〃If I free you again； what then？〃
〃I am a Mang； and so I am not wholly ignorant of war。 If you； O Minister； let me return to my ravines； I will muster another army and fight a decisive battle with you。 If you capture me again； then I will incline my heart and own myself beaten and yield。 I will not go back on my promise again。〃
〃If you refuse to yield next time you are captured； I shall hardly pardon you。〃
At Zhuge Liang's orders the cords were loosed and refreshments were brought for the prisoner。
〃Remember；〃 said Zhuge Liang； 〃I have never failed yet。 I have never failed to win a battle or to take a city I have assaulted。 Why do you Mangs not yield？〃
Meng Huo only nodded his head； he said nothing。 After the wine； Zhuge Liang and Meng Huo rode round the camps together； and the King saw all the arrangements and the piles of stores and heaps of weapons。
And after the inspection Zhuge Liang said； 〃You are silly not to yield to me。 You see my veteran soldiers； my able generals； my stores of all kinds and war gear。 How can you hope to prevail against me？ If you will yield； I will inform the Emperor； and you shall retain your kingship； and your sons and grandsons shall succeed as perpetual guardians of the Mang country。 Do you not think it would be well？〃
Meng Huo replied； 〃If I did yield； the people of my valleys would not be content。 If you release me once more； I will see to it that my own people keep the peace and bring them round to unanimity of feeling； and then they will not oppose any more。〃
Zhuge Liang was glad； and they returned to the main camp to feast until dusk； when Meng Huo took his leave。 Zhuge Liang ordered a craft and went to see him across River Lu。
But Meng Huo's first act on his return to his own camp was to send one of his people to Dongtu Na's and Ahui Nan's camps； and pretend to ask them to e to meet a messenger from Zhuge Liang。 When the two generals came； Meng Huo ordered assassins who had been placed hidden to do away with the two leaders。 Their corpses were thrown into a gully。 Then he sent his friends to guard the most important strategic points； while he marched to fight a battle with Ma Dai。 But when he got near the valley； he saw no signs of the enemy。
He questioned the inhabitants； and they said； 〃The Shu army； with all their stores； recrossed the river last night and joined the main body in the northern bank。〃
Meng Huo then returned to his own ravine and discussed matters with his brother； Meng You； saying； 〃I know all the details of the enemy's force from what I saw in their camp。〃
And Meng Huo gave his brother certain instructions； which Meng You at once began to carry out。 Meng You loaded a hundred men with gold and jewels and pearls and ivory and rhinoceros horn； crossed River Lu； and was on his way to the main camp of the Shu army； when he heard the sound of drums and a cohort under Ma Dai poured out to stop him。 Meng You did not expect to meet an enemy； and was surprised。 But Ma Dai only asked what he had e for。 And when he had heard； Meng You was detained while a message was sent to Zhuge Liang。
The messenger arrived while a council was in progress； the matter under discussion being how to pacify the Mangs。
They announced； 〃The brother of Meng Huo has e bearing gifts of gold and pearls。〃
Zhuge Liang turned to Ma Su； saying； 〃Know you why this man has e？〃
〃I dare not say plainly； but let me write it；〃 said Ma Su。
〃Write it； then。〃
So Ma Su wrote and handed the paper to his chief； who had no sooner read it than he clapped his hands with joy； crying； 〃What you say is exactly what I think。 But you may know I have already made arrangements for the capture of Meng Huo。〃
Then Zhao Yun was called； and some orders were whispered into his ear。 Next Wei Yan came； and he also went off with secret orders。 Wang Ping； Ma Zheng； and Guan Suo also came； and left with particular instructions。 All these things done； the bearer of gifts was called。
Meng You came and bowed low at the door of the tent； saying； 〃The brother of my house； Meng Huo； having received great kindness at your hands in sparing his life； feels bound to offer a paltry gift。 He has presumed to collect a few pearls and some gold and other trifling jewels by way of something to give your soldiers。 And hereafter he will send tribute to your Emperor。〃
〃Where is your brother at this moment？〃 asked Zhuge Liang。
〃Having been the recipient of your great bounty； he has gone to the Silver Pit Ravine to collect some treasures。 He will soon return。〃
〃How many soldiers have you brought？〃
〃Only about a hundred。 I should not dare to bring any large number。 They are just porters。〃
They were brought in for Zhuge Liang's inspection。 They had blue eyes and swarthy faces； auburn hair and purple beards。 They wore earrings； their hair was fuzzy； and they went barefoot。 They were tall and powerful。
Zhuge Liang made them sit down； and bade his generals press them to drink and treat them well and pliment them。
Meanwhile； Meng Huo was anxious about the reception that would be given to his brother and the treatment of his gifts； so he sat in his tent expecting the messenger at any moment。 Then two men came； and he questioned them eagerly。
They said； 〃The presents have been accepted； and even the porters have been invited to drink in the tent and have been regaled with beef and flesh in plenty。 O King； your brother sends the news that all will be ready at the second watch for the attack。 He will support you from within。〃
This was pleasing news； and Meng Huo prepared his thirty thousand troops ready to march out to the camp。 They were divided into three divisions。
The King called up his chieftains and notables； and said； 〃Let each army carry the means of making fire； and as soon as they arrive let a light be shown as a signal。 I am ing to the main camp to capture Zhuge Liang。〃
With these orders they marched； and they crossed River Lu at sunset。 The King； with a hundred generals as escort； pressed on at once toward the main camp of Shu。 They met with no opposition。 They even found the main gate open； and Meng Huo and his party rode straight in。 But the camp was a desert； not a soldier was visible。
Meng Huo rode right up to the large tent and pushed open the flap。 It was brilliantly lighted with lamps； and lying about under their light were his brother and all his men； dead drunk。 Zhuge Liang had ordered Ma Su and Lu Kai to entertain Meng You and his men with wine and dance performances。 The wine they had been pressed to drink while the plays were going on had been heavily drugged； and they had fallen down almost as soon as they had swallowed it。 One or two who had recovered a little could not speak： They only pointed to their mouths。
Meng Huo then saw that he had been the simple victim of another ruse。 However； he picked up his brother and the others and started off to return to his main army。
But as he turned； torches began to flash out and drums to beat。 The Mangs were frightened and took to their heels。 But they were pursued； and the pursuing cohort was led by Wang Ping。 The King bore away to the left to escape； but again a cohort appeared in front of him； Wei Yan was there。 Meng Huo tried the other side； and was stopped by Zhao Yun。 He was in a trap and attacked on three sides and no fourth to escape by。 He abandoned everything； making one wild rush for the River Lu。
As he reached the river bank； he saw a bark on the river with Mang soldiers on board。 Here was safety。 He hailed the boat and jumped on board as soon as it touched the bank。 No sooner had he embarked than suddenly he was seized and bound。 The boat； which Ma Dai had provided and prepared； was part of the general plan； and the Mang soldiers therein were Ma Dai's soldiers disguised。
Many of Meng Huo's troops accepted the chance of surrender held out by Zhuge Liang； who soothed them and treated them well and did not injure one of them。
The remains of the conflagration were stamped out； and in a short time Ma Dai brought along his prisoner。 At the same time Zhao Yun led in his brother； Meng You。 Wei Yan； Ma Su； Wang Ping； and Guan Suo also brought their prisoners； chiefs or notables； to the camp of the Prime Minister。
Zhuge Liang looked at the King and laughed。
〃That was but a s