第二dì èr第dì二èr十五shí wǔ十shí五wǔ回huí突厥tū jué突tū厥jué稱臣chēng chén稱chēng臣chén降jiàng中國zhōng guó中zhōng國guó木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán舉jǔ酒jiǔ論lùn奇qí門mén二十五èr shí wǔ

Chapter 25: The Turks Submit to China; Mulan Discusses the Mystic Arts Over Wine

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō尉wèi遲chí元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài兵bīng敗bài回huí營yíng心中xīn zhōng心xīn中zhōng思想sī xiǎng思sī想xiǎng康kāng和hé阿ā如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ利害lì hài利lì害hài關guān何hé日rì得dé破pò

Marshal Yuchi, having been defeated in battle, returned to camp, thinking to himself: Kang He’a is so formidable; when will this pass ever be taken?

番fān邦bāng何時hé shí何hé時shí可kě降jiàng

When will the barbarian state surrender?

我wǒ等děng何hé日rì回huí見jiàn天子tiān zǐ天tiān子zǐ

When can we return and see the Son of Heaven?

思sī得dé一夜yí yè一yí夜yè無wú眠mián

He was so anxious that he lay awake all night.

次cì日rì天明tiān míng天tiān明míng即jí來lái軍機jūn jī，與軍jūn機jī帳zhàng與yǔ軍師jūn shī師shī商議shāng yì商shāng議yì

At dawn the next day, he went straight to the war council tent to consult the military advisor.

李lǐ靖jìng道dào： 「靖昨夜zuó yè昨zuó夜yè仰yǎng觀天象guān tiān xiàng觀guān天tiān象xiàng星，其大如斗，搖搖而墜，聲響如雷，此兆必應在康和阿身上。又見jiàn北方客星退位，我等當有凱旋之日。正zhèng北běi一星yì xīng一yì星xīng其qí大dà如rú斗dòu搖搖yáo yáo搖yáo而ér墜zhuì聲響shēng xiǎng聲shēng響xiǎng雷léi此cǐ兆zhào必bì應在yīng zài應yīng在zài康kāng和hé阿ā身上shēn shàng身shēn上shàng又yòu北方běi fāng方fāng客kè退位tuì wèi退tuì位wèi我wǒ等děng當dāng有yǒu凱旋kǎi xuán凱kǎi旋xuán之zhī日rì西xī太白tài bái太tài白bái收了shōu le收shōu了le光芒guāng máng光guāng芒máng主zhǔ干戈gān gē干gān戈gē寧靜níng jìng寧níng靜jìng也yě

Li Jing said: "Last night I looked up at the celestial signs. I saw a star due north, as large as a dipper, shake and fall with a thunderous sound. This omen surely points to Kang He’a. I also saw the guest star in the north retreat from its position, indicating the day of our triumphant return is near. The planet Venus in the due west has dimmed its light, which heralds the cessation of warfare."

遂suì教jiào元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ而ér行xíng

He then instructed the marshal to act in a certain way.

元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài大喜dà xǐ大dà喜xǐ即jí同tóng軍師jūn shī相了玉門關地勢，傳令軍jūn師shī出chū營yíng相xiāng了liǎo玉門關yù mén guān玉yù門mén關guān地勢dì shì地dì勢shì傳令chuán lìng傳chuán令lìng軍士jūn shì士shì抵dǐ下xià寨zhài外wài作zuò取qǔ之勢zhī shì之zhī

The marshal was overjoyed and immediately left camp with the military advisor to survey the terrain of Yumen Pass. He ordered the soldiers to set up camp right at the pass, outwardly making a show of attacking it.

即令jí lìng即jí令lìng軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì於wū營yíng中zhōng暗àn開kāi地道dì dào地dì道dào

Meanwhile, he secretly ordered the troops to dig a tunnel inside the camp.

又yòu命mìng軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì用yòng大dà木造mù zào木mù造zào鱉甲biē jiǎ鱉biē甲jiǎ上束草為人，頭帶鐵盔，內盛松油、獐腦等物，草人手執鎗棍，可搖可動，車jū五百wǔ bǎi五wǔ百bǎi乘chéng上shàng束shù草cǎo為wéi人rén頭tóu帶dài鐵tiě盔kuī內nèi盛shèng松sōng油yóu獐zhāng腦nǎo等děng物wù人手rén shǒu手shǒu執zhí鎗qiāng棍gùn可kě搖yáo可動kě dòng動dòng下xià可藏kě cáng藏cáng二èr十多人shí duō rén十shí多duō二十èr shí多人duō rén

He also ordered the soldiers to build five hundred "turtle-shell chariots" from large timbers. On each chariot, a straw figure was bound, wearing an iron helmet and filled with pine resin, musk, and other substances. The straw figure held a spear or staff and could be made to wave and move, while under the chariot more than twenty men could be hidden.

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō康kāng和hé阿ā在zài營yíng中zhōng見jiàn唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng抵dǐ關guān下xià寨zhài料liào李lǐ靖jìng必有bì yǒu必bì有yǒu奇謀qí móu奇qí謀móu

Now Kang He'a, from within his camp, saw that the Tang troops had set up their own camp right against the pass. He expected that Li Jing surely had some ingenious stratagem.

乃nǎi上shàng表biǎo道dào： 唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng逼bī關guān勢不兩立shì bù liǎng lì勢shì不bù兩liǎng立lì

He then submitted a memorial saying: "The Tang forces press upon our pass; we cannot both coexist.

況kuàng彼得bǐ dé彼bǐ得dé我wǒ國內guó nèi國guó內nèi之地zhī dì之zhī地dì三分sān fēn三sān分fēn有二yǒu èr有yǒu二èr而ér番fān民樂mín lè民mín樂lè附fù其qí不可bù kě不bù可kě與yǔ爭zhēng一yī也yě

Moreover, they have already taken two-thirds of our territory within the frontier, and the barbarian people are happy to submit to them. This is the first reason we cannot contend with them.

