第四十三回  舌战群儒

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次日至馆驿中见孔明，又嘱曰：“今见我主，切不可言曹操兵多。”孔明笑曰：“亮自见机而变，决不有误。”肃乃引孔明至幕下。早见张昭、顾雍等一班文武二十余人，峨冠博带，整衣端坐。孔明逐一相见，各问姓名。施礼已毕，坐于客位。

The following day, Lu Su came for Kongming. Again he warned the guest not to mention the size of Cao Cao’s army. “Let me respond as I see fit,” Kongming said with a smile. “Nothing shall go amiss, rest assured.” Lu Su conducted Kongming to the headquarters of General Sun, where he was introduced to Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong, and some 20 other officials and officers of the first rank. As they sat erect in full dress, with their high formal caps and broad belts, Kongming was presented to each in turn. The formalities concluded, Kongming was shown to the guest’s seat.

张昭等见孔明丰神飘洒，器宇轩昂，料道此人必来游说。张昭先以言挑之曰：“昭乃江东微末之士，久闻先生高卧隆中，自比管、乐。此语果有之乎？”孔明曰：“此亮平生小可之比也。”昭曰：“近闻刘豫州三顾先生于草庐之中，幸得先生，以为如鱼得水，思欲席卷荆襄。今一旦以属曹操，未审是何主见？”

From Kongming’s air of self-assurance and dignified, confident carriage, Zhang Zhao and the others understood that he had come to exert his power of persuasion. Zhao initiated the discussion with a provocative comment: “I, the least of the Southland’s scholars, have been hearing for some time how you, ensconced in Longzhong, have compared yourself to the great ministers of antiquity. Guan Zhong and Yue Yi. Have you actually made such claims?” “There could be some slight basis for the comparison,” was Kongming’s reply. “I have also heard that Liu Xuande, protector of Yuzhou, solicited you 3 times at that thatched hut and, considering himself fortunate to get you—‘a fish finding water’ was how he described it—expected to roll up Jingzhou in the palm of his hand. Now that the province belongs to Cao Cao, we await you explanation.”

孔明自思张昭乃孙权手下第一个谋士，若不先难倒他，如何说得孙权，遂答曰：“吾观取汉上之地，易如反掌。我主刘豫州躬行仁义，不忍夺同宗之基业，故力辞之。刘琮孺子，听信佞言，暗自投降，致使曹操得以猖獗。今我主屯兵江夏，别有良图，非等闲可知也。”

Aware that Zhang Zhao was Sun Quan’s chief adviser—the man he had to confound or else lose all hope of convincing Quan himself—Kongming replied, “In my view that province on the River Han could have been taken as easily as one turns one’s palm. But my master, Lord Liu, precisely because he conducts himself humanely and honorably, could never bear to steal a kinsman’s estate and refuse to do so. The adolescent Liu Zong, the victim of insidious counsel, secretly surrendered himself, giving Cao Cao a free hand in the region. My master, however, with forces stationed at Jiangxia, has promising prospects of his own, a man with normal talent could not understand that.”

昭曰：“若此，是先生言行相违也。先生自比管、乐，管仲相桓公，霸诸侯，一国天下；乐毅扶持微弱之燕，下齐七十余城：此二人者，真济世之才也。先生在草庐之中，但笑傲风月，抱膝危坐。今既从事刘豫州，当为生灵兴利除害，剿灭乱贼。

“Then your words and deeds do not agree,” said Zhang Zhao. “For the men with whom you are wont to compare, Guan Zhong was the prime minister of Duke Huan of Qi, he helped Duke Huan acquired the hegemony, made Qi the biggest power in the realm; And Yue Yi, with his efforts, the original weak Yan, had swiftly taken some 70 counties from Qi. These 2 had real talent to benefit the people. Sir, once you secluded in the thatched hut, the things you usually did were merely singing sentimental poets, or posing in a superior manner, arms around your knees. Now you are serving the Protector Liu, the things you usually do should be promoting the good and abolishing the bad for the people, and eliminating the rebels.

