Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Zhuge Liang was in Chengdu, personally deciding all matters of governance, great and small. The people of the two River regions enjoyed the peace and prosperity; doors were left unbolted at night, and articles lost on the road were not picked up. Moreover, bumper harvests had come year after old; young and old alike, with full bellies, sang songs of praise. When any labor service was required, they vied with one another to complete it early. Therefore all military supplies, weapons, and implements were fully provided; the granaries were brimming with grain, and the treasury overflowed with wealth.

In the third year of Jianxing, a dispatch from Yizhou reported: the Barbarian King Meng Huo had raised a barbarian army of one hundred thousand men and was invading our borders and pillaging. The Grand Administrator of Jianning, Yong Kai, a descendant of the Marquis Shifang Yong Chi of the Han Dynasty, had now joined with Meng Huo in rebellion. The Grand Administrator of Zangke, Zhu Bao, and the Grand Administrator of Yuesui, Gao Ding, had both surrendered their cities. Only the Grand Administrator of Yongchang, Wang Kang, refused to rebel. At present, the troops of Yong Kai, Zhu Bao, and Gao Ding were all serving as Meng Huo's guides, attacking Yongchang Commandery. Wang Kang and his Merit Officer Lü Kai had gathered the people and were defending the city to the death; the situation was most urgent. Zhuge Liang then went into the court and reported to the Later Sovereign: "Your Majesty, I observe that the southern barbarians' refusal to submit is indeed a great danger to the state. I should personally lead a great army to go and subdue them." The Later Sovereign said, "To the east we have Sun Quan, and to the north we have Cao Pi. Now if Prime Minister Father leaves us, and Wu or Wei should attack, what then shall we do?" Zhuge Liang said, "Eastern Wu has just made peace with our state; I reckon they have no treacherous intentions. Should they have any, Li Yan is at Baidicheng, and this man can match Lu Xun. Cao Pi has recently been defeated; his fighting spirit is already broken, and he cannot plan far-reaching schemes. Moreover, Ma Chao guards the various passes of Hanzhong, so there is no cause for worry. I have also left Guan Xing and Zhang Bao, dividing them into two armies as reserves, to guarantee that Your Majesty will be entirely safe. Now I will first go and sweep away the barbarian regions, then march north to attack and seek the Central Plains, to repay the First Sovereign's favor of three visits and the weight of his dying charge." The Later Sovereign said, "I am young and ignorant; let Prime Minister Father weigh matters and act accordingly."

Before he had finished speaking, a man from the ranks of officials stepped forward and said, "This must not be! This must not be!" All looked and saw that he was a man of Nanyang, named Wang Lian, styled Wenyi, currently serving as a Grand Master of Remonstrance. Wang Lian remonstrated, saying: "The southern region is a barren land, a miasmic country. The Prime Minister bears the heavy responsibility of holding the balance of state, yet to go on a distant expedition himself is not fitting. Moreover, Yong Kai and the others are merely a rash upon the skin; the Prime Minister need only dispatch a great general to subdue them, and success is certain." Zhuge Liang said: "The barbarian lands are far from the capital, and many of the people are not accustomed to the king's civilizing influence; it will be very difficult to subdue them. I must personally go and conquer them. There must be both firmness and flexibility, with careful deliberation; this matter cannot be easily entrusted to another." Wang Lian earnestly urged him again and again, but Zhuge Liang would not listen. That day Zhuge Liang took leave of the Later Sovereign and appointed Jiang Wan as Army Counselor, Fei Yi as Chief Clerk, Dong Jue and Fan Jian as Clerks, Zhao Yun and Wei Yan as Grand Generals to command the army, Wang Ping and Zhang Yi as Assistant Generals, along with several dozen generals from the Sichuan region. In all he raised an army of five hundred thousand Sichuan soldiers and advanced toward Yizhou. Suddenly Guan Suo, the third son of Lord Guan, entered the army to see Zhuge Liang. He said: "Since the fall of Jingzhou, I fled and took refuge at the Bao family manor to recover from illness. Each time I wished to go to Sichuan to see the First Sovereign and avenge him, my wounds had not healed and I could not travel. Recently I have recovered fully and learned that the enemies in Eastern Wu have all been put to death. I came straight to Western Sichuan to see the Sovereign, and on the way I happened upon the expeditionary army going south, so I have come especially to present myself." When Zhuge Liang heard this, he marveled greatly. He at once sent a man to report to the court and appointed Guan Suo as the Vanguard Commander, to join in the southern campaign. The great army marched in proper order, eating when hungry and drinking when thirsty, halting at night and traveling by day. Wherever they passed, not a blade of grass was disturbed.

