第二dì èr第dì二èr十回shí huí十shí回huí金牛jīn niú金jīn牛niú關guān康kāng和hé換huàn將jiāng五wǔ狼láng鎮zhèn木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán裝zhuāng神shén二十èr shí

Chapter 20: At Jinniu Pass, Kang He Exchanges Generals; At Wulang Town, Mulan Poses as a Deity

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō尉wèi遲chí元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài進jìn了liǎo界jiè牌pái對duì軍師jūn shī軍jūn師shī歎tàn道dào

Marshal Yuchi entered Jiepai Pass and sighed to the strategist,

「我wǒ自zì隨suí主zhǔ上shàng起兵qǐ bīng起qǐ兵bīng以來yǐ lái以yǐ來lái搶qiāng關guān劫寨jié zhài劫jié寨zhài勢如破竹shì rú pò zhú勢shì牌如rú破pò竹zhú未有wèi yǒu未wèi有yǒu界jiè牌pái如是rú shì是shì之zhī難nán

"Since I followed His Majesty to raise an army, we have seized passes and captured camps with unstoppable force, like splitting bamboo. Never have I encountered such difficulty as at Jiepai Pass."

正zhèng歎tàn念niàn間jiàn，焦jiāo文wén差chà人rén解jiě頡jié和hé獻xiàn捷jié。

As he was sighing, Jiao Wen sent men to deliver Jie He as a captive and report a victory.

不bù一時yì shí一yì時shí寶bǎo林lín差chà人rén解jiě康kāng利lì至zhì書shū中zhōng言yán取qǔ金牛jīn niú金jīn牛niú關guān之意zhī yì之zhī意yì

Soon after, Baolin sent men to deliver Kang Li, along with a letter explaining his plan to take Jinniu Pass.

尉wèi遲chí恭gōng頓足dùn zú頓dùn足zú道dào「畜生chù sheng畜chù生sheng無知wú zhī無wú知zhī自恃zì shì自zì恃shì必bì為wéi番fān虜lǔ矣yǐ

Yuchi Gong stamped his foot and said, "That rash, ignorant brute will surely be captured by the barbarians."

過了guò le過guò了le二日èr rì二èr日rì程chéng鐵牛tiě niú鐵tiě牛niú差chà人rén下xià書shū言yán寶bǎo林lín被bèi捉zhuō聞wén木mù箕jī有yǒu取qǔ宛wǎn邱qiū之意zhī yì之zhī意yì求qiú元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài發兵fā bīng發fā兵bīng救援jiù yuán救jiù援yuán

Two days later, Cheng Tieniu sent a letter saying that Baolin had been captured, and that he had heard Muqi intended to take Wanqiu; he begged the marshal to dispatch troops for relief.

李lǐ靖jìng道dào： 「元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài可kě如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ庶shù令lìng番fān國guó君臣jūn chén君jūn臣chén相xiāng忌jì

Li Jing said, "Marshal, you may do thus and so, so that the barbarian ruler and his ministers will become suspicious of each other."

尉wèi遲chí恭gōng修xiū書shū一封yì fēng一yì封fēng先將xiān jiāng先xiān將jiāng康kāng利lì放了fàng le放fàng了le差chà人rén送sòng往wǎng金牛jīn niú金jīn牛niú關guān

Yuchi Gong wrote a letter, first released Kang Li, and sent him with the letter to Jinniu Pass.

康kāng和hé阿ā觀guān書shū云yún： 元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài執迷不悟zhí mí bú wù執zhí迷mí不bú悟wù徒tú損sǔn兵bīng折zhé將jiāng何hé益yì於wū國guó

Kang He’s letter read: "The Marshal remains stubbornly deluded, only wasting troops and losing generals. What benefit is this to your state?"

今jīn送sòng公子gōng zǐ公gōng子zǐ回國huí guó帥若賜寶林不死，令其自回huí國guó元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài若ruò賜cì寶bǎo林lín不死bù sǐ不bù死sǐ令lìng其qí自zì不才bù cái才cái亦yì頡jié和hé等děng營yíng

Now I am sending the young prince back to your state. If the Marshal spares Baolin's life and orders him to return on his own, I too shall send Jie He and the others back to your camp.

康kāng和hé阿ā看kàn罷bà，也yě差chà人rén送sòng寶bǎo林lín回huí營yíng。

After reading this, Kang He also sent men to escort Baolin back to the camp.

尉wèi遲chí恭gōng卻què將jiāng頡jié和hé、額é保bǎo、保齡líng囚qiú在zài營yíng中zhōng，對duì差chà人rén云yún：

Yuchi Gong, however, imprisoned Jie He, E Bao, and Baoling in his camp and said to the messenger,

「你nǐ回去huí qù回huí去qù上shàng覆fù康kāng，說三位將軍降了我國，元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài說shuō三位sān wèi三sān位wèi將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn降了jiàng le降jiàng了le我國wǒ guó我wǒ國guó不必bú bì不bú必bì望wàng他tā

"Go back and report to Marshal Kang that the three generals have surrendered to our state, and that he need not expect them to return."

番fān使shǐ祇qí得dé回huí營yíng稟bǐng知zhī元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài

The barbarian envoy had no choice but to return to camp and report this to the marshal.

康kāng和hé阿ā笑xiào道dào： 「焉有yān yǒu焉yān有yǒu破pò關guān失shī城chéng而不ér bù而ér乎？三將既不bù折zhé將jiāng乎hū三sān既不jì bù既jì回huí留liú蠢chǔn子zǐ何hé用yòng

Kang He laughed and said, "How can one take passes and capture cities without losing some generals? Since the three generals are not returning, what use is there in keeping that fool of a son?"

