話說刺客（如圖3.4.2-1）成為了黃帝大禹的欽差；第二天他就馬不停蹄，日夜兼程地趕往武漢。到皇宮後，他正在登記處排隊呢，看見女嬰（如圖3）來了。他把臉轉到了一邊，假裝沒看見。

女嬰走到他的身邊，叨咕：“我得去把督造辦新為我打造的 ‘彤弓素矢’ 取來，過一會兒執行死刑的時候，我試一試好用不。”

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.”

女嬰走過去後，刺客害怕了，“這個丫頭，毛毛愣愣的，別不問就把我射死了！”他對女嬰大聲喊：“我身上有大禹的腰牌和信！”

女嬰聽見了，轉身招呼刺客說：“喊話的那個人，過來吧，跟我走！”

刺客走了過去，驚悚地問：“你怎麼知道我會害怕呢？”

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?"

女嬰回答：“因為我回來的比你早，我回來的時候就和你一樣地害怕。你要是早回來了，我現在這個皇宮衛隊長的職位就是你的啦！現在才回來，晚啦！”

女嬰把刺客領進了鵝黃（如圖4）的辦公室，說：“你們倆的事，我不想聽，我走啦！”女嬰還沒離開很遠，鵝黃追出來了，喊女嬰：“這事兒和我沒關係！這是你的職責！你們辦完手續後，你把他交給二郎神吧！”

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. 尊師重道 Honor Teacher and Respect Path

女嬰領着刺客來到了二郎神（如圖2）的法庭，說：“你在這兒等着！”

刺客趕忙說：“你也坐一會兒吧！忙乎了兩三個小時了！”

女嬰回答：“如果我不去告訴我師父（即二郎神），你得在這冷板凳上坐多長時間吶！？”

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，沒多久，二郎神就笑着出來了，坐在了刺客的旁邊。刺客慌忙地站了起來，跪在了二郎神的前面。二郎神伸手攙扶，說：“家叔，不着急，先聊一聊！”

刺客站在了一邊。二郎神說，“上茶，”然後示意刺客坐在他的旁邊。

刺客膽怯地問：“元帥！您說家叔，是在稱呼誰？”

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：“我在稱呼您呀！我是隨着大禹的稱呼，稱呼您的！”

刺客立刻回答：“這怎麼可以，大禹和您不一樣，大禹，從他六歲開始，我就帶着他玩。他應該稱呼我家叔！”

二郎神說：“祝英台（又名馬文才，紅娘，絳珠，女媧）是我的教母。您在鄮縣是梁山伯（號伏羲，祝英台的丈夫）的同事。這麼說，我也應該稱呼您叔叔。”

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傳說故事中的事！”

二郎神說：“傳說故事中的禮節也是中華文化的一部分。我們倆這樣稱呼對方有利於提醒我們的後人們尊師重道。”

刺客不出聲了。

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

二郎神問刺客：“大禹在信上說，家叔的心臟不太好！？”

刺客回答：“問題不大，我服用我自己配製出來的藥，效果很好，可以控制。”

二郎神說：“那我就派兩名醫生陪您去海南。”

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：“那得花多少錢啊！元帥大可不必為晚生操心，我的身體沒問題，我能應付得了！”

二郎神說：“嗯！家叔不必推辭！大禹的信中有三分之一的內容是說您的病情的。他的話在我這裡不起作用可不行！”

刺客立刻回答：“您隨意，您說了算！”

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!"

二郎神說：“軍醫跟隨您不太方便，我在民間給您請兩位好的醫生。隨後，他們給您檢查身體。你好好考察一下，挑兩個合得來的。一切費用由我負責。此次去海南，你不用負擔任何費用。”

刺客回答：“恭敬不如從命；我這輩子第一次享受這麼高級的待遇！”

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

二郎神說：“我想你已經知道接下來該怎麼做了！”

刺客立刻跪到了二郎神的面前。

二郎神說：“我判你流放海南三年。來人！”

刺客跟着士兵去監獄的病房了。

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．給刺客送行 Seeing Off Assassin

兩天后，娥黃和女嬰來為刺客送行。娥黃問刺客：“你回來後，想當個什麼官？先告訴我，我們發現合適的空缺後，給你留着。”

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：“我這麼大的歲數了，不想當官了！”

娥黃回答：“你才四十多歲，不算大。有很多五十歲的人還想着升官發財呢！你可想好了，舜王和大禹都挺喜歡你。你若是當官，沒人敢找你的麻煩！前途無量啊！”

此刻回答：“我是武官，四十多歲了還沒有自己的人馬，已經不行了。我只想回老家養老！”

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!"

娥黃說：“我和舜王商量了，把你們的會稽縣沿着南北門的中軸線一分為二，西部的一半稱為山陰縣。你回來後就直接去當縣長吧！你的山陰縣和文官的會稽縣將是新政的對比示範縣。”

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."

刺客高興地回答：“哎呀！我回來後的工作都給安排好啦！”

女嬰插嘴道：“七品芝麻官，有什麼可炫耀的！”

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!”

娥黃又問：“你想好怎麼回來沒？你不會打算在海南住三年吧！”

刺客回答：“在牛郎出發去 ‘七夕會’之前，我去找牛郎打架，威脅他，‘你若不告訴女嬰把我弄回去，我舉報她。她也去刺殺黃帝大禹了！”

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!’”

娥黃讚嘆道：“真是好主意！”

刺客問女嬰：“你能把我弄回來不？用不用去問你的師父？”

女嬰生氣地回答：“你是什麼大人物啊！？一個七品芝麻官，哪裡用得着問我師父啊！”

刺客尷尬地轉臉看娥黃。

娥黃說：“這你放心，今天咱仨把話說到這裡了。女嬰只要沒死，就肯定到那裡把你放出來。”

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. 送行儀式的結束 End of Farewell Ceremony

說完話後，刺客開始走向押送的士兵。娥黃跟了過去。士兵解下了刺客的枷鎖，扛在了肩上，向娥黃敬禮後說：“報告上官！長官吩咐我們，舉行完告別儀式後，我們要解下犯人的枷鎖，由我們負責攜帶着。我們倆已經向中華共和國的國旗發過誓：不惜一切代價，把犯人在預定的時間內送達海南政治犯監獄！”

娥黃還禮後說：“我正想說，這個枷鎖是個問題，現在沒事了！”

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!"

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