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Then he called out to his guards to search the prisoners。 They did so； and on every man they found a sharp knife。
〃Did you not say that if your family were taken prisoners you would yield？ How now？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃We have e of our own will and at the risk of our lives。 The credit is not yours。 Still I refuse to yield；〃 replied Meng Huo。
〃This is the sixth time I have captured you； and yet you are obstinate。 What do you expect？〃
〃If you take me a seventh time； then I will turn to you and never rebel again。〃
〃Well； your stronghold is now destroyed。 What have I to fear？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
He ordered the bonds to be loosed； saying； 〃If you are caught again and lie to me once more； I shall certainly not be inclined to let you off。〃
Meng Huo and his people put their hands over their heads and ran off like rats。
The defeated Mangs who had fled were of thousands； and more than half of them were wounded。 They fell in with their King； who restored what order was possible and felt glad that he had still some leaders left。 Then he and the Chief Dai Lai took counsel together。
〃Whither can we go？〃 said Meng Huo。 〃Our stronghold is in the hands of the enemy。〃
Dai Lai replied； 〃There is but one country that can overe these troops。 That is the Wuguo Kingdom。 It lies two hundred miles to the southeast。 The King of that state is named Wutu Gu。 He is a giant of twelve spans。 He does not eat grain； but lives on serpents and venomous beasts。 He wears scaly armor； which is impenetrable to swords and arrows。 His warriors wear rattan armor。 This rattan grows in gullies； climbing over rocks and walls。 The inhabitants cut the rattans and steep them in oil for half a year。 Then they are dried in the sun。 When dry they are steeped again； and so on many times。 Then they are plaited into helmets and armor。 Clad in this； the men float across rivers； and it does not get wet。 No weapon can penetrate it。 The soldiers are called the Rattan Army。 You may seek aid from this king； and with his help you can take Zhuge Liang as easily as a sharp knife cleaves a bamboo。〃
Meng Huo went to the Wuguo Kingdom and saw the King。 The people of this country do not live in houses； but dwell in caves。 Meng Huo told the story of his woes。
And King Wutu Gu said； 〃I shall muster all my men to avenge you。〃
Meng Huo bowed low and expressed great gratitude。
Wutu Gu called up two generals named Xi Ni and Tu An and gave them thirty thousand of the rattan…armored soldiers and bade them march northeast。
They came to a river called the River of Peach Flowers； on both banks of which grow many peach trees。 Year after year the leaves of these trees fall into the river and render it poisonous to all but the natives。 But to the natives it is a stimulant which doubles their vigor。 They camped on the bank of this river to await the ing of the army of Shu。
Now Zhuge Liang was informed of the journey of Meng Huo and its results； and he knew when the rattan…clad army camped at the ford。 He also knew that Meng Huo had collected all the soldiers of his own that he could help。 Zhuge Liang at once marched to the ford。 He questioned the natives； and they told him that the peach leaves were falling and the water of the river was undrinkable。 So he retired two miles and camped。 Only Wei Yan was left to hold the bank of the River of Peach Flowers。
Next day Wutu Gu led the Wuguo warriors across the stream； and； with a rolling of drums； Wei Yan went out to meet them。 The Wuguo men poured forth。 The soldiers of Shu shot at them； but neither arrows nor bolts penetrated their armors； they rolled off harmless。 Nor could swords cut or spears enter。 The enemy； thus protected and armed with big swords and prongs； were too much for the troops of Shu； who had to run away。 However； they were not pursued。 When； on the retreat； they came to the Peach Flowers Ford； they saw the Mangs crossing as if walking on the water。 Some of them were tired； so they took off their rattan breastplates； sat upon them and floated to the other side。
When Zhuge Liang heard the report of his general； he summoned Lu Kai and called in some natives。
Lu Kai said； 〃I have heard of the Wuguo Kingdom as perfectly tribal among the Mang nations。 I have also heard of the rattan armor； which can withstand all thrusts； and the harmful River of Peach Flowers。 The Southern Mangs are so untameable that victory will mean little。 We would rather retreat。〃
〃No； no；〃 said Zhuge Liang merrily； 〃we have had too much difficulty in getting here to go back so easily。 I shall have a counter…plan for these people tomorrow。〃
