Romance, Chapter 67

Chapter 67. Cao Cao Subdues the Land of Hanzhong; Zhang Liao’s Might Shakes Xiaoyaojin

Now Cao Cao raised an army and marched west on his expedition, dividing his forces into three bodies: the van, led by Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He; Cao Cao himself in the center with the main body of his generals; and the rear under Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun, who escorted the grain and fodder. Spies soon brought word of this into Hanzhong. Zhang Lu and his brother Zhang Wei took counsel how to drive back the enemy. Zhang Wei said, “Nowhere in Hanzhong is so strong as Yangping Pass. On the left and right of the pass, backed by the hills and skirting the woods, we can build a dozen or more stockades to meet Cao Cao’s army.

卻說曹操興師西征，分兵三隊：前部先鋒夏侯淵、張郃；操自領諸將居中；後部曹仁、夏侯惇，押運糧草。早有細作報入漢中來。張魯與弟張衛，商議退敵之策。衛曰：“漢中最險無如陽平關；可於關之左右，依山傍林，下十餘個寨柵，迎敵曹兵。

You, brother, stay in Hanning and send us ample supplies of grain and fodder.” Zhang Lu did as he advised and sent his two chief generals, Yang Ang and Yang Ren, to set out that very day with his brother. When the army reached Yangping Pass, they pitched their camps. The van under Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He arrived soon after, and hearing that Yangping Pass was already prepared, they camped fifteen li from the pass. That night the soldiers, worn out, all lay down to rest. Suddenly a fire broke out behind the camp, and Yang Ang and Yang Ren came down by two roads to raid it.

兄在漢寧，多撥糧草應付。”張魯依言，遣大將楊昂、楊任，與其弟即日起程。軍馬到陽平關，下寨已定。夏侯淵、張郃前軍隨到，聞陽平關已有準備，離關一十五里下寨。是夜，軍士疲睏，各自歇息。忽寨後一把火起，楊昂、楊任兩路兵殺來劫寨。

Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He hastily got to horse, but a great host was already pouring in on every side. Cao Cao’s men were utterly defeated and fell back to Cao Cao. He was angry and said, “You two have led armies for many years. Do you not know that when troops have marched far and are worn out, they must guard against a raid on their camp? Why did you make no preparation?” He was going to put them both to death to make the military law plain, but the officers begged them off. Next day Cao Cao himself led the van. But he saw that the hills were steep and dangerous, the woods thick and tangled, and the roads unknown, and fearing an ambush, he at once led the army back to camp. He said to his two generals Xu Chu and Xu Huang, “Had I known this place was so dangerous, I would never have brought an army here.”

夏侯淵、張郃急上得馬，四下裏大兵擁入，曹兵大敗，退見曹操。操怒曰：“汝二人行軍許多年，豈不知兵若遠行疲睏，可防劫寨？如何不作準備？”欲斬二人，以明軍法。衆官告免。操次日自引兵爲前隊，見山勢險惡，林木叢雜，不知路徑，恐有伏兵，即引軍回寨，謂許褚、徐晃二將曰：“吾若知此處如此險惡，必不起兵來。”

“The army has come thus far,” said Xu Chu. “My lord must not shrink from the toil.” Next day Cao Cao mounted and, taking only Xu Chu and Xu Huang with him, went to look at Zhang Wei’s stockades. As the three horses rounded a slope, they saw Zhang Wei’s stockades in the distance. Cao Cao raised his whip and pointed far off, saying to his two generals, “So strong as that, they will be hard to take in a hurry!” Before he had finished speaking, a shout arose behind them and arrows fell like rain. Yang Ang and Yang Ren were coming at them by two roads.

許褚曰：“兵已至此，主公不可憚勞。”次日，操上馬，只帶許褚、徐晃二人，來看張衛寨柵。三匹馬轉過山坡，早望見張衛寨柵。操揚鞭遙指，謂二將曰：“如此堅固，急切難下！”言未已，背後一聲喊起，箭如雨發。楊昂、楊任分兩路殺來。

Cao Cao was greatly alarmed. Xu Chu shouted, “I will hold off the rebels! Xu Gongming, guard our lord well.” With that he gripped his sword, galloped forward and fought the two generals with all his might. Yang Ang and Yang Ren could not stand against Xu Chu’s valor; they wheeled their horses and retired, and the rest dared not come on. Xu Huang, guarding Cao Cao, galloped over the slope, and there ahead another body of troops appeared. When they looked, it was Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He, who had heard the shouting and led their men to the rescue. So they drove off Yang Ang and Yang Ren and brought Cao Cao safely back to camp. Cao Cao richly rewarded the four generals.

操大驚。許褚大呼曰：“吾當敵賊！徐公明善保主公。”說罷，提刀縱馬向前，力敵二將。楊昂、楊任不能當許褚之勇，回馬退去，其餘不敢向前。徐晃保着曹操奔過山坡，前面又一軍到；看時，卻是夏侯淵、張郃二將，聽得喊聲，故引軍殺來接應。於是殺退楊昂、楊任，救得曹操回寨。操重賞四將。

After this the two sides faced each other for over fifty days without a battle. Then Cao Cao gave the order to retreat. Jia Xu said, “We have not yet seen whether the rebels are strong or weak. Why does my lord withdraw of his own accord?” Cao Cao replied, “I reckon that the rebels are on guard every day, and it will be hard to win quickly. I shall make a show of retreating so that they grow slack and unprepared; then I shall send light horsemen to fall upon their rear, and we shall surely defeat them.” “The Minister’s divine strategy is past fathoming,” said Jia Xu.

