三国演义英文版-第267章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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。　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　dail