Follow us on Facebook to receive important updates Follow us on Twitter to receive important updates Follow us on sina.com's microblogging site to receive important updates Follow us on Douban to receive important updates
Chinese Text Project
Show translation:[None] [English]
-> -> -> Liu Bei Meets A Recluse At Nanzhang; Shan Fu Sees A Noble Lord At Xinye

《玄德南漳逢隱淪,單福新野遇英主 - Liu Bei Meets A Recluse At Nanzhang; Shan Fu Sees A Noble Lord At Xinye》

1 玄德南漳... :
卻說蔡瑁方欲回城,趙雲引軍趕出城來。原來趙雲正飲酒間,忽見人馬動,急入內觀之,席上不見了玄德。雲大驚,出投館舍,聽得人說:「蔡瑁引軍望西趕去了。」雲火急綽槍上馬,引著原帶來三百軍,奔出西門,正迎著蔡瑁,急問曰:「吾主何在?」瑁曰:「使君逃席而去,不知何往。」
Liu Bei Meets A...:
Just as Cai Mao was going into the city, he met Zhao Zilong and his three hundred coming out. It had happened that, while at the banquet, Zhao Zilong had noticed some movement of soldiers and horses and had at once gone to the banquet-hall to see if all was well with his lord. Missing Liu Bei from his place, Zhao Zilong had become anxious and gone to the guest-house. There he heard that Cai Mao had gone off to the west gate with troops. So he quickly took his spear, mounted and went, he and the escort, in hot haste along the same road.
Meeting Cai Mao near the gate, he said, "Where is my lord?"
"He left the banquet-hall quite suddenly, and I know not whither he has gone," was the reply.

2 玄德南漳... :
趙雲是謹細之人,不肯造次,即策馬前行;遙望大溪,別無去路,乃復回馬,喝問蔡瑁曰:「汝請吾主赴宴,何故引著軍馬追來?」瑁曰:「九郡四十二州縣官僚俱在此,吾為上將,豈可不防護?」雲曰:「汝迫吾主何處去了?」瑁曰:「聞使君匹馬出西門,到此卻又不見。」
Liu Bei Meets A...:
Now Zhao Zilong was cautious and careful and had no desire to act hastily, so he urged his horse forward till he came to the river. There he was checked by a torrent without ford or bridge.
At once he turned back and shouted after Cai Mao, "You invited my lord to a feast. What means this going after him with a squadron of horse?"
Cai Mao replied, "It is my duty to guard the officials of forty-two counties who have assembled here, as I am the Chief Commander."
"Whither have you driven my lord?" asked Zhao Zilong.
"They tell me he rode quite alone out through the west gate, but I have not seen him."

3 玄德南漳... :
雲驚疑不定。直來溪邊看時,只見隔岸一帶水跡。雲暗忖曰:「難道連馬跳過了溪去?……」令三百軍四散觀望,並不見蹤跡。雲再回馬時,蔡瑁已入城去了。雲乃拏守門軍士追問,皆說劉使君飛馬出西門而去。雲再欲入城,又恐有埋伏,遂急引軍歸新野。
Liu Bei Meets A...:
Zhao Zilong was anxious and doubtful. Again he rode to the river and looked around. This time he noticed a wet track on the farther side. He thought to himself that it was almost an impossible crossing for a person and a horse, so he ordered his followers to scatter and search. But they also could find no trace of Liu Bei.
Zhao Zilong turned again to the city. By the time he had reached the wall, Cai Mao had gone within. He then questioned the gate wardens, and they all agreed in saying that Liu Bei had ridden out at full gallop. That was all they knew. Fearing to reenter the city lest he should fall into an ambush, Zhao Zilong started for Xinye.