自此兩邊相拒五十餘日，只不交戰。曹操傳令退軍。賈詡曰：“賊勢未見強弱，主公何故自退耶？”操曰：“吾料賊兵每日提備，急難取勝。吾以退軍爲名，使賊懈而無備，然後分輕騎抄襲其後，必勝賊矣。”賈詡曰：“丞相神機，不可測也。”

So he ordered Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He to divide into two columns, each with three thousand light horse, and to take byways around to the rear of Yangping Pass. Meanwhile Cao Cao himself broke up his camps and set the whole main army in motion. When Yang Ang heard that Cao Cao’s army was retreating, he invited Yang Ren to consult, wishing to take advantage of the moment and attack. Yang Ren said, “Cao Cao is full of wiles. We do not know whether this is real. We must not pursue.” Yang Ang said, “If you will not go, I will go myself.”

於是令夏侯淵、張郃分兵兩路，各引輕騎三千，取小路抄陽平關後。曹操一面引大軍拔寨盡起。楊昂聽得曹兵退，請楊任商議，欲乘勢擊之。楊任曰：“操詭計極多，未知真實，不可追趕。”楊昂曰：“公不往，吾當自去。”

Yang Ren earnestly remonstrated, but Yang Ang would not listen. He led out all the troops of the five camps and advanced, leaving only a handful of soldiers to guard the camps.

楊任苦諫不從。楊昂盡提五寨軍馬前進，只留些少軍士守寨。

That day a thick mist spread over everything so that men face to face could not see each other. Yang Ang’s army got halfway and, unable to go farther, halted for the time being. Meanwhile Xiahou Yuan’s column, going around behind the hills, saw the heavy mist hanging in the air and heard men’s voices and horses neighing. Fearing an ambush, he hurried his men and horses on, and in the thick mist he went astray and came out in front of Yang Ang’s camp. The soldiers guarding it heard the hoofbeats, took it for Yang Ang’s men returning, and opened the gate to let them in.

是日，大霧迷漫，對面不相見。楊昂軍至半路，不能行，權且扎住。卻說夏侯淵一軍抄過山後，見重霧垂空，又聞人語馬嘶，恐有伏兵，急催人馬行動，大霧中誤走到楊昂寨前。守寨軍士，聽得馬蹄響，只道是楊昂兵回，開門納之。

Cao Cao’s men poured in in a mass and, finding the camp empty, set fire to it. The soldiers of all five camps abandoned them and fled. By the time the mist cleared, Yang Ren had come with his men to the rescue. He had fought only a few bouts with Xiahou Yuan when Zhang He’s troops came up behind him. Yang Ren cut his way out along the high road and fled back to Nanzheng. When Yang Ang tried to return, Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He had already taken possession of his camps.

曹軍一擁而入，見是空寨，便就寨中放起火來。五寨軍士，盡皆棄寨而走。比及霧散，楊任領兵來救，與夏侯淵戰不數合，背後張郃兵到。楊任殺條大路，奔回南鄭。楊昂待要回時，已被夏侯淵、張郃兩個佔了寨柵。

Behind him Cao Cao’s main army came in pursuit. Caught between two attacks, he had no road open on any side. Yang Ang tried to break through the ranks and ran straight into Zhang He. The two crossed weapons, and Yang Ang was slain by Zhang He. The defeated soldiers went back to Yangping Pass to join Zhang Wei. But Zhang Wei, learning that the two generals had been routed and the camps lost, had abandoned the pass at midnight and fled home. So Cao Cao gained Yangping Pass and all the camps.

背後曹操大隊軍馬趕來。兩下夾攻，四邊無路。楊昂欲突陣而出，正撞着張郃。兩個交手，被張郃殺死。敗兵回投陽平關，來見張衛。原來衛知二將敗走，諸營已失，半夜棄關，奔回去了。曹操遂得陽平關並諸寨。

Zhang Wei and Yang Ren went back to Zhang Lu. Zhang Wei said that the two generals had lost the narrows, and so the pass could not be held. Zhang Lu was very angry and was going to put Yang Ren to death. Yang Ren said, “I remonstrated with Yang Ang and told him not to pursue Cao Cao’s army, but he would not listen; that is why we met with this defeat. I beg for another army to go and offer battle, and I will surely slay Cao Cao. If I fail, I will willingly suffer the penalty of military law.” Zhang Lu took his written pledge. Yang Ren mounted and led twenty thousand troops out of Nanzheng and pitched camp.

張衛、楊任回見張魯。衛言二將失了隘口，因此守關不住。張魯大怒，欲斬楊任。任曰：“某曾諫楊昂，休追操兵。他不肯聽信，故有此敗。任再乞一軍前去挑戰，必斬曹操。如不勝，甘當軍令。”張魯取了軍令狀。楊任上馬，引二萬軍離南鄭下寨。

Now Cao Cao, about to advance with his army, first sent Xiahou Yuan with five thousand troops to reconnoiter the road to Nanzheng. He met Yang Ren’s army head on, and both sides drew up their ranks. Yang Ren sent out his subordinate general Chang Qi to fight Xiahou Yuan, but before three bouts had passed, Xiahou Yuan cut him down from his horse with a single stroke. Then Yang Ren himself rode out with his spear leveled and fought Xiahou Yuan for over thirty bouts, with no advantage to either. Xiahou Yuan pretended to be beaten and fled, and Yang Ren came after him, but Xiahou Yuan used the trick of the trailing sword and cut him down from his horse.

