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| Simplified Chinese version |
《战官渡本初败绩，劫乌巢孟德烧粮 - Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao Loses Leaders and Granaries; Using Strategy, Cao Cao Scores Victory At Guandu》 |
| 1 | 战官渡本... : | 却说袁绍兴兵，望官渡进发。夏侯敦发书告急。曹操起军七万，前往迎敌，留荀彧守许都。绍兵临发，田丰从狱中上书谏曰：“今且宜静守以待天时，不可妄兴大兵，恐有不利。”逢纪谮曰：“主公兴仁义之师，田丰何得出此不祥之语？” |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
Hearing that Yuan Shao was hastening to attack at Guandu, Xiahou Dun wrote to the capital urgently asking for reinforcements, and Cao Cao told off seventy thousand troops with which he marched. Xun Yu was left to guard the capital. Just as Yuan Shao's army was starting, Tian Feng sent out a remonstrance from his prison cell, saying, "My lord, a hasty attack in full scale will bring disaster to our army. It is best now to wait upon such times as Heaven should appoint." Peng Ji said to Yuan Shao, "Why does this Tian Feng utter ill-omened words? My lord is sending forth an army in the cause of humanity and justice." | |
| 2 | 战官渡本... : | 绍因怒，欲斩田丰。众官告免。绍恨曰：“待吾破了曹操，明正其罪！”遂催军进发。旌旗遍野，刀剑如林。行至阳武，下定寨栅。沮授曰：“我军虽众，而勇猛不及彼军；彼军虽精，而粮草不如我军。彼军无粮，利在急战；我军有粮，宜且缓守。若能旷以日月，则彼军不战自败矣。”绍怒曰：“田丰慢我军心，吾回日必斩之。汝安敢又如此！”──叱左右将沮授锁禁军中。──“待我破曹之后，与田丰一体治罪！” |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
Easily moved to anger, Yuan Shao was going to execute Tian Feng, but this time he forbore at the entreaties of many of his officers. However, he was not appeased, for he said, "I will punish Tian Feng when I return from conquering Cao Cao." Meanwhile Yuan Shao hastened to start. The banners of his host filled the horizon, their swords were as trees in the forest. They marched to Yangwu and there made a strong camp. Then Ju Shou once more opposed any hasty movement, saying, "Though our soldiers are many, they are not so bold as the enemy. However, veterans as are the enemy, they have not ample supplies. Therefore they will wish to force on a speedy battle, while our policy is to hold them off and delay. If we can keep from a decisive battle long enough, the victory will be ours without fighting." This advice did not appeal to Yuan Shao. Said he, threateningly, "Tian Feng spoke discouraging words to my armies, and I will assuredly put him to death on my return. How dare you follow in the same way?" Yuan Shao summoned the lictors and sent away the adviser in chains, saying, "When I have overcome Cao Cao, then will I deal with you and Tian Feng together!" | |
| 3 | 战官渡本... : | 于是下令，将大军七十万，东西南北，周围安营，连络九十馀里。细作探知虚实，报至官渡。曹军新到，闻之皆惧。曹操与众谋士商议。荀攸曰：“绍军虽多，不足惧也。我军俱精锐之士，无不一以当十。但利在急战。若迁延日月，粮草不敷，事可忧矣。”操曰：“所言正合吾意。”遂传令军将鼓噪而进。绍军来迎，两边排成阵势。审配拨弩手一万，伏于两翼；弓箭手五千，伏于门旗内，约响齐发。 |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
The huge army was camped in four divisions, one toward each point of the compass. The camps were thirty miles in circuit. Scouts and spies were sent out to discover the strong and the weak points of the enemy. Cao Cao's army arrived and were smitten with fear when they heard of the strength of their enemy. The leader called together his council. Then said Adviser Xun You, "The enemy are many but not terrible. Ours is an army of veterans, every soldier of ours worth ten of theirs. But our advantage lies in a speedy battle, for unhappily our stores are insufficient for a long campaign." "You speak to the point," said Cao Cao. "I think the same." Therefore Cao Cao issued orders to press noisily forward and force on a battle. Yuan Shao's soldiers took up the challenge, and the two sides were arrayed. On Yuan Shao's side, Shen Pei placed ten thousand of crossbowmen in ambush on the two wings, while five thousand of archers held the center. The signal for general attack was a bomb. | |
| 4 | 战官渡本... : | 三通鼓罢，袁绍金盔金甲，锦袍玉带，立马阵前。左右排列著张合、高览、韩猛、淳于琼等诸将。旌旗节钺，甚是严整。曹阵上门旗开处，曹操出马。许褚、张辽、徐晃、李典等，各持兵器，前后拥卫。曹操以鞭指袁绍曰：“吾于天子之前，保奏你为大将军；今何故谋反？”绍怒曰：“汝托名汉相，实为汉贼！罪恶弥天，甚于莽、卓，乃反诬人造反耶！”操曰：“吾今奉诏讨汝！”绍曰：“吾奉衣带诏讨贼！” |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
The onset was to continue through three rolls of the drum. Yuan Shao wore a silver helmet and breastplate and an embroidered robe held in by a jeweled belt. He took up his post in the center with his commanders —-Gao Lan, Zhang He, Han Meng, Chunyu Qiong, and others —-ranged right and left. His banners and ensigns made a brave show. When Cao Cao's army's center opened and the banners moved aside, the chieftain appeared on horseback with his staff of doughty leaders all fully armed —-Xu Chu, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, Li Dian, and others. Pointing with his whip at Yuan Shao, Cao Cao cried, "In the presence of the Emperor, I pressed your claims to consideration and obtained for you the title of Regent Marshal. Why do you now plan rebellion?" Yuan Shao replied, "You take the title of a minister of Han, but you are really a rebel against the House. Your crimes and evil deeds reach to the heavens, and you are worse than the usurper Wang Mang and the rebel Dong Zhuo. What are these slanderous words about rebellion that dare you address to me?" "I have a command to make you prisoner!" "I have the Girdle Decree to arrest rebels!" replied Yuan Shao. | |