番fān將jiāng上shàng強者qiáng zhě死，次強qiáng者zhě死sǐ次cì囚qiú弱者ruò zhě弱ruò放回fàng huí放fàng回huí以yǐ備bèi屍shī位wèi

Of our barbarian generals, the strongest are dead, the next strongest imprisoned, and the weak have been sent back merely to fill positions.

其qí不可bù kě不bù可kě與yǔ爭zhēng二èr也yě

This is the second reason we cannot contend with them.

邇ěr者zhě狐hú妖媚yāo mèi妖yāo媚mèi主zhǔ擢為zhuó wéi擢zhuó，天為wéi軍師jūn shī軍jūn師shī天tiān為之wéi zhī之zhī怒nù玉門yù mén玉yù門mén險xiǎn陷xiàn其qí不可bù kě不bù可kě與yǔ爭zhēng三sān也yě

Recently, a fox spirit bewitched our lord and was elevated to military advisor; Heaven became angry, and Yumen Pass nearly fell. This is the third reason we cannot contend with them.

以yǐ一隅yì yú之地，敵王國之師，十年之間，臣鬚髮盡白，目茫齒落，心力竭盡，未獲一yì隅yú之地zhī dì之zhī地dì敵dí王國wáng guó王wáng國guó師shī十年shí nián十shí年nián之間zhī jiàn間jiàn臣chén鬚髮xū fà鬚xū髮fà盡jìn白bái目mù茫máng齒chǐ落luò心力xīn lì心xīn力lì竭盡jié jìn竭jié未獲wèi huò未wèi獲huò勝shèng

With but a small corner of land, we oppose the army of a mighty kingdom. Over the past ten years, my beard and hair have turned completely white, my eyesight has dimmed, my teeth have fallen out, and my heart and mind are exhausted, yet I have not won a single victory.

蓋gài臣chén之zhī智zhì遜xùn於wū李lǐ靖jìng，番fān將之jiāng zhī將jiāng勇yǒng亞yā朱zhū、伍wǔ，其qí不可bù kě不bù可kě與yǔ爭zhēng四sì也yě

In short, my wisdom is inferior to Li Jing's, and the courage of our barbarian generals is less than that of Zhu and Wu. This is the fourth reason we cannot contend with them.

主zhǔ上shàng速sù與yǔ唐táng和hé，猶yóu不失bù shī不bù失shī番fān邦之bāng zhī邦bāng之zhī

My lord, make peace with Tang quickly, and you may still not lose your position as lord of the barbarian realm."

倘tǎng臣chén智慮zhì lǜ智zhì慮lǜ未wèi週zhōu玉門yù mén玉yù門mén有失yǒu shī有yǒu失shī主zhǔ上shàng悔huǐ無wú及jí矣yǐ

If my planning proves inadequate and Yumen should be lost, Your Majesty would regret it beyond remedy!

臣chén膺yīng重任zhòng rèn重zhòng任rèn惟有wéi yǒu惟wéi有yǒu一死yì sǐ一yì死sǐ以yǐ謝xiè主zhǔ上shàng

I bear a heavy responsibility, and my only course is to give my life to atone to Your Majesty.

突厥tū jué突tū厥jué看kàn罷bà謂wèi眾zhòng臣chén曰yuē 「康kāng和hé阿ā何hé怯qiè也yě！玉門yù mén玉yù門mén有失yǒu shī有yǒu失shī都dōu中zhōng所suǒ積jī尚可shàng kě尚shàng可kě敷fū十年shí nián十shí年nián之zhī用yòng

After reading it, the Turkic ruler said to his ministers: "How timid Kang Ah is! Even if Yumen were lost, the stores accumulated in the capital could still supply us for ten years.

唐兵táng bīng若到，孤與卿等背城一戰，亦未知鹿死誰手。 即不幸而敗，退猶可守，再求救於諸虜，唐táng兵bīng若ruò到dào孤gū與yǔ卿qīng等děng背bèi城chéng一戰yí zhàn一yí戰zhàn亦yì未知wèi zhī未wèi知zhī鹿死誰手lù sǐ shuí shǒu鹿lù死sǐ誰shuí手shǒu即jí不幸bú xìng不bú幸xìng而ér敗bài退tuì猶可yóu kě猶yóu可kě守shǒu再zài求救qiú jiù求qiú救jiù於wū諸zhū虜lǔ能néng保bǎo必勝bì shèng必bì勝shèng耶yē蘇sū慶qìng桂guì奏zòu曰yuē

If the Tang army arrives, I shall fight with you with our backs to the city wall, and it remains unknown who will claim the deer. Should we be unlucky and lose, we can still retreat and defend, then seek reinforcements from the various tribes. Can the Tang troops be certain of victory?" Su Qinggui memorialized:

「康kāng帥shuài所suǒ言yán，忠zhōng而且ér qiě而ér且qiě盡jìn萬全之計wàn quán zhī jì萬wàn全quán主上納之zhī計jì也yě祈qí主zhǔ上納shàng nà上shàng納nà

"General Kang's words are loyal and exhaustive, a perfectly safe plan. We beg Your Majesty to accept them."

突厥tū jué突tū厥jué不bù答dá眾zhòng臣chén亦yì皆jiē伏地fú dì伏fú地dì奏zòu曰yuē

The Turkic ruler did not reply. All the ministers also prostrated themselves and memorialized:

「願主yuàn zhǔ願yuàn主zhǔ上納shàng nà上shàng納nà二èr相xiāng子孫久遠之zhī言yán為wéi子孫zǐ sūn子zǐ孫sūn久遠jiǔ yuǎn久jiǔ遠yuǎn計jì

"May Your Majesty accept the words of the two chancellors as a long-term plan for our descendants."

