Romance, Chapter 82

Chapter 82. Sun Quan Submits to Wei and Receives the Nine Dignities; The First Ruler Marches Against Wu and Rewards the Six Armies

Now in the autumn of the first year of Zhangwu, in the eighth month, the First Ruler raised his great army and reached Kui Pass, and the imperial carriage halted at Baidicheng. The front divisions had already come out through the mouth of the Chuan. A courtier memorialized, “Zhuge Jin has come as envoy from Wu.” The First Ruler sent word that he was not to be admitted. Huang Quan memorialized, “Zhuge Jin’s younger brother is Chancellor in Shu; he must have come on some business. Why does Your Majesty refuse him? You ought to call him in and see what he has to say. If it can be accepted, accept it; if not, use his mouth to carry a message to Sun Quan, so that he knows there is just cause for calling him to account.”

卻說章武元年秋八月，先主起大軍至夔關，駕屯白帝城。前隊軍馬已出川口。近臣奏曰：“吳使諸葛瑾至。”先主傳旨教休放入。黃權奏曰：“瑾弟在蜀爲相，必有事而來。陛下何故絕之？當召入，看他言語。可從則從；如不可，則就借彼口說與孫權，令知問罪有名也。”

The First Ruler agreed and called Zhuge Jin into the city. Zhuge Jin prostrated himself on the ground. The First Ruler asked, “Ziyu, you have come a long way. What is your business?” Zhuge Jin said, “My brother has long served Your Majesty, and so I have not shrunk from the axe but have come expressly to address you on the matter of Jingzhou. Formerly, while Guan Yu was in Jingzhou, the Marquis of Wu sought a marriage alliance several times, but Guan Yu would not consent. Later, when Guan Yu attacked Xiangyang, Cao Cao wrote to the Marquis of Wu again and again, urging him to fall upon Jingzhou. The Marquis of Wu had no wish to agree, but because Lü Meng was on bad terms with Guan Yu, Lü Meng raised troops on his own authority and by mistake brought on a great calamity. Now the Marquis of Wu regrets it more than he can say.

先主從之，召瑾入城。瑾拜伏於地。先主問曰：“子瑜遠來，有何事故？”瑾曰：“臣弟久事陛下，臣故不避斧鉞，特來奏荊州之事。前者，關公在荊州時，吳侯數次求親，關公不允。後關公取襄陽，曹操屢次致書吳侯，使襲荊州；吳侯本不肯許，因呂蒙與關公不睦，故擅自興兵，誤成大事，今吳侯悔之不及。

This was Lü Meng’s crime, not the fault of the Marquis of Wu. Now Lü Meng is dead, and the grievance has been laid to rest. Lady Sun has long wished to return. The Marquis of Wu has now made me his envoy: he wishes to send your lady home, bind and return the generals who surrendered, and hand Jingzhou back as before, so as to seal a lasting alliance, destroy Cao Pi together, and punish the crime of usurpation.” The First Ruler said angrily, “You of Eastern Wu murdered my brother, and today you dare come to talk me round with clever words!”

此乃呂蒙之罪，非吳侯之過也。今呂蒙已死，冤仇已息。孫夫人一向思歸。今吳侯令臣爲使，願送歸夫人，縛還降將，並將荊州仍舊交還，永結盟好，共滅曹丕，以正篡逆之罪。”先主怒曰：“汝東吳害了朕弟，今日敢以巧言來說乎！”

Zhuge Jin said, “Allow me to discuss with Your Majesty what is light and what is heavy, what is great and what is small. Your Majesty is the Imperial Uncle of the Han dynasty. Now the Han emperor has been usurped by Cao Pi, yet you do not think of destroying him; instead, for the sake of a kinsman of another surname, you stoop from the dignity of the lord of ten thousand chariots. That is to abandon the greater duty for the lesser. The Central Plain is the heart of all the land within the seas, and the two capitals are both places where the great Han founded its rule. Your Majesty does not take them, but contends only for Jingzhou. That is to cast away the heavy and take up the light.

瑾曰：“臣請以輕重大小之事，與陛下論之：陛下乃漢朝皇叔，今漢帝已被曹丕篡奪，不思剿除；卻爲異姓之親，而屈萬乘之尊：是舍大義而就小義也。中原乃海內之地，兩都皆大漢創業之方，陛下不取，而但爭荊州：是棄重而取輕也。

All the world knows that once Your Majesty ascended the throne you would surely revive the house of Han and recover its mountains and rivers. Yet now Your Majesty leaves Wei alone and wants instead to attack Wu. With respect, I think Your Majesty is mistaken.” The First Ruler said in great anger, “I will not live under the same sky as the enemy who killed my brother! If you want me to call off my army, only death will make me stop! Were it not for the Chancellor’s sake, I would have your head off first! For now I let you go back. Tell Sun Quan to wash his neck and wait for the executioner!” Seeing that the First Ruler would not listen, Zhuge Jin had no choice but to return to Jiangnan alone.

