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　their　shoulders；　and　they　were　barefooted。　They　danced　and　skipped　and　went　through　their　performance　outside。　The　guests　inside　clapped　their　hands　and　applauded　their　skill；　and　the　soldiers　joined　in　the　choruses。
Presently；　at　a　signal　from　their　father；　two　of　Yang　Fang's　sons　bore　two　goblets　to　Meng　Huo　and　Meng　You。　Meng　Huo　and　Meng　You　took　the　cups　and　were　raising　them　to　their　lips　when　Yang　Fang　shouted　a　single　word　of　mand；　and；　instantly；　the　cupbearers　had　the　two　brothers　out　of　their　seats　and　helpless　in　their　hands。　At　this；　Duo　Si　jumped　up　to　run　away；　but　Yang　Fang　gripped　him；　and　he　was　a　prisoner　too。　The　Mang　maidens　ranged　themselves　in　a　line　along　the　front　of　the　tent　so　that　none　dared　approach。
〃When　the　hare　dies　the　fox　mourns；〃　said　Meng　Huo。　〃One　sympathizes　with　one's　own　as　a　rule。　We　are　both　chiefs　and　have　been　friends。　I　know　not　why　you　should　injure　me。〃
〃I　had　to　repay　Zhuge　Liang　the　Minister　for　his　passion　on　me　and　my　people；　and　there　was　no　way　till　you　rebelled。　Why　should　I　not　offer　up　a　rebel　in　propitiation？〃
Leaving　Meng　Huo；　Meng　You；　and　Duo　Si　in　the　hands　of　Yang　Fang；　the　Mang　warriors　dispersed；　each　man　returning　to　his　own　valley。
Yang　Fang　then　took　the　prisoners　to　the　camp　of　Shu；　where　he　bowed　at　the　tent　door；　saying；　〃I　and　my　sons　and　the　sons　of　my　brother　are　grateful　to　you　for　much　kindness；　wherefore　we　bring　to　you　as　an　offering　the　persons　of　these　rebels。〃
Zhuge　Liang　rewarded　Yang　Fang　and　bade　them　bring　forward　Meng　Huo。
〃This　time　are　you　prepared　to　yield？〃　said　the　Prime　Minister。
〃It　is　not　your　ability；　but　the　treachery　of　my　own　people　that　has　brought　me　to　this。　If　you　wish　to　slay；　slay。　But　I　will　not　yield。〃
〃You　know　you　were　the　cause　of　my　army　entering　into　a　waterless　land；　where　there　were　those　four　evil　streams；　and　yet　my　soldiers　were　not　poisoned　and　came　to　no　harm。　Does　it　not　seem　to　you　like　evidence　of　a　superior　protecting　power？　Why　will　you　follow　this　misguided　road　and　always　be　obstinate？〃
Meng　Huo　replied；　〃My　fathers　have　long　held　the　Silver　Pit　Ravine；　and　the　three　rivers　and　the　two　forests　are　their　ramparts。　If　you　can　take　that　stronghold；　then　will　I　and　my　heirs　forever　acknowledge　your　power　and　yield。〃
〃I　am　going　to　liberate　you　once　more；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃and　you　may　put　your　army　in　order　if　you　will　and　fight　a　decisive　battle。　But　after　that；　if　you　are　my　prisoner　and　are　still　refractory　and　unsubmissive；　I　shall　have　to　exterminate　your　whole　family。〃
Zhuge　Liang　ordered　the　lictors　to　loose　the　prisoner's　bonds　and　let　him　go。　After　he　had　gone；　the　other　two；　Meng　You　and　Duo　Si；　were　led　in　and　they　also　received　their　liberty。　They　were　given　wine　and　food。　but　they　were　confused　and　could　not　look　Zhuge　Liang　in　the　face。　They　were　given　horses　to　travel　on。

The　way　has　been　long　and　now　danger　is　near；
But　faith　in　their　leader　banishes　fear。

