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第215部分(第2页)

Duo Si said; 〃O King; rest content。 If those men from the River Lands e here; I will see to it that not one goes home。 And Zhuge Liang will meet his death here too。〃

Naturally; Meng Huo was pleased。 But he wanted to know how his host could feel so secure。

Duo Si said; 〃In this ravine there are only two roads; the one you came by and another by the northwest。 The road you traveled along is level and soft; and the waters are sweet。 Humans and horses may both use it。 But if we close the mouth of the ravine with a barricade; then no one; however strong; can get in。 The other road is precipitous; dangerous; and narrow。 The only path is beset with venomous serpents and scorpions; and as evening es on there are malarial exhalations which are dangerous till past noon the next day。 The road is only practicable between two watches before sunset。 Then the water is undrinkable。 The road is very difficult。

〃Then again there are four streams actually poisonous。 One is called The Dumb Spring。 Its water is pleasant to the palate; but it makes people dumb and they die in a few days。 A second fountain is called The Destruction Spring and is hot。 But if a person bathes therein; his flesh rots till his bones protrude and he dies。 The third is The Black Spring。 Its water is clear。 If it be sprinkled on a persons body; his limbs turn black and presently he dies。 The fourth is The Weak Spring; ice cold。 If a person drink of this water his breath is chilled; he bees weak as a thread and soon dies。 Neither birds nor insects are found in this region; and no one but the Han General Ma Yuan; who was styled General Who Quells the Waves for this exploit; has ever passed。 Now the northeast road shall be blocked; and you may hide here perfectly safe from those troops of Shu; for; finding that way blocked; they will try the other road; which is waterless save for the four deadly springs。 No matter how many they be; they will perish; and we need no weapons。〃

〃Now indeed I have found a place to live in;〃 cried Meng Huo; striking his forehead。 Then looking to the north he said; 〃Even Zhuge Liangs wonderful cunning will be of no avail。 The four springs alone will defeat him and avenge my army。〃

The two brothers settled down fortably as guests of King Duo Si; with whom they spent the days in feasting。

In the meantime; as the Mangs did not appear; Zhuge Liang gave orders to leave the West Er River and push south。 It was then the sixth month; and blazing hot。 A poet sang about the bitter heat of the south:

The hills are sere; the valleys dry;

A raging heat fills all the sky;

Throughout the whole wide universe

No spot exists where heat is worse。

Another poem runs:

The glowing sun darts out fierce rays;

No cloud gives shelter from the blaze。

In parching heat there pants a crane;

The whale swims through the hissing main。

The brooks cool margin now I love;

Or idle stroll through bamboo grove。

I would not march to deserts far

In leathern jerkin donned for war。

Just at the moment of setting out southward; the spies brought news of Meng Huos retreat: 〃Meng Huo has fled into the Bald Dragon Ravine; and there he has barricaded the entrance。 The valley is garrisoned; the hills are precipitous and even impassable。〃

So Zhuge Liang called in Lu Kai and questioned him; but he did not know exactly the conditions。

Then out spoke Jiang Wan; saying; 〃Meng Huos repeated captures have broken his spirit so that he dare not take the field again。 Our soldiers are exhausted with this intense heat; and little is to be gained by prolonging the campaign。 The best move would be to return to our own country。〃

〃If we do this; we shall fall victims to Meng Huos scheme;〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃If we retreated; he would certainly follow。 Beside; having advanced so far; it would be fruitless to turn back now。〃

Wang Ping was sent on with the advanced guard and some of the Mangs as guides to seek an entrance on the northwest。 They found the road and came to the first spring………the Dumb Spring………; of which the thirsty men and horses drank freely。

Wang Ping returned to report his success; but by the time he reached camp; he and all his soldiers were speechless。 They could only point to their mouths。

Zhuge Liang knew they had been poisoned; and was alarmed。 He went forward in his light chariot to find out the cause。 He came to the spring。 The water was very deep and dark green。 A mass of vapor hung about the surface rising and falling。 They would not touch the water。 Zhuge Liang went up the hills to look around; but could see nothing except a rampart of mountains。 A deep silence hung over all; unbroken by the cry even of a bird。 He was perplexed。

'e' Ma Yuan (BC 14…AD 49) a general who first served Wang Mang; then join Liu Xiu in restoring Han Dynasty。 In his life of career; Ma Yuan contributed much to Liu Xius success by putting down rebellions throughout the empire and abroad。 。。。。。

Presently he noticed an old temple away up among the crags。 By the aid of the lianas and creepers he managed to clamber up; and in a chamber hewn out of the rock he saw the figure of an officer。 Beside it was a tablet saying the temple was dedicated to Ma Yuan*; the famous general who had preceded him in that country。 The natives had erected it to sacrifice to the leader who had headed the campaign against the Mangs。

Zhuge Liang; much impressed; bowed before the image of the great leader; and said; 〃Your humble servant received a sacred trust; the protection of the son of the First Ruler。 That son; the present Emperor; sent him here to subdue the Mangs that the land might be free from peril when he decided

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