4 玄德南漳... :
卻說玄德躍馬過溪,似醉如癡;想此闊澗一躍而過,豈非天意!」迤邐望南漳策馬而行,日將沈西。正行之間,見一牧童跨於牛背上,口吹短笛而來。玄德歎曰:「吾不如也!」遂立馬觀之。牧童亦停牛罷笛,熟視玄德曰:「將軍莫非破黃巾劉玄德否?」玄德驚問曰:「汝乃村僻小童,何以知吾姓字?」牧童曰:「我本不知;因常侍師父,有客到日,多曾說有一劉玄德,身長七尺五寸,垂手過膝,目能自顧其耳,乃當世之英雄。今觀將軍如此模樣,想必是也。」
Liu Bei Meets A...:
After that marvelous life-saving leap over the Tan Torrent, Liu Bei felt elated but rather dazed.
He could not help telling himself, "My safety is due to an especial interposition of Providence."
Following a tortuous path, he urged his steed toward Nanzhang. But the sun sank to the west and his destination seemed yet a long way off. Then he saw a young cowherd seated on the back of a buffalo and playing on a short flute.
"If I were only as happy!" sighed Liu Bei.
He checked his horse and looked at the lad, who stopped his beast, ceased playing on the pipe, and stared fixedly at the stranger.
"You must be Liu Bei, the general who fought the Yellow Scarves," said the boy presently.
Liu Bei was taken aback.
"How can you know my name, a young rustic like you living in such a secluded place?" said he.
"Of course I do not know you, but my master often has visitors, and they all talk about Liu Bei, the tall man whose hands hang down below his knees and whose eyes are very prominent. They say he is the most famous man of the day. Now you, General, are just such a man as they talk about, and surely you are he."

5 玄德南漳... :
玄德曰:「汝師何人也?」牧童曰:「吾師覆姓司馬,名徽,字德操,潁川人也,道號水鏡先生。」玄德曰:「汝師與誰為友?」小童曰:「與襄陽龐德公、龐統為友。」玄德曰:「龐德公乃龐統何人?」童子曰:「叔姪也。龐德公字山民,長俺師父十歲;龐統字士元,小俺師父五歲。一日,吾師父在樹上採桑,適龐統來相訪,坐於樹下,共相議論,終日不倦。吾師甚愛龐統,呼之為弟。」玄德曰:「汝師今居何處?」牧童遙指曰:「前面林中,便是莊院。」玄德曰:「吾正是劉玄德,汝可引我去拜見你師父。」
Liu Bei Meets A...:
"Well, who is your master?"
"My master's name is Sima Hui. He belongs to Yingchuan and his Daoist appellation is Water Mirror."
"Who are your master's friends that you mentioned?"
"They are Pang Degong and Pang Tong of Xiangyang."
"And who are they?"
"Uncle and nephew. Pang Degong is ten years older than my master; the other is five years younger. One day my master was up in a tree picking mulberries when Pang Tong arrived. They began to talk and kept it up all day, my master did not come down till the evening. My master is very fond of Pang Tong and calls him brother."
"And where does your master live?"
"In that wood there, in front," said the cowherd pointing to it. "There he has a farmstead."
"I really am Liu Bei, and you might lead me to your master that I may salute him."

6 玄德南漳... :
童子便引玄德,行二里餘,到莊前下馬,入至中門,忽聞琴聲甚美,玄德教童子且休通報,側耳聽之,琴聲忽住而不彈。一人笑而出曰:「琴韻清幽,音中忽起高抗之調,必有英雄竊聽。」童子指謂玄德曰:「此即吾師水鏡先生也。」玄德視其人,松形鶴骨,器宇不凡,慌忙進前施禮,衣襟尚濕。水鏡曰:「公今日幸免大難!」玄德驚訝不已。小童曰:「此劉玄德也。」
Liu Bei Meets A...:
The cowherd led the way for about one mile, when Liu Bei found himself in front of a farm house. He dismounted and went to the center door. Suddenly came to his ear the sound of a lute most skillfully played and the air was extremely beautiful. He stopped his guide and would not allow him to announce a visitor, but stood there rapt by the melody.
Suddenly the music ceased.
He heard a deep laugh and a man appeared, saying, "Amidst the clear and subtle sounds of the lute, there suddenly rang out a high note as though some noble man was near."
"That is my master," said the lad pointing.
Liu Bei saw before him a figure slender and straight as a pine tree, a very saint-like being. Hastening forward he saluted. The skirt of his robe was still wet from the river.
"You have escaped from a grave danger today, Sir," said Water Mirror.
Liu Bei was startled into silence, and the cowherd said to his master, "This is Liu Bei."

