第四dì sì第dì四sì回huí授shòu天tiān書shū蛟jiāo精jīng返fǎn窟kū謁yè越yuè王女wáng nǚ王wáng女nǚ俠盜xiá dào俠xiá盜dào令lìng

Chapter 4: Bestowing the Heavenly Book, the Flood Dragon Spirit Returns to its Grotto; Seeking an Audience with King Yue, the Heroine Steals the Command

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō李lǐ靖jìng別bié家店，攜二位龍女行了liǎo柳家liǔ jiā柳liǔ家jiā店diàn攜xié二位èr wèi二èr位wèi龍女lóng nǚ龍lóng女nǚ行xíng七qī八日bā rì八bā日rì早zǎo到dào西城xī chéng西xī城chéng七八qī bā

Now it is said that Li Jing took his leave from the Liu Family Inn and traveled for seven or eight days with the two dragon daughters, soon arriving at Xicheng.

旋回xuán huí旋xuán回huí故里gù lǐ故gù里lǐ令lìng二èr女權nǚ quán女nǚ權quán立lì門外mén wài門mén外wài先進xiān jìn先xiān進jìn家中jiā zhōng家jiā中zhōng見jiàn了liǎo母親mǔ qīn母mǔ親qīn將jiāng誤入wù rù誤wù入rù龍宮lóng gōng龍lóng宮gōng行xíng雨yǔ收屍shōu shī收shōu屍shī之事zhī shì之zhī事shì一一yī yī一yī說明shuō míng說shuō明míng又yòu出chū夜光yè guāng夜yè光guāng珠zhū寶劍bǎo jiàn寶bǎo劍jiàn為證wéi zhèng為wéi證zhèng

Returning to his hometown, he asked the two women to wait outside the door for a moment while he first went inside to see his mother. He explained in detail how he had accidentally entered the Dragon Palace, brought rain, and collected the corpses, producing the luminous pearls and the precious sword as evidence.

李lǐ母mǔ曰yuē： 「爾ěr平生píng shēng平píng生shēng謹慎jǐn shèn謹jǐn慎shèn今jīn出chū此cǐ荒唐huāng táng荒huāng唐táng難信。觀爾精神發越，往時寒酸之zhī言yán盡消，亦似sì覺jué難nán信xìn觀guān精神jīng shén精jīng神shén發fā越yuè往時wǎng shí往wǎng時shí寒酸hán suān寒hán酸suān氣qì盡jìn消xiāo亦yì有yǒu奇遇qí yù奇qí遇yù者zhě也罷yě bà也yě罷bà命mìng二èr龍女lóng nǚ龍lóng女nǚ進來jìn lái進jìn來lái待dài吾wú審視shěn shì審shěn視shì

Mother Li said, "You have always been cautious throughout your life, yet now you speak such absurd words that it seems hard to believe. However, seeing your spirits so high and the air of poverty from the past completely gone, it does seem as though you have had a miraculous encounter. Very well, tell the two dragon daughters to come in and let me examine them."

李lǐ靖jìng出來chū lái出chū來lái招zhāo女入內，二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ入rù內nèi跪guì定dìng不起bù qǐ不bù起qǐ

Li Jing went out and beckoned the two women inside; the two women knelt down and would not rise.

李lǐ母mǔ曰yuē： 「吾wú兒ér有yǒu何德何能hé dé hé néng何hé德dé能néng而ér龍lóng錯愛cuò ài錯cuò愛ài既jì授shòu珠，又賜之zhī以yǐ珠zhū又yòu賜cì女nǚ

Mother Li said, "What virtue or ability does my son possess that the Dragon Mother should show such misplaced affection, not only bestowing him with pearls but also gifting him with daughters?"

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ叩首kòu shǒu叩kòu首shǒu曰yuē龍lóng以兒輩自幼居於異類，不諳人事，聞老母mǔ以yǐ賢慧無比，能於教子，必能教媳，故使兒ér輩bèi自幼zì yòu自zì幼yòu居於jū wū居jū於wū異類yì lèi異yì類lèi不bù諳ān人事rén shì人rén事shì聞wén老lǎo母親mǔ qīn親qīn賢慧xián huì賢xián慧huì無比wú bǐ無wú比bǐ能néng教子jiào zǐ教jiào子zǐ必bì媳xí故gù使shǐ奉fèng先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng箕帚jī zhǒu箕jī帚zhǒu兼jiān學xué德dé操cāo

The two women kowtowed and said, "The Dragon Mother believed that since we have lived among a different species since childhood, we are ignorant of human affairs. Hearing that the venerable mother is incomparably virtuous and capable of teaching her son, she was certain you could also teach your daughters-in-law. Therefore, she sent us to serve the gentleman and to learn from the venerable mother's moral character."

李lǐ母mǔ曰yuē： 「吾wú母子mǔ zǐ子zǐ居jū貧pín守shǒu儉jiǎn吾年nián七十qī shí七qī猶親紡績。吾兒年二十shí猶yóu親qīn紡績fǎng jì紡fǎng績jì兒ér二十èr shí二èr餘yú採cǎi薪xīn之外zhī wài之zhī外wài別bié無wú所能suǒ néng所suǒ能néng龍lóng誤wù聆líng虛xū聲shēng耳ěr

Mother Li said, "My son and I live in poverty and practice frugality; though I am seventy years old, I still do my own spinning and weaving. My son is over twenty, and besides gathering firewood, he has no other skills. The Dragon Mother must have been misled by false reputation!"