天下皆知陛下即位，必興漢室，恢復山河；今陛下置魏不問，反欲伐吳：竊爲陛下不取。”先主大怒曰：“殺吾弟之仇，不共戴天！欲朕罷兵，除死方休！不看丞相之面，先斬汝首！今且放汝回去，說與孫權：洗頸就戮！”諸葛瑾見先主不聽，只得自回江南。

Meanwhile, Zhang Zhao went to see Sun Quan and said, “Zhuge Ziyu knows how strong the Shu army is, so he made a pretext of suing for peace in order to turn his back on Wu and go over to Shu. Now that he has gone, he will certainly not return.” Sun Quan said, “Ziyu and I have a pact that neither life nor death can alter. I will not fail Ziyu, and Ziyu will not fail me. Once, when Ziyu was at Chaisang and Kongming came to Wu, I wanted Ziyu to keep him here. Ziyu said, ‘My brother already serves Xuande, and duty forbids him a divided heart. My brother’s not staying is just like my not going there.’

卻說張昭見孫權曰：“諸葛子瑜知蜀兵勢大，故假以請和爲辭，欲背吳入蜀。此去必不回矣。”權曰：“孤與子瑜，有生死不易之盟；孤不負子瑜，子瑜亦不負孤。昔子瑜在柴桑時，孔明來吳，孤欲使子瑜留之。子瑜曰：弟已事玄德，義無二心；弟之不留，猶瑾之不往。

Those words were fit to move the very gods. How would such a man go over to Shu today? Ziyu and I are friends in spirit; no talk from outside can come between us.” Even as he spoke, it was reported that Zhuge Jin had returned. Sun Quan said, “What did I tell you?” Zhang Zhao withdrew, his face covered with shame. Zhuge Jin saw Sun Quan and told him that the First Ruler would not agree to peace. Sun Quan said in great alarm, “If that is so, Jiangnan is in danger!” A man stepped forward from below the steps and said, “I have a plan that can relieve this danger.”

其言足貫神明。今日豈肯降蜀乎？孤與子瑜可謂神交，非外言所得間也。”正言間，忽報諸葛瑾回。權曰：“孤言若何？”張昭滿面羞慚而退。瑾見孫權，言先主不肯通和之意。權大驚曰：“若如此，則江南危矣！”階下一人進曰：“某有一計，可解此危。”

They looked, and saw that it was the Palace Grandee Zhao Zi. Sun Quan said, “Dedu, what good plan have you?” Zhao Zi said, “My lord, draw up a memorial, and I will go as envoy to see Cao Pi, the Emperor of Wei, and explain where his advantage lies, so that he will attack Hanzhong. Then the Shu army will be in danger of itself.” Sun Quan said, “That is the best plan. But when you go, do not lose the dignity of Eastern Wu.” Zhao Zi said, “If I make the slightest slip, I will throw myself into the river and die. How could I ever face the men of Jiangnan again?”

視之，乃中大夫趙咨也。權曰：“德度有何良策？”諮曰：“主公可作一表，某願爲使，往見魏帝曹丕，陳說利害，使襲漢中，則蜀兵自危矣。”權曰：“此計最善。但卿此去，休失了東吳氣象。”諮曰：“若有些小差失，即投江而死，安有面目見江南人物乎！”

Sun Quan was delighted. He at once wrote a memorial styling himself a subject and made Zhao Zi his envoy. Travelling day and night, Zhao Zi reached Xudu, where he first called on the Grand Commandant Jia Xu and the other officials, great and small. At court the next morning Jia Xu stepped out of the ranks and memorialized, “Eastern Wu has sent the Palace Grandee Zhao Zi to present a memorial.” Cao Pi laughed and said, “This is because they want to be rid of the Shu army.” He had him called in at once. Zhao Zi prostrated himself below the vermilion steps. When Cao Pi had finished reading the memorial, he asked Zhao Zi, “What sort of ruler is the Marquis of Wu?” Zhao Zi said, “A ruler who is intelligent and perceptive, benevolent and wise, heroic and far-sighted.”

