话说刺客（如图3.4.2-1）成为了黄帝大禹的钦差；第二天他就马不停蹄，日夜兼程地赶往武汉。到皇宫后，他正在登记处排队呢，看见女婴（如图3）来了。他把脸转到了一边，假装没看见。

女婴走到他的身边，叨咕：“我得去把督造办新为我打造的 ‘彤弓素矢’ 取来，过一会儿执行死刑的时候，我试一试好用不。”

Assassin (as shown in Figure 3.4.2-1) was appointed as the special envoy of Yellow Creator Big Yu. The very next day, he set off without delay, journeying day and night to reach Wuhan. Upon arriving at the imperial palace, he was standing in line at the registration office when he saw Heroine (see figure 3) arrives. He turned his face away, pretending not to notice.

Heroine approached him and muttered, “I must retrieve the ‘Red Bow Natural Arrows’ crafted for me by the Office of Superintending Craftsmen. When the execution comes later, I'll test whether it works well.”

女婴走过去后，刺客害怕了，“这个丫头，毛毛愣愣的，别不问就把我射死了！”他对女婴大声喊：“我身上有大禹的腰牌和信！”

女婴听见了，转身招呼刺客说：“喊话的那个人，过来吧，跟我走！”

刺客走了过去，惊悚地问：“你怎么知道我会害怕呢？”

After Heroine walked over, Assassin grew fearful. “This little brat, so clueless—don't shoot me dead without asking first!” He shouted at Heroine, “I have Big Yu's token and letter on me!”

Hearing this, Heroine turned and beckoned to Assassin, "Hey, you who shouted, come here with me!"

Assassin walked over and asked in horror, "How did you know I was afraid?"

女婴回答：“因为我回来的比你早，我回来的时候就和你一样地害怕。你要是早回来了，我现在这个皇宫卫队长的职位就是你的啦！现在才回来，晚啦！”

女婴把刺客领进了鹅黄（如图4）的办公室，说：“你们俩的事，我不想听，我走啦！”女婴还没离开很远，鹅黄追出来了，喊女婴：“这事儿和我没关系！这是你的职责！你们办完手续后，你把他交给二郎神吧！”

Heroine replied, "Because I came back before you, and I was just as afraid as you were when I returned. If you had come back earlier, you would be the captain of the palace guard now! You're too late!"

Heroine led Assassin into Beauty Yellow's (as shown in Figure 4) office and said, "I don't want to hear about your business, I'm leaving!" Before she had gone far, Beauty Yellow chased after her, calling out, "This has nothing to do with me! This is your duty! After you finish the formalities, hand him over to Second Wolf God!"

2. 尊师重道 Honor Teacher and Respect Path

女婴领着刺客来到了二郎神（如图2）的法庭，说：“你在这儿等着！”

刺客赶忙说：“你也坐一会儿吧！忙乎了两三个小时了！”

女婴回答：“如果我不去告诉我师父（即二郎神），你得在这冷板凳上坐多长时间呐！？”

Heroine led Assassin to Second Wolf God's (see figure 2) court and said, "You wait here!"

Assassin quickly said, "You should sit down for a while! You've been busy for two or three hours!"

Heroine replied, "If I don't go and tell my teacher-father (i.e., Second Wolf God), how long will you have to sit on this cold bench!?"

果然，没多久，二郎神就笑着出来了，坐在了刺客的旁边。刺客慌忙地站了起来，跪在了二郎神的前面。二郎神伸手搀扶，说：“家叔，不着急，先聊一聊！”

刺客站在了一边。二郎神说，“上茶，”然后示意刺客坐在他的旁边。

刺客胆怯地问：“元帅！您说家叔，是在称呼谁？”

Sure enough, Second Wolf God soon appeared, smiling, and sat down next to Assassin. Assassin hurriedly stood up and knelt before Second Wolf God. Second Wolf God reached out to help him up, saying, "Family Uncle, no rush, let's talk first!"

Assassin stood to one side. Second Wolf God said, "Serve tea," and then gestured for Assassin to sit beside him.

Assassin asked timidly, "Marshal! Whom are you referring to when you say, 'family uncle'?"

