Romance, Chapter 71

Chapter 71. Seizing the Facing Hill, Huang Zhong Waits at Ease for a Weary Foe; Holding the Han River, Zhao Yun Defeats Many with Few

Now Kongming instructed Huang Zhong: “Since you are set on going, I will have Fa Zheng help you. Take counsel together in everything you do. I will send troops after you in support.” Huang Zhong agreed and set off with Fa Zheng and the men of his own command. Kongming said to Xuande, “Unless this old general is stirred up with words, he will not succeed even if he goes. Now that he has gone, we must send troops to back him up.” He then summoned Zhao Yun: “Take a body of men and go by the byways as a surprise force in support of Huang Zhong. If Huang Zhong wins, there is no need for you to fight; but should anything go wrong with him, go at once to his rescue.”

卻說孔明分付黃忠：“你既要去，吾教法正助你。凡事計議而行。吾隨後撥人馬來接應。”黃忠應允，和法正領本部兵去了。孔明告玄德曰：“此老將不着言語激他，雖去不能成功。他今既去，須撥人馬前去接應。”乃喚趙雲：“將一枝人馬，從小路出奇兵接應黃忠：若忠勝，不必出戰；倘忠有失，即去救應。”

He also sent Liu Feng and Meng Da: “Take three thousand men to the steep and strategic places in the hills and set up plenty of flags there, to swell the show of our army’s strength and make the enemy alarmed and uncertain.” The three went off, each with his troops. Kongming also sent a man to Xiabian to give Ma Chao a plan and tell him to act on it thus and thus. And he sent Yan Yan to Langzhong in Baxi to hold the passes in place of Zhang Fei and Wei Yan, so that those two could come and join in taking Hanzhong.

又遣劉封、孟達：“領三千兵于山中險要去處，多立旌旗，以壯我兵之聲勢，令敵人驚疑。”三人各自領兵去了。又差人往下辨，授計與馬超，令他如此而行。又差嚴顏往巴西閬中守隘，替張飛、魏延來同取漢中。

Meanwhile Zhang He and Xiahou Shang came to see Xiahou Yuan. “Mount Tiandang is lost,” they said, “and Xiahou De and Han Hao have fallen. Now we hear that Liu Bei is coming in person with an army to take Hanzhong. You should quickly report to the King of Wei and ask him to send picked troops and bold generals without delay to come to our support.” Xiahou Yuan at once sent a man to inform Cao Hong, and Cao Hong hurried through the night to Xuchang to report to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was greatly alarmed. He hastily assembled his civil and military officers to discuss sending an army to save Hanzhong.

卻說張郃與夏侯尚來見夏侯淵，說：“天蕩山已失，折了夏侯德、韓浩。今聞劉備親自領兵來取漢中，可速奏魏王，早發精兵猛將，前來策應。”夏侯淵便差人報知曹洪。洪星夜前到許昌，稟知曹操。操大驚，急聚文武，商議發兵救漢中。

The Chief Secretary Liu Ye came forward and said, “If Hanzhong is lost, the Central Plain will be shaken. Your Highness must not shrink from the toil; you must lead the campaign yourself.” Cao Cao reproached himself: “How I regret not taking your advice at the time, and so coming to this!” He hurriedly issued his command and raised four hundred thousand troops to lead the campaign in person. It was then the seventh month, in autumn, of the twenty-third year of Jian’an.

長史劉曄進曰：“漢中若失，中原震動。大王休辭勞苦，必須親自征討。”操自悔曰：“恨當時不用卿言，以致如此！”忙傳令旨，起兵四十萬親征。時建安二十三年秋七月也。

Cao Cao’s army advanced in three columns: Xiahou Dun led the van, Cao Cao himself commanded the centre, and Cao Xiu brought up the rear, the three armies setting out one after another. Cao Cao rode a white horse with a golden saddle and wore a jade belt and a brocade robe. Guardsmen held over him a great canopy of scarlet gauze flecked with gold; on either side were golden maces and silver axes, stirrup-staves, halberds and spears, and banners bearing the sun, the moon, dragons and phoenixes. His escort of Dragon and Tiger Guards, twenty-five thousand strong, was divided into five companies of five thousand each, in the five colours blue, yellow, red, white and black, with banners, armour and horses all in their own colour. It was a dazzling sight, and magnificent in the extreme.

曹操兵分三路而進：前部先鋒夏侯惇，操自領中軍，使曹休押後，三軍陸續起行。操騎白馬金鞍，玉帶錦衣；武士手執大紅羅銷金傘蓋，左右金瓜銀鉞，鐙棒戈矛，打日月龍鳳旌旗；護駕龍虎官軍二萬五千，分爲五隊，每隊五千，按青、黃、赤、白、黑五色，旗幡甲馬，並依本色：光輝燦爛，極其雄壯。

When the army had passed Tong Pass, Cao Cao saw from horseback a clump of trees growing very thick, and asked his attendants, “What place is this?” “It is called Lantian,” they answered. “Among those trees is the estate of Cai Yong. Cai Yong’s daughter Cai Yan now lives here with her husband Dong Si.” Cao Cao had long been on good terms with Cai Yong. Cai Yan had formerly been the wife of Wei Zhongdao; later she was carried off to the north, where she bore two sons and composed the Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute, which found their way back into the Central Plain.

兵出潼關，操在馬上望見一簇林木，極其茂盛，問近侍曰：“此何處也？”答曰：“此名藍田。林木之間，乃蔡邕莊也。今邕女蔡琰，與其夫董祀居此。”原來操素與蔡邕相善。先時其女蔡琰，乃衛仲道之妻；後被北方擄去，於北地生二子，作《胡笳十八拍》，流入中原。

Cao Cao had felt deep pity for her and sent men with a thousand pieces of gold into the north to ransom her. The Wise King of the Left, fearing Cao Cao’s power, sent Cai Yan back to Han, and Cao Cao then gave her in marriage to Dong Si. Now, arriving before the estate that day and remembering Cai Yong, Cao Cao sent the army on ahead and, with a hundred or so mounted attendants, rode up to the gate of the estate and dismounted. Dong Si was away at his official post at the time, and only Cai Yan was at home. Hearing that Cao Cao had come, she hurried out to welcome him.

