Three Kingdoms

Chapter 34 Zhuge Liang Captures Meng Huo Seven Times (3)
At this time, a soldier from the front came back to report to Zhuge Liang that the road ahead was blocked by men sent by Meng Huo, and Meng Huo hid in the Tulong Cave and did not fight.Zhuge Liang asked Lu Kai what the terrain of the Tulong Cave looked like.Lu Kai said: "I only know that there is a Tulong Cave here, but I don't know the actual situation inside." Jiang Wan took the opportunity to advise Zhuge Liang: "It is very hot now, which is really not good for our army. It is better to go back to the court first." After a while, come and put down this group of rebels." Zhuge Liang refused, saying: "If we fall into Meng Huo's scheme as soon as we withdraw, and he will take the opportunity to chase us, then he is not asking for trouble." So he immediately He also ordered the surrendered barbarian soldiers to lead the way to the northwest path.

When the army entered the mountain forest, someone found a spring in front of them, and immediately someone ran over to hold water and drink it, because the weather was too hot.After a while, everyone who drank the spring water became dumb.The former vanguard general Wang Ping hurriedly reported to Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang was taken aback, knowing that he had been poisoned, and hurried to the place where the soldiers of the Shu Army were poisoned.He saw that the bottomless spring was bottomless, and the water was so strong that no one dared to drink the spring water anymore.Zhuge Liang looked around again, and there was no bird or other beasts flying around, which was really terrifying.

Zhuge Liang suddenly saw a stone temple not far ahead.Zhuge Liang ordered the soldiers to open the way ahead.Zhuge Liang came to the stone temple along a path temporarily opened by the soldiers.Zhuge Liang pushed open the temple gate and saw the statue of Ma Yuan, General Fubo of the Han Dynasty.Zhuge Liang paid homage to the stone statue of Ma Yuan three times and made a devout prayer.

At this time, an old man came vaguely from the opposite mountain.The old man leaned on crutches and had a magical appearance.Knowing that he was a hermit in the mountains, Zhuge Liang hurriedly invited the old man to the temple to rest.

The old man said to Zhuge Liang: "I have heard of Prime Minister Zhuge's name for a long time, so I came to see you specially. Thanks to the rescue of Prime Minister Zhuge, the people of the Nanman were able to live and work in peace and contentment. The soldiers of the Nanman were also released by you many times. If you don't kill them No one will forget your kindness and virtue, and you are worthy of being the prime minister of a great country!" Zhuge Liang told the old man that his subordinates drank the spring water.The old man told Zhuge Liang about the four poisonous springs.Zhuge Liang hurriedly asked the old man how to save his poisoned soldier.

The old man said: "Walking a few miles west from here, there is a valley there. Twenty miles into the valley, there is a stream called Wan'an Stream. There is a tall man named Wan'an Hermit there. He has lived there for decades. There is a spring behind his thatched house, called Anle Spring. If a person is poisoned, he can be cured by drinking the water from the Anle Spring. There is also a kind of medicinal herb planted in front of his thatched house. As long as you put a leaf of grass in your mouth, the miasma will not enter your body. Prime Minister Zhuge, hurry up!"

Zhuge Liang was very grateful to the old man and said: "Thank you for your help, old man. Please tell me your name." The old man said: "I am the mountain god here, and I am here to help you under the order of General Fubo Ma Yuan." After finishing speaking, he disappeared .Zhuge Liang worshiped the stone statue of the stone temple again, and then returned to the big army camp.

The next day, Zhuge Liang ordered his soldiers to prepare incense and gifts, and led Wang Ping and the poisoned soldiers to the valley.After walking for a long time, we came to a small villa.Birds are singing and flowers are fragrant around the courtyard.

Zhuge Liang knew it was here, so he was very happy and went to knock on the door himself.A small child opened the door.Zhuge Liang was about to say his name when an old man came out of the courtyard and said with a smile, "Is the Prime Minister of Shu Han here?"Zhuge Liang asked the old man: "How does the old man know?" Please help the old man.

The old man took them to the Anle Spring behind the thatched hut, and scooped up a lot of spring water for the poisoned soldiers to drink.The poisoned soldier drank the water from the Anle Spring and was able to speak again immediately.Zhuge Liang, the old man and the soldiers who came with them were very happy.The old man took Zhuge Liang and the others to pick a lot of herb leaves in front of the thatched house.

Before leaving, Zhuge Liang asked the old man's name.The old man smiled and said, "I am Meng Jie, Meng Huo's eldest brother." Zhuge Liang was quite surprised.The old man explained: "Prime Minister Zhuge, don't worry, just listen to me. My parents gave birth to us three brothers: I am the elder brother, and Meng Huo and Meng You are both my younger brothers. Once their parents died, Meng Huo would bully others, Dominate the Nanman. I advised him many times not to do evil, but he just didn't listen. I had no choice but to stay away from him and live here in seclusion. Meng Huo rebelled, and Prime Minister Zhuge worked so hard to come here to suffer such crimes , Meng Jie is also guilty!" Zhuge Liang sighed and said: "Seeing that the old man Meng is so clear about righteousness, I really feel very relieved, he is worthy of being a master!" Meng Jie said: "Ashamed!" Zhuge Liang said : "I asked the emperor to make you king, how about it?" Meng Jie said: "I hate fame and fortune, so I live in seclusion here. I don't mean to be greedy for wealth!" Zhuge Liang sighed and said goodbye and returned to the barracks.

