Romance, Chapter 88

Chapter 88. The Lu River Is Crossed and the Barbarian King Bound Again; A Feigned Surrender Is Seen Through and Meng Huo Captured a Third Time

Now after Kongming had released Meng Huo, his commanders came up into the tent and asked, “Meng Huo is the ringleader of the southern Man. Now that by good fortune he has been captured, the south could be settled at once. Why did you let him go, Chancellor?” Kongming laughed and said, “For me to capture this man is as easy as taking a thing out of a bag. What I must do is win his heart and make him submit; then all will be settled of itself.” The commanders heard him, but none of them would believe it. That day Meng Huo reached the Lu River and there met some of his own defeated Man soldiers, who had all come looking for him.

卻說孔明放了孟獲，衆將上帳問曰：“孟獲乃南蠻渠魁，今幸被擒，南方便定；丞相何故放之？”孔明笑曰：“吾擒此人，如囊中取物耳。直須降伏其心，自然平矣。”諸將聞言，皆未肯信。當日孟獲行至瀘水，正遇手下敗殘的蠻兵，皆來尋探。

When the soldiers saw Meng Huo they were both astonished and delighted, and bowing they asked, “Great King, how did you manage to get back?” Meng Huo said, “The men of Shu kept me under guard in a tent, but I killed a dozen or more of them and fled under cover of night. On the way I met a mounted patrol, and I killed them too and took this horse. That is how I got away.” They were all overjoyed. They escorted Meng Huo across the Lu River and pitched camp; then they gathered the chieftains of all the caves and one after another called together the Man soldiers who had been released earlier, until they had some hundred thousand horsemen.

衆兵見了孟獲，且驚且喜，拜問曰：“大王如何能勾回來？”獲曰：“蜀人監我在帳中，被我殺死十餘人，乘夜黑而走；正行間，逢着一哨馬軍，亦被我殺之，奪了此馬：因此得脫。”衆皆大喜，擁孟獲渡了瀘水，下住寨柵，會集各洞酋長，陸續招聚原放回的蠻兵，約有十餘萬騎。

By this time Dongtuna and Ahuinan were already back in their caves. Meng Huo sent men to summon them, and the two, out of fear, had no choice but to come too, bringing their cave troops. Meng Huo gave orders: “I now know Zhuge Liang’s tricks. We must not fight him, for if we fight we shall fall into his wiles. Those Chuan troops have come a long way and are worn out, and besides, the days now are scorching; how can they stay here long? We have the Lu River as our natural barrier. Gather all the boats and rafts on the south bank, build earthen walls all along it, dig the moats deep and raise the ramparts high, and we shall see what schemes Zhuge Liang can devise!”

此時董荼那、阿會喃已在洞中。孟獲使人去請，二人懼怕，只得也引洞兵來。獲傳令曰：“吾已知諸葛亮之計矣，不可與戰，戰則中他詭計。彼川兵遠來勞苦，況即日天炎，彼兵豈能久住？吾等有此瀘水之險，將船筏盡拘在南岸，一帶皆築土城，深溝高壘，看諸葛亮如何施謀！”

The chieftains followed his plan. They gathered all the boats and rafts on the south bank and built earthen walls all along it. Wherever the ground backed onto hills or cliffs they raised tall watchtowers, and on the towers they set many bows, crossbows and stone-throwers, preparing to hold out for a long time. Grain and fodder were all supplied and carried in by the various caves. Meng Huo thought his plan perfectly safe and was quite at ease. Meanwhile Kongming advanced in force, and his van had already reached the Lu River when scouts came galloping to report: “There is not a single boat or raft on the Lu River. Moreover the current is very swift, and all along the far bank earthen walls have been built, every one of them held by Man soldiers.”

衆酋長從其計，盡拘船筏於南岸，一帶築起土城：有依山傍崖之地，高豎敵樓；樓上多設弓弩炮石，準備久處之計。糧草皆是各洞供運。孟獲以爲萬全之策，坦然不憂。卻說孔明提兵大進，前軍已至瀘水，哨馬飛報說：“瀘水之內，並無船筏；又兼水勢甚急，隔岸一帶築起土城，皆有蠻兵守把。”

It was then the fifth month and the weather was blazing hot; in the southern lands the heat was fiercer still, so that the soldiers could not wear their armour at all. Kongming went himself to the bank of the Lu River to look, then returned to his camp, gathered his commanders in his tent and gave orders: “Meng Huo’s army is now stationed south of the Lu River behind deep moats and high ramparts to hold us off. Having brought my army this far, how can I go back empty-handed? Each of you lead your troops into the shelter of the hills and trees, choose places where the woods are thick, and rest the men and horses there.”

