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t a few pearls and some gold and other trifling jewels by way of something to give your soldiers。 And hereafter he will send tribute to your Emperor。〃
〃Where is your brother at this moment？〃 asked Zhuge Liang。
〃Having been the recipient of your great bounty； he has gone to the Silver Pit Ravine to collect some treasures。 He will soon return。〃
〃How many soldiers have you brought？〃
〃Only about a hundred。 I should not dare to bring any large number。 They are just porters。〃
They were brought in for Zhuge Liang's inspection。 They had blue eyes and swarthy faces； auburn hair and purple beards。 They wore earrings； their hair was fuzzy； and they went barefoot。 They were tall and powerful。
Zhuge Liang made them sit down； and bade his generals press them to drink and treat them well and pliment them。
Meanwhile； Meng Huo was anxious about the reception that would be given to his brother and the treatment of his gifts； so he sat in his tent expecting the messenger at any moment。 Then two men came； and he questioned them eagerly。
They said； 〃The presents have been accepted； and even the porters have been invited to drink in the tent and have been regaled with beef and flesh in plenty。 O King； your brother sends the news that all will be ready at the second watch for the attack。 He will support you from within。〃
This was pleasing news； and Meng Huo prepared his thirty thousand troops ready to march out to the camp。 They were divided into three divisions。
The King called up his chieftains and notables； and said； 〃Let each army carry the means of making fire； and as soon as they arrive let a light be shown as a signal。 I am ing to the main camp to capture Zhuge Liang。〃
With these orders they marched； and they crossed River Lu at sunset。 The King； with a hundred generals as escort； pressed on at once toward the main camp of Shu。 They met with no opposition。 They even found the main gate open； and Meng Huo and his party rode straight in。 But the camp was a desert； not a soldier was visible。
Meng Huo rode right up to the large tent and pushed open the flap。 It was brilliantly lighted with lamps； and lying about under their light were his brother and all his men； dead drunk。 Zhuge Liang had ordered Ma Su and Lu Kai to entertain Meng You and his men with wine and dance performances。 The wine they had been pressed to drink while the plays were going on had been heavily drugged； and they had fallen down almost as soon as they had swallowed it。 One or two who had recovered a little could not speak： They only pointed to their mouths。
Meng Huo then saw that he had been the simple victim of another ruse。 However； he picked up his brother and the others and started off to return to his main army。
But as he turned； torches began to flash out and drums to beat。 The Mangs were frightened and took to their heels。 But they were pursued； and the pursuing cohort was led by Wang Ping。 The King bore away to the left to escape； but again a cohort appeared in front of him； Wei Yan was there。 Meng Huo tried the other side； and was stopped by Zhao Yun。 He was in a trap and attacked on three sides and no fourth to escape by。 He abandoned everything； making one wild rush for the River Lu。
As he reached the river bank； he saw a bark on the river with Mang soldiers on board。 Here was safety。 He hailed the boat and jumped on board as soon as it touched the bank。 No sooner had he embarked than suddenly he was seized and bound。 The boat； which Ma Dai had provided and prepared； was part of the general plan； and the Mang soldiers therein were Ma Dai's soldiers disguised。
Many of Meng Huo's troops accepted the chance of surrender held out by Zhuge Liang； who soothed them and treated them well and did not injure one of them。
The remains of the conflagration were stamped out； and in a short time Ma Dai brought along his prisoner。 At the same time Zhao Yun led in his brother； Meng You。 Wei Yan； Ma Su； Wang Ping； and Guan Suo also brought their prisoners； chiefs or notables； to the camp of the Prime Minister。
Zhuge Liang looked at the King and laughed。
〃That was but a shallow ruse of yours to send your brother with presents to pretend to submit to me。 Did you really think I should not see through it？ But here you are once more in my power。 Now do you yield？〃
〃I am a prisoner owing to the gluttony of my brother and the power of your poisonous drugs。 If I had only played his part myself and left him to support me with soldiers； I should have succeeded。 I am the victim of fate and not of my own incapacity。 No； I will not yield。〃
