第dì二十四èr shí sì二èr十shí四sì回huí真孝zhēn xiào真zhēn孝xiào女nǚ遭厄zāo è遭zāo厄è刎頸wěn jǐng刎wěn頸jǐng鐵道tiě dào鐵tiě道dào人rén遺書yí shū遺yí書shū誅zhū妖yāo

Chapter 24: The Truly Filial Daughter Meets Calamity and Cuts Her Own Throat; The Iron Taoist Leaves a Letter to Slay the Demon

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō獨dú手shǒu大仙dà xiān大dà仙xiān敗bài至zhì關中guān zhōng關guān中zhōng康kāng元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài問wèn曰yuē

It is said that the One-Handed Great Immortal retreated to the pass, and Marshal Kang asked:

「軍師jūn shī軍jūn師shī何以hé yǐ何hé以yǐ未戰先敗wèi zhàn xiān bài未wèi戰zhàn先xiān敗bài

'Why did you, our military advisor, suffer defeat before even engaging in battle?'

獨dú手shǒu答dá曰yuē： 「木蘭mù lán那匹坐騎，乃是妖蟒附體。木mù蘭lán那匹nà pǐ那nà匹pǐ坐騎zuò qí坐zuò騎qí乃是nǎi shì乃nǎi是shì妖yāo蟒mǎng附fù體tǐ仗zhàng著zhù妖法yāo fǎ法fǎ衝chōng殺shā而來ér lái而ér個徒弟，聞吾在此，明日必來lái貧道pín dào貧pín道dào失於shī wū失shī於wū提防dī fáng提dī防fáng所以suǒ yǐ所suǒ以yǐ先xiān敗bài有yǒu兩個liǎng gè兩liǎng個gè徒弟tú dì徒tú弟dì聞wén吾wú在此zài cǐ在zài此cǐ明日míng rì明míng日rì必bì不愁bù chóu不bù愁chóu不來bù lái降jiàng元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài也yě

The One-Handed One replied: 'That steed of Mulan’s is possessed by a demon python. Relying on demonic arts, Mulan charged at us. I, this humble Taoist, was caught off guard, hence the initial defeat. I have two disciples who, upon hearing that I am here, will surely come tomorrow. Then we need not worry about Mulan not surrendering to you, Marshal.'

康kāng元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài但dàn微笑wēi xiào微wēi笑xiào稱謝chēng xiè稱chēng謝xiè而已ér yǐ而ér已yǐ

Marshal Kang merely smiled and thanked him.

次cì日rì，果然guǒ rán果guǒ然rán有yǒu兩個liǎng gè兩liǎng個gè年幼nián yòu年nián幼yòu道人dào rén道dào人rén求qiú見jiàn

The next day, indeed two young Taoists came seeking an audience.

獨dú手shǒu對duì元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài道dào「此cǐ吾wú徒弟tú dì徒tú弟dì，命他進來lái也yě命mìng他tā進來jìn lái進jìn

The One-Handed One said to the Marshal: 'These are my disciples. Summon them in.'

兩個liǎng gè兩liǎng個gè道人dào rén道dào人rén皆是jiē shì皆jiē是shì黃衣huáng yī黃huáng衣yī向上xiàng shàng向xiàng上shàng稽首qǐ shǒu稽qǐ首shǒu

Both Taoists wore yellow robes and bowed respectfully to the superior.

獨dú手shǒu道dào： 「汝rǔ二人èr rén來得湊巧，正欲用爾二èr人rén來得lái dé速駕風雲，往湖廣西陵縣雙龍鎮，將千戶朱天祿夫婦用黑風卷來lái得dé湊巧còu qiǎo湊còu巧qiǎo正zhèng欲yù用yòng爾ěr可kě速sù駕jià風雲fēng yún風fēng雲yún往wǎng湖廣hú guǎng湖hú廣guǎng西陵xī líng西xī陵líng縣xiàn雙shuāng龍lóng鎮zhèn將jiāng千戶qiān hù千qiān戶hù朱zhū天tiān祿lù夫婦fū fù夫fū婦fù黑hēi卷juàn元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài重重chóng chóng重chóng有yǒu賞shǎng

The One-Handed One said: 'You two have arrived just in time, for I have need of you. Quickly ride the winds and clouds to Shuanglong Town, Xiling County, Huguang. Use the black wind to sweep back the thousand-household commander Zhu Tianlu and his wife. The Marshal will handsomely reward you.'

