小说园

第217部分（第1页）

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　Fangs　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　ones　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　prisoners　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？〃