| 5 | 战官渡本... : | 操怒，使张辽出战。张合跃马来迎。二将斗了四五十合，不分胜负。曹操见了，暗暗称奇。许褚挥刀纵马，直出助战。高览挺枪接住。四员将捉对儿厮杀。曹操令夏侯敦、曹洪，各引三千军，齐冲彼阵。审配见曹军来冲阵，便令放起号炮。两下万弩并发，中车内弓箭手一齐拥出阵前乱射。曹军如何抵敌，望南急走。袁绍驱兵掩杀，曹军大败，尽退至官渡。袁绍移军逼近官渡下寨。审配曰：“今可拨兵十万守官渡，就曹操寨前筑起土山，令军人下视寨中放箭。操若弃此而去，吾得此隘口，许昌可破矣。” |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
Then Cao Cao became wrathful and bade Zhang Liao ride forth as his champion. From the other side rode Zhang He on a curvetting steed. The two champions fought forty or fifty bouts with no advantage to either. In his heart Cao Cao thought the contest amazing. Then Xu Chu whirled up his sword and went to help. From the other side, to match him rode out Gao Lan with his spear set, and the contestants were now four, battling two and two. Then Cao Cao ordered three thousand troops under Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong to attack the opponents' array. Thereupon on Yuan Shao's side, Shen Pei gave the signal for attack, and the legion of crossbowmen on the wings shot and the center archers let fly all together. The arrows flew all over the field in front, and Cao Cao's troops could not advance. They hastened away toward the south. Yuan Shao threw his soldiers on their rear, and they were broken. They fled away toward Guandu, and Yuan Shao advanced another stage. He camped near them. Then Shen Pei said, "Now send one hundred thousand soldiers to guard Guandu, and get near Cao Cao's camp. Then build up observation mounds to get a clear view of the enemy, and choose vantage points whence to shoot arrows into the midst of their host. If we can force him to evacuate this place, we shall have gained a strategic point whence Capital Xuchang can be attacked." | |
| 6 | 战官渡本... : | 绍从之，于各寨内选精壮军人，用铁锹土担，齐来曹操寨边，垒土成山。曹营内见袁军堆筑土山，欲待出去冲突，被审配弓弩手当住咽喉要路，不能前进。十日之内，筑成土山五十馀座，上立高橹，分拨弓弩手于其上射箭。曹军大惧，皆顶著遮箭牌守御。土山上一声梆子响处，箭下如雨。曹军皆蒙楯伏地，袁军呐喊而笑。曹操见军慌乱，集众谋士问计。刘晔进曰：“可作发石车以破之。”操令晔进车式，连夜造发石车数百乘，分布营墙内，正对著土山上云梯。候弓箭手射箭时，营内一齐拽动石车，炮石飞空，往上乱打。人无躲处，弓箭手死者无数。袁军皆号其车为“霹雳车”。 |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
Yuan Shao adopted this suggestion. From each of the camps, they sought out the strongest veterans who dug with iron spades and carried earth to raise mounds near Cao Cao's camp. Cao Cao's soldiers saw what their enemies were doing and were anxious to make a sortie and drive them off. But the archers and crossbowmen came out commanding the narrow throat through which it was necessary to attack and stayed them. At the end of ten days, they had build up more than half a hundred mounds, and on the summit of each was a lofty tower, whence the archers could command their opponents' camp. Cao Cao's soldiers were greatly frightened and held up their bucklers to keep off the various missiles. From the mounds the arrows flew down like a fierce rain after each roll of drums. The soldiers of Yuan Shao's army laughed and jeered when they saw their enemies crouching under their shields and crawling on the ground to avoid their missiles. Cao Cao saw that his troops were getting out of hand under this attack, so he called a council. Liu Ye spoke up, saying, "Let us make catapults and so destroy them." Cao Cao at once had models brought and set cunning workers to make these stone-throwing machines. They soon constructed some hundreds and placed them along the walls of the camp inside, just opposite the high ladders on the enemy's mounds. Then Cao Cao's troops watched for Yuan Shao's archers to ascend the towers. As soon as the archers began to shoot, all the catapults began to heave stone balls into the skies and they wrought great havoc. There was no shelter from the falling stones, and enormous numbers of the archers were killed. Yuan Shao's troops called these machines "Rumblers". | |
| 7 | 战官渡本... : | 由是袁军不敢登高射箭。审配又献一计：令军人用铁暗打地道，直透曹营内，号为“掘子军”。曹兵望见袁军于山后掘土坑，报知曹操。操又问计于刘晔。晔曰：“此袁军不能攻明而攻暗，发掘伏道，欲从地下透营而入耳。”操曰：“何以御之？”晔曰：“可绕营掘长堑，则彼伏道无用也。”操连夜差军掘堑。袁军掘伏道到堑边，果不能入，空费军力。 |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
Because of this, the archers dared not ascend the mounds to shoot. Then Shen Pei, the strategist, thought out another plan. He set troops to tunnel under the walls into the midst of Cao Cao's camp and called this corps "The Sappers". Cao Cao's soldiers saw the enemy digging out pits behind the mounds and told the chief, who at once sought a counter plan from Liu Ye. "As Yuan Shao can no longer attack openly, he is attacking secretly and is tunneling a road under ground into the midst of our camp," said Liu Ye. "But how to meet it?" "We can surround the camp with a deep moat which renders their tunnel useless." So a deep moat was dug as quickly as possible, and when the enemy sappers arrived thereat, lo! their labor had been in vain and the sap was useless. | |