且刘豫州未得先生之前，尚且纵横寰宇，割据城池；今得先生，人皆仰望。虽三尺童蒙，亦谓彪虎生翼，将见汉室复兴，曹氏即灭矣。朝廷旧臣，山林隐士，无不拭目而待：以为拂高天之云翳，仰日月之光辉，拯民于水火之中，措天下于衽席之上，在此时也。

Before Protector Liu earned your service, sir, he was moving around the realm freely, stealing a city or a town where he could. Now, with you to aid him, he received more expectations from public eyes. Even the child just reached school age said that he was a tiger who had grown wings; the Hans was going to be restored and Cao Cao and his faction exterminated; the subjects who are still loyalty to Han and the hermits lurked in valleys and woods, were all ready to see: the time has come for lifting the cloud of darkness that covered the sky and looking up the glorious brilliancy of the sun and moon, pulling the people out of the great misery and putting all the world to rest on a couch of comfort.

何先生自归豫州，曹兵一出，弃甲抛戈，望风而窜；上不能报刘表以安庶民，下不能辅孤子而据疆土；乃弃新野，走樊城，败当阳，奔夏口，无容身之地：是豫州既得先生之后，反不如其初也。管仲、乐毅，果如是乎？愚直之言，幸勿见怪！”

But why, sir, since you have come to Protector Liu’s aid, Cao Cao’s army attacked Xinye once, your soldiers threw aside their weapons and armors and fled as they saw the enemy. Thus Xuande couldn’t repay the kindness of Liu Biao and bring peace to his people; and he couldn’t aid Liu Biao’s orphan sons to protect the province—that was supposed the least he can do. Instead he abandoned Xinye and fled to Fancheng; you were defeated at Dangyang and rushed to Xiakou, there was no refuge for him. Therefore, after you had joined Protector Liu, he was worse off than before. Is that was Guan Zhong and Yue Yi did for their lords? Kindly forgive my simple frankness.”

孔明听罢，哑然而笑曰：“鹏飞万里，其志岂群鸟能识哉？譬如人染沉疴，当先用糜粥以饮之，和药以服之；待其腑脏调和，形体渐安，然后用肉食以补之，猛药以治之：则病根尽去，人得全生也。若不待气脉和缓，便投以猛药厚味，欲求安保，诚为难矣。

Kongming broke into laughter. “The great roc ranges thousands of miles,” he said. “Can the common fowl appreciate its ambition? When a man is gravely ill, he must be fed weak gruel and medicated with mild tonics his internal state is readjusted and balanced and his condition gradually stabilizes. Only then can meat be added to his diet and powerful drugs be used to cure him. Thus is the root of the disease eradicated and the man’s health restored. If you do not wait until breath and pulse are calm and steady but precipitately use powerful drugs and rich food, the attempt to cure the patient is sure to fail.

吾主刘豫州，向日军败于汝南，寄迹刘表，兵不满千，将止关、张、赵云而已：此正如病势尪赢已极之时也，新野山僻小县，人民稀少，粮食鲜薄，豫州不过暂借以容身，岂真将坐守于此耶？夫以甲兵不完，城郭不固，军不经练，粮不继日，然而博望烧屯，白河用水，使夏侯惇，曹仁辈心惊胆裂：窃谓管仲、乐毅之用兵，未必过此。

“When Lord Liu suffered defeat at Runan, he threw himself on Liu Biao’s mercy. He has less than 1,000 men and no generals at all, except for Lord Guan, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Zilong. He was like a man wasted by disease. Xinye, a small town off in the hills, with few people and scant grain, was no more than a temporary refuge, hardly a place to hold permanently. And yet, despite our poor weapons, weak city walls, untrained forces, and day-to-day shortages of grain, we burned Cao out at Bowang, flooded him our at the White River, and put his leading generals, Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren, in a state of panic and dismay. I am not sure that Guan Zhong and Yue Yi surpassed us in warfare.

