精校书屋

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第215部分（第1页）

of　silk。　Along　the　bank　stood　a　wall　of　cloth。　They　dared　not　attack。

Meng　Huo　said　to　his　brother；　〃This　means　that　Zhuge　Liang　fears　lest　we　may　pursue。　That　is　only　a　temporary　halt；　and　they　will　retire　in　a　couple　of　days。〃

The　Mangs　camped　on　the　river　bank　while　they　sent　into　the　mountains　to　cut　bamboos　to　make　rafts。　The　boldest　of　the　soldiers　were　placed　in　front　of　the　camp　till　the　rafts　should　be　ready　to　cross。　Little　did　Meng　Huo　suspect　that　the　army　of　Shu　was　already　within　his　borders。

One　day　when　the　wind　blew　violently；　the　Mangs　saw　great　flames　spring　up　around　them；　and　at　the　same　time　the　rolling　of　drums　heralded　an　attack。　The　Mangs；　instead　of　going　out　to　meet　the　enemy；　began　to　force　their　way　out　of　the　Shu　attack。　Meng　Huo　became　alarmed　and　fled　with　all　his　clans　and　dependents。　They　fought　their　way　through　and　made　a　dash　for　their　former　camp。

Just　as　they　reached　it；　there　appeared　a　cohort　of　the　enemy　led　by　Zhao　Yun。　Meng　Huo　turned　off　west　and　sought　refuge　in　the　mountains。　But　he　was　fiercely　attacked　by　a　cohort　under　Ma　Dai。　With　a　small　remnant　of　followers；　he　got　away　into　a　valley。　Soon　he　saw　in　the　west；　north；　and　south　clouds　of　smoke　rising　and　the　glow　of　torches；　so　that　he　was　forced　to　halt。　However；　the　east　remained　clear；　and　presently　he　fled　in　that　direction。　As　he　was　crossing　the　mouth　of　a　gully；　he　noticed　a　few　horsemen　outlined　against　a　thick　wood　and　saw　they　were　escorting　a　small　carriage。　And　in　that　carriage　sat　Zhuge　Liang。

Zhuge　Liang　laughed；　and　said；　〃So　King　of　the　Mangs　has　got　here！　You　have　been　defeated。　I　have　waited　for　you　a　long　time。〃

Meng　Huo　angrily　turned　to　his　followers　and　said；　〃Thrice　have　I　been　the　victim　of　this　mans　base　wiles　and　have　been　put　to　shame。　Now　chance　has　sent　him　across　my　path；　and　you　must　attack　him　with　all　your　energy。　Let　us　cut　him　to　pieces　and　those　with　him。〃

The　Mang　horsemen；　with　Meng　Huo　shouting　to　encourage　them；　pushed　forward　in　hot　haste　toward　the　wood。　But　in　a　few　moments　they　all　stumbled　and　disappeared　into　some　pits　that　had　been　dug　in　the　way。　And　just　then　Wei　Yan　emerged　from　the　wood。　One　by　one　the　Mangs　were　pulled　out　of　the　pits　and　bound　tight　with　cords。

Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　his　camp；　where　the　captors　of　the　King　could　bring　in　their　prisoner。　Zhuge　Liang　busied　himself　in　soothing　the　other　Mang　prisoners。　Many　of　the　notables　and　chiefs　of　the　tributaries　had　betaken　themselves　to　their　own　ravines　and　villages　with　their　followers。　Many　of　those　who　remained　came　over　and　yielded　to　Shu。　They　were　well　fed　and　assured　of　safety；　and　allowed　to　go　to　their　own。　They　went　off　gladly　enough。

By　and　by　Zhang　Yi　brought　up　the　Kings　brother；　Meng　You。　Zhuge　Liang　reproached　him　for　his　brothers　behavior。

〃Your　brother　is　a　misguided　simpleton。　You　ought　to　remonstrate　with　him　and　persuade　him　to　change　his　course。　Here　you　are；　a　captive　for　the　fourth　time。　Are　you　not　ashamed？　How　can　you　have　the　effrontery　to　look　anyone　in　the　face？〃

A　deep　flush　of　shame　passed　over　Meng　Yous　face；　and　he　threw　himself　to　the　earth　begging　forgiveness。

Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃If　I　put　you　to　death；　it　shall　not　be　today。　This　time　I　pardon　you；　but　you　are　to　talk　to　your　brother。〃

So　Meng　You　was　loosed　from　his　bonds　and　allowed　to　get　up。　He　went　away　weeping。

Very　soon　Wei　Yan　brought　up　Meng　Huo；　and　to　him　Zhuge　Liang　simulated　great　rage；　saying；　〃What　can　you　say　now？　You　see　you　are　in　my　hands　again。〃

〃I　am　again　an　unfortunate　victim；〃　said　Meng　Huo。　〃Once　more　I　have　blundered　into　your　net；　and　now　I　shall　die　with　unclosed　eyes。〃

Zhuge　Liang　shouted　to　the　lictors　to　take　him　away　and　behead　him。

Meng　Huo　never　blenched　at　the　sentence；　but　he　turned　to　his　captor　and　said；　〃If　you　freed　me　only　once　more；　I　would　wipe　out　the　shame　of　all　four　captures。〃

Zhuge　Liang　smiled　at　the　bold　reply　and　bade　the　lictors　loose　his　bonds；　and　the　attendants　served　him　with　wine。　Meng　Huo　was　invited　to　sit　in　the　manders　tent。

Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Four　times　you　have　been　treated　generously　and　yet　you　are　still　defiant。　Why？〃

〃Though　I　am　what　you　call　a　barbarian；　I　would　scorn　to　employ　your　vile　ruses。　And　that　is　why　I　remain　defiant。〃

〃I　have　liberated　you　four　times。　Do　you　think　you　can　give　battle　again？〃

〃If　you　catch　me　again；　I　will　incline　my　heart　to　yield　and　I　will　give　everything　in　my　ravine　to　reward　your　army。　I　will　also　take　an　oath　not　to　cause　any　further　trouble。〃

Zhuge　Liang　smiled；　but　let　him　go。　The　King　thanked　him　and　left。

As　soon　as　he　was　set　at　liberty；　Meng　Huo　got　together　several　thousand　of　his　adherents　and　went　away　southward。　Before　long　he　fell　in　with　his　brother；　Meng　You；　who　had　got　together　an　army　and　was　on　his　way　to　avenge　his　brother。　As　soon　as　they　saw　each　other；　the　brothers　fell　upon　each　others　necks　and　wept。　They　related　their　experiences。

Meng　You　said；　〃We　cannot　stand　against　the　enemy。　We　have　been　defeated　several　times。　Now　I　think　we　had　better　go　into　the　mountains　and　hide　in　some　dark　gully　where　they　cannot　find　us。　Those　soldiers　of　Shu　will　never　stand　the　summer　heat。　They　must　retire。〃

〃Where　can　we　hide？〃　asked　his　brother。

〃I　know　a　valley　away　southwest　from　us　called　Bald　Dragon　Ravine；　and　the　King；　Duo　Si；　is　a　friend　of　mine。　Let　us　take　refuge　with　him。〃

〃Very　well。　Go　and　arrange　it；〃　said　Meng　Huo。

So　Meng　You　went。　When　he　got　there　and　talked　to　the　chief；　King　Duo　Si　lost　no　time　but　came　out　with　his　soldiers　to　wele　Meng　Huo；　who　then　entered　the　valley。　After　the　exchange　of　salutations；　Meng　Huo　explained　his　case。

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