Romance, Chapter 64

Chapter 64. Kongming Lays a Plan and Captures Zhang Ren; Yang Fu Borrows Troops and Defeats Ma Chao

Meanwhile Zhang Fei asked Yan Yan for a plan. Yan Yan said, “From here to Luo City, every pass and stronghold on the way is under my command, and the garrisons are all in the hollow of my hand. I am moved by your kindness, General, and have nothing with which to repay it. Let me lead the van: wherever we come, I will call them all out and make them surrender.” Zhang Fei thanked him again and again. So Yan Yan led the van, and Zhang Fei followed with the army.

卻說張飛問計於嚴顏，顏曰：“從此取雒城，凡守禦關隘，都是老夫所管，官軍皆出於掌握之中。今感將軍之恩，無可以報，老夫當爲前部，所到之處，盡皆喚出拜降。”張飛稱謝不已。於是嚴顏爲前部，張飛領軍隨後。

Every place they came to was under Yan Yan’s command, and he called them all out to surrender. When any hesitated and could not make up their minds, Yan Yan said, “Even I have surrendered; how much more should you?” From then on they submitted at the first word of his approach, and not a single battle was fought.

凡到之處，盡是嚴顏所管，都喚出投降。有遲疑未決者，顏曰：“我尚且投降，何況汝乎？”自是望風歸順，並不曾廝殺一場。

Kongming had already sent word to Xuande of the day he would set out, and arranged that all should meet at Luo City. Xuande took counsel with his officers: “Kongming and Yide are coming by two roads to take Xichuan; we are to meet at Luo City and enter Chengdu together. The boats and carts, by water and by land, set out on the twentieth day of the seventh month and should be arriving about now. We may advance at once.” Huang Zhong said, “Zhang Ren has come out every day to challenge us, and seeing that no one comes out of the city, his men have grown slack and make no preparations. If we divide our forces and raid his camp tonight, it will serve better than fighting by daylight.”

卻說孔明已將起程日期申報玄德，教都會聚雒城。玄德與衆官商議：“今孔明、翼德分兩路取川，會於雒城，同入成都。水陸舟車，已於七月二十日起程，此時將及待到。今我等便可進兵。”黃忠曰：“張任每日來搦戰，見城中不出，彼軍懈怠，不做準備，今日夜間分兵劫寨，勝如白晝廝殺。”

Xuande agreed. He sent Huang Zhong with a force against the left and Wei Yan with a force against the right, while he himself took the center road. That night at the second watch the three columns set out together. Zhang Ren, as expected, had made no preparations. The Han troops poured into his main camp and set it on fire, and the flames leapt to the sky. The men of Shu fled and were chased all through the night right up to Luo City, where the garrison let them in. Xuande went back and camped on the center road. The next day he led his army straight to Luo City, surrounded it and attacked.

玄德從之，教黃忠引兵取左，魏延引兵取右，玄德取中路。當夜二更，三路軍馬齊發。張任果然不做準備。漢軍擁入大寨，放起火來，烈焰騰空。蜀兵奔走，連夜直趕到雒城，城中兵接應入去。玄德還中路下寨；次日，引兵直到雒城，圍住攻打。

Zhang Ren held his men in and would not come out. On the fourth day of the attack Xuande himself led a force against the west gate, while Huang Zhong and Wei Yan attacked the east gate. The south and north gates were left free so that the defenders could get away, for the ground beyond the south gate was all mountain paths and the Fu River lay outside the north gate; that was why those two were not besieged. Zhang Ren watched Xuande riding to and fro before the west gate, directing the assault, from early morning until mid-afternoon, until both men and horses were gradually worn out.

張任按兵不出。攻到第四日，玄德自提一軍攻打西門，令黃忠、魏延在東門攻打，留南門北門放軍行走。原來南門一帶都是山路，北門有涪水：因此不圍。張任望見玄德在西門，騎馬往來，指揮打城，從辰至未，人馬漸漸力乏。

Zhang Ren ordered two generals, Wu Lan and Lei Tong, to lead a force out of the north gate and round to the east gate to engage Huang Zhong and Wei Yan, while he himself led troops out of the south gate and round to the west gate to meet Xuande alone. Inside the city all the militia were sent up onto the walls to beat drums and shout in support. Xuande, seeing the red sun sinking in the west, ordered the rear division to withdraw first. Just as the soldiers turned about, a great shout went up from the walls, and troops burst out from within the south gate.

張任教吳蘭、雷銅二將引兵出北門，轉東門，敵黃忠、魏延；自己卻引軍出南門，轉西門，單迎玄德。城內盡撥民兵上城，擂鼓助喊。卻說玄德見紅日平西，教後軍先退。軍士方回身，城上一片聲喊起，南門內軍馬突出。

Zhang Ren made straight into the army to seize Xuande, and Xuande’s ranks fell into great confusion. Huang Zhong and Wei Yan were held off by Wu Lan and Lei Tong, and neither side could help the other. Xuande could not withstand Zhang Ren; he turned his horse and fled along a remote path into the hills. Zhang Ren pursued from behind and was on the point of overtaking him. Xuande was quite alone, one man on one horse, and Zhang Ren was coming after him with a few horsemen. As Xuande was plying his whip with all his might, suddenly a body of troops came charging along the mountain road ahead.