權大喜，即寫表稱臣，令趙咨爲使。星夜到了許都，先見太尉賈詡等並大小官僚。次日早朝，賈詡出班奏曰：“東吳遣中大夫趙咨上表。”曹丕笑曰：“此欲退蜀兵故也。”即令召入。諮拜伏于丹墀。丕覽表畢，遂問諮曰：“吳侯乃何如主也：”諮曰：“聰明、仁智、雄略之主也。”

Cao Pi laughed and said, “Is your praise not rather excessive?” Zhao Zi said, “I do not exaggerate. The Marquis of Wu took up Lu Su from among ordinary men: that is his intelligence. He raised Lü Meng from the ranks: that is his perception. He captured Yu Jin and did him no harm: that is his benevolence. He took Jingzhou without staining a blade with blood: that is his wisdom. He holds the Three Rivers and eyes the world like a tiger: that is his heroism. He bends himself before Your Majesty: that is his far-sightedness. Judging by all this, is he not a ruler who is intelligent and perceptive, benevolent and wise, heroic and far-sighted?”

丕笑曰：“卿褒獎毋乃太甚？”諮曰：“臣非過譽也。吳侯納魯肅於凡品，是其聰也；拔呂蒙於行陣，是其明也；獲于禁而不害，是其仁也；取荊州兵不血刃，是其智也；據三江虎視天下，是其雄也；屈身於陛下，是其略也：以此論之，豈不爲聰明、仁智、雄略之主乎？”

Cao Pi asked again, “Does the Ruler of Wu know anything of learning?” Zhao Zi said, “The Ruler of Wu floats ten thousand ships on the river and has a million armoured men. He employs the worthy and uses the able, and his mind is set on ordering the world. Whenever he has a little leisure, he reads widely in the classics and their commentaries and goes through the histories, grasping their main ideas; he does not copy the pedant who hunts for passages and plucks out phrases.” Cao Pi said, “I intend to attack Wu. Can it be done?” Zhao Zi said, “A great state has armies for punitive war; a small state has plans for its defence.”

丕又問曰：“吳主頗知學乎？”諮曰：“吳主浮江萬艘，帶甲百萬，任賢使能，志存經略；少有餘閒，博覽書傳，歷觀史籍，採其大旨，不效書生尋章摘句而已。”丕曰：“朕欲伐吳，可乎？”諮曰：“大國有徵伐之兵，小國有御備之策。”

Cao Pi said, “Does Wu fear Wei?” Zhao Zi said, “With a million armoured men and the Yangzi and the Han for a moat, what is there to fear?” Cao Pi said, “How many men are there in Eastern Wu like you, Grandee?” Zhao Zi said, “Some eighty or ninety men of exceptional intelligence and distinction. As for men like me, they could be carted by the wagonload and measured by the bushel; there are too many to count.” Cao Pi sighed and said, “‘Sent on missions to the four quarters, he did not disgrace his lord’s commission’—that describes you well.” He then issued an edict ordering Xing Zhen, Minister of Ceremonies, to carry the patent investing Sun Quan as King of Wu, with the Nine Dignities. Zhao Zi gave thanks for the favour and left the city.

丕曰：“吳畏魏乎？”諮曰：“帶甲百萬，江漢爲池，何畏之有？”丕曰：“東吳如大夫者幾人？”諮曰：“聰明特達者八九十人；如臣之輩，車載斗量，不可勝數。”丕嘆曰：“使於四方，不辱君命，卿可以當之矣。”於是即降詔，命太常卿邢貞齎冊封孫權爲吳王，加九錫。趙咨謝恩出城。

The Grandee Liu Ye remonstrated, “Sun Quan has come to offer surrender only because he fears the might of the Shu army. In my foolish opinion, this war between Shu and Wu is Heaven destroying Wu. If you now send a senior general with several tens of thousands of men across the river to fall on them, with Shu attacking from outside and Wei from within, the state of Wu will perish in less than ten days. Once Wu is gone, Shu will stand alone. Why does Your Majesty not deal with it early?” Cao Pi said, “Sun Quan has submitted to me with due courtesy. If I attack him, I will discourage everyone in the world who wishes to surrender. It is better to accept him.”

大夫劉曄諫曰：“今孫權懼蜀兵之勢，故來請降。以臣愚見：蜀、吳交兵，乃天亡之也；今若遣上將提數萬之兵，渡江襲之，蜀攻其外，魏攻其內，吳國之亡，不出旬日。吳亡則蜀孤矣。陛下何不早圖之？”丕曰：“孫權既以禮服朕，朕若攻之，是沮天下欲降者之心；不若納之爲是。”

Liu Ye went on, “Though Sun Quan has heroic talent, he holds no more than the posts of General of Swift Cavalry and Marquis of Nanchang under the dying Han. While his rank is low, his power is slight, and he still stands in awe of the Central Plain. But if you raise him to king, he will be only one step below Your Majesty. If Your Majesty now believes his false surrender and exalts his rank and title to foster him, it is like giving wings to a tiger.” Cao Pi said, “Not so. I shall help neither Wu nor Shu. I will wait and watch Wu and Shu fight, and when one state has been destroyed and only one is left, I will get rid of that one then. What is difficult about that?

