Romance of the Three Kingdoms/Chapter 5

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Chapter Five: A forged imperial edict is issued: all towns respond to Lord Cao; Breaking through the soldiers at the pass: the three heroes (Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei) battle Lü Bu.

Three heroes (Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei) battle Lü Bu

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第五回	Chapter Five
發矯詔諸鎮應曹公     破關兵三英戰呂布	A forged imperial edict is issued: all towns respond to Lord Cao; Breaking through the soldiers at the pass:  three heroes battle Lü Bu.
卻說陳宮正欲下手殺曹操，忽轉念曰：「我為國家跟他到此，殺之不義。不若棄而他往。」插劍上馬，不等天明，自投東郡去了。操覺，不見陳宮，尋思：「此人見我說了這兩句，疑我不仁，棄我而去；吾當急行，不可久留。」遂連夜到陳留，尋見父親，備說前事；欲散家資，招募義兵。父言：「資少恐不成事。此間有孝廉衛弘，疏財仗義，其家巨富。若得相助，事可圖矣。」	Let us now turn to Chen Gong, who was about to kill Cao Cao; he suddenly had a change of heart, thinking, "I followed him to this place for the sake of the country; killing him would be immoral. It would be better if I just left him here, and went somewhere else." He returned his straight sword to its scabbard, and mounted his horse. Not waiting until daylight, he headed to Dong Commandery by himself. When Cao awoke, he did not see Chen Gong, and thought, "This guy heard me say a couple of things, suspected me of being inhumane, and left me here. I should go at once; I cannot stay for long." He then went to Chenliu that same evening, looked for his father, and told him the whole story. He wanted to use his family's financial resources to enlist conscript soldiers. His father said, "We have limited means, and I'm afraid that we will not succeed. There is a local government official who received his post based on his record of filial piety and honesty, whose name is Wei Hong. He has shown a willingness to disperse money in order to uphold justice, and his family is super wealthy. If we can get him to help out, we could make it work."

2

操置酒張筵，拜請衛弘到家，告曰：「今漢室無主，董卓專權，欺君害民，天下切齒。操欲力扶社稷，恨力不足。公乃忠義之士，敢求相助。」衛弘曰：「吾有是心久矣，恨未遇英雄耳。既孟德有大志，願將家資相助。」操大喜；於是先發矯詔，馳報各道，然後招集義兵，豎起招兵白旗一面，上書「忠義」二字。不數日間，應募之士，如雨駢集。

Cao arranged for a banquet, and then invited Wei Hong to his house. He told him, "Today, the House of Han is without a ruler and Dong Zhuo has seized power. He is committing fraud against the emperor and causing harm to the people; everyone in the nation is gnashing their teeth in frustration. I would like to use my strength to help the country, but I regret that my strength alone is insufficient. You are a loyal servant of the empire; I boldly ask for your help." Wei Hong said, "I have been of this mind for quite some time, but regret that I have not yet found any heroes. If you are really determined, Mengde, I am willing to help out by making my family's financial resources available to you." Cao was overjoyed; he then issued a forged imperial edict, which was carried at top speed along every byway. Later, when he was gathering conscript soldiers, he planted a white recruitment banner with the words "loyalty to the empire" written on it. After not more than a few days, he had raised a massive volunteer army. They were lined up side by side, each man like a tiny drop of rain in a great storm.

3

一日，有一個陽平衛國人，姓樂，名進，字文謙，來投曹操。又有一個山陽鉅野人，姓李，名典，字曼成，也來投曹操。操皆留為帳前吏。又有沛國譙人，夏侯惇，字元讓，乃夏侯嬰之後；自小習鎗棒；年十四從師習武，有人辱罵其師，惇殺之，逃於外方；聞知曹操起兵，與其族弟夏侯淵，兩個各引壯士千人來會。此二人本操之弟兄。操父曹嵩原是夏侯氏之子，過房與曹家，因此是同族。

One day, a man from the Kingdom of Wei in  Yangping offered his service to Cao Cao; his surname was Yue, his given name was Jin, and his style name was  Wenqian. Another man, from Juye in  Shanyang, also offered his service to Cao Cao; his surname was Li, his given name was Dian, and his style name was  Mancheng. Cao kept them both as field generals. There was also a man from Qiao in the State of Pei; his name was Xiahou Dun, and his style name was  Yuanrang; he was a descendant of Xiahou Ying. He had trained with the spear and staff since he was little. When he was fourteen, he found a teacher, and began his formal training in the military arts. A person had insulted his teacher, so Dun killed him and fled the area. When he heard that Cao Cao was raising an army, he and his younger kinsman, Xiahou Yuan, each came with one thousand fierce warriors. These two men were originally kinsmen of Cao's. Cao's father Cao Song was originally a son of the Xiahou clan, adopted into the Cao family; because of this, they were kinsmen.

