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 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 t