却说张飞拍马赶到关下，关上矢石如雨，不得进而回。八路诸侯，同请玄德、关、张贺功，使人去袁绍寨中报捷。绍遂移檄孙坚，令其进兵。坚引程普，黄盖，至袁术寨中相见。坚以杖划地曰：「董卓与我，本无雠隙。
Chang Fei rode hard up to the Pass but the defenders sent down stones and arrows like rain so that he could not enter and he returned. The eight lords all joined in felicitations to the three heroes for their services and the story of victory was sent to Yüan Shao, who ordered Sun Chien to advance.
今我奋不顾身，亲冒矢石，来决死战者：上为国家讨贼，下为将军家门之私；而将军却听谗言，不发粮草，致坚败绩，将军何安！」术惶恐无言，命斩进谗之人，以谢孙坚。忽人报坚曰:「关上有一将，乘马来寨中，要见将军。
Thereupon Sun with two trusty friends went over to the camp of Yüan Shu. Tracing figures on the ground with his staff Sun Chien said, “Tung Cho and I had no personal quarrel. Yet now I have thrown myself into the battle regardless of consequences, exposed my person to the risk of wounds and fought bloody battles to their bitter end. And why? That I might be the means of ridding my country of a rebel and—for the private advantage of your family. Yet you, heeding the slanderous tongues of certain enemies, formerly withheld the supplies absolutely necessary to me, and so I suffered defeat. How can you explain, General?”
」坚辞袁术，归到本寨，唤来问时，乃董卓爱将李傕。坚曰：「汝来何为？」傕曰：「丞相所敬者，惟将军耳。今特使傕来结亲：丞相有女，欲配将军之子。」坚大怒，叱曰：「董卓逆天无道，荡覆王室，吾欲夷其九族，以谢天下，安肯与逆贼结亲耶！吾不斩汝！
Yüan Shu, confused and frightened, had no word to reply. He ordered the death of the slanderers to placate Sun. Then suddenly they told Sun, “Some officer has come riding down from the Pass to see you, General; he is in the camp.” Sun Chien therefore took his leave and returned to his own camp where he found the visitor was an officer, much beloved of Tung Cho, named Li Ts‘ui. “Wherefore come you?” said Chien.
汝当速去，早早献关，饶你性命！倘若迟误，粉骨碎身！」
He replied, “You are the one person for whom my master has respect and admiration, and he sends me to arrange a matrimonial alliance between the two families. He wishes that his daughter may become the wife of your son.”
李傕抱头鼠窜回见董卓说孙坚如此无礼。卓怒问李儒。儒曰「温侯新败兵无战心。不若引兵回洛阳迁帝于长安以应童谣。近日街市童谣曰『西头一个汉东头一个汉。鹿走入长安方可无斯难。』
“What! Tung Cho, that rebel and renegade, that subverter of the throne! Would that I could destroy his nine generations as a thank-offering to the Empire! Think you I would be willing to have an alliance with such a family? I will not slay you as I ought, but go, and go quickly! Yield the Pass and I may spare your lives. If you delay I will grind your bones to powder and make mincemeat of your flesh.”
臣思此言，『西头一个汉』，乃应高祖旺于西都长安，传一十二帝；『东头一个汉』，乃应光武旺于东都洛阳，今亦传一十二帝。天运合回，丞相迁回长安，方可无虞。」卓大喜曰：「非汝言，吾实不悟。」遂引吕布星夜回洛阳，商议迁都。
Li Tsʻui threw his arms over his head and ran out. He returned to his master and told him what a rude reception he had met with. Cho asked his adviser Li Ju how to reply to this and he said that as Lü Pu’s late defeat had somewhat blunted the edge of his desire for battle it would be well to return to the capital and remove the Emperor to Ch‘angan, as the street boys had been lately singing:— “ A Han on the west, a Han on the east. The deer will be safe in Ch‘angan, poor beast.”
