第二dì èr第dì二èr十三shí sān十shí三sān回huí太宗tài zōng太tài宗zōng降jiàng詔zhào責zé尉wèi遲chí突厥tū jué突tū厥jué出chū榜bǎng募mù賢士xián shì賢xián士shì二十三èr shí sān

Chapter 23: Emperor Taizong Issues an Edict to Rebuke Yuchi Gong; The Turks Post a Recruitment Notice to Seek Worthy Talents

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō太宗tài zōng太tài宗zōng一日yí rì一yí日rì早朝zǎo cháo早zǎo朝cháo文武wén wǔ文wén武wǔ參cān畢bì

Now, one day at the morning court, after the civil and military officials had paid their respects,

太宗tài zōng太tài宗zōng曰yuē「尉wèi遲chí恭gōng北běi征zhēng不bù回huí，寡人guǎ rén寡guǎ人rén日夜rì yè日rì夜yè憂慮yōu lǜ憂yōu慮lǜ奈何nài hé奈nài何hé一尺yì chǐ一yì尺chǐ之地zhī dì之zhī地dì勁敵jìn dí勁jìn敵dí若ruò此cǐ四sì夷yí盡如jìn rú盡jìn如rú突厥tū jué突tū厥jué中國zhōng guó中zhōng國guó困於kùn wū困kùn於wū干戈gān gē干gān戈gē雖有suī yǒu雖suī有yǒu粟sù吾wú得dé而ér食shí諸zhū

Emperor Taizong said, "Yuchi Gong has not returned from the northern expedition, and I worry day and night. What can be done? A mere foot of land, yet such a formidable enemy. If all the barbarian tribes were like the Turks, the Central Plains would be trapped in endless warfare. Even if there were grain, would I be able to eat it?"

太tài

too

傅fù李lǐ敬業jìng yè敬jìng業yè上殿shàng diàn上shàng殿diàn奏zòu曰yuē靖jìng、尉wèi遲chí恭gōng北běi征zhēng十年shí nián，祇取一關二郡，再過二年，將老兵死，十shí年nián祇qí取qǔ一關yì guān一yì關guān二èr郡jùn再過zài guò再zài過guò二年èr nián侯爵。自古遣將jiāng老兵lǎo bīng老lǎo兵bīng死sǐ去qù三sān四sì矣yǐ萬歲wàn suì萬wàn歲suì宜yí降jiàng詔zhào謫zhé公爵gōng jué公gōng爵jué為wéi侯爵hóu jué侯hóu自古zì gǔ自zì古gǔ遣將qiǎn jiāng遣qiǎn不如bù rú不bù如rú激jī三四sān sì

Minister Li Jingye stepped forward and memorialized, "Li Jing and Yuchi Gong have been on the northern campaign for ten years, yet they have only taken one pass and two prefectures. In another two years, the aging generals will die of old age, and three or four out of ten will be lost. Your Majesty should issue an edict demoting them from dukes to marquises. Since ancient times, dispatching a general is not as effective as goading one."

太宗tài zōng太tài宗zōng準zhǔn奏zòu即jí差chà使臣shǐ chén使shǐ臣chén齎jī詔zhào望wàng北běi番fān而來ér lái而ér來lái

Taizong approved the memorial and immediately sent an envoy bearing the edict to the northern barbarians.

尉wèi遲chí恭gōng同tóng李lǐ靖jìng排pái香案xiāng àn香xiāng案àn跪guì讀dú云yún

Yuchi Gong and Li Jing set up an incense altar, knelt down, and read aloud:

卿qīng等děng北běi征zhēng，瞬息shùn xī瞬shùn息xī十年shí nián十shí年nián

You have been on the northern campaign, and in the blink of an eye, ten years have passed.

卿qīng久jiǔ不bù回huí，朕zhèn心xīn如rú炙zhì。

You have not returned for so long, and my heart burns with anxiety.

