却说孙坚被刘表围住,亏得程普、黄盖、韩当三将死救得脱,折兵大半,夺路引兵回江东。
At the close of the last chapter Sun Jian was surrounded.
However, aided by Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang, he eventually fought his way through, though with the loss of more than half his troops.
Sun Jian he returned to the South Land, southeast of the Great River.
却说公孙瓒知袁绍已据冀州,遣弟公孙越来见绍,欲分其地。
Hearing of Yuan Shao's invasion, Gongsun Zan sent his brother, Gongsun Yue, to see the usurper and demand his share of the region.
绍曰:“可请汝兄自来,吾有商议。”
“I want to see your elder brother himself.
He and I have things to discuss," said Yuan Shao.
行不到五十里,道旁闪出一彪军马,口称:“我乃董丞相家将也!”
But after traveling some fifteen miles on the homeward road, Gongsun Yue saw a group of soldiers appear. “We are guards of Prime Minister Dong Zhuo!" cried the soldiers.
从人逃回见公孙瓒,报越已死。
Those of Gongsun Yue's followers who escaped carried the news to their late master's brother.
瓒大怒曰:“袁绍诱我起兵攻韩馥,他却就里取事;今又诈董卓兵射死吾弟,此冤如何不报!”
Gongsun Zan was very angry and said, “Yuan Shao prevailed on me to attack, and now he has taken possession.
Also he pretends the murderers of my brother were not his people.
Shall I not avenge my brother's injury?”
尽起本部兵,杀奔冀州来。
Gongsun Zan brought up all his force to the attack.
绍知瓒兵至,亦领军出。
Learning the movement, Yuan Shao sent out his army,
二军会于磐河之上:绍军于磐河桥东,瓒军于桥西。
and they met at River Pan.They halted on opposite sides of the river, over which was a bridge.
瓒立马桥上,大呼曰:“背义之徒,何敢卖我!”
Gongsun Zan took his station on the bridge and cried to his enemy, “Renegade, how dared you mislead me?”
绍亦策马至桥边,指瓒曰:“韩馥无才,愿让冀州于吾,与尔何干?”
Yuan Shao rode to the other end of the bridge and, pointing at Gongsun Zan, replied, “Han Fu yielded place to me because he was unequal to the rule.
What concern is it of yours?”
瓒曰:“昔日以汝为忠义,推为盟主;今之所为,真狼心狗行之徒,有何面目立于世间!”
Gongsun Zan replied, “Formerly you were regarded as loyal and public spirited, and we chose you chief of the confederacy.
Now your deeds prove you cruel and base and wolf-hearted in behavior.
How can you look the world in the face?”
公孙瓒就桥边与文丑交锋。
Gongsun Zan rode down the bridge to the enemy's side, where the two engaged.
战不到十余合,瓒抵挡不住,败阵而走。
Ten bouts showed Gongsun Zan the terrible power of Wen Chou, and so he drew off.
文丑乘势追赶。
The enemy came on.
瓒手下健将四员,一齐迎战;被文丑一枪,刺一将下马,三将俱走。
The four best of Gongsun Zan's generals offered joint battle, but one fell under the first stroke of the doughty warrior, and the other three fled.
文丑直赶公孙瓒出阵后,瓒望山谷而逃。
Wen Chou followed clearing through to the rear of the army.
Gongsun Zan made for the mountains.
瓒弓箭尽落,头盔堕地;披发纵马,奔转山坡;其马前失,瓒翻身落于坡下。
Gongsun Zan fled for life.
His bow and quiver dropped from his shoulders, his helmet fell off, and his hair streamed straight behind him as he rode in and out between the sloping hills.
Then his steed stumbled and he was thrown, rolling over and over to the foot of the slope.
文丑急捻枪来刺。
Wen Chou was now very near and poising his spear for the thrust.
忽见草坡左侧转出个少年将军,飞马挺枪,直取文丑,公孙瓒扒上坡去,看那少年:生得身长八尺,浓眉大眼,阔面重颐,威风凛凛,与文丑大战五六十合,胜负未分。
Then suddenly came out from the shelter of a grassy mound on the left a general of youthful mien, but sitting his steed bravely and holding a sturdy spear.
He rode directly at Wen Chou, and Gongsun Zan crawled up the slope to look on.
The new warrior was of middle height with bushy eyebrows and large eyes, a broad face and a heavy jowl, a youth of commanding presence.
The two exchanged some fifty bouts and yet neither had the advantage.
瓒部下救军到,文丑拨回马去了。
Then Gongsun Zan's rescue force came along, and Wen Chou turned and rode away.
那少年也不追赶。
The youth did not pursue.
瓒忙下土坡,问那少年姓名。
Gongsun Zan hurried down the hill and asked the young fellow who he was.
因见绍无忠君救民之心,故特弃彼而投麾下,不期于此处相见。”
but when I saw that he was disloyal to his prince and careless of the welfare of the people, I left him and I was on my way to offer service to you.
This meeting in this place is most unexpected."