按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
massing like clouds and sweeping in like mists gathering on the mountains； each and all obeying the mands of the King Meng Huo。
And the scouts knew it all； and they told Zhuge Liang； who said； 〃This is what I was waiting for； that the Mangs should have an opportunity of knowing our might。〃
Thereupon he seated himself in a small carriage and went out to watch。
O let our enemy's courage glow
That our greater might may show。
The story of the campaign will be continued in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 89 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 89
Chapter 89
The Lord of Wuxiang Uses The Fourth Ruse；
The King of Mang Is Captured The Fifth Time。
Zhuge Liang's small carriage was escorted by only a few horsemen。 Hearing that a sluggish river； the West Er River； lay in the way； and having no boat； Zhuge Liang bade the escort cut down some trees and make a raft。 They did so； but the raft sank。
So Zhuge Liang turned to Lu Kai； who said； 〃There is close by a mountain covered with bamboos。 I have heard of these bamboos； and some are several spans in girth。 We can make a bridge of them for the army to cross。〃
So thirty thousand soldiers were sent to the mountains； where they cut down many thousands of bamboos； and floated them down river。 Then at the narrowest point they made a bridge a hundred spans or so in length。 Next the main army was brought down to the river and camped in line along the bank。 The camp was protected by a moat； crossed by a floating bridge； and a mud rampart。 On the south bank they constructed three large stockades so as to prepare for the ing of the Mang soldiers。
They had not long to wait。 Meng Huo was hot with rage and came quickly with an army of one hundred thousand。 As soon as he got near the river； he led out ten thousand fierce warriors； armed with big swords and shield； and challenged the first stockade。
Zhuge Liang went forth in simple state。 He wore a silk cap and a crane…white robe and held in his hand a feather fan。 He sat in a four…horse carriage； and his generals rode right and left。
The King of the Mang was clad in mail of rhinoceros hide and wore a bright red casque。 In his left hand he bore a shield； and his right gripped a sword。 He rode a red ox。 As soon as he saw his enemies； he opened his mouth and poured forth abuse and insults； while his warriors； huge and bold； darted to and fro brandishing their weapons。
Zhuge Liang at once ordered the army to retire within the stockades and bar the gates。 The Mangs came close up to the stockade and pranced about naked； shouting in derision。
Within the stockade the Shu generals grew very angry； and they went in a body to see their leader。
They all said； 〃We volunteer to march out and fight until death！〃
But Zhuge Liang would not listen。
Presently he said； 〃These men are not submissive to the Imperial Government and are naturally fierce and turbulent。 In that mood we are no match for them。 But all we have to do is to remain on guard for a few days till their ferocity has spent itself。 Then I have a plan that will overe them。〃
Days passed； and the army of Shu made no move； they only maintained the defensive。 Zhuge Liang watched the besiegers from an eminence； and saw the first vigor of their advance give way to careless idleness。
Then Zhuge Liang called together his generals and asked； 〃Dare you give battle now？〃
They all rejoiced at the suggestion。 So he called them two by two or one by one and gave them secret orders。 Zhao Yun and Wei Yan went in first。 Wang Ping and Ma Zheng followed。
To Ma Dai he said； 〃I am going to abandon these stockades and retire north of the river。 As soon as we have crossed； you are to cut loose the floating bridge and move it down the stream so that Zhao Yun and Wei Yan may cross。〃
To Zhang Yi he said； 〃You are to remain by the camp and light it up at night………as if it is still occupied。 When Meng Huo pursues； then you are to cut off his retreat。〃
Last of all； Guan Suo was to escort Zhuge Liang's carriage。
The soldiers marched out of the camp at evening； and the lamps were hung up as usual。 The Mangs saw this from a distance and dared not attack。 But the next morning at dawn Meng Huo led his troops to the stockades and found all was quiet。 He went close up and saw they were all empty and bare； not a soldier was there。 Grain and fodder lay about among empty carts。 All was in confusion； suggesting hasty departure。
〃They have abandoned the camp；〃 said Meng You to his brother。 〃But this is only a ruse。〃