時值五月，天氣炎熱，南方之地，分外炎酷，軍馬衣甲，皆穿不得。孔明自至瀘水邊觀畢，回到本寨，聚諸將至帳中，傳令曰：“今孟獲兵屯瀘水之南，深溝高壘，以拒我兵；吾既提兵至此，如何空回？汝等各各引兵，依山傍樹，揀林木茂盛之處，與我將息人馬。”

So he sent Lü Kai to choose shady, cool ground a hundred li from the Lu River and set up four separate camps. Wang Ping, Zhang Ni, Zhang Yi and Guan Suo were each to hold one camp. Inside and out they put up grass sheds to shelter the horses and let the officers and men sit in the shade and escape the heat. The Army Adviser Jiang Wan saw this and went in to ask Kongming, “In my view the camps Lü Kai has built are very bad. They repeat exactly the lie of the ground where the late Emperor was defeated by Eastern Wu. If the Man soldiers should steal across the Lu River to raid the camps and use fire, how could we save them?”

乃遣呂凱離瀘水百里，揀陰涼之地，分作四個寨子；使王平、張嶷、張翼、關索各守一寨，內外皆搭草棚，遮蓋馬匹，將士乘涼，以避暑氣。參軍蔣琬看了，入問孔明曰：“某看呂凱所造之寨甚不好，正犯昔日先帝敗於東吳時之地勢矣，倘蠻兵偷渡瀘水，前來劫寨，若用火攻，如何解救？”

Kongming laughed and said, “Do not be so doubtful, sir. I have a clever plan of my own.” Jiang Wan and the others could not make out what he meant. Suddenly it was reported that Ma Dai had been sent from Shu with medicine against the heat and a supply of grain. Kongming had him brought in. When Ma Dai had paid his respects he at once began distributing the rice and medicine among the four camps. Kongming asked, “How many soldiers have you brought?” Ma Dai said, “Three thousand.” Kongming said, “My men are worn out by battle after battle. I would like to use yours, but I do not know whether they will be willing to go forward.”

孔明笑曰：“公勿多疑，吾自有妙算。”蔣琬等皆不曉其意。忽報蜀中差馬岱解暑藥並糧米到。孔明令入。岱參拜畢，一面將米藥分派四寨。孔明問曰：“汝將帶多少軍來？”馬岱曰：“有三千軍。”孔明曰：“吾軍累戰疲睏，欲用汝軍，未知肯向前否？”

Ma Dai said, “They are all soldiers of the court; why make any distinction between yours and mine? If the Chancellor wishes to use them, I will not refuse even at the cost of my life.” Kongming said, “Meng Huo is now holding the Lu River against us, and we have no way across. I mean first to cut his supply route and so throw his army into confusion of its own accord.” Ma Dai asked, “How can it be cut?” Kongming said, “A hundred and fifty li from here, at Shakou on the lower reaches of the Lu River, the water runs slowly, and one can lash rafts together and cross. Take your own three thousand men across the river, go straight into the Man caves and first cut off their grain; then join the two cave chiefs Dongtuna and Ahuinan, who will act as your allies on the inside. Make no mistake.”

岱曰：“皆是朝廷軍馬，何分彼我？丞相要用，雖死不辭。”孔明曰：“今孟獲拒住瀘水，無路可渡。吾欲先斷其糧道，令彼軍自亂。”岱曰：“如何斷得？”孔明曰：“離此一百五十里，瀘水下流沙口，此處水慢，可以扎筏而渡。汝提本部三千軍渡水，直入蠻洞，先斷其糧，然後會合董荼那、阿會喃兩個洞主，便爲內應。不可有誤。”

Ma Dai set off gladly and led his troops to Shakou, where he drove them into the water to cross. Seeing that it was shallow, most of them did not bother with the rafts but simply stripped and waded; halfway across, they all collapsed. They were hurriedly dragged to the bank, but they died with blood pouring from their mouths and noses. Ma Dai was horrified and hurried back through the night to tell Kongming. Kongming at once sent for the local guides and questioned them. A native said, “It is now the hot season, and poison gathers in the Lu River. In the daytime it is very hot and the poisonous vapours are at their height; anyone who crosses the water is sure to be poisoned, and anyone who drinks it is sure to die.

馬岱欣然去了，領兵前到沙口，驅兵渡水；因見水淺，大半不下筏，只裸衣而過，半渡皆倒；急救傍岸，口鼻出血而死。馬岱大驚，連夜回告孔明。孔明隨喚嚮導土人問之。土人曰：“目今炎天，毒聚瀘水，日間甚熱，毒氣正發，有人渡水，必中其毒；或飲此水，其人必死。

If you must cross, you should wait until the night is quiet and the water has cooled, when the vapours no longer rise, and cross after a full meal; then no harm will come.” So Kongming had the native guide the way and also picked five or six hundred strong, seasoned soldiers to go with Ma Dai. They came to Shakou on the Lu River, lashed together wooden rafts and crossed at midnight, and sure enough no harm came to them. Ma Dai, at the head of two thousand sturdy men and with the native leading the way, made straight for Jiashan Gorge, the main route by which grain was carried to the Man caves.

