The Chancellor leads a great army to punish the southern tribes. The barbarian king is first taken captive.

Meanwhile, in Chengdu, Chancellor Zhuge Liang personally handled both great and small matters. The people of the Two Rivers rejoiced in peace, left their houses unbarred at night, and found no one on the roads who would steal. Harvests had been plentiful for years in a row, so old and young alike could fill their bellies and sing; whenever corvée labor was ordered, everyone vied to complete it early. Thus every item needed for the army was in perfect order; the granaries were full of rice, and the treasury was overflowing.

In the third year of Jianxing, a dispatch arrived from Yizhou: Meng Huo, king of the southern tribes, had raised one hundred thousand tribal troops and crossed the border to raid and plunder. Yongkai, the Administrator of Jianing and a descendant of Yongchi, the former marquis of Shifang, had allied himself with Meng Huo and revolted. The Administrators of Zangke Commandery, Zhu Bao, and Yuesui Commandery, Gao Ding, had both surrendered their cities. Only Wang Kang, the Administrator of Yongchang, refused to turn. Now Yongkai, Zhu Bao, and Gao Ding had all made their men and horsemen local guides for Meng Huo and were attacking Yongchang Commandery. Wang Kang, with his clerk Lü Kai, gathered the common people and held this city with a death grip; the situation was dire. Zhuge Liang presented the matter at court and told the later ruler, saying, “I have observed that the southern tribes are not yet obedient, and this is truly one of the state’s great troubles. I will personally lead a major army and march out to suppress them.” The ruler said, “East there is Sun Quan, north Cao Pi. Now, dear Prime Minister, you are going away from me. If Wu and Wei should attack, what would become of me?” Zhuge Liang said, “Eastern Wu is presently at peace with our state, so I expect no hidden agenda. If they do turn, Li Yan is in Baidi City and this man can stand in for Lu Xun. Cao Pi has just been defeated and has already lost his sharpness; he cannot yet project himself far, and in any case Ma Chao holds the Hanzhong passes. Besides, I have left Guan Xing, Zhang Bao, and others in two split commands as a force for relief, so Your Majesty need have no fear of loss. I will first sweep the southern borderlands, and then move north to campaign for the Central Plains, repaying the Three Visits of the late emperor and the heavy trust of my entrustment.” The ruler said, “My sovereign is young and ignorant. You alone should judge and act.”

Before this was finished, a man from within the troops spoke out: “Impossible! Impossible!” When the men turned, he was seen to be Wang Lian from Nanyang, surname Wang, given name Lian, courtesy name Wenyu, now serving as Remonstrance Official. He protested: “The south is a harsh, uncultivated land, a place of miasma and disease. You, Chancellor, bear the heavy balance of state; a remote expedition is not fitting. As for Yongkai and the rest, they are but a festering mange. You only need to send one great general against them, and success is certain.” Zhuge Liang replied, “The southern lands are far from the state and the people there are not yet used to imperial governance, so pacifying them is hard. I will personally go forth to subdue them. Sometimes one must be firm, sometimes soft, as appropriate; they require separate judgment and are not to be entrusted lightly.” Wang Lian urged him repeatedly, but Zhuge Liang did not yield.

That day, after bowing out to the ruler, Zhuge Liang appointed Jiang Wan as staff officer, Fei Wei as Chief Clerk, and Dong Jue and Fan Jian as assistant clerks. Zhao Yun and Wei Yan were named senior generals and made overall commanders of mounts and cavalry; Wang Ping and Zhang Yi were deputy generals. He also made dozens of Sichuan generals join, raising half a million Sichuan troops and marching toward Yizhou. At that time Guan Suo, the third son of Guan Yu, entered the army and met Zhuge Liang, saying: “I fell ill after fleeing the loss of Jingzhou and had stayed convalescing at Baojia village. Each time I wished to go to Shu and report my revenge to the late emperor, my wounds were not yet healed. Now they are healed; I have learned that the enemies in Eastern Wu have all been executed. I came west to see the emperor, and just happened to meet the troops going south. I have come to submit myself on this campaign.” When Zhuge Liang heard this, he was astonished and moved. At once he sent word to court and immediately appointed Guan Suo as the vanguard of the front divisions. Together they all marched south. The large units moved by the lines. They ate little, drank little, stayed only by night and moved at dawn. In all the places they passed, there was not a hair’s breadth of disorder.