張任徑來軍中捉玄德，玄德軍中大亂。黃忠、魏延又被吳蘭、雷銅敵住。兩下不能相顧。玄德敵不住張任，撥馬往山僻小路而走。張任從背後追來，看看趕上。玄德獨自一人一馬。張任引數騎趕來。玄德正望前盡力加鞭而行，忽山路一軍衝來。

Xuande cried out in despair from the saddle, “An ambush ahead and pursuers behind! Heaven is destroying me!” But the leading general of the approaching force was none other than Zhang Fei. He and Yan Yan had been coming along that very road, and seeing the dust rise they knew there was fighting with the men of Xichuan. Zhang Fei had pressed on ahead, and now he ran straight into Zhang Ren and at once engaged him. They had fought some ten bouts when Yan Yan came up behind with his troops in a great advance.

玄德馬上叫苦曰：“前有伏兵，後有追兵，天亡我也！”只見來軍當頭一員大將，乃是張飛。原來張飛與嚴顏正從那條路上來，望見塵埃起，知與川兵交戰。張飛當先而來，正撞着張任，便就交馬。戰到十餘合，背後嚴顏引兵大進。

Zhang Ren wheeled round in haste, and Zhang Fei chased him right up to the city wall. Zhang Ren withdrew into the city and drew up the drawbridge. Zhang Fei came back to see Xuande and said, “The Director of Strategy is coming up the river and has not yet arrived, and here I have snatched the first merit from him.” Xuande said, “The mountain roads are steep and difficult. How is it that no troops stopped you, and you drove straight ahead and got here first?” Zhang Fei said, “All along the road there were forty-five passes and strongholds, and every one of them was the work of the veteran general Yan Yan. So I did not spend a scrap of strength on the way.”

張任火速回身。張飛直趕到城下。張任退入城，拽起吊橋。張飛回見玄德曰：“軍師溯江而來，尚且未到，反被我奪了頭功。”玄德曰：“山路險阻，如何無軍阻當，長驅大進，先到於此？”張飛曰：“於路關隘四十五處，皆出老將嚴顏之功，因此於路並不曾費分毫之力。”

Then he told the whole story of how he had released Yan Yan out of chivalry, from beginning to end, and brought Yan Yan to see Xuande. Xuande thanked him, saying, “Had it not been for you, veteran general, how could my brother have reached this place?” He at once took off the golden chain mail he was wearing and gave it to him. Yan Yan bowed and thanked him. They were just about to arrange a banquet when a scout rode back with a report: “Huang Zhong and Wei Yan were fighting the Xichuan generals Wu Lan and Lei Tong when Wu Yi and Liu Gui came out of the city with more troops to join the battle. Attacked from both sides, our men could not hold, and the two generals Wei and Huang have been defeated and have fled eastward.”

遂把義釋嚴顏之事，從頭說了一遍，引嚴顏見玄德。玄德謝曰：“若非老將軍，吾弟安能到此？”即脫身上黃金鎖子甲以賜之。嚴顏拜謝。正待安排宴飲，忽聞哨馬回報：“黃忠、魏延和川將吳蘭、雷銅交鋒，城中吳懿、劉璝又引兵助戰，兩下夾攻，我軍抵敵不住，魏、黃二將敗陣投東去了。”

When Zhang Fei heard this, he asked Xuande to divide their forces into two columns and go to the rescue. So Zhang Fei on the left and Xuande on the right charged forward. When Wu Yi and Liu Gui heard shouting behind them, they fell back in haste into the city. Wu Lan and Lei Tong, intent only on pursuing Huang Zhong and Wei Yan, found their road home cut off by Xuande and Zhang Fei. Huang Zhong and Wei Yan then wheeled round and attacked in their turn. Wu Lan and Lei Tong, seeing they could not hold out, had no choice but to bring their own troops over and surrender.

張飛聽得，便請玄德分兵兩路，殺去救援。於是張飛在左，玄德在右，殺奔前來。吳懿、劉璝見後面喊聲起，慌退入城中。吳蘭、雷銅只顧引兵追趕黃忠、魏延，卻被玄德、張飛截住歸路。黃忠、魏延又回馬轉攻。吳蘭、雷銅料敵不住，只得將本部軍馬前來投降。

Xuande accepted their surrender, gathered in his troops and camped close to the city. Zhang Ren, having lost two generals, was troubled at heart. Wu Yi and Liu Gui said, “Our position is extremely dangerous. Unless we fight to the death, how can we drive them off? On the one hand we should send someone to Chengdu to tell our lord of our peril; on the other we should use some stratagem against them.” Zhang Ren said, “Tomorrow I will lead a force out to offer battle. I will pretend to be defeated and draw them round to the north of the city. Then another force will sally from the city and cut them through the middle. That way we can win.”

玄德準其降，收兵近城下寨。卻說張任失了二將，心中憂慮。吳懿、劉璝曰：“兵勢甚危，不決一死戰，如何得兵退？一面差人去成都見主公告急，一面用計敵之。”張任曰：“吾來日領一軍搦戰，詐敗，引轉城北；城內再以一軍衝出，截斷其中：可獲勝也。”

Wu Yi said, “General Liu can help the young lord hold the city, and I will lead a force out to join the fight.” So it was agreed. The next day Zhang Ren led several thousand men and horses out of the city, waving flags and shouting, to offer battle. Zhang Fei mounted and rode out to meet him, and without another word engaged Zhang Ren. They had fought fewer than ten bouts when Zhang Ren, feigning defeat, fled round the city wall. Zhang Fei pursued with all his might. Then Wu Yi’s force cut across his path, and Zhang Ren turned back with his troops, so that Zhang Fei was surrounded in the very center and could neither advance nor retreat.