7 玄德南漳... :
水鏡請入草堂,分賓主坐定。玄德見架上滿堆書卷,窗外盛栽松竹,棋琴於石床之上,清氣飄然。水鏡問曰:「明公何來?」玄德曰:「偶爾經由此地,因小童相指,得拜尊顏,不勝欣幸。」水鏡笑曰:「公不必隱諱,公今必逃難至此。」玄德遂以襄陽一事告之。水鏡曰:「吾觀公氣色,已知之矣。」因問玄德曰:「吾久聞明公大名,何故至今猶落魄不偶耶?」玄德曰:「命途多蹇,所以至此。」水鏡曰:「不然;蓋因將軍左右不得其人耳。」玄德曰:「備雖不才,文有孫乾、糜竺、簡雍之輩,武有關、張、趙雲之流,竭忠輔相,頗賴其力。」水鏡曰:「關、張、趙雲,皆萬人敵,惜無善用之人。若孫乾、糜竺輩,乃白面書生耳,非經綸濟世之才也。」
Liu Bei Meets A...:
Water Mirror asked him to enter; and when they were seated in their relative positions as host and guest, Liu Bei glanced round the room. Upon the bookshelves were piled books and manuscripts. The window opened upon an exquisite picture of pines and bamboos and a lute lay upon a stone couch. The room showed refinement in its last degree.
"Whence come you, Illustrious Sir?" asked the host.
"By chance I was passing this way and the lad pointed you out to me. So I came to bow in your honored presence. I cannot tell what pleasure it gives me."
Water Mirror laughed, saying, "Why this mystery? Why must you conceal the truth? You have certainly just escaped from a grave danger."
Then Liu Bei told the story of the banquet and the flight.
"I knew it all from your appearance," said his host. "Your name has long been familiar, but whence comes it that, up to the present, you are only a homeless devil?"
"I have suffered many a check during my life," said Liu Bei, "and through one of them am I here now."
"It should not be so. But the reason is that you still lack the one person to aid you."
"I am simple enough in myself, I know. But I have Sun Qian, Mi Zhu, and Jian Yong on the civil side, and for warriors I have Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Zilong. These are all most loyal helpers, and I depend upon them not a little."

8 玄德南漳... :
玄德曰:「備亦嘗側身以求山谷之遺賢,奈未遇其人何!」水鏡曰:「豈不聞孔子云:『十室之邑,必有忠信。』何謂無人?」玄德曰:「備愚昧不識,願求指教。」水鏡曰:「公聞荊、襄諸郡小兒之謠乎?其謠曰:『八九年間始欲衰,至十三年無孑遺。到頭天命有所歸,泥中蟠龍向天飛。』此謠始於建安初。建安八年,劉景升喪卻前妻,便生家亂,此所謂『始欲衰』也;『無孑遺』者,謂景升將逝,文武零落無孑遺矣;『天命有歸』,『龍向天飛』,蓋應在將軍也。」
Liu Bei Meets A...:
"Your fighting generals are good: Fit to oppose a legion. The pity is you have no really able adviser. Your civilians are but pallid students of books, not people fitted to weave and control destiny."
"I have always yearned to find one of those marvelous recluses who live among the hills till their day arrive. So far I have sought in vain."
"You know what the Teacher Confucius said, 'In a hamlet of ten households there must be one true person.' Can you say there is no one?"
"I am simple and uninstructed. I pray you enlighten me."
"You have heard what the street children sing:
"In eight and nine years begins decay,
Four years, then comes the fateful day,
When destiny will show the way,
And the dragon flies out of the mire!
"This song was first heard when the new reign style was adopted. The first line was fulfilled when Imperial Protector Liu Biao lost his first wife, and when his family troubles began. The next line relates to the approaching death of Liu Biao, and there is not a single person among all his crowd of officers who has the least ability. The last two lines will be fulfilled in you, General."