Hearing that Zhuge Liang himself was commanding a major army, Yongkai consulted with Gao Ding and Zhu Bao and split his troops into three columns. Gao Ding took the center route, Yongkai the left, and Zhu Bao the right; each column brought fifty to sixty thousand troops to meet the enemy. So Gao Ding ordered E Huan to be the vanguard. E Huan was nine chi tall, with an ugly face, carried one Fangtian halberd, and had courage that not even ten thousand men could match. He led the forward detachment out of the main stockade to meet the Shu army.

When Zhuge Liang’s main army had already reached the Yizhou boundary, Wei Yan, with Zhang Yi and Wang Ping as deputies, entered the frontier pass and exactly met E Huan’s horse and foot soldiers. The two armies arrayed against one another. Wei Yan spurred his horse and shouted, “Rebel bandits, submit at once!” E Huan spurred his horse to engage Wei Yan directly. After a few clashes, Wei Yan feigned defeat and rode back. E Huan pursued. After only a few li, the shout of his men rose in the distance. Zhang Yi and Wang Ping’s two columns closed in from their routes and cut off his rear. Wei Yan turned around. The three commanders then jointly resisted. They captured E Huan alive and brought him to the main stockade, then presented him to Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang ordered his restraints removed and gave him wine and food. He asked, “From which command are you?” E Huan said, “I am a unit commander under Gao Ding.” Zhuge Liang said, “I know that Gao Ding is a loyal and upright man, but now misled by Yongkai, this is how it came to pass. I will release you and send you back, and urge Governor Gao to return and surrender immediately, lest great disaster come.” E Huan bowed and withdrew.

Returning to Gao Ding, he described Zhuge Liang’s virtue. Gao Ding too was deeply moved. The next day Yongkai came to the stockade. After formal greetings, he asked, “How did you send E Huan back?” Gao Ding said, “Zhuge Liang released him out of righteousness.” Yongkai said, “This is Zhuge Liang’s counter-intel tactic. He wants to divide us, and so he plotted this scheme.” He half believed and half doubted it, but his mind remained uncertain. Then a report came: the Shu commander had engaged and personally led thirty thousand troops out. They fought only a few rounds before turning their horses and running. Wei Yan pressed hard, and a pursuit went more than twenty li. The next day Yongkai once again raised troops to meet them. For three days Zhuge Liang did not come out. By the fourth day, Yongkai and Gao Ding each split their forces and came to take the Shu camp.

At that time, Zhuge Liang had Wei Yan watch and hold in ambush along both routes. As expected, when the troops of Yongkai and Gao Ding came in two columns, hidden soldiers cut down most of them and captured countless men alive, all of whom were brought to the main camp. Yongkai’s men were confined in one side, Gao Ding’s in another. The Chancellor then ordered the army to whisper this message: those from Gao Ding are spared, while all of Yongkai’s men are to be slain. All the troops heard this. After a while, Zhuge Liang summoned the men of Yongkai and asked, “To which command do you all belong?” They falsely answered, “Under Governor Gao Ding.” Zhuge Liang pardoned them all, gave them wine and food, and sent them out to the frontier and back toward camp. Then he called over the men of Gao Ding and questioned them. They all said, “We are truly soldiers from Gao Ding’s command.” Zhuge Liang also pardoned them all, giving wine, food, garments. He then declared, “Today Yongkai has come to surrender and offers your chief and Zhu Bao as severed heads for achievement. I cannot bear this. Since you are all under Gao Ding, I release you to return. Do not betray again. If you are ever taken again, there will be no easy mercy.”

All thanked him and left. Back in their own camps they reported the matter to Gao Ding. He secretly sent someone into Yongkai’s camp to gather intelligence. Then one of those returned men who had been spared spoke of Zhuge Liang’s benevolence. Therefore many in Yongkai’s ranks began to incline toward Gao Ding’s side. Even so, Gao Ding remained uneasy and sent another man into Zhuge Liang’s camp to probe for the truth. He was seized on the road and brought to Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang pretended he was a man of Yongkai and called him into the tent: “Your commander had already promised to surrender the heads of Gao Ding and Zhu Bao. Why did you miss the date? A scout should not be so careless. How could you have done reconnaissance with such poor attention?” The soldier mumbled assent. Zhuge Liang gave him food and drink, then wrote a sealed secret note and handed it to the soldier, saying, “You must carry this to Yongkai. Tell him to act quickly and not err.”