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ又yòu叩首kòu shǒu叩kòu首shǒu曰yuē聖人shèng rén聖shèng人rén云yún不仁bù rén，不bù仁rén以長處約。’龍母所慕老母與先生者zhě可以kě yǐ可kě以yǐ長處cháng chǔ長cháng處chǔ約yuē龍lóng母mǔ所suǒ慕mù老母lǎo mǔ老lǎo與yǔ先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng正zhèng惟wéi此cǐ耳ěr

The two women kowtowed again and said, "The Sages say, 'One who lacks benevolence cannot long endure hardship.' It is precisely this quality in the venerable mother and the gentleman that the Dragon Mother admires."

李lǐ母mǔ曰yuē： 「善shàn！汝rǔ二人èr rén二èr人rén真zhēn吾wú兒媳ér xí兒ér媳xí也yě

Mother Li said, "Excellent! You two are truly my daughters-in-law."

遂suì以yǐ手shǒu扶起fú qǐ扶fú起qǐ，即日命李靖與二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ即日jí rì即jí日rì命mìng李lǐ靖jìng與yǔ成chéng禮lǐ合hé巹jǐn之後zhī hòu之zhī後hòu相xiāng得dé甚shèn歡huān

He then raised the two women up with his hands and ordered Li Jing to perform the marriage rites with them that very day. After drinking the nuptial cups, they got along exceedingly well together.

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ助zhù李lǐ母mǔ紡績fǎng jì紡fǎng績jì日夜rì yè日rì夜yè不休bù xiū不bù休xiū

The two women assisted Li's mother with spinning and weaving, resting neither day nor night.

一日yí rì一yí日rì二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ相xiāng語yǔ歌gē曰yuē貧pín子zǐ衣yī中zhōng珠zhū，光guāng自zì圓yuán明míng好hǎo。

One day, the two women spoke to each other and sang: "The pearl in the poor man's clothes is naturally round, bright, and fine."

雖然suī rán雖suī然rán善為shàn wéi善shàn為wéi藏cáng終zhōng是shì龍lóng家jiā寶bǎo

"Though it is well hidden, it is ultimately a treasure of the Dragon family."

李lǐ靖jìng怪guài而ér問wèn之zhī，二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ曰yuē「郎君láng jūn郎láng君jūn市shì珠zhū可以kě yǐ可kě以yǐ致富zhì fù致zhì富fù何hé自zì苦kǔ如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ

Li Jing found this strange and questioned them. The two women said, "Sir, if you sell the pearl, you can become wealthy; why do you subject yourself to such hardship?"

李lǐ靖jìng曰yuē： 「予感yǔ gǎn予yǔ感gǎn之德，不忍遽售，非寶此珠，寶龍lóng母mǔ之zhī德dé不忍bù rěn不bù忍rěn遽jù售shòu非fēi寶bǎo此cǐ珠zhū惠huì也yě

Li Jing said, "I am moved by the Dragon Mother's virtue and cannot bring myself to sell it hastily. It is not that I treasure this pearl, but that I treasure the Dragon Mother's kindness."

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ曰yuē「此cǐ珠zhū終zhōng非fēi人間rén jiàn人rén間jiàn，他日龍神行雨，見此珠光，一吸而去，不若售之zhī物wù他tā日rì龍神lóng shén龍lóng神shén行xíng雨yǔ見jiàn光guāng一yī吸xī而ér去qù不bù若ruò售shòu得dé金jīn為wéi妙miào

The two women said, "This pearl is not a thing of the human world after all. One day when the Dragon God brings rain and sees the light of this pearl, he will suck it away in a single breath. It would be better to sell it and get gold."

李lǐ靖jìng曰yuē： 「我wǒ得dé之zhī，使shǐ彼bǐ失shī之，仁者rén zhě仁rén者zhě未必wèi bì未wèi必bì為此wéi cǐ為wéi此cǐ

Li Jing said, "If I gain it while causing them to lose it, a man of virtue would not do such a thing."

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ默默mò mò默mò不bù答dá

The two women remained silent and did not reply.

一日yí rì一yí日rì雷雨léi yǔ雷léi雨yǔ驟至zhòu zhì驟zhòu至zhì李lǐ之，珠果不見，靖jìng啟qǐ櫃guì視shì之zhī珠zhū果guǒ不bù見jiàn乃nǎi責zé二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ曰yuē

One day, a thunderstorm suddenly broke out. Li Jing opened the cabinet to look, and the pearl was indeed gone. Jing then reproached the two women, saying:

「吾wú若ruò聽tīng汝rǔ二人èr rén二èr言，遺害於他人rén之zhī言yán遺害yí hài遺yí害hài於wū他人tā rén他tā矣yǐ

"If I had listened to the words of you two, I would have brought harm to others."

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ再zài拜謝bài xiè拜bài謝xiè過guò

The two women bowed again and apologized for their previous words.

又yòu過數guò shù過guò數shù月yuè二女èr nǚ： 「吾不忍老母操作於內，汝不懈於外，吾二èr女nǚ曰yuē吾wú不忍bù rěn不bù忍rěn老母lǎo mǔ老lǎo母mǔ操作cāo zuò操cāo作zuò於wū內nèi汝rǔ不懈bú xiè懈xiè外wài二人èr rén人rén有yǒu赤金chì jīn赤chì金jīn項圈xiàng quān項xiàng圈quān各gè一yī紫zǐ玉鐲yù zhuó玉yù鐲zhuó往wǎng售shòu之zhī

After a few more months, the two women said, "We cannot bear to see our elderly mother laboring indoors while you work tirelessly outdoors. Each of us has a pure gold necklace and two purple jade bracelets; let us go and sell them."

李lǐ靖jìng然rán其qí言yán，果guǒ如其rú qí如rú數shù

Li Jing agreed with them, and the items were indeed as numerous as they had said.