二個èr gè二èr個gè道dào僮tóng領lǐng了liǎo師shī命mìng即jí駕jià風雲fēng yún風fēng雲yún騰空téng kōng騰téng空kōng而ér走zǒu

The two Taoist acolytes received their master’s command and immediately rode the winds and clouds, soaring into the sky and departing.

康kāng和hé阿見ā jiàn阿ā見jiàn了liǎo心中xīn zhōng心xīn中zhōng想xiǎng道dào我wǒ為wéi上shàng將jiāng，不能bù néng迎敵，藉此妖人之力豈不bù能néng迎敵yíng dí迎yíng敵dí藉此jiè cǐ藉jiè此cǐ妖人yāo rén妖yāo人rén之zhī力lì豈qǐ不可bù kě可kě愧kuì

Kang Ahe saw this and thought to himself: "I am a senior general, yet unable to face the enemy. Is it not shameful to rely on the power of these sorcerers?"

忽hū軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì報bào曰yuē「唐táng將jiāng討tǎo戰zhàn。」

Suddenly a soldier reported: "The Tang general is challenging us to battle."

獨dú手shǒu又yòu欲yù出陣chū zhèn出chū陣zhèn康kāng和hé阿ā祇qí得dé上shàng城chéng防守fáng shǒu防fáng守shǒu

The One-Handed One wanted to go out to the battle formation again, but Kang Ahe had to go up the city wall to defend.

獨dú手shǒu出chū得dé關guān來lái，唐táng將jiāng伍wǔ登dēng看見kàn jiàn看kàn見jiàn一個yí gè一yí個gè矮ǎi道人dào rén道dào人rén

The One-Handed One left the pass. The Tang general Wu Deng saw a short Taoist.

步行bù xíng步bù行xíng出陣chū zhèn出chū陣zhèn也yě大笑dà xiào大dà笑xiào起來qǐ lái起qǐ來lái挺tǐng鎗qiāng直zhí刺cì道人dào rén道dào人rén仗zhàng劍jiàn相迎xiāng yíng相xiāng迎yíng

He came out on foot to the formation, also bursting into loud laughter. He thrust his spear straight ahead; the Taoist parried with his sword.

約yuē戰zhàn十幾shí jī十shí幾jī合hé道人dào rén道dào人rén暗àn使shǐ妖法yāo fǎ妖yāo法fǎ飛fēi砂走shā zǒu砂shā走zǒu石shí望wàng唐táng陣zhèn上shàng打來dǎ lái打dǎ來lái伍wǔ登dēng大敗dà bài大dà敗bài而ér回huí

After about a dozen exchanges, the Taoist secretly employed demonic arts, summoning flying sand and hurling stones toward the Tang formation. Wu Deng suffered a great defeat and retreated.

再說zài shuō再zài說shuō小狐，領了獨手之命，回至木蘭山，另找兩個liǎng gè兩liǎng個gè小xiǎo狐hú領lǐng了liǎo獨dú手shǒu之zhī命mìng回huí樣，駕起風雲，來至zhì木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán山shān另lìng找zhǎo老lǎo化作huà zuò化huà作zuò朱zhū天tiān祿lù夫婦fū fù夫fū婦fù模樣mó yàng模mó樣yàng駕起jià qǐ駕jià起qǐ風雲fēng yún風fēng雲yún來lái玉門關yù mén guān玉yù門mén關guān天祿tiān lù

As for the two little foxes, they received the One-Handed One's command, returned to Mulan Mountain, found two old foxes instead, transformed them into the likeness of Zhu Tianlu and his wife, rode the wind and clouds, and came to Yumen Pass.

進帳jìn zhàng進jìn帳zhàng見jiàn道： 「弟子奉命往提朱天祿夫婦，現在轅門，求元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài道dào弟子dì zǐ弟dì子zǐ奉命fèng mìng奉fèng命mìng往wǎng提tí朱zhū天tiān祿lù夫婦fū fù夫fū婦fù現在xiàn zài現xiàn在zài轅門yuán mén轅yuán門mén求qiú發落fā luò發fā落luò天祿tiān lù

Entering the tent, they said to the Marshal: "Your disciples have received orders to bring Zhu Tianlu and his wife. They are now at the camp gate, awaiting your disposition, Marshal."