The spy thanked him and departed. Returning to Gao Ding, he presented Zhuge Liang’s letter and relayed what Yongkai had done. After reading it, Gao Ding raged: “I treated him in sincerity, yet he seeks to harm me. This cannot be tolerated!” He summoned E Huan to confer. E Huan said, “Zhuge Liang is humane. To turn against him brings only inauspiciousness. This treachery and evil are all Yongkai’s doing. Better to kill Yongkai and submit to Zhuge Liang.” Gao Ding asked, “How do we proceed?” E Huan said, “Set a banquet and send for Yongkai. If he has no deceit, he will come openly. If he fails to come, then he hides a different mind. You can then attack his front, while I lie hidden on a small rear path behind the camp. He can be captured.” Gao Ding followed this advice, prepared a banquet, and invited Yongkai. Sure enough, fearing the words from the spared men that had returned, Yongkai was startled and did not come. That night Gao Ding led his troops and struck Yongkai’s camp. All the men who had once been spared by Zhuge Liang and thought highly of him now aided the fight at the right moment. Yongkai’s army fell into disorder without a fight. Yongkai mounted and moved along the mountain path to escape. After only two li, as drums sounded, one body of troops surged forth. It was E Huan. He held high a Fangtian halberd and charged straight forward at full speed. Caught off guard, Yongkai was thrust down and at once his head was taken from his horse. His remaining soldiers all surrendered to Gao Ding.

Gao Ding led both columns in surrender to Zhuge Liang and presented Yongkai’s head at his tent. Zhuge Liang sat high in the command pavilion, and ordered his attendants to bring Gao Ding forward, then announced that Yongkai’s head had been delivered. Gao Ding said, “I am deeply moved by Your Excellency’s immense grace; I have now come with Yongkai’s head in surrender. Why do you have him executed?” Zhuge Liang laughed. “You came as if to surrender, but hoping to deceive me. How dare you try to hide it from me?” Gao Ding asked, “How did you know I was deceitful?” From his casket, Zhuge Liang drew out a sealed paper and said to Gao Ding, “Zhu Bao has already sent a secret surrender letter, saying you share a life-and-death bond with Yongkai. Would you really kill such a man at once? This is how I knew you were deceitful.” Gao Ding cried out in protest, “Zhu Bao’s word was only a trick to cause division. Prime Minister, this cannot be trusted!” Zhuge Liang said, “I cannot judge by one person’s report alone. If you truly are sincere, capture Zhu Bao and bring him to me.” Gao Ding said, “Do not doubt me. Let me go capture Zhu Bao and bring him here immediately.” Zhuge Liang said, “If you can do that, my suspicion will settle.”

Gao Ding at once led his unit commander E Huan and his own troops to Zhu Bao’s camp. When they were about ten li from camp, a body of troops came in from behind the mountain; they were Zhu Bao. When Zhu Bao saw Gao Ding’s men coming, he answered in alarm. Gao Ding shouted in fury, “How did you write to Prime Minister Zhuge Liang such a counter-intel stratagem to harm me?” Zhu Bao stared, wide-eyed, and could not answer. Suddenly E Huan wheeled around behind his horse and thrust a halberd into Zhu Bao at the horse’s feet. Gao Ding said sharply, “If you do not submit, all will be put to the sword!” Then all the troops immediately bowed and submitted.

Gao Ding brought both columns before Zhuge Liang and again offered Zhu Bao’s head. Zhuge Liang laughed and said, “I asked you on purpose to kill these two bandit leaders to show your loyalty.” He then appointed Gao Ding Administrator of Yizhou and placed him in charge of three commanderies, and made E Huan an assault officer. The armies of all three routes were thereby pacified.

