第一小说网

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第220部分（第1页）

ven　shall　not　overlook　this　crime。〃

The　officers　were　deeply　moved。

Then　Meng　Huo　was　summoned。　He　appeared　and　fell　upon　his　knees。　His　limbs　were　freed　from　the　bonds；　and　he　was　sent　into　a　side　tent　for　refreshment。　The　chief　prisoners　were　Meng　Huo；　Lady　Zhurong；　Meng　You；　and　Dai　Lai。　There　were　many　of　his　clan　as　well。

As　they　were　eating　and　drinking；　a　messenger　appeared　in　the　door　of　the　tent　and　addressed　the　King：　〃The　Prime　Minister　is　ashamed　and　does　not　wish　to　see　you　again；　Sir。　He　has　sent　me　to　release　you。　You　may　enlist　another　army　if　you　can　and　once　more　try　a　decisive　battle。　Now　you　may　go。〃

But　instead　of　going　Meng　Huo　began　to　weep。

〃Seven　times　a　captive　and　seven　times　released！〃　said　the　King。　〃Surely　there　was　never　anything　like　it　in　the　whole　world。　I　am　not　entirely　devoid　of　a　sense　of　propriety　and　rectitude。　Does　he　think　that　I　feel　no　shame？〃

Thereupon　he　and　all　his　followers　fell　upon　their　knees　and　crawled　to　the　tent　of　the　mander…in…Chief　and　begged　pardon；　saying；　〃O　Minister；　you　are　the　majesty　of　Heaven。　We　people　of　the　south　will　offer　no　more　opposition。〃

〃Then　you　yield？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　sighing。

〃I　and　my　children　and　grandchildren　are　deeply　affected　by　your　all…pervading　and　life…giving　mercy。　Now　how　can　we　not　yield？〃

Zhuge　Liang　asked　Meng　Huo　to　e　up　into　the　tent　and　be　seated；　and　he　prepared　a　banquet　of　felicitation。　Also　he　confirmed　Meng　Huo　in　his　kingship　and　restored　all　the　places　that　had　been　captured。　Everyone　was　overwhelmed　with　Zhuge　Liangs　generosity；　and　they　all　went　away　rejoicing。　A　poem　has　praised　Zhuge　Liangs　action：

He　rode　in　his　chariot　green；

In　his　hand　just　a　feather　fan；

Seven　times　he　released　a　king

As　part　of　his　conquering　plan。

Having　chosen　a　beautiful　spot

Where　the　valleys　debauch　on　the　plain；

Lest　his　kindness　should　ever　be　forgot；

The　vanquished　erected　a　fane。

High　Counselor　Fei　Yi　ventured　to　remonstrate　with　Zhuge　Liang　on　his　policy。

He　said；　〃You；　O　Minister；　have　led　the　army　this　long　journey　into　the　wilds　and　have　reduced　the　Mang　country；　and　have　brought　about　the　submission　of　the　king。　Why　not　appoint　officials　to　share　in　the　administration　and　hold　the　land？〃

Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃There　are　three　difficulties。　To　leave　foreigners　implies　leaving　a　guard　for　them：　There　is　the　difficulty　of　feeding　the　guard。　The　Mangs　have　lost　many　of　their　relatives。　To　leave　foreigners　without　the　guard　will　invite　a　calamity：　This　is　the　second　difficulty。　Among　the　Mangs；　dethronements　and　murders　are　frequent；　and　there　will　be　enmities　and　suspicions。　Foreigners　and　they　will　be　mutually　distrustful：　This　is　the　third　difficulty。　If　I　do　not　leave　our　people；　I　shall　not　have　to　send　supplies；　which　makes　for　peace　and　freedom　from　trouble。〃

They　had　to　agree　that　the　policy　was　wise。

The　kindness　of　the　conqueror　was　rewarded　by　the　gratitude　of　these　southern　people；　and　they　even　erected　a　shrine　in　his　honor；　where　they　sacrificed　at　the　four　seasons。　As　Zhuge　Liang　and　Meng　Huo　declared　peace；　the　joy　spread　to　all　ravines　and　villages。　And　the　people　sent　gifts　of　jewels；　cinnabar；　lacquer；　medicines；　plowing　cattle；　and　chargers　for　the　use　of　the　army。　And　they　pledged　themselves　not　to　rebel。

When　the　feastings　to　the　soldiers　were　finished；　the　army　marched　homeward　to　Shu。　Wei　Yan　was　in　mand　of　the　advanced　column。　He　marched　to　the　River　Lu。　But　on　his　arrival　the　clouds　gathered　and　a　gale　blew　over　the　face　of　the　waters。　Because　of　the　force　of　the　gale；　the　army　could　not　advance。　Wei　Yan　then　returned　and　reported　the　matter　to　his　chief。　Zhuge　Liang　called　in　Meng　Huo　to　ask　what　this　might　mean。

The　Mangs　beyond　the　border　have　yielded　now　at　last；

The　water　demons　raging　mad　wont　let　the　Shu　men　go　past。

The　next　chapter　will　contain　Meng　Huos　explanation。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　91　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　91