獨dú手shǒu曰yuē： 「元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài可以kě yǐ可kě，令其飽餐，再叫他修書招木蘭來降。卻將天祿夫婦，剝了衣服，弔在城樓之上。木蘭是個純孝之人，見了父母受刑，必學徐庶回曹故事。破了唐兵之後，再將木蘭斷其手足，以yǐ賞shǎng酒食jiǔ shí酒jiǔ食shí令lìng其qí飽餐bǎo cān飽bǎo餐cān再zài叫jiào他tā修xiū書shū招zhāo木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán來lái降jiàng卻què將jiāng天tiān祿lù夫婦fū fù夫fū婦fù剝bāo了liǎo衣服yī fu衣yī服fu弔diào在zài城樓chéng lóu城chéng樓lóu之上zhī shàng之zhī上shàng是個shì gè是shì個gè純chún孝之xiào zhī孝xiào人rén見jiàn父母fù mǔ父fù母mǔ受刑shòu xíng受shòu刑xíng必學bì xué必bì學xué徐xú庶shù回huí曹cáo故事gù shì故gù事shì破pò唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng之後zhī hòu後hòu斷duàn手足shǒu zú足zú報bào箕jī三人sān rén三sān仇chóu

The One-Handed One said: "The Marshal may reward them with wine and food, let them eat their fill, then have them write a letter to summon Mulan to surrender. Then take the couple Zhu Tianlu, strip off their clothes, and hang them on the city tower. Mulan is a person of perfect filial piety. When she sees her parents being tortured, she will surely follow the example of Xu Shu returning to Cao. After we defeat the Tang forces, we will then dismember Mulan to avenge the three men Mu Ji."

獨dú手shǒu說shuō罷bà，即jí袖xiù出chū一yī

The One-Handed One then produced from his sleeve a...

稿gǎo，命mìng朱zhū天tiān祿lù謄寫téng xiě謄téng寫xiě畢bì差chà人rén送sòng至zhì木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán營yíng中zhōng天祿tiān lù

draft, ordered Zhu Tianlu to copy it out, then sent a messenger to deliver it to Mulan's camp.

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán受shòu軍師jūn shī軍jūn師shī之zhī命mìng在zài營yíng中zhōng靜養jìng yǎng靜jìng養yǎng百bǎi日rì以yǐ避bì災禍zāi huò災zāi禍huò

It is said that Mulan, following the military advisor's orders, rested quietly in the camp for a hundred days to avoid calamity.

忽hū軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì報道bào dào報bào道dào番fān營yíng差chà人rén下xià書shū」

Suddenly a soldier reported: "The barbarian camp has sent a messenger with a letter."

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán曰yuē「二èr國guó相爭xiāng zhēng相xiāng爭zhēng我wǒ為wéi偏piān將jiāng番fān營yíng下xià書shū，必有bì yǒu必bì有yǒu緣故yuán gù緣yuán故gù

Mulan said: "Two nations are at war, and I am a junior officer. If the barbarian camp sends a letter, there must be a reason."

即令jí lìng朱明： 「將下書人押至中軍。等元帥先拆書看過，我再看罷。」 朱明即jí令lìng朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng元帥，將jiāng下xià呈上，尉遲恭看了封筒，大驚曰：如何天祿家書shū人rén押yā至zhì中zhōng軍jūn等děng元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài先xiān拆chāi看過kàn guò看kàn過guò我wǒ再看zài kàn再zài罷bà帶dài番fān使shǐ來lái見jiàn呈上chéng shàng呈chéng上shàng尉wèi遲chí恭gōng看了kàn le了le封筒fēng tǒng封fēng筒tǒng大dà驚jīng曰yuē如何rú hé如rú何hé天tiān祿lù家jiā先到xiān dào到dào邦bāng忙máng觀看guān kàn觀guān內nèi云yún下書人xià shū rén押至yā zhì中軍zhōng jūn番使fān shǐ尉遲恭wèi chí gōng天祿tiān lù家書jiā shū番邦fān bāng

She immediately ordered Zhu Ming: "Escort the messenger to the central command. Let the Marshal open and read the letter first, then I will read it." Zhu Ming then brought the barbarian envoy to see the Marshal and presented the letter. Yuchi Gong looked at the envelope and was greatly startled, saying: "How could a letter from Tianlu's family have arrived first in the barbarian land?" He hurriedly opened the letter and read it. Inside it said:

自zì爾ěr北běi征zhēng，今jīn十一shí yī十shí一yī年nián矣yǐ

It has been eleven years since you marched north.

予yǔ旦夕dàn xī旦dàn夕xī焚香fén xiāng焚fén香xiāng呼hū天tiān禱dǎo地dì望wàng爾ěr早zǎo回huí

Morning and evening I burn incense, calling to heaven and praying to earth, hoping for your early return.