The　next　chapter　will　tell　how　Meng　Huo　reorganized　his　army　and　whose　the　victory　was。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　90　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　90
　Chapter　90
Chasing　Off　Wild　Beasts；　The　Prime　Minister　Defeats　The　Mangs　For　The　Sixth　Time；
Burning　Rattan　Armors；　Zhuge　Liang　Captures　Meng　Huo　The　Seventh　Time。
All　the　prisoners　were　released。　Yang　Fang　and　his　sons　were　rewarded　with　ranks；　and　his　people　were　given　presents。　They　expressed　their　gratitude　and　returned　to　their　own；　while　Meng　Huo　and　his　brother　hastened　home　to　Silver　Pit　Ravine。
Outside　this　ravine　were　three　rivers………River　Lu；　River　Gannan；　and　River　Xicheng。　These　three　streams　united　to　form　the　Three　Rivers。　Close　to　the　ravine　on　the　north　was　a　wide　and　fruitful　plain；　on　the　west　were　salt　wells。　The　River　Lu　flowed　about　seventy　miles　to　the　southwest；　and　due　south　was　a　valley　called　the　Liangdu　Ravine。　There　were　hills　in；　as　well　as　surrounding；　the　ravine；　and　in　these　they　found　silver………whence　the　name　〃Silver　Pit〃。
A　palace　plex　had　been　built　in　the　ravine；　which　the　Mang　kings　had　made　their　stronghold；　and　there　was　an　ancestral　temple；　which　they　called　〃Family　Spirits〃；　where　they　solemnized　sacrifices　of　bulls　and　horses　at　the　four　seasons。　They　called　these　sacrifices　〃Inquiring　of　the　Spirits〃。　Human　sacrifices　were　offered　also；　humans　of　Shu　or　of　their　own　people　belonging　to　other　villages。　The　sick　swallowed　no　drugs；　but　prayed　to　a　chief　sorcerer；　called　〃Drug　Demon〃。　There　was　no　legal　code；　the　only　punishment　for　every　transgression　being　death。
When　girls　were　grown　and　became　women；　they　bathed　in　a　stream。　Men　and　women　were　kept　separate；　and　they　married　whom　they　willed；　the　parents　having　no　control　in　that　particular。　There　was　no　formal　vocational　training。　In　good　seasons　the　country　produced　grain；　but　if　the　harvest　failed；　they　would　make　soup　out　of　serpents　and　eat　boiled　elephant　flesh。
All　over　the　country　the　head　of　the　family　of　greatest　local　consideration　was　termed　〃King　of　the　Ravine〃；　and　the　next　in　importance　was　called　a　〃Notable〃。　A　market　was　held　in　the　city　of　Three　Rivers；　on　the　first　day　of　every　moon；　and　another　on　the　fifteenth。　Goods　were　brought　in　and　bartered。
In　his　own　ravine；　Meng　Huo　gathered　his　family　and　clan　to　the　number　of　a　thousand　or　more　and　addressed　them：　〃I　have　been　put　to　shame　by　the　leaders　of　Shu　many　times；　and　I　have　sworn　to　take　revenge　for　the　insults。　Has　anyone　any　proposal　to　make？〃
Thereupon　a　certain　one　replied；　saying；　〃I　can　produce　a　man　able　to　defeat　Zhuge　Liang。〃
The　assembly　turned　to　the　speaker；　who　was　a　brother　of　Meng　Huo's　wife。　He　was　the　head　of　eight　tribes　of　the　Southern　Mangs；　and　was　named　Chief　Dai　Lai。
〃Who　is　the　man？〃　asked　Meng　Huo。
Chief　Dai　Lai　replied；　〃He　is　Mu　Lu；　King　of　the　Bana　Ravine。　He　is　a　master　of　witchcraft　who　can　call　up　the　wind　and　invoke　the　rain。　He　rides　upon　an　elephant　and　is　attended　by　tigers；　leopards；　wolves；　venomous　snakes；　and　scorpions。　Beside；　he　has　under　his　hand　thirty　thousand　superhuman　soldiers。　He　is　very　bold。　O　King；　write　him　a　letter　and　send　him　presents；　which　I　will　deliver。　If　he　will　consent　to　lend　his　aid；　what　fear　have　we　of　Shu？〃
