却说谯周官居太史，颇明天文；见孔明又欲出师，乃奏后主曰：“臣今职掌司天台，但有祸福，不可不奏：近有群鸟数万，自南飞来，投于汉水而死，此不祥之兆；臣又观天象，见奎星躔于太白之分，盛气在北，不利伐魏；又成都人民，皆闻柏树夜哭：有此数般灾异，丞相只宜谨守，不可妄动。”
Qiao Zhou, +who protested against the war, was Grand Historian.
He was also an astrologer.
He opposed the war, saying, "My present office involves the direction of the observations on the Astrological Terrace, and I am bound to report whether the aspect forebodes misfortune or promises happiness.
Not long since, several flights of thousands of birds came from the south, plunged into River Han and were drowned.
This is an evil augury.
Moreover, I have studied the aspect of the sky, and the 'Wolf' constellation is influencing the aspect of the planet Venus.
An aura of prosperity pervades the north.
To attack Wei will not be to our profit.
Again, the people in Chengdu say that the cypress trees moan in the night.
With so many evil omens, I wish that the Prime Minister should not go forth to war, but remain at home to guard what we have."
孔明曰：“吾受先帝托孤之重，当竭力讨贼，岂可以虚妄之灾氛，而废国家大事耶！”
+"How can I?”" said Zhuge Liang. "His Late Majesty laid upon me a heavy responsibility, and I must exert myself to the utmost in the endeavor to destroy these rebels.
The policy of a state cannot be changed because of inauspicious signs." +Zhuge Liang was not to be deterred.
遂命有司设太牢祭于昭烈之庙，涕泣拜告曰：“臣亮五出祁山，未得寸土，负罪非轻！
He instructed the officials to prepare the Great Bovine Sacrifice in the Dynastic Temple.
Then, weeping, he prostrated himself and made this declaration: "Thy servant Zhuge Liang has made five expeditions to Qishan without gaining any extension of territory.
His fault weighs heavily upon him.
今臣复统全师，再出祁山，誓竭力尽心，剿灭汉贼，恢复中原，鞠躬尽瘁，死而后已！”
Now once again he is about to march, pledged to use every effort of body and mind to exterminate the rebels against the Han House, and to restore to the dynasty its glory in the Middle Land.
To achieve this end, he would use the last remnant of his strength and could die content."
祭毕，拜辞后主，星夜至汉中，聚集诸将，商议出师。
The sacrifice ended, he took leave of the Latter Ruler and set out for Hanzhong to make the final arrangements for his march.
忽报关兴病亡。
While so engaged, he received the unexpected news of the death of Guan Xing.
众将再三劝解，孔明叹曰：“可怜忠义之人，天不与以寿”我今番出师，又少一员大将也！”
his officers did their utmost to console him. "How pitiful!
Why does Heaven deny long life to the loyal and good?” I have lost a most able general just as I am setting out +and need him most."
[sg]后人有诗叹曰：“生死人常理，蜉蝣一样空。
[hip, hip, hip]As all are born, so all must die;People are as gnats against the sky;
但存忠孝节，何必寿乔松。”
But loyalty or pietyMay give them immortality.[yip, yip, yip]
孔明引蜀兵三十四万，分五路而进，令姜维、魏延为先锋，皆出祁山取齐；令李恢先运粮草于斜谷道口伺候。
The armies of Shu numbered three hundred forty thousand strong, and they marched in five divisions, with Jiang Wei and Wei Yan in the van, and when they had reached Qishan, Li Hui, the Commissary General, was instructed to convey stores into the Xie Valley in readiness.
却说魏国因旧岁有青龙自摩坡井内而出，改为青龙元年；此时乃青龙二年春二月也。
In Wei they had recently changed the style of the year period to "Green Dragon", because a green dragon had been seen to emerge from Mopo Well.
The year of the fighting was the second year (AD 234).
近臣奏曰：“边官飞报蜀兵三十余万，分五路复出祁山。
The courtiers said to the Ruler of Wei, "The commanders of the passes report thirty or so legions advancing in five divisions from Shu upon Qishan."
魏主曹睿大惊，急召司马懿至，谓曰：“蜀人三年不曾入寇；今诸葛亮又出祁山，如之奈何？”
The news distressed the Ruler of Wei, who at once called in Sima Yi and told him of the invasion.
懿奏曰：“臣夜观天象，见中原旺气正盛，奎星犯太白，不利于西川。
Sima Yi replied, "The aspect of the sky is very auspicious for the Middle Land.
The Wolf star has encroached upon the planet Venus, which bodes ill for the River Lands.
臣托陛下洪福，当往破之。
And I, by virtue of Your Majesty's good fortune, am to be the instrument of destruction.
睿曰：“卿保何人？”
"Who are they?” Name them," said the Ruler of Wei.
懿曰：“夏侯渊有四子：长名霸，字仲权；次名威，字季权；三名惠，字稚权；四名和，字义权。
"They are the four sons of Xiahou Yuan: Xiahou Ba, Xiahou Wei, Xiahou Hui, and Xiahou He.
霸、威二人，弓马熟娴；惠、和二人，谙知韬略：此四人常欲为父报仇。
Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei are trained archers and cavaliers; Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He are deep strategists.
All four desire to avenge the death of their father.
臣今保夏侯霸、夏侯威为左右先锋，夏侯惠；夏侯和为行军司马，共赞军机，以退蜀兵。”
Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Wei should be Leaders of the Van; Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He should be Marching Generals, to discuss and arrange plans for the repulse of our enemy."
睿曰：“向者夏侯楙驸马违误军机，失陷了许多人马，至今羞惭不回。
"You remember the evil results of employing the Dynastic Son-in-Law Xiahou Mao: He lost his army and is still too ashamed to return to court.
今此四人，亦与楙同否？”
Are you sure these are not of the same kidney?”
懿曰：“此四人非夏侯楙所可比也。”
"They are not like Xiahou Mao in the least."
睿乃从其请，即命司马懿为大都督，凡将士悉听量才委用，各处兵马皆听调遣。
The Ruler of Wei granted the request and named Sima Yi as Commander-in-Chief with the fullest authority.
懿受命，辞朝出城。
–When Sima Yi took leave of the Ruler of Wei,