crossbows and balistae. The defences looked as if they were permanent. Moreover, each ravine sent supplies in plenty. And having made these preparations, Mênghuo felt comfortable and safe.

K'ung-ming had advanced, and his leading division was now close to the river. However, no boats or rafts could be found to cross, and the current was too strong to think of fording. Beside, they could see the formidable defences on the farther bank, the mud wall and the turrets all fully manned. The weather was burning hot, for it was the fifth mouth, and the soldiers could not tolerate their armour nor even their clothing.

When K'ung-ming had inspected the river, he returned to his tent and assembled his officers, to whom he read this order: "The enemy is securely established on the south bank ready to repel our attack. Yet, having come so far, we cannot return empty. For the present you will all seek what shelter you can find in the forests, and rest and refresh your men.”

Then he sent Lu K'ai to a distance to select a cool spot, and there he made two stockades. Within the stockades he built huts for the men and sheds for the horses, so that they were sheltered from the intense heat.

However, a junior captain, Chiang Wan, was ready to carp at these shelters, and went to K'ung-ming, saying, “These shelters of Lu K'ai's are very unsuitable. He has made the same mistake as that which led to the defeat of our former king at the hands of Wu. He has not taken into account the surroundings of the stockades, and if the Mans should come over and start a fire, there could be no rescue."

"Do not anticipate trouble," said the Commander-in-chief, smiling. "I have provided against all such dangers."

The fault-finder did not know what the chief meant to do, but he said no more. Then Ma Tai arrived from Ch'êngtu, and he brought summer medicines and further supplies of grain. He saw K'ung-ming, and then proceeded to distribute the supplies he had brought according to orders.

Then K'ung-ming said, "What force have you brought?" "Three companies," was the reply.

"My men are weary and worn out; I want to use yours. You have no objections?"

"Of course not; they are equally government troops. They are ready even to die for you if you wish."

"This Mênghuo is established on the river, and we have no means of crossing. But I am anxious to intercept his supplies, so that his men may mutiny."

"How can you do it?"

"Some distance lower down there is a place called Shak'ou, where the current is slow; you could cross there on rafts. I wish you and your men to cross and cut the road of supplies.

And as

After that you are to arrange with the two leaders whose lives I spared to be your allies on the inside, and we shall succeed." Ma Tai went off gladly enough, and marched his men to Sha'kou, where they set about the crossing at once. the water was shallow they did not trouble to make rafts, but just tucked up their clothes and waded in. But half-way across, the men began to fall over; and when they had been rescued and taken to the bank many of them began to bleed from the nose and mouth and died. In great alarm, Ma Tai sent hasty messages to K'ung-ming, who called in the guides and asked what this meant. They told him that it happened so every year. In the hot season, poisonous miasma collected over the waters of the Lu River, especially during the heat of the day. Anyone who drank the water would surely die. Travellers who wished to cross had to wait till night, because the cooler waters did not breathe out the poisonous vapours. Further, the natives said the crossing should be attempted on a full stomach.

K'ung-ming bade the local guides point out the best crossing place. He sent some well-seasoned soldiers to Ma Tai to lash together poles into rafts at Shak'ou, and in the night the crossing was safely accomplished. Further, the guides then led the men of Shu over to where the grain road of the Mans led through a narrow valley, called Chiashan Gorge, where, for part of the way, only single file was possible as the road was only wide enough for a man and a horse.

Ma Tai at once occupied this valley and stationed a force there. And a stockade was put up with tents inside. Presently a convoy of grain came along, and it was captured. The men ran off to the king's great camp and told him.

Mênghuo, thinking all was safe during the hot season, was enjoying himself; wine and music were the order of the day, and military matters were far from his thoughts. In his cups he admitted K'ung-ming was ruseful, but said his army had nothing to fear.

"If I attempt to oppose Chuko Liang I shall certainly fall a victim to some wile of his. However, my waiting policy is a safe one. With our defences, and the river to back them, we can wait for the heat to overcome these men of Shu, who cannot stand the hot season. They will have to retreat, and then we can harass them. And we will capture this Chuko."

He lay back and laughed at the thought. However, one chief, more prudent than the others, stood forth and said, "Remember the shallows at Shak'ou; it would be very serious if the men of Shu got across there secretly. It ought to be guarded."

"You belong to these parts. Do you not know that I want the enemy to try to get across there? Why, they will all perish in the water.'

"But what if the natives tell them to cross only in the night?"

"Do not be so anxious," said Mênghuo. "Our own people will not help the enemy that far."

It was just then that intelligence came that the men of Shu had crossed the river and, moreover, had seized the Chiashan Gorge. The flags showed that the commander was Ma Tai.

Mênghuo affected indifference. "This sort of fellow is not worth talking about," said he.

He sent a junior officer named Mangyachang with three companies to recapture the gorge and reopen the grain road. When Ma Tai saw the Man soldiers approaching, he placed two companies in front of the hills and drew up the others in formal array. Then Mangyachang rode out to give battle. This was but a small engagement, as the barbarian fell at the first stroke of Ma Tai's sword. The Mans ran away at once.

They returned to the king's camp and told him what had happened. Whereupon he called up all his captains and asked for another to go up against Ma Tai.

"I will go," cried Tungt'una.

The king gave him three companies. After he had gone, Mênghuo thought it would be wise to keep others from crossing the river. So he sent a force to guard Shak'ou.