| 8 | 战官渡本... : | 却说曹操守官渡，自八月起，至九月终，军力渐乏，粮草不继，意欲弃官渡退回许昌；迟疑未决，乃作书遣人赴许昌问荀彧。彧以书报之。书略曰： |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: | Cao Cao held Guandu throughout the eighth and ninth months when, his army being worn out and provisions failing, he began to think of giving up and returning to the capital. As he could not make up his mind, he referred his difficulties by letter to Xun Yu, whom he had left to guard Xuchang. The reply he got was to this effect: | |
| 承尊命使决进退之疑，愚以袁绍悉众聚于官渡，欲与明公决胜负，公以至弱当至强，若不能制，必为所乘；是天下之大机也。绍军虽众，而不能用；以公之神武明哲，何向而不济？今军实虽少，未若楚、汉在荥阳、成皋也。公今画地而守，扼其喉而使不能进，情见势竭，必将有变。此用奇之时，断不可失。惟明公裁察焉。 | ||
| "I have received your command to decide whether to continue the campaign or retire. It appears to me that Yuan Shao assembled such large forces at Guandu with the expectation of winning a decision. You, Sir, are very weak while he is very strong. If you cannot get the better of him, he will be able to work his will on you, and this will be a crisis of the empire. Your opponents are indeed numerous, but their leader knows not how to use them. With your military genius and discernment, where are you not sure to succeed? Now though your numbers are small, your situation is still brighter than Liu Bang's when he faced against Xiang Yu in Jungyang and Chenggao. You are securely entrenched with your hands on Yuan Shao's throat; and even if you cannot advance, that state of things cannot endure forever but must change. This is the time to play some unexpected move, and you must not miss it. The device I leave to your illustrious ingenuity." | ||
| 9 | 战官渡本... : | 曹操得书大喜，令将士效力死守。绍军约退三十馀里，操遣将出营巡哨。有徐晃部将史涣获得袁军细作，解见徐晃。晃问其军中虚实。答曰：“早晚大将韩猛运粮至军前接济，先令我等探路。”徐晃便将此事报知曹操。荀攸曰：“韩猛匹夫之勇耳。若遣一人引轻骑数千，从半路击之，断其粮草，绍军自乱。”操曰：“谁人可往？”攸曰：“即遣徐晃可也。” |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
This letter greatly pleased Cao Cao, and he urged upon his troops to use every effort to maintain the position. Yuan Shao then retired some ten miles, and Cao Cao sent out scouts to ascertain his new dispositions. One of Xu Huang's officers, Shi Huan, captured an enemy spy and sent him to his chief. Xu Huang interrogated him and found out that a convoy of supplies was expected and that this spy and others had been sent to find out what the risks of the route were. Xu Huang went at once to tell Cao Cao. When Xun You heard that the commander of the convoy was Han Meng, he said, "That fellow is a valiant fool. A few thousand light horse sent to intercept him can capture the whole train and cause much trouble in the enemy's camp." "Whom should I send?" asked Cao Cao. "You might send Xu Huang. He is capable of such a task." | |
| 10 | 战官渡本... : | 操遂差徐晃带将史涣并所部兵先出，后使张辽、许褚引兵救应。当夜韩猛押粮车数千辆，解赴绍寨。正走之间，山谷内徐晃、史涣引军截住去路，韩猛飞马来战。徐晃接住厮杀，史涣便杀散人夫，放火焚烧粮车。韩猛抵当不住，拨马回走。徐晃催军烧尽辎量。袁绍军中，望见西北上火起，正惊疑间，败军报来：“粮草被劫。” |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
So Xu Huang was deputed, and he took with him Shi Huan, who had captured the spy, and his company. And this party was supported by Zhang Liao and Xu Chu. It was night when the commissariat train of many thousands of wagons drew near Yuan Shao's camp. As they passed through a defile, Xu Huang and Shi Huan came out and stopped the train. Han Meng galloped up to give battle but was soon overcome. The guard was scattered, and soon the whole train was in flames. The escort and their leader fled away. The glow of the flames seen from Yuan Shao's camp caused great consternation, which became fear when the escaped soldiers rode in and told their tale. | |
| 11 | 战官渡本... : | 绍急遣张合、高览去截大路，正遇徐晃烧粮而回。恰欲交锋，背后张辽、许褚军到。两下夹攻，杀散袁军，四将合兵一处，回官渡寨中。曹操大喜，重加赏劳；又分军于寨前结营，为犄角之势。 |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
Yuan Shao sent out Zhang He and Gao Lan to try to intercept the raiders, and they came upon Xu Huang and his company. Just as Zhang He and Gao Lan were attacking, reinforcements from Zhang Liao and Xu Chu came up, and the Yuan Shao's troops were between two fires. They were cut to pieces and the successful generals of Cao Cao rode back to Guandu, where they were richly rewarded. As an additional safeguard, Cao Cao made a supporting outpost in front of the main camp to be the apex of a triangle of defense. | |
| 12 | 战官渡本... : | 却说韩猛败军还营，绍大怒，欲斩韩猛，众官劝免。审配曰：“行军以粮食为重，不可不用心堤防。乌巢乃屯粮之处，必得重兵守之。”袁绍曰：“吾筹策已定，汝可回邺都监督粮草，休教缺乏。”审配领命而去。袁绍遣大将淳于琼，督领部将眭元进、韩莒子、吕威璜、赵睿等，引二万人马，守乌巢。那淳于琼性刚好酒，军士多畏之；既至乌巢，终日与诸将聚饮。 |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
When Han Meng returned with his woeful tidings, Yuan Shao was angry and threatened to put him to death. His colleagues begged him off. Then said Shen Pei, "Food is very important for an army in the field and must be defended with the greatest diligence. Wuchao is our main depot and must be carefully guarded." "My plans being complete," said Yuan Shao. "You may as well return to Capital Yejun of Jizhou and undertake the control of the supplies. Let there be no shortage." So Shen Pei left the army. Then a force of twenty thousand troops was told off to defend the depot in Wuchao. The leaders of this body were Chunyu Qiong, Gui Yuanjin, Han Juzi, Lu Weihuang, and Zhao Rui. Of these generals, Chunyu Qiong was a hard man and a heavy drinker, who in his cups was a terror to the soldiers. Under the idle life of guarding the supply depot, the leaders gave themselves up to indulgence and drank heavily. | |