命mìng將jiāng康kāng利lì斬首zhǎn shǒu斬zhǎn首shǒu

He ordered that Kang Li be beheaded.

木mù箕jī道dào： 「事由shì yóu事shì謀，數由yóu天定。此番失利，不在康利一人rén謀móu數shù天tiān定dìng此cǐ番fān失利shī lì失shī利lì不在bú zài不bú在zài康kāng一人yì rén一yì祈qí元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài赦shè之zhī木箕mù jī

Muqi said, "Affairs are planned by men, but destiny is decreed by Heaven. This defeat does not rest on Kang Li alone. I beg the Marshal to pardon him."

康kāng和hé阿ā道dào： 「康利lì回huí，寶bǎo林lín去qù，猶yóu縱zòng虎hǔ而ér收shōu羊yáng﹔而三sān將jiāng又yòu不bù回，自zì捨shě餌ěr而失shī魚yú也yě。南方nán fāng南nán方fāng人rén狡jiǎo甚shèn吾wú必bì欲yù破pò之zhī」

Kang He said, "Kang Li returns while Baolin departs—that is like releasing a tiger and taking in a sheep. And now the three generals do not return—that is like throwing away bait and losing the fish. The southerners are extremely cunning, but I am determined to defeat them."

遂suì放了fàng le放fàng了le康kāng利lì

Thereupon he released Kang Li.

過了guò le過guò了le二日èr rì二èr日rì忽hū哨shào馬飛mǎ fēi馬mǎ飛fēi報bào唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng離lí關guān不bù遠yuǎn紮營zhā yíng紮zhā營yíng

Two days later, a scout rushed in to report: "The Tang troops have pitched camp not far from the pass!"

康kāng和hé阿ā令lìng木mù箕jī守shǒu關guān，不bù表biǎo。

Kang He ordered Muqi to defend the pass. No more of this for now.

自此zì cǐ自zì此cǐ番兵fān bīng番fān兵bīng年nián餘yú不出bù chū不bù出chū

From then on, the barbarian troops did not venture out for over a year.

再說zài shuō再zài說shuō五wǔ狼láng鎮守zhèn shǒu木蘭，一日出鎮zhèn守shǒu將jiāng朱zhū木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán一日yí rì一yí日rì出chū巡查xún chá巡xún查chá見jiàn番fān民mín於wū清明qīng míng清qīng明míng佳節jiā jié佳jiā節jié祭掃jì sǎo祭jì掃sǎo墳墓fén mù墳fén墓mù

Turning to Zhu Mulan, the garrison commander at Wulang Town: one day, while patrolling the town, he saw the barbarian people sweeping and offering sacrifices at their graves during the Qingming Festival.

自己zì jǐ自zì己jǐ想起xiǎng qǐ想xiǎng起qǐ老lǎo

He then thought of his aged

父fù、老母lǎo mǔ老lǎo母mǔ潸然shān rán潸shān然rán淚lèi下xià

father and mother, and tears streamed down his face.

回huí至zhì帳zhàng中zhōng，心xīn下xià想xiǎng道dào： 「番fān國guó多duō賢xián，不能bù néng不bù能néng就jiù滅miè干戈gān gē干gān戈gē息？父母何hé日rì可kě息xī父母fù mǔ父fù母mǔ可見kě jiàn見jiàn

Returning to his tent, he thought to himself: "The barbarian land has many able men, so it cannot be easily conquered. When will these wars ever end? When will I see my father and mother again?"

失聲shī shēng失shī聲shēng大哭dà kū大dà哭kū起來qǐ lái起qǐ來lái

He broke down and wept aloud.

朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng勸慰quàn wèi勸quàn慰wèi了liǎo一回yì huí一yì回huí木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán坐zuò而不ér bù而ér不bù臥wò

Zhu Ming comforted him for a while, but Mulan remained sitting and could not lie down to rest.

忽hū聽tīng鴻雁hóng yàn鴻hóng雁yàn啞啞yǎ yǎ啞yǎ而ér鳴míng木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán吟詩yín shī吟yín詩shī一首yì shǒu一yì首shǒu

Suddenly he heard wild geese honking as they flew. Mulan recited a poem.

詩shī曰yuē： 鴻雁hóng yàn鴻hóng雁yàn寄語jì yǔ寄jì語yǔ塞北sài běi塞sài北běi鄉xiāng遐xiá飛fēi萬里wàn lǐ萬wàn里lǐ成chéng行列háng liè行háng列liè

The poem says: Wild geese send word to the northern frontier, flying far in rows for ten thousand miles.

三sān冬dōng食shí稻dào春chūn北běi翔xiáng，風fēng泊bó楊柳yáng liǔ楊yáng柳liǔ故gù根gēn別bié

They eat rice through winter, then north in spring they soar, by winds they pause where willows stand, their native roots no more.

征夫zhēng fū征zhēng夫fū十萬shí wàn十shí萬wàn來lái翔xiáng方fāng寒霜hán shuāng寒hán霜shuāng秋雨qiū yǔ秋qiū雨yǔ花開huā kāi花huā開kāi謝xiè

A hundred thousand soldiers march where wild geese fly; cold frost and autumn rains come as blossoms bloom and die.

笳jiā聲shēng冉冉rǎn rǎn冉rǎn心xīn慘cǎn傷shāng被bèi甲jiǎ枕zhěn戈gē星光xīng guāng星xīng光guāng潔jié

The wavering sound of the reed pipe wounds the heart; in armor, head on spear, they sleep beneath starlight so pure and bright.

狐hú死sǐ邱qiū首shǒu義yì難忘nán wàng難nán忘wàng龍lóng淵底獸藏cáng淵yuān底dǐ獸shòu穴xué

A dying fox still turns its head to its native hill—such loyalty is hard to forget; the dragon hides in deep abyss, and beasts in their dens lie still.