Tungt'una duly arrived at the gorge and made a camp. Ma Tai came out to meet him. Among the men in his cohort were some who recognised the leader of the Mans and told Ma Tai certain things about how he had been captured and liberated. So Ma Tai galloped toward him, shouting out reproaches of ingratitude and so on. Tungt'una was very greatly ashamed and turned red in the face, and went away without striking a blow. Ma Tai followed and fell on, slaying many of the Mans. Tungt'una went back and told the king that Ma Tai was too strong for him.

But the king was angry, and cried, "You are a traitor! I know Chuko Liang was good to you, and that is why you would not fight."

He ordered Tungt'una out to execution. However, the notables and chiefs interceded, and the death penalty was remitted, but the unhappy leader was severely beaten, one hundred strokes with the heavy staff.

The chiefs were mostly on the side of the beaten captain and against the king's policy.

They said, "Though we live in the Man country we have never had any thoughts of rebellion against the Central Government, nor has China ever encroached upon our land. We must own that Mênghuo's superior power forced us into this rising, and we could not help ourselves. K'ung-ming is too clever for us, and no one can guess what he may do. Even Ts'ao Ts'ao and Sun Ch'üan fear him; how much more must

we? Moreover, we have received kindness at his hands and owe him our lives. We ought to show our gratitude. Now let us at all risks slay this Mênghuo and submit to K'ung-ming so that our people may not suffer."

Tungt'una said, "I do not know your inner sentiments."

At this, all those who had been prisoners and released cried with one voice, "We desire to go to him."

Thereupon Tungt'una took in his hand a sharp sword, placed himself at the head of the malcontents and rushed into the great camp. At that moment Mênghuo was, as usual, intoxicated and lay in his tent. The mutineers rushed in. They found two captains on guard.

"You also received kindness from K'ung-ming and ought to repay it," cried Tungt'una.

They replied, "You may not slay him; let us carry him a prisoner to K‘ung-ming.”

So they bound the king securely, took him down to the river and crossed in a boat to the northern bank. There they halted while they sent a messenger to K'ung-ming.

Now K'ung-ming knew what had been happening, and he had issued orders for every camp to prepare their weapons. All being ready, he told the chiefs to bring up their prisoner, and bade the others return to their camps. Tungt'una went first and told the matter to K'ung-ming, who praised his zeal and gave him presents. Then he retired to summon the chiefs. When they had arrived, the executioners brought in Mênghuo. "You said once before that if you were captured again you would give in," said K'ung-ming, smiling. "Now will you yield?"

"This capture is not your work," replied the king. "It is the work of these minions of mine who want to hurt me. I will not yield on this."

"If I free you again, what then?"

"I am only a Man, I know, but I am not wholly ignorant of war. If you, O Minister, let me return to my ravines I will muster another army and fight a decisive battle with you. If you capture me again then I will incline my heart and own myself beaten and yield. I will not go back on my promise again."

"If you refuse to yield next time you are captured, I shall hardly pardon you."

At K'ung-ming's orders the cords were loosed and refreshments were brought for the prisoner.

"Remember," said K'ung-ming, "I have never failed yet. I have never failed to win a battle or to take a city I have assaulted. Why do you Mans not yield?"

Mênghuo only nodded his head; he said nothing. After the wine, K'ung-ming and Mênghuo rode round the camps together, and the king saw all the arrangements and the piles of

stores and heaps of weapons, and after the inspection he said, "You are silly not to yield to me. You see my veteran soldiers, my able captains, my stores of all kinds and war gear; how can you hope to prevail against me? If you will yield I will inform His Majesty, and you shall retain your kingship and your sons and grandsons shall succeed as perpetual guardians of the Man country. Do you not think it would be well?"

The king replied, "If I did yield, the men of my valleys would not be content. If you release me once more I will see to it that my own men keep the peace and bring them round to unanimity of feeling, and then they will not oppose any more."

But Mênghuo's first act on his return to his own camp was to assassinate the two leaders Tungt'una and Ahuinan. Their corpses were thrown into a gully. Then he sent his friends to guard the most important strategical points, while he marched to fight a battle with Ma Tai. But when he got near the valley he saw no signs of the enemy, and, on questioning an inhabitant, he heard that the Shu army, with all their stores, had recrossed the river and joined the main body.

Mênghuo then returned to his own ravine and discussed matters with his brother, Mêngyu, and told him that he knew all the details of the enemy's force from what he had seen in their camp, and he gave his brother certain instructions, which he at once began to carry out. He loaded a hundred men with gold and jewels and pearls and ivory and rhinoceros horn, crossed the Lu River and was on his way to the main camp, when he was stopped by a cohort under Ma Tai himself. did not expect to meet an enemy, and was surprised. But Ma Tai only asked what he had come for. And when he had heard, Mêngyu was detained while a message was sent to K'ung-ming.

He

The messenger arrived while a council was in progress, the matter under discussion being how to reduce the Mans. When the messenger had announced that Mêngyu had come bearing gifts of gold and pearls and such things, K'ung-ming turned to Ma Su, who was there, saying, "Know you why this man has come?"

"I dare not say plainly; but let me write it," said Ma Su. "Write it, then.

So Ma Su wrote and handed the paper to his chief, who had no sooner read it than he clapped his hands with joy, crying, "What you say is exactly what I think. But you may know I have already made arrangements for the capture of Mênghuo.

Then Chao Yün was called, and some orders were whispered into his ear. Next Wei Yen came, and he also went off with secret orders. Wang P'ing, Ma Chung and Kuan So also came, and left with particular instructions.