若要渡時，須待夜靜水冷，毒氣不起，飽食渡之，方可無事。”孔明遂令土人引路，又選精壯軍五六百，隨着馬岱，來到瀘水沙口，紮起木筏，半夜渡水，果然無事，岱領着二千壯軍，令土人引路，徑取蠻洞運糧總路口夾山峪而來。

Jiashan Gorge had mountains on either side and a single road down the middle, wide enough for only one man and one horse at a time. Ma Dai occupied the gorge, posted his men and set up a stockade. The cave Man knew nothing of this, and just as a grain convoy came through, Ma Dai cut it off front and rear and seized over a hundred carts of grain. The Man reported this at Meng Huo’s main camp. At that moment Meng Huo was in his camp, drinking and making merry all day long and paying no heed to military affairs. He was saying to the chieftains, “If I fight Zhuge Liang head-on, I am sure to fall into one of his treacherous schemes.

那夾山峪，兩下是山，中間一條路，止容一人一馬而過。馬岱佔了夾山峪，分撥軍士，立起寨柵。洞蠻不知，正解糧到，被岱前後截住，奪糧百餘車，蠻人報入孟獲大寨中。此時孟獲在寨中，終日飲酒取樂，不理軍務，謂衆酋長曰：“吾若與諸葛亮對敵，必中奸計。

Now, relying on the barrier of the Lu River, we dig our moats deep, build our ramparts high and wait; the men of Shu will not be able to stand this savage heat and are bound to withdraw. Then you and I will fall on them from behind, and Zhuge Liang will be ours.” When he had finished speaking he roared with laughter. Just then a chieftain among the ranks spoke up: “The water at Shakou is shallow. If the Shu troops should slip across there, it would be very dangerous. We ought to send men to guard it.” Meng Huo laughed and said, “You are a native of these parts; how can you not know?

今靠此瀘水之險，深溝高壘以待之；蜀人受不過酷熱，必然退走。那時吾與汝等隨後擊之，便可擒諸葛亮也。”言訖，呵呵大笑。忽然班內一酋長曰：“沙口水淺，倘蜀兵透漏過來，深爲利害；當分軍守把。”獲笑曰：“汝是本處土人，如何不知？

I want the Shu troops to cross that water; if they do, they will die in it.” The chieftain went on, “But what if some native tells them how to cross by night?” Meng Huo said, “Do not be so suspicious. Who within my borders would be willing to help the enemy?” Even as they were talking, word suddenly came that Shu troops in unknown numbers had secretly crossed the Lu River and cut the grain road through Jiashan, and that they were flying the banner of “Ma Dai, General Who Pacifies the North.”

吾正要蜀兵來渡此水，渡則必死於水中矣。”酋長又曰：“倘有土人說與夜渡之法，當復何如？”獲曰：“不必多疑。吾境內之人，安肯助敵人耶？”正言之間，忽報蜀兵不知多少，暗渡瀘水，絕斷了夾山糧道，打着“平北將軍馬岱”旗號。

Meng Huo laughed and said, “A nobody like that is not worth mentioning!” He at once sent his lieutenant Mangyachang with three thousand troops to Jiashan Gorge.

獲笑曰：“量此小輩，何足道哉！”即遣副將忙牙長，引三千兵投夾山峪來。

Meanwhile Ma Dai, seeing that the Man troops had arrived, drew up his two thousand men in front of the hills. When the two lines faced each other, Mangyachang rode out and crossed weapons with Ma Dai, but at the very first bout Ma Dai cut him down from his horse with a single stroke of his blade. The Man soldiers were routed and fled back to Meng Huo and told him everything in detail. Meng Huo summoned his commanders and asked, “Who dares go and face Ma Dai?” Before he had finished, Dongtuna stepped forward and said, “I will go.”

卻說馬岱望見蠻兵已到，遂將二千軍擺在山前。兩陣對圓，忙牙長出馬，與馬岱交鋒，只一合，被岱一刀，斬於馬下。蠻兵大敗走回，來見孟獲，細言其事。獲喚諸將問曰：“誰敢去敵馬岱？”言未畢，董荼那出曰：“某願往。”

Meng Huo was delighted and sent him off with three thousand troops. Fearing too that someone else might cross the Lu River, Meng Huo also sent Ahuinan with three thousand men to guard Shakou. Meanwhile Dongtuna led his Man troops to Jiashan Gorge and pitched camp, and Ma Dai led his men out to meet him. Among Ma Dai’s soldiers was one who recognized Dongtuna and told Ma Dai all about him. Ma Dai spurred his horse forward and railed at him, “You faithless, ungrateful wretch!

孟獲大喜，遂與三千兵而去。獲又恐有人再渡瀘水，即遣阿會喃引三千兵，去守把沙口。卻說董荼那引蠻兵到了夾山峪下寨，馬岱引兵來迎。部內軍有認得是董荼那，說與馬岱如此如此。岱縱馬向前大罵曰：“無義背恩之徒！

Our Chancellor spared your life, and now you have turned against him again. Have you no shame?” Dongtuna’s face burned with shame; he had no answer and withdrew without fighting. Ma Dai chased and cut down his men for a while and then returned. Dongtuna went back to Meng Huo and said, “Ma Dai is a hero; there was no standing against him.” Meng Huo said in a rage, “I know you were once shown mercy by Zhuge Liang. You deliberately withdrew without a fight — this is a plot to sell out the battle!”