Having provided for the defense of his camp； he gave strict orders to his generals not to go out to fight； Zhuge Liang went to reconnoiter。 He rode in his light chariot with a few natives as guides。 He came to the ford； and from a secluded spot in the mountains on the north bank； he looked about him。
The whole country was mountainous and difficult； impassable for any carriage。 So he got out and went afoot。 Presently； from a hill he saw a long winding valley； like a huge serpent。 The sides were very precipitous and bare。 However； a road ran through the middle。
〃What is the name of the valley？〃 asked Zhuge Liang。
〃It is called 'Coiled Serpent Valley'；〃 said the guides。 〃At the other end you e into the high road to Three Rivers。 The road goes by a valley called 'Talang See'。〃
〃The very thing；〃 said Zhuge Liang gladly。 〃Surely this is providence。 I shall score a great success here。〃
Having seen enough； he retraced his steps； found his chariot； and returned to camp。 Arrived at the camp； Ma Dai was called and put in charge of the preparations。
Zhuge Liang gave him an order： 〃I will give you the ten black painted carts； and you are to get a thousand long bamboo poles。 Open the carts； and follow my instructions there。 Then you are to keep the two ends of the Coiled Serpent Valley。 Half a month is the deadline； and all of these must be performed with the most perfect secrecy under military law and punishment。〃
Next Zhao Yun was sent to a point on the Three Rivers road； Wei Yan to camp at the Peach Flowers Ford。
Zhuge Liang told Wei Yan； 〃If the Mangs e over the river； you are to abandon the camp and march toward a certain white flag you will see。 Further； in half a month you would have to acknowledge defeat some fifteen times and abandon seven camps。 On no account are you to e to interview me even after fourteen defeats。〃
Wei Yan went off； not a little hipped at the prospect； but prepared to obey。 Next； Zhang Yi was sent to make a stockade at a certain indicated point； and Zhang Ni and Ma Zheng was told to lead the Mang soldiers who had surrendered； and other orders were given。
Meng Huo had begun to have a real terror of Zhuge Liang； and he warned King Wutu Gu of Wuguo； saying； 〃This Zhuge Liang is exceedingly crafty。 Ambush is one of his favorite ruses； so you should warn your soldiers that on no account should they enter a valley where the trees are thick。〃
〃Great King； you speak with reason；〃 said Wutu Gu。 〃I have always heard that the people of the Middle Kingdom are full of wiles； and I will see that your advice is followed。 I will go in front to fight； and you may remain in the rear to give orders。〃
Presently the scouts told them of the arrival of the troops of Shu on the bank of the Peach Flowers River。 Wutu Gu sent his two generals………Xi Ni and Tu An………to cross the river and engage them。 The two sides met； but Wei Yan soon suffered a defeat and left the field。 The Mangs were afraid to pursue as they dreaded an ambush。
In the meantime； Wei Yan laid out another camp。 The Mangs crossed the river in greater force。 Wei Yan came out to meet them； but again fled after a very short fight。 This time the Mangs pursued； but having lost their hold of the enemy after three miles； and ing then to the late camp of the Shu army； which seemed quite safe； they occupied it。
Next day Xi Ni and Tu An asked their King Wutu Gu to e to the camp； and they reported what had happened。 Wutu Gu decided to make a general advance to drive the troops of Shu before him。 They fled； even casting aside their breastplates and throwing away their arms； they were in such haste to flee。 And the troops of Shu went toward a white flag that appeared in the distance。 They found a camp already made； which they occupied。
Soon； however； Wutu Gu came near； and as he pressed forward Wei Yan abandoned this camp and fled。 When the Mangs reached the camp； they took up quarters therein。
Soon after they set out to renew the pursuit； but Wei Yan turned back and checked them。 This was only a temporary check； for he fled after three encounters； going toward a white flag in the distance。
This sort of thing continued daily until the soldiers of Shu had been defeated and driven out of the field fifteen times and had abandoned their camp on seven different occasions。
The Mangs were now hot in pursuit and pressed on with all their might； Wutu Gu being in the forefront of the pursuers。 But then they came to a thick umbrageous wood； and he halted； for he saw flags moving about behind the sheltering trees。
〃Just as you foretold；〃 said Wutu Gu to Meng Huo。 〃The men of Shu like using ambush。〃
〃Yes； Zhuge Liang is going to be worsted this time。 We have beaten off his troops now dail