却见前面火把又起,从山谷中拥出一军,大叫:“凌统在此!”
Soon after Cao Cao saw the light of torches in front, and from a gorge there rushed out another force.
And the leader cried, "Ling Tong is here!"
忽刺斜里一彪军到,大叫:“丞相休慌!
But just then on his half right, he saw another company approach and heard a cry, "Fear not, O Prime Minister,
彼此混战一场,夺路望北而走。
The speaker was Xu Huang, and he attacked the pursuers and held them off.
A move to the north seemed to promise escape,
忽见一队军马,屯在山坡前。
but soon they saw a camp on a hill top.
徐晃出问,乃是袁绍手下降将马延、张顗,有三千北地军马,列寨在彼;当夜见满天火起,未敢转动,恰好接着曹操。
Xu Huang went ahead to reconnoiter and found the officers in command were Cao Cao's Generals Ma Yan and Zhang Zi, who had once been in the service of Yuan Shao.
They had three thousand of northern soldiers in camp.
They had seen the sky redden with the flames, but knew not what was afoot so dared make no move.
This turned out lucky for Cao Cao who now found himself with a fresh force.
操教二将引一千军马开路,其余留着护身。
He sent Ma Yan and Zhang Zi, with a thousand troops, to clear the road ahead while the others remained as guard.
马延、张顗二将飞骑前行。
The two went forward,
不到十里,喊声起处,一彪军出。
but before they had gone very far, they heard a shouting and a party of soldiers came out,
为首一将,大呼曰:“吾乃东吴甘兴霸也!”
the leader of them shouting, "I am Gan Ning of Wu!"
马延正欲交锋,早被甘宁一刀斩于马下;张顗挺枪来迎,宁大喝一声,顗措手不及,被宁手起一刀,翻身落马。
Nothing daunted the two leaders, but the redoubtable Gan Ning cut down Ma Yan.
And when his brother warrior Zhang Zi set his spear and dashed forward, he too fell beneath a stroke from the fearsome sword of Gan Ning.
后军飞报曹操。
Both leaders dead, the soldiers fled to give Cao Cao the bad news.
操此时指望合淝有兵救应;不想孙权在合淝路口,望见江中火光,知是我军得胜,便教陆逊举火为号,太史慈见了,与陆逊合兵一处,冲杀将来。
At this time Cao Cao expected aid from Hefei, for he knew not that Sun Quan was barring the road.
But when Sun Quan saw the fires and so knew that his soldiers had won the day, he ordered Lu Xun to give the answering signal.
Taishi Ci seeing this came down and his force joined up with that of Lu Xun, and they went against Cao Cao.
路上撞见张郃,操令断后。
On the road Cao Cao fell in with Zhang He and ordered him to protect the retreat.
纵马加鞭,走至五更,回望火光渐远,操心方定,问曰:“此是何处?”
Cao Cao pressed on as quickly as possible.
At the fifth watch he was a long way from the glare and he felt safer.
He asked, "What is this place?”
左右曰:“此是乌林之西,宜都之北。”
They told him, "It is west of the Black Forest and north of Yidu."
操见树木丛杂,山川险峻,乃于马上仰面大笑不止。
Seeing the thickly crowded trees all about him, and the steep hills and narrow passes, Cao Cao threw up his head and laughed.
操曰:“吾不笑别人,单笑周瑜无谋,诸葛亮少智。
And he said, "I am only laughing at the stupidity of Zhou Yu and the ignorance of Zhuge Liang.
若是吾用兵之时,预先在这里伏下一军,如之奈何?”
If they have only set an ambush there, as I would have done, why, there is no escape."
刺斜里一彪军杀出,大叫:“我赵子龙奉军师将令,在此等候多时了!”
And from the side dashed in a troop, with Zhao Yun leading, who cried, "I am Zhao Yun, and long have I been waiting here!"
操教徐晃、张郃双敌赵云,自己冒烟突火而去。
Cao Cao ordered Xu Huang and Zhang He to engage this new opponent, and he himself rode off into the smoke and fire.
子龙不来追赶,只顾抢夺旗帜。
Zhao Yun did not pursue; he only captured the banners,
天色微明,黑云罩地,东南风尚不息。
The faint light of dawn showed a great black cloud all around, for the southeast wind had not ceased.
忽然大雨倾盆,湿透衣甲。
Sudnly began a heavy downpour of rain, wetting everyone to the skin,
操与军士冒雨而行,诸军皆有饥色。
but still Cao Cao maintained his headlong flight till the starved faces of the soldiers made a halt imperative.