第218部分(第1/7 页)

His　wife　was　merry　with　wine　and　did　not　object。　So　their　lives　were　spared。

The　defeated　soldiers　returned　to　their　camp。　Zhuge　Liang　took　steps　to　retrieve　the　mishap　by　sending　for　Ma　Dai；　Zhao　Yun；　and　Wei　Yan；　to　each　of　whom　he　gave　special　and　private　orders。

Next　day　the　Mang　soldiers　reported　to　the　King　that　Zhao　Yun　was　offering　a　challenge。　Lady　Zhurong　forthwith　mounted　and　rode　out　to　battle。　She　engaged　Zhao　Yun；　who　soon　fled。　The　lady　was　too　prudent　to　risk　pursuit；　and　rode　home。　Then　Wei　Yan　repeated　the　challenge；　and　he　also　fled　as　if　defeated。　But　again　the　lady　declined　to　pursue。　Next　day　Zhao　Yun　repeated　his　challenge　and　ran　away　as　before。　Lady　Zhurong　signaled　no　pursuit。　But　at　this　Wei　Yan　rode　up　and　opened　a　volley　of　abuse　and　obloquy。　This　proved　too　much；　and　she　gave　the　signal　to　go　after　him　and　led　the　way。　Wei　Yan　increased　his　pace；　and　the　lady　mander　doubled　hers；　and　she　and　her　followers　pressed　into　a　narrow　road　along　a　valley。　Suddenly　behind　her　was　heard　a　noise；　and　Wei　Yan；　turning　his　head；　saw　the　lady　tumble　out　of　her　saddle。

She　had　rushed　into　an　ambush　prepared　by　Ma　Dai：　Her　horse　had　been　tripped　up　by　ropes。　She　was　captured；　bound；　and　carried　off　to　the　Shu　camp。　Some　of　her　people　endeavored　to　rescue　her；　but　they　were　driven　off。

Zhuge　Liang　seated　himself　in　his　tent　to　see　his　prisoner；　and　Lady　Zhurong　was　led　up。　He　bade　them　remove　her　bonds；　and　she　was　conducted　to　another　tent；　where　wine　was　laid　before　her。　Then　a　message　was　sent　to　Meng　Huo　to　say　that　she　would　be　exchanged　for　the　two　captive　leaders。

The　King　agreed；　and　Ma　Zheng　and　Zhang　Ni　were　set　free。　As　soon　as　they　arrived；　the　lady　was　escorted　by　Zhuge　Liang　himself　to　the　mouth　of　the　ra