第216部分(第1/7 页)

t　Emperor；　sent　him　here　to　subdue　the　Mangs　that　the　land　might　be　free　from　peril　when　he　decided　to　attack　Wei　and　take　possession　of　Wu　and　thereby　restore　the　glory　of　Han。　But　the　soldiers　are　ignorant　of　the　country；　and　some　of　them　have　drunk　of　a　poisonous　spring　so　that　they　have　bee　dumb。　Your　servant　earnestly　prays　your　honored　spirit；　out　of　regard　for　the　kindness　and　justice　of　the　present　Emperor；　to　reveal　your　spiritual　character　and　manifest　your　holiness　by　safeguarding　and　assisting　the　army。〃

Having　prayed　thus；　Zhuge　Liang　left　the　temple。　While　seeking　some　native　whom　he　might　question；　he　saw　in　the　distance；　on　a　hill　opposite；　an　aged　man　leaning　on　a　staff。　He　approached；　and　as　he　drew　nearer；　Zhuge　Liang　noted　his　extraordinary　appearance。　When　he　had　reached　the　temple；　Zhuge　Liang　asked　the　venerable　visitor　to　walk　in。　After　the　salutations；　the　old　man　sat　on　the　stones；　and　Zhuge　Liang　opened　the　conversation　with　the　usual　questions。

The　old　gentleman　replied；　〃Sir　Minister；　I　know　you　well　by　repute；　and　am　happy　to　meet　you。　Many　of　the　Mangs　owe　their　lives　to　you；　and　all　have　been　deeply　impressed　by　your　kindness。〃

Then　Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　the　matter　nearest　his　heart；　the　mystery　of　the　spring。

The　old　man　told　him；　〃That　is　the　Dumb　Spring　that　your　soldiers　have　drunk；　and　they　will　die　in　a　few　days。　Besides　that；　there　are　other　three　poisonous　streams　called　Destruction　Spring；　Black　Spring；　and　Weak　Spring。　All　miasma　gathers　there　in　the　four　streams；　and　it　only　vaporizes　during　the　two　watch　before　sunset。〃

〃In　short；　the　Mangs　cannot　be　conquered；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　when　the　old　man　had　finished。　〃And　Wu　cannot　be　repressed；　nor　Wei　overe。　And　the　Hans　cannot　be　restored。　S