Subduing the Eighteen Caves of Bân, Part 1

敘

自職方列七閩之名，而山川風土猶未詳言也。 Ever since the official listed the Seven Tribes of Bân, the region's hills and rivers, its culture and geography have not been explained in detail. 考閩分野，上應女牛，地隸揚州，漢時始屬會稽郡。 In terms of astrological-geographical correspondence, Bân falls under the Weaving Maid and Cowherd (Altair and Vega) above, while its land belongs to the Isle of Yáng, and beginning in the Hàn it fell under Guìjī Commandery. 在吳為侯官，在晉為晉安，在唐為福建道。 Under Wú, it was called Hóuguan County, under the Jìn it was Jìn'ān County, and under the Táng it was Fújiàn Circuit.

五嶺環於西北，大海衛於東南。 The Five RidgesAKA Nánlíng Mountains.

encircle it on the northwest, and the ocean guards it to the southeast. 辨岡巒之起伏，審洞壑之迴環。 Discern the undulation of its spines and tors; study the circling of its caves and gorges. 紆宇凌霄，以陰陽為噓吸；丹崖插漢，以風雲為扃闔。 Its crooked eaves soar to the empyrean, taking ubac and adret as its breath; the cinnabar cliffs pierce the Milky Way, taking wind and clouds as their gates. 其中或危巖轉斾，或磴道飛空。 Within, some steep ledges twist and flutter, some stone stairways soar into the void. 歕欱乎石靈，色藏乎萬象。 Spurting and sucking! (The stone-quick). Colors concealing! (Myriad phenomena). 仰觀俯矚，離離奇奇，如匪僅徭僮之憑恃其崎嶇，蜃戶之寄托其島嶼已也。 Gazing up and staring down, it is fantastic. It is not just the Yáo and ZhuàngThe characters Yáo/Zhuàng 徭／僮 used are both derogatory and suggest servitude. Nowadays, they have been replaced with 瑤／壯.

who rely on its crags, or the clam-fishers who take refuge on its islands.

自唐時陳聖王削平負固，李觀察振興文教，由是風氣始興，中州菁焉。 Beginning in the Táng, when Holy King Tân put down the entrenched rebelsChén Yuánguāng/Tân Guân-kong 陳元光

and Surveillant Lí invigorated culture,Lí Pik-iâu 李伯瑤

its culture began to flourish, and the Central Isle was concentrated into it. 達宋時以海濱鄒魯見稱，聲教尤為極盛。 In the Sòng it was called the "ZōuLǔ of the coast,"Zōu and Lǔ were the home states of Mencius and Confucius, respectively, now part of Shāndōng. In the Sòng, Fukien was the home of Zhū Xī, greatest figure of the School of Principle (Orthodox Confucianism).

and its fame and influence were at its peak. 然偉頌【=容？】洞之奇觀，幻空蒙之靈宇，山川之鍾毓，人物之瑰異，係焉。 And so the spectacle of majestic caves, mysterious and indistinct temples, the concentrating and nourishing effect of hills and rivers, the exceptionality of personages, all are to be found there.

時有楊元帥者，起家名將，樹勲宋室，平閩之功，尤彪炳於人世。 At that time there was the Marshal Yáng, of a family of famed generals. The merit he established for the House of Sòng, achieving the pacification of Bân, shone brightly in the human world.

父夫雖或讀之而弗及詳也，或能詳之，而情文若未備至耳。 Although some of my elders may perhaps have read of this, the details have not been explained, or if they were, then the passion and style were still incomplete. 近珍友人處，得閱平閩全傳，列敘曩時平閩事實，委曲周詳，瞭如指掌。 Recently, at a dear friend's place, I managed to read The Complete Account of the Pacification of Bân, which recounts the matter of the pacification of Bân in former times, laying out every detail like one knows the back of one's own hand. 披覽之餘，自章【=幸？】生當ＸＸ熙世，得以飲和食德，共綺壽域。 After poring over it, I felt fortunate to be born in the prosperous era of ——, when I can enjoy peace and virtue, together in a dominion of beauty and longevity.

則知今之海晏河清，亦有年矣，而先朝之辛勤而履險者，其垂功偉績，皆得優游於化日中，而按籍以稽云爾。 Thus we know that today's state in which the seas are tranquil and the rivers clear has already lasted some years. And the bitter toil undertaken and perilous defiles trod by those of former dynasties, the great exploits they have passed down, can be enjoyed at leisure by daylight, and their records examined in detail.

新刻平閩全傳目錄

卷之一

第一回　　　　　　第二回
南閩起兵十八洞　　楊文廣奉詔征閩

第三回　　　　　　第四回
宋兵攻打吳州城　　越州城高明降宋

第五回　　　　　　第六回
碧水洞姚玉詐降　　天山洞石慶中箭

卷之二

第七回　　　　　　第八回
紅紗洞南兵大戰　　張趙胡登山授法

第九回　　　　　　第十回
楊文廣打天魔洞　　飛龍洞鄧角大戰

第十一回　　　　　第十二回
地列夫人計謀營　　鉄頭禪師戰鷺江

第十三回　　　　　第十四回
焦廷貴江邊大戰　　天吳洞金真撇眷

卷之三

第十五回　　　　　第十六回
余席手中穿雲箭　　余席變化入宋營

第十七回　　　　　第十八回
金蓮戰陣擒懷五　　焦廷貴錯殺金真

第十九回　　　　　第二十回
丁仙姑下山設教　　壽仙洞水偃失陷

卷之六

第三十四回　　　　第三十五回
抱月宮主親出陣　　宋將懼怕迷魂旛

第三十六回　　　　第三十七回
蕭輪被執假投降　　閩王逃走飛鵞洞

第三十八回　　　　第三十九回
飛鵞山宋將遭難　　宋將夜攻飛鵞洞

卷之七

第四十回　　　　　第四十一回
二女將陷黃河陣　　四仙姑破黃河陣

第四十二回　　　　第四十三回
翠桃姐說合姻緣　　懷息假約親害命

第四十四回　　　　第四十五回
金精淫殺三大將　　伯苗入洞斷山龍

卷之八

第四十六回　　　　第四十七回
閩王逃走蝶仔洞　　四仙姑大敗金精

第四十八回　　　　第四十九回
楊元帥福城葫軍　　建忠賫表遇張茂

第五十回　　　　　第五十一回
包文拯救楊建忠　　張太師受罪充軍

第五十二回
宋仁宗勅封功臣

宋仁宗　　張茂　　包文拯
路花王　　楊文廣

平閔全傳卷一像

木桂英　　楊宣娘

平闈全傳卷一像

張趙胡　　楊懷玉

魏化　　高明

石慶　　姚五

平閩全傳卷二像

紅鳶　　盧修

平開全專卷一像

鐵頭禪師　　鄧角

余席　　金真

余面　　水偃

林青　　石福

平關全專卷一像

[圖]

金光仙　　鬼月姑

南閩王　　河濤

抱月宮主　　金精娘娘

新刻平閩全傳卷之一

Chapter 1: The Southern Bân Raises Troops from the Eighteen Caves

第一回：南閩起兵十八洞

詩曰： A poem says,https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E9%80%81%E6%AF%9B%E4%BC%AF%E6%B8%A9/10779903?fromModule=BaiduWiki_En

#+begin_verse 大將南征胆氣豪，腰橫秋水雁翎刀。 風吹鼉鼓山河動，電閃旌旗日月高。 天上麒麟原有種，穴中螻蟻豈能逃。 太平待詔歸來日，朕與先生解戰袍。 #+end_verse

話說南閩王藍鳳高在越都為皇城。 The story goes that the the Southern Bân King Nâ Phoenixheight made his Imperial City at Ua̍t-capital. 此越都是古閩越地，東至海，東南盡是大海，西北是江西界，西南廣東界。 This Ua̍t-capital was the ancient land of Bân-ua̍t, to whose east was the sea, the southeast all ocean, the northwest bordering Jiāngxī (Riverwest), and the southwest bordering Gwóng-dūng (Broadeast). 廣東古名楊州，東北福建，西北湖廣界。 Gwóng-dūng, whose former name was Iông-isledouble check characters / location

, bordered Hok-kiàn (LuckBuild) on the northeast and Húguǎng (Lakebroad)Now split into Húnán and Húběi provinces.

on the northwest. 當時有左丞相蕭炳，右丞相梁玉，大元帥薛天雄，僥【驍／虓】將姜達、伍仁、木成、盧忠，雄兵百萬，戰將千員，兼管下十八洞。 At that time, there were the Left Prime Minister Sio Glow, the Right Prime Minister Niû Jade, the Generalissimo Sih Skybold, the Fierce(?) Generals Khiong Reach, Ngóo Humane, Bo̍k Complete, Lôo Loyal, the crack troops numbering in the millions, the war generals numbering a thousand personnel, with jurisdiction over the Eighteen Grottos. 洞主听聞王號【？】閩王生有三子：長名藍升，次名藍飛，三名藍鳴。 The Grotto Chiefs heard the King's name ? the King of Bân had three sons: the eldest was named Nâ Ascent, the second Nâ Flight, and the third Nâ Caw. 又生一女，名呌抱月宮主。 He also had a daughter, who was called Princess Hugmoon. 皇后丁氏身中有孕，夢見一輪明月墜落懷中，乃產下是一位宮主，故名抱月。 When Empress née Ting was pregnant, she had seen in a dream a moon descending into her bosom, whereupon she gave birth to a princess, who was thus named Hugmoon. 公子年方八歲，在百花亭看月，忽然有一陣狂風將公子吹落亭下，不知去向。 When the princess was only seventeen, she was on the Hundred-Flower Pavilion gazing at the moon, when suddenly a fierce wind blew her down from the pavilion, in an unknown direction. 侍婢忙報知閩王及皇后，皇后大哭一塲，又令人各處查尋，並無下落。 A slave girl hurriedly reported to the King of Bân and the empress. The empress wept for awhile, and sent people to search everywhere for her, but her whereabouts could not be discovered. 閩王三子之中，惟有二太子藍飛十分勇猛，兩臂有千觔之力。 Among the three sons of the King of Bân, only Second Prince Nâ Hui was very bold, his arms having the strength of a thousand catties. 自此南閩王有欲圖天下之意。\\ From then on, the King of Southern Bân set his mind on world conquest.

且說飛鵝山。飛鵝洞金精娘匕【々=娘】。起因其原乃廣州府南海縣外七十里金山庄。 Let us speak of Mt. Hui-ngôo (Flygoose). The Metalsprite Goddess娘娘 written 娘匕, using an iteration mark resembling a small 匕 common in Hokkien writing and throughout this text. Equivalent to 々.

of Mt. Hui-ngôo Grotto had her origin in Gām-sāan (Goldhill) Village, 70 leagues outside Nàahm-hói (Southsea) County, Gwóng-jāu (Broadisle) Prefecture. 匕【=庄】中有一位秀才名金杜兒，三十五歲，娶妻林氏，尚未生子。 In the village lived a cultivated talentsomeone who has passed the county-level exams

named Gām Douh-yìh, nearly thirty-five years old, who had taken a wife of the surname Làhm, but not yet had children. 金杜兒家資巨萬，性好讀書，在金山起造一間書房，自已勤讀。 Gām Douh-yìh's family property was colossal, and he was by nature fond of studying. He built a school at Gām-sāan, and himself studied diligently there. 是夜看見書館外一道紅光出現，金秀才左手提劍，右手提燈，開書館門，將地用劍揮開，乃是一鼎黃金。 One night, he saw outside the school a flash of red light appear, so Cultivated Talent Gām took up in his left hand a sword, and in his right a lantern. He opened the door of the school, took the earth and swept it aside with his sword, and there before him was a cauldron of gold.

金秀才曰：「只願功名如意，不貪分外之財。」 Cultivated Talent Gām said, "I wish only for scholarly honor and official position, and covet not wealth outside my remit." 依舊用土掩没，進入書房用心勤讀。 He buried it with dirt as before, and returning to the study, applied himself diligently to reading.

不意妻林氏身中有孕，至十月滿足，生下一女子，生得十分美貌，又眼目聰明可嘉。 Unexpectedly, his wife Madame Làhm fell pregnant, and when she reached the tenth month, gave birth to a daughter. She was exceedingly beautiful, and her eyes were commendably bright.or she was intelligent?

金杜兒十分欢喜，至滿月，金秀才把此女取名精娘。 Gām Douh-yìh was exceedingly delighted, and when the baby was a month old, Cultivated Talent Gām picked for the girl the name Spritegirl. 至嘉祐丙午科，得中進士，奉旨授任河南蘇州府松江縣，即日走馬上任。 In the exams of the 3G yearIn fact, there was no bǐngwù in the Jiāyòu reign era. There would be one in 11,066, after Rénzōng's death.

of the Jiāyòu reign era (11,056–11,063), he obtained the status of presented scholar. On imperial orders he was appointed to Sōngjiāng County in Sūzhōu Province, Hénán (Riversouth), and that very day he set out on horseback to take up the office. 停五日，即差四名淂心家人前到廣東，擷取夫人同小姐前來赴任。 After staying five days, he sent four trusted family servants ahead to Gwóng-dūng to gather his wife and daughter and bring them back to his new post. 家人到廣東南海縣，呈上書信。 When the family servants arrived in Nàahm-hói County, Gwóng-dūng, they presented his letter. 林氏夫人看書大喜，即日金精娘小姐落了大船，揚帆開棹，望蘇州而來。 Mme. Làhm was overjoyed to read the letter, and that day [with] Miss Gām Spritegirl 金精娘 boarded a ship and set sail for Sūzhōu. 船至鄱陽湖，忽然湖中風浪大作，大船傾陷，人夫及水手死者甚多。 When the vessel arrived at Póyáng Lake, the lake suddenly became windy and turbulent, and the ship capsized, causing many deaths among the workers and sailors.

林氏夫人幸得漁船救活性命。 The life of Madame Làhm was fortunately saved by a fishing vessel. 此時精娘年已七歲了，竟死於湖中。 Spritegirl was at that time six, when she met her death in the lake. 原來此湖中有一隻水蝸作怪，被龍王差水卒要捉拏水蝸精到水晶宮問罪，水蝸精逃閃無處藏身，故將原形脫出，將精灵付在精娘死屍內。 As it turns out, in this lake there was a sea snail causing mischief, and the Dragon King had dispatched water soldiers to arrest this sea snail sprite and remove it to the Crystal Palace to inquire into its wrongdoing. The sea snail had fled, but had no place to hide, and therefore shed its original form and placed its spirit into the corpse of Spritegirl. 幸遇桃花聖母往瑤池赴會回洞，救了精娘到洞斈法。 As luck would have it, the Holy Mother of the Peach Blossom had been attending a meeting at the Jade Pond [at Mt. Khun-lûn], and on her way back to her grotto, delivered Spritegirl and took her to the grotto to study the Laws. 至二十七歲，聖母曰：「吾今遣尔下山掌敎，爾可從吾三戒：一戒淫慾，二戒殺戮，三戒酒肉。不可負了吾言。」 When she was twenty-six, the Holy Mother said, "I am now sending you down from the mountains to take over teaching, but you must follow my three prohibitions. Number one: no lust. Number two: no killing. Number three: no wine or meat. You must not ignore my words." 精娘領令，拜謝師父教訓，即時下山。到飛鵝山掌教，名曰飛鵝山金精娘匕。 Spritegirl took in her command, bowed in thanks for her master's guidance, and immediately descended the mountain. She went to Mt. Hui-ngôo to take over teaching, where she became known as Metalsprite Goddess 金精娘娘 of Mt. Hui-ngôo. 此飛鵝山在漳浦縣城外，離城一百里，地名娘仔寨便是。 This Mt. Hui-ngôo was outside Tsiunn-phóo (Tsiunn-bank) City, at a distance of a hundred lí, at the place called Niû-áHokkien 娘仔 "girl"

(Girl) Stockade.http://m.zz.mnw.cn/zhangpu/xw/1039107.html

此金精娘匕【娘】乃八月十五日上山採藥煉丹，路從南閩王御花園經過，只見抱月宮主在百花亭賞月，即隨時駕起一陣狂風，將宮主帶到飛鵝洞。 On 8/25, while that Metalsprite Goddess was going up the mountain to collect medicinals and refine cinnabar, her path went by the imperial gardens of the King of Southern Bân. Once she saw Princess Hugmoon in the Hundred-Flower Pavilion appreciating the moon, she instantly called up a gust of wind, carrying her away to Hui-ngôo Grotto. 金精娘匕【娘】收抱月宮主為徒弟，教他法術。 Metalsprite Goddess took Princess Hugmoon in as a disciple, and taught her the arts of the Law.

至十六歲之時，娘仔同抱月宮主出洞採藥。 When the princess was fifteen, the girl [niû-á] left the grotto with her to gather medicinals. 至回洞，娘匕【=娘】曰「吾觀天文，南閩地界有數千條紅光沖起。 Upon returning to the grotto, the goddess said, "In my astrological observations I have noted thousands of strips of red light surging up in the region [of the sky corresponding to] Southern Bân. 不日爾父便要出兵與大宋對敵，宋朝能人不少。 In a few days, your father will send troops to confront the Great Sòng, and the capable men of the Sòng dynasty are not few. 爾明早可收拾回家去，助爾父一臂之力，亦不失尔斈了此數年功夫。」 Tomorrow morning, you may pack your things and go home, to lend your father your aid, so that the skills gained in these years of study will not go to waste." 抱月宮主拜謝。 Princess Hugmoon bowed in thanks.

至次早，抱月宮主對娘匕拜了四拜。 When the next day came, Princess Hugmoon made four bows to the goddess. 娘匕取出一支炎光劍、花標【鏢】交與抱月宮主。 The goddess took out a Blazelight Sword and Flower Dart, and bestowed them on Princess Hugmoon. 宮主拜辭師父，出了飛鵝洞，駕起土遁，來到午門。 The princess bowed and took leave of her master, left Goosehill Grotto, conjured Dirt Escape,thóo-tūn 土遁, classic magical technique that lets you move through dirt underground. Appears in Naruto?

and came to the Meridian Gate [of the Imperial Palace]. 皇門官至銀鑾殿奏曰：「宮主回朝。」 The imperial gatekeepers went to the throne room and said, "The princess has returned to court." 南國王大喜，連忙宣進。 The king of the southern state was overjoyed, and immediately ordered for her to enter. 宮主至金階前跪下，三呼千歲。 The princess approached the steps to the throne, knelt, and thrice hailed the king: "[May you live] a thousand years!"

