Chinese Novels

"鞠躬盡瘁，死而後已！"

"朝廷養軍千日，用在一時。"

"I shall strive on to the end, but the final result, whether success or failure, whether gain or loss, is beyond my powers to foresee."

"Do the unexpected; attack the unprepared."

"皓首匹夫！蒼髯老賊！汝即日將歸於九泉之下，何面目見二十四帝乎！"

"In arms even it is best to attack hearts rather than cities; to fight with sentiment is better than to fight with weapons."

"勿以恶小而为之，勿以善小而不为。"

"You are many times more clever than Cao Pi, and you must safeguard the kingdom and complete the great work. If my son can be helped, help him. But if he proves a fool, then take the throne yourself and be a ruler."

"煮豆燃豆萁，豆在釜中泣。本是同根生，相煎何太急！"

"功首罪魁非两人，遺臭流芳本一身。"

"龍游溝壑遭蝦戲，鳳入牢籠被鳥欺。"

"身雖殞，名可垂於竹帛也。"

"玉可碎而不可改其白，竹可焚而不可毀其節。"

"治病須分内外科，世間妙藝苦無多。 神威罕及惟關將，聖手能醫說華佗。"

"卿不負孤，孤亦必不負卿也。"

"'Chicken tendons' are tasteless things to eat, and yet it is a pity to waste them."

"三軍易得，一將難求。"

"人主幾番存厚道，才臣一意進權謀。"

"良药苦口利于病，忠言逆耳利于行。"

"Ma Chao ground his teeth and cursed Cao Cao, "Rebel! Betrayer of both prince and people! Murderer of my father and brothers! My hate for you is to the death: The same sky shall not continue to cover us, for I will take you captive and satiate my appetite on your living flesh." With this he set his spear and rode over toward Cao Cao as if to slay him. But Yu Jin came out from behind and engaged Ma Chao in battle. These two fought some half score bouts, and then Yu Jin had to flee. Zhang He, however, took his place and the two warriors exchanged twenty passes. Then Zhang He, too, ran away. Next to come forth was Li Tong. Ma Chao's martial prowess was now at its height, and he made short work of Li Tong, who went out of the saddle at the first blow. Then Ma Chao flourished his spear at the troops behind him as a signal for them to come on, which they did like a flood. They overwhelmed Cao Cao's forces, and Ma Chao, Pang De, and Ma Dai rode forward to try to capture Cao Cao."

"蒼天既已生公瑾，塵世何須出孔明？"

"[Sun Quan and Liu Bei] stood both entranced by the beautiful scene. And gradually along the vast river the wind whipped the waves into snowy foam and raised them high toward heaven. And in the midst of the waves appeared a tiny leaf of a boat riding over the waves as if all was perfect calm. "The northern people are riders and the southern people sailors. It is said quite true," sighed Liu Bei."

"江山雨霁擁青螺，境界无憂樂最多。 昔日英雄凝目處，岩崖依舊抵風波。"

"Soon Lu Su came in, to whom Zhou Yu said, "I simply must fight Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang till it is decided which shall have the upper hand. I must also recapture the cities. Perhaps you can assist me." "It cannot be done," replied Lu Su. "We are now at grips with Cao Cao, and victory or defeat is undecided. Our lord has not been successful in overcoming Hefei. Do not fight near home, or it will be like people of the same household destroying each other. Should Cao Cao take advantage of this position to make a sudden descent, we should be in a parlous condition. Further, you must remember that Liu Bei and Cao Cao are united by the bonds of old friendship. If the pressure becomes too great, Liu Bei may relinquish these cities, offer them to Cao Cao, and join forces with him to attack the south. That would be a real misfortune." "I cannot help being angry," said Zhou Yu, "to think that we should have used our resources for their benefit. They get all the advant"

"You see before you one Cao Cao—defeated and weak. I have reached a sad pass, and I trust you, O General, will not forget the kindness of former days."

"Huang Gai took his place on the third ship. He merely wore breast armor and carried a keen blade. On his flag were written four large characters "Van Leader Huang Kai". With a fair wind his fleet sailed toward the Red Cliffs."

"欲破曹公，宜用火攻； 萬事俱備，只欠東風。"

"Your troops from the north are unused to ships, and the motion makes them ill. If your ships, large and small, were classed and divided into thirties, or fifties, and joined up stem to stem by iron chains and boards spread across them, to say nothing of soldiers being able to pass from one to the next, even horses could move about on them. If this were done, then there would be no fear of the wind and the waves and the rising and falling tides."

"The naval forces were then lined up shooting on the bank to prevent a landing. Presently the soldiers arrived, and ten thousand and more soldiers were shooting down into the river, where the arrows fell like rain. [...] The whole twenty boats were bristling with arrows on both sides. As they left, Zhuge Liang asked all the crews to shout derisively, "We thank you, Sir Prime Minister, for the arrows!""

