审配拨弩手一万，伏于两翼；弓箭手五千，伏于门旗内：约炮响齐发。
On Yuan Shao's side, Shen Pei placed ten thousand of crossbowmen in ambush on the two wings, while five thousand of archers held the center.
The signal for general attack was a bomb,
三通鼓罢，袁绍金盔金甲，锦袍玉带，立马阵前。
and the onset was to continue through three rolls of the drum.
Yuan Shao wore a silver helmet and breastplate and an embroidered robe held in by a jeweled belt.
He took up his post in the center
左右排列着张郃、高览、韩猛、淳于琼等诸将。
with his commanders---Gao Lan, Zhang He, Han Meng, Chunyu Qiong, and others---ranged right and left.
曹阵上门旗开处，曹操出马。
When Cao Cao's army's center opened and the banners moved aside, the chieftain appeared on horseback
许诸、张辽、徐晃、李典等，各持兵器，前后拥卫。
with his staff of doughty leaders all fully armed---Xu Chu, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, Li Dian, and others.
曹操以鞭指袁绍曰：“吾于天子之前，保奏你为大将军，今何故谋反？”
Pointing with his whip at Yuan Shao, Cao Cao cried, "In the presence of the Emperor, I pressed your claims to consideration and obtained for you the title of Regent Marshal.
Why do you now plan rebellion?”
绍怒曰：“汝托名汉相，实为汉贼！
Yuan Shao replied, "You take the title of a minister of Han, but you are really a rebel against the House.
罪恶弥天，甚于莽、卓，乃反诬人造反耶！”
Your crimes and evil deeds reach to the heavens, and you are worse than the usurper Wang Mang and the rebel Dong Zhuo.
What are these slanderous words about rebellion that dare you address to me?”
绍曰：“吾奉衣带诏讨贼！”
"I have the Girdle Decree to arrest rebels!" replied Yuan Shao.
操怒，使张辽出战。
Then Cao Cao became wrathful and bade Zhang Liao ride forth as his champion.
张邰跃马来迎。
From the other side rode Zhang He on a curvetting steed.
二将斗了四五十合，不分胜负。
The two champions fought forty or fifty bouts with no advantage to either.
曹操见了，暗暗称奇。
In his heart Cao Cao thought the contest amazing.
许褚挥刀纵马，直出助战。
Then Xu Chu whirled up his sword and went to help.
高览挺枪接住。
From the other side, to match him rode out Gao Lan with his spear set,
四员将捉对儿厮杀。
and the contestants were now four, battling two and two.
曹操令夏侯惇、曹洪，各引三千军，齐冲彼阵。
Then Cao Cao ordered three thousand troops under Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong to attack the opponents' array.
审配见曹军来冲阵，便令放起号炮：两下万弩并发，中军内弓箭手一齐拥出阵前乱射。
Thereupon on Yuan Shao's side, Shen Pei gave the signal for attack, and the legion of crossbowmen on the wings shot and the center archers let fly all together.
The arrows flew all over the field in front,
曹军如何抵敌，望南急走。
and Cao Cao's troops could not advance.
They hastened away toward the south.
袁绍驱兵掩杀，曹军大败，尽退至官渡。
Yuan Shao threw his soldiers on their rear, and they were broken.
They fled away toward Guandu,
袁绍移军逼近官渡下寨。
and Yuan Shao advanced another stage.
He camped near them.
审配曰：“今可拨兵十万守官渡，就曹操寨前筑起土山，令军人下视寨中放箭。
Then Shen Pei said, "Now send one hundred thousand soldiers to guard Guandu, and get near Cao Cao's camp.
Then build up observation mounds to get a clear view of the enemy, and choose vantage points whence to shoot arrows into the midst of their host.
绍从之，于各寨内选精壮军人，用铁锹土担，齐来曹操寨边，垒土成山。
Yuan Shao adopted this suggestion.
From each of the camps, they sought out the strongest veterans who dug with iron spades and carried earth to raise mounds near Cao Cao's camp.
曹营内见袁军堆筑土山，欲待出去冲突，被审配弓弩手当住咽喉要路，不能前进。
Cao Cao's soldiers saw what their enemies were doing and were anxious to make a sortie and drive them off.
But the archers and crossbowmen came out commanding the narrow throat through which it was necessary to attack and stayed them.