Romance, Chapter 90

Chapter 90. Driving Giant Beasts, He Routs the Man Army a Sixth Time; Burning the Rattan Armour, He Captures Meng Huo a Seventh Time

Now Kongming released Meng Huo and his band. Yang Feng and his sons were all given official rank and title, and the cave troops were richly rewarded. Yang Feng and the others bowed their thanks and departed. Meng Huo and his followers fled through the night back to Yinkeng Cave. Outside that cave there were three rivers: the Lu River, the Gannan River and the Xicheng River. Because the three streams flowed together there, the place was called Sanjiang, the Three Rivers. North of the cave lay more than three hundred li of level land that produced every kind of thing in abundance.

卻說孔明放了孟獲等一干人，楊鋒父子皆封官爵，重賞洞兵。楊鋒等拜謝而去。孟獲等連夜奔回銀坑洞。那洞外有三江：乃是瀘水、甘南水、西城水。三路水會合，故爲三江。其洞北近平坦三百餘里，多產萬物。

Two hundred li west of the cave were salt wells. Two hundred li to the southwest one came straight to the Lu and the Gannan. Three hundred li due south lay Liangdu Cave, within which rose a mountain that encircled the cave. Silver ore came out of the mountain, so it was called Mount Yinkeng, the Silver Pit Mountain. Palaces, halls and towers had been built in the mountain as the lair of the Man king. Among them stood an ancestral temple called the “Family Ghost.” In all four seasons oxen and horses were slaughtered as offerings there, and this was called “Divining the Ghosts.”

洞西二百里，有鹽井。西南二百里，直抵瀘、甘。正南三百里，乃是梁都洞，洞中有山，環抱其洞；山上出銀礦，故名爲銀坑山。山中置宮殿樓臺，以爲蠻王巢穴。其中建一祖廟，名曰“家鬼”。四時殺牛宰馬享祭，名爲“卜鬼”。

Every year they regularly sacrificed people of Shu and other outsiders to it. If someone fell ill, he would not take medicine but only prayed to the shamans; this was called the “Medicine Ghost.” There was no penal law in the place: whoever committed a crime was simply beheaded. When a girl came of age she bathed in the stream, where men and women mingled freely and paired off as they pleased, and the parents did not forbid it; this was called “Learning the Art.” In years when the rains were even and timely they planted rice; if the crop failed, they killed snakes to make broth and boiled elephants for their meal.

每年常以蜀人並外鄉之人祭之。若人患病，不肯服藥，只禱師巫，名爲“藥鬼”。其處無刑法，但犯罪即斬。有女長成，卻於溪中沐浴，男女自相混淆，任其自配，父母不禁，名爲“學藝”。年歲雨水均調，則種稻谷；倘若不熟，殺蛇爲羹，煮象爲飯。

In each district the leading households were styled “Cave Chiefs” and the next rank “Chieftains.” On the first and fifteenth days of every month they all traded in Sanjiang City, bartering their goods. Such were their customs.

每方隅之中，上戶號曰“洞主”，次曰“酋長”。每月初一、十五兩日，皆在三江城中買賣，轉易貨物。其風俗如此。

Meanwhile Meng Huo gathered more than a thousand of his clansmen and followers in the cave and said to them, “Again and again I have suffered humiliation at the hands of the Shu troops, and I have sworn to take revenge. What good ideas do you have?” Before he had finished, a man answered, “I will recommend someone who can defeat Zhuge Liang.” Everyone looked: it was Meng Huo’s wife’s younger brother, now chief of the Eight Tribes, whose name was Dailai Cave Chief. Meng Huo was delighted and hastily asked who it was. Dailai Cave Chief said, “Southwest of here is Bana Cave, whose chief, King Mulu, is deeply versed in magic arts. When he goes out he rides an elephant; he can summon wind and call up rain, and he is always followed by tigers, leopards, jackals and wolves, venomous snakes and poisonous scorpions.

卻說孟獲在洞中，聚集宗黨千餘人，謂之曰：“吾屢受辱於蜀兵，立誓欲報之。汝等有何高見？”言未畢，一人應曰：“吾舉一人，可破諸葛亮。”衆視之，乃孟獲妻弟，現爲八番部長，名曰帶來洞主。獲大喜，急問何人。帶來洞主曰：“此去西南八納洞，洞主木鹿大王，深通法術：出則騎象，能呼風喚雨，常有虎豹豺狼、毒蛇惡蠍跟隨。

Under his command he has thirty thousand divine soldiers as well, exceedingly brave. If the Great King will write a letter and prepare gifts, I will go myself to ask for his help. If this man agrees, why should we fear the Shu troops?” Meng Huo gladly agreed and sent the royal brother-in-law off with the letter. He also ordered King Duosi to hold Sanjiang City as a screen in front. Meanwhile Kongming led his army straight to Sanjiang City. Looking from afar, he saw that the city lay against the river on three sides and was open to dry land on only one. At once he sent Wei Yan and Zhao Yun together at the head of a force to attack the city by the land route.

手下更有三萬神兵，甚是英勇。大王可修書具禮，某親往求之。此人若允，何懼蜀兵哉！”獲忻然，令國舅齎書而去。卻令朵思大王守把三江城，以爲前面屏障。卻說孔明提兵直至三江城，遙望見此城三面傍江，一面通旱；即遣魏延、趙雲同領一軍，於旱路打城。

When the troops reached the foot of the walls, bows and crossbows loosed all at once from above. The cave people, it turned out, were mostly practised archers; each crossbow shot ten bolts at once, and the arrowheads were all smeared with poison. Anyone who was hit had his skin and flesh rot away until his vitals showed, and died. Zhao Yun and Wei Yan could not win, and went back to Kongming and told him about the poisoned arrows. Kongming rode out himself in his small carriage to the front to see how things stood, then returned to camp and ordered the army to fall back several li and pitch camp there.

軍到城下時，城上弓弩齊發：原來洞中之人，多習弓弩，一弩齊發十矢，箭頭上皆用毒藥；但有中箭者，皮肉皆爛，見五臟而死。趙雲、魏延不能取勝，回見孔明，言藥箭之事。孔明自乘小車，到軍前看了虛實，回到寨中，令軍退數里下寨。

Seeing the Shu troops withdraw into the distance, the Man soldiers all laughed and congratulated one another, supposing only that the Shu army had fallen back out of fear. So at night they slept soundly and at ease and sent out no scouts. Kongming, meanwhile, having pulled his army back, shut his camp and did not come out. Five days passed without a single order. Toward dusk a light breeze suddenly sprang up. Kongming issued an order: “Every soldier is to have one flap of cloth from his robe ready, and to answer the roll by the first watch.

