Romance, Chapter 92

Chapter 92. Zhao Zilong Slays Five Generals by Main Force; Zhuge Liang Takes Three Cities by Wit

Now Kongming led his army forward to Mianyang. As they passed the tomb of Ma Chao, he had Ma Chao’s brother Ma Dai put on mourning, and Kongming himself offered sacrifice there. When the rites were over he returned to camp to discuss the advance. Suddenly a scout reported, “Cao Rui, the Ruler of Wei, has sent the Imperial Son-in-Law Xiahou Mao to muster the forces of all the circuits of Guanzhong and come to resist us.” Wei Yan came up into the tent and offered a plan: “Xiahou Mao is a pampered son of a rich house, weak and without resource.

卻說孔明率兵前至沔陽，經過馬超墳墓，乃令其弟馬岱掛孝，孔明親自祭之。祭畢，回到寨中，商議進兵。忽哨馬報道：“魏主曹睿遣駙馬夏侯楙，調關中諸路軍馬，前來拒敵。”魏延上帳獻策曰：“夏侯楙乃膏粱子弟，懦弱無謀。

Give me five thousand picked troops, and I will take the road out through Baozhong, follow the Qinling Mountains eastward, and turn north at the Ziwu Valley. In less than ten days I can reach Changan. When Xiahou Mao hears that I have suddenly arrived, he is sure to abandon the city and flee toward the granary at the Heng Gate. I will come in from the east, while you, Chancellor, drive the main army forward through the Xie Valley. Done this way, everything west of Xianyang can be settled at a single stroke.”

延願得精兵五千，取路出褒中，循秦嶺以東，當子午谷而投北，不過十日，可到長安。夏侯楙若聞某驟至，必然棄城望橫門邸閣而走。某卻從東方而來，丞相可大驅士馬，自斜谷而進。如此行之，則咸陽以西，一舉可定也。”

Kongming laughed. “That is not a plan free of all risk. You think there is no one of any worth in the Central Plain. If someone should advise them to cut you off with troops among those remote mountains, not only would five thousand men come to harm, but our keen spirit would be badly blunted. It must on no account be used.” Wei Yan said again, “If your army, Chancellor, advances by the main road, they will certainly raise every soldier in Guanzhong to meet us on the way. Then the days will drag on and on, and when shall we ever win the Central Plain?”

孔明笑曰：“此非萬全之計也。汝欺中原無好人物，倘有人進言，于山僻中以兵截殺，非惟五千人受害，亦大傷銳氣。決不可用。”魏延又曰：“丞相兵從大路進發，彼必盡起關中之兵，於路迎敵，則曠日持久，何時而得中原？”

“I shall take the level main road from Longyou and advance my troops by the proper rules,” said Kongming. “Why should I fear that I will not win?” So he did not use Wei Yan’s plan, and Wei Yan was sullen and displeased. Kongming sent word ordering Zhao Yun to advance. Meanwhile Xiahou Mao was gathering the forces of all the circuits at Changan. At that time there was a great general of Xiliang, Han De, a master of the great mountain-splitting axe, whose valour was more than a match for ten thousand men. He brought eighty thousand troops from the various Western Qiang tribes and came to see Xiahou Mao, who rewarded him handsomely and at once made him vanguard.

孔明曰：“吾從隴右取平坦大路，依法進兵，何憂不勝！”遂不用魏延之計。魏延怏怏不悅。孔明差人令趙雲進兵。卻說夏侯楙在長安聚集諸路軍馬。時有西涼大將韓德，善使開山大斧，有萬夫不當之勇，引西羌諸路兵八萬到來；見了夏侯楙，楙重賞之，就遣爲先鋒。

Han De had four sons, all thoroughly skilled in the martial arts and outstanding in archery and horsemanship: the eldest, Han Ying; the second, Han Yao; the third, Han Qiong; and the fourth, Han Qi. Han De took his four sons and the eighty thousand Western Qiang troops by the road to Mount Fengming, where they ran straight into the Shu army. The two lines drew up facing each other. Han De rode out, his four sons ranged on either side, and roared abuse: “Traitors to the state! How dare you invade our borders!”

德有四子，皆精通武藝，弓馬過人：長子韓瑛，次子韓瑤，三子韓瓊，四子韓琪。韓德帶四子並西羌兵八萬，取路至鳳鳴山，正遇蜀兵。兩陣對圓。韓德出馬，四子列於兩邊。德厲聲大罵曰：“反國之賊，安敢犯吾境界！”

Zhao Yun, in a great rage, levelled his spear, spurred his horse forward and challenged Han De to single combat. The eldest son, Han Ying, galloped out to meet him, but before they had fought three bouts Zhao Yun ran him through with a single thrust and he fell dead beneath his horse. Seeing this, the second son, Han Yao, galloped up whirling his sword to fight. Zhao Yun called up the tiger-like might of his former days and roused all his spirit to meet him. Han Yao could not hold him off. The third son, Han Qiong, hastily levelled his sky-piercing halberd and dashed forward to attack from the other side.

