〃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　th