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ曰yuē「郎láng得dé此cǐ，可免kě miǎn可kě免miǎn採cǎi薪xīn之zhī苦kǔ矣yǐ宜yí曉xiǎo夜yè攻gōng書shū以求yǐ qiú以yǐ求qiú上shàng進jìn

The two women said, "With these, you can be spared the hardship of gathering firewood. You should study diligently day and night to strive for advancement."

靖jìng曰yuē： 「孔孟kǒng mèng孔kǒng孟mèng六經liù jīng六liù經jīng吾wú既jì誦sòng老、莊、荀、列之zhī矣yǐ老lǎo莊zhuāng荀xún列liè言yán卻què將jiāng何hé書shū為wéi先xiān之矣zhī yǐ

Jing said, "I have already recited the Six Classics of Confucius and Mencius. Among the teachings of Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, and Liezi, which book should I prioritize?"

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ曰yuē「孔孟kǒng mèng孔kǒng孟mèng六經liù jīng六liù經jīng醇chún而ér無疵wú cī無wú疵cī法，所以訓天下之不忠、不孝、不仁、不義者。諸子之言，放蕩不羈，乃nǎi入世rù shì入rù世shì，所以訓天下之zhī法fǎ所以suǒ yǐ所suǒ以yǐ訓xùn天下tiān xià天tiān下xià不忠bù zhōng不bù忠zhōng不孝bú xiào孝xiào不仁bù rén仁rén不義bú yì義yì者zhě諸子zhū zǐ諸zhū子zǐ言yán放蕩不羈fàng dàng bù jī放fàng蕩dàng羈jī出世chū shì出chū妄wàng生shēng死者sǐ zhě死sǐ

The two women said, "The Six Classics of Confucius and Mencius are pure and flawless; they are the methods for worldly involvement, used to instruct those in the world who are disloyal, unfilial, unkind, or unjust. The words of the various philosophers are unrestrained; they are the methods for transcendence, used to instruct those in the world who live and die in vain."

靖jìng曰yuē： 「出世chū shì出chū入世shì入世rù shì入rù二者èr zhě二èr者zhě吾wú將jiāng何hé先xiān

Jing asked, "Between transcendence and worldly involvement, which should I pursue first?"

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ 「入世之法，造其極，可以出世﹔出世之法，會其源，亦可以入世。孔子曰yuē入世rù shì入rù世shì有道則見，無道則隱。’彼抱咫尺之zhī法fǎ造zào，其qí極jí可以kě yǐ可kě以yǐ出世chū shì出chū會huì源yuán亦yì孔子kǒng zǐ孔kǒng子zǐ天下tiān xià天tiān下xià有道yǒu dào有yǒu道dào則zé見jiàn無wú道則dào zé隱yǐn彼bǐ抱bào咫尺zhǐ chǐ咫zhǐ尺chǐ義yì者zhě孰能shú néng孰shú能néng知之zhī zhī知zhī

The two women said, "By taking the worldly path to its limit, one can achieve transcendence; by understanding the source of the transcendental path, one can also engage with the world. Confucius said, 'When the Way prevails in the world, show yourself; when the Way is lost, hide.' How could those who cling to a narrow sense of righteousness understand this?"

靖jìng曰yuē： 「究竟jiū jìng究jiū竟jìng何hé書shū吾wú當dāng讀dú

Jing asked, "Ultimately, what book should I read?"

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ曰yuē「爾ěr當dāng學xué三sān聖shèng不bù傳chuán之zhī秘mì。」

The two women replied, "You should learn the unrecorded secrets of the Three Sages."

靖jìng曰yuē： 「其qí書shū何hé名míng？」

Jing asked, "What is the name of this book?"

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ曰yuē「其qí書名shū míng《遁甲天書shū名míng遁dùn甲jiǎ天tiān

The two women said, "The book is titled *The Heavenly Book of Dunjia* (The Hidden Jade Case)."

靖jìng曰yuē： 「遁dùn甲之jiǎ zhī名何 義？」二女曰：「甲jiǎ者，十干之zhī名míng何hé義yì二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ《易》曰：‘帝出乎震，位坎向離’是也。遁者zhě十干shí gān十shí。甲嘗畏庚，干gān人rén君jūn象xiàng易yì帝dì出乎chū hū出chū乎hū震zhèn位wèi坎kǎn向xiàng離lí是shì也yě隱yǐn嘗cháng畏wèi六儀之下，以避其凶，卻又以乙妹妻庚gēng七qī數shù性xìng好生hǎo shēng好hǎo生shēng之子曰丙、曰丁，皆能剋庚而ér殺shā於wū六liù儀yí之下zhī xià下xià以yǐ避bì其qí凶xiōng卻又què yòu卻què又yòu乙yǐ妹mèi妻qī制zhì其內qí nèi內nèi子曰zǐ yuē子zǐ丙bǐng丁dīng皆jiē能néng剋kēi救jiù故gù號hào三sān奇qí

Jing said, "What is the meaning of the name 'Dun Jia'?" The two women said, "'Jia' refers to Jia of the Ten Heavenly Stems, symbolic of a sovereign ruler. The I Ching says, 'The Sovereign comes forth in Zhen, takes his position in Kan, and faces Li'—this is what it refers to. 'Dun' means to hide or conceal. Jia fears Geng, which is the seventh of the Heavenly Stems. The nature of Jia loves life, while the nature of Geng loves destruction. Jia conceals itself beneath the Six Instruments to escape Geng's violence, yet also gives its younger sister Yi as a wife to Geng to restrain him from within. The sons of Jia are Bing and Ding, both of whom can overcome Geng and rescue Jia; therefore, Yi, Bing, and Ding are designated as the Three Wonders." Jing said:

「六liù儀yí者zhě何hé？」

"What are the Six Ensigns?"

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ曰yuē「戊wù、己jǐ、庚gēng、辛xīn、壬rén、癸guǐ是shì也yě。」

The two women said, "They are Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, and Gui."