閩王曰：「吾兒昔日被風恬【刮】去，在於何地？」 The King of Bân said, "My child, long ago you were swept away by the wind. Where did you end up?"

宮主奏曰：「女兒昔日被吹去，喜得飛鵝洞金精娘匕救了女兒。在洞斈習兵法，今遣女兒下山，以助父王一臂之力。」 The princess addressed him, "Long ago, when your daughter was blown away, I fortunately was saved by Metalsprite Goddess of Hui-ngôo Grotto. In the grotto I studied the art of war, and today she sent your daughter down from the mountain to lend her father her aid."

閩王大喜，令宮主入宮朝見皇后丁氏。 The king of Bân was delighted, and commanded the princess to enter the palace and have an audience with the Empress née Ting. 皇后一見，兩淚交流。 As soon as the empress laid eyes on her, tears gushed forth. 宮主參見畢，將前事訴了一遍。 When the princess had paid her respects, she narrated the entire affair. 皇后回憂作喜，曰：「若非娘匕相救，女兒性命難保矣。」 The empress' grief turned to delight, and she said, "Had the goddess not come to the rescue, my daughter's life could hardly have been preserved."

自此在宮中不表。 Let's say no more of what went on in the palace.

再說南閩王藍鳳高於正月十五日在銀鑾殿大排筵宴，慶會十八洞洞主： Meanwhile, on 1/15 the King Nâ Phoenixheight of Southern Bân put on a grand banquet to celebrate with the Grotto Chiefs of the Eighteen Grottos: 第一洞主吳州城魏化　　第二洞主越州城高明 第三洞主碧水洞姚玉　　第四洞主天山洞石慶 第五洞主紅砂洞紅鵉　　第六洞主天魔洞盧修 第七洞主飛龍洞鄧角　　第八洞主鷺江鉄頭鱗 第九洞主天吳洞金真　　第十漳仙洞余席余面 第十一洞壽山洞水偃　　第十二洞鉄松洞林青 第十三洞鎮山洞石福　　第十四洞水晶洞河清 第十五洞黃草洞杜引　　第十六洞清峰洞真人 第十七洞蜈蚣洞金觥　　第十八洞蝶仔洞鬼蝴

• Grotto Chief 1: Guī Transform of Gôo-isle City
• Grotto Chief 2: Ko Bright of Ua̍t-isle City
• Grotto Chief 3: Iâu Jade of Aqua Grotto
• Grotto Chief 4: Tsio̍h Felicity of Skyhill Grotto
• Grotto Chief 5: Hông Simurgh of Redsand Grotto
• Grotto Chief 6: Lôo Polish of Skymare Grotto
• Grotto Chief 7: Tīng Horn of Dragonflight Grotto
• Grotto Chief 8: Thiat Headscale of Lōo Riverbetween Amoy and Kóo-lōng-sū island
  
  
• Grotto Chief 9: Kim Truth of Thian-gôo Grotto
• 10: Ū Mat and Ū Face of Tsiunn Fay Grotto
• Grotto 11: Tsuí Repose of Longevityhill Grotto
• Grotto 12: Lîm Teal of Ironpine Grotto
• Grotto 13: Tsio̍h Fortune of Quellsummit Grotto
• Grotto 14: Hô Clarity of Crystal Grotto
• Grotto 15: Tōo Draw of Yellowgrass Grotto
• Grotto 16: The Perfected of Clearpeak Grotto
• Grotto 17: Kim Dauntless of Centipede Grotto
• Grotto 18: Ghost Butterfly of Butterfly [ia̍h-á] Grotto

此十八洞俱屬南閩王所管。 At that time, the Eighteen Grottos were all under the administration of the king of Southern Bân. 十八洞之中，惟有吳州、越州二處是城池，餘者是洞府，各有番偏將把守，亦有府庫錢糧在內。 Among the Eighteen Grottos, only Gôo-isle and Ua̍t-isle were walled cities; the remainder were cave dwellings. Each had a barbarian deputy-general guarding, and each had within its own government treasury of tax in coin and grain. 此飛鵝洞金精娘匕不受閩王所管，地雖闊，地俱無番兵，自己收來徒弟五百餘人。 Metalsprite Goddess of Mt. Hui-ngôo was not under the jurisdiction of the king of Bân. Although the land was vast, there were no barbarian soldiers there, and instead she recruited over five hundred disciples of her own. 閩王因抱月宮主是娘匕徒弟，又兼娘匕法力廣大，一年四季給下糧米，以奉飛鵝衆徒弟。 Because Princess Hugmoon was the goddess' disciple, and because the goddess' law-power was immense, he provided a full year's worth of grain and rice for the many disciples of Hui-ngôo. 金精娘匕不時言謝南閩王之厚恩。 Metalsprite Goddess thanked the king of Southern Bân repeatedly for his great favor.

此時南閩王大會十八洞主，酒至半酣，閩王開言曰： When the king of Southern Bân convened the Eighteen Grotto Chiefs, and they had drunk until tipsy, the king of Bân began to speak.

「可恨宋朝屢次差官來討進貢。 "It's dreadful how the Sòng court keeps dispatching officials to demand tribute. 孤令馬成鉄假扮作商人，前去大宋打探虛實。 We have commanded Má Fulliron to disguise himself as a merchant and go to the Great Sòng to look into the facts of the matter. 馬成鉄回朝奏說，大宋俱是奸臣在朝弄權，忠臣避位，武將隱逸，兵疲馬乏，勸孤家起兵伐宋。 Má Fulliron returned to court and put forward that the Great Sòng are all treacherous ministers who abuse their power at court, that the loyal ministers have all resigned and the military generals are in seclusion, that the soldiers are exhausted and the horses neglected. He encourages Us to dispatch troops and attack the Sòng. 未知衆卿意下如何？」 My dear sirs, what might your opinion be?"

越州高明奏曰：「大宋如此無道，膽敢來討貢獻。 Guī Transform of Gôo-isle City said, "It's tyrannical of the Great Sòng to dare to come demanding tribute like this. 現我國兵強將勇，洞匕英雄，正好起兵以奪宋室。 Our country manifestly has strong soldiers and fearless generals, every grotto full of heroes. Now is the time to raise the troops and take the House of Sòng. 今可將計就計，差官前去宋朝納貢，外用貢物，內用戰書，使宋天子一看，必然起兵前來，那時殺他片甲無存。 Now you can beat them at their own game: dispatch an official to 'pay tribute,' using the tribute as cover to deliver a declaration of war. As soon as the Sòng Son of Heaven sees it, he'll inevitably dispatch troops toward us, at which time we can kill them all such that not a scale of their armor remains. 乘得勝之軍，殺進大宋，擒了宋天子，何愁中原之地不為我有乎？ Borne by the victorious army, we'll storm the Great Sòng, seize the Sòng Son of Heaven. After that, what fear could we have of the Central Plains not becoming ours? 此乃以逸待勞，無有不勝之理。」 This is what's called 'relaxing to wait for them to exhaust themselves'; there's no reason for us not to succeed."

閩王大喜：「卿所謀甚合孤意，依計而行。」 The king of Bân was overjoyed, saying, "My dear sir, what you devise is most fitting to Our intent; it will be carried out according to your plan."

傳旨：「爾們各洞可整甲兵，以候大宋對敵。」 He issued a decree, saying, "All you grottoes, ready armor and soldiers, to await the confrontation with the Great Sòng."

各洞主謝恩散筵。 Each Grotto Chief thanked him for his favor, and the party dispersed. 至次日早朝，閩王備金銀銅錫一車，差雅里仁帶表章及禮物入宋朝進貢。 At the morning audience on the next day, the king of Bân procured a wagon of gold, silver, copper and tin, and dispatched Ngá Lí-jîn孔子曰里仁為美

to take a memorial and gifts to the Sòng court and offer tribute. 然後各洞主拜辭閩王，俱回本洞而去。 Afterwards, the Grotto Chiefs each bowed and took leave of the king of Bân, and all returned to their grottos. 雅里仁帶貢物起行，早行晚宿，一路無辞，來到皇城，進了宣化門，在館驛中住宿。 Ngá Lí-jîn set out with the tribute, riding early and halting late to sleep, and nothing of note happened on the way. Arriving at the imperial city汴梁

, he entered at Proclaiming Change Gate, and lodged at the post inn. 至次早，整衣冠，帶了表章貢物，來至午門，報知黃門官，宣進金階跪下，口稱：「萬歲萬萬歲。」 The next morning, he fixed his cap and tunic, and brought the memorial and tribute to the Meridian Gate. After he notified the Palace Gateman,Yellow Gate official, a eunuch rank.

he was summoned to the golden steps [to the throne], where he knelt down and proclaimed, "May you live ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years."

奏曰：「南閩王差官雅里仁前來納貢。」 He put forward, "The king of Southern Bân has sent me, the official Ngá Lí-jîn, to offer tribute."

仁宗大悅曰：「南閩久抗貢禮，今日納貢，可免其罪。」 The Humane AncestorEmperor Rénzōng, r. 11,022–11,063

said with delight, "The Southern Bân has long opposed tribute gifts, yet today it offers tribute, and so may be pardoned."

宣差官進朝。 He ordered for the official to enter for an audience. 雅里仁聞宣，來至金階，跪下山呼萬歲，將表章禮物奉上。 When Ngá Lí-jîn heard the order, he went up to the golden steps, knelt down and loudly hailed the emperor's life, then proffered the memorial and gifts. 持禮太師陳琳將南閩王奏章拆開於龍案上，仁宗一看，龍顏大怒，傳令將差官雅里仁處斬。 Holding the gifts, imperial tutor Tân Sapphire tore open the memorial on the emperor's desk. When the Humane Ancestor saw it, his noble mien was suddenly enraged, and he transmitted an order that emissary Ngá Lí-jîn be executed.

包公出班奏曰：「陛下看了表章，為何龍顏大怒？」 Lord Bāoomg!

stepped forward and asked, "When your highness saw the memorial, why did your noble mien become enraged?"

仁宗曰：「南閩久有不臣之心，今來進表，表中言語十分無禮，可惡至極！ The Humane Ancestor said, "The Southern Bân has long held a disloyal attitude, and now comes this memorial, with thoroughly disrespectful language. It's abominable! 今將表章賜卿一看。」 I will give the memorial to you, sir, to take a look."

包公謝恩畢，然後立在龍案邊，將南閩所進之表一看。 When Lord Bāo had thanked him for this favor, he stood by the emperor's desk, and took a look at the note from the Southern Bân. 其表曰： The note read,

「南閩王藍鳳高書奉大宋皇帝御覽：自古之天下，非一人之天下也，惟有德者居之。 From the king of Southern Bân, Nâ Phoenixheight, a letter offered for the inspection of the Magnificent Thearch of the Great Sòng: this ancient realm is not your一人, the emperor

realm; it belongs to the virtuous. 今聞宋國，君弱臣吝，鼠輩滿朝，忠良避世，正謂國家將敗之秋也。 Now we hear of the state of Sòng: that its ruler is weak and its ministers mean, that rats fill the court, and that the loyal and good have gone into seclusion. This really is the autumn of a moribund dynasty. 今我南閩，鳳凰出現，文有安邦之才，武能定國之業，雄兵百萬，良將不可勝數，正謂國家長旺之時也。 As for our Southern Bân, here phoenixes manifest. On the civil side we have the talents to pacify a fief, and on the martial side, those capable of the enterprise of stabilizing a state. Our crack troops number in the millions, and our fine generals are impossible to count. This really is a dynasty in a time of full flourish. 爾宋朝若肯讓國於孤，乃是神人共悅；若其執迷不悟，大兵臨境，反悔無及矣。 If your Sòng court consents to yield the state to us, it will be the joy of both gods and men. But if you persist in delusion, our powerful army is on the verge of your territory, and there will be no time left to repent. 早為定計，勿致有誤。以此上聞。」 Make up your plans quickly, and let there be no error. Deliver this to the emperor.

包公曰：「此乃非表章，乃戰書。 Lord Bāo said, "This isn't a memorial, it's a declaration of war. 南閩不服王化，陛下必差大將，起大兵前往征剿，方顯大國之威。 If Southern Bân does not submit to the sovereign's influence, your majesty must send the general-in-chief at the head of a powerful army on a punitive expedition; that'll reveal the might of a large state. 古者列國相爭，不殺來使，今陛下可將來使割了二耳，放其歸國，正是陛下威德並行。」 When the ancients of various states did battle, they did not kill messengers. Now your majesty could have both his ears cut off, and release him to return to his state. In this way your majesty could display power and virtue at the same time."

仁宗吩咐御前武士，將南閩使命割去二耳，放其回國。 The Humane Ancestor instructed the royal guards to sever the ears of the emissary from Southern Bân, and release him to go home. 雅里仁叩頭謝恩。 Ngá Lí-jîn bowed with his forehead to the ground and thanked him for his favor. 仁宗曰：「朕今放尔回國，對尔主說：朕不日起大兵問罪，教尔主洗頸受戮。」 The Humane Ancestor said, "We now release you to go home. Tell your master this: In a few days we will send a powerful army to deal with his crime. Instruct your master to wash his neck and prepare to be executed."

雅里仁謝恩出朝，出了皇城，帶從人連星夜抱頭鼠竄，望南閩而回。 Ngá Lí-jîn thanked him again for his favor and went out of the court, out of the imperial city, taking his attendants and sneaking away like a rat with his head covered, going back to Southern Bân. 至南閩，將宋天子大怒、欲起大兵前來征討逐一奏聞。 Arriving in Southern Bân, he reported bit by bit the rage of the Sòng Son of Heaven and his wish to send a powerful army to suppress them. 閩王隨寫文書，令差官至十八洞宣諭，教各洞主整兵以待交戰。不表。 As to how the king of Southern Bân thereupon penned a document, commanding an official to go to the Eighteen Grottoes and proclaim it, to instruct each Grotto Chief to ready troops to await battle—we will say no more.

話說仁宗早朝，宣包拯見駕。包拯至殿下，山呼萬歲。仁宗曰：「卿家平身，賜繡墩坐下。」 The story goes that at his morning audience, the Humane Ancestor ordered that Bāo Zhěng have an audience with him. When Bāo Zhěng arrived before the throne, he hailed the emperor's lifespan. The Humane Ancestor said, "Dear sir, you may rise. You may sit on this embroidered stool."

包公謝恩，坐畢。 Bāo Zhěng thanked him, and sat down. 仁宗曰：「南閩無禮，膽敢來下戰書，羞辱寡人。 The Humane Ancestor said, "The Southern Bân rudely dares to send a declaration of war, and humiliate Our Person. 朕今欲起大兵，御駕親征，未知卿意下如何？」 We wish now to send a powerful army, with Our chariot at its head, but would fain know your opinion."

包公奏曰：「南閩鄙少之境，深通江海，地屬陋界，可令大將帶領大兵伐之可也，何勞聖駕遠出？」 Bāo Zhěng said, "Southern Bân is a provincial backwoods, deeply penetrated by rivers and seas, a peripheral territory. You could order a general-in-chief to lead a powerful army to attack it, couldn't you? Why weary the holy carriage on this distant expedition?"

仁宗曰：「卿言是也，依卿所奏。」 The Humane Ancestor said, "Dear sir, you speak rightly, and I will do as you suggest."

仁宗問曰：「爾諸卿等，何人可堪為元帥，提兵取南閩？」 Then the Humane Ancestor asked, "Dear sirs, whom among you would be up to acting as marshal, and leading the army to take Southern Bân?"

言之未了，班中一人俯伏奏曰：「臣愿為元帥，提兵征伐南閩，必然奏凱得勝回朝。」 When he was finished speaking, one of the group prostrated himself and offered, "I am willing to act as marshal, lead the army and subdue the Southern Bân. I will certainly triumph and return victorious to the court."

未知所奏何人，且聽下回分解。 We still don't know who it was that made the offer—let's listen to the explanation in the next chapter.

Chapter 2: Yáng Wénguǎng receives the command to subdue Bân

第二回：楊文廣奉詔征閩

且說仁宗舉頭一看，乃是國戚張茂，即張貴妃之父。 We were saying how the Humane Ancestor raised his head to look, and saw state kinsman Zhāng Mào, the father of Consort Zhāng.https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%98%AD%E6%87%BF%E8%B4%B5%E5%A6%83_(%E5%AE%8B%E4%BB%81%E5%AE%97)

仁宗問曰：「卿有何能？」 The Humane Ancestor asked, "Dear sir, what capabilities have you?"

張茂奏曰：「臣自幼年，學得文武全才，行軍佈陣，安營對壘，件件精通。 Zhāng Mào offered, "Since childhood your servant has made a holistic study of the civil and martial arts. Whether maneuvering troops or arranging formations, pitching camp or facing the enemy, in everything I am proficient. 臣今此去征閩，止堪三年之內，便得奏凱回朝。」 Today I will depart to subdue Bân, and within three years, will triumphantly return to the court."

仁宗大喜，當殿封張茂為平閩大元帥，賜御酒三杯，拜了帥印，欽賜金花寶馬。 The Humane Ancestor was delighted, and facing the hall he conferred on Zhāng Mào the position of Grand Marshal of Subduing Bân, gave him three cups of imperial wine, granted him the marshal seal, and bestowed on him the precious horse Goldflower. 張茂謝恩出朝，仁宗駕退回宮。 Zhāng Mào thank him and left the court, and the Humane Ancestor retired to his quarters. 包公猜疑回府。 Lord Bāo returnd home harboring suspicions. 張茂帶聖旨帥印出了午門，上馬向府，此時比往時不同，前呼後擁，旗甲鮮明，金瓜月斧，將旗王令，諸大將偏將相隨左右，鳴鑼喝道，十分威風。 Zhāng Mào took the imperial edict and marshal seal and left by the Meridian Gate, mounting a horse and heading toward his manor. The procession was unlike anything before, with people hollering in front and crowding at back, banners and armor standing out, with pumpkin maces and moon axes, generals' banners and royal commands. The generals-in-chief and deputy generals tagged along on both sides, beating gongs and shouting Clear the way! It was an awe-inspiring sight. 前軍報曰：「前面就是天波樓無佞府，請元帥令定奪。」 The vanguard reported, "Up in front are Tīanbō (Skywave) Tower and Wúnìng (Plainspeaking) Manor. Marshal, what are your orders?"