非fēi卿qīng智力zhì lì智zhì力lì不能bù néng人，實朕德輕，不bù能néng克kè敵人dí rén敵dí人rén實shí朕zhèn德dé輕qīng不足bù zú足zú服fú突厥tū jué突tū厥jué

It is not that your wisdom and courage are unable to overcome the enemy; rather, my virtue is slight, insufficient to subdue the Turks.

再zài過數guò shù年，將老兵死過guò數shù年nián將jiāng老兵lǎo bīng老lǎo兵bīng死sǐ過半guò bàn半bàn矣yǐ

In a few more years, the aging generals will die of old age, and more than half will be gone.

朕zhèn當dāng親qīn馭yù六liù軍jūn，來lái滅miè突厥tū jué突tū厥jué使shǐ卿qīng回國huí guó回huí國guó善shàn養yǎng餘年yú nián餘yú年nián

I shall personally lead the six armies to destroy the Turks and allow you to return to your homeland, to spend your remaining years in comfort.

李lǐ靖jìng、尉wèi遲chí恭gōng看了kàn le看kàn了le此cǐ表biǎo即jí上shàng書shū自zì眨zhǎ請qǐng旨zhǐ廢fèi公爵gōng jué公gōng侯爵jué為wéi侯爵hóu jué侯hóu

After reading this edict, Li Jing and Yuchi Gong submitted a memorial demoting themselves, requesting an imperial decree to reduce their titles from dukes to marquises.

並bìng奏zòu道dào： 「如rú三年sān nián三sān年nián之內zhī nèi之zhī內nèi不能bù néng不bù能néng克kè除chú突厥tū jué突tū厥jué願yuàn廢fèi為wéi庶民shù mín庶shù民mín

They further memorialized, "If within three years we cannot conquer and eliminate the Turks, we are willing to be reduced to commoners."

二人èr rén二èr人rén各具gè jù各gè具jù表biǎo文wén付fù天使tiān shǐ天tiān使shǐ帶往dài wǎng帶dài往wǎng長安cháng ān長cháng安ān去了qù le去qù了le

Each of them prepared a memorial and gave them to the imperial envoy to take back to Chang'an.

再說zài shuō再zài說shuō丞相chéng xiàng丞chéng相xiàng魏徵wèi zhǐ魏wèi徵zhǐ自zì外wài藩fān巡查xún chá巡xún查chá而ér回huí聞wén遲恭、李靖，入宮見太宗tài zōng太tài宗zōng下詔xià zhào下xià詔zhào激jī謫zhé尉wèi遲chí恭gōng李lǐ靖jìng入rù宮gōng見jiàn奏zòu曰yuē

Now, Prime Minister Wei Zheng, having returned from an inspection tour of the outer frontiers, heard that Taizong had issued an edict to goad and demote Yuchi Gong and Li Jing. He entered the palace and memorialized to Taizong, saying:

「臣chén聞wén主公zhǔ gōng主zhǔ公gōng下詔xià zhào下xià詔zhào激jī謫zhé尉wèi李lǐ二人èr rén二èr人rén和阿之計也。康和阿善守不出者，已料吾君臣必有交責之日。若康和阿聞知此cǐ正中zhèng zhōng正zhèng中zhōng康kāng和hé阿ā之zhī計jì吾師，干戈何日可息也yě善shàn守shǒu不出bù chū不bù出chū者zhě已yǐ料liào吾wú君臣jūn chén君jūn必有bì yǒu必bì有yǒu交jiāo責zé日rì若ruò知zhī信xìn愈yù不戰bú zhàn戰zhàn以yǐ老lǎo吾師wú shī師shī干戈gān gē干gān戈gē何hé可kě息xī

"I have heard that Your Majesty issued an edict to goad and demote Yuchi and Li. This precisely plays into Kang He'a's scheme. Kang He'a, skilled at defense and refusing to engage, had already anticipated that our sovereign and ministers would one day blame each other. If Kang He'a hears this news, he will defend even more stubbornly and refuse to fight, exhausting our troops. When will the warfare ever end?"

