三国演义英文版-第240部分

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As　they　talked　to　one　another；　they　noticed　that　the　opposing　leader　was　mumbling　something　that　might　be　a　spell　or　a　curse；　and　from　time　to　time　he　rang　his　bell。　Then　suddenly　the　wind　got　up；　stones　began　to　roll　and　sand　to　fly；　and　there　was　a　sound　as　of　a　heavy　shower　of　rain。　Next　a　horn　rang　out；　and　thereupon　the　tigers　and　the　leopards；　and　the　wolves　and　the　serpents；　and　all　the　other　wild　beasts　came　down　on　the　wind　snapping　and　clawing。　How　could　the　soldiers　of　Shu　stand　such　a　thing　as　that？　So　they　retreated；　and　the　Mangs　came　after　them　fiercely；　chasing　and　slaying　their　enemies　as　far　as　the　city　of　Three　Rivers。
Zhao　Yun　and　Wei　Yan　mustered　their　defeated　troops　and　went　to　their　leader　to　confess　their　failure。　Zhuge　Liang；　however；　was　neither　angry　nor　dejected。
〃The　fault　is　not　yours；〃　he　said。　〃Long　ago；　when　I　was　still　in　my　rustic　hut；　I　knew　the　Mangs　possessed　certain　powers　over　beasts；　and　I　provided　against　this　adventure　before　we　left　Shu。　You　will　find　twenty　big　sealed　carts　in　the　baggage　train。　We　will　use　half　of　them　now。〃
He　bade　his　staff　bring　forward　ten　of　the　red　box…carts；　the　other　ten　black　carts　were　left　untouched。　They　all　wondered　what　would　happen。　Then　the　carts　were　opened；　and　they　turned　out　to　be　carved　and　colored　models　of　huge　wild　beasts；　with　coats　of　worsted；　teeth　and　claws　of　steel；　each　could　acmodate　ten　people。　Choosing　one　hundred　beasts；　he　told　off　a　thousand　troops　and　bade　them　stuff　the　mouths　of　the　beasts　full　of　inflammables。
Next　day　the　army　of　Shu　marched　out　to　the　attack　and　were　arrayed　at　the　entrance　to　the　Silver　Pit　Ravine。　The　Mang　soldiers　went　into　the　ravine　and　told　their　king。　Mu　Lu；　thinking　himself　perfectly　invincible；　did　not　hesitate；　but　marched　out；　taking　Meng　Huo　with　him。　Zhuge　Liang；　dressed　in　the　simple　robe　of　a　Taoist；　went　out　in　his　light　chariot。　In　his　hand　he　held　a　feather　fan。　Meng　Huo；　who　recognized　his　enemy；　pointed　him　out　to　Mu　Lu。
〃That　is　Zhuge　Liang　in　that　small　chariot。　If　we　can　only　capture　him；　our　task　is　done。〃
Then　Mu　Lu　began　to　mutter　his　spells　and　to　ring　his　bell。　As　before；　the　wind　got　up　and　blew　with　violence；　and　the　wild　beasts　came　on。
But　at　a　wave　of　the　simple　feather　fan；　lo！　the　wind　turned　and　blew　the　other　way。　Then　from　out　of　the　host　of　Shu　there　burst　the　horrible　wild　beasts。　The　real　wild　beasts　of　the　Mang　saw　rushing　down　upon　them　huge　creatures；　whose　mouths　vomited　flames　and　whose　nostrils　breathed　out　black　smoke。　They　came　along　with　jingling　bells；　snapping　and　clawing；　and　the　real　beasts　turned　tail　and　fled　in　among　the　host　of　their　own　side；　trampling　them　down　as　they　sped。　Zhuge　Liang　gave　the　signal　for　a　general　onset；　and　his　troops　rushed　forward　with　beating　drums　and　blaring　trumpets。　Mu　Lu　was　killed　in　the　melee。　Meng　Huo's　whole　clan　fled　in　panic　and　tore　up　among　the　hills　out　of　the　way。　And　thus　the　Silver　Pit　Ravine　was　taken。
Next　day；　as　Zhuge　Liang　was　telling　off　parties　to　search　for　and　capture　the　King；　it　was　announced　that　the　brother…in…law　of　Meng　Huo；　Chief　Dai　Lai；　having　vainly　tried　to　persuade　the　King　to　yield；　had　made　prisoners　of　him　and　his　wife　and　all　his　clan　and　were　bringing　them　to　Zhuge　Liang。
Hearing　this；　Zhang　Ni　and　Ma　Zheng　were　called　and　received　certain　orders；　upon　which　they　hid　themselves　in　the　wings　of　the　tent　with　a　large　body　of　sturdy　warriors。　This　done；　Zhuge　Liang　ordered　the　keepers　to　open　the　gates；　and　in　came　Chief　Dai　Lai　with　Meng　Huo　and　his　people　in　custody。
