In his own ravine； Meng Huo gathered his family and clan to the number of a thousand or more and addressed them： 〃I have been put to shame by the leaders of Shu many times； and I have sworn to take revenge for the insults。 Has anyone any proposal to make？〃
Thereupon a certain one replied； saying； 〃I can produce a man able to defeat Zhuge Liang。〃
The assembly turned to the speaker； who was a brother of Meng Huo's wife。 He was the head of eight tribes of the Southern Mangs； and was named Chief Dai Lai。
〃Who is the man？〃 asked Meng Huo。
Chief Dai Lai replied； 〃He is Mu Lu； King of the Bana Ravine。 He is a master of witchcraft who can call up the wind and invoke the rain。 He rides upon an elephant and is attended by tigers； leopards； wolves； venomous snakes； and scorpions。 Beside； he has under his hand thirty thousand superhuman soldiers。 He is very bold。 O King； write him a letter and send him presents； which I will deliver。 If he will consent to lend his aid； what fear have we of Shu？〃
Meng Huo was pleased with the scheme and ordered Dai Lai to draft a letter。 Then he ordered Duo Si to defend Three Rivers and make the first line of defense。
Zhuge Liang led his troops near the city of Three Rivers。 Taking a survey of the country； he noted that the city was surrounded by the three rivers and could only be reached by a bank on one face； so he sent Wei Yan and Zhao Yun to march along the road and attack。 But when they reached the rampart； they found it well defended by bows and crossbows。
The defenders of the city were adepts in the use of the crossbow； and they had one sort which discharged ten arrows at once。 Furthermore； the arrows were poisoned； and a wound meant certain death。 The two generals saw that they could not succ