| 13 | 战官渡本... : | 且说曹操军粮告竭，急发使往许昌教荀彧作速措办粮草，星夜解赴军前接济。使者赍书而往；行不上三十里，被袁军捉住，缚见谋士许攸。那许攸字子远，少时曾与曹操为友，此时却在袁绍处为谋士。当下搜得使者所赍曹操催粮书信，迳来见绍曰：“曹操屯军官渡，与我相持已久，许昌必空虚；若分一军星夜掩袭许昌，则许昌可拔，而曹操可擒也。今操粮草已尽，正可乘此机会，两路击之。”绍曰：“曹操诡计极多，此书乃诱敌之计也。”攸曰：“今若不取，后将反受其害。” |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
In Cao Cao's army food was also getting scarce, and a message was sent to Capital Xuchang to send grain quickly. The messenger with the letter, however, had not gone far when he fell into the hands of Yuan Shao's guards, who took him to the adviser Xu You. Seeing from the letter that Cao Cao was short of supplies, Xu You went to Yuan Shao and told him, saying, "Cao Cao and we have been at grips here for a long time, and Capital Xuchang must be undefended. A small army sent quickly could take it, and at the same moment an attack here would deliver Cao Cao into our hands. Now is the moment to strike, for his supplies are short." Yuan Shao replied, "Cao Cao is full of ruses, and this letter is artfully designed to bring about a battle to suit himself." "If you do not take this chance, he will do you some injury by and by." | |
| 14 | 战官渡本... : | 正话间，忽有使者自邺郡来，呈上审配书。书中先说运粮事；后言许攸在冀州时，尝滥受民间财物，且纵令子侄辈多科税钱粮入己，今已收其子侄下狱矣。绍见书大怒曰：“滥行匹夫！尚有面目于吾前献计耶！汝与曹操有旧，想今亦受他财贿，为他作奸细，啜赚吾军耳！本当斩首，今权且寄头在项！可速退出，今后不许相见！” |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: | Just at this juncture in came a dispatch from Yejun in which, after some details regarding the forwarding of grain, Shen Pei said he had discovered that Xu You had been in the habit of receiving bribes while in Jizhou and had winked at his relatives collecting excess taxes. One of his son and nephew were then in prison. At this Yuan Shao turned on Xu You angrily and said, "How can you have the face to stand before me and propose plans, you extortionate fellow? You and Cao Cao have old liking for each other, and he has bribed you to do his dirty work for him and help his base schemes. Now you want to betray my army. I ought to take off your head, but temporarily I will let your neck carry it away. Get out and never let me see you again." | |
| 15 | 战官渡本... : | 许攸出，仰天叹曰：“‘忠言逆耳’，‘竖子不足与谋！’吾子侄已遭审配之害，吾何颜复见冀州之人乎！”遂欲拔剑自刎。左右夺剑劝曰：“公何轻生至此？袁绍不纳直言，后必为曹操所擒。公既与曹公有旧，何不弃暗投明？”只这两句言语，点醒许攸；于是许攸迳投。后人有诗叹曰： |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
The discredited adviser sighed and went out, saying, "Faithful words offend his ear. He is a pest and unworthy of advice from me. And now that Shen Pei has injured my son and nephew, how can I look my fellow folks in the face again?" And Xu You drew his sword to end his life. But his people prevented that. They said, "If Yuan Shao rejects your honest words, then assuredly he will be taken by Cao Cao. You are an old friend of Cao Cao's: Why not abandon the shade for the sunlight?" Just these few words awakened Xu You to consciousness of his position, and he decided to leave Yuan Shao and go over to Cao Cao for he was an old friend. | |
| 本初豪气盖中华，官渡相持枉叹嗟。若使许攸谋见用，山河岂得属曹家？ | ||
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Vainly now for chances lost Yuan Shao sighs; once he was great. Had he taken Xu You's advice, Cao Cao had not set up a state. | ||
| 16 | 战官渡本... : | 却说许攸暗步出营，迳投曹寨，伏路军人拿住。攸曰：“我是曹丞相故友，快与我通报，说南阳许攸来见。”军士忙报入寨中。时操方解衣歇息，闻说许攸私奔到寨，大喜，不及穿履，跣足出迎。遥见许攸，抚掌欢笑，携手共入，操先拜于地。攸慌扶起曰：“公乃汉相，吾乃布衣，何谦恭如此？”操曰：“公乃操故友，岂敢以名爵相上下乎！”攸曰：“某不能择主，屈身袁绍，言不听，计不从，今特弃之来见故人。愿赐收录。”操曰：“子远肯来，吾事济矣。愿即教我以破绍之计。”攸曰：“吾曾教袁绍以轻骑乘掩许都，首尾相攻。”操大惊曰：“若袁绍用子言，吾事败矣。”攸曰：“公今军粮尚有几何？”操曰：“可支一年。”攸笑曰：“恐未必。”操曰：“有半年耳。” |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
Xu You stealthily left the camp and set out for Cao Cao's lines. He was captured on the way. He told his captors: "I am an old friend of the Prime Minister. Go and tell the Prime Minister that Xu You of Nanyang wishes to see him." They did so. Cao Cao was resting in his tent, his clothing loose and comfortable after the toils of the day. When he heard who wished to see him, he arose quite joyfully and hastily ran out, on bare feet, to receive Xu You. Cao Cao went forth to greet him. They saw each other in the distance, and Cao Cao clapped his hands with gladness, bowing to the ground when near enough to his visitor. Xu You hastened to help him rise, saying, "Sir, you, a great minister, should not thus salute a simple civilian like me." "But you are my old friend, and no name or office makes any difference to us," replied Cao Cao. "Having been unable to choose the lord I would serve, I bowed my head before Yuan Shao wishing to support him sincerely. But he was deaf to my words and disregarded my plans. Wherefore I have left him and come now to see my old friend from whom I hope employment." "If you are willing to come, then have I indeed a helper," said Cao Cao. "I desire you to give me a scheme for the destruction of Yuan Shao." "I counseled him to send a light force to take Capital Xuchang and at the same time attack here in full scale so that head and tail be both attacked." Cao Cao was alarmed, saying, "If he does so, I am lost!" "How much grain have you in store?" said the new adviser. "Enough for a year." "I think not quite," said Xu You, smiling. "Well, half a year." | |