突厥tū jué突tū厥jué見jiàn群臣qún chén群qún臣chén皆jiē欲yù降jiàng唐táng拂袖fú xiù拂fú袖xiù而ér入rù憂形於色yōu xíng wū sè憂yōu形xíng於wū色sè雅yǎ丹dān娘娘niáng niáng娘niáng問wèn曰yuē雅丹yǎ dān

Seeing that all his ministers wished to surrender to the Tang, the Turkic ruler flicked his sleeves and entered [the palace], worry showing on his face. Consort Yadan asked:

「吾wú主zhǔ何hé不豫bú yù不bú豫yù之zhī甚shèn也yě

"My Lord, why are you so deeply distressed?"

突厥tū jué即以康和阿之表付之。娘娘看罷，謂突tū厥jué即jí以yǐ康kāng和hé阿ā之zhī表biǎo付fù娘娘niáng niáng娘niáng看kàn罷bà謂wèi曰yuē

The Turkic ruler then handed her Kang Ah's memorial. After reading it, the consort said to the Turkic ruler:

「康kāng和hé阿ā之zhī言yán，順天應人shùn tiān yīng rén順shùn天tiān應yīng人rén盡忠jìn zhōng盡jìn忠zhōng幹gàn國guó語yǔ主zhǔ上shàng宜yí速sù行xíng

"The words of Kang Ah are in accord with Heaven and responsive to the people—they are the speech of one utterly loyal and devoted to the state. Your Majesty should act upon them promptly."

突厥tū jué突tū厥jué道dào「孤gū此時cǐ shí此cǐ時shí方寸已亂fāng cùn yǐ luàn方fāng寸cùn已yǐ亂luàn明日míng rì明míng日rì再議zài yì再zài議yì罷bà

The Turkic ruler said: "My mind is in turmoil at this moment. Let us deliberate again tomorrow."

如是rú shì如rú是shì十日shí rì十shí日rì不出bù chū不bù出chū蘇sū慶qìng桂guì率lǜ群臣qún chén群qún臣chén入rù內nèi強qiáng奏zòu曰yuē

Thus he did not emerge for ten days. Su Qinggui led the ministers inside and strongly memorialized:

「社稷shè jì社shè稷jì安危ān wēi安ān危wēi在此zài cǐ在zài此cǐ一舉yì jǔ一yì舉jǔ主zhǔ上shàng奈何nài hé奈nài何hé遲疑不決chí yí bù jué遲chí疑yí不bù決jué耶yē

"The safety of the altars of soil and grain hangs upon this single action. Why does Your Majesty hesitate and fail to decide?"

連lián請qǐng三日sān rì三sān日rì不出bù chū不bù娘娘出chū雅yǎ丹dān娘娘niáng niáng娘niáng對duì眾zhòng官guān曰yuē

After three consecutive days of pleading, he still did not emerge. Consort Yadan came out and said to the assembled officials:

「主zhǔ上shàng平日píng rì平píng服唐朝，今見諸臣共逼，方寸已亂，明日rì不服bù fú進宮，孤與群臣面議。即出國寶遣使請降，料主上亦不bù服fú唐朝táng cháo唐táng朝cháo今見jīn jiàn今jīn見jiàn諸zhū臣chén共gòng逼bī方寸已亂fāng cùn yǐ luàn方fāng寸cùn已yǐ亂luàn明日míng rì明míng卿qīng等děng進jìn宮gōng孤gū與yǔ群臣qún chén群qún面議miàn yì面miàn議yì即jí出chū國寶guó bǎo國guó寶bǎo遣使qiǎn shǐ遣qiǎn使shǐ請qǐng降jiàng料liào亦yì不能bù néng能néng阻攔zǔ lán阻zǔ攔lán矣yǐ

"His Majesty has ordinarily never submitted to the Tang court. Now, seeing all his ministers pressuring him together, his mind is in turmoil. Tomorrow, when you, my lords, enter the palace, I will face the assembly of officials and discuss the matter. Then I will produce the imperial seal and send an envoy to request surrender. I expect that His Majesty will not be able to stop it."

次cì日rì，眾zhòng臣chén入rù宮gōng伏fú奏zòu，言yán：

The next day, the ministers entered the palace, prostrated themselves, and memorialized:

「玉門關yù mén guān玉yù門mén關guān甚急shèn jí甚shèn急jí臣chén等děng共gòng議yì降jiàng表biǎo祈qí主zhǔ上shàng用yòng國寶guó bǎo國guó寶bǎo僉qiān押yā

"The situation at Yumen Pass is extremely urgent. We have jointly drafted a memorial of surrender, and we beg Your Majesty to sign and affix the imperial seal."

娘娘niáng niáng娘niáng即將jí jiāng即jí將jiāng慶桂曰： 「國寶guó bǎo國guó寶bǎo付fù慶qìng桂guì曰yuē在此zài cǐ在zài此cǐ煩fán卿qīng齎jī表biǎo親qīn到dào唐táng營yíng代dài主zhǔ上shàng一行yì háng一yì行háng慶桂qìng guì

The consort then handed the imperial seal to Su Qinggui and said: "Here is the imperial seal. I trouble you to take the memorial personally to the Tang camp and act on behalf of His Majesty."

蘇sū慶qìng桂guì叩頭kòu tóu叩kòu頭tóu謝恩xiè ēn謝xiè恩ēn率lǜ百官bǎi guān百bǎi官guān而出ér chū而ér出chū突厥tū jué突tū厥jué亦yì無wú可kě如何rú hé如rú何hé

Su Qinggui kowtowed to express thanks for the favor, then led the hundred officials out. The Turkic ruler could do nothing about it.

再說zài shuō再zài說shuō康kāng和hé阿見ā jiàn阿ā見jiàn唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng連日lián rì連lián日rì攻城gōng chéng攻gōng城chéng不甚bú shèn謀，心甚不bú甚shèn努力nǔ lì努nǔ力lì料liào李lǐ靖jìng必有bì yǒu必bì有yǒu陰謀yīn móu陰yīn謀móu心xīn不安bù ān安ān

Furthermore, Kang Ah observed that the Tang troops had been attacking the city for days without much effort, and he suspected that Li Jing must have some hidden scheme, which made him very uneasy.