至于刘琮降操，豫州实出不知；且又不忍乘乱夺同宗之基业，此真大仁大义也。当阳之败，豫州见有数十万赴义之民，扶老携幼相随，不忍弃之，日行十里，不思进取江陵，甘与同败，此亦大仁大义也。

As for Liu Zong’s surrender to Cao Cao, the truth is that Lord Liu knew nothing about it. Nor could he hear to exploit the treason of Cais to steal a kinsman’s estate—such is his great humanity and devotion to honor. In the case of the Dangyang defeat, Lord Liu had several hundred thousand subjects, including the elderly and many young people, who were determined to follow him. Could he leave them to their fate? He was moving a mere 10 li each day but never thought of racing ahead to capture Jiangling. He was content to suffer defeat with his people if he had to—another instance of his profound humanity and sense of honor.

寡不敌众，胜负乃其常事。昔高皇数败于项羽，而垓下一战成功，此非韩信之良谋乎？夫信久事高皇，未尝累胜。盖国家大计，社稷安危，是有主谋。非比夸辩之徒，虚誉欺人：坐议立谈，无人可及；临机应变，百无一能。诚为天下笑耳！”这一篇言语，说得张昭并无一言回答。

“The few can not oppose the many, and victory and defeat is common for military action. The founder of the Han, Gao Zu, was defeated over and over by Xiang Yu, but the final victory at Gaixia was the result of Han Xin’s good plan, was it not? The same Han Xin who, in his long history of service to Gao Zu, had complied no impressive record of victories! For the grand strategy of the dynasty, the security of our sacred altars, truly there is a master planner, one utterly different from the boasting rhetoricians whose empty reputations overawe people, who have no match in armchair debate and standing discussions, of whom not even one in hundred has any idea how to confront a crisis or cope with its rapid development. What a laughingstock to amuse the world!” To this oration Zhang Zhao had no reply.

座上忽一人抗声问曰：“今曹公兵屯百万，将列千员，龙骧虎视，平吞江夏，公以为何如？”孔明视之，乃虞翻也。孔明曰：“曹操收袁绍蚁聚之兵，劫刘表乌合之众，虽数百万不足惧也。”虞翻冷笑曰：“军败于当阳，计穷于夏口，区区求教于人，而犹言‘不惧’，此真大言欺人也！”孔明曰：“刘豫州以数千仁义之师，安能敌百万残暴之众？退守夏口，所以待时也。今江东兵精粮足，且有长江之险，犹欲使其主屈膝降贼，不顾天下耻笑。由此论之，刘豫州真不惧操贼者矣！” 虞翻不能对。

But another rose to the challenge. “Cao Cao has in place one million men and a roster of 1,000 commanding officers. He can prance like a dragon while they glare down on us like tigers who could swallow Jiangxia with ease. What then?” Kongming eyed the speaker narrowly. It was Yu Fan. “Cao Cao did indeed bring into his fold the swarming hosts of Yuan Shao,” Kongming replied. “And he stole the ill-organized soldiers of Liu Biao. But even his million are not that much to worry about!” With an icy smile Yu Fan countered: “Your forces were ruined at Dangyang. Your plans came to naught at Xiakou. You’re desperate for any scrap of support and yet would boastfully deceive us by saying, “Don’t worry.” “And how,” Kongming responded. “was Lord Liu to hold off a million murderous men with a few thousand troops dedicated to humanity and honor? We retired to Xiakou to bide our time. In the Southland, however, the men are well trained and grain is plentiful. The Great River is your natural defense. And yet, giving no thought to the disgrace or to the mockery it would incur, you would have your lord crook his knee and submit to a traitor! By your standards it’s not Lord Liu who fears the villain Cao!” To this speech Yu Fan made no reply.