張茂曰：「奉旨征閩，君命在身，何懼無佞府？」 Zhāng Mào said, "We're on imperial orders to subdue Bân, and have the sovereign mandate with us; what is there to fear from Wúnìng Manor?"

令軍士蜂擁開道而過。 He ordered the soldiers to swarm ahead and clear the way. 前日楊文廣二十三歲之時，化鶴逃回無佞府，隱名不出，一來為國家多奸吝，二來楊家男丁子孫稀少，故此無意功名，隱逸在家已有二十年。 Previously, when Yáng Wénguǎng was twenty-two, he had "transformed into a crane"achieved transcendence

and sought refuge at Wúnìng Manor, concealing his name and staying indoors. For one thing, many of those running the state were treacherous and uncharitable, and for another, the Yáng family was short on male descendants. Accordingly he had no interest in honor or position, and had been a hikikomori for twenty years. 幸喜生有四子：長曰光正一郎，次曰光勇二郎，三曰懷玉三郎，四曰懷恩四郎。 He was blessed with four sons. Respectively, the first was called Guāngzhèng (Lightright), the second Guāngyǒng (Lightvalor), the third Huáiyù (Harborjade), and the fourth Huáiēn (Harborgrace). 四子之中惟有懷玉、懷恩二人勇猛。 Among the four sons, only Huáiyù and Huáiēn were bold. 楊文廣年已四十三歲，此日在後花園教四子武藝，忽聽鳴鑼喝道從府前經過，人馬之聲十分鬧動。 Yáng Wénguǎng was already forty-two, and that day was in his back flower garden teaching martial arts to his four sons, when he suddenly heard people passing by in front of the manor banging gongs and shouting Clear the way! with a tumultuous racket of men and horses. 文廣即令家將出府問之，看是何人。 Wénguǎng sent his security guard out to investigate and see who it was. 家將看了，入花園跪下稟道：「啟老爺，方纔鳴鑼過府者，乃是太師張茂。」 When the guard had seen, he went back to the flower garden and knelt to report, "Master, the one who just now went by beating gongs is none other than Imperial Tutor Zhāng Mào."

文廣曰：「張茂焉敢如此無禮？」 Wénguǎng asked, "How dares Zhāng Mào act so rudely?"

家將稟曰：「現今南閩作亂，聖上拜張茂為元帥，領兵征閩，有聖命在身，故此鳴鑼過府。」 The guard reported, "The Southern Bân is currently in revolt, and His Majesty the Emperor has appointed him marshal to lead an army and subdue Bân. He has a sacred writ upon him, and because of this beats gongs as he passes the manor."

文廣嘆曰：「聖上不明，焉可此文官為帥？ Wénguǎng sighed. "Is His Majesty blind? How could he permit this civil servant to act as commander?"

此去無不敗之理。 This expedition could never succeed. 此匹夫視吾家無英雄大將，故敢如此行狀。」 The coarse fellow sees that among my house there are no heroes or generals-in-chief, and so presumes to behave like this."

懷玉曰：「張茂渺視我家，待孩兒投在他帳下，一來為國立功，二來可顯吾家之威風，使張茂就不敢渺視吾家。」 Huáiyù said, "If Zhāng Mào looks down our family, I'll go throw in with his subordinates. One one hand I can render service to the state, and on the other show off the prowess of our house, so that Zhāng Mào does not look down on us again."

文廣曰：「吾觀此人未曾立功，而敢妄自尊大，僭越禮儀，我免爾此去見他，上必尋事來害爾性命，此事斷然不可。」 Wénguǎng said, "As I see it, that man has as yet rendered no service, yet presumes to arrogantly overstep etiquette. If I permit you to go and see him, he'll certainly find an excuse to get you killed. I categorically forbid it."

懷玉諾上而退，不敢再言。 Huáiyù accepted this and withdrew, not daring to say any more. 文廣長嘆幾聲，回歸房中。 Wénguǎng let out several long sighs, then retreated to his room. 杜月英觀丈夫悶愁不樂，備酒觧憂，不表。 As to how Dù Yuèyīng (Moonflower) saw that her husband was troubled and unhappy, and prepared wine to relieve his worries, we will say no more.

且說懷玉回到房中，一夜不能安睡，展轉覆枕至五更，瞞過兄弟等，披掛上馬提戟，偷出後花園，望教場而來。 Meanwhile Huáiyù returned to his room, but could not sleep well that night, turning over his pillow until dawn was almost upon him. Blearily he passed his brothers, donned armor, mounted his horse, and took up his guisarme, stealing out the back flower garden in the direction of the military training grounds. 行至教場，四處寂靜，並無人馬。 When he arrived at the training ground, it was quiet on all sides, with neither man nor horse in sight. 懷玉詢問街市之人，有一老人對懷玉言曰：「張元帥昨日祭旗，今早出城南而去，眾官在十里亭備酒餞行，尚未起程。」 Huáiyù inquired on the market street, where an old man told him, "Yesterday Marshal Zhāng made sacrifices to the military banners, and this morning he exited the city for the south. But all the officials are at Ten-League Pavilion preparing wine for a farewell dinner; they haven't actually departed yet."

懷玉大喜，拍馬從十里亭而來，只見旌旗蔽日，盔甲鮮明，十分齊整。 Huáiyù was delighted, and urged his horse on to Ten-League Pavilion, where he could see only banners blotting out the sun and dazzling armor, all well laid out. 懷玉下馬，將戟插地，將馬縛在桿上，步入亭中。 Huáiyù got off his horse, stuck his guisarme in the dirt, tied the horse to a post, and stepped into the pavilion. 守帳軍士喝曰：「爾乃何人？敢大膽竄入中軍帳？」 The entrance guard bellowed, "Who might you be, that brazenly presumes to skulk into our headquarters? 舉鞭便打。 He lifted his whip and began beating him. 懷玉大怒，將守帳軍士打倒，步至筵前，跪下稟曰：「元帥在上，來將楊懷玉拜見。」 Huáiyù was enraged, and knocked the guarding soldier down. He walked up to the party, knelt and reported, "Marshal Zhāng Mào, sir, Yáng Huáiyù has come to pay respects."

張茂曰：「爾是何家之子？一一上稟明。」 Zhāng Mào asked, "What family are you the son of? Report everything to me in turn clearly."

懷玉曰：「未將楊文廣第三子懷玉是也。」 Huáiyù said, "I am unrankedshould this be 末將 and not 未將?

Huáiyù, third son of Yáng Wénguǎng."

張茂曰：「昔年爾父化鶴飛天而去，為何尚在？」 Zhāng Mào said, "Did you father not become a crane and fly to Heaven some years ago? Why is he still around?"

懷玉曰：「吾父因國中奸吝當權，故此隱迹在家，生吾兄弟四人。 Huáiyù said, "Because the balance of power in the state lies with the treacherous and uncharitable, my father conceals his traces and stays at home, siring myself and my brothers, four in total. 今聞元帥征閩，未將願為前部先鋒，以效犬馬之勞。」 Now that he hears the marshal is subduing Bân, my unranked self wishes to join the vanguard, and toil like the dogs and horses. 張茂大怒曰：「爾父私逃，暗藏家中，心甚不善，爾又敢無禮，逆吾將令，較亂軍法，僭進中軍，欲刺本帥，若不早除，必為後患。」 Zhāng Mào burst out in rage, "Your malcontent father runs away, hiding in his house, while you behave rudely, defying my military commands and flouting military law. You break into the central army, probably hoping to stab me. If I don't get rid of you now, there are bound to be consequences later."

令刀斧手將懷玉押出斬首。 He bade the headsman force Huáiyù out and behead him. 眾官驚避，慌忙向前解劝求免。 All the officials shirked from the sight, rushing forward in a flurry to mollify the marshal and beg him to pardon him. 張茂眉頭一蹙，計上心來，曰：「與文廣一仝擬罪。」 Zhāng Mào furrowed his brow, and then a plan struck him: "Sentence him along with Wénguǎng."

眾官少時已散。 Before long, all the officials had dispersed. 張茂曰：「不殺此小匹夫，吾心不安。」 Zhāng Mào said, "If I don't kill this coarse little fellow, my mind cannot rest."

令刀斧手將懷玉押出斬首號令。 He gave the order to the headsman to force Huáiyù out and behead him 懷玉見此光景，眼中流淚，悔不聽父親之言，致有此禍。 When Huáiyù saw situation, his eyes began to shed tears. He regretted not listening to his father, which had resulted in this disaster.

平闕全傳 一卷終

Chapter 3: The Sòng army attacks Gôo-isle City

第三回 宋兵攻打吳州城

話說文廣明早同參軍王定六換了衣服，步上武當山。 The story goes that the next morning, Wénguǎng and aide-de-campe Wáng Dìngliù changed their clothes and stepped up the mountain. 長老出外迎接至殿前，敲鐘擂鼓。 A presbyterabbot?

came out and greeted them in the front of the temple hall, with the sound of a bell and beating of drums. 文廣叩拜畢，長老獻茶。 When Wénguǎng finished bowing, the presbyter offered tea. 文廣對長老曰：「今夜吾欲借爾禪房安寢，要求上帝指示平南何日得班師。」 Wénguǎng addressed the presbyter, "Tonight I would like to borrow one of your zen rooms to sleep, and ask the High Thearch for a sign as to the day on which the army will return in triumph from the pacification of the south." 長老立即打掃僧房，連忙安辦素齋相待。 The presbyter immediately swept one of the monk cells, and went on to have a reception of vegetarian food prepared.

是夜，文廣至殿焚香祝告畢，然後歸房安寢。 That night, Wénguǎng burnt incense and prayed in the temple hall, then returned to his room to sleep. 夢見一位青衣童子近前曰：「吾奉上帝之命，敬請星君到殿，上帝有旨分發。」 He dreamed of a dark-clad boy who approached and said, "By order of the High Thearch, I request that the Star Lord go to the palace, as the High Thearch has a directive to give."

文廣不敢應答。 Wénguǎng did not dare to reply. 童子作前引路，轉過一條石路，只見一座殿宇巍峨，𠚇【=畫】棟雕樑。 The boy led the way, and turning past a stone path, there came into view a toweringly tall palace, with ornate ridgepoles and carved roofbeams. 童子說：「星君且停，吾先進殿復旨。」 The boy said, "Wait, Star Lord, while I go in ahead and report."

少時間，童子出來曰：「上帝令星君進殿。」 Soon enough, the boy returned and said, "The High Thearch commands the Star Lord to approach the hall."

文廣舉頭一看，只見大殿內堂中坐了一位神道，兩邊排列衆神將。 Wénguǎng lifted his head to look, and saw a divinity seated within the great hall, with ranks of spirit generals arrayed on either side. 文廣進來跪下，口稱：「上帝在上，臣文廣拜見。」 Wénguǎng went forward and knelt, saying, "High Thearch, sir, your servant Wénguǎng pays his respects."

上帝曰：「星君請起，賜坐。」 The High Thearch said, "Rise, Star Lord, and take your seat."

命童子進茶，文廣飲畢謝恩。 He commanded the boy to present tea, and when Wénguǎng had eaten, he expressed his thanks. 上帝曰：「星君奉旨平閩，能經敵十八洞，洞上俱有邪術。 The High Thearch said, "The Star Lord is on an imperial mission to subdue Bân. You will pass through eighteen enemy caves. Each cave is full of sorcery. 吾今賜爾鉄台弓一枝、穿雲箭三把。 I now bestow on you an Iron Eminence Bow and three Cloud-Piercing Arrows. 遇有飛刀邪術，可將此箭射去，可降服妖法，然後用手一招，便可收回。 When you encounter Flying Blade sorcery, you should fire these arrows, which can subdue black magic. Then, by doing a move with your hands, you can summon it back. 又有天書三本賜爾，此書乃是六甲靈文。 I am also giving you a Sky Book in three tomes, containing the Quick Script of the Six Spirits of the 1-Stem Days.= 六甲靈文. 甲 is the first of the ten Heavenly Stems, which are paired with the twelve Earthly Branches to count days or years in a cycle of sixty. We can associate the former to numerals and the latter to letters and translate stem-branch notation to a sequence of the form 1A, 2B, … 9I, 0J, 1K, 2L, … 9K, 0L. The Six 1-Stem [Spirits

六甲 are protective spirits associated with the days 1A, 1B, etc. 靈 is often translated numinous or efficacious; I favor quick in the sense of cut me to the… ] 爾可觀看精熟，陣前自有用處。」 You should familiarize yourself with it thoroughly, for it will certainly prove useful before battle. 文廣大喜，拜謝上帝，出殿隨童子回帳。 Wénguǎng was delighted, and bowed in thanks to the High Thearch. He exited the palace and followed the boy back to his tent. 一路松竹成行，鶴鹿成群，轉過平坦曠地，又有一座石橋石欄杆，橋下水聲潺湲，水底有金色鯉魚成群遊玩。 Along the path were rows of pines and bamboo and groups of cranes and deer. They turned past a level and open space and came to a stone bridge with stone railings, beneath which the sound of water purled and rippled. Down in the water, golden carp flitted about in groups. 文廣伏在欄杆觀魚，童子背後用力一推曰：「星主回去罷！」 Wénguǎng was leaning against the railing to watch the fish, when the boy at his back shoved him hard, saying, "Star Master, go back!"

文廣跌落水裡，一時大驚，醒來乃是南柯一夢。 Wénguǎng crashed into the water, taken by surprise, only to awake and find that it was all but a dream. 自思良久，靜聽山下營中更鼓正打三更，起來坐在牀中，燈火微明，棹上見有弓箭天書。 He sat contemplating awhile, and harkened to the drums in the camp below, which just then were marking midnight. He sat up in the bed, and by the faint light of the lamp, saw on the desk the bow and arrows and Sky Book.

文廣大喜，心思上帝賜我神物，此去必然成功。 Wénguǎng was overjoyed, thinking, If the High Thearch has blessed me with divine items, this expedition will inevitably succeed.

至次早，上殿拜謝上帝，即同王定六拜辭長老，送他紋銀十錠以為香火之資，相辭回營。 The next morning, he went to the main hall and gave thanks to the High Thearch. He and Wáng Dìngliù bade the presbyter farewell, giving him ten sycees to offset the incense he had burnt, and after parting they returned to the camp. 又發令起程，來至一座高山，樹林叢雜。 Once again he gave the command to set out, and they came to a lofty mountain overgrown with forest. 忽然一陣狂風大作，木葉盡落，林中跳出一隻吊晴【=睛】白額猛虎，後有一位壯士手執銅鎚將虎打死。 There suddenly arose a wild wind which blew every leaf from the trees, and out from the woods jumped a fierce tiger with slanted eyes and white forehead. Behind it was a hale fellow clutching a copper hammer, who was beating the tiger to death. 文廣拍馬向前問曰：「壯士何名？」 Wénguǎng urged his horse forward and asked, "You there, hale fellow, what is your name?"

那人答曰：「吾乃高善是也，祖居此處，名為開天嶺，父母双亡，未有室家，在此打臘【=獵】為生。」 The man replied, "I am Gāo Shàn, a native of this place, which is called Opensky Ridge. Both of my parents are deceased, and I have no home, but make a living hunting."

文廣曰：「吾奉旨征閩，意欲壯士相隨陣上立功，回朝之日必有封賞，勝過在此打獵。」 Wénguǎng said, "I am charged to subdue Bân, and wish to recruit hale fellows to render service with my troops. On the day we return to the court there will certainly be rewards that far surpass hunting in this place."

高善大喜曰：「若得如此，感恩非淺！」 Gāo Shàn was delighted. "If such a thing be possible, I would be deeply grateful."

即文廣出了三關，從南閩而來。 Wénguǎng proceeded beyond the Three PassesViz. Píngjìng Pass 平靖關, Wǔshèng Pass 武勝關, and Jiǔlǐ Pass 九里關, dividing Hénán and Húběi.

[from Hénán into Húguǎng], heading towards Southern Bân. 不一日到了第一洞，就是吳州城，在汀州府歸化縣，離連江五十里。 Within a day, they reached the first cave, namely Gôo-isle City, in Thing-tsiu (Shoal-isle) Prefecture, Kui-huà (Assimilation) County,Thing-tsiu Prefecture 汀州府 was renamed to Liông-nâ 龍巖 (Dragon Cliffs) in the 120th century. Kui-huà County 歸化縣 was established in 11,470. In 11,933, it was renamed to Bîng-khe County 明溪縣.

some fifty leagues from Liân-kang (Joinriver). 楊元帥大兵來至吳州城，離城十里扎下營寨。 Marshal Yáng and the army arrived at Gôo-isle City, stationing the troops at an encampment ten leagues from the city. 吳州小軍飛報進城，來到帥府報與魏化知道。 A Gôo-isle soldier quickly reported to the city, going to the general's residence to inform Guī Transform. 魏化聞報，問探馬：「說何人為帥？」 When Guī Transform heard the report, he questioned the scout, "Who serves as their commander?"

探馬答曰：「宋朝拜楊文廣為帥，領兵五萬，離城十里扎下營寨，請令定奪。」 The scout responded, "The Sòng court has appointed Yáng Wénguǎng as commander, leading fifty thousand troops. They have encamped ten leagues from the city. I await your decision."

魏化賞了探馬，令再去打听，待吾明日出城擒之。 Guī Transform rewarded the scout and instructed him to go back and gather information. "Wait until tomorrow, and I will go out of the city to seize them."