卻說曹操提軍將進，先令夏侯淵領五千軍，往南鄭路上哨探，正迎着楊任軍馬，兩軍擺開。任遣部將昌奇出馬，與淵交鋒；戰不三合，被淵一刀斬於馬下。楊任自挺槍出馬，與淵戰三十餘合，不分勝負。淵佯敗而走，任從後追來；被淵用拖刀計，斬於馬下。

The soldiers returned utterly defeated. When Cao Cao learned that Xiahou Yuan had slain Yang Ren, he advanced at once and came right up to Nanzheng, where he pitched camp. Zhang Lu hastily assembled his officers, civil and military, to consult. Yan Pu said, “I can vouch for one man who is a match for any of Cao Cao’s generals.” Zhang Lu asked who it was. Yan Pu said, “Pang De of Nanan. He came over to you, my lord, some time ago with Ma Chao; later, when Ma Chao went to Xichuan, Pang De was sick in bed and did not go. Now he lives on your bounty, my lord. Why not send him?”

軍士大敗而回。曹操知夏侯淵斬了楊任，即時進兵，直抵南鄭下寨。張魯慌聚文武商議。閻圃曰：“某保一人，可敵曹操手下諸將。”魯問是誰。圃曰：“南安龐德，前隨馬超投主公；後馬超往西川，龐德臥病不曾行。現今蒙主公恩養，何不令此人去？”

Zhang Lu was delighted. He at once summoned Pang De, rewarded him generously and, mustering ten thousand troops, sent him out. Some ten li from the city he came face to face with Cao Cao’s army, and Pang De rode out and challenged them to battle. Cao Cao had learned well of Pang De’s valor at the time of the fighting at the Wei Bridge, so he charged his generals, “Pang De is a brave general of Xiliang who once served Ma Chao. Though he now serves under Zhang Lu, it is not to his liking. I want to win this man.

張魯大喜，即召龐德至，厚加賞勞；點一萬軍馬，令龐德出。離城十餘里，與曹兵相對，龐德出馬搦戰。曹操在渭橋時，深知龐德之勇，乃囑諸將曰：“龐德乃西涼勇將，原屬馬超；今雖依張魯，未稱其心。吾欲得此人。

You must all fight him slowly and wear out his strength, and then take him captive.” Zhang He went out first, fought a few bouts and retired. Xiahou Yuan too fought a few bouts and retired. Xu Huang fought three or five bouts and he too retired. Last of all, Xu Chu fought over fifty bouts and also retired. Pang De fought all four generals with all his might and showed not a trace of fear. Every one of the generals praised Pang De’s skill at arms before Cao Cao. Cao Cao was delighted at heart and consulted his generals: “How can I get this man to surrender?”

汝等須皆與緩鬥，使其力乏，然後擒之。”張郃先出，戰了數合便退。夏侯淵也戰數合退了。徐晃又戰三五合也退了。臨後許褚戰五十餘合亦退。龐德力戰四將，並無懼怯。各將皆於操前誇龐德好武藝。曹操心中大喜，與衆將商議：“如何得此人投降？”

Jia Xu said, “I know that among Zhang Lu’s followers there is an adviser named Yang Song who is extremely greedy for bribes. Now if we secretly send him gold and silk and get him to slander Pang De to Zhang Lu, we can bring it about.” “But how can we get a man into Nanzheng?” said Cao Cao. Jia Xu said, “When we engage tomorrow, we will feign defeat, abandon our camp and flee, and let Pang De occupy it. Then in the dead of night we will lead troops to raid the camp, and Pang De will surely retreat into the city.

賈詡曰：“某知張魯手下，有一謀士楊松。其人極貪賄賂。今可暗以金帛送之，使譖龐德於張魯，便可圖矣。”操曰：“何由得人入南鄭？”詡曰：“來日交鋒，詐敗佯輸，棄寨而走，使龐德據我寨。我卻於夤夜引兵劫寨，龐德必退入城。

Then we pick a soldier with a ready tongue, disguise him as one of their men and have him mingle with their ranks, and he can get into the city.” Cao Cao followed this plan. He chose a shrewd, careful officer, rewarded him handsomely and gave him a golden breastplate to wear next to his skin, with the uniform of a Hanzhong soldier over it, and sent him ahead to wait halfway along the road.

卻選一能言軍士，扮作彼軍，雜在陣中，便得入城。”操聽其計，選一精細軍校，重加賞賜，付與金掩心甲一副，令披在貼肉，外穿漢中軍士號衣，先於半路上等候。

Next day Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He were first sent off with two bodies of troops to lie in ambush at a distance, and Xu Huang was told to offer battle. After a few bouts he fled in defeat. Pang De called up his men and fell upon them, and Cao Cao’s army retreated completely. So Pang De seized Cao Cao’s camp. Seeing great stores of grain and fodder in it, he was delighted and at once sent a report to Zhang Lu; meanwhile he spread a feast in the camp to celebrate. That night, after the second watch, fires suddenly broke out on three sides: in the center were Xu Huang and Xu Chu, on the left Zhang He, on the right Xiahou Yuan.

次日，先撥夏侯淵、張郃兩枝軍，遠去埋伏；卻教徐晃挑戰，不數合敗走。龐德招軍掩殺，曹兵盡退。龐德卻奪了曹操寨柵。見寨中糧草極多，大喜，即時申報張魯；一面在寨中設宴慶賀。當夜二更之後，忽然三路火起：正中是徐晃、許褚，左張郃，右夏侯淵。

The three columns attacked the camp together. Pang De had no time to prepare; he could only mount, cut his way out and flee toward the city, while the three columns pursued him from behind. He shouted in haste for the city gate to be opened, and led his men pouring in.

