Romance, Chapter 63

Chapter 63. Zhuge Liang Weeps Bitterly for Pang Tong; Zhang Yide Releases Yan Yan out of Chivalry

Meanwhile Fa Zheng and the newcomer, on seeing each other, both clapped their hands and laughed. When Pang Tong asked why, Fa Zheng said, “This gentleman is a man of Guanghan named Peng Yang, styled Yongyan, one of the heroes of Shu. Because he offended Liu Zhang with his outspoken words, Liu Zhang had his head shaved, put an iron collar on his neck and made him a convict laborer. That is why his hair is short.” Pang Tong then treated him with the courtesy due to a guest and asked Peng Yang where he had come from. Peng Yang said, “I have come expressly to save the lives of your tens of thousands of men. Only when I see General Liu can I tell you.”

卻說法正與那人相見，各撫掌而笑。龐統問之。正曰：“此公乃廣漢人，姓彭，名羕，字永言，蜀中豪傑也。因直言觸忤劉璋，被璋髡鉗爲徒隸，因此短髮。”統乃以賓禮待之，問羕從何而來。羕曰：“吾特來救汝數萬人性命，見劉將軍方可說。”

Fa Zheng hurried to tell Xuande, who went in person to see the man and asked what he meant. Peng Yang said, “How many troops and horses do you have in your forward camp, General?” Xuande told him the truth: “Wei Yan and Huang Zhong are there.” Peng Yang said, “How can one who follows the way of a commander not know the lie of the land? Your forward camp lies right against the Fu River. If the enemy breaks the banks to let the river loose and then blocks it front and rear with troops, not one man will escape.” Xuande saw it all at once. Peng Yang said, “The Gang star is in the west, and Taibai, the planet Venus, looms over this land. Some misfortune is bound to happen. You must be very careful.”

法正忙報玄德。玄德親自謁見，請問其故。羕曰：“將軍有多少軍馬在前寨？”玄德實告：“有魏延、黃忠在彼。”羕曰：“爲將之道，豈可不知地理乎？前寨緊靠涪江，若決動江水，前後以兵塞之，一人無可逃也。”玄德大悟。彭羕曰：“罡星在西方，太白臨於此地，當有不吉之事，切宜慎之。”

Xuande at once made Peng Yang an adviser on his staff and sent men to warn Wei Yan and Huang Zhong secretly, telling them to keep careful watch morning and night against any attempt to break the river banks. Huang Zhong and Wei Yan agreed between themselves that each would take charge on alternate days and that whenever the enemy came, they would alert each other. Now Leng Bao, seeing that a great storm of wind and rain had arisen that night, led five thousand men straight along the riverbank, intending to break the banks. But he heard shouting break out in confusion behind him, and knowing that the enemy was prepared, he hurriedly turned his troops back.

玄德即拜彭羕爲幕賓，使人密報魏延、黃忠，教朝暮用心巡警，以防決水。黃忠、魏延商議：二人各輪一日，如遇敵軍到來，互相通報。卻說泠苞見當夜風雨大作，引了五千軍，徑循江邊而進，安排決江。只聽得後面喊聲亂起，泠苞知有準備，急急回軍。

Ahead, Wei Yan came in pursuit with his troops, and the Shu soldiers trampled one another in their flight. As Leng Bao was fleeing, he ran straight into Wei Yan. They had not crossed horses more than a few bouts before Wei Yan took him alive. By the time Wu Lan and Lei Tong came to his aid, they in turn were beaten back by a force under Huang Zhong. Wei Yan brought Leng Bao under guard to Fu Pass. Xuande rebuked him: “I treated you with kindness and justice and let you go home. How dared you turn against me?

前面魏延引軍趕來，川兵自相踐踏。泠苞正奔走間，撞着魏延。交馬不數合，被魏延活捉去了。比及吳蘭、雷銅來接應時，又被黃忠一軍殺退。魏延解泠苞到涪關。玄德責之曰：“吾以仁義相待，放汝回去，何敢揹我！

This time you cannot be pardoned!” He had Leng Bao taken out and beheaded, and rewarded Wei Yan richly. While Xuande was giving a banquet in Peng Yang’s honor, it was suddenly announced that Zhuge Liang, the Director of Strategy in Jingzhou, had sent Ma Liang expressly with a letter. Xuande called him in and questioned him. When Ma Liang had finished his salutations, he said, “All is well in Jingzhou. My lord need not be troubled about it.” Then he presented the Director of Strategy’s letter. Xuande opened it and read. In brief it said: “At night I, Liang, worked out the Taiyi numbers. This year falls on guisi in the cycle, and the Gang star is in the west. I have also observed the heavens: Taibai looms over the region of the sky that governs Luo City. This signifies much ill and little good for the commanders.

今次難饒！”將泠苞推出斬之，重賞魏延。玄德設宴管待彭羕，忽報荊州諸葛亮軍師特遣馬良奉書至此。玄德召入問之。馬良禮畢曰：“荊州平安，不勞主公憂念。”遂呈上軍師書信。玄德拆書觀之，略曰：“亮夜算太乙數，今年歲次癸巳，罡星在西方；又觀乾象，太白臨於雒城之分：主將帥身上多凶少吉。

You must be very careful.” When Xuande had read the letter, he sent Ma Liang back ahead of him. Xuande said, “I shall go back to Jingzhou to discuss this matter.” Pang Tong thought to himself, “Kongming is afraid that I will take Xichuan and win the glory, so he has deliberately sent this letter to hold me back.” So he said to Xuande, “I too have worked out the Taiyi numbers and already know that the Gang star is in the west. That answers to your taking Xichuan, my lord; it portends no other ill. I too have divined by the stars and seen Taibai looming over Luo City, but we have already beheaded the Shu general Leng Bao, and that has fulfilled the ill omen. My lord, do not doubt; advance the army quickly.”