9 玄德南漳... :
玄德聞言驚謝曰:「備安敢當此!」水鏡曰:「今天下之奇才,盡在於此,公當往求之。」玄德急問曰:「奇才安在?果係何人?」水鏡曰:「伏龍、鳳雛,兩人得一,可安天下。」玄德曰:「伏龍、鳳雛,何人也?」水鏡撫掌大笑曰:「好!好!」玄德再問時,水鏡曰:「天色已晚,將軍可於此暫宿一宵,明日當言之。」即命小童具飲饌相待,馬牽入後院喂養。
Liu Bei Meets A...:
Liu Bei started up in surprise, crying, "How could such a thing be?"
Water Mirror continued, "At this moment the marvelously clever people of the earth are all here and you, Sir, ought to seek them."
"Where are they? Who are they?" said Liu Bei quickly.
"If you could find either Sleeping Dragon or Young Phoenix, you could restore order in the empire."
"But who are these two?"
His host clapped his hands, smiled and said, "Good, very good!"
When Liu Bei persisted and pressed home his questions, Water Mirror said, "It is getting late. You might stay the night here, General, and we will talk over these things tomorrow."
He called to a lad to bring wine and food for his guest and his horse was taken to the stable and fed.

10 玄德南漳... :
玄德飲膳畢,即宿於草堂之側。玄德因思水鏡之言,寢不成寐。約至更深,忽聽一人叩門而入,水鏡曰:「元直何來?」玄德起床密聽之,聞其人答曰:「久聞劉景升善善惡惡,特往謁之。及至相見,徒有虛名,蓋善善而不能用,惡惡而不能去者也。故遺書別之,而來至此。」水鏡曰:「公懷王佐之才,宜擇人而事,奈何輕身往見景升乎?且英雄豪傑,只在眼前,公自不識耳。」其人曰:「先生之言是也。」
Liu Bei Meets A...:
After Liu Bei had eaten, he was shown to a chamber opening off the main room and went to bed. But the words of his host would not be banished, and he lay there only dozing till far into the night.
Suddenly he became fully awake at the sound of a knock at the door and a person entering. And he heard his host say, "Where are you from?"
Liu Bei rose from his couch and listened secretly.
He heard the visitor reply, "It has long been said that Liu Biao treated good people and bad people as they each should be treated. So I went to see for myself. But that reputation is undeserved. He does treat good people correctly but he cannot use them, and he treats wicked people in the right way, all but dismissing them. So I left a letter for him and went away. And here I am."
Water Mirror replied, "You, capable enough to be the adviser of a king, ought to be able to find someone fit to serve. Why did you cheapen yourself so far as to go to Liu Biao? Beside, there is a real hero right under your eyes and you do not know him."
"It is just as you say," replied the stranger.