〃Remember this is the third time。 Why not？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Meng Huo dropped his head and made no answer。
〃Ah； well。 I will let you go once more；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃O Minister； if you will let me and my brother go； we will get together our family and clients and fight you once more。 If I am caught that time； then I will confess myself beaten to the ground； and that shall be the end。〃
〃Certainly I shall scarcely pardon you next time；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃You had better be careful。 Diligently tackle your Book of Strategy； look over your list of confidants。 If you can apply a good plan at the proper moment； you will not have any need for late regrets。〃
Meng Huo and his brother and all the chiefs were released from their bonds。 They thanked Zhuge Liang for his clemency and went away。
By the time the released prisoners had got back to the river； the army of Shu had crossed to the farther side and had captured the Mang defenses； the Shu flags fluttering in the breeze。 As Meng Huo passed the camp； he saw Ma Dai sitting in state。
Ma Dai pointed his sword at the King as he passed； and said； 〃Next time you are caught； you will not escape。〃
When Meng Huo came to his own camp； he found Zhao Yun in possession and all in order。 Zhao Yun was seated beneath the large banner； with his sword drawn； and as the King passed。
Zhao Yun also said； 〃Do not presume on the kindness of the Prime Minister because you have been generously treated。〃
Meng Huo grunted and passed on。 Just as he was going over the frontier hills； he saw Wei Yan and a pany drawn up on the slopes。
Wei Yan shouted； 〃See to it： We have got into the inmost recesses of your country and have taken all your defensive positions。 Yet you are foolish enough to hold out。 Next time you are caught； you will be quite destroyed。 There will be no more pardons。〃
Meng Huo and his pany ran away with their arms over their heads。 Each one returned to his own ravine。
In the fifth moon； when the sun is fierce；
Marched the army into the wild land；
To the River Lu； bright and clear；
But deadly with miasma。
Zhuge Liang the leader cared not；
Pledged was he to subdue the south；
Thereby to repay the First Ruler's deference with service。
Wherefore he attacked the Mangs。
Yet seven times he freed their captured king。
After the crossing of the river； the Shu soldiers were feasted。
Then Zhuge Liang addressed his officers： 〃I let Meng Huo see our camp the second time he was our prisoner； because I wanted to tempt him into raiding it。 He is something of a soldier； and I dangled our supplies and resources before his eyes； knowing he would try to burn them and that he would send his brother to pretend to submit that thereby he could get into our camp and have a chance to betray us。 I have captured and released him three times； trying to win him over。 I do not wish to do him any harm。 I now explain my policy that you may understand I am not wasting your efforts and you are still to work your best for the government。〃
＇e＇ Lu Wang was a master strategist； founding minister of Zhou Dynasty； counselor to King Wen。 Before joining King Wen； Lu Wang had been a fisher； who mediated on the river bank on political events。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Zhang Liang； aka Zhang Zifang； the master strategist for Liu Bang。 His family had served the state of Han as chief ministers during the Warring States period。 It is said that he received the strategy book of Lu Wang from a mysterious old man。 When he was young； Zhang Liang plotted to assasinate the First Emperor； but failed。 He later rebeled against Qin。 Joined Liu Bang （BC 206） to fight against Qin and then Chu。 Remended Han Xin to Liu Bang。 Zhang Liang's insights had earned him the name 〃The Teacher of Emperor〃。 After Liu Bang won the empire； Zhang Liang was enobled as Lord of Liu； but did not take office； instead he resigned from political life and traveled。 。。。。。
They all bowed； and one said； 〃O Prime Minister； you are indeed perfect in everyone of the three gifts： Wisdom； benevolence； and valor。 Not even Lu Wang* or Zhang Liang* can equal you！〃
Said Zhuge Liang； 〃How can I expect to equal our men of old？ But my trust is in your strength； and together we shall succeed。〃
This speech of their leader's 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