劉曄又曰：“孫權雖有雄才，乃殘漢驃騎將軍、南昌侯之職。官輕則勢微，尚有畏中原之心；若加以王位，則去陛下一階耳。今陛下信其詐降，崇其位號以封殖之，是與虎添翼也。”丕曰：“不然。朕不助吳，亦不助蜀。待看吳、蜀交兵，若滅一國，止存一國，那時除之，有何難哉？

My mind is made up; say no more.” He then ordered Xing Zhen, Minister of Ceremonies, to go with Zhao Zi straight to Eastern Wu, bearing the patent and the gifts of investiture.

朕意已決，卿勿復言。”遂命太常卿邢貞同趙咨捧執冊錫，徑至東吳。

Meanwhile, Sun Quan had gathered his officials to discuss how to resist the Shu army. Suddenly it was reported that the Emperor of Wei had made their lord a king, and that courtesy required going far out to receive the envoy. Gu Yong remonstrated, “My lord, you should style yourself Supreme General and Earl of the Nine Provinces, not accept a title from the Emperor of Wei.” Sun Quan said, “In his day the Duke of Pei accepted a fief from Xiang Yu; it was a matter of the times. Why should I refuse?” So he led his officials out of the city to meet the envoy. Xing Zhen, presuming on his position as the envoy of the superior state, came in through the gate without getting down from his carriage.

卻說孫權聚集百官，商議御蜀兵之策。忽報魏帝封主公爲王，禮當遠接，顧雍諫曰：“主公宜自稱上將軍、九州伯之位，不當受魏帝封爵。”權曰：“當日沛公受項羽之封，蓋因時也；何故卻之？”遂率百官出城迎接。邢貞自恃上國天使，入門不下車。

Zhang Zhao was furious and said in a harsh voice, “Courtesy admits of no disrespect, and law of no laxity. Yet you dare to give yourself airs—do you think there is not so much as an inch of blade in Jiangnan?” Xing Zhen hastily got down from his carriage and greeted Sun Quan, and they rode into the city side by side. Suddenly a man behind the carriages burst into loud weeping and said, “We could not throw ourselves forward and give our lives to swallow Wei and devour Shu for our lord, and now our lord must accept a title from another. Is this not a disgrace?”

張昭大怒，厲聲曰：“禮無不敬，法無不肅，而君敢自尊大，豈以江南無方寸之刃耶？”邢貞慌忙下車，與孫權相見，並車入城。忽車後一人放聲哭曰：“吾等不能奮身捨命，爲主並魏吞蜀，乃令主公受人封爵，不亦辱乎！”

They looked, and saw that it was Xu Sheng. When Xing Zhen heard this, he sighed and said, “With generals and ministers like these, Jiangdong will not stay long beneath another!” Now when Sun Quan had received his title and all his officials, civil and military, had offered their congratulations, he had fine jade, bright pearls and other treasures collected and sent someone to present them in thanks. Soon spies reported that the Ruler of Shu was advancing by land and water with the great army of his own state, several tens of thousands of foreign troops under the Man king Shamoke, and two more columns under Du Lu and Liu Ning, Han generals from the caves and streams, and that the might of his host shook the heavens.

衆視之，乃徐盛也。邢貞聞之，嘆曰：“江東將相如此，終非久在人下者也！”卻說孫權受了封爵，衆文武官僚拜賀已畢，命收拾美玉明珠等物，遣人齎進謝恩。早有細作報說蜀主引本國大兵，及蠻王沙摩柯番兵數萬，又有洞溪漢將杜路、劉寧二枝兵，水陸並進，聲勢震天。

The river army had already come out past Wukou, and the land army had reached Zigui. Sun Quan had now ascended the throne of a king, but the Ruler of Wei would not come to his support, so he asked his officials, civil and military, “The Shu army is strong. What are we to do?” All were silent. Sun Quan sighed and said, “After Zhou Lang there was Lu Su, and after Lu Su there was Lü Meng. Now Lü Meng is gone, and there is no one to share my cares!” Before he had finished, a young general stepped boldly out of the ranks, prostrated himself and memorialized, “Though I am young, I have made a good study of the books of war.