趙雲大怒，挺槍縱馬，單搦韓德交戰。長子韓瑛，躍馬來迎；戰不三合，被趙雲一槍刺死於馬下。次子韓瑤見之，縱馬揮刀來戰。趙雲施逞舊日虎威，抖擻精神迎戰。瑤抵敵不住。三子韓瓊，急挺方天戟驟馬前來夾攻。

Zhao Yun was not in the least afraid, and his spearplay never faltered. The fourth son, Han Qi, seeing that his two brothers could not overcome Zhao Yun, galloped up too, swinging a pair of sun-and-moon swords, and they surrounded Zhao Yun. In the middle of them Zhao Yun fought the three generals alone. Before long Han Qi was struck by the spear and fell from his horse, and a subordinate general rushed out from the Han ranks to rescue him. Zhao Yun trailed his spear and made off. Han Qiong laid down his halberd, quickly took up his bow and shot at him, loosing three arrows in succession, but Zhao Yun struck every one of them down with his spear.

雲全然不懼，槍法不亂。四子韓琪，見二兄戰雲不下，也縱馬掄兩口日月刀而來，圍住趙雲。雲在中央獨戰三將。少時，韓琪中槍落馬，韓陣中偏將急出救去。雲拖槍便走。韓瓊按戟，急取弓箭射之，連放三箭，皆被雲用槍撥落。

In a great rage Han Qiong seized his halberd again and galloped in pursuit, only to be hit square in the face by an arrow from Zhao Yun; he fell from his horse and died. Han Yao galloped up, raised his precious sword and slashed at Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun threw his spear to the ground, dodged the sword, took Han Yao alive and carried him back to his own lines; then he galloped out again, picked up his spear and cut his way across the enemy lines. When Han De saw all four of his sons fall at Zhao Yun’s hands, his heart and gall were torn apart, and he was the first to flee back into his ranks.

瓊大怒，仍綽方天戟縱馬趕來；卻被雲一箭射中面門，落馬而死。韓瑤縱馬舉寶刀便砍趙雲。雲棄槍於地，閃過寶刀，生擒韓瑤歸陣，復縱馬取槍殺過陣來。韓德見四子皆喪於趙雲之手，肝膽皆裂，先走入陣去。

The Xiliang troops had long known Zhao Yun’s name, and now that they saw his valour was what it had always been, who dared cross weapons with him? Wherever Zhao Yun’s horse went, line after line gave way. A lone horseman with a single spear, he charged back and forth as though through a land without men.

西涼兵素知趙雲之名，今見其英勇如昔，誰敢交鋒？趙雲馬到處，陣陣倒退。趙雲匹馬單槍，往來衝突，如入無人之境。

A later poet wrote in his praise:
Remember Zhao Zilong of Changshan of old:
At the age of seventy he won a wondrous victory.
Alone he slew four generals and charged the enemy lines,
Still the hero who saved his lord at Dangyang.

後人有詩讚曰：“憶昔常山趙子龍，年登七十建奇功。
獨誅四將來衝陣，猶似當陽救主雄。
”

Deng Zhi, seeing Zhao Yun’s great victory, led the Shu troops in a sweeping attack, and the Xiliang troops were routed and fled. Han De was very nearly taken by Zhao Yun; he threw off his armour and escaped on foot. Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi called in their men and returned to camp. Deng Zhi congratulated him: “General, you are already seventy years old, yet your valour is what it was yesterday. Today, before the lines, you slew four generals by sheer strength. The world rarely sees the like!” “The Chancellor thought me too old and would not use me,” said Zhao Yun, “so I simply gave a little proof of myself.” He then sent men to escort Han Yao as a prisoner and dispatched a report of the victory to Kongming.

鄧芝見趙雲大勝，率蜀兵掩殺，西涼兵大敗而走。韓德險被趙雲擒住，棄甲步行而逃。雲與鄧芝收軍回寨。芝賀曰：“將軍壽已七旬，英勇如昨。今日陣前力斬四將，世所罕有！”雲曰：“丞相以吾年邁，不肯見用，吾故聊以自表耳。”遂差人解韓瑤，申報捷書，以達孔明。

Meanwhile Han De led his beaten troops back to Xiahou Mao and told him in tears what had happened. Xiahou Mao himself led out an army to meet Zhao Yun. Scouts brought word into the Shu camp that Xiahou Mao was coming with his army. Zhao Yun mounted, took up his spear, and with a thousand or so men drew up his battle line before Mount Fengming. That day Xiahou Mao, wearing a golden helmet and riding a white horse, with a great broadsword in his hand, took his stand beneath the banners at the gate of his formation. Seeing Zhao Yun galloping to and fro with his spear levelled, Xiahou Mao wanted to fight him himself.

卻說韓德引敗軍回見夏侯楙，哭告其事。楙自統兵來迎趙雲。探馬報入蜀寨，說夏侯楙引兵到。雲上馬綽槍，引千餘軍，就鳳鳴山前擺成陣勢。當日，夏侯楙戴金盔，坐白馬，手提大砍刀，立在門旗之下。見趙雲躍馬挺槍，往來馳騁，楙欲自戰。

“He killed my four sons — how can I not avenge them?” cried Han De. He galloped forward whirling his great mountain-splitting axe and made straight for Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun, his fury roused, levelled his spear and met him. Before three bouts were fought, up came the spear and Han De fell dead beneath his horse. Zhao Yun wheeled his horse at once and made straight for Xiahou Mao, who hurriedly slipped back into his own ranks. Deng Zhi drove his troops in a sweeping attack; the Wei army lost another battle, fell back more than ten li and made camp. That night Xiahou Mao conferred with his generals: “I have long heard Zhao Yun’s name but never set eyes on him. Today, old as he is, his heroic mettle is still there. Now at last I believe the story of Changban in Dangyang.