11 玄德南漳... :
玄德聞之大喜,暗忖此人必是伏龍、鳳雛,即欲出見,又恐造次。候至天曉,玄德求見水鏡,問曰:「昨夜來者是誰?」水鏡曰:「此吾友也。」玄德求與相見。水鏡曰:「此人欲往投明主,已到他處去了。」玄德請問其姓名。水鏡笑曰:「好!好!」玄德再問:「伏龍、鳳雛,果係何人?」水鏡亦只笑曰:「好!好!」玄德拜請水鏡出山相助,同扶漢室。水鏡曰:「山野閒散之人,不堪世用。自有勝吾十倍者來助公,公宜訪之。」
Liu Bei Meets A...:
Liu Bei listened with great joy for he thought this visitor was certainly one of the two he was advised to look for. Liu Bei would have shown himself then and there, but he thought that would look strange. So he waited till daylight, when he sought out his host.
"Who was it came last night?" said Liu Bei.
"A friend of mine," was the reply.
Liu Bei begged for an introduction. Water Mirror said, "He wants to find an enlightened master, and so he has gone elsewhere."
When Liu Bei asked his name, his host only replied, "Good, good!"
And when Liu Bei asked who they were who went by the names of Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix, he only elicited the same reply.
Liu Bei then, bowing low before his host, begged him to leave the hills and help him to bring about the restoration of the ruling house to its prerogatives.
But Water Mirror replied, "People of the hills and woods are unequal to such a task. However, there must be many far abler than I who will help you if you seek them."

12 玄德南漳... :
正談論間,忽聞莊外人喊馬嘶,小童來報:「有一將軍,引數百人到莊來也。」玄德大驚,急出視之,乃趙雲也。玄德大喜。雲下馬入見曰:「某夜來回縣,尋不見主公,連夜跟問到此,主公作速回縣。只恐有人來縣中廝殺。」玄德辭了水鏡,與趙雲上馬,投新野來。行不數里,一彪人馬來到,視之,乃雲長、翼德也,相見大喜。玄德訴說躍馬檀溪之事,共相嗟訝。到縣中,與孫乾等商議。乾曰:「可先致書於景升,訴告此事。」
Liu Bei Meets A...:
While they were talking, they heard outside the farm the shouts of troops and neighing of horses, and a servant came in to say that a general with a large company of soldiers had arrived. Liu Bei went out hastily to see who these were and found Zhao Zilong. He was much relieved, and Zhao Zilong dismounted and entered the house.
"Last night, on my return to Xinye," said Zhao Zilong, "I could not find you, my lord, so I followed at once and traced you here. I pray you return quickly, as I fear an attack on the city."
So Liu Bei took leave of his host, and the whole company returned to Xinye. Before they had gone far another army appeared, and, when they had come nearer, they saw Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. They met with great joy, and Liu Bei told them of the wonderful leap his horse had made over the torrent. All expressed surprise and pleasure.
As soon as they reached the city, a council was called and Zhao Zilong said, "You ought first of all to indite a letter to Liu Biao telling him all these things."

13 玄德南漳... :
玄德從其言,即令孫乾齎書至荊州。劉表喚入問曰:「吾請玄德襄陽赴會,緣何逃席而去?」孫乾呈上書札,具言蔡瑁設謀相害,賴躍馬檀溪得脫。表大怒,急喚蔡瑁責罵曰:「汝焉敢害吾弟!」命推出斬之。蔡夫人出,哭求免死,表怒猶未息。孫乾告曰:「若殺蔡瑁,恐皇叔不能安居於此矣。」表乃責而釋之,使長子劉琦同孫乾至玄德處請罪。
Liu Bei Meets A...:
The letter was prepared and Sun Qian bore it to the seat of government in Jingzhou City. He was received, and Liu Biao at once asked the reason of Liu Bei hasty flight from the festival. Whereupon the letter was presented, and the bearer related the machinations of Cai Mao and told of the escape and the amazing leap over the Tan Torrent.
Liu Biao was very angry, sent for Cai Mao, and berated him soundly, saying, "How dare you try to hurt my brother?"
And he ordered Cai Mao out to execution.
Liu Biao's wife, Cai Mao's sister, prayed for a remission of the death penalty, but Liu Biao refused to be appeased.
Then spoke Sun Qian, saying, "If you put Cai Mao to death, I fear Uncle Liu Bei will be unable to remain here."
Then Cai Mao was reprieved, but dismissed with a severe reprimand.
Liu Biao sent his elder son Liu Qi back with Sun Qian to apologize.