且說文廣帶領眾將出營，列成陣勢以待。 Let us now turn to Wénguǎng, who was leading the generals out of the camp, arranging them into a battle array in preparation. 只見南陣中炮响，城門大開，吊橋放下，冲出一隊番兵。 He suddenly saw a cannon shot from the southern ranks. The city gate opened wide, the drawbridge descended, and there stormed out a troop of barbarian soldiers. 門旗下一員大將，面如烏櫻，頭戴烏鉄盔，身穿青銅甲，騎下烏騅馬，手执青銅大刀，宛如天神一般。 Beneath the city banner was a general-in-chief. His face was cherry-black, the helmet on his head black iron, his armor copper. He seemed just like a god as he rode his piebald steed and wielded a great bronze saber. 文廣看見，對眾將曰：「此番將有大將之材，若得此人歸降，何愁南閩不滅？」 When Wénguǎng saw, he said to his officers,go back and change a lot of mentions of general to officer.

"This barbarian officer has the talent to be a general. If he were to submit to us, we would have no worry of failing to wipe out Southern Bân." 自己拍馬出陣。 He urged his horse ahead of the ranks.

魏化一見來了一位宋將，頭帶双龍盔，身披黃金甲，騎下白龍駒，手执點鋼鎗，靣白清俊，三柳長鬚，果然有元帥之才。 Guī could see a Sòng general, on his head a two-dragon helm, his body cloaked with golden armor, riding a White Dragon Foal andFrom RoTK, Water Margin. Elaborate.

clutching a steel spear. His face was fair and handsome and his beard in three parts, truly a talent fit to be marshal. 文廣唱曰：「番將何人？」 Wénguǎng spoke first. "Barbarian general, name yourself!"

魏化曰：「吾乃南閩第一洞吳州城洞主魏化是也，尔乃何人？」 Guī Transform said, "I am Guī Transform, Grotto Chief of Gôo-isle City, the first of Southern Ban's grottoes. Who might you be?"

楊元帥曰：「吾乃大宋天下駕下平閩大元帥楊文廣是也。 Marshal Yáng said, "I am Grand Marshal Yáng Wénguǎng, charged with pacifying Bân under the reign of the realm of the Great Sòng. 尔主不守臣節，投戰書于大宋，我主大怒，差吾領兵前來問罪。 Your master does not uphold the integrity proper to a subject, and has sent a declaration of war to the Great Sòng. My master was infuriated, and dispatched me at the head of the army to come and hold him to account. 將軍何不棄暗投明，不失封侯之位？」 General, why don't you renounce the darkness and come to the light? You have the chance to obtain a noble title."

魏化听了大怒，舉刀便砍，文廣舉鎗相迎。 When Guī Transform heard this, he was infuriated, and raised his saber to cut him down, but Wénguǎng lifted his spear to meet it. 戰了八十餘合，文廣暗匕稱奇，自料此將只宜用智取，不可用力敵。 They battled for over four score rounds, and Wénguǎng was secretly amazed, having calculated that this general was only suited to outsmarting opponents, and would not be able to contend in a battle of sheer force. 心思一計，撥馬望崗下樹林邊而走。 Thinking up a plan, he turned his horse around and went for the fringe of woods at the foot of a hill. 魏化暗害，縱馬隨後追趕。 Hoping to catch him from behind, Guī Transform gave chase at a gallop. 文廣一見魏化趕來，將馬一拍，望樹林而入。 When Wénguǎng saw that Guī Transform was on his tail, he urged his horse, plunging into the woods. 魏化追入林中，將近文廣身。 Guī Transform followed him into the trees, nearly upon Wénguǎng.

迄文廣連忙腰間拔出流星錘，望魏化馬上打來。 At that moment, Wénguǎng drew from his waist a meteor hammer, and struck at Guī Transform. 魏化欲招隔，招隔不及，那馬中了一錘，咆哮一声，四蹄躍起，將魏化跌下馬來。 Guī Transform tried to block it, but had not a moment to do so. The blow landed on his horse, and it bellowed, its hooves leaping from the ground, so that Guī Transform fell from his mount.

文廣急下馬扶起，曰：「吾觀將軍有此英雄，何不棄邪歸正，投降我家？ Wénguǎng jumped from his horse to help him up, saying, "General, I see that you have much heroism. Why don't you abandon the perverse and return to the right, and surrender to my side? 平閩之日，富貴共享，豈不美哉？」 When Bân is subdued, there will be riches and honor to share; wouldn't that be splendid?"

魏化大喜曰：「蒙元帥不殺之恩，自當盡心歸順。 Guī Transform was delighted. "Since the marshal has mercifully spared my life, it's only right that I wholeheartedly submit. 待末將聚集衆將，明日開城投降，迎接元帥入城。」 Wait till this junior officer gathers his generals, and tomorrow we will open the city to surrender, and welcome the marshal to enter."

楊元帥曰：「將軍如此甚妙，正是良將擇主而事。」 Marshal Yáng said, "General, that's marvelous of you. They always say that a fine general chooses a good master to serve."

言未畢，只見三郎懷玉同呼延顯領兵入林中來，恐妨元帥有失。 Before he had finished speaking, his third son Huáiyù and Hūyán Xiǎn came leading soldiers to provide the marshal with backup."

及至林中，見元帥與魏化並馬而行，衆將不知其祥。 When they arrived in the woods to see the marshal and Guī Transform riding side by side, the officers did not know what to make of it. 元帥傳令鳴金收軍，回至中軍帳坐下。 The martial conveyed an order to bang the gongs and recall the troops, then return to their headquarters and sit.

衆將參見畢，元帥曰：「魏化已降，明日便好進城。」 When the officers had paid their respects, the marshal said, "Guī Transform has already surrendered, and tomorrow we will easily enter the city."

叅軍曰：「番將初降，未知其心。 The aide-de-campe said, "The barbarian general has just surrendered, but we still don't know what he's thinking. 元帥若要進城，宜當隄防，恐有詐計。」 If the marshal is going to enter the city, it would be well to stay on guard, in case it is a trap."

元帥曰：「叅軍之言甚是。 The marshal said, "What the aide-de-campe says is most correct. 吾觀此人忠勇至極，必無更變之理。 But as I see it, this man is extremely loyal and brave, and there could be no reason for him to change his mind. 明日大兵進城，不許擾害百姓，違令者立斬。」 Tomorrow, when our army enters the city, no one may harass the common folk. Anyone who violates this order will be executed immediately."

衆將應聲得令。 The officers responded, "Yes, sir!"

話說魏化提兵回城，至中軍帳坐下，對衆將曰：「宋朝乃英明之主，楊文廣礼賢下士，吾已臨降大宋。 The story goes that after Guī Transform led the troops back into the city, he went to his headquarters and sat down, addressing his officers, "The Sòng dynasty has a wise ruler, and Yáng Wénguǎng knows how to treat the worthy with courtesy and deference. I have surrendered to the Great Sòng. 爾們願從者相隨，不愿從者隨其自便。」 Those of you willing to follow me may do so, and those who do not may do as they please."

衆將曰：「愿所將軍之令。」 The officers said, "We will do as our general says."

魏化大喜，令軍士換了大宋旂號。 Guī Transform was delighted, and bade the soldiers swap their banners for those of the Great Sòng. 至次早開城迎接楊元帥。 The next morning, they opened the city to greet Marshal Yáng. 元帥入帳，查明倉庫錢糧，出榜安民，犒賞三軍，記降將魏化頭功。 The marshal took account, ascertaining the quantities of cash and grain in the storehouse, put up a notice to reassure the people, rewarded the three armies, and gave principal credit to surrendered general Guī Transform. 在吳州住馬三日，令魏化居住吳州城，家眷勿移；又令陳百凌鎮守吳州城。 He kept the horses at Gôo-isle another three days, then ordered Guī Transform to stay in Gôo-isle City and not to move his family. He also ordered Chén Bǎilíng to stand guard at Gôo-isle city. 然後點齊大兵，殺奔越州城而來。 After that he mustered the army and made haste for Ua̍t-isle.

行了六日，來至越州城。 After traveling for six days, they arrived at Ua̍t-isle City. 元帥傳令離城五里扎下營寨，三軍得令，三聲炮響，安下營寨。 The marshal conveyed an order to make their encampment five leagues from the city. The three armies received the order, fired three cannons, and set up camp. 此城在汀州府上杭縣永定地界，古迹由存。 This city was in Siōng-hâng (Upstream Sailing) County, Thing-tsiu Prefecture, in the area of Íng-tīngÍng-tīng District 永定區 is now administratively separated out of Siōng-hâng County 杭縣永.

(Long Stability); its ancient traces remain to this day. 未知如何，且听下回分解。 We still don't know what happened next—let's listen to the explanation in the next chapter.

Chapter 4: Ko Bright of Ua̍t-isle Surrenders to Sòng

第四回 越州城高明降宋

話說越州探馬連忙報進城內，上帳稟曰：「啟元帥，大宋天子差楊文廣為帥，領兵五萬，來至吳州，魏化獻關投降。 The story goes that the mounted scout of Ua̍t-isle hurried into the city to report back, going to the pavilion and reporting, "Marshal, sir, the Great Sòng Son of Heaven has dispatched Yáng Wénguǎng as commander at the head of an army of fifty thousand. When they reached Gôo-isle, Guī Transform gave up the city and surrendered. 今大兵已至越州城外，安下營寨，請令定奪。」 Now the army has already made camp outside the walls of Ua̍t-isle. I await your decision."

高明曰：「魏化不仁，貪生怕死，未更大敵，先已投降，真怕死匹夫也。 Ko Bright said, "The unvirtuous Guī Transform covets life and fears death. To surrender before even facing a great enemy, the coarse fellow must fear death. 傳令番兵謹守城門，侍吾明日與宋兵見過勝負。」 Order the barbarian soldiers to guard the city gates well, and wait until tomorrow, when I and the Sòng soldiers will see who wins and who loses."

番軍領命，準備明日交戰不提。 We'll say no more of how the barbarian troops received the order and prepared to do battle the next day.

且說文廣至次早，分付三軍飽餐早飯畢，傳令排隊出營，三聲炮響，領兵出城，來至越州城下討戰。 Let us turn to Wénguǎng, who, when the morning came, instructed the three armies to eat a hearty breakfast. He then ordered them to form ranks and exit the camp, fire three cannon blasts, lead the troops out of the enclosure to Ua̍t-isle and challenge the enemy to battle.

只見炮聲疊響，城門大開，沖出一隊番兵，在外排成陣勢。 Suddenly there was a roar of cannons, the city gate opened, and a troops of barbarian soldiers poured forth, forming a battle array outside. 蜈蚣旗下有一員番將，頭戴金盔，身穿金甲，面如重棗，口下微鬚，手執金丁東羊鎙【=槊】，騎下青騌馬。 Beneath the centipede banner was a barbarian general. His helmet and armor were metal, his face jujube-red, and beneath his mouth was a faint beard. He wielded a golden tinkling ram lance and rode a dark-maned horse.

元帥看見嘆曰：「不意閩方有此大將，方敢下戰書於我國。」 When the marshal saw, he sighed. "I had not thought that the Bân region would have such a great general, who would dare to declare war on our state."

元帥用馬鞭指之曰：「番將何人？」 The marshal pointed with his horse-whip and asked, "Barbarian general, name yourself!"

高明荅曰：「吾乃閩王部下越州城主將高明是也。 Ko Bright replied, "I am Ko Bright, commanding general of Ua̍t-isle subordinate to the king of Bân. 來者莫非楊文廣乎？」 Is that Yáng Wénguǎng who approaches?"

楊元帥曰：「正是本帥。」 Marshal Yáng said, "I am indeed."

高明曰：「爾主是何道理，侵我疆土？爾若知死，即速兵退回，免作刀下之鬼；不然，殺爾片甲無存。」 Ko Bright said, "For what reason does your master encroach on our territory? If you know what's good for you,tsai-sí 知死 "know death," a Hokkien expression.

you will urge your troops to withdraw, to avoid becoming ghosts under my blade. Otherwise, I will destroy you down to the last scale of armor."

宋陣上岳雲大怒，拍馬向前，喝曰：「元帥休得與他鬬口，待末將擒此匹夫。」 In the Sòng ranks, Yuè Yún was infuriated. "Marshal, don't waste your breath on him. Let me get this fool," he bellowed.

高明牽頭一看，見宋陣上沖出一員大將，頭包綠戰巾，金額眉，身穿青銅甲，騎下青騌馬，手執青龍刀。 Ko Bright examined and saw rushing from the Sòng ranks a great general, on his head a green army bandana, golden-browed, dressed in copper armor and wielding a Teal Dragon Blade.

高明喝曰：「來將何名？」 Ko Bright said, "Name yourself, general."

岳雲荅曰：「吾乃平南大元帥楊正印先鋒官岳雲是也。」 "I am vanguard official Yuè Yún, under South-Pacifying Grand Marshal Yáng" replied Yuè Yún."

高明舉鋉【？】便砍，岳雲挺刀相迎，戰上百餘合，不分勝負。 Ko Bright raised his weapon鋉. Unclear.

to strike, and Yuè Yún extended his blade to meet it. The battle went on for more than a hundred rounds, with no clear winner, 楊元帥鳴金收軍，二比俱各回軍。 until Marshal Yáng beat the gong to recall the troops, and both sides fell back.

楊元帥回到中軍帳坐下，岳雲上帳稟曰：「元帥，末將方欲擒了高明，元帥何故收兵？」 When Marshal Yáng had returned to their headquarters and taken a seat, Yuè Yún reported, "Marshal, I was about to get Ko Bright. Why did you recall the troops?"

元帥曰：「吾觀此將與岳將軍交戰，未見勝負，只恐兩虎相鬬，必有一傷。 The marshal said, "As I see it, between that general and General Yuè, there was as yet no clear winner, and I fear that when two tigers struggle, someone is bound to be hurt. 故此鳴金收兵，欲圖一計以擒此將。」 I therefore beat the gong and recalled the troops, and now intend to come up with a plan to take that general."

元帥問魏化曰：「將軍爾必知高明之著落。」 The marshal asked Guī Transform, "General, you must know Ko Bright's whereabouts"

魏化曰：「只高明乃越州城六十里外高陽崗人氏，事母至孝，文武全材。 Guī Transform said, "This只, Hokkien tsit.

Ko Bright is a native of Ko-iông (High Sunny) Hill, sixty leagues outside of Ua̍t-isle City. He serves his mother with the utmost filiality, and is replete with civil and martial talents. 高明在此越州為官，其家屬本不在城內。 Ko Bright is an official in Ua̍t-isle, but his family members have never lived in within its walls. 今日我軍初到，諒高明家眷未知其祥。 Since our army has just arrived today, I expect his family still doesn't know. 他父親高重德與末將父親有八拜之交，末將幼時亦常到他家問安。 His father Ko Tiōng-tik (Weighty Virtue) and my own are sworn brothers, and in my childhood I often visited their house. 其母今待末將到高陽崗，誘高明之母前來，何怕高明不降？」 His mother now waits for me to come to Ko-iông Hill. If we lure her here, Ko Bright is sure to surrender."

元帥曰：「此計甚妙，將軍速上行此事。」 The Marshal said, "This plan is marvelous. General, carry it out with all haste."

魏化領令，帶了五十名軍士，預備車馬，暗匕往高陽崗而來。 Guī Transform received the order, and taking fifty men, he prepared their transport and stole towards Ko-iông.

至了高陽崗，進入高陽庄，訪問果然高明家眷尚住在中。 When they reached Ko-iông Hill and entered Ko-iông Village, they made inquires, and Ko Bright's family did indeed still live there. 魏化大喜，至庄門口，令門公通报。 Delighted, Guī Transform went to the village gate and told the gatekeeper to report his presence. 高太匕請魏化入內。 Madame Ko invited Guī Transform in. 魏化至堂中，見了太匕，近前行礼，口称：「伯姆在上，小姪魏化拜見。」 Guī Transform entered the hall, saw the lady, and approached making salutations, saying, "Peh-ḿ,Hokkien, 伯姆 "auntie"

ma'am, your nephew Guī Transform has come to pay his respects."

高太匕曰：「久不曾與賢姪相見，素時掛念在怀。今日賢姪到庄，有何見議？」 Madame Ko said, "It's been a long time since I saw you, worthy nephew. I've thought about you constantly. But what brings you here now?"

魏化禀曰：「現在大宋起兵征伐吾國，宋兵將近越州，高賢弟守城不敢遠離，故托小姪前來撫取老伯姆及家眷進越州城內安置，方保無虞。」 Guī Transform said, "The Great Sòng has raised an army and is now attacking our state. The Sòng troops near Ua̍t-isle, and because my worthy little brother is defending the city, not daring to leave it, he has charged your nephew to collect his old peh-ḿ and family. I will take you to a safe place in Ua̍t-isle for protection; there's nothing to worry about."

高太匕十分欢喜，曰：「有勞賢姪了。」 Madame Ko was overjoyed, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, worthy nephew."

隨分付收拾家中細軟物件，同媳婦李氏、孫高容，帶同家丁女婢共二十餘人，出了庄門。 Each did their part packing up the home's valuables, and then along with her daughter-in-law née Lí and grandson Ko Iông (Tolerant), they went out the village gate, bringing over twenty people when the retainers and maidservants were counted.

魏化扶太匕上車，李氏亦上車，高容上馬，將細軟物件安在車中，一同起身，離了高陽庄，望越州大路起程。 Guī Transform helped Madame Ko onto the carriage, and née Lí also climbed in. Ko Iông got on a horse, and they placed the valuables in the carriage, all leaving together. When they had departed Ko-iông Village, they set out for Ua̍t-isle. 行了半日，高太匕在車中舉頭一看，只見前面一座大營，旗旛昭展，俱是宋軍旛號，一時着驚，喝住停車。 They had been traveling for half a day when Madame Ko looked around and suddenly saw a big encampment, with banners brightly unfurled, all displaying the emblem of the Sòng army. She was startled, and shouted out to stop the car. 推車軍士乃是宋兵假办淂，不容太匕分付，送至宋营而入。 The soldier driving the carriage was Sòng general Jiǎ Bàndé, who ignored the lady's instructions, and delivered them to the Sòng camp. 魏化上前請老伯母下車。 Guī Transform stepped forward and asked his old aunt to come down from the carriage.

高太匕曰：「賢姪，此所營寨却是何地？」 Madame Ko said, "Nephew, what exactly is this barracks?"