Then the Administrator of Yongchang, Wang Kang, came out of the city to receive Zhuge Liang. After Zhuge Liang entered and the ceremony was complete, he asked, “Who has defended this city for you and kept it from danger?” Kang said, “Today this county is safe only because of Lü Kai of Yongchang, surname Lü, name Kai, courtesy name Jiping. It is all the strength of this man.” Zhuge Liang immediately asked Lü Kai to come. Lü Kai entered and was received with full formality. Zhuge Liang said, “I have long heard you as a distinguished man of Yongchang. Your defense of this city has brought great benefit. Now that I am to pacify the southern tribes, what key insight do you offer?” Lü Kai brought out a map and presented it to Zhuge Liang, “Since I have served in government for long, I have known that the southerners have long wished to rebel. I therefore sent people secretly into their lands to survey where they could entrench and fight, and drew this map. It is called the Chart for Subduing the Tribes. I dare present it to Your Excellency. If You examine it, it can help the expedition.” Zhuge Liang rejoiced greatly and made Lü Kai a marching tutor and also a local guide officer. Then he raised the army and moved deep into the southern tribal lands.

Just while he was marching, a report came: an imperial envoy from the Son of Heaven had arrived. Zhuge Liang requested him into the inner camp. A man in plain robes and white garments entered; it was Ma Su, now in mourning for his elder brother Ma Liang. He said, “By command of the ruler, I bring wine and silk to distribute among the troops.” When Zhuge Liang had finished transmitting the decree, he distributed everything according to order and kept Ma Su in his tent for conversation. Zhuge Liang asked, “I serve by Your Majesty’s decree to pacify the southern tribes. I have long heard that you, Master Young Constant, are keen-sighted; I hope you will grant instruction.” Ma Su answered, “I have a few words. Please consider them carefully. The southern tribes rely on remote mountains and rugged passes; they have long been disobedient. Though you may defeat them today, tomorrow they may rise again. When your main army reaches them, they can be subdued; but when you return north, you must turn to campaign against Cao Pi. If the tribal soldiers know your core is weak, their revolt will be swift. The principles of war are thus: “To strike the heart is superior; to strike the city is lesser. To fight by winning minds is superior; to fight by weapons is lesser.” If you only win the heart, that is enough.” Zhuge Liang sighed, “Young Constant surely knows the inmost of my intentions.” He then made Ma Su a staff officer and gave him command to take the vanguard of the main army.

After this, Meng Huo heard that Zhuge Liang had skillfully destroyed Yongkai and the others, so he gathered the three cave chiefs and discussed together. The first cave was headed by Jinhua Sange, the second by Dongtuna, the third by Ahainan. These three came before Meng Huo. Meng Huo said, “Now that Prime Minister Zhuge Liang leads a major army into our borders, we must unite and oppose him. You three should split your troops into three routes as ordered. Whoever wins should become the lord of that cave.” So they assigned Jinhua Sange to the center route, Dongtuna to the left, Ahainan to the right, each with fifty thousand tribal troops, and each followed the order.

As Zhuge Liang was still in camp discussing matters, a scout horse arrived in haste to report that the three cave commanders had divided into three routes and were coming. When Zhuge Liang heard this, he called Zhao Yun and Wei Yan, then did not assign either. He next summoned Wang Ping and Ma Zhong and said: “The barbarians are coming by three routes. I want Zilong and Wenchang to go, but those two do not know the terrain, so I dare not use them. Wang Ping should go to the left route to receive the enemy. Ma Zhong should go to the right route. I will send Zilong and Wenchang to reinforce behind.” They listened and departed. He also summoned Zhang Ni and Zhang Yi and assigned: “Both of you together command one force and go to the center route to receive the enemy. Rally the troops today; at dawn tomorrow meet with Wang Ping and Ma Zhong and advance. I want Zilong and Wenchang to take the enemy then, but those two do not know terrain, so I dare not use them.” Zhang Ni and Zhang Yi listened and left.

When Zhao Yun and Wei Yan saw that Zhuge Liang was not using them, both looked displeased. Zhuge Liang said, “I am not withholding your talents; I fear that if two middle-aged men confront this terrain, the barbarians may judge and blunt your edge.” Zhao Yun said, “If we only need to know the terrain, why should we not?” Zhuge Liang said, “You two must be careful and not act rashly.” They left in silence and frustration. Zhao Yun asked Wei Yan into his own camp to discuss: “Zilong and Wenchang have been set aside in front though they should be leading. How can we endure this?” Wei Yan said, “Let us mount at once and go directly to reconnoiter. If we catch local men, make them lead us in. If we engage the barbarians with them, this is a matter that can be accomplished.” Zhao Yun agreed. He then mounted and rode straight to the central route. After only a few li, from the mountain slope they looked and saw dust rising far ahead. They saw dozens of mounted tribesmen and rushed out in two lines. The barbarians, seeing them, were startled and turned to flee. Zhao Yun and Wei Yan each captured several alive and brought them back. They offered them wine and food, and then inquired carefully. The barbarians reported: “Ahead is the main stockade of Jinhua Sange. At the side of that camp, two routes run east and west, both leading behind the camps of Dongtuna and Ahainan after Wuxi Cave.”

