As he said this he shouted at the solid rock behind the temple and it opened of itself to let him in.
Zhuge Liang, whose astonishment was beyond measure, made another obeisance to the mountain spirit and went down by the way he had come. Then he returned to his camp.
The next day, bearing incense and gifts, he took Wang Ping and his stricken men to the spot that the old man had indicated. They quickly found the valley and followed its narrow path till they came to an enclosure where tall pines, lofty cypresses, luxuriant bamboo, and exotic flowers sheltered several thatched-roofed cottages. An exquisite fragrance pervaded the whole place.
Delighted, Zhuge Liang proceeded to knock at the door. A lad answered his knock, and before Zhuge Liang could introduce himself the host appeared and asked, “Could it be that my visitor is the Prime Minister of Han?”
Zhuge Liang saw at the door a man with blue eyes and yellowish hair, wearing a bamboo headdress, straw sandals, and a white robe girded by a black sash.
“Honored sir, how do you know who I am?” asked Zhuge Liang with a smile.
“How could I not have heard of your expedition to the south?”
He invited Zhuge Liang to enter, and when they had seated themselves in their relative positions as host and guest, Zhuge Liang said: “My former lord, the late Emperor, confided to me the care of his son and successor. Now, at the command of the new Emperor, I have led an army to this country to subdue the Mans so that they will obey the rule of the central government. But to my disappointment, Meng Huo has hidden himself in a certain valley, and some of my men have been poisoned by the water in the Dumb Spring. But last night the late general, Ma Yuan, commander of a much earlier expedition, manifested his sacred presence and told me that you, exalted sir, have a cure for this poison. I beg you to have compassion on us and bestow on us some of your holy water to save the lives of my men.”
The recluse replied, “I am only a worthless old man of the wild woods, unworthy to trouble you to come all the way to visit. The water you desire flows out at the back of my cottage.”
The lad then showed Wang Ping and his dumb soldiers to the stream, where he scooped up the water for them to drink. At once they emitted some poisonous mucus and their power of speech was restored. The lad also led the soldiers to the Stream of Ever Lasting Peace to bathe.
Inside the cottage, Zhuge Liang was treated with tea of cypress cones and a conserve of pine flowers. His host also told him that there were many serpents and scorpions in the valleys and that the water in the local streams were unfit to drink when wind had blown willow flowers into them. The only way to find drinking water was to dig wells.
Then Zhuge Liang asked for some leaves of his plant as an antidote against the miasma. The recluse allowed the soldiers to take what they needed. And so every man was told to put a leaf in his mouth and thus became immune from the smog.
Zhuge Liang, with a low bow, then begged to be told the name of his benefactor.
“I am Meng Huo’s elder brother,” said the recluse, smiling. “My name is Meng Jie.”
Zhuge Liang was startled.
“Do not be afraid,” said the recluse. “Let me explain. We are three brothers of the same parents and I am the eldest. Our parents are now both dead. My two brothers Huo and You, being headstrong and vicious, would not submit to the imperial rule. I have tried to talk to them many times but they persisted in their rebelliousness. Finally, under an assumed name, I retired to this spot. I am ashamed for my brothers’ rebellion, which has brought you so much trouble as to make an expedition into this uncultivated land. For my responsibility in this I deserve to die ten thousand times, and I entreat you to forgive me.”
Zhuge Liang sighed, saying, “Now I believe that old story of the robber Zhi and the sage Liu Xia-hui* can also happen today. Men renowned for virtue and notorious for villainy may come from the same stock.”
Then he said to his host, “Would you wish me to report your merits to the Emperor and create you ruler of the land?”
“Well, how will I desire rank and wealth again, when I am here because of my contempt for all such things?”
Zhuge Liang then produced some gold and silk and offered them to him as gifts, but the recluse firmly declined to accept anything. Touched by his high sense of rectitude, Zhuge Liang, bowing reverently, took leave of his host, and then went back to his camp.
