第213部分(第3/7 页)

at　had　been　happening；　and　he　had　issued　orders　for　every　camp　to　prepare　their　weapons。　All　being　ready；　he　told　the　chiefs　to　bring　up　their　prisoner；　and　bade　the　others　return　to　their　camps。　Dongtu　Na　went　first　and　told　the　matter　to　Zhuge　Liang；　who　praised　his　zeal　and　gave　him　presents。　Then　he　retired　with　the　chiefs；　and　the　executioners　brought　in　Meng　Huo。

〃You　said　once　before　that　if　you　were　captured　again；　you　would　give　in；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　smiling。　〃Now　will　you　yield？〃

〃This　capture　is　not　your　work；〃　replied　Meng　Huo。　〃It　is　the　work　of　these　minions　of　mine　who　want　to　hurt　me。　I　will　not　yield　on　this。〃

〃If　I　free　you　again；　what　then？〃

〃I　am　a　Mang；　and　so　I　am　not　wholly　ignorant　of　war。　If　you；　O　Minister；　let　me　return　to　my　ravines；　I　will　muster　another　army　and　fight　a　decisive　battle　with　you。　If　you　capture　me　again；　then　I　will　incline　my　heart　and　own　myself　beaten　and　yield。　I　will　not　go　back　on　my　promise　again。〃

〃If　you　refuse　to　yield　next　time　you　are　captured；　I　shall　hardly　pardon　you。〃

At　Zhuge　Liang's　orders　the　cords　were　loosed　and　refreshments　were　brought　for　the　prisoner。

〃Remember；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃I　have　never　failed　yet。　I　have　never　failed　to　win　a　battle　or　to　take　a　city　I　have　assaulted。　Why　do　you　Mangs　not　yield？〃

Meng　Huo　only　nodded　his　head；　he　said　nothing。　After　the　wine；　Zhuge　Liang　and　Meng　Huo　rode　round　the　camps　together；　and　the　King　saw　all　the　arrangements　and　the　piles　of　stores　and　heaps　of　weapons。

And　after　the　inspection　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃You　are　silly　not　to　yield　to　me。　You　see　my　veteran　soldiers；　my　able　generals；　my　stores　of　all　kinds　and　war　gear。　How　can　you　hope　to　prevail　against　me？　If　you　will　yield；　I　will　inform　t