吾丞相饒汝性命，今又背反，豈不自羞！”董荼那滿面慚愧，無言可答，不戰而退。馬岱掩殺一陣而回。董荼那回見孟獲曰：“馬岱英雄，抵敵不住。”獲大怒曰：“吾知汝原受諸葛亮之恩，今故不戰而退，正是賣陣之計！”

He shouted for him to be taken out and beheaded. Only after the chieftains had pleaded again and again was he spared death; Meng Huo angrily ordered his guards to give Dongtuna a hundred blows with the heavy cudgel and sent him back to his own camp. Many of the chieftains came to Dongtuna and said, “Though we live in the Man lands, we have never dared to trouble the Middle Kingdom, and the Middle Kingdom has never invaded us. It is only because Meng Huo’s power pressed on us that we were forced to rebel. Kongming’s divine strategies are beyond fathoming; even Cao Cao and Sun Quan feared him. How much more so we people of the Man lands?

喝教推出斬了。衆酋長再三哀告，方纔免死，叱武士將董荼那打了一百大棍，放歸本寨。諸多酋長皆來告董荼那曰：“我等雖居蠻方，未嘗敢犯中國；中國亦不曾侵我。今因孟獲勢力相逼，不得已而造反。想孔明神機莫測，曹操、孫權尚自懼之，何況我等蠻方乎？

Besides, we all owe him our lives and have no way of repaying him. Now we are ready to stake our lives, kill Meng Huo and go over to Kongming, so as to spare the people of our caves the misery of ruin.” Dongtuna said, “But I do not know what is in your hearts.” Those among them who had once been released by Kongming answered with one voice, “We will go!” So Dongtuna took a steel sword in his hand and, leading more than a hundred men, rushed straight to the main camp. At that moment Meng Huo lay dead drunk in his tent.

況我等皆受其活命之恩，無可爲報。今欲舍一死命，殺孟獲去投孔明，以免洞中百姓塗炭之苦。”董荼那曰：“未知汝等心下若何？”內有原蒙孔明放回的人，一齊同聲應曰：“願往！”於是董荼那手執鋼刀，引百餘人，直奔大寨而來，時孟獲大醉於帳中。

Dongtuna led his men in with swords drawn. Two officers stood in attendance beneath the tent. Dongtuna pointed his sword at them and said, “You too owe your lives to Chancellor Zhuge; it is right that you should repay him.” The two officers said, “There is no need for you to lift a hand, General. We will take Meng Huo alive and present him to the Chancellor.” Together they went into the tent and bound Meng Huo fast, then hauled him to the bank of the Lu River, took a boat straight across to the north bank, and sent a man ahead to inform Kongming.

董荼那引衆人持刀而入，帳下有兩將侍立。董荼那以刀指曰：“汝等亦受諸葛丞相活命之恩，宜當報效。”二將曰：“不須將軍下手，某當生擒孟獲，去獻丞相。”於是一齊入帳，將孟獲執縛已定，押到瀘水邊，駕船直過北岸，先使人報知孔明。

Now Kongming had already learned of this through his spies. He therefore sent secret orders to the officers and men of every camp to get their weapons in order; only then did he have the leading chieftains bring Meng Huo in, while the rest were all to go back to their own camps and await instructions. Dongtuna went first into the central camp to see Kongming and told him the whole story. Kongming rewarded him handsomely, soothed him with kind words and sent him off with the chieftains. Then he had the executioners push Meng Huo in.

卻說孔明已有細作探知此事，於是密傳號令，教各寨將士，整頓軍器，方教爲首酋長解孟獲入來，其餘皆回本寨聽候。董荼那先入中軍見孔明，細說其事。孔明重加賞勞，用好言撫慰，遣董荼那引衆酋長去了，然後令刀斧手推孟獲入。

Kongming laughed and said, “Earlier you said that if you were captured again you would submit. What do you say today?” Meng Huo said, “This was not your doing. It was my own men turning on each other that brought this about. How can I submit?” Kongming said, “If I let you go once more, what then?” Meng Huo said, “Though I am a Man, I know a good deal about the art of war. If you truly will let me go back to my caves, Chancellor, I will lead my army out and fight you again to decide who wins.