蠻兵望見蜀兵遠退，皆大笑作賀，只疑蜀兵懼怯而退，因此夜間安心穩睡，不去哨探。卻說孔明約軍退後，即閉寨不出。一連五日，並無號令。黃昏左側，忽起微風。孔明傳令曰：“每軍要衣襟一幅，限一更時分應點。

Anyone without one will be beheaded on the spot.” None of the generals understood what he meant, but the troops made ready as ordered. At the first watch another order came: “Every soldier is to wrap one bundle of earth in his flap of cloth. Anyone without one will be beheaded on the spot.” Again the troops did not understand, but they had no choice but to make ready as ordered. Then Kongming issued a further order: “All troops are to deliver their bundles of earth at the foot of the walls of Sanjiang City. The first to arrive will be rewarded.” On hearing the order the soldiers all wrapped up clean earth and raced to the foot of the walls.

無者立斬。”諸將皆不知其意，衆軍依令預備。初更時分，又傳令曰：“每軍衣襟一幅，包土一包。無者立斬。”衆軍亦不知其意，只得依令預備。孔明又傳令曰：“諸軍包土，俱在三江城下交割。先到者有賞。”衆軍聞令，皆包淨土，飛奔城下。

Kongming had the earth piled up into a stepped ramp and declared that the first man onto the wall would have the highest merit. And so the Shu troops, more than a hundred thousand of them, together with over ten thousand surrendered soldiers, dumped their bundles of earth at the foot of the wall all at once. In a moment the piled earth had become a hill reaching to the top of the wall. At a secret signal the Shu troops all swarmed up onto the wall. By the time the Man soldiers hurried to shoot their crossbows, most of them had already been seized and dragged down; the rest abandoned the city and fled. King Duosi was killed in the confusion of battle.

孔明令積土爲蹬道，先上城者爲頭功。於是蜀兵十餘萬，並降兵萬餘，將所包之土，一齊棄於城下。一霎時，積土成山，接連城上。一聲暗號，蜀兵皆上城。蠻兵急放弩時，大半早被執下，餘者棄城而走。朵思大王死於亂軍之中。

The Shu generals led their troops along separate roads to hunt down and kill the enemy. Kongming took Sanjiang City and gave all the treasure he found there as rewards to the army. The defeated Man soldiers who survived fled back to Meng Huo and told him, “King Duosi is dead, and Sanjiang City is lost.” Meng Huo was greatly alarmed. While he was still pondering what to do, word came that the Shu army had already crossed the river and was now encamped in front of the cave. Meng Huo was thrown into a panic. Suddenly someone came out from behind a screen with a loud laugh and said, “You are a man—how can you have so little wit?

蜀將督軍分路剿殺。孔明取了三江城，所得珍寶，皆賞三軍。敗殘蠻兵逃回見孟獲說：“朵思大王身死。失了三江城。”獲大驚。正慮之間，人報蜀兵已渡江，現在本洞前下寨。孟獲甚是慌張。忽然屏風後一人大笑而出曰：“既爲男子，何無智也？

Though I am only a woman, I am willing to go out and fight for you.” Meng Huo looked: it was his wife, Lady Zhurong. The lady came of a family that had lived among the Southern Man for generations and was a descendant of the Zhurong clan. She was skilled with throwing knives and never missed her mark. Meng Huo rose and thanked her. The lady mounted her horse gladly and, leading several hundred fierce clan generals and fifty thousand fresh cave troops, marched out from the palace at Yinkeng to meet the Shu army. She had just rounded the mouth of the cave when a body of troops barred the way. The Shu general at their head was Zhang Ni.

我雖是一婦人，願與你出戰。”獲視之，乃妻祝融夫人也。夫人世居南蠻，乃祝融氏之後；善使飛刀，百發百中。孟獲起身稱謝。夫人忻然上馬，引宗黨猛將數百員、生力洞兵五萬，出銀坑宮闕，來與蜀兵對敵。方纔轉過洞口，一彪軍攔住：爲首蜀將，乃是張嶷。

When the Man soldiers saw them, they quickly deployed in two wings. Lady Zhurong had five throwing knives slung across her back and gripped a long javelin eighteen feet in length, and she rode a curly-coated Red Hare horse. Zhang Ni was secretly amazed at the sight. The two spurred their horses and closed. After only a few bouts the lady wheeled her horse and fled. As Zhang Ni gave chase, a throwing knife came flying down through the air. He threw up his hand to ward it off, but it struck him full in the left arm, and he tumbled from his saddle.

蠻兵見之，卻早兩路擺開。祝融夫人背插五口飛刀，手挺丈八長標，坐下捲毛赤兔馬。張嶷見之，暗暗稱奇。二人驟馬交鋒。戰不數合，夫人撥馬便走。張嶷趕去，空中一把飛刀落下。嶷急用手隔，正中左臂，翻身落馬。

With a great shout the Man soldiers seized Zhang Ni, bound him and carried him off. When Ma Zhong heard that Zhang Ni had been captured, he rushed out to rescue him, but Zhang Ni was already tied up by the Man soldiers. Seeing Lady Zhurong reining in her horse with her javelin levelled, Ma Zhong advanced angrily to fight her, but his horse stumbled and fell, and he too was captured. Both were brought into the cave before Meng Huo, who laid on a feast to celebrate. The lady shouted to the executioners to take Zhang Ni and Ma Zhong out and behead them.

蠻兵發一聲喊，將張嶷執縛去了。馬忠聽得張嶷被執，急出救時，早被蠻兵捆住。望見祝融夫人挺標勒馬而立，忠忿怒向前去戰，坐下馬絆倒，亦被擒了。都解入洞中來見孟獲。獲設席慶賀。夫人叱刀斧手推出張嶷、馬忠要斬。

Meng Huo stopped her, saying, “Zhuge Liang has let me go five times. If I kill his generals now, it would be unjust. Let us keep them prisoner in the cave for now; once we have captured Zhuge Liang, it will not be too late to kill them.” The lady did as he said, and they drank and made merry with laughter.

獲止曰：“諸葛亮放吾五次，今番若殺彼將，是不義也。且囚在洞中，待擒住諸葛亮，殺之未遲。”夫人從其言，笑飲作樂。

Meanwhile the survivors of the defeat came to Kongming and reported what had happened. Kongming at once summoned Ma Dai, Zhao Yun and Wei Yan, gave the three of them their instructions, and sent each out at the head of his own troops. Next day Man soldiers came into the cave to report that Zhao Yun was offering battle. Lady Zhurong at once mounted and rode out to meet him. After only a few bouts Zhao Yun wheeled his horse and fled. Fearing an ambush, the lady drew in her troops and returned. Then Wei Yan came with his troops to challenge her, and the lady galloped out to meet him.

卻說敗殘兵來見孔明，告知其事。孔明即喚馬岱、趙雲、魏延三人受計，各自領軍前去。次日，蠻兵報入洞中，說趙雲搦戰。祝融夫人即上馬出迎。二人戰不數合，雲撥馬便走。夫人恐有埋伏，勒兵而回。魏延又引軍來搦戰，夫人縱馬相迎。

In the thick of the fight Wei Yan feigned defeat and ran, but the lady simply would not pursue. Next day Zhao Yun came again with his troops to offer battle, and the lady led out her cave troops to meet him. After only a few bouts Zhao Yun pretended to be beaten and fled, but the lady held her javelin still and did not pursue. As she was about to gather her troops and return to the cave, Wei Yan led his men up and they all hurled insults at her together. The lady quickly levelled her javelin and charged at Wei Yan. Wei Yan turned his horse and fled. The lady pursued in a rage, and Wei Yan galloped off into a remote mountain path.