As　Dai　Lai　bowed　at　the　entrance　of　the　hall；　Zhuge　Liang　called　out；　〃Let　my　strong　captors　appear！〃
At　once　out　came　the　hidden　men；　and　every　two　of　them　laid　hands　upon　a　prisoner　and　bound　him。
〃Did　you　think　your　paltry　ruse　would　deceive　me？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Here　you　are　a　second　time　captured　by　your　own　people　and　brought　before　me　that　you　might　surrender。　The　first　time　I　did　not　hurt　you。　But　now　I　firmly　believe　this　surrender　is　part　of　a　plot　to　kill　me。〃
Then　he　called　out　to　his　guards　to　search　the　prisoners。　They　did　so；　and　on　every　man　they　found　a　sharp　knife。
〃Did　you　not　say　that　if　your　family　were　taken　prisoners　you　would　yield？　How　now？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
〃We　have　e　of　our　own　will　and　at　the　risk　of　our　lives。　The　credit　is　not　yours。　Still　I　refuse　to　yield；〃　replied　Meng　Huo。
〃This　is　the　sixth　time　I　have　captured　you；　and　yet　you　are　obstinate。　What　do　you　expect？〃
〃If　you　take　me　a　seventh　time；　then　I　will　turn　to　you　and　never　rebel　again。〃
〃Well；　your　stronghold　is　now　destroyed。　What　have　I　to　fear？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
He　ordered　the　bonds　to　be　loosed；　saying；　〃If　you　are　caught　again　and　lie　to　me　once　more；　I　shall　certainly　not　be　inclined　to　let　you　off。〃
Meng　Huo　and　his　people　put　their　hands　over　their　heads　and　ran　off　like　rats。
The　defeated　Mangs　who　had　fled　were　of　thousands；　and　more　than　half　of　them　were　wounded。　They　fell　in　with　their　King；　who　restored　what　order　was　possible　and　felt　glad　that　he　had　still　some　leaders　left。　Then　he　and　the　Chief　Dai　Lai　took　counsel　together。
〃Whither　can　we　go？〃　said　Meng　Huo。　〃Our　stronghold　is　in　the　hands　of　the　enemy。〃
Dai　Lai　replied；　〃There　is　but　one　country　that　can　overe　these　troops。　That　is　the　Wuguo　Kingdom。　It　lies　two　hundred　miles　to　the　southeast。　The　King　of　that　state　is　named　Wutu　Gu。　He　is　a　giant　of　twelve　spans。　He　does　not　eat　grain；　but　lives　on　serpents　and　venomous　beasts。　He　wears　scaly　armor；　which　is　impenetrable　to　swords　and　arrows。　His　warriors　wear　rattan　armor。　This　rattan　grows　in　gullies；　climbing　over　rocks　and　walls。　The　inhabitants　cut　the　rattans　and　steep　them　in　oil　for　half　a　year。　Then　they　are　dried　in　the　sun。　When　dry　they　are　steeped　again；　and　so　on　many　times。　Then　they　are　plaited　into　helmets　and　armor。　Clad　in　this；　the　men　float　across　rivers；　and　it　does　not　get　wet。　No　weapon　can　penetrate　it。　The　soldiers　are　called　the　Rattan　Army。　You　may　seek　aid　from　this　king；　and　with　his　help　you　can　take　Zhuge　Liang　as　easily　as　a　sharp　knife　cleaves　a　bamboo。〃
Meng　Huo　went　to　the　Wuguo　Kingdom　and　saw　the　King。　The　people　of　this　country　do　not　live　in　houses；　but　dwell　in　caves。　Meng　Huo　told　the　story　of　his　woes。
And　King　Wutu　Gu　said；　〃I　shall　muster　all　my　men　to　avenge　you。〃
Meng　Huo　bowed　low　and　expressed　great　gratitude。
Wutu　Gu　called　up　two　generals　named　Xi　Ni　and　Tu　An　and　gave　them　thirty　thousand　of　the　rattan…armored　soldiers　and　bade　them　march　northeast。
They　came　to　a　river　called　the　River　of　Peach　Flowers；　on　both　banks　of　which　grow　many　peach　trees。　Year　after　year　the　leaves　of　these　trees　fall　into　the　river　and　render　it　poisonous　to　all　but　the　natives。　But　to　the　natives　it　is　a　stimulant　which　doubles　their　vigor。　They　camped　on　the　bank　of　this　river　to　await　the　ing　of　the　army　of　Shu。