孔明笑曰：“汝前者有言：但再擒得，便肯降服。今日如何？”獲曰：“此非汝之能也；乃吾手下之人自相殘害，以致如此。如何肯服！”孔明曰：“吾今再放汝去，若何？”孟獲曰：“吾雖蠻人，頗知兵法；若丞相端的肯放吾回洞中，吾當率兵再決勝負。

If you capture me this time again, Chancellor, then I will surrender with all my heart and never waver again.” Kongming said, “If I take you alive this time and you still do not submit, there will be no easy pardon.” He had his attendants remove the ropes, and as before gave him wine and food and seated him beside him in the tent. Kongming said, “Since I left my thatched cottage I have won every battle I fought and taken every place I attacked. Why will you people of the Man lands not submit?”

若丞相這番再擒得我，那時傾心吐膽歸降，並不敢改移也。”孔明曰：“這番生擒，如又不服，必無輕恕。”令左右去其繩索，仍前賜以酒食，列坐於帳上。孔明曰：“吾自出茅廬，戰無不勝，攻無不取。汝蠻邦之人，何爲不服？”

Meng Huo was silent and made no reply. After the wine Kongming called Meng Huo to mount with him and ride out of the camp to look over the stockades of all the camps, the grain and fodder stored there and the weapons stockpiled. Pointing, Kongming said to Meng Huo, “You are truly a fool not to surrender to me. I have fine troops and fierce commanders such as these, grain and weapons like these; how could you ever defeat me? If you surrender soon, I will memorialize the Son of Heaven so that you do not lose your title of king, and your sons and grandsons will govern the Man lands forever.

獲默然不答。孔明酒後，喚孟獲同上馬出寨，觀看諸營寨柵所屯糧草，所積軍器。孔明指謂孟獲曰：“汝不降吾，真愚人也。吾有如此之精兵猛將，糧草兵器，汝安能勝吾哉？汝若早降，吾當奏聞天子，令汝不失王位，子子孫孫，永鎮蠻邦。

What do you say to that?” Meng Huo said, “I am willing to surrender, but what can I do when the people of my caves are not yet won over at heart? If the Chancellor will let me go back, I will call my own men together and win them over, so that we are all of one heart and mind; only then can we submit.” Kongming was pleased and returned to the main camp with Meng Huo. They drank until evening, and when Meng Huo took his leave, Kongming saw him off in person as far as the bank of the Lu River and sent him back to his camp by boat. When Meng Huo reached his own camp, he first hid executioners beneath his tent, then sent trusted men to the camps of Dongtuna and Ahuinan with the pretext that an envoy had come from Kongming. He lured the two of them into his main tent, killed them both and threw their bodies into a mountain stream.

意下若何？”獲曰：“某雖肯降，怎奈洞中之人未肯心服。若丞相肯放回去，就當招安本部人馬，同心合膽，方可歸順。”孔明忻然，又與孟獲回到大寨。飲酒至晚，獲辭去；孔明親自送至瀘水邊，以船送獲歸寨。孟獲來到本寨，先伏刀斧手於帳下，差心腹人到董荼那、阿會喃寨中，只推孔明有使命至，將二人賺到大寨帳下，盡皆殺之，棄屍於澗。

Meng Huo then sent trusted men to guard the passes, while he himself led troops out through Jiashan Gorge to fight Ma Dai; but there was not a soul to be seen. When he asked the natives, they all said that the night before the enemy had carried off all the grain and fodder, crossed the Lu River again and gone back to their main camp. Meng Huo went back to his caves once more and consulted his younger brother Meng You. “I now know all Zhuge Liang’s strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “You are to go and do thus and thus.”

孟獲隨即遣親信之人，守把隘口，自引軍出了夾山峪，要與馬岱交戰，卻並不見一人；及問土人，皆言昨夜盡搬糧草，復渡瀘水，歸大寨去了。獲再回洞中，與親弟孟優商議曰：“如今諸葛亮之虛實，吾已盡知，汝可去如此如此。”

Meng You took his brother’s plan and, with more than a hundred Man soldiers, loaded up gold, pearls, treasures, ivory, rhinoceros horn and the like, crossed the Lu River and made straight for Kongming’s main camp. He had only just crossed the river when drums and horns sounded all together ahead of him and a body of troops spread out across his path, led by none other than Ma Dai. Meng You was greatly alarmed. Ma Dai asked why he had come, had him wait in an outer lodge, and sent a man to inform Kongming. Kongming was just then in his tent discussing the pacification of the Man with Ma Su, Lü Kai, Jiang Wan, Fei Yi and others, when a man below the tent announced that Meng Huo had sent his brother Meng You to present treasures.

孟優領了兄計，引百餘蠻兵，搬載金珠、寶貝、象牙、犀角之類，渡了瀘水，徑投孔明大寨而來；方纔過了河時，前面鼓角齊鳴，一彪軍擺開：爲首大將乃馬岱也。孟優大驚。岱問了來情，令在外廂，差人來報孔明。孔明正在帳中與馬謖、呂凱、蔣琬、費禕等共議平蠻之事，忽帳下一人，報稱孟獲差弟孟優來進寶貝。

Kongming turned to Ma Su and said, “Do you know why he has come?” Ma Su said, “I dare not say it openly. Allow me to write it secretly on paper and present it to you, Chancellor, to see whether it agrees with your own view.” Kongming agreed. When Ma Su had finished writing he handed it to Kongming. Kongming read it, clapped his hands and laughed aloud. “I have already made my dispositions for capturing Meng Huo,” he said. “Your view is exactly the same as mine.” He then called in Zhao Yun and gave him instructions in his ear, thus and thus; then he called in Wei Yan and likewise gave him orders in a low voice; then he called in Wang Ping, Ma Zhong and Guan Suo and gave them their orders, also in secret.

