第dì十五shí wǔ十shí黑水渡焦周回上國五wǔ回huí黑水hēi shuǐ黑hēi水shuǐ渡dù焦jiāo周回zhōu huí周zhōu上shàng國guó臺tái山shān靖jìng松sōng贈zèng明駝míng tuó明míng駝tuó

Chapter 15: At the Black Water Ford, Jiao Zhou Returns to the Supreme Land; On Mount Wutai, Jing Song Presents the Luminous Camel

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō伍wǔ登dēng元帥將令，帶領lǐng人馬，曉行夜宿，不上一月，到了liǎo元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài將令jiāng lìng將jiāng令lìng帶領dài lǐng帶dài人馬rén mǎ人rén馬mǎ曉行夜宿xiǎo xíng yè sù曉xiǎo行xíng夜yè宿sù不上bú shàng不bú上shàng一月yī yuè一yī月yuè到了dào le到dào黑水hēi shuǐ黑hēi水shuǐ渡dù

It is said that Wu Deng, having received the marshal’s orders, led his troops, marching by day and resting by night. In less than a month, they arrived at the Black Water Ford.

伍wǔ登dēng沿河yán hé沿yán河hé觀看guān kàn觀guān看kàn遙yáo北岸běi àn北běi岸àn山脊shān jǐ山shān脊jǐ相xiāng聯lián樹木shù mù樹shù木mù交jiāo雜zá

Wu Deng surveyed the riverbank. In the distance, he saw the northern shore’s mountain ridges linked together, with trees growing in tangled clusters.

急jí尋xún土tǔ人rén問wèn之zhī，土人曰yuē： 「此cǐ山名shān míng小燕山shān，又名míng小xiǎo燕山yān shān燕yān又yòu荊棘jīng jí荊jīng棘jí王，姓焦名周，帳下有五千嘍兵，更有二子，名焦文、焦武，有萬夫不當之勇。將軍欲過此嶺lǐng山中shān zhōng中zhōng有一yǒu yī有yǒu一yī大王dà wáng大dà王wáng姓xìng焦jiāo周zhōu帳zhàng下xià五千wǔ qiān五wǔ千qiān嘍lóu兵bīng更有gèng yǒu更gèng二子èr zǐ二èr子zǐ文wén武wǔ萬夫不當wàn fū bù dāng萬wàn夫fū不bù當dāng勇yǒng將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn欲yù過guò須要xū yào須xū要yào先xiān送sòng禮lǐ然後rán hòu然rán後hòu可行kě xíng可kě行xíng

He quickly sought out a local to ask about it. The local said, “This mountain is called Little Swallow Mountain, also known as Briar Ridge. In the mountain there is a chieftain named Jiao Zhou, who commands five thousand brigands under his banner. He has two sons, Jiao Wen and Jiao Wu, who possess valor unmatched by ten thousand men. If you, General, wish to cross this ridge, you must first present the mountain tribute, and only then may you proceed.”

伍wǔ登dēng道dào： 「地方dì fāng地dì方fāng官guān如何rú hé如rú何hé不bù興兵xīng bīng興xīng兵bīng剿除jiǎo chú剿jiǎo除chú

Wu Deng asked, “Why does the local official not raise troops to suppress them?”

土tǔ人道rén dào人rén道dào「這zhè山中shān zhōng山shān中zhōng有田yǒu tián有yǒu田tián千畝qiān mǔ千qiān畝mǔ他的tā de他tā的de號令hào lìng號hào害地方，官府祇求免禍，誰肯令lìng十分shí fēn十shí分fēn嚴謹yán jǐn嚴yán謹jǐn又yòu不bù擾rǎo害hài地方dì fāng地dì方fāng官府guān fǔ官guān府fǔ祇qí求qiú免miǎn禍huò誰肯shuí kěn誰shuí肯kěn朝廷cháo tíng朝cháo廷tíng得知dé zhī得dé知zhī凡是fán shì凡fán是shì過往guò wǎng過guò往wǎng客商kè shāng客kè商shāng官軍guān jūn軍jūn祇要qí yào要yào買mǎi路lù錢qián自zì隋suí迄qì唐táng勢shì焰yàn日rì盛shèng

The local replied, “There are a thousand acres of farmland in the mountain. His rules are extremely strict, and he does not harass the local populace. The officials simply wish to avoid disaster — who would be willing to let the imperial court know? As for traveling merchants and government troops, they only demand passage money. From the Sui to the Tang, their power and influence have grown daily.”

伍wǔ登dēng即jí傳令chuán lìng傳chuán令lìng道dào「人rén不可bù kě卸甲，馬不bù可kě卸xiè甲jiǎ馬mǎ離lí鞍ān倘tǎng賊兵zéi bīng賊zéi兵bīng劫營jié yíng劫jié營yíng不許bù xū許xū妄動wàng dòng妄wàng動dòng祇qí放fàng箭jiàn射shè之zhī不可離bù kě lí

Wu Deng immediately issued an order: “The men must not remove their armor, nor the horses their saddles. Should the bandits raid the camp, do not act rashly — only shoot arrows at them.”

是shì夜yè，伍wǔ登dēng在zài帳zhàng中zhōng，一夜yí yè一yí無wú眠mián

That night, Wu Deng stayed in his tent, sleepless the whole night.

三更sān gēng三sān更gēng之後zhī hòu之zhī後hòu忽然hū rán忽hū然rán火把huǒ bǎ火huǒ把bǎ齊qí明míng喊hǎn聲shēng震zhèn地dì卻不què bù卻què不bù見jiàn人馬rén mǎ人rén馬mǎ渡河dù hé渡dù河hé

After the third watch, torches suddenly blazed everywhere and war cries shook the ground, yet no troops or horses were seen crossing the river.