願yuàn隨suí主zhǔ將jiāng返fǎn帝dì鄉xiāng，父fù兮xī母mǔ兮長cháng闊kuò絕jué。

I long to follow my general back to the imperial land—but O my father, O my mother, forever separated we stand.

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán歌gē罷bà拊fǔ自憶道： 「突厥雖明，今窮兵已久，不能無欲速之心xīn自zì憶yì道dào突厥tū jué突tū厥jué有時而昏。番將雖suī明míng，今jīn窮qióng兵bīng已久yǐ jiǔ已yǐ久jiǔ不能bù néng妒賢之人。妒賢則智者有時而黜。欲破番邦，非反間不bù能néng無欲wú yù無wú欲yù速sù之zhī則明zé míng則zé者zhě有yǒu時shí而ér昏hūn番fān將jiāng智zhì失利shī lì失shī利lì妒dù賢xián人rén智者zhì zhě黜chù破pò邦bāng非fēi反fǎn間jiàn不可bù kě可kě

After Mulan finished the song, she struck her chest and mused to herself: "Though the Turkic khan is perceptive, he has exhausted his troops for so long that he cannot help but desire a quick victory. The desire for speed will sometimes blind even the perceptive. Though the barbarian generals are wise, they have suffered defeat for so long that there cannot but be those who envy the worthy. When envy strikes, even the wise may be dismissed. To break the barbarian state, nothing but a counter-espionage scheme will do."

遂心suì xīn遂suì心xīn生shēng一yī欲外除木箕之勇，內滅康和阿之智，祇是無用計jì欲yù外wài除chú木mù箕jī之zhī勇yǒng內nèi滅miè康kāng和hé阿ā智zhì祇是qí shì祇qí是shì無用wú yòng無wú用yòng人rén

Thereupon she devised a plan: to eliminate Muqi's bravery from without and destroy Kang He's wisdom from within. Only, she lacked someone to carry out the scheme.

一日yí rì一yí日rì鎮上zhèn shàng鎮zhèn上shàng黃huáng成chéng老人lǎo rén老lǎo人rén進帳jìn zhàng進jìn帳zhàng，木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán迎yíng入rù坐定zuò dìng坐zuò定dìng道dào

One day, the elder Huang Cheng from the town entered the tent. Mulan welcomed him in, and after they were seated, Mulan said,

「連日lián rì連lián務羈身，未能候教。今日rì軍務jūn wù軍jūn務wù羈jī身shēn未能wèi néng未wèi能néng候教hòu jiào候hòu教jiào今日jīn rì今jīn老丈lǎo zhàng老lǎo丈zhàng玉yù臨lín必有bì yǒu必bì有yǒu佳jiā言yán惠huì我wǒ

"These days military affairs have kept me busy, so I have not been able to seek your guidance. Today, your honored presence surely brings wise words to benefit me!"

黃huáng成道chéng dào成chéng道dào「老lǎo民mín特tè來lái與yǔ將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn賀喜hè xǐ賀hè喜xǐ

Huang Cheng said, "I, an old commoner, have come specially to offer congratulations to the General!"

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán道dào「末mò將jiāng寄jì身shēn萬里wàn lǐ萬wàn里lǐ何hé喜xǐ可kě賀hè」

Mulan replied, "I am a humble officer stationed ten thousand miles from home. What joy is there to congratulate?"

黃huáng成道chéng dào成chéng 「鎮西花子麻令妹，名花阿珍，性好幽靜，以念佛看經為樂。情願出家修道dào鎮西zhèn xī鎮zhèn西xī花子huā zǐ屢被兄長譴責，花huā子zǐ麻má令妹lìng mèi令lìng妹mèi名míng阿ā珍zhēn性xìng好hǎo幽靜yōu jìng幽yōu靜jìng以yǐ念佛niàn fó念niàn佛fó看kàn經jīng為wéi樂lè情qíng願yuàn出家chū jiā出chū家jiā修道xiū dào修xiū不肯bù kěn不bù肯kěn嫁人jià rén嫁jià人rén屢lǚ被bèi兄長xiōng cháng兄xiōng長cháng譴責qiǎn zé譴qiǎn責zé百般bǎi bān百bǎi般bān不從bù cóng從cóng憐lián其qí年輕nián qīng年nián輕qīng今jīn

Huang Cheng said, "West of the town, Hua Zima has a younger sister named Hua Azhen. She loves quietude and finds joy in chanting Buddha's name and reading scriptures. She wishes to become a nun and cultivate the Way, and refuses to marry. Her brother has repeatedly scolded her, but she defies him in every way. Her brother, pitying her youth, this

春chūn又yòu逼bī他tā出嫁chū jià出chū嫁jià阿ā珍zhēn不從bù cóng不bù從cóng被bèi兄長xiōng cháng兄xiōng長cháng痛打tòng dǎ痛tòng打dǎ數十shù shí數shù十shí次cì死sǐ而ér復蘇fù sū復fù蘇sū阿珍ā zhēn

spring again forced her to marry. Azhen refused and was beaten dozens of times by her brother, to the point of losing consciousness and reviving.

花子huā zǐ花huā子zǐ麻má即jí欲yù破pò其qí齋戒zhāi jiè齋zhāi戒jiè阿ā珍zhēn不得已bù dé yǐ不bù得dé已yǐ乃nǎi哭kū道dào阿珍ā zhēn

Hua Zima then wanted to break her fasts and precepts. Azhen, with no choice, wept and said,

‘阿兄ā xiōng阿ā兄xiōng必bì欲yù我wǒ出嫁chū jià出chū嫁jià除非是chú fēi shì除chú非fēi是shì朱zhū將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn不可bù kě不bù可kě

'If my elder brother absolutely insists that I marry, it must be none other than General Zhu.'

