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 Serpent Valley。 Half a month is the deadline； and all of these must be performed with the most perfect secrecy under military law and punishment。〃
Next Zhao Yun was sent to a point on the Three Rivers road； Wei Yan to camp at the Peach Flowers Ford。
Zhuge Liang told Wei Yan； 〃If the Mangs e over the river； you are to abandon the camp and march toward a certain white flag you will see。 Further； in half a month you would have to acknowledge defeat some fifteen times and abandon seven camps。 On no account are you to e to interview me even after fourteen defeats。〃
Wei Yan went off； not a little hipped at the prospect； but prepared to obey。 Next； Zhang Yi was sent to make a stockade at a certain indicated point； and Zhang Ni and Ma Zheng was told to lead the Mang soldiers who had surrendered； and other orders were given。
Meng Huo had begun to have a real terror of Zhuge Liang； and he warned King Wutu Gu of Wuguo； saying； 〃This Zhuge Liang is exceedingly crafty。 Ambush is one of his favorite ruses； so you should warn your soldiers that on no account should they enter a valley where the trees are thick。〃
〃Great King； you speak with reason；〃 said Wutu Gu。 〃I have always heard that the people of the Middle Kingdom are full of wiles； and I will see that your advice is followed。 I will go in front to fight； and you may remain in the rear to give orders。〃
Presently the scouts told them of the arrival of the troops of Shu on the bank of the Peach Flowers River。 Wutu Gu sent his two generals………Xi Ni and Tu An………to cross the river and engage them。 The two sides met； but Wei Yan soon suffered a defeat and left the field。 The Mangs were afraid to pursue as they dreaded an ambush。
In the meantime； Wei Yan laid out another camp。 The Mangs crossed the river in greater force。 Wei Yan came out to meet them； but again fled after a very short fight。 This time the Mangs pursued； but having lost their hold of the enemy after three miles； and ing then to the late camp of the Shu army； which seemed quite safe； they occupied it。
Next day Xi Ni and Tu An asked their King Wutu Gu to e to the camp； and they reported what had happened。 Wutu Gu decided to make a general advance to drive the troops of Shu before him。 They fled； even casting aside their breastplates and throwing away their arms； they were in such haste to flee。 And the troops of Shu went toward a white flag that appeared in the distance。 They found a camp already made； which they occupied。
Soon； however； Wutu Gu came near； and as he pressed forward Wei Yan abandoned this camp and fled。 When the Mangs reached the camp； they took up quarters therein。
Soon after they set out to renew the pursuit； but Wei Yan turned back and checked them。 This was only a temporary check； for he fled after three encounters； going toward a white flag in the distance。
This sort of thing continued daily until the soldiers of Shu had been defeated and driven out of the field fifteen times and had abandoned their camp on seven different occasions。
The Mangs were now hot in pursuit and pressed on with all their might； Wutu Gu being in the forefront of the pursuers。 But then they came to a thick umbrageous wood； and he halted； for he saw flags moving about behind the sheltering trees。
〃Just as you foretold；〃 said Wutu Gu to Meng Huo。 〃The men of Shu like using ambush。〃
〃Yes； Zhuge Liang is going to be worsted this time。 We have beaten off his troops now daily for half a month and won fifteen successive victories。 His troops simply run when they hear the wind。 The fact is he has exhausted all his craft and has tried every ruse。 Now our task is nearly done。〃
Wutu Gu was greatly cheered and began to feel contempt for his enemy。
The sixteenth day of the long fight found Wei Yan leading his oft…defeated troops once more against the rattan…protected foe。 King Wutu Gu on his white elephant was well in the forefront。 He had on a cap with symbols of the sun and moon and streamers of wolf's beard； a fringed garment studded with gems； which allowed the plates or scales of his cuirass to appear； and his eyes seemed to flash fire。 He pointed the finger of scorn at Wei Yan and began to revile him。
Wei Yan whipped up his steed and fled。 The Mangs pressed after him。 Wei Yan made for the Coiled Serpent Valley； for he saw a white flag calling him thither。 Wutu Gu followed in hot haste； and as he saw only bare hills without a sign of vegetation； he felt quite confident that no ambush was laid。 So he followed into the valley。 There he saw some score of black painted carts in the road。
The soldiers said to each other； 〃The carts must be the missariat wagons of the enemy； abandoned in their hasty flight when they heard of the ing of Your Majesty。〃
This only urged the King to greater speed； and he went on toward the other mouth of the valley； for the soldiers of Shu had disappeared。 However； he saw piles of timber being tumbled down across the track and great boulders rolled down the hill side into the road。 The pursuers cleared away the obstacles。 When they had done so and advanced a little； they saw certain wheeled vehicles in the road； some large； some small； laden with wood and straw； which was burning。 Wutu Gu was suddenly frightened and ordered a retreat。
But he heard much shouting 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 his 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 paces apart。 They were connected by fuses laid in hollow bamboos that they might explode in succession； and the force was enormous。 Zhao Yun prepared those carts laden with straw and rolled down the piles of timber and boulders that blocked the mouth。 Wei Yan led Wutu Gu on and on till he had enticed the King into the valley； when he took up a position to escape。 Then the burning began。 They say that what is good for water is not much good for fire； and the oil…soaked rattan； excellent as a protection against swords and arrows； was most inflammable； catching fire at sight。 The Mangs were so stubborn that the only way was to use fire； or we should never have scored a victory。 But I much regret that the destruction of the people of Wuguo has been so plete。 Heaven shall not overlook this crime。〃
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