The recluse dwelt in peace, far away in the vale,
Where the great minister had once subdued the Mans.
Its towering trees, yet unknown to men,
Stands aloft still, clouded in cold mist.
As soon as Zhuge Liang reached camp, he set the men digging for water. But even when they dug to a depth of twenty feet, no water gushed out—nor were they more successful when they tried a dozen other places. The army was really alarmed.
Then Zhuge Liang burned incense and prayed to God in the depth of the night: “I, your unworthy servant Liang, relying on the fortune of the great Han, have come here to subdue the Mans at the order of the Emperor. But ‘ere my mission is completed our water is spent and my men and animals are parched with thirst. Should it be your will to preserve the line of the Hans, then I beseech you to bestow us sweet water; but should their course be spent, then may your servant and those with him die in this place!”
The next morning the wells were full of sweet water.
To restore Han he led his men to subdue the Mans.
His prayer was answered by gods for his heart was true.
As the wells gave forth sweet water when Geng Gong’s* head bowed full low,
So the reverent night appeals of Kongming made the water flow.
The soldiers’ spirits revived with the supply of water, and the army soon advanced by narrow paths to the front of the Valley of the Bald Dragon, where they encamped.
Spies of the Mans soon reported to their king that the springs had lost their power and the men of Shu did not appear to have suffered from miasma or thirst. When he heard of this, Duo Si would not believe it. Together with Meng Huo, he ascended a high hill to observe their enemy in their camp. They saw no sign of illness or distress among the soldiers, who were carrying water in big or small buckets to cook meals or tend to their horses.
Duo Si’s hair stood on end as he looked at them. “These must be heavenly soldiers!” he said, shivering.
“We two brothers will fight to the death with these men of Shu,” said Meng Huo. “We would rather die on the battlefield than wait to be put into bonds.”
“If your men are defeated my whole family will also perish. Let us slaughter oxen and horses to treat our men. That will encourage them to risk fire and water to make a dash at the enemy camp. Only thus can we hope to win a victory.”
So there was great feasting before the Mans took the field. Just as they were ready to set out, there arrived a neighboring chieftain, Yang Feng, who had led an army of 30,000 men to assist them. Meng Huo rejoiced exceedingly at this unexpected support and felt sure of victory. So he and Duo Si went out of their own valley to welcome Yang Feng, who said, “I have with me 30,000 men. All are brave and intrepid warriors, clad in iron mail. They can fly over hills and bounce across ridges, capable to withstand even a million men of Shu. And, moreover, my five sons, all trained in arms, are here with me to help you.”
Then he called forth his five sons and told them to bow to the two kings. These were all powerful-looking young fellows. Greatly pleased, Meng Huo entertained the father and sons at a banquet. Halfway through the feast Yang Feng proposed a diversion.
“There is but scanty amusement in the field,” said Yang Feng. “So I have brought along some native girls, who have been taught to dance with swords and shields. Would you care for it?”
The feasters hailed the suggestion with joy, and soon scores of maidens danced barefooted into the tent from outside, their hair flying about their shoulders. The audience sang and clapped to the rhythm.
Presently at a signal from their father, t
wo of Yang Feng’s sons came forward to fill a cup of wine for Meng Huo and his brother. They took the cups and were raising them to their lips when suddenly Yang Feng shouted his command and, instantly, the two sons pulled the two Mengs out of their seats and seized them. At this, Duo Si jumped up to run away, but Yang Feng gripped him, and he fell prisoner too. The dancing maidens, with their swords and shields, ranged themselves in a line along the front of the tent so that none dared approach.
“When the hare dies the fox mourns; so one does not harm one’s own kind,” said Meng Huo. “We are both chieftains and have never been enemies. Why do you want to injure me?”
“All my family owe our lives to Prime Minister Zhuge Liang and we must repay him for his great kindness to us. Now you are a rebel, so why should I not capture you and offer you to him?”
