第214部分(第1/7 页)

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　shallow　ruse　of　yours　to　send　your　brother　with　presents　to　pretend　to　submit　to　me。　Did　you　really　think　I　should　not　see　through　it？　But　here　you　are　once　more　in　my　power。　Now　do　you　yield？〃

〃I　am　a　prisoner　owing　to　the　gluttony　of　my　brother　and　the　power　of　your　poisonous　drugs。　If　I　had　only　played　his　part　myself　and　left　him　to　support　me　with　soldiers；　I　should　have　succeeded。　I　am　the　victim　of　fate　and　not　of　my　own　incapacity。　No；　I　will　not　yield。〃

〃Remember　this　is　the　third　time。　Why　not？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

Meng　Huo　dropped　his　head　and　made　no　answer。

〃Ah；　well。　I　will　let　you　go　once　more；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

〃O　Minister；　if　you　will　let　me　and　my　brother　go；　we　will　g