iver；　the　West　Er　River；　lay　in　the　way；　and　having　no　boat；　Zhuge　Liang　bade　the　escort　cut　down　some　trees　and　make　a　raft。　They　did　so；　but　the　raft　sank。

So　Zhuge　Liang　turned　to　Lu　Kai；　who　said；　〃There　is　close　by　a　mountain　covered　with　bamboos。　I　have　heard　of　these　bamboos；　and　some　are　several　spans　in　girth。　We　can　make　a　bridge　of　them　for　the　army　to　cross。〃

So　thirty　thousand　soldiers　were　sent　to　the　mountains；　where　they　cut　down　many　thousands　of　bamboos；　and　floated　them　down　river。　Then　at　the　narrowest　point　they　made　a　bridge　a　hundred　spans　or　so　in　length。　Next　the　main　army　was　brought　down　to　the　river　and　camped　in　line　along　the　bank。　The　camp　was　protected　by　a　moat；　crossed　by　a　floating　bridge；　and　a　mud　rampart。　On　the　south　bank　they　constructed　three　large　stockades　so　as　to　prepare　for　the　ing　of　the　Mang　soldiers。

They　had　not　long　to　wait。　Meng　Huo　was　hot　with　rage　and　came　quickly　with　an　army　of　one　hundred　thousand。　As　soon　as　he　got　near　the　river；　he　led　out　ten　thousand　fierce　warriors；　armed　with　big　swords　and　shield；　and　challenged　the　first　stockade。

Zhuge　Liang　went　forth　in　simple　state。　He　wore　a　silk　cap　and　a　crane…white　robe　and　held　in　his　hand　a　feather　fan。　He　sat　in　a　four…horse　carriage；　and　his　generals　rode　right　and　left。

The　King　of　the　Mang　was　clad　in　mail　of　rhinoceros　hide　and　wore　a　bright　red　casque。　In　his　left　hand　he　bore　a　shield；　and　his　right　gripped　a　sword。　He　rode　a　red　ox。　As　soon　as　he　saw　his　enemies；　he　opened　his　mouth　and　poured　forth　abuse　and　insults；　while　his　warriors；　huge　and　bold；　darted　to　and　fro　brandishing　their　weapons。

Zhuge　Liang　at　once　ordered　the　army　to　retire　within　the　stockades　and　bar　the　gates。　The　Mangs　came　close　up　to　the