Still Sun Quan halted between two opinions and would not decide。
Then came mander Lu Meng who said to his master； 〃While I was at Dragon Gorge； one leader of Huang Zu； Gan Ning from Lingjiang； offered to surrender。 I found out all about him。 He is something of a scholar； is forceful； fond of wandering about as a fighter…errant。 He assembled a band of outlaws with whom he roamed over the rivers and lakes； where he would terrorize everybody。 He wore a bell at his waist； and at the sound of this bell everyone fled and hid。 He fitted his boats with sails of Xichuan brocade； and people called him the 'Pirate with Silken Sails。'
〃Then he reformed。 He and his band went to Liu Biao； but they left him when they saw he would never acplish anything； and now they would serve under your banner； only that Huang Zu detains them at Xiakou。 Formerly when you were attacking Huang Zu； he owed the recovery of Xiakou to this same Gan Ning； whom he treated without liberality。 When mander Su Fei remended Gan Ning for promotion； Huang Zu said； 'He is unsuited for any high position as； after all； he is no more than a pirate。'
〃So Gan Ning became a disappointed and resentful man。 Su Fei tried to win him over to good humor and invited him to wine parties and said； 'I have put your name forward many times； but our chief says he has no place suitable for you。 However； time slips away and man's life is not very long。 One must make the most of it。 I will put you forward for the magistracy of Exian； whence you may be able to advance。'
〃So Gan Ning got away from Xiakou and would have e to you then； but he feared that he would not be weled； since he had assisted Huang Zu and killed Ling Cao。 I told him you were always ready to wele able people and would nourish no resentment for former deeds。 After all； every person was bound to do his best for his master。 He would e with alacrity if he only felt sure of a wele。 I pray you express your pleasure。〃
This was good news for Sun Quan and he said； 〃With his help； I could destroy Huang Zu。〃
Then Sun Quan bade Lu Meng bring Gan Ning to see him。
When the salutations were over； the chief said； 〃My heart is entirely captivated by your ing。 I feel no resentment against you。 I hope you will have no doubts on that score； and I may as well tell you that I desire some plan for the destruction of Huang Zu。〃
＇e＇ Ba and Shu indicated the lands of two ancient states west of Jingzhou。 These mountainous lands were often called West River Land。
Gan Ning replied； 〃The dynasty is decadent and without influence。 Cao Cao will finally absorb the country down to the river unless he is opposed。 Liu Biao provides nothing against the future； and his sons are quite unfitted to succeed him。 You should lay your plans to oust him at once before Cao Cao anticipates you。 The first attack should be made on Huang Zu； who is getting old and avaricious； so that everyone hates him。 He is totally unprepared for a fight and his army is undisciplined。 He would fall at the first blow。 If he were gone； you would control the western passes and could conquer the lands of Ba and Shu*。 And you would be securely established。〃
〃The advice is most valuable；〃 said Sun Quan； and he made his preparations。
Zhou Yu was appointed mander…in…Chief； Lu Meng was Van Leader； Dong Xi and Gan Ning were Generals。 Sun Quan himself would mand the main army of one hundred thousand troops。
The spies reported that to Huang Zu who； at the news of an expedition against him； called his officers together to consult。 He placed Su Fei in chief mand。 He also appointed Chen Jiu and Deng Long as Van Leaders； and prepared for general defense。 He had two hundreds of warships under the mand of Chen Jiu and Deng Long。 On these he placed strong bows and stiff crossbows to the number of more than a thousand and secured the boats to heavy hawsers so that they formed a barrier in the river。
At the approach of the southern fleet； the drums beat for the ships to attack。 Soon arrows and bolts flew thick； forcing back the invaders； who withdrew till several miles of water lay between them and the defenders。
〃We must go forward；〃 said Gan Ning to Dong Xi。
So they chose a hundred light craft and put picked men on them； fifty to a boat。 Twenty were to row the boats and thirty to fight。 These latter were armored swordsmen。 Careless of the enemy's missiles these boats advanced； got to the defenders' fleet； and cut the hawsers of their ships so that they drifted hither and thither in confusion。 Gan Ning leaped upon one boat and killed Deng Long。 Chen Jiu left the fleet and set out for the shore。 Lu Meng dropped into a small boat and went among the larger ships setting them on fire。 When Chen Jiu had nearly reached the bank； Lu Meng reckless of death went after him； got ahead； and struck him full in the breast so that he fell。
Before long Su Fei came along the bank with reinforcements； but it was too late。 The armies of the South Land had already landed； and there was no hope of repelling them。 Su Fei fled into the open country； but he was made prisoner。
Su Fei was taken to Sun Quan who ordered that he be put into a cage…cart and kept till Huang Zu should be captured。 Then he would execute the pair。 And the attack was pressed on。 Day and night they wrought to capture Xiakou。
He sees his ships cut loose and burned；
By the Silk…sailed Pirate he once spurned。
For Huang Zu's fate； see next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 39 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 39
Chapter 39
At Jingzhou The Son Of Liu Biao Thrice Begs Advice；
At Bowang Slope The Directing Instructor Plans His First Battle。