不bù料liào國家guó jiā國guó家jiā多難duō nán多duō難nán以yǐ迄qì於wū今jīn

Unexpectedly, the nation has suffered many hardships, continuing until now.

今jīn又yòu神風shén fēng神shén風fēng刮guā予yǔ夫婦fū fù夫fū婦fù俱jù卷juàn至zhì北běi番fān

Now a divine wind has swept your father and mother away, both carried off to the northern barbarians.

軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì認為rèn wéi認rèn為wéi細xì作zuò欲yù行xíng誅戮zhū lù誅zhū戮lù幸康xìng kāng幸xìng康kāng元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài訊xùn得dé其qí寔shí暫且zàn qiě暫zàn且qiě免miǎn死sǐ

The soldiers took us for spies and wanted to execute us. Fortunately, Marshal Kang interrogated us and learned the truth, so for now our lives have been spared.

特修tè xiū特tè修xiū寸楮cùn chǔ寸cùn楮chǔ爾ěr速sù降jiàng救jiù予yǔ二人èr rén二èr人rén殘喘cán chuǎn殘cán喘chuǎn

I have specially written this brief letter. Surrender quickly to save our two remaining breaths.

元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài看kàn罷bà問wèn番fān使shǐ道dào 「朱zhū天tiān祿lù是shì如何rú hé如rú何hé來的lái de來lái的de

After reading it, the Marshal asked the barbarian envoy: "How did Zhu Tianlu come to be there?"

番fān使shǐ將jiāng獨dú手shǒu大仙dà xiān大dà仙xiān並bìng二位èr wèi二èr位wèi小道xiǎo dào小xiǎo道dào人rén之事zhī shì之zhī事shì一一yī yī一yī說明shuō míng說shuō明míng

The barbarian envoy explained everything about the One-Handed Great Immortal and the two young Taoists.

元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài頓足dùn zú頓dùn足zú道dào果guǒ如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán危wēi矣yǐ

The Marshal stamped his foot and said: "If this is truly the case, Mulan is in great danger."

忙máng請qǐng軍師jūn shī軍jūn師shī商議shāng yì商shāng議yì

He hurriedly invited the military advisor to discuss the matter.

李lǐ靖jìng道dào： 「吾wú已知yǐ zhī已yǐ知zhī木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán事。料吉人必有yǒu一場yì chǎng一yì場chǎng禍事huò shì禍huò事shì料liào吉jí人rén必有bì yǒu必bì天tiān相xiāng且qiě令lìng他tā進帳jìn zhàng進jìn帳zhàng看kàn書shū中zhōng真假zhēn jiǎ真zhēn假jiǎ如何rú hé如rú何hé

Li Jing said: "I already know that Mulan is due for a disaster. But I expect that a fortunate person will have heaven's help. Have her enter the tent and see whether the letter is genuine or false."

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán進帳jìn zhàng進jìn帳zhàng參見cān jiàn參cān見jiàn禮畢lǐ bì禮lǐ畢bì李lǐ靖jìng將jiāng書shū與yǔ他tā觀看guān kàn觀guān看kàn

Mulan entered the tent, completed her ceremonial greetings, and Li Jing showed her the letter.

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán將jiāng書shū看完kàn wán看kàn完wán大哭dà kū大dà哭kū不止bù zhǐ不bù止zhǐ問wèn番fān使shǐ曰yuē

After reading the letter, Mulan wept incessantly and asked the barbarian envoy:

「我wǒ父母fù mǔ父fù母mǔ今jīn在zài何處hé chǔ何hé處chǔ

"Where are my parents now?"

番fān使shǐ曰yuē： 「現在xiàn zài現xiàn在zài城樓chéng lóu城chéng樓lóu之上zhī shàng之zhī上shàng

The barbarian envoy said: "They are on top of the city tower."

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán向xiàng元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài討tǎo令lìng即jí往wǎng城下chéng xià城chéng下xià來看lái kàn來lái看kàn

Mulan asked the Marshal for an order and immediately went to the base of the city wall to look.

李lǐ靖jìng令lìng伍wǔ登dēng、寶bǎo林lín同去tóng qù同tóng去qù以防yǐ fáng以yǐ防fáng不測bú cè不bú測cè

Li Jing ordered Wu Deng and Bao Lin to go with her, to guard against the unexpected.

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán同tóng朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng先xiān至zhì關guān下xià見jiàn父母fù mǔ父fù母mǔ雙雙shuāng shuāng雙shuāng赤chì體tǐ弔diào在zài城樓chéng lóu城chéng樓lóu之上zhī shàng之zhī上shàng放聲大哭fàng shēng dà kū放fàng聲shēng大dà哭kū

Mulan and Zhu Ming first arrived below the pass. Seeing her parents both naked and hanging from the city tower, she burst into loud wailing.

朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng也yě掩面yǎn miàn掩yǎn面miàn流涕liú tì流liú涕tì伍wǔ登dēng寶bǎo林lín亦yì傷感shāng gǎn傷shāng感gǎn不已bù yǐ不bù已yǐ

Zhu Ming also covered his face and wept. Wu Deng and Bao Lin were likewise overcome with sorrow.

朱zhū天tiān祿lù在zài城chéng上shàng叫jiào曰yuē： 「木蘭mù lán，木mù蘭lán，爾ěr為國wéi guó北征，是為wéi國guó忠。今十一年，又搶關奪鎮，出力報效，亦云足矣。若唐將人人如此，北běi征zhēng是shì盡忠jìn zhōng盡jìn忠zhōng今jīn十一shí yī十shí一yī年nián又yòu搶qiāng關guān奪duó鎮zhèn出力chū lì出chū力lì報效bào xiào報bào效xiào亦yì云yún足zú矣yǐ若ruò唐táng將jiāng人人rén rén人rén如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ番fān

Zhu Tianlu called out from the city wall: "Mulan, Mulan, you marched north for the country, which is to fulfill your loyalty. Now eleven years have passed, and you have seized passes and captured towns, exerting yourself to repay the state. That is already more than enough. If every Tang general were like you, the Northern Barbarians would have been

克服kè fú克kè服fú多年duō nián多duō年nián矣yǐ

subdued many years ago.

今jīn我wǒ二老èr lǎo二èr老lǎo被bèi神shén風吹fēng chuī風fēng吹chuī至此zhì cǐ至zhì此cǐ間jiàn汝rǔ素sù孝道xiào dào孝xiào道dào豈qǐ忍rěn坐視zuò shì坐zuò視shì不bù救jiù

Now your two elderly parents have been blown here by a divine wind. You have always been filial—how can you bear to stand by and not rescue us?

即jí不然bù rán，學徐庶救母，終身不bù然rán學xué徐xú庶shù救jiù母mǔ終身zhōng shēn終zhōng身shēn設shè一yī謀móu可也kě yě可kě也yě予言yǔ yán予yǔ言yán至此zhì cǐ至zhì此cǐ汝rǔ自zì思維sī wéi思sī維wéi楊氏yáng shì楊yáng氏shì亦yì叫jiào曰yuē徐庶xú shù

If not, follow Xu Shu's example of saving his mother—never devising another strategy for the rest of your life. I have said this much; now think it over for yourself!" Yang also cried out:

「木蘭mù lán，木mù蘭lán，汝rǔ代父dài fù代dài征，是云救父fù出征chū zhēng出chū征zhēng是shì云yún救jiù因yīn何hé父母fù mǔ母mǔ今日jīn rì今jīn日rì生死shēng sǐ生shēng死sǐ在zài爾ěr掌握zhǎng wò掌zhǎng握wò中zhōng尚shàng猶豫不決yóu yù bù jué猶yóu豫yù不bù決jué也yě

"Mulan, Mulan, you took your father's place in the expedition, which is called saving your father. Why then, when your parents' life and death are now in your hands, are you still hesitating and unable to decide?"

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán聽了tīng le聽tīng了le父母fù mǔ父fù母mǔ之zhī言yán啞口無言yǎ kǒu wú yán啞yǎ口kǒu無wú心血xīn xuè心xīn血xuè上shàng湧yǒng倒下dǎo xià倒dǎo下xià駝tuó來lái氣死qì sǐ氣qì死sǐ在zài地dì

Hearing her parents' words, Mulan was speechless. Blood rushed to her heart, she fell down from her camel, and lay on the ground as if dead from rage and grief.

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō翼yì孝明xiào míng孝xiào主人倒地，抬頭四顧，見城上有五隻狐狸張牙舞爪，即向城上亂撲，朱明míng駝tuó見jiàn主人zhǔ rén主zhǔ人rén倒地dǎo dì倒dǎo地dì抬頭tái tóu抬tái頭tóu四顧sì gù四sì顧gù城chéng上有shàng yǒu上shàng有yǒu五隻wǔ zhī五wǔ隻zhī狐狸hú li狐hú狸li張牙舞爪zhāng yá wǔ zhuǎ張zhāng牙yá舞wǔ爪zhuǎ即jí向xiàng亂luàn撲pū朱明zhū míng朱zhū牽qiān之zhī不住bú zhù不bú住zhù

It is said that the Filial Camel, seeing its master fall to the ground, raised its head and looked around. Spying five foxes on the city wall baring their teeth and brandishing their claws, it immediately charged wildly toward the wall. Zhu Ming could not hold it back.

