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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 King's 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 King's 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。
Zhuge Liang had advanced； and his leading division was now close to the river。
Spies came back to report： 〃No boats or rafts can be found to cross； and the current is too strong to think of fording。 Beside； we can see the formidable defenses on the farther bank； the mud wall and the turrets all fully manned。〃
The weather was burning hot； for it was the fifth month； and the soldiers could not tolerate their armor nor even their clothing。
When Zhuge Liang had inspected the river； he returned to his tent and assembled his officers； to whom he read this order： 〃The enemy is securely established on the south bank ready to repel our attack。 Yet； having e so far； we cannot return empty。 For the present you will all seek what shelter you can find in the forests； and rest and refresh your troops。〃
Then he sent Lu Kai to a distance to select a cool stretch of thirty miles； and there he made four stockades。 Within the stockades he built huts for the soldiers and sheds for the horses； so that they were sheltered from the intense heat。 The four camps were stationed by Wang Ping； Zhang Ni； Zhang Yi； and Guan Suo。
However； Jiang Wan； observed these shelters and went to Zhuge Liang； saying； 〃These shelters of Lu Kai are very unsuitable。 He has made the same mistake as that which led to the defeat of the First Ruler at the hands of Wu。 He has not taken into account the surroundings of the stockades； and if the Mangs should e over and start a fire； there could be no rescue。〃
〃Do not anticipate trouble；〃 said the mander…in…Chief； smiling。 〃I have provided against all such dangers。〃
Jiang Wan did not know what the chief meant to do； but he said no more。 Then Ma Dai arrived from the River Lands； and he brought summer medicines and further supplies of grain。 He saw Zhuge Liang； and then proceeded to distribute the supplies he had brought according to orders。
Then Zhuge Liang said； 〃What force have you brought？〃
〃Three thousand；〃 replied Ma Dai。
〃My people are weary and worn out。 I want to use yours。 You have no objections？〃
〃Of course not。 They are equally government troops。 They are ready even to die for you if you wish。〃
〃This Meng Huo is established on the river； and we have no means of crossing。 But I am anxious to intercept his supplies； so that his troops may mutiny。〃
〃How can you do it？〃
〃Some fifty miles lower down River Lu there is a place called Shakou； where the current is slow and shallow because of sand。 You could cross there on rafts。 I wish you and your soldiers to cross and cut the road of supplies。 After that you are to arrange with the two leaders………Dongtu Na and Ahui Nan………whose lives I spared； to be your allies on the inside； and we shall succeed。〃
Ma Dai went off gladly enough； and marched his troops to Shakou； where they set about the crossing at once。 And as the water was shallow； they did not trouble to make rafts； but just tucked up their clothes and waded in。 But half…way across； the men began to fall over； and when they had been rescued and taken to the bank； many of them began to bleed from the nose and mouth and died。 In great alarm； Ma Dai sent hasty messages to Zhuge Liang； who called in the native guides and asked what this meant。
They told him； 〃It happens so every year。 In the hot season； poisonous miasma collects over the waters of the River Lu； especially during the heat of the day。 Anyone who drinks the water will surely die。 Travelers who wish to cross have to wait till night； because the cooler waters do not breathe out the poisonous vapors。 Further； the crossing should be attempted on a full stomach。〃
Zhuge Liang bade the local guides point out the best crossing place。 He sent five hundred well…seasoned soldiers to Ma Dai to lash together poles into rafts at Shakou； and in the night the crossing was safely acplished。 Further； the guides then led two thousand men of Shu over to where the grain road of the Mangs led through a narrow valley； called Jiashan Gorge； where； for part of the way； only single file was possible as the road was only wide enough for a soldier and a horse。
Ma Dai at once occupied this valley and stationed a force there。 And a stockade was put up with tents inside。 Presently a convoy of grain came along； and it was captured； more than a hundred wagons。 The guards ran off to Meng Huo's great camp and told him。
Meng Huo； thinking all was safe during the hot season； was enjoying himself。 Wine and music were the order of the day； and military matters were far from his thoughts。 In his cups he admitted Zhuge Liang was ruseful； but said his army had nothing to fear。
Said he； 〃If I attempt to oppose Zhuge Liang； I shall certainly fall a victim to some wile of his。 However； my waiting policy is a safe one。 With our defenses； and the river to back them； we can wait for the heat to overe t