孟獲首次獲釋後，雖對諸葛亮心生敬意，卻始終不願真正臣服。在各部族首領鼓動下，他再次率軍反攻蜀軍。諸葛亮早已洞悉敵情，再次設下妙計生擒孟獲，並依然履行承諾將他釋放，攻心之策逐漸動搖南中各族的抗拒之心。

Released after his first defeat, Meng Huo returned to the southern tribes still unwilling to submit. Encouraged by local chieftains, he gathered another army to challenge Shu Han once again. Anticipating every move, Zhuge Liang calmly prepared another brilliant strategy, proving that his campaign sought not destruction but lasting unity through trust and respect.

中文

孟獲返回南中後，山林間再次響起戰鼓。

各部族首領齊聚大寨，望著平安歸來的孟獲，人人驚訝不已。

有人忍不住問道：

「孔明真的沒有傷你？」

孟獲點了點頭。

「不但沒有殺我，還歸還戰馬兵器，放我回來。」

眾人面面相覷。

有人認為孔明只是故作仁義，也有人認為蜀軍另有陰謀。

其中幾位首領站起身來，高聲說道：

「一次失敗不足為憾。」

「南中山川萬里，我等熟悉地勢，蜀軍豈能長久立足？」

眾人紛紛附和。

孟獲心中的疑惑，也再次被戰意掩蓋。

「好！」

「再與孔明決一勝負！」

消息很快傳入蜀軍大營。

諸葛亮正在帳中查看地圖。

探子來報：

「孟獲再度集結各寨兵馬，正向我軍而來。」

魏延立即請戰。

「丞相，此番不可再放虎歸山。」

馬岱也說：

「若再次放走，只怕軍心難服。」

諸葛亮微微一笑。

「他既然肯再來，正說明他尚未真正明白。」

眾將一時不解。

數日後，孟獲率領數萬南中勇士逼近山谷。

他吸取前次教訓，不再輕易深入。

反而命各部沿高地設防，企圖迫使蜀軍主動進攻。

然而，諸葛亮早已料到他的想法。

他命王平率小股兵力假裝敗退。

南中軍見蜀軍退卻，士氣大振。

孟獲大笑。

「孔明終究也怕了！」

他立即率兵追擊。

一路深入谷口。

就在此時，山谷兩側忽然鼓聲震天。

蜀軍伏兵再次殺出。

魏延、馬忠分兵兩翼包抄。

退路瞬間被截斷。

孟獲這才驚覺，再次中了諸葛亮的計策。

他奮力突圍。

卻發現每條山道都已被蜀軍封鎖。

經過一番激戰，孟獲第二次被生擒。

押入中軍帳時，他仍滿臉不服。

「此次只是山勢不利！」

「若換一處地方，我絕不會敗！」

眾將聞言，無不搖頭。

魏延更怒道：

「如此頑固，何必再留？」

然而，諸葛亮依舊沒有動怒。

他命人再次鬆綁。

又設宴款待孟獲。

帳內酒香四溢。

孟獲望著眼前佳餚，久久沒有動筷。

他忍不住問：

「你……為何還放我？」

諸葛亮平靜回答：

「你敗得不服，自然還會再反。」

「若殺了你，南中依舊不會安定。」

「我要你真正相信，蜀漢不是來征服，而是來安民。」

孟獲低頭沉思。

然而，他仍然倔強地說：

「我心裡還是不服。」

諸葛亮笑了笑。

「既然如此。」

「你便再回去。」

一句話，再次震驚滿帳文武。

孟獲愣住了。

他原以為自己這次再無活路。

沒想到，諸葛亮依舊依約放人。

離開蜀營時，孟獲回頭望了一眼。

營中士兵軍紀嚴整。

百姓往來自如。

沒有搶掠。

沒有欺壓。

一路上，他看見蜀軍替村民修橋鋪路，救治病患。

這些景象，與自己原本想像的官軍完全不同。

回到部族後，不少首領再次鼓動他繼續起兵。

可是這一次，孟獲沒有立刻回答。

夜裡，他獨自站在山崖上。

望著遠方蜀軍營火。

心中的疑問，比第一次更加深刻。

孔明究竟是真正仁義？

還是另有更深的計策？

而蜀軍大營中，諸葛亮依舊從容搖著羽扇。

他知道。

真正的勝利，正在一步一步接近。

因為人心一旦開始改變，再堅固的叛亂，也終將瓦解。

English Version

After returning safely to Nanzhong, Meng Huo was welcomed by tribal leaders who could hardly believe he had survived.

Many questioned him repeatedly.

“Did Zhuge Liang truly spare your life?”

Meng Huo answered honestly.

“He released me, returned my horse, and even gave back my weapons.”

The gathering fell silent.

Some chiefs admired Zhuge Liang’s generosity.

Others dismissed it as nothing more than political deception.

Soon, the voices calling for another war grew louder.

“The southern mountains remain ours.”

“The Shu army cannot remain here forever.”

Gradually, Meng Huo’s determination returned.

Once again, he gathered thousands of warriors from across the region.

Inside the Shu headquarters, scouts quickly delivered the news.

Meng Huo was marching again.

Several Shu generals argued that no further mercy should be shown.

Wei Yan insisted that another capture must end with execution.

Ma Dai agreed that repeated forgiveness would weaken military discipline.

Zhuge Liang simply smiled.

“If he has returned, then he still has not understood.”

Soon afterward, the two armies met again among narrow mountain valleys.

Having learned from his previous defeat, Meng Huo avoided rushing into unfamiliar terrain.

Instead, he occupied elevated positions and waited for Shu to attack.

Zhuge Liang anticipated exactly this response.

He ordered Wang Ping to stage a convincing retreat.

Believing victory was finally within reach, Meng Huo eagerly launched a pursuit.

The trap closed almost immediately.

Hidden Shu forces emerged from both sides of the valley.

Wei Yan and Ma Zhong sealed every escape route.

Realizing he had once again underestimated his opponent, Meng Huo fought desperately but was eventually overwhelmed.

Captured for the second time, he was brought before Zhuge Liang.

Even in defeat, his pride remained unbroken.

“I lost only because of the terrain,” he insisted.

“Fight me elsewhere, and the result will be different.”

Many Shu officers laughed.

Others demanded immediate punishment.

Instead, Zhuge Liang again ordered his chains removed.

A banquet was prepared.

Meng Huo stared silently at the meal before finally asking,

“Why would you spare me again?”

Zhuge Liang answered calmly.

“If I kill you, the rebellion will continue.”

“If I win your trust, peace will follow.”

Meng Huo lowered his head, but his stubborn spirit remained.

“I am still unconvinced.”

The Chancellor nodded gently.

“Then return once more.”

For a second time, Meng Huo walked free.

Leaving the Shu camp, he noticed details he had overlooked before.

The soldiers remained disciplined.

Villagers moved safely among them.

Bridges were repaired.

The sick received treatment.

No farms were looted.

No civilians were abused.

These scenes challenged everything he had believed about Shu Han.

Back among the southern tribes, the chiefs urged him toward yet another rebellion.

This time, however, Meng Huo did not answer immediately.

Late that night, standing alone upon a mountain ridge, he gazed toward the distant lights of Zhuge Liang’s camp.

For the first time, uncertainty entered his heart.

Was the Chancellor truly acting from compassion?

Or was there an even greater strategy beyond the battlefield?

Watching the same mountains from his own headquarters, Zhuge Liang quietly waved his feather fan.

He understood that victories achieved by force could fade.

But once hearts began to change, lasting peace would inevitably follow.