到了dào le到dào了le天明tiān míng天tiān明míng不bù見jiàn一人yì rén一yì人rén騎qí

When day broke, not a single man or rider could be seen.

辰巳chén sì辰chén巳sì時候shí hòu時shí候hòu一枝yì zhī擁而來，紅白不分，一yì枝zhī人馬rén mǎ人rén馬mǎ蜂擁fēng yōng蜂fēng擁yōng而來ér lái而ér來lái紅白hóng bái紅hóng白bái不分bù fēn不bù分fēn一聲yì shēng聲shēng鑼luó響xiǎng紅旗hóng qí旗qí旋xuán左zuǒ白旗bái qí右yòu退回tuì huí退tuì回huí山中shān zhōng山shān中zhōng去了qù le去qù了le

Around the hour of Chen to Si (7–11 AM), a troop of horsemen swarmed forward, red and white banners intermingled. At a gong's signal, the red flags swirled left and the white flags swirled right, and they withdrew back into the mountains.

伍wǔ登dēng按兵不動àn bīng bú dòng按àn兵bīng不bú動dòng差chà人去rén qù人rén去qù報bào元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài

Wu Deng held his troops in place without moving and sent a messenger to report to the marshal.

元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài下令xià lìng下xià令lìng道dào

The marshal issued the order: "

賊人zéi rén賊zéi人rén討tǎo戰zhàn則zé切qiè不可bù kě不bù可kě發兵fā bīng發fā兵bīng先攻xiān gōng先xiān攻gōng他tā寨zhài候hòu我wǒ大軍dà jūn大dà軍jūn來lái再zài為wéi斟酌zhēn zhuó斟zhēn酌zhuó

If the bandits challenge us to battle, then fight them. But on no account send troops to attack their stockade first. Wait until our main army arrives, then we shall deliberate further."

過了guò le過guò了le數shù日rì大軍dà jūn大dà軍jūn早zǎo到dào參見cān jiàn參cān見jiàn已yǐ畢bì備bèi說shuō賊兵zéi bīng賊zéi兵bīng甚shèn眾zhòng更gèng兼jiān路lù險xiǎn請qǐng元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài定奪dìng duó定dìng奪duó

After several days, the main army soon arrived. When the formalities of paying respects were completed, Wu Deng fully reported that the bandit forces were very numerous and the roads treacherous, requesting the marshal to make a decision.

元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài道dào「明日míng rì天明míng日rì天明tiān míng天tiān你nǐ引yǐn軍jūn渡河dù hé渡dù河hé討tǎo戰zhàn

The marshal said, "At daybreak tomorrow, you will lead the troops across the river to challenge them to battle."

到了dào le到dào了le半夜bàn yè半bàn夜yè時shí分fēn北岸běi àn北běi岸àn仍然réng rán仍réng然rán火光huǒ guāng火huǒ光guāng沖天chōng tiān沖chōng天tiān喊hǎn聲shēng如rú雷léi

When midnight came, the northern shore still blazed with firelight reaching the sky, and war cries thundered like thunder.

天明tiān míng天tiān明míng時shí紅白hóng bái紅hóng白bái軍馬jūn mǎ軍jūn馬mǎ旋轉xuán zhuǎn旋xuán轉zhuǎn而出ér chū各分左右而ér出chū鑼luó響xiǎng數shù聲shēng各gè分fēn左右zuǒ yòu左zuǒ右yòu入rù

At daybreak, the red and white troops spun out, and after several gong strikes, they separated left and right and entered again.

元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài道dào「此cǐ疑yí兵bīng也yě。」

The marshal said, "These are troops meant to feign strength."

令lìng伍wǔ登dēng作zuò速sù渡河dù hé渡dù河hé要yào戰zhàn

He ordered Wu Deng to cross the river quickly and press for battle.

及jí伍wǔ登dēng過河guò hé過guò河hé林lín中zhōng閃出shǎn chū閃shǎn出chū一支yì zhī一yì支zhī人馬rén mǎ人rén馬mǎ少年shào nián少shào年nián將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn大叫dà jiào大dà叫jiào道dào

As soon as Wu Deng crossed the river, a troop of horsemen emerged from the forest, and a young general shouted:

「唐táng將jiāng放心fàng xīn放fàng心xīn過河guò hé不擊你。我老大王有令：祇要勝得少爺手中鎗，我便將五千人馬，三萬糧草，隨元帥往北立功﹔勝不得少爺手中鎗，想過guò河hé我不wǒ bù我wǒ萬不bù擊jī你nǐ老大lǎo dà老lǎo大dà王wáng有yǒu令lìng祇要qí yào祇qí要yào勝shèng得dé少爺shǎo yé少shǎo爺yé手中shǒu zhōng手shǒu中zhōng鎗qiāng便biàn五千wǔ qiān五wǔ千qiān人馬rén mǎ人rén馬mǎ三萬sān wàn三sān萬wàn糧草liáng cǎo糧liáng草cǎo隨suí元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài往北wǎng běi往wǎng北běi立功lì gōng立lì功gōng不得bù dé想過xiǎng guò想xiǎng此cǐ山shān萬萬wàn wàn不能bù néng能néng

"Tang general, cross the river at ease — I will not strike you. My elder king has decreed: if you can defeat the spear in my hand, your young master, then I will lead five thousand troops and thirty thousand provisions northward with the marshal to earn merit. But if you cannot defeat the spear in my hand, then crossing this mountain will be absolutely impossible."

伍wǔ登dēng聽了tīng le聽tīng了le領lǐng人馬rén mǎ人rén，撥馬mǎ上岸shàng àn上shàng岸àn撥bō馬來mǎ lái來lái戰zhàn

Hearing this, Wu Deng led his men and horses ashore, wheeled his steed, and rode into battle.

問wèn道dào： 「來lái將jiāng通tōng名míng。」

He asked, "You coming general, state your name."

