以大事也。

受命以來，夙夜憂嘆，恐托付不效，以傷先帝之明，故五月渡瀘，深入不毛。

今南方已定，兵甲已足，當(dāng)獎率三軍，北定中原，庶竭駑鈍，攘除奸兇，興復(fù)漢室，還于舊都。

此臣所以報先帝而忠陛下之職分也。

愿陛下托臣以討賊興復(fù)之效，不效，則治臣之罪，以告先帝之靈。

陛下亦宜自謀，以咨諏善道，察納雅言。深追先帝遺詔，臣不勝受恩感激。

今當(dāng)遠(yuǎn)離，臨表涕零，不知所言。