孔明回顧馬謖曰：“汝知其來意否？”謖曰：“不敢明言。容某暗寫於紙上，呈與丞相，看合鈞意否？”孔明從之。馬謖寫訖，呈與孔明。孔明看畢，撫掌大笑曰：“擒孟獲之計，吾已差派下也。汝之所見，正與吾同。”遂喚趙雲入，向耳畔分付如此如此；又喚魏延入，亦低言分付；又喚王平、馬忠、關索入，亦密密地分付。

When each had received his plan and gone off as ordered, Kongming at last summoned Meng You into the tent. Meng You bowed twice below the tent and said, “My elder brother Meng Huo is grateful to you, Chancellor, for sparing his life, but he has nothing worthy to offer. He has put together some gold, pearls and treasures to serve for now as a reward for your troops. Later there will be tribute of a different kind for the Son of Heaven.” Kongming said, “Where is your brother now?” Meng You said, “Moved by your heavenly grace, Chancellor, he has gone straight to Mount Yinkeng to gather treasures. He will be back very soon.”

各人受了計策，皆依令而去，方召孟優入帳，優再拜於帳下曰：“家兄孟獲，感丞相活命之恩，無可奉獻，輒具金珠寶貝若干，權爲賞軍之資。續後別有進貢天子禮物。”孔明曰：“汝兄今在何處？”優曰：“爲感丞相天恩，徑往銀坑山中收拾寶物去了，少時便回來也。”

Kongming said, “How many men have you brought with you?” Meng You said, “I did not dare bring many — only the hundred or so in my train, all of them porters.” Kongming had them all brought into the tent to be looked at. They were all men with green eyes and dark faces, yellow hair and purple beards, gold rings in their ears, unkempt hair and bare feet, tall and powerfully built. Kongming had them seated at the feast and told his commanders to ply them with wine and treat them with every courtesy.

孔明曰：“汝帶多少人來？”優曰：“不敢多帶。只是隨行百餘人，皆運貨物者。”孔明儘教入帳看時，皆是青眼黑麪，黃髮紫須，耳帶金環，鬅頭跣足，身長力大之士。孔明就令隨席而坐，教諸將勸酒，殷勤相待。

Meanwhile Meng Huo sat in his tent waiting anxiously for news, when it was suddenly reported that two men had come back. He called them in and questioned them, and they told him everything: “Zhuge Liang accepted the gifts with great delight. He called all the men of the escort into his tent and has slaughtered oxen and sheep to give them a feast. The Second Great King told us to report to you secretly, Great King: tonight at the second watch, he inside and you outside will strike together and accomplish the great deed.” Meng Huo was overjoyed to hear this and at once mustered thirty thousand Man soldiers and divided them into three divisions.

卻說孟獲在帳中專望迴音，忽報有二人回了；喚入問之，具說：“諸葛亮受了禮物大喜，將隨行之人，皆喚入帳中，殺牛宰羊，設宴相待。二大王令某密報大王：今夜二更，裏應外合，以成大事。”孟獲聽知甚喜，即點起三萬蠻兵，分爲三隊。

Meng Huo called the chieftains of the various caves and gave instructions: “Every unit is to carry fire-making gear. When you reach the Shu camp tonight, start fires as the signal. I myself will take the central camp and capture Zhuge Liang.” The Man commanders received their orders, and around dusk each crossed the Lu River. Meng Huo, leading more than a hundred trusted Man commanders, made straight for Kongming’s main camp, and along the way not a single soldier stood in his path.

獲喚各洞酋長分付曰：“各軍盡帶火具。今晚到了蜀寨時，放火爲號。吾當自取中軍，以擒諸葛亮。”諸多蠻將，受了計策，黃昏左側，各渡瀘水而來。孟獲帶領心腹蠻將百餘人，徑投孔明大寨，於路並無一軍阻當。

When they reached the camp gate, Meng Huo and his commanders galloped in, but the camp was empty; there was no one to be seen. Meng Huo burst into the central camp and saw only the lamps and candles blazing in the tent, and Meng You and his barbarian soldiers all lying drunk. It turned out that Kongming had set Ma Su and Lü Kai to entertain Meng You. They had had musicians perform variety plays and plied their guests with wine, but the wine was drugged, and they had all passed out and lay like men dead drunk.