Meng　Huo　was　pleased　with　the　scheme　and　ordered　Dai　Lai　to　draft　a　letter。　Then　he　ordered　Duo　Si　to　defend　Three　Rivers　and　make　the　first　line　of　defense。
Zhuge　Liang　led　his　troops　near　the　city　of　Three　Rivers。　Taking　a　survey　of　the　country；　he　noted　that　the　city　was　surrounded　by　the　three　rivers　and　could　only　be　reached　by　a　bank　on　one　face；　so　he　sent　Wei　Yan　and　Zhao　Yun　to　march　along　the　road　and　attack。　But　when　they　reached　the　rampart；　they　found　it　well　defended　by　bows　and　crossbows。
The　defenders　of　the　city　were　adepts　in　the　use　of　the　crossbow；　and　they　had　one　sort　which　discharged　ten　arrows　at　once。　Furthermore；　the　arrows　were　poisoned；　and　a　wound　meant　certain　death。　The　two　generals　saw　that　they　could　not　succeed；　and　so　retired。
When　Zhuge　Liang　heard　of　the　poisoned　arrows；　he　mounted　his　light　chariot　and　went　to　see　for　himself。　Having　regarded　the　defenses；　he　returned　to　his　camp　and　ordered　a　retirement　of　three　miles。　This　move　delighted　the　Mangs；　who　congratulated　each　other　on　their　success　in　driving　off　the　besiegers；　who；　as　they　concluded；　had　been　frightened　away。　So　they　gave　themselves　up　to　rejoicing　and　kept　no　watch。　Nor　did　they　even　send　out　scouts。
The　army　of　Shu　made　a　strong　camp　in　their　new　halting　place　and　closed　the　gates　for　defense。　For　five　days　they　gave　no　sign。　One　evening；　just　at　sunset；　a　slight　breeze　began　to　blow。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　issued　an　order：　〃Every　man　should　provide　himself　with　a　coat　by　the　first　watch。　If　anyone　lacks；　he　will　be　put　to　death。〃
None　of　the　generals　knew　what　was　in　the　wind；　but　the　order　was　obeyed。　Next；　each　man　was　ordered　to　fill　his　coat　with　earth。　This　order　appeared　equally　strange；　but　it　was　carried　out。
When　all　were　ready；　they　were　told：　〃You　are　to　carry　the　earth　to　the　foot　of　the　city　wall；　and　the　first　arrivals　will　be　rewarded。〃
So　they　ran　with　all　speed　with　the　dry　earth　and　reached　the　wall。　Then　with　the　earth　they　were　ordered　to　make　a　raised　way；　and　the　first　soldier　on　the　wall　was　promised　a　reward。
The　whole　of　the　one　hundred　thousand　troops　of　Shu；　and　their　native　allies；　having　thrown　their　burdens　of　earth　near　the　wall；　then　quickly　rushed　up　the　incline；　and　with　one　great　shout　were　on　the　wall。　The　archers　on　the　wall　were　seized　and　dragged　down。　Those　who　got　clear　ran　away　into　the　city。　King　Duo　Si　was　slain　in　the　melee　that　followed　on　this　attack。　The　soldiers　of　Shu　moved　through　the　city　slaying　all　they　met。　Thus　was　the　city　captured　and　with　it　great　booty　of　jewels；　which　were　made　over　to　the　army　as　a　reward　for　their　prowess。
The　few　soldiers　who　escaped　went　away　and　told　Meng　Huo：　〃The　city　of　Three　Rivers　was　lost；　and　King　Duo　Si　slain！〃
Meng　Huo　was　much　distressed。　Before　he　had　recovered；　they　told　him：　〃The　army　of　Shu　has　e　over　and　is　encamped　at　the　mouth　of　Silver　Pit　Ravine。〃
Just　as　he　was　in　the　very　depths　of　distress；　a　laugh　came　from　behind　the　screen。