水路軍已出巫口，旱路軍已到秭歸。時孫權雖登王位，奈魏主不肯接應，乃問文武曰：“蜀兵勢大，當復如何？”衆皆默然。權嘆曰：“周郎之後有魯肅，魯肅之後有呂蒙，今呂蒙已亡，無人與孤分憂也！”言未畢，忽班部中一少年將，奮然而出，伏地奏曰：“臣雖年幼，頗習兵書。

Grant me several tens of thousands of men, and I will break the Shu army.” Sun Quan looked, and saw that it was Sun Huan. Sun Huan’s courtesy name was Shuwu. His father was named He; He’s original surname had been Yu, but Sun Ce was fond of him and gave him the surname Sun, so that he was counted a kinsman of the King of Wu. He had four sons, of whom Sun Huan was the eldest. Sun Huan was expert in archery and horsemanship; he had often followed the King of Wu on his campaigns, winning remarkable distinction again and again, and had been appointed Commandant of the Martial Guard. He was now twenty-five years old. Sun Quan said, “What plan have you to defeat them?”

願乞數萬之兵，以破蜀兵。”權視之，乃孫桓也。桓字叔武，其父名河，本姓俞氏，孫策愛之，賜姓孫，因此亦系吳王宗族。河生四子，桓居其長，弓馬熟嫺，常從吳王征討，累立奇功，官授武衛都尉；時年二十五歲。權曰：“汝有何策勝之？”

Sun Huan said, “I have two able generals, one named Li Yi and the other Xie Jing, both brave enough to stand against ten thousand men. Give me several tens of thousands of troops, and I will go and capture Liu Bei.” Sun Quan said, “Nephew, brave and gallant though you are, you are still young. You must have someone to help you.” Zhu Ran, General of Tiger Might, stepped forward and said, “I will go with the young general and capture Liu Bei.” Sun Quan agreed. He mustered fifty thousand troops for land and water, made Sun Huan Commander-in-Chief of the Left and Zhu Ran Commander-in-Chief of the Right, and they set out that same day.

桓曰：“臣有大將二員：一名李異，一名謝旌，俱有萬夫不當之勇。乞數萬之衆，往擒劉備。”權曰：“侄雖英勇，爭奈年幼；必得一人相助，方可。”虎威將軍朱然出曰：“臣願與小將軍同擒劉備。”權許之，遂點水陸軍五萬，封孫桓爲左都督，朱然爲右都督，即日起兵。

Scouts learned that the Shu army had already reached Yidu and made camp. Sun Huan led twenty-five thousand men to the border pass of Yidu and stationed them there, dividing them into three camps, front and rear, to hold off the Shu army. Now the Shu general Wu Ban held the seal of Vanguard Leader. Ever since he had come out of the Chuan, every place he reached had surrendered at the mere sight of his dust, and without staining a blade he had come straight to Yidu. Learning that Sun Huan was encamped there, he sent a swift report to the First Ruler.

哨馬探得蜀兵已至宜都下寨，孫桓引二萬五千軍馬，屯於宜都界口，前後分作三營，以拒蜀兵。卻說蜀將吳班領先鋒之印，自出川以來，所到之處，望風而降，兵不血刃，直到宜都；探知孫桓在彼下寨，飛奏先主。

The First Ruler had by now reached Zigui. When he heard the report, he said angrily, “Who is this whelp, that he dares to stand against me!” Guan Xing memorialized, “Since Sun Quan has made this boy a general, Your Majesty need not trouble to send a senior commander. Let me go and capture him.” The First Ruler said, “I have been wanting to see your mettle.” He ordered Guan Xing to go at once. Guan Xing took his leave and was about to set out when Zhang Bao stepped forward and said, “If Guan Xing is going to punish the rebels, I ask to go with him.” The First Ruler said, “It is excellent that my two nephews go together. But you must be careful and not act rashly.”

時先主已到秭歸，聞奏怒曰：“量此小兒，安敢與朕抗耶！”關興奏曰：“既孫權令此子爲將，不勞陛下遣大將，臣願往擒之。”先主曰：“朕正欲觀汝壯氣。”即命關興前往。興拜辭欲行，張苞出曰：“既關興前去討賊，臣願同行。”先主曰：“二侄同行甚妙，但須謹慎，不可造次。”

The two took leave of the First Ruler, joined the vanguard, and advanced together, drawing up their battle line. Hearing that the Shu army had come in force, Sun Huan turned out the troops of all his camps. When the two armies faced each other, Sun Huan, with Li Yi and Xie Jing, sat his horse beneath his banner. From the Shu lines two generals rode out, both in silver helmets and silver armour, on white horses under white flags. On the one side was Zhang Bao, levelling his eighteen-foot spear of spotted steel; on the other was Guan Xing, with his great broadsword held crosswise.

