Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms podcast. This is episode 1.15.

Last time, Meng Huo had his men pretend to betray him into Zhuge Liang's hands as part of staging a surprise attack.

But Zhuge Liang saw through his plan from the get-go, and Meng Huo went from pretend

prisoner to real prisoner in a heartbeat. Having captured the Nanman King for the sixth time,

in his home cave no less, Zhuge Liang was hoping the guy would

finally give up and surrender voluntarily, but no such luck. I delivered myself into your hands.

This was not your doing. I refuse to submit, Meng Huo said.

I have captured you six times, and you still would not submit.

What are you waiting for? Zhuge Liang asked.

If you capture me a seventh time, I will wholeheartedly submit.

This I swear and will never go back on, said Meng Huo, who, if I'm remembering correctly,

had made that same pledge five times before.

Your nest is already broken, so what do I have to fear? Zhuge Liang said as he ordered

the guards to untie Meng Huo.

But the next time I catch you, if you still resist, I will not let you off lightly.

And so once again, Meng Huo and his entourage scampered away.

Along the way, they ran into about a thousand of his own soldiers,

most of whom were wounded during the earlier battle.

With some semblance of an army around him, Meng Huo started to perk up a bit.

He now asked his brother-in-law, Chief Dai Lai,

My cave now belongs to the Riverlanders. Where shall I go to find sanctuary?

Only one nation can stop the Riverlanders, Dai Lai told him.

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