三国演义英文版-第292章

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　medicines　and　further　supplies　of　grain。　He　saw　Zhuge　Liang；　and　then　proceeded　to　distribute　the　supplies　he　had　brought　according　to　orders。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃What　force　have　you　brought？〃
〃Three　thousand；〃　replied　Ma　Dai。
〃My　people　are　weary　and　worn　out。　I　want　to　use　yours。　You　have　no　objections？〃
〃Of　course　not。　They　are　equally　government　troops。　They　are　ready　even　to　die　for　you　if　you　wish。〃
〃This　Meng　Huo　is　established　on　the　river；　and　we　have　no　means　of　crossing。　But　I　am　anxious　to　intercept　his　supplies；　so　that　his　troops　may　mutiny。〃
〃How　can　you　do　it？〃
〃Some　fifty　miles　lower　down　River　Lu　there　is　a　place　called　Shakou；　where　the　current　is　slow　and　shallow　because　of　sand。　You　could　cross　there　on　rafts。　I　wish　you　and　your　soldiers　to　cross　and　cut　the　road　of　supplies。　After　that　you　are　to　arrange　with　the　two　leaders………Dongtu　Na　and　Ahui　Nan………whose　lives　I　spared；　to　be　your　allies　on　the　inside；　and　we　shall　succeed。〃
Ma　Dai　went　off　gladly　enough；　and　marched　his　troops　to　Shakou；　where　they　set　about　the　crossing　at　once。　And　as　the　water　was　shallow；　they　did　not　trouble　to　make　rafts；　but　just　tucked　up　their　clothes　and　waded　in。　But　half…way　across；　the　men　began　to　fall　over；　and　when　they　had　been　rescued　and　taken　to　the　bank；　many　of　them　began　to　bleed　from　the　nose　and　mouth　and　died。　In　great　alarm；　Ma　Dai　sent　hasty　messages　to　Zhuge　Liang；　who　called　in　the　native　guides　and　asked　what　this　meant。
They　told　him；　〃It　happens　so　every　year。　In　the　hot　season；　poisonous　miasma　collects　over　the　waters　of　the　River　Lu；　especially　during　the　heat　of　the　day。　Anyone　who　drinks　the　water　will　surely　die。　Travelers　who　wish　to　cross　have　to　wait　till　night；　because　the　cooler　waters　do　not　breathe　out　the　poisonous　vapors。　Further；　the　crossing　should　be　attempted　on　a　full　stomach。〃
Zhuge　Liang　bade　the　local　guides　point　out　the　best　crossing　place。　He　sent　five　hundred　well…seasoned　soldiers　to　Ma　Dai　to　lash　together　poles　into　rafts　at　Shakou；　and　in　the　night　the　crossing　was　safely　acplished。　Further；　the　guides　then　led　two　thousand　men　of　Shu　over　to　where　the　grain　road　of　the　Mangs　led　through　a　narrow　valley；　called　Jiashan　Gorge；　where；　for　part　of　the　way；　only　single　file　was　possible　as　the　road　was　only　wide　enough　for　a　soldier　and　a　horse。
Ma　Dai　at　once　occupied　this　valley　and　stationed　a　force　there。　And　a　stockade　was　put　up　with　tents　inside。　Presently　a　convoy　of　grain　came　along；　and　it　was　captured；　more　than　a　hundred　wagons。　The　guards　ran　off　to　Meng　Huo's　great　camp　and　told　him。
Meng　Huo；　thinking　all　was　safe　during　the　hot　season；　was　enjoying　himself。　Wine　and　music　were　the　order　of　the　day；　and　military　matters　were　far　from　his　thoughts。　In　his　cups　he　admitted　Zhuge　Liang　was　ruseful；　but　said　his　army　had　nothing　to　fear。
Said　he；　〃If　I　attempt　to　oppose　Zhuge　Liang；　I　shall　certainly　fall　a　victim　to　some　wile　of　his。　However；　my　waiting　policy　is　a　safe　one。　With　our　defenses；　and　the　river　to　back　them；　we　can　wait　for　the　heat　to　overe　these　men　of　Shu；　who　cannot　stand　the　hot　season。　They　will　have　to　retreat；　and　then　we　can　harass　them。　And　we　will　capture　this　Zhuge　Liang。〃
He　lay　back　and　laughed　at　the　thought。
However；　one　chief；　more　prudent　than　the　others；　stood　forth　and　said；　〃Remember　the　shallows　at　Shakou。　It　would　be　very　serious　if　the　soldiers　of　Shu　got　across　there　secretly。　It　ought　to　be　guarded。〃
〃You　belong　to　these　areas。　Do　you　not　know　that　I　want　the　enemy　to　try　to　get　across　there？　Why；　they　will　all　perish　in　the　water。〃
〃But　what　if　the　natives　tell　them　to　cross　only　in　the　night？〃
〃Do　not　be　so　anxious；〃　said　Meng　Huo。　〃Our　own　people　will　not　help　the　enemy　that　far。〃
It　was　just　then　that　intelligence　came：　〃The　troops　of　Shu；　unknown　in　number；　have　crossed　the　river　and；　moreover；　have　seized　the　Jiashan　Gorge。　The　flags　show　the　words　'General　Who　Pacifies　The　North；　Ma　Dai'。〃
Meng　Huo　affected　indifference。