魏化禀曰：「不瞞老伯母，宋朝起兵征伐南閩，姪兒已經投降。 "I did not deceive you, auntie. The Sòng dynasty really did send an army to attack the Southern Bân—but your nephew has already surrendered," said Guī Transform.

但是高賢弟自靠猛勇，不肯歸順。 But my little brother is relying on his own strength and courage, unwilling to submit. 吾奉楊元帥之令，請老伯母前來。 I have orders from Marshal Yáng to bring my aunt back. 望老伯母寫書一封，叫賢弟前來歸降，共扶明主，不失封侯之位。」 I hope that you will write a letter, and tell my little brother to come and submit. If together we support the enlightened ruler, we will certainly be rewarded with noble rank."

高太匕曰：「宋天子乃仁德之君，降者得其所矣。」 Madame Ko thought, "The Sòng Son of Heaven is a benevolent ruler, and those who surrender are well looked after." 遂下車同魏化進入中軍帳。 She got down from the carriage and entered the headquarters with Guī Transform.

楊元帥聞知，出帳迎接。 When Marshal Yáng heard, he came out of the tent to greet her. 入後帳，木桂英、楊宣娘一同相見，行礼坐下。 They entered the rear tent, met with Mù Guìyīng and Yáng Xuānniáng, exchanged greetings and sat. 木桂英曰：「老夫人，小兒文廣言及令郎高將軍十分英勇，兼有大孝，故請太匕前來。 Mù Guìyīng said, "Madam, my son Wénguǎng has mentioned to me that your son is thoroughly valiant, and also very filial, and so you were asked to come. 勞煩寫書一封，敎令郎前來投降，一家圓聚，共力平閩，富貴必然永固，豈不美哉？」 Could I trouble you to write a letter asking your son to surrender? Then the whole family can be together, and combine its strength to pacify Bân, and your wealth and honor will be secure forever. Wouldn't that be splendid?"

高太匕十分欢喜，隨寫書一封，交與木桂英。 Madame Ko was delighted and wrote the letter, which she gave to Mù Guìyīng. 木桂英將書交與楊怀玉，道：「孫兒，尔將此書交與尔父親，令人前到越州投見高將軍。」 Mù Guìyīng took it to Yáng Huáiyù, saying, "Grandson, give this letter to your father, to have someone go to Ua̍t-isle and deliver it to General Ko."

怀玉領命，執書到中軍帳，禀知父親。 Huáiyù received her instructions and took the letter to headquarters, where he notified his father. 文廣欢喜，隨令偏將謝生前去越州投書。 Wénguǎng was delighted, and immediately sent Deputy-General Xiè Shēng to Ua̍t-isle to deliver the letter. 謝生領命出营，上馬望越州而來。 Xiè Shēng received the instructions and left the camp, mounting his horse and heading for Ua̍t-isle.

魏化請高明之兒高容拜見元帥。 Guī Transform asked Ko Bright's son, Ko Iông to pay respects to the marshal. 元帥大喜，觀高容生成威風，後日亦是將門之子，即令後帳欸【=款】待高明家眷。 Delighted, and seeing that Ko Iông would also in time be a scion of a military family, he gave a warm reception to the family of Ko Bright in the rear tent.

且說謝生來到越州城下，叫曰：「吾奉元帥之令，特來下書。」 Let us turn to Xiè Shēng, who was arriving below the walls of Ua̍t-isle, where he cried out, "I have come under the marshal's orders to deliver a letter." 守城軍士聽見，忙進帳稟知高明。 When the soldier keeping watch at the wall heard this, he went straight to the pavilion to inform Ko Bright. 令開城放入。 He ordered them to open the city and let him in. 謝生入城至帥府，落馬進入中 Xiè Shēng entered the city and went to the commander's residence, dropping from his horse and going inside.

禮畢，將書呈上。 When the pleasantries were finished, he presented the letter. 高明將書折開一看，只見上面寫道： Ko Bright tore the letter open and took a look. It said,

「書付吾兒知之。 古人有言曰：『良禽擇木而棲，賢臣擇主而事。』 宋乃仁德之君，英明昭著。 吾兒自持血氣之勇，陷爾母於囹圄之中。 今速來降，可免爾母性命。 危在旦夕，爾其熟思之。」

For my son's eyes. The ancients had a saying: a fine bird chooses a tree to nest in, and a worthy minister chooses a good lord to serve. Sòng has a benevolent ruler, his wisdom well-known. My son, you rely on impulsive courage and have gotten your mother trapped in a dungeon. Surrender quickly, and you may save your mother's life. I am in imminent danger; you had better consider this carefully.

高明看書着驚，曰：「何人用此毒計？吾不能不降矣！狼主呵，非臣不忠，勢不得已耳。」 Ko Bright was alarmedHokkien 着驚 tio̍h-kiann.

, saying, "Whose deadly trap is this? I cannot but surrender! O chief, it's not that your servant is disloyal, but that I have no other choice."

對謝生道：「吾母已在宋營，焉有不降之理？明早迎接元帥入城就是。」 He said to Xiè Shēng, "Since my mother is already in the Sòng camp, how could I not surrender? Tomorrow morning, I will welcome the marshal into the city."

謝生辭了高明，上馬回至宋營，稟知元帥。 Xiè Shēng took his leave of Ko Bright, mounted his horse and returned to the Sòng camp, where he reported to the marshal. 文廣大喜。 Wénguǎng was overjoyed.

次早，領大軍來至越州城，見城上換了大宋旗號。 The next day, he led the army to Ua̍t-isle City, and saw that the walls had swapped out their banners for the emblem of the Great Sòng. 高明出城迎接。 Ko Bright came out of the city to welcome them. 元帥進城，高明參見。 The marshal entered the city, and Ko Bright payed respects to him. 元帥記了高明功勞，查明糧餉，出榜安民，犒賞三軍。 The marshal credited Ko Bright's service, ascertained the state of their provisions, put up a notice to reassure the people, and rewarded the three armies. 高明入後堂見母親張氏，跪下曰：「累及老母受驚了。」 Ko Bright entered the rear hall to see his mother née Zhang. He knelt, saying, "I've mixed you up in all this and caused you trouble, mother."

高太太曰：「元帥禮賢下士，爾母亦無甚驚恐。 Madame Ko said, "The marshal knows how to treat the worthy with courtesy and deference, so you mother suffered no especial fright. 吾兒可隨軍立功，爾母全家眷就在越州居住。 My son, you should render service with the army, and I and the whole family will reside in Ua̍t-isle. 我兒可將此事稟知元帥。」 You can tell this to the marshal."

高明領命，來中軍帳稟知元帥。 Ko Bright received her instructions, and went to the headquarters to inform the marshal. 文廣大喜，在越州養馬三日，然後起程，望碧水洞而來。 Wénguǎng was delighted. They stayed in Ua̍t-isle three days to take care of the horses, then set out again, in the direction of Aqua Grotto.

行了五日至碧水洞地界。 After five days, they arrived in the area of Aqua Grotto. 此洞在建寧府浦城縣，離城五十里之地，古跡猶存。 This grotto is in Phóo-siânn County, Kiàn-lîng Prefecture,Now Kiàn-au City 建甌市.

fifty leagues from the city walls. Its ancient traces remain to this day.

未知何如，且聽下回分解。 We still don't know what happened next—let's listen to the explanation in the next chapter.

Chapter 5: Iâu Jade of Aqua Grotto Feigns Surrender

第五回 碧水洞姚玉詐降

話說楊元帥傳令離城五里安營。 The story goes that Marshal Yáng conveyed orders to set up camp five miles from the walls. 三軍號令，三聲炮響，安下營寨。 The three armies received their orders, three cannons were fired, and they set up the encampment. 番兵連忙報入碧水洞。 A barbarian soldier immediately reported to Aqua Grotto. 姚玉聞知，問探事軍曰：「宋軍為何來得甚急？ When Iâu Jade heard, he questioned the scout, "Why have the Sòng troops arrived so fast? 吳州、越州二處交兵事體如何？」 How has the battle gone at Gôo-isle and Ua̍t-isle?"

探事人跪下稟曰：「吳州魏化、越州高明俱各報降，故此兵馬勢如破竹。」 The scout knelt and reported, "Guī Transform of Gôo-isle and Ko Bright of Ua̍t-isle have surrendered, and so their troops have moved in as easily as one splits bamboo."

姚玉曰：「吾已知之。」 "I see," said Iâu Jade. 賞賜探馬銀牌。 He rewarded the scout with a silver medal. 是夜暗匕打辦一条計策，欲害宋元帥。 That night, he started coming up with a plan to get at the Sòng marshal.

次早，宋營探事報進中軍帳，啓元帥：「碧水洞竪起降旗，洞門大開。 The next day, a Sòng scout came to their headquarters and reported to the marshal, "Aqua Grotto has erected a flag of surrender, and the gates of the grotto are open wide. 姚玉帶領數十名番兵來宋營報降。」 Iâu Jade has brought ten barbarian soldiers to the Sòng camp to give his surrender."

楊元帥曰：「碧水洞主聞吾勢大，不敢抵敵，前來報降。」 Marshal Yáng said, "The Grotto Chief of Aqua Grotto has heard of my might. Not daring to resist, he comes to give his surrender."

參軍王定六曰：「番人未有交戰而先自報降，莫非有詐？元帥宜當隄防。」 Aide-de-campe Wáng Dìngliù said, "Before doing battle, the barbarians are already surrendering. Could it be a trick? Marshal, you should be careful."

元帥曰：「參軍之言有理。」 "What you say makes sense," said the Marshal.

宋兵入營報曰：「姚玉欲進營獻圖。」 A Sòng soldier entered the camp to report, "Iâu Jade wishes to enter the camp and offer a map."

元帥令喚入。 The marshal instructed he be invited in. 姚玉至中軍帳參拜畢，曰：「末將知元帥旗開得勝，不上數月連取二城。 When Iâu Jade had reached their headquarters and bowed, he said, "This junior officer understands that the marshal no sooner raises his flag than he achieves victory. In under a month, you have taken two cities in a row. 末將已畏天威，傾心投降。 I am overawed by your divine might, and wholeheartedly surrender. 現有碧水洞圖籍在廂內，望元帥親眼觀之。」 In this box are the map and household register of Aqua Grotto, for the marshal to look at personally." 姚玉即將小廂呈上。 Iâu Jade offered up the small box.

楊元帥曰：「圖籍在何處？」 Marshal Yáng said, "Where are the map and household register?"

姚玉曰：「圖册在廂內，元帥開看便知明白。」 Iâu Jade said, "The maps and books are in the box. Marshal, you'll know as soon as you open it and look."

元帥方欲開看，參軍王定六曰：「不可！ The marshal was about to open it and look, when aide-de-campe Wáng Dìngliù said, "Don't do it! 此物從外而來，又在敵人手內。 This thing came from outside, and was in the hands of the enemy. 姚玉初降，其心未伏，恐有詐謀。 Iâu Jade has just surrendered, but his heart has not yet submitted. It may be a ruse. 可令軍士於營外開看可也。」 You should have a soldier open it outside the camp."

元帥沉吟良久，曰：「參軍之言有理。」 The marshal muttered to himself awhile, and said, "What you say makes sense."

令偏將陳森將廂取在中軍帳外一箭之地開看。 He ordered Deputy-General Chén Sēn to take the box a short distance outside headquarters and open it to look. 陳森領命，將廂掇在帳外一開，只見石響一聲，廂內所藏者鉛子火藥之類，一時火光沖出，將陳森燒死，軍士被炮打死者百餘人。 Chén Sēn received the order and carried the box outside of the tent. As soon as he opened it, there was a sudden sound of flint scratching. Within the box was hidden shot鉛子 iân-tsí

and gunpowder, which ignited to shoot out flame. It burnt Chén Sēn to death, and over a hundred soldiers were killed by the blast.

元帥一看，喝聲：「將姚玉拿下！」 When the marshal saw, he bellowed, "Seize Iâu Jade!" 眾將各抽出腰刀向前殺來，欲擒姚玉。 Every general drew his side-sword and fought forward, trying to take Iâu Jade. 姚玉口吐一條烏烟，罩住其身，一時飛起空中，逃回碧水洞而去。 Iâu Jade belched forth black smoke which covered up his body. In a moment he flew into the air, and fled back towards Aqua Grotto. 楊元帥曰：「若非參軍有先見之機，本帥性命休矣！ Marshal Yáng said, "If not for the aide-de-campe's foresight, my life would have been lost. 但此姚玉不知何往，諒必逃回碧水洞。」 But we don't know where Iâu Jade has gone—I assume back to Aqua Grotto." 傳令大兵順勢攻打碧水洞。 He conveyed an order that the army seize the opportunity and make an assault on Aqua Grotto. 宋兵得令，三聲炮響，營門大開，宋兵踴躍向前，盡力攻打。 The Sòng soldiers received the order, fired three cannons, and threw open the gates to the camp. They approached enthusiastically, attacking with all their strength. 碧水洞內無主，番兵大敗，被宋兵殺入洞中，番兵四散逃走，死者甚多，降者千餘人。 Because Aqua Grotto had no leader, the barbarian soldiers were routed definitively. They dispersed and fled in every directions, many of them dead, and over a thousand surrendered. 楊元帥大驅宋兵入洞，查盤府庫錢粮，犒賞三軍。 Marshal Yáng spurred his men to enter the grotto, took stock of the cash and grain in the government treasury, and rewarded the three armies. 又查無姚玉家眷。 He also checked whether Iâu Jade had no family members. 番軍稟曰：「姚將軍並無家眷在洞內。 A barbarian soldier eported, "General Iâu certainly has no family members in the grotto. 素時有言回家，但我等不知在何處。」 I used to hear they returned to their home, but we don't know where that is." 楊元帥使人細查，並不知來歷。 Marshal Yáng sent people to look into it carefully, but they too could not discover his origins.

隨在碧水洞養馬三日，即令升炮起程。 He rested the horses in Aqua Grotto for three days, then fired a shot to signal to the soldiers to set out. 宋兵浩浩蕩蕩，殺奔天山洞而來。 The army surged like mighty waters, charging for Skyhill Grotto. 行了數日，至了天山洞。 They arrived there within a few days. 宋兵報曰：「前面天山洞地界。」 A Sòng soldier reported, "The area of Skyhill Grotto is just ahead." 元帥傅令離洞五里安下營寨。 The marshal sent orders to set up an encampment five leagues from the grotto. 宋兵得令，三聲炮響，在天山洞外安營劄寨。 They soldiers received the order, fired the cannons thrice, and set up camp outside Skyhill Grotto. 此洞在建寧府建朝縣，離城五十五里，古跡尚存。 This grotto is in Kiàn-tiâu (Construct Dynasty) County,could not locate

Kiàn-lîng Prefecture. five leagues from the city. Its ancient traces remain to this day. 未知如何，且聽下回分解。 We still don't know what happened next—let's listen to the explanation in the next chapter.

Chapter 6: Tsio̍h Felicity of Skyhill Grotto is Hit by an Arrow

第六回 天山洞石慶中箭

話說姚玉飛來至碧水洞，見洞被宋兵已破了，不敢按下雲頭，連忙又再飛起，望天山洞而來。 The story goes that when Iâu Jade arrived back at Aqua Grotto, and saw that the grotto had already been taken by the Sòng troops, he did not dare to push through the clouds, but straightaway flew off again in the direction of Skyhill Grotto.

至了洞口，按落雲頭，令番兵通報洞主得知。 When he reached the cave mouth, he dropped through the clouds and ordered the barbarian troops to go report to the Grotto Chief. 天山洞主石慶出洞迎接，至公堂分賓主坐下。 Grotto Chief Tsio̍h Felicity of Skyhill Grotto came to welcome him, taking him to the hall, where guest and host sat down.

石慶道：「將軍鎮守碧水洞事體如何？」 Tsio̍h Felicity asked, "General, how goes the defense of Aqua Grotto?"

姚玉曰：「吾觀宋兵連勝數陣，吳州、越州俱各投降。 Iâu Jade said, "I have seen the Sòng win several battles in a row. Gôo-isle and Ua̍t-isle have already surrendered. 故意假投降，用小廂藏鉛子大炮，牽用火石頂蓋，用鉄版。 I deliberately feigned surrender, and caused a large explosion by using a small box to conceal shot, to which I attached a flint cover and iron plates. 此廂一開，其火自發。 As soon as this box was open, the fire was released. 故意假降到宋營，進獻圖册，諒文廣必然親手開看，自料燒死。 When I feigned surrender and went to the Sòng camp, I offered maps and documents, predicting that Wénguǎng would necessarily open it himself and be burnt to death. 不意文廣令偏將於營外開看，是以不致燒死。 Unexpectedly, however, Wénguǎng ordered his Deputy-General to open it outside the camp, and as a result, it did not kill him. 意令眾將來擒吾，吾見事不成立，即飛走。 Figuring that he would have his officers capture me, as soon as I saw that the plan was unsuccessful, I flew off. 今到天山洞，相助將軍一臂之力，將功折罪，狼主必然赦宥。」 Now I have come to Skyhill Grotto to lend the soldiers a hand and make up for my errors, so that the chief will pardon me."

石慶曰：「將軍之計，神鬼莫測，諒文廣也是命不該絕，以致不能燒死。 Tsio̍h Felicity said, "Your ruse is subtle enough to fool gods and ghosts. I expect Wénguǎng's time had not yet arrived, so killing him would be impossible. 將軍協守天山洞，若得殺退宋兵，吾當轉奏狼主，將軍必得高官顯職矣。」 If we work together to defend Skyhill Grotto, and succeed in driving off the Sòng troops, I will convey a memorial to the chief, and you will surely obtain a high official posting."

姚玉大喜。 Iâu Jade was delighted. 石慶令番兵備酒與姚將軍壓驚。 Tsio̍h Felicity ordered a barbarian soldier to prepare wine to help soothe General Iâu's nerves. 酒至半酣，番兵入洞報曰：「宋兵離城五里安下營寨，直來洞外討戰，請令定奪。」 When they had drunk until tipsy, a barbarian soldier entered the cave to report, "The Sòng troops have set up an encampment five leagues from the city, and came straight to the cave to challenge us to battle. I await your instructions."

