第一小说网

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第219部分（第2页）

〃Just　as　you　foretold；〃　said　Wutu　Gu　to　Meng　Huo。　〃The　men　of　Shu　like　using　ambush。〃

〃Yes；　Zhuge　Liang　is　going　to　be　worsted　this　time。　We　have　beaten　off　his　troops　now　daily　for　half　a　month　and　won　fifteen　successive　victories。　His　troops　simply　run　when　they　hear　the　wind。　The　fact　is　he　has　exhausted　all　his　craft　and　has　tried　every　ruse。　Now　our　task　is　nearly　done。〃

Wutu　Gu　was　greatly　cheered　and　began　to　feel　contempt　for　his　enemy。

The　sixteenth　day　of　the　long　fight　found　Wei　Yan　leading　his　oft…defeated　troops　once　more　against　the　rattan…protected　foe。　King　Wutu　Gu　on　his　white　elephant　was　well　in　the　forefront。　He　had　on　a　cap　with　symbols　of　the　sun　and　moon　and　streamers　of　wolfs　beard；　a　fringed　garment　studded　with　gems；　which　allowed　the　plates　or　scales　of　his　cuirass　to　appear；　and　his　eyes　seemed　to　flash　fire。　He　pointed　the　finger　of　scorn　at　Wei　Yan　and　began　to　revile　him。

Wei　Yan　whipped　up　his　steed　and　fled。　The　Mangs　pressed　after　him。　Wei　Yan　made　for　the　Coiled　Serpent　Valley；　for　he　saw　a　white　flag　calling　him　thither。　Wutu　Gu　followed　in　hot　haste；　and　as　he　saw　only　bare　hills　without　a　sign　of　vegetation；　he　felt　quite　confident　that　no　ambush　was　laid。　So　he　followed　into　the　valley。　There　he　saw　some　score　of　black　painted　carts　in　the　road。

The　soldiers　said　to　each　other；　〃The　carts　must　be　the　missariat　wagons　of　the　enemy；　abandoned　in　their　hasty　flight　when　they　heard　of　the　ing　of　Your　Majesty。〃

This　only　urged　the　King　to　greater　speed；　and　he　went　on　toward　the　other　mouth　of　the　valley；　for　the　soldiers　of　Shu　had　disappeared。　However；　he　saw　piles　of　timber　being　tumbled　down　across　the　track　and　great　boulders　rolled　down　the　hill　side　into　the　road。　The　pursuers　cleared　away　the　obstacles。　When　they　had　done　so　and　advanced　a　little；　they　saw　certain　wheeled　vehicles　in　the　road；　some　large；　some　small；　laden　with　wood　and　straw；　which　was　burning。　Wutu　Gu　was　suddenly　frightened　and　ordered　a　retreat。

But　he　heard　much　shouting　in　the　rear；　and　they　told　him：　〃The　exit　has　been　blocked　with　wood…laden　carts；　which　on　being　broken　open　are　found　to　contain　explosive；　and　they　are　all　on　fire。〃

However；　seeing　that　the　valley　was　barren　and　devoid　of　grass　and　wood；　Wutu　Gu　was　not　in　the　least　alarmed　and　merely　bade　his　soldiers　search　for　a　way　round。

Then　he　saw　torches　being　hurled　down　the　mountain　side。　These　torches　rolled　till　they　came　to　a　certain　spot；　where　they　ignited　the　fuses　leading　to　the　powder。　Then　the　ground　suddenly　heaved　with　the　explosion　of　bombs　beneath。　The　whole　valley　was　soon　full　of　flames；　darting　and　playing　in　all　directions；　and　wherever　they　met　with　rattan　armor　the　rattan　caught　fire；　and　thus　the　whole　army；　huddled　and　crowded　together；　burned　in　the　midst　of　the　valley。

Zhuge　Liang　looked　on　from　the　heights　above　and　saw　the　Mangs　burned。　Many　of　the　dead　had　been　mangled　and　torn　by　the　explosions　of　the　mines。　The　air　was　full　of　suffocating　vapor。

Zhuge　Liangs　tears　fell　fast　as　he　saw　the　slaughter；　and　he　sighed；　saying；　〃Though　I　am　rendering　great　service　to　my　country；　yet　I　have　sacrificed　many　lives。　My　life　shall　be　shortened　for　this。〃

