After they had become sworn brothers at Taoyuan, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei made concerted efforts to restore the Han Dynasty. But they felt that it would be impossible to do it without the help of a smart adviser. The Liu-Guan-Zhang alliance later won one battle after another thanks to the advice of Xu Shu. But before long, Xu had to surrender to the opposing camp of Cao Cao in order to save the life of his mother who was abducted by the Cao troops. Before he left, Xu Shu recommended Zhuge Liang to the brothers.

Accompanied by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Liu Bei went to Wolonggang in Longzhong in the hope of inviting Zhuge Liang to be their military adviser. But Zhuge's servant said: "The Mentor left in the morning."Liu Bei asked the servant to forward to Zhuge Liang his message that the brothers had come to visit him. After that, Liu rode his horse away, returning home sullenly. A few days later when he learned that Zhuge Liang was at home, Liu Bei went for another visit along with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. The servant said: "The Mentor is reading books at his thatched cottage." Liu requested to see him. When they learned that the one reading books at the thatched cottage was not Zhuge Liang himself but his brother Zhuge Jun, the Liu-Guan-Zhang brothers left a letter to express their admiration and then braved heavy snows to return home.

Not long after they returned to their barracks at Xinye, Liu Bei wanted to visit Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage once more. But Guan Yu dissuaded Liu from going by saying that perhaps Zhuge Liang was not as smart as expected and that he was simply dodging the visiting brothers for that. Zhang Fei said: "You don't need to go. I'll tie him up and force him to come and see you instead." Liu Bei lost no time in telling his brothers the story of King Wen bent on visiting one of his subjects called Jiang Ziya. Liu, Guan and Zhang, therefore, paid a third visit to Wolonggang. They had no sooner arrived than the servant said: "The Mentor is sleeping." Liu Bei waited until Zhuge Liang was awake and dressed . Finally, he consented to see the brothers. Liu Bei paid three visits to the thatched cottage without complaint. He finally succeeded in inviting Zhuge Liang to be his military adviser and to help the brothers in their cause.

《三国演义》中的故事。刘备、关羽、张飞自桃园结义后，虽整天东奔西跑，但因缺少谋士，总觉得恢复汉朝天下无望。后来得徐庶帮助，连打胜仗。徐庶为救母无奈去了曹营。临走推荐了诸葛亮。

一日，刘备带关羽、张飞来到隆中卧龙冈，想请诸葛亮出山。小僮说："先生今早出去了。"刘备让僮子转告先生说他来访，然后拉马闷闷不乐地回去了。又过了数日，刘备控得诸葛亮已回家，便同关、张二次来访。僮子说："先生正在草堂看书。"刘备求见后得知不是诸葛亮，而是其弟诸葛钧。于是留下一封信，表达敬慕之情。兄弟三人又冒雪回去了。

回到新野不久，刘备想再次去请诸葛亮。关羽劝说："可能诸葛亮没本事，怕见我们。张飞则说：你们别去了，我用绳子捆来。刘备忙讲了当年文王访姜子牙的故事。兄弟三人又第三次来到卧龙冈。他们一到，小僮忙说："先生在睡觉。"刘备一直等到诸葛亮睡醒后更衣相见。刘备不辞劳苦，三顾顾庐，终于请出诸葛亮出山辅佐，共图大业。