三国演义英文版-第238部分

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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　back　of　my　cottage；　and　you　may　take　what　you　will　of　it。〃
The　serving　lad　then　showed　Wang　Ping　and　his　dumb　panions　to　the　Spring　of　Peace　and　Joy；　and　he　dipped　up　the　waters　for　them　to　drink。　As　soon　as　they　had　drunk；　they　coughed　up　some　poisoned　mucus　and　could　speak。　The　lad　also　led　the　soldiers　to　the　Spring　of　Eternal　Peace　where　they　could　bathe。
In　the　cottage　the　recluse　regaled　Zhuge　Liang　with　tea　made　of　cypress　seeds　and　a　conserve　of　pine　flowers。
He　also　told　his　guest；　saying；　〃In　this　region；　the　lands　are　full　of　serpents　and　scorpions；　and　the　lily　flowers　blown　into　the　springs　by　the　wind　make　them　unfit　to　drink。　However；　if　you　dig　wells；　you　will　find　good　water。〃
Then　Zhuge　Liang　begged　some　of　the　garlic…leaved　herb　as　an　antidote　against　malaria。　The　recluse　said　the　soldiers　could　pluck　as　much　as　they　wanted。　And　so　everyone　put　a　leaf　in　his　mouth　and　thus　became　malaria…proof。
Zhuge　Liang；　with　a　low　bow　then　begged　to　be　told　the　name　of　his　benefactor。
〃I　am　Meng　Huo's　eldest　brother；〃　said　the　recluse；　smiling。　〃My　name　is　Meng　Jie。〃
Zhuge　Liang　started。
〃Do　not　be　afraid；〃　said　the　recluse。　〃Let　me　explain。　We　were　three　brothers　of　the　same　parents；　the　eldest　being　myself。　Our　parents　are　both　dead。　My　brother　Meng　Huo；　being　headstrong　and　vicious；　has　never　been　amenable　to　culture。　I　have　talked　to　him　many　times；　but　he　kept　his　own　course。　Finally；　under　an　assumed　name；　I　retired　to　this　spot。　I　am　ashamed　for　my　brother's　rebellion；　which　has　put　you；　O　Minister；　to　the　trouble　of　making　this　expedition　into　a　barren　country；　but　it　has　given　me　the　privilege　of　seeing　you。　For　my　responsibility　in　this　I　deserve　to　die　a　thousand　times；　as　I　own　to　your　face；　and　I　beg　your　pardon。〃
Zhuge　Liang　sighed；　saying；　〃Now　I　believe　that　story　of　the　two　brothers………Robber　Liu　Zhi　and　Noble　Liu　Xiahui。　This　is　the　same　thing　over　again。　People　renowned　for　villainy　and　virtue　may　e　from　the　same　stock。〃
Then　he　said　to　his　host；　〃Would　you　wish　me　to　represent　your　merits　to　the　Emperor　and　get　you　created　a　king？〃
〃How　can　you　think　I　desire　honors　or　wealth　when　I　am　here　because　of　my　contempt　for　all　such　things？〃
Zhuge　Liang　then　wished　to　make　him　certain　presents；　but　the　recluse　would　have　none　of　them。
So　taking　leave　of　his　host；　Zhuge　Liang　went　back　to　his　camp。

In　the　southern　expedition　when　the　Mangs　were　subdued；
Zhuge　Liang　found　a　high…born　recluse　in　a　shady　solitude。
Up　till　then　the　gloomy　forests　were　thought　destitute　of　men；
That　no　curling　smoke　wreath　ever　floated　upwards　from　the　glen。

As　soon　as　Zhuge　Liang　reached　camp；　he　set　the　soldiers　digging　for　water。　They　dug　to　a　great　depth　but　found　none；　nor　were　they　more　successful　when　they　tried　other　places。　They　were　very　discouraged。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　in　the　depths　of　the　night　burned　incense　and　prayed　to　God：　〃Unworthy　as　is　thy　servant　Zhuge　Liang；　he　has　received　favor　from　the　Great　Han　and　now　has　been　ordered　to　subdue　the　Mangs。　Alas！　Now　our　water　is　spent　and　my　soldiers　and　animals　are　parched　with　thirst。　If　Thy　will　be　to　preserve　the　line　of　Hans；　then　give；　I　beseech　Thee；　sweet　water；　but　if　their　course　is　run；　then　may　Thy　servant　and　those　with　him　die　in　this　place。〃
The　morning　after　this　prayer　the　wells　were　full　of　sweet　water。