聚文武于朝堂，卓曰：「汉东都洛阳，二百余年，气数已衰。吾观旺气实在长安，吾欲奉驾西幸。汝等各宜促装。」
Li continued “If you think out this couplet it applies to the present juncture. Half the first line refers to the founder of the dynasty, who became ruler in the western city, which was the capital during twelve reigns. The other half corresponds to Kuang-Wu who ruled from Loyang, the capital during twelve later reigns. The revolution of the heavens brings us to this moment and if the minister remove to Ch‘angan there will be no need for anxiety.”
司徒杨彪曰：「关中残破零落。今无故捐宗庙，弃皇陵，恐百姓惊动。天下动之至易，安之至难：望丞相鋻察。」卓怒曰：「汝阻国家大计耶？」太尉黄琬曰：「杨司徒之言是也；往者王莽篡逆，更始赤眉之时，焚烧长安，侭为瓦砾之地；更兼人民流移，百无一二；
Tung Cho was exceedingly pleased and said, “Had you not spoken thus I should not have understood.” Then taking Lü Pu with him he started at once for the capital. Here he called all the officials to a great council in the palace and addressed them thus:— “After two centuries of rule here the royal fortune has been exhausted and I perceive that the aura of rule has migrated to Ch‘angan, whither I now desire to move the court. All you had better pack up for the journey.” The minister Yang Piao said, “I pray you reflect. Within that city all is destruction. There is no reason to renounce the ancestral temples and abandon the imperial tombs here. I fear the people will be alarmed. It is easy to alarm them but difficult to pacify them.”
今弃宫室而就荒地，非所宜也。」卓曰：「关东贼起，天下播乱；长安有崤、函之险；更近陇右，木石砖瓦，克日可办，宫室营造，不须月余。汝等再休乱言。」司徒荀爽谏曰：「丞相若欲迁都，百姓骚动不宁矣。」卓大怒曰：「吾为天下计，岂惜小民哉！
“Do you oppose the State plans?” said Cho angrily. Another official, Huang Yüan, supported his colleague, “In the rebellion of Wang Mang, in the days of Kêng Shih and Fan Ch‘ung of the Red Eyebrows, the city was burned and became a place of broken tiles. The inhabitants scattered all but a few. It is wrong to abandon these palaces for a desert.” Tung Cho replied, “East of the Pass is full of sedition and all the Empire is in rebellion. The city of Ch‘angan is protected by Yaohan and very near Shênsi, whence can be easily brought building material. In a month or so palaces can be erected. So an end to your wild words!”
」即日罢杨彪、黄琬、荀爽为庶民。
Yet another raised a protest against disturbing the people but the tyrant overbore him also.
卓出上车，只见二人望车而揖；视之，乃尚书周毖、城门校尉伍琼也。卓问有何事，毖曰：「今闻丞相欲迁都长安，故来谏耳。」卓大怒曰：「我始初听你两个，保用袁绍；今绍已反，是汝等一党！」叱武士推出都门斩首。遂下令迁都，限来日便行。
“How can I stop to consider a few common people when my scheme affects the Empire?” That day the three objectors were degraded to the rank of ordinary people. As Cho went out to get into his coach he met two other officers who made obeisance. They were the President, Chou Pi, and the Captain of the City Gate, Wu Ch‘ing. Cho stopped and asked them what they wanted. Said the former, “We venture to try to dissuade you from moving the capital to Ch‘angan.” Cho replied, “They used to say you two were supporters of Yüan Shao; now he has already turned traitor and you are of the same party.”
李儒曰：「今钱粮缺少，洛阳富户极多，可籍没入官。但是袁绍等门下，杀其宗党而抄其家赀，必得巨万。」卓即差铁骑五千，遍行捉拏洛阳富户，共数千家，插旗头上，大书「反臣逆党」，侭斩于城外，取其金赀。李傕，郭汜，侭驱洛阳之民数百万口，前赴长安。
And without more ado he bade his guards take both outside the city and put them to death. The command to remove to the new capital immediately was issued. On the advice of Li Ju, who pointed out that money was short and the rich people of Loyang could be easily plundered and that it was a good occasion to remove the supporters of their opponents, Cho sent five companies out to plunder and slay. They captured very many wealthy folk and, having stuck flags on their heads saying they were traitors and rebels, drove them out of the city and put them to death. Their property was all seized.