Zhuge Liang returned to the barracks, and immediately ordered the soldiers to dig wells and springs under their feet. The soldiers dug for more than [-] meters, but they could not see a drop of water gushing out. They dug more than ten places, but still no water gushed out.For a while, the army panicked.

Zhuge Liang burned incense and prayed to the sky in the middle of the night and said: "The humble minister Zhuge Liang led the troops to conquer the southern barbarian rebels under the order of the emperor of the Han Dynasty. Now there are natural and man-made disasters, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers have no water to drink. If God does not want the Han to perish, then please let the earth spray Come out of the spring! If God really wants the big man to perish, my hundreds of thousands of troops will die here!"

The next day, Zhuge Liang and others watched the groundwater well, which was already full of water.Zhuge Liang ordered his soldiers to carry water to drink, and the soldiers of the Shu army immediately regained their fighting spirit.

A barbarian soldier reported Meng Huo.Meng Huo was taken aback, neither he nor King Dosi believed it.King Dosi and Meng Huo went to Gaoshan to observe the movements of the Shu army in person.Sure enough, all the Shu troops were full of energy and morale was high.

King Dosi said to Meng Huo: "This is really a magic weapon!" Meng Huo said: "We brothers will fight Zhuge Liang to the death here!" King Dosi said: "If the king is defeated, then my family will be defeated. Kill. I will fight side by side with the king and defeat Zhuge Liang together."

Zhuge Liang is commanding the army to attack Tulong Cave.

Meng Huo ordered the Nanman army to be on alert.At this time, one of the Nanman troops was listening to orders behind the cave, and the leader of the army was named Yang Feng.Yang Feng said to the Nanman soldiers guarding behind the cave: "Quickly report to King Menghuo that Yang Feng is here to help him fight the Shu army." Soldiers who were running fast had already reported to King Menghuo.

Meng Huo couldn't help laughing when he heard that it was General Yang Feng who came to help in the battle, and said, "With so many people helping me, I will succeed!" He and King Duosi came out of the cave to meet Yang Feng.

Yang Feng and his five sons led [-] soldiers into the Tulong Cave.Meng Huo and King Dosi set up banquet tables to entertain the six of them, father and son.After just a few sips of wine, Yang Feng asked his eldest and second sons to toast Meng Huo and King Duosi.Meng Huo and King Dosi smiled and took the wine glasses and were about to drink.Yang Feng suddenly yelled: "Catch Meng Huo, Meng You, and Duo Si." Yang Feng's two sons immediately seized Meng Huo and Meng You, and Duo Si was about to escape when Yang Feng caught him.

Meng Huo said sadly and angrily: "We are good neighbors and good friends. Why did you harm me?" I want to capture you instead of Prime Minister Zhuge."

Yang Feng told Meng Huo's subordinates to disperse and stop helping Meng Huo rebel.Meng Huo's subordinates all dispersed, and each returned to his own place.Yang Feng escorted Meng Huo, Meng You, Duo Si and other people who refused to surrender to Zhuge Liang's army camp.

Zhuge Liang rewarded the meritorious father and son Yang Feng and his soldiers.Then he ordered Meng Huo to be brought into the barracks.

Zhuge Liang smiled and said to Meng Huo: "You should be convinced now, right?" Use the four poisonous springs of Yaquan, Miequan, Heiquan, and Rouquan to deal with my hundreds of thousands of troops, but it didn’t work! Even God doesn’t help you, why are you always so stubborn.”

Meng Huo was still not convinced, and said: "My family has lived in Yinkeng Mountain for generations, and there are three big rivers blocking it. If you can catch me next time, I will be convinced." Zhuge Liang said: "I will let you go again." I'll go back, you recruit troops again, and fight to the death when the time comes, if you catch you again at that time, if you are still not convinced, I will destroy your nine clans." After speaking, he ordered his subordinates to untie the ropes on his body and let him go back.

Zhuge Liang ordered Meng You and Duo Si to be brought into the barracks again.Neither Meng You nor Duo Si dared to look up at Zhuge Liang.Zhuge Liang also let them go.

Meng Huo fled back to his Yinkeng cave overnight.In front of Yinkeng Cave, there are three big rivers: Lushui River, Chengnan River and Xicheng River.

Meng Huo went back to the cave and summoned his clan members, but there were only more than 1000 people.Meng Huo said, "I want to take revenge now, what should I do?" Someone said to Meng Huo, "I recommend someone to the king, who can defeat Zhuge Liang!" Meng Huo asked, "Who is it?" People said: "Bring the cave master to know." The cave master is the younger brother of Meng Huo's wife.

Meng Huo hurriedly asked who it was?Bring the cave master and say: "It is the King Mulu of Bana Cave in the southwest. King Mulu knows magic spells, and he rides elephants when he leads troops to fight. He can call wind and rain, and he is protected by poisonous snakes and beasts. They are all very brave, and they are never afraid of death in battle. Your Majesty can send someone to send your secret letter to King Mulu. If he agrees to send troops to help, no matter how clever Zhuge Liang is, he is not our opponent."

Meng Huo thought this was very good, and immediately wrote an urgent letter to King Mulu, and then ordered King Duosi to stick to Sanjiang City and use the three rivers to resist the Shu army.

Zhuge Liang led troops to attack Meng Huo's Sanjiang City.The Nanman soldiers on the city shot poisonous arrows, and some Shu soldiers died of poisoned arrows.

(End of this chapter)