吳懿曰：“劉將軍相輔公子守城，我引兵衝出助戰。”約會已定。次日，張任引數千人馬，搖旗吶喊，出城搦戰。張飛上馬出迎，更不打話，與張任交鋒。戰不十餘合，張任詐敗，繞城而走。張飛盡力追之。吳懿一軍截住，張任引軍復回，把張飛圍在垓心，進退不得。

Just when he was at his wits’ end, a body of troops came charging out from the riverside. At its head a great general, spear leveled and horse leaping, engaged Wu Yi; in a single bout he took Wu Yi alive, beat back the enemy and rescued Zhang Fei. It was Zhao Yun. Zhang Fei asked, “Where is the Director of Strategy?” Zhao Yun said, “He has already arrived. By now he must have met our lord.” The two of them took Wu Yi back to camp as a prisoner. Zhang Ren retreated and went in by the east gate.

正沒奈何，只見一隊軍從江邊殺出。當先一員大將，挺槍躍馬，與吳懿交鋒；只一合，生擒吳懿，戰退敵軍，救出張飛。視之，乃趙雲也。飛問：“軍師何在？”雲曰：“軍師已至，想此時已與主公相見了也。”二人擒吳懿回寨。張任自退入東門去了。

When Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun got back to camp, they found Kongming, Jian Yong and Jiang Wan already in the tent. Zhang Fei dismounted and paid his respects to the Director of Strategy. Kongming asked in surprise, “How did you manage to arrive first?” Xuande told him the whole story of how Zhang Fei had released Yan Yan out of chivalry. Kongming offered his congratulations: “That General Zhang can now use stratagems is all due to your great good fortune, my lord.” Zhao Yun brought Wu Yi, bound, before Xuande. Xuande said, “Will you surrender?” Wu Yi said, “Now that I have been captured, how could I not surrender?”

張飛、趙雲回寨中，見孔明、簡雍、蔣琬已在帳中。飛下馬來參軍師。孔明驚問曰：“如何得先到？”玄德具述義釋嚴顏之事。孔明賀曰：“張將軍能用謀，皆主公之洪福也。”趙雲解吳懿見玄德。玄德曰：“汝降否？”吳懿曰：“我既被捉，如何不降？”

Xuande was delighted and untied his bonds with his own hands. Kongming asked, “How many men are holding the city?” Wu Yi said, “There is Liu Jiyu’s son Liu Xun, and the generals assisting him are Liu Gui and Zhang Ren. Liu Gui is of no great account, but Zhang Ren, a native of Shu Commandery, has great courage and resource. He must not be taken lightly.” Kongming said, “We will capture Zhang Ren first, and then take Luo City.” He asked, “What is the name of this bridge to the east of the city?” Wu Yi said, “The Jinyan Bridge.”

玄德大喜，親解其縛。孔明問：“城中有幾人守城？”吳懿曰：“有劉季玉之子劉循，輔將劉璝、張任。劉璝不打緊；張任乃蜀郡人，極有膽略，不可輕敵。”孔明曰：“先捉張任，然後取雒城。”問：“城東這座橋名爲何橋？”吳懿曰：“金雁橋。”

So Kongming rode to the bridge, went along the river looking it over, and came back to camp. He summoned Huang Zhong and Wei Yan to receive their orders: “Five or six li south of the Jinyan Bridge both banks are thick with reeds and rushes, a fit place for an ambush. Wei Yan, take a thousand spearmen and lie in wait on the left, and thrust only at the mounted officers. Huang Zhong, take a thousand swordsmen and lie in wait on the right, and cut only at the horses under them. When their army is scattered, Zhang Ren is sure to come along the little road east of the hills.

孔明遂乘馬至橋邊，繞河看了一遍，回到寨中，喚黃忠、魏延聽令曰：“離金雁橋南五六里，兩岸都是蘆葦蒹葭，可以埋伏。魏延引一千槍手伏於左，單戳馬上將；黃忠引一千刀手伏於右，單砍坐下馬。殺散彼軍，張任必投山東小路而來。

Zhang Yide, take a thousand men and lie in wait there, and capture him on the spot.” He then called Zhao Yun and set him in ambush north of the Jinyan Bridge: “When I have lured Zhang Ren across the bridge, you are to break it down and then draw up your men north of the bridge, making a show of force from a distance. Then Zhang Ren will not dare to flee north, but will fall back southward, and there he will walk right into our trap.” When the dispositions were made, the Director of Strategy went himself to lure the enemy.

張翼德引一千軍伏在那裏，就彼處擒之。”又喚趙雲伏於金雁橋北：“待我引張任過橋，你便將橋拆斷，卻勒兵於橋北，遙爲之勢，使張任不敢望北走，退投南去，卻好中計。”調遣已定，軍師自去誘敵。

Liu Zhang had sent two generals, Zhuo Ying and Zhang Yi, to Luo City to help in the fighting. Zhang Ren had Zhang Yi and Liu Gui hold the city, while he and Zhuo Ying formed two divisions, van and rear—Zhang Ren leading the van and Zhuo Ying the rear—and went out of the city to drive off the enemy. Kongming led a ragged, disorderly body of troops across the Jinyan Bridge and drew up facing Zhang Ren. He came out riding in his four-wheeled carriage, wearing a silk kerchief on his head and holding a feather fan, with a hundred or more horsemen clustered round him on either side. Pointing at Zhang Ren from afar, he called out, “Cao Cao with his host of a million fled at the mere sound of my name. Who are you, that you dare not surrender?”

