却说糜芳闻荆州有失，正无计可施，忽报公安守将傅士仁至，芳忙接入城，问其事故。
The fall of Jingzhou put Mi Fang in a quandary.
Before he could decide upon any course, his old colleague Fu Shiren came to see him.
Fu Shiren was admitted, and when asked why he had come, he blurted out his business without beating about the bush.
将军亦不如早降。”
And I advise you to do the same."
芳曰：“吾等受汉中王厚恩，安忍背之？“
"You and I have both fed on the bounty of the Prince of Hanzhong, and I cannot understand how you can turn against him."
芳曰：“吾兄弟久事汉中王，岂可一朝相背？”
"My brother and I have followed the Prince these many years, and I do not like leaving him like this."
正犹豫间，忽报关公遣使至。
Mi Fang hesitated.
Before he could make up his mind, there came a messenger,
接入厅上，使者曰：“关公军中缺粮，特来南郡、公安二处取白米十万石，令二将军星夜解去军前交割。
saying, "The army in Fancheng is short of grain, and I was sent to demand white rice for the soldiers.
Nanjun and Gongan are to send ten thousand carts at once.
芳大惊，顾谓傅士仁曰：“今荆州已被东吴所取，此粮怎得过去？”
This sudden demand was a shock to Mi Fang. "Where am I to get the rice?”"said he despairingly to his friend and tempter. "Jingzhou is now in the hands of Wu."
遂拔剑斩来使于堂上。
Thereupon he drew his sword and slew the messenger as he stood in the hall.
公今不早降东吴，必被关公所杀。”
Either you give in at once and go over to Wu, or you will be put to death by Guan Yu."
正说间，忽报吕蒙引兵杀至城下。
Just then they heard that Lu Meng's troops had actually reached the city wall.
权重赏二人。
Sun Quan gave both of them presents,
安民已毕，大犒三军。
after which he proceeded to restore order and to reward his army for their services.
时曹操在许都，正与众谋士议荆州之事，忽报东吴遣使奉书至。
At the time that great discussion about Jingzhou was going on in Xuchang, a messenger arrived with a letter from Sun Quan.
操拆视之，书中具言吴兵将袭荆州，求操夹攻云长，且嘱：“勿泄漏，使云长有备也。”
It told the plan of attacking Jingzhou and begged Cao Cao to send an army to attack Guan Yu in the rear, enjoining the utmost secrecy.
操与众谋士商议，主簿董昭曰：“今樊城被困，引颈望救，不如令人将书射入樊城，以宽军心；且使关公知东吴将袭荆州。
Cao Cao summoned his advisers to a meeting for consultation.
First Secretary Dong Zhao said, "Now that Fancheng is surrounded, it would be well to shoot letter into the city to let the besieged know, so that they may not yield to depression.
Then we will inform Guan Yu of the danger from If Guan Yu hears that Jingzhou is threatened by Wu,
彼恐荆州有失，必速退兵，却令徐晃乘势掩杀，可获全功。”
he will come back to try to defend it.
Then let Xu Huang take the chance to attack, and our victory will be complete."
操从其谋，一面差人催徐晃急战，一面亲统大兵，径往洛阳之南阳陵坡驻扎，以救曹仁。
Cao Cao agreed that the plan was good, and so he sent a messenger to urge Xu Huang to attack.
Cao Cao himself led a large force to Yangling Slope, south of Luoyang, to rescue Cao Ren.
却说徐晃正坐帐中，忽报魏王使至。
Xu Huang was sitting in his tent when they told him that a messenger from the Prince of Wei had arrived.
晃接入问之，使曰：“今魏王引兵，已过洛阳，令将军急战关公，以解樊城之困。”
The messenger was called in and said, "The Prince has led an army to Luoyang, and he wishes you to hasten to attack Guan Yu in order to relieve Fancheng."
正说间，探马报说：“关平屯兵在偃城，廖化屯兵在四冢，前后一十二个寨栅，连络不绝。”
Just then the scouts came to report: "Guan Ping has encamped at Yencheng and Liao Hua at Sizhong.
The enemy have built a line of twelve stockades."
晃却自引精兵五百。
Xu Huang himself, at the head of five hundred veterans,
循沔水去袭偃城之后。
went along River Mian to attack Yencheng in the rear.
且说关平闻徐晃自引兵至，遂提本部兵迎敌。
When Guan Ping heard of the approach of Xu Huang, he prepared his own division to meet him.
两阵对圆，关平出马，与徐商交锋，只三合，商大败而走。
When both sides were arrayed, Guan Ping rode out and engaged Xu Shang.
After three encounters Xu Shang had the worst of it and fled.