正交鋒緊急，延詐敗而逃，夫人只不趕。次日，趙雲又引軍來搦戰，夫人領洞兵出迎。二人戰不數合，雲詐敗而走，夫人按標不趕。欲收兵回洞時，魏延引軍齊聲辱罵，夫人急挺標來取魏延。延撥馬便走。夫人忿怒趕來，延驟馬奔入山僻小路。

Suddenly there was a loud crash behind him. Wei Yan looked back and saw the lady thrown backward out of her saddle and onto the ground. Ma Dai, it turned out, had been lying in ambush there and had tripped her horse with a rope. She was seized and bound on the spot and brought to the main camp. When the Man generals and cave troops all came to rescue her, Zhao Yun scattered them in one charge. Kongming was sitting upright in his tent when Ma Dai brought Lady Zhurong in. He hastily ordered the guards to untie her and invited her into another tent, where she was given wine to calm her fright. Then he sent a messenger to tell Meng Huo that he would send the lady back in exchange for the two generals, Zhang Ni and Ma Zhong.

忽然背後一聲響亮，延回頭視之，夫人仰鞍落馬：原來馬岱埋伏在此，用絆馬索絆倒。就裏擒縛，解投大寨而來。蠻將洞兵皆來救時，趙雲一陣殺散。孔明端坐於帳上，馬岱解祝融夫人到，孔明急令武士去其縛，請在別帳賜酒壓驚，遣使往告孟獲，欲送夫人換張嶷、馬忠二將。

Meng Huo agreed and at once released Zhang Ni and Ma Zhong and returned them to Kongming. Kongming then sent the lady back to the cave. Meng Huo received her, both glad and vexed. Suddenly it was announced that the Bana Cave Chief had arrived. Meng Huo went out of the cave to welcome him. He saw that the man rode a white elephant, wore necklaces of gold and pearls, and had two great swords hanging at his waist; he came in surrounded by a band of men who kept tigers, leopards, jackals and wolves. Meng Huo bowed again and again, pleaded piteously and told him all that had happened.

孟獲允諾，即放出張嶷、馬忠，還了孔明。孔明遂送夫人入洞。孟獲接入，又喜又惱。忽報八納洞主到。孟獲出洞迎接，見其人騎着白象，身穿金珠纓絡，腰懸兩口大刀，領着一班餵養虎豹豺狼之士，簇擁而入。獲再拜哀告，訴說前事。

King Mulu promised to take revenge for him. Meng Huo was overjoyed and gave a banquet in his honour. Next day King Mulu led out the troops of his own cave, bringing his wild beasts with him. When Zhao Yun and Wei Yan heard that the Man army was coming out, they drew up their troops and horses in battle order. The two generals sat their horses side by side in front of the line and looked: the Man soldiers’ banners and weapons were all strange. Most of the men wore no clothes or armour but went entirely naked, with ugly, hideous faces; each carried four sharp knives. In their army no drums or horns were sounded; instead gongs were beaten as signals. King Mulu, with two precious swords hanging at his waist and a bell in his hand, came out from under the great banner riding a white elephant.

木鹿大王許以報仇。獲大喜，設宴相待。次日，木鹿大王引本洞兵帶猛獸而出。趙雲、魏延聽知蠻兵出，遂將軍馬布成陣勢。二將並轡立於陣前視之，只見蠻兵旗幟器械皆別：人多不穿衣甲，盡裸身赤體，面目醜陋；身帶四把尖刀；軍中不鳴鼓角，但篩金爲號；木鹿大王腰掛兩把寶刀，手執蒂鍾，身騎白象，從大旗中而出。

At the sight Zhao Yun said to Wei Yan, “All our lives we have been going into battle, but never have we seen such creatures.” As the two were hesitating, they saw King Mulu chant some incantation or other and shake his bell. Suddenly a violent wind arose, sending sand flying and stones rolling like a sudden downpour. A painted horn sounded, and tigers, leopards, jackals and wolves, venomous snakes and savage beasts came riding out on the wind, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws as they charged.

趙雲見了，謂魏延曰：“我等上陣一生，未嘗見如此人物。”二人正沉吟之際，只見木鹿大王口中不知念甚咒語，手搖蒂鍾。忽然狂風大作，飛砂走石，如同驟雨；一聲畫角響，虎豹豺狼，毒蛇猛獸，乘風而出，張牙舞爪，衝將過來。

How could the Shu troops withstand this? They fell back at once. The Man soldiers pursued and cut them down, chasing them all the way to the road at the Sanjiang boundary before turning back. Zhao Yun and Wei Yan gathered their beaten troops and came before Kongming’s tent to ask for punishment, telling him the whole story in detail. Kongming laughed and said, “It is no fault of yours. Even before I left my thatched cottage I knew that the Southern Man had arts for driving tigers and leopards. So while still in Shu I prepared the things to break this formation: twenty carts came with the army, and they are all here, sealed and marked.

蜀兵如何抵當，往後便退。蠻兵隨後追殺，直趕到三江界路方回。趙雲、魏延收聚敗兵，來孔明帳前請罪，細說此事。孔明笑曰：“非汝二人之罪。吾未出茅廬之時，先知南蠻有驅虎豹之法。吾在蜀中已辦下破此陣之物也：隨軍有二十輛車，俱封記在此。

Today we will use half of them and keep the other half for another purpose later.” He had his attendants bring ten red-lacquered chest carts to the foot of the tent, leaving the ten black-lacquered chest carts behind. No one understood what he meant. Kongming opened the chests: they were all huge beasts carved in wood and painted in colours, with coats of five-coloured woollen yarn and fangs and claws of steel, each large enough for ten men to ride. Kongming picked more than a thousand strong, able soldiers and took a hundred of the beasts, their mouths packed with materials for smoke and fire, and hid them among the troops.

今日且用一半；留下一半，後有別用。”遂令左右取了十輛紅油櫃車到帳下，留十輛黑油櫃車在後。衆皆不知其意。孔明將櫃打開，皆是木刻彩畫巨獸，俱用五色絨線爲毛衣，鋼鐵爲牙爪，一個可騎坐十人。孔明選了精壯軍士一千餘人，領了一百，口內裝煙火之物，藏在軍中。

Next day Kongming drove his army forward in force and deployed it at the mouth of the cave. The Man scouts learned of it and went into the cave to report to the Man king. King Mulu, thinking himself invincible, at once came out with Meng Huo at the head of the cave troops. Kongming, in silk turban and Taoist robe and holding his feather fan, sat upright in his carriage. Meng Huo pointed and said, “The one sitting in the carriage is Zhuge Liang! If we capture him, the great matter is settled!” King Mulu chanted his spell and shook his bell.

