Ma Dai at once occupied this valley and stationed a force there. And a stockade was put up with tents inside. Presently a convoy of grain came along, and it was captured, more than a hundred wagons. The guards ran off to Meng Huo's great camp and told him.
Meng Huo, thinking all was safe during the hot season, was enjoying himself; wine and music were the order of the day, and military matters were far from his thoughts. In his cups he admitted Zhuge Liang was ruseful, but said his army had nothing to fear.
“If I attempt to oppose Zhuge Liang, I shall certainly fall a victim to some wile of his. However, my waiting policy is a safe one. With our defenses, and the river to back them, we can wait for the heat to overcome these men of Shu, who cannot stand the hot season. They will have to retreat, and then we can harass them. And we will capture this Zhuge Liang.”
He lay back and laughed at the thought. However, one chief, more prudent than the others, stood forth and said, “Remember the shallows at Shakou; it would be very serious if the soldiers of Shu got across there secretly. It ought to be guarded.”
“You belong to these areas. Do you not know that I want the enemy to try to get across there? Why, they will all perish in the water.”
“But what if the natives tell them to cross only in the night?”
“Do not be so anxious,” said Meng Huo. “Our own people will not help the enemy that far.”
It was just then that intelligence came: “The troops of Shu, unknown in number, have crossed the river and, moreover, have seized the Jiashan Gorge. The flags show the words 'General Ma Dai Who Pacifies The North.'“
Meng Huo affected indifference.
“This sort of fellow is not worth talking about,” said he.
He sent General Mangya Chang with three thousands troops to recapture the gorge and reopen the grain road.
When Ma Dai saw the Mang soldiers approaching, he placed two thousand troops in front of the hills and drew up the troops in formal array. Then Mangya Chang rode out to give battle. This was but a small engagement, as the general of the tribespeople fell at the first stroke of Ma Dai's sword. The Mangs ran away at once.
They returned to the King's camp and told him what had happened. Whereupon he called up all his generals and asked for another to go up against Ma Dai.
“I will go,” cried Dongtu Na. The King gave him three thousand troops. After he had gone, Meng Huo thought it would be wise to keep others from crossing the river. So he sent a force of three thousand under Ahui Nan to guard Shakou.
Dongtu Na duly arrived at the gorge and made a camp. Ma Dai came out to meet him. Among the soldiers in his cohort were some who recognized the leader of the Mangs and told Ma Dai certain things about how he had been captured and liberated.
So Ma Dai galloped toward him, shouting, “O you ingrate! How could you forget the debt to the Prime Minister? Have you known no shame?”
Dongtu Na was very greatly ashamed and turned red in the face, and turned his horse before striking a blow. Ma Dai followed and fell on, slaying many of the Mangs. Then both sides withdrew.
Dongtu Na went back and told the King that Ma Dai was too strong for him.
But Meng Huo was angry, and cried, “You are a traitor! I know Zhuge Liang was good to you, and that is why you would not fight.”
Meng Huo ordered Dongtu Na out to execution. However, the notables and chiefs interceded, and the death penalty was remitted, but the unhappy leader was severely beaten, one hundred strokes with the heavy staff.
The chiefs were mostly on the side of the beaten general and against the King's policy.
They went to the tent of Dongtu Na and said, “Though we live in the Mang country, we have never had any thoughts of rebellion against the Imperial Government, nor has the Middle Empire ever encroached upon our land. We must own that Meng Huo's superior power forced us into this rising, and we could not help ourselves. Zhuge Liang is too clever for us, and no one can guess what he may do. Even Cao Cao and Sun Quan fear him; how much more must we? Moreover, we have received kindness at his hands and owe him our lives. We ought to show our gratitude. Now let us at all risks slay this Meng Huo and submit to Zhuge Liang so that our people may not suffer.”
Dongtu Na said, “I do not know your inner sentiments.”
At this, all those who had been prisoners and released cried with one voice, “We desire to go to Meng Huo.”
Thereupon Dongtu Na took in his hand a sharp sword, placed himself at the head of more than a hundred malcontents, and rushed into the great camp. At that moment Meng Huo was, as usual, intoxicated and lay in his tent. The mutineers rushed in. They found two generals on guard.
“You also received kindness from Zhuge Liang and ought to repay it,” cried Dongtu Na.
They replied, “You do not have to slay him; let us carry him a prisoner to the Prime Minister.”
