三国演义英文版-第212部分

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Meng　Huo　hastily　changed　his　route　to　go　deeper　into　the　mountains；　but　Zhao　Yun's　soldiers　spread　around；　and　the　Mangs　could　not　make　a　stand。　Here　many　were　captured。　Meng　Huo　and　a　few　horsemen　got　away　into　a　valley；　which；　however；　soon　became　too　narrow　for　the　horses　to　advance。　Meng　Huo　then　left　his　horse　and　crawled　up　the　mountains；　but　very　soon　he　fell　upon　Wei　Yan；　who　had　been　sent　with　five　hundred　troops　to　lie　in　wait　in　that　very　valley。　Meng　Huo　tried　to　struggle　but　soon　was　captured。
The　King　and　his　followers　were　taken　to　the　main　camp；　where　Zhuge　Liang　was　waiting　with　wine　and　meat　ready　for　the　captives。　But　his　tent　was　now　guarded　by　soldiers　all　well　armed　with　snow…glittering　weapons；　beside　the　lictors　bearing　the　golden　axes；　a　present　from　the　Emperor；　and　other　insignia　of　rank。　The　feather…hatted　drummers　and　clarion　players　were　in　front　and　behind；　and　the　Imperial　Guards　were　extended　on　both　sides。　The　whole　was　very　imposing　and　awe…inspiring。
Zhuge　Liang　was　seated　at　the　top　of　it　all　and　watched　the　captives　as　they　came　forward　in　crowds。　When　they　were　all　assembled；　he　ordered　their　bonds　to　be　loosed；　and　then　he　addressed　them。
〃You　are　all　simple　and　well…disposed　people　who　have　been　led　into　trouble　by　Meng　Huo。　I　know　your　fathers　and　mothers；　your　brothers　and　wives；　and　your　children　are　anxiously　watching　from　the　doorways　for　your　return；　and　they　are　cut　to　dear　suffering　that　the　news　of　defeat　and　capture　has　reached　their　ears。　They　are　weeping　bitter　tears　for　you。　And　so　I　will　set　you　all　free　to　go　home　and　fort　them。〃
After　they　had　been　given　food　and　wine　and　a　present　of　grain；　he　sent　them　all　away。　They　went　off　grateful　for　the　kindness　shown　them；　and　they　wept　as　they　thanked　Zhuge　Liang。
Then　the　guards　were　told　to　bring　the　King　before　the　tent。　He　came；　bound；　being　hustled　forward。　He　knelt　in　front　of　the　mander…in…Chief。
Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Why　did　you　rebel　after　the　generous　treatment　you　have　received　from　our　Emperor？〃
〃The　two　River　Lands　belonged　to　others；　and　your　lord　took　it　from　them　by　force；　and　gave　himself　the　title　of　Emperor。　My　people　have　lived　here　for　ages；　and　you　and　your　cohorts　invaded　my　country　without　the　least　excuse。　How　can　you　talk　of　rebellion　to　me？〃
〃You　are　my　prisoner。　Will　you　submit　or　are　you　still　contumacious？〃
〃Why　should　I　submit？　You　happened　to　find　me　in　a　narrow　place。　That　is　all。〃
〃If　I　release　you；　what　then？〃
〃If　you　release　me　I　shall　return；　and　when　I　have　set　my　army　in　order；　I　shall　e　to　fight　you　again。　However；　if　you　catch　me　once　more；　I　will　submit。〃
The　King's　bonds　were　loosed。　He　was　clothed　and　refreshed；　given　a　horse　and　caparisons；　and　sent　with　a　guide　to　his　own　camp。

Once　more　the　captured　chieftain　is　let　go；
To　yield　tribesmen　are　ever　slow。

Further　results　of　this　war　will　be　related　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　88　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　88
　Chapter　88
Crossing　River　Lu………The　Mang　King　Is　Bound　The　Second　Time；
Recognizing　A　Pretended　Surrender………Meng　Huo　Is　Captured　The　Third　Time。
The　officers　did　not　approve　of　the　release　of　the　King　of　the　Mangs；　and　they　came　to　the　tent　of　Zhuge　Liang　and　said；　〃Meng　Huo　is　the　most　important　personage　of　all　the　Mangs；　and　his　capture　is　the　key　to　restoring　order　in　the　south。　Why　then；　O　Minister；　did　you　release　him？〃
〃I　can　capture　him　just　as　easily　as　I　can　get　something　out　of　my　pocket。　What　I　want　to　do　is　to　overe　and　win　his　heart；　so　that　peace　may　follow　of　itself。〃
They　listened；　but　they　had　no　great　confidence　in　the　success　of　the　policy　of　conciliation。