次日，孔明驅兵大進，佈於洞口。蠻兵探知，入洞報與蠻王。木鹿大王自謂無敵，即與孟獲引洞兵而出。孔明綸巾羽扇，身衣道袍，端坐於車上。孟獲指曰：“車上坐的便是諸葛亮！若擒住此人，大事定矣！”木鹿大王口中唸咒，手搖蒂鍾。

In an instant a violent wind arose and the savage beasts rushed out. Kongming gave one wave of his feather fan, and the wind turned and blew back into the enemy’s ranks, while the false beasts surged out from the Shu lines. When the real beasts of the Man caves saw the giant beasts of the Shu army coming at them, spouting flames from their mouths and black smoke from their nostrils, shaking the copper bells on their bodies, baring fangs and brandishing claws, not one of the fierce creatures dared go forward. They all ran back toward the Man caves, knocking down countless Man soldiers on the way.

頃刻之間，狂風大作，猛獸突出。孔明將羽扇一搖，其風便回吹彼陣中去了，蜀陣中假獸擁出。蠻洞真獸見蜀陣巨獸口吐火焰，鼻出黑煙，身搖銅鈴，張牙舞爪而來，諸惡獸不敢前進，皆奔回蠻洞，反將蠻兵衝倒無數。

Kongming drove his army forward in force, drums and horns sounding together, pressing on in pursuit. King Mulu was killed in the confusion of battle. Meng Huo’s clansmen in the cave all abandoned the palaces and fled, scrambling over hills and across ridges. Kongming’s main army occupied Yinkeng Cave.

孔明驅兵大進，鼓角齊鳴，望前追殺。木鹿大王死於亂軍之中。洞內孟獲宗黨，皆棄宮闕，扒山越嶺而走。孔明大軍佔了銀坑洞。

Next day, just as Kongming was about to divide his forces to hunt down and capture Meng Huo, a report suddenly came: “Dailai Cave Chief, the younger brother of the Man king Meng Huo’s wife, urged Meng Huo to surrender, and when Meng Huo refused, he seized Meng Huo, Lady Zhurong and several hundred of their clan and has brought them all to present to the Chancellor.” When Kongming heard this, he at once summoned Zhang Ni and Ma Zhong and gave them certain instructions. Having received their orders, the two generals took two thousand strong, picked soldiers and hid them along the two side galleries.

次日，孔明正要分兵緝擒孟獲，忽報：“蠻王孟獲妻弟帶來洞主，因勸孟獲歸降，獲不從，今將孟獲並祝融夫人及宗黨數百餘人盡皆擒來，獻與丞相。”孔明聽知，即喚張嶷、馬忠，分付如此如此。二將受了計，引二千精壯兵，伏於兩廊。

Kongming at once ordered the gatekeepers to let them all in. Dailai Cave Chief, with a band of executioners, brought in Meng Huo and several hundred others and bowed below the hall. Kongming roared, “Seize them for me!” The strong soldiers poured out from the two galleries, two men to each prisoner, and bound every one of them. Kongming laughed aloud and said, “Did you think your petty trick could deceive me? You saw that twice before, when men of your own caves captured you and came to surrender, I did you no harm; so you supposed that I would trust you completely, and came with a false surrender, meaning to kill me right here in the cave!”

孔明即令守門將，俱放進來。帶來洞主引刀斧手解孟獲等數百人，拜於殿下。孔明大喝曰：“與吾擒下！”兩廊壯兵齊出，二人捉一人，盡被執縛。孔明大笑曰：“量汝些小詭計，如何瞞得過我！汝見二次俱是本洞人擒汝來降，吾不加害；汝只道吾深信，故來詐降，欲就洞中殺吾！”

He ordered the guards to search them, and sure enough each one was carrying a sharp knife. Kongming asked Meng Huo, “You said before that if you were captured in your own home you would at last submit in your heart. What about today?” Meng Huo said, “This time we came to our own deaths of our own accord. It was not your ability. My heart does not submit.” Kongming said, “I have captured you six times, and still you do not submit. How long do you mean to wait?” Meng Huo said, “If you capture me a seventh time, then I will submit with all my heart and swear never to rebel again.”

喝令武士搜其身畔，果然各帶利刀。孔明問孟獲曰：“汝原說在汝家擒住，方始心服；今日如何？”獲曰：“此是我等自來送死，非汝之能也。吾心未服。”孔明曰：“吾擒住六番，尚然不服，欲待何時耶？”獲曰：“汝第七次擒住，吾方傾心歸服，誓不反矣。”

Kongming said, “Your lair is already destroyed. What have I to worry about?” He ordered the guards to untie all their bonds and rebuked them: “If you are captured this next time and still prevaricate, I will certainly not forgive you lightly!” Meng Huo and the rest fled like rats, their hands over their heads.

孔明曰：“巢穴已破，吾何慮哉！”令武士盡去其縛，叱之曰：“這番擒住，再若支吾，必不輕恕！”孟獲等抱頭鼠竄而去。

Now more than a thousand defeated Man soldiers, most of them wounded, were fleeing when they happened upon the Man king Meng Huo. Meng Huo gathered in the beaten troops, a little cheered, and took counsel with Dailai Cave Chief: “My cave home has now been taken by the Shu army. Where shall I go now to find a refuge?” Dailai Cave Chief said, “There is only one kingdom that can defeat Shu.” Meng Huo said gladly, “Where can we go?” Dailai Cave Chief said, “Seven hundred li southeast of here there is a kingdom called Wuge.

卻說敗殘蠻兵有千餘人，大半中傷而逃，正遇蠻王孟獲。獲收了敗兵，心中稍喜，卻與帶來洞主商議曰：“吾今洞府已被蜀兵所佔，今投何地安身？”帶來洞主曰：“止有一國可以破蜀。”獲喜曰：“何處可去？”帶來洞主曰：“此去東南七百里，有一國，名烏戈國。

Its ruler is Wutugu. He is twelve feet tall and does not eat the five grains, but lives on raw snakes and wild beasts. His body is covered with scales that no blade or arrow can pierce. The soldiers under him all wear rattan armour. The rattan grows in the mountain gorges and coils over the rock faces. The people of the kingdom gather it and soak it in oil for half a year before taking it out to dry in the sun; when it is dry they soak it again, more than ten times in all, and only then do they make it into armour. Worn on the body, it does not sink when one crosses a river and does not get wet in water, and neither blade nor arrow can get through it. That is why they are called the Rattan Armour Army.

國主兀突骨，身長丈二，不食五穀，以生蛇惡獸爲飯；身有鱗甲，刀箭不能侵。其手下軍士，俱穿藤甲；其藤生於山澗之中，盤於石壁之上；國人採取，浸於油中，半年方取出曬之；曬乾復浸，凡十餘遍，卻纔造成鎧甲；穿在身上，渡江不沉，經水不溼，刀箭皆不能入：因此號爲藤甲軍。

Now, Great King, you should go and ask for his help. If you can gain his aid, capturing Zhuge Liang will be like splitting bamboo with a sharp knife.” Meng Huo was delighted and went off to the kingdom of Wuge to see Wutugu. In that cave there were no houses; everyone lived in holes in the earth. Meng Huo entered the cave, bowed again and again, and piteously related all that had happened. Wutugu said, “I will raise the troops of my cave and take revenge for you.” Meng Huo gladly bowed his thanks. Wutugu then summoned two chieftains who commanded troops, one named Tu’an and the other Xini, and raised thirty thousand men, all in rattan armour, who left Wuge and marched northeast.

