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ve　a　plan　that　will　overe　them。〃
Days　passed；　and　the　army　of　Shu　made　no　move；　they　only　maintained　the　defensive。　Zhuge　Liang　watched　the　besiegers　from　an　eminence；　and　saw　the　first　vigor　of　their　advance　give　way　to　careless　idleness。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　called　together　his　generals　and　asked；　〃Dare　you　give　battle　now？〃
They　all　rejoiced　at　the　suggestion。　So　he　called　them　two　by　two　or　one　by　one　and　gave　them　secret　orders。　Zhao　Yun　and　Wei　Yan　went　in　first。　Wang　Ping　and　Ma　Zheng　followed。
To　Ma　Dai　he　said；　〃I　am　going　to　abandon　these　stockades　and　retire　north　of　the　river。　As　soon　as　we　have　crossed；　you　are　to　cut　loose　the　floating　bridge　and　move　it　down　the　stream　so　that　Zhao　Yun　and　Wei　Yan　may　cross。〃
To　Zhang　Yi　he　said；　〃You　are　to　remain　by　the　camp　and　light　it　up　at　night………as　if　it　is　still　occupied。　When　Meng　Huo　pursues；　then　you　are　to　cut　off　his　retreat。〃
Last　of　all；　Guan　Suo　was　to　escort　Zhuge　Liang's　carriage。
The　soldiers　marched　out　of　the　camp　at　evening；　and　the　lamps　were　hung　up　as　usual。　The　Mangs　saw　this　from　a　distance　and　dared　not　attack。　But　the　next　morning　at　dawn　Meng　Huo　led　his　troops　to　the　stockades　and　found　all　was　quiet。　He　went　close　up　and　saw　they　were　all　empty　and　bare；　not　a　soldier　was　there。　Grain　and　fodder　lay　about　among　empty　carts。　All　was　in　confusion；　suggesting　hasty　departure。
〃They　have　abandoned　the　camp；〃　said　Meng　You　to　his　brother。　〃But　this　is　only　a　ruse。〃
Said　Meng　Huo；　〃I　think　that　Zhuge　Liang　has　important　news　from　the　capital　that　has　made　him　leave　without　his　baggage　train　like　this。　Either　Wu　has　invaded　or　Wei　has　attacked。　They　left　these　lamps　burning　to　make　us　think　the　camps　were　occupied；　but　they　ran　away　leaving　everything　behind。　If　we　pursue；　we　cannot　go　wrong。〃
So　the　King　urged　his　army　onward；　himself　heading　the　leading　division。　When　they　reached　the　bank　of　the　West　Er　River；　they　saw　on　the　farther　side　that　the　camps　were　all　in　order　and　the　banners　flying　as　usual　like　a　brightly　tinted　cloud　of　silk。　Along　the　bank　stood　a　wall　of　cloth。　They　dared　not　attack。
Meng　Huo　said　to　his　brother；　〃This　means　that　Zhuge　Liang　fears　lest　we　may　pursue。　That　is　only　a　temporary　halt；　and　they　will　retire　in　a　couple　of　days。〃
The　Mangs　camped　on　the　river　bank　while　they　sent　into　the　mountains　to　cut　bamboos　to　make　rafts。　The　boldest　of　the　soldiers　were　placed　in　front　of　the　camp　till　the　rafts　should　be　ready　to　cross。　Little　did　Meng　Huo　suspect　that　the　army　of　Shu　was　already　within　his　borders。
One　day　when　the　wind　blew　violently；　the　Mangs　saw　great　flames　spring　up　around　them；　and　at　the　same　time　the　rolling　of　drums　heralded　an　attack。　The　Mangs；　instead　of　going　out　to　meet　the　enemy；　began　to　force　their　way　out　of　the　Shu　attack。　Meng　Huo　became　alarmed　and　fled　with　all　his　clans　and　dependents。　They　fought　their　way　through　and　made　a　dash　for　their　former　camp。
