第一小说网

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第213部分（第1页）

Meng　Huo　affected　indifference。

〃This　sort　of　fellow　is　not　worth　talking　about；〃　said　he。

He　sent　General　Mangya　Chang　with　three　thousands　troops　to　recapture　the　gorge　and　reopen　the　grain　road。

When　Ma　Dai　saw　the　Mang　soldiers　approaching；　he　placed　two　thousand　troops　in　front　of　the　hills　and　drew　up　the　troops　in　formal　array。　Then　Mangya　Chang　rode　out　to　give　battle。　This　was　but　a　small　engagement；　as　the　general　of　the　tribespeople　fell　at　the　first　stroke　of　Ma　Dais　sword。　The　Mangs　ran　away　at　once。

They　returned　to　the　Kings　camp　and　told　him　what　had　happened。　Whereupon　he　called　up　all　his　generals　and　asked　for　another　to　go　up　against　Ma　Dai。

〃I　will　go；〃　cried　Dongtu　Na。

The　King　gave　him　three　thousand　troops。　After　he　had　gone；　Meng　Huo　thought　it　would　be　wise　to　keep　others　from　crossing　the　river。　So　he　sent　a　force　of　three　thousand　under　Ahui　Nan　to　guard　Shakou。

Dongtu　Na　duly　arrived　at　the　gorge　and　made　a　camp。　Ma　Dai　came　out　to　meet　him。　Among　the　soldiers　in　his　cohort　were　some　who　recognized　the　leader　of　the　Mangs　and　told　Ma　Dai　certain　things　about　how　he　had　been　captured　and　liberated。

So　Ma　Dai　galloped　toward　him；　shouting；　〃O　you　ingrate！　How　could　you　forget　the　debt　to　the　Prime　Minister？　Have　you　known　no　shame？〃

Dongtu　Na　was　very　greatly　ashamed　and　turned　red　in　the　face；　and　turned　his　horse　before　striking　a　blow。　Ma　Dai　followed　and　fell　on；　slaying　many　of　the　Mangs。　Then　both　sides　withdrew。

Dongtu　Na　went　back　and　told　the　King　that　Ma　Dai　was　too　strong　for　him。

But　Meng　Huo　was　angry；　and　cried；　〃You　are　a　traitor！　I　know　Zhuge　Liang　was　good　to　you；　and　that　is　why　you　would　not　fight。〃

Meng　Huo　ordered　Dongtu　Na　out　to　execution。　However；　the　notables　and　chiefs　interceded；　and　the　death　penalty　was　remitted；　but　the　unhappy　leader　was　severely　beaten；　one　hundred　strokes　with　the　heavy　staff。

The　chiefs　were　mostly　on　the　side　of　the　beaten　general　and　against　the　Kings　policy。

They　went　to　the　tent　of　Dongtu　Na　and　said；　〃Though　we　live　in　the　Mang　country；　we　have　never　had　any　thoughts　of　rebellion　against　the　Imperial　Government；　nor　has　the　Middle　Kingdom　ever　encroached　upon　our　land。　We　must　own　that　Meng　Huos　superior　power　forced　us　into　this　rising；　and　we　could　not　help　ourselves。　Zhuge　Liang　is　too　clever　for　us；　and　no　one　can　guess　what　he　may　do。　Even　Cao　Cao　and　Sun　Quan　fear　him；　how　much　more　must　we？　Moreover；　we　have　received　kindness　at　his　hands　and　owe　him　our　lives。　We　ought　to　show　our　gratitude。　Now　let　us　at　all　risks　slay　this　Meng　Huo　and　submit　to　Zhuge　Liang　so　that　our　people　may　not　suffer。〃

Dongtu　Na　said；　〃I　do　not　know　your　inner　sentiments。〃

At　this；　all　those　who　had　been　prisoners　and　released　cried　with　one　voice；　〃We　desire　to　go　to　Meng　Huo。〃

Thereupon　Dongtu　Na　took　in　his　hand　a　sharp　sword；　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　more　than　a　hundred　malcontents；　and　rushed　into　the　great　camp。　At　that　moment　Meng　Huo　was；　as　usual；　intoxicated　and　lay　in　his　tent。　The　mutineers　rushed　in。　They　found　two　generals　on　guard。

〃You　also　received　kindness　from　Zhuge　Liang　and　ought　to　repay　it；〃　cried　Dongtu　Na。

They　replied；　〃You　do　not　have　to　slay　him。　Let　us　carry　him　a　prisoner　to　the　Prime　Minister。〃

So　they　bound　the　King　securely；　took　him　down　to　the　river；　and　crossed　in　a　boat　to　the　northern　bank。　There　they　halted；　while　they　sent　a　messenger　to　Zhuge　Liang。

Now　Zhuge　Liang　knew　what　had　been　happening；　and　he　had　issued　orders　for　every　camp　to　prepare　their　weapons。　All　being　ready；　he　told　the　chiefs　to　bring　up　their　prisoner；　and　bade　the　others　return　to　their　camps。　Dongtu　Na　went　first　and　told　the　matter　to　Zhuge　Liang；　who　praised　his　zeal　and　gave　him　presents。　Then　he　retired　with　the　chiefs；　and　the　executioners　brought　in　Meng　Huo。

〃You　said　once　before　that　if　you　were　captured　again；　you　would　give　in；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　smiling。　〃Now　will　you　yield？〃

〃This　capture　is　not　your　work；〃　replied　Meng　Huo。　〃It　is　the　work　of　these　minions　of　mine　who　want　to　hurt　me。　I　will　not　yield　on　this。〃

〃If　I　free　you　again；　what　then？〃

〃I　am　a　Mang；　and　so　I　am　not　wholly　ignorant　of　war。　If　you；　O　Minister；　let　me　return　to　my　ravines；　I　will　muster　another　army　and　fight　a　decisive　battle　with　you。　If　you　capture　me　again；　then　I　will　incline　my　heart　and　own　myself　beaten　and　yield。　I　will　not　go　back　on　my　promise　again。〃

〃If　you　refuse　to　yield　next　time　you　are　captured；　I　shall　hardly　pardon　you。〃

At　Zhuge　Liangs　orders　the　cords　were　loosed　and　refreshments　were　brought　for　the　prisoner。

〃Remember；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃I　have　never　failed　yet。　I　have　never　failed　to　win　a　battle　or　to　take　a　city　I　have　assaulted。　Why　do　you　Mangs　not　yield？〃

Meng　Huo　only　nodded　his　head；　he　said　nothing。　After　the　wine；　Zhuge　Liang　and　Meng　Huo　rode　round　the　camps　together；　and　the　King　saw　all　the　arrangements　and　the　piles　of　stores　and　heaps　of　weapons。