韓德曰：“殺吾四子之仇，如何不報！”縱馬輪開山大斧，直取趙雲。雲奮怒挺槍來迎；戰不三合，槍起處，刺死韓德於馬下，急撥馬直取夏侯楙。楙慌忙閃入本陣。鄧芝驅兵掩殺，魏兵又折一陣，退十餘里下寨。楙連夜與衆將商議曰：“吾久聞趙雲之名，未嘗見面；今日年老，英雄尚在，方信當陽長坂之事。

With no one able to stand against him, what are we to do?” The Army Adviser Cheng Wu, a son of Cheng Yu, came forward and said, “As I judge it, Zhao Yun has courage but no strategy, and he is not worth worrying about. Tomorrow, Commander, lead out the army again, but first place two bodies of troops in ambush to left and right. When you meet the enemy, fall back first and lure Zhao Yun into the ambush. Then climb a hill and direct the troops on all four sides to surround him, ring upon ring. Zhao Yun can be taken.”

似此無人可敵，如之奈何？”參軍程武，乃程昱之子也，進言曰：“某料趙雲有勇無謀，不足爲慮。來日都督再引兵出，先伏兩軍於左右；都督臨陣先退，誘趙雲到伏兵處；都督卻登山指揮四面軍馬，重疊圍住，雲可擒矣。”

Xiahou Mao took his advice. He sent Dong Xi with thirty thousand men to lie in ambush on the left, and Xue Ze with thirty thousand to lie in ambush on the right. The two ambushes were duly set. The next day Xiahou Mao again put his gongs, drums and banners in order and advanced with his army. Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi came out to meet him. From horseback Deng Zhi said to Zhao Yun, “Last night the Wei army was badly beaten and fled, yet today they come again — there must be some trick. Be on your guard, old general.”

楙從其言，遂遣董禧引三萬軍伏於左，薛則引三萬軍伏於右。二人埋伏已定。次日，夏侯楙復整金鼓旗幡，率兵而進。趙雲、鄧芝出迎。芝在馬上謂趙雲曰：“昨夜魏兵大敗而走，今日復來，必有詐也。老將軍防之。”

“A milk-mouthed brat like that — what is he worth talking about?” said Zilong. “Today I will certainly take him!” And he galloped out. The Wei general Pan Sui came out to meet him, but before three bouts he wheeled his horse and fled. As Zhao Yun gave chase, eight generals came out together from the Wei ranks to meet him. They let Xiahou Mao get away first, and then the eight generals fled one after another. Zhao Yun pressed on in pursuit, cutting them down, and Deng Zhi followed up with his troops. Zhao Yun had gone deep into dangerous ground when he heard a great shouting break out on every side.

子龍曰：“量此乳臭小兒，何足道哉！吾今日必當擒之！”便躍馬而出。魏將潘遂出迎，戰不三合，撥馬便走。趙雲趕去，魏陣中八員將一齊來迎。放過夏侯楙先走，八將陸續奔走。趙雲乘勢追殺，鄧芝引兵繼進。趙雲深入重地，只聽得四面喊聲大震。

Deng Zhi hastily called in his troops and fell back, but on the left came Dong Xi and on the right Xue Ze, their two forces bearing down. Deng Zhi had too few men to go to the rescue. Zhao Yun was trapped in the very heart of the encirclement; he dashed east and charged west, but the Wei troops only grew thicker. By now he had no more than a thousand or so men left. Fighting his way to the foot of a slope, he saw Xiahou Mao on the hilltop directing the whole army. When Zhao Yun went east, Xiahou Mao pointed east; when he went west, he pointed west. So Zhao Yun could not break out, and he led his men in an attack up the hill.

鄧芝急收軍退回，左有董禧，右有薛則，兩路兵殺到。鄧芝兵少，不能解救。趙雲被困在垓心，東衝西突，魏兵越厚。時雲手下止有千餘人，殺到山坡之下，只見夏侯楙在山上指揮三軍。趙雲投東則望東指，投西則望西指，因此趙雲不能突圍，乃引兵殺上山來。

Logs and stones came hurtling down from halfway up the hill, and they could not climb it. Zhao Yun fought from the hour of the Dragon until the hour of the Rooster without being able to get away, and he had no choice but to dismount and rest for a while, meaning to fight again when the moon came up. He had only just taken off his armour and sat down, and the moonlight was just appearing, when suddenly fires blazed up to the sky on all sides, drums thundered, arrows and stones fell like rain, and the Wei troops came on, all shouting, “Zhao Yun, surrender now!” Zhao Yun quickly mounted and met the enemy.