少年shào nián答曰： 「吾乃大少shào年nián答dá曰yuē吾wú乃nǎi大dà少爺shǎo yé爺yé焦jiāo文wén是shì也yě將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn是誰shì shuí誰shuí

The young man replied, "I am the elder young master, Jiao Wen. Who are you, General?"

伍wǔ登dēng道dào： 「某mǒu乃nǎi尉wèi遲chí元帥yuán shuài麾下先鋒大將，伍登是也。將軍既有投唐之意，何不早早下馬，末將引見元yuán帥shuài麾下huī xià麾huī下xià先鋒xiān fēng先xiān鋒fēng大dà將jiāng是shì也yě將軍jiāng jūn軍jūn既有jì yǒu既jì有yǒu投tóu唐táng之意zhī yì之zhī意yì何不hé bù何hé不bù早早zǎo zǎo早zǎo下馬xià mǎ馬mǎ末mò引yǐn見jiàn自然zì rán自zì然rán重用zhòng yòng重zhòng用yòng奈何nài hé奈nài阻zǔ住zhù天兵tiān bīng天tiān兵bīng豈不qǐ bù豈qǐ有罪yǒu zuì罪zuì

Wu Deng said, "I am the vanguard general under Marshal Yuchi — Wu Deng is my name. Since you, General, have the intention to surrender to Tang, why not dismount now? I will present you to the marshal, and you will surely be given important command. Why block the imperial troops? Would that not be a transgression?"

焦jiāo文wén道dào： 「此cǐ是shì老大lǎo dà老lǎo大dà王wáng，誰敢違之zhī令lìng誰shuí敢gǎn違wéi

Jiao Wen said, "This is the elder king's command — who dares violate it?"

說shuō罷bà，帶dài馬mǎ向前xiàng qián向xiàng前qián伍wǔ登dēng接jiē，戰zhàn了liǎo三十sān shí三sān十shí餘yú合hé不分bù fēn不bù分fēn勝負shèng fù勝shèng負fù

With that, he spurred his horse forward. Wu Deng engaged him, and they fought for over thirty bouts without either gaining the upper hand.

伍wǔ登dēng心xīn下xià想xiǎng道dào： 「元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài令lìng我wǒ為wéi先行xiān xíng先xiān行xíng大dà山寇不下，豈不被眾將jiāng戰zhàn一山yì shān一yì山shān寇kòu不bù豈不qǐ bù豈qǐ被bèi眾zhòng恥笑chǐ xiào恥chǐ笑xiào

Wu Deng thought to himself, "The marshal appointed me as the vanguard general. If I cannot overcome a single mountain bandit, won't I become the laughingstock of all the other generals?"

遂suì詐敗zhà bài詐zhà敗bài而ér走zǒu

So he feigned defeat and fled.

焦jiāo文wén心中xīn zhōng心xīn中zhōng想xiǎng道dào「此人cǐ rén此cǐ人rén不亂，忽然敗走，必是善用回馬鎗qiāng法fǎ不bù亂luàn忽然hū rán忽hū然rán敗走bài zǒu敗bài走zǒu必是bì shì必bì是shì善用shàn yòng善shàn用yòng回huí馬mǎ

Jiao Wen thought to himself, "This man's spear technique is flawless, yet he suddenly flees in defeat — he must be skilled in the 'returning-horse spear' trick."

遂suì拍pāi馬mǎ趕來gǎn lái趕gǎn來lái卻què拈niān弓gōng在zài手shǒu一yī箭jiàn射去shè qù射shè去qù正中zhèng zhōng正zhèng中zhōng伍wǔ登dēng股gǔ

He then spurred his horse in pursuit, took his bow in hand, and loosed an arrow, hitting Wu Deng's horse squarely in the haunch.

那nà馬mǎ亂跳luàn tiào亂luàn跳tiào將jiāng伍wǔ登dēng跌倒diē dǎo跌diē倒dǎo在zài地dì

The horse bucked wildly and threw Wu Deng to the ground.

焦jiāo文wén大笑dà xiào大dà笑xiào「饒ráo你nǐ性命xìng mìng性xìng命mìng回去huí qù回huí去qù見jiàn元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài另lìng換huàn一位yí wèi一yí位wèi有yǒu本běn事shì的de來lái

Jiao Wen laughed heartily and said, "I'll spare your life — go back, see the marshal, and send someone truly capable instead."

說shuō聲shēng未了wèi liǎo未wèi對陣中一箭射來，焦文急忙挑撥，射中了liǎo對陣duì zhèn對duì陣zhèn中zhōng一yī箭jiàn射來shè lái射shè來lái焦jiāo文wén急忙jí máng急jí忙máng挑撥tiāo bō挑tiāo撥bō射中shè zhōng馬頭mǎ tóu馬mǎ頭tóu也yě將jiāng拋下pāo xià拋pāo下xià馬來mǎ lái

Before he finished speaking, an arrow flew from the opposite formation. Jiao Wen hurriedly tried to deflect it, but it struck his horse in the head and threw Jiao Wen off as well.

兩邊liǎng biān兩liǎng邊biān軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì齊聲qí shēng齊qí聲shēng喝彩hè cǎi喝hè彩cǎi各人gè rén各gè人rén收兵shōu bīng收shōu兵bīng

The soldiers on both sides cheered in unison, and each side withdrew their forces.

原來yuán lái原yuán來lái元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài恐kǒng伍wǔ登dēng有yǒu失手shī shǒu失shī手shǒu令lìng朱zhū

It turned out that the marshal, fearing Wu Deng might come to harm, had ordered Zhu...

