三國演義 第八十八回：七擒孟獲第一擒，孔明攻心勝攻城 | Romance of the Three Kingdoms Chapter 88: Zhuge Liang’s First Capture of Meng Huo, Winning Hearts Before Cities
諸葛亮率軍深入南中，與孟獲展開首次正面交鋒。憑藉周密部署，蜀軍成功生擒孟獲。然而，諸葛亮並未趁機誅殺敵將，而是選擇將其釋放，希望以仁義收服南中民心。一場影響後世千年的「七擒七縱」傳奇，正式拉開序幕。
As Zhuge Liang advanced deeper into Nanzhong, he finally confronted Meng Huo in open battle. Through careful planning, Shu forces captured the southern leader alive. Instead of celebrating a military victory, Zhuge Liang made an unexpected decision—he released Meng Huo, believing that lasting peace could only be achieved by winning people’s hearts rather than conquering their land. Thus began the legendary tale of the Seven Captures and Seven Releases.
中文
南中的群山之間，晨霧瀰漫。
蜀漢大軍緩緩穿過蜿蜒山道，旌旗在山風中獵獵作響。
諸葛亮騎馬走在軍中，羽扇輕搖，目光始終注視著前方的山谷。
他知道，真正的對手終於要現身了。
孟獲率領南中各部族勇士，早已埋伏於密林之中。
他望著逐漸逼近的蜀軍，不禁放聲大笑。
「孔明雖善謀略，到了南中，也得受山林擺布！」
話音剛落，號角齊鳴。
無數南中勇士自山坡、密林、溪谷衝出，喊聲震動群山。
蜀軍前鋒一度受到猛烈衝擊。
然而，諸葛亮並未露出絲毫驚慌。
他早已命魏延、王平等將領分兵潛伏於兩側山谷。
待孟獲大軍深入之際，一聲令下。
伏兵四起。
蜀軍從四面八方同時包圍。
南中軍頓時陣腳大亂。
孟獲揮舞兵器，率領親兵奮力突圍。
他連斬數名蜀軍士兵，仍無法衝出重圍。
最終，戰馬失足跌倒。
孟獲被蜀軍生擒。
消息傳遍軍營。
眾將欣喜若狂。
魏延立即請命。
「此人反覆無常，當即斬首，以絕後患！」
不少將領也紛紛附議。
然而，諸葛亮只是淡淡一笑。
「不可。」
眾人皆感疑惑。
孟獲被押至中軍大帳。
即使身披鎖鏈，他依舊昂首而立。
他怒視諸葛亮。
「若非中了你的詭計，我豈會被擒！」
諸葛亮沒有生氣。
反而命人解開鎖鏈，賜座奉茶。
孟獲一時愣住。
「你……不殺我？」
諸葛亮平靜回答。
「我若殺你，只能平一時之亂。」
「若能使你心服，方能安定南中百年。」
孟獲冷笑。
「我只是失算。」
「若再戰一次，我未必會輸！」
大帳內一片寂靜。
眾將原以為諸葛亮會震怒。
沒想到，他竟然微笑點頭。
「好。」
「今日便放你回去。」
所有人都愣住了。
魏延忍不住上前。
「丞相，此人若放虎歸山，只怕後患無窮！」
諸葛亮輕搖羽扇。
「我用兵，不只攻城。」
「更要攻心。」
一句話，讓滿帳文武沉默。
孟獲更是一臉難以置信。
他本以為自己今日必死。
沒想到，眼前這位蜀漢丞相竟真的命人打開營門。
還將戰馬與兵器一併歸還。
臨行之前，諸葛亮只是說了一句：
「若仍不服，隨時可再來。」
孟獲翻身上馬，回頭望向蜀軍大營。
第一次，他的眼中少了幾分怒氣，多了幾分疑惑。
回到部族後，眾首領紛紛圍上前。
「孔明待你如何？」
孟獲沉默片刻。
「他……沒有殺我。」
眾人皆感震驚。
有人說孔明愚蠢。
也有人認為其中必有深意。
然而，孟獲始終沒有回答。
夜晚，他獨自坐在營火旁。
望著跳動的火光，腦海中反覆浮現諸葛亮那句話。
「攻心。」
他第一次開始思考。
這位蜀漢丞相，究竟是一位將軍，還是一位真正懂得天下的人？
而諸葛亮站在蜀營高處，望向遠方山林。
他知道。
今日擒住的，不只是孟獲的人。
真正要收服的，是整個南中的人心。
English Version
Morning mist drifted through the mountains of Nanzhong as Shu Han’s army advanced carefully along winding forest paths.
Riding calmly near the center of the column, Zhuge Liang quietly surveyed the surrounding valleys.
He knew Meng Huo would not miss the opportunity to strike.
Hidden among dense forests, the southern warriors waited patiently.
Confident in his knowledge of the terrain, Meng Huo believed the mountains themselves would become his greatest ally.
With a blast of war horns, thousands of tribal warriors charged from every direction.
For a brief moment, Shu’s advance units struggled against the surprise attack.
Yet Zhuge Liang had anticipated exactly this strategy.
Hidden detachments under commanders such as Wei Yan and Wang Ping had already occupied the surrounding hills.
As Meng Huo pressed deeper into the battlefield, signal flags rose into the air.
Suddenly, Shu soldiers emerged from every direction.
The ambush had become an ambush against the attackers.
Surrounded on all sides, Meng Huo fought fiercely, personally leading repeated attempts to escape.
Despite his courage, overwhelming numbers gradually closed every path.
When his horse stumbled during the retreat, Shu soldiers captured him alive.
The victory delighted the Shu commanders.
Many immediately urged Zhuge Liang to execute the rebel leader before another uprising could occur.
Instead, the Chancellor ordered Meng Huo brought into his command tent.
Still wearing chains, Meng Huo stood proudly without lowering his head.
“You defeated me only through trickery,” he declared.
“If we fought again, the outcome would be different.”
Rather than responding with anger, Zhuge Liang smiled gently.
He ordered the chains removed.
Tea was served.
The astonished tribal leader could scarcely believe what he witnessed.
“You… are not going to kill me?”
Zhuge Liang answered quietly.
“If I execute you today, I may end one rebellion.”
“But if I earn your respect, peace may last for generations.”
Meng Huo remained unconvinced.
“I was simply careless.”
“I would not lose again.”
The officers expected their commander to reject such bold words.
Instead, Zhuge Liang nodded.
“Very well.”
“You are free to go.”
The entire command tent fell silent.
Even Wei Yan protested that releasing such a dangerous enemy invited future disaster.
Zhuge Liang calmly explained his philosophy.
“My purpose is not merely to conquer cities.”
“It is to win people’s hearts.”
Meng Huo departed with his horse, weapons, and dignity restored.
As he rode away from the Shu camp, confusion gradually replaced his anger.
Back among the southern tribes, every chief demanded to know what had happened.
Meng Huo paused before answering.
“He… spared my life.”
No one expected such mercy.
That night, sitting quietly beside the campfire, Meng Huo found himself reflecting not upon military defeat, but upon the extraordinary character of the man who had chosen compassion over vengeance.
Far away, Zhuge Liang watched the southern mountains beneath the evening sky.
He understood that the greatest victory had never been capturing one man.
The true campaign had always been for the hearts of an entire people.