半山中擂木炮石打將下來，不能上山。趙雲從辰時殺至酉時，不得脫走，只得下馬少歇，且待月明再戰。卻纔卸甲而坐，月光方出，忽四下火光沖天，鼓聲大震，矢石如雨，魏兵殺到，皆叫曰：“趙雲早降！”雲急上馬迎敵。

The troops on every side closed in by degrees, crossbow bolts flew thick and fast from all eight directions, and neither man nor horse could move forward. Zhao Yun looked up to heaven and sighed, “I would not admit that I was old, and now I shall die in this place!” Suddenly a great shout went up at the northeast corner, the Wei troops scattered in confusion, and a band of soldiers came fighting its way in. At its head was a great general holding an eighteen-foot steel-tipped spear, with a man’s head hanging below his horse’s neck. Zhao Yun looked and saw it was Zhang Bao.

四面軍馬漸漸逼近，八方弩箭交射甚急，人馬皆不能向前。雲仰天嘆曰：“吾不服老，死於此地矣！”忽東北角上喊聲大起，魏兵紛紛亂竄，一彪軍殺到，爲首大將持丈八點鋼矛，馬項下掛一顆人頭。雲視之，乃張苞也。

When Zhang Bao saw Zhao Yun he said, “The Chancellor feared some mishap might befall you, old general, and sent me specially with five thousand men to support you. When I heard you were surrounded, I cut my way through the ring upon ring of troops. The Wei general Xue Ze happened to block my path, and I killed him.” Zhao Yun was overjoyed, and at once he and Zhang Bao fought their way out toward the northwest corner. There they saw the Wei troops throwing down their weapons and fleeing, as a band of soldiers came shouting and fighting its way in from outside. At its head was a great general carrying a green dragon crescent blade, with a man’s head in his hand.

苞見了趙雲，言曰：“丞相恐老將軍有失，特遣某引五千兵接應。聞老將軍被困，故殺透重圍。正遇魏將薛則攔路，被某殺之。”雲大喜，即與張苞殺出西北角來。只見魏兵棄戈奔走：一彪軍從外吶喊殺入，爲首大將提偃月青龍刀，手挽人頭。

Zhao Yun looked and saw it was Guan Xing. “I come at the Chancellor’s command,” said Guan Xing. “He feared some mishap might befall you, old general, and sent me specially with five thousand men to support you. Just now, on the field, I ran into the Wei general Dong Xi and cut him down with a single stroke of my blade; here is his head. The Chancellor will be here soon after us.” “You two generals have already won wondrous merit,” said Zhao Yun. “Why not seize this day to capture Xiahou Mao and settle the great matter?” At these words Zhang Bao led his troops away.

雲視之，乃關興也。興曰：“奉丞相之命，恐老將軍有失，特引五千兵前來接應。卻纔陣上逢着魏將董禧，被吾一刀斬之，梟首在此。丞相隨後便到也。”雲曰：“二將軍已建奇功，何不趁今日擒住夏侯楙，以定大事？”張苞聞言，遂引兵去了。

“I am going after merit too,” said Guan Xing, and he also led his troops away. Zhao Yun looked round at those about him and said, “Those two are of the generation of my sons and nephews, yet even they vie to be first to win merit. I am a senior general of the state and an old servant of the court — am I to fall short of these youngsters? I must give this old life of mine to repay the kindness of the late Emperor!” So he led his troops to seize Xiahou Mao. That night the three forces attacked together and dealt the Wei army a crushing defeat.

興曰：“我也幹功去。”遂亦引兵去了。雲回顧左右曰：“他兩個是吾子侄輩，尚且爭先幹功；吾乃國家上將，朝廷舊臣，反不如此小兒耶？吾當舍老命以報先帝之恩！”於是引兵來捉夏侯楙。當夜三路兵夾攻，大破魏軍一陣。

Deng Zhi came up with his troops in support, and they slaughtered the enemy until corpses covered the fields and the blood ran in rivers. Xiahou Mao was a man without resource, and moreover he was young and had never known war. When he saw his army in utter confusion, he took a hundred or so of the bold generals of his headquarters and fled toward Nanan Commandery. His troops, seeing they had no leader, all scattered and fled. When Guan Xing and Zhang Bao heard that Xiahou Mao had gone to Nanan Commandery, they pursued him through the night. Xiahou Mao fled into the city, had the gates shut tight, and drove his soldiers to defend it.

鄧芝引兵接應，殺得屍橫遍野，血流成河。夏侯楙乃無謀之人，更兼年幼，不曾經戰，見軍大亂，遂引帳下驍將百餘人，望南安郡而走。衆軍因見無主，盡皆逃竄。興、苞二將聞夏侯楙望南安郡去了，連夜趕來。楙走入城中，令緊閉城門，驅兵守禦。

Guan Xing and Zhang Bao arrived and surrounded the city; Zhao Yun came up after them, and they attacked from three sides. Soon Deng Zhi too arrived with his troops. They kept up the siege for ten days in a row but could not take the city.

興、苞二人趕到，將城圍住；趙雲隨後也到：三面攻打。少時，鄧芝亦引兵到。一連圍了十日，攻打不下。

Then suddenly word came that the Chancellor had left the rear army at Mianyang, stationed the left army at Yangping and the right army at Shicheng, and was arriving in person with the central army. Zhao Yun, Deng Zhi, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao all came to pay their respects to Kongming and told him that they had attacked the city day after day without taking it. Kongming then rode in a small carriage to the city in person, made a circuit to look it over, and returned to camp, where he took his seat in the command tent. The generals stood around him awaiting orders. Kongming said, “This commandery has deep moats and steep walls and is not easy to attack.