前至寨門，獲率衆將驟馬而入，乃是空寨，並不見一人。獲撞入中軍，只見帳中燈燭熒煌，孟優並番兵盡皆醉倒。原來孟優被孔明教馬謖、呂凱二人管待，令樂人搬做雜劇，殷勤勸酒，酒內下藥，盡皆昏倒，渾如醉死之人。

Meng Huo went into the tent and questioned them; some were awake, but they could only point to their mouths. Realizing that he had fallen into a trap, Meng Huo hurriedly rescued Meng You and the others. He was about to rush back to his central division when a great roar of shouting went up ahead and flames suddenly leapt up; the Man soldiers scattered and fled. A body of troops came charging in, led by the Shu commander Wang Ping. Meng Huo was aghast and hurried to his left division, but there the flames rose to the sky and another body of troops came charging in, led by the Shu commander Wei Yan.

孟獲入帳問之，內有醒者，但指口而已。獲知中計，急救了孟優等一干人；卻待奔回中隊，前面喊聲大震，火光驟起，蠻兵各自逃竄。一彪軍殺到，乃是蜀將王平。獲大驚，急奔左隊時，火光沖天，一彪軍殺到，爲首蜀將乃是魏延。

In a panic Meng Huo made for his right division, but again flames sprang up and yet another body of troops came charging in, led by the Shu commander Zhao Yun. With three armies closing in on him, there was no way out on any side. Meng Huo abandoned his men and fled alone on horseback toward the Lu River. There he saw a few dozen Man soldiers handling a small boat on the river, and in his haste he ordered them to bring it to the bank. No sooner were he and his horse aboard than a signal rang out, and Meng Huo was seized and bound.

獲慌忙望右隊而來，只見火光又起，又一彪軍殺到，爲首蜀將乃是趙雲。三路軍夾攻將來，四下無路。孟獲棄了軍士，匹馬望瀘水而逃。正見瀘水上數十個蠻兵，駕一小舟，獲慌令近岸。人馬方纔下船，一聲號起，將孟獲縛住。

It turned out that Ma Dai, acting on his instructions, had disguised his own men as Man soldiers and was poling the boat there to lure Meng Huo in and take him.

原來馬岱受了計策，引本部兵扮作蠻兵，撐船在此，誘擒孟獲。

Then Kongming called on the Man soldiers to submit, and countless numbers surrendered. Kongming comforted each one and did them no harm at all. He had the remaining fires put out at once. Shortly afterward Ma Dai brought in Meng Huo as his captive, Zhao Yun brought in Meng You, and Wei Yan, Ma Zhong, Wang Ping and Guan Suo brought in the chieftains of the various caves. Kongming pointed at Meng Huo and laughed. “You first had your brother bring gifts and feign surrender. How could you hope to deceive me?

於是孔明招安蠻兵，降者無數。孔明一一撫慰，並不加害。就教救滅了餘火。須臾，馬岱擒孟獲至；趙雲擒孟優至；魏延、馬忠、王平、關索擒諸洞酋長至。孔明指孟獲而笑曰：“汝先令汝弟以禮詐降，如何瞞得過吾！

Now you have been captured by me yet again. Will you submit?” Meng Huo said, “This happened because my brother was greedy for food and drink and fell victim to your poison, and so the great enterprise was lost. Had I come myself and had my brother supported me with troops, we would surely have succeeded. It was Heaven that defeated me, not any lack of ability on my part. How can I submit?” Kongming said, “This is already the third time. How can you not submit?” Meng Huo hung his head and said nothing. Kongming laughed and said, “I will let you go once more.”

今番又被我擒，汝可服否？”獲曰：“此乃吾弟貪口腹之故，誤中汝毒，因此失了大事。吾若自來，弟以兵應之，必然成功。此乃天敗，非吾之不能也，如何肯服！”孔明曰：“今已三次，如何不服？”孟獲低頭無語。孔明笑曰：“吾再放汝回去。”

Meng Huo said, “If the Chancellor will let my brother and me go back, I will gather the men of my own household and kin and fight one great battle with you, Chancellor. If you capture me then, I will surrender with my whole heart and never look back.” Kongming said, “If I capture you again, there will certainly be no easy pardon. Be careful and take heed: study diligently the books on strategy, gather again your trusted men, use a good plan early, and do not give yourself cause for regret later.” Then he ordered his guards to remove the ropes and raise Meng Huo up, and released him together with Meng You and the chieftains of the various caves.

孟獲曰：“丞相若肯放吾兄弟回去，收拾家下親丁，和丞相大戰一場。那時擒得，方纔死心塌地而降。”孔明曰：“再若擒住，必不輕恕。汝可小心在意，勤攻韜略之書，再整親信之士，早用良策，勿生後悔。”遂令武士去其繩索，放起孟獲，並孟優及各洞酋長，一齊都放。

Meng Huo and the others bowed their thanks and left. By this time the Shu army had already crossed the Lu River. When Meng Huo and his party had crossed the Lu River, all they could see at the landing were troops drawn up and officers in their ranks, with banners crowding thick. When Meng Huo came to the camp, Ma Dai sat there high above him, pointed his sword at him and said, “If we catch you this time, there will be no letting you go lightly!” When Meng Huo reached his own camp, Zhao Yun had already seized it and drawn up his men and horses there. Zhao Yun sat beneath a great banner, his hand on his sword, and said, “The Chancellor has treated you like this; do not forget his great kindness!”