靖jìng曰yuē： 「甲jiǎ既jì畏wèi庚gēng，何hé又yòu隱yǐn於wū庚？」

Jing asked, "If Jia fears Geng, why does it hide within the stems including Geng?"

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ曰yuē「甲jiǎ與yǔ己jǐ合hé以yǐ養yǎng之zhī，丙bǐng與辛xīn合以洩xiè之，丁dīng與壬rén合以撓náo之，戊wù與癸guǐ合以威wēi之。如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ庚gēng不但bú dàn不bú但dàn不敢bù gǎn敢gǎn，而反感甲之德，畏甲之威，而為wéi仇chóu而ér反感fǎn gǎn反fǎn感gǎn甲之jiǎ zhī德dé畏wèi而為ér wéi所用suǒ yòng所suǒ用yòng也yě

The two women said, "Jia combines with Ji to be nurtured; Bing combines with Xin to drain Geng's strength; Ding combines with Ren to disrupt it; and Wu combines with Gui to overawe it. In this manner, Geng not only dares not act as an enemy to Jia, but instead is moved by Jia's virtue, fears Jia's power, and is put to use by Jia."

靖jìng曰yuē： 「學xué此cǐ道dào安ān用yòng？」

Jing asked, "Of what use is learning this Way?"

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ曰yuē「知zhī此cǐ道dào者zhě，可為kě wéi可kě為wéi王者wáng zhě王wáng師shī

The two women replied, "One who understands this Way can become a teacher to kings."

靖jìng曰yuē： 「孔子kǒng zǐ孔kǒng仁義，老子zǐ言yán仁義rén yì仁rén義yì老子lǎo zǐ老lǎo道德dào dé道dào德dé宜yí為wéi王者wáng zhě王wáng者zhě師shī未wèi聞wén以yǐ遁dùn甲jiǎ

Jing said, "Confucius spoke of benevolence and righteousness, and Laozi spoke of the Way and Virtue; they are fit to be teachers of kings. I have never heard of one becoming such through the art of Dunjia."

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ 「遁甲，數學也，與理學相為表裏。甲、庚、丙、丁、戊，即仁、義、禮、智、信之五端。聖人曰yuē：‘人同此心，心同此性，性同此理。’又曰：‘人同此身，身同此氣，氣同此數。’古聖人未有明心達性，而不知遁dùn甲jiǎ數學shù xué數shù學xué也yě與yǔ理學lǐ xué理lǐ相xiāng為wéi表裏biǎo lǐ表biǎo裏lǐ庚gēng丙bǐng丁dīng戊wù即jí仁rén義yì禮lǐ智zhì信之xìn zhī信xìn之zhī五wǔ端duān聖人shèng rén聖shèng人rén人同此心rén tóng cǐ xīn同tóng此cǐ心xīn性xìng又yòu此身cǐ shēn身shēn氣qì古gǔ未wèi有明yǒu míng有yǒu明míng達dá而ér不知bù zhī不bù知zhī者zhě

The two women said, "Dunjia is the study of numbers, and it serves as the outer and inner aspects of the study of principles. Jia, Geng, Bing, Ding, and Wu are the five origins of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. The Sages said, 'All people share this heart, the heart shares this nature, and the nature shares this principle.' They also said, 'All people share this body, the body shares this qi, and the qi shares these numbers.' Among the ancient sages, none truly understood the heart and reached their nature without knowing Dunjia."

靖jìng曰yuē： 「古人gǔ rén古gǔ人rén云yún甲之jiǎ zhī甲jiǎ之zhī神shén有yǒu六liù何hé也yě

Jing asked, "The ancients said that there are six spirits of Jia. Why is that?"

二女èr nǚ曰： 「以甲遊行十二èr女nǚ，故有甲子、甲戌、甲申、甲辰、甲午、甲寅之稱，非一甲之外，更有五甲也。推而行之，遠取諸物，有天上之甲，地下之甲，一國之甲，一家之甲，一年之甲，一月、一日、一時之甲，一事之甲﹔近取諸身，則有一動之甲，一靜之甲，一身之甲，一心之甲。子善讀之，可以察天時，卜地理，知人間禍福，逐日吉凶。故曰yuē以yǐ甲jiǎ遊行yóu xíng遊yóu行xíng十二支shí èr zhī十shí支zhī故有gù yǒu故gù有yǒu甲子jiǎ zǐ子zǐ戌xū申shēn辰chén甲午jiǎ wǔ午wǔ寅yín之zhī稱chēng非fēi一yī之外zhī wài外wài更有gèng yǒu更gèng五甲wǔ jiǎ五wǔ也yě推tuī而ér遠yuǎn取qǔ諸物zhū wù諸zhū物wù天上tiān shàng天tiān上shàng地下dì xià地dì下xià一國yì guó國guó一家yì jiā家jiā一年yì nián年nián一月yī yuè月yuè一日yí rì日rì一時yì shí時shí一事yí shì事shì近jìn身shēn則有zé yǒu則zé動dòng靜jìng一身yì shēn一心yì xīn心xīn善shàn讀dú可以kě yǐ可kě察chá卜bǔ地理dì lǐ理lǐ知zhī人間rén jiàn人rén間jiàn禍福huò fú禍huò福fú逐日zhú rì逐zhú吉凶jí xiōng吉jí凶xiōng一定yí dìng定dìng

The two women said, "Because *Jia* travels through the Twelve Earthly Branches, there are the names of Jiazi, Jiaxu, Jiashen, Jiachen, Jiawu, and Jiayin; it is not that there are five other *Jia* distinct from the single *Jia*. Deducing and applying this principle, if drawn from things afar, there is the *Jia* of heaven, the *Jia* of earth, the *Jia* of a state, the *Jia* of a family, the *Jia* of a year, and the *Jia* of a month, a day, an hour, and an affair. If drawn from oneself nearby, then there is the *Jia* of motion, the *Jia* of stillness, the *Jia* of the body, and the *Jia* of the mind. If you study it well, you can discern the seasons of heaven, divine the geography of the earth, know the fortunes and misfortunes of human affairs, and perceive the daily auspiciousness and inauspiciousness. Thus it is said: principles are fixed, yet

數shù有yǒu長短cháng duǎn長cháng短duǎn

numbers have varying spans.