忽報丞相留後軍住沔陽，左軍屯陽平，右軍屯石城，自引中軍來到。趙雲、鄧芝、關興、張苞皆來拜問孔明，說連日攻城不下。孔明遂乘小車親到城邊周圍看了一遍，回寨升帳而坐。衆將環立聽令。孔明曰：“此郡壕深城峻，不易攻也。

My real business does not lie with this city. If you do nothing but attack it for a long time, and the Wei troops come out by separate roads to take Hanzhong, our army will be in danger.” Deng Zhi said, “Xiahou Mao is the Imperial Son-in-Law of Wei. To capture this man would be worth more than beheading a hundred generals. Now he is trapped here — how can we abandon him and leave?” “I have a plan of my own,” said Kongming. “This place joins Tianshui Commandery to the west and reaches Anding Commandery to the north. Who are the prefects of those two places?”

吾正事不在此城，汝等如只久攻，倘魏兵分道而出，以取漢中，吾軍危矣。”鄧芝曰：“夏侯楙乃魏之駙馬，若擒此人，勝斬百將。今困於此，豈可棄之而去？”孔明曰：“吾自有計。此處西連天水郡，北抵安定郡，二處太守，不知何人？”

A scout answered, “The Prefect of Tianshui is Ma Zun, and the Prefect of Anding is Cui Liang.” Kongming was delighted. He summoned Wei Yan and gave him a plan — thus and thus; he summoned Guan Xing and Zhang Bao and gave them a plan — thus and thus; and he summoned two trusted soldiers and gave them a plan, telling them to carry it out in such a way. The generals each received their orders and went off with their troops. Kongming, for his part, had his soldiers carry firewood and straw outside the walls of Nanan and pile it beneath them, loudly declaring that he would burn the city.

探卒答曰：“天水太守馬遵，安定太守崔諒。”孔明大喜，乃喚魏延受計，如此如此；又喚關興、張苞受計，如此如此；又喚心腹軍士二人受計，如此行之。各將領命，引兵而去。孔明卻在南安城外，令軍運柴草堆於城下，口稱燒城。

When the Wei troops heard of this, they all laughed heartily and were not afraid. Meanwhile Cui Liang, the Prefect of Anding, heard in his city that the Shu army had surrounded Nanan and trapped Xiahou Mao. Greatly alarmed, he at once mustered some four thousand men and horse in all to hold the city. Suddenly a man came from due south, saying he had a secret matter to report. Cui Liang called him in and questioned him, and he answered, “I am Pei Xu, a trusted general on the staff of Commander Xiahou.

魏兵聞知，皆大笑不懼。卻說安定太守崔諒，在城中聞蜀兵圍了南安，困住夏侯楙，十分慌懼，即點軍馬約共四千，守住城池。忽見一人自正南而來，口稱有機密事。崔諒喚入問之，答曰：“某是夏侯都督帳下心腹將裴緒。

I have come now under the Commander’s orders expressly to seek help from the two commanderies of Tianshui and Anding. Nanan is in desperate straits. Every day we light fires on the walls as a signal and look for nothing but relief from the two commanderies, yet none has come. So he has sent me again to break out through the siege and come here to tell you of the emergency. You should raise your troops at once and march day and night to support us from outside. When the Commander sees the troops of the two commanderies arrive, he will open the city gates and come out to join you.” “Have you a dispatch from the Commander?” asked Cui Liang.

今奉都督將令，特來求救於天水、安定二郡。南安甚急，每日城上縱火爲號，專望二郡救兵，並不見到；因復差某殺出重圍，來此告急。可星夜起兵爲外應。都督若見二郡兵到，卻開城門接應也。”諒曰：“有都督文書否？”

Pei Xu drew it out from next to his skin; it was already soaked through with sweat. He let Cui Liang glance at it briefly, then hurriedly had his men change his tired horse and left the city at once, heading for Tianshui. In less than two days another dispatch rider arrived with word that the Prefect of Tianshui had already raised his troops and set out to relieve Nanan, and that Anding should come quickly to join them. Cui Liang consulted the officials of his headquarters. The officials said, “If we do not go to the rescue, and Nanan is lost and the Imperial Son-in-Law Xiahou is sent to his death, the blame will fall on our two commanderies. We have no choice but to go.” Cui Liang at once mustered his men and horses and left the city, leaving only the civil officials to guard it.

緒貼肉取出，汗已溼透；略教一視，急令手下換了乏馬，便出城望天水而去。不二日，又有報馬到，告天水太守已起兵救援南安去了，教安定早早接應。崔諒與府官商議。多官曰：“若不去救，失了南安，送了夏侯駙馬，皆我兩郡之罪也：只得救之。”諒即點起人馬，離城而去，只留文官守城。

Cui Liang led his army along the main road toward Nanan. Seeing fires blazing to the sky in the distance, he urged his men on through the night. He was still more than fifty li from Nanan when suddenly a great shout went up in front and behind, and scouts reported, “Guan Xing is blocking the road ahead, and Zhang Bao is attacking from the rear!” The Anding troops scattered in every direction. Cui Liang, badly shaken, took a hundred or so of his men and fought desperately down a side road until he broke free, then fled back to Anding.

