却说司马懿奏曰：“臣尝奏陛下，言孔明必出陈仓，故以郝昭守之，今果然矣。
Now Sima Yi spoke to the Ruler of Wei, saying, "I have said repeatedly that Zhuge Liang would come against us by way of Chencang; wherefore I set Hao Zhao to guard it.-
今幸有郝昭、王双守把，不敢从此路运粮。
But with Hao Zhao and Wang Shuang on guard there, he will not dare to come that way.
其余小道，搬运艰难。
It is very difficult to get supplies any other way.
臣算蜀兵行粮止有一月，利在急战。
Therefore I can give the invaders a month to exhaust their food.
Hence their advantage lies in forcing a battle;
不须一月，蜀兵自走。
In a month the enemy will have to retreat,
今陈仓转运不通，其余小路盘涉艰难，吾算随军粮草，不敷一月用度，如之奈何？”
We can get none by way of Chencang, and all other roads are very difficult.
I reckon the grain we brought with us will not last a month."-
正踌躇间，忽报：“陇西魏军运粮数千车于祁山之西，运粮官乃孙礼也。”
While thus perplexed, they heard that many carts of provisions for Wei were passing by from the West Valley Land, and the convoy was commanded by Sun Li.
有魏人告曰：“此人曾随魏主出猎于大石山，忽惊起一猛虎，直奔御前，孙礼下马拔剑斩之。
A certain man of Wei replied, "He is a bold man.
Once he was out hunting with the Ruler of Wei on Great Rock Hill, and a tiger suddenly appeared in front of his master's chariot.
He jumped off his horse and dispatched the beast with his sword.
孔明笑曰：“此是魏将料吾乏粮，故用此计：车上装载者，必是茅草引火之物。
"This is a ruse," said Zhuge Liang. "They know we are short of food, and those carts are only a temptation.
They are laden with combustibles.
吾平生专用火攻，彼乃欲以此计诱我耶？
How can they imagine that I shall be deceived by this sort of thing, when I have fought them with fire so many times?” If we go to seize the convoy, they will come and raid our camp.
彼若知吾军去劫粮车，必来劫吾寨矣。
How can they imagine that I shall be deceived by this sort of thing, when I have fought them with fire so many times?” If we go to seize the convoy, they will come and raid our camp.
遂唤马岱分付曰：“汝引三千军径到魏兵屯粮之所，不可入营，但于上风头放火。
Then Zhuge Liang sent Ma Dai with order: "You and three thousand troops are to make your way to the enemy's store camp –and, when the wind serves, to start a fire.
若烧着车仗，魏兵必来围吾寨。”
When the stores are burning, the soldiers of Wei will come to surround our camp. +That is how we will provoke a battle."
又差马忠、张嶷各引五千兵在外围住，内外夹攻。
He also sent Ma Zheng and Zhang Ni with five thousand troops each to halt near the camp so that they might attack from without.
又唤关兴、张苞分付曰：“魏兵头营接连四通之路。
+These having gone, he called Guan Xing and Zhang Bao, and said, "The outermost camp of Wei is on the main road.
今晚若西山火起，魏兵必来劫吾营。
This night, when the enemy see a blaze, our camp will be attacked,
汝二人却伏于魏寨左右，只等他兵出寨，汝二人便可劫之。”
so you two are to lie in wait on the two sides of the Wei camp and seize it when they have left."
又唤吴班、吴懿分付曰：“汝二人各引一军伏于营外。
Calling Hu Ban and Wu Yi, he said, "You are to lie in wait outside the camp
如魏兵到，可截其归路。”
to cut off the retreat of the force of Wei."
孔明分拨已毕，自在祁山上凭高而坐。
All these arrangements made, Zhuge Liang betook himself to a summit of the Qishan Mountains +to watch the results.
魏兵探知蜀兵要来劫粮，慌忙报与孙礼。
The soldiers of Wei heard that their enemies were coming to seize the grain convoy and ran to tell Sun Li,
真遣人去头营分付张虎、乐綝：“看今夜山西火起，蜀兵必来救应。
Cao Zhen sent to the chief camp for Zhang Hu and Yue Chen and told them, "Look out for a signal blaze; that would mean the coming of the army of Shu,
可以出军，如此如此。”
and then you are to raid the Shu camp immediately."
二将受计，令人登楼专看号火。
Zhang Hu and Yue Chen sent watchers on the tower to look out for the promised blaze.