即jí於wū城中chéng zhōng城chéng靠山之處，立雲梯十餘丈，以窺唐營虛寔。見正南中zhōng北běi靠山kào shān靠kào山shān之處zhī chǔ之zhī處chǔ立lì雲梯yún tī雲yún梯tī十shí餘yú丈zhàng以yǐ窺kuī唐táng營yíng虛xū寔shí見jiàn正南zhèng nán正zhèng南nán兵卒bīng zú兵bīng卒zú紛紛fēn fēn紛fēn進出jìn chū進jìn出chū不解bù jiě不bù解jiě其qí故gù

He immediately had a cloud ladder erected in the northern part of the city, leaning against the mountain, over ten zhang high, to spy on the actual strength of the Tang camp. Seeing soldiers from the central south camp constantly coming and going, he could not fathom the reason.

晚間wǎn jiàn晚wǎn間jiàn令lìng康kāng利lì巡xún城chéng沐浴mù yù沐mù浴yù焚香fén xiāng焚fén香xiāng步bù罡gāng禮lǐ鬥dòu求qiú示shì吉凶jí xiōng吉jí凶xiōng

That evening, he ordered Kang Li to patrol the city walls, while he himself bathed, burned incense, paced the celestial steps, and performed rites to the Dipper, seeking an omen of fortune or misfortune.

是shì日rì正值zhèng zhí正zhèng值zhí甲jiǎ申shēn康kāng和hé阿ā禮lǐ鬥dòu畢bì見jiàn主zhǔ星xīng不明bù míng不bù明míng恩ēn無wú光guāng，仇chóu星結jié彩cǎi。

That day happened to be Jia Shen. After Kang Ah completed his rites to the Dipper, he saw that the main star was dim, the benefactor star lacked luster, and the enemy star was festooned with color.

忽然hū rán忽hū然rán一陣風yí zhèn fēng一yí陣zhèn風fēng來lái將jiāng主zhǔ燈dēng撲pū息xī康kāng和hé阿ā大dà驚jīng道dào

Suddenly a gust of wind came and extinguished the main lamp. Kang Ah was greatly alarmed and exclaimed:

「吾wú命mìng休xiū矣yǐ！」隨suí隱yǐn几jǐ而ér臥wò。見jiàn主zhǔ燈dēng滅miè而復明fù míng復fù明míng光大guāng dà光guāng大dà如rú輪lún中zhōng有一yǒu yī有yǒu一yī神shén儒rú冠guān道dào服fú笑容可掬xiào róng kě jū笑xiào容róng可kě掬jū謂wèi康kāng和hé阿ā曰yuē

"My life is over!" He then leaned on his small table and lay down. He saw the main lamp go out but then relight, its radiance as large as a wheel. Within it was a deity wearing a scholar's cap and Taoist robes, with a beaming, pleasant smile, who said to Kang Ah:

「元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài謹防jǐn fáng謹jǐn防fáng甲jiǎ申shēn旬xún

"Commander, beware of the ten days of Jia Shen."

和hé阿ā驚覺jīng jué驚jīng覺jué夢非夢，似sì夢mèng非fēi醒xǐng，心中xīn zhōng心xīn中zhōng思sī道dào

Ah startled awake, in a state between dream and reality, between sleeping and waking. He thought to himself:

「今日jīn rì今jīn甲申，神示甲申旬日rì即jí甲jiǎ申shēn神shén示shì，莫非旬xún須要xū yào須xū要yào謹防jǐn fáng謹jǐn防fáng莫非mò fēi莫mò非fēi之內zhī nèi之zhī內nèi吾wú命mìng當dāng絕jué矣yǐ

"Today is already Jia Shen. The deity has warned me to be careful during the ten days of Jia Shen. Could it be that within these ten days, my life is destined to end?"

忽hū又yòu思sī道dào： 「甲jiǎ申shēn旬xún中空zhōng kōng午未，唐營中zhōng空kōng正在午wǔ未wèi之地，莫非唐táng營yíng軍jūn正在zhèng zài正zhèng在zài之地zhī dì之zhī地dì莫非mò fēi莫mò非fēi唐兵táng bīng兵bīng暗àn掘jué地道dì dào來lái攻gōng我wǒ城chéng耶yē

Then another thought occurred to him: "During the Jia Shen ten-day cycle, Wu and Wei are empty. The Tang camp's central army is exactly located on the Wu and Wei positions. Could it be that the Tang soldiers are secretly digging a tunnel to attack our city?"

不等bù děng不bù等děng天明tiān míng天tiān明míng即jí上shàng雲梯yún tī雲yún梯tī審視shěn shì審shěn視shì見jiàn唐táng營yíng外面wài miàn外wài面miàn新xīn土tǔ纍纍léi léi纍léi忙máng令lìng軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì於wū城內chéng nèi城chéng內nèi午wǔ未wèi之zhī方fāng橫héng掘jué深坑shēn kēng深shēn坑kēng引yǐn北池běi chí北běi池chí水shuǐ以yǐ灌guàn心中xīn zhōng心xīn中zhōng喜xǐ道dào

Before daybreak, he ascended the cloud ladder to observe. Seeing piles of fresh earth outside the Tang camp, he immediately ordered his soldiers to dig a deep transverse pit within the city in the direction of Wu and Wei, and to channel water from the northern pond to flood it. He rejoiced inwardly and said:

「前日qián rì前qián日rì主zhǔ燈dēng忽滅hū miè忽hū滅miè者zhě正zhèng為此wéi cǐ為wéi此cǐ既破，吾復何憂？神佑我也yě今jīn計jì既jì破pò吾wú復fù何hé憂yōu神佑shén yòu神shén佑yòu我也wǒ yě我wǒ

"The reason the main lamp suddenly went out the other day was precisely this. Now that this scheme has been foiled, what further worries do I have? The gods are protecting me."

