ve 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 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； ho