Just　as　they　reached　it；　there　appeared　a　cohort　of　the　enemy　led　by　Zhao　Yun。　Meng　Huo　turned　off　west　and　sought　refuge　in　the　mountains。　But　he　was　fiercely　attacked　by　a　cohort　under　Ma　Dai。　With　a　small　remnant　of　followers；　he　got　away　into　a　valley。　Soon　he　saw　in　the　west；　north；　and　south　clouds　of　smoke　rising　and　the　glow　of　torches；　so　that　he　was　forced　to　halt。　However；　the　east　remained　clear；　and　presently　he　fled　in　that　direction。　As　he　was　crossing　the　mouth　of　a　gully；　he　noticed　a　few　horsemen　outlined　against　a　thick　wood　and　saw　they　were　escorting　a　small　carriage。　And　in　that　carriage　sat　Zhuge　Liang。
Zhuge　Liang　laughed；　and　said；　〃So　King　of　the　Mangs　has　got　here！　You　have　been　defeated。　I　have　waited　for　you　a　long　time。〃
Meng　Huo　angrily　turned　to　his　followers　and　said；　〃Thrice　have　I　been　the　victim　of　this　man's　base　wiles　and　have　been　put　to　shame。　Now　chance　has　sent　him　across　my　path；　and　you　must　attack　him　with　all　your　energy。　Let　us　cut　him　to　pieces　and　those　with　him。〃
The　Mang　horsemen；　with　Meng　Huo　shouting　to　encourage　them；　pushed　forward　in　hot　haste　toward　the　wood。　But　in　a　few　moments　they　all　stumbled　and　disappeared　into　some　pits　that　had　been　dug　in　the　way。　And　just　then　Wei　Yan　emerged　from　the　wood。　One　by　one　the　Mangs　were　pulled　out　of　the　pits　and　bound　tight　with　cords。
Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　his　camp；　where　the　captors　of　the　King　could　bring　in　their　prisoner。　Zhuge　Liang　busied　himself　in　soothing　the　other　Mang　prisoners。　Many　of　the　notables　and　chiefs　of　the　tributaries　had　betaken　themselves　to　their　own　ravines　and　villages　with　their　followers。　Many　of　those　who　remained　came　over　and　yielded　to　Shu。　They　were　well　fed　and　assured　of　safety；　and　allowed　to　go　to　their　own。　They　went　off　gladly　enough。
By　and　by　Zhang　Yi　brought　up　the　King's　brother；　Meng　You。　Zhuge　Liang　reproached　him　for　his　brother's　behavior。
〃Your　brother　is　a　misguided　simpleton。　You　ought　to　remonstrate　with　him　and　persuade　him　to　change　his　course。　Here　you　are；　a　captive　for　the　fourth　time。　Are　you　not　ashamed？　How　can　you　have　the　effrontery　to　look　anyone　in　the　face？〃
A　deep　flush　of　shame　passed　over　Meng　You's　face；　and　he　threw　himself　to　the　earth　begging　forgiveness。
Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃If　I　put　you　to　death；　it　shall　not　be　today。　This　time　I　pardon　you；　but　you　are　to　talk　to　your　brother。〃
So　Meng　You　was　loosed　from　his　bonds　and　allowed　to　get　up。　He　went　away　weeping。
Very　soon　Wei　Yan　brought　up　Meng　Huo；　and　to　him　Zhuge　Liang　simulated　great　rage；　saying；　〃What　can　you　say　now？　You　see　you　are　in　my　hands　again。〃
〃I　am　again　an　unfortunate　victim；〃　said　Meng　Huo。　〃Once　more　I　have　blundered　into　your　net；　and　now　I　shall　die　with　unclosed　eyes。〃
Zhuge　Liang　shouted　to　the　lictors　to　take　him　away　and　behead　him。
Meng　Huo　never　blenched　at　the　sentence；　but　he　turned　to　his　captor　and　said；　〃If　you　freed　me　only　once　more；　I　would　wipe　out　the　shame　of　all　four　captures。〃
Zhuge　Liang　smiled　at　the　bold　reply　and　bade　the　lictors　loose　his　bonds；　and　the　attendants　served　him　with　wine。　Meng　Huo　was　invited　to　sit　in　the　mander's　tent。
Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Four　times　you　have　been　treated　generously　and　yet　you　are　still　defiant。　Why？〃
〃Though　I　am　what　you　call　a　barbarian；　I　would　scorn　to　employ　your　vile　ruses。　And　that　is　why　I　remain　defiant。〃
〃I　have　liberated　you　four　times。　Do　you　think　you　can　give　battle　again？〃
〃If　you　catch　me　again；　I　will　incline　my　heart　to　yield　and　I　will　give　everything　in　my　ravine　to　reward　your　army。　I　will　also　take　an　oath　not　to　cause　any　further　trouble。〃
Zhuge　Liang　smiled；　but　let　him　go。　The　King　thanked　him　and　left。
As　soon　as　he　was　set　at　liberty；　Meng　Huo　got　together　several　thousand　of　his　adherents　and　went　away　southward。　Before　long　he　fell　in　with　his　brother；　Meng　You；　who　had　got　together　an　army　and　was　on　his　way　to　avenge　his　brother。　As　soon　as　they　saw　each　other；　the　brothers　fell　upon　each　other's　necks　and　wept。　They　related　their　experiences。
Meng　You　said；　〃We　cannot　stand　against　the　enemy。　We　have　been　defeated　several　times。　Now　I　think　we　had　better　go　into　the　mountains　and　hide　in　some　dark　gully　where　they　cannot　find　us。　Those　soldiers　of　Shu　will　never　stand　the　summer　heat。　They　must　retire。〃
〃Where　can　we　hide？〃　asked　his　brother。
〃I　know　a　valley　away　southwest　from　us　called　'Bald　Dragon　Ravine'；　and　the　King；　Duo　Si；　is　a　friend　of　mine。　Let　us　take　refuge　with　him。〃
〃Very　well。　Go　and　arrange　it；〃　said　Meng　Huo。
So　Meng　You　went。　When　he　got　there　and　talked　to　the　chief；　King　Duo　Si　lost　no　time　but　came　out　with　his　soldiers　to　wele　Meng　Huo；　who　then　entered　the　valley。　After　the　exchange　of　salutations；　Meng　Huo　explained　his　case。
Duo　Si　said；　〃O　King；　rest　content。　If　those　men　from　the　River　Lands　e　here；　I　will　see　to　it　that　not　one　goes　home。　And　Zhuge　Liang　will　meet　his　death　here　too。〃
Naturally；　Meng　Huo　was　pleased。　But　he　wanted　to　know　how　his　host　could　feel　so　secure。
Duo　Si　said；　〃In　this　ravine　there　are　only　two　roads；　the　one　you　came　by　and　another　by　the　northwest。　The　road　you　traveled　along　is　level　and　soft；　and　the　waters　are　sweet。　Humans　and　horses　may　both　use　it。　But　if　we　close　the　mouth　of　the　ravine　with　a　barricade；　then　no　one；　however　strong；　can　get　in。　The　other　road　is　precipitous；　dangerous；　and　narrow。　The　only　path　is　beset　with　venomous　serpents　and　scorpions；　and　as　evening　es　on　there　are　malarial　exhalations　which　are　dangerous　till　past　noon　the　next　day。　The　road　is　only　practicable　between　two　watches　before　sunset。　Then　the　water　is　undrinkable。　The　road　is　very　difficult。
〃Then　again　there　are　four　streams　actually　poisonous。　One　is　called　'The　Dumb　Spring'。　Its　water　is　pleasant　to　the　palate；　but　it　makes　people　dumb　and　they　die　in　a　few　days。　A　second　fountain　is　called　'The　Destruction　Spring'　and　is　hot。　But　if　a　person　bathes　therein；　his　flesh　rots　till　his　bones　protrude　and　he　dies。　The　third　is　'The　Black　Spring'。　Its　water　is　clear。　If　it　be　sprinkled　on　a　person's　body；　his　limbs　turn　black　and　presently　he　dies。　The　fourth　is　'The　Weak　Spring'；　ice　cold。　If　a　person　drink　of　this　water　his　breath　is　chilled；　he　bees　weak　as　a　thread　and　soon　dies。　Neither　birds　nor　insects　are　found　in　this　region；　and　no　one　but　the　Han　General　Ma　Yuan；　who　was　styled　General　Who　Quells　the　Waves　for　this　exploit；　has　ever　passed。　Now　the　northeast　road　shall　be　blocked；　and　you　may　hide　here　perfectly　safe　from　those　troops　of　Shu；　for；　finding　that　way　blocked；　they　will　try　the　other　road；　which　is　waterless　save　for　the　four　deadly　springs。　No　matter　how　many　they　be；　they　will　perish；　and　we　need　no　weapons。〃