今大王可往求之。若得彼相助，擒諸葛亮如利刀破竹也。”孟獲大喜，遂投烏戈國，來見兀突骨。其洞無宇舍，皆居土穴之內。孟獲入洞，再拜哀告前事。兀突骨曰：“吾起本洞之兵，與汝報仇。”獲欣然拜謝。於是兀突骨喚兩個領兵俘長：一名土安，一名奚泥，起三萬兵，皆穿藤甲，離烏戈國望東北而來。

They came to a river called the Taohua, the Peach Blossom River. Peach trees grew along both banks, and year after year their leaves fell into the water. If people of other countries drank it they all died, but the people of Wuge who drank it gained twice their vigour. Wutugu’s army reached the ford at Taohuadu and made camp there to wait for the Shu army.

行至一江，名桃花水，兩岸有桃樹，歷年落葉於水中，若別國人飲之盡死，惟烏戈國人飲之，倍添精神。兀突骨兵至桃花渡口下寨，以待蜀兵。

Meanwhile Kongming had sent Man men to scout for news of Meng Huo. They came back and reported, “Meng Huo has called in the Lord of Wuge, who has brought thirty thousand men of the Rattan Armour Army and is now camped at the ford at Taohuadu. Meng Huo is also gathering Man soldiers from all the tribes to join forces and resist.” On hearing this, Kongming advanced in force and went straight to the ford at Taohuadu. Looking across the river at the Man soldiers, he saw that they hardly looked human, and were exceedingly ugly and fierce. When he asked the local people, they told him that the peach leaves were just then falling and the water was not fit to drink. Kongming withdrew five li and made camp, leaving Wei Yan to guard it.

卻說孔明令蠻人哨探孟獲消息，回報曰：“孟獲請烏戈國主，引三萬藤甲軍，現屯於桃花渡口。孟獲又在各番聚集蠻兵，併力拒戰。”孔明聽說，提兵大進，直至桃花渡口。隔岸望見蠻兵，不類人形，甚是醜惡；又問土人，言說即日桃葉正落，水不可飲。孔明退五里下寨，留魏延守寨。

Next day the Lord of Wuge led a body of the Rattan Armour Army across the river amid a great din of gongs and drums. Wei Yan led his troops out to meet them. The Man soldiers came on like a whirlwind sweeping the ground. The Shu troops loosed crossbow bolts, but when they struck the rattan armour none could pierce it; they all fell to the ground. Nor could swords or spears cut or stab through it. The Man soldiers all wielded sharp knives and steel tridents. How could the Shu troops withstand them? They all fled in defeat. The Man soldiers did not pursue but went back.

次日，烏戈國主引一彪藤甲軍過河來，金鼓大震。魏延引兵出迎。蠻兵卷地而至。蜀兵以弩箭射到藤甲之上，皆不能透，俱落於地；刀砍槍刺，亦不能入。蠻兵皆使利刀鋼叉，蜀兵如何抵當，盡皆敗走。蠻兵不趕而回。

Wei Yan turned back and chased them to the ford at Taohuadu, where he saw the Man soldiers crossing the water in their armour. Some who were tired took off their armour, laid it on the surface of the water and sat on it to cross. Wei Yan hurried back to the main camp and reported to Kongming, describing it all in detail. Kongming sent for Lü Kai and some local people to ask them about it. Lü Kai said, “I have long heard that among the Southern Man there is a kingdom called Wuge whose people know nothing of human decency.

魏延復回，趕到桃花渡口，只見蠻兵帶甲渡水而去；內有睏乏者，將甲脫下，放在水面，以身坐其上而渡。魏延急回大寨，來稟孔明，細言其事。孔明請呂凱並土人問之。凱曰：“某素聞南蠻中有一烏戈國，無人倫者也。

Moreover, they have rattan armour to protect them, so they are hard to wound in a hurry. Then there is the noxious water with the peach leaves: when the people of that kingdom drink it, it only adds to their vigour, but when people of other countries drink it they die at once. With Man lands like these, even if you win a complete victory, what would be the gain? It would be better to withdraw the army and return home early.” Kongming laughed and said, “I did not come all this way easily; how could I simply go away? I have my own plan for subduing the Man tomorrow.” He then ordered Zhao Yun to help Wei Yan guard the camp and not to go out rashly.

更有藤甲護身，急切難傷。又有桃葉惡水，本國人飲之，反添精神；別國人飲之即死：如此蠻方，縱使全勝，有何益焉？不如班師早回。”孔明笑曰：“吾非容易到此，豈可便去！吾明日自有平蠻之策。”於是令趙雲助魏延守寨，且休輕出。

Next day Kongming had local people guide him and rode in his small carriage to a remote spot in the hills on the north bank at the Taohuadu ford to survey the whole lie of the land. Where the mountains were steep and the ridges sheer, the carriage could not go on, so Kongming left it and went on foot. Presently he came to a hill from which he saw a valley shaped like a long snake, walled by bare, sheer cliffs without a single tree, with a broad road running down the middle. Kongming asked the local people, “What is this valley called?”

次日，孔明令土人引路，自乘小車到桃花渡口北岸山僻去處，遍觀地理。山險嶺峻之處，車不能行，孔明棄車步行。忽到一山，望見一谷，形如長蛇，皆光峭石壁，並無樹木，中間一條大路。孔明問土人曰：“此谷何名？”

The local people answered, “This place is called Panshe Valley. Out of the valley is the highroad to Sanjiang City, and the ground in front of the valley is called Talangdian.” Kongming was overjoyed and said, “This is Heaven granting me success here!” He went back the way he had come, got into his carriage and returned to camp, where he summoned Ma Dai and instructed him: “I give you the ten black-lacquered chest carts. You will need a thousand bamboo poles, and as for what is in the chests, do thus and so. Take your own troops, hold both ends of Panshe Valley, and carry out the plan as directed.

土人答曰：“此處名爲盤蛇谷。出谷則三江城大路，谷前名塔郎甸。”孔明大喜曰：“此乃天賜吾成功於此也！”遂回舊路，上車歸寨，喚馬岱分付曰：“與汝黑油櫃車十輛，須用竹竿千條，櫃內之物，如此如此。可將本部兵去把住盤蛇谷兩頭，依法而行。

I give you half a month to have everything ready. When the time comes, set it all up thus. If anything leaks out, you will certainly be dealt with by martial law.” Ma Dai received his orders and went. Next Kongming summoned Zhao Yun and instructed him: “Go behind Panshe Valley to the head of the highroad to Sanjiang and hold it thus. Have everything you need ready by the appointed day.” Zhao Yun received his orders and went. Then Kongming summoned Wei Yan and instructed him: “Take your own troops to the ford at Taohuadu and make camp there.

