Zhuge Liang said； 〃I have His Majesty's mand to conquer these Mangs。 I hear you have some advice to offer； and I should be pleased if you would instruct me。〃
〃Yes； I have one thing to say that may be worth thinking over。 These people refuse to recognize our supremacy； because they think their country is distant and difficult。 If you should overe them today； tomorrow they would revolt。 Wherever your army marches； they are overe and submit； but the day you withdraw the army and attack Cao Pi； they will renew their attack。 In arms even it is best to attack hearts rather than cities； to fight with sentiment is better than to fight with weapons。 It will be well if you can win them over。〃
〃You read my inmost thoughts；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Then Ma Su was retained with the army as Adviser； and the army marched on。
When the King of the Mangs； Meng Huo； heard how cleverly Zhuge Liang had got rid of Yong Kai； he called together the leaders of the 〃Three Ravines〃 to discuss matters。 The chief of the first Ravine was Jinhua Sanjie； of the second Dongtu Na； and of the third Ahui Nan。
These having e to the King's place； he said to them； 〃Zhuge Liang of Shu and his Grand Army has invaded our country； and we must exert our united strength to drive out the invaders。 You three must lead your forces； and whoever conquers the enemy shall be chief of chiefs。〃
It was arranged that Jinhua Sanjie should march in the center division； Dongtu Na on the left； and Ahui Nan on the right。 Each division was fifty thousand tribesmen。
When the scouts made out that the Mang armies were ing； they at once told Zhuge Liang； who called Zhao Yun and Wei Yan to his side； but gave them no orders。
Next he sent for Wang Ping and Ma Zheng； and said to them； 〃I cannot send Zhao Yun and Wei Yan against the Mangs because they do not know the country。 You two are to go； one against each wing； and the two veteran warriors shall support you。 Get your troops ready and start tomorrow at dawn。〃
Wang Ping and Ma Zheng took the orders and went out。
Then Zhang Yi and Zhang Ni were given orders： 〃You two are to march against the center army。 You are to act with Wang Ping and Ma Zheng tomorrow。 I want to send Zhao Yun and Wei Yan； but I am still afraid they do not know the country well。〃
Zhang Yi and Zhang Ni also received the orders and went out。
Zhao Yun and Wei Yan now began to feel hurt。
Noticing this； Zhuge Liang said； 〃I have no wish to pass you over； you two； but I fear that if you get too deeply into the country and should fall victims to the Mangs； it will have an ill effect on the others。〃
〃But what if we did know the geography of the country？〃 said Zhao Yun。
〃All I say to you is to be careful how you do anything；〃 replied Zhuge Liang。
The two soldiers left and went together to the camp of Zhao Yun。
Zhao Yun said； 〃We are greatly ashamed at being put in the background because we do not know the country。 We cannot bear this。〃
〃Then let us ride out and survey；〃 said his colleague。 〃Let us capture a few natives and make them show us the road； and let us defeat these tribesmen。〃
They rode off。 Before they had gone far they saw a cloud of dust in the distance。 Climbing a hill to get a better view； they saw a small party of mounted Mangs ing toward them。 The two waited till they were near and then suddenly burst out。 The Mangs； taken entirely by surprise； ran away all but a few； who yielded themselves prisoners。 The two warriors returned to camp。
The prisoners were given wine and food。 When they had satisfied their hunger； they were questioned。
Said they； 〃The camp of Chief Jinhua Sanjie is just in front； just by the entrance to the mountains。 Near the camp； running east and west； is the Five Valleys。 The camps of the other two chiefs………Dongtu Na and Ahui Nan………are behind。〃
Having listening to this information； Zhao Yun and Wei Yan got together five thousand troops； took the captured men as guides； and marched out about the second watch。 It was a clear night； and the moon gave light to march by。
