早有细作报入汉中来。
The spies soon carried the news into Hanzhong,
张鲁与弟张卫，商议退敌之策。
and Zhang Lu called in his brother Zhang Wei to consult how to meet the attack.
夏侯渊、张郃急上得马，四下里大兵拥入，曹兵大败，退见曹操。
Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He mounted quickly and tried to beat off the attackers, but the enemy poured in all round, and their army suffered great loss.
They returned to the main body to tell of their defeat,
欲斩二人，以明军法。
Cao Cao even desired to put them to death as a warning,
三匹马转过山坡，早望见张卫寨栅。
As they rode over the hills,
言未已，背后一声喊起，箭如雨发。
Just then there arose a shout in their rear, and a shower of arrows fell about them.
杨昂、杨任分两路杀来。
Yang Ang and Yan Ren were attacking, and the danger became great.
操重赏四将。
The four generals were rewarded.
贾诩曰：“贼势未见强弱，主公何故自退耶？”
"We have not tried the strength of the enemy," said Jia Xu. "You should not retire, my lord."
众官告免。
but this time he forbore at the entreaties of many of his officers.
杨昂听得曹兵退，请杨任商议，欲乘势击之。
When Yang Ang heard of the retreat, he thought it would be a good chance to attack.
杨任曰：“操诡计极多，未知真实，不可追赶。”
But Yan Ren opposed it, saying, "Cao Cao is full of ruses.
The occasion is unclear.
We should not lead an attack."
杨昂军至半路，不能行，权且扎住。
and soon the force got into difficulties and could not advance.
They bivouacked on the road.
曹军一拥而入，见是空寨，便就寨中放起火来。
They found an empty camp, and they raised a great blaze,
比及雾散，杨任领兵来救，与夏侯渊战不数合，背后张郃兵到。
As soon as the fog cleared, Yan Ren came to the rescue.
But as Yan Ren and Xiahou Yuan were fighting, Zhang He suddenly appeared and attacked from the rear.
杨昂欲突阵而出，正撞着张郃。
There seemed no other way but to make a dash for it.
Falling in with Zhang He,
曹操遂得阳平关并诸寨。
So the invaders took possession of the Pass,
卫言二将失了隘口，因此守关不住。
Zhang Wei laid the blame on his generals, saying, "The Pass could not be held after its supporting positions had been lost."
他不肯听信，故有此败。
"Yang Ang did not listen to my advice, and the defeat followed.
任再乞一军前去挑战，必斩曹操。
Now I volunteer to make another attack.
却说曹操提军将进，先令夏侯渊领五千军，往南郑路上哨探，正迎着杨任军马，两军摆开。
Before Cao Cao made any further advance, he sent Xiahou Yuan, with five thousand troops, to reconnoiter the road, and they fell in with the force led by Yan Ren.
Both sides drew up their battle array.
杨任自挺枪出马，与渊战三十余合，不分胜负。
Then Yan Ren set his spear and rode to the front.
They two fought near forty bouts and neither could claim victory.
渊佯败而走，任从后追来；被渊用拖刀计，斩于马下。
Then Xiahou Yuan pretended defeat and fled.
The other rushed in pursuit.
The fugitive suddenly employed the "swinging-horse stab" and killed his pursuer.
曹操知夏侯渊斩了杨任，即时进兵，直抵南郑下寨。
As soon as Cao Cao knew of the death of Yan Ren, he brought up his army, marched straightway to Nanzheng and camped.