The　Mangs　must　be　conquered；　Zhuge　Liang　led　a　great　array；
Though　his　skill　was　superhuman；　yet　he　held　the　righteous　way；
As　the　wells　gave　forth　sweet　water　when　Geng　Gong's　head　bowed　full　low；
So　the　reverent　prayers　of　Zhuge　Liang　made　the　lower　springs　to　flow。

The　soldiers'　spirits　revived　with　the　supply　of　water；　and　the　army　soon　advanced　by　hill　paths　to　the　Valley　of　the　Bald　Dragon；　where　they　camped。　When　Meng　Huo　heard　the　news；　he　was　greatly　taken　aback。
〃These　troops　do　not　appear　to　have　suffered　either　thirst　or　fever；〃　said　he。　〃Our　springs　have　lost　their　power。〃
King　Duo　Si　heard　it；　but　doubted。　He　and　Meng　Huo　ascended　into　a　high　hill　whence　they　could　see　their　enemies。　They　saw　no　signs　of　illness　or　distress。　All　went　on　calmly　and　quietly　in　the　camps；　water　carrying　and　cooking；　eating　and　attending　to　the　cattle。　Duo　Si's　hair　stood　on　end　as　he　looked　at　them。
〃These　are　not　human　soldiers；〃　said　he；　shivering。　〃They　must　be　sent　from　Heaven。〃
〃Our　two　brothers　will　fight　one　fierce　battle　with　these　troops　of　Shu　and　die　therein；〃　said　Meng　Huo；　〃We　cannot　wait　calmly　to　be　put　into　bonds。〃
〃But；　O　King；　if　your　army　should　be　beaten；　my　whole　family　will　also　perish。　Let　us　encourage　the　people　of　the　ravines。　Let　us　kill　bullocks　and　slaughter　horses　to　feed　them；　and　urge　them　to　go　through　fire　and　water　to　rush　right　up　to　the　camp　of　the　enemy　and　seize　upon　victory。〃
So　there　was　great　feasting　before　the　Mangs　took　the　field。　Just　as　this　was　going　on；　there　arrived　one　Yang　Fang；　King　of　twenty…one　ravines　in　the　west；　and　he　led　thirty　thousand　troops。
Meng　Huo　rejoiced　exceedingly；　saying；　〃This　addition　to　our　forces　shall　surely　bring　us　victory。〃
So　he　and　Duo　Si　went　out　of　their　own　valley　to　wele　Yang　Fang。
Yang　Fang　said；　〃I　have　with　me　thirty　thousand　troops　in　iron　mail；　brave　and　intrepid　warriors；　who　can　fly　over　mountains　and　bound　across　the　peaks。　They　of　themselves　are　a　match　for　the　enemy　even　if　the　enemy　numbered　a　hundred　legions。　And；　moreover；　my　five　sons；　all　trained　in　arms；　are　with　me；　all　to　help　you；　O　Kings。〃
The　five　sons　were　brought　in　and　presented。　They　were　handsome　young　fellows；　bold　and　martial　looking。　Father　and　sons　were　entertained　at　a　banquet。　Halfway　through　the　feast　Yang　Fang　proposed　a　diversion。
〃There　is　but　scanty　amusement　in　the　field；〃　said　Yang　Fang；　〃and　so　I　have　brought　along　some　native　singing　girls　who　have　been　taught　fencing　and　such　things。　If　you　care　for　it；　they　might　give　an　exhibition。〃
The　feasters　hailed　the　suggestion　with　joy；　and　soon　thirty　maidens　came　to　the　front　of　the　tent。　Their　hair　hung　about　their　shoulders；　and　they　were　barefooted。　They　danced　and　skipped　and　went　through　their　performance　outside。　The　guests　inside　clapped　their　hands　and　applauded　their　skill；　and　the　soldiers　joined　in　the　choruses。
Presently；　at　a　signal　from　their　father；　two　of　Yang　Fang's　sons　bore　two　goblets　to　Meng　Huo　and　Meng　You。　Meng　Huo　and　Meng　You　took　the　cups　and　were　raising　them　to　their　lips　when　Yang　Fang　shouted　a　single　word　of　mand；　and；　instantly；　the　cupbearers　had　the　two　brothers　out　of　their　seats　and　helpless　in　their　hands。　At　this；　Duo　Si　jumped　up　to　run　away；　but　Yang　Fang　gripped　him；　and　he　was　a　prisoner　too。　The　Mang　maidens　ranged　themselves　in　a　line　along　the　front　of　the　tent　so　that　none　dared　approach。
〃When　the　hare　dies　the　fox　mourns；〃　said　Meng　Huo。　〃One　sympathizes　with　one's　own　as　a　rule。　We　are　both　chiefs　and　have　been　friends。　I　know　not　why　you　should　injure　me。〃
〃I　had　to　repay　Zhuge　Liang　the　Minister　for　his　passion　on　me　and　my　people；　and　there　was　no　way　till　you　rebelled。　Why　should　I　not　offer　up　a　rebel　in　propitiation？〃
Leaving　Meng　Huo；　Meng　You；　and　Duo　Si　in　the　hands　of　Yang　Fang；　the　Mang　warriors　dispersed；　each　man　returning　to　his　own　valley。
Yang　Fang　then　took　the　prisoners　to　the　camp　of　Shu；　where　he　bowed　at　the　tent　door；　saying；　〃I　and　my　sons　and　the　sons　of　my　brother　are　grateful　to　you　for　much　kindness；　wherefore　we　bring　to　you　as　an　offering　the　persons　of　these　rebels。〃
Zhuge　Liang　rewarded　Yang　Fang　and　bade　them　bring　forward　Meng　Huo。
〃This　time　are　you　prepared　to　yield？〃　said　the　Prime　Minister。
〃It　is　not　your　ability；　but　the　treachery　of　my　own　people　that　has　brought　me　to　this。　If　you　wish　to　slay；　slay。　But　I　will　not　yield。〃
〃You　know　you　were　the　cause　of　my　army　entering　into　a　waterless　land；　where　there　were　those　four　evil　streams；　and　yet　my　soldiers　were　not　poisoned　and　came　to　no　harm。　Does　it　not　seem　to　you　like　evidence　of　a　superior　protecting　power？　Why　will　you　follow　this　misguided　road　and　always　be　obstinate？〃
Meng　Huo　replied；　〃My　fathers　have　long　held　the　Silver　Pit　Ravine；　and　the　three　rivers　and　the　two　forests　are　their　ramparts。　If　you　can　take　that　stronghold；　then　will　I　and　my　heirs　forever　acknowledge　your　power　and　yield。〃
〃I　am　going　to　liberate　you　once　more；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃and　you　may　put　your　army　in　order　if　you　will　and　fight　a　decisive　battle。　But　after　that；　if　you　are　my　prisoner　and　are　still　refractory　and　unsubmissive；　I　shall　have　to　exterminate　your　whole　family。〃
Zhuge　Liang　ordered　the　lictors　to　loose　the　prisoner's　bonds　and　let　him　go。　After　he　had　gone；　the　other　two；　Meng　You　and　Duo　Si；　were　led　in　and　they　also　received　their　liberty。　They　were　given　wine　and　food。　but　they　were　confused　and　could　not　look　Zhuge　Liang　in　the　face。　They　were　given　horses　to　travel　on。