二人拜辭先主，會合先鋒，一同進兵，列成陣勢。孫桓聽知蜀兵大至，合寨多起。兩陣對圓，孫桓領李異、謝旌立馬於門旗之下，見蜀營中，擁出二員大將，皆銀盔銀鎧，白馬白旗：上首張苞挺丈八點鋼矛，下首關興橫着大砍刀。

Zhang Bao railed at him, “Sun Huan, you whelp! Your death is upon you, and you still dare to resist the army of Heaven?” Sun Huan railed back, “Your father has already become a headless ghost, and now you come looking for death yourself. How very foolish!” In a fury Zhang Bao levelled his spear and made straight for Sun Huan. From behind Sun Huan, Xie Jing galloped out to meet him. The two generals fought more than thirty bouts; then Xie Jing fled in defeat, and Zhang Bao pressed after him, following up his victory. Seeing Xie Jing beaten, Li Yi hastily whipped up his horse and, whirling his gilded axe, joined the fight.

苞大罵曰：“孫桓豎子！死在臨時，尚敢抗拒天兵乎！”桓亦罵曰：“汝父已作無頭之鬼；今汝又來討死，好生不智！”張苞大怒，挺槍直取孫桓。桓背後謝旌，驟馬來迎。兩將戰有三十餘合，旌敗走，苞乘勝趕來。李異見謝旌敗了，慌忙拍馬輪蘸金斧接戰。

Zhang Bao fought him for more than twenty bouts without either getting the better of the other. Tan Xiong, a lieutenant in the Wu army, seeing that Zhang Bao was so brave that Li Yi could not beat him, loosed an arrow on the sly, and it struck the horse Zhang Bao was riding. Maddened by the pain, the horse bolted back toward its own lines, but before it reached the banners it fell to the ground and threw Zhang Bao off. Li Yi rushed forward, swung up his great axe and aimed a blow at Zhang Bao’s head.

張苞與戰二十餘合，不分勝負。吳軍中裨將譚雄，見張苞英勇，李異不能勝，卻放一冷箭，正射中張苞所騎之馬。那馬負痛奔回本陣，未到門旗邊，撲地便倒，將張苞掀在地上。李異急向前輪起大斧，望張苞腦袋便砍。

Suddenly there was a flash of red light, and Li Yi’s head was already on the ground. Guan Xing had seen Zhang Bao’s horse coming back and was about to go to his aid when he saw the horse fall and Li Yi come after him. With a great shout he cut Li Yi down from his horse and saved Zhang Bao. Following up his advantage, he fell upon the enemy, and Sun Huan was heavily defeated. Each side then sounded the gongs and drew off its troops.

忽一道紅光閃處，李異頭早落地，原來關興見張苞馬回，正待接應，忽見張苞馬倒，李異趕來，興大喝一聲，劈李異於馬下，救了張苞。乘勢掩殺，孫桓大敗。各自鳴金收軍。

Next day Sun Huan came again with his army. Zhang Bao and Guan Xing rode out together. Guan Xing reined in before the lines and challenged Sun Huan alone to single combat. Sun Huan, in a rage, whipped up his horse and, swinging his sword, fought Guan Xing for more than thirty bouts; but his strength failed him, and he fled back to his lines in utter defeat. The two young generals pursued him into his camp, while Wu Ban, with Zhang Nan and Feng Xi, drove their troops in to attack. Zhang Bao, fighting bravely at the head, charged into the Wu army and ran straight into Xie Jing, who died on a single thrust of Zhang Bao’s spear.

次日，孫桓又引軍來。張苞、關興齊出。關興立馬於陣前，單搦孫桓交鋒。桓大怒，拍馬輪刀，與關興戰三十餘合，氣力不加，大敗回陣。二小將追殺入營，吳班引着張南、馮習驅兵掩殺。張苞奮勇當先，殺入吳軍，正遇謝旌，被苞一矛刺死。

The Wu soldiers scattered and fled in all directions. The Shu generals drew off their men in victory, but Guan Xing was nowhere to be seen. Zhang Bao was greatly alarmed and said, “If anything has happened to Anguo, I will not live on alone!” With that, he snatched up his spear and mounted. He had not searched more than a few li when he saw Guan Xing coming, his sword in his left hand and a live general clamped under his right arm. Zhang Bao asked, “Who is this?” Guan Xing laughed and answered, “In the thick of the fighting I ran into our enemy, so I took him alive.” Zhang Bao looked, and saw that it was Tan Xiong, who had shot the sneak arrow the day before.

吳軍四散奔走。蜀將得勝收兵，只不見了關興。張苞大驚曰：“安國有失，吾不獨生！”言訖，綽槍上馬。尋不數里，只見關興左手提刀，右手活挾一將。苞問曰：“此是何人？”興笑答曰：“吾在亂軍中，正遇仇人，故生擒來。”苞視之，乃昨日放冷箭的譚雄也。

Delighted, Zhang Bao went back to camp with him, where they beheaded Tan Xiong and poured out his blood as an offering to the dead horse. Then they wrote a memorial and sent a man to the First Ruler to report the victory.

