第二dì èr第dì二èr十一shí yī十shí一yī回huí金沙jīn shā金jīn沙shā谷gǔ木mù箕jī自刎zì wěn自zì刎wěn康kāng和hé阿ā仍réng復fù帥印shuài yìn帥shuài印yìn二十一èr shí yī

Chapter 21: Mu Ji Commits Suicide at Jinsha Valley; Kang and A Recovers the Commander's Seal

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō雅yǎ福fú每měi見jiàn康kāng和hé阿ā遇事yù shì遇yù事shì遲遲chí chí遲chí恂恂而ér行xíng出chū言yán恂xún謹jǐn道dào他tā胸中xiōng zhōng胸xiōng中zhōng無wú才cái雅福yǎ fú無才wú cái

It was said that Yafu, seeing how Kang and A always moved slowly in matters and spoke with a cautious, deferential manner, thought him to be talentless.

自zì來lái金牛jīn niú金jīn牛niú關guān接了jiē le接jiē了le帥印shuài yìn帥shuài印yìn甚整，分佈有法，又見jiàn營yíng中zhōng軍威jūn wēi軍jūn威wēi甚shèn整zhěng分佈fēn bù分fēn佈bù有yǒu法fǎ又yòu唐táng將jiāng皆jiē梟xiāo勇yǒng之zhī士shì難於nán wū難nán於wū驟zhòu勝shèng始shǐ信服xìn fú信xìn服fú康kāng和hé阿ā

After receiving the commander's seal at Jinniu Pass and observing the camp's formidable military discipline and orderly deployment, as well as seeing that the Tang generals were all fierce and brave warriors not easily defeated in a quick battle, Yafu finally came to believe in Kang and A's abilities.

一日yí rì一yí日rì福升帳，眾將參見已畢，雅yǎ福fú升shēng帳zhàng眾zhòng將jiāng參見cān jiàn參cān見jiàn已yǐ畢bì曰yuē

One day, Yafu ascended the command tent. After all the generals had paid their respects, Yafu said:

「唐táng將jiāng朱zhū木蘭mù lán佔住五狼鎮，甚為重要之，木mù蘭lán佔住zhàn zhù佔zhàn住zhù五wǔ狼láng鎮zhèn甚為shèn wéi甚shèn為wéi重要zhòng yào重zhòng要yào之zhī將軍jiāng jūn軍jūn可kě領兵lǐng bīng領lǐng兵bīng五千wǔ qiān千qiān往wǎng取qǔ

"The Tang general Zhu Mulan has occupied Wulang Town, which is of great importance. General Mu Ji, you may lead five thousand troops to seize it."

木mù箕jī曰yuē： 「求qiú元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài令lìng索suǒ雲yún祥xiáng布bù為輔wéi fǔ為wéi輔fǔ

Mu Ji said, "I request that the Marshal order Suo Yun and Xiang Bu to assist me as lieutenants."

雅yǎ福fú即令jí lìng即jí令lìng二人èr rén二èr人rén同行tóng háng同tóng行háng雅福yǎ fú

Yafu then ordered the two men to accompany him.

唐táng將jiāng朱zhū木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán聞wén番兵fān bīng，忙送花阿珍到娘家暫住，即令朱明領一千人馬，三更之時，來劫番fān兵bīng又yòu至zhì忙máng送花sòng huā送sòng花huā阿ā珍zhēn到dào娘家niáng jiā娘niáng家jiā暫住zàn zhù暫zàn住zhù即令jí lìng即jí令lìng朱明zhū míng明míng領lǐng一千yì qiān一yì千qiān人馬rén mǎ人rén馬mǎ三更sān gēng三sān更gēng之zhī時shí來lái劫jié營yíng阿珍ā zhēn

When the Tang general Zhu Mulan heard that the barbarian troops had arrived again, she hastily sent Hua Azhen to stay temporarily at her mother's home. She then ordered Zhu Ming to lead one thousand horsemen to raid the barbarian camp at the third watch.

殺shā入營rù yíng入rù營yíng中zhōng不bù見jiàn一人yì rén一yì人rén騎qí

They charged into the camp but found not a single man or horse.

朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng即jí退tuì番兵fān bīng番fān兵bīng四面sì miàn四sì面miàn圍wéi來lái

Zhu Ming immediately retreated, but the barbarian troops surrounded them from all sides.

朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng左zuǒ衝chōng右yòu突tū不能bù néng不bù能néng得出dé chū得dé出chū遂suì下馬xià mǎ下xià馬mǎ投降tóu xiáng投tóu降xiáng

Zhu Ming charged left and right but could not break out, so he dismounted and surrendered.

木mù箕jī將jiāng朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng囚qiú在zài，問木蘭營yíng中zhōng問wèn木蘭mù lán蘭lán虛xū寔shí

Mu Ji imprisoned Zhu Ming in the camp and questioned him about the true state of Mulan's forces.

朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng道dào「木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán自zì娶qǔ花huā女nǚ之後zhī hòu於酒色，不理軍務，況且孤軍無援。末將與彼有八拜之zhī後hòu沉chén於wū酒色jiǔ sè酒jiǔ色sè不理bù lǐ不bù理lǐ軍務jūn wù軍jūn務wù況且kuàng qiě況kuàng且qiě孤軍gū jūn孤gū無援wú yuán無wú援yuán末mò將與jiāng yǔ將jiāng與yǔ彼bǐ有yǒu八拜之交bā bài zhī jiāo八bā拜bài交jiāo待dài其qí勢shì敗bài願yuàn去qù說shuō來lái降jiàng

Zhu Ming said, "Since Mulan married the Hua woman, she has indulged in wine and pleasure and neglected military affairs. Moreover, her army is isolated without reinforcements. I have sworn an oath of brotherhood with her. When her situation becomes desperate, I am willing to persuade her to surrender."

木mù箕jī大喜dà xǐ大dà喜xǐ即jí賜cì酒jiǔ與yǔ朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng壓驚yā jīng壓yā驚jīng

Mu Ji was overjoyed and immediately gave wine to Zhu Ming to calm his nerves.

次cì日rì，木mù箕jī討tǎo戰zhàn，木蘭mù lán蘭lán不出bù chū不bù出chū

The next day, Mu Ji challenged Mulan to battle, but Mulan did not come out.

一連yì lián一yì連lián三日sān rì三sān日rì出，與素雲大戰五十餘合，祥布又來夾攻，木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán始shǐ出chū與yǔ素雲sù yún素sù雲yún大戰dà zhàn大dà戰zhàn五十wǔ shí五wǔ十shí餘yú合hé祥xiáng布bù又yòu來lái夾攻jiā gōng夾jiā攻gōng全quán無wú懼jù怯qiè力戰lì zhàn力lì二èr將jiāng

After three consecutive days, Mulan finally emerged and fought fiercely with Suo Yun for over fifty bouts. Xiang Bu then joined in a pincer attack, but Mulan showed no fear and fought both generals with all her strength.

木mù箕jī見jiàn木

Mu Ji saw that Mulan

蘭lán少年shào nián少shào年nián英雄yīng xióng英yīng雄xióng思sī與yǔ比bǐ試shì乃nǎi鳴míng金jīn收shōu軍jūn

was a young hero and wanted to test his skills against her, so he sounded the gong to recall his troops.

次cì日rì，木mù箕jī出陣chū zhèn，與木蘭大戰七十餘合，索雲、祥布左右抄出chū陣zhèn與yǔ兵大亂，木蘭mù lán向後即退，番兵已搶木蘭lán大戰dà zhàn大dà戰zhàn七十qī shí七qī十shí餘yú合hé索suǒ雲yún祥xiáng布bù左右zuǒ yòu左zuǒ右yòu抄出chāo chū抄chāo唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng大亂dà luàn亂luàn向後xiàng hòu向xiàng後hòu即jí退tuì番兵fān bīng番fān已yǐ搶qiāng營yíng盤pán祇qí得dé敗走bài zǒu敗bài走zǒu南nán屏山píng shān屏píng山shān向後即xiàng hòu jí

The next day, Mu Ji rode out and fought over seventy bouts with Mulan. Suo Yun and Xiang Bu then attacked from both flanks. The Tang army fell into chaos, and Mulan retreated. The barbarian troops had already seized Mulan's camp, so Mulan was forced to flee in defeat to Nanping Mountain.