孟獲等拜謝去了。此時蜀兵已渡瀘水。孟獲等過了瀘水，只見岸口陳兵列將，旗幟紛紛。獲到營前，馬岱高坐，以劍指之曰：“這番拿住，必無輕放！”孟獲到了自己寨時，趙雲早已襲了此寨，佈列兵馬。雲坐於大旗下，按劍而言曰：“丞相如此相待，休忘大恩！”

Meng Huo murmured “Yes, yes” again and again and went on his way. As he was about to pass the hillside at the border, there was Wei Yan with a thousand picked troops drawn up on the slope. Reining in his horse, he said sternly, “I have now pushed deep into your lair and taken your strongholds, yet you still in your folly resist the great army! If you are caught this time, you will be hacked into ten thousand pieces, with no mercy at all!” Meng Huo and his men fled like rats, their hands over their heads, back toward their own caves.

獲喏喏連聲而去。將出界口山坡，魏延引一千精兵，擺在坡上，勒馬厲聲而言曰：“吾今已深入巢穴，奪汝險要；汝尚自愚迷，抗拒大軍！這回拿住，碎屍萬段，決不輕饒！”孟獲等抱頭鼠竄，望本洞而去。

A later poet wrote in his praise:
In the fifth month he drove his troops into the barren wilds;
Under a bright moon, the miasma hung high over the Lu River.
He vowed with his great designs to repay the three visits;
Why would he shrink from the toil of the southern war and seven releases?

後人有詩讚曰：“五月驅兵入不毛，月明瀘水瘴煙高。
誓將雄略酬三顧，豈憚徵蠻七縱勞。
”

Now when Kongming had crossed the Lu River and finished pitching camp, he rewarded the three armies generously and assembled his commanders in his tent. “When Meng Huo was brought in as a captive the second time,” he said, “I let him look over all our camps, strong points and weak, precisely because I wanted him to come and raid us. I knew that Meng Huo understood something of the art of war. In displaying our men, horses and grain, I was really letting him see a weak point, and he was sure to use fire. His sending his brother to feign surrender was only meant to give him a confederate inside.

卻說孔明渡了瀘水，下寨已畢，大賞三軍，聚衆將於帳下曰：“孟獲第二番擒來，吾令遍觀各營虛實，正欲令其來劫營也。吾知孟獲頗曉兵法，吾以兵馬糧草炫耀，實令孟獲看吾破綻，必用火攻。彼令其弟詐降，欲爲內應耳。

I have captured him three times and not put him to death because I truly wish to win his heart, not to destroy his people. I tell you this plainly now: do not shrink from hardship, but serve the state with all your hearts.” The commanders bowed to the ground and said, “Chancellor, you are complete in all three — wisdom, benevolence and courage. Even Ziya and Zhang Liang could not match you.” Kongming said, “How could I dare to hope to equal the men of old? It is all thanks to your strength that we achieve these things together.” All the commanders in the tent were delighted to hear Kongming’s words.

吾三番擒之而不殺，誠欲服其心，不欲滅其類也。吾今明告汝等，勿得辭勞，可用心報國。”衆將拜伏曰：“丞相智、仁、勇三者足備，雖子牙、張良不能及也。”孔明曰：“吾今安敢望古人耶？皆賴汝等之力，共成功業耳。”帳下諸將聽得孔明之言，盡皆喜悅。

Meanwhile Meng Huo, smarting from his third capture, went back fuming to Yinkeng Cave. He at once sent trusted men with gold, pearls and treasures to the Eight Fan and Ninety-Three Dian and the other tribes of the Man lands to borrow hundreds of thousands of Liao warriors armed with shields and swords. They were all ready by the appointed day, and the troops of every band came rolling in like clouds and mist, all at Meng Huo’s command. Troops lying in ambush along the roads learned of this and reported it to Kongming, who laughed and said, “This is just what I want: for all the Man troops to come and see what I can do.”

卻說孟獲受了三擒之氣，忿忿歸到銀坑洞中，即差心腹人齎金珠寶貝，往八番九十三甸等處，並蠻方部落，借使牌刀獠丁軍健數十萬，剋日齊備，各隊人馬，雲推霧擁，俱聽孟獲調用。伏路軍探知其事，來報孔明，孔明笑曰：“吾正欲令蠻兵皆至，見吾之能也。”

Then he mounted his small carriage and set off.

遂上小車而行。

Indeed:
Had the Cave Chief not been so fierce and bold,
How could the Director of Strategy’s great skill have been shown?
Who won and who lost will be told in the next chapter.

正是：若非洞主威風猛，怎顯軍師手段高！
未知勝負如何，且看下文分解。