三路軍馬，齊來劫寨。龐德不及提備，只得上馬衝殺出來，望城而走。背後三路兵追來。龐德急喚開城門，領兵一擁而入。

By this time the spy had already slipped into the city among them. He went straight to Yang Song’s residence, obtained an interview and told him everything: “The Duke of Wei, Minister Cao, has long heard of your great virtue, and has sent me expressly with this golden breastplate as a token. There is also a secret letter for you.” Yang Song was delighted. He read the secret letter and said to the spy, “Report to the Duke of Wei that he may set his mind at rest. I have a good plan of my own to repay him.” He sent the messenger back first, then that same night went in to see Zhang Lu and told him that Pang De had taken bribes from Cao Cao and sold the battle.

此時細作已雜到城中，徑投楊松府下謁見，具說：“魏公曹丞相久聞盛德，特使某送金甲爲信。更有密書呈上。”松大喜，看了密書中言語，謂細作曰：“上覆魏公，但請放心。某自有良策奉報。”打發來人先回，便連夜入見張魯，說龐德受了曹操賄賂，賣此一陣。

Zhang Lu was furious. He summoned Pang De, upbraided him and was going to put him to death, but Yan Pu earnestly remonstrated. Zhang Lu said, “You shall go out and fight tomorrow. If you do not win, you die!” Pang De withdrew, nursing his resentment. Next day Cao Cao’s army attacked the city, and Pang De dashed out at the head of his troops. Cao Cao ordered Xu Chu to engage him. Xu Chu feigned defeat, and Pang De gave chase. Cao Cao himself, on horseback on a slope, called out, “Pang Lingming, why not surrender at once?” Pang De thought, “To capture Cao Cao would be worth a thousand senior generals!”

張魯大怒，喚龐德責罵，欲斬之。閻圃苦諫。張魯曰：“你來日出戰，不勝必斬！”龐德抱恨而退。次日，曹兵攻城，龐德引兵衝出。操令許褚交戰。褚詐敗，龐德趕來。操自乘馬于山坡上喚曰：“龐令明何不早降？”龐德尋思：“拿住曹操，抵一千員上將！”

So he galloped up the slope. A shout arose, there was a crash as though heaven and earth were falling in, and horse and man tumbled together into a pit. Hooks and ropes came at him from every side of the pit, and Pang De was taken alive and hauled up the slope. Cao Cao dismounted, sent the soldiers away with a rebuke, loosed his bonds with his own hands and asked whether he would surrender. Pang De thought of Zhang Lu’s lack of humanity and willingly made obeisance and yielded. Cao Cao himself helped him onto his horse, and they rode back to the main camp together, deliberately in sight of the city walls.

遂飛馬上坡。一聲喊起，天崩地塌，連人和馬，跌入陷坑內去；四壁鉤索一齊上前，活捉了龐德，押上坡來。曹操下馬，叱退軍士，親釋其縛，問龐德肯降否。龐德尋思張魯不仁，情願拜降。曹操親扶上馬，共回大寨，故意教城上望見。

Someone reported to Zhang Lu that Pang De was riding side by side with Cao Cao, and Zhang Lu was all the more convinced that Yang Song’s words were true. Next day Cao Cao set up scaling ladders on three sides and attacked with catapulted stones. Seeing that things had come to the extremity, Zhang Lu consulted his brother Zhang Wei. Zhang Wei said, “Set fire to the granaries and treasuries and burn them all, then flee to the Southern Mountains and go hold Bazhong.” Yang Song said, “It would be better to open the gates and surrender.” Zhang Lu hesitated and could not decide.

人報張魯，德與操並馬而行。魯益信楊松之言爲實。次日，曹操三面豎立雲梯，飛炮攻打。張魯見其勢已極，與弟張衛商議。衛曰：“放火盡燒倉廩府庫，出奔南山，去守巴中可也。”楊松曰：“不如開門投降。”張魯猶豫不定。

“Just burn them and go,” said Zhang Wei. Zhang Lu said, “I have long intended to submit to the government, but I have not yet been able to carry it out. Now I am forced to flee, but the granaries and treasuries belong to the state and must not be destroyed.” So he sealed and locked them all. That night, at the second watch, Zhang Lu took his whole household, old and young, opened the south gate and fought his way out. Cao Cao gave orders not to pursue. When he led his troops into Nanzheng and saw that Zhang Lu had sealed up the storehouses, he felt great pity for him.

衛曰：“只是燒了便行。”張魯曰：“我向本欲歸命國家，而意未得達；今不得已而出奔，倉廩府庫，國家之有，不可廢也。”遂盡封鎖。是夜二更，張魯引全家老小，開南門殺出。曹操教休追趕；提兵入南鄭，見魯封閉庫藏，心甚憐之。

So he sent a man to Bazhong to urge Zhang Lu to surrender. Zhang Lu was willing, but Zhang Wei would not hear of it. Yang Song sent a secret letter to Cao Cao telling him to advance, and he would act for him from within. On receiving the letter, Cao Cao led his army to Bazhong in person. Zhang Lu sent his brother Zhang Wei out with troops to meet the enemy; Zhang Wei fought Xu Chu and was cut down from his horse. The defeated soldiers went back and reported to Zhang Lu, who wanted to hold out stubbornly. Yang Song said, “If you do not go out now, you will be sitting still waiting for death.