次cì日rì，木mù箕jī領兵lǐng bīng領lǐng兵bīng圍住wéi zhù圍wéi住zhù南nán屏山píng shān屏píng山shān要yào路lù

The next day, Mu Ji led his troops to surround the vital paths of Nanping Mountain.

木mù箕jī探知tàn zhī探tàn知zhī無水，圍了五日，令人往山上shān shàng山shān上shàng無水wú shuǐ無wú水shuǐ圍了wéi le圍wéi了le五日wǔ rì五wǔ日rì令人lìng rén令lìng人rén往wǎng招降zhāo xiáng招zhāo降xiáng

Mu Ji learned that there was no water on the mountain. After besieging it for five days, he sent men up the mountain to summon the enemy to surrender.

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán許xū以yǐ次cì日rì下山xià shān下xià山shān詣yì營yíng中zhōng歸降guī jiàng歸guī降jiàng

Mulan promised to descend the mountain the next day and come to the camp to surrender.

木mù箕jī知zhī其qí是shì詐zhà，料liào他tā夜間yè jiàn夜yè間jiàn必然bì rán必bì然rán下山xià shān下xià山shān去qù投tóu尉wèi遲chí元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài大dà營yíng卻què於wū各處gè chǔ各gè處chǔ埋伏mái fú埋mái伏fú弓gōng弩nǔ尉遲wèi chí

Mu Ji knew this was a ruse, expecting that she would surely descend the mountain at night to defect to Marshal Yuchi's main camp. He therefore set ambushes with crossbows and archers at various places.

三更sān gēng三sān更gēng時候shí hòu時shí候hòu果然guǒ rán果guǒ然rán木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán衝chōng下山xià shān下xià山shān來lái卻què引yǐn兵bīng向xiàng西北xī běi西xī北běi而ér走zǒu

At the third watch, sure enough, Mulan charged down the mountain but led her troops toward the northwest.

木mù箕jī即jí收shōu伏兵fú bīng伏fú兵bīng用力yòng lì用yòng力lì追趕zhuī gǎn追zhuī趕gǎn及至jí zhì及jí逃至zhì天明tiān míng天tiān明míng木蘭mù lán蘭lán逃táo金沙jīn shā金jīn沙shā谷gǔ去了qù le去qù了le

Mu Ji immediately recalled his ambush troops and gave vigorous chase. By daybreak, Mulan had fled to Jinsha Valley.

木mù箕jī同tóng索suǒ雲yún、祥xiáng布引bù yǐn布bù引yǐn兵bīng大dà進jìn約yuē追zhuī七qī八里bā lǐ八bā里lǐ軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì報bào曰yuē七八qī bā

Mu Ji, together with Suo Yun and Xiang Bu, led the troops on a great advance. After pursuing for about seven or eight li, the soldiers reported:

「唐人táng rén唐táng人rén用yòng木石mù shí去路，道旁有一木mù石shí塞sāi斷duàn去路qù lù去qù路lù道dào旁páng有一yǒu yī有yǒu一yī木牌mù pái牌pái

"The Tang forces have blocked the road with logs and stones. There is a wooden sign by the roadside."

木mù箕jī與yǔ素雲sù yún素sù雲yún祥xiáng布bù馬上mǎ shàng馬mǎ，見牌上shàng觀guān之zhī見jiàn牌pái書shū云yún

Mu Ji, Suo Yun, and Xiang Bu looked at it from horseback. On the sign were written these words:

木mù箕jī至此zhì cǐ至zhì此cǐ速sù宜yí自縛zì fù自zì縛fù

"Mu Ji, having come this far, should promptly bind himself in surrender."

救jiù爾ěr軍馬jūn mǎ軍jūn馬mǎ免miǎn作zuò飛fēi灰huī

"Save your troops and horses, lest they be reduced to ashes."

木mù箕jī看kàn罷bà，大dà驚jīng道dào： 「吾wú中小zhōng xiǎo中zhōng小xiǎo蠻mán之zhī計jì也yě

After reading this, Mu Ji was greatly alarmed and exclaimed, "I have fallen into the little barbarian's trap."

三sān將jiāng下馬xià mǎ下xià馬mǎ抱頭bào tóu抱bào頭tóu大哭dà kū大dà哭kū

The three generals dismounted, held their heads, and wept bitterly.