是shì理lǐ為主wéi zhǔ，而數為wéi主zhǔ而ér數shù末mò也yě

In this case, principle is the primary and numbers are the secondary.

數shù有yǒu一定yí dìng一yí定dìng理有權變，是數為主，而ér理lǐ有權yǒu quán權quán變biàn是shì為主wéi zhǔ為wéi主zhǔ末mò也yě

When numbers have a fixed certainty while principles have adaptations, then numbers are the primary and principles are the secondary.

用yòng理lǐ而ér不用bú yòng數，則吉凶消長之道盲然﹔用數而不bú數shù理，則zé吉凶jí xiōng吉jí凶xiōng消長xiāo cháng消xiāo長cháng之道zhī dào之zhī道dào盲máng然rán君臣jūn chén君jūn臣chén父子fù zǐ父fù子zǐ倫lún息xī矣yǐ

If one uses principle without numbers, the way of fortune and misfortune, waxing and waning, remains obscure; if one uses numbers without principle, the ethics of sovereign and subject, father and son, will perish.

有yǒu以yǐ理lǐ馭夫yù fū馭yù者，明哲保身之人也﹔以數循夫fū數shù者zhě明哲保身míng zhé bǎo shēn明míng哲zhé保bǎo身shēn之zhī人rén自古以來，未有立大功、創大業而不知遁甲者也yě循xún殺身成仁shā shēn chéng rén殺shā成chéng仁rén士shì自古以來zì gǔ yǐ lái自zì古gǔ來lái未有wèi yǒu未wèi立大功lì dà gōng立lì大dà功gōng創chuàng大業dà yè業yè而ér不知bù zhī不bù知zhī遁dùn甲jiǎ靖jìng曰yuē

There are those who use principle to govern numbers; these are the wise who preserve their own lives. There are those who use numbers to follow principle; these are the resolute scholars who sacrifice their lives to achieve virtue. Since ancient times, there has never been one who established great merit or founded a great enterprise without understanding Dunjia." Jing asked:

「其qí書shū安在ān zài安ān在zài

"Where is this book?"

春蘭chūn lán春chūn蘭lán開kāi匣xiá取出qǔ chū取qǔ出chū手授與李靖，李靖再拜而受之。其書大半是蝌蚪字跡，文義猶深，古奧難測。二女乃盡心指點，一yī書shū雙手shuāng shǒu雙shuāng手shǒu授與shòu yǔ授shòu與yǔ李lǐ靖jìng再拜zài bài再zài拜bài而ér受shòu之zhī其qí大半dà bàn大dà半bàn是shì蝌蚪kē dǒu蝌kē蚪dǒu字跡zì jì字zì跡jì文義wén yì文wén義yì猶yóu深shēn古gǔ奧ào難nán測cè二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ乃nǎi盡心jìn xīn盡jìn心xīn指點zhǐ diǎn指zhǐ點diǎn一年yì nián年nián有餘yǒu yú有yǒu餘yú學成xué chéng學xué成chéng

Chunlan opened a box and took out a book, presenting it to Li Jing with both hands. Li Jing bowed again and received it. Most of the book was written in "tadpole script"; its meaning was profound, and its style was ancient and difficult to fathom. The two women guided him with all their heart, and after more than a year, Jing had mastered the teachings.

一日yí rì一yí日rì二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ又yòu相xiāng語yǔ而ér歌gē曰yuē

One day, the two women spoke to each other and sang again:

琴qín兮xī瑟sè兮音yīn太tài和hé，山shān兮水shuǐ兮志zhì未wèi磨mó。

"The qin and the se harmonize in perfect peace; the mountains and the waters find the spirit unyielding."

遁dùn甲jiǎ天tiān書shū人rén識破shí pò識shí破pò空kōng留liú日rì月yuè擲zhì金jīn梭suō

"The Heavenly Book of Dunjia has been mastered; in vain the sun and moon fly like golden shuttles."

李lǐ靖jìng怪guài而ér問wèn之zhī，二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ泣qì曰yuē

Li Jing found this strange and questioned them. The two women wept and said:

「龍lóng母mǔ欲yù以yǐ天tiān書shū畀bì汝rǔ，使shǐ吾wú二人èr rén奉先生箕帚，欲觀先生之心術耳。今見先生之心術正大，予二èr人rén奉fèng先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng箕帚jī zhǒu箕jī帚zhǒu觀guān摩既成，予二人留此何為？將復龍母之zhī心術xīn shù心xīn術shù耳ěr今見jīn jiàn今jīn見jiàn正大zhèng dà正zhèng大dà予yǔ乃nǎi敢gǎn出chū授shòu揣摩chuāi mó揣chuāi摩mó既成jì chéng既jì成chéng留liú此cǐ何hé為wéi將jiāng復fù命mìng

"The Dragon Mother wished to bestow the Heavenly Book upon you and sent us to serve you, simply to observe your character. Now that we see your character is upright and noble, we dared to produce the book and teach you. Since you have now finished your studies, why should the two of us remain? We shall return to fulfill the Dragon Mother's command."

