第220部分(第1/7 页)

ven　shall　not　overlook　this　crime。〃

The　officers　were　deeply　moved。

Then　Meng　Huo　was　summoned。　He　appeared　and　fell　upon　his　knees。　His　limbs　were　freed　from　the　bonds；　and　he　was　sent　into　a　side　tent　for　refreshment。　The　chief　prisoners　were　Meng　Huo；　Lady　Zhurong；　Meng　You；　and　Dai　Lai。　There　were　many　of　his　clan　as　well。

As　they　were　eating　and　drinking；　a　messenger　appeared　in　the　door　of　the　tent　and　addressed　the　King：　〃The　Prime　Minister　is　ashamed　and　does　not　wish　to　see　you　again；　Sir。　He　has　sent　me　to　release　you。　You　may　enlist　another　army　if　you　can　and　once　more　try　a　decisive　battle。　Now　you　may　go。〃

But　instead　of　going　Meng　Huo　began　to　weep。

〃Seven　times　a　captive　and　seven　times　released！〃　said　the　King。　〃Surely　there　was　never　anything　like　it　in　the　whole　world。　I　am　not　entirely　devoid　of　a　sense　of　propriety　and　rectitude。　Does　he　think　that　I　feel　no　shame？〃

Thereupon　he　and　all　his　followers　fell　upon　their　knees　and　crawled　to　the　tent　of　the　mander…in…Chief　and　begged　pardon；　saying；　〃O　Minister；　you　are　the　majesty　of　Heaven。　We　people　of　the　south　will　offer　no　more　opposition。〃

〃Then　you　yield？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　sighing。

〃I　and　my　children　and　grandchildren　are　deeply　affected　by　your　all…pervading　and　life…giving　mercy。　Now　how　can　we　not　yield？〃

Zhuge　Liang　asked　Meng　Huo　to　e　up　into　the　tent　and　be　seated；　and　he　prepared　a　banquet　of　felicitation。　Also　he　confirmed　Meng　Huo　in　his　kingship　and　restored　all　the　places　that　had　been　captured。　Everyone　was　overwhelmed　with　Zhuge　Liang's　generosity；　and　they　all　went　away　rejoicing。　A　poem　has　praised　Zhuge　Liang's　action：

He　rode　in　his　chariot　green；

In　his　hand　just　a　feather　fan；

Seven　times　h