With the chief rebels captured, the Mans soldiers dispersed, each returning to his own home. Yang Feng then took his prisoners to the camp of Shu, where he bowed to Zhuge Liang and said, “We have captured the Meng brothers as an offering to you in return for your kindness to us.”
Zhuge Liang rewarded Yang Feng handsomely and then ordered Meng Huo to be brought in.
“Are you prepared to yield this time?” he asked.
“It is not your ability, but the betrayal of my own people that has rendered me prisoner. Slay me if you wish, but I will not yield.”
“You tricked my men into entering a land without drinking water, and you further attempted to harm us with the four poisonous springs, yet my soldiers came out safe and sound. Is it not providence? Why do you remain so obstinate?”
Meng Huo replied, “My forefathers have long held the Silver Pit Valley, which are protected by the natural ramparts of three rivers as well as by various strong passes. If you can capture me at that stronghold then I and my heirs will forever be submissive.”
“I am going to release you once more so that you may put your army in order and fight a decisive battle with me. But if you are recaptured and yet remain unsubmissive, I will have to exterminate your whole family.”
He ordered guards to set him free. After he had bowed in gratitude and left, the other two, his brother and Duo Si, were led in and they also received pardon. In addition they were given wine and food, but they were too afraid even to look the prime minister in the face. They were then given horses to travel back.
To penetrate deep into a land of risks is really hard,
But to win by wonderful strategies is more of a marvel.
Who will win the next battle will be disclosed in the next chapter.
Footnotes
* To die with a grievance.
* Two brothers in the period of Spring and Autumn.
* A general in East Han Dynasty, who maintained a staunch defense against Hun invaders in the first century.
CHAPTER NINETY
Driving off Giant Beasts, Zhuge Liang Scores a Sixth Victory
Rattan Armor Burned, Meng Huo Is Captured for the Seventh Time
At the close of the previous chapter Zhuge Liang released all the prisoners, including Meng Huo. Yang Feng and his sons were rewarded with ranks and his men were given presents. They expressed their gratitude and left. Meng Huo and his men also hastened homeward to Silver Pit Valley.
Outside the valley were three streams, the Lu, the Gannan, and the Xicheng, which converged to form one big river at the city of Sanjiang, or Three Rivers. Close to the valley on the north was a wide and fruitful plain; on the west were salt wells; some two hundred li to the southwest flowed the Lu and the Gannan; and due south was another valley, called Liangtu. There were hills in and around the valley, and among these hills they found silver. Hence, the name Silver Pit.
A palace had been built in the valley, which the Mans kings had made their stronghold. There was also an ancestral temple, which they named Family Spirits, where they held ceremonies to offer sacrifices of oxen and horses during the four seasons. These ceremonies were known as “Inquiring after the Spirits.” Human sacrifices were offered too, often men of Shu or people from other places. When their own people fell sick, they did not take any medicine but prayed to a sorcerer called the “Medicine Spirit.” There was no legal code—instant execution was the punishment for every offense.
When girls matured to womanhood they bathed in a stream. Young men and women mixed and mingled among themselves; they married whomever they would, free from the interference of their parents. They called this “learning the trade.” If the climate was good they grew grain, but if the crop failed they made soup out of serpents and boiled the meat of elephants as their staple food. In every district of their land, the head of the most powerful household was named “Chieftain,” and the next in importance was called “Senior.” Markets were held on the first and the fifteenth days of every month in the city of Sanjiang, where goods were brought in and bartered.
Meng Huo gathered together a thousand or more members of his clan, to whom he addressed: “I have been put to shame by the men of Shu many times, and I have sworn to take revenge for the insults. Have you any proposals to make?”
At this one of them replied, “I would like to recommend a man able to defeat Zhuge Liang.”
The assembly turned to the speaker, who was Chieftain Dailai, a brother of Meng Huo’s wife.
“Who is this man?” asked Meng Huo, much pleased.