The first camp was reached about the fourth watch。 The Mang soldiers were already awake and preparing their morning meal； as they intended to attack at daylight。 Suddenly Zhao Yun and Wei Yan gave a signal of attack； and their troops poured forward。 The vigorous and unexpected attack of the two generals threw the camp into confusion。 Zhao Yun fought into the center of the camp and encountered Jinhua Sanjie。 Both leaders engaged； and Zhao Yun slew Jinhua Sanjie by a spear thrust。 Then Zhao Yun dismounted and cut off the head of the Chief。
Next Wei Yan took half the force and went west to the second camp； while Zhao Yun marched east to the third one。 By the time they reached the camps； day had dawned。 The Mangs also had news of Wei Yan's ing； and drew up the camp to oppose。 But when they had got clear； there was a great uproar behind them at the stockade gates； and confusion followed。 The reason was the arrival of Wang Ping。 Between the two bodies； the Mangs were beaten。 Their Chief； Dongtu Na； forced his way out and got away。 Wei Yan's soldiers followed； but they could not catch him。
When Zhao Yun led his troops east to attack the third camp in the rear； Ma Zheng made an attack on the front。 They scored a success； but the Chief Ahui Nan escaped。
They returned to headquarters； and Zhuge Liang said； 〃The three parties of Mangs have fled； and Dongtu Na and Ahui Nan escaped。 Where is the head of Jinhua Sanjie？〃
Zhao Yun produced it。 At the same time he reported： 〃Dongtu Na and Ahui Nan escaped by abandoning their horses and going over the hills。 Therefore； we could not be followed。〃
〃They are already prisoners；〃 said Zhuge Liang with a laugh。
The fighting men could not credit it。 But soon after Zhang Ni brought out Dongtu Na； and Zhang Yi； Ahui Nan。
When the Shu leaders expressed surprise and admiration； Zhuge Liang said； 〃I had studied the map and knew the positions of the camps。 I taunted Zhao Yun and Wei Yan into making a supreme effort into the camp of Jinhua Sanjie。 At the same time I sent other forces under Wang Ping and Ma Zheng； with the purpose to support Zhao Yun and Wei Yan and to force Dongtu Na and Ahui Nan to flee。 I felt certain the two chiefs would run away along those small roads； and I set soldiers under Zhang Ni and Zhang Yi on those roads to wait for them。 They also were supported。〃
They all bowed； saying； 〃The Prime Minister's calculations are divine and inprehensible。〃
The two captive chiefs were then called。 As soon as they appeared； Zhuge Liang loosed their bonds； gave them refreshments； and released them； bidding them offend no more。 They thanked him for their liberty； and disappeared along a by…road。
Then Zhuge Liang said to his generals； 〃Tomorrow Meng Huo will e in person to make an attack。 We shall probably capture him again。〃
Then he summoned Zhao Yun and Wei Yan and gave them orders。 They left； each with five thousand troops。 Next he sent Wang Ping and Guan Suo away with instructions。 And then he and other officers sat in his tent to wait for the result。
The King of the Mangs was sitting in his tent when the scouts told him that his three chiefs had been captured and their armies scattered。 It made him very angry； and he quickly got his army ready to march。 Soon he met Wang Ping and Guan Suo； and； when the armies were arrayed； Wang Ping rode out to the front； saber in his hand。 The flaunting banners of the array formation of his foes then opened out； and he saw their ranks。 Many generals were on horseback on both sides。 In the middle was the King； who advanced to the front。 He wore a golden； inlaid headdress； his belt bore a lion's face as clasp； his boots had pointed toes and were green； he rode a frizzy…haired horse the color of a red hare； he carried at his waist a pair of swords chased with the pine amber。
He looked haughtily at his foes； and then； turning to his generals； said； 〃It has always been said that Zhuge Liang is a wonderful strategist； but I see that is false。 Look at this array with its banners all in confusion and the ranks in disorder。 There is not a weapon among all the swords and spears better than ours。 If I had only realized this before； I would have fought them long ago。 Who dares go out and capture a Shu general to