崔諒提兵向南安大路進發，遙望見火光沖天，催兵星夜前進，離南安尚有五十餘里，忽聞前後喊聲大震，哨馬報道：“前面關興截住去路，背後張苞殺來！”安定之兵，四下逃竄。諒大驚，乃領手下百餘人，往小路死戰得脫，奔回安定。

He had just reached the edge of the city moat when arrows came raining down from the walls. The Shu general Wei Yan shouted from the wall, “I have already taken the city! Why not surrender at once?” It turned out that Wei Yan had disguised his men as Anding troops, tricked the gates open in the dead of night and brought all the Shu troops in; this was how Anding had been taken.

方到城壕邊，城上亂箭射下來。蜀將魏延在城上叫曰：“吾已取了城也！何不早降？”原來魏延扮作安定軍，夤夜賺開城門，蜀兵盡入，因此得了安定。

Cui Liang hurried off toward Tianshui Commandery. He had not gone one stage of the road when a band of soldiers was drawn up across his path ahead. Beneath the great banner, sitting upright in a carriage, was a man in a silk turban with a feather fan, wearing a Taoist robe and a crane-feather cloak. Cui Liang looked and saw it was Kongming, and he quickly wheeled his horse to flee. The troops of Guan Xing and Zhang Bao came after him from two directions, simply shouting, “Surrender now!” Seeing Shu troops on every side, Cui Liang had no choice but to surrender, and he went back with them to the main camp.

崔諒慌投天水郡來。行不到一程，前面一彪軍擺開。大旗之下，一人綸巾羽扇，道袍鶴氅，端坐於車上。諒視之，乃孔明也，急撥回馬走。關興、張苞兩路兵追到，只叫：“早降！”崔諒見四面皆是蜀兵，不得已遂降，同歸大寨。

Kongming treated him as an honoured guest. “Are you on close terms with the Prefect of Nanan?” asked Kongming. “He is Yang Ling, a clansman and younger cousin of Yang Fu,” said Cui Liang. “His commandery neighbours mine, and we are very good friends.” “I should like to trouble you to go into the city and persuade Yang Ling to seize Xiahou Mao,” said Kongming. “Will you do it?” “If you wish to send me, Chancellor,” said Cui Liang, “please withdraw your army for a while and let me go into the city to talk him round.” Kongming agreed and at once issued orders for the troops on all four sides to fall back twenty li each and make camp.

孔明以上賓相待。孔明曰：“南安太守與足下交厚否？”諒曰：“此人乃楊阜之族弟楊陵也；與某鄰郡，交契甚厚。”孔明曰：“今欲煩足下入城，說楊陵擒夏侯楙，可乎？”諒曰：“丞相若令某去，可暫退軍馬，容某入城說之。”孔明從其言，即時傳令，教四面軍馬各退二十里下寨。

Cui Liang rode alone to the city, had the gate opened, and went into the headquarters. When he and Yang Ling had exchanged greetings, he told him everything in detail. Yang Ling said, “We have received great kindness from the Ruler of Wei. How could we bear to betray him? We should turn his own scheme against him.” He took Cui Liang to Xiahou Mao and told him all the details. “What plan should we use?” asked Xiahou Mao. “Just pretend that I am handing over the city gates,” said Yang Ling, “trick the Shu army into coming in, and then kill them inside the city.”

崔諒匹馬到城邊叫開城門，入到府中，與楊陵禮畢，細言其事。陵曰：“我等受魏主大恩，安忍背之？可將計就計而行。”遂引崔諒到夏侯楙處，備細說知。楙曰：“當用何計？”楊陵曰：“只推某獻城門，賺蜀兵入，卻就城中殺之。”

Following the plan, Cui Liang left the city and saw Kongming. “Yang Ling will hand over the city gates and let your great army in to capture Xiahou Mao,” he said. “He meant to seize him himself, but he has few brave men under him, so he dared not move rashly.” “Nothing could be easier,” said Kongming. “You still have the hundred or so men of yours who surrendered. We will secretly hide Shu generals among them, disguised as Anding troops, and you will take them into the city and first put them in hiding near Xiahou Mao’s headquarters. Then make a secret arrangement with Yang Ling to open the gates at midnight, and we will strike together from inside and out.”

崔諒依計而行，出城見孔明，說：“楊陵獻城門，放大軍入城，以擒夏侯楙。楊陵本欲自捉，因手下勇士不多，未敢輕動。”孔明曰：“此事至易：今有足下原降兵百餘人，於內暗藏蜀將扮作安定軍馬，帶入城去、先伏於夏侯楙府下；卻暗約楊陵，待半夜之時，獻開城門，裏應外合。”

Cui Liang thought to himself, “If I do not take the Shu generals along, Kongming may grow suspicious. I will take them in for now, kill them first once we are inside, then raise a fire as a signal to lure Kongming in, and kill him.” So he agreed. Kongming instructed him, “I will send my trusted generals Guan Xing and Zhang Bao on ahead with you. Just pretend they are a relief force that has fought its way into the city, to set Xiahou Mao’s mind at rest. As soon as the fire goes up, I will come into the city myself and capture him.”