| 17 | 战官渡本... : | 攸拂袖而起，趋步出帐曰：“吾以诚相投，而公见欺如是，岂吾所望哉！”操挽留曰：“子远勿嗔，尚容实诉。军中粮实可支三月耳。”攸笑曰：“世人皆言孟德奸雄，今果然也。”操亦笑曰：“岂不闻兵不厌诈？”遂附耳低言曰：“军中止有此月之粮。”攸大声曰：“休瞒我，粮已尽矣！”操愕然曰：“何以知之？”攸乃出操与荀彧之书以示之曰：“此书何人所写？”操惊问曰：“何处得之？”攸以获使之事相告。操执其手曰：“子远既念旧交而来，愿即有以教我。”攸曰：“明公以孤军抗大敌，而不求急胜之方，此取死之道也。攸有一策，不过三日，使袁绍百万之众，不战自破。明公还肯听否？”操喜曰：“愿闻良策。”攸曰：“袁绍军粮辎重，尽积乌巢，今拨淳于琼把守。琼嗜酒无备；公可选精兵诈称袁将蒋奇领兵到彼护粮，乘间烧其粮草辎重，则绍军不三日将自乱矣。”操大喜，重待许攸，留于寨中。 |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
The visitor shook out his sleeves, rose and hurried toward the door of the tent, saying, "I offer him good counsel, and he repays me with deceit. Could I have expected it?" Cao Cao held him back. "Do not be angry," said he. "I will tell you the truth. Really I have here only enough for three months." "Everybody says you are a marvel of wickedness, and indeed it is true," said Xu You. "But who does not know that in war there is no objection to deceit?" replied Cao Cao. Then whispering in Xu You's ear, he said, "Actually here I have only supplies for this month's use." "O do not throw dust in my eyes any more. Your grain is exhausted and I know it." Cao Cao was startled, for he thought no one knew of the straits he was in. "How did you find that out?" said Cao Cao. Xu You produced the captured letter, saying, "Who wrote that?" "Where did you get it?" Whereupon Xu You told Cao Cao the story of the captured messenger. Cao Cao seized him by the hand, saying, "Since our old friendship has brought you to me, I hope you have some plan to suggest to me." Xu You said, "To oppose a great army with a small one is to walk in the way of destruction, unless you inflict quick defeat. I can propose a plan which will defeat the innumerable hordes of Yuan Shao without fighting a battle. But will you follow my advice?" "I very much desire to know your plan," said Cao Cao. "Your enemy's stores of all kinds are at Wuchao, where the Commander of the Guard is that drunkard Chunyu Qiong. You can send some of your trusty veterans to pretend they belong to one of Yuan Shao's generals, Jiang Qi, sent to help guard the depot. These soldiers can find an opportunity to fire the grain and stores of all kinds, which will upset all Yuan Shao's calculations. In three days Yuan Shao is no more." Cao Cao greatly approved. He treated Xu You very liberally and kept him in his camp. | |
| 18 | 战官渡本... : | 次日，操自选马步军士五千，准备往乌巢劫粮。张辽曰：“袁绍屯粮之所，安得无备？丞相未可轻往。恐许攸有诈。”操曰：“不然。许攸此来，天败袁绍。今吾军粮不给，难以久持；若不用许攸之计，是坐而待困也。彼若有诈，安肯留我寨中？且吾亦欲劫寨久矣。今劫粮之举，计在必行，君请勿疑。”辽曰：“亦须防袁绍乘虚来袭。”操笑曰：“吾已筹之熟矣。”便教荀攸、贾诩、曹洪同许攸守大寨，夏侯敦、夏侯渊领一军伏于左，曹仁、李典领一军伏于右，以备不虞。教张辽、许褚在前，徐晃、于禁在后，操自引诸将居中，共五千人马，打著袁军旗号，军士皆束草负薪，人衔枚，马勒口，黄昏时分，望乌巢进发。是夜星光满天。 |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
Forthwith he chose five thousand of horse and foot ready for the expedition. Zhang Liao protested, saying, "The enterprise will be futile as the grain depot will certainly be well guarded. Without caution, we may be victims of the treachery on the part of the newly arrived Xu You." "Xu You is no traitor," said Cao Cao. "He has come sent by Heaven to defeat Yuan Shao. If we do not get grain, it will be hard to hold out. I have to either follow his advice or sit still and be hemmed in. If he were a traitor, he would hardly remain in my camp. Moreover this raid has been my desire for a long time. Have no doubts: The raid will certainly succeed." "Well, then, you must look out for an attack here while the camp is undefended." "That is already well provided for," said Cao Cao gleefully. The arrangements for the raid on the grain depot were made with extreme care to ensure success. Cao Cao assigned Xun You, Jia Xu, and Cao Hong to guard the main camp, together with Xu You; Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan to guard the left camp; Cao Ren and Li Dian to guard the right camp. When all was ready they set out, Cao Cao himself in the center, with Zhang Liao and Xu Chu as van leaders and Xu Huang and Yu Jin as rear guard. The army showed the ensigns of their opponents. The troops carried bundles of grass and faggots to make a blaze. The soldiers were gagged and the horses tied round the muzzles so as to prevent any noise. They set out at dusk. The night was fine and the stars shone brightly. | |
| 19 | 战官渡本... : | 且说沮授被袁绍拘禁在军中，是夜因见众星朗列，乃命监者引出中庭，仰观天象。忽见太白逆行，侵犯牛、斗之分，大惊曰：“祸将至矣！”遂连夜求见袁绍。时绍已醉卧，听说沮授有密事启报，唤入问之。授曰：“适观天象，见太白逆行于柳、鬼之间，流光射入牛、斗之分，恐有贼兵劫掠之害。乌巢屯粮之所，不可不提备。宜速遣精兵猛将，于间道山路巡哨，免为曹操所算。”绍怒叱曰：“汝乃得罪之人，何敢妄言惑众！”因叱监者曰：“吾令汝拘囚之，何敢放出！”遂命斩监者，别唤人监押沮授。授出，掩泪叹曰：“我军亡在旦夕，我尸骸不知落于何处也！”后人有诗叹曰： |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