14 玄德南漳... :
琦奉命赴新野,玄德接著,設宴相待。酒酣,琦忽然墮淚。玄德問其故。琦曰:「繼母蔡氏,常懷謀害之心;姪無計免禍,幸叔父指教。」玄德勸以「小心盡孝,自然無禍。」
Liu Bei Meets A...:
When Liu Qi reached Xinye, Liu Bei welcomed him and gave a banquet in his honor.
After some little drinking, the chief guest suddenly began to weep and presently said, "My step mother, Lady Cai, always cherishes a wish to put me out of the way, and I do not know how to avoid her anger. Could you advise me, Uncle?"
Liu Bei exhorted him to be careful and perfectly filial and nothing could happen.

15 玄德南漳... :
次日,琦泣別。玄德乘馬送琦出郭,因指馬謂琦曰:「若非此馬,吾已為泉下之人矣。」琦曰:「此非馬之力,乃叔父之洪福也。」說罷,相別。劉琦涕泣而去。玄德回馬入城,忽見市上一人,葛巾布袍,皂縧烏履,長歌而來。歌曰:
Liu Bei Meets A...:
Soon after, the young man took his leave and wept at parting.
Liu Bei escorted Liu Qi well on his way and, pointing to his steed, said, "I owe my life to this horse. Had it not been for him, I had been already below the Nine Golden Springs."
"It was not the strength of the horse, but your noble fortune, Uncle."
They parted, the young man weeping bitterly. On reentering the city, Liu Bei met a person in the street wearing a hempen turban, a cotton robe confined by a black girdle, and black shoes. He came along singing a song:
天地反覆兮,火欲殂;大廈將崩兮,一木難扶。山谷有賢兮,欲投明主;明主求賢兮,卻不知吾。
"The universe is rived, O!
Now nears the end of all.
The noble mansion quakes, O! What beam can stay the fall?
A wise one waits his lord, O! But hidden in the glen,
The seeker knows not him, O! Nor me, of common humans."

16 玄德南漳... :
玄德聞歌,暗思:「此人莫非水鏡所言伏龍、鳳雛乎?」遂下馬相見,邀入縣衙,問其姓名。答曰:「某乃潁上人也,姓單,名福。久聞使君納士招賢,欲來投託,未敢輒造;故行歌於市,以動尊聽耳。」
Liu Bei Meets A...:
Liu Bei listened.
"Surely this is one of the people Water Mirror spoke of," thought he.
He dismounted, spoke to the singer, and invited him into his residence. Then when they were seated, he asked the stranger's name.
"I am from Yingchuan, and my name is Shan Fu. I have known you by repute for a long time, and they said you appreciated humans of ability. I wanted to come to you but every way of getting an introduction seemed closed. So I bethought me of attracting your notice by singing that song in the market place."

17 玄德南漳... :
玄德大喜,待為上賓。單福曰:「適使君所乘之馬,再乞一觀。」玄德命去鞍牽於堂下。單福曰:「此非的盧馬乎?雖是千里馬,卻要妨主,不可乘也。」玄德曰:「已應之矣。」遂具言躍檀溪之事。福曰:「此乃救主,非妨主也;終必妨一主,某有一法可禳。」玄德曰:「願聞禳法。」福曰:「公意中有仇怨之人,可將此馬賜之;待妨過了此人,然後乘之,自然無事。」
Liu Bei Meets A...:
Liu Bei thought he had found a treasure and treated the newcomer with the greatest kindness. Then Shan Fu spoke of the horse that he had seen Liu Bei riding and asked to look at it. So the animal was brought round.
"Is not this a Dilu horse?" said Shan Fu. "But though it is a good steed, it risks his master. You must not ride it."
"It has already fulfilled the omens," said Liu Bei, and he related the story of the leap over the Tan Torrent.
"But that was saving his master, not risking him. It will surely harm someone in the end. But I can tell you how to avert the omen."
"I should be glad to hear it," said Liu Bei.
"If you have an enemy against whom you bear a grudge, give him this horse and wait till it has fulfilled the evil omens on this person, then you can ride it in safety."