切宜謹慎。”玄德看了書，便教馬良先回。玄德曰：“吾將回荊州，去論此事。”龐統暗思：“孔明怕我取了西川，成了功，故意將此書相阻耳。”乃對玄德曰：“統亦算太乙數，已知罡星在西，應主公合得西川，別不主凶事。統亦佔天文，見太白臨於雒城，先斬蜀將泠苞，已應凶兆矣。主公不可疑心，可急進兵。”

Seeing Pang Tong urge him again and again, Xuande at last led the army forward. Huang Zhong and Wei Yan met them and took them into the camp. Pang Tong asked Fa Zheng, “How far is it from here to Luo City?” Fa Zheng drew a map on the ground. Xuande took out the map Zhang Song had left him and compared the two; there was not a single discrepancy. Fa Zheng said, “North of the hills there is a main road that leads straight to the east gate of Luo City; south of the hills there is a narrow path that leads to the west gate. Troops can advance by either road.”

玄德見龐統再三催促，乃引軍前進。黃忠同魏延接入寨去。龐統問法正曰：“前至雒城，有多少路？”法正畫地作圖。玄德取張松所遺圖本對之，並無差錯。法正言：“山北有條大路，正取雒城東門；山南有條小路，卻取雒城西門：兩條路皆可進兵。”

Pang Tong said to Xuande, “I will make Wei Yan my vanguard and advance by the narrow southern path. You, my lord, make Huang Zhong your vanguard and advance by the main road north of the hills. We will meet at Luo City.” Xuande said, “I have been at home with bow and horse since I was a boy, and I have traveled many narrow paths. You, Director of Strategy, take the main road against the east gate, and I will take the west gate.” Pang Tong said, “There is sure to be an army blocking the main road. You must lead your troops to meet it, my lord.

龐統謂玄德曰：“統令魏延爲先鋒，取南小路而進；主公令黃忠作先鋒，從山北大路而進：併到雒城取齊。”玄德曰：“吾自幼熟於弓馬，多行小路。軍師可從大路去取東門，吾取西門。”龐統曰：“大路必有軍邀攔，主公引兵當之。

I will take the narrow path.” Xuande said, “Director of Strategy, you must not. Last night I dreamed that a spirit struck my right arm with an iron bar, and when I woke my arm still ached. I fear this expedition may go badly.” Pang Tong said, “When a brave man goes into battle, if he is not killed he is wounded; that is only natural. Why let a dream make you doubt?” Xuande said, “What makes me doubt is Kongming’s letter. What if you went back and held Fu Pass, Director of Strategy?”

統取小路。”玄德曰：“軍師不可。吾夜夢一神人，手執鐵棒擊吾右臂，覺來猶自臂疼。此行莫非不佳。”龐統曰：“壯士臨陣，不死帶傷，理之自然也。何故以夢寐之事疑心乎？”玄德曰：“吾所疑者，孔明之書也。軍師還守涪關，如何？”

Pang Tong laughed aloud and said, “My lord, you have been led astray by Kongming. He does not want me to win great glory alone, so he says this to fill your mind with doubt. A doubting mind breeds dreams; what ill omen is there in that? Only if my liver and brains are spilled on the ground will I have done what my heart desires. Say no more, my lord. We set out early tomorrow without fail.”

龐統大笑曰：“主公被孔明所惑矣：彼不欲令統獨成大功，故作此言以疑主公之心。心疑則致夢，何兇之有？統肝腦塗地，方稱本心。主公再勿多言，來早準行。”

That day orders were issued: the soldiers were to cook their meal at the fifth watch and mount at dawn. Huang Zhong and Wei Yan set off first with their troops. As Xuande was settling the final arrangements with Pang Tong, Pang Tong’s horse suddenly shied and stumbled forward, throwing him to the ground. Xuande leaped from his horse and caught hold of the animal himself. Xuande said, “Director of Strategy, why do you ride such a vicious horse?” Pang Tong said, “I have ridden this horse a long time, and it has never done this before.”

當日傳下號令，軍士五更造飯，平明上馬。黃忠、魏延領軍先行。玄德再與龐統約會，忽坐下馬眼生前失，把龐統掀將下來。玄德跳下馬，自來籠住那馬。玄德曰：“軍師何故乘此劣馬？”龐統曰：“此馬乘久，不曾如此。”

Xuande said, “A horse that shies in battle can cost a man his life. The white horse I ride is very gentle and well trained. Ride it, Director of Strategy, and nothing can go wrong. I will ride the vicious one myself.” So he exchanged horses with Pang Tong. Pang Tong thanked him, saying, “I am deeply moved by your great kindness, my lord. Though I died ten thousand deaths, I could never repay it.” Then each mounted and set off on his way. When Xuande saw Pang Tong go, he felt deeply uneasy and rode on in low spirits.

