快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

at　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。
This　episode　ended　the　strife　and　enmity　between　the　two　leaders；　who　thereafter　swore　perpetual　friendship。
On　the　other　side　Cao　Cao　saw　to　it　that　Yue　Jing's　wound　was　dressed。　Next　day　he　launched　an　attack　against　Ruxu　along　five　different　lines。　He　himself　led　one　army　in　the　center；　on　the　left　Zhang　Liao　and　Li　Dian　led　two　armies；　on　the　right　Xu　Huang　and　Pang　De　manded　the　other　two。　Each　army　was　ten　thousand　strong；　and　they　marched　to　give　battle　on　the　river　bank。　The　crews　and　fighting　troops　of　the　South　Land's　naval　squadron　were　greatly　frightened　by　the　approach　of　these　armies。
〃You　have　eaten　the　bread　of　your　prince；　and　you　must　give　loyal　service。　Why　fear？〃　said　Xu　Sheng。
Thereupon　he　put　some　hundreds　of　his　best　men　into　small　boats；　went　along　the　bank；　and　broke　into　the　legion　under　Li　Dian。　Meanwhile　Dong　Xi　on　the　ships　beat　drums　and　cheered　them　on。　But　a　great　storm　came　on；　lashing　the　river　to　fury；　and　the　waves　rolled　mountains　high。　The　larger　ships　rolled　as　if　they　would　overturn；　and　the　soldiers　of　Wu　were　frightened。　They　started　to　get　down　into　the　bulkier　cargo…boats　to　save　their　lives。　But　Dong　Xi　threatened　them　with　his　sword；　cutting　down　some　half　score　of　the　mutineers。
〃My　orders　are　to　hold　this　point　against　the　enemy；〃　shouted　he。　〃We　dare　not　abandon　the　ships！〃
However；　the　wind　increased；　and　presently　the　bold　Dong　Xi　was　thrown　into　the　river　by　the　rolling　of　his　ship　and　was　drowned；　together　with　his　men。
Xu　Sheng　dashed　hither　and　thither　among　Li　Dian's　army；　slaying　right　and　left。　Chen　Wu；　hearing　the　noise　of　battle；　set　out　for　the　river　bank。　On　his　way　Chen　Wu　met　Pang　De　and　the　legion　under　him。　A　melee　ensued。　Then　Sun　Quan　with　Zhou　Tai　and　his　troops　joined　in。
The　small　force　from　the　ships　that　had　attacked　Li　Dian　was　now　surrounded。　So　Sun　Quan　gave　the　signal　for　an　onslaught　that　should　rescue　them。　This　failed；　and　Sun　Quan　was　himself　surrounded　in　turn　and　soon　in　desperate　straits。　From　a　height；　Cao　Cao　saw　his　difficulties　and　sent　in　Xu　Chu　to　cut　Sun　Quan's　column　in　halves　so　that　neither　half　could　aid　the　other。
When　Zhou　Tai　had　cut　an　alley　out　of　the　press　and　reached　the　riverside；　he　looked　for　his　master。　But　Sun　Quan　was　nowhere　visible；　so　Zhou　Tai　dashed　once　again　into　the　battle。
ing　to　his　own　troops；　he　cried；　〃Where　is　our　lord？〃
They　pointed　to　where　the　press　was　most　dense。　Zhou　Tai　stiffened　and　dashed　in。
Presently　he　reached　his　lord's　side　and　cried　out；　〃My　lord；　follow　me；　and　I　will　hack　a　way　out！〃
Zhou　Tai　fought　his　way　out　to　the　river　bank。　Then　he　turned　to　look；　and　Sun　Quan　was　not　behind　him。　So　he　turned　back；　forced　his　way　in；　and　once　again　found　his　way　to　his　master's　side。
〃I　cannot　get　out。　The　arrows　are　too　thick！〃　said　Sun　Quan。
〃Then　go　first；　my　lord；　and　I　will　follow！〃