卻說劉璋差卓膺、張翼二將，前至雒城助戰。張任教張翼與劉璝守城，自與卓膺爲前後二隊，任爲前隊，膺爲後隊，出城退敵。孔明引一隊不整不齊軍，過金雁橋來，與張任對陣。孔明乘四輪車，綸巾羽扇而出，兩邊百餘騎簇捧，遙指張任曰：“曹操以百萬之衆，聞吾之名，望風而走；今汝何人，敢不投降？”

Seeing how disorderly Kongming’s ranks were, Zhang Ren laughed coldly from the saddle. “People say Zhuge Liang handles troops like a god. It turns out he has the name but not the substance!” He beckoned with his spear, and his officers and men, high and low, all charged forward together. Kongming abandoned his four-wheeled carriage, mounted a horse and retreated back across the bridge. Zhang Ren pursued. Once over the Jinyan Bridge, he saw Xuande’s troops on the left and Yan Yan’s on the right, charging in upon him.

張任看見孔明軍伍不齊，在馬上冷笑曰：“人說諸葛亮用兵如神，原來有名無實！”把槍一招，大小軍校齊殺過來。孔明棄了四輪車，上馬退走過橋。張任從背後趕來。過了金雁橋，見玄德軍在左，嚴顏軍在右，衝殺將來。

Zhang Ren knew he had been tricked and hurriedly turned his army back, but the bridge had already been broken down. He tried to go north, but saw Zhao Yun’s force drawn up on the far bank, so he dared not go that way, and fled south along the river instead. Before he had gone five or seven li he came to a place thick with reeds. Wei Yan’s force suddenly rose up out of the reeds and thrust wildly with long spears. Huang Zhong’s force, lying hidden in the reeds, hacked only at the horses’ hooves with long swords.

張任知是計，急回軍時，橋已拆斷了；欲投北去，只見趙雲一軍隔岸擺開，遂不敢投北，徑往南繞河而走。走不到五七里，早到蘆葦叢雜處。魏延一軍從蘆中忽起，都用長槍亂戳。黃忠一軍伏在蘆葦裏，用長刀只剁馬蹄。

The horsemen were all brought down and bound; how then could the foot soldiers dare come on? Zhang Ren fled toward the hill road with a few dozen horsemen and ran straight into Zhang Fei. Just as Zhang Ren was about to turn and flee, Zhang Fei gave a great roar, the soldiers all rushed in together, and Zhang Ren was taken alive. Zhuo Ying, meanwhile, seeing Zhang Ren caught in the trap, had already surrendered to Zhao Yun’s force, and they all came to the main camp together. Xuande rewarded Zhuo Ying.

馬軍盡倒，皆被執縛，步軍那裏敢來？張任引數十騎望山路而走，正撞着張飛。張任方欲退走，張飛大喝一聲，衆軍齊上，將張任活捉了。原來卓膺見張任中計，已投趙雲軍前降了，一發都到大寨。玄德賞了卓膺。

Zhang Fei brought Zhang Ren in as a prisoner. Kongming was seated in the tent as well. Xuande said to Zhang Ren, “The generals of Shu have all surrendered at our approach. Why did you not surrender sooner?” Zhang Ren glared and cried out in anger, “How could a loyal minister serve two masters?” Xuande said, “You simply do not understand the times Heaven has appointed. Surrender, and your life will be spared.” Zhang Ren said, “Even if I surrendered today, I would not stay surrendered for long! Kill me at once!” Xuande could not bring himself to kill him.

張飛解張任至。孔明亦坐於帳中。玄德謂張任曰：“蜀中諸將，望風而降，汝何不早投降？”張任睜目怒叫曰：“忠臣豈肯事二主乎？”玄德曰：“汝不識天時耳。降即免死。”任曰：“今日便降，久後也不降！可速殺我！”玄德不忍殺之。

Zhang Ren railed at them loudly. Kongming ordered him beheaded, so that his good name might be preserved.

張任厲聲高罵。孔明命斬之以全其名。

A poet of later times wrote in his praise:
A hero would never serve a second lord;
Brave, loyal Zhang lives on though he is dead.
His lofty brightness is the moon in heaven,
Whose light each night on Luo City is shed.
Xuande sighed in deep admiration, and had the body collected and buried beside the Jinyan Bridge in honor of his loyalty.

後人有詩讚曰：“烈士豈甘從二主，張君忠勇死猶生。
高明正似天邊月，夜夜流光照雒城。
”玄德感嘆不已，令收其屍首，葬於金雁橋側，以表其忠。

The next day Yan Yan, Wu Yi and the other generals of Shu who had surrendered were made the van. They went straight up to Luo City and shouted, “Open the gates quickly and surrender, and spare the whole city’s people from suffering!” Liu Gui cursed them loudly from the wall. Yan Yan was just about to take an arrow and shoot him when suddenly an officer on the wall drew his sword, cut Liu Gui down, and opened the gates in surrender. Xuande’s army entered Luo City. Liu Xun escaped by the west gate and fled to Chengdu. Xuande put up proclamations to reassure the people. The man who had killed Liu Gui was Zhang Yi of Wuyang.

