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However； seeing that the valley was barren and devoid of grass and wood； Wutu Gu was not in the least alarmed and merely bade his soldiers search for a way round。
Then he saw torches being hurled down the mountain side。 These torches rolled till they came to a certain spot； where they ignited the fuses leading to the powder。 Then the ground suddenly heaved with the explosion of bombs beneath。 The whole valley was soon full of flames； darting and playing in all directions； and wherever they met with rattan armor the rattan caught fire； and thus the whole army； huddled and crowded together； burned in the midst of the valley。
Zhuge Liang looked on from the heights above and saw the Mangs burned。 Many of the dead had been mangled and torn by the explosions of the mines。 The air was full of suffocating vapor。
Zhuge Liang's tears fell fast as he saw the slaughter； and he sighed； saying； 〃Though I am rendering great service to my country； yet I have sacrificed many lives。 My life shall be shortened for this。〃
Those who were with him were also deeply affected。
King Meng Huo was in his camp awaiting news of success when he saw a crowd of Mang soldiers e along； and they bowed before him and told him； 〃King Wutu Gu is fighting a great battle and is about to surround Zhuge Liang in the Valley of the Coiled Serpent。 But he needs help。 We are the natives of the local ravines； and we ourselves had no alternative when we yielded to Shu。 But now we have returned to your allegiance and are willing to e to help Your Majesty。〃
So Meng Huo placed himself at the head of his clansmen and those who had just e to him； and lost no time in marching out。 He bade them lead him to the spot。 But when he reached the valley and saw the destruction； he knew he had been made a victim again。 As he made to retire； there appeared a body of his enemy on each side under Zhang Ni and Ma Zheng； and they began to attack。 Meng Huo was making what stand he could when a great shouting arose。 The Mangs were nearly all disguised soldiers of Shu； and they quickly surrounded him and his clansmen to make them prisoners。
Meng Huo galloped clear and got into the hills。 Presently he fell upon a small chariot； with a few guards about it； and therein sat Zhuge Liang； simply dressed and holding a fan。
〃What now； rebel Meng Huo？〃 cried Zhuge Liang。
But Meng Huo had galloped away。 He was soon stopped by Ma Dai and lay a helpless prisoner bound hand and foot。 His wife； Lady Zhurong； and the other members of his family were also taken。
Zhuge Liang returned to camp and seated himself in the high place in his own tent。 He was still sad at the thought of the sacrifice of life。
He said to his officers； 〃There was no help for it； I had to use that plan。 But it has sadly injured my inner virtue。 Guessing that the enemy would suspect an ambush in every thicket； I sent people to walk about in wooded places with flags。 Really there was no ambush。 I bade Wei Yan lose battle after battle just to lead the enemy on and harden their hearts。 When I saw the Valley of the Coiled Serpent； with its bare sides of smooth rock and the road in its depths； I recognized what could be done and sent Ma Dai to arrange the contents of the black carts； the mines； which I had prepared long ago for this purpose。 In every bomb were nine others； and they were buried thirty paces apart。 They were connected by fuses laid in hollow bamboos that they might explode in succession； and the force was enormous。 Zhao Yun prepared those carts laden with straw and rolled down the piles of timber and boulders that blocked the mouth。 Wei Yan led Wutu Gu on and on till he had enticed the King into the valley； when he took up a position to escape。 Then the burning began。 They say that what is good for water is not much good for fire； and the oil…soaked rattan； excellent as a protection against swords and arrows； was most inflammable； catching fire at sight。 The Mangs were so stubborn that the only way was to use fire； or we should never have scored a victory。 But I much regret that the destruction of the people of Wuguo has been so plete。 Heaven 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 he released a king
As part of his conquering plan。
Having chosen a beautiful spot
Where the valleys debauch on the plain；
Lest his kindness should ever be forgot；
The vanquished erected a fane。
High Counselor Fei Yi ventured to remonstrate with Zhuge Liang on his policy。
He said； 〃You； O Minister； have led the army this long journey into the wilds and have reduced the Mang country； and have brought about the submission of the king。 Why not appoint officials to share in the administration and hold the land？〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃There are three difficulties。 To leave foreigners implies leaving a guard for them： There is the difficulty of feeding the guard。 The Mangs have lost many of their relatives。 To leave foreigners without the guard will invite a calamity： This is the second difficulty。 Among the Mangs； dethronements and murders are frequent； and there will be enmities and suspicions。 Foreigners and they will be mutually distrustful： This is the third difficulty。 If I do not leave our people； I shall not have to send supplies； which makes for peace and freedom from trouble。〃
They had to agree that the policy was wise。
The kindness of the conqueror was rewarded by the gratitude of these southern people； and they even erected a shrine in his honor； where they sacrificed at the four seasons。 As Zhuge Liang and Meng Huo declared peace； the joy spread to all ravines and villages。 And the people sent gifts of jewels； cinnabar； lacquer； medicines； plowing cattle； and chargers for the use of the army。 And they pledged themselves not to rebel。