Hearing this, Zhao Yun and Wei Yan selected five thousand of their best soldiers and made the captured tribesmen lead the way. By the time the force was ready to depart, it was the second watch of the night. The moon was bright, so they moved by moonlight. When they just reached Jinhua Sange’s camp at around the fourth watch, the tribal soldiers were just beginning to cook and preparing for dawn combat. Suddenly Zhao Yun and Wei Yan’s two detachments struck in. The barbarians were thrown into confusion. Zhao Yun rode straight into the center and met Jinhua Sange in person. They crossed weapons for only one exchange; he speared him from horseback and brought him down, then took his head from the horse. The rest of the army scattered. Wei Yan then split his men in half and moved toward the east path to strike Dongtuna’s stockade. Zhao Yun split his own in half and moved westward to strike Ahanan’s stockade. By the time they arrived at the tribal camps, dawn had broken.

It first speaks of Wei Yan’s charge to Dongtuna’s camp. When Dongtuna learned that troops had broken in behind his camp, he led soldiers out to resist. Suddenly a shout rose at the camp gate; the tribesmen were in full disorder. Wang Ping’s horsemen had already arrived. From both sides they attacked and the barbarians were routed. Dongtuna seized an opening to escape on the mountain route. Wei Yan could not catch up.

It says Zhao Yun led soldiers into the rear of Ahanan’s camp. By then Ma Zhong had already arrived before the gate. Again the two-sided attack broke them, and the barbarians were routed. Ahanan escaped through the turmoil. Each returned to report to Zhuge Liang. He asked, “Of the three cave forces, two cave lords have fled; where is the head of Jinhua Sange?” Zhao Yun presented it as achievement. All reported, “Dongtuna and Ahanan abandoned their horses and fled over the ridges, so no one could catch them.” Zhuge Liang laughed: “I have already captured those two.” Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, and the other generals all could not believe it.

After a short while, Zhang Ni brought in Dongtuna and Zhang Yi brought in Ahainan. All were astonished. Zhuge Liang said, “Using Lü Kai’s map, I already knew each of their camps. For that reason I intentionally stoked Zilong’s and Wenchang’s zeal and sent them deep into enemy ground, first shattering Jinhua Sange, then splitting and striking the rear of the side camps, while Wang Ping and Ma Zhong would respond. This task could not be assigned to anyone but Zilong and Wenchang. I judged that Dongtuna and Ahanan would choose to run by the mountain paths, so I sent Zhang Ni and Zhang Yi with ambushes to seize them, and ordered Guan Suo to come with troops in support. By this means these two are now ours.” All the generals knelt and said, “The Chancellor’s calculations are beyond demons and ghosts.” Zhuge Liang ordered Dongtuna and Ahanan to be brought under the tent, all restraints removed, and gave them food, drink, and clothing. He told each to return to his cave and not assist evil. Both wept and bowed, then slipped away by narrow paths.

Zhuge Liang said to his commanders, “On another day Meng Huo will certainly lead men personally and fight hand to hand. Then he can be captured here.” He called Zhao Yun and Wei Yan and shared his stratagem, then sent each away with five thousand soldiers. He also called Wang Ping and Guan Suo, commanding another force, and gave them instructions. When all distribution was complete, he sat in the command tent waiting.