每百姓一队，间军一队，互相拖押；死于沟壑者，不可胜数。又纵军士淫人妻女，夺人粮食；啼哭之声，震动天地。如有行得迟者，背后三千军催督，军手执白刃，于路杀人。卓临行，教诸门放火，焚烧居民房屋，并放火烧宗庙宫府。南北两宫，火焰相接；
The task of driving forth the inhabitants, some millions, was given to two of Tung Cho’s creatures. They were sent off in bands of a hundred, each band between two parties of soldiers, who urged them forward. Enormous numbers fell by the road side and died in the ditches, and the escort plundered the fugitives and defiled the women. A wail of sorrow arose to the very sky. The tyrant’s final orders as he left were to burn the whole city, houses, palaces and temples, and everything was devoured by the flames. The capital became but a patch of scorched earth.
洛阳宫庭，侭为焦土。又差吕布发掘先皇及后妃陵寝，取其金宝。军士乘势掘官民坟冢殆侭。董卓装载金珠缎疋好物数千余车，劫了天子并后妃等，竟望长安去了。
Tung Cho sent Lü Pu to desecrate the tombs of the Emperors and their consorts for the jewels therein, and the common soldiers took the occasion to dig up the graves of officers and plunder the cemeteries of the wealthy. The spoil of the city, gold and silver, pearls and silks, and beautiful ornaments, filled many carts and with these and the persons of the Emperor and his household Tung Cho moved off to the new capital.
却说卓将赵岑，见卓已弃洛阳而去，便献了汜水关。孙坚驱兵先入，玄德、关、张杀入虎牢关，诸侯各引军入。
The city being thus abandoned the commander at Ssŭshui Pass evacuated that post of vantage, which Sun Chien at once occupied. The three brothers took Tigertrap Pass and the confederate lords advanced.
且说孙坚飞奔洛阳遥望火焰冲天黑烟铺地二三百里并无鸡犬人烟坚先发兵救灭了火令众诸侯各于荒地上屯住军马。曹操来见袁绍曰「今董贼西去正可乘势追袭本初按兵不动何也」绍曰「诸兵疲困进恐无益。」
Sun Chien hastened to the late capital which was still in flames. When he arrived dense smoke hung all over it and spread for miles around. No living thing, not a fowl, or a dog, or a human being, remained. Sun told off his men to extinguish the fires and set out camping places for the confederate lords. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao went to see the chief and said, “Tung has gone west; we ought to follow and attack without loss of time; why do you remain inactive?”
操曰「董贼焚烧宫室劫迁天子海内震动不知所归此天亡之时也一战而天下定矣。诸侯何疑而不进」众诸侯皆言不可轻动。操大怒曰「竖子不足与谋」遂自引兵万余领夏侯惇夏侯渊曹仁曹洪李典乐进星夜来赶董卓。
“All our colleagues are worn out and there is nothing to be gained by attack,” said Yüan Shao. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao urged him to strike a blow for the moment was most propitious in the utter confusion that reigned, palaces burned, the Emperor abducted, the whole world upset and no one knowing whither to turn. But all the confederate lords seemed of one mind and that mind was to postpone action. So they did nothing. However, Ts‘ao Ts‘ao and his subordinates, with a full legion of soldiers, started in pursuit.
且说董卓行至荥阳地方，太守徐荣出接。李儒曰：「丞相新弃洛阳，防有追兵。可教徐荣伏军荥阳城外山坞之旁：若有兵追来，可竟放过；待我这里杀败，然后截住掩杀。令后来者不敢复追。」卓从其计，又令吕布引精兵断后。布正行间，曹操一军赶上。
The road to the new capital led through Jungyang, and when the cavalcade reached it the Prefect went to welcome Tung Cho. Li Ju said, “As there is some danger of pursuit it would be well to order the Prefect of this place to lay an ambush ready to cut off the retreat of our pursuers when our army beats them off. That will teach any others not to follow.”
