赵云恐孤军难立，遂退于汉水之西。
Zhao Yun, thinking his troops too few, retired to the west side,
两军隔水相拒，玄德与孔明来观形势。
and the two armies lay on opposite sides of the stream.
Liu Bei and his adviser came down to view the position.
孔明见汉水上流头，有一带土山，可伏千余人。
Zhuge Liang saw in the upper course of the stream a hill which might well screen a thousand soldiers.
乃回到营中，唤赵云分付：“汝可引五百人，皆带鼓角，伏于土山之下。
So Zhuge Liang returned to camp, called in Zhao Yun and said, "General, you lead five hundred troops, with drums and horns, and place them in ambush behind the hill,
或半夜，或黄昏，只听我营中炮响：炮响一番，擂鼓一番。
to await certain orders which will come some time during the night or at dawn.
When you hear a detonation, you are not to appear, only give a long roll of the drums at every report."
子龙受计去了。
Zhao Yun departed to play his part in the drama,
孔明却在高山上暗窥。
while Zhuge Liang went to a hill whence he could overlook the scene.
次日，曹兵到来搦战，蜀营中一人不出，弓弩亦都不发。
When next the army of Cao Cao approached the camp of Shu and offered battle, not a man came out, nor was an arrow or a bolt shot.
当夜更深，孔明见曹营灯火方息，军士歇定，遂放号炮。
But in the depths of the night, when all the lights in the camp were extinguished and all appeared tranquil and restful, Zhuge Liang exploded a bomb,
及至出营，不见一军。
They rushed out, but there was no enemy,
方才回营欲歇，号炮又响，鼓角又鸣，呐喊震地，山谷应声。
and as the hubbub ceased they went back to sleep.
Soon after there was another bomb, and again the drums and the trumpets seeming to shake the earth itself, and the fearsome roar echoing along the valleys and from the hills again scared Cao Cao's soldiers.
曹兵彻夜不安。
Thus the night passed in constant alarms.
一连三夜，如此惊疑，操心怯，拔寨退三十里，就空阔处扎营。
The next night was the same, and the next.
On the fourth day Cao Cao broke up his camp, marched his troops ten miles to the rear and pitched his camp in a clear, wide space among the hills.
孔明笑曰：“曹操虽知兵法，不知诡计。”
Zhuge Liang was pleased at the result of his ruse.
Said he, smiling, "Cao Cao is skilled in war, but still he is not proof against all deceitful tricks."
遂请玄德亲渡汉水，背水结营。
The troops of Shu then crossed the river and camped with the stream behind them.
玄德问计，孔明曰：“可如此如此。”
When Liu Bei asked the next move, he was told, but also told to keep the plan a secret.
孔明批来日决战。
to which Zhuge Liang replied that they would fight a battle on the morrow.
次日，两军会于中路五界山前，列成阵势。
On the morrow the armies faced each other half way between the two camps in front of the Mountain of Five Borders, and there they arrayed.
操出马立于门旗下，两行布列龙凤旌旗，擂鼓三通，唤玄德答话。
Cao Cao presently rode up stood beside his banner, with his officers right and left and the dragon and phoenix banners fluttering in the wind.
His drums rolled thrice, and then he summoned Liu Bei to a parley.
玄德引刘封、孟达并川中诸将而出。
Liu Bei rode out supported by Liu Feng, Meng Da, and other leaders.
操扬鞭大骂曰：“刘备忘恩失义，反叛朝廷之贼！”
Then Cao Cao insolently flourizshed his whip and vilified his opponent. "Liu Bei, you have forgotten kindness and lost the sense of right.
玄德曰：“吾乃大汉宗亲，奉诏讨贼。
You are a rebel against the government." Liu Bei answered, "I am related to the imperial family, and I hold an edict authorizing me to seize all rebels.
操怒，命徐晃出马来战，刘封出迎。
Then Cao Cao ordered Xu Huang out to give battle, and Liu Feng went to meet him.
交战之时，玄德先走入阵。
As the combat began, Liu Bei retired within the ranks of his array.