Ju Shou, still a prisoner in Yuan Shao's camp, saw the stars were very brilliant and told his gaolers to conduct him out to the central pavilion whence he could study them. While watching he saw the planet Venus invade the quarter of the Bear and Lyra, which startled him very greatly. "Some misfortune is near!" said Ju Shou. So although it was still night, he went to see his master. But Yuan Shao was sleeping after indulgence in too much wine and was in bad humor. However, when they had roused him saying that the prisoner had a secret message to deliver, he got up. "While I happened to be studying the aspect of the heavens," said the night visitor, "I saw Venus, then between Hydra and Cancer, suddenly shoot into the neighborhood of the Bear and Lyra. There is danger of a robber raid, and special precautions must be taken at the grain depot. Lose no time in sending good soldiers and vigorous leaders thither, and keep a lookout on the byways among the hills that you may escape the wiles of Cao Cao." "You are a criminal!" said Yuan Shao. "How dare you come with such wild nonsense to upset my armies." And turning to the gaolers Yuan Shao continued, "I bade you confine him. Why did you let him come?" Then he issued orders to put the gaolers to death and appointed others to keep the prisoner in close custody. Ju Shou went away, wiping his falling tears and sighing deeply, "Our soldiers' destruction is at hand, and I know not where our poor corpses may find a resting place." | |
| 逆耳忠言反见仇，独夫袁绍少机谋；乌巢粮尽根基拔，犹欲区区守冀州。 | ||
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Blunt truth offended Yuan Shao, Too stupid any plan to make, His stores destroyed this is evident That Jizhou also is at stake. Cao Cao's raiding party went along through the night. Passing one of Yuan Shao's outpost camps, they were challenged. | ||
| 20 | 战官渡本... : | 却说曹操领兵夜行，前过袁绍别寨，寨兵问是何处军马。操使人应曰：“蒋奇奉命往乌巢护粮。”袁军见是自家旗号，遂不疑惑。凡过数处，皆诈称蒋奇之兵，并无阻碍。及到乌巢，四更已尽。操教军士将束草周围举火，众将校鼓噪直入。时淳于琼方与众将饮了酒，醉卧帐中；闻鼓噪之声，连忙跳起问：“何故喧闹？”言未已，早被挠钓拖翻。眭元进、赵睿运粮方回，见屯上火起，急来救应。曹军飞报曹操，说：“贼兵在后，请分军拒之。”操大喝曰：“诸将只顾奋力向前，待贼至背后，方可回战！”于是众军将无不争先掩杀。一霎时，火焰四起，烟迷太空。眭、赵二将驱兵来救，操勒马回战。二将抵敌不住，皆被曹军所杀，粮草尽行烧绝。淳于琼被擒见操，操命割去其耳鼻手指，缚于马上，放回绍营以辱之。 |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
Cao Cao sent forward a man to say, "Jiang Qi has orders to go to Wuchao to guard the grain stores." Seeing that the raiders marched under the ensigns of Yuan Shao, the guard had no suspicions and let them pass. At every post this ruse was effective, and they got safely through. They reached their objective at the end of the fourth watch, the straw and wood were placed in position without loss of time, and the blaze started. Then Cao Cao's commanders beat to attack. At this time Chunyu Qiong and his companions were all asleep after a heavy drinking bout. However, when the alarm was given, they sprang up and asked what was the matter. The hubbub was indescribable. Very soon the fuddled officers were caught with hooks and hauled out of their camp. Yuan Shao's generals Gui Yuanjin and Zhao Rui were just returning from taking grain to the camp and seeing the flames arise, they hastened to assist. Some of Cao Cao's soldiers ran to him, saying, "The enemy is coming up in the rear. Send reinforcements." But Cao Cao only replied, "Press on to the front till the enemy is actually close at hand and then face about." So the attack was pressed on and they all hastened forward. Very soon the fire gained strength, and thick smoke hung all around filling the sky. When Gui Yuanjin and Zhao Rui drew near, Cao Cao turned about and attacked them. They could not stand this for a moment, and both generals were killed. Finally the stores of grain and forage were utterly destroyed. The commander, Chunyu Qiong, was made prisoner and taken to Cao Cao who ordered him to be deprived of ears, nose, and hands. He was bound on a horse and sent, thus horribly mutilated, to his master. | |
| 21 | 战官渡本... : | 却说袁绍在帐中，闻报正北上火光满天，知是乌巢有失，急出帐召文武，各官商议遣兵往救。张合曰：“某与高览同往救之。”郭图曰：“不可。曹军劫粮，曹操必然亲往；操既自出，寨必虚空，可纵兵先击曹操之寨；操闻之，必速还：此孙膑‘围魏救赵’之计也。”张合曰：“非也。曹操多谋，外出必为内备，以防不虞。今若攻操营而不拔，琼等见获，吾属皆被擒矣。”郭图曰：“曹操只顾劫粮，岂留兵在寨耶？”再三请劫曹营。绍乃遣张合、高览引军五千，往官渡击曹营；遣蒋奇领兵一万，往救乌巢。 |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
From Yuan Shao's camp, the flames of the burning depot were seen away in the north, and they knew what they meant. Yuan Shao hastily summoned his officers to a council to send a rescue party. Zhang He offered to go with Gao Lan, but Guo Tu said, "You may not go. It is certain that Cao Cao is there in person, wherefore his camp is undefended. Let loose our soldiers on the camp, and that will speedily bring Cao Cao back again. This is how Sun Bin besieged Wei and thereby rescued Zhao." But Zhang He said, "Not so; Cao Cao is too wily not to have fully prepared against a chance attack. If we attack his camp and fail and Chunyu Qiong should be caught, we shall all be captured too." Guo Tu said, "Cao Cao will be too intent on the destruction of the grain to think of leaving a guard. I entreat you to attack his camp." So Yuan Shao sent five thousand soldiers under Zhang He and Gao Lan to attack Cao Cao's camp, and he sent ten thousand with Jiang Qi to go to recover the grain store. | |