遂差人往巴中，勸使投降。張魯欲降，張衛不肯。楊松以密書報操，便教進兵，松爲內應。操得書，親自引兵往巴中。張魯使弟衛領兵出敵，與許褚交鋒；被褚斬於馬下。敗軍回報張魯，魯欲堅守。楊松曰：“今若不出，坐而待斃矣。

I will hold the city, and you, my lord, should go out yourself and fight to the death.” Zhang Lu agreed. Yan Pu urged him not to go out, but he would not listen, and he led his army out to meet the enemy. Before they had even engaged, his rear troops had already fled. Zhang Lu fell back in haste with Cao Cao’s men in pursuit. When he reached the city wall, Yang Song kept the gates shut and would not open them. Zhang Lu had nowhere to go, and Cao Cao, coming up behind him, shouted, “Why not surrender at once?” Then Zhang Lu dismounted and made obeisance.

某守城，主公當親與決一死戰。”魯從之。閻圃諫魯休出。魯不聽，遂引軍出迎。未及交鋒，後軍已走。張魯急退，背後曹兵趕來。魯到城下，楊松閉門不開。張魯無路可走，操從後追至，大叫：“何不早降！”魯乃下馬投拜。

Cao Cao was delighted. Mindful of the spirit in which Zhang Lu had sealed the storehouses, he treated him with great courtesy and made him General Who Guards the South. Yan Pu and the others were all made marquises. Thus the whole of Hanzhong was subdued. Cao Cao issued orders appointing Prefects to each commandery and setting up Commandants, and he rewarded the soldiers lavishly. Only Yang Song, who had sold his master to win honor, was at once put to death in the marketplace as a warning to all.

操大喜；念其封倉庫之心，優禮相待，封魯爲鎮南將軍。閻圃等皆封列侯。於是漢中皆平。曹操傳令各郡分設太守，置都尉，大賞士卒。惟有楊松賣主求榮，即命斬之於市曹示衆。

A later poet lamented:
He thwarted the worthy, sold his lord, and flaunted his strange feat;
The gold and silver he amassed all came to nothing.
Before his house could flourish he himself was put to death;
For a thousand years men will laugh at Yang Song!

後人有詩嘆曰：“妨賢賣主逞奇功，積得金銀總是空。
家未榮華身受戮，令人千載笑楊松！
”

Now that Cao Cao had won Dongchuan, his Recorder Sima Yi came forward and said, “Liu Bei overcame Liu Zhang by trickery and force, and the people of Shu have not yet given him their hearts. Now that you, my lord, have gained Hanzhong, all Yizhou is shaken. Advance quickly and attack, and his power will surely crumble. The wise prize seizing the moment; the moment must not be lost.” Cao Cao sighed, “Men suffer from never knowing when they have enough. Having got Long, must I look toward Shu as well?” Liu Ye said, “What Sima Zhongda says is right.

曹操已得東川，主簿司馬懿進曰：“劉備以詐力取劉璋，蜀人尚未歸心。今主公已得漢中，益州震動。可速進兵攻之，勢必瓦解。智者貴於乘時，時不可失也。”曹操嘆曰：“人苦不知足，既得隴，復望蜀耶？”劉曄曰：“司馬仲達之言是也。

If you delay even a little, Zhuge Liang, who is skilled in government, will be minister, and Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and the rest, the bravest in all the army, will be generals; once the people of Shu are settled and the passes are held, they will be unassailable.” Cao Cao said, “The soldiers have come a long way and suffered much. They must be cared for for the present.” So he kept his army where it was. Meanwhile the people of Xichuan, hearing that Cao Cao had taken Dongchuan, expected him to come for Xichuan next, and were thrown into panic several times a day.

若少遲緩，諸葛亮明於治國而爲相，關、張等勇冠三軍而爲將，蜀民既定，據守關隘，不可犯矣。”操曰：“士卒遠涉勞苦，且宜存恤。”遂按兵不動。卻說西川百姓，聽知曹操已取東川，料必來取西川，一日之間，數遍驚恐。

Xuande called in the Director of Strategy to consult. Kongming said, “I have a plan by which Cao Cao will withdraw of his own accord.” Xuande asked what it was. Kongming said, “Cao Cao has split off part of his army to hold Hefei because he fears Sun Quan. If we now hand back the three commanderies of Jiangxia, Changsha and Guiyang to Wu, send a man with a persuasive tongue to lay out where their interest lies, and get Wu to raise an army and attack Hefei, drawing off Cao Cao’s strength, he will surely turn his army south.” Xuande asked, “Who could go as envoy?”

玄德請軍師商議。孔明曰：“亮有一計。曹操自退。”玄德問何計。孔明曰：“曹操分軍屯合淝，懼孫權也。今我若分江夏、長沙、桂陽三郡還吳，遣舌辯之士，陳說利害，令吳起兵襲合淝，牽動其勢，操必勒兵南向矣。”玄德問：“誰可爲使？”

“I will go,” said Yi Ji. Xuande was delighted. He wrote a letter and prepared gifts, and told Yi Ji to go first to Jingzhou and inform Yunchang, and then go on into Wu.

伊籍曰：“某願往。”玄德大喜，遂作書具禮，令伊籍先到荊州，知會雲長，然後入吳。

Arriving at Moling, he went to see Sun Quan and first sent in his name. Sun Quan called him in. When Yi Ji had made his bow, Sun Quan asked, “What have you come here for?” Yi Ji said, “Some time ago Zhuge Ziyu came to take over Changsha and the other two commanderies, but as the Director of Strategy was away the handover could not be made. Now I bring a letter and return them. We had meant to return Nan Commandery and Lingling in Jingzhou as well, but Cao Cao has seized Dongchuan by surprise, which leaves General Guan no place to stand.