次日，令嚴顏、吳懿等一班蜀中降將爲前部。直至雒城，大叫：“早開門受降，免一城生靈受苦！”劉璝在城上大罵。嚴顏方待取箭射之，忽見城上一將，拔劍砍翻劉璝，開門投降。玄德軍馬入雒城，劉循開西門走脫，投成都去了。玄德出榜安民。殺劉璝者，乃武陽人張翼也。

Having won Luo City, Xuande rewarded his generals generously. Kongming said, “Now that Luo City has fallen, Chengdu lies right before us. My only fear is that the outlying districts may not be at peace. Let Zhang Yi and Wu Yi go with Zhao Yun to pacify the districts belonging to Jiangyang, Qianwei and the rest along the Outer River, and let Yan Yan and Zhuo Ying go with Zhang Fei to pacify the districts belonging to Baxi and Deyang. They should appoint officials there to govern and restore order, and then bring their troops back to join us at Chengdu.”

玄德得了雒城，重賞諸將。孔明曰：“雒城已破，成都只在目前；惟恐外州郡不寧，可令張翼、吳懿引趙雲撫外水江陽、犍為等處所屬州郡，令嚴顏、卓膺引張飛撫巴西德陽所屬州郡，就委官按治平靖，即勒兵回成都取齊。”

Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun received their orders and set off with their troops. Kongming asked, “What passes and strongholds lie ahead?” The generals of Shu who had surrendered said, “Only Mianzhu is held in strength. Take Mianzhu, and Chengdu will fall into your hands with no effort.” Kongming at once began to plan the advance. Fa Zheng said, “With Luo City fallen, Shu is in danger. If you wish to win men over by kindness and justice, my lord, do not advance for the present. Let me write a letter to Liu Zhang setting out where his advantage and his danger lie, and he will surrender of his own accord.” Kongming said, “Xiaozhi’s advice is the best.” So the letter was written and a messenger sent straight to Chengdu with it.

張飛、趙雲領命，各自引兵去了。孔明問：“前去有何處關隘？”蜀中降將曰：“止綿竹有重兵守禦；若得綿竹，成都唾手可得。”孔明便商議進兵。法正曰：“雒城既破，蜀中危矣。主公欲以仁義服衆，且勿進兵。某作一書上劉璋，陳說利害，璋自然降矣。”孔明曰：“孝直之言最善。”便令寫書遣人徑往成都。

Liu Xun, having escaped, went back to his father and told him that Luo City had fallen. Liu Zhang hastily gathered his officials to take counsel. The Assistant Officer Zheng Du put forward a plan: “Although Liu Bei is attacking cities and seizing territory, his troops are not very many and the people have not yet rallied to him. He lives off the grain in the fields and has no baggage train. The best course is to drive all the people of Baxi and Zitong across to the west of the Fu River, burn all the granaries and the grain in the fields, dig our moats deep and build our ramparts high, and quietly wait.

卻說劉循逃回見父，說雒城已陷，劉璋慌聚衆官商議。從事鄭度獻策曰：“今劉備雖攻城奪地，然兵不甚多，士衆未附，野谷是資，軍無輜重。不如盡驅巴西梓潼民，過涪水以西。其倉廩野谷，盡皆燒除，深溝高壘，靜以待之。

When they come to offer battle, do not accept. Having nothing to live on for long, before a hundred days are out his troops will leave of their own accord. Then we can strike while they are weak, and Liu Bei can be captured.” Liu Zhang said, “No. I have heard of resisting an enemy to keep the people safe, but never of uprooting the people to guard against an enemy. That is no plan for keeping things whole.” While they were still debating, it was announced that a letter had come from Fa Zheng. Liu Zhang had the messenger brought in, and the letter was presented. Liu Zhang opened it and read. In substance it said: “Some time ago you sent me to make friends with Jingzhou. Unexpectedly, my lord, those about you were not the right men, and so matters have come to this.

彼至請戰，勿許。久無所資，不過百日，彼兵自走。我乘虛擊之，備可擒也。”劉璋曰：“不然。吾聞拒敵以安民，未聞動民以備敵也。此言非保全之計。”正議間，人報法正有書至。劉璋喚入。呈上書。璋拆開視之。其略曰：“昨蒙遣差結好荊州，不意主公左右不得其人，以致如此。

Now Jingzhou is mindful of old friendship and has not forgotten the bonds of kinship. If you, my lord, will change course and submit, I am sure you will not be treated meanly. I beg you to consider this carefully and let me know your decision.” Liu Zhang flew into a rage, tore the letter to pieces and cursed: “Fa Zheng is a traitor who sold his master for glory, forgot kindness and betrayed duty!” He drove the messenger out of the city. At once he sent his wife’s younger brother Fei Guan with troops to hold Mianzhu. Fei Guan recommended a man of Nanyang, surnamed Li, named Yan, styled Zhengfang, to lead the troops with him.

今荊州眷念舊情，不忘族誼。主公若得幡然歸順，量不薄待。望三思裁示。”劉璋大怒，扯毀其書，大罵：“法正賣主求榮，忘恩背義之賊！”逐其使者出城。即時遣妻弟費觀，提兵前去守把綿竹。費觀舉保南陽人姓李，名嚴，字正方，一同領兵。

So Fei Guan and Li Yan mustered thirty thousand troops and went to guard Mianzhu. The Prefect of Yizhou, Dong He, styled Youzai, a native of Zhijiang in Nan Commandery, sent up a letter to Liu Zhang asking that someone go to Hanzhong to borrow troops. Liu Zhang said, “Zhang Lu and I have been enemies for generations. Why would he be willing to rescue us?” Dong He said, “Though he is our enemy, Liu Bei’s army is at Luo City and our position is critical. When the lips are gone the teeth grow cold. If we put the matter to him in terms of his own advantage and danger, he will surely agree.”