Now Yong Kai, hearing that Zhuge Liang himself was leading the great army in person, at once consulted with Gao Ding and Zhu Bao. They divided their forces into three routes: Gao Ding would take the central road, Yong Kai the left, and Zhu Bao the right. Each of the three armies led some fifty or sixty thousand men to meet the enemy. Gao Ding then appointed E Huan as his Vanguard Commander. E Huan was nine feet tall, hideous in appearance, wielded a single halberd, and possessed the valor of ten thousand men. Leading his own troops, he left the main camp to meet the Shu forces.

Meanwhile, Zhuge Liang had led the great army to the border of Yizhou. The Vanguard Commander Wei Yan and Assistant Generals Zhang Yi and Wang Ping had just entered the border when they encountered E Huan's army. The two battle lines were drawn up. Wei Yan rode forward and shouted in rebuke, "Rebel bandits, surrender at once!" E Huan spurred his horse and engaged Wei Yan in combat. After only a few bouts, Wei Yan feigned defeat and fled; E Huan pursued him. After riding not more than a few miles, there was a great roar of battle cries. Zhang Yi and Wang Ping's two armies came from the sides and cut off his retreat. Wei Yan turned back, and the three generals fought with all their might and took E Huan alive. He was brought to the main camp and presented to Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang ordered his bonds removed and treated him with food and wine. He asked, "Whose officer are you?" E Huan said, "I am an officer under Gao Ding." Zhuge Liang said: "I know that Gao Ding is a man of loyalty and righteousness. Today he has been deluded by Yong Kai, and so it has come to this. Now I will release you to return, so that Grand Administrator Gao will submit early and avoid great calamity." E Huan bowed in thanks and departed. He returned to see Gao Ding and spoke of Zhuge Liang's virtue. Gao Ding too was deeply moved. The next day, Yong Kai came to the camp. After the courtesies were completed, he asked, "How did E Huan come back?" Gao Ding said, "Zhuge Liang released him out of righteousness." Yong Kai said: "This is Zhuge Liang's scheme to sow discord. He wishes to make the two of us fall out, and so he employs this stratagem." Gao Ding half believed and half doubted, and his heart wavered. Suddenly it was reported that a Shu general was challenging them to battle. Yong Kai personally led thirty thousand men to meet them. After only a few bouts, he turned his horse and fled. Wei Yan led his troops in pursuit and pursued him for more than twenty li. The next day, Yong Kai again led troops to meet them. Zhuge Liang did not come out for three days in a row. On the fourth day, Yong Kai and Gao Ding divided their forces into two routes and came to attack the Shu camp.

Zhuge Liang stationed Wei Yan in two positions to lie in wait. As expected, Yong Kai and Gao Ding arrived with their forces along two routes, where the ambush troops inflicted heavy casualties and took countless prisoners, all escorted back to the main camp. Yong Kai's men were imprisoned on one side; Gao Ding's men were imprisoned on the other. Zhuge Liang then ordered his soldiers to spread the word: "All of Gao Ding's men will be spared; all of Yong Kai's men will be put to death." Every soldier heard this. After a while, Zhuge Liang ordered Yong Kai's prisoners brought before his tent and asked them, "Whose men are you?" They all lied, saying, "We are Gao Ding's men." Zhuge Liang pardoned them all, gave them food and wine as a reward, and had them escorted to the border and released to return to their camp. Zhuge Liang then summoned Gao Ding's men and questioned them. They all declared, "We truly are Gao Ding's soldiers." Zhuge Liang also pardoned them all and bestowed food and wine upon them, but he proclaimed openly: "Yong Kai has sent someone to surrender today, offering to deliver the heads of your lord and Zhu Bao as a reward for his service. I find this deeply regrettable. Since you are Gao Ding's men, I shall release you to return, but you must never rebel again. If you are captured a second time, I shall show no mercy."