吕布大笑曰：「不出李儒所料也！」将军马䙓开。曹操出马，大叫：「逆贼！劫迁天子，流徙百姓，将欲何往？」吕布骂曰：「背主懦夫，何得妄言！」夏侯惇挺鎗跃马，直取吕布。战不数合，李傕引一军，从左边杀来，操急令夏侯渊迎敌。
Then Lü Pu was ordered to command the rear guard. Very soon they saw Ts‘ao Ts‘ao coming up and Lü Pu laughed at his colleague’s foresight. He set out his men in fighting order. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao rode forward crying, “Rebels, abductors, drovers of the people, where are you going?” Lü Pu replied, “Treacherous simpleton, what mad words are these?”
右边喊声又起，郭汜引军杀到，操急令曹仁迎敌。三路军马，势不可当。夏侯惇抵敌吕布不住，飞马回阵。布引铁骑掩杀，操军大败，回望荥阳而走。走至一荒山脚下，时约二更，月明如昼。方才聚集残兵。
Then from Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s army rode against him Hsiahou Tun with his spear set and they two engaged. The combat had hardly begun when Li Ts‘ui with a cohort came in from the left. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao bade Hsiahou Yüan meet this onslaught. However, on the other side appeared Kuo Ssŭ, against whom was sent Ts‘ao Jên. The onrush on three sides was too much to withstand and Lü Pu showed no signs of being vanquished, so Hsiahou Tun had to retire to the main line. Thereupon Lü Pu’s mail-clad men attacked and completed the defeat. The beaten men turned toward Jungyang.
正欲埋锅造饭，只听得四围喊声，徐荣伏兵侭出。曹操慌忙策马，夺路奔逃，正遇徐荣，转身便走。荣搭上箭，射中操肩膊。操带箭逃命，转过山坡。两个军士伏于草中，见操马来，二鎗齐发，操马中鎗而倒。操翻身落马，被二卒擒住。
They got as far as the foot of a bare hill in the second watch, about nine in the evening, and the moon made it as light as day. Here they halted to reform. Just as they were burying the boilers to prepare a meal there arose a great noise of shouting on all sides and out came the men from the ambush fresh to attack.
只见一将飞马而来挥刀砍死两个步军下马救起曹操。操视之乃曹洪也。操曰「吾死于此矣贤弟可速去」洪曰「公急上马洪愿步行。」操曰「贼兵赶上汝将奈何」洪曰「天下可无洪不可无公。」操曰「吾若再生汝之力也。」
Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, thrown into a flurry, mounted and fled. He ran right in the way of the waiting Prefect. Then he dashed off in another direction, but the Prefect shot an arrow after him which struck him in the shoulder. The arrow still in the wound, he fled for his life. As he went over the hill two soldiers lying in wait among the grass suddenly dashed out and wounded his horse, which fell and rolled over, and as its rider slipped from the saddle he was seized and made prisoner.
操上马，洪脱去衣甲，拖刀跟马而走。约走至四更余，只见前麺一条大河，阻住去路，后麺喊声渐近。操曰：「命已至此，不得复活矣！」洪急扶操下马，脱去袍铠，负操渡水。才过彼岸，追兵已到，隔水放箭。操带水而走。比及天明，又走三十余里，土冈下少歇。
Just then a horseman riding at full speed and whirling his sword came, up, cut down both the captors and rescued Ts‘ao Ts‘ao. It was his brother Ts‘ao Hung. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao said, “I am doomed, good brother, go and save yourself.” “My lord, mount my horse quickly; I will go afoot,” said Hung. “If those wretches come up, what then?” “The world can do without me, but not without you, my brother.”