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán前來qián lái前qián來lái掠lüè陣zhèn見jiàn伍wǔ登dēng墜下zhuì xià墜zhuì下xià馬mǎ恐kǒng，遂拈弓欲射焦jiāo文wén追zhuī他tā遂suì拈niān弓gōng欲yù射shè

...Mulan to come and observe the battle. Seeing Wu Deng fall from his horse and fearing that Jiao Wen would pursue him, she drew her bow and was about to shoot Jiao Wen.

又yòu見jiàn他不tā bù殺伍登，也祇射他tā不bù殺shā伍wǔ登dēng也yě祇qí射shè馬頭mǎ tóu馬mǎ頭tóu

But then she saw that he did not kill Wu Deng, so she only shot his horse in the head as well.

所以suǒ yǐ所suǒ以yǐ後來hòu lái後hòu來lái杜甫dù fǔ杜dù甫fǔ有yǒu射shè人rén先xiān馬mǎ之zhī句jù

This is why later Du Fu wrote: "To bring down the rider, first shoot his horse" — that line.

元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài大dà營yíng已定yǐ dìng已yǐ定dìng伍wǔ登dēng備bèi說shuō如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ

The marshal's main camp was established, and Wu Deng reported everything that had happened in full detail.

次cì日rì，元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài傳令chuán lìng傳chuán令lìng伍wǔ登出dēng chū登dēng出chū馬mǎ

The next day, the marshal ordered Wu Deng to take the field.

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán稟bǐng道dào「末mò將jiāng昨日zuó rì昨zuó日rì見jiàn焦jiāo文wén鎗qiāng法fǎ與yǔ喪sāng吾wú所suǒ傳chuán無二wú èr無wú二èr待dài出去chū qù出chū去qù罷bà

Mu Lan reported, "I observed Jiao Wen's spear technique yesterday — it is identical to that taught by Sang Wu. Allow me to go out instead."

元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài大喜dà xǐ大dà喜xǐ即令jí lìng即jí令lìng伍wǔ登dēng掠lüè掛出馬，來至陣zhèn一同yì tóng一yì同tóng披掛pī guà披pī掛guà出馬chū mǎ出chū馬mǎ來lái至zhì前qián

The marshal was greatly pleased and immediately ordered Wu Deng to cover her. They both donned their armor, rode out, and arrived before the battle line.

焦jiāo文wén大叫dà jiào大dà叫jiào道dào「少爺shǎo yé少shǎo爺yé在此zài cǐ在zài此cǐ等候děng hòu等děng候hòu多duō時shí了liǎo來lái將jiāng通tōng名míng

Jiao Wen shouted loudly, "Your young master has been waiting here for a long time! You there, state your name!"

木蘭mù lán道： 「某乃元帥麾下武昭將軍朱木mù蘭lán道dào某mǒu乃nǎi元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài麾下huī xià麾huī下xià武昭wǔ zhāo武wǔ昭zhāo將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn朱zhū是shì也yě

Mu Lan said, "I am Military Radiance General Zhu Mu Lan, under the marshal's command."

焦jiāo文wén見jiàn木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán年nián歲suì幼少yòu shǎo幼yòu少shǎo不以bù yǐ不bù以yǐ介意jiè yì介jiè意yì

Jiao Wen saw that Mu Lan was young in years and did not take her seriously.

退回tuì huí退tuì回huí本陣běn zhèn本běn陣zhèn叫jiào背後bèi hòu背bèi後hòu焦jiāo武wǔ出馬chū mǎ出chū馬mǎ大戰dà zhàn大dà戰zhàn二十èr shí二èr十shí餘yú合hé

He withdrew to his own formation and called for Jiao Wu behind him to ride out. They fought fiercely for more than twenty bouts.

焦jiāo文wén拍pāi馬上mǎ shàng前，伍登亦放馬mǎ上shàng前qián伍wǔ登dēng亦yì放fàng助戰zhù zhàn助zhù戰zhàn

Jiao Wen spurred his horse forward, and Wu Deng also galloped out to join the fray.

焦jiāo文wén大dà喝道hè dào喝hè道dào「二位èr wèi二èr位wèi休xiū要yào動dòng手shǒu

Jiao Wen roared, "You two, stop fighting!"

問wèn木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán「將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn鎗qiāng法fǎ是shì何人hé rén何hé人rén所suǒ傳chuán

He asked Mu Lan, "From whom did you, General, learn your spear technique?"

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán道dào「是shì隋朝suí cháo隋suí朝cháo南陽nán yáng南nán陽yáng守shǒu將jiāng伍wǔ雲yún召zhào將軍jiāng jūn軍jūn所suǒ傳chuán

Mu Lan replied, "It was taught to me by General Wu Yunzhao, the defending general of Nanyang during the Sui dynasty."

焦jiāo文wén道dào： 「南陽nán yáng南nán陽yáng雲yún召zhào何hé在zài雲召yún zhào

Jiao Wen asked, "Where is Yunzhao of Nanyang now?"

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán道dào「在zài湖廣hú guǎng湖hú廣guǎng西陵xī líng西xī陵líng大悟dà wù大dà悟wù山shān為wéi僧sēng這zhè先鋒xiān fēng先xiān鋒fēng伍wǔ登dēng就是jiù shì就jiù是shì他tā公子gōng zǐ公gōng子zǐ

Mu Lan said, "He is a monk at Dawu Mountain in Xiling, Huguang. This vanguard, Wu Deng, is his son."

焦jiāo文wén道dào： 「傳令chuán lìng傳chuán令lìng收兵shōu bīng收shōu兵bīng明日míng rì明míng日rì再zài戰zhàn

Jiao Wen said, "Pass the order to withdraw. We will fight again tomorrow."

兩下liǎng xià兩liǎng下xià一齊yì qí一yì齊qí收兵shōu bīng收shōu兵bīng

Both sides withdrew their troops simultaneously.

