第四章 巧施连环计

第四章 巧施连环计
Chapter Four: Cleverly Executed Chained Strategies

董卓挟持汉献帝迁都长安后，更加肆无忌惮。朝中的官员，稍不如他意，立即被砍头，抄家。官员们对董卓又恨又怕，都想除掉他，可又想不出办法来。
After Dong Zhuo coerced Emperor Xian of Han to move the capital to ChangAn,he became more brazen.The officials in the court,didn't suit to his liking,and were immediately beheaded,and their property confiscated. The officials hated as much as feared Dong Zhuo,and all wanted to get rid of him (damn right they did!),but couldn't devise a plan.

司徒王允为此忧心如焚。一天，他去后花园散步，遇到了府中的歌女貂蝉。
Wang Yun, the deputy prime minister, became very anxious indeed. One day,he took a walk in the garden,and met an artisan girl by the name of Diao Chan.

貂蝉美若天仙，又能歌善舞。王允看到她后心生一计，于是对着貂蝉跪下便拜。
Diao Chan was as pretty as a goddess,she could sing and dance.Wang Yun came up with a plan the moment he laid eyes on her,so he kneeled before Diao Chan and groveled.

貂蝉扶起王允，跪下说:“您对我恩重如山，如果您有事相求，我万死不辞。”
Diao Chan helped Wang Yun up,and in turn kneeled and said, "You have been oh so very kind to me,if you have a request,I'll risk my life to fulfill it."

王允将貂蝉领进屋，说:“董卓不仁不义，我要用连环计除去董卓和吕布。你可巧妙行事，让他们父子反目成仇！”
Wang Yun brought Diao Chan into a room (insert cat call here),and said, "Dong Zuo is apathetic and unjust,I want to get rid of Dong Zuo and Lu Bu once and for all.You can come up with clever plans,and let the father and son hate each other!"

王允邀请吕布赴宴，并叫貂蝉相陪。貂蝉万种风情，令吕布倾倒。
Wang Yun invited Lu Bu to a banquet,and let Diao Chan accompany him.Diao Chan flirted shamelessly,and Lu Bu was quickly smitten.

貂蝉说:“美酒献英雄，请将军多饮几杯！”
Diao Chan said, "Fine wine for the hero,please, drink up! Drink up!"

王允趁机说:“我想将义女貂蝉送给将军做妾，将军可愿意？”吕布喜得再三拜谢。
Wang Yun took this oppurtunity to say, "I want you, my dear goddaughter Diao Chan, to wed the general,what say you?"

不久，王允又邀请董卓赴宴。董卓喜欢貂蝉，王允便派人将貂蝉送入相府。
Wang Yun then invited Dong Zhuo for a drink.Dong Zhuo liked Diao Chan,Wang Yun ordered people to escort Diao Chan into the prime minister's home.

吕布知道后，质问王允。王允假装为难地说:“董卓要带走貂蝉，我怎敢阻拦？”
After Lu Bu knew of this,he demanded Wang Yun for answers.Wang Yun pretended to be sad and said, "Dong Zhuo took Diao Chan away,how am I suppose to disagree?"

董卓娶了貂蝉，吕布无比愤怒。貂蝉对董卓百般讨好，但一见吕布就泪流满面。
Dong Zhuo married Diao Chan,and Lu Bu was heartbroken.Diao Chan was very good to Dong Zhuo,but every time she saw Lu Bu she would burst into tears.

吕布看到后心如刀绞，但因惧怕童卓，却又无可奈何。一天，貂蝉趁董卓入朝议事，偷偷地约吕布在后花园凤仪亭相见。吕布非常高兴，提戟大步走向风仪亭。
When Lu Bu saw this it felt as if his whole heart was frozen in ice then shattered into a billion little pieces, like a squirrel crushed under a jeep's big huge wheels,but because he feared Dong Zhuo,couldn't do anything about it.One day,When Dong Zhuo went to court to discuss official matters, Diao Chan took this opportunity,sneakily arranged a meeting in the FengYi pavilion of the backyard with Lu Bu.Lu Bu was ecstastic,and carried his Long Heavenly Double Lance-Ax and sauntered over to the FengYi pavilion.

貂蝉见到吕布后，哭着说:“董卓强娶我为妻，我活着还有什么意思?我只想见将军一面，现在已别无所求。”
After Diao Chan saw Lu Bu,sobbed, "Dong Zhuo forced me to marry him,what is the point in living?All I want is to see you,and now I can die happy. You know that saying by Confucius, where he says that when people finally know what they want to know, then they can die happy or something like that..." she rambled on.

貂蝉说完，就要跳入荷花池自尽。吕布忙把画戟放在亭栏边，抱住貂蝉，好言安慰。
After Diao Chan finished her hearfelt speech (which she slaved over for quite a while in front of the mirror),made to jump into the lotus pond.Lu Bu swiftly put his Long Heavenly Double Lance-Ax next to the fence,hugged the fair maiden who he had just gloriously saved in the lights shining upon him from the heavens,and comforted the damsel in distress.

再说董卓发现吕布不见了，便到后花园里找他，却看到他正和貂蝉相拥私语。
Now, after Dong Zhuo discovered Lu Bu had disappeared,went to the backyard to find him,and saw him and Diao Chan embracing each other as if their lives depended on it and talking.

董卓大怒，拿起吕布放在一边的画戟，朝吕布用力地刺了过去。
Dong Zhuo was so enraged that he yelled to the heavens and did a very rude hand gesture,picked up Lu Bu's Long Heavenly Double Lance-Ax,and lunged at Lu Bu.

吕布逃走了，貂蝉对董卓说吕布调戏她。这边王允乘机让吕布刺杀董卓。吕布说:“不报夺妻之仇，我誓不为人！”
Lu Bu fled with his skirt in his hands,and Diao Chan tearfully told Dong Zhuo that Lu Bu had sexually harassed her.Wang Yun took this opportunity and let Lu Bu kill Dong Zhuo.Lu Bu said, "If I do not avenge him for stealing my bride,then I am not considered a man! (I'd be a shman)"

吕布决定与王允合作，于是王允以汉天子要禅位给董卓为由，将董卓骗进宫来。
Lu Bu decided to work with Wang Yun,So Wang Yun said the emperor of Han wanted Dong Zhuo to be the emperor, thus giving an excuse,and Dong Zhuo was tricked his way into the court.

董卓来到殿门外，王允让埋伏的武士向董卓猛刺。董卓的胳膊被刺伤了，他急得大叫:“吕布救我。”吕布应声而出，一戟刺中了他的咽喉。
Dong Zhuo arrived outside of the throne,Wang Yun ordered warriors ambush Dong Zhuo and stab him.Dong Zhuo's arm was injured,and he shouted, "Save me, Lu Bu!"Lu Bu heard him and walked over,and stabbed him right in the throat with his Long Heavenly Double Lance-Ax.