太宗tài zōng太tài宗zōng道dào「朕zhèn一時yì shí一yì時shí失算shī suàn失shī算suàn為之wéi zhī為wéi之zhī奈何nài hé奈nài何hé

Emperor Taizong said, "I made a miscalculation in the heat of the moment. What can be done about it?"

魏徵wèi zhǐ魏wèi徵zhǐ道dào「康kāng和hé阿ā終zhōng非fēi李lǐ靖jìng敵手dí shǒu敵dí手shǒu少有shǎo yǒu少shǎo有yǒu捷jié音yīn即jí當dāng復fù其原qí yuán其qí原yuán爵jué

Wei Zheng said, "Kang He'a is, after all, no match for Li Jing. As soon as there is news of a victory, we should restore their original titles."

不bù數shù日rì，尉wèi遲chí恭gōng捷jié奏zòu，言yán冒雪mào xuě冒mào雪xuě取qǔ了liǎo金牛jīn niú金jīn牛niú雅福，康和阿逃至玉門關guān生擒shēng qín生shēng擒qín雅yǎ福fú康kāng和hé阿ā逃táo至zhì玉門關yù mén guān玉yù門mén

Within a few days, a victory memorial arrived from Yuchi Gong, stating that he had taken Jinniu Pass in the snow, captured Ya Fu alive, and that Kang He'a had fled to Yumen Pass.

太宗tài zōng太tài宗zōng見jiàn奏zòu大喜dà xǐ大dà喜xǐ曰yuē魏徵wèi zhǐ魏wèi徵zhǐ真zhēn宰相zǎi xiàng宰zǎi相xiàng器qì也yě

Upon seeing the memorial, Emperor Taizong was overjoyed and said, "Wei Zheng truly has the makings of a great chancellor."

即jí下詔xià zhào下xià詔zhào北běi番fān去qù仍réng陞shēng李lǐ靖jìng尉wèi遲chí恭gōng為wéi公爵gōng jué公gōng爵jué不bù表biǎo

He then issued an edict to the northern barbarians, reinstating Li Jing and Yuchi Gong as dukes — but no more of that for now.

再說zài shuō再zài說shuō突厥tū jué突tū厥jué聞wén知zhī失shī了liǎo金牛jīn niú金jīn牛niú關guān國舅guó jiù國guó舅jiù被bèi捉zhuō憂形於色yōu xíng wū sè憂yōu形xíng於wū色sè寢食俱廢qǐn shí jù fèi寢qǐn食shí俱jù廢fèi

Now, when the Turkic Khan learned that Jinniu Pass had been lost and the imperial brother-in-law captured, his worry showed on his face, and he could neither sleep nor eat.

雅yǎ丹dān娘娘niáng niáng娘niáng亦yì啼哭tí kū啼tí哭kū不止bù zhǐ不bù止zhǐ因yīn說shuō突厥tū jué突tū厥jué曰yuē

Empress Yadan also wept incessantly and said to the Turkic Khan:

「若ruò玉門關yù mén guān玉yù門mén關guān再zài失shī番fān都dōu亦yì難保nán bǎo難nán保bǎo矣yǐ主zhǔ上shàng何hé不出bù chū不bù出chū榜bǎng招賢zhāo xián招zhāo賢xián古人gǔ rén古gǔ人rén云yún重賞zhòng shǎng重zhòng賞shǎng之下zhī xià之zhī下xià必有bì yǒu必bì有yǒu勇夫yǒng fū勇yǒng夫fū

"If Yumen Pass is lost as well, even our capital will be hard to defend. Why does Your Majesty not post a recruitment notice to summon worthy talents? The ancients said: 'Under heavy rewards, there will surely be brave men.'"

