The recluse replied； 〃I am only a worthless old man of the wild woods and unworthy of the visit of such as you； O Minister。 The water you desire flows out at the back of my cottage； and you may take what you will of it。〃
The serving lad then showed Wang Ping and his dumb panions to the Spring of Peace and Joy； and he dipped up the waters for them to drink。 As soon as they had drunk； they coughed up some poisoned mucus and could speak。 The lad also led the soldiers to the Spring of Eternal Peace where they could bathe。
In the cottage the recluse regaled Zhuge Liang with tea made of cypress seeds and a conserve of pine flowers。
He also told his guest； saying； 〃In this region； the lands are full of serpents and scorpions； and the lily flowers blown into the springs by the wind make them unfit to drink。 However； if you dig wells； you will find good water。〃
Then Zhuge Liang begged some of the garlic…leaved herb as an antidote against malaria。 The recluse said the soldiers could pluck as much as they wanted。 And so everyone put a leaf in his mouth and thus became malaria…proof。
Zhuge Liang； with a low bow then begged to be told the name of his benefactor。
〃I am Meng Huo's eldest brother；〃 said the recluse； smiling。 〃My name is Meng Jie。〃
Zhuge Liang started。
〃Do not be afraid；〃 said the recluse。 〃Let me explain。 We were three brothers of the same parents； the eldest being myself。 Our parents are both dead。 My brother Meng Huo； being headstrong and vicious； has never been amenable to culture。 I have talked to him many times； but he kept his own course。 Finally； under an assumed name； I retired to this spot。 I am ashamed for my brother's rebellion； which has put you； O Minister； to the trouble of making this expedition into a barren country； but it has given me the privilege of seeing you。 For my responsibility in this I deserve to die a thousand times； as I own to your face； and I beg your pardon。〃
Zhuge Liang sighed； saying； 〃Now I believe that story of the two brothers………Robber Liu Zhi and Noble Liu Xiahui。 This is the same thing over again。 People renowned for villainy and virtue may e from the same stock。〃
Then he said to his host； 〃Would you wish me to represent your merits to the Emperor and get you created a king？〃
〃How can you think I desire honors or wealth when I am here because of my contempt for all such things？〃
Zhuge Liang then wished to make him certain presents； but the recluse would have none of them。
So taking leave of his host； Zhuge Liang went back to his camp。
In the southern expedition when the Mangs were subdued；
Zhuge Liang found a high…born recluse in a shady solitude。
Up till then the gloomy forests were thought destitute of men；
That no curling smoke wreath ever floated upwards from the glen。
As soon as Zhuge Liang reached camp； he set the soldiers digging for water。 They dug to a great depth but found none； nor were they more successful when they tried other places。 They were very discouraged。
Then Zhuge Liang in the depths of the night burned incense and prayed to God： 〃Unworthy as is thy servant Zhuge Liang； he has received favor from the Great Han and now has been ordered to subdue the Mangs。 Alas！ Now our water is spent and my soldiers and animals are parched with thirst。 If Thy will be to preserve the line of Hans； then give； I beseech Thee； sweet water； but if their course is run； then may Thy servant and those with him die in this place。〃
The morning after this prayer the wells were full of sweet water。
The Mangs must be conquered； Zhuge Liang led a great array；
Though his skill was superhuman； yet he held the righteous way；
As the wells gave forth sweet water when Geng Gong's head bowed full low；
So the reverent prayers of Zhuge Liang made the lower springs to flow。
The soldiers' spirits revived with the supply of water； and the army soon advanced by hill paths to the Valley of the Bald Dragon； where they camped。 When Meng Huo heard the news； he was greatly taken aback。
〃These troops do not appear to have suffered either thirst or fever；〃 said he。 〃Our springs have lost their power。〃
King Duo Si heard it； but doubted。 He and Meng Huo ascended into a high hill whence they could see their enemies。 They saw no signs of illness or distress。 All went on calmly and quietly in the camps； water carrying and cooking； eating and attending to the cattle。 Duo Si's hair stood on end as he looked at them。
〃These are not human soldiers；〃 said he； shivering。 〃They must be sent from Heaven。〃
〃Our two brothers will fight one fierce battle with these troops of Shu and die therein；〃 said Meng Huo； 〃We cannot wait calmly to be put into bonds。〃
〃But； O King； if your army should be beaten； my whole family will also perish。 Let us encourage the people of the ravines。 Let us kill bullocks and slaughter horses to feed them； and urge them to go through fire and water to rush right up to the camp of the enemy and seize upon victory。〃
So there was great feasting before the Mangs took the field。 Just as this was going on； there arrived one Yang Fang； King of twenty…one ravines in the west； and he led thirty thousand troops。