到秣陵，來見孫權，先通了姓名。權召籍入。籍見權禮畢，權問曰：“汝到此何爲？”籍曰：“昨承諸葛子瑜取長沙等三郡，爲軍師不在，有失交割，今傳書送還。所有荊州南郡、零陵，本欲送還；被曹操襲取東川，使關將軍無容身之地。

Hefei is now thinly held, and we hope that you, Marquis, will raise an army and attack it, so that Cao Cao will withdraw his troops and turn south. Once my lord has taken Dongchuan, he will return the whole of Jingzhou.” Sun Quan said, “Go back to your lodging for now and let me consult.” When Yi Ji had withdrawn, Sun Quan asked his advisers for a plan. Zhang Zhao said, “This is a scheme of Liu Bei’s, who fears that Cao Cao will take Xichuan. Even so, since Cao Cao is in Hanzhong,

今合淝空虛，望君侯起兵攻之，使曹操撤兵回南。吾主若取了東川，即還荊州全土。”權曰：“汝且歸館舍，容吾商議。”伊籍退出，權問計於衆謀士。張昭曰：“此是劉備恐曹操取西川，故爲此謀。雖然如此，可因操在漢中。

to take Hefei while we have the chance is also an excellent plan.” Sun Quan agreed. He sent Yi Ji back to Shu and then discussed raising an army against Cao Cao. He ordered Lu Su to take over the three commanderies of Changsha, Jiangxia and Guiyang and to station troops at Lukou, and he recalled Lü Meng and Gan Ning; he also sent to Yuhang to recall Ling Tong. Within a few days Lü Meng and Gan Ning arrived first. Lü Meng offered a plan: “Cao Cao has now ordered Zhu Guang, Prefect of Lujiang, to station troops at Wancheng and open up great rice fields, sending the grain to Hefei to supply his army.

乘勢取合淝，亦是上計。”權從之，發付伊籍回蜀去訖，便議起兵攻操：令魯肅收取長沙、江夏、桂陽三郡，屯兵於陸口，取呂蒙、甘寧回；又去餘杭取淩統回。不一日，呂蒙、甘寧先到。蒙獻策曰：“現今曹操令廬江太守朱光，屯兵於皖城，大開稻田，納谷於合淝，以充軍實。

We should take Wancheng first and then attack Hefei.” “That plan suits me exactly,” said Sun Quan. So he made Lü Meng and Gan Ning the van and Jiang Qin and Pan Zhang the rearguard, while he himself commanded the center with Zhou Tai, Chen Wu, Dong Xi and Xu Sheng. At this time Cheng Pu, Huang Gai and Han Dang were holding various places and none of them joined the expedition. The army crossed the river, took Hezhou and went straight to Wancheng. Zhu Guang, Prefect of Wancheng, sent to Hefei for help, and meanwhile held his walls and moat firmly, keeping behind his ramparts and refusing to come out.

今可先取皖城，然後攻合淝。”權曰：“此計甚合吾意。”遂教呂蒙、甘寧爲先鋒，蔣欽、潘璋爲合後，權自引周泰、陳武、董襲、徐盛爲中軍。時程普、黃蓋、韓當在各處鎮守，都未隨徵。卻說軍馬渡江，取和州，徑到皖城。皖城太守朱光，使人往合淝求救；一面固守城池，堅壁不出。

When Sun Quan went up to the walls himself to look, arrows came down from them like rain, and one struck his standard canopy. He returned to camp and asked his generals, “How can we take Wancheng?” Dong Xi said, “We can have the soldiers build an earthen mound and attack from it.” Xu Sheng said, “We can put up scaling ladders and build a rainbow bridge, and attack looking down into the city.” Lü Meng said, “These methods all take days and months. Once the relief army from Hefei arrives, nothing can be done.

權自到城下看時，城上箭如雨發，射中孫權麾蓋。權回寨，問衆將曰：“如何取得皖城？”董襲曰：“可差軍士築起土山攻之。”徐盛曰：“可豎雲梯，造虹橋，下觀城中而攻之。”呂蒙曰：“此法皆費日月而成，合淝救軍一至，不可圖矣。

Our army has just arrived and its spirit is keen. We should make the most of this keenness and attack with all our strength. If we advance at dawn tomorrow, we should break into the city by noon or early afternoon.” Sun Quan agreed. Next day, having eaten at the fifth watch, the whole army advanced in force. Arrows and stones came down from the walls together. Gan Ning, gripping an iron chain in his hand, climbed up through the arrows and stones. Zhu Guang ordered his archers and crossbowmen to shoot all together, but Gan Ning swept aside the forest of arrows and with one blow of his chain struck Zhu Guang down.

今我軍初到，士氣方銳，正可乘此銳氣，奮力攻擊。來日平明進兵，午未時便當破城。”權從之。次日五更飯畢，三軍大進。城上矢石齊下。甘寧手執鐵鏈，冒矢石而上。朱光令弓弩手齊射，甘寧撥開箭林，一鏈打倒朱光。

Lü Meng beat the drum himself. The soldiers all swarmed up and hacked Zhu Guang to death with their swords. Most of the rest surrendered, and Wancheng was in their hands when it was still only the early morning hour of chen. Zhang Liao had led his army halfway when his scouts came back to report that Wancheng had fallen. He at once turned his army back to Hefei.

呂蒙親自擂鼓。士卒皆一擁而上，亂刀砍死朱光。餘衆多降，得了皖城，方纔辰時。張遼引軍至半路，哨馬回報皖城已失。遼即回兵歸合淝。

Sun Quan entered Wancheng, and Ling Tong also arrived with his troops. After Sun Quan had thanked them for their labors, he feasted the whole army lavishly, richly rewarded Lü Meng, Gan Ning and the other generals, and held a banquet to celebrate the victory. Lü Meng yielded the seat of honor to Gan Ning and praised his exploits warmly. When the wine was half drunk, Ling Tong remembered that Gan Ning had killed his father, and seeing Lü Meng praise him so, he was filled with rage. He glared at Gan Ning for a long time, then suddenly drew the sword worn by one of the attendants, stood up at the feast and said, “There is no music at this feast. Watch me dance with the sword.”