They all bowed in gratitude and departed. Upon returning to their camp and reporting to Gao Ding, they told him what had happened. Gao Ding then secretly sent a man to Yong Kai's camp to gather intelligence. There were among those released men who spoke of Zhuge Liang's virtue, and as a result, many of Yong Kai's soldiers harbored thoughts of defecting to Gao Ding. Nevertheless, Gao Ding remained uneasy and sent another man to Zhuge Liang's camp to probe the situation. He was captured by the patrol troops and brought before Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang deliberately mistook him for one of Yong Kai's men, called him into the tent, and said, "Your commander has already pledged to deliver the heads of Gao Ding and Zhu Bao. Why has he missed the deadline? You are careless and unfit for such a mission!" The soldier mumbled in reply. Zhuge Liang gave him food and wine, prepared a sealed letter, and handed it to him, saying, "Take this letter to Yong Kai and tell him to act quickly and not to delay any longer."

The spy bowed in thanks and departed. He returned to Gao Ding, presented Zhuge Liang's letter, and recounted Yong Kai's supposed words. After reading the letter, Gao Ding flew into a rage. "I treated him with genuine loyalty, yet he schemes to destroy me—this cannot be tolerated!" He summoned E Huan to deliberate. E Huan said, "Zhuge Liang is a man of benevolence; it would be inauspicious to betray him. Our rebellion and wrongdoing are all due to Yong Kai. You should kill him and surrender to Zhuge Liang." Gao Ding asked, "How shall we proceed?" E Huan replied, "Prepare a feast and send someone to invite Yong Kai. If he has no ulterior motives, he will come without hesitation. If he does not come, his treachery is certain. My lord can attack from the front while I lie in wait along the path behind his camp. He can be captured." Gao Ding followed his advice and set a feast to invite Yong Kai. Yong Kai, suspicious of what the released soldiers had said days before, feared a trap and did not come. That night, Gao Ding led his troops into Yong Kai's camp. It turned out that those who had been released by Zhuge Liang and spared were all grateful to Gao Ding and joined the battle when the moment came. Yong Kai's army fell into chaos without a fight. Yong Kai mounted his horse and fled along a mountain road. Before he had gone two li, the sound of drums rang out and a force emerged—it as E Huan, wielding a halberd and charging forward on horseback. Yong Kai was caught off guard and was struck down by a single blow of E Huan's halberd beneath his horse. E Huan severed his head. Yong Kai's soldiers all surrendered to Gao Ding.

Gao Ding led both forces to surrender to Zhuge Liang, presenting Yong Kai's head before the tent. Zhuge Liang sat high in his tent and ordered his attendants to drag Gao Ding away and behead him. Gao Ding cried out, "I am moved by the Prime Minister's great kindness. I have come to surrender with Yong Kai's head—why do you wish to execute me?" Zhuge Liang laughed loudly and said, "You have come to feign surrender. Do you think you can deceive me?" Gao Ding asked, "How does the Prime Minister know I am feigning surrender?" Zhuge Liang took a letter from a case and showed it to Gao Ding, saying, "Zhu Bao has already sent a secret letter of surrender, saying that you and Yong Kai have sworn an oath of lifelong brotherhood. How could you kill him so easily? That is why I know you are feigning." Gao Ding protested his innocence, saying, "Zhu Bao is using a scheme to sow discord. The Prime Minister must not believe him!" Zhuge Liang said, "I cannot rely on one side's words alone. If you capture Zhu Bao, then your sincerity will be proven." Gao Ding said, "Let the Prime Minister have no doubts. I shall capture Zhu Bao and bring him before you. Will that suffice?" Zhuge Liang said, "If you do so, my doubts will be laid to rest."