Said Meng Huo； 〃I think that Zhuge Liang has important news from the capital that has made him leave without his baggage train like this。 Either Wu has invaded or Wei has attacked。 They left these lamps burning to make us think the camps were occupied； but they ran away leaving everything behind。 If we pursue； we cannot go wrong。〃
So the King urged his army onward； himself heading the leading division。 When they reached the bank of the West Er River； they saw on the farther side that the camps were all in order and the banners flying as usual like a brightly tinted cloud of silk。 Along the bank stood a wall of cloth。 They dared not attack。
Meng Huo said to his brother； 〃This means that Zhuge Liang fears lest we may pursue。 That is only a temporary halt； and they will retire in a couple of days。〃
The Mangs camped on the river bank while they sent into the mountains to cut bamboos to make rafts。 The boldest of the soldiers were placed in front of the camp till the rafts should be ready to cross。 Little did Meng Huo suspect that the army of Shu was already within his borders。
One day when the wind blew violently； the Mangs saw great flames spring up around them； and at the same time the rolling of drums heralded an attack。 The Mangs； instead of going out to meet the enemy； began to force their way out of the Shu attack。 Meng Huo became alarmed and fled with all his clans and dependents。 They fought their way through and made a dash for their former camp。
Just as they reached it； there appeared a cohort of the enemy led by Zhao Yun。 Meng Huo turned off west and sought refuge in the mountains。 But he was fiercely attacked by a cohort under Ma Dai。 With a small remnant of followers； he got away into a valley。 Soon he saw in the west； north； and south clouds of smoke rising and the glow of torches； so that he was forced to halt。 However； the east remained clear； and presently he fled in that direction。 As he was crossing the mouth of a gully； he noticed a few horsemen outlined against a thick wood and saw they were escorting a small carriage。 And in that carriage sat Zhuge Liang。
Zhuge Liang laughed； and said； 〃So King of the Mangs has got here！ You have been defeated。 I have waited for you a long time。〃
Meng Huo angrily turned to his followers and said； 〃Thrice have I been the victim of this man's base wiles and have been put to shame。 Now chance has sent him across my path； and you must attack him with all your energy。 Let us cut him to pieces and those with him。〃
The Mang horsemen； with Meng Huo shouting to encourage them； pushed forward in hot haste toward the wood。 But in a few moments they all stumbled and disappeared into some pits that had been dug in the way。 And just then Wei Yan emerged from the wood。 One by one the Mangs were pulled out of the pits and bound tight with cords。
Zhuge Liang returned to his camp； where the captors of the King could bring in their prisoner。 Zhuge Liang busied himself in soothing the other Mang prisoners。 Many of the notables and chiefs of the tributaries had betaken themselves to their own ravines and villages with their followers。 Many of those who remained came over and yielded to Shu。 They were well fed and assured of safety； and allowed to go to their own。 They went off gladly enough。
By and by Zhang Yi brought up the King's brother； Meng You。 Zhuge Liang reproached him for his brother's behavior。
〃Your brother is a misguided simpleton。 You ought to remonstrate with him and persuade him to change his course。 Here you are； a captive for the fourth time。 Are you not ashamed？ How can you have the effrontery to look anyone in the face？〃
A deep flush of shame passed over Meng You's face； and he threw himself to the earth begging forgiveness。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃If I put you to death； it shall not be today。 This time I pardon you； but you are to talk to your brother。〃
So Meng You was loosed from his bonds and allowed to get up。 He went away weeping。
Very soon Wei Yan brought up Meng Huo； and to him Zhuge Liang simulated great rage； saying； 〃What can you say now？ You see you are in my hands again。〃
〃I am again an unfortunate victim；〃 said Meng Huo。 〃Once more I have blundered into your net； and now I shall die with unclosed eyes。〃
Zhuge Liang shouted to the lictors to take him away and behead him。
Meng Huo never blenched at the sentence； but he turned to his captor and said； 〃If you freed me only once more； I would wipe out the shame of all four captures。〃
Zhuge Liang smiled at the bold reply and bade the lictors loose his bonds； and the attendants served him with wine。 Meng Huo was invited to sit in the mander's tent。
Said Zhuge Liang； 〃Four times you have been treated generously and yet you are still defiant。 Why？〃
〃Though I am what