玄德曰：“臨陣眼生，誤人性命。吾所騎白馬，性極馴熟，軍師可騎，萬無一失。劣馬吾自乘之。”遂與龐統更換所騎之馬。龐統謝曰：“深感主公厚恩，雖萬死亦不能報也。”遂各上馬取路而進。玄德見龐統去了，心中甚覺不快，怏怏而行。

Meanwhile in Luo City, Wu Yi and Liu Gui, hearing that Leng Bao had been lost, took counsel with the others. Zhang Ren said, “In the hills southeast of the city there is a narrow out-of-the-way path, the most vital point of all. I will lead a force there myself and hold it. You gentlemen hold Luo City firmly and do not let it fall.” Suddenly it was reported that the Han troops were coming by two roads to attack the city. Zhang Ren hurriedly led three thousand men ahead to the narrow path and lay in ambush there. When he saw Wei Yan’s troops pass, he had them all let through and ordered that they must not be disturbed.

卻說雒城中吳懿、劉璝聽知折了泠苞，遂與衆商議。張任曰：“城東南山僻有一條小路，最爲要緊，某自引一軍守之。諸公緊守雒城，勿得有失。”忽報漢兵分兩路前來攻城。張任急引三千軍，先來抄小路埋伏。見魏延兵過，張任教盡放過去，休得驚動。

Afterward, when Pang Tong’s army came along, Zhang Ren’s soldiers pointed from afar at the commander in its midst: “The one on the white horse must be Liu Bei.” Zhang Ren was delighted and passed on orders to do thus and thus.

後見龐統軍來，張任軍士遙指軍中大將：“騎白馬者必是劉備。”張任大喜，傳令教如此如此。

Meanwhile Pang Tong pressed forward along the winding road. Looking up, he saw the hills closing in on both sides and the trees growing thick and tangled; and as it was the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, the branches were heavy with leaves. Pang Tong grew very suspicious. He reined in his horse and asked, “What is this place?” Among his men was a soldier who had lately surrendered, and he pointed and said, “This place is called Luofengpo, the Slope of the Fallen Phoenix.” Pang Tong was alarmed. “My Taoist name is Young Phoenix, and this place is called the Slope of the Fallen Phoenix. This bodes me no good.” He ordered the rear to fall back at once.

卻說龐統迤邐前進，抬頭見兩山逼窄，樹木叢雜；又值夏末秋初，枝葉茂盛。龐統心下甚疑，勒住馬問：“此處是何地？”數內有新降軍士，指道：“此處地名落鳳坡。”龐統驚曰：“吾道號鳳雛，此處名落鳳坡，不利於吾。”令後軍疾退。

Then a signal gun roared at the front of the slope, and arrows flew like swarming locusts, all aimed at the rider on the white horse. Alas! Pang Tong died beneath the hail of arrows. He was only thirty-six years old.

只聽山坡前一聲炮響，箭如飛蝗，只望騎白馬者射來。可憐龐統竟死於亂箭之下。時年止三十六歲。

A later poet lamented him:
The ancient Xian Hills stand linked in heaps of purple and green;
By a bend of those hills stood the home of Shiyuan.
Its children all knew the song that calls the doves;
Its lanes had long heard of his thoroughbred’s gifts.
He had foreseen the land split three ways and planned to plane it smooth;
He drove ten thousand li, then faltered there alone.
Who knew the Heavenly Dog, a shooting star, would fall
And never let the general come home in silken robes?

後人有詩嘆曰：“古峴相連紫翠堆，士元有宅傍山隈。
兒童慣識呼鳩曲，閭巷曾聞展驥才。
預計三分平刻削，長驅萬里獨徘徊。
誰知天狗流星墜，不使將軍衣錦回。
”

Before this, a children’s song had gone round in the southeast:
One phoenix and one dragon
Went together into Shu.
When they had gone but half the way,
The phoenix died and fell east of the slope.
The wind sends the rain,
The rain follows the wind;
When Han rises high, the road to Shu is opened,
And when the road to Shu is opened, only the dragon remains.

先是東南有童謠雲：“一鳳並一龍，相將到蜀中。
纔到半路里，鳳死落坡東。
風送雨，雨隨風，隆漢興時蜀道通，蜀道通時只有龍。
”

That day, when Zhang Ren had shot Pang Tong dead, the Han troops were jammed together and could neither advance nor retreat, and more than half of them died. The leading troops sent word in haste to Wei Yan. Wei Yan hurriedly checked his men and tried to turn back, but the mountain path was so narrow that he could not fight. Then Zhang Ren cut off his line of retreat and shot at him with strong bows and stiff crossbows from the high ground. Wei Yan was alarmed. A Shu soldier who had lately surrendered said, “It would be better to fight our way to the foot of Luo City and advance by the main road.”

當日張任射死龐統，漢軍擁塞，進退不得，死者大半。前軍飛報魏延。魏延忙勒兵欲回，奈山路逼窄，廝殺不得。又被張任截斷歸路，在高阜處用強弓硬弩射來。魏延心慌。有新降蜀兵曰：“不如殺奔雒城下，取大路而進。”

Wei Yan took his advice and, leading the way himself, cut a path toward Luo City. Where the dust rose, an army came charging at him from the front: it was Wu Lan and Lei Tong, the generals defending Luo City. Behind, Zhang Ren came in pursuit with his troops. Attacked front and rear, Wei Yan was hemmed in at the center. He fought desperately but could not break free. Then he saw the rear of Wu Lan and Lei Tong’s army fall into confusion of its own accord, and the two generals hurriedly wheeled their horses to go to its aid. Wei Yan took his chance and went after them, and at the head of the troops before him a general came on whirling his sword and urging on his horse, shouting, “Wenchang, I have come expressly to rescue you!”

