徐质连日引兵搦战，蜀兵不出。
When the troops of Wei came up and challenged, the troops of Shu refused battle.
哨马报司马昭说：“蜀兵在铁笼山后，用木牛流马搬运粮草，以为久计，只待羌兵策应。”
The scouts reported to Sima Zhao: "The Shu supplies are coming up along the rear of Iron Cage Mountain, and they are using the wooden oxen and running horses as transport.
The Shu army are building permanent defenses and are awaiting the arrival of their allies the Qiang tribes."
昭唤徐质曰：“昔日所以胜蜀者，因断彼粮道也。
Then said Sima Zhao to Xu Zi, "We formerly defeated the army of Shu by cutting off supplies, and we can do that again.
今蜀兵在铁笼山后运粮，汝今夜引兵五千，断其粮道，蜀兵自退矣。”
Let five thousand troops go out tonight and occupy the road."-
徐质领令，初更时分，引兵望铁笼山来，果见蜀兵二百余人，驱百余头木牛流马，装载粮草而行。
About the middle of the first watch Xu Zi marched across the hills.
When he came to the other side, he saw a couple of hundred soldiers driving a hundred or so heads of mechanical animals laden with grain and forage.
魏兵一声喊起，徐质当先拦住。
His army rushed down upon them with shouts, and the troops of Shu, seeing that their road was impassable,
蜀兵尽弃粮草而走。
abandoned their supplies and ran away.
质分兵一半，押送粮草回寨；自引兵一半追来。
Xu Zi took possession of the supply train, which he sent back to his own camp under the escort of half his troops.
With the other half he set out in pursuit.
追不到十里，前面车仗横截去路。
About three miles away, the road was found blocked with carts set across the track.
质令军士下马拆开车仗，只见两边忽然火起。
Some of his soldiers dismounted to clear the way.
But as they did so, the brushwood on both sides burst into a blaze.
质急勒马回走，后面山僻窄狭处，亦有车仗截路，火光迸起。
Xu Zi at once drew off his force and turned to retire, but coming to a defile he found the road again blocked with wagons, and again the brushwood began to burn.
一声炮响，两路军杀来：左有廖化，右有张翼，大杀一阵，魏兵大败。
but before he could get clear a bomb roared, and he saw the troops of Shu coming down on him from two directions.Liao Hua and Zhang Yi from left and right fell on Xu Zi with great fury, and the troops of Wei were wholly defeated.
徐质奋死只身而走，人困马乏，正奔走间，前面一枝兵杀到，乃姜维也。
Xu Zi himself got clear, but without any following.
He struggled on till he and his steed were almost spent with fatigue.
Presently he saw another company of the enemy in his way, and the leader was Jiang Wei.
质大惊无措，被维一枪刺倒座下马，徐质跌下马来，被众军乱刀砍死。
Before he could make any resistance, Jiang Wei's spear thrust him down, and as Xu Zi lay on the ground he was cut to pieces.
质所分一半押粮兵，亦被夏侯霸所擒，尽降其众。
Meanwhile those troops of Wei who had been sent to escort to camp the convoy of supplies which they had seized were captured by Xiahou Ba.
They surrendered.
霸将魏兵衣甲马匹，令蜀兵穿了，就令骑坐，打着魏军旗号，从小路径奔回魏寨来。
Xiahou Ba then stripped them of their weapons and clothing and therein disguised some of his own soldiers.
Holding aloft banners of Wei, these disguised soldiers made for the Wei camp.
魏军见本部兵回，开门放入，蜀兵就寨中杀起。
When they arrived, they were mistaken by those in the camp for comrades, and the gates were thrown open.
They rushed in and began to slay.
昭不能前进，急退时，姜维引兵从小路杀到。
Then appeared Jiang Wei in the path of retreat, -
昭四下无路，只得勒兵上铁笼山据守。
so that no road lay open.Sima Zhao made off for the hills, hoping to be able to hold out on the Iron Cage Mountain.
原来此山只有一条路，四下皆险峻难上；其上惟有一泉，止够百人之饮，——此时昭手下有六千人，被姜维绝其路口，山上泉水不敷，人马枯渴。
Now there was only one road up the hill, which rose steeply on all sides.
And the hill had but one small spring of water, enough to serve a hundred people or so, while Sima Zhao's force numbered six thousand.Their enemies had blocked the only road of escape.
This one fountain was unequal to supplying the needs of the beleaguered army, and soon they were tormented with thirst.
后人有诗曰：“妙算姜维不等闲，魏师受困铁笼间：庞涓始入马陵道，项羽初围九里山。”
[hip, hip, hip]The host of Wei on Iron Cage MountainWere once fast held by Jiang Wei's skill;When Pang Juan first crossed the Maling Hills,His strategy was reckoned fineAs Xiang Yu at the Nine Mountains;Both bent opponents to their will. [yip, yip, yip]
昭从其言，遂上山顶泉边，再拜而祝曰：“昭奉诏来退蜀兵，若昭合死，令甘泉枯竭，昭自当刎颈，教部军尽降；如寿禄未终，愿苍天早赐甘泉，以活众命！”
So the leader went to the summit of the hill and knelt beside the spring and grayed thus: "The humble Sima Zhao received a command to repulse the army of Shu.
If he is to die here, then may this spring cease its flow, when he will end his own life and let his soldiers yield to the enemy.
But if his allotted span of life be not reached, then, O Blue Vault, increase the flow of water and save the lives of this multitude."
困司马汉将奇谋 废曹芳魏家果报
A Ruse Of A Han General: Sima Zhao Is Surrounded;Retribution For The House Of Wei: Cao Fang Is Dethroned.
蜀汉延熙十六年秋，将军姜维起兵二十万，令廖化、张翼为左右先锋，夏侯霸为参谋，张嶷为运粮使，大兵出阳平关伐魏。
It was the autumn of the sixteenth year of Long Enjoyment (AD 253), and Jiang Wei's army of two hundred thousand was ready to march against the north.
Liao Hua and Zhang Yi were Leaders of the Van; Xiahou Ba was Army Strategist; Zhang Ni was in command of the commissariat.
The army marched out by the Yangping Pass.