uting　in　the　rear；　and　they　told　him：　〃The　exit　has　been　blocked　with　wood…laden　carts；　which　on　being　broken　open　are　found　to　contain　explosive；　and　they　are　all　on　fire。〃

However；　seeing　that　the　valley　was　barren　and　devoid　of　grass　and　wood；　Wutu　Gu　was　not　in　the　least　alarmed　and　merely　bade　his　soldiers　search　for　a　way　round。

Then　he　saw　torches　being　hurled　down　the　mountain　side。　These　torches　rolled　till　they　came　to　a　certain　spot；　where　they　ignited　the　fuses　leading　to　the　powder。　Then　the　ground　suddenly　heaved　with　the　explosion　of　bombs　beneath。　The　whole　valley　was　soon　full　of　flames；　darting　and　playing　in　all　directions；　and　wherever　they　met　with　rattan　armor　the　rattan　caught　fire；　and　thus　the　whole　army；　huddled　and　crowded　together；　burned　in　the　midst　of　the　valley。

Zhuge　Liang　looked　on　from　the　heights　above　and　saw　the　Mangs　burned。　Many　of　the　dead　had　been　mangled　and　torn　by　the　explosions　of　the　mines。　The　air　was　full　of　suffocating　vapor。

Zhuge　Liang's　tears　fell　fast　as　he　saw　the　slaughter；　and　he　sighed；　saying；　〃Though　I　am　rendering　great　service　to　my　country；　yet　I　have　sacrificed　many　lives。　My　life　shall　be　shortened　for　this。〃

Those　who　were　with　him　were　also　deeply　affected。

King　Meng　Huo　was　in　his　camp　awaiting　news　of　success　when　he　saw　a　crowd　of　Mang　soldiers　e　along；　and　they　bowed　before　him　and　told　him；　〃King　Wutu　Gu　is　fighting　a　great　battle　and　is　about　to　surround　Zhuge　Liang　in　the　Valley　of　the　Coiled　Serpent。　But　he　needs　help。　We　are　the　natives　of　the　local　ravines；　and　we　ourselves　had　no　alternative　when　we　yielded　to　Shu。　But　now　we　have　returned　to　your　allegiance　and　are　willing　to　e　to　help　Your　Majesty。〃

So　Meng　Huo　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　hi