座间又一人问曰：“孔明欲效仪、秦之舌，游说东吴耶？”孔明视之，乃步骘也。孔明曰：“步子山以苏秦张仪为辩士，不知苏秦、张仪亦豪杰也。苏秦佩六国相印，张仪两次相秦，皆有匡扶人国之谋，非比畏强凌弱，惧刀避剑之人也。君等闻曹操虚发诈伪之词，便畏惧请降，敢笑苏秦、张仪乎？”步骘默然无语。

But Bu Zhi rose to challenge Kongming, saying, “Are you not playing the part of those seductive diplomats of ancient times, Zhang Yi and Su Qin, striving to prevail upon our Southland to serve your ends?” Kongming turned his gaze to the speaker; then he responded: “You take those 2 for mere rhetoricians, forgetting their distinguished achievements. Su Qin held the highest office in 6 different kingdoms, while Zhang Yi twice served as chief minister to the state of Qin. Both men gave counsel that enlightened and strengthened their ruler, and are hardly to be put in a category with those who cringe before the mighty, victimize the weak, and cower before the sword. You gentlemen, hearing Cao Cao’s empty threats, urged surrender with craven dispatch. Are you the ones to mock Zhang Yi and Su Qin?” Bu Zhi fell silent.

忽一人问曰：“孔明以曹操何如人也？”孔明视其人，乃薛综也。孔明答曰：“曹操乃汉贼也，又何必问？”综曰：“公言差矣。汉传世至今，天数将终。今曹公已有天下三分之二，人皆归心。刘豫州不识天时，强欲与争，正如以卵击石，安得不败乎？”孔明厉声曰：“薛敬文安得出此无父无君之言乎！夫人生天地间，以忠孝为立身之本。公既为汉臣，则见有不臣之人，当誓共戮之：臣之道也。今曹操祖宗叨食汉禄，不思报效，反怀篡逆之心，天下之所共愤；公乃以天数归之，真无父无君之人也！不足与语！请勿复言！”薛综满面羞惭，不能对答。

“What is your view of Cao Cao the man?” another asked. Kongming eyed the questioner, Xue Zong. “A traitor to the Han, no need to ask.” Kongming responded. “You are mistaken, sir” Xue Zong explained. “The Hans have outlasted their allotted time, and the end is near. Cao Cao already possessed 2/3 of the empire, and people are turning to him. However, Protector Liu has not recognized the heaven’s will, and was trying to contend with the power. It likes to smash a stone with egg. Failure is certain.” Kongming angrily berated the man, “Why did you speak out such faithless words, as if you respect neither the old nor the emperor? Loyalty and filial duty are the essentials of a person’s being in the world. For a minister of Han, correct conduct demands that one is pledged to attack anyone who does not follow the canon of a minister’s duty. Cao Cao’s forebears enjoyed the kindness of the Han, but instead of repaying his gratitude, he nourishes the thoughts of usurpation. The whole world is incensed by his conducts, and yet you would claim for him that he is the one heaven’s favorite. Truly you are a man without loyalty, a man unworthy to talk to, and I decline to argue with you further.” The blush of shame overspread Xue Zong’s face, and he said no more.

座上又一人应声问曰：“曹操虽挟天子以令诸侯，犹是相国曹参之后。刘豫州虽云中山靖王苗裔，却无可稽考，眼见只是织席贩屦之夫耳，何足与曹操抗衡哉！”孔明视之，乃陆绩也。孔明笑曰：“公非袁术座间怀桔之陆郎乎？请安坐，听吾一言：曹操既为曹相国之后，则世为汉臣矣；今乃专权肆横，欺凌君父，是不惟无君，亦且蔑祖，不惟汉室之乱臣，亦曹氏之贼子也。刘豫州堂堂帝胄，当今皇帝，按谱赐爵，何云无可稽考？且高祖起身亭长，而终有天下；织席贩屦，又何足为辱乎？公小儿之见，不足与高士共语！”陆绩语塞。