4

不數日，曹氏兄弟曹仁、曹洪，各引兵千餘來助。曹仁字子孝，曹洪字子廉。二人兵馬嫻熟，武藝精通。操大喜，於村中操練軍馬。衛弘盡出家財，置辦衣甲旗旛。四方送糧者，不計其數。

After not more than a few days, two other members of the Cao family, Cao Ren and Cao Hong, lent their assistance by each leading more than a thousand troops. Cao Ren's style name was  Zixiao, and Cao Hong's style name was  Zilian. The two of them were highly skilled in warfare, and proficient in all of the military arts. Cao was overjoyed, and began training the soldiers and cavalry right there within the village. Wei Hong used a considerable amount of his family's financial resources to purchase body armor and banners. Provisions came from all over, in numbers too great to count.

5

時袁紹得操矯詔，乃聚麾下文武，引兵三萬，離渤海來與曹操會盟。操作檄文以達諸郡。檄文曰：

When Yuan Shao obtained the forged imperial edict, he gathered everyone under his command, both military and civilian alike. He led a total of 30,000 soldiers from Bohai to meet up with Cao Cao and form an alliance. Cao drafted an official call to arms, which was to be sent to all of the commanderies. The call to arms read:

6

操等謹以大義布告天下：董卓欺天罔地，滅國弒君；穢亂宮禁，殘害生靈；狼戾不仁，罪惡充積！今奉天子密詔，大集義兵，誓欲掃清華夏，剿戮群凶。望興義師，共洩公憤；扶持王室，拯救黎民。檄文到日，可速奉行。

Cao and his associates, solely in the interest of justice, do hereby declare before all under heaven: Dong Zhuo has deceived the gods of heaven and earth, destroyed our nation and murdered our emperor; he has defiled the palace, and caused harm to the citizenry; he is as savage as a wolf, and inhumane as well; his crimes have piled up! Today, we abide by a secret decree from the emperor. We have conscripted a large army, and pledge to rid the land of Huaxia of this evil; we shall exterminate this pack of murderers. We have raised an army which seeks to uphold justice, and give vent to the public's outrage. We shall support the imperial household, and save the common people. This official call to arms is effective immediately upon receipt.

7

操發檄文去後，各鎮諸侯，皆起兵相應：

Once Cao issued the official call to arms, the nobles from each of the garrisons all raised armies in response:

8

第一鎮，後將軍南陽太守袁術。第二鎮，冀州刺史韓馥。第三鎮，豫州刺史孔伷。第四鎮，兗州刺史劉岱。第五鎮，河內郡太守王匡。第六鎮，陳留太守張邈。第七鎮，東郡太守喬瑁。第八鎮，山陽太守袁遺。第九鎮，濟北相鮑信。第十鎮，北海太守孔融。第十一鎮，廣陵太守張超。第十二鎮，徐州刺史陶謙。第十三鎮，西涼太守馬騰。第十四鎮，北平太守公孫瓚。第十五鎮，上黨太守張楊。第十六鎮，烏程侯長沙太守孫堅。第十七鎮，祁鄉侯渤海太守袁紹。