二郎神回答：“我在称呼您呀！我是随着大禹的称呼，称呼您的！”

刺客立刻回答：“这怎么可以，大禹和您不一样，大禹，从他六岁开始，我就带着他玩。他应该称呼我家叔！”

二郎神说：“祝英台（又名马文才，红娘，绛珠，女娲）是我的教母。您在鄮县是梁山伯（号伏羲，祝英台的丈夫）的同事。这么说，我也应该称呼您叔叔。”

Second Wolf God replied, "I am addressing you! I am addressing you according to the way Big Yu addressed you!"

Assassin immediately replied, "How can that be? Big Yu is not like you. I've been playing with him since he was six years old. He should call me Uncle!"

Second Wolf God said, "Yingtai Zhu (aka. Wencai Ma, Red-Mother, Jiangzhu, and Nuwa) is my godmother.

You were Shanbo Liang's (aka. Fuxi, Yingtai Zhu's husband) colleague in Mao County. So, I should also call you Uncle."

刺客回答：“祝英台是您的教母只是传说故事中的事！”

二郎神说：“传说故事中的礼节也是中华文化的一部分。我们俩这样称呼对方有利于提醒我们的后人们尊师重道。”

刺客不出声了。

Assassin replied, "The claim that Yingtai Zhu is your godmother is merely a legend!"

Second Wolf God said, "The etiquette in legends is also part of Chinese culture. Our use of this form of address helps remind our descendants to honor teachers and respect path (path means Path Crux).”

Assassin fell silent.

3. 言出必行 Words are Answered by Actions

二郎神问刺客：“大禹在信上说，家叔的心脏不太好！？”

刺客回答：“问题不大，我服用我自己配制出来的药，效果很好，可以控制。”

二郎神说：“那我就派两名医生陪您去海南。”

Second Wolf God asked Assassin, "Big Yu said in his letter that family uncle's heart isn't very good!?"

Assassin replied, "It's not a big problem. I'm taking a medicine I concocted myself, and it works very well; it's under control."

Second Wolf God said, "Then I'll send two doctors to accompany you to Hainan."

刺客回答：“那得花多少钱啊！元帅大可不必为晚生操心，我的身体没问题，我能应付得了！”

二郎神说：“嗯！家叔不必推辞！大禹的信中有三分之一的内容是说您的病情的。他的话在我这里不起作用可不行！”

刺客立刻回答：“您随意，您说了算！”

Assassin replied, "That would cost a fortune! Marshal, you needn't worry about me. My health is fine; I can handle it!"

Second Wolf God said, "Hmm! Family Uncle, there's no need to refuse! A third of the letter from Big Yu concerns your illness. His words can't be disregarded by me!"

Assassin immediately replied, "Do as you please, it's your decision!"

二郎神说：“军医跟随您不太方便，我在民间给您请两位好的医生。随后，他们给您检查身体。你好好考察一下，挑两个合得来的。一切费用由我负责。此次去海南，你不用负担任何费用。”

刺客回答：“恭敬不如从命；我这辈子第一次享受这么高级的待遇！”

Second Wolf God said, "It's inconvenient for military doctors to accompany you, so I'll find two good doctors for you from the common people. They'll examine you afterwards. You can carefully consider them and choose two you like. All expenses will be covered by me. You don't need to pay anything for this trip to Hainan."

Assassin replied, "I'd be honored; this is the first time in my life I've received such high-class treatment!"

3. 宣判 Verdict

二郎神说：“我想你已经知道接下来该怎么做了！”

刺客立刻跪到了二郎神的面前。

二郎神说：“我判你流放海南三年。来人！”

刺客跟着士兵去监狱的病房了。

Second Wolf God declared, “I trust you know what to do next!”

The assassin immediately knelt before Second Wolf God.

Second Wolf God pronounced, “I sentence you to three years of exile in Hainan. Guards!”

The assassin followed the soldiers to the prison infirmary.

4．给刺客送行 Seeing Off Assassin

两天后，娥黄和女婴来为刺客送行。娥黄问刺客：“你回来后，想当个什么官？先告诉我，我们发现合适的空缺后，给你留着。”

Two days later, Beauty Yellow and Heroine came to see Assassin off. Beauty Yellow asked him, “What official position do you wish to hold upon your return? Tell me now, and when we find a suitable vacancy, we'll reserve it for you.”