李lǐ靖jìng曰yuē： 「予yǔ今jīn揣摩chuāi mó揣chuāi摩mó此cǐ書shū自信zì xìn自zì信xìn間富貴，與卿二人共之。今欲棄我而回，予願從汝，同侍龍母可kě圖tú人間rén jiàn人rén間jiàn富貴fù guì富fù貴guì與yǔ卿qīng二人èr rén二èr共gòng之zhī欲yù棄qì我wǒ而ér回huí願yuàn從cóng汝rǔ同tóng侍shì龍lóng母mǔ可也kě yě也yě

Li Jing said, "Having studied this book, I am confident I can seek wealth and rank in the human world and share them with the two of you. Now that you wish to leave me and return, I would rather follow you and serve the Dragon Mother alongside you."

二女èr nǚ曰： 「不然。予二èr女nǚ曰yuē不然bù rán不bù然rán前去自有佳偶，勿以予yǔ二人èr rén人rén蛟jiāo族zú也yě君jūn前去qián qù前qián去qù自有zì yǒu自zì有yǒu佳偶jiā ǒu佳jiā偶ǒu勿wù以yǐ為wéi念niàn後會hòu huì後hòu會huì亦當yì dāng亦yì當dāng期qī

The two women said, "Not so. We are of the dragon-kind. In your journey ahead, you will find a suitable spouse; do not dwell on us. There will be a time for us to meet again in the future."

二女èr nǚ同向李母下拜，靖方欲挽留，二èr女nǚ同tóng向xiàng李lǐ母mǔ下拜xià bài下xià拜bài靖jìng方fāng欲yù挽留wǎn liú挽wǎn留liú化huà清風qīng fēng清qīng風fēng而ér去qù

The two women bowed together to Li's mother. Just as Jing was about to urge them to stay, the two women turned into a clear breeze and vanished.

李lǐ母mǔ與yǔ靖jìng悵然chàng rán悵chàng然rán自失zì shī自zì失shī

Li's mother and Jing were left feeling dazed and despondent.

不上bú shàng不bú上shàng一年yì nián一yì年nián李lǐ母mǔ招zhāo靖jìng而ér謂wèi之zhī曰yuē

Before a year had passed, Li's mother summoned Li Jing and said to him:

「人rén之zhī在世zài shì在zài世shì生滅shēng miè生shēng滅miè無wú定dìng如月rú yuè，如rú月yuè盈虧yíng kuī盈yíng虧kuī花開huā kāi花huā開kāi謝xiè

"A person's existence in this world is marked by the uncertainty of life and death, much like the waxing and waning of the moon or the blooming and withering of flowers."

今生jīn shēng前死，今jīn死後生shēng前qián今死sǐ死後sǐ hòu，後hòu不明bù míng不bù明míng後生hòu shēng奚xī保bǎo吾wú將jiāng遠yuǎn用深悲。」言畢而逝shì勿wù用yòng深shēn悲bēi言yán畢bì而ér李lǐ靖jìng服喪fú sāng服fú喪sāng三年sān nián三sān年nián極盡jí jìn極jí盡jìn其qí禮lǐ

"Life leads to death and death leads to rebirth; if one remains unenlightened in death today, how can the next life be guaranteed? I am about to depart for a distant place; do not grieve deeply." Having finished speaking, she passed away. Li Jing observed mourning for three years, fulfilling every ritual requirement to the utmost.

一日yí rì一yí日rì白氣橫天，知南陽必有兵變，乃往見jiàn白bái氣qì橫héng天tiān知zhī南陽nán yáng南nán陽yáng必有bì yǒu必bì有yǒu兵變bīng biàn兵bīng變biàn乃nǎi往wǎng總兵zǒng bīng總zǒng伍wǔ雲yún召zhào勸quàn他tā去qù官guān回huí里lǐ

One day, seeing a white vapor stretching across the sky, he knew a military mutiny was bound to occur in Nanyang. He went to see the Regional Commander Wu Yunzhao and advised him to resign his post and return to his hometown.

雲yún召zhào不悅bú yuè不bú悅yuè夤yín夜yè逃táo至zhì痘dòu母mǔ祠cí題詩tí shī題tí詩shī感歎gǎn tàn感gǎn歎tàn潛qián往wǎng長安cháng ān長cháng安ān謁yè越王yuè wáng越yuè王wáng楊yáng素sù雲召yún zhào

Yunzhao was displeased. In the dead of night, he fled to the Temple of the Goddess of Smallpox, where he wrote a poem of lament, and then secretly traveled to Chang'an to have an audience with Yang Su, the Prince of Yue.

越王yuè wáng越yuè王wáng見jiàn客kè置zhì侍shì妾qiè三十sān shí三sān十shí餘人yú rén餘yú人rén於wū左右zuǒ yòu左zuǒ右yòu皆jiē制zhì官服guān fú官guān服fú色sè號hào曰yuē活huó香xiāng錦jǐn屏píng

When the Prince of Yue received guests, he would position over thirty concubines around him, all dressed in official robes, a display known as the 'Living Fragrance Brocade Screen'.

越王yuè wáng越yuè王wáng見jiàn李lǐ靖jìng儀表yí biǎo儀yí表biǎo非凡fēi fán非fēi凡fán心xīn甚shèn喜之xǐ zhī喜xǐ之zhī

Seeing Li Jing's extraordinary bearing, the Prince of Yue was greatly pleased.

及jí叩kòu其所qí suǒ其qí所suǒ學xué靖jìng應對如流yīng duì rú liú應yīng對duì如rú流liú目mù不bù邪xié視shì

When questioned about his studies, Jing responded fluently, never letting his eyes wander improperly.