1st garrison: Yuan Shu, governor of Nanyang Commandery, General of the Rear. 2nd garrison: Han Fu, governor of Jizhou Province. 3rd garrison: Kong Zhou, governor of Yuzhou Province. 4th garrison: Liu Dai, governor of Yanzhou Province. 5th garrison: Wang Kuang, governor of Henei Commandery. 6th garrison: Zhang Miao, governor of Chenliu Commandery. 7th garrison: Qiao Mao, governor of Dong Commandery. 8th garrison: Yuan Yi, governor of Shanyang Commandery. 9th garrison: Bao Xin, chief minister of the Kingdom of Jibei. 10th garrison: Kong Rong, governor of Beihai Commandery. 11th garrison: Zhang Chao, governor of Guangling Commandery. 12th garrison: Tao Qian, governor of Xuzhou Province. 13th garrison: Ma Teng, governor of Xiliang Commandery. 14th garrison: Gongsun Zan, governor of Beiping Commandery. 15th garrison: Zhang Yang, governor of Shangdang Commandery. 16th garrison: Sun Jian, governor of Changsha Commandery, Marquis of Wucheng. 17th garrison: Yuan Shao, governor of Bohai Commandery, Marquis of Qixiang.

9

諸路軍馬，多少不等，有三萬者，有一二萬者，各領文官武將，投洛陽來。

All of these forces, which varied in size from thirty thousand to ten or twenty thousand, and which were led by either civil officials or military generals, converged on Luoyang.

10

且說北平太守公孫瓚，統領精兵一萬五千，路經德州平原縣。正行之間，遙見桑樹叢中，一面黃旗，數騎來迎。瓚視之，乃劉玄德也。瓚問曰：「賢弟何故在此？」玄德曰：「舊日蒙兄保備為平原縣令，今聞大軍過此，特來奉候，就請兄長入城歇馬。」瓚指關、張而問曰：「此何人也？」玄德曰：「此關羽、張飛，備結義兄弟也。」瓚曰：「乃同破黃巾者乎？」玄德曰：「皆此二人之力。」瓚曰：「今居何職？」玄德答曰：「關羽為馬弓手，張飛為步弓手。」瓚歎曰：「如此可謂埋沒英雄！今董卓作亂，天下諸侯，共往誅之。賢弟可棄此卑官，一同討賊，力扶漢室，若何？」玄德曰：「願往。」張飛曰：「當時若容我殺了此賊，免有今日之事。」雲長曰：「事已至此，即當收拾前去。」

Let us now turn to Gongsun Zan, governor of Beiping Commandery, who was leading an army of fifteen thousand elite troops past Pingyuan County in Dezhou. While they were on the move, they spotted  yellow banners near a clump of mulberry trees; it was a group of men approaching on horseback. Zan saw that it was Liu Xuande. Zan asked, "It is my junior colleague, why are you here?" Xuande replied, "A while back, you saw to it that I was made governor of Pingyuan County; when I heard that a large army was passing by here, I came out especially to await your arrival so that I could invite my benefactor to come into town and rest his horses." Zan pointed to Guan and Zhang, and asked, "Who are these two?" Xuande said, "This is Guan Yu and this is Zhang Fei; they are my sworn brothers." Zan said, "Are these the same men who crushed the Yellow Turbans?" Xuande said, "It was all thanks to the efforts of these two men." Zan said, "What posts they now hold?" Xuande replied, "Guan Yu is a cavalry archer, and Zhang Fei is an infantry archer." Zan sighed, saying, "If that is the case, one might say that these two heroes have been neglected! Dong Zhuo is now causing unrest, and all of the nobles are on their way to take him down. You should abandon this lowly post, come with me to punish this rebel bandit, and help the House of Han; what do you think?" Xuande said, "I would like to go." Zhang Fei said, "If you had let me kill that scoundrel the last time, this wouldn't have happened." Yunchang said, "What's done is done; we should gather up our things and go."

11

玄德、關、張，引數騎跟公孫瓚來。曹操接著，眾諸侯亦陸續皆至，各自安營下寨，連接二百餘里。操乃宰牛殺馬，大會諸侯，商議進兵之策。太守王匡曰：「今奉大義，必立盟主；眾聽約束，然後進兵。」操曰：「袁本初四世三公，門多故吏，漢朝名相之裔，可為盟主。」紹再三推辭。眾皆曰：「非本初不可。」紹方應允。次日築臺三層，遍列五方旗幟，上建白旄黃鉞，兵符將印，請紹登壇。紹整衣佩劍，慨然而上，焚香再拜。其盟曰：