又yòu謂wèi眾zhòng將jiāng曰yuē： 「吾wú心xīn慈善cí shàn慈cí善shàn肯妄殺一人。今日為主上江山，不得不然。吾有毒藥箭十萬餘枝，著人皮膚，不論深淺，登時即死。此箭吾不肯bù kěn擅用。今主上執固不bù肯kěn妄wàng殺shā一人yì rén一yì人rén今日jīn rì今jīn日rì為主wéi zhǔ為wéi主zhǔ上shàng江山jiāng shān江jiāng山shān不得bù dé得dé不然bù rán然rán有yǒu毒藥dú yào毒dú藥yào箭jiàn十shí萬餘wàn yú萬wàn餘yú枝zhī著zhù皮膚pí fū皮pí膚fū不論bú lùn論lùn深淺shēn qiǎn深shēn淺qiǎn登dēng時shí即死jí sǐ即jí死sǐ此cǐ擅用shàn yòng擅shàn用yòng執zhí固gù不降bú jiàng降jiàng唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng抵dǐ關guān下xià寨zhài倘tǎng地道dì dào地dì道dào掘jué開kāi軍民jūn mín軍jūn民mín玉石yù shí玉yù石shí俱jù灰huī矣yǐ彼bǐ既jì狠毒hěn dú狠hěn如此rú cǐ如rú何必hé bì何hé必bì迂yū守shǒu古道gǔ dào古gǔ哉zāi十萬shí wàn

He also said to the generals: "My heart is kind and compassionate, and I am unwilling to kill anyone without cause. But today, for the sake of His Majesty's kingdom, I have no choice. I possess over one hundred thousand poison arrows. Should one touch a person's skin, regardless of depth, death follows instantly. I have been reluctant to use these arrows without authorization. Now that His Majesty stubbornly refuses to surrender, and the Tang troops have camped right at our pass, if they breach through their tunnel, our soldiers and civilians alike will be reduced to ashes. Since they are so ruthless, why should I stubbornly adhere to old ways?"

遂suì分fēn藥yào箭jiàn軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì等děng傳令chuán lìng傳chuán令lìng道dào

He then distributed the poison arrows to his soldiers and issued the order:

「如rú唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng攻城gōng chéng攻gōng城chéng放fàng箭jiàn射shè之zhī

"If the Tang troops attack the city, shoot them with arrows."

眾軍zhòng jūn眾zhòng軍jūn士shì聽說tīng shuō聽tīng說shuō利害，巴不得唐兵攻城，以試其效。次日，果然唐兵又來攻城，城上不做理會。及唐兵進城，城上亂箭如雨下，果然唐兵死者無數。因此，唐兵都知藥yào箭jiàn如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ利害lì hài利lì害hài巴不得bā bù dé巴bā不bù得dé唐兵táng bīng唐táng兵bīng攻城gōng chéng攻gōng城chéng以yǐ試shì其qí效xiào次cì日rì果然guǒ rán果guǒ然rán又yòu來lái上shàng不做bú zuò做zuò理會lǐ huì理lǐ會huì及jí進城jìn chéng進jìn亂luàn箭如雨下jiàn rú yǔ xià雨yǔ下xià死者sǐ zhě死sǐ者zhě無數wú shù無wú數shù因此yīn cǐ因yīn都dōu知zhī連日lián rì連lián不敢bù gǎn敢gǎn近jìn關guān

When the soldiers heard how powerful the poison arrows were, they could hardly wait for the Tang troops to attack so they could test their effectiveness. The next day, sure enough, the Tang troops came to attack the city again. The defenders on the wall paid them no mind at first. When the Tang troops advanced toward the city, a hail of arrows rained down from the walls, and indeed countless Tang soldiers died. Because of this, the Tang troops all came to know the deadliness of the poison arrows and dared not approach the pass for days.

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō李lǐ靖jìng令lìng軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì暗àn掘jué地道dì dào地dì道dào不bù料liào開kāi入城rù chéng入rù城chéng中zhōng正zhèng遇yù水坑shuǐ kēng水shuǐ坑kēng被bèi沖chōng來lái淹死yān sǐ淹yān死sǐ一千yì qiān一yì千qiān多duō人rén

Now as for Li Jing: he had ordered his soldiers to secretly dig a tunnel. Unexpectedly, as they broke into the city, they ran right into the water-filled pit. The water rushed in and drowned over a thousand men.

坑kēng中zhōng水shuǐ闊kuò，康kāng和hé阿ā又yòu命mìng軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì取qǔ柴草chái cǎo柴chái草cǎo填tián之zhī發fā火燒huǒ shāo火huǒ燒shāo燃rán其qí煙yān直zhí透tòu唐táng營yíng而出ér chū而ér出chū

The pit was wide with water, and Kang Ah further ordered his soldiers to fill it with firewood and brush, then set it ablaze. The smoke rose straight through and billowed out over the Tang camp.

李lǐ靖jìng大怒dà nù大dà怒nù道dào「康kāng和hé阿ā識shí我wǒ玄機xuán jī玄xuán機jī令人lìng rén令lìng人rén可惡kě è可kě惡è

Li Jing flew into a rage and said: "Kang Ah has seen through my secret plan—how infuriating!"

遂suì演yǎn《遁dùn甲jiǎ天tiān書shū》，得dé龍lóng遁之zhī格gé。

Then he began to deploy... In the "Heavenly Book of Dunjia," he obtained the configuration of Dragon Evasion.