操深憐之，使人持千金入北方贖之。左賢王懼操之勢，送蔡琰還漢。操乃以琰配與董祀爲妻。當日到莊前，因想起蔡邕之事，令軍馬先行，操引近侍百餘騎，到莊門下馬。時董祀出仕於外，止有蔡琰在家，琰聞操至，忙出迎接。

When Cao Cao came into the hall, Cai Yan paid her respects and then stood in attendance at his side. Cao Cao happened to notice a hanging scroll on the wall bearing a stele inscription, and rose to look at it. When he asked Cai Yan about it, she replied, “This is the stele of Cao E. In the reign of Emperor He there was a shaman in Shangyu named Cao Xu, who could dance to delight the spirits. On the fifth day of the fifth month, dancing drunk in a boat, he fell into the river and drowned. His daughter, then fourteen years old, went weeping up and down the river for seven days and nights, and then leapt into the waves. Five days later she floated up to the surface carrying her father’s body on her back, and the villagers buried them by the river.

操至堂，琰起居畢，侍立於側。操偶見壁間懸一碑文圖軸，起身觀之。問於蔡琰，琰答曰：“此乃曹娥之碑也。昔和帝時，上虞有一巫者，名曹旴，能娑婆樂神；五月五日，醉舞舟中，墮江而死。其女年十四歲，繞江啼哭七晝夜，跳入波中；後五日，負父之屍浮於江面；里人葬之江邊。

Du Shang, the Magistrate of Shangyu, reported it to the court, and she was honoured as a filial daughter. Du Shang had Handan Chun compose an inscription and carve it on a stele to record the deed. Handan Chun was only thirteen at the time, yet he wrote it at a single stroke of the brush without changing a word, and when the stone was set up beside the grave, people marvelled at him. My father, Cai Yong, heard of it and went to see it. It was already dusk, so he read the inscription by feeling it with his hands in the dark, then called for a brush and wrote eight large characters on the back.

上虞令度尚奏聞朝廷，表爲孝女。度尚令邯鄲淳作文鐫碑以記其事。時邯鄲淳年方十三歲，文不加點，一揮而就，立石墓側，時人奇之。妾父蔡邕聞而往觀，時日已暮，乃於暗中以手摸碑文而讀之，索筆大書八字於其背。

Later, when the stone was carved again, these eight characters were carved as well.” Cao Cao read the eight characters: “Yellow silk, young wife, daughter’s son, spice mortar.” He asked Cai Yan, “Do you understand what this means?” “Though it was written by my late father,” she said, “I truly do not understand it.” Cao Cao turned to his advisers and asked, “Do any of you understand it?” None of them could answer. Then one man stepped forward and said, “I have already worked out its meaning.” Cao Cao looked, and it was the Recorder Yang Xiu.

後人鐫石，並鐫此八字。”操讀八字雲：“黃絹幼婦，外孫齏臼。”操問琰曰：“汝解此意否？”琰曰：“雖先人遺筆，妾實不解其意。”操回顧衆謀士曰：“汝等解否？”衆皆不能答。於內一人出曰：“某已解其意。”操視之，乃主簿楊脩也。

“Do not tell me yet,” said Cao Cao. “Let me think it over.” He then took leave of Cai Yan and led his company out of the estate. When he had ridden three li, it suddenly dawned on him, and he said to Yang Xiu with a laugh, “Now tell me what you make of it.” Yang Xiu said, “It is a riddle. Yellow silk is coloured thread: put 丝 (silk) beside 色 (colour) and you have 绝 (jue, ‘peerless’). A young wife is a young woman: put 少 (young) beside 女 (woman) and you have 妙 (miao, ‘wonderful’). A daughter’s son is a woman’s child: put 子 (child) beside 女 (woman) and you have 好 (hao, ‘fine’).

操曰：“卿且勿言，容吾思之。”遂辭了蔡琰，引衆出莊。上馬行三里，忽省悟，笑謂修曰：“卿試言之。”修曰：“此隱語耳。黃絹乃顏色之絲也：色傍加絲，是絕字。幼婦者，少女也：女傍少字，是妙字。外孫乃女之子也：女傍子字，是好字。

A spice mortar is a vessel that receives the five pungent spices: put 辛 (pungent) beside 受 (receive) and you have 辤 (ci, ‘words’). Taken all together, it makes the four characters 绝妙好辞, ‘peerlessly wonderful fine words.’” Cao Cao was astonished. “That is exactly what I made of it!” he said. Everyone sighed in admiration at the quickness of Yang Xiu’s wit. Before many days the army reached Nanzheng. Cao Hong came out to meet it and gave a full account of what had happened with Zhang He. “It was not Zhang He’s fault,” said Cao Cao. “Victory and defeat are the common lot of soldiers.” Cao Hong said, “Liu Bei now has Huang Zhong attacking Mount Dingjun. Xiahou Yuan, knowing that Your Highness’s army was coming, has held fast and has not yet gone out to fight.”

齏臼乃受五辛之器也：受傍辛字，是辭字。總而言之，是絕妙好辭四字。”操大驚曰：“正合孤意！”衆皆歎羨楊脩才識之敏。不一日，軍至南鄭。曹洪接着，備言張郃之事。操曰：“非郃之罪，勝負乃兵家常事耳。”洪曰：“目今劉備使黃忠攻打定軍山，夏侯淵知大王兵至，固守未曾出戰。”

“If he will not go out and fight,” said Cao Cao, “he is showing weakness.” He at once sent a man bearing his credentials of authority to Mount Dingjun to order Xiahou Yuan to advance. Liu Ye remonstrated: “Xiahou Yuan is too headstrong by nature; I fear he may fall into some treacherous ruse.” So Cao Cao wrote a letter in his own hand for him. The envoy, bearing the credentials, reached Xiahou Yuan’s camp and was received. The envoy produced the letter, and Xiahou Yuan opened and read it. It said in brief: “Whoever is a general must temper firmness with flexibility and must not rely on courage alone.