延從其言，當先開路，殺奔雒城來。塵埃起處，前面一軍殺至，乃雒城守將吳蘭、雷銅也；後面張任引兵追來：前後夾攻，把魏延圍在垓心。魏延死戰不能得脫。但見吳蘭、雷銅後軍自亂，二將急回馬去救。魏延乘勢趕去，當先一將，舞刀拍馬，大叫：“文長，吾特來救汝！”

He looked and saw that it was the veteran Huang Zhong. Attacking from both sides, they routed the two generals Wu and Lei and charged straight to the foot of Luo City. Liu Gui sallied out with troops, but Xuande was there behind to hold him off and cover them. Huang Zhong and Wei Yan wheeled round and came back. Just as Xuande’s army was hurrying back to camp, Zhang Ren’s troops again cut across from the narrow path, and Liu Gui, Wu Lan and Lei Tong came after them at the head of their men.

視之，乃老將黃忠也。兩下夾攻，殺敗吳、雷二將，直衝至雒城之下。劉璝引兵殺出，卻得玄德在後當住接應。黃忠、魏延翻身便回。玄德軍馬比及奔到寨中，張任軍馬又從小路里截出。劉璝、吳蘭、雷銅當先趕來。

Xuande could not hold his two camps, and fighting as he went, he fled back to Fu Pass. Flushed with victory, the Shu troops followed hard on his heels. Xuande’s men were worn out and his horses spent; they had no heart to fight and thought only of flight. As they neared Fu Pass, Zhang Ren’s force was pressing close behind. Fortunately, Liu Feng on the left and Guan Ping on the right came out across the enemy’s path with thirty thousand fresh troops and drove Zhang Ren back. They pursued him another twenty li and captured a great many war horses.

玄德守不住二寨，且戰且走，奔回涪關。蜀兵得勝，迤邐追趕。玄德人困馬乏，那裏有心廝殺，且只顧奔走。將近涪關，張任一軍追趕至緊。幸得左邊劉封，右邊關平，二將領三萬生力軍截出，殺退張任；還趕二十里，奪回戰馬極多。

Xuande and his army went back into Fu Pass, and he asked for news of Pang Tong. A soldier who had escaped with his life from Luofengpo reported that the Director of Strategy and his horse had both been shot dead by a hail of arrows at the foot of the slope. When Xuande heard this, he faced west and wept bitterly without end, and from afar he called back Pang Tong’s spirit and set out sacrifices. All his generals wept too. Huang Zhong said, “Now that we have lost Director of Strategy Pang Tong, Zhang Ren is sure to come and attack Fu Pass. What are we to do?

玄德一行軍馬，再入涪關，問龐統消息。有落鳳坡逃得性命的軍士，報說軍師連人帶馬，被亂箭射死於坡前。玄德聞言，望西痛哭不已，遙爲招魂設祭。諸將皆哭。黃忠曰：“今番折了龐統軍師，張任必然來攻打涪關，如之奈何？

It would be best to send someone to Jingzhou and ask Director of Strategy Zhuge to come and plan with us how to take the west.” As they were speaking, it was reported that Zhang Ren had led his troops right up to the walls and was challenging them to battle. Huang Zhong and Wei Yan both wanted to go out and fight. Xuande said, “Our fighting spirit has just been broken. We should hold firm and wait for the Director of Strategy to come.” Huang Zhong and Wei Yan obeyed and did nothing but guard the walls carefully. Xuande wrote a letter and gave Guan Ping his instructions: “Go to Jingzhou for me and ask the Director of Strategy to come.”

不若差人往荊州，請諸葛軍師來商議收川之計。”正說之間，人報張任引軍直臨城下搦戰。黃忠、魏延皆要出戰。玄德曰：“銳氣新挫，宜堅守以待軍師來到。”黃忠、魏延領命，只謹守城池。玄德寫一封書，教關平分付：“你與我往荊州請軍師去。”

Guan Ping took the letter and hurried to Jingzhou through the night. Xuande himself held Fu Pass and would not go out to fight.

關平領了書，星夜往荊州來。玄德自守涪關，並不出戰。

Meanwhile Kongming was in Jingzhou. It was the festival of the Double Seventh, and he had gathered all the officials for a great evening banquet, where they were discussing the taking of the west. Suddenly, due west, a star as big as a peck measure fell from the sky, scattering streams of light in all directions. Kongming, startled, dashed his cup to the ground, covered his face and wept: “Alas! O grief!” The officials anxiously asked what was wrong. Kongming said, “Earlier I calculated that this year the Gang star would be in the west, boding ill for the Director of Strategy, and that the Heavenly Dog would assail our army and Taibai loom over Luo City. I had already written to our lord, telling him to be on his guard.

卻說孔明在荊州，時當七夕佳節，大會衆官夜宴，共說收川之事。只見正西上一星，其大如鬥，從天墜下，流光四散。孔明失驚，擲杯於地，掩面哭曰：“哀哉！痛哉！”衆官慌問其故。孔明曰：“吾前者算今年罡星在西方，不利於軍師；天狗犯於吾軍，太白臨於雒城，已拜書主公，教謹防之。

Who would have thought that tonight a star would fall in the west? Pang Shiyuan’s life must surely be over!” With that, he wept aloud, saying, “Now our lord has lost an arm!” The officials were all startled, but they did not believe him. Kongming said, “Within a few days there will surely be news.” That evening the banquet broke up with little cheer.

誰想今夕西方星墜，龐士元命必休矣！”言罷，大哭曰：“今吾主喪一臂矣！”衆官皆驚，未信其言。孔明曰：“數日之內，必有消息。”是夕酒不盡歡而散。

A few days later, as Kongming was sitting with Yunchang and the others, it was announced that Guan Ping had arrived, and the officials were all startled. Guan Ping came in and presented Xuande’s letter. Kongming read it. It said that on the seventh day of the seventh month of that year, Director of Strategy Pang had been shot dead by Zhang Ren’s arrows in front of Luofengpo. Kongming wept bitterly, and there was not an official who did not shed tears. Kongming said, “Since our lord is at Fu Pass, unable either to advance or to retreat, I have no choice but to go.”