忙máng召zhào眾zhòng將jiāng傳令chuán lìng傳chuán令lìng曰yuē「吾wú少shǎo日rì受shòu龍宮lóng gōng龍lóng宮gōng之zhī戒jiè撫恤fǔ xù撫fǔ恤xù生靈shēng líng生shēng靈líng等閒děng xián等děng閒xián一體yì tǐ一yì體tǐ今jīn康kāng和hé阿ā死守sǐ shǒu死sǐ守shǒu此cǐ城chéng阻zǔ逆nì天兵tiān bīng天tiān兵bīng聖shèng天子tiān zǐ子zǐ臨lín

He urgently summoned all the generals and issued the order: "In my youth I received a precept from the Dragon Palace—to care for all living beings and treat them equally. Now Kang Ah defends this city to the death, obstructing the imperial troops. The Sacred Emperor, when he came

蒞lì中國zhōng guó中zhōng國guó撫夷不及之憂﹔爾士庶久戍北番，有yǒu撫fǔ夷yí不及bù jí不bù及jí之zhī憂yōu爾ěr士shì庶shù久jiǔ戍shù北běi番fān式微shì wēi式shì微wēi回huí恨hèn

to rule over China, harbored a worry that pacifying the barbarians might be beyond reach; you officers and soldiers, long garrisoned in the northern barbarian lands, feel the sorrow of decline and the longing to return.

特tè敕chì爾ěr多士duō shì多duō士shì次cì日rì五wǔ鼓gǔ城，期在必克。 先進者賞，後退者誅。」眾將得令，各各回營，準備攻城gōng chéng攻gōng李靖又令焦文、焦武寫戰書數十道，射入城chéng期qī在zài必bì克kè先進xiān jìn先xiān進jìn者zhě賞shǎng後退hòu tuì後hòu退tuì誅zhū眾zhòng將jiāng得dé令lìng各gè各回gè huí回huí營yíng準備zhǔn bèi準zhǔn備bèi李lǐ靖jìng又yòu焦jiāo文wén武wǔ寫xiě戰zhàn書shū數十shù shí數shù十shí道dào射入shè rù射shè入rù城中chéng zhōng中zhōng云yún

I specifically command you, valiant warriors, to attack the city at the fifth watch tomorrow, with the determination to conquer it. Those who advance first will be rewarded; those who retreat will be executed." The generals received the orders and returned to their camps to prepare for the assault. Li Jing also ordered Jiao Wen and Jiao Wu to write several dozen challenge letters and shoot them into the city, stating:

明日míng rì明míng日rì吾wú兵bīng攻城gōng chéng攻gōng城chéng不bù克kè不休bù xiū休xiū

Tomorrow our troops will attack the city; we will not rest until it is taken.

特tè諭yù城中chéng zhōng城chéng中zhōng百姓bǎi xìng百bǎi姓xìng各gè宜yí自愛zì ài自zì愛ài閉bì戶hù勿wù出chū

This is a special proclamation to the city's civilians: each of you should take care of yourselves, shut your doors, and do not come out.

我wǒ兵bīng進城jìn chéng進jìn城chéng斷duàn不bù傷害shāng hài傷shāng害hài爾ěr等děng

When our troops enter the city, we will by no means harm you.

倘tǎng助zhù兵bīng鬥dòu戰zhàn，玉石yù shí玉yù石shí難nán分fēn

If you assist the defenders in fighting, we will be unable to distinguish the innocent from the guilty.

特tè諭yù。

This is our special proclamation.

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō李lǐ靖jìng於wū三更sān gēng三sān更gēng時shí分fēn披髮pī fà披pī髮fà仗zhàng劍jiàn對duì北běi稽首qǐ shǒu稽qǐ首shǒu默想mò xiǎng默mò想xiǎng真zhēn武wǔ祖師zǔ shī祖zǔ師shī模樣mó yàng模mó樣yàng以yǐ神shén交jiāo漸漸jiàn jiàn漸jiàn神合shén hé合hé其qí體tǐ

Now it is said that at the third watch, Li Jing, with his hair loose and wielding a sword, faced north, bowed his head to the ground, and silently visualized the image of Patriarch Zhenwu. Through the communion of spirit with spirit, he gradually merged the divine presence with his own body.

然後rán hòu然rán後hòu步bù罡gāng禮lǐ鬥dòu呼hū召zhào六甲liù jiǎ神、六liù甲jiǎ尊zūn神shén六丁liù dīng丁dīng玉女yù nǚ玉yù女nǚ密佈mì bù密mì佈bù彤雲tóng yún彤tóng雲yún野yě霧wù

Then he paced the celestial steps and performed rites to the Dipper, summoning the six Jia venerable deities and the six Ding jade maidens, secretly spreading crimson clouds and wild mists.

到dào五更wǔ gēng五wǔ更gēng時shí分fēn令lìng士推鱉甲車到城下，擂鼓大喊，城上軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì推tuī鱉甲biē jiǎ鱉biē甲jiǎ車jū城下chéng xià城chéng下xià擂鼓léi gǔ擂léi鼓gǔ大喊dà hǎn大dà喊hǎn上shàng各gè執zhí藥yào箭jiàn祇qí望wàng火光huǒ guāng火huǒ光guāng人rén之中zhī zhōng之zhī中zhōng而ér射shè不bù料liào愈yù發fā

By the fifth watch, he ordered his soldiers to push the turtle-shell chariots to the foot of the city walls, beat drums and shout loudly. The soldiers on the walls each held their poison arrows, aiming to shoot into the midst of the torchlight and the shouting. Unexpectedly, the more they shot, the brighter the torchlight grew.

康kāng和hé阿見ā jiàn阿ā見jiàn火光huǒ guāng火huǒ光guāng不滅bú miè不bú滅miè又是yòu shì又yòu是shì大霧dà wù大dà霧wù迷mí天tiān祇qí叫jiào軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì放fàng箭jiàn

Seeing that the torchlight would not go out, and with thick fog blanketing the sky, Kang Ah simply ordered his soldiers to keep shooting arrows.

