Lu　Kai　said；　〃I　have　heard　of　the　Wuguo　Kingdom　as　perfectly　tribal　among　the　Mang　nations。　I　have　also　heard　of　the　rattan　armor；　which　can　withstand　all　thrusts；　and　the　harmful　River　of　Peach　Flowers。　The　Southern　Mangs　are　so　untameable　that　victory　will　mean　little。　We　would　rather　retreat。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　merrily；　〃we　have　had　too　much　difficulty　in　getting　here　to　go　back　so　easily。　I　shall　have　a　counter…plan　for　these　people　tomorrow。〃

Having　provided　for　the　defense　of　his　camp；　he　gave　strict　orders　to　his　generals　not　to　go　out　to　fight；　Zhuge　Liang　went　to　reconnoiter。　He　rode　in　his　light　chariot　with　a　few　natives　as　guides。　He　came　to　the　ford；　and　from　a　secluded　spot　in　the　mountains　on　the　north　bank；　he　looked　about　him。

The　whole　country　was　mountainous　and　difficult；　impassable　for　any　carriage。　So　he　got　out　and　went　afoot。　Presently；　from　a　hill　he　saw　a　long　winding　valley；　like　a　huge　serpent。　The　sides　were　very　precipitous　and　bare。　However；　a　road　ran　through　the　middle。

〃What　is　the　name　of　the　valley？〃　asked　Zhuge　Liang。

〃It　is　called　'Coiled　Serpent　Valley'；〃　said　the　guides。　〃At　the　other　end　you　e　into　the　high　road　to　Three　Rivers。　The　road　goes　by　a　valley　called　'Talang　See'。〃

〃The　very　thing；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　gladly。　〃Surely　this　is　providence。　I　shall　score　a　great　success　here。〃

Having　seen　enough；　he　retraced　his　steps；　found　his　chariot；　and　returned　to　camp。　Arrived　at　the　camp；　Ma　Dai　was　called　and　put　in　charge　of　the　preparations。

Zhuge　Liang　gave　him　an　order：　〃I　will　give　you　the　ten　black　painted　carts；　and　you　are　to　get　a　thousand　long　bamboo　poles。　Open　the　carts；　and　follow　my　instructions　there。　Then　you　are　to　keep　the　two　ends　of　the　Coiled　S