與汝半月限，一切完備。至期如此施設。倘有走漏，定按軍法。”馬岱受計而去。又喚趙雲分付曰：“汝去盤蛇谷後，三江大路口如此守把。所用之物，剋日完備。”趙雲受計而去。又喚魏延分付曰：“汝可引本部兵去桃花渡口下寨。

If the Man soldiers cross the water to attack you, abandon your camp at once and flee toward where the white flags are. Within half a month you must lose fifteen battles in a row and abandon seven camps. If you lose only fourteen, don’t come back to see me.” Wei Yan took his orders, but he was unhappy and went off sulking. Kongming also summoned Zhang Yi and sent him with another force to build stockaded camps at the places he pointed out; and he ordered Zhang Ni and Ma Zhong to lead the thousand men who had surrendered from the caves and carry out certain instructions.

如蠻兵渡水來敵，汝便棄了寨，望白旗處而走。限半個月內，須要連輸十五陣，棄七個寨柵。若輸十四陣，也休來見我。”魏延領命，心中不樂，怏怏而去。孔明又喚張翼另引一軍，依所指之處，築立寨柵去了；卻令張嶷、馬忠引本洞所降千人，如此行之。

Everyone went off to carry out the plan. Meanwhile Meng Huo said to Wutugu, the Lord of Wuge, “Zhuge Liang has many clever tricks, but they all come down to ambushes. From now on, when we fight, instruct the army that wherever they see thick woods in the hills and valleys, they must not advance rashly.” Wutugu said, “What the Great King says is right. I already know that the people of the Middle Kingdom are much given to trickery. From now on we will act on your words.

各人都依計而行。卻說孟獲與烏戈國主兀突骨曰：“諸葛亮多有巧計，只是埋伏。今後交戰，分付三軍：但見山谷之中，林木多處，不可輕進。”兀突骨曰：“大王說的有理。吾已知道中國人多行詭計。今後依此言行之。

I will do the fighting at the front; you guide us from behind.” The two of them settled it. Suddenly word came that the Shu army had set up a camp on the north bank at the Taohuadu ford. Wutugu at once sent the two chieftains with the Rattan Armour Army across the river to engage the Shu troops. After only a few bouts Wei Yan was beaten and fled. Fearing an ambush, the Man soldiers did not pursue but went back of their own accord. Next day Wei Yan went and set up camp again.

吾在前面廝殺；汝在背後教道。”兩人商議已定。忽報蜀兵在桃花渡口北岸立起營寨。兀突骨即差二俘長引藤甲軍渡了河，來與蜀兵交戰。不數合，魏延敗走。蠻兵恐有埋伏，不趕自回。次日，魏延又去立了營寨。

The Man scouts learned of it, and again they led their troops across the river to fight. Wei Yan came out to meet them. After only a few bouts he was beaten and fled. The Man soldiers pursued and cut them down for more than ten li, but seeing no sign of movement anywhere around, they stationed themselves in the Shu camp. Next day the two chieftains invited Wutugu to the camp and told him what had happened. Wutugu at once advanced in force and chased Wei Yan in a running fight. The Shu troops all threw away their armour and weapons and fled, and ahead of them white flags could be seen.

蠻兵哨得，又引衆軍渡過河來戰。延出迎之。不數合，延敗走。蠻兵追殺十餘里，見四下並無動靜，便在蜀寨中屯住。次日，二俘長請兀突骨到寨，說知此事。兀突骨即引兵大進，將魏延追一陣。蜀兵皆棄甲拋戈而走，只見前有白旗。

Wei Yan led his beaten troops at full speed to where the white flags were, and there was already a camp there; he stationed himself in it. When Wutugu drove his troops up in pursuit, Wei Yan led his men out, abandoning the camp, and fled. The Man soldiers took the Shu camp. Next day they pressed forward again in pursuit. Wei Yan turned his troops and fought, but was beaten again in fewer than three bouts and fled, heading only for where the white flags were. There was another camp there, and Wei Yan stationed himself in it. Next day the Man soldiers came again. Wei Yan fought briefly and fled once more. The Man soldiers occupied the Shu camp.

延引敗兵，急奔到白旗處，早有一寨，就寨中屯住。兀突骨驅兵追至，魏延引兵棄寨而走。蠻兵得了蜀寨。次日，又望前追殺。魏延回兵交戰，不三合又敗，只看白旗處而走，又有一寨，延就寨屯住。次日，蠻兵又至。延略戰又走。蠻兵佔了蜀寨。

To cut a long story short, Wei Yan fought and fled, fought and fled, until he had lost fifteen battles and abandoned seven camps one after another. The Man army advanced in force, pursuing and killing. Wutugu led the attack himself at the front of his army, but whenever he saw thick woods along the way he dared not advance; instead he sent men to look from a distance, and sure enough they saw banners fluttering in the shade of the trees. Wutugu said to Meng Huo, “It is just as the Great King foresaw.” Meng Huo laughed aloud and said, “This time I have seen through Zhuge Liang!

話休絮煩，魏延且戰且走，已敗十五陣，連棄七個營寨。蠻兵大進追殺。兀突骨自在軍前破敵，於路但見林木茂盛之處，便不敢進；卻使人遠望，果見樹陰之中，旌旗招颭。兀突骨謂孟獲曰：“果不出大王所料。”孟獲大笑曰：“諸葛亮今番被吾識破！

Great King, day after day you have beaten him in fifteen battles and taken seven of his camps, and the Shu troops run at the first breath of wind. Zhuge Liang has come to the end of his tricks. One more advance, and the great matter is settled!” Wutugu was delighted and gave the Shu army no further thought. On the sixteenth day Wei Yan led his battered remnants out to face the Rattan Armour Army. Wutugu rode at the front on his elephant. On his head was a wolf-whisker cap adorned with sun and moon, and he wore necklaces of gold and pearls; the scales growing on his body showed beneath his ribs on both sides, and a faint glint of light shone in his eyes. He pointed at Wei Yan and cursed him roundly.

大王連日勝了他十五陣，奪了七個營寨，蜀兵望風而走。諸葛亮已是計窮；只此一進，大事定矣！”兀突骨大喜，遂不以蜀兵爲念。至第十六日，魏延引敗殘兵，來與藤甲軍對敵，兀突骨騎象當先，頭戴日月狼須帽，身披金珠纓絡，兩肋下露出生鱗甲，眼目中微有光芒，手指魏延大罵。

Wei Yan wheeled his horse and fled, and the Man army surged forward behind him. Wei Yan led his troops round into Panshe Valley and fled toward the white flags. Wutugu, at the head of his host, pursued close behind. Seeing that there was neither grass nor tree on the hills, Wutugu judged that there could be no ambush and pressed the pursuit without a care. When he reached the middle of the valley, he saw several dozen black-lacquered chest carts standing in the road. His soldiers reported, “This is the road by which the Shu army carries its grain. When the Great King’s army came, they abandoned the grain carts and fled.”