比bǐ及jí天tiān色sè微wēi明míng，火光huǒ guāng火huǒ光guāng息xī盡jìn番兵fān bīng番fān兵bīng於wū大霧dà wù大dà霧wù之中zhī zhōng之zhī中zhōng認rèn草cǎo人為rén wéi人rén為wéi真zhēn益yì發放fā fàng發fā放fàng箭jiàn不休bù xiū不bù休xiū

By the time the sky grew faintly bright and the torchlight had died out completely, the barbarian soldiers, in the thick fog, mistook the straw dummies for real men and shot arrows at them all the more without rest.

到了dào le到dào了le辰巳chén sì辰chén巳sì之zhī候hòu霧wù猶yóu不散bú sàn不bú散sàn番兵fān bīng番fān兵bīng箭jiàn已yǐ放fàng完wán

By the hour of Chen and Si (roughly 7–11 AM), the fog still had not lifted, and the barbarian soldiers had exhausted all their arrows.

李lǐ靖jìng令lìng軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì各各gè gè各gè取qǔ了liǎo箭，然後將鱉甲車jū堆起如山，卻將藥箭向城上shàng之zhī去，番兵中箭jiàn然後rán hòu然rán後hòu將jiāng鱉甲biē jiǎ鱉biē甲jiǎ堆起duī qǐ堆duī起qǐ如rú山shān卻què藥yào向xiàng城chéng射去shè qù射shè去qù番兵fān bīng番fān兵bīng中zhōng而ér死者sǐ zhě死sǐ者zhě不計其數bú jì qí shù不bú計jì其qí數shù

Li Jing ordered his soldiers to take all the arrows from the chariots, then piled the turtle-shell chariots up like a mountain, and shot the poison arrows back at the city walls. The barbarian soldiers who were hit by the arrows and died were countless.

李lǐ靖jìng令lìng軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì登dēng車jū上shàng城chéng此時cǐ shí此cǐ時shí人人rén rén人rén爭功zhēng gōng爭zhēng功gōng個個gè gè個gè向前xiàng qián向xiàng前qián

Li Jing ordered his soldiers to climb onto the chariots and mount the city walls. At that moment, every man vied for merit, each pressing forward.

唐兵táng bīng唐táng蜂如蟻，番兵bīng如rú蜂fēng蟻yǐ番兵fān bīng番fān者無wú路lù可kě逃táo降jiàng者zhě無數wú shù數shù

The Tang soldiers were like bees and ants; the barbarian soldiers had no way to flee, and those who surrendered were innumerable.

康kāng和hé阿ā父子fù zǐ父fù子zǐ欲yù出chū北běi關guān而ér逃táo

Kang Ah and his son wished to flee out through the northern pass.

伍wǔ登dēng與yǔ寶bǎo林lín追zhuī至zhì。

Wu Deng and Bao Lin pursued and arrived.

大叫dà jiào大dà叫jiào曰yuē「吾wú奉軍fèng jūn奉fèng軍jūn將令jiāng lìng將jiāng令lìng請qǐng元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài回huí衙yá營yíng商shāng不必bú bì不bú必bì逃走táo zǒu逃táo走zǒu

He shouted loudly: "By the general's orders, I invite the Marshal to return to the headquarters to discuss military affairs. There is no need to flee."

康kāng和hé阿ā自zì思sī道dào： 「主zhǔ上shàng又yòu不肯bù kěn不bù肯kěn吾wú豈可qǐ kě豈qǐ可kě獨dú降jiàng哉zāi

Kang Ah thought to himself: "His Majesty is unwilling to make peace. How could I alone surrender?"

康kāng利lì曰yuē： 「父親fù qīn父fù親qīn速sù開關kāi guān開kāi關guān而ér走zǒu吾wú去qù擋住dǎng zhù擋dǎng住zhù敵人dí rén敵dí人rén

Kang Li said: "Father, quickly open the pass and flee. I will go and hold back the enemy."

拍pāi馬來mǎ lái馬mǎ來lái戰zhàn

He spurred his horse forward to fight.

康kāng和hé阿ā自zì料liào難nán脫tuō虎口hǔ kǒu虎hǔ口kǒu遂suì在zài馬上mǎ shàng馬mǎ上shàng自刎zì wěn刎wěn而ér亡wáng

Kang Ah, realizing that he could hardly escape the tiger's jaws, cut his own throat while on horseback and died.

康kāng利lì被bèi伍wǔ登dēng活捉huó zhuō活huó捉zhuō而來ér lái而ér來lái去qù報bào元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài知道zhī dào知zhī道dào

Kang Li was captured alive by Wu Deng and brought back to report to the Marshal.

李lǐ靖jìng聞wén報bào，同tóng尉wèi遲chí恭gōng走馬zǒu mǎ走zǒu馬mǎ觀guān之zhī撫屍fǔ shī撫fǔ屍shī而ér哭kū曰yuē尉遲wèi chí

Upon hearing the news, Li Jing, together with Yuchi Gong, rode over to see. Stroking the body, he wept and said:

「突厥tū jué突tū厥jué不bù道dào公gōng何hé自zì苦kǔ如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ不道bú dào

"The Turkic ruler is unrighteous. Why did you have to put yourself through such suffering?"

令lìng降jiàng卒zú同tóng康kāng利lì收屍shōu shī收shōu屍shī葬zàng於wū北岸běi àn北běi岸àn山上shān shàng山shān上shàng以yǐ旌jīng其qí忠烈zhōng liè忠zhōng烈liè

He ordered the surrendered soldiers, together with Kang Li, to retrieve the body and bury it in the mountains on the northern bank, as a tribute to his loyalty and martyrdom.

軍師jūn shī軍jūn師shī元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài率lǜ眾zhòng將jiāng皆jiē去qù行禮xíng lǐ行xíng禮lǐ番fān民mín無wú不bù舉jǔ哀āi

The military strategist and the marshal, leading all the generals, went to pay their respects. Every barbarian civilian mourned.