花子huā zǐ花huā子zǐ麻má無法wú fǎ無wú法fǎ祇qí得dé託tuō來與將軍作伐。 老lǎo民mín亦思將軍與阿珍之年貌相當，故大膽前來lái與yǔ將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn作zuò伐fá亦yì思sī阿ā珍zhēn之zhī年nián貌mào相當xiāng dāng相xiāng當dāng故gù大膽dà dǎn大dà膽dǎn前來qián lái前qián賀喜hè xǐ賀hè喜xǐ木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán道dào

Hua Zima had no other recourse, and so he could only entrust this old servant to come and act as a matchmaker for the General. I, too, considered that the General and Ah Zhen are well-matched in both age and appearance, which is why I have boldly come forward to offer my congratulations!" Mulan said:

「臨lín敵dí招zhāo親qīn，有yǒu干gān軍令jūn lìng軍jūn令lìng末mò將jiāng家中jiā zhōng家jiā中zhōng已有yǐ yǒu已yǐ妻子qī zǐ妻qī子zǐ此事cǐ shì此cǐ事shì斷duàn不敢bù gǎn不bù敢gǎn從命cóng mìng從cóng命mìng

"Taking a wife while facing the enemy violates military orders. I already have a wife at home. I dare not comply with this request!"

黃huáng成道chéng dào成chéng道dào「將軍jiāng jūn乃朝中貴人，家中就有妻子，此事祇要將jiāng軍jūn乃nǎi朝cháo，老民情願向元帥營中zhōng貴人guì rén貴guì人rén家中jiā zhōng家jiā就有jiù yǒu就jiù有yǒu妻子qī zǐ妻qī子zǐ此事cǐ shì此cǐ事shì祇要qí yào祇qí要yào首肯shǒu kěn首shǒu肯kěn老lǎo民情mín qíng民mín情qíng願yuàn向xiàng元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài營yíng陳情chén qíng陳chén討tǎo令lìng

Huang Cheng said, "The General is a high official of the court. Even if you have a wife at home, if you will only give your consent, I am willing to go to the Marshal's camp, state the circumstances, and seek his permission."

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán道dào「軍法jūn fǎ軍jūn乃天下之公法fǎ乃nǎi天下tiān xià天tiān下xià之zhī公法gōng fǎ公gōng也yě元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài必bì不bù私sī與yǔ一人yì rén一yì人rén老丈lǎo zhàng老lǎo丈zhàng休xiū往wǎng

Mulan said, "Military law is the public law of the realm. The Marshal surely will not show favor to any one person. Do not go, elder."

黃huáng成chéng辭cí出chū，與yǔ花子huā zǐ麻商議，竟投元帥大營，備呈其事。李靖知木蘭是女扮男妝，又恐黃成是奸細，就袖占一課，得大吉之兆，發下軍令，令花huā子zǐ麻má商議shāng yì商shāng議yì竟jìng投tóu元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài大dà營yíng備bèi呈chéng其qí事shì李lǐ靖jìng知zhī木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán是shì女nǚ扮bàn男nán妝zhuāng又yòu恐kǒng奸細jiān xì奸jiān細xì就jiù袖xiù占zhàn一yī課kè得dé大吉dà jí吉jí之兆zhī zhào之zhī兆zhào發fā下xià軍令jūn lìng軍jūn令lìng送sòng妹mèi親qīn

Huang Cheng took his leave, discussed with Hua Zima, and then went straight to the Marshal's main camp, where he reported the matter in full. Li Jing knew that Mulan was a woman disguised as a man. Also suspecting that Huang Cheng might be a spy, he performed a divination using the yarrow stalks in his sleeve. The omen was highly auspicious. He then issued a military order, commanding Hua Zima to send his sister to Mulan for marriage.

黃huáng成chéng得了dé le得dé了le軍令jūn lìng軍jūn令lìng奔回bēn huí奔bēn回huí五wǔ狼láng與yǔ木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán賀喜hè xǐ賀hè喜xǐ五狼wǔ láng

Having received the military order, Huang Cheng hurried back to Wulang and offered congratulations to Mulan.

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán見jiàn花子huā zǐ花huā子zǐ麻má入營rù yíng入rù營yíng責zé之zhī曰yuē

When Mulan saw Hua Zima enter the camp, she reproached him, saying:

「汝rǔ妹mèi既jì奉fèng佛教fó jiào佛fó教jiào矢志shǐ zhì矢shǐ志zhì修行xiū xíng修xiū行xíng亦yì是shì美měi事shì必令其出嫁，亂其貞心？本藩捐金五百兩，爾ěr等děng何必hé bì何hé必bì令lìng其qí身。再若逼他出嫁chū jià出chū嫁jià亂luàn貞心zhēn xīn貞zhēn心xīn本běn藩fān捐juān金jīn五百wǔ bǎi五wǔ百bǎi兩liǎng可收kě shōu可kě收shōu去qù養yǎng他tā終身zhōng shēn終zhōng身shēn再zài若ruò逼bī定dìng當dāng重罰zhòng fá重zhòng罰fá五百兩wǔ bǎi liǎng

"Since your sister reveres Buddhism and is determined to cultivate the Way, that is a fine thing. Why must you force her to marry and disturb her chaste resolve? I, your prince, will donate five hundred taels of gold. Take it and support her for life. If you again force her to marry, you will be severely punished!"