突厥tū jué突tū厥jué然rán其qí言yán即jí出chū文於四門張掛，差人看守，一月有餘，不見有賢士揭榜bǎng文wén於wū四sì門mén張zhāng掛guà差chà人rén看守kān shǒu看kān守shǒu一月yī yuè一yī月yuè有餘yǒu yú有yǒu餘yú不bù見jiàn賢士xián shì賢xián士shì揭榜jiē bǎng揭jiē

The Turkic Khan agreed with her words and immediately posted the notice at the four city gates, assigning men to guard them. For over a month, no worthy scholar came forward to tear down the notice.

榜bǎng文略wén lüè文wén略lüè曰yuē朕zhèn有yǒu積怨jī yuàn積jī怨yuàn深恨shēn hèn深shēn恨hèn唐táng國guó

The notice roughly read: 'I have long-standing grievances and deeply hate the Tang Empire.

況kuàng又yòu侵qīn我wǒ關隘guān ài關guān隘ài戮lù臣民chén mín臣chén民mín

Moreover, they have invaded our passes and slaughtered our subjects and people.

雖suī彼bǐ國guó君臣jūn chén君jūn臣chén凶惡xiōng è凶xiōng惡è可畏kě wèi可kě畏wèi吾wú地dì豈qǐ少shǎo高明gāo míng高gāo明míng

Although their sovereign and ministers are fierce and fearsome, does our land lack capable and wise men?

特tè諭yù都dōu內nèi都外wài軍民jūn mín如悉：如有能以智破唐兵者，赴營中參謀﹔能以力破唐兵者，赴軍jūn民mín如rú悉xī如有rú yǒu有yǒu能néng以yǐ智zhì破pò唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng者zhě赴fù營yíng中zhōng參謀cān móu參cān謀móu力lì軍門jūn mén門mén聽tīng調diào

I hereby specially decree that all soldiers and civilians inside and outside the capital are to know: If there is anyone who can defeat the Tang army with strategy, let him come to the camp to serve as an advisor; if anyone can defeat the Tang army with force, let him come to the military gate to await orders.

各gè依yī文武wén wǔ文wén武wǔ先xiān授shòu五wǔ品pǐn職，候有功之zhī職zhí候hòu有功yǒu gōng有yǒu功gōng日rì進爵jìn jué進jìn爵jué公侯gōng hóu公gōng侯hóu寡人guǎ rén寡guǎ人rén不吝bú lìn不bú吝lìn之日zhī rì

According to each one's civil or military ability, they will first be granted the fifth rank. When they achieve merit, they will be elevated to dukes or marquises — I will not be stingy.'

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō湖廣hú guǎng湖hú廣guǎng木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán山shān有一yǒu yī有yǒu一yī狐hú精jīng修了xiū le修xiū了le千年qiān nián千qiān年nián道行dào heng道dào行heng

Now, on Mulan Mountain in Huguang, there was a fox spirit who had cultivated for a thousand years.

昔xī年nián曾céng受shòu朱zhū木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán一yī劍jiàn之zhī厄è削去xiāo qù削xiāo去qù左zuǒ肘zhǒu

In years past, it had suffered the misfortune of a sword strike from Zhu Mulan, which cut off its left elbow.

自zì木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán代父dài fù代dài父fù出征chū zhēng出chū征zhēng他tā雲遊yún yóu雲yún遊yóu北běi番fān思sī報bào此cǐ仇chóu

Since Mulan had gone to war in her father's place, the fox spirit wandered the northern barbarian lands, plotting to avenge this grudge.

一日yí rì一yí日rì行xíng至zhì番fān都dōu見jiàn四sì門mén張zhāng掛guà招賢zhāo xián招zhāo賢xián，便化作遊方道人，自稱獨手大仙，將榜bǎng文wén便biàn化作huà zuò化huà作zuò遊yóu方fāng道人dào rén道dào人rén自稱zì chēng自zì稱chēng獨dú手shǒu大仙dà xiān大dà仙xiān將jiāng揭下jiē xià揭jiē下xià

One day, it arrived at the barbarian capital and saw recruitment notices posted at the four gates. It then transformed into a wandering Daoist priest, calling itself the One-Handed Great Immortal, and tore down the notice.