當下費觀、李嚴點三萬軍來守綿竹。益州太守董和，字幼宰，南郡枝江人也，上書與劉璋，請往漢中借兵。璋曰：“張魯與吾世仇，安肯相救？”和曰：“雖然與我有仇，劉備軍在雒城，勢在危急，脣亡則齒寒，若以利害說之，必然肯從。”

So Liu Zhang wrote a letter and sent a messenger off to Hanzhong. Meanwhile Ma Chao, after his defeat, had gone among the Qiang. For more than two years he had been making friends with the Qiang troops, and with them he attacked and took the districts of Longxi. Everywhere he went they surrendered; only Jicheng could not be taken. The Imperial Protector, Wei Kang, repeatedly sent to Xiahou Yuan for help, but Xiahou Yuan, having received no orders from Cao Cao, did not dare move his troops. Seeing that no relief was coming, Wei Kang took counsel with his people: “We had better surrender to Ma Chao.”

璋乃修書遣使前赴漢中。卻說馬超自兵敗入羌，二載有餘，結好羌兵，攻拔隴西州郡。所到之處，盡皆歸降；惟冀城攻打不下。刺史韋康，累遣人求救於夏侯淵。淵不得曹操言語，未敢動兵。韋康見救兵不來，與衆商議：“不如投降馬超。”

The Military Adviser Yang Fu wept and remonstrated: “Ma Chao and his like are rebels against their sovereign. How can we surrender to them?” Wei Kang said, “Things have come to this pass. What is there to wait for but surrender?” Yang Fu pleaded earnestly, but Wei Kang would not listen. He threw the city gates wide open and went out to submit to Ma Chao. Ma Chao was furious. “You ask to surrender now because you are hard pressed, not because you mean it!” And he had Wei Kang’s household of more than forty people beheaded, leaving not one alive. Someone said that Yang Fu had urged Wei Kang not to surrender and that he should be executed, but Ma Chao said, “This man kept faith. He must not be put to death.”

參軍楊阜哭諫曰：“超等叛君之徒，豈可降之？”康曰：“事勢至此，不降何待？”阜苦諫不從。韋康大開城門，投拜馬超。超大怒曰：“汝今事急請降，非真心也！”將韋康四十餘口盡斬之，不留一人。有人言楊阜勸韋康休降，可斬之，超曰：“此人守義，不可斬也。”

He kept Yang Fu on as Military Adviser. Yang Fu recommended two men, Liang Kuan and Zhao Qu, and Ma Chao made them both officers.

複用楊阜爲參軍。阜薦梁寬、趙衢二人，超盡用爲軍官。

Yang Fu told Ma Chao that his wife had died at Lintao and asked for two months’ leave to go and bury her, promising to return at once. Ma Chao agreed. On his way Yang Fu passed through Licheng and went to see Jiang Xu, General Who Pacifies the Tribes. Jiang Xu and Yang Fu were cousins: Jiang Xu’s mother was Yang Fu’s aunt, and she was now eighty-two years old. That day Yang Fu went into the inner quarters of Jiang Xu’s house, bowed before his aunt, and said in tears, “I was set to guard the city and could not hold it; my master died and I could not die with him. I am too ashamed to face you, aunt.

楊阜告馬超曰：阜妻死於臨洮，乞告兩個月假，歸葬其妻便回。馬超從之。楊阜過歷城，來見撫彝將軍姜敘。敘與阜是姑表兄弟：敘之母是阜之姑，時年已八十二。當日，楊阜入姜敘內宅，拜見其姑，哭告曰：“阜守城不能保，主亡不能死，愧無面目見姑。

Ma Chao has rebelled against his sovereign and wantonly slain the governor; there is no one, gentry or commoner, in the whole province who does not hate him. Yet now you, my cousin, sit in possession of Licheng and have no thought at all of punishing the rebel. Is that how a subject should behave?” When he had finished, tears of blood flowed from his eyes. Hearing this, Jiang Xu’s mother called Jiang Xu in and rebuked him: “That Lord Wei was murdered is your fault too.” Then she said to Yang Fu, “You have already surrendered to the man and even eat his rations. Why do you now set your heart on attacking him?”

馬超叛君，妄殺郡守，一州士民，無不恨之。今吾兄坐據歷城，竟無討賊之心，此豈人臣之理乎？”言罷，淚流出血。敘母聞言，喚姜敘入，責之曰：“韋使君遇害，亦爾之罪也。”又謂阜曰：“汝既降人，且食其祿，何故又興心討之？”

Yang Fu said, “I followed the rebel only to keep what life I have left so that I might avenge my master.” Jiang Xu said, “Ma Chao is a hero and a brave one. It will be hard to deal with him quickly.” Yang Fu said, “He has courage but no cunning; he is easy to deal with. I have already come to a secret understanding with Liang Kuan and Zhao Qu. If you will raise an army, brother, those two will certainly act for us from inside.” Jiang Xu’s mother said, “If you do not act soon, what are you waiting for? Everyone must die, and to die for loyalty and duty is to die in the right cause. Do not think of me. If you will not listen to Yishan, I will die first to free you of any worry on my account.”