數日之後，孔明與雲長等正坐間，人報關平到，衆官皆驚。關平入，呈上玄德書信。孔明視之，內言本年七月初七日，龐軍師被張任在落鳳坡前箭射身故。孔明大哭，衆官無不垂淚。孔明曰：“既主公在涪關進退兩難之際，亮不得不去。”

Yunchang said, “If you go, Director of Strategy, who will hold Jingzhou? Jingzhou is a vital place, and the responsibility is no light one.” Kongming said, “Though our lord’s letter does not name the man, I already know his meaning.” Then he showed Xuande’s letter to the officials and said, “In this letter our lord entrusts Jingzhou to me and tells me to weigh men’s abilities and appoint them myself. Even so, since he has sent Guan Ping with the letter, his meaning is that Lord Yunchang should take on this heavy charge.

雲長曰：“軍師去，誰人保守荊州？荊州乃重地，干係非輕。”孔明曰：“主公書中雖不明言其人，吾已知其意了。”乃將玄德書與衆官看曰：“主公書中，把荊州託在吾身上，教我自量才委用。雖然如此，今教關平齎書前來，其意欲雲長公當此重任。

Yunchang, remember the bond of brotherhood you swore in the Peach Garden and do your utmost to hold this place. The responsibility is no light one; you must exert yourself.” Yunchang made no further refusal and accepted with a will. Kongming gave a banquet and handed over the seal and ribbon of office. Yunchang reached out with both hands to receive them. Kongming, holding up the seal, said, “This whole responsibility rests on you, General.” Yunchang said, “Once a true man has taken on a heavy charge, only death will release him from it.” Kongming was displeased to hear Yunchang utter the word “death.” He would have liked to withhold the seal, but his word had already been given.

雲長想桃園結義之情，可竭力保守此地，責任非輕，公宜勉之。”雲長更不推辭，慨然領諾。孔明設宴，交割印綬。雲長雙手來接。孔明擎着印曰：“這干係都在將軍身上。”雲長曰：“大丈夫既領重任，除死方休。”孔明見雲長說個“死”字，心中不悅；欲待不與，其言已出。

Kongming said, “If Cao Cao comes with an army, what will you do?” Yunchang said, “Resist him with force.” Kongming asked again, “If Cao Cao and Sun Quan both raise armies and come at once, what then?” Yunchang said, “Divide my troops and resist them both.” Kongming said, “If you do that, Jingzhou will be in peril. I have eight words for you, General. Keep them firmly in mind and you will be able to hold Jingzhou.” Yunchang asked, “What are the eight words?” Kongming said, “North, resist Cao Cao; east, make peace with Sun Quan.” Yunchang said, “I will engrave your words upon my heart, Director of Strategy.”

孔明曰：“倘曹操引兵來到，當如之何？”雲長曰：“以力拒之。”孔明又曰：“倘曹操、孫權，齊起兵來，如之奈何？”雲長曰：“分兵拒之。”孔明曰：“若如此，荊州危矣。吾有八個字，將軍牢記，可保守荊州。”雲長問：“那八個字？”孔明曰：“北拒曹操，東和孫權。”雲長曰：“軍師之言，當銘肺腑。”

So Kongming handed over the seal and ribbon, and appointed the civil officials Ma Liang, Yi Ji, Xiang Lang and Mi Zhu and the military officers Mi Fang, Liao Hua, Guan Ping and Zhou Cang to assist Yunchang and hold Jingzhou together. Meanwhile he himself led an army into the west. First he detached ten thousand picked troops under Zhang Fei to take the main road and fight their way to Bazhou and the west side of Luo City; whoever arrived first would earn the highest merit. He detached another force, with Zhao Yun as its vanguard, to go up the Yangtze and meet them at Luo City.

孔明遂與了印綬，令文官馬良、伊籍、向朗、糜竺，武將糜芳、廖化、關平、周倉，一班兒輔佐雲長，同守荊州。一面親自統兵入川。先撥精兵一萬，教張飛部領，取大路殺奔巴州、雒城之西，先到者爲頭功。又撥一枝兵，教趙雲爲先鋒，溯江而上，會於雒城。

Kongming followed with Jian Yong, Jiang Wan and others. This Jiang Wan, styled Gongyan, was a man of Xiangxiang in Lingling and a noted scholar of Jingxiang, then serving as a secretary.

孔明隨後引簡雍、蔣琬等起行。那蔣琬字公琰，零陵湘鄉人也，乃荊襄名士，現爲書記。

That day Kongming set out with fifteen thousand troops, on the same day as Zhang Fei. As Zhang Fei was leaving, Kongming charged him: “There are a great many heroes in Xichuan; you must not underestimate the enemy. On the march keep the whole army in check, and do not let them plunder the people and so lose the people’s hearts. Wherever you go, show kindness to all, and do not give way to flogging your soldiers at will. I hope you will soon join us at Luo City, General. Do not fail.”