忽然喊声起处，一彪人马赶来，却是徐荣从上流渡河来追。
“If I live I shall owe you my life,” said Ts‘ao Ts‘ao.
操正慌急间，只见夏侯惇、夏侯渊引十数骑飞至，大喝：「徐荣勿伤吾主！」徐荣便奔夏侯惇，惇挺鎗来迎。交马数合，惇刺徐荣于马下，杀散余兵。随后曹仁，李典，乐进，各引兵寻到；见了曹操，忧喜交集；聚集残兵五百余人，同回河内。卓兵自往长安。
So he mounted. His brother tore off his own breastplate, gripped his sword and went on foot after the horse. Thus they proceeded till the fourth watch when they saw before them a broad stream, and behind they still heard the shouts of pursuers drawing nearer and nearer. “This is my fate;” said Ts‘ao Ts‘ao. “I am really doomed.” His brother helped him down from his horse. Then taking off his fighting robe he took the wounded man on his back and waded into the stream. When they reached the further side the pursuers had already gained the bank whence they shot arrows. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao all wet pushed on.
却说众诸侯分屯洛阳。孙坚救灭宫中余火，屯兵城内，设帐于建章殿基上。坚令军士扫除宫殿瓦砾。凡董卓所掘陵寝，侭皆掩闭。于太庙基上，草创殿屋三间，请众诸侯立列圣神位，宰太牢祀之。祭毕，皆散。坚归寨中，是夜星日交辉，乃按剑露坐，仰观天文。
Dawn was near. They went on another thirty li and then sat down to rest under a precipice. Suddenly loud shouting was heard and a party of horse appeared. It was the Prefect of Jungpang who had forded the river higher up. Just at this moment Hsiahou Tun and his brother, with a half score men, came along. “Hurt not my lord!” cried Hsiahou to the Prefect, who at once rushed at him. But the combat was short. The Prefect speedily fell under a spear thrust and his men were driven off. Before long Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s other captains arrived. Sadness and joy mingled in the greetings. They gathered together the few hundreds of men left and then returned to Honei.
见紫微垣中白气漫漫，坚叹曰：「帝星不明，贼臣乱国，万民涂炭，京城一空！」言讫，不觉泪下。傍有军士指曰：「殿南有五色豪光起于井中。」坚唤军士点起火把，下井打捞。捞起一妇人尸首，虽然日久，其尸不烂，宫样装束，项下带一锦囊。
The story broke off leaving the confederate lords in their various camps at Loyang. Sun Chien, after extinguishing the fires, camped within the walls, his own tent being set up near the Chienchang Hall of the palace. His men cleared away the débris and closed the rifted tombs. The gates were barred. On the site of the Dynastic Temple he put up a mat shed containing three apartments, and here he begged the lords to meet and replace the sacred tablets, with solemn sacrifices and prayers. This ceremony over, the others left and Sun Chien returned to his camp. That night the stars and moon vied with each other in brightness. As Sun sat in the open air looking up at the heavens he noticed a mist spreading over the stars of the Constellation Draco.
取开看时，内有朱红小匣，用金锁锁著。启视之，乃一玉玺：方圆四寸。上𫔔五龙交纽；傍缺一角，以黄金镶之；上有篆文八字云：「受命于天，既寿永昌」。
“The Emperor’s stars are dulled,” said he with a sigh, “No wonder a rebellious minister disturbs the State, the people sit in dust and ashes, and the capital is a waste.” And his tears began to fall. Then a soldier pointing to the south said, “There is a beam of coloured light rising from a well.”