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài看見kàn jiàn看kàn見jiàn焦jiāo文wén武wǔ有yǒu大dà將之jiāng zhī將jiāng號、軍容甚整，心中歡喜，與軍師商議收伏之zhī才cái兼jiān且qiě旗號qí hào旗qí號hào軍jūn容róng甚shèn整zhěng心中xīn zhōng心xīn中zhōng歡喜huān xǐ歡huān喜xǐ與yǔ軍師jūn shī師shī商議shāng yì商shāng議yì收shōu伏fú計jì

Now, the marshal saw that Jiao Wen and Jiao Wu possessed the talent of great generals, and moreover their banners and military bearing were exceptionally orderly. Delighted in his heart, he discussed with the military strategist a plan to win them over.

李lǐ靖jìng道dào： 「此人cǐ rén此cǐ心歸順天朝久矣，明日差人rén有心yǒu xīn，招他父子來降。如來則妙，如不肯來，愚弟自有yǒu心xīn歸順guī shùn歸guī順shùn天朝tiān cháo天tiān朝cháo久jiǔ矣yǐ明日míng rì明míng日rì差chà前去qián qù前qián去qù招zhāo他tā父子fù zǐ父fù子zǐ來lái降jiàng如來rú lái如rú則zé妙miào不肯bù kěn不bù肯kěn愚弟yú dì愚yú弟dì自有zì yǒu自zì妙計miào jì計jì破pò之zhī

Li Jing said, "This man has long harbored the intention to submit to the imperial court. Tomorrow, send someone to summon him and his father to surrender. If they come, wonderful; if they refuse to come, your humble brother has a clever plan to defeat them."

次cì日rì，哨shào馬來mǎ lái馬mǎ： 「有一老將軍，鬚髮皓然，帶二位小將軍微服而來lái報bào有一yǒu yī有yǒu一yī老lǎo將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn鬚髮xū fà鬚xū髮fà皓然hào rán皓hào然rán帶dài二位èr wèi二èr位wèi小xiǎo微wēi服fú而來ér lái而ér不知bù zhī不bù知zhī何故hé gù何hé故gù

The next day, a scout rode in to report: "There is an old general with snow-white hair and beard, accompanied by two young generals, all in civilian dress — we do not know why they have come."

李lǐ靖jìng曰yuē： 「那nà焦jiāo周zhōu父子fù zǐ父fù子zǐ來lái降jiàng也yě

Li Jing said, "That is Jiao Zhou and his sons coming to surrender."

即令jí lìng即jí令lìng寶bǎo林lín亦yì不bù著zhù戎衣róng yī戎róng衣yī在zài營yíng門mén等候děng hòu等děng候hòu

He immediately ordered Bao Lin also to doff his armor and wait at the camp gate.

不bù一時yì shí一yì時shí焦jiāo周zhōu父子fù zǐ父fù子zǐ來到lái dào來lái到dào寶bǎo林lín引入yǐn rù引yǐn入rù走進zǒu jìn走zǒu進jìn中zhōng軍jūn帳zhàng伏地fú dì伏fú地dì叩首kòu shǒu叩kòu首shǒu請命qǐng mìng請qǐng命mìng

In no time, Jiao Zhou and his sons arrived. Bao Lin led them in, and they entered the central command tent, where they prostrated themselves, knocked their heads on the ground, and begged to receive their sentence.

元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài下xià帳zhàng扶起fú qǐ扶fú起qǐ道dào老lǎo將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn既jì順shùn天朝tiān cháo天tiān朝cháo即jí當dāng重用zhòng yòng重zhòng用yòng豈有qǐ yǒu豈qǐ有yǒu記jì舊jiù過guò之zhī理lǐ

The marshal came down from the dais, helped them up, and said, "Old general, since you have submitted to the imperial court, you shall be given important command. How could I hold old faults against you?"

焦jiāo周zhōu道dào： 「罪zuì

Jiao Zhou said, "This guilty

將jiāng向xiàng日本rì běn日rì本běn南陽nán yáng南nán陽yáng伍wǔ大人dà rén大dà人rén帳zhàng下xià一名yì míng一yì名míng牙yá後hòu蒙méng提拔tí bá提tí拔bá陞shēng為wéi護hù印yìn中zhōng軍jūn

In former days, I was a subaltern officer under Lord Wu of Nanyang. Later, by his gracious promotion, I was elevated to the rank of seal-guarding central commander.

城chéng破pò之zhī日rì，聞wén大人dà rén已死，罪將逃至此處，落草為寇。 今聞故主尚在西陵，而公子在此，願求一見。」元帥即命伍登上帳。焦周一見，抱頭大dà人rén已yǐ死sǐ罪zuì將jiāng逃táo至zhì此處cǐ chǔ此cǐ處chǔ落草為寇luò cǎo wéi kòu落luò草cǎo為wéi寇kòu今jīn故主gù zhǔ故gù主zhǔ尚在shàng zài尚shàng在zài西陵xī líng西xī陵líng而ér公子gōng zǐ公gōng子zǐ在此zài cǐ願yuàn求qiú一見yí jiàn一yí見jiàn元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài即jí命mìng伍wǔ登上dēng shàng登dēng上shàng帳zhàng焦jiāo周一zhōu yī周zhōu抱頭bào tóu抱bào頭tóu大哭dà kū哭kū不知bù zhī不bù知zhī何故hé gù何hé施禮shī lǐ施shī禮lǐ道dào

"On the day the city fell, I heard that my lord had died, so I, this guilty general, fled to this place and took to the greenwood as a bandit. Now I learn that my former lord is still alive in Xiling, and that his son is here. I beg to see him." The marshal immediately ordered Wu Deng to come to the tent. When Jiao Zhou saw him, he clasped his head in his arms and wept bitterly. Wu Deng, not knowing why, bowed and said,

「老lǎo將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn年nián休xiū得dé過guò悲bēi。」

"Old general, you are advanced in years — do not grieve so excessively."