Xuande, Guan and Zhang led a number of people on horseback, and followed behind Gongsun Zan. Cao Cao welcomed them as a steady stream of nobles were also arriving. Each army set up their own camp, in a string of camps that stretched more than  200 li. Cao slaughtered a bull and a horse, then convened all of the nobles to discuss plans for a military advance. Commandery governor Wang Kuang said, "Today, we come together for the sake of justice. We must decide on a leader for our alliance, and everyone must abide by that decision, before we can advance our armies." Cao said, "Members of Yuan Benchu's family have occupied the highest positions within the government for four generations, and he has a lot of students and former subordinates. He is the descendent of a famous chancellor of the Han Dynasty; he should be the leader of our alliance." Shao repeatedly declined the offer. Only after everyone said, "It can be none other than Benchu." did Shao finally agree to do it. The following day, a three-level platform was erected. The banners of the five directions were placed in rows along each side; a white banner, with a yak tail on top of its pole, and a gilded battle-ax were both placed on the platform. Military papers and the seal of a military general were placed on the platform as well. Shao was asked to ascend the platform. Shao straightened his clothes, put on his straight sword, and solemnly climbed up. He burned incense and performed the ritual obeisance. The creed of the alliance read:

12

漢室不幸，皇綱失統。賊臣董卓，乘釁縱害，禍加至尊，虐流百姓。紹等懼社稷淪喪，糾合義兵，並赴國難。凡我同盟，齊心戮力，以致臣節，必無二志。有渝此盟，俾墜其命，無克遺育。皇天后土，祖宗明靈，實皆鑒之。

The House of Han has encountered misfortune, and the system of imperial rule has been corrupted. The traitor Dong Zhuo has seized the opportunity to wantonly cause destruction, bring disaster to the emperor, and inflict cruelty upon the people. Shao and his associates, fearing that the nation will be lost, have assembled conscript soldiers in order to deal with this national calamity. All who enter into our alliance shall work with one purpose, maintain the moral integrity of a court official, and shall not have second thoughts. Anyone who violates this alliance shall be put to death, and shall not be allowed to have descendants. The gods of heaven and earth, and the ancestral spirits, shall all bear witness to the above.

13

讀畢，歃血。眾因其辭氣慷慨，皆涕泗橫流。歃血已罷，下壇。眾扶紹升帳而坐，兩行依爵位年齒，分列坐定。操行酒數巡，言曰：「今既立盟主，各聽調遣，同扶國家，勿以強弱計較。」袁紹曰：「紹雖不才，既承公等推為盟主，有功必賞，有罪必罰。國有常刑，軍有紀律；各宜遵守，勿得違犯。」眾皆曰：「惟命是聽。」紹曰：「吾弟袁術總督糧草，應付諸營，無使有缺。更須一人為先鋒，直抵汜水關挑戰。餘各據險要，以為接應。」

After they finished reading the creed, they smeared their mouths with blood. Because of the impassioned tone of the wording, they were all weeping uncontrollably. Having smeared their mouths with blood, they now came down from the raised platform. They all escorted Shao into the planning tent. They separated into two rows and took their seats according to noble rank, official position and age. Cao made several toasts, then said, "Now that we have a leader for our alliance, each must proceed to where they are assigned; we must all help out our nation, regardless of whether we are strong or weak." Yuan Shao said, "I am not a talented man. However, I have been nominated to be the leader of this alliance. Therefore, those among us who meet with success shall be rewarded; those among us who commit an offense shall be punished. Our country has its penal system, and our army has its system of discipline. Each of you should abide by the two; we must not permit infractions." Everyone said, "We swear on our lives that we will not fail you." Shao said, "My younger brother Yuan Shu shall oversee provisions. He will deal with all of the camps and make sure that there are no shortages. More importantly, we need someone to take point, proceed directly to Sishui Pass, and pick a fight. The rest of you shall each take up a position in a strategic location, so that you can respond to the enemy's advance."