Gao Ding immediately led his general E Huan and his own troops toward Zhu Bao's camp. When they were about ten li from the camp, a force emerged from behind the mountain—it was Zhu Bao. Seeing Gao Ding's army approaching, Zhu Bao hurriedly addressed him. Gao Ding berated him loudly, saying, "How could you write to Prime Minister Zhuge Liang and use a scheme to sow discord against me?" Zhu Bao was dumbfound and could not reply. Suddenly E Huan appeared from behind on horseback and struck Zhu Bao down with his halberd. Gao Ding declared sternly, "All who do not submit shall be put to death!" At this, the entire army surrendered. Gao Ding led both forces to see Zhuge Liang and presented Zhu Bao's head before the tent. Zhuge Liang laughed and said, "I deliberately had you kill these two traitors to prove your loyalty." He then appointed Gao Ding as Governor of Yizhou, with authority over the three commanderies, and named E Huan as a senior officer. The three rebel forces were thus pacified.

Then Yongchang Prefect Wang Kang came out of the city to welcome Kongming. After Kongming entered the city, he asked, "Who has assisted you in defending this garrison, ensuring its safety?" Kang replied, "That I hold this prefecture without peril today is entirely due to a man of Buwei in Yongchang—by the name of Lü Kai, styled Jiping. It is all thanks to his efforts." Kongming thereupon summoned Lü Kai to his presence. Lü Kai came in, paid his respects, and the formalities were completed. Kongming said, "I have long known you to be a distinguished gentleman of Yongchang. I am deeply indebted to you for preserving this city. Now that I intend to pacify the barbarian region, what wise counsel can you offer?" Lü Kai then produced a map and presented it to Kongming, saying, "Since I entered official service long ago, I have known that the southerners have harbored rebellious intentions for a long time. Therefore I secretly sent men into their territory to survey places suitable for stationing troops and engaging in battle, and I drew them into a complete map, which I call the 'Map for the Pacification of the Barbarians at One's Fingertips.' I now presume to present it to you, my lord. If you examine it, it may serve as some assistance in your campaign against the barbarians." Kongming was greatly pleased. He appointed Lü Kai as Professor of Army Affairs and concurrently as Guide Officer. Thereupon Kongming led his army in a great advance deep into the territory of the southern barbarians.

While the army was on the march, a report suddenly arrived that an envoy from the Son of Heaven had come. Kongming invited him into the headquarters tent. He saw a man enter dressed in plain white robes—it was Ma Su. His elder brother Ma Liang had recently died, and he was therefore wearing mourning garments. Ma Su said, "By His Majesty's decree, I am commanded to bestow wine and silk upon the army." Kongming received the edict, distributed the gifts to the troops as instructed, and then kept Ma Su in his tent to converse. Kongming said, "I have received the Son of Heaven's edict to subdue and pacify the barbarian region. I have long esteemed your views, Changzhi. I hope you will graciously instruct me." Ma Su replied, "I have a few humble words, which I hope you will consider, Marshal. The southern barbarians, relying on their remote mountains and treacherous terrain, have long refused to submit. Even if you defeat them today, they will rebel again tomorrow. When your great army arrives, they will certainly be pacified. But on the day you withdraw your troops, you will surely need to use them for the northern campaign against Cao Pi. Should the barbarian forces learn that the interior is vulnerable, their rebellion will be swift indeed. Now the way of employing troops is this: 'To attack the mind is supreme; to attack a city is inferior. Psychological warfare is supreme; armed combat is inferior.' I hope you will be content merely to subdue their hearts." Kongming sighed and said, "Changzhi, you truly understand my innermost thoughts!" Thereupon Kongming appointed Ma Su as Army Counselor and immediately led the great army forward.