焦jiāo周zhōu道dào： 「公子gōng zǐ公gōng子zǐ陽逃難之日，年方一十二歲，可記得中軍官焦周否？請問夫人安在zài南陽nán yáng南nán陽yáng逃難táo nán逃táo難nán之zhī日rì年nián方fāng一yī十二歲shí èr suì十shí二èr歲suì可kě記得jì dé記jì得dé中zhōng軍官jūn guān軍jūn官guān否fǒu請問qǐng wèn請qǐng問wèn夫人fū rén夫fū人rén安在ān zài安ān伍wǔ瓊qióng何hé往wǎng一十二yī shí èr

Jiao Zhou said, "Young master, on the day you fled Nanyang in distress, you were just twelve years old. Do you remember the central commander Jiao Zhou? May I ask where the lady is? And where has Wu Qiong gone?"

伍wǔ登dēng聽了tīng le，覺得有些面善﹔又聽tīng了le覺得jué dé覺jué得dé有些yǒu xiē有yǒu些xiē面miàn善shàn，想起昔日母子受困情形，遂抱著焦周大哭起來。焦周又yòu命二子來拜伍登，元帥命備酒與焦jiāo周zhōu問wèn他tā母親mǔ qīn母mǔ親qīn並bìng老lǎo僕pú瓊qióng想起xiǎng qǐ想xiǎng起qǐ昔日xī rì昔xī日rì母子mǔ zǐ糧草，約束人馬，解赴元帥大營，一一交割。又令二子zǐ受困shòu kùn受shòu困kùn情形qíng xíng情qíng形xíng遂suì抱著bào zhù抱bào著zhù大哭dà kū大dà哭kū起來qǐ lái來lái命mìng二子èr zǐ二èr拜bài元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài備bèi酒jiǔ與yǔ父子fù zǐ父fù接jiē風fēng令lìng文wén武wǔ仍réng回huí山寨shān zhài山shān寨zhài收拾shōu shí收shōu拾shí糧草liáng cǎo糧liáng草cǎo約束yuē shù約yuē束shù人馬rén mǎ人rén馬mǎ解jiě赴fù營yíng一一yī yī一yī交割jiāo gē交jiāo割gē

Upon hearing this, Wu Deng found Jiao Zhou somewhat familiar. When Jiao Zhou asked about his mother and the old servant Wu Qiong, Wu Deng recalled the hardships he and his mother had endured in the past, and he burst into tears, embracing Jiao Zhou. Jiao Zhou then ordered his two sons to pay their respects to Wu Deng. The Marshal ordered wine to be prepared to welcome Jiao Zhou and his sons. Jiao Zhou instructed Jiao Wen and Jiao Wu to return to the mountain stronghold, gather provisions and fodder, muster the troops, and escort them to the Marshal's main camp for a complete handover. He also commanded his two sons:

「隨suí元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài北běi征zhēng務wù遵zūn國guó法fǎ報效bào xiào報bào效xiào立功lì gōng立lì功gōng今jīn我wǒ要往大悟山，去隨主修行，以終餘年nián老lǎo要yào往wǎng大悟dà wù大dà悟wù山shān去qù主zhǔ修行xiū xíng修xiū行xíng以yǐ終zhōng餘年yú nián餘yú

"Follow the Marshal on the northern expedition, strictly abide by the state laws, and render meritorious service! Now that I am old, I wish to go to Dawu Mountain to follow my master in spiritual cultivation and live out my remaining years."

元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài留不住liú bú zhù留liú差人去送往湖廣，不bú住zhù祇qí得dé差chà人去rén qù人rén去qù送sòng往wǎng湖廣hú guǎng湖hú廣guǎng表biǎo

The Marshal could not persuade him to stay, so he dispatched someone to escort him to Huguang. No more is said of this.

再說zài shuō再zài說shuō元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài得了dé le得dé了le那nà焦jiāo文wén武wǔ即jí表biǎo奏zòu聖shèng上shàng封為fēng wéi封fēng職，令為wéi總管zǒng guǎn總zǒng管guǎn之zhī職zhí令lìng鄉xiāng導dǎo伴bàn伍wǔ登dēng同行tóng háng同tóng行háng

Having gained Jiao Wen and Jiao Wu, the Marshal immediately memorialized the Emperor, who appointed them as chief officers and ordered them to serve as guides and accompany Wu Deng on the march.

行xíng了liǎo七qī八日bā rì八bā日rì到了dào le到dào五wǔ臺tái在山shān在zài山下shān xià下xià紮營zhā yíng紮zhā營yíng七八qī bā

After traveling for seven or eight days, they arrived at Mount Wutai and set up camp at the foot of the mountain.

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán進帳jìn zhàng進jìn帳zhàng稟bǐng元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài禪師有書信一封，要將親身送上五臺山白雲菴靖松道dào喪sāng吾wú禪師shàn shī禪shàn師shī有yǒu書信shū xìn書shū信xìn一封yì fēng一yì封fēng要yào將jiāng親身qīn shēn親qīn身shēn送sòng上shàng五wǔ臺tái山shān白雲bái yún白bái雲yún菴ān靖jìng松sōng道人dào rén人rén特tè來lái討tǎo令lìng

Mulan entered the tent and reported to the Marshal, "Zen Master Sangwu has a letter that must be personally delivered to Taoist Jingsong at Baiyun Nunnery on Mount Wutai. I have come to request your orders."

元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài聽了tīng le聽tīng了le叫聲jiào shēng叫jiào聲shēng朱zhū將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn早去早回zǎo qù zǎo huí早zǎo去qù回huí

Upon hearing this, the Marshal said, "General Zhu, go early and return early."