當日孔明引兵一萬五千，與張飛同日起行。張飛臨行時，孔明囑付曰：“西川豪傑甚多，不可輕敵。於路戒約三軍，勿得擄掠百姓，以失民心。所到之處，並宜存恤，勿得恣逞鞭撻士卒。望將軍早會雒城，不可有誤。”

Zhang Fei gladly accepted, mounted and rode off. He pressed steadily forward, and wherever he went he did not do the least harm to those who surrendered. Taking the Hanchuan road straight on, he came to Ba Commandery. His spies came back and reported: “Yan Yan, the Prefect of Ba Commandery, is a famous general of Shu. Though old in years, his strength has not failed. He is skilled at drawing the stiffest bow and wielding a great broadsword, and he has the courage to stand against ten thousand men. He is holding the city walls and has not raised the flag of surrender.” Zhang Fei had his men make camp ten li from the city and sent a man into the city to say: “Tell the old fool to come and surrender at once, and I will spare the lives of everyone in the city. If he does not submit, I will level the walls and leave neither old nor young alive!”

張飛欣然領諾，上馬而去。迤邐前行，所到之處，但降者秋毫無犯。徑取漢川路，前至巴郡。細作回報：“巴郡太守嚴顏，乃蜀中名將，年紀雖高，精力未衰，善開硬弓，使大刀，有萬夫不當之勇：據住城郭，不豎降旗。”張飛教離城十里下寨，差人入城去：“說與老匹夫，早早來降，饒你滿城百姓性命；若不歸順，即踏平城郭，老幼不留！”

Now Yan Yan, in Ba Commandery, had beaten his breast and sighed when he heard that Liu Zhang had sent Fa Zheng to invite Xuande into the west: “This is what they call sitting alone in the wild hills and bringing in a tiger to guard yourself!” Later, when he heard that Xuande had seized Fu Pass, he was furious and several times wanted to lead troops against him, but he feared that an army might come by this road. That day, learning that Zhang Fei’s troops had arrived, he mustered the five or six thousand men and horses under his own command and prepared to meet the enemy.

卻說嚴顏在巴郡，聞劉璋差法正請玄德入川，拊心而嘆曰：“此所謂獨坐窮山，引虎自衛者也！”後聞玄德據住涪關，大怒，屢欲提兵往戰，又恐這條路上有兵來。當日聞知張飛兵到，便點起本部五六千人馬，準備迎敵。

Someone proposed a plan: “At Changban in Dangyang, Zhang Fei drove back Cao Cao’s host of a million with a single roar. Even Cao Cao keeps out of his way at the mere rumor of him. We must not underestimate him. For now the best thing is to dig our moats deep and build our ramparts high, hold fast and not go out. His army has no grain; in less than a month they will withdraw of their own accord. Moreover, Zhang Fei has a temper like a raging fire and is forever flogging his soldiers. If we do not give him battle, he will surely become angry, and when he is angry he will surely treat his men with savage harshness. Once his men turn against him, we can strike while the chance is ripe, and Zhang Fei can be captured.”

或獻計曰：“張飛在當陽長坂，一聲喝退曹兵百萬之衆。曹操亦聞風而避之，不可輕敵。今只宜深溝高壘，堅守不出。彼軍無糧，不過一月，自然退去。更兼張飛性如烈火，專要鞭撻士卒；如不與戰，必怒；怒則必以暴厲之氣待其軍士：軍心一變，乘勢擊之，張飛可擒也。”

Yan Yan followed this advice and sent every one of his soldiers up onto the walls to defend them. Suddenly a soldier appeared shouting, “Open the gate!” Yan Yan had him let in and questioned. The soldier said General Zhang had sent him, and repeated Zhang Fei’s words exactly as they had been spoken. Yan Yan was furious. “How dare that lout be so insolent!” he cried. “Would I, General Yan, surrender to a rebel? Take this message to Zhang Fei in your own mouth!” He called his guards to cut off the man’s ears and nose, and then sent him back to his camp.

嚴顏從其言，教軍士盡數上城守護。忽見一個軍士，大叫：“開門！”嚴顏教放入問之。那軍士告說是張將軍差來的，把張飛言語依直便說。嚴顏大怒，罵：“匹夫怎敢無禮！吾嚴將軍豈降賊者乎！借你口說與張飛！”喚武士把軍人割下耳鼻，卻放回寨。

The soldier went back to Zhang Fei and told him in tears how Yan Yan had insulted and abused him. Zhang Fei was enraged. Grinding his teeth and glaring, he put on his armor, mounted and led several hundred horsemen to the walls of Ba Commandery to challenge them to battle. The soldiers on the walls hurled every kind of abuse at him. Being hot-tempered, Zhang Fei charged up to the drawbridge several times, trying to cross the moat, but each time he was driven back by a hail of arrows. By evening not a single man had come out, and Zhang Fei went back to camp choking down his rage.

軍人回見張飛，哭告嚴顏如此毀罵。張飛大怒，咬牙睜目，披掛上馬，引數百騎來巴郡城下搦戰。城上衆軍百般痛罵。張飛性急，幾番殺到吊橋，要過護城河，又被亂箭射回。到晚全無一個人出，張飛忍一肚氣還寨。

The next morning he led his troops out to challenge them again. From the watchtower on the wall Yan Yan shot an arrow that struck Zhang Fei’s helmet. Pointing at him, Zhang Fei cried in fury, “If I catch you, you old fool, I will eat your flesh myself!” By evening he had again come back empty-handed. On the third day Zhang Fei led his troops round the walls hurling abuse. Now this city was a mountain city, surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, and Zhang Fei rode up one of them himself and looked down into the city.

