三国演义英文版-第239部分

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A　palace　plex　had　been　built　in　the　ravine；　which　the　Mang　kings　had　made　their　stronghold；　and　there　was　an　ancestral　temple；　which　they　called　〃Family　Spirits〃；　where　they　solemnized　sacrifices　of　bulls　and　horses　at　the　four　seasons。　They　called　these　sacrifices　〃Inquiring　of　the　Spirits〃。　Human　sacrifices　were　offered　also；　humans　of　Shu　or　of　their　own　people　belonging　to　other　villages。　The　sick　swallowed　no　drugs；　but　prayed　to　a　chief　sorcerer；　called　〃Drug　Demon〃。　There　was　no　legal　code；　the　only　punishment　for　every　transgression　being　death。
When　girls　were　grown　and　became　women；　they　bathed　in　a　stream。　Men　and　women　were　kept　separate；　and　they　married　whom　they　willed；　the　parents　having　no　control　in　that　particular。　There　was　no　formal　vocational　training。　In　good　seasons　the　country　produced　grain；　but　if　the　harvest　failed；　they　would　make　soup　out　of　serpents　and　eat　boiled　elephant　flesh。
All　over　the　country　the　head　of　the　family　of　greatest　local　consideration　was　termed　〃King　of　the　Ravine〃；　and　the　next　in　importance　was　called　a　〃Notable〃。　A　market　was　held　in　the　city　of　Three　Rivers；　on　the　first　day　of　every　moon；　and　another　on　the　fifteenth。　Goods　were　brought　in　and　bartered。
In　his　own　ravine；　Meng　Huo　gathered　his　family　and　clan　to　the　number　of　a　thousand　or　more　and　addressed　them：　〃I　have　been　put　to　shame　by　the　leaders　of　Shu　many　times；　and　I　have　sworn　to　take　revenge　for　the　insults。　Has　anyone　any　proposal　to　make？〃
Thereupon　a　certain　one　replied；　saying；　〃I　can　produce　a　man　able　to　defeat　Zhuge　Liang。〃
The　assembly　turned　to　the　speaker；　who　was　a　brother　of　Meng　Huo's　wife。　He　was　the　head　of　eight　tribes　of　the　Southern　Mangs；　and　was　named　Chief　Dai　Lai。
〃Who　is　the　man？〃　asked　Meng　Huo。
Chief　Dai　Lai　replied；　〃He　is　Mu　Lu；　King　of　the　Bana　Ravine。　He　is　a　master　of　witchcraft　who　can　call　up　the　wind　and　invoke　the　rain。　He　rides　upon　an　elephant　and　is　attended　by　tigers；　leopards；　wolves；　venomous　snakes；　and　scorpions。　Beside；　he　has　under　his　hand　thirty　thousand　superhuman　soldiers。　He　is　very　bold。　O　King；　write　him　a　letter　and　send　him　presents；　which　I　will　deliver。　If　he　will　consent　to　lend　his　aid；　what　fear　have　we　of　Shu？〃
Meng　Huo　was　pleased　with　the　scheme　and　ordered　Dai　Lai　to　draft　a　letter。　Then　he　ordered　Duo　Si　to　defend　Three　Rivers　and　make　the　first　line　of　defense。
Zhuge　Liang　led　his　troops　near　the　city　of　Three　Rivers。　Taking　a　survey　of　the　country；　he　noted　that　the　city　was　surrounded　by　the　three　rivers　and　could　only　be　reached　by　a　bank　on　one　face；　so　he　sent　Wei　Yan　and　Zhao　Yun　to　march　along　the　road　and　attack。　But　when　they　reached　the　rampart；　they　found　it　well　defended　by　bows　and　crossbows。
The　defenders　of　the　city　were　adepts　in　the　use　of　the　crossbow；　and　they　had　one　sort　which　discharged　ten　arrows　at　once。　Furthermore；　the　arrows　were　poisoned；　and　a　wound　meant　certain　death。　The　two　generals　saw　that　they　could　not　succeed；　and　so　retired。
When　Zhuge　Liang　heard　of　the　poisoned　arrows；　he　mounted　his　light　chariot　and　went　to　see　for　himself。　Having　regarded　the　defenses；　he　returned　to　his　camp　and　ordered　a　retirement　of　three　miles。　This　move　delighted　the　Mangs；　who　congratulated　each　other　on　their　success　in　driving　off　the　besiegers；　who；　as　they　concluded；　had　been　frightened　away。　So　they　gave　themselves　up　to　rejoicing　and　kept　no　watch。　Nor　did　they　even　send　out　scouts。