Sun　Quan　then　urged　his　steed　as　fast　as　he　could　go；　and　Zhou　Tai　kept　off　all　pursuit。　Zhou　Tai　sustained　many　wounds　and　the　arrows　rattled　on　his　helmet；　but　he　got　clear　at　last　and　Sun　Quan　was　safe。　As　they　neared　the　river　bank；　Lu　Meng　came　up　with　some　of　the　naval　force　and　escorted　Sun　Quan　down　to　the　ships。
〃I　owe　my　safety　to　Zhou　Tai；　who　thrice　came　to　my　aid；〃　said　Sun　Quan。　〃But　Xu　Sheng　is　still　in　the　thick　of　the　fight；　and　how　can　we　save　him？〃
〃I　will　go　to　his　rescue；〃　cried　Zhou　Tai。
Whirling　his　spear；　Zhou　Tai　again　plunged　into　the　battle　and　presently　brought　his　colleague　safely　out　of　the　press。　Both　were　severely　wounded。
Lu　Meng　ordered　his　troops　to　keep　up　a　rapid　flight　of　arrows　so　as　to　mand　the　bank；　and　in　this　way　the　two　leaders　were　enabled　to　get　on　board　the　ships。
Now　Chen　Wu　had　engaged　the　legion　under　Pang　De。　Being　inferior　in　force　and　no　aid　being　forthing；　Chen　Wu　was　forced　into　a　valley　where　the　trees　and　undergrowth　were　very　dense。　He　tried　to　turn；　but　was　caught　by　the　branches；　and　while　so　entangled　he　was　killed　by　Pang　De。
When　Cao　Cao　saw　that　Sun　Quan　had　escaped　from　the　battle　to　the　river　bank；　he　urged　his　steed　forward　in　pursuit。　He　sent　flights　of　arrows　toward　the　fugitives。　By　this　time　Lu　Meng's　troops　had　emptied　their　quivers；　and　he　began　to　be　very　anxious。　But　just　then　a　fleet　of　ships　sailed　up　led　by　Lu　Xun；　the　son…in…law　of　Sun　Ce；　who　came　with　one　hundred　thousand　marines　and　drove　back　Cao　Cao's　army。　Then　he　landed　to　pursue。　He　captured　many　thousands　of　horses　and　slew　many　men；　so　that　Cao　Cao　was　quite　defeated　and　retired。　Then　they　sought　and　found　the　body　of　Chen　Wu　among　the　slain。
Sun　Quan　was　much　grieved　when　he　came　to　know　that　Chen　Wu　had　been　slain　and　Dong　Xi　drowned；　and　wept　sore。　Men　were　sent　to　seek　for　Dong　Xi's　body；　which　at　last　was　found。　Both　generals　were　buried　with　great　honors。
As　a　repense　for　Zhou　Tai's　services　in　Sun　Quan's　rescue；　Sun　Quan　prepared　in　his　honor　a　great　banquet；　where　Sun　Quan　himself　offered　Zhou　Tai　a　goblet　of　wine　and　plimented　and　embraced　him　while　the　tears　coursed　down　his　cheeks。
〃Twice　you　saved　my　life；　careless　of　your　own；〃　cried　Sun　Quan；　〃and　you　have　received　many　wounds。　It　is　as　if　your　skin　had　been　engraved　and　painted。　What　sort　of　a　man　should　I　be　if　I　did　not　treat　you　as　one　of　my　own　flesh　and　blood？　Can　I　regard　you；　Noble　Sir；　merely　as　a　unit　in　my　army？　You　are　my　meritorious　minister。　I　share　the　glory　you　have　won　and　mine　are　your　joys　and　sorrows。〃
Then　Sun　Quan　bade　Zhou　Tai　open　his　dress　and　exhibit　his　wounds　for　all　the　assembly　to　see。　The　skin　was　gashed　all　over　as　if　his　body　had　been　scored　with　a　knife。　Sun　Quan　pointed　to　the　wounds；　one　after　another；　and　asked　how　each　one　had　been　received。　And；　as　Zhou　Tai　told　him；　for　every　wound　Sun　Quan　made　him　drink　off　a　goblet　of　wine　till　he　became　thoroughly　intoxicated。　Sun　Quan　then　presented　him　with　a　green　silk　parasol　and　bade　him　use　it　on　all　occasions　as　a　sign　of　the　glory　that　was　his。
But　Sun　Quan　found　his　opponents　too　stable。　At　the　end　of　a　month　the　two　armies　were　both　at　Ruxu　and　neither　had　won　a　victory。