崔諒暗思：“若不帶蜀將去，恐孔明生疑。且帶入去，就內先斬之，舉火爲號，賺孔明入來，殺之可也。”因此應允。孔明囑曰：“吾遣親信將關興、張苞隨足下先去，只推救軍殺入城中，以安夏侯楙之心；但舉火，吾當親入城去擒之。”

It was dusk. Guan Xing and Zhang Bao, having received Kongming’s secret plan, put on their armour, mounted, took up their weapons, and mingled with the Anding troops as they followed Cui Liang to the foot of the walls of Nanan. Yang Ling pushed out the plank that hung over the wall, leaned against the breast-high railing, and called, “Whose troops are these?” “The relief army from Anding has arrived,” replied Cui Liang. First Cui Liang shot a signal arrow up onto the wall. Tied to it was a secret letter: “Zhuge Liang has sent two generals ahead to hide in the city, meaning to strike from inside and out together. Do nothing to alarm them, or the plan may leak out.

時值黃昏，關興、張苞受了孔明密計，披掛上馬，各執兵器，雜在安定軍中，隨崔諒來到南安城下。楊陵在城上撐起懸空板，倚定護心欄，問曰：“何處軍馬？”崔諒曰：“安定救軍來到。”諒先射一號箭上城，箭上帶着密書曰：“今諸葛亮先遣二將，伏於城中，要裏應外合；且不可驚動，恐泄漏計策。

Wait until we are inside your headquarters to deal with them.” Yang Ling showed the letter to Xiahou Mao and explained the matter in detail. “Since Zhuge Liang has fallen for the ruse,” said Xiahou Mao, “put a hundred or so axemen in hiding in the headquarters. When the two generals follow Prefect Cui to the headquarters and dismount, shut the gates and cut them down. Then raise a fire on the walls to lure Zhuge Liang into the city. When the ambushers all rush out together, he can be taken.”

待入府中圖之。”楊陵將書見了夏侯楙，細言其事。楙曰：“既然諸葛亮中計，可教刀斧手百餘人，伏於府中。如二將隨崔太守到府下馬，閉門斬之；卻於城上舉火，賺諸葛亮入城。伏兵齊出，亮可擒矣。”

When everything was ready, Yang Ling went back up on the wall and said, “If these are Anding troops, let them into the city.” Guan Xing went ahead with Cui Liang, and Zhang Bao followed behind. Yang Ling came down from the wall and went to the gate to welcome them. Up went Guan Xing’s hand, down came his blade, and Yang Ling was cut down beneath his horse. Cui Liang, horrified, wheeled his horse and dashed for the drawbridge. Zhang Bao roared, “Stop, traitor! How could your cunning tricks deceive the Chancellor?”

安排已畢，楊陵回到城上言曰：“既是安定軍馬，可放入城。”關興跟崔諒先行，張苞在後。楊陵下城，在門邊迎接。興手起刀落，斬楊陵於馬下。崔諒大驚，急撥馬奔到吊橋邊，張苞大喝曰：“賊子休走！汝等詭計，如何瞞得丞相耶！”

With one thrust of his spear he struck Cui Liang from his horse. Guan Xing had already got up on the wall and set the fire going. Shu troops poured in from all sides. Xiahou Mao, caught unprepared, opened the south gate and fought his way out with all his might. A band of soldiers barred the way, led by a great general — Wang Ping. At the very first clash he took Xiahou Mao alive from his saddle, and all the rest were killed. Kongming entered Nanan, called the soldiers and people together to reassure them, and did not allow the slightest harm to be done.

手起一槍，刺崔諒於馬下。關興早到城上，放起火來。四面蜀兵齊入。夏侯楙措手不及，開南門併力殺出。一彪軍攔住，爲首大將，乃是王平；交馬只一合，生擒夏侯楙於馬上，餘皆殺死。孔明入南安，招諭軍民，秋毫無犯。

The generals each reported their merits. Kongming had Xiahou Mao shut up in a cage cart. Deng Zhi asked, “How did you know, Chancellor, that Cui Liang was false?” Kongming said, “I already knew that this man had no intention of submitting, so I deliberately sent him into the city. He was sure to tell Xiahou Mao everything and try to turn our scheme against us. When I saw how he came back and what he said, I knew well enough that he was false. So I sent the two generals along with him to set his mind at ease. Had he been sincere, he would surely have tried to stop them. That he went along with them so gladly was because he feared I would suspect him.

衆將各各獻功。孔明將夏侯楙囚於車中。鄧芝問曰：“丞相何故知崔諒詐也？”孔明曰：“吾已知此人無降心，故意使入城。彼必盡情告與夏侯楙，欲將計就計而行。吾見來情，足知其詐，復使二將同去，以穩其心。此人若有真心，必然阻當；彼忻然同去者，恐吾疑也。

In his own mind he reckoned that if the two generals went with him, there would still be time enough to kill them once they had been tricked into the city, and that our army, feeling it had someone to rely on inside, would advance without misgivings. But I had already secretly instructed the two generals to deal with him beneath the city gate. There was sure to be no preparation inside the city, and our army would be there right behind them. That is what is meant by striking where the enemy does not expect.” The generals bowed in admiration. Kongming said, “The man who deceived Cui Liang was a trusted man of mine posing as the Wei general Pei Xu. I also sent him to deceive Tianshui Commandery, but there is still no sign of them, and I do not know why.