Now　Zhuge　Liang　was　informed　of　the　journey　of　Meng　Huo　and　its　results；　and　he　knew　when　the　rattan…clad　army　camped　at　the　ford。　He　also　knew　that　Meng　Huo　had　collected　all　the　soldiers　of　his　own　that　he　could　help。　Zhuge　Liang　at　once　marched　to　the　ford。　He　questioned　the　natives；　and　they　told　him　that　the　peach　leaves　were　falling　and　the　water　of　the　river　was　undrinkable。　So　he　retired　two　miles　and　camped。　Only　Wei　Yan　was　left　to　hold　the　bank　of　the　River　of　Peach　Flowers。
Next　day　Wutu　Gu　led　the　Wuguo　warriors　across　the　stream；　and；　with　a　rolling　of　drums；　Wei　Yan　went　out　to　meet　them。　The　Wuguo　men　poured　forth。　The　soldiers　of　Shu　shot　at　them；　but　neither　arrows　nor　bolts　penetrated　their　armors；　they　rolled　off　harmless。　Nor　could　swords　cut　or　spears　enter。　The　enemy；　thus　protected　and　armed　with　big　swords　and　prongs；　were　too　much　for　the　troops　of　Shu；　who　had　to　run　away。　However；　they　were　not　pursued。　When；　on　the　retreat；　they　came　to　the　Peach　Flowers　Ford；　they　saw　the　Mangs　crossing　as　if　walking　on　the　water。　Some　of　them　were　tired；　so　they　took　off　their　rattan　breastplates；　sat　upon　them　and　floated　to　the　other　side。
When　Zhuge　Liang　heard　the　report　of　his　general；　he　summoned　Lu　Kai　and　called　in　some　natives。
Lu　Kai　said；　〃I　have　heard　of　the　Wuguo　Kingdom　as　perfectly　tribal　among　the　Mang　nations。　I　have　also　heard　of　the　rattan　armor；　which　can　withstand　all　thrusts；　and　the　harmful　River　of　Peach　Flowers。　The　Southern　Mangs　are　so　untameable　that　victory　will　mean　little。　We　would　rather　retreat。〃
〃No；　no；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　merrily；　〃we　have　had　too　much　difficulty　in　getting　here　to　go　back　so　easily。　I　shall　have　a　counter…plan　for　these　people　tomorrow。〃
Having　provided　for　the　defense　of　his　camp；　he　gave　strict　orders　to　his　generals　not　to　go　out　to　fight；　Zhuge　Liang　went　to　reconnoiter。　He　rode　in　his　light　chariot　with　a　few　natives　as　guides。　He　came　to　the　ford；　and　from　a　secluded　spot　in　the　mountains　on　the　north　bank；　he　looked　about　him。
The　whole　country　was　mountainous　and　difficult；　impassable　for　any　carriage。　So　he　got　out　and　went　afoot。　Presently；　from　a　hill　he　saw　a　long　winding　valley；　like　a　huge　serpent。　The　sides　were　very　precipitous　and　bare。　However；　a　road　ran　through　the　middle。
〃What　is　the　name　of　the　valley？〃　asked　Zhuge　Liang。
〃It　is　called　'Coiled　Serpent　Valley'；〃　said　the　guides。　〃At　the　other　end　you　e　into　the　high　road　to　Three　Rivers。　The　road　goes　by　a　valley　called　'Talang　See'。〃
〃The　very　thing；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　gladly。　〃Surely　this　is　providence。　I　shall　score　a　great　success　here。〃
Having　seen　enough；　he　retraced　his　steps；　found　his　chariot；　and　returned　to　camp。　Arrived　at　the　camp；　Ma　Dai　was　called　and　put　in　charge　of　the　preparations。
Zhuge　Liang　gave　him　an　order：　〃I　will　give　you　the　ten　black　painted　carts；　and　you　are　to　get　a　thousand　long　bamboo　poles。　Open　the　carts；　and　follow　my　instructions　there。　Then　you　are　to　keep　the　two　ends　of　the　Coiled　Serpent　Valley。　Half　a　month　is　the　deadline；　and　all　of　these　must　be　performed　with　the　most　perfect　secrecy　under　military　law　and　punishment。〃
Next　Zhao　Yun　was　sent　to　a　point　on　the　Three　Rivers　road；　Wei　Yan　to　camp　at　the　Peach　Flowers　Ford。
Zhuge　Liang　told　Wei　Yan；　〃If　the　Mangs　e　over　the　river；　you　are　to　abandon　the　camp　and　march　toward　a　certain　white　flag　you　will　see。　Furt