一同登舟，驾起帆樯，迤逦望夏口而进。
the four embarked in the same ship.They set sail, and the fleet made for Xiakou.
离三江口五六十里，船依次第歇定。
About twenty miles from Three Gorges the fleet anchored near the shore,
周瑜在中央下寨，岸上依西山结营，周围屯住。
and Zhou Yu built a stockade on the bank near the middle of their line with the Western Hills as a support.Other camps were made near his.
周瑜分拨已定，使人请孔明议事。
When the camp dispositions were complete, Zhou Yu sent to request Zhuge Liang to come and give him advice.
孔明至中军帐，叙礼毕，瑜曰：“昔曹操兵少，袁绍兵多，而操反胜绍者，因用许攸之谋，先断乌巢之粮也。
Zhuge Liang came.
After the salutations were ended, Zhou Yu said, "Cao Cao, though he had fewer troops than Yuan Shao, nevertheless overcame Yuan Shao because he followed the advice given by Xun You to destroy Yuan Shao's supplies at Wuchao.
我已探知操军粮草，俱屯于聚铁山。
I have found out that the main depot is at the Iron Pile Mountains.
先生久居汉上，熟知地理，敢烦先生与关、张、子龙辈，――吾亦助兵千人――星夜往聚铁山断操粮道。
As you have lived hereabout, you know the topography quite well, and I wish to entrust the task of cutting off supplies to you and your colleagues Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun.
I will assist you with a thousand soldiers.
I wish you to start without delay.
孔明暗思：“此因说我不动，设计害我。
Zhuge Liang saw through this at once.
He thought to himself, "This is a ruse in revenge for my not having been persuaded to enter the service of the South Land.
不如应之，别有计议。”
So I will do as he asks and trust to find some means of deliverance from the evil he intends."
乃欣然领诺。
Therefore Zhuge Liang accepted the task with alacrity,
瑜大喜。
much to the joy of Zhou Yu.
孔明辞出。
After the leader of the expedition had taken his leave,
瑜曰：“吾欲杀孔明，恐惹人笑，故借曹操之手杀之，以绝后患耳。”
"Because I wish to compass his death without appearing ridiculous.
I hope to get him killed by the hand of Cao Cao and prevent his doing further mischief."
只见孔明略无难色，整点军马要行。
Lu Su found him looking quite unconcerned and getting the soldiers ready to march.
孔明笑曰：“吾水战、步战、马战、车战，各尽其妙，何愁功绩不成，非比江东公与周郎辈止一能也。”
Zhuge Liang laughingly replied, "I am an adept at all sorts of fighting, with foot, horse, and chariots on land and marines on the water.
There is no doubt of my success.
I am not like you and your friend, only capable in one direction."
孔明曰：“吾闻江南小儿谣言云：‘伏路把关饶子敬，临江水战有周郎。’
"I have heard the street children in your country singing: [hip, hip, hip]"To lay an ambush, hold a pass,Lu Su is the man to choose;But when you on the water fight,Zhou Yu is the man to use. [yip, yip, yip]
公等于陆地但能伏路把关；周公瑾但堪水战，不能陆战耳。”
"You are only fit for ambushes and guarding passes on land, just as Zhou Yu only understands fighting on the water," said Zhuge Liang.
肃乃以此言告知周瑜。
Lu Su carried this story to Zhou Yu, +which only incensed him the more against Zhuge Liang.
目今用人之际，只愿吴侯与刘使君同心，则功可成。
Now is the critical moment, and Marquis Sun Quan and my master must act in harmony if we are to succeed.
如各相谋害，大事休矣。
If each one tries to harm the other, the whole scheme will fail.
操贼多谋，他平生惯断人粮道，今如何不以重兵提备？
Cao Cao is no fool, and it is he who usually attack enemies through cutting off their supplies.
Do you not think Cao Cao has already taken double precautions against any surprise of his own depot?”
今只当先决水战，挫动北军锐气，别寻妙计破之。
What he ought to do is to bring about a decisive naval battle, whereby to dishearten the northern soldiers, and then find some other means to defeat them utterly.
瑜摇首顿足曰：“此人见识胜吾十倍，今不除之，后必为我国之祸！”
Zhou Yu shook his head when he heard it and beat the ground with his foot, saying, "This man is far too clever.
He beats me ten to one.
He will have to be done away with, or the South Land will suffer."
肃曰：“今用人之际，望以国家为重。
Said Lu Su, "This is the moment to use people.
You must think of the country's good first of all.