三国演义英文版-第237部分

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nd　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；　is　a　valley；　and　seven　miles　from　its　entrance　is　a　stream　called　the　'Spring　of　Eternal　Peace'；　near　which　there　lives　a　recluse　known　as　the　Hermit　of　the　Stream。　He　has　not　left　the　valley　these　twenty　years。　Behind　his　hut　there　gushes　out　a　spring　of　water；　called　the　'Spring　of　Peace　and　Joy'。　This　is　the　antidote　to　your　poison。　Bathing　in　its　waters　is　a　cure　for　skin　diseases　and　for　malaria。　Moreover；　near　the　hut　grows　an　herb　called　the　'garlic…leaved　fragrance'。　Chewing　a　leaf　of　this　safeguards　one　from　malaria。　You　can　do　no　better　than　go　to　the　hut　of　the　recluse　forthwith　and　get　these　remedies。〃
Zhuge　Liang　humbly　thanked　his　aged　counselor；　and　said；　〃Venerable　Sir；　I　am　profoundly　affected　by　your　merciful　kindness　and　passion。　May　I　ask　again　by　what　name　may　call　you？〃
The　old　man　rose　and　entered　the　temple；　saying；　〃I　am　the　Spirit　of　this　mountain；　sent　by　Ma　Yuan　to　guide　you。〃
As　he　said　this；　he　shouted　at　the　solid　rock　behind　the　temple；　and　it　opened　of　itself　and　let　him　in。
Zhuge　Liang's　astonishment　was　beyond　words。　He　made　another　obeisance　to　the　Spirit　of　the　temple　and　went　down　by　the　way　he　had　e。　Then　he　returned　to　his　camp。
Next　day；　bearing　incense　and　gifts；　Wang　Ping　and　his　stricken　men　went　west　to　the　spot　which　the　old　man　had　indicated。　They　luckily　found　the　valley　and　followed　its　narrow　road　till　they　came　to　a　small；　farm…like　enclosure；　where　tall　pines　and　lofty　cypresses；　luxuriant　bamboos；　and　gorgeous　flowers　sheltered　a　few　simple　huts。　An　exquisite　perfume　pervaded　the　whole　place。
Zhuge　Liang　rejoiced　to　recognize　the　spot　and　at　once　knocked　at　the　door。
A　lad　answered　his　knock；　and　Zhuge　Liang　was　telling　his　name　when　the　host　came　out　quickly；　saying；　〃Surely　my　visitor　is　the　Prime　Minister　of　the　Han　Dynasty？〃
Zhuge　Liang　saw　at　the　door　a　man　with　a　bamboo　b　holding　back　his　hair；　grass　shoes　on　his　feet；　and　a　robe　of　white　girded　in　by　a　black　girdle。　He　had　green　eyes　and　yellowed　hair。
〃Great　Scholar；　how　did　you　know　who　I　was？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
〃How　could　I　not　have　heard　of　your　expedition　to　the　south？〃
He　invited　Zhuge　Liang　to　enter。
When　they　had　seated　themselves　in　their　relative　positions　as　host　and　guest；　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃My　former　Prince；　the　First　Ruler；　confided　to　me　the　care　of　his　son　and　successor。　That　son；　now　Emperor；　gave　me　a　mand　to　lead　an　army　to　this　country；　get　the　Mangs　on　our　side；　and　spread　our　culture　among　them。　But　now　to　my　disappointment　Meng　Huo；　the　King；　has　hidden　himself　in　the　Bald　Dragon　Ravine；　and　some　of　my　soldiers　on　the　way　to　seek　him　drank　of　a　certain　fountain　and　are　dumb。　But　last　evening　the　former　leader　of　an　expedition；　Ma　Yuan；　manifested　his　sacred　presence　and　told　me　that　you；　Exalted　Sir；　had　a　remedy　for　this　evil；　and　I　pray　you　of　your　pity　to　give　me　of　the　potent　fluid　whereby　my　soldiers'　lives　may　be　saved。〃
The　recluse　replied；　〃I　am　only　a　worthless　old　man　of　the　wild　woods　and　unworthy　of　the　visit　of　such　as　you；　O　Minister。　The　water　you　desire　flows　out　at　the　bac