Now let us tell of the barbarian king Meng Huo. When he learned that Kongming had craftily defeated Yong Kai and the others, he gathered his three cave marshals to deliberate. The First Cave was commanded by Marshal Jinhuan Sanjie, the Second Cave by Marshal Dong Dana, and the Third Cave by Marshal Ahuinan. The three cave marshals came before Meng Huo. Huo said, "Now Prime Minister Zhuge Liang leads a great army to invade our territory. We must unite our forces to oppose him. You three shall divide your troops and advance along three separate routes. Whoever achieves victory shall be made Cave Master." They accordingly divided their forces: Jinhuan Sanjie took the central route, Dong Dana the left, and Ahuinan the right. Each led fifty thousand barbarian troops and set out as ordered.

Now Kongming was in his camp deliberating when a scout galloped in with a report that the three cave marshals had divided their forces and were approaching along three routes. When Kongming had heard the report, he summoned Zhao Yun and Yan Yan, but gave no orders to them. He then summoned Wang Ping and Ma Zhong and instructed them, "Now the barbarian forces are coming along three routes. I had intended to send Zilong and Wenchao, but these two are unfamiliar with the terrain, so I dare not employ them. Wang Ping, you shall advance against the enemy on the left road. Ma Zhong, you shall advance against the enemy on the right road. I will have Zilong and Wenchao follow as reinforcements. Prepare the troops today, and set out at dawn tomorrow." The two departed on their orders. He then summoned Zhang Yi and Zhang Ni and instructed them, "You two shall jointly lead one army to meet the enemy on the central road. Prepare your troops today and advance tomorrow at dawn in coordination with Wang Ping and Ma Zhong. I had wished to send Zilong and Wenchao for this task, but since neither is familiar with the terrain, I dare not risk it." Zhang Yi and Zhang Ni departed on their orders.

Zhao Yun and Wei Yan, seeing that Kongming did not employ them, both showed signs of displeasure. Kongming said, "It is not that I do not wish to use you two, but I fear that men of your years venturing into peril might be outwitted by the barbarians and lose their fighting spirit." Zhao Yun said, "What if we were familiar with the terrain?" Kongming replied, "You two must simply exercise caution and on no account act rashly." The two withdrew, chagrined. Zhao Yun invited Wei Yan to his own camp to deliberate, saying, "We two are the vanguard commanders, yet he refused to employ us on the grounds that we do not know the terrain. Now he sends junior officers in our place. Are we not humiliated?" Wei Yan said, "Let the two of us mount our horses at once and go ourselves to reconnoiter. We can capture local natives and have them guide us, then engage the barbarian forces. The great enterprise can be accomplished." Zhao Yun agreed. They mounted their horses and made straight for the central road. After riding only a few li, they saw in the distance a great cloud of dust rising. They ascended a hillside to observe and saw indeed several score barbarian horsemen galloping toward them. The two charged out from different directions. The barbarian soldiers, seeing them, were greatly alarmed and fled. Zhao Yun and Wei Yan each captured several men alive and returned to their camp. They gave them food and wine and carefully questioned them. The barbarian soldiers told them, "Ahead is the great camp of Marshal Jinhuan Sanjie, situated right at the mountain pass. The roads to the east and west of the camp lead to the rear of the Fifth Gully Cave and the camps of Dong Dana and Ahuinan respectively."

Having learned this, Zhao Yun and Wei Yan selected five thousand elite troops and ordered the captured barbarian soldiers to serve as guides. By the time they set out, it was already the second watch of the night. The moon was bright and the stars were clear, so they marched by moonlight. When they reached Jinhuan Sanjie's great camp, it was about the fourth watch. The barbarian troops had just risen to prepare breakfast, making ready for battle at dawn. Suddenly Zhao Yun and Wei Yan attacked from two directions, and the barbarian forces fell into great disorder. Zhao Yun charged straight into the central camp and came upon Marshal Jinhuan Sanjie. Their horses met, and in a single exchange Zhao Yun thrust his spear and struck the marshal from his horse, then took his head. The remainder of the army scattered and fled. Wei Yan then divided his force in half and made for the eastern road to attack Dong Dana's camp. Zhao Yun likewise divided his force in half and made for the western road to attack Ahuinan's camp. By the time they reached the barbarian camps, dawn had broken.