坚得玺，乃问程普。普曰：「此传国玺也。此玉是昔日卞和于荆山之下，见凤凰栖于石上，载而进之楚文王。解之，果得玉。秦二十六年，令玉工琢为玺，李斯篆此八字于其上。二十八年，始皇巡狩至洞庭湖，风浪大作，舟将覆，急投玉玺于湖而止。
He bade his men light torches and descend into the well. Soon they brought up the corpse of a woman, not in the least decayed although it had been there many days. She was dressed in palace clothing and from her neck hung an embroidered bag. Opening this a red box was found, with a golden lock, and when the box was opened they saw a jade seal, square in shape, an inch each way. On it were delicately engraved five dragons intertwined. One corner had been broken off and repaired with gold. There were eight characters in the seal style of engraving which interpreted read, “I have received the command from Heaven: may my time be always prosperous.” Sun Chien showed this to Ch‘êng P‘u who at once recognised it as the hereditary seal of the Emperor.
至三十六年，始皇巡狩至华阴，有人持玺遮道，与从者曰：『持此还祖龙。』言讫不见。此玺复归于秦。明年，始皇崩。后来子婴将玉玺献与汉高祖。后至王莽篡逆，孝元皇太后将玺打王寻、苏献，崩其一角，以金镶之。光武得此宝于宜阳，传位至今。
He said, “This seal has a history. In olden days one P‘ien Ho saw a phœnix sitting on a certain stone at the foot of Ching Hill. He offered the stone at court. King Wên of Ch‘u split open the stone and found a piece of jade. Early in the Ts‘in dynasty a jade cutter made a seal from it and Li Ssŭ engraved the characters. Two years later it was thrown overboard in a terrific storm on the Tungt‘ing Lake as a propitiatory offering, and the storm immediately ceased. Ten years later again, when the Emperor was making a progress and had reached Huaying, an old man by the road side handed a seal to one of the attendants saying, “This is now restored to the ancestral dragon,” and had then disappeared. Thus the jewel returned to Ts‘in. The next year Emperor Shê died.
近闻十常侍作乱，劫少帝出北邙，回宫失此宝。今天授主公，必有登九五之分。此处不可久留，宜速回江东，别图大事。」坚曰：「汝言正合吾意。明日便当托疾辞归。」商议已定，密谕军士勿得泄漏。
“Later Tzŭ-ying presented the seal to the founder of the Han dynasty. In Wang Mang’s rebellion the Emperor struck two of the rebels with the seal and broke off a corner, which was repaired with gold. Kuang-Wu got possession of it at Iyang and it has been regularly bequeathed thereafter. I heard it had been lost during the trouble in the palace when ‘The Ten’ hurried off the Emperor. It was missed on His Majesty’s return. Now my lord has it and certainly will come to the imperial dignity. But you must not remain here. Quickly go east where you can lay plans for the accomplishment of the great design.”
谁想数中一军，是袁绍乡人，欲假此为进身之计，连夜偷出营寨，来报袁绍。绍与之赏赐，暗留军中。次日，孙坚来辞袁绍曰：「坚抱小疾，欲归长沙，特来别公。」绍笑曰：「吾知公疾乃害传国玺耳。」坚失色曰：「此言何来？」绍曰：「今兴民讨贼，为国除害。
“Your words exactly accord with my thoughts,” said Sun Chien. “Tomorrow I will make an excuse that I am unwell and get away.” The soldiers were told to keep the discovery a secret. But who could guess that one among them was a compatriot of the elected chief of the confederacy? He thought this might be of great advantage to him so he stole away out of the camp and betrayed his master. He received a liberal reward and Yüan Shao kept him in his own camp. So when Sun Chien came to take leave saying “I am rather unwell and wish to return to Changsha,” Shao laughed saying “I know what you are suffering from; it is called the Hereditary Seal!”
」绍曰「今兴民讨贼为国除害。玉玺乃朝廷之宝公既获得当对众留盟主处候诛了董卓复归朝廷。今匿之而去意欲何为」坚曰「玉玺何由在吾处」绍曰「建章殿井中之物何在」坚曰「吾本无之何强相逼」绍曰「作速取出免自生祸。」
This was a shock to Sun Chien and he paled but he said, “Whence these words?” Shao said, “The armies were raised for the good of the State and to relieve it from oppression. The seal is State property and since you have got hold of it you should publicly hand it over to me as chief. When Tung Cho has been slain it must go back to the government. What do you mean by concealing it and going away?”
