刘备自从入川，广布恩德，以收民心，其意甚是不善。
"This Liu Bei, from the day he first entered Yizhou, has been trying to win over the hearts of your people by a display of kindness and virtue.
今求军马钱粮，切不可与。
He certainly intends no good, and I think you should refuse both the troops and the supplies he asks.
刘璋曰：“吾与玄德有兄弟之情，岂可不助？”
"We are affectionate brothers, and I must help him," said the Imperial Protector.
一人出曰：“刘备枭雄，久留于蜀而不遣，是纵虎入室矣。
"Liu Bei is nothing but a vagabond swashbuckler," someone cried, "and if you keep him here in the west, you are loosing a tiger in your household.
今更助之以军马钱粮，何异与虎添翼乎？”
If you give him the troops and supplies he asks, you are adding wings to your tiger."
众视其人，乃零陵烝阳人，姓刘名巴，字子初。
Turning whence the voice proceeded, they recognized the speaker as one Liu Ba, a native of Lingling.
刘璋闻刘巴之言，犹豫未决。
His words threw the Imperial Protector into a state of doubt and hesitation.
仍令杨怀、高沛紧守关隘。
At the same time fresh orders enjoining a diligent watchfulness were sent to the guardians of the passes.
刘璋使者到葭萌关见玄德，呈上回书。
When Liu Bei read the letter that accompanied the Imperial Protector's miserable contribution to his strength,
遂扯毁回书，大骂而起。
Liu Bei tore the letter to fragments and execrated the writer thereof.
使者逃回成都。
The bearer of the letter fled back to the capital.
庞统曰：“主公只以仁义为重，今日毁书发怒，前情尽弃矣。”
Then said Pang Tong, "You have hitherto laid too much stress on humanity and righteousness.
However, that is all over now, and all affection between you two is at an end, now that you have torn up that letter."
统曰：“只今便选精兵，昼夜兼道径袭成都：此为上计。
"The first, and best, is to send an army forthwith and seize Chengdu.
杨怀、高沛乃蜀中名将，各仗强兵拒守关隘；今主公佯以回荆州为名，二将闻知，必来相送；就送行处，擒而杀之，夺了关隘，先取涪城，然后却向成都：此中计也。
The second is to capture and put to death the two generals of the River Fu Pass.
They are the two most famous fighting men in this land.
If you give out that you are returning to Jingzhou, they will assuredly come to say farewell.
Seize and put them to death, and the Pass and Fucheng are both yours.
Chengdu will follow soon.
退还白帝，连夜回荆州，徐图进取：此为下计。
The third plan is to drop this role you have been playing, go back to Jingzhou and make a regular invasion.
若沉吟不去，将至大困，不可救矣。”
But if you ponder these schemes too long, you will get into such straits that nothing can save you."
玄德曰：“军师上计太促，下计太缓；中计不迟不疾，可以行之。”
Liu Bei replied, "Of your three schemes, O Instructor, I find the first too summary and the last too slow.
I choose the second scheme, which is neither."
却说张昭献计曰：“且休要动兵。
Zhang Zhao proceeded to unfold his device: "If you undertake any expedition farther west,
若一兴师，曹操必复至。
Cao Cao will undoubtedly return to the attack.
不如修书二封：一封与刘璋，言刘备结连东吴，共取西川，使刘璋心疑而攻刘备；一封与张鲁，教进兵向荆州来，着刘备首尾不能救应。
Rather write two letters, one to Liu Zhang saying that Liu Bei has leagued himself with you against the west, which will raise suspicions in the mind of Liu Zhang and cause him to attack his guest, and another letter persuading Zhang Lu to march upon Jingzhou, which will uproot Liu Bei.
Between these two conflicting matters, Liu Bei cannot give supports to all fronts,
权从之，即发使二处去讫。
Sun Quan approved, wrote the two letters, and sent them by two messengers.
且说玄德在葭萌关日久，甚得民心。
In the meantime, Liu Bei had been winning the hearts of the people about Jiameng Pass, where his army lay.
忽接得孔明文书，知孙夫人已回东吴。
When he received the news of his wife's flight ^+2and of Cao Cao's attack on Ruxu, he called in Pang Tong and laid the matter before him.
又闻曹操兴兵犯濡须，乃与庞统议曰：“曹操击孙权，操胜必将取荆州，权胜亦必取荆州矣。
^-2 "The victor of Ruxu, whoever it is, will assuredly possess himself of our region of Jingzhou," said Liu Bei at the close.