延撥馬便走。後面蠻兵大進。魏延引兵轉過了盤蛇谷，望白旗而走。兀突骨統引兵衆，隨後追殺。兀突骨望見山上並無草木，料無埋伏，放心追殺。趕到谷中，見數十輛黑油櫃車在當路。蠻兵報曰：“此是蜀兵運糧道路，因大王兵至，撇下糧車而走。”

Wutugu was delighted and urged his troops on in pursuit. As they were about to come out of the far end of the valley, there was no sign of the Shu army; instead logs and boulders came rolling down and blocked the mouth of the valley. Wutugu ordered his men to clear a way and push on, when suddenly he saw carts large and small ahead, loaded with dry firewood, all bursting into flame. Wutugu hastily ordered a retreat, but he heard shouts from his rear, reporting that the entrance of the valley had been blocked with dry firewood, and that the carts in fact held nothing but gunpowder, which had all caught fire at once.

兀突骨大喜，催兵追趕。將出谷口，不見蜀兵，只見橫木亂石滾下，壘斷谷口。兀突骨令兵開路而進，忽見前面大小車輛，裝載乾柴，盡皆火起。兀突骨忙教退兵，只聞後軍發喊，報說谷口已被幹柴壘斷，車中原來皆是火藥，一齊燒着。

Seeing that there was no grass or tree about, Wutugu was still not alarmed and ordered his men to find a way out. But then torches came raining down from the hills on both sides, and wherever they landed, the fuses in the ground caught fire and iron shells burst up out of the earth. The whole valley was filled with dancing flames, and whatever rattan armour they touched caught fire without fail. Wutugu and his thirty thousand men of the Rattan Armour Army were burned to death clutching one another in Panshe Valley. When Kongming looked down from the hill, he saw the Man soldiers burned with their fists thrust out and legs stretched stiff; most had had their heads and faces smashed to pieces by the iron shells. All lay dead in the valley, and the stench was unbearable.

兀突骨見無草木，心尚不慌，令尋路而走。只見山上兩邊亂丟火把，火把到處，地中藥線皆着，就地飛起鐵炮。滿谷中火光亂舞，但逢藤甲，無有不着。將兀突骨並三萬藤甲軍，燒得互相擁抱，死於盤蛇谷中。孔明在山上往下看時，只見蠻兵被火燒的伸拳舒腿，大半被鐵炮打的頭臉粉碎，皆死於谷中，臭不可聞。

Kongming wept and sighed, “Though I have rendered service to the state, this will surely shorten my life!” Of the officers and men about him there was none who was not moved.

孔明垂淚而嘆曰：“吾雖有功於社稷，必損壽矣！”左右將士，無不感嘆。

Meanwhile Meng Huo was in his camp, eagerly awaiting news from his soldiers. Suddenly more than a thousand men came to the front of the camp, bowing and laughing, and said, “The army of Wuge has fought a great battle with the Shu army and has Zhuge Liang surrounded in Panshe Valley. We have come expressly to ask the Great King to go and lend support. We are all men of your own caves who were forced to surrender to Shu; now that we know the Great King has come forward, we have come expressly to help in the fight.” Meng Huo was overjoyed. He at once mounted with his clansmen and the tribesmen he had gathered and set off through the night, having these Man soldiers lead the way.

卻說孟獲在寨中，正望蠻兵回報。忽然千餘人笑拜於寨前，言說：“烏戈國兵與蜀兵大戰，將諸葛亮圍在盤蛇谷中了。特請大王前去接應。我等皆是本洞之人，不得已而降蜀；今知大王前到，特來助戰。”孟獲大喜，即引宗黨並所聚番人，連夜上馬；就令蠻兵引路。

Just as they reached Panshe Valley, they saw flames leaping high, and there was a stench that could hardly be borne. Meng Huo knew he had fallen into a trap and hastily began to withdraw, but on the left Zhang Ni and on the right Ma Zhong burst out with two forces. Meng Huo was just about to stand and fight when a shout went up: more than half of his “Man soldiers” were in fact Shu troops, and they seized every one of the Man king’s clansmen and the tribesmen he had gathered. Meng Huo, alone on his horse, cut his way out of the encirclement and fled along a mountain track.

方到盤蛇谷時，只見火光甚起，臭氣難聞。獲知中計，急退兵時，左邊張嶷，右邊馬忠，兩路軍殺出。獲方欲抵敵，一聲喊起，蠻兵中大半皆是蜀兵，將蠻王宗黨並聚集的番人，盡皆擒了。孟獲匹馬殺出重圍，望山徑而走。

As he fled, he saw a band of men and horses emerge from a fold in the hills escorting a small carriage. In the carriage sat a man upright, in silk turban and Taoist robe, holding a feather fan. It was Kongming. Kongming shouted, “Meng Huo, you rebel! What do you say this time?” Meng Huo hurriedly turned his horse and fled. A general flashed out from the side and barred his way: it was Ma Dai. Before Meng Huo could do anything, Ma Dai had taken him alive.

正走之間，見山凹裏一簇人馬，擁出一輛小車；車中端坐一人，綸巾羽扇，身衣道袍，乃孔明也。孔明大喝曰：“反賊孟獲！今番如何？”獲急回馬走。旁邊閃過一將，攔住去路，乃是馬岱。孟獲措手不及，被馬岱生擒活捉了。

Meanwhile Wang Ping and Zhang Yi had already led a force into the Man camp and brought back Lady Zhurong and all the household, old and young, as prisoners.

此時王平、張翼已引一軍趕到蠻寨中，將祝融夫人並一應老小皆活捉而來。

Kongming returned to camp, took his seat in the command tent and said to his generals, “I used this stratagem only because I had no choice, and it has done great harm to my hidden merit. I reckoned that the enemy would surely expect me to lay ambushes wherever there were thick woods, so I set up banners there with no troops behind them, to fill their minds with suspicion. I had Wei Wenchang lose fifteen battles in a row to make them sure of themselves. I saw that Panshe Valley had only one road, with bare rock on both sides, not a single tree, and nothing but sand and earth below. So I had Ma Dai place the black-lacquered chests in the valley. In the lacquered chests on the carts were fire-bombs made beforehand, called ‘earth thunder.’ Each bomb held nine more inside it. They were buried every thirty paces and connected by fuses run through bamboo poles with the joints knocked out. Once set off, they split the hills and shattered the rocks.

