第一小说网

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第212部分（第1页）

Meng　Huo　hastily　changed　his　route　to　go　deeper　into　the　mountains；　but　Zhao　Yuns　soldiers　spread　around；　and　the　Mangs　could　not　make　a　stand。　Here　many　were　captured。　Meng　Huo　and　a　few　horsemen　got　away　into　a　valley；　which；　however；　soon　became　too　narrow　for　the　horses　to　advance。　Meng　Huo　then　left　his　horse　and　crawled　up　the　mountains；　but　very　soon　he　fell　upon　Wei　Yan；　who　had　been　sent　with　five　hundred　troops　to　lie　in　wait　in　that　very　valley。　Meng　Huo　tried　to　struggle　but　soon　was　captured。

The　King　and　his　followers　were　taken　to　the　main　camp；　where　Zhuge　Liang　was　waiting　with　wine　and　meat　ready　for　the　captives。　But　his　tent　was　now　guarded　by　soldiers　all　well　armed　with　snow…glittering　weapons；　beside　the　lictors　bearing　the　golden　axes；　a　present　from　the　Emperor；　and　other　insignia　of　rank。　The　feather…hatted　drummers　and　clarion　players　were　in　front　and　behind；　and　the　Imperial　Guards　were　extended　on　both　sides。　The　whole　was　very　imposing　and　awe…inspiring。

Zhuge　Liang　was　seated　at　the　top　of　it　all　and　watched　the　captives　as　they　came　forward　in　crowds。　When　they　were　all　assembled；　he　ordered　their　bonds　to　be　loosed；　and　then　he　addressed　them。

〃You　are　all　simple　and　well…disposed　people　who　have　been　led　into　trouble　by　Meng　Huo。　I　know　your　fathers　and　mothers；　your　brothers　and　wives；　and　your　children　are　anxiously　watching　from　the　doorways　for　your　return；　and　they　are　cut　to　dear　suffering　that　the　news　of　defeat　and　capture　has　reached　their　ears。　They　are　weeping　bitter　tears　for　you。　And　so　I　will　set　you　all　free　to　go　home　and　fort　them。〃

After　they　had　been　given　food　and　wine　and　a　present　of　grain；　he　sent　them　all　away。　They　went　off　grateful　for　the　kindness　shown　them；　and　they　wept　as　they　thanked　Zhuge　Liang。

Then　the　guards　were　told　to　bring　the　King　before　the　tent。　He　came；　bound；　being　hustled　forward。　He　knelt　in　front　of　the　mander…in…Chief。

Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Why　did　you　rebel　after　the　generous　treatment　you　have　received　from　our　Emperor？〃

〃The　two　River　Lands　belonged　to　others；　and　your　lord　took　it　from　them　by　force；　and　gave　himself　the　title　of　Emperor。　My　people　have　lived　here　for　ages；　and　you　and　your　cohorts　invaded　my　country　without　the　least　excuse。　How　can　you　talk　of　rebellion　to　me？〃

〃You　are　my　prisoner。　Will　you　submit　or　are　you　still　contumacious？〃

〃Why　should　I　submit？　You　happened　to　find　me　in　a　narrow　place。　That　is　all。〃

〃If　I　release　you；　what　then？〃

〃If　you　release　me　I　shall　return；　and　when　I　have　set　my　army　in　order；　I　shall　e　to　fight　you　again。　However；　if　you　catch　me　once　more；　I　will　submit。〃

The　Kings　bonds　were　loosed。　He　was　clothed　and　refreshed；　given　a　horse　and　caparisons；　and　sent　with　a　guide　to　his　own　camp。

Once　more　the　captured　chieftain　is　let　go；

To　yield　tribesmen　are　ever　slow。

Further　results　of　this　war　will　be　related　in　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　88　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　88

Chapter　88

Crossing　River　Lu………The　Mang　King　Is　Bound　The　Second　Time；

Recognizing　A　Pretended　Surrender………Meng　Huo　Is　Captured　The　Third　Time。

The　officers　did　not　approve　of　the　release　of　the　King　of　the　Mangs；　and　they　came　to　the　tent　of　Zhuge　Liang　and　said；　〃Meng　Huo　is　the　most　important　personage　of　all　the　Mangs；　and　his　capture　is　the　key　to　restoring　order　in　the　south。　Why　then；　O　Minister；　did　you　release　him？〃

〃I　can　capture　him　just　as　easily　as　I　can　get　something　out　of　my　pocket。　What　I　want　to　do　is　to　overe　and　win　his　heart；　so　that　peace　may　follow　of　itself。〃

They　listened；　but　they　had　no　great　confidence　in　the　success　of　the　policy　of　conciliation。

In　the　meantime　Meng　Huo　had　reached　the　River　Lu；　and　there　he　fell　in　with　some　of　his　defeated　leaders；　who　were　trying　to　get　news　of　their　Kings　fate。

They　were　surprised；　but　glad；　to　see　him；　and　asked；　〃How　were　Your　Highness　able　to　get　back？〃

The　King　lied；　saying；　〃They　confined　me　in　a　tent；　and　I　broke　out　in　the　night。　I　slew　more　than　ten　guards　and　ran。　And　then　I　met　one　of　their　sentries；　killed　him；　and　that　is　how　I　got　this　horse。〃

They　never　doubted　his　word；　and　very　joyfully　they　hurried　him　over　the　river　to　a　camping　place。　Then　all　the　notables　assembled　from　the　various　ravines；　and　the　soldiers　that　had　escaped　death　were　mustered　and　got　into　shape　as　a　fighting　force。

The　two　leaders　in　the　late　campaign；　Dongtu　Na　and　Ahui　Nan；　were　in　one　of　the　ravines；　and　Meng　Huo　sent　to　ask　them　to　e。　They　were　afraid；　but　they　could　not　disobey；　and　they　came　with　an　escort。

When　all　had　assembled；　the　King　proclaimed　as　follows：　〃I　know　Zhuge　Liang　is　too　full　of　ruses　for　us　to　conquer　him　in　a　fight；　we　should　only　fall　victims　to　other　base　devices。　However；　we　must　remember　that　his　soldiers　have　marched　far　and　the　weather　is　sultry；　which　are　factors　in　our　favor。　Beside；　River　Lu　is　our　rampart。　We　will　have　boats　and　rafts　on　the　south　side；　and　we　will　build　a　mud　wall。　With　such　good　defenses　we　can　afford　to　wait　and　see　what　the　enemy　intends。〃

His　speech　met　with　approval；　and　his　plan　was　carried　out。　The　wall　was　supported　by　the　hills　and　strengthened　by　fighting　turrets；　upon　which　were　placed　large　bows　and　crossbows　and　arrows　and　stones。　The　defenses　looked　as　if　they　were　permanent。　Moreover；　each　ravine　sent　supplies　in　plenty。　And　having　made　these　preparations；　Meng　Huo　felt　fortable　and　safe。