The　way　has　been　long　and　now　danger　is　near；
But　faith　in　their　leader　banishes　fear。

The　next　chapter　will　tell　how　Meng　Huo　reorganized　his　army　and　whose　the　victory　was。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　90　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　90
　Chapter　90
Chasing　Off　Wild　Beasts；　The　Prime　Minister　Defeats　The　Mangs　For　The　Sixth　Time；
Burning　Rattan　Armors；　Zhuge　Liang　Captures　Meng　Huo　The　Seventh　Time。
All　the　prisoners　were　released。　Yang　Fang　and　his　sons　were　rewarded　with　ranks；　and　his　people　were　given　presents。　They　expressed　their　gratitude　and　returned　to　their　own；　while　Meng　Huo　and　his　brother　hastened　home　to　Silver　Pit　Ravine。
Outside　this　ravine　were　three　rivers………River　Lu；　River　Gannan；　and　River　Xicheng。　These　three　streams　united　to　form　the　Three　Rivers。　Close　to　the　ravine　on　the　north　was　a　wide　and　fruitful　plain；　on　the　west　were　salt　wells。　The　River　Lu　flowed　about　seventy　miles　to　the　southwest；　and　due　south　was　a　valley　called　the　Liangdu　Ravine。　There　were　hills　in；　as　well　as　surrounding；　the　ravine；　and　in　these　they　found　silver………whence　the　name　〃Silver　Pit〃。
A　palace　plex　had　been　built　in　the　ravine；　which　the　Mang　kings　had　made　their　stronghold；　and　there　was　an　a