Wei Yan first charged toward Dong Tuna's camp. Dong Tuna, hearing that an army was attacking from behind his camp, led his troops out to resist. Suddenly, a great shout arose at the front gate of the camp, and the barbarian soldiers fell into chaos. It turned out that Wang Ping's forces had already arrived. Attacking from both sides, they dealt the barbarian troops a crushing defeat. Dong Tuna fled by a side road and escaped, while Wei Yan could not overtake him. Meanwhile, Zhao Yun led his troops to the rear of Ah Huinan's camp, just as Ma Zhong had already attacked the front. Attacking from both sides, they routed the barbarian forces, and Ah Huinan fled in the confusion. Each commander gathered his troops and returned to see Kongming.

Kongming asked, "Of the three barbarian cave forces, two of their chiefs have escaped. Where is the head of the Marshal Jinhuan Sanjie?" Zhao Yun presented the head as proof of his merit. The others reported, "Dong Tuna and Ah Huinan both abandoned their horses and fled over the mountain ridges, so we could not catch them." Kongming laughed and said, "I have already captured those two men." Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, and all the other generals did not believe him.

Shortly thereafter, Zhang Yi brought in Dong Tuna as a prisoner, and Zhang Yi—Zhang Yi brought in Ah Huinan. All were astonished. Kongming said, "I studied Lu Kai's map and already knew where each of them had pitched their camps. Therefore I used words to rouse the fierce spirit of Ziliao and Wenchang, and instructed them to penetrate deep into enemy territory. First they destroyed Jinhuan Sanjie, then I divided the forces to sweep around to the rear of the left and right camps, with Wang Ping and Ma Zhong to support them. Only Ziliao and Wenchang could be entrusted with such a task. I anticipated that Dong Tuna and Ah Huinan would certainly flee by the mountain paths, so I sent Zhang Yi and Zhang Yi—Zhang Yi and Zhang Yi to wait in ambush with troops, and ordered Guan Suo to support them with soldiers and capture these two men." All the generals bowed and said, "Your Excellency's strategic calculations are beyond the ken of gods or ghosts!" Kongming ordered that Dong Tuna and Ah Huinan be brought before his tent, had their bonds removed entirely, and gave them wine, food, and clothing, instructing them to return to each his own cave and not aid the wicked. The two men wept, bowed their thanks, and departed by separate paths. Kongming said to his generals, "Tomorrow Meng Huo will surely lead his troops in person to fight, and we can capture him then." He summoned Zhao Yun and Wei Yan, gave them their orders, and each led five thousand troops away. He also summoned Wang Ping and Guan Suo to lead one force together and gave them their orders. When Kongming had finished deploying his troops, he sat in his tent and waited.

Now the barbarian king Meng Huo was seated in his tent when suddenly a scout reported that the three cave marshals had all been captured by Kongming, and their soldiers had scattered in all directions. Meng Huo flew into a rage and set out with his barbarian troops. They encountered Wang Ping's forces along the way. The two armies drew up in formation. Wang Ping rode out with his sword across his horse and looked across: at the opening of the banner gate, several hundred southern barbarian riders spread out on both sides. In the center, Meng Huo rode forth: on his head he wore an inlaid golden-purple crown, on his body a tasseled red brocade robe, at his waist a jade-ground lion belt, on his feet green boots with eagle-beak tips; he rode a curly-maned red hare horse, hung two inlaid treasure swords of pine-grain pattern at his side, surveyed the scene with head held high, and turning to his barbarian generals on either side, he said: "People always say that Zhuge Liang is skilled at using troops. Now looking at this formation—its banners are disorderly, its ranks are jumbled; their swords, spears, and weapons are none of them any match for ours. I know now that what was said before was false. Had I known this earlier, I would have rebelled long ago. Who dares go and capture a Shu general to boost our army's prestige?"