忽hū城chéng上shàng飛fēi砂走shā zǒu砂shā走zǒu石shí打dǎ將jiāng下來xià lái下xià來lái伍wǔ登dēng寶bǎo林lín救jiù木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán回huí營yíng仍然réng rán仍réng然rán吐血tǔ xuè吐tǔ血xuè不止bù zhǐ不bù止zhǐ

Suddenly, flying sand and hurling stones came down from the city wall. Wu Deng and Bao Lin rescued Mulan and returned to camp, where she continued to vomit blood without stopping.

元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài同tóng軍師jūn shī軍jūn師shī不bù時shí來看lái kàn來lái看kàn視shì木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán曰yuē

The Marshal and the military advisor came to see her from time to time. Mulan said:

「不想bù xiǎng不bù想xiǎng今日jīn rì今jīn日rì遭zāo此cǐ大逆dà nì大dà逆nì天tiān乎hū吾wú生shēng何hé為wéi」

"I never expected to encounter such great unfilial calamity today. Oh Heaven, oh Heaven! Why do I live?"

伸手shēn shǒu伸shēn手shǒu取qǔ帳zhàng上shàng寶劍bǎo jiàn寶bǎo劍jiàn向xiàng喉hóu中zhōng一刎yì wěn一yì刎wěn

She reached out, took the precious sword from the tent, and slashed it across her own throat.

朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng來lái搶qiāng時shí其qí劍jiàn已yǐ入rù喉hóu內nèi

When Zhu Ming rushed to snatch it away, the blade had already cut into her throat.

朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng將jiāng劍jiàn奪duó了liǎo以yǐ手shǒu探tàn之zhī幸xìng氣管qì guǎn氣qì管guǎn未wèi斷duàn還有huán yǒu還huán有yǒu可救kě jiù可kě救jiù

Zhu Ming seized the sword and felt the wound with his hand. Fortunately, the windpipe was not severed, so she could still be saved.

即jí敷fū上shàng金瘡jīn chuāng金jīn瘡chuāng丹藥dān yào丹dān藥yào用yòng白bái綾líng包bāo好hǎo扶fú入rù帳zhàng中zhōng

He immediately applied golden wound medicine, wrapped it with white silk, and helped her into the tent.

到dào三更sān gēng三sān更gēng時候shí hòu時shí候hòu木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán悠悠yōu yōu悠yōu醒來xǐng lái醒xǐng來lái謂wèi朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng曰yuē

By the third watch, Mulan slowly regained consciousness and said to Zhu Ming:

「此事cǐ shì此cǐ事shì如何rú hé如rú我以一死了吾生，爾救我何hé是shì了liǎo我wǒ以yǐ一yī死了sǐ le死sǐ吾wú生shēng爾ěr救jiù為wéi

"How will this matter ever end? I wanted to end my life with this death. Why did you save me?"

朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng曰yuē「將軍jiāng jūn不記鐵冠道人之言乎？言將jiāng軍jūn出征，如有急難不bù記jì鐵tiě冠guān道人dào rén道dào人rén之zhī言yán乎hū出征chū zhēng出chū征zhēng如有rú yǒu如rú有yǒu急難jí nán急jí難nán不可解bù kě jiě可kě解jiě之事zhī shì事shì錦囊jǐn náng錦jǐn囊náng打開dǎ kāi打dǎ開kāi自然zì rán自zì然rán

Zhu Ming said: "General, do you not remember the words of the Iron-Crowned Taoist? He said that when you go on campaign, if you encounter an urgent and insoluble difficulty, open the brocade bag, and it will naturally be resolved."

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán如rú夢mèng初chū覺jué急jí取qǔ錦囊jǐn náng錦jǐn囊náng看kàn之zhī祇qí見jiàn黃huáng紙zhǐ尺chǐ餘yú上shàng書shū靈符líng fú靈líng符fú一道yí dào一yí道dào硃批zhū pī硃zhū批pī云yún

Mulan felt as if waking from a dream. She quickly took the brocade bag and opened it. Inside she saw a yellow paper over a foot long, on which was written a spiritual talisman, with a vermilion annotation saying:

「爾ěr去qù北方běi fāng北běi方fāng狐hú為仇，直對妖yāo為wéi仇chóu直zhí對duì焚fén吾wú靈符líng fú靈líng符fú即時jí shí即jí時shí可kě保bǎo無難wú nán無wú難nán

"You go to the north, with fox spirits as your enemies. Burn my spiritual talisman directly in front of the demons, and you will immediately be preserved from harm."