姚玉聞報大怒，曰：「宋兵既來在外討戰，待吾出陣擒之。」 Iâu Jade was infuriated to hear the report. "The Sòng troops have come to challenge us? Wait, and I'll go out and take them."

石慶曰：「將軍須當主細。」 "General, you must be very careful," said Tsio̍h Felicity. 隨點起番兵一千，三聲炮響，洞門大開。 He selected a thousand barbarian soldiers, fired three cannon-blasts, and threw open the doors to the cave. 宋兵退在平坦之地，排成陣勢。 The Sòng troops had withdrawn to an area of level ground and formed a battle array. 楊元帥在門旗下一看，見姚玉頭戴金箍，身穿魚鱗小甲，手執鉄棍，步戰無騎馬。 Marshal Yáng looked out from beneath his banners, and saw Iâu Jade with a golden band on his head, wearing fishscale armor, wielding an iron club, emerging to fight on foot. 又一番將面貌清秀，三柳長鬢，頭戴金盔，身穿虎皮甲，騎下烏騅馬，手執雙枝竹節剛鞭，勒馬在陣門旗下。 There was also a barbarian general with a delicate face, a beard in three parts, wearing a golden helmet and tigerskin armor. He rode a black piebald steed,Like that famously ridden by Xiàng Yǔ 項羽 of Chǔ during the Chǔ-Hàn contention after the fall of the Qín.

dual-wielding bamboo-jointed steel whips as he guided his horse beneath the banner of the camp gate.

楊元帥看見姚玉，咬牙切齒大罵曰：「姚玉匹夫，焉敢詐騙欲害本帥？ When Marshal Yáng saw Iâu Jade, he gnashed his teeth with rage and cursed him, "Iâu Jade, you coarse fellow, how do you dare to deceive me and make an attempt on my life? 今番拏住，碎尸萬斷！」 This time I'll catch you, and smash your corpse to smithereens!"

姚玉曰：「昨日燒爾不死，今來取爾性命。」 Iâu Jade said, "Yesterday I failed to blow you up, but today I'll take your life."

元帥傍邊惱了岳先鋒，提青龍刀拍馬向前，喝曰：「待末將擒此匹夫，以報昨日之仇！」 This aggravated Vanguard Yuè beside the marshal, who lifted his Teal Dragon Blade and urged his horse forward, bellowing, "Wait, while I take this coarse fellow, and avenge what he did yesterday!" 舉刀便砍。 He raised his blade to cut him down.

姚玉提棍相迎，大戰二十合。 Iâu Jade lifted his club to meet it, and the battle went on for twenty rounds. 岳雲將刀撥開棍，一手將姚玉鐵甲一扭，生擒過馬，拋在地上，令軍士向前縛了。 Yuè Yún parried the club with his blade, and with his other hand caught hold of Iâu Jade's armor, plucking him off his horse and throwing him to the ground, then ordering the soldiers to approach and bind him. 軍士方欲進前，只見姚玉口吐烏煙，飛上空中逃走回洞。 The soldiers were about to step up, when suddenly Iâu Jade vomited black smoke and flew into the sky, fleeing back to the cave. 石慶提雙鞭前來救應，挺鎗接住，戰有三十合。 Tsio̍h Felicity raised his two whips and approached to rescue him, but [Hūyán Xiǎn] raised his spear to block him, and they battled for thirty rounds.

呼延顯自料不能取勝，拍馬便走。 Hūyán Xiǎn estimated that he could not win, so he urged his horse to flee. 石慶隨後趕來，呼延顯將鎗揀住在馬鞍橋，抽出寶彫弓，搭上一箭，回身射去。 Tsio̍h Felicity pursued him, and Hūyán Xiǎn secure his spear on his saddle, then removed a precious engraved bow, nocked an arrow, and fired backwards. 石慶見弓弦聲響，欲躲不及，左目中了一箭，大叫一聲，撥馬便走。 When Tsio̍h Felicity heard the bowstring twang, it was too late to hide, and an arrow landed in his left eye. He shrieked, and turned his horse to flee.

元帥令旂一招，宋兵沖殺過來，番兵大敗，死者五百餘人，餘者四散逃走入洞。 The marshal waved the command flag, and the Sòng troops charged forward. The barbarian troops were thoroughly routed, the dead numbering over five hundred and the survivors fleeing in all directions and entering the cave.

楊元帥見番兵大敗，然後打得勝鼓收軍回營。 Seeing that the barbarian troops were routed, Marshal Yáng beat the victory drum and recalled his troops to camp.

話說姚玉飛上空中逃回天山洞。 The story goes on that Iâu Jade flew into the sky and fled back to Skyhill Grotto. 番將扶石慶下馬入洞。 A barbarian general helped Tsio̍h Felicity off his horse and into the cave. 姚玉見石慶左眼中箭，呌痛不止及拔出箭头，血流不止。 Iâu Jade saw that Tsio̍h Felicity's eye had been shot; he cried out endlessly from the pain, and when the arrow was pulled out, the blood would not stop flowing. 是夜，箭瘡大發，死於帳中。 That night, the arrow wound hemmorhaged, and he died in the tent. 夫人穆氏大哭一塲，至明日收石慶安葬畢。 His wife née Bo̍k wept long, till in the morning she collected his body and buried it.

姚玉曰：「夫人今日有何主意？」 Iâu Jade asked, "Madame, what are your intentions today?"

穆夫人曰：「吾有小叔石福，鎮守在鎮山洞。 Madame Bo̍k said, "My husband had a younger brother, Tsio̍h Fortune, who stands guard at Quellsummit Grotto. 今吾夫陣亡，莫若同吾子石尚前往鎮山洞安身。 Now that my husband has died in battle, I might as well take my son Tsio̍h Utmost and go to Quellsummit Grotto for safety. 現今本洞之事，姚將軍自已做主就是。」 As for this cave, General Iâu, you should take over as its master."

姚玉曰：「夫人之言有理。」 Iâu Jade said, "What you say makes sense." 隨令偏將袁庭領兵五十名，預備車馬，送夫人前往鎮山洞。 He ordered Deputy-General Uân Courtyard to take command of fifty men, prepare carriage and horses, and escort the lady towards Quellmountain Grotto. 夫人拜謝，隨入後堂，收拾細軟物件，裝載上車，從洞後小路起程。 The lady bowed in thanks, then went to the rear hall, gathered her valuables, loaded them and mounted the carriage, and set out via a pathway at the back of the cave. 袁庭提刀上馬，在後保家眷，望鎮山洞而來，不提。 We'll say no more of how Uân Courtyard took his blade and mounted his horse, following behind to protect the woman and child, and headed toward Quellmountain Grotto.

再說姚玉見穆夫人起身了，心思宋人猛勇難敵，莫若今夜到家中請夫人前來協助，豈不美哉？ Meanwhile, Iâu Jade saw that Madame Bo̍k had set off, and began thinking about the men of Sòng. They were fierce and valiant, difficult to face. Supposing that tonight he returned home and asked his wife to come and help, wouldn't that be splendid? 是夜吩咐番兵謹守洞門，至初更時分，吐出一條烏煙，飛在空中，望百丈穴而來。 That night he instructed the barbarian soldiers to guard the cave doors well, and when it got to around eight o'clock, he vomited a stream of black smoke and flew into the sky towards Hundred-Stave Cavern. 此穴在海澄縣管下後井社尾，離社四里，有一座山，山中有密婆洞。 This cavern was under the administration of Rearwell siā-buélook up in mnyfydcd

in Hái-tîng (Sealimpid) County, four leagues from the siā. There was a hill there, within which was Bi̍t-pô (Bat) Grotto.

今時天氣清和，即有一洞，大蝙蝠飛出，其翅如簸箕，居民恐他惹禍，故建造聖王廟以鎮壓此穴。 When the weather was pleasant, a great bat would fly out of the cave, with big wings like winnowing baskets. The local people feared it would invite disaster, so they erected Holy King TempleTo Chén Yuánguāng/Tân Guân-kong 陳元光.

to suppress the cavern. 此蝙蝠精則姚玉也，自宋朝至今，安守穴中，並無害人，後事勿云。 That bat spirit was Iâu Jade, who from the Sòng dynasty on had guarded the cavern. We'll say no more of what happened later.

再説姚玉飛到百丈穴，落了穴中，來見飛霞婆。 The story continues to say that Iâu Jade flew to Hundred-Stave Cavern and dropped down into it, coming to see Dame Alpenglow.Her given name is Hui-hâ 飛霞, literally "soaring pink-cloud" (as seen at dusk or dawn). Alpenglow refers to the reddish light opposite sunset or sunrise on a mountain.

飛霞夫人迎接丈夫至內，坐下。 Madame Alpenglow welcomed her husband inside and sat down. 夫人曰：「相公回來，未知何事？」 "Is something the matter? Why have you come back?" she asked. 姚玉曰：「近日宋朝起兵征伐我國，吾交戰數陣，俱各不勝。 Iâu Jade said, "In the last few days, the Sòng court has raised an army for an expedition against our state. I did battle with them a few times, but each time was not victorious. 今請夫人前到天山洞，助吾一臂之力。」 Now I would like to ask you to come to Skyhill Grotto and lend me a hand."

夫人曰：「宋兵雖是勢大，亦難脱得吾之法術。 His wife said, "Though the Sòng troops be powerful, they'll have a hard time evading my magical arts. 既如此，即仝相公前去。」 That being so, I'll go with you."

二人各吐烏烟，飛在空中，望天山洞而來，進入中軍帳，衆番軍迎接，偹酒接風。 The two of them each vomited black smoke and flew into the sky, heading toward Skyhill Grotto. When they entered the headquarters, the barbarian troops greeted them, preparing wine and dinner to receive them.

且説楊元帥淂勝回營，對參軍王定六曰：「石慶中箭，諒其必死。 Let us turn to Marshal Yáng, who was returning to camp victorious. He addressed aide-de-campe Wáng Dìngliù, saying, "Tsio̍h Felicity was struck by an arrow, and is sure to die. 姚玉此人未服，本帥十分憂疑。」 As for Iâu Jade, he hasn't yet surrendered, and I am quite worried."

參軍曰：「吾觀此人俱有妖邪之氣，宜緩匕圖之。」 "I think that man has the air of a demon," the aide-de-campe said. "We should plan cautiously."

元帥曰：「參軍之言極當。」 "What you say is most appropriate," agreed the marshal.

至次日，点斉大兵，直到天山洞討戰。 The next day, they lined up the troops and went directly to Skyhill Grotto to challenge them to battle. 姚玉同飛霞夫人聞報，領番兵出洞，排成陣勢。 When Iâu Jade and Madame Alpenglow heard it reported, they led the barbarian troops out of the cave and formed a battle array. 両陣對圓，楊元帥一見蜈蚣旂下一員番女將，楊元帥喝曰：「番女何人？」 The two formations squared off. Under the centipede banner, Marshal Yáng saw a barbarian generaless. He bellowed, "Barbarian woman, name yourself!"

飛霞夫人曰：「吾乃姚玉夫人是也。 Madame Alpenglow said, "I am the wife of Iâu Jade. 吾夫被尔等所敗，故吾提兵到此，以雪丈夫之恨。」 My husband has been defeated by your side, and so I have lead the army here, to settle the score for my man."

宋陣上焦廷貴大怒，拍馬向前，喝曰：「賤婢，尔非來雪恨，是來尋死！」 Among the Sòng ranks, Jiāo Tíngguì was infuriated. He urged his horse forward, bellowing, "Slut! You have not come to settle the score, you've come seeking your death!" 舞双斧砍來。 He brandished dual axes and chopped at her.

飛霞夫人提鎗接住，両下交戰，金鼓斉鳴，喊聲大振。 Madame Alpenglow lifted her spear to meet them, and for a little while they exchanged blows, as the gongs and drums sounded in unison, creating a great hubbub and clamor.

戰有二十餘合，飛霞夫人撥馬便走。 The battle went on for twenty rounds, and Madame Alpenglow turned her horse to flee.

焦廷貴笑曰：「賤婢走那里去？ Jiāo Tíngguì laughed. "Where is that slut going? 焦爷来取尔性命了！」 Uncle Jiāo is coming to take your life!" 把馬催動，隨後赶來。 He urged his horse to a gallop, and soon caught up with her.

飛霞夫人听淂後面馬鈴聲响，知是焦廷貴赶來，將鎗按住在馬鞍橋，右手在背後抽出一支青旂，插在地上。 When Madame Alpenglow heard the sound of horse bells, she knew Jiāo Tíngguì was upon her. She secured her spear in her saddle, and with her right hand drew from behind her back a teal flag, which she stuck into the earth. 焦廷貴赶到，一時間只見前面一團青氣，不知飛霞夫人何處去了，拍馬冲進，只見夫人在青光內，大喝曰：「黑漢看鎗！」 When Jiāo Tíngguì caught up, he suddenly found before him only a cloud of teal mist, and did not know where Madame Alpenglow had gone off to. Urging his horse to charge in, he suddenly saw the lady within a teal light, and she bellowed, "Black Hàn, taste my spear!"

焦廷貴將身一轉，肩上中了一鎗，撥馬便走。 Jiāo Tíngguì spun around, but the spear landed on his shoulder. He turned his horse and fled. 飛霞用手一招，收回青旗，隨後赶來。 Alpenglow did a move with her hand and recalled the teal flag, then chased after him. 馮習挺鎗接住，喝曰：「賤人休淂無理！」 Féng Xí raised his spear to meet her, bellowing, "Don't be insolent, you bitch!" 舉鎗便剌。 Lifting his spear, he stabbed. 飛霞夫人提鎗交戰，上有十餘合，飛霞撥馬便走，馮習隨後赶來。 Madame Alpenglow raised her spear to do battle, and they fought for over ten rounds. Then she turned her horse and fled, and Féng Xí chased after.

飛霞又於背上抽出一支黄旂，抛插在地上，將身閃在旂內。 Alpenglow again pulled a flag from her back, this one yellow, and threw it so that it implanted itself in the earth, before ducking into the flag. 馮習追趕飛霞，忽見一團黄光，不知飛霞何處去了，心內十分疑惑，勒馬不敢前進。 Féng Xí was pursuing her when he suddenly saw a field of yellow rays. Not knowing where Alpenglow had gone off to, he was full of misgivings, and walked his horse not daring to go in.

夫人在門旗內觀看，用鎗尽力一刺，馮習不及隄防，腿上中了一鎗，敗馬而走。 The lady was watching from within the entrance flag, and with her spear gave a forceful stab. Féng Xí had no time to parry, and the spear landed on his calf. He fell from his horse and fled. 夫人用手一招，収回黄旗，拍馬赶來。 The lady did a move with her hand and recalled the yellow flag, then urged her horse in chase. 楊元帥大怒曰：「賤人休傷吾大將！」 Infuriated, Marshal Yáng shouted, "Bitch, don't you dare hurt my general!" 提金鎗直剌夫人，舉鎗敵住。 He raised his golden spear to stab her, and she raised hers to block it. 戰上十合，夫人詐敗而走，文廣隨後追來。 They battled for ten rounds before the lady feigned defeat to escape, and Wénguǎng chased after her. 飛霞一手提鎗，一手在背上抽出一支烏旗，抛插在地上，將身閃入門旗內。 Alpenglow raised her spear with one hand, and with the other she pulled from her back a crow-black flag, which she tossed and implanted in the earth before ducking inside the entrance flag.

楊元帥勒馬緩緩而追，只見前面一團黑氣，不見了夫人，心思：「此女必是用了妖術，不可向前受其所害。」 Marshal Yáng walked his horse about slowly as he pursued, and suddenly saw a cloud of black gas, and the lady disappeared. "This woman," he considered, "is certainly employing witchcraft. I must not advance and be harmed by it." 心思一計，連忙取出鉄台弓，叩上穿雲箭，望黑光中射去。 Struck with a plan, he quickly pulled out his Iron Eminence Bow, nocked a Cloud-Piercing Arrow, and fired into the black rays.

飛霞勒馬在旗邊等候已久，不見文廣入旗門陣，方欲探頭一看，不意楊元帥穿雲箭已到，夫人呌聲「噯唷」，射中咽喉，墜馬而死。 Alpenglow had been walking her horse around the edge of the flag for awhile, and not seeing Wénguǎng come into the Flag-Entrance Maze,Zhèn 陣 "array" is used in this kind of novel for these magical "maze" spaces created to trap and bewilder the enemy.

she was just about to stick her head out and have a look. Unexpectedly, Marshal Yáng's Cloud-Piercing Arrow arrived. The lady cried out Ai-ioh! as the arrow struck her in the throat, and she tumbled from her horse dead.

雷声一响，旗門陣已散。 With the sound of a thunderclap, the Flag-Entrance Maze dispersed. 元帥用手一招，收回穿雲箭。 The marshal did a move with his hand, and recalled the Cloud-Piercing Arrow.

楊元帥將金鎗一指，宋兵齊殺過陣來。 Marshal Yáng pointed with his golden spear, and the Sòng troops charged in unison. 姚王與岳雲交戰，忽見夫人中箭身亡，十分着急，即時吐出烏烟，飛去走入天山洞。 Iâu Jade was doing battle with Yuè Yún, when he suddenly saw his wife get hit by an arrow and die. Extremely worried, he immediately vomited black smoke and flew away and into Skyhill Grotto.

番兵被宋兵殺得一半，餘者逃進洞中，將洞門緊閉。 Half the barbarian troops had been killed by the Sòng troops, and the remainder fled into the cave shutting the cave door tight. 姚王已回洞中，兩眼流淚曰：「不意夫人陣亡，大事去矣！ When Iâu Jade had gotten back to the cave, he sobbed. "Unexpectedly my wife died in the battle, and now there's nothing I can do! 尔等衆番軍，明日可逃往紅砂洞去。 Tomorrow all you barbarian soldiers should flee to Redsand Grotto. 吾今欲逃往他方，以全性命。」 I am also going to flee someplace else, to preserve my life."

言訖又大哭一塲，然後吐出烏烟，逃回百丈穴藏身。 When he was finished speaking, he began weeping again, and when he finally finished, he vomited black smoke and fled back to Hundred-Stave Cavern to hide.