A　woman　appeared；　saying；　〃Though　you　are　brave；　how　silly　you　are！　Though　I　am　a　woman；　but　I　want　to　go　out　and　fight。〃
The　woman　was　his　wife；　Lady　Zhurong。　She　was　a　descendant　of　the　Zhurong　family　of　the　Southern　Mang。　She　was　expert　in　the　use　of　the　flying　sword　and　never　missed　her　aim。
Meng　Huo　rose　and　bowed　to　her。　Lady　Zhurong　thereupon　mounted　a　horse　and　forthwith　marched　out　at　the　head　of　a　hundred　generals；　leading　fifty　thousand　troops　of　the　ravines；　and　set　out　to　drive　off　the　troops　of　Shu。
Just　as　the　host　got　clear　of　the　Silver　Pit　Palace；　it　was　stopped　by　a　cohort　led　by　Zhang　Ni。　At　once　the　Mangs　deployed；　and　the　lady　leader　armed　herself　with　five　swords　such　as　she　used。　In　one　hand　she　held　an　eighteen…foot　signal　staff；　and　she　sat　a　curly…haired；　reddish　horse。
Zhang　Ni　was　secretly　troubled　at　the　sight　before　him；　but　he　engaged　the　lady　mander。　After　a　few　passes　the　lady　turned　her　steed　and　bolted。　Zhang　Ni　went　after　her；　but　a　sword　came　flying　through　the　air　directly　at　him。　He　tried　to　fend　off　with　one　hand；　but　it　wounded　his　arm；　and　he　fell　to　the　ground。　The　Mangs　gave　a　loud　shout；　some　of　them　pounced　on　the　unlucky　leader　and　made　him　prisoner。
Then　Ma　Zheng；　hearing　his　rade　had　been　taken；　rushed　out　to　rescue；　but　only　to　be　surrounded。　He　saw　the　lady　mander　holding　up　her　staff　and　made　a　dash　forward；　but　just　then　the　Mangs　threw　hooks　and　pulled　down　his　steed；　and　he　was　also　a　prisoner。
Both　generals　were　taken　into　the　ravine　and　led　before　the　King。　He　gave　a　banquet　in　honor　of　his　wife's　success；　and　during　the　feast　the　lady　bade　the　lictors　put　the　two　prisoners　to　death。　They　hustled　the　two　generals　in　and　were　just　going　to　carry　out　their　orders　when　Meng　Huo　checked　them。
〃No；　five　times　has　Zhuge　Liang　set　me　at　liberty。　It　would　be　unjust　to　put　these　to　death。　Confine　them　till　we　have　taken　their　chief；　then　we　may　execute　them。〃
His　wife　was　merry　with　wine　and　did　not　object。　So　their　lives　were　spared。
The　defeated　soldiers　returned　to　their　camp。　Zhuge　Liang　took　steps　to　retrieve　the　mishap　by　sending　for　Ma　Dai；　Zhao　Yun；　and　Wei　Yan；　to　each　of　whom　he　gave　special　and　private　orders。
Next　day　the　Mang　soldiers　reported　to　the　King　that　Zhao　Yun　was　offering　a　challenge。　Lady　Zhurong　forthwith　mounted　and　rode　out　to　battle。　She　engaged　Zhao　Yun；　who　soon　fled。　The　lady　was　too　prudent　to　risk　pursuit；　and　rode　home。　Then　Wei　Yan　repeated　the　challenge；　and　he　also　fled　as　if　defeated。　But　again　the　lady　declined　to　pursue。　Next　day　Zhao　Yun　repeated　his　challenge　and　ran　away　as　before。　Lady　Zhurong　signaled　no　pursuit。　But　at　this　Wei　Yan　rode　up　and　opened　a　volley　of　abuse　and　obloquy。　This　proved　too　much；　and　she　gave　the　signal　to　go　after　him　and　led　the　way。　Wei　Yan　increased　his　pace；　and　the　lady　mander　doubled　hers；　and　she　and　her　followers　pressed　into　a　narrow　road　along　a　valley。　Suddenly　behind　her　was　heard　a　noise；　and　Wei　Yan；　turning　his　head；　saw　the　lady　tumble　out　of　her　saddle。
She　had　rushed　into　an　ambush　prepared　by　Ma　Dai：　Her　horse　had　been　tripped　up　by