木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán省shěng悟道wù dào悟wù道dào今jīn關上guān shàng關guān上shàng獨dú手shǒu大仙dà xiān大dà仙xiān莫非mò fēi莫mò非fēi即jí我wǒ向xiàng日rì削xiāo了liǎo前腿qián tuǐ前qián腿tuǐ之zhī狐hú也yě

Mulan realized and said: "Could the One-Handed Great Immortal at the pass now be the very fox whose front leg I cut off some time ago?"

到了dào le到dào了le天明tiān míng天tiān對元帥說明míng之zhī時shí對duì元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài說明shuō míng說shuō同tóng朱明zhū míng朱zhū來lái至zhì城下chéng xià城chéng下xià

When day broke, she explained the situation to the Marshal and went with Zhu Ming to the base of the city wall.

李lǐ靖jìng仍réng命mìng伍wǔ登dēng、寶bǎo林lín同tóng木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán去qù

Li Jing again ordered Wu Deng and Bao Lin to accompany Mulan.

看kàn父母fù mǔ父fù母mǔ仍然réng rán仍réng然rán弔diào在zài城chéng上shàng又yòu大哭dà kū大dà哭kū起來qǐ lái起qǐ來lái

Seeing her parents still hanging on the city wall, she burst into loud wailing once more.

朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng忙máng請qǐng大仙軍師答話，獨dú手shǒu大仙dà xiān大dà仙xiān軍師jūn shī軍jūn師shī答dá話huà師徒shī tú徒tú三人sān rén三sān人rén齊qí來lái城chéng上shàng勸quàn木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán早zǎo降jiàng

Zhu Ming quickly invited the One-Handed Great Immortal, the military advisor, to come and parley. The One-Handed One and his two disciples all came to the city wall and urged Mulan to surrender soon.

獨dú手shǒu曰yuē： 「朱zhū將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn你好nǐ hǎo你nǐ好hǎo不bù通權達變tōng quán dá biàn通tōng權quán達dá變biàn

One-Hand said, "General Zhu, you are utterly lacking in flexibility and adaptability.

就jiù降jiàng我wǒ番fān邦bāng，受shòu職zhí不受bú shòu祿，居客卿之位，終身不bú祿lù一謀，居jū客卿kè qīng客kè卿qīng之zhī位wèi終身zhōng shēn終zhōng身shēn設shè一yī謀móu居此cǐ心xīn以yǐ報bào唐táng主zhǔ，不可謂kě wèi可kě謂wèi不忠bù zhōng忠zhōng救jiù父母fù mǔ父fù母mǔ不孝bú xiào孝xiào

Surrender to our barbarian nation—accept a position but no salary, hold the rank of guest minister, and never devise a single strategy for life. With this intention to repay the Tang emperor, you cannot be called disloyal. With this intention to save your parents, you cannot be called unfilial."

何必hé bì何hé必bì自zì苦kǔ如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ

Why must you torment yourself like this?

子細zǐ xì子zǐ細xì思sī之zhī

Think it over carefully.

壽shòu亭tíng侯hóu從cóng曹cáo，徐xú元yuán直zhí救jiù母mǔ，皆jiē從權quán之道zhī dào，其勢不得不然。 吳起為西河守，父死不奔喪，至今尚為人所唾罵﹔況父母被執不救，吾恐千世之zhī道dào其qí勢shì不得bù dé人所不bù得dé不然bù rán然rán吳起wú qǐ吳wú起qǐ為wéi西河xī hé西xī河hé守shǒu父fù死不sǐ bù死sǐ奔喪bēn sāng奔bēn喪sāng至今zhì jīn至zhì今jīn尚shàng人rén所suǒ唾罵tuò mà唾tuò罵mà況kuàng父母fù mǔ被bèi執zhí吾wú恐kǒng千世qiān shì千qiān世shì之後zhī hòu後hòu將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn不齒bù chǐ齒chǐ也yě木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán聽了tīng le聽tīng了le獨dú手shǒu一片yí piàn一yí片piàn言語yán yǔ言yán語yǔ漸漸jiàn jiàn漸jiàn耳ěr軟ruǎn有yǒu親qīn之意zhī yì意yì朱明zhū míng朱zhū明míng曰yuē

