三国演义英文版-第241部分

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tain　white　flag　you　will　see。　Further；　in　half　a　month　you　would　have　to　acknowledge　defeat　some　fifteen　times　and　abandon　seven　camps。　On　no　account　are　you　to　e　to　interview　me　even　after　fourteen　defeats。〃
Wei　Yan　went　off；　not　a　little　hipped　at　the　prospect；　but　prepared　to　obey。　Next；　Zhang　Yi　was　sent　to　make　a　stockade　at　a　certain　indicated　point；　and　Zhang　Ni　and　Ma　Zheng　was　told　to　lead　the　Mang　soldiers　who　had　surrendered；　and　other　orders　were　given。
Meng　Huo　had　begun　to　have　a　real　terror　of　Zhuge　Liang；　and　he　warned　King　Wutu　Gu　of　Wuguo；　saying；　〃This　Zhuge　Liang　is　exceedingly　crafty。　Ambush　is　one　of　his　favorite　ruses；　so　you　should　warn　your　soldiers　that　on　no　account　should　they　enter　a　valley　where　the　trees　are　thick。〃
〃Great　King；　you　speak　with　reason；〃　said　Wutu　Gu。　〃I　have　always　heard　that　the　people　of　the　Middle　Kingdom　are　full　of　wiles；　and　I　will　see　that　your　advice　is　followed。　I　will　go　in　front　to　fight；　and　you　may　remain　in　the　rear　to　give　orders。〃
Presently　the　scouts　told　them　of　the　arrival　of　the　troops　of　Shu　on　the　bank　of　the　Peach　Flowers　River。　Wutu　Gu　sent　his　two　generals………Xi　Ni　and　Tu　An………to　cross　the　river　and　engage　them。　The　two　sides　met；　but　Wei　Yan　soon　suffered　a　defeat　and　left　the　field。　The　Mangs　were　afraid　to　pursue　as　they　dreaded　an　ambush。
In　the　meantime；　Wei　Yan　laid　out　another　camp。　The　Mangs　crossed　the　river　in　greater　force。　Wei　Yan　came　out　to　meet　them；　but　again　fled　after　a　very　short　fight。　This　time　the　Mangs　pursued；　but　having　lost　their　hold　of　the　enemy　after　three　miles；　and　ing　then　to　the　late　camp　of　the　Shu　army；　which　seemed　quite　safe；　they　occupied　it。
Next　day　Xi　Ni　and　Tu　An　asked　their　King　Wutu　Gu　to　e　to　the　camp；　and　they　reported　what　had　happened。　Wutu　Gu　decided　to　make　a　general　advance　to　drive　the　troops　of　Shu　before　him。　They　fled；　even　casting　aside　their　breastplates　and　throwing　away　their　arms；　they　were　in　such　haste　to　flee。　And　the　troops　of　Shu　went　toward　a　white　flag　that　appeared　in　the　distance。　They　found　a　camp　already　made；　which　they　occupied。
Soon；　however；　Wutu　Gu　came　near；　and　as　he　pressed　forward　Wei　Yan　abandoned　this　camp　and　fled。　When　the　Mangs　reached　the　camp；　they　took　up　quarters　therein。
Soon　after　they　set　out　to　renew　the　pursuit；　but　Wei　Yan　turned　back　and　checked　them。　This　was　only　a　temporary　check；　for　he　fled　after　three　encounters；　going　toward　a　white　flag　in　the　distance。
This　sort　of　thing　continued　daily　until　the　soldiers　of　Shu　had　been　defeated　and　driven　out　of　the　field　fifteen　times　and　had　abandoned　their　camp　on　seven　different　occasions。
The　Mangs　were　now　hot　in　pursuit　and　pressed　on　with　all　their　might；　Wutu　Gu　being　in　the　forefront　of　the　pursuers。　But　then　they　came　to　a　thick　umbrageous　wood；　and　he　halted；　for　he　saw　flags　moving　about　behind　the　sheltering　trees。
〃Just　as　you　foretold；〃　said　Wutu　Gu　to　Meng　Huo。　〃The　men　of　Shu　like　using　ambush。〃
〃Yes；　Zhuge　Liang　is　going　to　be　worsted　this　time。　We　have　beaten　off　his　troops　now　daily　for　half　a　month　and　won　fifteen　successive　victories。　His　troops　simply　run　when　they　hear　the　wind。　The　fact　is　he　has　exhausted　all　his　craft　and　has　tried　every　ruse。　Now　our　task　is　nearly　done。〃
Wutu　Gu　was　greatly　cheered　and　began　to　feel　contempt　for　his　enemy。
