吾观七路之兵，如七堆腐草，何足介意！”
These seven armies are no more to me than so many heaps of rotting straw.
They are not worth thinking about."
布曰：“汝若有计破敌、免汝死罪。”
"If you can show us how to overcome them, I will spare your life," said Lu Bu.
陈登曰：“将军若用老夫之言，徐州可保无虞。”
"General, if you will listen to poor me, the region will be perfectly safe."
登曰：“术兵虽众，皆乌合之师，素不亲信；我以正兵守之，出奇兵胜之，无不成功。
"Yuan Shu's troops are numerous but they are only a flock of crows; +they are not an army under a leader.
There is no mutual confidence.
I can keep them at bay with the ordinary guards of the place and could overcome them by some unsuspected stratagem.
更有一计，不止保安徐州，并可生擒袁术。”
+If I should fail, I have another plan by which I can not only protect the region but capture our enemy."
登曰：“韩暹、杨奉乃汉旧臣，因惧曹操而走，无家可依，暂归袁术；术必轻之，彼亦不乐为术用。
Chen Deng said, "Han Xian and Yang Feng, two of the leaders of our enemies, are old servants of the Han Dynasty who fled from fear of Cao Cao and, being homeless, sought refuge with Yuan Shu.
He despises them, and they are dissatisfied with his service.
若凭尺书结为内应，更连刘备为外合，必擒袁术矣。”
A little letter from the court will secure their help as our allies, and with Liu Bei to help us on the outside, we can certainly overcome Yuan Shu."
布曰：“汝须亲到韩暹、杨奉处下书。”
"You shall take the letters yourself," said Lu Bu.
布乃发表上许都，并致书与豫州，然后令陈登引数骑，先于下邳道上候韩暹。
and a memorial detailing his intentions was sent to the capital, letters to Yuzhou to Liu Bei, and finally Chen Deng was sent, with a small escort, to wait for Han Xian on the road to Xiapi.
登笑曰：“某为大汉公卿，何谓吕布之人？
"I am an official of the court of the great Hans.
Why do you call me a Lu Bu's man?”
若将军者，向为汉臣，今乃为叛贼之臣，使昔日关中保驾之功，化为乌有，窃为将军不取也。
If you, General, hitherto a minister of state, now serve a traitor, you will nullify the grand services you rendered in protecting the Emperor in the flight from Changan.
且袁术性最多疑，将军后必为其所害。
Beside, the suspicious Yuan Shu will assuredly do you some harm,
暹叹曰：“吾欲归汉，恨无门耳。”
Han Xian sighed, saying, "I would return to my allegiance if there should be any opportunity."
登乃出布书。
Thereupon Chen Deng gave him Lu Bu's letter +asking for cooperation.
布乃分兵五路：高顺引一军进小沛，敌桥蕤；陈宫引一军进沂都，敌陈纪；张辽、臧霸引一军出琅琊，敌雷薄；宋宪、魏续引一军出碣石，敌陈兰；吕布自引一军出大道，敌张勋。
Lu Bu divided his troops into five divisions, ^+1 each of ten thousand, +and sent them to five threatened towns to meet his enemies.
Gao Shun led one army to Xiaopei against Qiao Rui; Chen Gong to Yidu against Chen Ji; Zhang Liao and Zang Ba to Langye against Lei Bo; Song Xian and Wei Xu to Jieshi against Chen Lan.
Lu Bu himself led against the main body under Zhang Xun,
吕布出城三十里下寨。
Lu Bu camped ten miles from the walls.
张勋军到，料敌吕布不过，且退二十里屯住，待四下兵接应。
When the enemy came up, Zhang Xun thought Lu Bu too strong to attack with the force he had, so he retired seven miles to await reinforcements.
是夜二更时分，韩暹、杨奉分兵到处放火，接应吕家军入寨。
That night, in the second watch, Han Xian and Yang Feng arrived, and soon the flare was lighted as arranged.
Lu Bu's troops were admitted to the camp
吕布乘势掩杀，张勋败走。
Then Lu Bu gave a full attack, and Zhang Xun was routed and fled.
吕布赶到天明，正撞纪灵接应。
Lu Bu pursued till daylight, when he fell in with one of the other bodies led by Ji Ling.
两军相迎，恰待交锋，韩暹、杨奉两路杀来。
Both sides faced each other; but at the very beginning of the engagement Yang Feng and Han Xian also attacked,
山背后一彪军到，门旗开处，只见一队军马，打龙凤日月旗幡，四斗五方旌帜，金瓜银斧，黄钺白旄，黄罗销金伞盖之下，袁术身披金甲，腕悬两刀，立于阵前，大骂：“吕布背主家奴！”
but soon another force came out from the rear of some hills. +These looked very imposing.
As the ranks opened Lu Bu saw a leader's guard with flags bearing dragons and phoenixes and representations of the sun and moon, the stars in the four groups of the Great Bear Constellation, the five directions of the Earth, golden gourds, silver axes, yellow halberds, white yaks' tails, all imperial emblems.
And beneath a yellow silken parasol sat Yuan Shu on horseback, clad in silver mail with a sword handle showing at each wrist.
Standing out in front of the array, Yuan Shu railed at his opponent calling him traitor and bastard.
术将李丰挺枪来迎；战不三合，被布刺伤其手，丰弃枪而走。
and Li Deng, one of Yuan Shu's leaders, advanced to take the challenge.
They met, but at the third bout, Li Deng was wounded in the hand, whereupon his spear fell to the ground, and he fled.
吕布麾兵冲杀，术军大乱。
Lu Bu waved on the advance, and his men prevailed. -