操曰：“若不出戰，是示懦也。”便差人持節到定軍山，教夏侯淵進兵。劉曄諫曰：“淵性太剛，恐中奸計。”操乃作手書與之。使命持節到淵營，淵接入。使者出書，淵拆視之。略曰：“凡爲將者，當以剛柔相濟，不可徒恃其勇。

If you trust only to courage, you are a match for just one man. I am now encamped with the main army at Nanzheng, and I wish to see your ‘wondrous talent’ — your Miaocai. See that you do not disgrace those two words.” Xiahou Yuan was delighted when he had read it. When he had sent the envoy back, he said to Zhang He, “The King of Wei has now brought a great army to camp at Nanzheng to punish Liu Bei. If you and I just go on holding this place, how shall we ever win merit? Tomorrow I will go out to battle, and I am determined to take Huang Zhong alive.”

若但任勇，則是一夫之敵耳。吾今屯大軍於南鄭，欲觀卿之妙才，勿辱二字可也。”夏侯淵覽畢大喜。打發使命回訖，乃與張郃商議曰：“今魏王率大兵屯於南鄭，以討劉備。吾與汝久守此地，豈能建立功業？來日吾出戰，務要生擒黃忠。”

Zhang He said, “Huang Zhong has both cunning and courage, and he has Fa Zheng to help him besides. We must not take the enemy lightly. The mountain roads here are steep and dangerous; our only course is to hold fast.” “If someone else wins the credit,” said Xiahou Yuan, “with what face will you and I appear before the King of Wei? You just hold the hill; I will go out and fight.” Then he gave the order: “Who dares go out on patrol and lure the enemy?” “I will go,” said Xiahou Shang. Xiahou Yuan said, “Go out on patrol and fight Huang Zhong, but you are to lose, not to win.

張郃曰：“黃忠謀勇兼備，況有法正相助，不可輕敵。此間山路險峻，只宜堅守。”淵曰：“若他人建了功勞，吾與汝有何面目見魏王耶？汝只守山，吾去出戰。”遂下令曰：“誰敢出哨誘敵？”夏侯尚曰：“吾願往。”淵曰：“汝去出哨，與黃忠交戰，只宜輸，不宜贏。

I have a fine plan: do thus and thus.” Xiahou Shang took his orders and, with three thousand men, left the main camp on Mount Dingjun and moved forward.

吾有妙計，如此如此。”尚受令，引三千軍離定軍山大寨前行。

Meanwhile Huang Zhong and Fa Zheng had camped with their troops at the mouth of the Mount Dingjun valley and had challenged again and again, but Xiahou Yuan held fast and would not come out. They wanted to attack, but feared the danger of the mountain roads, where it was hard to gauge the enemy, and so they could only hold their ground. That day, word suddenly came that Cao troops had come down from the hill to offer battle. Huang Zhong was about to lead his men out to meet them when a junior officer, Chen Shi, said, “Do not stir, General. Let me take them on.” Huang Zhong was delighted and ordered Chen Shi to take a thousand men out through the valley mouth and draw up in battle order.

卻說黃忠與法正引兵屯於定軍山口，累次挑戰，夏侯淵堅守不出；欲要進攻，又恐山路危險，難以料敵，只得據守。是日，忽報山上曹兵下來搦戰。黃忠恰待引軍出迎，牙將陳式曰：“將軍休動，某願當之。”忠大喜，遂令陳式引軍一千，出山口列陣。

When Xiahou Shang’s troops arrived, battle was joined at once. After only a few bouts Xiahou Shang pretended to be beaten and fled. Chen Shi gave chase, but halfway along logs and stones came crashing down from the hills on both sides and he could go no further. Just as he was about to turn back, Xiahou Yuan burst out behind him with his troops. Chen Shi could not hold him off and was captured alive and carried back to Xiahou Yuan’s camp. Many of his men surrendered. Some of the beaten soldiers escaped with their lives and went back to tell Huang Zhong that Chen Shi had been taken.

夏侯尚兵至，遂與交鋒。不數合，尚詐敗而走。式趕去，行到半路，被兩山上擂木炮石，打將下來，不能前進。正欲回時，背後夏侯淵引兵突出，陳式不能抵當，被夏侯淵生擒回寨。部卒多降。有敗軍逃得性命，回報黃忠，說陳式被擒。

Huang Zhong in alarm took counsel with Fa Zheng. Fa Zheng said, “Xiahou Yuan is rash and impetuous by nature, trusting in his courage and short on strategy. Rouse and encourage the soldiers, break camp and advance, making camp at every step, and lure Xiahou Yuan out to fight so that you can capture him. This is the method of turning the guest into the host.” Huang Zhong followed his plan and gave all the goods he had as rewards to the army. Shouts of joy filled the valley, and the men were eager to fight to the death. That same day Huang Zhong broke camp and advanced, making camp at every step; at each camp he stayed several days before moving on again.

忠慌與法正商議，正曰：“淵爲人輕躁，恃勇少謀。可激勸士卒，拔寨前進，步步爲營，誘淵來戰而擒之：此乃反客爲主之法。”忠用其謀，將應有之物，盡賞三軍，歡聲滿谷，願效死戰。黃忠即日拔寨而進，步步爲營；每營住數日，又進。

When Xiahou Yuan heard of it, he wanted to go out and fight. Zhang He said, “This is the ruse of turning the guest into the host. You must not go out to fight; if you do, you will suffer a loss.” Xiahou Yuan would not listen, and ordered Xiahou Shang to lead several thousand men out to battle, right up to the front of Huang Zhong’s camp. Huang Zhong mounted, took up his sword and rode out to meet him. He crossed horses with Xiahou Shang and in a single bout took him alive and carried him back to camp. The rest all fled and went back to report to Xiahou Yuan.