Meng Huo rejoiced exceedingly； saying； 〃This addition to our forces shall surely bring us victory。〃
So he and Duo Si went out of their own valley to wele Yang Fang。
Yang Fang said； 〃I have with me thirty thousand troops in iron mail； brave and intrepid warriors； who can fly over mountains and bound across the peaks。 They of themselves are a match for the enemy even if the enemy numbered a hundred legions。 And； moreover； my five sons； all trained in arms； are with me； all to help you； O Kings。〃
The five sons were brought in and presented。 They were handsome young fellows； bold and martial looking。 Father and sons were entertained at a banquet。 Halfway through the feast Yang Fang proposed a diversion。
〃There is but scanty amusement in the field；〃 said Yang Fang； 〃and so I have brought along some native singing girls who have been taught fencing and such things。 If you care for it； they might give an exhibition。〃
The feasters hailed the suggestion with joy； and soon thirty maidens came to the front of the tent。 Their hair hung about their shoulders； and they were barefooted。 They danced and skipped and went through their performance outside。 The guests inside clapped their hands and applauded their skill； and the soldiers joined in the choruses。
Presently； at a signal from their father； two of Yang Fang's sons bore two goblets to Meng Huo and Meng You。 Meng Huo and Meng You took the cups and were raising them to their lips when Yang Fang shouted a single word of mand； and； instantly； the cupbearers had the two brothers out of their seats and helpless in their hands。 At this； Duo Si jumped up to run away； but Yang Fang gripped him； and he was a prisoner too。 The Mang maidens ranged themselves in a line along the front of the tent so that none dared approach。
〃When the hare dies the fox mourns；〃 said Meng Huo。 〃One sympathizes with one's own as a rule。 We are both chiefs and have been friends。 I know not why you should injure me。〃
〃I had to repay Zhuge Liang the Minister for his passion on me and my people； and there was no way till you rebelled。 Why should I not offer up a rebel in propitiation？〃
Leaving Meng Huo； Meng You； and Duo Si in the hands of Yang Fang； the Mang warriors dispersed； each man returning to his own valley。
Yang Fang then took the prisoners to the camp of Shu； where he bowed at the tent door； saying； 〃I and my sons and the sons of my brother are grateful to you for much kindness； wherefore we bring to you as an offering the persons of these rebels。〃
Zhuge Liang rewarded Yang Fang and bade them bring forward Meng Huo。
〃This time are you prepared to yield？〃 said the Prime Minister。
〃It is not your ability； but the treachery of my own people that has brought me to this。 If you wish to slay； slay。 But I will not yield。〃
〃You know you were the cause of my army entering into a waterless land； where there were those four evil streams； and yet my soldiers were not poisoned and came to no harm。 Does it not seem to you like evidence of a superior protecting power？ Why will you follow this misguided road and always be obstinate？〃
Meng Huo replied； 〃My fathers have long held the Silver Pit Ravine； and the three rivers and the two forests are their ramparts。 If you can take that stronghold； then will I and my heirs forever acknowledge your power and yield。〃
〃I am going to liberate you once more；〃 said Zhuge Liang； 〃and you may put your army in order if you will and fight a decisive battle。 But after that； if you are my prisoner and are still refractory and unsubmissive； I shall have to exterminate your whole family。〃
Zhuge Liang ordered the lictors to loose the prisoner's bonds and let him go。 After he had gone； the other two； Meng You and Duo Si； were led in and they also received their liberty。 They were given wine and food。 but they were confused and could not look Zhuge Liang in the face。 They were given horses to travel on。
The way has been long and now danger is near；
But faith in their leader banishes fear。
The next chapter will tell how Meng Huo reorganized his army and whose the victory was。
Main Next to Chapter 90 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 90
Chapter 90
Chasing Off Wild Beasts； The Prime Minister Defeats The Mangs For The Sixth Time；
Burning Rattan Armors； Zhuge Liang Captures Meng Huo The Seventh Time。
All the prisoners were released。 Yang Fang and his sons were rewarded with ranks； and his people were given presents。 They expressed their gratitude and returned to their own； while Meng Huo and his brother hastened home to Silver Pit Ravine。
Outside this ravine were three rivers………River Lu； River Gannan； and River Xicheng。 These three streams united to form the Three Rivers。 Close to the ravine on the north was a wide and fruitful plain； on the west were salt wells。 The River Lu flowed about seventy miles to the southwest； and due south was a valley called the Liangdu Ravine。 There were hills in； as well as surrounding； the ravine； and in these they found silver………whence the name 〃Silver Pit〃。
A palace plex had been built in the ravine； which the Mang kings had made their stronghold； and there was an a