14

長沙太守孫堅出曰：「堅願為前部。」紹曰：「文臺勇烈，可當此任。」堅遂引本部人馬殺奔汜水關來。守關將士，差流星馬往洛陽丞相府告急。董卓自專大權之後，每日飲宴。李儒接得告急文書，逕來稟卓。卓大驚，急聚眾將商議。溫侯呂布挺身出曰：「父親勿慮。關外諸侯，布視之如草芥。願提虎狼之師，盡斬其首，懸於都門。」卓大喜曰：「吾有奉先，高枕無憂矣！」

Sun Jian, governor of Changsha Commandery, said, "I would like to be in the advance force." Shao said, "You are brave and fierce, Wentai; you may have this mission." Jian then led the main force toward Sishui Pass. The soldiers who were guarding the pass sent someone on a fast horse to the chancellor's residence in Luoyang to report the emergency. Dong Zhuo had been throwing lavish banquets everyday since assuming power. After receiving the emergency communiqué, Li Ru went straight to Zhuo and gave him the letter. Zhuo was shocked, and immediately convened all of his generals to discuss the matter. Marquis of Wen Lü Bu stood up and said, "Don't worry father. The nobles beyond the pass are as insignificant as mustard seeds. I would like to have my division of crack troops chop off each of their heads, and hang them on the gates of the capital." Zhuo was overjoyed, saying, "I have Fengxian, so I can rest easy!"

15

言未絕，呂布背後一人，高聲出曰：「『割雞焉用牛刀？』不勞溫侯親往。吾斬眾諸侯首級，如探囊取物耳。」卓視之，其人身長九尺，虎體狼腰，豹頭猿臂；關西人也；姓華，名雄。卓聞言大喜，加為驍騎校尉，撥馬步軍五萬，同李肅、胡軫、趙岑，星夜赴關迎敵。眾諸侯內有濟北相鮑信。尋思孫堅既為前部，怕他奪了頭功，暗撥其弟鮑忠，先將馬步軍三千，逕抄小路，直到關下搦戰。華雄引鐵騎五百，飛下關來，大喝：「賊將休走！」鮑忠急待退，被華雄手起刀落，斬於馬下，生擒將校極多。華雄遣人將鮑忠首級來相府報捷，卓加雄為都督。

He had not yet finished speaking, when a person standing behind Lü Bu said loudly, "'Why use an ox cleaver to kill a chicken?' We shouldn't trouble the Marquis of Wen to go personally. Cutting off the heads of all of the nobles would be as easy for me as taking something out of my pocket." Zhuo took a look at the man, who stood at a height of  nine chi, had a tiger-like torso, a wolf-like waist, a panther-like head, and ape-like arms; he was from the area to the west of Hangu Pass. His surname was Hua, and his given name was Xiong. Upon hearing this, Zhuo was overjoyed. He made him captain of armed cavalry, and allotted him 50,000 horses and men. He set out to meet the enemy, traveling all night, accompanied by Li Su, Hu Zhen and Zhao Cen. One of the nobles was Bao Xin, chief minister of the Kingdom of Jibei. He thought about the fact that Sun Jian had taken point, and was afraid that he would get all the glory, so he secretly sent his younger brother Bao Zhong ahead with a contingent of 3,000 men and horses on a side road in order to pick a fight at the pass. Hua Xiong quickly led a force of 500 armored cavalry down from the pass, shouting, "Halt, you bandit rebels!" Bao Zhong rapidly retreated, but was cut down from his horse by Hua Xiong with one stroke of the sword. A large number of military officers were captured alive. Hua Xiong sent someone to take Bao Zhong's head to the residence of the chancellor, and to report news of their victory. Zhuo made Xiong a provincial military commander.

16

卻說孫堅引四將直至關前。那四將：第一個，右北平土垠人，姓程，名普，字德謀，使一條鐵脊蛇矛；第二個，姓黃，名蓋，字公覆，零陵人也，使鐵鞭；第三個，姓韓，名當，字義公，遼西令支人也，使一口大刀；第四個，姓祖，名茂，字大榮，吳郡富春人也，使雙刀。孫堅披爛銀鎧，裹赤幘，橫古錠刀，騎花鬃馬，指關上而罵曰：「助惡匹夫，何不早降！」