再説楊元帥打得勝鼓收兵回營，衆將賀畢。 Meanwhile, Marshal Yáng beat the victory drums to summon his soldiers back to camp, and congratulated his generals. 楊元帥曰：「今日交戰，此飛霞所用者，原來是五行旗門遁甲之法，旗分五色。 "It turns out that what that Alpenglow person was using was the Five Phases Flag-Gate Hidden 1-StemQímén dùnjiǎ 旗門遁甲 "flag-gate hidden 1-stem" puns on the homophonous qímén dùnjiǎ 奇門遁甲 "marvelous gate hidden 1-stem," a method of divination. According to the monk Guànxiū 貫休 of the Five Dynasties period, dùn 遁 "hidden" here means xún 循 "circulating," i.e. "circulating the 1-stems" (CITE LOL). In this case, however, it is literally a method of hiding.

method," said Marshal Yáng. "The flags come in five colors. 又一支插在地上，即一支則變成一座陣門。 When you stab a flag into the earth, it becomes a maze gate. 此旂上有七七四十九張符印在内，若非上帝神箭之妙，安得今日成功？」 Inside the flag are 7×7 = 49 talismanic seals. If not for the marvel of the High Thearch's arrows, what chance of success could we have had today?" 衆將拜服。 The generals were awed.

元帥次早升帳，軍士進帳報道：「天山洞番兵逃走，洞門大開，請元帥定奪。」 The next day, when the marshal entered the tent, a soldier approached and reported, "The barbarian soldiers have fled Skyhill Grotto, and the cave doors are wide open. I await your instructions." 元帥令三軍進入天山洞，洞内粮草俱空。 The marshal ordered the three armies to enter Skyhill Grotto, which they found empty of provisions. 楊元帥在洞犒賞三軍，養馬三日，傳令王祥守天山洞，然後大兵望紅砂洞而來。 Marshal Yáng rewarded the three armies in the cave, then rested the horses three days. Afterwards, he conveyed an order that Wáng Xiáng stay to guard Skyhill Grotto, and then the army set off towards Redsand Grotto.

此紅砂洞在延平府大田縣，離縣一百里，古迹由存。 This Redsand Grotto is in Tuā-tshân (Big Field) County,Now part of Sâm-bîng City 三明市.

Iân-pîng (Lengthy Peace) Prefecture, one hundred leagues from the county. Its ancient traces remain to this day. 未知如何，且听下回分解。 We still don't know what happened next—let's listen to the explanation in the next chapter.

卷一終。

平閩全傳卷二

Chapter 7: The Great Battle of the Southern Army of Redsand Grotto

第七回 紅砂洞南兵大戰

却説元帥大兵起程，行了五日，來到紅砂洞。 We were saying how the marshal and his army set off, traveling for five days before arriving at Redsand Grotto. 元帥傳令離洞五里安營扎寨，三聲炮響，振動山岳。 The marshal conveyed an order to set up an encampment five leagues from the cave. They fired three cannon-blasts, causing the mountains to shake. 番兵聞知，報入紅砂洞。 A barbarian soldier heard, and reported to Redsand Grotto. 紅鵉洞主曰：「數日前天山洞逃來番兵，説宋兵十分猛勇，不意今日果來到吾洞口。 Grotto Chief Red Simurgh said, "A few days ago, barbarian soldiers from Skyhill Grotto fled here saying that the Sòng troops are extremely fierce and valiant. But I hadn't expected them to arrive at my cave mouth today. 待吾明日出洞，以觀其強弱如何。」 Wait until tomorrow and I'll go out and assess how strong they are." 主意已定，令番兵緊守洞門，以防宋兵攻打。 With that decided, she ordered the barbarian soldiers to guard the cave doors well, to prevent the Sòng troops from attacking.

至次日，番兵進洞報曰：「啓洞主得知，宋兵耀武揚威，在洞口討戰。」 The next day, a barbarian soldier reported, "Grotto Chief, for your information, the Sòng troops are making a show of their might outside the cave and challenging us to battle." 紅鵉娘仔大怒，提番兵出洞抵敵。 MaidenHokkien niû-á 娘仔.

Red Simurgh was furious, and led the barbarian soldiers out of the cave to confront the enemy. 三聲炮響，洞門大開，番兵排下陣勢。 With three cannon-blasts, the cave doors were thrown wide, and the barbarian army formed a battle array. 宋陣上楊元帥舉頭一看，見番陣上旗門下一員女將，頭戴鳳冠，身穿紅錦甲，腰下五彩綉繡花裙，三寸金蓮，騎紅脂馬，手執双刀，拍馬向前。 In the Sòng ranks, Marshal Yáng lifted his head to look, and saw below the flag gate among the barbarian ranks a generaless, on her head a phoenix crown, dressed in red brocade armor, below her waist an embroidered skirt and three-inch golden lotuses.C'est-à-dire les pieds bandés, très érotique.

She wielded two blades, and urged her horse to advance.

元帥曰：「女將何人？」 The marshal addressed her, "Generaless, name yourself!"

紅鵉娘仔道：「吾乃紅砂洞主紅鵉娘仔是也。 The maiden Red Simurgh said, "I am the maiden Red Simurgh, Chief of Redsand Grotto. 來者莫非楊文廣乎？」 That wouldn't happen to be Yáng Wénguǎng approaching, would it?"

楊元帥曰：「正是本帥。 "That I am," said Marshal Yáng. 南關洞上皆被吾所破，尔若識時務者，下馬投降；不然，打破洞府，悔無及矣。」 "I have already destroyed the caves above the southern pass. If you know what's good for you, you will dismount and surrender. Otherwise, I will destroy your cave dwelling, and it will be too late for regret."

紅鵉大怒，舉刀便砍。 Infuriated, Red Simurgh lifted her blade to cut him down. 焦廷貴大喝曰：「焦爺來取尔性命了！」 Jiāo Tíngguì bellowed, "Uncle Jiāo is coming to take your life!" 提双斧便砍。 and raised his two axes to cut her down. 紅鵉提刀相迎，戰上十餘合，紅鵉撥馬便走。 Red Simurgh raised her blade to meet him, and they fought for more than ten rounds. Then Red Simurgh turned her horse to flee. 焦廷貴隨後追來，紅鵉在腰間袋內取出一粒金棋子，回身打來。 Jiāo Tíngguì chased after her, and Red Simurgh drew from a pouch at her waist a golden pawn, and threw it behind her. 焦廷貴只見一點金光如米大，欲躲，匕【躲】了不及，鼻上打了一下，大叫一聲，鮮血淋漓，敗回本陣。 Jiāo Tíngguì saw a golden glint the size of a grain of rice. He wanted to hide, but it was too late. It hit him square on the nose and he gave a shout, blood spraying and spewing out. Defeated, he returned to the ranks. 紅鵉隨後赶來，宋陣中出竇定國，提刀接住。 Red Simurgh pursued him, but out of the Sòng ranks came Dòu Dìngguó,His surname seems to have changed. Earlier it was given as Měng.

raising his blade to block her. 戰上十餘合，紅鵉又敗走，竇定國提大刀赶來。紅鵉又於袋中取出金棋子，回身打來，竇定國被打在面上，血流滿面，竇定國本是紅面，今已又流出紅汗來。 They fought for ten rounds, until Red Simurgh was again beaten into retreat, and Dòu Dìngguó raised his great blade to give chase. Again, Red Simurgh drew from her pouch a golden pawn, and threw it behind her. Dòu Dìngguó was hit in the face, and the bleeding covered his face. Dìngguó had always been red in the face, but now it looked like he was sweating red. 竇定國敗走，紅鵉隨後追來。 Dìngguó was fled, beaten, and Red Simurgh chased after him. 惱得先鋒岳雲手提青龍刀接住，紅鵉撥馬便走，岳雲隨後追來，紅鵉又袋中取出金棋子，回身打來，岳雲青龍刀舉起，只見金棋打在刀上，響亮一聲，紅光沖起，岳雲著了一驚，撥馬便走，紅鵉隨後趕來。 This aggravated Vanguard Yuè Yún into raising his Teal Dragon Blade to block her, and Red Simurgh turned her horse to escape, with Yuè Yún chasing after. Again Red Simurgh drew a golden pawn from her bag and threw it behind her. Yuè Yún lifted his Teal Dragon Blade, and suddenly saw a golden pawn upon it. There was a sonorous boom and an explosion of red light, giving Yuè Yún a fright, so that he turned his horse and fled, as Red Simurgh chased him. 余德、高善二將相議曰：「番賤婢石子傷得一人，安得傷二人？ The two generals Yú Dé and Gāo Shàn said to each other, "The barbarian slut's pebble can wound one man, but how could it wound two? 並馬而出，一人中石，一人將賤婢殺死，豈不妙哉！」 Let's advance in parallel, and one person will take the stone, while the other takes the slut and kills her. Won't that be marvelous?"

余德曰：「此計甚極。」 "This plan is peak." said Yú Dé.

當二人相議已定，二人拍馬而出，各舉兵器接住，大戰二十合，紅鵉撥馬而走，余德、高善二將追來，紅鵉在袋中取出二粒棋子，回身打來，余德、高善只見二道金光亂閃，余德中在後心鏡，其鏡粉碎，高善中在口唇上，齒落一支，血流滿口，敗回陣中。 When the two had agreed, they urged their horses and went out, each keeping his weapon raised to block her attack. The battle lasted twenty rounds, and then Red Simurgh urged her horse and left. The two generals gave chase, but Red Simurgh drew from her pouch two pawns, throwing them behind her. Yú Dé and Gāo Shàn suddenly saw a two rays of golden light glittering wildly. Yú Dé was struck on the breastplate,心鏡 i.e. 護心鏡

and it shattered. Gāo Shàn was struck on the lip, and lost a tooth, causing blood to fill his mouth. Defeated, they returned to the ranks.

楊元帥傳令鳴金收軍，紅鵉得勝回洞。 Marshal Yáng beat the gong to recall the troops, while Red Simurgh returned to the cave in victory. 至明日，紅鵉領兵出洞，來宋營前討戰。 The next day, Red Simurgh led her army out of the cave, proceeding to the Sòng camp to challenge them to battle. 楊文廣令懷玉三郎請木桂英、楊宣娘出帳，楊文廣迎接至帳中行禮坐下。 Yáng Wénguǎng ordered his third son Huáiyù to ask Mù Guìyīng and Yáng Xuānniáng to the tent, where he welcomed them, exchanged pleasantries, and sat down.

楊元帥曰：「今日紅鵉上陣交戰，有棋子打人，百發百中，吾家大將被傷了數人，不能取勝，故請母親、姑娘前來相議。」 Marshal Yáng said, "Today Red Simurgh is going into battle. She hits people with game pawns; she's 100 for 100. Several of our generals have been wounded, and they can't beat her. Accordingly, mother and sister, I've asked you to come and help deliberate together."

宣娘曰：「此等小術，何足道哉！ Xuānniáng said, "How is this kind of petty technique even worth talking about? 待吾出陣收伏。」 Let me go out to fight and I'll make her capitulate."

元帥大喜，連忙領兵出營押陣。 The marshal was delighted, and straightaway led the troops out of the camp to give her support. 只見紅鵉在陣前耀武揚威，宣娘提劍向前，紅鵉一看見是一員宋朝女將，紅鵉曰：「爾乃何人？」 Suddenly they could see Red Simurgh before the battle array making a show of her might. Xuānniáng raised her sword and advanced. Seeing a generaless of the Sòng dynasty, Red Simurgh said, "Name yourself!"

宣娘曰：「吾乃昔日大破遼兵一品夫人楊氏，名宣娘。」 Xuānniáng said, "I am the lady of first rank of the Yáng family, named Xuānniáng, who once smashed the Liáo troops."

提劔便砍，紅鵉挺劔相迎，戰上十餘合，紅鵉撥馬便走，楊宣娘隨後追來，紅鵉取出一粒金棋子，回身打來，楊宣娘一見，念動真言咒語，用手一指，金棋子墜落在地中。 She raised her sword to cut her down, and Red Simurgh extended her own to meet it. They fought for more than ten rounds, and then Red Simurgh turned her horse to flee, with Yáng Xuānniáng in pursuit. Red Simurgh drew out a golden pawn and threw it behind her, but when Yáng Xuānniáng saw it, she chanted a mantra spell, pointed with her finger, and caused the golden pawn to drop onto the ground. 紅鵉一時大怒，將袋中三十五粒金棋子一齊發起，只見金光閃閃，響亮之聲不絕，望宣娘頭上打下，宣娘連忙取出乾坤帕，祭起空中，喝聲「疾」，只見雷聲一響，乾坤帕順風亦開，華光萬道，在空中捲了數捲，將金棋子捲在帕中，宣娘用手一招，収囬乾坤帕。 Red Simurgh was momentarily angry, then pulled from her pouch thirty-five pawns and let them all fly at once. Suddenly there was a sparkling of golden rays and an uninterrupted booming, as she threw them towards Xuānniáng's head. Xuānniáng immediately drew out her Celesterrestrial Kerchief,Bearing the trigrams of heaven ䷀ and earth ䷁.

offered it up to the void, and shouted Quickly! There was a sound of thunder, as the Celesterrestrial Kerchief opened into the wind, scattering millions of gorgeous rays of light. In midair it twisted itself back up, enclosing the golden pawns inside the cloth. Xuānniáng did a move with her hand and recalled the Celesterrestrial Kerchief. 宣娘在怀中取出綑仙索，祭起空中，金光一閃，將紅鵉娘子罩下，紅鵉着驚，飛上空中逃走。 Xuānniáng drew form her bosom her Transcendent-Binding Rope and offered it up to the void. There was a flash of golden light, and it spread over the maiden Red Simurgh. Red Simurgh took fright, then took flight into the sky to flee. 楊元帥令旗一招，宋兵追殺，番兵四散奔逃，死者甚多，楊元帥乘勢取了紅砂洞。 Marshal Yáng waved the command flag, and the Sòng troops chased and killed the enemy. The barbarian troops scattered in all directions, many falling dead. Marshal Yáng seized his chance and took Redsand Grotto. 元帥迎接木桂英、楊宣娘進帳，所得粮草不計其數，降兵千餘人，犒賞三軍，在紅砂洞住馬三日，然後進兵。 The marshal welcomed Mù Guìyīng and Yáng Xuānniáng into the tent. The provisions they had obtained were too many to count, and over a thousand soldiers surrendered. They rewarded the three armies, then rested the horses in Redsand Grotto for three days before beginning their next advance.

話說紅鵉飛起空中逃走，來到一座山岡，架落雲頭，坐在山崗上，長嘆一聲曰：「不疑今日大敗如此，自愧無地。」 The story goes that Red Simurgh flew away and escaped to a small hill, parting the clouds and sitting atop the hill. Heaving a sigh, she said, "I never suspected that I would be beaten so badly today. I have no one to blame but myself." 忽見遠遠有一位仙姑冉冉而來，至近前呌曰：「紅鵉娘仔，尔回與我有緣，莫若歸洞以享長生之福。 She suddenly saw in the distance a transcendent woman approaching slowly. When she got close, she called out, "Maiden Red Simurgh, you and I have a predestined connexion. How about you come back to my grotto and enjoy the blessing of eternal life? 吾非別人，紀氏仙姑是也。」 I am none other than Transcendent Woman Kí."see picture here

紅鵉聽見着驚，隨現出原形，乃是一隻紅鵉，登時開了双翅，飛上空中，意欲望東而走，紀氏念動咒語，用劔一指，喝聲「退」，只見紅鵉墜落山崗之下，紀氏仙姑舉劔欲殺之，紅鵉呌曰：「弟子愿皈依正果了。」 Red Simurgh took fright when she heard this, and manifested her original form—which was a red simurgh. At once she spread her wings and flew off, intending to go east, but Kí chanted a spell and pointed with her sword, shouting Yield! and suddenly Red Simurgh dropped down at the foot of the hill. Transcendent Woman Kí raised her sword to kill her, but Red Simurgh said, "Your disciple consents to convert to the right fruit!"

紀仙姑欢喜，騎在紅鵉背上，用手一拍，紅鵉展開双翅，駕起雲端，望仙山而去。 Transcendent Woman Kí was filled with joy. She rode on red simurgh's back, and when she gave it a smack with her hand, the red simurgh spread open its wings, ascending high into the clouds and going towards the transcendent mountain. 此話勿表。 We'll say no more about this.

再説張仙師下凢投胎。 Now let's speak of how Immortal Master Tiunn descended into the mortal realm and took birth. 昔日潮州府潮陽縣外八十里有一座龍角庄，庄中有一人名曰張老兒，娶妻李氏，早亡未有子。 Long ago, at a distance of eighty leagues from Tiên-iênn (Streamadret) County,Now Swatow.

Teochew (Stream-isle) Prefecture, there was a place called Dragonhorn Vilage. In the village lived a man called Old Man Tiunn, who took a wife surnamed Lí, but she died without children. 於初夏之時，栽一叢金瓜，穿籐過於趙一郎隔鄰厝上，其籐尾又架在胡小三厝上，方生一瓜，餘者俱是青葉。 In the early summer, he planted a patch of pumpkins. The vines reached over into the tshù of his neighbor Tiō It-lông (First Son), and their ends further extended onto the tshù of Ôo Sió-sann (Little Third), where it finally grew one gourd, though all the rest was only green leaves. 此瓜甚然古怪，漸上大來，張老兒見瓜甚大，亦不忍割下。 This gourd was very weird, gradually growing larger and larger. When Old Man Tiunn saw it had gotten huge, he could wait no more and wanted to cut it down. 至深秋之時，見此瓜大如水硿【=水矼=水缸】，那一日張老兒叫過趙、胡二家來說，張老兒言曰：「吾栽此瓜，不意單生一个，十分怪大，今已秋深了，宜當割下，三人均分，庶不失親鄰之妙。」 It was now late autumn, and the gourd had gotten as big as a water vat.Reading tsuí-kng 水矼／水缸 "water vat" for 水硿. 矼 is a variant of 缸 used in Hokkien, and I take this to be a further variant thereupon.