坚指天为誓曰：「吾若果得此宝，私自藏匿，异日不得善终，死于刀箭之下！」众诸侯曰：「文台如此说誓，想必无之。」绍唤军士出曰：「打捞之时，有此人否？」坚大怒，拔所佩之剑，要斩那军士。绍亦拔剑曰：「汝斩军士，乃欺我也。
“How could the seal get into my hands?” “Where is the article out of the well?” “I have it not: why harass me thus?” “Quickly produce it, or it will be the worse for you.” Sun Chien pointing toward the heavens as an oath said, “If I have this jewel and am hiding it myself may my end be unhappy and my death violent!”
」绍背后颜良、文丑皆拔剑出鞘。坚背后程普，黄盖，韩当，亦掣刀在手。众诸侯一齐劝住。坚随即上马，拔寨离洛阳而去。绍大怒，遂写书一封，差心腹人连夜往荆州，送与刺史刘表，教就路上截住夺之。
The lords all said, “After an oath like this we think he cannot have it.” Then Shao called out his informant. “When you pulled that thing out of the well, was this man there?” asked he of Sun. Sun Chien’s anger burst forth and he sprang forward to kill the man. The chief also drew his sword saying “You touch that soldier and it is an insult to me.”
次日，人报曹操追董卓，战于荥阳，大败而回。绍令人接至寨中，会众置酒，与操解闷。饮宴间，操叹曰：「吾始兴大义，为国除贼。诸公既仗义而来，操之初意，欲烦本初引河内之众，临孟津，酸枣；诸君固守成皋，据廒仓，塞轘辕、大谷，制其险要；
In a moment on all sides swords flew from their scabbards. But the confusion was stayed by the efforts of the others and Sun Chien left the assembly. Soon he broke up his camp and marched to his own place. The chief was not satisfied. He wrote to Chingchou and sent the letter by a trusty hand to tell the governor to stop Sun Chien and take away the seal.
公路率南阳之军，驻丹、析，入武关，以震三辅：皆深沟高垒，勿与战，益为疑兵，示天下形势，以顺诛逆，可立定也。今迟疑不进，大失天下之望。操窃耻之！」绍等无言可对。既而席散，操见绍等各怀异心，料不能成事，自引军投扬州去了。
Just after this came the news of the defeat and misfortune of Ts‘ao Ts‘ao and when he was coming home Shao sent out to welcome him and conduct him into camp. They also prepared a feast to console him. During the feast Ts‘ao Ts‘ao said sadly, “My object was for the public good and all you gentlemen nobly supported me. My plan was to get Yüan Shu with his Honei men to approach Mêngching and Suantsao while the others of you held Ch‘êng-kao and took possession of the granaries and guarded Taku, and so controlled the points of vantage. Yüan Shao was to occupy Tanshi and go into Wukuan to help the three supports, all were to fortify their positions and not fight. Advantage lay in an uncertain military force showing the Empire’s possibilities of dealing with the rebellion. Victory would have been ours at once. But then came delays and doubts and inaction and the confidence of the people was lost and I am ashamed.”
公孙瓒谓玄德、关、张曰：「袁绍无能为也，久必有变。吾等且归。」遂拔寨北行。至平原，令玄德为平原相，自去守地养军。兖州太守刘岱，问东郡太守乔瑁借粮；瑁推辞不与，岱引军突入瑁营，杀死乔瑁，侭降其众。
No reply was possible and the guests dispersed. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao saw that the others mistrusted him and in his heart knew that nothing could be accomplished, so he led off his force to Yangchou. Then Kungsun Tsan said to the three brothers, “This Yüan Shao is an incapable and things will go agley. We had better go too.” So he broke camp and went north. At P‘ingyüan he left Liu Pei in command and went to strengthen his own position and refresh his men.