刺客回答：“我这么大的岁数了，不想当官了！”

娥黄回答：“你才四十多岁，不算大。有很多五十岁的人还想着升官发财呢！你可想好了，舜王和大禹都挺喜欢你。你若是当官，没人敢找你的麻烦！前途无量啊！”

此刻回答：“我是武官，四十多岁了还没有自己的人马，已经不行了。我只想回老家养老！”

Assassin replied, "I'm too old for an official position!"

Beauty Yellow replied, "You're only in your forties, not old at all. Many fifty-year-olds are still dreaming of promotion and wealth! Think it over carefully. King Shun and Big Yu both like you. If you become an official, no one will dare to cause you trouble! Your future is limitless!"

Assassin then replied, "I'm a military officer, over forty years old and still without my own men. I'm past my prime. I just want to go back to my hometown and retire!"

娥黄说：“我和舜王商量了，把你们的会稽县沿着南北门的中轴线一分为二，西部的一半称为山阴县。你回来后就直接去当县长吧！你的山阴县和文官的会稽县将是新政的对比示范县。”

Beauty Yellow said, "I have discussed with King Shun that your Huiji County will be divided in two along the central axis of the north and south gates, and the western half will be called Shan’yin County. When you return, go directly to become the county prefect! Your Shan’yin County and Literary-Official’s Huiji County will be the model counties for comparison of the new policies."

刺客高兴地回答：“哎呀！我回来后的工作都给安排好啦！”

女婴插嘴道：“七品芝麻官，有什么可炫耀的！”

Assassin cheerfully replied, “Oh my! My work after returning has all been arranged!”

Heroine chimed in, “A seventh-rank minor official—what's there to brag about!”

娥黄又问：“你想好怎么回来没？你不会打算在海南住三年吧！”

刺客回答：“在牛郎出发去 ‘七夕会’之前，我去找牛郎打架，威胁他，‘你若不告诉女婴把我弄回去，我举报她。她也去刺杀黄帝大禹了！”

Beauty Yellow asked again, “Have you figured out how to get back? You're not planning to stay in Hainan for three years, are you?”

Assassin replied, “Before Cowboy sets off for the ‘July 7 Meeting,’ I'll confront him and threaten him: ‘If you don't tell Heroine to get me back, I'll report her. She went to assassinate the Yellow Creator Big Yu too!’”

娥黄赞叹道：“真是好主意！”

刺客问女婴：“你能把我弄回来不？用不用去问你的师父？”

女婴生气地回答：“你是什么大人物啊！？一个七品芝麻官，哪里用得着问我师父啊！”

刺客尴尬地转脸看娥黄。

娥黄说：“这你放心，今天咱仨把话说到这里了。女婴只要没死，就肯定到那里把你放出来。”

Beauty Yellow exclaimed, "What a brilliant idea!"

Assassin asked Heroine, "Can you bring me back? Should you ask your teacher-father?"

Heroine retorted angrily, “Who do you think you are! A lowly seventh-rank official—why would I need to ask my teacher-father!?”

Assassin awkwardly turned to look at Ehuang.

Beauty Yellow said, “Rest assured, we've settled this today. If Heroine survives, she'll definitely get you out of there.”

5. 送行仪式的结束 End of Farewell Ceremony

说完话后，刺客开始走向押送的士兵。娥黄跟了过去。士兵解下了刺客的枷锁，扛在了肩上，向娥黄敬礼后说：“报告上官！长官吩咐我们，举行完告别仪式后，我们要解下犯人的枷锁，由我们负责携带着。我们俩已经向中华共和国的国旗发过誓：不惜一切代价，把犯人在预定的时间内送达海南政治犯监狱！”

娥黄还礼后说：“我正想说，这个枷锁是个问题，现在没事了！”

After speaking, Assassin walked towards the escorting soldiers. Beauty Yellow followed. The soldiers removed the assassin's shackles, slung them over their shoulders, saluted Beauty Yellow, and said, "Reporting to our superior! Our commander instructed us that after the farewell ceremony, we were to remove the prisoner's shackles and carry them. We both swore an oath to flag of Republic of China: to deliver the prisoner to Hainan political prison within the scheduled time, at all costs!"

Beauty Yellow returned the salute and said, "I was just about to say that the shackles were a problem, but now they're fine!"

返回大禹治水的目录 Return to Catalog of Yu's Water Treatment