元帥yuán shuài元yuán後入帥shuài然後rán hòu然rán後hòu入rù府fǔ坐定zuò dìng坐zuò定dìng眾zhòng將jiāng參見cān jiàn參cān見jiàn畢bì忽hū軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì報道bào dào報bào道dào

The Marshal then entered the headquarters and took his seat. After all the generals had paid their respects, suddenly a soldier reported:

「番fān主zhǔ與yǔ蘇sū慶qìng桂guì齎jī國寶guó bǎo國guó寶bǎo並bìng降jiàng表biǎo冊cè籍jí現在xiàn zài現xiàn在zài北běi關外guān wài元帥將令，開關guān外wài請qǐng元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài將令jiāng lìng將jiāng令lìng開關kāi guān開kāi放入fàng rù放fàng入rù慶桂qìng guì

"The barbarian ruler and Su Qinggui are bearing the imperial seal, the surrender memorial, and the land registers. They are now outside the northern pass, requesting the Marshal's order to open the pass and let them in."

元帥yuán shuài聽了，歎息道： 「突厥之降何遲，康元yuán帥shuài聽了tīng le聽tīng了le歎息tàn xī歎tàn息xī道dào突厥tū jué突tū厥jué之zhī降jiàng何hé遲chí康kāng死sǐ早zǎo也yě惜xī乎hū

Upon hearing this, the Marshal sighed and said: "Why so late is the Turkic ruler's surrender, and why so early is Marshal Kang's death? What a pity, what a pity!"

李lǐ靖jìng曰yuē： 「大dà數shù有yǒu定dìng，人rén莫mò能néng逃táo。」

Li Jing said: "The great course of destiny is fixed; no man can escape it."

不bù一時yì shí一yì時shí蘇sū慶qìng桂guì帳參見禮畢，將國寶並降表、版籍獻上shàng帳zhàng參見cān jiàn參cān見jiàn禮畢lǐ bì禮lǐ畢bì將jiāng國寶guó bǎo國guó寶bǎo並bìng降jiàng表biǎo版籍bǎn jí版bǎn籍jí獻上xiàn shàng獻xiàn致zhì突厥tū jué突tū厥jué之zhī辭cí

Before long, Su Qinggui entered the tent, completed the formalities of paying respects, and presented the imperial seal, the surrender memorial, and the land registers, conveying the words of the Turkic ruler:

「願yuàn年nián年進貢jìn gòng進jìn貢gòng歲suì來lái朝cháo，永yǒng修xiū臣chén職zhí。遣qiǎn陪臣péi chén陪péi蘇sū慶qìng桂guì先xiān求qiú元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài賞shǎng令lìng慶桂qìng guì

"He wishes to offer tribute year after year, come to court annually, and forever perform his vassal duties. He has dispatched his minister Su Qinggui to first seek the Marshal's gracious order."

尉wèi遲chí恭gōng曰yuē： 「爾ěr主zhǔ負fù國guó不服bù fú，亦已多年，罪在不bù服fú亦yì已yǐ多年duō nián多duō年nián罪zuì在zài赦shè今jīn既jì省悟xǐng wù省xǐng悟wù宜yí補bǔ蓋gài前愆qián qiān前qián愆qiān聞wén有三yǒu sān有yǒu三sān子zǐ須xū遣qiǎn一子yì zǐ一yì入京rù jīng入rù京jīng侍shì帝dì庶shù盡jìn臣chén道dào尉遲wèi chí

Yuchi Gong said: "Your master has defied the state and refused submission for many years. His crimes are beyond pardon. Now that he has come to his senses, he should atone for his past transgressions. I hear that your master has three sons; he must send one son to the capital to serve the Emperor, so as to fulfill the way of a subject."

慶qìng桂guì曰yuē： 「臣chén主zhǔ既jì降jiàng，尺土chǐ tǔ尺chǐ土tǔ，莫非王臣。世子入京侍帝，理之zhī濱bīn莫非mò fēi莫mò非fēi王wáng世子shì zǐ世shì子zǐ入京rù jīng入rù京jīng侍shì帝dì理之lǐ zhī理lǐ當然dāng rán當dāng然rán敢不gǎn bù敢gǎn不bù從命cóng mìng從cóng命mìng

Su Qinggui said: "Now that my master has surrendered, every inch of land and shore is the king's domain. For the heir to go to the capital and serve the Emperor is only proper in principle. How would I dare not obey?"

元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài大喜dà xǐ大dà喜xǐ即令jí lìng即jí令lìng軍士jūn shì軍jūn士shì扶起fú qǐ扶fú起qǐ慶qìng桂guì賜cì酒jiǔ接jiē風fēng

The Marshal was greatly pleased and immediately ordered his soldiers to help Su Qinggui to his feet and offered him wine as a welcoming gesture.

慶qìng桂guì辭cí曰yuē： 「聞wén康kāng和hé阿ā已yǐ死sǐ，吾wú主zhǔ尚未shàng wèi尚shàng未wèi知zhī陪臣péi chén陪péi臣chén往wǎng弔diào之zhī然後rán hòu然rán後hòu覆命fù mìng覆fù命mìng

Su Qinggui declined, saying: "I have heard that Kang Ah has died, but my master is not yet aware. Allow me, your minister, to go and mourn him first, then I will return to report."

元帥yuán shuài元yuán帥shuài令lìng木蘭mù lán木mù蘭lán同往tóng wǎng同tóng往wǎng

The Marshal ordered Mulan to accompany him.

康kāng利lì見jiàn慶qìng桂guì至zhì，相xiāng持chí大哭dà kū大dà哭kū

When Kang Li saw Su Qinggui arrive, they clung to each other and wept bitterly.

慶qìng桂guì誄lěi曰yuē： 康kāng和hé康和，諫jiàn君jūn不bù悟wù。