第213部分(第2/7 页)

cution。　However；　the　notables　and　chiefs　interceded；　and　the　death　penalty　was　remitted；　but　the　unhappy　leader　was　severely　beaten；　one　hundred　strokes　with　the　heavy　staff。

The　chiefs　were　mostly　on　the　side　of　the　beaten　general　and　against　the　King's　policy。

They　went　to　the　tent　of　Dongtu　Na　and　said；　〃Though　we　live　in　the　Mang　country；　we　have　never　had　any　thoughts　of　rebellion　against　the　Imperial　Government；　nor　has　the　Middle　Kingdom　ever　encroached　upon　our　land。　We　must　own　that　Meng　Huo's　superior　power　forced　us　into　this　rising；　and　we　could　not　help　ourselves。　Zhuge　Liang　is　too　clever　for　us；　and　no　one　can　guess　what　he　may　do。　Even　Cao　Cao　and　Sun　Quan　fear　him；　how　much　more　must　we？　Moreover；　we　have　received　kindness　at　his　hands　and　owe　him　our　lives。　We　ought　to　show　our　gratitude。　Now　let　us　at　all　risks　slay　this　Meng　Huo　and　submit　to　Zhuge　Liang　so　that　our　people　may　not　suffer。〃

Dongtu　Na　said；　〃I　do　not　know　your　inner　sentiments。〃

At　this；　all　those　who　had　been　prisoners　and　released　cried　with　one　voice；　〃We　desire　to　go　to　Meng　Huo。〃

Thereupon　Dongtu　Na　took　in　his　hand　a　sharp　sword；　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　more　than　a　hundred　malcontents；　and　rushed　into　the　great　camp。　At　that　moment　Meng　Huo　was；　as　usual；　intoxicated　and　lay　in　his　tent。　The　mutineers　rushed　in。　They　found　two　generals　on　guard。

〃You　also　received　kindness　from　Zhuge　Liang　and　ought　to　repay　it；〃　cried　Dongtu　Na。

They　replied；　〃You　do　not　have　to　slay　him。　Let　us　carry　him　a　prisoner　to　the　Prime　Minister。〃

So　they　bound　the　King　securely；　took　him　down　to　the　river；　and　crossed　in　a　boat　to　the　northern　bank。　There　they　halted；　while　they　sent　a　messenger　to　Zhuge　Liang。

Now　Zhuge　Liang　knew　wh