越王yuè wáng越yuè王wáng益yì奇qí之zhī因yīn設shè席xí命mìng坐zuò右yòu左zuǒ紅hóng拂fú技jì馮féng紅絹hóng juàn絹juàn為wéi舞wǔ

The Prince of Yue found him even more remarkable and held a feast, seating him on the right, while on the left, the Red Whisk performer Feng Hongjuan performed a dance.

越王yuè wáng越yuè王wáng曰yuē「此cǐ女nǚ最有zuì yǒu最zuì有yǒu口才kǒu cái口kǒu才cái試聽shì tīng試shì聽tīng之zhī

The Prince of Yue said, "This girl is most eloquent; just listen to her."

紅絹hóng juàn乃執紅hóng絹juàn乃nǎi執zhí拂fú為wéi舞wǔ

Hongjuan then took up the red whisk and performed a dance.

李lǐ靖jìng佯yáng醉zuì，辭cí越王yuè wáng回寓，越yuè王wáng回huí寓yù曰yuē

Li Jing feigned drunkenness and took leave of the Prince of Yue to return to his lodgings. The Prince said:

「無事wú shì無wú事shì時shí可kě來lái相xiāng訪fǎng」

"When you are at leisure, you may come to visit."

靖jìng拜謝bài xiè拜bài謝xiè而ér去qù

Jing bowed in thanks and departed.

回huí至zhì寓yù中zhōng，又yòu看了kàn le看kàn了le幾jī卷juàn古書gǔ shū古gǔ書shū日夕rì xī日rì夕xī而ér臥wò

Returning to his lodgings, he read several more volumes of ancient books and lay down at nightfall.

將jiāng交jiāo三更sān gēng三sān更gēng忽聞hū wén忽hū聞wén叩門kòu mén叩kòu門mén聲shēng

As the third watch was approaching, he suddenly heard a knock at the door.

開門kāi mén開kāi門mén看kàn時shí見jiàn一yī少年shào nián少shào年nián繫xì二èr馬mǎ，峨冠博帶而ér進jìn峨é冠guān博bó帶dài入rù不bù揖yī坐zuò

Opening the door to look, he saw a youth who had tethered two horses and entered; wearing a high crown and a broad sash, the visitor came in and sat down without bowing.

靖jìng問wèn曰yuē： 「先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng何來hé lái何hé來lái

Jing asked, "Sir, what brings you here?"

少年shào nián少shào年nián曰yuē「我wǒ乃nǎi今日jīn rì今jīn日rì席xí間之jiàn zhī間jiàn之zhī歌gē婦fù馮féng氏shì也yě

The youth said, "I am the singing girl, Miss Feng, who was at the banquet today."

靖jìng視shì之zhī，果然guǒ rán果guǒ然rán

Jing looked at the visitor, and it was indeed so.

曰yuē： 「汝rǔ來此lái cǐ來lái此cǐ何事hé shì何hé事shì

He asked, "For what purpose have you come here?"

絹juàn曰yuē： 「長安cháng ān長cháng安ān不久bù jiǔ他人，豈不bù久jiǔ將jiāng屬shǔ他人tā rén他tā人rén豈不qǐ bù豈qǐ聞wén危wēi邦bāng不入bú rù入rù不知bù zhī知zhī先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng來此lái cǐ來lái此cǐ何故hé gù何hé故gù卻又què yòu卻què又yòu與yǔ死屍sǐ shī死sǐ屍shī對duì飲yǐn不亦bú yì亦yì差chà乎hū

Juan said, "Chang'an will soon belong to another; have you not heard the saying that one should not enter a state in peril? I know not for what reason you have come here, only to drink with a corpse—is that not a grave mistake?"

靖jìng曰yuē： 「子zǐ將jiāng何以hé yǐ何hé以yǐ教jiào我wǒ

Jing asked, "What guidance do you have for me?"

絹juàn曰yuē： 「安排ān pái安ān排pái青眼qīng yǎn青qīng眼yǎn閱yuè人rén多duō矣yǐ求qiú其qí胸襟xiōng jīn胸xiōng襟jīn灑落sǎ luò灑sǎ落luò無wú如rú君jūn者zhě吾wú盜dào有yǒu越王yuè wáng越yuè王wáng令lìng欲yù與yǔ先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng逃táo

Juan said, "I have looked upon many with a discerning eye and have seen many people. None possess a spirit as free and easy as yours. I have stolen the Prince of Yue's decree and wish to flee with you, sir."

靖jìng曰yuē： 「將jiāng安ān往wǎng？」

Jing asked, "Where shall we go?"

絹juàn曰yuē： 「太原tài yuán太tài原yuán唐táng公gōng仁rén人rén也yě可kě依yī之zhī。」

Juan said, "The Duke of Tang in Taiyuan is a benevolent man; we can take refuge with him."

靖jìng曰yuē： 「越王yuè wáng越yuè王wáng追及zhuī jí追zhuī及jí奈何nài hé奈nài何hé

Jing asked, "What if the Prince of Yue catches up to us?"

絹juàn曰yuē： 「此cǐ壟lǒng中zhōng枯骨kū gǔ枯kū骨gǔ也yě君jūn費fèi一席話yì xí huà妾為一yì席xí話huà妾qiè為wéi一曲yì qǔ曲qǔ歌gē必bì免miǎn

Juan said, "He is but a withered bone in a burial mound. You gave him a session of talk and I performed a song for him; we will surely be spared pursuit."

李lǐ靖jìng遂suì與yǔ絹juàn竊qiè關guān而ér逃táo。

Li Jing then fled through the pass in secret with Juan.