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán得dé令lìng帶dài三sān騎qí牙yá將jiāng望wàng五wǔ臺tái山shān而來ér lái而ér來lái

Mulan received the order and, taking three cavalry lieutenants, headed toward Mount Wutai.

行xíng了liǎo半日bàn rì半bàn日rì但dàn見jiàn奇峰qí fēng奇qí峰fēng怪石guài shí怪guài石shí古木gǔ mù古gǔ木mù異yì花huā觀guān之zhī不盡bú jìn不bú盡jìn

After half a day's journey, they saw a breathtaking view of strange peaks, fantastical rocks, ancient trees, and exotic flowers—too many to take in.

又yòu不bù見jiàn一人yì rén一yì人rén行走xíng zǒu行xíng走zǒu正zhèng不知bù zhī知zhī白雲bái yún白bái雲yún菴ān在zài何處hé chǔ何hé處chǔ

Yet they saw no other travelers along the way, and had no idea where Baiyun Nunnery was located.

又yòu行xíng了liǎo十shí餘yú里lǐ，心中xīn zhōng心xīn中zhōng著zhù忙máng忽聞hū wén忽hū聞wén笛聲dí shēng笛dí聲shēng細細xì xì細xì隨風suí fēng隨suí風fēng飄piāo緲miǎo

After walking another ten li or so, feeling anxious, she suddenly heard a faint flute melody drifting ethereally on the wind.

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán喜xǐ曰yuē「此cǐ必bì白雲bái yún白bái雲yún菴ān也yě

Mulan said happily, "This must be Baiyun Nunnery."

遙yáo步bù笛dí聲響shēng xiǎng聲shēng響xiǎng處chǔ又yòu行xíng了一liǎo yī了liǎo餘，見石間流出一yī里lǐ有餘yǒu yú有yǒu餘yú見jiàn石間shí jiàn石shí間jiàn流出liú chū流liú出chū一道yí dào道dào清泉qīng quán清qīng泉quán疊疊dié dié疊dié成chéng音yīn

Walking toward the sound of the flute, she covered another li and more, and saw a clear spring flowing out from between the rocks, its rippling waters producing a melodious sound.

橫héng中zhōng一條yì tiáo石橋，橋西蒼松翠柏，一yì條tiáo石橋shí qiáo石shí橋qiáo橋西qiáo xī西xī蒼松cāng sōng蒼cāng松sōng翠柏cuì bǎi翠cuì柏bǎi簇cù寒hán煙yān圍繞wéi rào圍wéi繞rào

A stone bridge lay across the middle; to the west of the bridge, amidst verdant pines and cypresses, a cluster of cold mist enveloped

一yī菴ān。

a nunnery.

院yuàn中zhōng綠竹lǜ zhú綠lǜ竹zhú猗yī青qīng陰yīn可愛kě ài可kě愛ài門mén上shàng題tí白雲bái yún白bái雲yún道dào

Inside the courtyard, green bamboos swayed gracefully, their cool shade delightful. Above the gate was inscribed: Baiyun Daoist Convent.

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán下馬xià mǎ從人在外，不可擅入，自將院門敲了數下xià馬mǎ令lìng從cóng人rén在外zài wài在zài外wài不可bù kě不bù可kě擅入shàn rù擅shàn入rù自zì將jiāng院yuàn門mén敲了qiāo le敲qiāo了le數shù

Mulan dismounted and ordered her attendants to stay outside and not to enter without permission. She then knocked on the courtyard gate several times.

忽hū聽tīng門mén「呀ya」的de一聲yì shēng，走出一yì聲shēng走出zǒu chū走zǒu出chū一個yí gè個gè小小xiǎo xiǎo小xiǎo身穿八卦道dào僮tóng頭tóu挽wǎn雙shuāng髻jì身穿shēn chuān身shēn穿chuān八卦bā guà八bā卦guà道袍dào páo袍páo腰yāo繫xì黃huáng絛tāo足zú登dēng雲yún鞋xié開口kāi kǒu開kāi口kǒu問wèn

Suddenly, she heard the gate "Ah" with a creak, a small Daoist boy came out. His hair was tied in double topknots; he wore a Bagua Daoist robe, a yellow sash around his waist, and cloud-patterned shoes on his feet. He opened his mouth and asked:

「客kè從cóng何來hé lái何hé來lái

"Where does the guest come from?"

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán 「煩你通稟道dào煩fán你nǐ通tōng稟bǐng道長dào cháng長cháng有yǒu湖廣hú guǎng湖hú廣guǎng人rén求qiú見jiàn

Mulan said, "Please inform the Daoist master that someone from Huguang requests an audience."

小道xiǎo dào小xiǎo進去了，出來說道dào僮tóng進去jìn qù進jìn去qù了liǎo出來chū lái出chū來lái說道shuō dào說shuō

The young Daoist boy went in, then came out and said:

「請客qǐng kè請qǐng客kè到dào裏面lǐ miàn裏lǐ面miàn喫茶chī chá喫chī茶chá

"Please come inside for tea."

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán隨suí道dào僮tóng入rù客kè堂táng而ér坐zuò

Mulan followed the Daoist boy into the guest hall and sat down.

再說zài shuō再zài說shuō這zhè靖jìng松sōng道人dào rén道dào人rén俗姓sú xìng俗sú姓xìng時shí名míng長青cháng qīng長cháng青qīng少shǎo日rì與yǔ伍wǔ雲yún召zhào同tóng營yíng為wéi官guān有yǒu八拜之交bā bài zhī jiāo八bā拜bài之zhī交jiāo靖松jìng sōng

As for this Daoist Jingsong, his lay surname was Shi and his given name was Changqing. In his youth, he served as an officer in the same camp as Wu Yunzhao, and they were sworn brothers.