18 玄德南漳... :
玄德聞言變色曰:「公初至此,不教吾以正道,便教作利己妨人之事,備不敢聞教。」福笑謝曰:「向聞使君仁德,未敢便信,故以此言相試耳。」玄德亦改容起謝曰:「備安能有仁德及人,惟先生教之。」福曰:「吾自潁上來此,聞新野之人歌曰:『新野牧,劉皇叔,自到此,民豐足。』可見使君之仁德及人也。」玄德乃拜單福為軍師,調練本部人馬。
Liu Bei Meets A...:
Liu Bei changed color.
"What, Sir! You are but a new acquaintance, and you would advise me to take an evil course and to harm another for my own advantage? No, Sir! I cannot listen."
His guest smiled, saying, "People said you were virtuous. I could not ask you directly, so I put it that way to test you."
Liu Bei's expression changed. He rose and returned the compliment, saying, "But how can I be virtuous while I lack your teaching?"
"When I arrived here, I heard the people saying:
"Since Liu Bei came here, O blessed day!
We've had good luck, long may he stay!
"So you see, the effects of your virtue extend to the ordinary people." Thereupon Shan Fu was made Commanding Adviser of the army.

19 玄德南漳... :
卻說曹操自冀州回許都,常有取荊州之意,特差曹仁、李典並降將呂曠、呂翔等領兵三萬,屯樊城,虎視荊、襄,就探看虛實。時呂曠、呂翔稟曹仁曰:「今劉備屯兵新野,招軍買馬,積草儲糧,其志不小,不可不早圖之。吾二人自降丞相之後,未有寸功;願請精兵五千,取劉備之頭,以獻丞相。」
Liu Bei Meets A...:
The one idea that held Cao Cao after his return from Jizhou was the capture of Jingzhou. He sent Cao Ren and Li Dian, with the two brothers Lu Xiang and Lu Kuang who had surrendered, to camp at Fancheng with thirty thousand troops and so threaten Jingzhou and Xiangyang. Thence he sent spies to find out the weak points.
Then the two Lu Xiang and Lu Kuang petitioned Cao Ren, saying, "Liu Bei is strengthening his position at Xinye and laying in large supplies. Some great scheme is afoot, and he should be checked. Since our surrender we have performed no noteworthy service and, if you will give us five thousand soldiers, we promise to bring you the head of Liu Bei."

20 玄德南漳... :
曹仁大喜,與二呂兵五千,前往新野廝殺。探馬飛報玄德。玄德請單福商議。福曰:「既有敵兵,不可令其入境。可使關公引一軍從左而出,以敵來軍中路;張飛引一軍從右而出,以敵來軍後路;公自引趙雲出兵前路相迎,敵可破矣。」
Liu Bei Meets A...:
Cao Ren was only too glad, and the expedition set out. The scouts reported this to Liu Bei who turned to Shan Fu for advice.
Shan Fu said, "They must not be permitted to cross the boundary. Send Guan Yu and Zhang Fei left and right, each with one thousand troops, one to attack the enemy on the march, the other to cut off the retreat. You and Zhao Zilong will make a front attack."

21 玄德南漳... :
玄德從其言,即差關、張二人去訖;然後與單福、趙雲等,共引二千人馬出關相迎。行不數里,只見山後塵頭大起,呂曠、呂翔引軍來到。兩邊各射住陣角。玄德出馬於旗門下,大呼曰:「來者何人?敢犯吾境!」呂曠出馬曰:「吾乃大將呂曠也。奉丞相命,特來擒汝!」玄德大怒,使趙雲出馬。二將交戰,不數合,趙雲一槍刺呂曠於馬下。玄德麾軍掩殺,呂翔抵敵不住,引軍便走。
Liu Bei Meets A...:
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei started, and then Liu Bei went out at the gate with two thousand troops to oppose the enemy. Before they had gone far they saw a great cloud of dust behind the hills. This marked the approach of the Lu brothers. Presently, both sides being arrayed, Liu Bei rode out and stood by his standard.
He called out, "Who are you who thus would encroach on my territory?"
"I am the great General Lu Kuang, and I have the order of the Prime Minister to make you prisoner!" said the leader.
Liu Bei ordered Zhao Zilong to go out, and the two generals engaged. Very soon Zhao Zilong with a spear thrust had disposed of his opponent, and Liu Bei gave the signal to attack. Lu Xiang could not maintain his position and led his troops off.