The　sixteenth　day　of　the　long　fight　found　Wei　Yan　leading　his　oft…defeated　troops　once　more　against　the　rattan…protected　foe。　King　Wutu　Gu　on　his　white　elephant　was　well　in　the　forefront。　He　had　on　a　cap　with　symbols　of　the　sun　and　moon　and　streamers　of　wolf's　beard；　a　fringed　garment　studded　with　gems；　which　allowed　the　plates　or　scales　of　his　cuirass　to　appear；　and　his　eyes　seemed　to　flash　fire。　He　pointed　the　finger　of　scorn　at　Wei　Yan　and　began　to　revile　him。
Wei　Yan　whipped　up　his　steed　and　fled。　The　Mangs　pressed　after　him。　Wei　Yan　made　for　the　Coiled　Serpent　Valley；　for　he　saw　a　white　flag　calling　him　thither。　Wutu　Gu　followed　in　hot　haste；　and　as　he　saw　only　bare　hills　without　a　sign　of　vegetation；　he　felt　quite　confident　that　no　ambush　was　laid。　So　he　followed　into　the　valley。　There　he　saw　some　score　of　black　painted　carts　in　the　road。
The　soldiers　said　to　each　other；　〃The　carts　must　be　the　missariat　wagons　of　the　enemy；　abandoned　in　their　hasty　flight　when　they　heard　of　the　ing　of　Your　Majesty。〃
This　only　urged　the　King　to　greater　speed；　and　he　went　on　toward　the　other　mouth　of　the　valley；　for　the　soldiers　of　Shu　had　disappeared。　However；　he　saw　piles　of　timber　being　tumbled　down　across　the　track　and　great　boulders　rolled　down　the　hill　side　into　the　road。　The　pursuers　cleared　away　the　obstacles。　When　they　had　done　so　and　advanced　a　little；　they　saw　certain　wheeled　vehicles　in　the　road；　some　large；　some　small；　laden　with　wood　and　straw；　which　was　burning。　Wutu　Gu　was　suddenly　frightened　and　ordered　a　retreat。
But　he　heard　much　shouting　in　the　rear；　and　they　told　him：　〃The　exit　has　been　blocked　with　wood…laden　carts；　which　on　being　broken　open　are　found　to　contain　explosive；　and　they　are　all　on　fire。〃
However；　seeing　that　the　valley　was　barren　and　devoid　of　grass　and　wood；　Wutu　Gu　was　not　in　the　least　alarmed　and　merely　bade　his　soldiers　search　for　a　way　round。
Then　he　saw　torches　being　hurled　down　the　mountain　side。　These　torches　rolled　till　they　came　to　a　certain　spot；　where　they　ignited　the　fuses　leading　to　the　powder。　Then　the　ground　suddenly　heaved　with　the　explosion　of　bombs　beneath。　The　whole　valley　was　soon　full　of　flames；　darting　and　playing　in　all　directions；　and　wherever　they　met　with　rattan　armor　the　rattan　caught　fire；　and　thus　the　whole　army；　huddled　and　crowded　together；　burned　in　the　midst　of　the　valley。
Zhuge　Liang　looked　on　from　the　heights　above　and　saw　the　Mangs　burned。　Many　of　the　dead　had　been　mangled　and　torn　by　the　explosions　of　the　mines。　The　air　was　full　of　suffocating　vapor。
Zhuge　Liang's　tears　fell　fast　as　he　saw　the　slaughter；　and　he　sighed；　saying；　〃Though　I　am　rendering　great　service　to　my　country；　yet　I　have　sacrificed　many　lives。　My　life　shall　be　shortened　for　this。〃
Those　who　were　with　him　were　also　deeply　affected。
King　Meng　Huo　was　in　his　camp　awaiting　news　of　success　when　he　saw　a　crowd　of　Mang　soldiers　e　along；　and　they　bowed　before　him　and　told　him；　〃King　Wutu　Gu　is　fighting　a　great　battle　and　is　about　to　surround　Zhuge　Liang　in　the　Valley　of　the　Coiled　Serpent。　But　he　needs　help。　We　are　the　natives　of　the　local　ravines；　and　we　ourselves　had　no　alternative　when　we　yielded　to　Shu。　But　now　we　have　returned　to　your　allegiance　and　are　willing　to　e　to　help　Your　Majesty。〃