That day, Old Man Tiunn called over Tiō and Ôo to talk. Old Man Tiunn said, "I planted this gourd, but didn't expect it would only produce one fruit. It's bizarre. It's already late autumn, so we should cut it down. How about we split it equally three ways; that would be worthy of neighbors."

趙一曰：「張兄言之極是，尔我一齊上厝割下此瓜落來均分。」 Tiō It said, "Brother Tiunn, you're so right. Let's get up on the tshù together and cut this gourd down and split it."

三人上了胡小三厝頂，輕匕割下，相與扶在地下，用刀剖開，一陣風响，瓜內現出一个孩【⿰子⿻大凵】子，生得靣青髮紅，兩眼露出金光，約有四月日之大。 The three men got up on the tshù-tíng and carefully cut it down, then helped each other onto the ground. When they split it open with a knife, there was the sound of a gust of wind, and within the gourd appeared a child with green skin and red hair, both eyes pouring out golden light, and looked around four months old. 張老兒喜曰：「吾年老無子，皇天不絕我張家之祀，故送此子以續吾後。」 Happily, Old Man Tiunn said, "I'm old and have no sons, but magnificent Heaven has not cut off the sacrifices of our Tiunn family, instead sending this son to continue my line." 對天拜了四拜，連忙向前欲抱此子，胡小三阻住曰：「瓜雖是尔栽，結果在我家厝上。 He bowed to heaven four times. Then he went to embrace the child, but Ôo Sió-sann stopped him, saying, "Although the gourd was planted by you, it bore fruit atop my house. 古人有言曰：『栽之極易，結果甚難。』 The ancients had a saying: 'Planting is the easiest thing there is, but bearing fruit is very hard.' 此子乃胡家之嗣，張家難以全得。」 This child is an heir to the Ôo family; The Tiunn family cannot keep him." 方欲爭取，趙一曰：「此子尔一人無分，皆是趙家之子孫。 They were about to fight, when Tiō It said, "You don't have a share in the child either. It's the offspring of the Tiō family. 此瓜雖在尔厝上，籐竟生在我厝上，非吾照僱【=顧】，安能得活？ Although the gourd was on your house, the vines grew on mine. If not for my care, how could it have survived? 栽者極易，顧養甚難，此功歸在於我，尔二人安得有分？」 Planting is the easiest thing there is, but nurturing is very hard. The credit goes to me. Why should you two get a share?"

三人較鬧一塲，幸遇庄中姚德員外出鄉討租，冋【=同】老蒼頭來到胡家門口，見三人在此嚷鬧，姚公向前問之，張老兒訢出情由。 While the three men argued noisily, fortunately a man named Squire Iâu Tik (Virtue) was in the village, having gone out to the countryside to collect rents. Arriving at the Ôo family's gate with an old servant, he saw the three men making a ruckus. Squire Iâu went up and asked about it, and Old Man Tiunn explained the circumstances.

姚公曰：「小可不才，與尔均分，未知尔等意下如何？」 Squire Iâu suggested, "Supposing my humble person splits it for you—would that be satisfactory?"

張老兒曰：「姚員外主意，安有不從之理？」 "What reason could there be not to follow your plan?" said Old Man Tiunn. 姚公曰：「此子生在瓜中，不與別家，就在尔三人厝上，乃上天所賜，非一人之福。 Squire Iâu said, "This child grew from the gourd, not for any other family, but on the houses of you three. It's a gift from heaven, not the fortune of only one person. 尔今三人可共養此子，况兼尔三人並無子息，正是皇天怜爾忠厚，故差此子以接尔三家之後。 You three should now raise the child together. Moreover, none of you has male offspring; majestic Heaven has taken pity on your loyalty and generosity, and so dispatched this child to continue the family lines of the three houses. 我今為尔說和，取名張趙胡，尔今輪流養育，若得成人，三家共享富貴，豈不兩全其美？」 My settlement is this: the child will be named Tiunn Tiō-ôo, and you will take turns raising him. If he lives to adulthood, the three families can share riches and honor. This way you can have it both ways."

三人欢喜拜謝，將瓜欲送姚公員外，姚公堅辞不受，又取出五兩銀與尔令郎作衣服穿的，三人拜謝員外，辞別而去。 Happily, the three bowed in thanks. They tried to give the gourd to Squire Iâu, but he refused it absolutely, instead giving them five taels of silver to provide the boy with clothing. The three bowed in thanks to the squire, who took his leave and left. 自此三家和睦，輪流養育。 From then on, the three families lived in harmony, taking turns looking after the child. 至張趙胡十歲，三家父母相継而亡。 When Tiunn Tiō-ôo was eight or nine, his parents from the three families all died in succession. 張趙胡不務生業，只要求師學道。 Tiunn Tiō-ôo did not apply himself to any industry, wanting only to find a master and study the Way. 至十六歲之時，幸然逢三月清明佳節，張趙胡帶了紙錢，來到高山巡視三家父母坟墓，至墓前哀淚一番，心思古人有言曰：「人之浮生若夢，為權【歡？】幾何？ When he was fourteen or fifteen, it chanced to be the Tomb Sweeping Festival. Tiunn Tiō-hôo took paper money and went to a tall mountain and inspected the graves of his three sets of parents. Arriving in front of the grave, he wept grievously. He though of the ancient saying. "A human's floating life is like a dream; how much happiness can it have? 不如學得長生不老之訣，免遭輪迴之劫。 Better to study the secrets of ageless and eternal life, and avoid suffering kalpas of transmigration." 但吾此心不過空思妄想，那有神仙相遇之理？」 But this heart of mind is but vainly fantasizing. How could I ever meet a god or transcendent?" 坐在草埔上左思右想，忽見一人面白唇紅，少年將近二旬年紀，背帶包袱，手提雨傘，足穿草鞋，如出路之人，近前而來。 Sitting on the grassHokkien tsháu-poo 草埔

and thinking it over, he suddenly saw approaching a person with a white face and red lips, a youth nearly twenty, with a load on their back, an umbrella in their hand, straw sandals on their feet, like someone traveling. 張趙胡見此人生成不俗，向前行禮，動問道：「尊府貴居何處？ Tiunn Tiō-ôo saw that the person looked extraordinary, he went up and exchanged pleasantries, asking, "Where might your home be, sir? 今欲何往？ And where are you headed today? 請談無妨。」 There's no harm in chatting."

那人曰：「吾祖居河南，姓李名藝，聞得浙江金山有一位廬山王掌教道法，十分法力廣大，吾故不辭千里而來，欲投在門下以學道法。 The person said, "My ancestral home is in Hénán. My surname is Lǐ and my given name Yì (Righteous). I got word that on Gold Mountain in Zhéjiāng, there's someone called the king of Mt. Lú teaching the magic of the Way, and that his magic power is extensive. So I came, not flinching from the thousand-league journey. 吾求道心切，不敢閑談。」 I'm eager to seek the Way, and can't afford to stay and chat." 辞別而去。 With that, he took his leave and left. 此人就是廬山王欲引張趙胡上山學法，故此化做李藝前來指示張趙胡路經此。 That person was none other than the king of Mt. Lú, who wanted to entice Tiunn Tiō-ôo to come to the mountain and study magic, and so had transformed into Lǐ Yì to give Tiunn Tiō-ôo directions.

張趙胡後隨文廣征閩為軍師，至南閩幷不求名利，歸山修道。 Later, Tiunn Tiō-ôo went with Wénguǎng in the campain against Bân as a military adviser. When they got to Bân, by no means was he after fame or fortune; instead he returned to the mountain to practice the Way. 現在漳州城南門內有一座南䑓廟，上中有一神像，頭戴道冠，青面紅鬚，就是張趙胡，世人稱他為南䑓王便是此人。 Nowadays in Tsiang-tsiu City, inside the south gate, there is a Southern Terrace Temple. Upstairs there is a god image which wears a Taoist cap and has green skin and red hair. That is Tiunn Tiō-ôo. The one some people call him Southern Terrace King is him. 此是後話。 But that is a story for later.

再說張趙胡聞知此言，日夜不能寢食，一心向道。 As we were saying, when Tiunn Tiō-ôo heard this, he could not sleep that night; his whole heart inclined toward the Way. 一日打辦行李，收拾細軟物件及銀兩乾糧，辞別鄰里之人，假言出外經商。 One day he put together his luggage, collecting his valuables, two taels of silver and rations, and bid farewell to his neighbors, letting them think he was leaving to conduct trade. 一間小厝，托王媽匕代他巡視。 His little house he entrusted to a certain Mother Wáng to look after for him. 即時起程，望東而去。 Then he set out for the east.

行了十餘日，來到一座高山，十分險惡。 He walked for more than ten days, and arrived at a tall mountain, perilous and sinister. 張趙胡信步上山，只聞得一陣腥臭味，一声響喨，跳出一尾毒蛇，其大如米升，長八尺，口開舌出，對張趙胡身上罩來。 Tiunn Tiō-ôo was sauntering up the mountain when he smelled a rancid odor, then heard a loud noise, and out jumped a poisonous snakeTsi̍t bué to̍k-tsuâ 一尾毒蛇, using the Hokkien measure word bué 尾 "tail" rather than Mandarin tiáo 條 "strip."

as fat as a rice-pint and eight inches long. It opened its mouth and stuck out its tongue, covering Tiunn's body. 張趙胡一時著驚，暈倒在地。 Tiunn Tiō-ôo was frozen with fear, and fainted on the ground. 其蛇盤盤伏蹲在面前，停一時間，向竹腳而去。 The snake coiled around and crouched before him, stayed there for awhile, and then left into the bamboo.Reading 竹腳 as tik-kha, derived by catenation from tik-á 竹仔 "bamboo." The character 腳 (colloquial reading kioh, literary reading khiok) is a traditional semantic loan for the unrelated word kha "foot." The word 竹腳 also appears in Southeast Asia, transcribed teka or tekka.

張趙胡良久漸漸醒來，心中自思曰：「吾學道已切，縱使被蛇咬去，吾亦無怨悔。」 Tiunn Tiō-ôo came round bit by bit, and thought, "It's most pressing that I study the Way. Then even if bitten to death by a snake, I still will have no regrets." 又望前而走。 He continued his journey.

行了二日，忽一片樹林，十分茂盛，張趙胡從林中而入。 After two more days of travel, he saw a lush patch of trees. He approached the thicket and entered. 忽聞一陣風響，樹落殘葉，猛然跳出一隻弔睛白額班虎，咆哮而來。 Suddenly he heard a gust of wind, and every leaf was blown away. There abruptly jumped out a tiger with slanting eyes and white forehead. It was upon him with a roar. 張趙胡一見，十分著驚：「此一番吾命休矣！」 Seeing it, Tiunn Tiō-ôo took fright. "This time, I'm finished!" 此虎沖到面前，張趙胡暈失在地，此虎亦跌在面前，目視張趙胡，咆哮，停一時間，向山下而走。 The tiger rushed up to him, and he fainted on the ground. The tiger, for its part, fell down in front of him. It watched him, roared again, waited awhile, and then went back into the mountains. 張趙胡良久漸漸還魂，及至精神已定，兩目仰視，猛虎不知去向。 Very gradually, Tiunn Tiō-ôo's spirits returned. When his mind was settled, he tilted his head and looked up, but the fierce tiger was nowhere to be seen. 張趙胡整頓衣冠，望而走，欲尋廬山。 Tiunn Tiō-ôo tidied his cap and tunic and left, wanting to find Mt. Lú.

原來猛虎毒蛇俱是廬山王差來神將，變化虎蛇以探其心如何。 As it turns out, the fierce tiger and poisonous snake had been spirit generals sent by the king of Mt. Lú all along, transformed into animals to test him. 今神將回轉廬山，報知天王，言張趙胡果然聖心訪道，十分情切。 Now the spirit generals went back to Mt. Lú and reported to the Sky King, saying that Tiunn Tiō-ôo had a sagely heart that sought the Way with complete sincerity. 廬山王分付仙童去引他進洞授法。 The king of Mt. Lú instructed a Transcendent Boy to lead him into the grotto to be imparted magic. 未知此去如何，且听下回分解。 We still don't know what happened next—let's listen to the explanation in the next chapter.

Chapter 8: Tiunn Tiō-ôo Enters the Mountain and is Imparted Magic

第八回 張趙胡登山授法

卻說張趙胡行了三日，來至一座高山，十分秀麗，猿啼鶴淚【=唳】，蒼松翠竹，古石奇花，果有神仙之境象。 We were saying how Tiunn Tiō-ôo walked for three days, and came to a high mountain. It was beautiful. Gibbons keen, cranes crunkle—verdant pines, alcedine bamboo—ancient stones, rare flowers. It was truly a realm of gods and transcendents. 張趙胡望山上而行，意欲問此山之名，不疑並無人家住舍。 Tiunn Tiō-ôo approached the mountain, hoping to ask after its name, not suspecting that not a single household resided upon it. 行到半山，轉抹一條曲徑，听有笛聲響喨。 Halfway up the mountain, he turned onto a crooked path, where he began to catch snatches of fluting. 轉眼間，忽見一位童子騎在牛背上，信口吹笛。 In the blink of an eye, there appeared a boy riding on the back of an ox, casually playing the flute.

張趙胡忙向前，走到牛前，作了一揖，口称：「仙童在上，張趙胡稽首，借問道童，此山何名？」 Tiunn Tiō-ôo pressed forward, sidling up to the ox. Saluting, he said, "Transcendent boy, sir, Tiunn Tiō-ôo pays his respects. Pray, Taoist boy, what is the name of this mountain?"

道童應道：「此山乃廬山也。」 "This is Mt. Lú," said the Taoist boy.

張趙胡又再問：「此處可有廬天王否？」 Again, Tiunn Tiō-ôo asked, "Upon this mountain might there be a certain 'King of Mt. Lú'?"

道童曰：「正是吾師。 "That would be my master," said the Taoist boy. 尔問他則欲甚麼？」 "For what purpose do you ask after him?"

張趙胡曰：「小的要拜他為師。」 Tiunn Tiō-ôo said, "I am going to submit to him as my master."

李道童子曰：「既如此，可隨吾到洞。」 "That being the case, you may follow me to the grotto," said Taoist boy Lǐ. 張趙胡拜謝。 Tiunn Tiō-ôo bowed in thanks.

童子撥牛引轉，行至有一石橋，過橋看見一座清幽洞府。 The boy turned his ox about, and led them to a stone bridge. Crossing the bridge, they could see a tranquil and secluded cave residence. 童子下牛，引張趙胡進入洞中，看見中央碧玉床上坐了一位聖德道人，頭戴道金冠，身穿八卦絳綉袍，白面三柳烏鬚，凜然有道骨之貌。 The boy dismounted the ox and led Tiunn Tiō-ôo into the grotto. There he saw, upon a jasper bed in the middle, a supremely virtuous Taoist. On his head was a golden Taoist cap, and he wore an embroidered scarlet robe emblazoned with the eight trigrams. On his fair face grew a raven-black beard in three parts, giving him the forbidding air of the cultivator.

張趙胡連忙跪下，拜了八拜，口称：「弟子張趙胡參拜師父，愿師父聖壽無疆。」 天王吩咐起來。 張趙胡又與兩邊二十四位門人相見畢。 天王曰：「張趙胡，尔乃天上看仙𣑯園仙童，因蟠桃會上與採桃仙女一笑，犯了天条，罰落凡間，以受勞頓之苦，日後必有皈依正果之期。 吾見尔求道真切，故收尔在洞中。 尔今可尽心學業，至劫難已滿，就有登仙之日。 爾其謹慎，勿負吾言。」 張趙胡跪下叩頭謝恩。 自此在廬山李道不提。 且說楊元帥在紅砂洞養馬三日，宋兵又帳跪下稟曰：「啓元帥，頭運糧官將軍到。」 楊元帥令進見。 楊唐至中軍帳前，參見畢，楊唐道：「末將奉令運糧到營，並無過限，請元帥交納。」 元帥大喜，令參軍王定六點收粮草。 楊唐又稟曰：「現有聖上差鎮殿大將軍前來相助平關，以候元帥委用。」 元帥即令請入。 馬殿至中軍帳，楊元帥率頭一看，見馬殿生成面如重棗，兩鬢鬍鬚，身穿青銅甲，高丈二，腰大十圍，如天神一般。 楊元帥欢喜。 馬殿曰：「元帥在上，末將參見。」 元帥曰：「馬將軍為國忠心，成功之日，自有重爵。」 分付偹酒，共馬將軍接風。 楊唐又稟曰：「太君差四公子懷恩前來相助平關，現在帳外。」 元帥令喚入。 四郎入帳，口称：「父親在上，孩兒拜見。 兒奉祖母之命，前來相助父親一臂之力。」 元帥曰：「爾年紀幼少，交戰之事非爾所知，爾到此何幹？」 楊唐曰：「公子年紀雖少，武藝超羣，一同元帥征閩，建立大功，一來尽忠報國，二來尽孝於家，豈不忠孝兩全矣？」 元帥曰：「將軍所言甚是有理。」 隔一日，元帥發令起兵，離了紅砂洞，望天魔洞而來。 此洞在延平府南平縣外五十里，古迹尚存。 未知如何，且听下回分解。

my notes

• historical and narrative sources
  • chen yuanguang settling min (tang)
  • conquest of min kingdom (five dynasties)
  • 楊家府
    • nong zhigao rebellion (under song renzong)
• compare linshui furen cycle: subduing/cooptation of demons who represent pre-sinitic heritage
• daoist references
• 武當山: one of the five alps
• high thearch
• 六甲

  • 抱朴子內篇·卷十七 登涉

    抱朴子曰：入名山，以甲子開除日，以五色繒各五寸，懸大石上，所求必得。又曰，入山宜知六甲秘祝。祝曰，臨兵鬥者，皆陣列前行。凡九字，常當密祝之，無所不辟。要道不煩，此之謂也。

  • “上清瓊宮靈飛六甲左右上符” ([[zotero://select/library/items/XBN6UT8X][“The Taoist canon: a historical companion to the Daozang = [Dao zang tong kao]”, 2004, p. 172]]) (pdf)

    • text of scripture

  • 孫龐鬥志演義