他意中度二將同去，賺入城內殺之未遲；又令吾軍有託，放心而進。吾已暗囑二將，就城門下圖之。城內必無準備，吾軍隨後便到。此出其不意也。”衆將拜服。孔明曰：“賺崔諒者，吾使心腹人詐作魏將裴緒也。吾又去賺天水郡，至今未到，不知何故。

Now we should take advantage of our momentum to seize it.” So he left Wu Yi to hold Nanan and Liu Yan to hold Anding, relieving Wei Yan’s troops so that they could go and take Tianshui Commandery.

今可乘勢取之。”乃留吳懿守南安，劉琰守安定，替出魏延軍馬去取天水郡。

Meanwhile Ma Zun, the Prefect of Tianshui Commandery, hearing that Xiahou Mao was trapped in the city of Nanan, called his civil and military officials together to discuss it. The Officer of Merit Liang Xu, the Registrar Yin Shang, the Recorder Liang Qian and others said, “The Imperial Son-in-Law Xiahou is a golden branch and jade leaf of the imperial house. If any harm should come to him, we could hardly escape the charge of having sat by and watched. Why do you not raise all the troops of this commandery, sir, and go to his rescue?” While Ma Zun was still hesitating, word suddenly came that the Imperial Son-in-Law Xiahou had sent his trusted general Pei Xu.

卻說天水郡太守馬遵，聽知夏侯楙困在南安城中，乃聚文武官商議。功曹梁緒、主簿尹賞、主記梁虔等曰：“夏侯駙馬乃金枝玉葉，倘有疏虞，難逃坐視之罪。太守何不盡起本部兵以救之？”馬遵正疑慮間，忽報夏侯駙馬差心腹將裴緒到。

Pei Xu entered the headquarters, handed an official dispatch to Ma Zun and said, “The Commander asks for the troops of the two commanderies of Anding and Tianshui to come to his rescue with all speed, day and night.” With that he hurried away. The next day another dispatch rider came and said, “The Anding troops have already gone on ahead. You are asked, sir, to come at once and join them.”

緒入府，取公文付馬遵，說：“都督求安定、天水兩郡之兵，星夜救應。”言訖，匆匆而去。次日又有報馬到，稱說：“安定兵已先去了，教太守火急前來會合。”

Ma Zun was about to set out with his troops when suddenly a man came in from outside and said, “Sir, you have fallen into Zhuge Liang’s trap!” They all looked and saw a man of Ji in Tianshui, surnamed Jiang, named Wei, with the courtesy name Boyue. His father, named Jiong, had once been Officer of Merit of Tianshui Commandery and had lost his life in the service of the state during an uprising of the Qiang. From his youth Jiang Wei had read widely in all kinds of books, and there was nothing in the art of war or the martial skills that he had not mastered. He served his mother with the utmost filial devotion, and the people of the commandery respected him. Later he had become a General of the Household and took part in the military affairs of his own commandery.

馬遵正欲起兵，忽一人自外而入曰：“太守中諸葛亮之計矣！”衆視之，乃天水冀人也，姓姜名維，字伯約。父名冏，昔日曾爲天水郡功曹，因羌人亂，沒於王事。維自幼博覽羣書，兵法武藝，無所不通；奉母至孝，郡人敬之；後爲中郎將，就參本郡軍事。

That day Jiang Wei said to Ma Zun, “I hear that Zhuge Liang has recently defeated Xiahou Mao and has him shut up in Nanan so tightly that not a drop of water could leak out. How could anyone get out from the midst of such a siege? Besides, this Pei Xu is a nameless junior officer whom no one has ever seen. What is more, the rider from Anding brought no official dispatch. Judging by this, the man is a Shu general falsely claiming to be a Wei general. Once he has tricked you into leaving the city, he reckons the city will be unguarded, and he is sure to have a body of troops lying in wait somewhere near, to seize Tianshui while it is empty.” Ma Zun saw it all at once and said, “If not for your words, Boyue, I would have fallen right into their wicked scheme!”

當日姜維謂馬遵曰：“近聞諸葛亮殺敗夏侯楙，困於南安，水泄不通，安得有人自重圍之中而出？又且裴緒乃無名下將，從不曾見；況安定報馬，又無公文，以此察之，此人乃蜀將詐稱魏將。賺得太守出城，料城中無備，必然暗伏一軍於左近，乘虛而取天水也，”馬遵大悟曰：“非伯約之言，則誤中奸計矣！”

Jiang Wei smiled. “Set your mind at rest, sir. I have a plan that can capture Zhuge Liang and relieve the danger to Nanan.”

維笑曰：“太守放心。某有一計，可擒諸葛亮，解南安之危。”

Indeed:
Laying his plans, he met a master stronger still;
Matching wits, he came upon a man he never looked for.
What his plan was will be told in the next chapter.

正是：運籌又遇強中手，鬥智還逢意外人。
未知其計如何，且看下文分解。