阜曰：“吾從賊者，欲留殘生，與主報冤也。”敘曰：“馬超英勇，急難圖之。”阜曰：“有勇無謀，易圖也。吾已暗約下樑寬、趙衢。兄若肯興兵，二人必爲內應。”敘母曰：“汝不早圖，更待何時，誰不有死，死於忠義，死得其所也。勿以我爲念。汝若不聽義山之言，吾當先死，以絕汝念。”

Jiang Xu then consulted his troop commandants, Yin Feng and Zhao Ang. Now Zhao Ang’s son, Zhao Yue, was at that time serving Ma Chao as a subordinate general. Zhao Ang agreed that day, but when he went home he said to his wife, Lady Wang, “Today I met with Jiang Xu, Yang Fu and Yin Feng, and we resolved to avenge Wei Kang. But our son Zhao Yue is with Ma Chao now. If we raise an army, Ma Chao is sure to kill our son first. What are we to do?”

敘乃與統兵校尉尹奉、趙昂商議。原來趙昂之子趙月，現隨馬超爲裨將。趙昂當日應允，歸見其妻王氏曰：“吾今日與姜敘、楊阜、尹奉一處商議，欲報韋康之仇。吾想子趙月現隨馬超，今若興兵，超必先殺吾子，奈何？”

His wife said sternly, “To wipe out the great shame done to our lord and father, I would not grudge losing my own life, much less one son! If you hold back for the sake of your son, I will die first!” With that Zhao Ang made up his mind. The next day they all raised their troops together. Jiang Xu and Yang Fu camped at Licheng, and Yin Feng and Zhao Ang at Mount Qi. Lady Wang took all her jewelry, money and silks and went in person to the camp at Mount Qi to reward the soldiers and encourage them.

其妻厲聲曰：“雪君父之大恥，雖喪身亦不惜，何況一子乎！君若顧子而不行，吾當先死矣！”趙昂乃決。次日一同起兵。姜敘、楊阜屯歷城，尹奉、趙昂屯祁山。王氏乃盡將首飾資帛，親自往祁山軍中，賞勞軍士，以勵其衆。

When Ma Chao heard that Jiang Xu and Yang Fu had joined with Yin Feng and Zhao Ang and risen against him, he flew into a rage and at once put Zhao Yue to death. Then he ordered Pang De and Ma Dai to call out every man and horse and march on Licheng. Jiang Xu and Yang Fu led their troops out. When the two lines were drawn up, Yang Fu and Jiang Xu came out wearing white robes and cursed him: “Faithless rebel against your sovereign!” Ma Chao, furious, charged at them, and the two armies fought in a general melee. How could Jiang Xu and Yang Fu withstand Ma Chao? They were badly defeated and fled.

馬超聞姜敘、楊阜會合尹奉、趙昂舉事，大怒，即將趙月斬之；令龐德、馬岱盡起軍馬，殺奔歷城來。姜敘、楊阜引兵出。兩陣圓處，楊阜、姜敘衣白袍而出，大罵曰：“叛君無義之賊！”馬超大怒，衝將過來，兩軍混戰。姜敘、楊阜如何抵得馬超，大敗而走。

Ma Chao drove his men in pursuit. But then there was shouting behind him, and Yin Feng and Zhao Ang came charging in. By the time Ma Chao turned back, he was attacked from both sides, and his front and rear could not help each other. In the thick of the fighting a great host of troops came charging in from the flank. It was Xiahou Yuan, who had now received Cao Cao’s orders and was coming with his army to crush Ma Chao. How could Ma Chao stand against three armies at once? He was utterly defeated and fled back.

馬超驅兵趕來。背後喊聲起處，尹奉、趙昂殺來。超急回時，兩下夾攻，首尾不能相顧。正鬥間，刺斜裏大隊軍馬殺來。原來是夏侯淵得了曹操軍令，正領軍來破馬超。超如何當得三路軍馬，大敗奔回。

He rode all night, and at dawn he reached Jicheng and called for the gates to be opened. From the walls came a shower of arrows. Liang Kuan and Zhao Qu stood on the wall and cursed Ma Chao. Then they cut down Ma Chao’s wife, Lady Yang, with a single stroke on the wall and flung her body down. Next, one by one, with a stroke apiece, they hacked down from the wall Ma Chao’s three little sons and more than ten of his closest kin. Ma Chao choked with rage and nearly fell from his horse.

走了一夜，比及平明，到得冀城叫門時，城上亂箭射下。梁寬、趙衢立在城上，大罵馬超；將馬超妻楊氏從城上一刀砍了，撇下屍首來；又將馬超幼子三人，並至親十餘口，都從城上一刀一個，剁將下來。超氣噎塞胸，幾乎墜下馬來。

Behind him Xiahou Yuan was coming in pursuit with his army. Seeing how strong the enemy was, Ma Chao dared not linger in the fight, and with Pang De and Ma Dai he cut a way out and fled. Ahead of him he ran into Jiang Xu and Yang Fu and had to fight them; he broke through, only to meet Yin Feng and Zhao Ang, and had to fight again. Scattered and stricken, he was left with only fifty or sixty horsemen. He rode on through the night, and at about the fourth watch he came to Licheng. The gatekeepers took them for Jiang Xu’s troops returning and threw the gates wide open to let them in.