Now Sun Quan fought against Xiakou。 When Huang Zu recognized that he was beaten and could not maintain his position； he abandoned Jiangxia and took the road to Jingzhou。 Gan Ning； foreseeing this； had laid an ambush outside the east gate of Jiangxia。 Soon after the fugitive； with a small following； had burst out of the gate； he found his road blocked。
From horseback； Huang Zu said； 〃I treated you well in the past。 Why do you now press me so hard？〃
Gan Ning angrily shouted； 〃I did good service for you； and yet you treated me as a pirate。 Now what have you to say？〃
There was nothing to be said； and Huang Zu turned his horse to escape。 But Gan Ning thrust aside his troops and himself rode in pursuit。 Then he heard a shouting in his rear and saw General Cheng Pu ing up。 Fearing lest this other pursuer should overpass him and score the success he desired for himself； Gan Ning fitted an arrow to his bow and shot at the fugitive。 Huang Zu was hit and fell from his steed。 Then Gan Ning cut off his head。 After this； joining himself to Cheng Pu； the two returned bearing the ghastly trophy to their lord。 Sun Quan ordered them to place it in a box to be taken back home and offered as a sacrifice to the manes of his father。
Having rewarded the soldiers for the victory and promoted Gan Ning； Sun Quan next discussed the advisability of sending a force to hold Jiangxia。
But his adviser； Zhang Zhao； said； 〃It is impossible to try to hold one distant city alone。 It is better to return home and prepare for the expedition that Liu Biao will surely send in revenge。 We will meet and defeat his worn army； push home the attack； and capture his whole region。〃
Sun Quan saw the advice was wise； so he left Jiangxia and led his army home to the South Land。
Now Su Fei was still confined； but he got someone to go to Gan Ning to beg him to plead for mercy。 Gan Ning had expected this although the prisoner had said no word； and he was averse from leaving his friend and one…time protector to perish。
〃I should not have forgotten him even if he had said nothing；〃 said Gan Ning。
When the army had returned； Sun Quan gave orders for Su Fei's execution that his head might be offered with that of Huang Zu。
Then Gan Ning went in to his lord and said； weeping； 〃Long ago； if it had not been for Su Fei； my bones would have been rotting in some ditch and how then could I have rendered service under your banner？ Now he deserves death； but I cannot forget his kindness to me； and I pray you take away the honors you have bestowed on me as a set…off to his crime。〃
Sun Quan replied； 〃Since he once showed kindness to you； I will pardon him for your sake。 But what can be done if he run away？〃
〃If he be pardoned and escape death； he will be immeasurably grateful and will not go away。 If he should； then will I offer my life in exchange。〃
So the condemned man escaped death； and only one head was offered in sacrifice。 After the sacrificial ceremonies； a great banquet was spread in honor of the victories。 As it was proceeding； suddenly one of the guests burst into loud lamentations； drew his sword； and rushed upon Gan Ning。 Gan Ning hastily rose and defended himself with the chair on which he had been sitting。 The host looked at the assailant and saw it was Ling Tong； whose father Ling Cao had fallen under an arrow shot by Gan Ning。 The son was now burning to avenge his father's death。
Hastily leaving his place； Sun Quan checked the angry officer； saying； 〃If he slew your noble father； then remember each was fighting for his lord for whom he was bound to exert himself to the utmost。 But now that you both are under one flag and are of one house； you may not recall an ancient injury。 You must regard my interests continually。〃
Ling Tong beat his head upon the floor and cried； saying； 〃But how can I not avenge this？ It is a blood feud； and we may not both live under the same sky。〃
The guests interfered； beseeching the man to forgo his revenge； and at last he ceased from his murderous intention。 But he sat glaring wrathfully at his enemy。
So soon after Gan Ning was dispatched with five thousand troops and one hundred warships to guard Xiakou； where he was beyond the reach of Ling Tong's wrath。 Then Sun Quan promoted Ling Tong； and so he was somewhat appeased。
From about this time the South Land enlarged her fleets； and soldiers were sent to various points to guard the river banks。 The brother of the chieftain； Sun Kuang； was placed in mand at Wujun； and Sun Quan himself； with a large army； camped at Chaisang。
Zhou Yu； mander…in…Chief of the army and Supreme Admiral of the navy； was on the Poyang Lake training the naval forces； and general preparations were made for defense and attack。
By his spies； Liu Bei had tidings of the doings in the lower portion of the Great River； and knew of the death of Huang Zu。 So he consulted Zhuge Liang as to his action。 While they were discussing matters； there arrived a messenger from Liu Biao； begging Liu Bei to go to see him。
Zhuge Liang advised him to go and said； 〃This call is to consult you about avenging Huang Zu。 You must take me with you and let me act as the circumstances direct。 There are advantages to be got。〃
Leaving Guan Yu in mand at Xinye； Liu Bei set forth； taking Zhang Fei with five hundred soldiers as his escort。
On the way he discussed the course of action with his adviser； who said； 〃First you must thank Liu Biao for having saved you from the evil that Cai Mao planned against you at Xiangyang。 However； you must not undertake any expedition against the South Land but say you must return to Xinye to put your army in good order。〃
With this admonition Liu Bei came to Jingzhou and was l