Huang Gai Let us now turn to Sun Jian, who led his four generals to the entrance of the pass. As for the four generals: the first one was from Tuyin in Youbeiping Commandery, his surname was Cheng, his given name was Pu, his style name was  Demou, and his weapon of choice was an iron-ridge snake lance. The second one's surname was Huang, his given name was Gai, his style name was  Gongfu, he was from Lingling Commandery, and his weapon of choice was an iron whip. The third one's surname was Han, his given name was Dang, his style name was  Yigong, he was from Lingzhi in Liaoxi Commandery, and his weapon of choice was a large broadsword. The fourth one's surname was Zu, his given name was Mao, his style name was  Darong, he was from Fuchun in Wu Commandery, and his weapons of choice were a pair of broadswords. Sun Jian wore shiny armor that sparkled like silver, fastened a red kerchief around his head, carried a Guding broadsword, and rode a horse with a multi-colored mane. He pointed to the top of the pass, and cursed, "All of you commoners who are aiding villainy: why not surrender early!"

17

華雄副將胡軫，引兵五千出關迎戰。程普飛馬挺矛，直取胡軫，鬥不數合，程普刺中胡軫咽喉，死於馬下。堅揮軍殺至關前，關上矢石如雨。孫堅引兵回至梁東屯住，使人於袁紹處報捷，就於袁術處催糧。或說術曰：「孫堅乃江東猛虎；若打破洛陽殺了董卓，正是除狼而得虎也。今不與糧，彼軍必散。」術聽之，不發糧草。孫堅軍缺食，軍中自亂，細作報上關來。李肅為華雄謀曰：「今夜我引一軍從小路下關襲孫堅寨後，將軍攻其前寨，堅可擒矣。」

Hu Zhen, Hua Xiong's second in command, led a force of 5,000 men out of the pass to join in the battle. Cheng Pu raised his lance and galloped his horse at full speed toward Hu Zhen. After several bouts, Cheng Pu stabbed Hu Zhen in the throat, which caused him to die at the foot of his horse. Jian led his army on a frontal assault of the pass amidst a hail of arrows and rocks. Sun Jian then led his troops back to the east of the ridge, and dug in. He sent someone to Yuan Shao's location to report a victory, and then to Yuan Shu's location to requisition provisions. Someone told Shu, "Sun Jian is known as the fierce tiger from the eastern bank of the Yangtze. If he smashes Luoyang and kills Dong Zhuo, it will be as though we have replaced a wolf with a tiger. If we don't give him any provisions now, his army will disperse for sure." Shu heeded this advice, and did not release any rations. Sun Jian's army went without food, and dissention sprang up within the ranks. A spy reported all of this to the forces on top of the pass. Li Su schemed with Hua Xiong, saying, "Tonight, I will lead an army down from the pass on a side trial, and attack Sun Jian from the rear of his encampment. If you attack the front of his encampment, Jian can be captured."

18

雄從之，傳令軍士飽餐，乘夜下關。是夜月白風清。到堅寨時，已是半夜，鼓譟直進。堅慌忙披掛上馬，正遇華雄。兩馬相交，鬥不數合，後面李肅軍到，令軍士放起火來。堅軍亂竄。眾將各自混戰，止有祖茂跟定孫堅突圍而走。背後華雄追來。堅取箭，連放兩箭，皆被華雄躲過。再放第三箭時，因用力太猛，拽折了鵲畫弓，只得棄弓縱馬而奔。祖茂曰：「主公頭上赤幘射目，為賊所識認。可脫幘與某戴之。」堅就脫幘換茂盔，分兩路而走。雄軍只望赤幘者追趕，堅乃從小路得脫。祖茂被華雄追急，將赤幘掛於人家燒不盡的庭柱上，卻入樹林潛躲。

19

華雄軍於月下遙見赤幘，四面圍定，不敢近前。用箭射之，方知是計，遂向前取了赤幘。祖茂於林後殺出，揮雙刀欲劈華雄；雄大喝一聲，將祖茂一刀砍於馬下。殺至天明，雄方引兵上關。程普、黃蓋、韓當都來尋見孫堅，再收拾軍馬屯紮。堅為折了祖茂，傷感不已，星夜遣人報知袁紹。紹大驚曰：「不想孫文臺敗於華雄之手！」便聚眾諸侯商議。眾人都到，只有公孫瓚後至，紹請入帳列坐。紹曰：「前日鮑將軍之弟不遵調遣，擅自進兵，殺身喪命，折了許多軍士。今者孫文臺又敗於華雄，挫動銳氣，為之奈何？」諸侯並皆不語。

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