山上shān shàng山shān上shàng唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng大叫dà jiào大dà叫jiào曰yuē番fān將jiāng身shēn入rù爾足踏之地，皆是地雷火坑huǒ kēng火huǒ坑kēng爾ěr足zú踏tà之地zhī dì之zhī地dì皆是jiē shì皆jiē是shì地雷dì léi雷léi能néng如rú司馬懿sī mǎ yì司sī馬mǎ懿yì哭得kū dé哭kū得dé天tiān降jiàng洪hóng雨yǔ則zé可免kě miǎn可kě免miǎn

The Tang soldiers on the mountain shouted, "Barbarian generals, you have stepped into a fiery pit. The ground beneath your feet is all land mines and fire traps. Unless you can, like Sima Yi, weep until heaven sends a torrential downpour, there is no escape."

番fān將jiāng抬頭tái tóu抬tái頭tóu看kàn時shí見jiàn唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng各gè執zhí火把huǒ bǎ火huǒ把bǎ四面sì miàn四sì面miàn堆積duī jī堆duī積jī茅máo柴chái無數wú shù無wú數shù料liào不能bù néng不bù能néng免miǎn三sān皆jiē望wàng北běi再拜zài bài再zài拜bài自刎zì wěn自zì刎wěn而ér亡wáng

When the barbarian generals looked up, they saw the Tang soldiers each holding torches, with countless piles of straw and firewood stacked on all sides. Realizing there was no way out, all three generals bowed twice toward the north, then committed suicide by slitting their own throats.

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán又yòu命mìng軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì叫jiào曰yuē爾ěr等děng降者降，不願yuàn降jiàng者zhě不願bú yuàn不bú速sù去qù

Mulan then ordered her soldiers to call out, "Those among you who wish to surrender may surrender; those who do not, leave at once."

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán即jí乘chéng白bái駝tuó急jí回huí五wǔ狼láng鎮zhèn殺shā散sàn守shǒu營yíng眾zhòng將jiāng，救jiù了liǎo朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng

Mulan immediately mounted her white camel, swiftly returned to Wulang Town, routed the generals guarding the camp, and rescued Zhu Ming.

再說zài shuō再zài說shuō金沙jīn shā金jīn沙shā谷中gǔ zhōng，退至谷gǔ中zhōng一枝yì zhī一yì枝zhī番兵fān bīng番fān兵bīng退tuì至zhì谷口gǔ kǒu口kǒu見jiàn俱jù被bèi木石mù shí木mù石shí塞sāi斷duàn出路chū lù出chū路lù大家dà jiā大dà家jiā用力yòng lì用yòng力lì搬bān拆chāi齊qí

Meanwhile, a contingent of barbarian troops in Jinsha Valley retreated to the mouth of the valley. Finding the exit completely blocked with logs and stones, they all struggled to move and clear them, and

聲shēng說道shuō dào說shuō道dào「此地cǐ dì此cǐ起火來，我等焉有性命？主將雖死，朱將軍之德亦是天高地dì放fàng起火qǐ huǒ起qǐ火huǒ來lái我wǒ等děng焉有yān yǒu焉yān有yǒu性命xìng mìng性xìng命mìng主zhǔ將jiāng雖suī死sǐ朱zhū將軍jiāng jūn軍jūn之zhī德dé亦yì是shì天高地厚tiān gāo dì hòu天tiān高gāo厚hòu

said with one voice, "If they set fire to this place, how could we possibly survive? Though our commanders are dead, General Zhu's virtue is as vast as the heavens and as deep as the earth."

也有yě yǒu願降者，也yě有yǒu願yuàn降jiàng者zhě去qù的de木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán即令jí lìng即jí令lìng收shōu三sān將jiāng屍首shī shǒu屍shī首shǒu以yǐ禮葬lǐ zàng禮lǐ葬zàng之zhī

Some wished to surrender, and some wished to leave. Mulan then ordered that the bodies of the three generals be recovered and buried with proper rites.

再說zài shuō再zài說shuō國舅guó jiù國guó舅jiù雅yǎ福fú自zì木mù箕jī去qù後hòu坐臥zuò wò坐zuò臥wò不安bù ān不bù安ān雅福yǎ fú

As for the imperial kinsman Yafu, after Mu Ji had departed, he found himself unable to sit or rest in peace.

