elings？ I am ready to follow you and do as you mand。〃
Zhang Liao was elated at this moral victory； and said； 〃Since I can depend upon your help； my friend； then I would ask you to lie in ambush on the north of Xiaoyao Ford in order to destroy the Xiaoshi Bridge there as soon as the army of Wu has crossed。 I； with my friend Yue Jing； will smite the enemy。〃
Li Dian went away to muster his troops and prepare the ambush。
As has been recorded； the leaders of the advance guard of the southern army were the veterans Lu Meng and Gan Ning。 Sun Quan and Ling Tong were in the center； the other generals followed them。 The leaders of the van met Yue Jing first； and Gan Ning rode out and challenged him。 After a few bouts； Yue Jing pretended to be defeated and fled。 Gan Ning called to his colleague to join in the pursuit。
When Sun Quan heard that this advance guard had been successful； he hastened his army to Xiaoyao Ford。 But then there came a series of explosions； and up came Zhang Liao and Li Dian； one on each flank。 Sun Quan was unprepared for this and sent messengers to call off the pursuit and ask for help from Lu Meng and Gan Ning。 Before it could arrived； Zhang Liao had e up。 Manifestly； Ling Tong； who had with him only a small troop of three hundred horse； could not long withstand the army of Cao Cao； but he faced them and fought bravely。
Presently Ling Tong cried to his lord； 〃Cross the Xiaoshi Bridge and run back； my lord！〃
Sun Quan galloped for the bridge； but the southern end had been already broken down and there was a wide breach between the end of the bridge and the shore。 Not a single plank was there by which to cross。 What could be done？ Sun Quan was in a quandary； and helpless。
〃Go back and jump for it！〃 yelled one of the generals； Gu Li by name。
Sun Quan did so。 Backing his horse some thirty spans or so； he then gave it its head and lashed it with his whip。
The good beast leaped； cleared the chasm and his master wee safe on the southern shore。
Once Dilu leant across the Tan Torrent wide；
And when defeat did Sun Quan of Wu betide；
And death came threateningly at Xiaoyao Ford；
His steed too leapt； and saved him from the sword。
Having reached the farther shore； Sun Quan embarked on one of the boats of Xu Sheng and Dong Xi and was rowed to a place of safety； while Ling Tong and Gu Li were still fighting with Zhang Liao's army。 Gan Ning and Lu Meng； ing to their aid； were pursued by Yue Jing； and Li Dian also stayed their progress。 But the soldiers of the South Land fought bravely； half of their force fell； and Ling Tong's troop of three hundred horse perished all； while Ling Tong himself was wounded； but found his way to the bridge。 Finding it destroyed； he fled along the stream。 Presently he was seen by Sun Quan from the boat and taken on board by Dong Xi。 Gan Ning and Lu Meng also cut their ways back to the southern shore。
The terrible slaughter at this battle put such fear into the minds of the people of the South Land that the name of Zhang Liao kept the very children quiet at night。
When Sun Quan reached his camp； he richly rewarded Ling Tong and Gu Li。 Then he led his army back to Ruxu and began to put his ships in order so that the army and navy might act in unison。 He also sent home for reinforcements。
Zhang Liao reflected that he had insufficient force to meet another attack if it should be supported by the navy of the South Land； so he sent Xue Ti through the night to carry an urgent message to his master in Hanzhong。 When the messenger arrived； Cao Cao saw that his western expedition would have to yield to the urgency of home defense。 However； he called in his counselors and put a direct question to them。
〃Can we take West River Land now； or not？〃
〃Shu is too well prepared； we cannot；〃 replied Liu Ye。 〃It is better to go to the succor of Hefei； and then go down the river to take the South Land。〃
Wherefore； leaving Xiahou Yuan to station at the Dingjun Mountain to guard Hanzhong； and Zhang He to keep Mount Mengtou Pass； Cao Cao broke up his camp and went toward Ruxu with all his manders。
The armored horsemen had conquered Hanzhong；
The ensigns toward the south were turned again。
The subsequent course of the war will be unfolded in later chapters。
Main Next to Chapter 68 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 68
Chapter 68
Gan Ning's Hundred Horsemen Raid The Northern Camp；
Zuo Ci's Flung…Down Cup Fools Cao Cao。
Sun Quan was occupied in ordering his army at Ruxu when he heard of the ing of Cao Cao from Hanzhong with four hundred thousand troops to the relief of Hefei。 He told off a fleet of fifty large ships to lie in the port； while Chen Wu went up and down the river banks on the look…out。
〃It would be well to inflict a defeat upon Cao Cao's army before they recover from the long march。 It would dishearten them；〃 said Zhang Zhao。
Looking around at the officers in his tent； Sun Quan said； 〃Who is bold enough to go forth and fight this Cao Cao and so take the keen edge off the spirit of his army？〃
And Ling Tong offered himself； saying； 〃I will go！〃
〃How many soldiers do you require？〃
〃Three thousand troops will suffice；〃 replied Ling Tong。
But Gan Ning struck in； saying； 〃Only a hundred horse would be needed。 Why send three thousand？〃
Ling Tong was angry； and he and Gan Ning began to wrangle even in the presence of their chief。
〃Cao Cao's army is too strong to be attacked recklessly；〃 said Sun Quan。
Finally he gave the mission to Ling Tong with his three thousand； bidding him reconnoiter just outside Ruxu； and fight the enemy if he met him。