次cì日rì，越王yuè wáng府中不見紅絹，左右遣使捕捉，越yuè王wáng府中fǔ zhōng府fǔ中zhōng不bù見jiàn紅絹hóng juàn紅hóng絹juàn左右zuǒ yòu左zuǒ右yòu遣使qiǎn shǐ遣qiǎn使shǐ捕捉bǔ zhuō捕bǔ捉zhuō曰yuē

The next day, when Hongjuan was missing from the Prince of Yue's palace, his attendants sent men to capture her. The Prince of Yue said:

「紅絹hóng juàn紅hóng府，經五年矣，未嘗以顏笑假人，吾嘗謂絹juàn入rù府fǔ經jīng五年wǔ nián五wǔ年nián席間，以目熟視李靖，必從靖去矣yǐ未嘗wèi cháng未wèi嘗cháng以yǐ顏yán笑xiào假jiǎ人rén吾wú謂wèi有yǒu俠xiá之zhī氣qì昨日zuó rì昨zuó日rì席xí間jiàn目mù熟視shú shì熟shú視shì李lǐ靖jìng必從bì cóng必bì從cóng去qù去矣qù yǐ

"Hongjuan has been in my palace for five years, yet she never once bestowed a smile upon anyone. I often remarked that she possessed the spirit of a knight-errant. At yesterday's banquet, she watched Li Jing intently; she must have left with him!"

左右zuǒ yòu左zuǒ右yòu往wǎng察chá果如越王之zhī果guǒ如rú越王yuè wáng越yuè王wáng言yán

His attendants went to investigate and found it was exactly as the Prince of Yue had said.

請qǐng於wū越王yuè wáng，欲追之，越yuè王wáng欲yù追zhuī之zhī曰yuē

They requested permission from the Prince of Yue to pursue them, but the Prince said:

「藩鎮fān zhèn藩fān鎮zhèn諸侯zhū hóu諸zhū侯hóu嗜音，多選名門女子貢予，是其來也如rú雲，其去也當如水。膠漆無情之物，尚然相投，況絹與靖，天下之奇才也，而有不相憐者乎？蜂蝶戲於花間，吾每拂蛛網以快其意，今日獨不容靖與絹，毋乃不善用其情乎？惜乎！靖非知予yǔ荒huāng色sè嗜shì音yīn多duō選xuǎn名門míng mén名míng門mén女子nǚ zǐ女nǚ子zǐ貢gòng是shì其qí來lái也yě如雲rú yún雲yún去qù當dāng如水rú shuǐ水shuǐ膠漆jiāo qī膠jiāo漆qī無情wú qíng無wú情qíng之zhī物wù尚shàng然rán相投xiāng tóu相xiāng投tóu況kuàng絹juàn與yǔ靖jìng天下tiān xià天tiān下xià奇才qí cái奇qí才cái而有ér yǒu而ér有yǒu不相bù xiāng不bù憐lián者zhě乎hū蜂fēng蝶dié戲xì於wū花huā間jiàn吾wú每měi拂fú蛛網zhū wǎng蛛zhū網wǎng以yǐ快kuài意yì今日jīn rì今jīn日rì獨dú不容bù róng容róng毋wú乃nǎi不善bú shàn善shàn用yòng惜xī非fēi知zhī必bì不去bú qù將jiāng厚hòu贈zèng

"Lords of the frontier like myself may be obsessed with beauty and music, and many noble families choose to present their daughters to me; thus, they arrive like clouds and should depart like water. Even inanimate things like glue and lacquer bond together; how much more so for Juan and Jing, the most extraordinary talents under heaven? Could they possibly fail to cherish each other? When bees and butterflies play among the flowers, I always brush away the spiderwebs to facilitate their delight. If today I alone could not tolerate Jing and Juan, would that not be a failure to properly handle sentiment? What a pity! Jing did not truly know me. Had he known me, he certainly would not have fled, for I would have given him generous gifts."

左右zuǒ yòu左zuǒ右yòu曰yuē「恐kǒng其qí有效yǒu xiào有yǒu效xiào尤yóu者zhě將jiāng若ruò何hé

His attendants said, "We fear others might follow this example; what should be done then?"

越王yuè wáng越yuè王wáng曰yuē「惟wéi靖jìng與yǔ絹juàn則zé可kě，非fēi靖與絹則不可bù kě不bù彼bǐ小人xiǎo rén小xiǎo人rén女子nǚ zǐ女nǚ子zǐ情慾qíng yù情qíng慾yù而已ér yǐ而ér已yǐ矣yǐ吾wú必bì撲殺pū shā撲pū殺shā之zhī汝等rǔ děng汝rǔ等děng毋wú多duō瀆dú

The Prince of Yue replied, "It is permitted only for Jing and Juan; for any others, it is not. Those of petty character and ordinary women are driven by nothing but lust, and I would surely have them beaten to death. Do not trouble me further with this."

左右zuǒ yòu左zuǒ右yòu不敢bù gǎn不bù敢gǎn復fù言yán

His attendants did not dare speak of it again.

自此zì cǐ自zì此cǐ天下tiān xià天tiān下xià賢士xián shì賢xián士shì多duō有yǒu依附yī fù依yī附fù越yuè王者wáng zhě王wáng者zhě

From that point on, many worthy scholars from across the land came to align themselves with the Prince of Yue.

惜xī乎hū！

What a pity!

不學無術bù xué wú shù，好謀無成，不bù學xué無wú術shù好hǎo謀móu成chéng不能bù néng能néng回huí隋suí氏shì之亂zhī luàn之zhī亂luàn

He lacked true learning and skill, and though fond of plotting, he met with no success and was unable to avert the chaos of the Sui Dynasty.

悲bēi哉zāi，悲哉！

How tragic! How tragic!

要yào知zhī李lǐ靖jìng去qù後hòu如何rú hé如rú何hé且qiě聽tīng下回xià huí下xià回huí分解fēn jiě分fēn解jiě

To find out what happened after Li Jing's departure, please listen to the explanation in the next chapter.