In　the　meantime　Meng　Huo　had　reached　the　River　Lu；　and　there　he　fell　in　with　some　of　his　defeated　leaders；　who　were　trying　to　get　news　of　their　King's　fate。
They　were　surprised；　but　glad；　to　see　him；　and　asked；　〃How　were　Your　Highness　able　to　get　back？〃
The　King　lied；　saying；　〃They　confined　me　in　a　tent；　and　I　broke　out　in　the　night。　I　slew　more　than　ten　guards　and　ran。　And　then　I　met　one　of　their　sentries；　killed　him；　and　that　is　how　I　got　this　horse。〃
They　never　doubted　his　word；　and　very　joyfully　they　hurried　him　over　the　river　to　a　camping　place。　Then　all　the　notables　assembled　from　the　various　ravines；　and　the　soldiers　that　had　escaped　death　were　mustered　and　got　into　shape　as　a　fighting　force。
The　two　leaders　in　the　late　campaign；　Dongtu　Na　and　Ahui　Nan；　were　in　one　of　the　ravines；　and　Meng　Huo　sent　to　ask　them　to　e。　They　were　afraid；　but　they　could　not　disobey；　and　they　came　with　an　escort。
When　all　had　assembled；　the　King　proclaimed　as　follows：　〃I　know　Zhuge　Liang　is　too　full　of　ruses　for　us　to　conquer　him　in　a　fight；　we　should　only　fall　victims　to　other　base　devices。　However；　we　must　remember　that　his　soldiers　have　marched　far　and　the　weather　is　sultry；　which　are　factors　in　our　favor。　Beside；　River　Lu　is　our　rampart。　We　will　have　boats　and　rafts　on　the　south　side；　and　we　will　build　a　mud　wall。　With　such　good　defenses　we　can　afford　to　wait　and　see　what　the　enemy　intends。〃
His　speech　met　with　approval；　and　his　plan　was　carried　out。　The　wall　was　supported　by　the　hills　and　strengthened　by　fighting　turrets；　upon　which　were　placed　large　bows　and　crossbows　and　arrows　and　stones。　The　defenses　looked　as　if　they　were　permanent。　Moreover；　each　ravine　sent　supplies　in　plenty。　And　having　made　these　preparations；　Meng　Huo　felt　fortable　and　safe。
Zhuge　Liang　had　advanced；　and　his　leading　division　was　now　close　to　the　river。
Spies　came　back　to　report：　〃No　boats　or　rafts　can　be　found　to　cross；　and　the　current　is　too　strong　to　think　of　fording。　Beside；　we　can　see　the　formidable　defenses　on　the　farther　bank；　the　mud　wall　and　the　turrets　all　fully　manned。〃
The　weather　was　burning　hot；　for　it　was　the　fifth　month；　and　the　soldiers　could　not　tolerate　their　armor　nor　even　their　clothing。
When　Zhuge　Liang　had　inspected　the　river；　he　returned　to　his　tent　and　assembled　his　officers；　to　whom　he　read　this　order：　〃The　enemy　is　securely　established　on　the　south　bank　ready　to　repel　our　attack。　Yet；　having　e　so　far；　we　cannot　return　empty。　For　the　present　you　will　all　seek　what　shelter　you　can　find　in　the　forests；　and　rest　and　refresh　your　troops。〃
Then　he　sent　Lu　Kai　to　a　distance　to　select　a　cool　stretch　of　thirty　miles；　and　there　he　made　four　stockades。　Within　the　stockades　he　built　huts　for　the　soldiers　and　sheds　for　the　horses；　so　that　they　were　sheltered　from　the　intense　heat。　The　four　camps　were　stationed　by　Wang　Ping；　Zhang　Ni；　Zhang　Yi；　and　Guan　Suo。
However；　Jiang　Wan；　observed　these　shelters　and　went　to　Zhuge　Liang；　saying；　〃These　shelters　of　Lu　Kai　are　very　unsuitable。　He　has　made　the　same　mistake　as　that　which　led　to　the　defeat　of　the　First　Ruler　at　the　hands　of　Wu。　He　has　not　taken　into　account　the　surroundings　of　the　stockades；　and　if　the　Mangs　should　e　over　and　start　a　fire；　there　could　be　no　rescue。〃
〃Do　not　anticipate　trouble；〃　said　the　mander…in…Chief；　smiling。　〃I　have　provided　against　all　such　dangers。〃
Jiang　Wan　did　not　know　what　the　chief　meant　to　do；　but　he　said　no　more。　Then　Ma　Dai　arrived　from　the　River　Lands；　and　he　brought　summer　medicines　and　further　supplies　of　grain。　He　saw　Zhuge　Liang；　and　then　proceeded　to　distribute　the　supplies　he　had　brought　according　to　orders。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃What　force　have　you　brought？〃
〃Three　thousand；〃　replied　Ma　Dai。
〃My　people　are　weary　and　worn　out。　I　want　to　use　yours。　You　have　no　objections？〃