守shǒu榜bǎng官員guān yuán官guān員yuán引yǐn見jiàn番fān主zhǔ突厥tū jué突tū厥jué大喜dà xǐ大dà喜xǐ宣xuān道人dào rén道dào人rén上殿shàng diàn上shàng殿diàn問wèn曰yuē

The official guarding the notice led the Daoist to the barbarian ruler. The Turkic Khan was overjoyed, summoned the Daoist to the hall, and asked:

「仙xiān卿qīng揭榜jiē bǎng揭jiē榜bǎng必bì具jù高gāo。仙居何地？尊姓大名？寡人不才cái居jū何hé地dì尊姓大名zūn xìng dà míng尊zūn姓xìng大dà名míng寡人guǎ rén寡guǎ人rén不才bù cái不bù願yuàn先xiān聞wén破pò唐táng之zhī策cè

"Immortal, by tearing down the notice, you surely possess great talent. Where do you dwell? What is your esteemed name? Though I am unworthy, I wish first to hear your strategy for defeating the Tang."

道人dào rén答曰： 「貧道dào人rén答dá曰yuē貧道pín dào貧pín姓xìng胡hú名míng行xíng修xiū法fǎ號hào獨dú手shǒu大仙dà xiān大dà仙xiān雲遊yún yóu雲yún遊yóu方fāng外wài四海為家sì hǎi wéi jiā四sì海hǎi為wéi家jiā非fēi慕mù爵祿jué lù爵jué祿lù而來ér lái而ér，特來lái因yīn見jiàn唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng猖獗chāng jué猖chāng獗jué生靈塗炭shēng líng tú tàn生shēng靈líng塗tú炭tàn特tè滅miè將jiāng之餘zhī yú之zhī餘yú威wēi助zhù番fān邦之bāng zhī邦bāng將士jiāng shì士shì以yǐ罷bà兩國liǎng guó兩liǎng國guó師shī耳ěr

The Daoist replied, "This poor Daoist's surname is Hu, given name Xingxiu, and my Daoist title is the One-Handed Great Immortal. I wander beyond the mundane world, making my home wherever I roam. I have not come out of desire for rank or salary. Rather, seeing the Tang troops running rampant and living beings caught in misery, I have come specifically to quell the remaining might of the Tang generals, assist the barbarian warriors, and bring an end to the armies of both kingdoms."

突厥tū jué突tū厥jué大喜dà xǐ大dà喜xǐ即jí拜bài胡hú仙xiān為wéi軍師jūn shī軍jūn師shī往wǎng玉門關yù mén guān玉yù門mén關guān助zhù康kāng元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài行事xíng shì行xíng事shì

The Turkic Khan was greatly pleased and immediately appointed Immortal Hu as military advisor, sending him to Yumen Pass to assist Marshal Kang in his operations.

康kāng和hé阿ā接jiē入rù中zhōng軍jūn相xiāng見jiàn。

Kang He'a received him into the central camp and they met.

禮畢lǐ bì禮lǐ畢bì分fēn賓主bīn zhǔ賓bīn主zhǔ而ér坐zuò康kāng和hé阿ā曰yuē

After the formalities, they sat as host and guest, and Kang He'a said:

「聞wén軍師jūn shī智勇兼全，來與主上分憂，主上之福也。但不知軍jūn師shī智勇zhì yǒng智zhì勇yǒng兼jiān全quán來lái與yǔ主zhǔ上shàng分fēn憂yōu之zhī福fú也yě但dàn不知bù zhī不bù知zhī何hé策cè以yǐ教jiào不才bù cái才cái

"I have heard that you, Military Advisor, possess both wisdom and courage, and have come to share the sovereign's burdens — this is indeed a blessing for our lord. But may I ask what strategy you have to instruct this unworthy one?"

