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Said Zhuge Liang； 〃Four times you have been treated generously and yet you are still defiant。 Why？〃
〃Though I am what you call a barbarian； I would scorn to employ your vile ruses。 And that is why I remain defiant。〃
〃I have liberated you four times。 Do you think you can give battle again？〃
〃If you catch me again； I will incline my heart to yield and I will give everything in my ravine to reward your army。 I will also take an oath not to cause any further trouble。〃
Zhuge Liang smiled； but let him go。 The King thanked him and left。
As soon as he was set at liberty； Meng Huo got together several thousand of his adherents and went away southward。 Before long he fell in with his brother； Meng You； who had got together an army and was on his way to avenge his brother。 As soon as they saw each other； the brothers fell upon each other's necks and wept。 They related their experiences。
Meng You said； 〃We cannot stand against the enemy。 We have been defeated several times。 Now I think we had better go into the mountains and hide in some dark gully where they cannot find us。 Those soldiers of Shu will never stand the summer heat。 They must retire。〃
〃Where can we hide？〃 asked his brother。
〃I know a valley away southwest from us called 'Bald Dragon Ravine'； and the King； Duo Si； is a friend of mine。 Let us take refuge with him。〃
〃Very well。 Go and arrange it；〃 said Meng Huo。
So Meng You went。 When he got there and talked to the chief； King Duo Si lost no time but came out with his soldiers to wele Meng Huo； who then entered the valley。 After the exchange of salutations； Meng Huo explained his case。
Duo Si said； 〃O King； rest content。 If those men from the River Lands e here； I will see to it that not one goes home。 And Zhuge Liang will meet his death here too。〃
Naturally； Meng Huo was pleased。 But he wanted to know how his host could feel so secure。
Duo Si said； 〃In this ravine there are only two roads； the one you came by and another by the northwest。 The road you traveled along is level and soft； and the waters are sweet。 Humans and horses may both use it。 But if we close the mouth of the ravine with a barricade； then no one； however strong； can get in。 The other road is precipitous； dangerous； and narrow。 The only path is beset with venomous serpents and scorpions； and as evening es on there are malarial exhalations which are dangerous till past noon the next day。 The road is only practicable between two watches before sunset。 Then the water is undrinkable。 The road is very difficult。
〃Then again there are four streams actually poisonous。 One is called 'The Dumb Spring'。 Its water is pleasant to the palate； but it makes people dumb and they die in a few days。 A second fountain is called 'The Destruction Spring' and is hot。 But if a person bathes therein； his flesh rots till his bones protrude and he dies。 The third is 'The Black Spring'。 Its water is clear。 If it be sprinkled on a person's body； his limbs turn black and presently he dies。 The fourth is 'The Weak Spring'； ice cold。 If a person drink of this water his breath is chilled； he bees weak as a thread and soon dies。 Neither birds nor insects are found in this region； and no one but the Han General Ma Yuan； who was styled General Who Quells the Waves for this exploit； has ever passed。 Now the northeast road shall be blocked； and you may hide here perfectly safe from those troops of Shu； for； finding that way blocked； they will try the other road； which is waterless save for the four deadly springs。 No matter how many they be； they will perish； and we need no weapons。〃
〃Now indeed I have found a place to live in；〃 cried Meng Huo； striking his forehead。 Then looking to the north he said； 〃Even Zhuge Liang's wonderful cunning will be of no avail。 The four springs alone will defeat him and avenge my army。〃
The two brothers settled down fortably as guests of King Duo Si； with whom they spent the days in feasting。
In the meantime； as the Mangs did not appear； Zhuge Liang gave orders to leave the West Er River and push south。 It was then the sixth month； and blazing hot。 A poet sang about the bitter heat of the south：
The hills are sere； the valleys dry；
A raging heat fills all the sky；
Throughout the whole wide universe
No spot exists where heat is worse。
Another poem runs：
The glowing sun darts out fierce rays；
No cloud gives shelter from the blaze。
In parching heat there pants a crane；
The whale swims through the hissing main。
The brook's cool margin now I love；
Or idle stroll through bamboo grove。
I would not march to deserts far
In leathern jerkin donned for war。