孫權入皖城，淩統亦引軍到。權慰勞畢，大犒三軍，重賞呂蒙、甘寧諸將，設宴慶功。呂蒙遜甘寧上坐，盛稱其功勞。酒至半酣，淩統想起甘寧殺父之仇，又見呂蒙誇美之，心中大怒，瞪目直視良久，忽拔左右所佩之劍，立於筵上曰：“筵前無樂，看吾舞劍。”

Gan Ning knew what he meant. He pushed aside the fruit table and rose, took up a halberd in each hand, and strode forward, saying, “Watch me ply the halberds before the feast.” Lü Meng saw that neither man meant any good, so he took a shield on one arm and a sword in the other hand and stood between them, saying, “Skilled as you two gentlemen are, neither of you is as deft as I.” With that he whirled his sword and shield and kept the two apart. Someone had already gone to tell Sun Quan.

甘寧知其意，推開果桌起身，兩手取兩枝戟挾定，縱步出曰：“看我筵前使戟。”呂蒙見二人各無好意，便一手挽牌，一手提刀，立於其中曰：“二公雖能，皆不如我巧也。”說罷，舞起刀牌，將二人分於兩下。早有人報知孫權。

Sun Quan hastily mounted and rode straight to the feast. Only when they saw him arrive did they lay down their weapons. Sun Quan said, “I have often told you two to forget your old feud. Why are you at it again today?” Ling Tong wept and bowed to the ground. Sun Quan soothed him again and again until he desisted. The next day the army set out to take Hefei, the whole force marching.

權慌跨馬，直至筵前。衆見權至，方各放下軍器。權曰：“吾常言二人休念舊仇，今日又何如此？”淩統哭拜於地。孫權再三勸止。至次日，起兵進取合淝，三軍盡發。

Zhang Liao, having lost Wancheng, returned to Hefei gloomy and depressed. Suddenly Xue Ti arrived, sent by Cao Cao with a wooden box that bore Cao Cao’s seal, with the words written beside it: “Open when the rebels come.” That very day it was reported that Sun Quan was coming in person with a hundred thousand men to attack Hefei. Zhang Liao opened the box and looked. Inside was written: “If Sun Quan comes, Generals Zhang and Li are to go out and fight, and General Yue is to hold the city.” Zhang Liao showed the instructions to Li Dian and Yue Jin.

張遼爲失了皖城，回到合淝，心中愁悶。忽曹操差薛悌送木匣一個，上有操封，傍書雲：“賊來乃發。”是日報說孫權自引十萬大軍，來攻合淝。張遼便開匣觀之。內書雲：“若孫權至，張、李二將軍出戰，樂將軍守城。”張遼將教帖與李典、樂進觀之。

“What do you think, General?” asked Yue Jin. Zhang Liao said, “Our lord is away on a distant campaign, and the men of Wu think they are sure to crush us. We should send out our troops to meet them and fight with all our might, breaking the edge of their attack and so steadying the hearts of our men. After that we can hold the city.” Li Dian had never been on good terms with Zhang Liao, and on hearing this he kept silent and made no reply. Seeing Li Dian say nothing, Yue Jin said, “The rebels are many and we are few; it will be hard to meet them in the field. Better to hold fast.”

樂進曰：“將軍之意若何？”張遼曰：“主公遠征在外，吳兵以爲破我必矣。今可發兵出迎，奮力與戰，折其鋒銳，以安衆心，然後可守也。”李典素與張遼不睦，聞遼此言，默然不答。樂進見李典不語，便道：“賊衆我寡，難以迎敵，不如堅守。”

Zhang Liao said, “You gentlemen are all thinking of private feelings and have no regard for the public service. I will go out myself to meet the enemy and fight to the death.” And he told his attendants to get his horse ready. Li Dian rose, stirred, and said, “When you act like this, General, how dare I let a private grudge make me forget the public service? I will follow your orders.” Zhang Liao was delighted. “Since Mancheng is willing to help,” he said, “tomorrow take a body of troops and lie in ambush north of Xiaoyaojin. Wait until the men of Wu have come across, then first cut the Xiaoshi Bridge, and Yue Wenqian and I will strike them.”

張遼曰：“公等皆是私意，不顧公事。吾今自出迎敵，決一死戰。”便教左右備馬。李典慨然而起曰：“將軍如此，典豈敢以私憾而忘公事乎？願聽指揮。”張遼大喜曰：“既曼成肯相助，來日引一軍於逍遙津北埋伏：待吳兵殺過來，可先斷小師橋，吾與樂文謙擊之。”

Li Dian accepted his orders and went off to muster his men and set the ambush. Meanwhile Sun Quan made Lü Meng and Gan Ning his van, while he and Ling Tong took the center, and the other generals set out one after another, all advancing on Hefei. As the van under Lü Meng and Gan Ning moved forward, it met Yue Jin head on. Gan Ning rode out and engaged Yue Jin, and after a few bouts Yue Jin feigned defeat and fled. Gan Ning called to Lü Meng, and together they led their troops in pursuit.