〃Now　indeed　I　have　found　a　place　to　live　in；〃　cried　Meng　Huo；　striking　his　forehead。　Then　looking　to　the　north　he　said；　〃Even　Zhuge　Liang's　wonderful　cunning　will　be　of　no　avail。　The　four　springs　alone　will　defeat　him　and　avenge　my　army。〃
The　two　brothers　settled　down　fortably　as　guests　of　King　Duo　Si；　with　whom　they　spent　the　days　in　feasting。
In　the　meantime；　as　the　Mangs　did　not　appear；　Zhuge　Liang　gave　orders　to　leave　the　West　Er　River　and　push　south。　It　was　then　the　sixth　month；　and　blazing　hot。　A　poet　sang　about　the　bitter　heat　of　the　south：

The　hills　are　sere；　the　valleys　dry；
A　raging　heat　fills　all　the　sky；
Throughout　the　whole　wide　universe
No　spot　exists　where　heat　is　worse。

Another　poem　runs：

The　glowing　sun　darts　out　fierce　rays；
No　cloud　gives　shelter　from　the　blaze。
In　parching　heat　there　pants　a　crane；
The　whale　swims　through　the　hissing　main。
The　brook's　cool　margin　now　I　love；
Or　idle　stroll　through　bamboo　grove。
I　would　not　march　to　deserts　far
In　leathern　jerkin　donned　for　war。

Just　at　the　moment　of　setting　out　southward；　the　spies　brought　news　of　Meng　Huo's　retreat：　〃Meng　Huo　has　fled　into　the　Bald　Dragon　Ravine；　and　there　he　has　barricaded　the　entrance。　The　valley　is　garrisoned；　the　hills　are　precipitous　and　even　impassable。〃
So　Zhuge　Liang　called　in　Lu　Kai　and　questioned　him；　but　he　did　not　know　exactly　the　conditions。
Then　out　spoke　Jiang　Wan；　saying；　〃Meng　Huo's　repeated　captures　have　broken　his　spirit　so　that　he　dare　not　take　the　field　again。　Our　soldiers　are　exhausted　with　this　intense　heat；　and　little　is　to　be　gained　by　prolonging　the　campaign。　The　best　move　would　be　to　return　to　our　own　country。〃
〃If　we　do　this；　we　shall　fall　victims　to　Meng　Huo's　scheme；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃If　we　retreated；　he　would　certainly　follow。　Beside；　having　advanced　so　far；　it　would　be　fruitless　to　turn　back　now。〃
Wang　Ping　was　sent　on　with　the　advanced　guard　and　some　of　the　Mangs　as　guides　to　seek　an　entrance　on　the　northwest。　They　found　the　road　and　came　to　the　first　spring………the　Dumb　Spring………；　of　which　the　thirsty　men　and　horses　drank　freely。
Wang　Ping　returned　to　report　his　success；　but　by　the　time　he　reached　camp；　he　and　all　his　soldiers　were　speechless。　They　could　only　point　to　their　mouths。
Zhuge　Liang　knew　they　had　been　poisoned；　and　was　alarmed。　He　went　forward　in　his　light　chariot　to　find　out　the　cause。　He　came　to　the　spring。　The　water　was　very　deep　and　dark　green。　A　mass　of　vapor　hung　about　the　surface　rising　and　falling。　They　would　not　touch　the　water。　Zhuge　Liang　went　up　the　hills　to　look　around；　but　could　see　nothing　except　a　rampart　of　mountains。　A　deep　silence　hung　over