备即不降，亦可见我爱民之心；若其来降，则荆州之地，可不战而定也。”
which will prove to the people that you have a care for them.
If he yields, then we get Jingzhou without fighting."
刘晔曰：“徐庶与刘备至厚，今现在军中，何不命他一往？”
Liu Ye suggested Xu Shu. "He is a close friend of Liu Bei, and he is here with the army," said Liu Ye.
晔曰：“他若不来，贻笑于人矣。
"If he does not return, he will be a laughing stock to the whole world.
操乃召徐庶至，谓曰：“我本欲踏平樊城，奈怜众百姓之命。
Xu Shu was sent for, and Cao Cao said, "My first intention was to level Fancheng with the ground.
But out of pity for its people,
公可往说刘备：如肯来降，免罪赐爵；若更执迷，军民共戮，玉石俱焚。
you may carry an offer to Liu Bei that if he will surrender, he will not only not be punished but he shall be given rank.
But if he holds on his present misguided course, the whole of his followers shall be destroyed.
至樊城，玄德、孔明接见，共诉旧日之情。
and went to the city, where he was received by both Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang.
They enjoyed a talk over old times +before Xu Shu mentioned the object of his mission.
庶曰：“曹操使庶来招降使君，乃假买民心也。
Then he said, "Cao Cao has sent me to invite you to surrender, thereby making a bid for popularity.
今彼分兵八路，填白河而进，樊城恐不可守，宜速作行计。”
But you ought also to know that he intends to attack the city from every point, that he is damming up the White River's waters to be sent against you, and I fear you will not be able to hold the city.
You ought to prepare."
玄德欲留徐庶。
Liu Bei asked Xu Shu to remain with them,
庶谢曰：“某若不还，恐惹人笑。
but Xu Shu said, "+That is impossible, for all the world would ridicule me if I stayed.
今老母已丧，抱恨终天。
My old mother is dead, and I never forget my resentment.
身虽在彼，誓不为设一谋。
My body may be over there, but I swear never to form a plan for Cao Cao.
公有卧龙辅佐，何愁大业不成？
You have the Sleeping Dragon to help you and need have no anxiety about the ultimate achievement of your undertaking.
操大怒，即日进兵。
This angered Cao Cao who gave orders to begin the advance and siege.
玄德曰：“奈百姓相随许久，安忍弃之？”
"But what of the people who have followed us?” They cannot be abandoned."
孔明曰：“可令人遍告百姓：有愿随者同去，不愿者留下。”
"You can tell them to do as they wish.
They may come if they like, or remain here."
先使云长往江岸整顿船只，令孙乾、简雍在城中声扬曰：“今曹兵将至，孤城不可久守，百姓愿随者，便同过江。”
They sent Guan Yu to prepare boats and told Sun Qian to proclaim to the people that Cao Cao was coming, that the city could not be defended, and those who wished to do so might cross the river with the army.
两县之民，齐声大呼曰：“我等虽死，亦愿随使君！”
All the people cried, "We will follow the Prince even if it be to death!"
即日号泣而行。
They started at once, some lamenting, some weeping,
扶老携幼，将男带女，滚滚渡河，两岸哭声不绝。
the young helping the aged, parents leading their children, the strong soldiers carrying the women.
As the crowds crossed the river, from both banks arose the sound of lamentation.
玄德于船上望见，大恸曰：“为吾一人而使百姓遭此大难，吾何生哉！”
Liu Bei was much affected as he saw all this from the boat. "Why was I ever born," said he, "to be the cause of all this misery to the people?”
欲投江而死，左右急救止。
He made to leap into the river, but they held him back.
闻者莫不痛哭。
All were deeply sympathetic.
船到南岸，回顾百姓，有未渡者，望南而哭。
When the boat reached the southern shore, he looked back at the weeping crowds waiting still on the other bank and was again moved to tears.