Another man went on, “Cao Cao is holding the emperor to manipulate lords, he is truly a descendant of the former Prime Minister Cao Shen. In the contrary, Protector Liu claimed he is an offspring of the Pince of Zhongshan, there is no formal record for verification. For what I understand, he belongs to the category of men who are weaving mats and peddling sandals, he is by no means a match to Cao Cao.” Kongming eyed the speaker, it was Lu Ji. With smile, he answered, “Don’t you once steal an orange at one of Yuan Shu’s banquets? I’d like you to sit still while I tell you something. If Cao Cao is the descendant of the great minister Cao Shen, then the Caos have been the subjects of the Han from that day to this. For him to monopolize power and recklessly wield it, deceiving and abusing the sovereign, is more than negation of the emperor, it is nullification of his own sacred ancestor. This makes Cao Cao more than a seditious subject; it makes him a traitorous son. Lord Liu has the dignity of an imperial scion. He is a man to whom the present Emperor has granted recognized status in accordance with the official genealogy. How can you say there is no verification? Consider further that the Supreme Ancestor, who began his career as a precinct magistrate, in the end took possession of the empire. And what is there to be ashamed of in mat-weaving or peddling sandals? Your puerile point of view makes you an unworthy participant in the discussions of distinguished scholars.” Lu Ji was confounded.

座上一人忽曰：“孔明所言，皆强词夺理，均非正论，不必再言。且请问孔明治何经典？”孔明视之，乃严峻也。孔明曰：“寻章摘句，世之腐儒也，何能兴邦立事？且古耕莘伊尹，钓渭子牙，张良、陈平之流。邓禹、耿弇之辈，皆有匡扶宇宙之才，未审其生平治何经典。岂亦效书生，区区于笔砚之间，数黑论黄，舞文弄墨而已乎？”严峻低头丧气而不能对。

Suddenly, another man rose and spoke: “Kongming, your rhetoric is bereft of reason. His unorthodox judgments are not worth consideration. I beg to inquire, what classics have you mastered?” Kongming turned to the speaker, Yan Jun, and said, “How can the text-bound pedant revive our nation or further our cause? And what of the ancient sages—Yi Yin, who tilled the soil in Shen, or Jiang Ziya, who fished by the River Wei? What of men like Zhang Liang and Chen Ping, Deng Yu and Geng Yan? These worthies sustained their kings in time of peril. What canons did they master? Do you really think they simply spent their days confined between the pen and the inkstone like schoolmen arguing over texts, flourishing words, wielding brushes?” Deflated by Kongming’s denunciation, Yan Jun lowered his head and made no reply.

忽又一人大声曰：“公好为大言，未必真有实学，恐适为儒者所笑耳。”孔明视其人，乃汝南程德枢也。孔明答曰：“儒有君子小人之别。君子之儒，忠君爱国，守正恶邪，务使泽及当时，名留后世。若夫小人之儒，惟务雕虫，专工翰墨，青春作赋，皓首穷经；笔下虽有千言，胸中实无一策。且如杨雄以文章名世，而屈身事莽，不免投阁而死，此所谓小人之儒也；虽日赋万言，亦何取哉！”程德枢不能对。

Yet another protested loudly: “You, sir, are certainly given to exaggeration. I am not sure that there is any real learning in you, that you won’t end up as the butt of scholar’s ridicule.” The speaker was Cheng Deshu of Runan. Kongming answered: “There are scholars of noble character and scholars with petty interests. The former are loyal to their sovereign and devoted to his country; they preserve their integrity and detest renegades—for they are intent on making their influence felt in their time and making their names known to later ages. But the latter bend their efforts to polishing rhymes, knowing no skill but that of trivial composition. Authors of grandiose odes in their youth, by old age they’ve digested the classics. In one sitting 1,000 words may flow from their pens, but inside of them not a single useful idea is to be found. Take the scholar Yang Xiong who made a great reputation in his time only to disgrace himself by serving Wang Mang—for which he jumped to his death from the penthouse of a building. He is an example of the petty scholar. Let him produce a ten-thousand-word rhapsody every day. What value does it have?” Cheng Deshu, like the others, was too confounded to reply.

众人见孔明对答如流，尽皆失色。

The assembly was unnerved at Kongming’s exhibition of mastery in debate.

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——以上纯属个人观点

【免责声明：本文翻译仅为外语学习目的，原文作者个人观点与译者及译言网无关】