苞大喜，同回本營，斬首瀝血，祭了死馬。遂寫表差人赴先主處報捷。

Having lost Li Yi, Xie Jing, Tan Xiong and many other officers and men, his strength spent and his position isolated, Sun Huan could hold out no longer, and he at once sent men back to Wu to ask for help. The Shu generals Zhang Nan and Feng Xi said to Wu Ban, “The Wu army has now lost heart. This is the very time to take advantage of their weakness and raid their camp.” Wu Ban said, “Sun Huan has lost many officers and men, it is true, but Zhu Ran’s fleet is now encamped on the river and has suffered no loss. If we go to raid the camp today and his marines land and cut off our way back, what then?”

孫桓折了李異、謝旌、譚雄等許多將士，力窮勢孤，不能抵敵，即差人回吳求救。蜀將張南、馮習謂吳班曰：“目今吳兵勢敗，正好乘虛劫寨。”班曰：“孫桓雖然折了許多將士，朱然水軍現今結營江上，未曾損折。今日若去劫寨，倘水軍上岸，斷我歸路，如之奈何？”

Zhang Nan said, “That is easily dealt with. Let the two generals Guan and Zhang each take five thousand men and lie in ambush in the valleys. If Zhu Ran comes to the rescue, both wings can come out together and take him between them; we are sure to win.” Wu Ban said, “Better first to have a few common soldiers pretend to desert and tell Zhu Ran of the raid on the camp. When Zhu Ran sees the fires, he will surely come to the rescue, and then the ambush can strike him. That way the great task will be achieved.” Feng Xi and the others were delighted, and they carried out the plan.

南曰：“此事至易：可教關、張二將軍，各引五千軍伏于山谷中；如朱然來救，左右兩軍齊出夾攻，必然取勝。”班曰：“不如先使小卒詐作降兵，卻將劫寨事告與朱然；然見火起，必來救應，卻令伏兵擊之，則大事濟矣。”馮習等大喜，遂依計而行。

Meanwhile Zhu Ran, hearing that Sun Huan had lost men and officers, was just about to go to his aid when the men he had posted along the road brought aboard his ship several soldiers who had come to surrender. When Zhu Ran questioned them, they said, “We are soldiers under Feng Xi. Because rewards and punishments are unfair, we have come to surrender, and we bring secret news.” Zhu Ran said, “What is your news?” They said, “Tonight Feng Xi means to take advantage of General Sun’s weakness and raid his camp. The signal agreed upon is a fire.”

卻說朱然聽知孫桓損兵折將，正欲來救，忽伏路軍引幾個小卒上船投降。然問之，小卒曰：“我等是馮習帳下士卒，因賞罰不明，待來投降，就報機密。”然曰：“所報何事？”小卒曰：“今晚馮習乘虛要劫孫將軍營寨，約定舉火爲號。”

When he had heard them out, Zhu Ran at once sent a man to warn Sun Huan, but the messenger was killed by Guan Xing halfway there. Zhu Ran, meanwhile, was conferring about leading troops to Sun Huan’s rescue. His subordinate general Cui Yu said, “The word of a few common soldiers is not to be trusted too far. If anything goes wrong, both our land and our water forces will be finished. You should simply hold the river camp firmly, General; let me go in your place.” Zhu Ran agreed and sent Cui Yu off with ten thousand men.

朱然聽畢，即使人報知孫桓。報事人行至半途，被關興殺了。朱然一面商議，欲引兵去救應孫桓。部將崔禹曰：“小卒之言，未可深信。倘有疏虞，水陸二軍盡皆休矣。將軍只宜穩守水寨，某願替將軍一行。”然從之，遂令崔禹引一萬軍前去。

That night Feng Xi, Zhang Nan and Wu Ban divided their forces into three columns and charged straight into Sun Huan’s camp. Fires sprang up on every side, and the Wu soldiers, in great confusion, fled any way they could.

是夜，馮習、張南、吳班分兵三路，直殺入孫桓寨中，四面火起，吳兵大亂，尋路奔走。

Cui Yu was on the march when he suddenly saw the fires and urged his men forward in haste. He had just rounded a hill when drums thundered in the valley, and Guan Xing on the left and Zhang Bao on the right fell upon him from both sides. Cui Yu, badly frightened, was about to flee when he came face to face with Zhang Bao; after a single bout, Zhang Bao took him alive and carried him off. Hearing of the danger, Zhu Ran withdrew his ships fifty or sixty li downstream.

