第一小说网

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第214部分（第2页）

This　speech　of　their　leaders　pleased　them　all　mightily。

In　the　meantime　Meng　Huo；　upset　at　the　three　captures；　hastened　home　to　his　own　Silver　Pit　Ravine；　whence　he　sent　trusted　friends　with　gifts　to　the　Eight　Nations　and　the　Ninety…three　Sees　and　all　the　Mang　quarters　and　clans　to　borrow　shields　and　swords　and　warriors　and　braves。　He　got　together　one　hundred　thousand　soldiers。　They　all　assembled　on　an　appointed　day；　massing　like　clouds　and　sweeping　in　like　mists　gathering　on　the　mountains；　each　and　all　obeying　the　mands　of　the　King　Meng　Huo。

And　the　scouts　knew　it　all；　and　they　told　Zhuge　Liang；　who　said；　〃This　is　what　I　was　waiting　for；　that　the　Mangs　should　have　an　opportunity　of　knowing　our　might。〃

Thereupon　he　seated　himself　in　a　small　carriage　and　went　out　to　watch。

O　let　our　enemys　courage　glow

That　our　greater　might　may　show。

The　story　of　the　campaign　will　be　continued　in　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　89　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　89

Chapter　89

The　Lord　of　Wuxiang　Uses　The　Fourth　Ruse；

The　King　of　Mang　Is　Captured　The　Fifth　Time。

Zhuge　Liangs　small　carriage　was　escorted　by　only　a　few　horsemen。　Hearing　that　a　sluggish　river；　the　West　Er　River；　lay　in　the　way；　and　having　no　boat；　Zhuge　Liang　bade　the　escort　cut　down　some　trees　and　make　a　raft。　They　did　so；　but　the　raft　sank。

So　Zhuge　Liang　turned　to　Lu　Kai；　who　said；　〃There　is　close　by　a　mountain　covered　with　bamboos。　I　have　heard　of　these　bamboos；　and　some　are　several　spans　in　girth。　We　can　make　a　bridge　of　them　for　the　army　to　cross。〃

So　thirty　thousand　soldiers　were　sent　to　the　mountains；　where　they　cut　down　many　thousands　of　bamboos；　and　floated　them　down　river。　Then　at　the　narrowest　point　they　made　a　bridge　a　hundred　spans　or　so　in　length。　Next　the　main　army　was　brought　down　to　the　river　and　camped　in　line　along　the　bank。　The　camp　was　protected　by　a　moat；　crossed　by　a　floating　bridge；　and　a　mud　rampart。　On　the　south　bank　they　constructed　three　large　stockades　so　as　to　prepare　for　the　ing　of　the　Mang　soldiers。

They　had　not　long　to　wait。　Meng　Huo　was　hot　with　rage　and　came　quickly　with　an　army　of　one　hundred　thousand。　As　soon　as　he　got　near　the　river；　he　led　out　ten　thousand　fierce　warriors；　armed　with　big　swords　and　shield；　and　challenged　the　first　stockade。

Zhuge　Liang　went　forth　in　simple　state。　He　wore　a　silk　cap　and　a　crane…white　robe　and　held　in　his　hand　a　feather　fan。　He　sat　in　a　four…horse　carriage；　and　his　generals　rode　right　and　left。

The　King　of　the　Mang　was　clad　in　mail　of　rhinoceros　hide　and　wore　a　bright　red　casque。　In　his　left　hand　he　bore　a　shield；　and　his　right　gripped　a　sword。　He　rode　a　red　ox。　As　soon　as　he　saw　his　enemies；　he　opened　his　mouth　and　poured　forth　abuse　and　insults；　while　his　warriors；　huge　and　bold；　darted　to　and　fro　brandishing　their　weapons。

Zhuge　Liang　at　once　ordered　the　army　to　retire　within　the　stockades　and　bar　the　gates。　The　Mangs　came　close　up　to　the　stockade　and　pranced　about　naked；　shouting　in　derision。

Within　the　stockade　the　Shu　generals　grew　very　angry；　and　they　went　in　a　body　to　see　their　leader。

They　all　said；　〃We　volunteer　to　march　out　and　fight　until　death！〃

But　Zhuge　Liang　would　not　listen。

Presently　he　said；　〃These　men　are　not　submissive　to　the　Imperial　Government　and　are　naturally　fierce　and　turbulent。　In　that　mood　we　are　no　match　for　them。　But　all　we　have　to　do　is　to　remain　on　guard　for　a　few　days　till　their　ferocity　has　spent　itself。　Then　I　have　a　plan　that　will　overe　them。〃

Days　passed；　and　the　army　of　Shu　made　no　move；　they　only　maintained　the　defensive。　Zhuge　Liang　watched　the　besiegers　from　an　eminence；　and　saw　the　first　vigor　of　their　advance　give　way　to　careless　idleness。

Then　Zhuge　Liang　called　together　his　generals　and　asked；　〃Dare　you　give　battle　now？〃

They　all　rejoiced　at　the　suggestion。　So　he　called　them　two　by　two　or　one　by　one　and　gave　them　secret　orders。　Zhao　Yun　and　Wei　Yan　went　in　first。　Wang　Ping　and　Ma　Zheng　followed。

To　Ma　Dai　he　said；　〃I　am　going　to　abandon　these　stockades　and　retire　north　of　the　river。　As　soon　as　we　have　crossed；　you　are　to　cut　loose　the　floating　bridge　and　move　it　down　the　stream　so　that　Zhao　Yun　and　Wei　Yan　may　cross。〃

To　Zhang　Yi　he　said；　〃You　are　to　remain　by　the　camp　and　light　it　up　at　night………as　if　it　is　still　occupied。　When　Meng　Huo　pursues；　then　you　are　to　cut　off　his　retreat。〃

Last　of　all；　Guan　Suo　was　to　escort　Zhuge　Liangs　carriage。

The　soldiers　marched　out　of　the　camp　at　evening；　and　the　lamps　were　hung　up　as　usual。　The　Mangs　saw　this　from　a　distance　and　dared　not　attack。　But　the　next　morning　at　dawn　Meng　Huo　led　his　troops　to　the　stockades　and　found　all　was　quiet。　He　went　close　up　and　saw　they　were　all　empty　and　bare；　not　a　soldier　was　there。　Grain　and　fodder　lay　about　among　empty　carts。　All　was　in　confusion；　suggesting　hasty　departure。

〃They　have　abandoned　the　camp；〃　said　Meng　You　to　his　brother。　〃But　this　is　only　a　ruse。〃

Said　Meng　Huo；　〃I　think　that　Zhuge　Liang　has　important　news　from　the　capital　that　has　made　him　leave　without　his　baggage　train　like　this。　Either　Wu　has　invaded　or　Wei　has　attacked。　They　left　these　lamps　burning　to　make　us　think　the　camps　were　occupied；　but　they　ran　away　leaving　everything　behind。　If　we　pursue；　we　cannot　go　wrong。〃

So　the　King　urged　his　army　onward；　himself　heading　the　leading　division。　When　they　reached　the　bank　of　the　West　Er　River；　they　saw　on　the　farther　side　that　the　camps　were　all　in　order　and　the　banners　flying　as　usual　like　a　brightly　tinted　cloud　of　silk。　Along　the　bank　stood　a　wall　of　cloth。　They　dared　not　attack。

Meng　Huo　said　to　his　brother