〃This　sort　of　fellow　is　not　worth　talking　about；〃　said　he。
He　sent　General　Mangya　Chang　with　three　thousands　troops　to　recapture　the　gorge　and　reopen　the　grain　road。
When　Ma　Dai　saw　the　Mang　soldiers　approaching；　he　placed　two　thousand　troops　in　front　of　the　hills　and　drew　up　the　troops　in　formal　array。　Then　Mangya　Chang　rode　out　to　give　battle。　This　was　but　a　small　engagement；　as　the　general　of　the　tribespeople　fell　at　the　first　stroke　of　Ma　Dai's　sword。　The　Mangs　ran　away　at　once。
They　returned　to　the　King's　camp　and　told　him　what　had　happened。　Whereupon　he　called　up　all　his　generals　and　asked　for　another　to　go　up　against　Ma　Dai。
〃I　will　go；〃　cried　Dongtu　Na。
The　King　gave　him　three　thousand　troops。　After　he　had　gone；　Meng　Huo　thought　it　would　be　wise　to　keep　others　from　crossing　the　river。　So　he　sent　a　force　of　three　thousand　under　Ahui　Nan　to　guard　Shakou。
Dongtu　Na　duly　arrived　at　the　gorge　and　made　a　camp。　Ma　Dai　came　out　to　meet　him。　Among　the　soldiers　in　his　cohort　were　some　who　recognized　the　leader　of　the　Mangs　and　told　Ma　Dai　certain　things　about　how　he　had　been　captured　and　liberated。
So　Ma　Dai　galloped　toward　him；　shouting；　〃O　you　ingrate！　How　could　you　forget　the　debt　to　the　Prime　Minister？　Have　you　known　no　shame？〃
Dongtu　Na　was　very　greatly　ashamed　and　turned　red　in　the　face；　and　turned　his　horse　before　striking　a　blow。　Ma　Dai　followed　and　fell　on；　slaying　many　of　the　Mangs。　Then　both　sides　withdrew。
Dongtu　Na　went　back　and　told　the　King　that　Ma　Dai　was　too　strong　for　him。
But　Meng　Huo　was　angry；　and　cried；　〃You　are　a　traitor！　I　know　Zhuge　Liang　was　good　to　you；　and　that　is　why　you　would　not　fight。〃
Meng　Huo　ordered　Dongtu　Na　out　to　execution。　However；　the　notables　and　chiefs　interceded；　and　the　death　penalty　was　remitted；　but　the　unhappy　leader　was　severely　beaten；　one　hundred　strokes　with　the　heavy　staff。
The　chiefs　were　mostly　on　the　side　of　the　beaten　general　and　against　the　King's　policy。
They　went　to　the　tent　of　Dongtu　Na　and　said；　〃Though　we　live　in　the　Mang　country；　we　have　never　had　any　thoughts　of　rebellion　against　the　Imperial　Government；　nor　has　the　Middle　Kingdom　ever　encroached　upon　our　land。　We　must　own　that　Meng　Huo's　superior　power　forced　us　into　this　rising；　and　we　could　not　help　ourselves。　Zhuge　Liang　is　too　clever　for　us；　and　no　one　can　guess　what　he　may　do。　Even　Cao　Cao　and　Sun　Quan　fear　him；　how　much　more　must　we？　Moreover；　we　have　received　kindness　at　his　hands　and　owe　him　our　lives。　We　ought　to　show　our　gratitude。　Now　let　us　at　all　risks　slay　this　Meng　Huo　and　submit　to　Zhuge　Liang　so　that　our　people　may　not　suffer。〃
Dongtu　Na　said；　〃I　do　not　know　your　inner　sentiments。〃
At　this；　all　those　who　had　been　prisoners　and　released　cried　with　one　voice；　〃We　desire　to　go　to　Meng　Huo。〃
Thereupon　Dongtu　Na　took　in　his　hand　a　sharp　sword；　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　more　than　a　hundred　malcontents；　and　rushed　into　the　great　camp。　At　that　moment　Meng　Huo　was；　as　usual；　intoxicated　and　lay　in　his　tent。　The　mutineers　rushed　in。　They　found　two　generals　on　guard。
〃You　also　received　kindness　from　Zhuge　Liang　and　ought　to　repay　it；〃　cried　Dongtu　Na。
They　replied；　〃You　do　not　have　to　slay　him。　Let　us　carry　him　a　prisoner　to　the　Prime　Minister。〃
So　they　bound　the　King　securely；　took　him　down　to　the　river；　and　crossed　in　a　boat　to　the　northern　bank。　There　they　halted；　while　they　sent　a　messenger　to　Zhuge　Liang。
Now　Zhuge　Liang　knew　what　had　been　happening；　and　he　had　issued　orders　for　every　camp　to　prepare　their　weapons。　All　being　ready；　he　told　the　chiefs　to　bring　up　their　prisoner；　and　bade　the　others　return　to　their　camps。　Dongtu　Na　went　first　and　told　the　matter　to　Zhuge　Liang；　who　praised　his　zeal　and　gave　him　presents。　Then　he　retired　with　the　chiefs；　and　the　executioners　brought　in　Meng　Huo。
〃You　said　once　before　that　if　you　were　captured　again；　you　would　give　in；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　smiling。　〃Now　will　you　yield？〃
〃This　capture　is　not　your　work；〃　replied　Meng　Huo。　〃It　is　the　work　of　these　minions　of　mine　who　want　to　hurt　me。　I　will　not　yield　on　this。〃
〃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