et　together　our　family　and　clients　and　fight　you　once　more。　If　I　am　caught　that　time；　then　I　will　confess　myself　beaten　to　the　ground；　and　that　shall　be　the　end。〃

〃Certainly　I　shall　scarcely　pardon　you　next　time；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃You　had　better　be　careful。　Diligently　tackle　your　Book　of　Strategy；　look　over　your　list　of　confidants。　If　you　can　apply　a　good　plan　at　the　proper　moment；　you　will　not　have　any　need　for　late　regrets。〃

Meng　Huo　and　his　brother　and　all　the　chiefs　were　released　from　their　bonds。　They　thanked　Zhuge　Liang　for　his　clemency　and　went　away。

By　the　time　the　released　prisoners　had　got　back　to　the　river；　the　army　of　Shu　had　crossed　to　the　farther　side　and　had　captured　the　Mang　defenses；　the　Shu　flags　fluttering　in　the　breeze。　As　Meng　Huo　passed　the　camp；　he　saw　Ma　Dai　sitting　in　state。

Ma　Dai　pointed　his　sword　at　the　King　as　he　passed；　and　said；　〃Next　time　you　are　caught；　you　will　not　escape。〃

When　Meng　Huo　came　to　his　own　camp；　he　found　Zhao　Yun　in　possession　and　all　in　order。　Zhao　Yun　was　seated　beneath　the　large　banner；　with　his　sword　drawn；　and　as　the　King　passed。

Zhao　Yun　also　said；　〃Do　not　presume　on　the　kindness　of　the　Prime　Minister　because　you　have　been　generously　treated。〃

Meng　Huo　grunted　and　passed　on。　Just　as　he　was　going　over　the　frontier　hills；　he　saw　Wei　Yan　and　a　pany　drawn　up　on　the　slopes。

Wei　Yan　shouted；　〃See　to　it：　We　have　got　into　the　inmost　recesses　of　your　country　and　have　taken　all　your　defensive　positions。　Yet　you　are　foolish　enough　to　hold　out。　Next　time　you　are　caught；　you　will　be　quite　destroyed。　There　will　be　no　more　pardons。〃

Meng　Huo　and　his　pany　ran　away　with　their　arms　over　their　heads。　Each　one　returned　to　his　own　ravine。

In　the　fifth　moon；　when　the