Before he had finished speaking, a general stepped forward at once. His name was Mang Yachang. He wielded a broad-bladed great sword and rode a yellow horse. He rode forth to challenge Wang Ping. The two generals clashed, but after only a few exchanges, Wang Ping retreated. Meng Huo drove his troops forward and pursued them along the way. Guan Suo fought briefly and then also retreated, falling back some twenty li. While Meng Huo was in pursuit, suddenly a great shout arose: on the left was Zhang Yi, on the right was Zhang Yi—Zhang Yi, and forces from both roads charged out, cutting off the line of retreat. Wang Ping and Guan Suo turned their troops and attacked again. Attacked from front and rear, the barbarian troops were utterly defeated. Meng Huo led his officers in a desperate fight to escape, fleeing toward Jindai Mountain. Behind him, three forces gave chase. As Meng Huo fled, ahead a great shout arose and a body of troops blocked the way. Their commander was none other than Zhao Ziliao of Changshan. Meng Huo was greatly alarmed and hastily fled by the small path toward Jindai Mountain. Zhao Yun charged and slew his way through a round of battle, and the barbarian troops were routed, with countless taken alive. Meng Huo, with only several dozen riders, fled into a valley. The pursuing troops drew close behind, and the path ahead was too narrow for horses. He abandoned his horse and fled by climbing over the mountains. Suddenly, the sound of a drum echoed through the valley—it was Wei Yan, who had received Kongming's orders and led five hundred foot soldiers in ambush at this very spot. Meng Huo could not resist and was captured alive by Wei Yan. His remaining riders all surrendered.

Wei Yan brought Meng Huo bound to the main camp to see Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang had long since slaughtered cattle and sheep, and a feast was laid out in the camp. Yet he had also arranged within the tent seven ranks of executioners, their swords, spears, and halberds gleaming like frost and snow; he held the Emperor's gift of the golden axe with the curved handle, the curved canopy and banners, with feathered canopies and music before and after, and imperial guards lined up on either side, deployed with the utmost solemnity. Zhuge Liang sat erect upon the tent, and saw the barbarian soldiers being brought in, countless and in great disorder. Zhuge Liang summoned them into the tent, removed all their bonds, and spoke to them with kindness, saying: "You are all good commoners, who have been held against your will by Meng Huo and have suffered this fright. I imagine your fathers, mothers, brothers, and wives must be standing at your gates gazing out for you; if they learn that your army has been defeated, they will surely be torn apart in their hearts and weep blood from their eyes. I shall now send you all back, to set at ease the hearts of your fathers, mothers, brothers, and wives." When he had finished speaking, he gave each of them wine, food, and grain, and sent them away. The barbarian soldiers were deeply moved by his kindness, and departed weeping and bowing.

Zhuge Liang then ordered his warriors to bring Meng Huo forward. Before long, Meng Huo was pushed and crowded along, bound before the tent. He knelt below the tent. Zhuge Liang said: "The late Emperor treated you not unkindly—how dare you rebel?" Meng Huo said: "The lands of the two Rivers were all territories held by others. Your lord seized them by force and proclaimed himself Emperor. We have dwelt here for generations, and you have rudely invaded our lands—who then is the rebel?" Zhuge Liang said: "I have captured you now—are you convinced in your heart?" Meng Huo said: "The mountain paths are remote and narrow; I was taken by your hand through a mistake. How could I submit?" Zhuge Liang said: "Since you are not convinced, I shall release you and send you back—what say you?" Meng Huo said: "If you release me to return, I will gather my army once more and settle the matter between us. If you can capture me again, then I shall submit." Zhuge Liang at once ordered his bonds removed. He was given clothing to wear, and was presented with wine and food, a saddle and horse, and was escorted along the road straight back to his own camp. Truly it was said:

*The foe falls into the palm, yet is released;

Those beyond civilization cannot be subdued.*

What would happen when battle was joined again, read on in the next chapter.

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*Romance of the Three Kingdoms*