| 22 | 战官渡本... : | 且说曹操杀散淳于琼部卒，尽夺其衣甲旗帜，伪作淳于琼部下败军回寨，至山僻小路，正遇蒋奇军马。奇军问之，称是乌巢败军奔回。奇遂不疑，驱马迳过。张辽、许褚忽至，大喝：“蒋奇休走！”奇措手不及，被张辽斩于马下，尽杀蒋奇之兵。又使人当先伪报云：“蒋奇已自杀散乌巢兵了。”袁绍因不复遣人接应乌巢，只添兵往官渡。 |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
Now after overcoming Chunyu Qiong, Cao Cao's troops dressed themselves in the armor and clothing of the defeated soldiers and put out their emblems, thus posing as defeated force running back to their own headquarters. And when they happened upon Jiang Qi's rescue body, they said they had been beaten at Wuchao and were retreating. So Cao Cao's troops were suffered to pass without molestation while Jiang Qi hastened on. But soon Jiang Qi came to Zhang Liao and Xu Chu who cried out, "Stop!" And before Jiang Qi could make any opposition, Zhang Liao had cut him down. Soon his force were killed or dispersed, and the victors sent false messengers to Yuan Shao's camp to say that Jiang Qi had attacked and driven away the attackers of the granaries. So no more relief were sent that way. However, Yuan Shao sent reinforcements to Guandu. | |
| 23 | 战官渡本... : | 却说张合、高览攻打曹营，左边夏侯敦，右边曹仁，中路曹洪，一齐冲出，三下攻击，袁军大败。比及接应军到，曹操又从背后杀来，四下围住掩杀。张合、高览夺路走脱。袁绍收得乌巢败残军马归寨，见淳于琼耳鼻皆无，手足尽落。绍问：“如何失了乌巢？”败军告说：“淳于琼醉卧，因此不能抵敌。” |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
In due course, the Yuan Shao's force came down upon Cao Cao's camp at Guandu, and the defenders —-Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, and Cao Hong —-at once came out and fought them on three sides so that they were worsted. By the time reinforcements arrived, Cao Cao's army, returning from the raid, had also come, and Yuan Shao's army were attacked in the rear. So they were quite surrounded. However, Zhang He and Gao Lan managed to force their way out and got away. When the remains of the defenders of the grain stores reached their master's camp, they were mustered. Seeing the mutilated state of their one time leader, Yuan Shao asked how Chunyu Qiong had come to betray his trust and to suffer thus. The soldiers told their lord, "The General was intoxicated at the time of the attack." | |
| 24 | 战官渡本... : | 绍怒，立斩之。郭图恐张合、高览回寨证对是非，先于袁绍前谮曰：“张合、高览见主公兵败，心中必喜。”绍曰：“何出此言乎？”图曰：“二人素有降曹之意，今遣击寨，故意不肯用力，以致损折士卒。”绍大怒，遂遣使急召二人归寨问罪。郭图先使人报二人云：“主公将杀汝矣。”及绍使至，高览问曰：“主公唤我等为何？”使者曰：“不知何故。”览遂拔剑斩来使。合大惊。览曰：“袁绍听信谗言，必为曹操所擒；吾等岂可坐而待死？不如去投曹操。”合曰：“吾亦有此心久矣。” |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
So Yuan Shao ordered Chunyu Qiong to be forthwith executed. Guo Tu, fearing lest Zhang He and Gao Lan would return and testify the whole truth, began to intrigue against them. First Guo Tu went to his lord, saying, "Those two, Zhang He and Gao Lan, were certainly very glad when your armies were defeated." "Why do you say this?" asked Yuan Shao. "O they have long cherished a desire to go over to Cao Cao. So when you sent them on the duty of destroying his camp, they did not do their best and so brought about this disaster." Yuan Shao accordingly sent to recall these two to be interrogated as to their faults. But Guo Tu sent a messenger in advance to warn them, as though in friendly guise, of the adverse fate that awaited them. So when the orders reached them to return to answer for their faults, Gao Lan asked, "For what reason are we recalled?" "Indeed I do not know," said the messenger. Gao Lan drew his sword and killed the messenger. Zhang He was astonished at this demonstration, but Gao Lan said, "Our lord has allowed someone to malign us and say we have been bought by Cao Cao. What is the sense in our sitting still and awaiting destruction? Rather let us surrender to Cao Cao in reality and save our lives." "I have been wanting to do this for some time," replied Zhang He. | |
| 25 | 战官渡本... : | 于是二人领本部兵马，往曹操寨中投降。夏侯敦曰：“张、高二人来降，未知虚实。”操曰：“吾以恩遇之，虽有异心，亦可变矣。”遂开营门命二人入。二人倒戈卸甲，拜伏于地。操曰：“若使袁绍肯从二将军之言，不至有败。今二将军肯来相投，如微子去殷，韩信归汉也。”遂封张合为偏将军都亭侯，高览为偏将军东莱侯。二人大喜。 |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
Wherefore both, with their companies, made their way to Cao Cao's camp to surrender. When they arrived, Xiahou Dun said to his master, "These two have come to surrender, but I have doubts about them." Cao Cao replied, "I will meet them generously and win them over, even if they have treachery in their hearts." The camp gates were opened to the two officers, and they were invited to enter. They laid down their weapons, removed their armor, and bowed to the ground before Cao Cao, who said, "If Yuan Shao had listened to you, he would not have suffered defeat. Now you two coming to surrender are like Wei Zi leaving the falling House of Shang to go to Zhou and Han Xin leaving Xiang Yu to go over to the rising House of Han." Cao Cao made them Generals and conferred upon Zhang He the title of Lord of Duting and upon Gao Lan Lord of Donglai, which pleased them much. | |
| 26 | 战官渡本... : | 却说袁绍既去了许攸，又去了张合、高览，又失了乌巢粮，军心皇皇。许攸又劝曹操作速进兵；张合、高览请为先锋；操从之。即令张合、高览领兵往劫绍寨。当夜三更时分，出军三路劫寨。混战到明，各自收兵，绍军折其大半。荀攸献计曰：“今可扬言调拨人马，一路取酸枣，攻邺郡；一路取黎阳，断袁兵归路。袁绍闻之，必然惊惶，分兵拒我；我乘其兵动时击之，绍可破也。” |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