且說崔禹正行之間，忽見火起，急催兵前進。剛纔轉過山來，忽山谷中鼓聲大震：左邊關興，右邊張苞，兩路夾攻。崔禹大驚，方欲奔走，正遇張苞；交馬只一合，被苞生擒而回。朱然聽知危急，將船往下水退五六十里去了。

Sun Huan fled with the remnants of his army and asked his officers, “Where ahead is there a city with strong walls and plenty of grain?” They said, “Due north of here is the city of Yiling, where we can station our troops.” Sun Huan hurried with his beaten men toward Yiling. He had only just entered the city when Wu Ban and the others arrived in pursuit and surrounded it on all four sides. Guan Xing, Zhang Bao and the rest brought Cui Yu under guard to Zigui. The First Ruler was delighted; he gave orders for Cui Yu to be beheaded and rewarded the three armies handsomely. From then on the terror of his name spread far and wide, and there was not a general in Jiangnan whose heart did not quail.

孫桓引敗軍逃走，問部將曰：“前去何處城堅糧廣？”部將曰：“此去正北彝陵城，可以屯兵。”桓引敗軍急望彝陵而走。方進得城，吳班等追至，將城四面圍定。關興、張苞等解崔禹到秭歸來。先主大喜，傳旨將崔禹斬卻，大賞三軍。自此威風震動，江南諸將無不膽寒。

Meanwhile, when Sun Huan sent to the King of Wu for help, the King was greatly alarmed and at once called his officials, civil and military, to confer. “Sun Huan is now under siege at Yiling, and Zhu Ran has been badly beaten on the river. The Shu army is strong. What are we to do?” Zhang Zhao memorialized, “Although many of our generals have died, there are still more than ten left. Why worry about Liu Bei? Make Han Dang commander, Zhou Tai second in command, Pan Zhang leader of the vanguard, Ling Tong commander of the rear and Gan Ning commander of the relief force, and raise a hundred thousand men to resist him.”

卻說孫桓令人求救於吳王，吳王大驚，即召文武商議曰：“今孫桓受困於彝陵，朱然大敗於江中，蜀兵勢大，如之奈何？”張昭奏曰：“今諸將雖多物故，然尚有十餘人，何慮於劉備？可命韓當爲正將，周泰爲副將，潘璋爲先鋒，淩統爲合後，甘寧爲救應，起兵十萬拒之。”

Sun Quan did as he advised and ordered the generals to set out at once. Gan Ning was already suffering from dysentery at this time, but he went with the expedition despite his illness.

權依所奏，即命諸將速行。此時甘寧已患痢疾，帶病從徵。

Meanwhile the First Ruler had set up more than forty camps linked together over some seventy li, from Wu Gorge and Jianping right up to the borders of Yiling. Seeing Guan Xing and Zhang Bao win great distinction again and again, he sighed and said, “The generals who followed me in the old days are all old and useless now. But with two such heroic nephews as these, why should I fear Sun Quan?” As he spoke, it was reported that Han Dang and Zhou Tai had arrived with their army. The First Ruler was about to send generals to meet them when a courtier memorialized, “The veteran general Huang Zhong has gone off toward Eastern Wu with five or six men.”

卻說先主從巫峽建平起，直接彝陵界分，七十餘里，連結四十餘寨；見關興、張苞屢立大功，嘆曰：“昔日從朕諸將，皆老邁無用矣；復有二侄如此英雄，朕何慮孫權乎！”正言間，忽報韓當、周泰領兵來到。先主方欲遣將迎敵，近臣奏曰：“老將黃忠，引五六人投東吳去了。”

The First Ruler laughed and said, “Huang Hansheng is no traitor. Because I let slip that the old are useless, he will not admit that he is old, and he has surely gone to make a stand against the enemy with all his might.” He at once summoned Guan Xing and Zhang Bao and said, “Huang Hansheng is bound to come to grief on this venture. My good nephews, do not spare yourselves; go and help him. As soon as he has won some small success, get him to come back. Do not let him come to harm.” The two young generals took leave of the First Ruler and led their own troops to the aid of Huang Zhong.

先主笑曰：“黃漢升非反叛之人也；因朕失口誤言老者無用，彼必不服老，故奮力去相持矣。”即召關興、張苞曰：“黃漢升此去必然有失。賢侄休辭勞苦，可去相助。略有微功，便可令回，勿使有失。”二小將拜辭先主，引本部軍來助黃忠。

Indeed:
The old minister had long vowed a loyal heart to his lord;
The young men could achieve great deeds in the service of the state.
How Huang Zhong fared on this venture will be told in the next chapter.

正是：老臣素矢忠君志，年少能成報國功。
未知黃忠此去如何，且看下文分解。