Just at the moment of setting out southward； the spies brought news of Meng Huo's retreat： 〃Meng Huo has fled into the Bald Dragon Ravine； and there he has barricaded the entrance。 The valley is garrisoned； the hills are precipitous and even impassable。〃
So Zhuge Liang called in Lu Kai and questioned him； but he did not know exactly the conditions。
Then out spoke Jiang Wan； saying； 〃Meng Huo's repeated captures have broken his spirit so that he dare not take the field again。 Our soldiers are exhausted with this intense heat； and little is to be gained by prolonging the campaign。 The best move would be to return to our own country。〃
〃If we do this； we shall fall victims to Meng Huo's scheme；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃If we retreated； he would certainly follow。 Beside； having advanced so far； it would be fruitless to turn back now。〃
Wang Ping was sent on with the advanced guard and some of the Mangs as guides to seek an entrance on the northwest。 They found the road and came to the first spring………the Dumb Spring………； of which the thirsty men and horses drank freely。
Wang Ping returned to report his success； but by the time he reached camp； he and all his soldiers were speechless。 They could only point to their mouths。
Zhuge Liang knew they had been poisoned； and was alarmed。 He went forward in his light chariot to find out the cause。 He came to the spring。 The water was very deep and dark green。 A mass of vapor hung about the surface rising and falling。 They would not touch the water。 Zhuge Liang went up the hills to look around； but could see nothing except a rampart of mountains。 A deep silence hung over all； unbroken by the cry even of a bird。 He was perplexed。
＇e＇ Ma Yuan （BC 14…AD 49） a general who first served Wang Mang； then join Liu Xiu in restoring Han Dynasty。 In his life of career； Ma Yuan contributed much to Liu Xiu's success by putting down rebellions throughout the empire and abroad。 。。。。。
Presently he noticed an old temple away up among the crags。 By the aid of the lianas and creepers he managed to clamber up； and in a chamber hewn out of the rock he saw the figure of an officer。 Beside it was a tablet saying the temple was dedicated to Ma Yuan*； the famous general who had preceded him in that country。 The natives had erected it to sacrifice to the leader who had headed the campaign against the Mangs。
Zhuge Liang； much impressed； bowed before the image of the great leader； and said； 〃Your humble servant received a sacred trust； the protection of the son of the First Ruler。 That son； the present Emperor； sent him here to subdue the Mangs that the land might be free from peril when he decided to attack Wei and take possession of Wu and thereby restore the glory of Han。 But the soldiers are ignorant of the country； and some of them have drunk of a poisonous spring so that they have bee dumb。 Your servant earnestly prays your honored spirit； out of regard for the kindness and justice of the present Emperor； to reveal your spiritual character and manifest your holiness by safeguarding and assisting the army。〃
Having prayed thus； Zhuge Liang left the temple。 While seeking some native whom he might question； he saw in the distance； on a hill opposite； an aged man leaning on a staff。 He approached； and as he drew nearer； Zhuge Liang noted his extraordinary appearance。 When he had reached the temple； Zhuge Liang asked the venerable visitor to walk in。 After the salutations； the old man sat on the stones； and Zhuge Liang opened the conversation with the usual questions。
The old gentleman replied； 〃Sir Minister； I know you well by repute； and am happy to meet you。 Many of the Mangs owe their lives to you； and all have been deeply impressed by your kindness。〃
Then Zhuge Liang returned to the matter nearest his heart； the mystery of the spring。
The old man told him； 〃That is the Dumb Spring that your soldiers have drunk； and they will die in a few days。 Besides that； there are other three poisonous streams called Destruction Spring； Black Spring； and Weak Spring。 All miasma gathers there in the four streams； and it only vaporizes during the two watch before sunset。〃
〃In short； the Mangs cannot be conquered；〃 said Zhuge Liang when the old man had finished。 〃And Wu cannot be repressed； nor Wei overe。 And the Hans cannot be restored。 So； I fail in the task set me by my Prince： I wish that I might die。〃
〃Be not so cast down； O Minister；〃 said the aged one。 〃I can lead you to a place where you may counteract all this。〃
〃I would ask for your instruction； Venerable One；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃What exalted advice have you to confer upon me？ I hope you will instruct me。〃
〃West of this； not far off