Lord Shouting Hou followed Cao, and Xu Yuanzhi saved his mother—both took the expedient path, as circumstances compelled them. Wu Qi, as Governor of Xihe, did not rush home to mourn his father's death, and to this day people spit and curse him for it. If you, General, have your parents captured and do not rescue them, I fear that for a thousand generations to come, you will be despised by others." After hearing these words from the One-Handed One, Mulan gradually softened and began to entertain the idea of using expediency to save her parents. Zhu Ming said:

「將軍jiāng jūn將jiāng軍jūn不可bù kě不bù可kě聽tīng他tā佞nìng語yǔ且qiě焚fén靈符líng fú靈líng符fú看kàn是shì如何rú hé如rú何hé

"General, do not listen to his flattering words. Let us burn the spiritual talisman and see what happens."

即將jí jiāng即jí符燒化，忽然電光閃爍，空中霹靂一聲，如天崩地裂，嚇得番兵伏地不起。伍登、寶林心膽震動，木蘭舉目看時，祇見城上弔著的不是父親、母親，是兩隻老狐精，被天雷打死。城下打死三孤，內有一隻，卻無左肘。木蘭記起喪吾之言，並機房之事，心下明白，遂同三將jiāng靈符líng fú靈líng符fú燒shāo化huà忽然hū rán忽hū然rán電光diàn guāng電diàn光guāng閃爍shǎn shuò閃shǎn爍shuò空中kōng zhōng空kōng中zhōng霹靂pī lì霹pī靂lì一聲yì shēng一yì聲shēng如rú天崩地裂tiān bēng dì liè天tiān崩bēng地dì裂liè嚇得hè dé嚇hè得dé而來，令番兵fān bīng番fān射馬上將，磚打馬下兵bīng伏地fú dì伏fú不起bù qǐ不bù起qǐ伍wǔ登dēng、寶bǎo林lín心膽xīn dǎn心xīn膽dǎn震動zhèn dòng震zhèn動dòng木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán舉目jǔ mù舉jǔ目mù看kàn時shí祇qí見jiàn城chéng上shàng弔diào著zhù的de不是bú shì是shì父親fù qīn父fù親qīn母親mǔ qīn母mǔ兩隻liǎng zhī兩liǎng隻zhī老lǎo狐hú精jīng被bèi天雷tiān léi雷léi打死dǎ sǐ打dǎ死sǐ城下chéng xià下xià三sān孤gū內有nèi yǒu內nèi有yǒu一隻yì zhī卻què無wú左zuǒ肘zhǒu記jì喪sāng吾wú之zhī言yán並bìng機房jī fáng機jī房fáng之事zhī shì事shì明白míng bái明míng白bái遂suì同tóng回huí營yíng去qù報bào元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài知道zhī dào知zhī道dào乘著chéng zhù乘chéng威wēi率lǜ眾zhòng一齊yì qí齊qí搶qiāng關guān料liào康kāng和hé阿ā早已zǎo yǐ早zǎo已yǐ在zài俟sì候hòu唐兵táng bīng唐táng浪làng湧yǒng而來ér lái而ér來lái令lìng箭jiàn射shè馬上mǎ shàng馬mǎ磚zhuān打馬dǎ mǎ焦jiāo文wén武wǔ俱jù帶傷dài shāng帶dài傷shāng要yào後hòu下回xià huí分解fēn jiě分fēn解jiě俟候sì hòu馬下mǎ xià

He then burned the spiritual talisman. Suddenly lightning flashed and a thunderclap exploded in the sky, as if heaven and earth were splitting apart. The barbarian soldiers were so terrified that they threw themselves to the ground and could not rise. Wu Deng and Bao Lin's hearts and gallbladders trembled. When Mulan raised her eyes to look, she saw that hanging on the city wall were not her father and mother, but two old fox spirits, struck dead by heavenly thunder. Below the wall, three foxes had also been struck dead, one of which was missing its left elbow. Mulan recalled Sang Wu's words and the incident in the weaving room, and understood in her heart. She then returned to camp with the three generals to report to the Marshal. Taking advantage of the thunder's power, the Marshal led all the generals in a concerted assault on the pass. Unexpectedly, Kang Ahe was already waiting on the city wall. Seeing the Tang soldiers surging forward like waves, he ordered his barbarian troops to shoot arrows at the mounted generals and hurl bricks at the foot soldiers. Jiao Wen, Jiao Wu, Wu Deng, and Bao Lin all returned wounded. To know what happened next, read the next chapter.