Those　who　were　with　him　were　also　deeply　affected。

King　Meng　Huo　was　in　his　camp　awaiting　news　of　success　when　he　saw　a　crowd　of　Mang　soldiers　e　along；　and　they　bowed　before　him　and　told　him；　〃King　Wutu　Gu　is　fighting　a　great　battle　and　is　about　to　surround　Zhuge　Liang　in　the　Valley　of　the　Coiled　Serpent。　But　he　needs　help。　We　are　the　natives　of　the　local　ravines；　and　we　ourselves　had　no　alternative　when　we　yielded　to　Shu。　But　now　we　have　returned　to　your　allegiance　and　are　willing　to　e　to　help　Your　Majesty。〃

So　Meng　Huo　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　his　clansmen　and　those　who　had　just　e　to　him；　and　lost　no　time　in　marching　out。　He　bade　them　lead　him　to　the　spot。　But　when　he　reached　the　valley　and　saw　the　destruction；　he　knew　he　had　been　made　a　victim　again。　As　he　made　to　retire；　there　appeared　a　body　of　his　enemy　on　each　side　under　Zhang　Ni　and　Ma　Zheng；　and　they　began　to　attack。　Meng　Huo　was　making　what　stand　he　could　when　a　great　shouting　arose。　The　Mangs　were　nearly　all　disguised　soldiers　of　Shu；　and　they　quickly　surrounded　him　and　his　clansmen　to　make　them　prisoners。

Meng　Huo　galloped　clear　and　got　into　the　hills。　Presently　he　fell　upon　a　small　chariot；　with　a　few　guards　about　it；　and　therein　sat　Zhuge　Liang；　simply　dressed　and　holding　a　fan。

〃What　now；　rebel　Meng　Huo？〃　cried　Zhuge　Liang。

But　Meng　Huo　had　galloped　away。　He　was　soon　stopped　by　Ma　Dai　and　lay　a　helpless　prisoner　bound　hand　and　foot。　His　wife；　Lady　Zhurong；　and　the　other　members　of　his　family　were　also　taken。

Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　camp　and　seated　himself　in　the　high　place　in　his　own　tent。　He　was　still　sad　at　the　thought　of　the　sacrifice　of　life。

He　said　to　his　officers；　〃There　was　no　help　for　it；　I　had　to　use　that　plan。　But　it　has　sadly　injured　my　inner　virtue。　Guessing　that　the　enemy　would　suspect　an　ambush　in　every　thicket；　I　sent　people　to　walk　about　in　wooded　places　with　flags。　Really　there　was　no　ambush。　I　bade　Wei　Yan　lose　battle　after　battle　just　to　lead　the　enemy　on　and　harden　their　hearts。　When　I　saw　the　Valley　of　the　Coiled　Serpent；　with　its　bare　sides　of　smooth　rock　and　the　road　in　its　depths；　I　recognized　what　could　be　done　and　sent　Ma　Dai　to　arrange　the　contents　of　the　black　carts；　the　mines；　which　I　had　prepared　long　ago　for　this　purpose。　In　every　bomb　were　nine　others；　and　they　were　buried　thirty　paces　apart。　They　were　connected　by　fuses　laid　in　hollow　bamboos　that　they　might　explode　in　succession；　and　the　force　was　enormous。　Zhao　Yun　prepared　those　carts　laden　with　straw　and　rolled　down　the　piles　of　timber　and　boulders　that　blocked　the　mouth。　Wei　Yan　led　Wutu　Gu　on　and　on　till　he　had　enticed　the　King　into　the　valley；　when　he　took　up　a　position　to　escape。　Then　the　burning　began。　They　say　that　what　is　good　for　water　is　not　much　good　for　fire；　and　the　oil…soaked　rattan；　excellent　as　a　protection　against　swords　and　arrows；　was　most　inflammable；　catching　fire　at　sight。　The　Mangs　were　so　stubborn　that　the　only　way　was　to　use　fire；　or　we　should　never　have　scored　a　victory。　But　I　much　regret　that　the　destruction　of　the　people　of　Wuguo　has　been　so　plete。　Heaven　shall　not　overlook　this　crime。〃

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