孔明歸到寨中，升帳而坐，謂衆將曰：“吾今此計，不得已而用之，大損陰德。我料敵人必算吾於林木多處埋伏，吾卻空設旌旗，實無兵馬，疑其心也。吾令魏文長連輸十五陣者，堅其心也。吾見盤蛇谷止一條路，兩壁廂皆是光石，並無樹木，下面都是沙土，因令馬岱將黑油櫃安排於谷中，車中油櫃內，皆是預先造下的火炮，名曰‘地雷’，一炮中藏九炮，三十步埋之，中用竹竿通節，以引藥線；才一發動，山損石裂。

I also had Zhao Zilong prepare carts of straw and place them in the valley, and had great logs and boulders made ready on the hills. Then I had Wei Yan lure Wutugu and the Rattan Armour Army into the valley; once Wei Yan was let out, the road was cut at once and the fire set behind them. I have heard it said, ‘What serves well in water will surely fare ill in fire.’ Though blades and arrows could not pierce the rattan armour, it was a thing steeped in oil and would surely catch fire at the touch of flame. With Man soldiers so stubborn, how could we have won except by fire?

吾又令趙子龍預備草車，安排於谷中。又于山上準備大木亂石。卻令魏延賺兀突骨並藤甲軍入谷，放出魏延，即斷其路，隨後焚之。吾聞：‘利於水者必不利於火。’藤甲雖刀箭不能入，乃油浸之物，見火必着。蠻兵如此頑皮，非火攻安能取勝？

That I have left the people of Wuge without a single survivor to carry on their line is my great crime!” The generals bowed to the ground and said, “The Chancellor’s heavenly schemes are beyond the reckoning of gods and spirits!” Kongming had Meng Huo brought before him. Meng Huo knelt below the tent. Kongming had his bonds removed and had him taken to another tent for the time being and given food and wine to calm his fright. Then Kongming called the officer in charge of food and wine to his seat, gave him certain instructions and sent him off.

使烏戈國之人不留種類者，是吾之大罪也！”衆將拜伏曰：“丞相天機，鬼神莫測也！”孔明令押過孟獲來。孟獲跪於帳下。孔明令去其縛，教且在別帳與酒食壓驚。孔明喚管酒食官至坐榻前，如此如此，分付而去。

Meanwhile Meng Huo, with Lady Zhurong, Meng You, Dailai Cave Chief and all his clan, was drinking in another tent. Suddenly a man came in and said to Meng Huo, “The Chancellor is ashamed to face you and does not wish to see you. He has sent me expressly to release you and let you go home, so that you can raise more men and horses and come back to decide the contest. You should leave quickly now, sir.” Meng Huo wept and said, “Seven times captured and seven times released—such a thing has never happened since ancient times.

卻說孟獲與祝融夫人並孟優、帶來洞主、一切宗黨在別帳飲酒。忽一人入帳謂孟獲曰：“丞相面羞，不欲與公相見。特令我來放公回去，再招人馬來決勝負。公今可速去。”孟獲垂淚言曰：“七擒七縱，自古未嘗有也。

Though I am a man beyond the pale of civilisation, I know something of ritual and right. Could I really be so utterly without shame?” Then, together with his brother, his wife, his children and his clansmen, he crawled forward and knelt below the tent, stripped to the waist, and begged forgiveness, saying, “Before the heavenly majesty of the Chancellor, the people of the South will never rebel again!” Kongming said, “Do you submit now?” Meng Huo wept and thanked him: “My children and grandchildren for all generations will be grateful for a kindness like that of Heaven which covers us and Earth which bears us, which gave us life. How could I not submit?” Kongming then invited Meng Huo up into the tent, gave a feast in celebration, and made him Cave Chief in perpetuity.

吾雖化外之人，頗知禮義，直如此無羞恥乎？”遂同兄弟妻子宗黨人等，皆匍匐跪於帳下，肉袒謝罪曰：“丞相天威，南人不復反矣！”孔明曰：“公今服乎？”獲泣謝曰：“某子子孫孫皆感覆載生成之恩，安得不服！”孔明乃請孟獲上帳，設宴慶賀，就令永爲洞主。

All the land that had been taken was returned. Meng Huo’s clan and all the Man soldiers were deeply grateful, and they all went away leaping for joy.

所奪之地，盡皆退還。孟獲宗黨及諸蠻兵，無不感戴，皆欣然跳躍而去。

A later poet wrote in praise of Kongming:
With feather fan and silk turban, beneath the azure banners,
By the wondrous plan of seven captures he tamed the Man king.
To this day the valley caves hand down the tale of his might and virtue,
And chose the high ground to raise a temple in his name.

後人有詩讚孔明曰：“羽扇綸巾擁碧幢，七擒妙策制蠻王。
至今溪洞傳威德，爲選高原立廟堂。
”

The Chief Clerk Fei Yi came in and remonstrated: “Now the Chancellor has personally led the troops deep into the barren lands and brought the Man regions to submission, and the Man king has already yielded. Why not appoint officials to hold the region together with Meng Huo?” Kongming said, “That would involve three difficulties. If we leave outsiders here, we must leave troops too, and the troops would have nothing to eat: that is the first difficulty. The Man people have been wounded and broken, their fathers and elder brothers killed; to leave outsiders without troops would surely bring disaster: that is the second difficulty. The Man people have again and again been guilty of deposing and killing officials and are naturally suspicious; if we leave outsiders here, they will never trust one another: that is the third difficulty.

長史費禕入諫曰：“今丞相親提士卒，深入不毛，收服蠻方；目今蠻王既已歸服，何不置官吏，與孟獲一同守之？”孔明曰：“如此有三不易：留外人則當留兵，兵無所食，一不易也；蠻人傷破，父兄死亡，留外人而不留兵，必成禍患，二不易也；蠻人累有廢殺之罪，自有嫌疑，留外人終不相信，三不易也。

Now I will leave no one and transport no grain, and we will simply live at peace with one another without trouble.” Everyone was convinced. And so all the Man regions were grateful for Kongming’s kindness and virtue. They built a shrine to him while he still lived and made offerings there in all four seasons, all calling him their loving father. Each sent pearls, gold and treasures, cinnabar and lacquer, medicinal herbs, plough oxen and war horses to supply the army, and swore never to rebel again. The South was pacified.

今吾不留人，不運糧，與相安於無事而已。”衆人盡服。於是蠻方皆感孔明恩德，乃爲孔明立生祠，四時享祭，皆呼之爲慈父；各送珍珠金寶、丹漆藥材、耕牛戰馬，以資軍用，誓不再反。南方已定。

When Kongming had finished rewarding the army, he led it back toward Shu, ordering Wei Yan to take his own troops as the vanguard. Wei Yan had just reached the Lu River when dark clouds suddenly gathered on all sides, a violent wind sprang up over the water, sand flew and stones rolled, and the army could not advance. Wei Yan withdrew and reported to Kongming. Kongming then sent for Meng Huo to ask him about it.

卻說孔明犒軍已畢，班師回蜀，令魏延引本部兵爲前鋒。延引兵方至瀘水，忽然陰雲四合，水面上一陣狂風驟起，飛沙走石，軍不能進。延退兵回報孔明。孔明遂請孟獲問之。

Indeed:
The Man beyond the frontier had only just submitted,
When the ghost soldiers by the water ran wild again.
What Meng Huo said will be told in the next chapter.

正是：塞外蠻人方帖服，水邊鬼卒又猖狂。
未知孟獲所言若何，且看下文分解。