他见城东南角砖土之色，新旧不等，鹿角多半毁坏，意将从此处攻进；却虚去西北上积草，诈为声势，欲哄我撤兵守西北，彼乘夜黑必爬东南角而进也。
He certainly noticed that the southeast corner of the wall had been lately restored with mud bricks of a different kind, and that the fencing barrier is badly out of repair.
He will try to effect an entrance there.
Wherefore he is making a feint attack at the opposite point.
He is piling up straw and making ostentatious preparations whereby to cajole us into withdrawing from the real point of attack to defend the northwest.
His troops will scale the walls in the darkness and try to enter at the southeast."
诩曰：“此易事耳。
"The countermove is plain.
来日可今精壮之兵，饱食轻装，尽藏于东南房屋内；却教百姓假扮军士，虚守西北。
You issue an order for our best and bravest soldiers to fill their bellies, to take only the lightest outfit and conceal themselves in the houses near the southeast corner.
Then disguise the townspeople as soldiers and send them to pretend to defend the northwest.
夜间任他在东南角上爬城。
Tonight we will let the enemy climb up the walls and enter the city and,
俟其爬进城时，一声炮响，伏兵齐起，操可擒矣。”
once they are fairly within, give the signal and the concealed soldiers will rush out upon them.
We may even capture Cao Cao himself."
绣喜，从其计。
The stratagem was decided upon.
早有探马报曹操，说张绣尽撤兵在西北角上，呐喊守城，东南却甚空虚。
Soon the scouts told Cao Cao: "The defenders of the city have moved to the northwest where noisy preparations for defense are going on.
The opposite corner is left undefended."
操曰：“中吾计矣！”
"They have fallen into my trap!"said Cao Cao gleefully.
遂命军中密备锹钁、爬城器具。
He ordered his troops to prepare shovels and hooks and all the gear needed for scaling walls,
日间只引军攻西北角。
and all day they kept up the attack on the northwest angle.
至二更时分，却领精兵于东南角上爬过壕去，砍开鹿角。
But at the second watch they dispatched the veterans to the opposite corner, where they climbed the wall, broke up the fencing barrier, +and got into the city apparently without disturbing any of the guards.
城中全无动静，众军一齐拥入。
There was no sign of life anywhere as they entered.
只听得一声炮响，伏兵四起。
+But just as they were leaving the wall, suddenly a bomb exploded and they found themselves in an ambush.
曹军急退，背后张绣亲驱勇壮杀来。
They turned to retire, but Zhang Xiu immediately fell on the rear and began a slaughter.
曹军大败，退出城外，奔走数十里。
Cao Cao's troops were totally defeated and fled out of the gate -into the country.
张绣直杀至天明方收军入城。
Zhang Xiu kept up the pursuit till daybreak, when he retired into the city again.
曹操计点败军，折兵五万余人，失去辎重无数。
Cao Cao then rallied his army and mustered his soldiers.
He had lost fifty thousand and much baggage,
忽探马报孙策屯兵湖口。
when a scout came to say that Sun Ce had encamped in the river at Hukou.
蒯良曰：“策屯兵湖口，乃曹操之计也。
Kuai Liang said, "This move of Sun Ce in the river is part of Cao Cao's strategy,
今操新败，若不乘势击之，后必有患。”
and there will be never-ending regret if Cao Cao is allowed to escape. +An immediate expedition is necessary."
绣知表兵已起，即同贾诩引兵袭操。
Zhang Xiu, having been informed of the movement of Liu Biao, went with Jia Xu to smite Cao Cao on the rear.
且说操军缓缓而行，至襄城，到淯水，操忽于马上放声大哭。
In the meantime Cao Cao's army, marching very leisurely, had arrived at Xiangyang.
Walking one day beside River Yu, he suddenly uttered a great cry,
众惊问其故，操曰：“吾思去年于此地折了吾大将典韦，不由不哭耳！”
and when his officers asked the reason thereof, he replied, "I remembered that here, only a year ago, I lost my great general: Dian Wei.
Is that not a reason to grieve?”
因即下令屯住军马，大设祭筵，吊奠典韦亡魂。
Thereupon Cao Cao gave orders to halt, while he should make a great sacrifice and mourn for his lost leader.