背後夏侯淵引兵追趕。超見勢大，不敢戀戰，與龐德、馬岱殺開一條路走。前面又撞見姜敘、楊阜，殺了一陣；衝得過去，又撞着尹奉、趙昂，殺了一陣；零零落落，剩得五六十騎，連夜奔走，四更前後，走到歷城下，守門者只道姜敘兵回，大開門接入。

Ma Chao began the slaughter at the south gate and put the whole population of the city to the sword. At Jiang Xu’s house he dragged out the old mother. She showed not the least fear, but pointed at Ma Chao and cursed him roundly. In a fury Ma Chao took up a sword and killed her with his own hand. The whole households of Yin Feng and Zhao Ang, old and young, were also slaughtered by Ma Chao. Only Zhao Ang’s wife, Lady Wang, escaped, because she was with the army. The next day Xiahou Yuan’s main army arrived, and Ma Chao abandoned the city, fought his way out and fled west.

超從城南門邊殺起，盡洗城中百姓。至姜敘宅，拿出老母。母全無懼色，指馬超而大罵。超大怒，自取劍殺之。尹奉、趙昂全家老幼，亦盡被馬超所殺。昂妻王氏因在軍中，得免於難。次日，夏侯淵大軍至，馬超棄城殺出，望西而逃。

Before he had gone twenty li, a force was drawn up across his path, and at its head was Yang Fu. Grinding his teeth with hatred, Ma Chao whipped up his horse and thrust at him with his spear. Seven younger kinsmen of Yang Fu rushed in together to help him, while Ma Dai and Pang De held off the troops behind. All seven kinsmen were killed by Ma Chao. Yang Fu took five spear wounds and still fought on desperately. Then Xiahou Yuan’s main army came up from behind, and Ma Chao fled at last, followed only by Pang De and Ma Dai and five or seven horsemen.

行不得二十里，前面一軍擺開，爲首的是楊阜。超切齒而恨，拍馬挺槍刺之。阜宗弟七人，一齊來助戰。馬岱、龐德敵住後軍。宗弟七人，皆被馬超殺死。阜身中五槍，猶然死戰。後面夏侯淵大軍趕來，馬超遂走。只有龐德、馬岱五七騎後隨而去。

Xiahou Yuan himself set about pacifying the people of the districts of Longxi, and assigned Jiang Xu and the others each to guard a place. He sent Yang Fu in a carriage to Xudu to see Cao Cao, and Cao Cao made him a Marquis Within the Pass. Yang Fu declined: “I have neither the merit of having warded off disaster nor the constancy of having died in it. By law I ought to be executed. How could I have the face to accept office?” Cao Cao praised him, and in the end gave him the title all the same. Ma Chao, meanwhile, took counsel with Pang De and Ma Dai, and went straight to Hanzhong to join Zhang Lu.

夏侯淵自行安撫隴西諸州人民，令姜敘等各各分守，用車載楊阜赴許都，見曹操。操封阜爲關內侯。阜辭曰：“阜無捍難之功，又無死難之節，於法當誅，何顏受職？”操嘉之，卒與之爵。卻說馬超與龐德、馬岱商議，徑往漢中投張魯。

Zhang Lu was delighted. With Ma Chao on his side, he thought, he could swallow up Yizhou in the west and hold off Cao Cao in the east, and he began to discuss giving Ma Chao his daughter in marriage. His senior general Yang Bai remonstrated: “The disaster that befell Ma Chao’s wife and children was all of his own making. How can you give your daughter to such a man, my lord?” Zhang Lu took his advice and dropped the idea of the marriage. But someone told Ma Chao what Yang Bai had said, and Ma Chao was so angry that he thought of killing him.

張魯大喜，以爲得馬超，則西可以吞益州，東可以拒曹操，乃商議欲以女招超爲婿。大將楊柏諫曰：“馬超妻子遭慘禍，皆超之貽害也。主公豈可以女與之？”魯從其言，遂罷招婿之議。或以楊柏之言，告知馬超。超大怒，有殺楊柏之意。

Yang Bai knew this, and he consulted his elder brother Yang Song; they too began to plot against Ma Chao. Just then Liu Zhang sent a messenger to ask Zhang Lu for help, but Zhang Lu refused. Then word came that Liu Zhang had sent Huang Quan as well. Huang Quan went first to see Yang Song and said, “Dongchuan and Xichuan truly depend on each other as lips and teeth. If Xichuan falls, Dongchuan will hardly be safe. If you will come to our rescue now, we will reward you with twenty districts.” Yang Song was delighted and at once took Huang Quan to see Zhang Lu. He explained how lips and teeth depend on each other, and again offered twenty districts in thanks.

楊柏知之，與兄楊松商議，亦有圖馬超之心。正值劉璋遣使求救於張魯，魯不從。忽報劉璋又遣黃權到。權先來見楊松，說：“東西兩川，實爲脣齒；西川若破，東川亦難保矣。今若肯相救，當以二十州相酬。”松大喜，即引黃權來見張魯，說脣齒利害，更以二十州相謝。

Zhang Lu was pleased by the gain and agreed. Yan Pu of Baxi remonstrated: “Liu Zhang has been your enemy for generations, my lord. Now that he is hard pressed he begs for help and falsely promises to cede territory. You must not agree.” Suddenly a man stepped forward from below the steps and said, “Unworthy as I am, I ask for a single brigade of troops, and I will take Liu Bei alive. I will make sure the land is ceded before I return.”

魯喜其利，從之。巴西閻圃諫曰：“劉璋與主公世仇，今事急求救，詐許割地，不可從也。”忽階下一人進曰：“某雖不才，願乞一旅之師，生擒劉備。務要割地以還。”

Indeed:
No sooner is the true lord come to western Shu
Than picked troops march out from Hanzhong.
Who was this man? What happened next will be told in the next chapter.

正是：方看真主來西蜀，又見精兵出漢中。
未知其人是誰，且看下文分解。