淵聞之，欲出戰。張郃曰：“此乃反客爲主之計，不可出戰，戰則有失。”淵不從，令夏侯尚引數千兵出戰，直到黃忠寨前。忠上馬提刀出迎，與夏侯尚交馬，只一合，生擒夏侯尚歸寨。餘皆敗走，回報夏侯淵。

Xiahou Yuan hastily sent a man to Huang Zhong’s camp to propose exchanging Chen Shi for Xiahou Shang. Huang Zhong agreed that they should make the exchange before the lines the next day. The next day both armies came to a broad part of the valley and drew up in battle array. Huang Zhong and Xiahou Yuan each sat his horse beneath the gate banners of his own formation. Huang Zhong had Xiahou Shang with him, and Xiahou Yuan had Chen Shi; neither prisoner had been given robe or armour, but only thin clothes to cover the body.

淵急使人到黃忠寨，言願將陳式來換夏侯尚。忠約定來日陣前相換。次日，兩軍皆到山谷闊處，布成陣勢。黃忠、夏侯淵各立馬於本陣門旗之下。黃忠帶着夏侯尚，夏侯淵帶着陳式，各不與袍鎧，只穿蔽體薄衣。

At a single roll of the drum, Chen Shi and Xiahou Shang each ran back toward his own lines. Just as Xiahou Shang was reaching the gate of his formation, Huang Zhong shot an arrow that struck him square in the back, and he got back with the arrow still in him. Xiahou Yuan, in a rage, galloped straight at Huang Zhong, who wanted nothing better than to goad him into fighting. The two generals crossed horses and fought some twenty bouts, when suddenly the gongs sounded the recall in the Cao camp. Xiahou Yuan hurriedly wheeled his horse and turned back, and Huang Zhong, pressing his advantage, fell upon his men and cut them up.

一聲鼓響，陳式、夏侯尚各望本陣奔回。夏侯尚比及到陣門時，被黃忠一箭，射中後心。尚帶箭而回。淵大怒，驟馬徑取黃忠。忠正要激淵廝殺。兩將交馬，戰到二十餘合，曹營內忽然鳴金收兵。淵慌撥馬而回，被忠乘勢殺了一陣。

Back in his lines, Xiahou Yuan asked the officer in charge of the formation, “Why did you sound the gongs?” “I saw Shu banners in several places in the hollows of the hills,” the officer replied. “I feared an ambush, so I called you back in haste.” Xiahou Yuan believed him and held fast, not going out again.

淵回陣問押陣官：“爲何鳴金？”答曰：“某見山凹中有蜀兵旗幡數處，恐是伏兵，故急招將軍回。”淵信其說，遂堅守不出。

Huang Zhong pressed forward to the foot of Mount Dingjun and took counsel with Fa Zheng. Fa Zheng pointed and said, “West of Mount Dingjun there rises a lofty mountain, with steep paths on every side. From its top one can look right down on Mount Dingjun and see its strengths and weaknesses. If you can take this mountain, General, Mount Dingjun is as good as in the palm of your hand.” Huang Zhong looked up and saw that the summit was fairly level and held only a few men and horses. That night, at the second watch, he led his soldiers up with gongs clanging and drums beating, and fought his way straight to the top.

黃忠逼到定軍山下，與法正商議。正以手指曰：“定軍山西，巍然有一座高山，四下皆是險道。此山上足可下視定軍山之虛實。將軍若取得此山，定軍山只在掌中也。”忠仰見山頭稍平，山上有些少人馬。是夜二更，忠引軍士鳴金擊鼓，直殺上山頂。

This mountain was held by Du Xi, one of Xiahou Yuan’s generals, with only a few hundred men. Seeing Huang Zhong’s great force swarming up, he had no choice but to abandon the mountain and flee. Huang Zhong now held the summit, directly facing Mount Dingjun. Fa Zheng said, “General, hold the middle of the slope, and I will stay on the summit. When Xiahou Yuan’s army comes, I will raise a white flag as a signal, and you must keep your troops still and not move. When they are tired and off their guard, I will raise a red flag, and then you must go down the mountain and strike. Resting while we wait for a weary enemy, we are sure to win.”

此山有夏侯淵部將杜襲守把，止有數百餘人。當時見黃忠大隊擁上，只得棄山而走。忠得了山頂，正與定軍山相對。法正曰：“將軍可守在半山，某居山頂。待夏侯淵兵至，吾舉白旗爲號，將軍卻按兵勿動；待他倦怠無備，吾卻舉起紅旗，將軍便下山擊之：以逸待勞，必當取勝。”

Huang Zhong was delighted and followed his plan. Meanwhile Du Xi fled back with his men to Xiahou Yuan and told him that Huang Zhong had seized the facing hill. Xiahou Yuan was furious. “Now that Huang Zhong has occupied the facing hill,” he said, “I have no choice but to go out and fight.” Zhang He remonstrated: “This is Fa Zheng’s scheme. You must not go out to fight, General; you should only hold fast.” “He has occupied the hill facing us and is spying on our strengths and weaknesses,” said Xiahou Yuan. “How can I not go out and fight?” Zhang He pleaded earnestly, but Xiahou Yuan would not listen.

