The old gentleman replied； 〃Sir Minister； I know you well by repute； and am happy to meet you。 Many of the Mangs owe their lives to you； and all have been deeply impressed by your kindness。〃
Then Zhuge Liang returned to the matter nearest his heart； the mystery of the spring。
The old man told him； 〃That is the Dumb Spring that your soldiers have drunk； and they will die in a few days。 Besides that； there are other three poisonous streams called Destruction Spring； Black Spring； and Weak Spring。 All miasma gathers there in the four streams； and it only vaporizes during the two watch before sunset。〃
〃In short； the Mangs cannot be conquered；〃 said Zhuge Liang when the old man had finished。 〃And Wu cannot be repressed； nor Wei overe。 And the Hans cannot be restored。 So； I fail in the task set me by my Prince： I wish that I might die。〃
〃Be not so cast down； O Minister；〃 said the aged one。 〃I can lead you to a place where you may counteract all this。〃
〃I would ask for your instruction； Venerable One；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃What exalted advice have you to confer upon me？ I hope you will instruct me。〃
〃West of this； not far off； is a valley； and seven miles from its entrance is a stream called the 'Spring of Eternal Peace'； near which there lives a recluse known as the Hermit of the Stream。 He has not left the valley these twenty years。 Behind his hut there gushes out a spring of water； called the 'Spring of Peace and Joy'。 This is the antidote to your poison。 Bathing in its waters is a cure for skin diseases and for malaria。 Moreover； near the hut grows an herb called the 'garlic…leaved fragrance'。 Chewing a leaf of this safeguards one from malaria。 You can do no better than go to the hut of the recluse forthwith and get these remedies。〃
Zhuge Liang humbly thanked his aged counselor； and said； 〃Venerable Sir； I am profoundly affected by your merciful kindness and passion。 May I ask again by what name may call you？〃
The old man rose and entered the temple； saying； 〃I am the Spirit of this mountain； sent by Ma Yuan to guide you。〃
As he said this； he shouted at the solid rock behind the temple； and it opened of itself and let him in。
Zhuge Liang's astonishment was beyond words。 He made another obeisance to the Spirit of the temple and went down by the way he had e。 Then he returned to his camp。
Next day； bearing incense and gifts； Wang Ping and his stricken men went west to the spot which the old man had indicated。 They luckily found the valley and followed its narrow road till they came to a small； farm…like enclosure； where tall pines and lofty cypresses； luxuriant bamboos； and gorgeous flowers sheltered a few simple huts。 An exquisite perfume pervaded the whole place。
Zhuge Liang rejoiced to recognize the spot and at once knocked at the door。
A lad answered his knock； and Zhuge Liang was telling his name when the host came out quickly； saying； 〃Surely my visitor is the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty？〃
Zhuge Liang saw at the door a man with a bamboo b holding back his hair； grass shoes on his feet； and a robe of white girded in by a black girdle。 He had green eyes and yellowed hair。
〃Great Scholar； how did you know who I was？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃How could I not have heard of your expedition to the south？〃
He invited Zhuge Liang to enter。
When they had seated themselves in their relative positions as host and guest； Zhuge Liang said； 〃My former Prince； the First Ruler； confided to me the care of his son and successor。 That son； now Emperor； gave me a mand to lead an army to this country； get the Mangs on our side； and spread our culture among them。 But now to my disappointment Meng Huo； the King； has hidden himself in the Bald Dragon Ravine； and some of my soldiers on the way to seek him drank of a certain fountain and are dumb。 But last evening the former leader of an expedition； Ma Yuan； manifested his sacred presence and told me that you； Exalted Sir； had a remedy for this evil； and I pray you of your pity to give me of the potent fluid whereby my soldiers' lives may be saved。〃
The recluse replied； 〃I am only a worthless old man of the wild woods and unworthy of the visit of such as you； O Minister。 The water you desire flows out at the back of my cottage； and you may take what you will of it。〃
The serving lad then showed Wang Ping and his dumb panions to the Spring of Peace and Joy； and he dipped up the waters for them to drink。 As soon as they had drunk； they coughed up some poisoned mucus and could speak。 The lad also led the soldiers to the Spring of Eternal Peace where they could bathe。
In the cottage the recluse regaled Zhuge Liang with tea made of cypress seeds and a conserve of pine flowers。
He also told his guest； saying； 〃In this region； the lands are full of serpents and scorpions； and the lily flowers blown into the springs by the wind make them unfit to drink。 However； if you dig wells； you will find good water。〃
Then Zhuge Liang begged some of the garlic…leaved herb as an antidote against malaria。 The recluse said the soldiers could pluck as much as they wanted。 And so everyone put a leaf in his mouth and thus became malaria…proof。
Zhuge Liang； with a low bow then begged to be told the name of his benefactor。
〃I am Meng Huo's eldest brother；〃 said the recluse； smiling。 〃My name is Meng Jie。〃
Zhuge Liang started。
〃Do not be afraid；〃 said the recluse。 〃Let me explain。 We were three brothers of the same parents； the eldest being myself。 Our parents are both dead。 My brother Meng Huo； being headstrong and vicious； has never been amenable to culture。 I have talked to him many times； but he kept his own course。 Finally； under an assumed name； I retired to this spot。 I am ashamed for my brother's rebellion； which has put you； O Minister； to the trouble of making this expedition into a barren country； but it has given me the privilege of seeing you。 For my responsibility in this I deserve to die a thousand times； as I own to your face； and I beg your pardon。〃
Zhuge Liang sighed； saying； 〃Now I believe that story of the two brothers………Robber Liu Zhi and Noble Liu Xiahui。 This is the same thing over again。 People renowned for villainy and virtue may e from the same stock。〃
Then he said to his host； 〃Would you wish me to represent your merits to the Emperor and get you created a king？〃
〃How can you think I desire honors or wealth when I am here because of my contempt for all such things？〃
Zhuge Liang then wished to make him certain presents； but the recluse would have none of them。
So taking leave of his host； Zhuge Liang went back to his camp。
In the southern expedition when the Mangs were subdued；
Zhuge Liang found a high…born recluse in a shady solitude。
Up till then the gloomy forests were thought destitute of men；
That no curling smoke wreath ever floated upwards from the glen。
As soon as Zhuge Liang reached camp； he set the soldiers digging for water。 They dug to a great depth but found none； nor were they more successful when they tried other places。 They were very discouraged。
Then Zhuge Liang in the depths of the night burned incense and prayed to God： 〃Unworthy as is thy servant Zhuge Liang； he has received favor from the Great Han and now has been ordered to subdue the Mangs。 Alas！