Marching out； Ling Tong very soon saw a great cloud of dust； which marked the approach of an army。 As soon as they came near enough； Zhang Liao； who led the van； engaged with Ling Tong； and they fought half a hundred bouts without sign of victory for either。 Then Sun Quan began to fear for his champion； so he sent Lu Meng to extricate Ling Tong from the battle and escort him home。
When Ling Tong had e back； his rival Gan Ning went to Sun Quan and said； 〃Now let me have the hundred horsemen； and I will raid the enemy's camp this night。 If I lose a soldier or a mount； I will claim no merit。〃
Sun Quan mended his courage and chose a hundred of his best veterans； whom he placed under Gan Ning's mand for the raid。 Sun Quan also gave him as a feast for the soldiers fifty flasks of wine and seventy five pounds of mutton。
Returning to the tents； Gan Ning drew up his little force and made them sit down in rows。 Then he filled two silver goblets with wine and solemnly drank to them。
Next he said； 〃rades； tonight our orders are to raid the camp of the enemy。 Wherefore fill your goblets and call up all your strength for the task。〃
But the men did not wele his words。 Instead they looked one at another uncertain。
Seeing them in this mood； Gan Ning adopted a fierce tone； drew his sword and cried； 〃What are you waiting for？ If I； a leader of rank； can risk my life； cannot you？〃
Moved by the angry face of the leader； the men rose； bowed their heads and said； 〃We will fight to the last！〃
Then the wine and meat were distributed to them and each one ate his fill。 The second watch was chosen as the hour to start； and each man stuck a white goose plume in his cap whereby they could recognize each other in the darkness。
At the time appointed they buckled on their armor； mounted and； galloping away； quickly came to Cao Cao's camp。 Hastily throwing aside the thorny barriers； they burst in with a yell that rose to the very heavens。 They made straight for the center； hoping to slay Cao Cao himself。 But the troops of the leader's brigade had made a rampart of their carts within which they were sheltered as if in an iron tun； so that the raiders failed to find a way in。
However； Gan Ning and his small force dashed hither and thither； cutting and slashing； till Cao Cao's men were quite bewildered and frightened。 They had no notion of the number of their assailants。 All their efforts only increased the confusion。 Wherefore the hundred men had it all their own way and rushed from point to point slaying whomever they met。 But soon the drums beat in every camp and torches were lit and shouts arose； and it was time for the raiders to get away。
Gan Ning led his little body of troops out through the south gate with never a soldier trying to stop him； and rode for his own camp。 He met Zhou Tai； who had been sent to help him in case of need； but the need had not arisen； and the hundred heroes with their leader rode back in triumph。 There was no pursuit。
A poem was written praising this exploit：
The drums of war make earth to shake
When the South Land es near even devils quake。
People long will tell of that night raid；
That Gan Ning's goose…plumed warriors made。
On his return； Gan Ning took the tale of his men at the camp gate； not a man nor a horse was missing。 He entered to the sound of drum and fife and the shouting of his men。
〃Long life！〃 shouted they； as Sun Quan came to wele them。
Gan Ning dismounted and prostrated himself。
His lord raised him； and took him by the hand； saying； 〃This expedition of yours must have given those rebels a shaking。 I had yielded to your desire only I wished to give you the opportunity to manifest your valor。 I did not wish to let you be sacrificed。〃
Gan Ning's exploit was rewarded with gifts； a thousand rolls of silk and a hundred keen swords； all of which he distributed among his soldiers。
Sun Quan was very proud of his subordinate's doughty deed； and said； 〃Cao Cao may have his Zhang Liao； but I can match him with my friend Gan Ning。〃
Soon Zhang Liao came to proffer another challenge； and Ling Tong； impatient at being excelled by his rival and enemy； begged that he might go out to fight。 His request was granted； and he marched out a short distance from Ruxu with five thousand troops。 Sun Quan； with Gan Ning in his train； went out to look on at the encounter。
When both armies had e out on the plain and were arrayed； Zhang Liao； with Li Dian and Yue Jing； one on either side； advanced to the front。 Ling Tong； sword in hand； galloped out towards him and； at Zhang Liao's mand； Yue Jing took the challenge and went to open the bat。 They fought half a hundred bouts； and neither seemed to have the better of the other。
Then Cao Cao； hearing of the great contest going on； rode up to the battlefield and took position under the great standard； whence he could see the fighting。 Seeing both batants were waxing desperate； he thought to decide the struggle by an unfair blow。 He bade Cao Xiu let fly a secret arrow； which Cao Xiu did by creeping up under cover of Zhang Liao。 It struck Ling Tong's steed； which reared and threw its rider。 Yue Jing dashed forward to thrust at the fallen warrior with his spear； but before the blow could be given； the twang of another bow was heard and an arrow speeding by hit Yue Jing full in the face。 He fell from his horse。 Then both sides rushed forward to rescue their champions。 The gongs clanged； and the bat ceased。 Ling Tong returned to his camp and reported himself to his master。
〃The arrow that saved you was shot by Gan Ning；〃 said Sun Quan。
Ling Tong turned to his rival and bowed low。
〃I could not have supposed you would have rendered me such a service； Sir；〃 said he to Gan Ning。
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