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Do　not　try　such　long…drawn…out　schemes；　but　take　advantage　of　the　fine；　fresh　spirit　of　our　newly　arrived　troops　and　attack　impetuously。　Their　elan　will　carry　the　wall。　If　you　attack　tomorrow　at　dawn；　the　city　will　fall　before　noon。〃
So　the　early　meal　was　taken　at　the　fifth　watch；　and　the　army　went　to　the　attack。　The　defenders　sent　down　showers　of　arrows　and　stones。　Gan　Ning　took　an　iron　chain　in　his　hand　and　climbed　up　the　wall。　They　shot　at　him　with　bows　and　crossbows；　but　he　turned　aside　the　arrows　and　bolts；　and　he　threw　the　chain　round　Governor　Zhu　Guang　to　pull　him　down。　Lu　Meng　beat　the　drum　for　the　attack。　The　soldiers　made　a　rush　forward　to　climb　the　wall；　and　they　slew　Zhu　Guang。　His　officers　and　soldiers　gave　in；　and　so　Huancheng　fell　to　Sun　Quan。　It　was　still　a　long　time　to　noon。
In　the　meantime　Zhang　Liao　was　marching　to　the　aid　of　the　city。　Half…way　he　heard　that　the　city　had　fallen；　and　so　he　returned　to　Hefei。
Soon　after　the　conqueror's　entry　into　Huancheng；　Ling　Tong　came　there　with　his　army。　The　next　few　days　were　devoted　to　feasting　the　army。　Special　rewards　were　given　to　the　two　generals　who　had　done　such　good　work　at　the　capture；　and　at　the　banquet　to　the　officers；　Gan　Ning　was　seated　in　the　seat　of　honor；　which　his　colleague；　Lu　Meng；　readily　yielded　to　him　for　his　late　prowess。
But　as　the　cup　of　felicitation　was　passing　round；　Ling　Tong's　thoughts　turned　to　the　enmity　he　bore　Gan　Ning　for　having　slain　his　father；　and　the　praises　which　Lu　Meng　now　heaped　upon　Gan　Ning　filled　Ling　Tong's　heart　with　bitterness。　For　some　time　he　glared　savagely　at　Gan　Ning；　and　then　he　determined　on　revenge。
Drawing　his　sword；　Ling　Tong　suddenly　rose　to　his　feet　and　cried；　〃There　is　nothing　to　amuse　the　assembly。　I　will　give　them　a　display　of　swordsmanship！〃
Gan　Ning　quickly　saw　his　real　intention。　He　pushed　back　his　table　and　laid　hold　of　a　halberd　in　each　hand；　crying；　〃And　you　may　also　watch　an　adept　in　the　use　of　this　weapon！〃
Lu　Meng　saw　the　evil　meaning　of　both；　and　assuming　his　sword　and　shield；　he　hastily　stepped　between　the　two　warriors；　saying；　〃Neither　of　you　gentlemen　is　so　dexterous　as　I。〃
So　he　forced　the　two　batants　asunder；　while　someone　ran　to　tell　Sun　Quan。　The　Marquis　hastily　jumped　into　the　saddle　and　rode　to　the　banquet　hall。　At　sight　of　their　lord；　they　all　three　lowered　their　weapons。
〃I　have　bidden　you　two　to　forget　this　old　enmity；〃　said　Sun　Quan。　〃Why　do　you　revive　it　today？〃
Ling　Tong　prostrated　himself　in　tears。　Sun　Quan　exhorted　him　to　forget　his　quarrel；　and　once　again　there　was　peace。
The　next　day　the　army　set　out　for　Hefei。
Because　of　the　loss　of　Huancheng；　Zhang　Liao　grieved　greatly。　Cao　Cao　had　sent　by　the　hands　of　Xue　Ti　a　small　casket　sealed　with　his　own　seal　and　bearing　outside　the　words；　〃If　rebels　e；　open　this。〃
So　when　he　received　the　news　of　the　ing　of　a　powerful　army；　Zhang　Liao　opened　the　casket　and　read　the　letter　therein：
〃If　Sun　Quan　es　to　attack　Hefei；　the　two　Generals　Li　Dian　and　Zhang　Liao　are　to　go　out　to　oppose　him；　and　Yue　Jing　is　to　be　left　to　guard　the　walls。〃
Zhang　Liao　sent　the　letter　to　the　two　men　named　therein。
〃What　do　you　think　to　do？〃　said　Yue　Jing。
Zhang　Liao　replied；　〃Our　lord　is　away；　and　Wu　is　ing　to　attack　for　certain。　We　must　go　out　to　repel　them　and　exert　ourselves　to　the　utmost　to　inflict　defeat　upon　their　advanced　guard。　Thus　we　shall　appease　the　fears　of　the　populace；　and　then　we　can　hold　as　best　we　may。〃
But　Li　Dian　was　silent；　for　he　was　ever　unfriendly　to　Zhang　Liao。
Then　seeing　his　colleague　inclined　to　hold　off；　Yue　Jing　said；　〃I　am　for　remaining　on　the　defensive；　since　the　enemy　is　so　much　more　numerous　than　we。〃
〃Gentlemen；　it　seems　you　are　selfish　and　not　devoted　to　the　mon　weal；〃　said　Zhang　Liao。　〃You　may　have　your　private　reasons　for　what　you　do；　but　I　intend　to　go　out　and　try　to　repel　the　enemy。　I　will　fight　them　to　the　death。〃
Thereupon　Zhang　Liao　bade　his　servants　saddle　his　steed。
At　this；　Li　Dian's　better　feelings　were　aroused；　and　he　rose；　saying；　〃How　can　I　be　careless　of　the　mon　weal　and　indulge　my　private　feelings？　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。