At this time Meng Huo was seated in his own tent when a scout horse reported that all three cave commanders had been taken by Zhuge Liang and that their subordinates were in disorder. Meng Huo was deeply angry and raised his troops to advance. He ran into the army of Wang Ping. The two armies faced each other. When Wang Ping rode out and brandished his sword, only to gaze over the line, hundreds of southern mounted chiefs in two clusters stood open beside the banners. In the middle Meng Huo himself rode out. On his head he wore an inlaid purple-gold crown, over his body a red brocade robe tied with cords, at his waist a jade-lion girdle, on his feet green boots with eagle-snouted tips. He rode a curled-mane red horse, with two engraved green-knobbed swords hanging, and watched proudly. He looked back at his tribal commanders on either side and said, “People often say that Zhuge Liang is adept at war. Now look at this field: banners are mixed in disorder and the ranks are tangled; with these swords and spears and weapons, there is no one who can defeat me. I now know those words were mistaken. How much earlier I should have turned against him before. Who now dares to capture the Shu commander and restore the army’s spirit?”

Before he finished speaking, one officer answered immediately: it was Mang Yachang. He wielded a severed-headed great blade, rode a yellow-brown horse, and came for Wang Ping. The two generals exchanged battle for only a few exchanges, and Wang Ping withdrew. Meng Huo drove his troops forward and pursued in long sweep. Guan Suo skirmished and withdrew too, about twenty li or more. As Meng Huo was in hot pursuit, a roar rose at once. On the left came Zhang Ni; on the right came Zhang Yi. Troops surged from both paths and cut off his return. Wang Ping and Guan Suo turned and rejoined the fight. Encircled in front and rear, the barbarians were crushed. Meng Huo fought to the death with his lieutenants and escaped. He aimed for the Jinsashan mountains to flee. Three columns of troops came after in pursuit. As Meng Huo ran, ahead, voices rose and a troop mass blocked the way. Leading it was none other than Zhao Yun, Zhao Yun of Changshan. Meng Huo was struck with shock and fled along a small path in Jinsashan. Zilong broke through one hard clash, and the barbarian soldiers were routed, with captives taken in number. Meng Huo fled with only a few dozen riders into a mountain gorge. By the time pursuit came near from behind and the road ahead narrowed so his horse could not move, he abandoned his horse and ran up and over the ridges. Then he heard a drum in the gorge. It was Wei Yan, who had followed Zhuge Liang’s design and held five hundred foot soldiers in ambush there. Unable to withstand the assault, Meng Huo was captured alive. Those who had ridden with him all surrendered.

Wei Yan brought Meng Huo to Zhuge Liang’s main camp. Zhuge Liang had already slaughtered cattle and goats and arranged a banquet. In the tent he set seven ranks of executioners with blades, spears, halberds, and axes flashing like frost. He also ordered the ceremonial green-gold ax and curved-hand umbrella displayed, with palace guards in feathered breastplates and drums and pipes at fore and aft, and palace guards lined on the sides, all in strict array. Zhuge Liang sat upright. As the tribals kept arriving in numbers, he looked on. He called them into the tent and removed all their bindings. He spoke gently: “You are all good civilians. Unhappily, you were held by Meng Huo. Now you are frightened and in terror. I know your fathers, mothers, brothers, and wives and daughters are waiting by the gate. If you hear you have fallen in battle, their bellies will be cut and their ribs pulled. Blood will flow from your eyes. I release all of you to return home now, to comfort each of your fathers, brothers, wives, and children.” When he finished, he gave each food and grain and sent them off. The barbarians, deeply moved, knelt and wept as they left.

Zhuge Liang then ordered soldiers to bring in Meng Huo. Not long later, amid forward pressure and backward crowding, he arrived bound to the front of the tent. Meng Huo knelt below the command seat. Zhuge Liang said, “The late emperor did not treat you poorly. How dare you rebel?” Meng Huo answered, “The lands of the two rivers are all territory already occupied by others; Your Lord took them by force and now claims to be emperor. My family has long lived here; your men are uncivil and have invaded our land. Why do you call us rebels?” Zhuge Liang said, “I have captured you now. Do you yield your heart?” Meng Huo replied, “This was a remote, narrow land and rough road. I happened to fall into your hands. How could I submit?” Zhuge Liang said, “If you do not yield, I will send you back. How is that?” Meng Huo said, “If you send me back and I can arrange the troops again, then we will settle who is truly superior in battle. If you can capture me again then, I will yield.” Zhuge Liang removed his bonds. He gave him clothes and wine and food, provided horse and saddle, and sent him away by road directly back toward his own camp.

The episode ends:

The raider, captured in the Chancellor’s hand, was nevertheless released. The people dwelling beyond the wilds are not yet willing to submit.

Who can tell how they will fare when they meet again in battle?

How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.