袁绍见众人各自分散，就领兵拔寨，离洛阳，投关东去了。
The Prefect of Yenchou wished to borrow grain of the Prefect of Tungchun. Being denied he attacked the camp, killed the leader and took over all his men. Yüan Shao seeing the confederacy breaking up also marched away and went east.
却说荆州刺史刘表，字景升，山阳高平人也：乃汉室宗亲；幼好结纳，与名士七人为友，时号「江夏八俊」。那七人：汝南陈翔，字仲麟；同郡范滂，字孟博；鲁国孔昱，字世元；渤海范康，字仲真；山阳檀敷，字文友；同郡张俭，字元节；南阳岑晊，字公孝。
Now the Governor of Chingchou, Liu Piao, was a scion of the imperial house. As a young man he had made friends with many famous persons and he and his companions were called the Eight Dilettanti. The other seven were Ch‘ên Hsiang, Fan P‘ang, K‘ung Yu, Fan K‘ang, T‘an Fu, Chang Chien and Ts‘ên Ching. He was friends with all these. He had three famous men who helped him in the government of his district. They were K‘uai Liang, K‘uai Yüeh and Ts‘ai Mao.
刘表与此七人为友；有延平人蒯良、蒯越，襄阳人蔡瑁为辅。当时看了袁绍书，随令蒯越、蔡瑁引兵一万来截孙坚。坚军方到，蒯越将阵䙓开，当先出马。孙坚问曰：「蒯异度何故引兵截吾去路？」越曰：「汝既为汉臣，如何私匿传国之宝？可速留下，放汝归去！
When the letter detailing the fault of Sun Chien arrived the two K‘uai and Ts‘ai were sent with a legion of soldiers to bar the way. When Sun Chien drew near the force was arranged in fighting order and the leaders were in the front. “Why are you thus barring the road with armed men?” asked Sun. “Why do you, a minister of Han, secrete the Emperor’s special seal? Leave it with me at once and you go free,” said K‘uai Yüeh. Sun Chien angrily ordered out a leader Huang Kai, who exchanged a few bouts with Ts‘ao Mao and presently dealt him a blow with the iron whip just over the heart. Mao turned his steed and fled and Sun Chien got through with a sudden rush.
」坚大怒命黄盖出战。蔡瑁舞刀来迎。斗到数合黄盖挥鞭打瑁正中护心镜。瑁拨回马走孙坚乘势杀过界口。山背后金鼓齐鸣乃刘表亲自引军来到。孙坚就马上施礼曰「景升何故信袁绍之书相逼邻郡」表曰「汝匿传国玺将欲反耶」
However, there arose the sound of gongs and drums on the hills behind and there was Prefect Liu in person with a large army. Sun Chien rode straight up to him and bowing low spoke thus. “Why did you, on the faith of a letter from Yüan Shao, try to coerce the chief of a neighbouring district?” “You have concealed the State jewel and I want you to restore it,” was Liu’s reply. “If I have this thing may I die a violent death!” “If you want me to believe you let me search your baggage.”
坚曰：「吾若有此物，死于刀箭之下！」表曰：「汝若要我听信，将随军行李，任我搜看。」坚怒曰：「汝有何力，敢小觑我！」方欲交兵，刘表便退。坚纵马赶去，两山后伏兵齐起，背后蒯越、蔡瑁赶来，将孙坚困在垓心。正是：
“What force have you that you dare come to flout me thus?” And only the Prefect’s prompt retirement prevented a battle. Sun Chien proceeded on his way. But from the rear of the second hill an ambush suddenly discovered itself and K‘uai and Ts‘ai were still following. Sun Chien seemed entirely hemmed in. What doth it advantage a man to hold the imperial seal if its possession lead to strife? How Sun Chien got clear of the difficulty will presently be told.
玉玺得来无用处，反因此宝动刀兵。
The Jade Seal gained serves no good use, But for this treasure swords are drawn.
毕竟孙坚怎地脱身，且听下文分解。
But the sequel must be told in the next chapter.