第一小说网

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第216部分（第2页）

Zhuge　Liang　sighed；　saying；　〃Now　I　believe　that　story　of　the　two　brothers………Robber　Liu　Zhi　and　Noble　Liu　Xiahui。　This　is　the　same　thing　over　again。　People　renowned　for　villainy　and　virtue　may　e　from　the　same　stock。〃

Then　he　said　to　his　host；　〃Would　you　wish　me　to　represent　your　merits　to　the　Emperor　and　get　you　created　a　king？〃

〃How　can　you　think　I　desire　honors　or　wealth　when　I　am　here　because　of　my　contempt　for　all　such　things？〃

Zhuge　Liang　then　wished　to　make　him　certain　presents；　but　the　recluse　would　have　none　of　them。

So　taking　leave　of　his　host；　Zhuge　Liang　went　back　to　his　camp。

In　the　southern　expedition　when　the　Mangs　were　subdued；

Zhuge　Liang　found　a　high…born　recluse　in　a　shady　solitude。

Up　till　then　the　gloomy　forests　were　thought　destitute　of　men；

That　no　curling　smoke　wreath　ever　floated　upwards　from　the　glen。

As　soon　as　Zhuge　Liang　reached　camp；　he　set　the　soldiers　digging　for　water。　They　dug　to　a　great　depth　but　found　none；　nor　were　they　more　successful　when　they　tried　other　places。　They　were　very　discouraged。

Then　Zhuge　Liang　in　the　depths　of　the　night　burned　incense　and　prayed　to　God：　〃Unworthy　as　is　thy　servant　Zhuge　Liang；　he　has　received　favor　from　the　Great　Han　and　now　has　been　ordered　to　subdue　the　Mangs。　Alas！　Now　our　water　is　spent　and　my　soldiers　and　animals　are　parched　with　thirst。　If　Thy　will　be　to　preserve　the　line　of　Hans；　then　give；　I　beseech　Thee；　sweet　water；　but　if　their　course　is　run；　then　may　Thy　servant　and　those　with　him　die　in　this　place。〃

The　morning　after　this　prayer　the　wells　were　full　of　sweet　water。

The　Mangs　must　be　conquered；　Zhuge　Liang　led　a　great　array；

Though　his　skill　was　superhuman；　yet　he　held　the　righteous　way；

As　the　wells　gave　forth　sweet　water　when　Geng　Gongs　head　bowed　full　low；

So　the　reverent　prayers　of　Zhuge　Liang　made　the　lower　springs　to　flow。

The　soldiers　spirits　revived　with　the　supply　of　water；　and　the　army　soon　advanced　by　hill　paths　to　the　Valley　of　the　Bald　Dragon；　where　they　camped。　When　Meng　Huo　heard　the　news；　he　was　greatly　taken　aback。

〃These　troops　do　not　appear　to　have　suffered　either　thirst　or　fever；〃　said　he。　〃Our　springs　have　lost　their　power。〃

King　Duo　Si　heard　it；　but　doubted。　He　and　Meng　Huo　ascended　into　a　high　hill　whence　they　could　see　their　enemies。　They　saw　no　signs　of　illness　or　distress。　All　went　on　calmly　and　quietly　in　the　camps；　water　carrying　and　cooking；　eating　and　attending　to　the　cattle。　Duo　Sis　hair　stood　on　end　as　he　looked　at　them。

〃These　are　not　human　soldiers；〃　said　he；　shivering。　〃They　must　be　sent　from　Heaven。〃

〃Our　two　brothers　will　fight　one　fierce　battle　with　these　troops　of　Shu　and　die　therein；〃　said　Meng　Huo；　〃We　cannot　wait　calmly　to　be　put　into　bonds。〃

〃But；　O　King；　if　your　army　should　be　beaten；　my　whole　family　will　also　perish。　Let　us　encourage　the　people　of　the　ravines。　Let　us　kill　bullocks　and　slaughter　horses　to　feed　them；　and　urge　them　to　go　through　fire　and　water　to　rush　right　up　to　the　camp　of　the　enemy　and　seize　upon　victory。〃

So　there　was　great　feasting　before　the　Mangs　took　the　field。　Just　as　this　was　going　on；　there　arrived　one　Yang　Fang；　King　of　twenty…one　ravines　in　the　west；　and　he　led　thirty　thousand　troops。

Meng　Huo　rejoiced　exceedingly；　saying；　〃This　addition　to　our　forces　shall　surely　bring　us　victory。〃

So　he　and　Duo　Si　went　out　of　their　own　valley　to　wele　Yang　Fang。

Yang　Fang　said；　〃I　have　with　me　thirty　thousand　troops　in　iron　mail；　brave　and　intrepid　warriors；　who　can　fly　over　mountains　and　bound　across　the　peaks。　They　of　themselves　are　a　match　for　the　enemy　even　if　the　enemy　numbered　a　hundred　legions。　And；　moreover；　my　five　sons；　all　trained　in　arms；　are　with　me；　all　to　help　you；　O　Kings。〃

The　five　sons　were　brought　in　and　presented。　They　were　handsome　young　fellows；　bold　and　martial　looking。　Father　and　sons　were　entertained　at　a　banquet。　Halfway　through　the　feast　Yang　Fang　proposed　a　diversion。

〃There　is　but　scanty　amusement　in　the　field；〃　said　Yang　Fang；　〃and　so　I　have　brought　along　some　native　singing　girls　who　have　been　taught　fencing　and　such　things。　If　you　care　for　it；　they　might　give　an　exhibition。〃

The　feasters　hailed　the　suggestion　with　joy；　and　soon　thirty　maidens　came　to　the　front　of　the　tent。　Their　hair　hung　about　their　shoulders；　and　they　were　barefooted。　They　danced　and　skipped　and　went　through　their　performan