So　Meng　Huo　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　his　clansmen　and　those　who　had　just　e　to　him；　and　lost　no　time　in　marching　out。　He　bade　them　lead　him　to　the　spot。　But　when　he　reached　the　valley　and　saw　the　destruction；　he　knew　he　had　been　made　a　victim　again。　As　he　made　to　retire；　there　appeared　a　body　of　his　enemy　on　each　side　under　Zhang　Ni　and　Ma　Zheng；　and　they　began　to　attack。　Meng　Huo　was　making　what　stand　he　could　when　a　great　shouting　arose。　The　Mangs　were　nearly　all　disguised　soldiers　of　Shu；　and　they　quickly　surrounded　him　and　his　clansmen　to　make　them　prisoners。
Meng　Huo　galloped　clear　and　got　into　the　hills。　Presently　he　fell　upon　a　small　chariot；　with　a　few　guards　about　it；　and　therein　sat　Zhuge　Liang；　simply　dressed　and　holding　a　fan。
〃What　now；　rebel　Meng　Huo？〃　cried　Zhuge　Liang。
But　Meng　Huo　had　galloped　away。　He　was　soon　stopped　by　Ma　Dai　and　lay　a　helpless　prisoner　bound　hand　and　foot。　His　wife；　Lady　Zhurong；　and　the　other　members　of　his　family　were　also　taken。
Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　camp　and　seated　himself　in　the　high　place　in　his　own　tent。　He　was　still　sad　at　the　thought　of　the　sacrifice　of　life。
He　said　to　his　officers；　〃There　was　no　help　for　it；　I　had　to　use　that　plan。　But　it　has　sadly　injured　my　inner　virtue。　Guessing　that　the　enemy　would　suspect　an　ambush　in　every　thicket；　I　sent　people　to　walk　about　in　wooded　places　with　flags。　Really　there　was　no　ambush。　I　bade　Wei　Yan　lose　battle　after　battle　just　to　lead　the　enemy　on　and　harden　their　hearts。　When　I　saw　the　Valley　of　the　Coiled　Serpent；　with　its　bare　sides　of　smooth　rock　and　the　road　in　its　depths；　I　recognized　what　could　be　done　and　sent　Ma　Dai　to　arrange　the　contents　of　the　black　carts；　the　mines；　which　I　had　prepared　long　ago　for　this　purpose。　In　every　bomb　were　nine　others；　and　they　were　buried　thirty　paces　apart。　They　were　connected　by　fuses　laid　in　hollow　bamboos　that　they　might　explode　in　succession；　and　the　force　was　enormous。　Zhao　Yun　prepared　those　carts　laden　with　straw　and　rolled　down　the　piles　of　timber　and　boulders　that　blocked　the　mouth。　Wei　Yan　led　Wutu　Gu　on　and　on　till　he　had　enticed　the　King　into　the　valley；　when　he　took　up　a　position　to　escape。　Then　the　burning　began。　They　say　that　what　is　good　for　water　is　not　much　good　for　fire；　and　the　oil…soaked　rattan；　excellent　as　a　protection　against　swords　and　arrows；　was　most　inflammable；　catching　fire　at　sight。　The　Mangs　were　so　stubborn　that　the　only　way　was　to　use　fire；　or　we　should　never　have　scored　a　victory。　But　I　much　regret　that　the　destruction　of　the　people　of　Wuguo　has　been　so　plete。　Heaven　shall　not　overlook　this　crime。〃
The　officers　were　deeply　moved。
Then　Meng　Huo　was　summoned。　He　appeared　and　fell　upon　his　knees。　His　limbs　were　freed　from　the　bonds；　and　he　was　sent　into　a　side　tent　for　refreshment。　The　chief　prisoners　were　Meng　Huo；　Lady　Zhurong；　Meng　You；　and　Dai　Lai。　There　were　many　of　his　clan　as　well。
As　they　were　eating　and　drinking；　a　messenger　appeared　in　the　door　of　the　tent　and　addressed　the　King：　〃The　Prime　Minister　is　ashamed　and　does　not　wish　to　see　you　again；　Sir。　He　has　sent　me　to　release　you。　You　may　enlist　another　army　if　you　can　and　once　more　try　a　decisive　battle。　Now　you　may　go。〃
But　instead　of　going　Meng　Huo　began　to　weep。
〃Seven　times　a　captive　and　seven　times　released！〃　said　the　King。　〃Surely　there　was　never　anything　like　it　in　the　whole　world。　I　am　not　entirely　devoid　of　a　sense　of　propriety　and　rectitude。　Does　he　think　that　I　feel　no　shame？〃
Thereupon　he　and　all　his　followers　fell　upon　their　knees　and　crawled　to　the　tent　of　the　mander…in…Chief　and　begged　pardon；　saying；　〃O　Minister；　you　are　the　majesty　of　Heaven。　We　people　of　the　south　will　offer　no　more　o