"I hold a sacred trust from my late lord, Sun Ce. I would not bow the knee to any such as Cao Cao. What I said just now was to see how you stood. I left Poyang Lake with the intention of attacking the north, and nothing can change that intention, not even the sword at my breast or the ax on my neck."

"豈亦效書生,區區於筆硯之間,數黑論黃,舞文弄墨而已乎？"

"亮借一帆風，直至江東，憑三寸不爛之舌，說南北兩軍互相吞併。"

"As the men of Cao Cao came pressing on, Zhao Yun drew Cao Cao's own sword to beat them off. Nothing could resist the blue blade sword. Armor, clothing, it went through without effort and blood gushed forth in fountains wherever it struck. So the four generals were soon beaten off, and Zhao Yun was once again free."

"Yu Jin rode forward shouting at the top of his voice, "Halt the train!" Xiahou Dun saw him coming up and asked what was the matter. Yu Jin said, "The roads here are narrow and difficult. Around us are thick forests. What if they use fire?" Xiahou Dun's ferocity had then somewhat abated and he turned his steed toward his main body. Then there arose a shout behind him. A rushing noise came from in the reeds and great tongues of flame shot up here and there. These spread and soon the fire was in "the four quarters and the eight sides," and fanned by a strong wind."

"Do you not understand that the plans elaborated in a little chamber decide success over thousands of miles?"

"Though I be of small repute and scanty virtue," said Liu Bei, "I hope, O Master, you will not despise me for my worthlessness, but will leave this retreat to help me. I will assuredly listen most reverently to your words." Zhuge Liang replied, "I have long been happy on my farm and am fond of my leisure. I fear I cannot obey your command." Liu Bei wept. "If you will not, O Master, what will become of the people?" The tears rolled down unchecked upon the lapel and sleeves of Liu Bei's robe. This proved to Zhuge Liang the sincerity of his desire. Hence, Zhuge Liang said, "General, if you will accept me, I will render what trifling service I can."

"淡泊以明志，寧静而致遠。"

""He will not condescend to visit you. You must go to him. But if he consents, you will be as fortunate as the Zhou when they got the aid of Lu Wang, or the Han when Zhang Liang came to help." "How does the unknown compare with yourself?" "With me? Compared with him I am as a worn-out carthorse to a palomino, an old duck to a phoenix. This man often compares himself with the ancient sages Guan Zhong and Yue Yi but, in my opinion, he is far their superior. He has the talent to measure the heavens and mete the earth. He is a man who overshadows every other in the world."

"勝負兵家之常，何可自隳其志！"

"The last night he spent in Jizhou, Cao Cao went to the eastern corner tower and stood there regarding the sky. His only companion was Xun You. Presently Cao Cao said, "That is a very brilliant glow there in the south. It seems too strong for me to do anything there." "What is there that can oppose your heaven-high prestige?" said Xun You."

"勢弱只因多算勝，兵强却為寡謀亡。"

"He who wins people, prospers; he who loses them, fails. Your present plan should be to seek people of high aims and farseeing views, and you can establish yourself firmly."

"Guan Yu quickly mounted, turned down his mighty weapon, and galloped down the hill, his phoenix eyes rounded, and his silkworm eyebrows fiercely bristling. He dashed straight into the enemy's array, and the northern soldiers opened like falling waves and dissolving storms. He made directly for the commander."

"今天下英雄，惟使君與操耳！"

"Now the division of Cao Cao's army under Xiahou Dun, having marched out in advance, first came into touch with Gao Shun. Xiahou Dun at once rode out with spear set and offered a challenge. It was accepted and the two leaders fought half a hundred bouts. Then Gao Shun began to weaken and had to turn back. He rode round to the rear of his array. Xiahou Dun was not the man to quail, so he followed right into the enemy's country. Then Cao Xing, one of Lu Bu's generals, secretly strung his bow, fitted an arrow and, when Xiahou Dun had come quite near, shot at him. The arrow hit Xiahou Dun full in the left eye. He shrieked, and putting up his head, pulled out the arrow and with it the eye. "Essence of my father, blood of my mother, I cannot throw this away!" cried Xiahou Dun, and he put the eye into his mouth and swallowed it. Then resuming his firm grip of his spear, Xiahou Dun went after this new enemy. There was no escape for Cao Xing. He was overtaken and fell with a fatal spear wound full in the face. Both sides were stricken dumb with amazement."

"Your rival has ten weak points whereas you have ten strong ones, and, though his army is large, it is not terrible."

"溫侯神射世間稀，曾向轅門獨解危。 落日果然欺后羿，號猿直欲勝由基。 虎筋弦響弓開處，雕羽翅飛箭到時。 豹子尾搖穿畫戟，雄兵十萬脫徵衣。"

"屈身守分，以待天時，不可與命争也。"

"兄弟如手足，妻子如衣服。 衣服破，尚可縫；手足斷，安可續？"

"舉杯暢飲情何放，拔劍捐生悔已遲！"