s　clansmen　and　those　who　had　just　e　to　him；　and　lost　no　time　in　marching　out。　He　bade　them　lead　him　to　the　spot。　But　when　he　reached　the　valley　and　saw　the　destruction；　he　knew　he　had　been　made　a　victim　again。　As　he　made　to　retire；　there　appeared　a　body　of　his　enemy　on　each　side　under　Zhang　Ni　and　Ma　Zheng；　and　they　began　to　attack。　Meng　Huo　was　making　what　stand　he　could　when　a　great　shouting　arose。　The　Mangs　were　nearly　all　disguised　soldiers　of　Shu；　and　they　quickly　surrounded　him　and　his　clansmen　to　make　them　prisoners。

Meng　Huo　galloped　clear　and　got　into　the　hills。　Presently　he　fell　upon　a　small　chariot；　with　a　few　guards　about　it；　and　therein　sat　Zhuge　Liang；　simply　dressed　and　holding　a　fan。

〃What　now；　rebel　Meng　Huo？〃　cried　Zhuge　Liang。

But　Meng　Huo　had　galloped　away。　He　was　soon　stopped　by　Ma　Dai　and　lay　a　helpless　prisoner　bound　hand　and　foot。　His　wife；　Lady　Zhurong；　and　the　other　members　of　his　family　were　also　taken。

Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　camp　and　seated　himself　in　the　high　place　in　his　own　tent。　He　was　still　sad　at　the　thought　of　the　sacrifice　of　life。

He　said　to　his　officers；　〃There　was　no　help　for　it；　I　had　to　use　that　plan。　But　it　has　sadly　injured　my　inner　virtue。　Guessing　that　the　enemy　would　suspect　an　ambush　in　every　thicket；　I　sent　people　to　walk　about　in　wooded　places　with　flags。　Really　there　was　no　ambush。　I　bade　Wei　Yan　lose　battle　after　battle　just　to　lead　the　enemy　on　and　harden　their　hearts。　When　I　saw　the　Valley　of　the　Coiled　Serpent；　with　its　bare　sides　of　smooth　rock　and　the　road　in　its　depths；　I　recognized　what　could　be　done　and　sent　Ma　Dai　to　arrange　the　contents　of　the　black　carts；　the　mines；　which　I　had　prepared　long　ago　for　this　purpose。　In　every　bomb　were　nine　others；　and　they　were　buried　thirty　p