第215部分(第1/7 页)

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