备乃世之枭雄，更多智谋，其兵始集，法度精专；今守之久矣，不得我便，兵疲意阻，取之正在今日。”
This man Liu Bei is a capable and crafty man.
When he first started on this expedition his methods were of the best, and he kept them so for a long time, so we have to avoid him.
When his troops are worn out and his thoughts cease to be clear, that will be our day to attack."
诸将方才叹服。
At last they agreed with their chief.
后人有诗赞曰：虎帐谈兵按六韬，安排香饵钓鲸鳌。
[hip, hip, hip]The general discoursed on war,According to the book;Right craftily the bait for whalesWas put upon the hook.
三分自是多英俊，又显江南陆逊高。
When kingdoms three were carved out,Though famous men were many,Lu Xun the hero of WuAt least stands high as any. [yip, yip, yip]
却说陆逊已定了破蜀之策，遂修笺遣使奏闻孙权，言指日可以破蜀之意。
Lu Xun had already had the plan whereby the Shu army was to be crushed, and at this stage he wrote to the Prince of Wu in full details, even naming a day for the victory.
权览毕，大喜曰：“江东复有此异人，孤何忧哉！
"We have found another remarkably able leader," said the Prince, "and I have no further anxiety.
诸将皆上书言其懦，孤独不信。
They all said he was a useless pedant, and only I knew better.
于是大起吴兵来接应。
Then the Prince of Wu mustered the remainder of his soldiers to hold in reserve.
却说先主于猇亭尽驱水军，顺流而下，沿江屯扎水寨，深入吴境。
Meanwhile the First Ruler had sent orders to hasten the marines down the river and take up stations along the banks deep in the territory of Wu.
黄权谏曰：“水军沿江而下，进则易，退则难。
However, Huang Quan spoke against this, saying, "It is easy enough for the ships to go down, but how about returning?”
臣愿为前驱，陛下宜在后阵，庶万无一失。”
Let me make the first advance, and Your Majesty may follow.
That will make it more than probable that nothing will go wrong."
先主曰：“吴贼胆落，朕长驱大进，有何碍乎？”
"Those Wu enemy are afraid," objected the First Ruler, "and I want to make a dash at them.
Where is the difficulty?”
众官苦谏，先主不从。
Though many others had spoken against the proposal, the First Ruler did not give up the notion of going into the forefront of the attack.
遂分兵两路，命黄权督江北之兵，以防魏寇；先主自督江南诸军，夹江分立营寨，以图进取。
Then dividing the army into two portions, he placed Huang Quan in command on the North of the Great River, to keep a watch on Wei, while he commanded on the South of the Great River.
细作探知，连夜报知魏主，言：“蜀兵伐吴，树栅连营，纵横七百余里，分四十余屯，皆傍山林下寨。
They made encampments and stations along the bank.
The spies of Wei duly reported these doings to the Ruler of Wei: "Shu marches against Wu, erecting forty base camps along two hundred miles of woods and hills.
今黄权督兵在江北岸，每日出哨百余里，不知何意。“
Moreover, the Ruler of Shu places Huang Quan in command of the North of the Great River.
Huang Quan's marines patrolled as far as thirty miles daily.
We do not know their intention."
魏主闻之，仰面笑曰：“刘备将败矣！”
The Ruler of Wei laughed aloud when he heard the details of the long line of camps and the encampments among the trees and all this. "Liu Bei is going to be defeated," said he.
包原隰险阻屯兵者，此兵法之大忌也。
The maxims of war forbid to camp in open plains, among marshes, amid precipitous heights and obstacles.
玄德必败于东吴陆逊之手，旬日之内，消息必至矣。”
He will be defeated at the hand of Lu Xun, and we shall hear of it in about ten days."
群臣犹未信，皆请拨兵备之。
His officers felt more than doubtful and entreated their master to prepare an army to guard against Huang Quan, and to attack Shu if the occasion would allow.
魏主曰：“陆逊若胜，必尽举吴兵去取西川。
But the Ruler of Wei replied, "I do not plan to attack Shu.
If successful, Lu Xun will lead all his force westward into West River Land, and the South Land will be defenseless.
吴兵远去，国中空虚，朕虚托以兵助战，令三路一齐进兵，东吴唾手可取也。”
I shall pretend to send an army to help.
I shall send them in three divisions, and I shall overcome Wu easily."
魏主下令：“使曹仁督一军出濡须，曹休督一军出洞口，曹真督一军出南郡。
Then orders went out appointing Cao Ren to lead an army out to Ruxu, Cao Xiu to take a second out to Dongkou, and Cao Zhen to command a third aiming at Nanjun,
三路军马会合日期，暗袭东吴。
and the three armies were to combine on a given date for a sudden attack on Wu.