you。 But now I firmly believe this surrender is part of a plot to kill me。〃
Then he called out to his guards to search the prisoners。 They did so； and on every man they found a sharp knife。
〃Did you not say that if your family were taken prisoners you would yield？ How now？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃We have e of our own will and at the risk of our lives。 The credit is not yours。 Still I refuse to yield；〃 replied Meng Huo。
〃This is the sixth time I have captured you； and yet you are obstinate。 What do you expect？〃
〃If you take me a seventh time； then I will turn to you and never rebel again。〃
〃Well； your stronghold is now destroyed。 What have I to fear？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
He ordered the bonds to be loosed； saying； 〃If you are caught again and lie to me once more； I shall certainly not be inclined to let you off。〃
Meng Huo and his people put their hands over their heads and ran off like rats。
The defeated Mangs who had fled were of thousands； and more than half of them were wounded。 They fell in with their King； who restored what order was possible and felt glad that he had still some leaders left。 Then he and the Chief Dai Lai took counsel together。
〃Whither can we go？〃 said Meng Huo。 〃Our stronghold is in the hands of the enemy。〃
Dai Lai replied； 〃There is but one country that can overe these troops。 That is the Wuguo Kingdom。 It lies two hundred miles to the southeast。 The King of that state is named Wutu Gu。 He is a giant of twelve spans。 He does not eat grain； but lives on serpents and venomous beasts。 He wears scaly armor； which is impenetrable to swords and arrows。 His warriors wear rattan armor。 This rattan grows in gullies； climbing over rocks and walls。 The inhabitants cut the rattans and stee