次日早晨，又引軍去搦戰。那嚴顏在城敵樓上，一箭射中張飛頭盔。飛指而恨曰：“若拿住你這老匹夫，我親自食你肉！”到晚又空回。第三日，張飛引了軍，沿城去罵。原來那座城子是個山城，周圍都是亂山，張飛自乘馬登出，下視城中。

He saw that the soldiers were all in armor, drawn up in their companies and lying low inside the city, but they would not come out; and he saw laborers coming and going, carrying bricks and stones to help defend the city. Zhang Fei ordered his horsemen to dismount and his foot soldiers all to sit down, to lure the enemy out, but there was no movement at all. He spent another day hurling abuse and again came back empty-handed. In his camp Zhang Fei thought to himself, “We shout abuse at them all day long and they simply will not come out. What am I to do?”

見軍士盡皆披掛，分列隊伍，伏在城中，只是不出；又見民夫來來往往，搬磚運石，相助守城。張飛教馬軍下馬，步軍皆坐，引他出敵，並無動靜。又罵了一日，依舊空回。張飛在寨中自思：“終日叫罵，彼只不出，如之奈何？”

Suddenly a plan came to him. He told his men not to go out and challenge the enemy, but to get fully equipped and wait in the camp; and he sent only thirty to fifty soldiers straight to the foot of the walls to shout abuse. If they drew Yan Yan’s troops out, they would fall on them at once. Zhang Fei rubbed his fists and palms, waiting only for the enemy to come. The small band hurled abuse for three days running, but no one came out at all. Zhang Fei knitted his brows and hit on another plan. He ordered his soldiers to scatter in all directions cutting firewood and grass and searching out paths, and to stop going to challenge the enemy.

猛然思得一計，教衆軍不要前去搦戰，都結束了在寨中等候；卻只教三五十個軍士，直去城下叫罵。引嚴顏軍出來，便與廝殺。張飛磨拳擦掌，只等敵軍來。小軍連罵了三日，全然不出。張飛眉頭一縱，又生一計，傳令教軍士四散砍打柴草，尋覓路徑，不來搦戰。

In the city, Yan Yan, seeing no sign of activity from Zhang Fei for days on end, grew suspicious. He had a dozen or so common soldiers disguise themselves as Zhang Fei’s woodcutters, slip secretly out of the city, mingle with those troops and go into the hills to find out what they could.

嚴顏在城中，連日不見張飛動靜，心中疑惑，着十數個小軍，扮作張飛砍柴的軍，潛地出城，雜在軍內，入山中探聽。

That day, when the men returned to camp, Zhang Fei sat in his tent stamping his feet and cursing loudly: “Yan Yan, you old fool! You will be the death of me with rage!” Then three or four men before his tent said, “General, you need not fret. In the last few days we have found a narrow path by which we can slip past Ba Commandery.” Zhang Fei deliberately shouted, “If there was such a way, why did you not come and tell me sooner?” They answered, “We only found it by scouting these last few days.”

當日諸軍回寨。張飛坐在寨中，頓足大罵：“嚴顏老匹夫！枉氣殺我！”只見帳前三四個人說道：“將軍不須心焦：這幾日打探得一條小路，可以偷過巴郡。”張飛故意大叫曰：“既有這個去處，何不早來說？”衆應曰：“這幾日卻纔哨探得出。”

Zhang Fei said, “This must not be delayed. Cook the meal at the second watch tonight; then by the bright moon of the third watch we will strike camp and all set out, men with gags in their mouths and horses with their bells removed, moving in silence. I will lead the way in front, and you will follow in order.” The order was given and spread through the whole camp. The spies heard the news and all hurried back into the city to tell Yan Yan. Yan Yan was delighted. “I was sure this lout could not hold out.

張飛曰：“事不宜遲，只今二更造飯，趁三更明月，拔寨都起，人銜枚，馬去鈴，悄悄而行。我自前面開路，汝等依次而行。”傳了令便滿寨告報。探細的軍聽得這個消息，盡回城中來，報與嚴顏。顏大喜曰：“我算定這匹夫忍耐不得。

If you slip through by the narrow path, your grain, forage and baggage must come behind; if I cut off your rear, how will you get through? What a witless lout, to fall into my trap!” At once he gave orders for his soldiers to prepare to meet the enemy: they too were to cook their meal at the second watch that night, leave the city at the third watch and lie in ambush where the trees grew thickest. They were to wait until Zhang Fei had passed through the throat of the narrow path, and when the carts and baggage came along, at the sound of the drum they were to rush out all together.

你偷小路過去，須是糧草輜重在後；我截住後路，你如何得過？好無謀匹夫，中我之計！”即時傳令：教軍士準備赴敵，今夜二更也造飯，三更出城，伏於樹木叢雜去處。只等張飛過咽喉小路去了，車仗來時，只聽鼓響，一齊殺出。

Once the orders had been given and night drew near, Yan Yan’s whole army ate their fill, got into their armor, slipped quietly out of the city and scattered to lie in ambush on every side, waiting only for the sound of the drum. Yan Yan himself, with a dozen or so lieutenants, dismounted and lay hidden in the woods. Some time after the third watch, he saw in the distance Zhang Fei himself in the lead, spear held crosswise and horse at a gallop, quietly leading his troops forward. They had gone no more than three or four li when the carts, baggage, men and horses set out one after another behind them.