22 玄德南漳... :
正行間,路傍一軍突出,為首大將,乃關雲長也。衝殺一陣。呂翔折兵大半,奪路走脫。行不到十里,又一軍攔住去路。為首大將,挺矛大叫:「張翼德在此!」直取呂翔,翔措手不及,被張飛一矛刺中,翻身落馬而死。餘眾四散奔走。玄德合軍追趕,大半多被擒獲。玄德班師回縣,重待單福,犒賞三軍。
Liu Bei Meets A...:
Soon his force found themselves attacked by an army rushing in from the side led by Guan Yu. The loss was more than a half, and the remainder fled for safety.
About three miles farther on they found their retreat barred by an army under Zhang Fei, who stood in the way with a long spear ready to thrust, crying out, "Zhang Fei is waiting!"
Zhang Fei bore down upon Lu Xiang, who was slain without a chance of striking a blow. The troops again fled in disorder. They were pursued by Liu Bei, and the greater part killed or captured.
Then Liu Bei returned into Xinye where he rewarded Shan Fu and feasted his victorious soldiers.

23 玄德南漳... :
卻說敗軍回見曹仁,報說二呂被殺,軍士多被活捉。曹仁大驚,與李典商議。典曰:「二將欺敵而亡,今只宜按兵不動,申報丞相,起大兵來征剿,乃為上策。」仁曰:「不然。今二將陣亡,又折許多兵馬,此仇不可不急報。量新野彈丸之地,何勞丞相大軍?」典曰:「劉備人傑也,不可輕視。」仁曰:「公何怯也?」典曰:「兵法云:『知彼知己,百戰百勝,』某非怯戰,但恐不能必勝耳。」仁怒曰:「公懷二心耶?吾必欲生擒劉備!」典曰:「將軍若去,某守樊城。」仁曰:「汝若不同去,真懷二心矣。」典不得已,只得與曹仁點起二萬五千軍馬,渡河投新野而來。正是:偏裨既有輿尸辱,主將重興雪恥兵。未知勝負何如,且看下文分解。
Liu Bei Meets A...:
Some of the defeated troops took the news of the deaths of the leaders and the capture of their comrades to Cao Ren at Fancheng.
Cao Ren, much distressed, consulted Li Dian who advised, saying, "The loss is due to our underestimation of our enemy. Now we should stay where we are, hold on, and request reinforcements."
"Not so," said Cao Ren. "We cannot support calmly the death of two leaders and the loss of so many soldiers. We must avenge them quickly. Xinye is but a crossbow-slug of a place and not worth disturbing the Prime Minister for."
"Liu Bei is a man of metal," said Li Dian. "Do not esteem him lightly."
"What are you afraid of?" said Cao Ren.
"The Rule of War says 'To know your enemy and yourself is the secret of victory,'" replied Li Dian. "I am not afraid of the battle, but I do not think we can conquer."
"You are a traitor!" cried Cao Ren angrily. "Then I will capture Liu Bei myself."
"Do so. I will guard this city," said Li Dian.
"If you do not go with me, it is a proof that you are a traitor," retorted Cao Ren.
At this reproach, Li Dian felt constrained to join the expedition. So they told off twenty five thousand troops with which they crossed the River Yu for Xinye.
The officers all keenly felt the shame of many slain,
The chief determines on revenge and marches out again.
What measure of success the expedition met with will be related in the next chapter.

URN: ctp:sanguo-yanyi/ch35