花子huā zǐ花huā子zǐ麻má謝恩xiè ēn謝xiè恩ēn領lǐng銀yín而出ér chū而ér出chū回huí至zhì家中jiā zhōng家jiā中zhōng十分shí fēn十shí分fēn歡喜huān xǐ歡huān喜xǐ

Hua Zima thanked the general for his kindness, took the silver, and went home, overjoyed.

對duì妹子mèi zǐ妹mèi珍稱道朱將軍之德，將銀子zǐ阿ā珍zhēn稱道chēng dào稱chēng道dào朱zhū將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn之zhī德dé銀子yín zǐ銀yín取出qǔ chū取qǔ出chū

He then praised General Zhu's virtue to his sister Azhen and showed her the silver.

花huā阿ā珍zhēn道dào： 「奴nú未wèi出嫁chū jià，即先收朱氏養廉，我是朱家人也。願入營隨侍朱將軍為妾，為婢，聽其所命。況奴嫁字出chū嫁jià即jí意不再留。阿兄如違奴命，奴願先xiān收shōu朱zhū氏shì養廉yǎng lián養yǎng廉lián我是wǒ shì我wǒ是shì家人jiā rén家jiā人rén也yě願yuàn入營rù yíng入rù營yíng隨侍suí shì隨suí侍shì將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn為wéi妾qiè婢bì聽tīng其所qí suǒ其qí所suǒ命mìng況kuàng字zì出口chū kǒu口kǒu意yì不再bú zài不bú再zài留liú阿兄ā xiōng兄xiōng如rú違wéi死sǐ之前zhī qián之zhī前qián以yǐ明míng心xīn

Hua Azhen said, "Before I am even married, I have already received support from the Zhu family. I am now a member of the Zhu household. I wish to enter the camp and serve General Zhu as a concubine or a maidservant, obeying whatever he commands. Moreover, since I have spoken the word 'marry,' I will not go back on my intent. If Elder Brother disobeys my wish, I would rather die before his eyes to show where my heart lies."

花子huā zǐ花huā子zǐ麻má無法wú fǎ無wú法fǎ祇qí得dé又yòu請qǐng黃huáng成chéng入營rù yíng入rù營yíng

Hua Zima had no choice but to invite Huang Cheng to the camp once more.

黃huáng成chéng入營rù yíng入rù營yíng見jiàn木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán有yǒu不悅bú yuè不bú悅yuè之意zhī yì之zhī意yì硬著yìng zhù硬yìng著zhù面皮miàn pí面miàn皮pí說道shuō dào說shuō道dào

Huang Cheng entered the camp and, seeing that Mulan seemed displeased, steeled himself and said:

「老lǎo民進mín jìn民mín進jìn營yíng端的duān de端duān的de來lái與yǔ將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn賀喜hè xǐ賀hè喜xǐ

"This old commoner has come to the camp truly to offer congratulations to the General."

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán道dào「老丈lǎo zhàng老lǎo丈zhàng又yòu賀hè何hé喜xǐ

Mulan said, "What joy does the elder come to congratulate me on now?"

黃huáng成chéng即將jí jiāng即jí將jiāng阿ā珍zhēn一片yí piàn一yí片piàn言語yán yǔ言yán語yǔ說shuō上shàng木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán道dào

Huang Cheng then repeated Azhen's words. Mulan said,

「阿ā珍zhēn必bì欲yù隨suí我wǒ，我有wǒ yǒu有yǒu一言yì yán一yì言yán要yào他tā依從yī cóng依yī從cóng方fāng可kě入營rù yíng入rù營yíng黃huáng成道chéng dào成chéng道dào阿珍ā zhēn

"If Azhen insists on following me, there is one condition I require her to abide by before she may enter the camp." Huang Cheng said,

「阿ā珍zhēn之zhī心xīn一yī於wū將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn即jí有yǒu言語yán yǔ言yán語yǔ料liào無wú不從bù cóng不bù從cóng珍之zhēn zhī

"Azhen's heart is wholly devoted to the General. If you have a condition, I expect she will not refuse."

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán道dào「他要tā yào他tā要yào入營rù yíng入rù營yíng仍然réng rán仍réng，須待干戈平息，同我回家，見了公婆之面，然rán持齋chí zhāi持chí齋zhāi念佛niàn fó念niàn佛fó須xū待dài干戈gān gē干gān戈gē平息píng xī平píng息xī同tóng我wǒ回家huí jiā回huí家jiā見jiàn了liǎo公婆gōng pó公gōng婆pó之zhī面miàn然後rán hòu後hòu成婚chéng hūn成chéng婚hūn之面zhī miàn

Mulan said, "If she wants to enter the camp, she must continue to observe a vegetarian diet and chant the Buddha's name. She must wait until the wars have ended, then return home with me, meet my father and mother, and only after that shall we marry."

黃huáng成chéng退出tuì chū退tuì出chū向xiàng珍說道木蘭之言，花阿ā珍zhēn說道shuō dào說shuō道dào木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán之zhī言yán花huā大喜dà xǐ大dà喜xǐ

Huang Cheng withdrew and relayed Mulan's words to Azhen. Hua Azhen was overjoyed and said,

「此cǐ乃nǎi我wǒ之zhī本心běn xīn本běn心xīn也yě

"This is exactly what I have in my own heart."

黃huáng成chéng又yòu進jìn營yíng來說lái shuō來lái說shuō道dào「今日jīn rì今jīn日rì方能fāng néng方fāng能néng賀喜hè xǐ賀hè喜xǐ

Huang Cheng again entered the camp and said, "Only today can I truly offer congratulations."