胡hú仙道xiān dào仙xiān 「且待貧道dào且qiě待dài貧道pín dào貧pín捉zhuō了liǎo木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán並bìng伍wǔ

Immortal Hu said, "Just wait until this poor Daoist captures Mulan and Wu

登dēng諸人zhū rén諸zhū然後退唐兵，復還城池，各守疆界。 如不從時，貧道作起仙法來，叫唐兵片甲不回。」康和阿即命人rén然後rán hòu然rán後hòu退tuì唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng復fù還huán城池chéng chí城chéng池chí各gè守shǒu疆界jiāng jiè疆jiāng界jiè如rú不從bù cóng不bù從cóng時shí貧道pín dào貧pín道dào作zuò起qǐ仙xiān法fǎ來lái叫jiào片piàn甲jiǎ回huí康kāng和hé阿ā即jí命mìng送sòng軍師jūn shī軍jūn師shī帳zhàng安歇ān xiē安ān歇xiē元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài心中xīn zhōng心xīn中zhōng想xiǎng

Deng and the others. Then I will repel the Tang troops, restore the cities, and let each side guard its own borders. If they do not comply, I will invoke my immortal magic and ensure not a single Tang soldier returns with his armor." Kang He'a then ordered someone to escort the Military Advisor to the rear tent to rest. Marshal Kang thought to himself:

「此人cǐ rén此cǐ人rén蒼cāng形xíng古gǔ貌mào到dào也yě希奇xī qí希xī奇qí祇是qí shì祇qí放火光，必是shì兩liǎng眼珠yǎn zhū眼yǎn珠zhū放火fàng huǒ放fàng火huǒ光guāng必是bì shì必bì左zuǒ道dào旁páng門mén之zhī士shì酒jiǔ後hòu出汗chū hàn出chū汗hàn非fēi六根清淨liù gēn qīng jìng六liù根gēn清qīng淨jìng之輩zhī bèi輩bèi如何rú hé如rú何hé退tuì得dé唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng

"This man has a weathered, archaic appearance, which is rather peculiar. But his eyes emit sparks of fire — he must be a practitioner of heretical arts. And he sweats after drinking, so he is not one who has purified the six senses. How can such a person repel the Tang army?"