When the feastings to the soldiers were finished； the army marched homeward to Shu。 Wei Yan was in mand of the advanced column。 He marched to the River Lu。 But on his arrival the clouds gathered and a gale blew over the face of the waters。 Because of the force of the gale； the army could not advance。 Wei Yan then returned and reported the matter to his chief。 Zhuge Liang called in Meng Huo to ask what this might mean。
The Mangs beyond the border have yielded now at last；
The water demons raging mad won't let the Shu men go past。
The next chapter will contain Meng Huo's explanation。
Main Next to Chapter 91 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 91
Chapter 91
Sacrificing At River Lu； The Prime Minister Marches Homeward；
Attacking Wei； The Lord Of Wuxiang Presents A Memorial。
Meng Huo at the head of the Mang Chieftains and Notables attended to do honor to the army of Shu on its departure。 They reached the River Lu in autumn； the ninth month。 But on trying to cross the river； a tremendous storm came and hindered them。 Wei Yan having reported his difficulty to Zhuge Liang； Meng Huo was asked if he knew of any reason for such a storm。
Meng Huo replied； 〃Wild spirits have always troubled those who would cross this river。 It is necessary to propitiate them with sacrifices。〃
〃What is the sacrifice？〃 asked Zhuge Liang。
〃In the old days when malicious spirits brought misfortune； they sacrificed humans to the number of seven sevens and offered their forty…nine heads。 They also slew a black ox and a white goat。 Sacrifice thus； the wind will subside and the waters e to rest。 The same used to be done to secure a plenteous harvest。〃
〃How can I slay a single person now that fighting is done and peace has returned？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Zhuge Liang went down to the river to see for himself。 The north wind was blowing hard； and the waves were high。 Both humans and horses seemed frightened。 He himself was perplexed。 Then he sought out some of the natives and questioned them。
They said； 〃We have heard the demons moaning every night since your army crossed the river。 The cries begin at dusk and continued till dawn。 There are many dark demons in the malarial vapors； and no one dared cross。〃
〃The sin is mine；〃 sighed Zhuge Liang； 〃for more than a thousand soldiers of Ma Dai perished in these waters beside many southern people。 Their poor distressed souls are not yet freed。 Therefore I will e this night and sacrifice to them。〃
〃According to the ancient rule the number of victims ought to be forty…nine。 Then the spirits will disperse；〃 said the natives。
〃As the resentful demons are here because of the deaths of people； where is the sense in slaying more humans？ But I know what to do。〃
Zhuge Liang bade them make balls of flour paste after the manner of human heads and stuff them with the flesh of oxen and goats。 These would be used instead of human heads； and they called these 'mantou' or 'human heads'。
By nightfall； an altar had been set up on the bank of the river with the sacrificial objects all arranged。 There were also forty…nine lamps。 Flags were flying to summon the souls。 The forty…nine mantous were piled up on the ground。 In the middle of the third watch； at midnight； Zhuge Liang； dressed in Taoist garb； went to offer the sacrifice in person； and he bade Dong Jue read this prayer：
〃On the first day of the ninth month of the third year of the era Beginning Prosperity of the Han Dynasty； I； Zhuge Liang； Prime Minister of Han； Lord of Wuxiang； Imperial Protector of Yizhou； reverently order this sacrifice to appease the shades of those soldiers of Shu who have died in their country's service and those of the southern people who have perished。
＇e＇ Five Feudatories： Duke Huan of Qi； Duke Wen of Jin； Duke Xiang of Song； Duke Mu of Qin； and King Chang of Chu。
＇e＇ King Yu； founder of Xia； King Tang； founder of Shang； King Wen； founder of Zhou。
＇e＇ Nine Regions symbolized all the lands of the empire。 Ancient China was divided into nine regions。 But over the time； more regions were created。 During the Three Kingdoms period； there were already more than nine regions。
〃I now declare to you； O ye shades； the majesty of my master； the Emperor of the mighty Han Dynasty； excelling that of the Five Feudatories* and brilliantly continuing the glory of the Three Dynastic Kings*。 Recently； when the distant south rebelliously invaded his territory； contumeliously sent an army； loosed the venom of their sorcery； and gave free rein to their savagery in rebellion； I was manded to punish their crimes。 Wherefore my brave armies marched and utterly destroyed the contemptible rebels。 My brave soldiers gathered like the clouds； and the insensate rebels melted away。 Hearing of the easy successes I won； they were entirely demoralized。
〃My army consists of heroes from the Nine Regions*； and officers and people are famous in the empire； all are expert in war and skilled in the use of arms。 They go whither light leads them and serve the Emperor。 All have exerted themselves to obey orders and carried out the plans for the seven captures of Meng Huo。 They were whole…hearted in their service and vied in loyalty。 Who could foresee that you； O Spirits； would be sacrificed in the strategy and be involved in the enemies' wicked wiles？ Some of you went down to the deep springs wounded by flying arrows。 Others went out into the long night hurt by lethal weapons。 Living you were valorous； dead you left behind a name。
〃Now we are returning home。 The victors' song is in our mouths and our prisoners acpany us。 Your spirits are with us still and certainly hear our prayers。 Follow the banners； e with the host； return to your country； each to his own village； where you may enjoy the savor of the meat offerings and receive the sacrifices of your own families。 Do not bee wandering ghosts in unfamiliar hamlets of restless shades in strange cities。 I will memorialize our Emperor that your wiv