The　army　of　Shu　made　a　strong　camp　in　their　new　halting　place　and　closed　the　gates　for　defense。　For　five　days　they　gave　no　sign。　One　evening；　just　at　sunset；　a　slight　breeze　began　to　blow。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　issued　an　order：　〃Every　man　should　provide　himself　with　a　coat　by　the　first　watch。　If　anyone　lacks；　he　will　be　put　to　death。〃
None　of　the　generals　knew　what　was　in　the　wind；　but　the　order　was　obeyed。　Next；　each　man　was　ordered　to　fill　his　coat　with　earth。　This　order　appeared　equally　strange；　but　it　was　carried　out。
When　all　were　ready；　they　were　told：　〃You　are　to　carry　the　earth　to　the　foot　of　the　city　wall；　and　the　first　arrivals　will　be　rewarded。〃
So　they　ran　with　all　speed　with　the　dry　earth　and　reached　the　wall。　Then　with　the　earth　they　were　ordered　to　make　a　raised　way；　and　the　first　soldier　on　the　wall　was　promised　a　reward。
The　whole　of　the　one　hundred　thousand　troops　of　Shu；　and　their　native　allies；　having　thrown　their　burdens　of　earth　near　the　wall；　then　quickly　rushed　up　the　incline；　and　with　one　great　shout　were　on　the　wall。　The　archers　on　the　wall　were　seized　and　dragged　down。　Those　who　got　clear　ran　away　into　the　city。　King　Duo　Si　was　slain　in　the　melee　that　followed　on　this　attack。　The　soldiers　of　Shu　moved　through　the　city　slaying　all　they　met。　Thus　was　the　city　captured　and　with　it　great　booty　of　jewels；　which　were　made　over　to　the　army　as　a　reward　for　their　prowess。
The　few　soldiers　who　escaped　went　away　and　told　Meng　Huo：　〃The　city　of　Three　Rivers　was　lost；　and　King　Duo　Si　slain！〃
Meng　Huo　was　much　distressed。　Before　he　had　recovered；　they　told　him：　〃The　army　of　Shu　has　e　over　and　is　encamped　at　the　mouth　of　Silver　Pit　Ravine。〃
Just　as　he　was　in　the　very　depths　of　distress；　a　laugh　came　from　behind　the　screen。
A　woman　appeared；　saying；　〃Though　you　are　brave；　how　silly　you　are！　Though　I　am　a　woman；　but　I　want　to　go　out　and　fight。〃
The　woman　was　his　wife；　Lady　Zhurong。　She　was　a　descendant　of　the　Zhurong　family　of　the　Southern　Mang。　She　was　expert　in　the　use　of　the　flying　sword　and　never　missed　her　aim。
Meng　Huo　rose　and　bowed　to　her。　Lady　Zhurong　thereupon　mounted　a　horse　and　forthwith　marched　out　at　the　head　of　a　hundred　generals；　leading　fifty　thousand　troops　of　the　ravines；　and　set　out　to　drive　off　the　troops　of　Shu。
Just　as　the　host　got　clear　of　the　Silver　Pit　Palace；　it　was　stopped　by　a　cohort　led　by　Zhang　Ni。　At　once　the　Mangs　deployed；　and　the　lady　leader　armed　herself　with　five　swords　such　as　she　used。　In　one　hand　she　held　an　eighteen…foot　signal　staff；　and　she　sat　a　curly…haired；　reddish　horse。
Zhang　Ni　was　secretly　troubled　at　the　sight　before　him；　but　he　engaged　the　lady　mander。　After　a　few　passes　the　lady　turned　her　steed　and　bolted。　Zhang　Ni　went　after　her；　but　a　sword　came　flying　through　the　air　directly　at　him。　He　tried　to　fend　off　with　one　hand；　but　it　wounded　his　arm；　and　he　fell　to　the　ground。　The　Mangs　gave　a　loud　shout；　some　of　them　pounced　on　the　unlucky　leader　and　made　him　prisoner。
Then　Ma　Zheng；　hearing　his　rade　had　been　taken；　rushed　out　to　rescue；　but　only　to　be　surrounded。　He　saw　the　lady　mander　holding　up　her　staff　and　made　a　dash　forward；　but　just　then　the　Mangs　threw　hooks　and　pulled　down　his　steed；　and　he　was　also　a　prisoner。