His brother-in-law replied, “He is Mulu, Chieftain of Bana Valley. A master of magic, he can call up the wind and invoke the rain. He rides upon an elephant and is usually attended by tigers, leopards, wolves, venomous snakes, and scorpions. Besides, he has under his command 30,000 brave and superhuman soldiers. You can write a letter and prepare some presents, and I will deliver them to him. If he consents to assist us, what fear will we have of the men of Shu?”
Meng Huo was pleased with the idea and presently sent his brother-inlaw away for the mission. Then he asked Duo Si to defend the city of Three Rivers and make that the first line of defense.
Meanwhile, Zhuge Liang had also arrived near the city. Noting from a distance that the city faced water on all sides save one, he sent Wei Yan and Zhao Yun to attack it by land. But when they reached the rampart they found it well defended by bows and crossbows.
As it happened, the natives were adepts in the use of the bow, and their special kind of bow could discharge at once ten arrows, each with a poisoned head so that a wound meant sure death. The two officers saw that they could not succeed, and so retreated.
When Zhuge Liang heard of the poisoned arrows, he mounted his light chariot and went to see for himself. After he returned to his camp he ordered a retreat of several li. This move delighted the Mans, who congratulated each other on their success in driving off the enemy, who, they concluded, had fled because of fright. So they slept soundly at night, without even posting scouts to keep watch.
The army of Shu maintained a strong defense in their new stockade behind closed gates. For five days Zhuge Liang gave no orders. On the fifth day, toward dusk, a breeze began to rustle. Then Zhuge Liang issued an order that every man should get ready a coat by the first watch. Anyone failing to do so would be put to death. None of the officers knew what was in the wind, but the order was obeyed. Next came the order that each man was to fill his coat with earth. This order appeared equally strange, but it was carried out. When all were ready, Zhuge Liang told them to carry the earth to the foot of the city wall, and the first arrivals would be rewarded. So with their bundles of dry earth they ran as fast as they could to the wall, where they were ordered to stack the earth to construct a terraced path upward. The first man to reach the wall would receive the highest honor.
At this command all the soldiers of the huge army of Shu and the newly-surrendered natives threw their burdens of earth down by the wall. In no time a mound rose in front of the city and, at a signal, the soldiers rushed up the incline, and were soon upon the wall. The Mans archers hastened to shoot but most were instantly seized and dragged down; those who got clear fle
d from the city. Duo Si was slain in the battle that followed. The defeated men were chased by their opponents in several directions. Thus the city was captured and with it a great booty of treasures, which were given to the army as rewards.
The few soldiers who escaped went to tell Meng Huo what had happened. He was much distressed. And before he had recovered from this shock, news came that the men of Shu had crossed the river and were encamped right in front of his valley.
Just as he was in the very depths of distress, laughter was heard from behind a screen, and a woman appeared, saying, “You’re a man, yet you’re afraid—I’m only a woman but I’ll go out and fight for you.”
The woman was his wife, Lady Zhurong. Descended from an ancient imperial house of Zhurong, she was born and bred in the region. She was an expert in hurling daggers and never missed her target.
Meng Huo rose to thank her. She mounted a horse and rode out of the palace, leading hundreds of able officers and a vigorous troop of 50,000 natives to drive off the enemy.
Just as this large force went out of the valley it was stopped by a cohort led by Zhang Ni. At once the Mans spread out on two sides. Lady Zhurong, armed with five daggers in her belt, held an eighteen-foot (five-and-a-half meter) long spear, and rode a curly-haired horse of the Red Hare breed.
At the sight of her Zhang Ni marveled secretly in his heart but he quickly engaged the amazon. After a few passes the lady turned her steed and bolted. Zhang Ni went after her, but a dagger came flying through the air at him. As he tried to fend it off with one hand it deflected and wounded his arm, and he fell to the ground. The Mans, shouting loudly, pounced on the fallen officer and captured him.
Hearing that his comrade had been taken, Ma Zhong rushed out to rescue him, but Zhang Ni was already bound fast. Angrily he made a dash at the woman warrior, but just then his steed went down under him, tripped by a rope, and he was also a prisoner.
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: An Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 22