哨shào馬來mǎ lái馬mǎ來lái報bào木mù箕jī捷jié音yīn心xīn亦yì不樂bú lè不bú樂lè

Even when scout horses brought news of Mu Ji's victory, he still felt no joy.

忽hū木mù箕jī敗bài兵bīng逃回táo huí逃táo回huí備bèi訴sù三sān將盡jiāng jìn將jiāng盡jìn節jié之事zhī shì之zhī事shì雅yǎ福fú頓足dùn zú頓dùn足zú曰yuē

Suddenly, Mu Ji's defeated soldiers fled back and fully recounted how the three generals had died loyal to their cause. Yafu stamped his foot and said:

「三sān將之jiāng zhī將jiāng，乃吾之zhī死sǐ乃nǎi吾wú過guò也yě

"The death of these three generals is my fault."

即jí表biǎo奏zòu突厥tū jué突tū厥jué云yún臣chén奉命fèng mìng奉fèng命mìng來lái金牛jīn niú金jīn牛niú關guān總理zǒng lǐ總zǒng理lǐ軍務jūn wù軍jūn務wù遣qiǎn木mù箕jī收shōu五wǔ狼láng扼要è yào扼è要yào之地zhī dì之zhī地dì

He then submitted a memorial to the Turkic Khan, saying: "I, your subject, was ordered to come to Jinniu Pass to take overall command of military affairs, and I sent Mu Ji to seize the strategic position of Wulang Town.

不bù料liào唐táng將jiāng木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán奸計jiān jì奸jiān計jì百出bǎi chū百bǎi出chū詐敗zhà bài詐zhà敗bài數shù陣zhèn引yǐn箕jī索suǒ雲yún等děng入rù金沙jīn shā金jīn沙shā谷gǔ士，以yǐ焚fén我wǒ軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì以致yǐ zhì致zhì三sān殉節xùn jié殉xùn節jié

Unexpectedly, the Tang general Mulan employed a hundred cunning ruses, feigned defeat in several battles, and lured Mu Ji, Suo Yun, and others into Jinsha Valley to burn our soldiers, causing the three generals to die for their cause.

嗟jiē乎hū！

Alas!

木mù箕jī之zhī死sǐ雖suī可惜kě xī，石碣之詐猶可kě惜xī石shí碣jié詐zhà猶可yóu kě猶yóu悟wù

Though Mu Ji's death is lamentable, the treachery of the stone tablet can still be understood.

主zhǔ上shàng速sù令lìng康kāng元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài來lái關guān臣chén當dāng甘拜下風gān bài xià fēng甘gān拜bài下xià風fēng共gòng理lǐ軍務jūn wù軍jūn務wù

Your Majesty, quickly order Marshal Kang and A to come to the pass. I shall willingly yield to him, and we shall jointly manage military affairs."

突厥tū jué突tū厥jué看kàn罷bà深shēn悼dào木mù箕jī之zhī死sǐ仍réng拜bài康kāng和hé阿ā為wéi帥shuài，來lái金牛jīn niú金jīn牛niú關guān理事lǐ shì理lǐ事shì

After reading this, the Turkic Khan deeply mourned Mu Ji's death. He once again appointed Kang and A as marshal, sending him to Jinniu Pass to handle affairs.

雅yǎ福fú迎yíng入rù中zhōng軍jūn，即將jí jiāng即jí將jiāng兵符bīng fú兵bīng符fú印yìn劍jiàn一一yī yī一yī交清jiāo qīng交jiāo清qīng卻què備bèi五wǔ牲shēng祭禮jì lǐ而祭jì禮lǐ遙望yáo wàng遙yáo望wàng金沙jīn shā金jīn沙shā而ér

Yafu welcomed him into the central command, handed over the military tally, seal, and sword one by one, then prepared a sacrifice of five livestock animals and offered rites from afar in the direction of Jinsha Valley.

康kāng帥shuài放聲fàng shēng放fàng聲shēng而ér哭kū軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì無wú不bù感傷gǎn shāng感gǎn傷shāng

Marshal Kang burst into loud wailing, and every soldier was moved to sorrow.

且qiě聽tīng下回xià huí下xià回huí分解fēn jiě分fēn解jiě

Listen to the next chapter for its resolution.