傳了號令，看看近夜，嚴顏全軍盡皆飽食，披掛停當，悄悄出城，四散伏住，只聽鼓響：嚴顏自引十數裨將，下馬伏於林中。約三更後，遙望見張飛親自在前，橫矛縱馬，悄悄引軍前進。去不得三四里，背後車仗人馬、陸續進發。

When Yan Yan saw clearly what was happening, he had all the drums beaten at once, and the ambushers rose up on every side. Just as they were about to seize the carts, a gong sounded behind them and a band of troops swept down on them, shouting, “Don’t run, old rebel! I’ve been waiting for you, and here you are!” Yan Yan whipped round to look. At their head was a great general with a leopard’s head and round eyes, a swallow’s chin and a tiger’s whiskers, wielding an eighteen-foot spear and riding a jet-black horse. It was Zhang Fei. Gongs clanged loudly on every side and the troops charged in.

嚴顏看得分曉，一齊擂鼓，四下伏兵盡起。正來搶奪車仗，背後一聲鑼響，一彪軍掩到，大喝：“老賊休走！我等的你恰好！”嚴顏猛回頭看時，爲首一員大將，豹頭環眼，燕頜虎鬚，使丈八矛，騎深烏馬：乃是張飛。四下裏鑼聲大震，衆軍殺來。

At the sight of Zhang Fei, Yan Yan did not know what to do. They had not fought ten bouts when Zhang Fei deliberately left an opening. Yan Yan slashed at him with his sword; Zhang Fei dodged, closed in, seized Yan Yan by the sash of his armor, dragged him off alive and flung him to the ground. The soldiers rushed forward and bound him with ropes. It turned out that the Zhang Fei who had gone by first was an impostor. Zhang Fei had reckoned that Yan Yan would beat the drums as his signal, so he had made the gong his own signal: when the gong sounded, all his troops came up together. More than half the Shu soldiers threw down their armor, reversed their spears and surrendered.

嚴顏見了張飛，舉手無措，交馬戰不十合，張飛賣個破綻，嚴顏一刀砍來，張飛閃過，撞將入去，扯住嚴顏勒甲絛，生擒過來，擲於地下；衆軍向前，用索綁縛住了。原來先過去的是假張飛。料道嚴顏擊鼓爲號，張飛卻教鳴金爲號：金響諸軍齊到。川兵大半棄甲倒戈而降。

When Zhang Fei fought his way to the walls of Ba Commandery, his rear force had already entered the city. Zhang Fei ordered that the people were not to be harmed and put up proclamations to reassure them. His swordsmen hustled Yan Yan in. Zhang Fei sat in the hall, but Yan Yan refused to kneel. Glaring and grinding his teeth, Zhang Fei roared at him, “When a great general comes here, why do you not surrender? How dare you resist?” Without the least sign of fear, Yan Yan roared back at him, “You people have no sense of right! You have invaded our province and commandery!

張飛殺到巴郡城下，後軍已自入城。張飛叫休殺百姓，出榜安民。羣刀手把嚴顏推至。飛坐於廳上，嚴顏不肯下跪。飛怒目咬牙大叱曰：“大將到此，何爲不降，而敢拒敵？”嚴顏全無懼色，回叱飛曰：“汝等無義，侵我州郡！

There are generals who lose their heads, but no generals who surrender!” Zhang Fei, in a great rage, shouted to his men to take him out and behead him. Yan Yan shouted, “You rebel lout! If you are going to cut off my head, then cut it off. Why get angry about it?” When Zhang Fei saw how bold Yan Yan’s voice was and that his face did not change color, his anger turned to delight. He came down the steps, sent his men away with a shout, untied the prisoner’s bonds with his own hands, brought clothes and dressed him, helped him to the high seat in the center of the hall, and bowed his head to him, saying, “My words just now were insulting. I hope you will not hold them against me.

但有斷頭將軍，無降將軍！”飛大怒，喝左右斬來。嚴顏喝曰：“賊匹夫！砍頭便砍，何怒也？”張飛見嚴顏聲音雄壯，面不改色，乃回嗔作喜，下階喝退左右，親解其縛，取衣衣之，扶在正中高坐，低頭便拜曰：“適來言語冒瀆，幸勿見責。

I have always known that you, veteran general, are a true hero.” Moved by his kindness and generosity, Yan Yan surrendered.

吾素知老將軍乃豪傑之士也。”嚴顏感其恩義，乃降。

A later poet praised Yan Yan:
White-haired he dwelt in western Shu;
His spotless name shook the great realm.
His loyal heart was like the bright moon;
His mighty spirit rolled up the Yangtze.
He would rather die with his head cut off
Than bend his knee and yield.
The aged general of Bazhou
Had no equal under Heaven.

後人有詩讚嚴顏曰：“白髮居西蜀，清名震大邦。
忠心如皎月，浩氣卷長江。
寧可斷頭死，安能屈膝降？
巴州年老將，天下更無雙。
”

Another poem praised Zhang Fei:
He took Yan Yan alive, a feat of matchless courage,
And won soldiers and people by honor alone.
To this day his temple stands in Ba and Shu,
Where every day is spring with village wine, chicken and pork. Zhang Fei asked how best to advance into the west. Yan Yan said, “As the general of a defeated army I have received great kindness and have nothing with which to repay it. Let me serve you like a dog or a horse; without drawing a single bow or loosing a single arrow, you shall take Chengdu directly.”

又有贊張飛詩曰：“生獲嚴顏勇絕倫，惟憑義氣服軍民。至今廟貌留巴蜀，社酒雞豚日日春。”張飛請問入川之計。嚴顏曰：“敗軍之將，荷蒙厚恩，無可以報，願施犬馬之勞，不須張弓只箭，徑取成都。”

Indeed:
Because one general gave his heart,
City after city surrendered without a struggle.
What was his plan? What happened next will be told in the next chapter.

正是：只因一將傾心後，致使連城唾手降。
未知其計如何，且看下文分解。