And so as Yuan Shao had formerly driven sway his adviser, Xu You, so now he had alienated two leaders and had lost his stores at Wuchao, and his army was depressed and down-hearted. When Xu You advised Cao Cao to attack Yuan Shao as promptly as he could, the two newly surrendered generals volunteered to lead the way. So Cao Cao sent Zhang He and Gao Lan to make a first attack on the camp, and they left in the night with three thousand troops. The fighting went on confusedly all night but stayed at dawn. Yuan Shao had lost half of his army. Then Xun You suggested a plan to Cao Cao, saying, "Now is the moment to spread a report that an army will go to take Suanzao and attack Yejun, and another to take Liyang and intercept the enemy's retreat. Yuan Shao, when he hears of this, will be alarmed and tell off his troops to meet this new turn of affairs; and while he is making these new dispositions, we can have him at great disadvantage." | |
| 27 | 战官渡本... : | 操用其计，使大小三军，四远扬言。绍军闻此信，来寨中报说：“曹操分兵两路：一路取邺郡，一路取黎阳去也。”绍大惊，急遣袁尚分兵五万救邺郡，辛明分兵五万救黎阳，连夜起行。曹操探知袁绍兵动，便分大队军马，八路齐出，直冲绍营。袁军俱无斗志，四散奔走，遂大溃。袁绍披甲不迭，单衣幅巾上马；幼子袁谭后随。张辽、许褚、徐晃、于禁四员将，引军追赶袁绍。绍急渡河，尽弃图书车仗金帛，止引随行八百馀骑而去。 |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: | Cao Cao adopted the suggestion, and care was taken that the report spread far around. It came to the ears of Yuan Shao's soldiers, and they repeated it in camp. Yuan Shao believed it and ordered his son Yuan Tan with fifty thousand troops to rescue Yejun, and General Xin Ming with another fifty thousand to go to Liyang, and they marched away at once. Cao Cao heard that these armies had started, and at once dispatched troops in eight divisions to make a simultaneous attack on the nearly empty camp. Yuan Shao's troops were too dispirited to fight and gave way on all sides. Yuan Shao without waiting to don his armor went forth in simple dress with an ordinary cap upon his head and mounted his steed. His youngest son, Yuan Shang, followed him. Four of the enemy generals —-Zhang Liao, Xu Chu, Xu Huang, and Yu Jin —-with their forces pressed in his rear, and Yuan Shao hastened across the river, abandoning all his documents and papers, baggage, treasure, and stores. Only eight hundred horsemen followed him over the stream. | |
| 28 | 战官渡本... : | 操军追之不及，尽获遗下之物。所杀八万馀人，血流盈沟，溺水死者不计其数。操获全胜，将所得金宝缎疋，给赏军士。于图书中检出书信一束，皆许都及军中诸人与绍暗通之书。左右曰：“可逐一点对姓名，收而杀之。”操曰：“当绍之强，孤亦不能自保，况他人乎？”遂命尽焚之，更不再问。 |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
Cao Cao's troops followed hard but could not come up with him. However, they captured all his impedimenta, and they slew some eighty thousands of his army so that the watercourses ran blood and the drowned corpses could not be counted. It was a most complete victory for Cao Cao, and he made over all the spoil to the army. Among the papers of Yuan Shao was found a bundle of letters showing secret correspondence between him and many persons in the capital and army. Cao Cao's personal staff suggested that the names of those concerned should be abstracted and the persons arrested, but their lord said, "Yuan Shao was so strong that even I could not be sure of safety. How much less other people?" So Cao Cao ordered the papers to be burned and nothing more was said. | |
| 29 | 战官渡本... : | 却说袁绍兵败而奔，沮授因被囚禁，急走不脱，为曹军所获，擒见曹操。操素与沮授相识。授见操，大呼曰：“授不降也！”操曰：“本初无谋，不用君言，君何尚执迷耶？吾若早得足下，天下不足虑也。”因厚待之，留于军中。授乃于营中盗马，欲归袁氏。操怒，乃杀之。授至死神色不变。操叹曰：“吾误杀忠义之士也！”命厚礼殡殓，为建坟安葬于黄河渡口，题其墓曰：“忠烈沮君之墓”。后人有诗赞曰： |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
Now when Yuan Shao's soldiers ran away, Ju Shou, being a prisoner, could not get away and was captured. Taken before Cao Cao, who knew him, Ju Shou cried aloud, "I will not surrender!" Said Cao Cao, "Yuan Shao was foolish and neglected your advice: Why still cling to the path of delusion? Had I had you to help me, I should have been sure of the empire." Ju Shou was well treated in the camp, but he stole a horse and tried to get away to Yuan Shao. This angered Cao Cao who recaptured him and put him to death, which he met with brave composure. "I have slain a faithful and righteous man!" then said Cao Cao sadly. And the victim was honorably buried at Guandu. His tomb bore the inscription This is the tomb of Ju Shou the Loyal and Virtuous. | |
| 河北多名士，忠贞推沮君。凝眸知阵法，仰面识天文。至死心如铁，临危气似云。曹公钦义烈，特与建孤坟。 | ||
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Ju Shou was honest and virtuous, The best in Yuan Shao's train, From him the stars no secrets held, In tactics all was plain. For him no terrors had grim death. Too lofty was his spirit, His captor slew him, but his tomb Bears witness to his merit. | ||
| 30 | 战官渡本... : | 操下令攻。正是：势弱只因多算胜，兵强却为寡谋亡。未知胜负如何，且看下文分解。 |
| Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao...: |
Cao Cao now gave orders to attack Jizhou. In feeling over confident, that's where one's weakness lay; The other bettered him by plans which never went astray. The following chapter will tell who won the next campaign. |
URN: ctp:sanguo-yanyi/ch30