木蘭mù lán再不能推辭，聽花子麻擇日送親入營。木mù蘭lán再zài不能bù néng不bù能néng推辭tuī cí推tuī辭cí聽tīng花子huā zǐ花huā子zǐ麻má擇zé日rì送sòng親qīn入營rù yíng入rù營yíng無事wú shì無wú事shì時shí與yǔ阿ā珍zhēn講解jiǎng jiě講jiǎng解jiě經義jīng yì經jīng義yì相xiāng得dé甚shèn歡huān阿珍ā zhēn

Mulan could no longer refuse. She allowed Hua Zima to choose an auspicious day to send the bride into the camp. When Mulan had free time, she would explain the scriptures to Hua Azhen, and they got along very happily.

自此zì cǐ自zì此cǐ南nán屏píng山頂shān dǐng山shān頂dǐng夜夜yè yè夜yè有yǒu火光huǒ guāng火huǒ光guāng出現chū xiàn出chū現xiàn

From then on, every night a fiery light appeared on the summit of Nanping Mountain.

日間rì jiàn日rì間jiàn人rén往wǎng視shì之zhī又yòu不bù見jiàn有yǒu形跡xíng jì形xíng跡jì

By day, when people went to look at it, no trace of anything could be seen.

如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ二月èr yuè二èr月yuè有餘yǒu yú有yǒu餘yú

This continued for more than two months.

一日yí rì，山民於山頂土中得一yí日rì山民shān mín山shān民mín於wū山頂shān dǐng頂dǐng土tǔ中zhōng得dé一石yì shí石shí碣jié上有shàng yǒu上shàng有yǒu硃zhū書shū篆文zhuàn wén篆zhuàn文wén

One day, a mountain dweller found a stone tablet in the soil on the mountaintop, inscribed with cinnabar seal-script characters.

其qí詞cí曰yuē： 木mù箕jī來lái，木蘭mù lán蘭lán死sǐ木箕mù jī

The inscription read: "When Muqi comes, Mulan dies.

康kāng和hé阿ā，為wéi番fān主zhǔ。

Kang He shall be the barbarian lord."

鎮上zhèn shàng鎮zhèn上shàng番fān民mín齊qí往wǎng觀guān之zhī沉chén石shí碣jié於wū水中shuǐ zhōng水shuǐ中zhōng不bù令lìng木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán得知dé zhī得dé知zhī

The barbarian people of the town all went to look at it, then sank the stone tablet in the water, preventing Mulan from learning of it.

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán風聞fēng wén風fēng聞wén其qí事shì召zhào問之，花子huā zǐ花huā子zǐ麻má問wèn之zhī隱yǐn而不ér bù而ér不bù言yán

Mulan heard rumors of the matter and summoned Hua Zima to question him, but Hua Zima concealed the truth and said nothing.

是shì夜yè，木蘭mù lán同子麻飲酒，子麻見妹子與木mù蘭lán同tóng子zǐ麻má飲酒yǐn jiǔ飲yǐn酒jiǔ見jiàn妹子mèi zǐ妹mèi與yǔ十分shí fēn十shí分fēn相敬xiāng jìng相xiāng敬jìng微微wēi wēi微wēi歎息tàn xī歎tàn息xī

That night, Mulan drank wine with Zima. Seeing how respectfully his sister and Mulan treated each other, Zima sighed softly.

因yīn說道shuō dào說shuō道dào「將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn日後rì hòu日rì後hòu出征chū zhēng出chū征zhēng遇yù木mù箕jī千萬qiān wàn千qiān萬wàn記jì之zhī木箕mù jī

Then he said, "General, when you go into battle in the future, if you encounter Muqi, be absolutely sure to remember this."

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán再zài問wèn石shí碣jié之zhī文wén花子huā zǐ花huā子zǐ麻má方fāng以yǐ入rù告gào

Mulan again asked about the text on the stone tablet, and only then did Hua Zima report it to her.

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán見jiàn有愛重之意，使附耳輕言如此如此，許以千金為謝，子zǐ麻má有yǒu愛ài重zhòng之意zhī yì之zhī意yì使shǐ附耳fù ěr附fù耳ěr輕言qīng yán輕qīng言yán如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ許xū以yǐ千金qiān jīn千qiān金jīn為wéi謝xiè應允yīng yǔn應yīng允yǔn即jí從cóng偏piān路lù來lái至zhì番fān都dōu到處dào chǔ到dào處chǔ傳說chuán shuō傳chuán說shuō南nán屏山píng shān屏píng山shān天tiān降jiàng符fú瑞ruì並bìng十二shí èr十shí二èr字zì篆文zhuàn wén篆zhuàn文wén互相hù xiāng互hù相xiāng

Seeing that Zima held her in affectionate regard, Mulan had him lean close and whispered to him such-and-such, promising a thousand taels of gold as thanks. Zima agreed and immediately took a side route to the barbarian capital, where he spread the word everywhere about the heavenly auspicious sign at Nanping Mountain and the twelve-character seal-script inscription, passing it from mouth to mouth.

又yòu於wū各路gè lù各gè路lù佈bù散sàn謠言yáo yán謠yáo言yán道dào唐táng公保gōng bǎo公gōng保bǎo為番主，康kāng和hé阿ā許為wéi番fān主zhǔ許xū內應nèi yīng內nèi應yīng

He also spread rumors on various roads, saying: "The Tang lord supports Kang He as the barbarian lord, and Kang He has promised to act as an inside responder."

如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ二日èr rì二èr日rì連夜lián yè連lián夜yè逃回táo huí逃táo回huí五wǔ狼láng五狼wǔ láng

After doing this for two days, he fled back to Wulang under cover of night.

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō番fān主zhǔ突厥tū jué突tū厥jué因yīn關，並宛邱、紅羅二城，又失shī了liǎo界jiè牌pái關guān和，並bìng宛wǎn邱qiū紅hóng羅luó二èr城chéng又yòu兄弟xiōng dì兄xiōng弟dì頡jié和hé數shù員yuán上shàng將jiāng日夜rì yè日rì夜yè憂慮yōu lǜ憂yōu慮lǜ

Now, the barbarian ruler, Turjuk, had lost Jiepai Pass, as well as the two cities of Wanqiu and Hongluo, along with his brother Jie He and several high-ranking generals. Day and night he worried and fretted.

