明公何不察之?”
Should you not rather seek some evidence?”
帐下一人应声而进曰:“颜良与我如兄弟,今被曹贼所杀,我安得不雪其恨?”
Soon from the lower end a voice was heard, saying, "Yan Liang and I were as brothers, and can I allow any other to avenge his death?”
玄德视其人,身长八尺,面如獬豸,乃河北名将文丑也。
The speaker was a man of eight-span height with a face like a jilin, a famous leader from the North of Yellow River, named Wen Chou.
袁绍大喜曰:“非汝不能报颜良之仇。
Yuan Shao was pleased and said, "You are the only man who can do it.
吾与十万军兵,便渡黄河,追杀曹贼!”
I will give you one hundred thousand troops, and you can cross the Yellow River, and quickly smite that rebel Cao Cao.
今宜留屯延津,分兵官渡,乃为上策。
"The proper course is to hold Yenjin and detach a force to Guandu.
若轻举渡河,设或有变,众皆不能还矣。”
If you rashly cross the river and anything goes wrong, not a soul will return."
绍怒曰:“皆是汝等迟缓军心,迁延日月,有妨大事!
Yuan Shao said, "That is always the way with you fellows, always delaying and taking the dash out of the army.
You put off today and postpone tomorrow till success has become impossible.
沮授出,叹曰:“上盈其志,下务其功;悠悠黄河,吾其济乎!”
The adviser withdrew sadly, saying, "Superiors do not curb their ambitions; inferiors crave for achievements; things are undone.
Eternal is the course of Yellow River, shall I change it?”
遂托疾不出议事。
Thereafter Ju Shou feigned illness and went no more to the council.
玄德曰:“备蒙大恩,无可报效,意欲与文将军同行:一者报明公之德,二者就探云长的实信。”
Liu Bei said, "I have received much kindness at your hands and have been unable to show my gratitude.
I would accompany General Wen Chou that I may repay your bounty and also that I may hear news of my brother."
文丑曰:“刘玄德屡败之将,于军不利。
But the former objected, saying, "Liu Bei has been so often defeated that it will augur ill for success this time.
既主公要他去时,某分三万军,教他为后部。”
Since you wish, I will give Liu Bei command of the rear guard of thirty thousand soldiers."
于是文丑自领七万军先行,令玄德引三万军随后。
And this being approved, three legions were told off under Liu Bei's special command to follow the main body.
且说曹操见云长斩了颜良,倍加钦敬,表奏朝廷,封云长为汉寿亭侯,铸印送关公。
The prowess displayed by Guan Yu in the bold attack on Yan Liang redoubled Cao Cao's respect for him, and Cao Cao memorialized the Throne that Guan Yu receive the title of Lord of Hanshou, and a seal was cast for him.
忽报袁绍又使大将文丑渡黄河,已据延津之上。
Just then came the unexpected news that Yuan Shao's army had moved toward the Yellow River and was in position above Yenjin.
操乃先使人移徙居民于西河,然后自领兵迎之;传下将令:以后军为前军,以前军为后军;粮草先行,军兵在后。
Cao Cao first sent to transfer the inhabitants to the west bank and then led out an army to oppose Yuan Shao.
He issued an order to face about, thus placing the rear companies in front.
The commissariat wagons were also placed in the van.
操曰:“粮草在后,多被剽掠,故令在前。”
Cao Cao replied, "When the supplies are in rear, they are liable to be plundered.
So I have put them first."
虔曰:“倘遇敌军劫去,如之奈何?”
"But if you meet the enemy and they steal them?”
操曰:“且待敌军到时,却又理会。”
"Wait till the enemy appears.
I shall know what to do."
虚心疑未决。
Lu Qian was much exercised at this new move of the Prime Minister.
袁本初败兵折将 关云长挂印封金
Yuan Shao Loses Another Leader;Guan Yu Abandons Rank And Wealth.
却说袁绍欲斩玄德。
As the last chapter closed, Liu Bei had been condemned to die.
操令粮食辎重沿河堑至延津。
In the meantime the supply train moved along the river toward Yenjin.