忠大喜，從其計。卻說杜襲引軍逃回，見夏侯淵，說黃忠奪了對山。淵大怒曰：“黃忠佔了對山，不容我不出戰。”張郃諫曰：“此乃法正之謀也。將軍不可出戰，只宜堅守。”淵曰：“佔了吾對山，觀吾虛實，如何不出戰？”郃苦諫不聽。

Xiahou Yuan divided his army to surround the facing hill and hurled abuse at it to provoke a fight. Fa Zheng, on the summit, raised the white flag, and however Xiahou Yuan reviled them, Huang Zhong simply would not come out. After noon, Fa Zheng saw that the Cao troops were tired, their keen spirit spent, and that many had dismounted and were sitting down to rest. Then he unfurled and waved the red flag. Drums and horns sounded together, a great shout shook the air, and Huang Zhong, riding at the head of all, came charging down the mountain like heaven collapsing and earth caving in.

淵分軍圍住對山，大罵挑戰。法正在山上舉起白旗；任從夏侯淵百般辱罵，黃忠只不出戰。午時以後，法正見曹兵倦怠，銳氣已墮，多下馬坐息，乃將紅旗招展，鼓角齊鳴，喊聲大震，黃忠一馬當先，馳下山來，猶如天崩地塌之勢。

Taken completely by surprise, Xiahou Yuan was overtaken by Huang Zhong right under his commander’s canopy. Huang Zhong gave a great shout like the roar of thunder, and before Xiahou Yuan could meet him, the precious blade had fallen, cleaving him in two through head and shoulder.

夏侯淵措手不及，被黃忠趕到麾蓋之下，大喝一聲，猶如雷吼。淵未及相迎，黃忠寶刀已落，連頭帶肩，砍爲兩段。

A later poet wrote in praise of Huang Zhong:
Grey-haired, he faced a mighty foe;
White-headed, he showed a god’s own might.
With all his strength he loosed the carved bow;
Into the wind he swung the snowy blade.
His voice rang out like a tiger’s roar;
His steed flew on like a dragon in flight.
Great was the merit of the head he offered;
He opened new lands and widened the imperial domain.
When Huang Zhong had slain Xiahou Yuan, the Cao army broke utterly and every man fled for his life. Huang Zhong pressed on to seize Mount Dingjun, and Zhang He came out with his troops to meet him. Huang Zhong and Chen Shi attacked him from two sides, and after a confused fight Zhang He was beaten and fled.

後人有詩讚黃忠曰：“蒼頭臨大敵，皓首逞神威。
力趁雕弓發，風迎雪刃揮。
雄聲如虎吼，駿馬似龍飛。
獻馘功勳重，開疆展帝畿。
”黃忠斬了夏侯淵，曹兵大潰，各自逃生。
黃忠乘勢去奪定軍山，張郃領兵來迎。
忠與陳式兩下夾攻，混殺一陣，張郃敗走。

Suddenly a band of horsemen flashed out from beside the hill and barred the way. At its head was a great general who shouted, “Zhao Zilong of Changshan is here!” Zhang He, badly shaken, led his beaten troops to force a way through and fled toward Mount Dingjun. But ahead of him a force came to meet him: it was Du Xi. “Mount Dingjun has already been taken by Liu Feng and Meng Da,” said Du Xi. Zhang He was dismayed. He and Du Xi led the defeated troops to the Han River and camped there, while he sent a man to carry the news to Cao Cao with all speed.

忽然山傍閃出一彪人馬，當住去路；爲首一員大將，大叫：“常山趙子龍在此！”張郃大驚，引敗軍奪路望定軍山而走。只見前面一枝兵來迎，乃杜襲也。襲曰：“今定軍山已被劉封、孟達奪了。”郃大驚，遂與杜襲引敗兵到漢水紮營；一面令人飛報曹操。

When Cao Cao heard that Xiahou Yuan was dead, he wept aloud, and only then did he understand Guan Lu’s words. “Three and eight crosswise and lengthwise” meant the twenty-fourth year of Jian’an; “the yellow boar meets the tiger” meant the first month of the year jihai; “south of Dingjun” meant south of Mount Dingjun; and “one limb is wounded and broken” meant Xiahou Yuan, who was as close to Cao Cao as a brother. Cao Cao sent men to look for Guan Lu, but no one knew where he had gone. Bitterly hating Huang Zhong, Cao Cao himself led the main army to Mount Dingjun to avenge Xiahou Yuan, with Xu Huang as his van leader.

操聞淵死，放聲大哭，方悟管輅所言：“三八縱橫”，乃建安二十四年也，“黃豬遇虎”，乃歲在己亥正月也；“定軍之南”，乃定軍山之南也；“傷折一股”，乃淵與操有兄弟之親情也。操令人尋管輅時，不知何處去了。操深恨黃忠，遂親統大軍，來定軍山與夏侯淵報仇，令徐晃作先鋒。

When he reached the Han River, Zhang He and Du Xi came to meet him. “Mount Dingjun is already lost,” the two generals said. “We should move the grain and fodder from Mount Micang to the camp on the North Hill and store it there before advancing.” Cao Cao agreed.

行到漢水，張郃、杜襲接着曹操。二將曰：“今定軍山已失，可將米倉山糧草移於北山寨中屯積，然後進兵。”曹操依允。

Huang Zhong, having cut off Xiahou Yuan’s head, came up to Jiameng Pass to present his trophy to Xuande. Xuande was overjoyed. He promoted Huang Zhong to General Who Conquers the West and gave a banquet to celebrate. Suddenly Zhang Zhu, a junior officer, came to report: “Cao Cao is coming in person with an army of two hundred thousand to avenge Xiahou Yuan. At this moment Zhang He is shifting the grain and fodder from Mount Micang to the foot of the North Hill by the Han River.”

卻說黃忠斬了夏侯淵首級，來葭萌關上見玄德獻功。玄德大喜，加忠爲徵西大將軍，設宴慶賀。忽牙將張著來報說：“曹操自領大軍二十萬，來與夏侯淵報仇。目今郃在米倉山搬運糧草，移於漢水北山腳下。”

Kongming said, “Cao Cao has now brought his great army here, but he is holding it back and not advancing because he fears his grain and fodder will not suffice. If one man could go deep into his territory, burn his grain and fodder and seize his baggage, Cao Cao’s keen edge would be blunted.” “Let this old man take on the task,” said Huang Zhong. “Cao Cao is no Xiahou Yuan,” said Kongming. “You must not take the enemy lightly.” Xuande said, “Xiahou Yuan was the commander-in-chief, but he was only a brave fellow. How could he compare with Zhang He?