因yīn他tā看破紅塵kàn pò hóng chén看kàn破pò紅hóng塵chén棄qì官guān修道xiū dào修xiū道dào在zài五wǔ臺tái山shān養性yǎng xìng養yǎng性xìng鍊liàn神shén

Having seen through the vanities of the world, he abandoned his official post to cultivate the Dao, nurturing his nature and refining his spirit on Mount Wutai.

不bù料liào山中shān zhōng山shān中zhōng生shēng了一liǎo yī了liǎo一yī惡è蟒mǎng食shí人rén無數wú shù無wú數shù

It so happened that a ferocious python had appeared in the mountains, devouring countless people.

靖jìng松sōng歎tàn道dào： 「冤冤相報yuān yuān xiāng bào冤yuān相xiāng報bào曷hé其qí有yǒu極jí靖松jìng sōng

Jingsong sighed and said, "Retribution upon retribution — when will it ever end?"

當時dāng shí當dāng時shí有yǒu兩個liǎng gè兩liǎng個gè徒弟tú dì徒tú弟dì問wèn曰yuē吾師wú shī吾wú師shī何不hé bù何hé不bù怪，以yǐ道dào力lì收shōu除此chú cǐ除chú此cǐ怪guài安ān生shēng民mín

At that time, his two disciples asked, "Master, why do you not use your Daoist powers to subdue and eliminate this monster, so as to bring peace to the people?"

靖jìng松sōng曰yuē： 「爾ěr等děng心性xīn xìng不明，六通未得，不識先後。此怪是隋朝文帝駕前忠心xīn性xìng不明bù míng臣子，後來被煬帝所殺。他的冤氣不bù明míng六通liù tōng六liù通tōng未得wèi dé未wèi得dé識shí先後xiān hòu先xiān後hòu此cǐ怪guài男女，皆是shì隋朝suí cháo隋suí朝cháo文帝wén dì文wén帝dì駕jià前qián忠心zhōng xīn忠zhōng昧mèi的de臣子chén zǐ臣chén子zǐ後來hòu lái來lái被bèi煬帝yáng dì煬yáng所suǒ殺shā他的tā de他tā冤yuān氣qì不消bù xiāo消xiāo積jī成chéng毒氣dú qì毒dú所以suǒ yǐ以yǐ身shēn化huà巨蟒jù mǎng巨jù蟒mǎng吞tūn男女nán nǚ男nán女nǚ皆是jiē shì皆jiē一yī搬bān奸臣jiān chén奸jiān待dài夙sù報bào已盡yǐ jìn已yǐ盡jìn我wǒ自有zì yǒu自zì有yǒu收shōu之zhī法fǎ

Jingsong said, "Your minds and natures are not yet enlightened; you have not attained the six supernatural powers, nor do you understand cause and effect. This monster was a loyal and upright minister in front of Emperor Wen of Sui, but was later killed by Emperor Yang. His unyielding grievance accumulated into venomous energy, transforming his body into a giant python. The men and women he devours are precisely the treacherous ministers who served Emperor Yang. Once his karmic retribution is fulfilled, I will have my own means to subdue him."

兩個liǎng gè兩liǎng個gè徒弟tú dì徒tú弟dì心得xīn dé心xīn得dé開kāi悟wù退回tuì huí退tuì回huí本位běn wèi本běn位wèi去了qù le去qù了le

The two disciples attained awakening in their hearts and returned to their original places.

又yòu過guò二年èr nián二èr年nián時shí值zhí八月bā yuè八bā月yuè天氣tiān qì天tiān氣qì

Two more years passed, and the weather turned to the eighth month.

秋雨qiū yǔ秋qiū雨yǔ霏霏fēi fēi霏fēi不bù寒hán暑shǔ

Autumn rains fell gently; it was neither cold nor hot.

妖yāo蟒mǎng出chū洞dòng，思sī尋人xún rén尋xún，見靖松道人rén喫chī見jiàn靖jìng松sōng釣，妖蟒匍至，望著道人dào rén道dào在zài溪xī邊biān垂釣chuí diào垂chuí釣diào匍pú至zhì望著wàng zhù望wàng著zhù喝hē一口yì kǒu一yì口kǒu毒氣dú qì毒dú氣qì

The demon python emerged from its cave, seeking someone to devour. Spotting Daoist Jingsong fishing by the stream, it crept up and exhaled a mouthful of poisonous breath toward him.

若是ruò shì若ruò是shì平píng筋骨皆軟，這道人rén筋骨jīn gǔ筋jīn骨gǔ皆jiē軟ruǎn這zhè道人dào rén道dào不慌不忙bù huāng bù máng不bù慌huāng忙máng口kǒu稱chēng

If it were an ordinary person, their sinews and bones would go limp. But the Daoist, unhurried and unflustered, uttered:

「善哉shàn zāi，善shàn哉zāi！」

"Excellent, excellent!"

目mù運yùn回huí光guāng，毒氣dú qì毒dú氣qì消散xiāo sàn消xiāo散sàn

He turned his inner light back upon himself, and the poisonous breath dissipated.

妖yāo蟒mǎng又yòu運yùn一yī口臭kǒu chòu口kǒu臭chòu噴上身來。道人頂上放出一朵金蓮花，惡涎xián噴pēn上身shàng shēn上shàng身shēn來lái道人dào rén道dào人rén頂上dǐng shàng頂dǐng放出fàng chū放fàng出chū一朵yì duǒ朵duǒ金jīn蓮花lián huā蓮lián花huā惡è紛紛fēn fēn紛fēn四散sì sàn四sì散sàn

The demon python then gathered a mouthful of foul slime and spat it onto his body. From the top of the Daoist's head emerged a golden lotus flower, and the foul slime scattered away in all directions.

妖yāo蟒mǎng大怒dà nù大dà怒nù飛fēi撲來，道人隱身shēn撲來pū lái撲pū來lái道人dào rén道dào人rén隱身yǐn shēn隱yǐn不bù見jiàn