李典領命，自去點軍埋伏。卻說孫權令呂蒙、甘寧爲前隊，自與淩統居中，其餘諸將陸續進發，望合淝殺來。呂蒙、甘寧前隊兵進，正與樂進相迎。甘寧出馬與樂進交鋒，戰不數合，樂進詐敗而走。甘寧招呼呂蒙一齊引軍趕去。

Sun Quan was with the second division. Hearing that the front had won, he pressed his troops on to the north of Xiaoyaojin. Suddenly there came a string of bombard reports, and Zhang Liao’s force came charging in on the left and Li Dian’s on the right. Sun Quan was greatly alarmed and hastily sent men to call back Lü Meng and Gan Ning to his rescue, but by then Zhang Liao’s troops were already upon him. Ling Tong had only some three hundred horsemen with him, who could not withstand Cao Cao’s army coming on like a falling mountain.

孫權在第二隊，聽得前軍得勝，催兵行至逍遙津北，忽聞連珠炮響，左邊張遼一軍殺來，右邊李典一軍殺來。孫權大驚，急令人喚呂蒙、甘寧回救時，張遼兵已到。淩統手下，止有三百餘騎，當不得曹軍勢如山倒。

Ling Tong shouted, “My lord, why do you not cross the Xiaoshi Bridge at once?” Before the words were out of his mouth, Zhang Liao came charging up at the head of more than two thousand horsemen. Ling Tong wheeled around and fought to the death. Sun Quan galloped onto the bridge, but its southern end had already been broken away for more than ten feet, and not a single plank remained. He was so startled that he did not know what to do. Gu Li, one of his junior officers, shouted, “My lord, rein your horse back, then give him his head and jump across the bridge!”

淩統大呼曰：“主公何不速渡小師橋！”言未畢，張遼引二千餘騎，當先殺至。淩統翻身死戰。孫權縱馬上橋，橋南已折丈餘，並無一片板。孫權驚得手足無措。牙將谷利大呼曰：“主公可約馬退後，再放馬向前，跳過橋去。”

Sun Quan drew his horse back more than thirty feet, then gave it the rein and plied the whip, and with one leap the horse flew across to the southern side of the bridge.

孫權收回馬來有三丈餘遠，然後縱轡加鞭，那馬一跳飛過橋南。

A later poet wrote:
Dilu once leapt across the Tan Torrent;
Now again we see the Marquis of Wu defeated at Hefei.
He reined back, then plied the whip and sent his charger flying:
Over Xiaoyaojin a jade dragon soared.

後人有詩曰：“的盧當日跳檀溪，又見吳侯敗合淝。
退後着鞭馳駿騎，逍遙津上玉龍飛。
”

When Sun Quan had leapt to the south side of the bridge, Xu Sheng and Dong Xi came to meet him in boats. Ling Tong and Gu Li held off Zhang Liao. Gan Ning and Lü Meng led their men back to the rescue, but Yue Jin came after them from behind and Li Dian cut across their path and fell upon them, and the men of Wu lost more than half their number. The three hundred and more under Ling Tong were all killed. Ling Tong himself, wounded by several spears, fought his way to the bridge, but finding it broken, he fled along the river.

孫權跳過橋南，徐盛、董襲駕舟相迎。淩統、谷利抵住張遼。甘寧、呂蒙引軍回救，卻被樂進從後追來，李典又截住廝殺，吳兵折了大半。淩統所領三百餘人，盡被殺死。統身中數槍，殺到橋邊，橋已折斷，繞河而逃。

Sun Quan saw this from his boat and hastily ordered Dong Xi to row over and pick him up, and so Ling Tong got back across. Lü Meng and Gan Ning too fled for their lives across to the south bank. This battle struck such terror into everyone in Jiangnan that at the mere mention of Zhang Liao’s name little children dared not cry at night. The generals escorted Sun Quan back to camp. He richly rewarded Ling Tong and Gu Li, withdrew his army to Ruxu, and set about refitting his ships and planning a combined advance by land and water; meanwhile he sent back to Jiangnan to raise more men to come and help in the fight.

孫權在舟中望見，急令董襲棹舟接之，乃得渡回。呂蒙、甘寧皆死命逃過河南。這一陣殺得江南人人害怕；聞張遼大名，小兒也不敢夜啼。衆將保護孫權回營。權乃重賞淩統、谷利，收軍回濡須，整頓船隻，商議水陸並進；一面差人回江南，再起人馬來助戰。

Now Zhang Liao heard that Sun Quan at Ruxu was about to raise an army and advance, and fearing that Hefei had too few troops to hold out, he hastily sent Xue Ti by night to Hanzhong to inform Cao Cao and ask for reinforcements. Cao Cao conferred with his officers: “Can we take Xichuan now?” Liu Ye said, “Shu has settled down somewhat and is already prepared. It must not be attacked. Better to withdraw and go to the relief of Hefei, and then go on down to Jiangnan.”

卻說張遼聞孫權在濡須將欲興兵進取，恐合淝兵少難以抵敵，急令薛悌星夜往漢中，報知曹操，求請救兵。操同衆官議曰：“此時可收西川否？”劉曄曰：“今蜀中稍定，已有提備，不可擊也。不如撤兵去救合淝之急，就下江南。”

So Cao Cao left Xiahou Yuan to hold the pass at Mount Dingjun in Hanzhong, and Zhang He to hold Mengtou Crag and the other passes. The rest of the army broke camp and set off, marching on Ruxuwu.

操乃留夏侯淵守漢中定軍山隘口，留張郃守矇頭巖等隘口。其餘軍兵拔寨都起，殺奔濡須塢來。

Indeed:
The iron horsemen had scarcely subdued Longyou
When the banners pointed once again toward Jiangnan.
Who won and who lost will be told in the next chapter.

正是：鐵騎甫能平隴右，旌旄又復指江南。
未知勝負如何，且看下文分解。