孔明曰：“今操引大兵至此，恐糧草不敷，故勒兵不進；若得一人深入其境，燒其糧草，奪其輜重，則操之銳氣挫矣。”黃忠曰：“老夫願當此任。”孔明曰：“操非夏侯淵之比，不可輕敵。”玄德曰：“夏侯淵雖是總帥，乃一勇夫耳，安及張郃？

If you could kill Zhang He, it would be worth ten times the killing of Xiahou Yuan.” Huang Zhong said stoutly, “I will go and kill him.” Kongming said, “You may go with Zhao Zilong, leading a force together. Take counsel together in everything you do, and we shall see who wins the credit.” Huang Zhong agreed and set off at once, and Kongming ordered Zhang Zhu to go with him as his second. Zhao Yun said to Huang Zhong, “Cao Cao has now brought two hundred thousand men and has them camped in ten camps. You have told our lord that you will go and seize their grain, General, and that is no small matter.

若斬得張郃，勝斬夏侯淵十倍也。”忠奮然曰：“吾願往斬之。”孔明曰：“你可與趙子龍同領一枝兵去；凡事計議而行，看誰立功。”忠應允便行。孔明就令張著爲副將同去。雲謂忠曰：“今操引二十萬衆，分屯十營，將軍在主公前要去奪糧，非小可之事。

What plan will you use?” “Suppose I go first and see,” said Huang Zhong. “Let me go first,” said Zhao Yun. “I am the chief general and you are my second,” said Huang Zhong. “Why do you dispute who goes first?” Zhao Yun said, “You and I are both exerting ourselves alike for our lord. Why haggle? Let the two of us draw lots, and whoever draws it goes first.” Huang Zhong agreed, and it was Huang Zhong who drew the lot to go first. “Since you go first, General,” said Zhao Yun, “I shall support you.

將軍當用何策？”忠曰：“看我先去，如何？”雲曰：“等我先去。”忠曰：“我是主將，你是副將，如何先爭？”雲曰：“我與你都一般爲主公出力，何必計較？我二人拈鬮，拈着的先去。”忠依允。當時黃忠拈着先去。雲曰：“既將軍先去，某當相助。

Let us fix a time. If you return by the appointed time, I will keep my troops where they are; but if the time passes and you have not returned, I will at once bring my men to your support.” “You are right,” said Huang Zhong. So the two agreed on noon as the limit. Zhao Yun went back to his own camp and said to his subordinate Zhang Yi, “Huang Hansheng has arranged to go and seize the grain and fodder tomorrow. If he is not back by noon, I must go to his aid. Our camp faces the Han River, and the ground is dangerous. If I go, you must guard the stockade carefully and not move rashly.” Zhang Yi promised to do so.

可約定時刻。如將軍依時而還，某按兵不動；若將軍過時而不還，某即引軍來接應。”忠曰：“公言是也。”於是二人約定午時爲期。雲回本寨，謂部將張翼曰：“黃漢升約定明日去奪糧草，若午時不回，我當往助。吾營前臨漢水，地勢危險；我若去時，汝可謹守寨柵，不可輕動。”張翼應諾。

Meanwhile Huang Zhong returned to his camp and said to his second in command, Zhang Zhu, “Since I slew Xiahou Yuan, Zhang He has lost his nerve. Tomorrow, under orders, I am going to raid their grain and fodder, leaving only five hundred men to guard the camp. You are to help me. Tonight at the third watch everyone is to eat his fill; at the fourth watch we leave camp and fight our way to the foot of the North Hill. First we seize Zhang He, then we carry off the grain and fodder.” Zhang Zhu did as he was ordered. That night Huang Zhong led the men in front with Zhang Zhu behind, and they stole across the Han River and went straight to the foot of the North Hill.

卻說黃忠回到寨中，謂副將張著曰；“我斬了夏侯淵，張郃喪膽；吾明日領命去劫糧草，只留五百軍守營。你可助吾。今夜三更，盡皆飽食；四更離營，殺到北山腳下，先捉張郃，後劫糧草。”張著依令。當夜黃忠領人馬在前，張著在後，偷過漢水，直到北山之下。

As the sun rose in the east, they saw grain piled up like mountains. A few soldiers were on guard, but when they saw the Shu troops arrive they abandoned everything and fled. Huang Zhong had his horsemen all dismount and pile brushwood on top of the grain. They were about to set it alight when Zhang He’s troops arrived and fell into a confused melee with Huang Zhong. When Cao Cao heard of it, he hastily ordered Xu Huang to go in support. Xu Huang led his troops forward and hemmed Huang Zhong in. Zhang Zhu got away with three hundred men and was about to go back to camp when suddenly a force dashed out and barred his way. Its leader was Wen Pin. Then more Cao troops came up from behind, and Zhang Zhu was surrounded.

東方日出，見糧積如山。有些少軍士看守，見蜀兵到，盡棄而走。黃忠教馬軍一齊下馬，取柴堆於米糧之上。正欲放火，張郃兵到，與忠混戰一處。曹操聞知，急令徐晃接應。晃領兵前進，將黃忠困於垓心。張著引三百軍走脫，正要回寨，忽一枝兵撞出，攔住去路；爲首大將，乃是文聘；後面曹兵又至，把張著圍住。

Meanwhile Zhao Yun waited in his camp until noon came, and still Huang Zhong had not returned. He hurriedly put on his armour, mounted, and led three thousand men forward in support. As he set out he said to Zhang Yi, “Hold the camp fast. Set plenty of bows and crossbows on either side, to be ready.” Zhang Yi promised again and again. Zhao Yun, spear levelled, galloped straight ahead. A general barred his way head on: it was Murong Lie, one of Wen Pin’s officers, who urged his horse forward and came at Zhao Yun whirling his sword. Zhao Yun raised his hand and ran him through with a single thrust.