Both　generals　were　taken　into　the　ravine　and　led　before　the　King。　He　gave　a　banquet　in　honor　of　his　wife's　success；　and　during　the　feast　the　lady　bade　the　lictors　put　the　two　prisoners　to　death。　They　hustled　the　two　generals　in　and　were　just　going　to　carry　out　their　orders　when　Meng　Huo　checked　them。
〃No；　five　times　has　Zhuge　Liang　set　me　at　liberty。　It　would　be　unjust　to　put　these　to　death。　Confine　them　till　we　have　taken　their　chief；　then　we　may　execute　them。〃
His　wife　was　merry　with　wine　and　did　not　object。　So　their　lives　were　spared。
The　defeated　soldiers　returned　to　their　camp。　Zhuge　Liang　took　steps　to　retrieve　the　mishap　by　sending　for　Ma　Dai；　Zhao　Yun；　and　Wei　Yan；　to　each　of　whom　he　gave　special　and　private　orders。
Next　day　the　Mang　soldiers　reported　to　the　King　that　Zhao　Yun　was　offering　a　challenge。　Lady　Zhurong　forthwith　mounted　and　rode　out　to　battle。　She　engaged　Zhao　Yun；　who　soon　fled。　The　lady　was　too　prudent　to　risk　pursuit；　and　rode　home。　Then　Wei　Yan　repeated　the　challenge；　and　he　also　fled　as　if　defeated。　But　again　the　lady　declined　to　pursue。　Next　day　Zhao　Yun　repeated　his　challenge　and　ran　away　as　before。　Lady　Zhurong　signaled　no　pursuit。　But　at　this　Wei　Yan　rode　up　and　opened　a　volley　of　abuse　and　obloquy。　This　proved　too　much；　and　she　gave　the　signal　to　go　after　him　and　led　the　way。　Wei　Yan　increased　his　pace；　and　the　lady　mander　doubled　hers；　and　she　and　her　followers　pressed　into　a　narrow　road　along　a　valley。　Suddenly　behind　her　was　heard　a　noise；　and　Wei　Yan；　turning　his　head；　saw　the　lady　tumble　out　of　her　saddle。
She　had　rushed　into　an　ambush　prepared　by　Ma　Dai：　Her　horse　had　been　tripped　up　by　ropes。　She　was　captured；　bound；　and　carried　off　to　the　Shu　camp。　Some　of　her　people　endeavored　to　rescue　her；　but　they　were　driven　off。
Zhuge　Liang　seated　himself　in　his　tent　to　see　his　prisoner；　and　Lady　Zhurong　was　led　up。　He　bade　them　remove　her　bonds；　and　she　was　conducted　to　another　tent；　where　wine　was　laid　before　her。　Then　a　message　was　sent　to　Meng　Huo　to　say　that　she　would　be　exchanged　for　the　two　captive　leaders。
The　King　agreed；　and　Ma　Zheng　and　Zhang　Ni　were　set　free。　As　soon　as　they　arrived；　the　lady　was　escorted　by　Zhuge　Liang　himself　to　the　mouth　of　the　ravine；　where　Meng　Huo　weled　her　both　gladly　and　angrily。
Then　they　told　Meng　Huo　of　the　ing　of　the　King　of　the　Bana　Ravine；　and　he　went　out　to　meet　Mu　Lu。　Mu　Lu　rode　up　on　his　white　elephant；　dressed　in　silks；　and　with　many　gold　and　pearl　ornaments。　He　wore　a　double　sword　at　his　belt；　and　he　was　followed　by　the　motley　pack　of　fighting　animals　that　he　fed；　gamboling　and　dancing　about　him。
Meng　Huo　made　him　a　low　obeisance　and　then　poured　out　his　tale　of　woes。　Mu　Lu　promised　to　avenge　his　wrongs　and　was　led　off　to　a　banquet　which　had　been　prepared。
Next　day　the　deliverer　went　out　to　battle；　with　his　pack　of　wild　creatures　in　his　train。　Zhao　Yun　and　his　colleague　Wei　Yan　quickly　made　their　array　of　footmen　and　then　took　their　station　in　front　side　by　side　and　studied　their　opponents。　The　Mang　banners　and　weapons　were　all　extraordinary。　Most　of　the　warriors　wore　no　armor　and　none　wore　any　clothing。　Their　faces　were　sunburned。　They　carried　four　sharp　pointed　knives　in　their　belts。　Signals　were　not　given　by　drum　or　trumpet；　but　by　a　gong。
King　Mu　Lu　had　two　swords　in　his　belt　and　carried　a　hand　bell。　He　urged　his　white　elephant　forward　and　emerged　from　between　his　flags。
〃We　have　spent　all　our　life　in　the　battlefields；　but　we　have　never　seen　the　like　of　this　before；〃　said　Zhao　Yun。
As　they　talked　to　one　another；　they　noticed　that　the　opposing　leader　was　mumbling　something