妇人请竺同载，竺上车端坐，目不邪视。
She invited him to share the seat with her.
He mounted, but sat rigidly upright, never even glancing in her direction.
行及数里，妇人辞去。
They traveled thus for some miles when she thanked him and alighted.
临别，对竺曰：“我乃南方火德星君也。
Just as she left she said, "I am the Goddess of Fire from the Southern Land.
奉上帝教，往烧汝家。
I am on my way to execute a decree of the Supreme God to burn your dwelling,
只是曹孟德与我无仇，当先遣人送书解和。
However, I have no quarrel with Cao Cao either, so I will first write to him to try to make peace.
如其不从，然后起兵。”
If he refuses my offer, then I must set the army in motion."
正商议间，忽报黄巾贼党管亥部领群寇数万杀奔前来。
Just at this moment happened another rising of the Yellow Scarves, ten thousand of them, and the ruffians began to rob and murder at Beihai.
孔融大惊，急点本部人马，出城与贼迎战。
-+It was necessary to deal with them first, and Kong Rong led his army outside the city.
管亥出马曰：“吾知北海粮广，可借一万石，即便退兵；不然，打破城池，老幼不留！”
+The rebel leader, Guan Hai, rode out to the front, saying, "I know this county is fruitful and can well spare ten thousand carts of grain.
Give me that and we retire; refuse, and we will batter down the city walls and destroy every soul."
孔融叱曰：“吾乃大汉之臣，守大汉之地，岂有粮米与贼耶！”
Kong Rong shouted back, "I am a servant of the great Hans, entrusted with the safety of their land.
Think you I will feed rebels ?”
孔融兵大乱，奔入城中。
Soon the soldiers fell into panic and rushed pell-mell into the city for protection.
管亥分兵四面围城，孔融心中郁闷。
The rebels then laid siege to the city on all sides.
Kong Rong was very down-hearted;
糜竺怀愁，更不可言。
and Mi Zhu, +who now saw no hope for the success of his mission, was grieved beyond words.
次日，孔融登城遥望，贼势浩大，倍添忧恼。
^-1 The sight from the city wall was exceeding sad, for the rebels were there in enormous numbers.
忽见城外一人，挺枪跃马杀入贼阵，左冲右突，如入无人之境，直到城下，大叫“开门”。
^+1 One day standing on the wall, Kong Rong saw afar a man armed with a spear riding hard in among the Yellow Scarves and scattering them before him like chaff before the wind.
Before long the man had reached the foot of the wall and called out, "Open the gate!"
孔融不识其人，不敢开门。
But the defenders would not open to an unknown man,
贼众赶到壕边，那人回身连搠十数人下马，贼众倒退，融急命开门引入。
and in the delay a crowd of rebels gathered round the rider along the edge of the moat.
Suddenly wheeling about, the warrior dashed in among them and bowled over a dozen at which the others fell back.
At this Kong Rong ordered the wardens to open the gates and let the stranger enter.
其人下马弃枪，径到城上，拜见孔融。
+As soon as he was inside, he dismounted, laid aside his spear, ascended the wall, and made humble obeisance to the Governor.
融问其姓名，对曰：“某东莱黄县人也，复姓太史，名慈，字子义。
-"My name is Taishi Ci, and I am from the county of Laihuang.
某昨自辽东回家省亲，知贼寇城。
I only returned home yesterday from the north to see my mother, and then I heard that your city was in danger from a rebel attack.
老母说：‘屡受府君深恩，汝当往救。’
My mother said you had been very kind to her and told me I should try to help.
原来孔融与太史慈虽未识面，却晓得他是个英雄。
Kong Rong already knew Taishi Ci by reputation as a valiant fighting man, although they two had never met.
因他远出，有老母住在离城二十里之外，融常使人遗以粟帛。
The son being far away from his home, Kong Rong had taken his mother, who dwelt a few miles from the city, +under his especial protection and saw that she did not suffer from want.
母感融德，故特使慈来救。
This had won the old lady's heart and she had sent her son to show her gratitude.