第一小说网

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第214部分（第1页）

Zhao　Yun。　He　was　in　a　trap　and　attacked　on　three　sides　and　no　fourth　to　escape　by。　He　abandoned　everything；　making　one　wild　rush　for　the　River　Lu。

As　he　reached　the　river　bank；　he　saw　a　bark　on　the　river　with　Mang　soldiers　on　board。　Here　was　safety。　He　hailed　the　boat　and　jumped　on　board　as　soon　as　it　touched　the　bank。　No　sooner　had　he　embarked　than　suddenly　he　was　seized　and　bound。　The　boat；　which　Ma　Dai　had　provided　and　prepared；　was　part　of　the　general　plan；　and　the　Mang　soldiers　therein　were　Ma　Dais　soldiers　disguised。

Many　of　Meng　Huos　troops　accepted　the　chance　of　surrender　held　out　by　Zhuge　Liang；　who　soothed　them　and　treated　them　well　and　did　not　injure　one　of　them。

The　remains　of　the　conflagration　were　stamped　out；　and　in　a　short　time　Ma　Dai　brought　along　his　prisoner。　At　the　same　time　Zhao　Yun　led　in　his　brother；　Meng　You。　Wei　Yan；　Ma　Su；　Wang　Ping；　and　Guan　Suo　also　brought　their　prisoners；　chiefs　or　notables；　to　the　camp　of　the　Prime　Minister。

Zhuge　Liang　looked　at　the　King　and　laughed。

〃That　was　but　a　shallow　ruse　of　yours　to　send　your　brother　with　presents　to　pretend　to　submit　to　me。　Did　you　really　think　I　should　not　see　through　it？　But　here　you　are　once　more　in　my　power。　Now　do　you　yield？〃

〃I　am　a　prisoner　owing　to　the　gluttony　of　my　brother　and　the　power　of　your　poisonous　drugs。　If　I　had　only　played　his　part　myself　and　left　him　to　support　me　with　soldiers；　I　should　have　succeeded。　I　am　the　victim　of　fate　and　not　of　my　own　incapacity。　No；　I　will　not　yield。〃

〃Remember　this　is　the　third　time。　Why　not？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

Meng　Huo　dropped　his　head　and　made　no　answer。

〃Ah；　well。　I　will　let　you　go　once　more；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

〃O　Minister；　if　you　will　let　me　and　my　brother　go；　we　will　get　together　our　family　and　clients　and　fight　you　once　more。　If　I　am　caught　that　time；　then　I　will　confess　myself　beaten　to　the　ground；　and　that　shall　be　the　end。〃

〃Certainly　I　shall　scarcely　pardon　you　next　time；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃You　had　better　be　careful。　Diligently　tackle　your　Book　of　Strategy；　look　over　your　list　of　confidants。　If　you　can　apply　a　good　plan　at　the　proper　moment；　you　will　not　have　any　need　for　late　regrets。〃

Meng　Huo　and　his　brother　and　all　the　chiefs　were　released　from　their　bonds。　They　thanked　Zhuge　Liang　for　his　clemency　and　went　away。

By　the　time　the　released　prisoners　had　got　back　to　the　river；　the　army　of　Shu　had　crossed　to　the　farther　side　and　had　captured　the　Mang　defenses；　the　Shu　flags　fluttering　in　the　breeze。　As　Meng　Huo　passed　the　camp；　he　saw　Ma　Dai　sitting　in　state。

Ma　Dai　pointed　his　sword　at　the　King　as　he　passed；　and　said；　〃Next　time　you　are　caught；　you　will　not　escape。〃

When　Meng　Huo　came　to　his　own　camp；　he　found　Zhao　Yun　in　possession　and　all　in　order。　Zhao　Yun　was　seated　beneath　the　large　banner；　with　his　sword　drawn；　and　as　the　King　passed。

Zhao　Yun　also　said；　〃Do　not　presume　on　the　kindness　of　the　Prime　Minister　because　you　have　been　generously　treated。〃

Meng　Huo　grunted　and　passed　on。　Just　as　he　was　going　over　the　frontier　hills；　he　saw　Wei　Yan　and　a　pany　drawn　up　on　the　slopes。

Wei　Yan　shouted；　〃See　to　it：　We　have　got　into　the　inmost　recesses　of　your　country　and　have　taken　all　your　defensive　positions。　Yet　you　are　foolish　enough　to　hold　out。　Next　time　you　are　caught；　you　will　be　quite　destroyed。　There　will　be　no　more　pardons。〃

Meng　Huo　and　his　pany　ran　away　with　their　arms　over　their　heads。　Each　one　returned　to　his　own　ravine。

In　the　fifth　moon；　when　the　sun　is　fierce；

Marched　the　army　into　the　wild　land；

To　the　River　Lu；　bright　and　clear；

But　deadly　with　miasma。

Zhuge　Liang　the　leader　cared　not；

Pledged　was　he　to　subdue　the　south；

Thereby　to　repay　the　First　Rulers　deference　with　service。

Wherefore　he　attacked　the　Mangs。

Yet　seven　times　he　freed　their　captured　king。

After　the　crossing　of　the　river；　the　Shu　soldiers　were　feasted。

Then　Zhuge　Liang　addressed　his　officers：　〃I　let　Meng　Huo　see　our　camp　the　second　time　he　was　our　prisoner；　because　I　wanted　to　tempt　him　into　raiding　it。　He　is　something　of　a　soldier；　and　I　dangled　our　supplies　and　resources　before　his　eyes；　knowing　he　would　try　to　burn　them　and　that　he　would　send　his　brother　to　pretend　to　submit　that　thereby　he　could　get　into　our　camp　and　have　a　chance　to　betray　us。　I　have　captured　and　released　him　three　times；　trying　to　win　him　over。　I　do　not　wish　to　do　him　any　harm。　I　now　explain　my　policy　that　you　may　understand　I　am　not　wasting　your　efforts　and　you　are　still　to　work　your　best　for　the　government。〃

＇e＇　Lu　Wang　was　a　master　strategist；　founding　minister　of　Zhou　Dynasty；　counselor　to　King　Wen。　Before　joining　King　Wen；　Lu　Wang　had　been　a　fisher；　who　mediated　on　the　river　bank　on　political　events。　。。。。。

＇e＇　Zhang　Liang；　aka　Zhang　Zifang；　the　master　strategist　for　Liu　Bang。　His　family　had　served　the　state　of　Han　as　chief　ministers　during　the　Warring　States　period。　It　is　said　that　he　received　the　strategy　book　of　Lu　Wang　from　a　mysterious　old　man。　When　he　was　young；　Zhang　Liang　plotted　to　assasinate　the　First　Emperor；　but　failed。　He　later　rebeled　against　Qin。　Joined　Liu　Bang　（BC　206）　to　fight　against　Qin　and　then　Chu。　Remended　Han　Xin　to　Liu　Bang。　Zhang　Liangs　insights　had　earned　him　the　name　〃The　Teacher　of　Emperor〃。　After　Liu　Bang　won　the　empire；　Zhang　Liang　was　enobled　as　Lord　of　Liu；　but　did　not　take　office；　instead　he　resigned　from　political　life　and　traveled。　。。。。。

They　all　bowed；　and　one　said；　〃O　Prime　Minister；　you　are　indeed　perfect　in　everyone　of　the　three　gifts：　Wisdom；　benevolence；　and　valor。　Not　even　Lu　Wang*　or　Zhang　Liang*　can　equal　you！〃

Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃How　can　I　expect　to　equal　our　men　of　old？　But　my　trust　is　in　your　strength；　and　together　we　shall　succeed。〃