到了dào le到dào日，令軍士將免戰牌去了le。唐將焦文、焦武果來討戰。康和阿請軍師出陣。胡仙步行出關，手中仗劍，焦氏弟兄哈哈大笑。焦文迎住，大戰十餘合，道人敗走。焦文拍馬趕上，一時間飛砂走石。焦文撥馬便回，道人飛步來追，幸焦武捨死救出。回見元帥，備言妖道作法之事。次cì日rì，道人先來討戰，元帥命木蘭出馬。木蘭來至陣前，祇一箭之地，不料坐下明駝，認得對陣是一狐狸，飛奔而來，沖至道人面前，雙蹄向道人撲來，木蘭險些墜下地來。伍登掠陣，恐木蘭有失，也飛馬趕來。唐兵一齊擁至，道人不戰先敗，退入關中。見唐兵不退，就在城上作法，飛砂走石，打退唐兵。木蘭回營繳令lìng軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì將jiāng免戰牌miǎn zhàn pái免miǎn戰zhàn牌pái去了qù le去qù唐táng焦jiāo文wén武wǔ果guǒ來lái討tǎo康kāng和hé阿ā請qǐng軍師jūn shī師shī出陣chū zhèn出chū陣zhèn胡hú仙xiān步行bù xíng步bù行xíng出關chū guān關guān手中shǒu zhōng手shǒu中zhōng仗zhàng劍jiàn氏shì弟兄dì xiong弟dì兄xiong哈哈大笑hā hā dà xiào哈hā大dà笑xiào迎yíng住zhù大戰dà zhàn十shí餘yú合hé道人dào rén道dào人rén敗走bài zǒu敗bài走zǒu拍pāi馬mǎ趕上gǎn shàng趕gǎn上shàng一yī時間shí jiàn時shí間jiàn飛fēi砂走shā zǒu砂shā石shí撥bō便biàn回huí追zhuī幸xìng捨shě死sǐ救出jiù chū救jiù見jiàn元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài備bèi言yán妖道yāo dào妖yāo作法zuò fǎ作zuò法fǎ之事zhī shì之zhī事shì先來xiān lái先xiān命mìng木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán出馬chū mǎ至zhì前qián祇qí箭jiàn之地zhī dì地dì不bù料liào坐下zuò xià坐zuò下xià明駝míng tuó明míng駝tuó認得rèn dé認rèn得dé對陣duì zhèn對duì是shì狐狸hú li狐hú狸li飛奔而來fēi bēn ér lái奔bēn而ér沖chōng面前miàn qián面miàn雙shuāng蹄tí向xiàng撲來pū lái撲pū險些xiǎn xiē險xiǎn些xiē墜下zhuì xià墜zhuì伍wǔ登dēng掠lüè恐kǒng有失yǒu shī有yǒu失shī也yě飛馬fēi mǎ趕來gǎn lái唐兵táng bīng兵bīng一齊yì qí齊qí擁yōng不戰bú zhàn退tuì入rù關中guān zhōng不退bú tuì就在jiù zài就jiù在zài城chéng打退dǎ tuì打dǎ營yíng繳jiǎo李lǐ靖jìng驚jīng步來bù lái

The next day, he ordered the soldiers to remove the "truce" sign. The Tang generals Jiao Wen and Jiao Wu indeed came to offer battle. Kang He'a invited the Military Advisor to go out and array. Immortal Hu walked out of the pass, sword in hand. The Jiao brothers burst into laughter. Jiao Wen engaged him, and after more than ten bouts, the Daoist turned and fled. Jiao Wen spurred his horse in pursuit. Suddenly, sand and stones flew through the air. Jiao Wen wheeled his horse to return, but the Daoist dashed after him. Fortunately, Jiao Wu risked his life to rescue him. They returned to the Marshal and reported in detail the demon Daoist's sorcery. The next day, the Daoist came to offer battle first. The Marshal ordered Mulan to go out. Mulan rode to the front, stopping about an arrow's shot away. Unexpectedly, the bright camel under her recognized that the opponent was a fox. It charged forward, rushing straight at the Daoist, and reared up with both hooves at him, nearly throwing Mulan to the ground. Wu Deng, overseeing the battle from the flank, feared Mulan might come to harm, so he too galloped forward. The Tang soldiers surged ahead together. The Daoist, without fighting, was defeated first and retreated into the pass. Seeing that the Tang troops did not withdraw, he performed his sorcery atop the city wall, causing sand and stones to fly and driving back the Tang army. Mulan returned to camp to report. Li Jing was astonished and said:

「朱zhū將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn黑氣hēi qì黑hēi氣qì侵入qīn rù侵qīn入rù命mìng主zhǔ有yǒu無妄之災wú wàng zhī zāi，方保無wú妄wàng之zhī災zāi須xū過guò百bǎi日rì方fāng保bǎo無事wú shì事shì

"General Zhu, dark energy has invaded your fate, bringing an unexpected calamity. Only after a hundred days will you be safe from harm."

遂suì令lìng緊jǐn守shǒu營yíng中zhōng，不可bù kě不bù可kě出戰chū zhàn出chū戰zhàn要yào知zhī後hòu事shì下xià文wén分解fēn jiě分fēn解jiě

He then ordered that the camp be tightly defended and that no one should go out to battle. If you wish to know what happened next, it will be disclosed in the following chapters.