卻說趙雲在營中，看看等到午時，不見忠回，急忙披掛上馬，引三千軍向前接應；臨行，謂張翼曰：“汝可堅守營寨。兩壁廂多設弓弩，以爲準備。”翼連聲應諾。雲挺槍驟馬直殺往前去。迎頭一將攔路，乃文聘部將慕容烈也，拍馬舞刀來迎趙雲；被雲手起一槍刺死。

The Cao troops fled. Zhao Yun charged straight into the ring of enemies, and another force blocked his way, led by the Wei general Jiao Bing. “Where are the Shu troops?” Zhao Yun shouted at him. “All killed!” said Jiao Bing. In a fury Zhao Yun galloped at him and with one thrust of his spear killed him too. Scattering the rest of the troops, he went straight to the foot of the North Hill, where he found Zhang He and Xu Huang surrounding Huang Zhong, whose men had been trapped for a long time. With a great shout, Zhao Yun levelled his spear, spurred his horse and charged into the encirclement, dashing left and thrusting right as though there were no one there at all.

曹兵敗走。雲直殺入重圍，又一枝兵截住；爲首乃魏將焦炳。雲喝問曰：“蜀兵何在？”炳曰：“已殺盡矣！”雲大怒，驟馬一槍，又刺死焦炳。殺散餘兵，直至北山之下，見張郃、徐晃兩人圍住黃忠，軍士被困多時。雲大喝一聲，挺槍驟馬，殺入重圍，左衝右突，如入無人之境。

That spear flew all about his body like dancing pear blossoms, and whirled all around him like drifting snowflakes of good omen. Zhang He and Xu Huang, their hearts quaking, dared not face him. Zhao Yun rescued Huang Zhong and fought his way out, and wherever he went, no one dared stop him. Cao Cao, watching from a height, asked his generals in astonishment, “Who is that general?” One who knew him said, “That is Zhao Zilong of Changshan.” “So the hero of Changban in Dangyang is still with us!” said Cao Cao.

那槍渾身上下，若舞梨花；遍體紛紛，如飄瑞雪。張郃、徐晃心驚膽戰，不敢迎敵。雲救出黃忠，且戰且走；所到之處，無人敢阻。操於高處望見，驚問衆將曰：“此將何人也？”有識者告曰：“此乃常山趙子龍也。”操曰：“昔日當陽長坂英雄尚在！”

He hastily sent out an order: “Wherever he goes, no one is to take him lightly.” When Zhao Yun had rescued Huang Zhong and broken through the encirclement, one of the soldiers pointed and said, “Those surrounded to the southeast must be the second general, Zhang Zhu.” Zhao Yun did not go back to his camp but fought his way toward the southeast. Wherever he went, as soon as the banner bearing the four characters “Zhao Yun of Changshan” was seen, those who had learned of his valour at Changban in Dangyang passed the word to one another, and all fled.

急傳令曰：“所到之處，不許輕敵。”趙雲救了黃忠，殺透重圍，有軍士指曰：“東南上圍的，必是副將張著。”雲不回本寨，遂望東南殺來。所到之處，但見“常山趙雲”四字旗號，曾在當陽長坂知其勇者，互相傳說，盡皆逃竄。

Zhao Yun rescued Zhang Zhu as well. When Cao Cao saw Zhao Yun dashing east and charging west, carrying all before him with no one daring to face him, rescuing first Huang Zhong and then Zhang Zhu too, he flew into a great rage and himself led the officers and men about him in pursuit of Zhao Yun. But Zhao Yun had already fought his way back to his own camp. His subordinate Zhang Yi came out to meet him and, seeing dust rising behind, knew that Cao troops were in pursuit. “The pursuers are drawing near,” he said to Zhao Yun at once. “Let the men shut the camp gates and man the watchtowers for defence.”

雲又救了張著。曹操見雲東衝西突，所向無前，莫敢迎敵，救了黃忠，又救了張著，奮然大怒，自領左右將士來趕趙雲。雲已殺回本寨。部將張翼接着，望見後面塵起，知是曹兵追來，即謂雲曰：“追兵漸近，可令軍士閉上寨門，上敵樓防護。”

“Do not shut the gates!” Zhao Yun shouted. “Do you not know how, long ago at Changban in Dangyang, with a single spear and a single horse, I looked on Cao Cao’s eight hundred and thirty thousand men as so much grass and straw? Now that I have soldiers and officers, what is there to fear?” He then posted archers and crossbowmen in ambush in the moat outside the camp, had all the flags and spears inside the camp laid flat, and let no gong or drum sound. Zhao Yun himself, alone on his horse with his spear, took his stand outside the camp gate. Meanwhile Zhang He and Xu Huang pursued with their troops as far as the Shu camp, and by then it was already dusk. When they saw the flags lowered and the drums silent in the camp, and Zhao Yun standing alone outside with his spear, the gates wide open, the two generals dared not advance.

雲喝曰：“休閉寨門！汝豈不知吾昔在當陽長坂時，單槍匹馬，覷曹兵八十三萬如草芥！今有軍有將，又何懼哉！”遂撥弓弩手於寨外壕中埋伏；將營內旗槍，盡皆倒偃，金鼓不鳴。雲匹馬單槍，立於營門之外。卻說張郃、徐晃領兵追至蜀寨，天色已暮；見寨中偃旗息鼓，又見趙雲匹馬單槍，立於營外，寨門大開，二將不敢前進。

While they hesitated, Cao Cao arrived in person and urgently drove his army forward. The troops obeyed, raised a great shout and charged toward the camp; but seeing Zhao Yun sit there utterly unmoved, they turned about and went back. Zhao Yun gave a signal with his spear, and the bows and crossbows in the moat all loosed at once. It was dark by then, and there was no telling how many Shu troops there were. Cao Cao was the first to wheel his horse and flee. All they could hear was a great shouting behind them, drums and horns sounding together, as the Shu troops came after them.