〃Of　course　not。　They　are　equally　government　troops。　They　are　ready　even　to　die　for　you　if　you　wish。〃
〃This　Meng　Huo　is　established　on　the　river；　and　we　have　no　means　of　crossing。　But　I　am　anxious　to　intercept　his　supplies；　so　that　his　troops　may　mutiny。〃
〃How　can　you　do　it？〃
〃Some　fifty　miles　lower　down　River　Lu　there　is　a　place　called　Shakou；　where　the　current　is　slow　and　shallow　because　of　sand。　You　could　cross　there　on　rafts。　I　wish　you　and　your　soldiers　to　cross　and　cut　the　road　of　supplies。　After　that　you　are　to　arrange　with　the　two　leaders………Dongtu　Na　and　Ahui　Nan………whose　lives　I　spared；　to　be　your　allies　on　the　inside；　and　we　shall　succeed。〃
Ma　Dai　went　off　gladly　enough；　and　marched　his　troops　to　Shakou；　where　they　set　about　the　crossing　at　once。　And　as　the　water　was　shallow；　they　did　not　trouble　to　make　rafts；　but　just　tucked　up　their　clothes　and　waded　in。　But　half…way　across；　the　men　began　to　fall　over；　and　when　they　had　been　rescued　and　taken　to　the　bank；　many　of　them　began　to　bleed　from　the　nose　and　mouth　and　died。　In　great　alarm；　Ma　Dai　sent　hasty　messages　to　Zhuge　Liang；　who　called　in　the　native　guides　and　asked　what　this　meant。
They　told　him；　〃It　happens　so　every　year。　In　the　hot　season；　poisonous　miasma　collects　over　the　waters　of　the　River　Lu；　especially　during　the　heat　of　the　day。　Anyone　who　drinks　the　water　will　surely　die。　Travelers　who　wish　to　cross　have　to　wait　till　night；　because　the　cooler　waters　do　not　breathe　out　the　poisonous　vapors。　Further；　the　crossing　should　be　attempted　on　a　full　stomach。〃
Zhuge　Liang　bade　the　local　guides　point　out　the　best　crossing　place。　He　sent　five　hundred　well…seasoned　soldiers　to　Ma　Dai　to　lash　together　poles　into　rafts　at　Shakou；　and　in　the　night　the　crossing　was　safely　acplished。　Further；　the　guides　then　led　two　thousand　men　of　Shu　over　to　where　the　grain　road　of　the　Mangs　led　through　a　narrow　valley；　called　Jiashan　Gorge；　where；　for　part　of　the　way；　only　single　file　was　possible　as　the　road　was　only　wide　enough　for　a　soldier　and　a　horse。
Ma　Dai　at　once　occupied　this　valley　and　stationed　a　force　there。　And　a　stockade　was　put　up　with　tents　inside。　Presently　a　convoy　of　grain　came　along；　and　it　was　captured；　more　than　a　hundred　wagons。　The　guards　ran　off　to　Meng　Huo's　great　camp　and　told　him。
Meng　Huo；　thinking　all　was　safe　during　the　hot　season；　was　enjoying　himself。　Wine　and　music　were　the　order　of　the　day；　and　military　matters　were　far　from　his　thoughts。　In　his　cups　he　admitted　Zhuge　Liang　was　ruseful；　but　said　his　army　had　nothing　to　fear。
Said　he；　〃If　I　attempt　to　oppose　Zhuge　Liang；　I　shall　certainly　fall　a　victim　to　some　wile　of　his。　However；　my　waiting　policy　is　a　safe　one。　With　our　defenses；　and　the　river　to　back　them；　we　can　wait　for　the　heat　to　overe　these　men　of　Shu；　who　cannot　stand　the　hot　season。　They　will　have　to　retreat；　and　then　we　can　harass　them。　And　we　will　capture　this　Zhuge　Liang。〃
He　lay　back　and　laughed　at　the　thought。
However；　one　chief；　more　prudent　than　the　others；　stood　forth　and　said；　〃Remember　the　shallows　at　Shakou。　It　would　be　very　serious　if　the　soldiers　of　Shu　got　across　there　secretly。　It　ought　to　be　guarded。〃
〃You　belong　to　these　areas。　Do　you　not　know　that　I　want　the　enemy　to　try　to　get　across　there？　Why；　they　will　all　perish　in　the　water。〃
〃But　what　if　the　natives　tell　them　to　cross　only　in　the　night？〃
〃Do　not　be　so　anxious；〃　said　Meng　Huo。　〃Our　own　people　will　not　help　the　enemy　that　far。〃
It　was　just　then　that　intelligence　came：　〃The　troops　of　Shu；　unknown　in　number；　have　crossed　the　river　and；　moreover；　have　seized　the　Jiashan　Gorge。　The　flags　show　the　words　'General　Who　Pacifies　The　North；　Ma　Dai'。〃
Meng　Huo　affected　indifference。
〃This　sort　of　fellow　is　not　worth　talking　about；〃　said　he。
He　sent　General　Mangya　Chang　with　three　thousand