一日yí rì一yí日rì近臣jìn chén近jìn臣chén將jiāng南nán屏山píng shān屏píng山shān之事zhī shì之zhī事shì奏聞zòu wén奏zòu聞wén突厥tū jué突tū厥jué猜疑cāi yí猜cāi疑yí不定bú dìng不bú定dìng

One day, a close minister reported the affair of Nanping Mountain to him. Turjuk was filled with suspicion and indecision.

次cì日rì升shēng帳zhàng，文武wén wǔ文wén武wǔ畢bì集jí突厥tū jué突tū厥jué

The next day, he ascended his command tent. Civil and military officials all assembled. Turjuk said:

曰yuē： 「康kāng元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài與yǔ相拒，今已七年，而唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng相xiāng拒jù今jīn已yǐ七年qī nián七qī年nián而ér不退bú tuì不bú退tuì我國wǒ guó我wǒ國guó難nán安ān孤gū欲yù另lìng調diào一yī將jiāng往wǎng代dài和hé阿ā卿qīng等děng何人hé rén何hé人rén可kě

"Marshal Kang has been locked in stalemate with the Tang forces for seven years now. Yet the Tang troops do not retreat, and our kingdom finds no peace. I wish to transfer another general to replace Kang He. Which of you gentlemen can go?"

左zuǒ庶shù長cháng蘇sū慶qìng桂guì奏zòu曰yuē： 「勝負shèng fù勝shèng負fù兵家bīng jiā，以臣愚見，元帥雖按兵bīng家jiā之zhī常cháng以yǐ臣chén愚見yú jiàn愚yú見jiàn元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài雖suī按兵不動àn bīng bú dòng按àn不bú動dòng其qí得dé有yǒu五wǔ

The Senior Minister, Su Qinggui, memorialized, "Victory and defeat are common among military men. In my humble opinion, although the Marshal has kept his troops still and not moved, there are five advantages to his approach."

突厥tū jué突tū厥jué曰yuē「卿qīng試shì言yán之zhī。」

Turjuk said, "State them, Minister."

蘇sū慶qìng桂guì曰yuē： 「唐兵táng bīng利在速戰，元帥以逸待勞，俟彼軍心怠慢，而後攻其不備，一得也。唐táng主向日，八年之間掃清天下。今尉遲恭來此七載，費盡無限錢糧，他日君臣交責，二得也。倘天雨綿連不已，軍需不敷，或久旱無收，唐兵bīng利lì在zài速戰sù zhàn速sù那時乘勢攻之，若破竹然，三得也。再過數年，唐營將老兵衰，戰zhàn元帥yuán shuài元yuán，四得也。兵久不回，誰無父母？誰無兄弟？誰無妻子？久暴沙場，難乎為情，心生怨慕，軍心易慢。主帥shuài以逸待勞yǐ yì dài láo威，我主再以yǐ逸yì待dài勞láo俟sì彼bǐ軍jūn心xīn怠慢dài màn怠dài慢màn而ér後hòu攻其不備gōng qí bú bèi攻gōng其qí不bú備bèi一yī得dé也yě主zhǔ向xiàng日rì八年bā nián八bā年nián之間zhī jiàn之zhī間jiàn掃清sǎo qīng掃sǎo清qīng天下tiān xià天tiān下xià今jīn尉wèi遲chí恭gōng來此lái cǐ來lái此cǐ七qī載zài費盡fèi jìn費fèi盡jìn無限wú xiàn無wú限xiàn錢糧qián liáng錢qián糧liáng他tā君臣jūn chén君jūn臣chén交jiāo責zé二èr倘tǎng雨yǔ綿mián連lián不已bù yǐ已yǐ軍需jūn xū需xū不敷bù fū敷fū或huò久jiǔ旱hàn收shōu必然bì rán必bì然rán引退yǐn tuì引yǐn退tuì那時nà shí那nà時shí乘勢chéng shì乘chéng勢shì若ruò破竹pò zhú破pò竹zhú三sān再zài過數guò shù過guò數shù營yíng將jiāng老兵lǎo bīng老lǎo衰shuāi則zé易yì克kè四sì回huí誰shuí父母fù mǔ父fù母mǔ兄弟xiōng dì兄xiōng弟dì妻子qī zǐ妻qī子zǐ暴bào沙shā場chǎng難nán乎hū為wéi情qíng生shēng怨yuàn慕mù主帥zhǔ shuài濟jì威wēi我wǒ恩義ēn yì恩ēn義yì五wǔ

Su Qinggui said: "The Tang forces are advantaged by a swift battle. Our Marshal, resting in comfort, waits for the exhausted enemy. He bides his time until their army's morale becomes slack, then attacks where they are unprepared. That is the first advantage. The Tang ruler, in the past, swept the realm clean within eight years. Now Yuchi Gong has been here for seven years, having consumed incalculable supplies and funds. One day the ruler and his ministers will hold each other accountable. That is the second advantage. If continuous rain falls, making military provisions insufficient, or if a long drought ruins the harvest, the Tang army will inevitably retreat. Then, if we take advantage of the situation to attack, it will be like splitting bamboo. That is the third advantage. In a few more years, the Tang officers will be old and their troops aging, making them easier to conquer. That is the fourth advantage. When soldiers stay long at war and do not return home—who among them has no parents? Who has no brothers? Who has no wife and children? Long exposure on the battlefield wears on the heart; they grow resentful and homesick, and their morale easily slackens. The enemy commander will have to enforce discipline with harshness. Then, if our lord wins them over with kindness and righteousness, that is the fifth advantage."