正疑之間，曹操親到，急催督衆軍向前。衆軍聽令，大喊一聲，殺奔營前；見趙雲全然不動，曹兵翻身就回。趙雲把槍一招，壕中弓弩齊發。時天色昏黑，正不知蜀兵多少。操先撥回馬走。只聽得後面喊聲大震，鼓角齊鳴，蜀兵趕來。

The Cao troops trampled one another as they crowded to the bank of the Han River, and countless numbers fell into the water and drowned. Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong and Zhang Zhu, each leading a force, pressed the pursuit hard. As Cao Cao was fleeing, Liu Feng and Meng Da suddenly came charging down the Mount Micang road with two forces and set fire to the grain and fodder. Cao Cao abandoned the grain and fodder on the North Hill and hurried back to Nanzheng. Xu Huang and Zhang He could not hold their ground either, and they too abandoned their camps and fled.

曹兵自相踐踏，擁到漢水河邊，落水死者，不知其數。趙雲、黃忠、張著各引兵一枝，追殺甚急。操正奔走間，忽劉封、孟達率二枝兵，從米倉山路殺來，放火燒糧草。操棄了北山糧草，忙回南鄭。徐晃、張郃紮腳不住，亦棄本寨而走。

Zhao Yun occupied the Cao camp, Huang Zhong seized the grain and fodder, and countless weapons were taken at the Han River. Having won a great victory, they sent a man to report to Xuande. Xuande then went to the Han River with Kongming and asked Zhao Yun’s soldiers, “How did Zilong fight?” The soldiers told him in full detail how Zilong had rescued Huang Zhong and held the Han River. Xuande was overjoyed, and after looking over the steep paths before and behind the hill, he said happily to Kongming, “Zilong is courage through and through!”

趙雲佔了曹寨，黃忠奪了糧草，漢水所得軍器無數，大獲勝捷，差人去報玄德。玄德遂同孔明前至漢水，問趙雲的部卒曰：“子龍如何廝殺？”軍士將子龍救黃忠、拒漢水之事，細述一遍。玄德大喜，看了山前山後險峻之路，欣然謂孔明曰：“子龍一身都是膽也！”

A later poet wrote in his praise:
He fought of old at Changban,
And his awesome valour has not waned.
Breaking through the lines, he showed himself a hero;
Surrounded, he displayed his daring.
Ghosts wailed and spirits howled;
Heaven was startled and earth was stricken.
Zhao Zilong of Changshan
Is courage through and through!

後人有詩讚曰：“昔日戰長坂，威風猶未減。
突陣顯英雄，被圍施勇敢。
鬼哭與神號，天驚並地慘。
常山趙子龍，一身都是膽！
”

Thereupon Xuande gave Zilong the title General of Tiger Might and feasted his officers and men lavishly, celebrating until evening. Suddenly word came that Cao Cao had again sent a great army advancing by the byways of the Xie Valley to take the Han River. Xuande laughed. “Cao Cao can do nothing by coming this time,” he said. “I reckon we are sure to win the Han River.” He led his army to meet the enemy west of the Han River. Cao Cao ordered Xu Huang to lead the van and come on to a decisive battle.

於是玄德號子龍爲虎威將軍，大勞將士，歡宴至晚。忽報曹操復遣大軍從斜谷小路而進，來取漢水。玄德笑曰：“操此來無能爲也。我料必得漢水矣。”乃率兵於漢水之西以迎之。曹操命徐晃爲先鋒，前來決戰。

A man came forward before the tent and said, “I know the lie of the land well. I wish to go with General Xu and help him defeat Shu.” Cao Cao looked at him. He was a man of Dangqu in Baxi, surnamed Wang, named Ping, styled Zijun, and at the time served as General of the Standard. Cao Cao was delighted and made Wang Ping deputy van leader to help Xu Huang. Cao Cao camped his army north of Mount Dingjun. Xu Huang and Wang Ping led their troops to the Han River, and Xu Huang ordered the vanguard to cross the river and draw up in battle array.

帳前一人出曰：“某深知地理，願助徐將軍同去破蜀。”操視之，乃巴西宕渠人也，姓王，名平，字子均；現充牙門將軍。操大喜，遂命王平爲副先鋒，相助徐晃。操屯兵於定軍山北。徐晃、王平引軍至漢水，晃令前軍渡水列陣。

“If the army crosses the river,” said Wang Ping, “what shall we do should we need to retreat in a hurry?” Xu Huang said, “Long ago Han Xin drew up his army with its back to a river; it is what is called putting men on deadly ground so that they will live.” “Not so,” said Wang Ping. “Han Xin used that plan because he had judged that the enemy had no strategy. Can you now judge what Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong intend, General?” “You take the foot soldiers and hold off the enemy,” said Xu Huang, “and watch me break them with the horse.” He then had a floating bridge laid and at once crossed the river to fight the Shu army.

平曰：“軍若渡水，倘要急退，如之奈何？”晃曰：“昔韓信背水爲陣，所謂致之死地而後生也。”平曰：“不然。昔者韓信料敵人無謀而用此計；今將軍能料趙雲、黃忠之意否？”晃曰：“汝可引步軍拒敵，看我引馬軍破之。”遂令搭起浮橋，隨即過河來戰蜀兵。

Indeed:
The man of Wei fancied he could follow Han Xin,
Not knowing that the minister of Shu was another Zifang.
Who won and who lost will be told in the next chapter.

正是：魏人妄意宗韓信，蜀相那知是子房。
未知勝負如何，且看下文分解。