Then　said　Zhang　Zhao　and　Gu　Yong；　〃Cao　Cao　is　too　strong；　and　we　cannot　overe　him　by　mere　force。　If　the　struggle　continues　longer；　you　will　only　lose　more　soldiers。　You　had　better　seek　to　make　peace。〃
Sun　Quan　followed　this　advice　and　dispatched　Bu　Zhi　on　a　peace　mission　to　Cao　Cao's　camp。　Sun　Quan　offered　a　yearly　tribute。　Cao　Cao　also　saw　that　the　South　Land　was　too　strong　to　be　overe；　and　consented。
Cao　Cao　insisted；　〃The　Marquis　should　first　send　away　his　army；　and　then　I　would　retire。〃
Bu　Zhi　returned　with　this　message；　and　Sun　Quan　sent　away　the　greater　part；　leaving　only　Zhou　Tai　and　Jiang　Qin　to　hold　Ruxu。　The　army　returned　to　Capital　Jianye。
Cao　Cao　left　Cao　Ren　and　Zhang　Liao　in　charge　of　Hefei；　and　he　marched　the　army　back　to　Capital　Xuchang。
On　arrival；　all　Cao　Cao's　officers；　military　and　civil；　persuaded　him　to　bee　Prince　of　Wei。　Only　the　Chair　of　the　Secretariat；　Cui　Yan；　spoke　strongly　against　the　scheme。
〃You　are；　then；　the　only　man　who　knows　not　the　fate　of　Xun　Yu；〃　said　his　colleagues。
〃Such　times！　Such　deeds！〃　cried　Cui　Yan。　〃You　are　guilty　of　rebellion；　but　you　may　mit　it　yourselves。　I　will　bear　no　part　in　it。〃
Certain　enemies　told　Cao　Cao；　and　Cui　Yan　was　thrown　into　prison。　At　his　trial　he　glared　like　a　tiger；　and　his　very　beard　curled　with　contempt。　He　raged　and　cursed　at　Cao　Cao　for　a　betrayer　of　his　prince；　and　a　rebel。　The　interrogating　magistrate　reported　his　conduct　to　Cao　Cao；　who　ordered　Cui　Yan　to　be　beaten　to　death　in　prison。

Cui　Yan　of　Qinghe；
Firm　and　unyielding　was　he；
With　beard　crisp　curling　and　gleaming　eyes；
Which　showed　the　man　of　stone　and　iron　within。
He　drove　the　evil　from　his　presence；
And　his　glory　is　fair　and　high。
For　loyalty　to　his　lord　of　Han；
His　fame　shall　increase　as　the　ages　roll。

In　the　twenty…first　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（216）；　in　the　fifth　month　of　that　year；　a　great　memorial　signed　by　many　officers　went　up　to　Emperor　Xian；　praying：

＇e＇　Yi　Yin　was　was　helper　and　prime　minister　of　King　Tang；　the　founder　of　Shang　Dynasty。　After　King　Tang's　death；　Yi　Yin　served　his　sons　and　grandson。　Soon　after　Tai　Jia；　King　Tang's　grandson；　ascended　the　throne；　he　mitted　many　faults；　and　Yi　Yin；　acting　as　regent；　exiled　Tai　Jia　to　Tong　Palace………the　burial　place　of　King　Tang。　After　three　years　Yi　Yin　returned　him　the　throne。　Tai　Jia　eventually　became　an　enlightened　emperor。　Shang　Dynasty　lasted　for　650　years　（BC　1700…1050）。　It　was　this　act　of　Yi　Yin　rather　than　his　services　in　building　up　an　empire　that　has　made　him　immortal。　Whether　he　did　right　in　temporarily　dethroning　the　king　was　open　to　question；　until　a　final　verdict　was　rendered　by　Mencius　who　thought　that　his　ends　amply　justified　his　means。　This　historical　event　attests　the　extent　of　the　power　exercised　by　a　prime　minister　in　those　days。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Duke　of　Zhou　was　brother　of　King　Wu；　who　was　the　founder　of　Zhou　Dynasty。　After　King　Wu's　death；　the　Duke　of　Zhou　served　his　young　son　as　regent。　The　Duke　of　Zhou　pletely　ended　the　Shang　domination；　and　he　helped　establish　the　Zhou　administrative　framework；　which　served　as　a　model　for