突厥tū jué突tū厥jué聽了tīng le聽tīng了le蘇sū慶qìng桂guì一片yí piàn一yí片piàn言語yán yǔ言yán語yǔ默默mò mò默mò回huí宮gōng

After hearing Su Qinggui's words, Turjuk silently returned to his palace.

脫tuō桑sāng、帖tiē罕hǎn二èr臣chén入rù宮gōng奏zòu曰yuē：

Two ministers, Tuo Sang and Tie Han, entered the palace and memorialized:

「主zhǔ上shàng奈何nài hé奈nài何hé聽了tīng le聽tīng一片遊辭，就罷了le蘇sū慶qìng桂guì一片yí piàn一yí片piàn遊yóu辭cí就jiù罷了bà le罷bà主意zhǔ yì意yì

"Why has Your Majesty, after listening to Su Qinggui's rambling words, abandoned his own resolve?"

突厥tū jué突tū厥jué曰yuē「蘇sū相xiāng條陳tiáo chén條tiáo陳chén得失dé shī得dé失shī諸zhū卿qīng皆不及康和阿，南屏符瑞之zhī才cái，又yòu皆jiē不及bù jí不bù及jí康kāng和hé阿ā南nán屏píng符fú瑞ruì之事zhī shì事shì不知bù zhī知zhī是shì真是zhēn shì真zhēn假jiǎ

Turjuk said, "Premier Su laid out the advantages and disadvantages. None of you gentlemen have abilities that match Kang He's. And as for the auspicious sign at Nanping, who knows whether it is true or false?"

二èr臣chén奏zòu曰yuē： 「康kāng利lì乃nǎi慶qìng桂guì之zhī婿xù，故gù蘇sū相xiāng力lì為wéi保全bǎo quán保bǎo全quán主公zhǔ gōng主zhǔ公gōng何不hé bù何hé不bù暗暗àn àn暗àn差chà人rén往南wǎng nán往wǎng南nán屏píng細xì探tàn虛xū寔shí

The two ministers memorialized, "Kang Li is Su Qinggui's son-in-law. That is why Premier Su strives to protect him. Why does Your Majesty not secretly send someone to Nanping to investigate the truth of the matter thoroughly?"

突厥tū jué突tū厥jué喜xǐ曰yuē「即jí差chà人rén扮作bàn zuò扮bàn作zuò鄉民xiāng mín鄉xiāng民mín往南wǎng nán往wǎng南nán屏山píng shān屏píng山shān探聽tàn tīng探tàn聽tīng

Turjuk was pleased and said, "Send someone at once disguised as a villager to Nanping Mountain to gather intelligence."

使者shǐ zhě使shǐ者zhě往返wǎng fǎn往wǎng返fǎn旬xún道： 「先是南屏夜有火光沖天，如此二月有餘，日rì回huí報道bào dào報bào道dào先是xiān shì先xiān是shì南nán屏píng夜yè山上有yǒu火光huǒ guāng火huǒ光guāng沖天chōng tiān沖chōng天tiān如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ二月èr yuè十二èr月yuè有餘yǒu yú餘yú日間rì jiàn間jiàn視shì之zhī並無bìng wú並bìng無wú形跡xíng jì形xíng跡jì土民tǔ mín土tǔ民mín恐山kǒng shān恐kǒng山shān上有shàng yǒu上shàng寶bǎo掘jué尋xún得dé石shí碣jié赤chì書shū篆文zhuàn wén篆zhuàn文wén十二shí èr十shí字zì所suǒ說shuō皆同jiē tóng皆jiē同tóng又yòu於wū各路gè lù各gè路lù打聽dǎ tīng打dǎ聽tīng尉wèi遲chí恭gōng欲yù保bǎo康kāng元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài為wéi番fān主zhǔ許xū內應nèi yīng內nèi應yīng南屏nán píng

The envoy traveled back and forth for ten days, then returned and reported: "First, at Nanping, flames shot up into the night sky for more than two months. When viewed by day, there was no trace. The local people, fearing there might be treasure on the mountain, dug in the soil and found a stone tablet with twelve cinnabar seal-script characters, all saying the same thing. Also, on various roads, they learned that Yuchi Gong wants to install Marshal Kang as the barbarian lord, and that Marshal Kang has promised to act as an inside responder."

突厥tū jué突tū厥jué聽了tīng le聽tīng了le大dà驚jīng「怪道dào怪guài唐人táng rén唐táng四將，祇放康利一人rén捉zhuō去qù四sì將jiāng祇qí放fàng康kāng利lì一人yì rén一yì回huí營yíng和hé阿ā果guǒ如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ吾wú國guó危wēi矣yǐ

Upon hearing this, Turjuk was greatly alarmed and said, "No wonder the Tang captured four generals but released only Kang Li back to camp. If Kang He has truly done this, our kingdom is in danger!"

雅yǎ丹dān娘娘niáng niáng娘niáng亦yì奏zòu曰yuē 「妾qiè妃fēi每měi見jiàn康kāng和hé阿ā靜jìng 默mò寡言guǎ yán寡guǎ言yán龍行虎步lóng xíng hǔ bù龍lóng行xíng虎hǔ步bù有人yǒu rén有yǒu人rén君jūn氣度qì dù氣qì度dù主公zhǔ gōng主zhǔ公gōng不可bù kě不bù可kě防fáng之zhī突厥tū jué突tū厥jué即jí命mìng國舅guó jiù和阿回國guó舅jiù福fú持chí手shǒu詔zhào往wǎng召zhào回國huí guó回huí