后出师表 诸葛亮 | The Second Memorial, Prior to the Northward Expedition Zhuge Liang |
先帝深虑汉、贼不两立，王业不偏安，故托臣以讨贼也。以先帝之明，量臣之才，固知臣伐贼，才弱敌强也。然不伐贼，王业亦亡。惟坐而待亡，孰与伐之？是故托臣而弗疑也。 | The Late Emperor considered Shu Han and Cao Wei could not coexist, nor should we for the sake of the imperial cause be content with our sovereignty over only a part of the country, so he entrusted me with the cause to crusade against Wei. The Late Emperor had the insight to know by measuring my capabilities that if I embarked on the expedition against Wei, I would not have enough competence to conquer the mighty foe. Nevertheless, if we did not attack Wei, our kingdom would perish all the same. Should we sit idle and wait to be conquered, or should we take the initiative to attack the enemy?Therefore the Late Emperor entrusted me with the mission without hesitation. |
臣受命之日，寝不安席，食不甘味。思惟北征。宜先入南。故五月渡泸，深入不毛，并日而食；臣非不自惜也，顾王业不可得偏安于蜀都，故冒危难，以奉先帝之遗意也，而议者谓为非计。今贼适疲于西，又务于东，兵法乘劳，此进趋之时也。谨陈其事如左： | Since I received his entrustment, I have not been able to enjoy a night of sound sleep, nor a meal of tasty food. I thought that before starting the northward expedition we should crusade against the southern barbarous tribes first. Therefore in May we crossed the Lushui River and marched into the desolate areas, having meals only every two days. It was not that I did not take care of myself, but that I found it impossible to confine ourselves to the land of Shu for the imperial cause. So I took the risk and began to execute the will of the Late Emperor. Some critics said this was not the best approach. Now Wei is busy fighting a rebellion in its western border counties and coping with the military attacks from the east. In line with the military strategy and tactics that attacks should be launched when the enemy is exhausted, it is high time we set forth on the expedition again. I hereby state the reasons as follows: |
高帝明并日月，谋臣渊深，然涉险被创，危然后安。今陛下未及高帝，谋臣不如良、平，而欲以长策取胜，坐定天下，此臣之未解一也。 | The wisdom of our Emperor Gao can be comparable to the sun and the moon, and his advisors were full of knowledge and great resources. Nevertheless even he had experienced hardships and suffered wounds in battle before he could enjoy peace after surviving dangers. Now, as Your Majesty is not as capable as Emperor Gao, and your advisors are not as remarkable as Zhang Liang and Chen Ping, can we still intend to win by using a long-term strategy of political stasis, and idly enjoy a stabilized land? This is the first point that I cannot understand. |
刘繇、王朗各据州郡，论安言计，动引圣人，群疑满腹，众难塞胸，今岁不战，明年不征，使孙策坐大，遂并江东，此臣之未解二也。 | Liu You and Wang Lang each occupied their respective counties and prefectures. When discussing security strategies, some of them used to quote ancient sages, while others were full of doubts and fears in their minds. They did not go to battle this year, nor did they go on an expedition next year. Consequently Sun Ce grew stronger and stronger, and finally annexed the whole part of East of the River. This is the second point that I cannot understand. |
曹操智计，殊绝于人，其用兵也，仿佛孙、吴，然困于南阳，险于乌巢，危于祁连，逼于黎阳，几败北山，殆死潼关，然后伪定一时耳。况臣才弱，而欲以不危而定之，此臣之未解三也。 | Cao Cao was far more intelligent and resourceful than others. He could use his troops as artfully as Sun Wu and Wu Qi. Nonetheless, he fell into a dilemma at Nanyang, met with danger at Wuchao and suffered a calamity at Qilianshan; he was also cornered at Liyang and nearly defeated at Beishan; he almost met his death at Tongguan before he illegally enjoyed the title of King of Wei for some time. Since I am not as capable, is it possible for us to conquer the enemy without taking risks? This is the third point that I cannot understand. |
曹操五攻昌霸不下，四越巢湖不成，任用李服而李服图之，委任夏侯而夏侯败亡，先帝每称操为能，犹有此失，况臣驽下，何能必胜？此臣之未解四也。 | Cao Cao attacked Chang Ba five times but did not capture it; he tried to cross Chaohu Lake four times but failed; he used Li Fu, but the latter conspired against him; he put Xiahou Yuan in command, who was later defeated and killed. The Late Emperor used to praise Cao Cao for his brilliant capability, but even Cao Cao suffered these setbacks. As I am low in competence, how can I be sure of victory? This is the fourth point that I cannot understand. |
自臣到汉中，中间期年耳，然丧赵云、阳群、马玉、阎芝、丁立、白寿、刘郃、邓铜等及曲长、屯将七十余人，突将、无前、賨叟、青羌、散骑、武骑一千余人。此皆数十年之内所纠合四方之精锐，非一州之所有；若复数年，则损三分之二也，当何以图敌？此臣之未解五也。 | It has only been a year since I led the troops and stationed them in Hanzhong, during which time over 70 generals and commanding officers, such as Zhao Yun, Yang Qun, Ma Yu, Yan Zhi, Ding Li, Bai Shou, Liu He, Deng Tong and others, as well as more than a thousand people like Tu Jiang, Wu Qian, Cong Sou, Qing Qiang, and fighters like free cavalrymen and martial cavalrymen were lost. These were elite forces gathered from all parts of the country over decades, not just from a single prefecture or county. In a few years to come, two thirds of the original force will be lost, and how can we fight against the enemy then? This is the fifth point that I cannot understand. |
今民穷兵疲，而事不可息；事不可息，则住与行劳费正等。而不及今图之，欲以一州之地，与贼持久，此臣之未解六也。 | Now the people are in poverty and the soldiers tired, but we cannot put an end to our cause. As things stand, it costs just as much labor and expense to wait for enemy attacks as it does for us to initiate attacks. However, instead of taking advantage of this time, we still attempt to be at a long stalemate with the enemy relying on a mere state of Yizhou. This is the sixth point that I cannot understand. |
夫难平者，事也。昔先帝败军于楚，当此时，曹操拊手，谓天下已定。然后先帝东连吴越，西取巴蜀，举兵北征，夏侯授首，此操之失计，而汉事将成也。然后吴更违盟，关羽毁败，秭归蹉跌，曹丕称帝。凡事如是，难可逆见。臣鞠躬尽瘁，死而后已。至于成败利钝，非臣之明所能逆睹也。 | The hardest thing to judge is war. When the Late Emperor suffered defeat in the land of Chu, Cao Cao clapped his hands, saying the whole country had been pacified. Then the Late Emperor allied with Wu Yue in the east and captured Bashu in the west. He then sent his troops northward, where Xiahou Yuan lost his head. That was the result of Cao Cao’s misjudgment and it seemed that the revitalization of the Han Dynasty was about to succeed. Then, however, Sun Quan of Wu broke the covenant and Guan Yu was defeated and killed. In addition, the Late Emperor lost his war in Zigui while Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor. Events develop just like that, which is hard to predict. What I can do now is only to exert my best until my death comes. As to whether the expedition against Wei will be successful or not, smooth or difficult, it is beyond my ken to make a prediction. |
| 译者：金德明 | Translated by Jin Deming |
