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〃Though　you　are　brave；　nephew；　yet　you　are　young　and　ought　to　have　an　assistant。〃
Thereupon　Tiger　General　Zhu　Ran　stepped　forward；　saying；　〃Let　me　go。〃
Sun　Quan　consented。　He　promoted　Sun　Huan　to　General　of　the　Left　Army；　and　he　told　off　fifty　thousand　of　soldiers　and　marines；　over　whom　he　placed　Sun　Huan　and　Zhu　Ran　as　joint　manders。　They　were　to　start　as　soon　as　possible。
The　scouts　reported　that　the　army　of　Shu　was　camped　at　Yidu；　and　Sun　Huan　led　half　his　army　to　the　borders　of　that　county　and　camped　in　three　stockades。
Now　the　Shu　General　Hu　Ban　had　received　his　seal　as　Leader　of　the　Van。　From　the　day　he　left　the　borders　of　the　River　Lands；　he　had　had　uninterrupted　success。　Everyone　had　submitted　at　the　mere　rumor　of　his　ing。　He　had　conducted　his　campaign　with　unstained　swords　as　far　as　Yidu。　When　he　heard　that　Sun　Huan　was　camped　there　to　oppose　his　progress；　he　sent　back　rapid　messengers　to　the　First　Ruler；　who　was　then　at　Zigui。
The　First　Ruler　got　angry；　saying；　〃So　they　think　this　youth　is　able　to　withstand　me？〃
〃Since　this　nephew　of　Sun　Quan　has　been　made　a　leader；〃　said　Guan　Xing；　〃it　is　unnecessary　to　send　a　leader　of　high　rank。　Let　me　go。〃
〃I　was　just　wishing　to　see　what　you　could　do；〃　said　the　First　Ruler；　and　he　gave　him　orders　to　go。
Just　as　Guan　Xing　was　leaving；　Zhang　Bao　stepped　forth　and　asked　permission　to　go　too。
〃Then　both　go；　my　nephews；〃　said　the　Emperor。　〃But　you　must　be　prudent　and　not　hasty。〃
So　they　took　leave；　collected　their　troops　and　advanced。　Sun　Huan；　hearing　of　the　ing　of　a　large　army；　called　out　all　his　troops　and　drew　up　his　array。　His　two　famous　generals；　Li　Yi　and　Xie　Jing；　were　placed　by　the　great　standard。　They　watched　the　soldiers　of　Shu　filing　out　and　noted　two　leaders　in　silver　helmets　and　silver　armors；　riding　on　white　horses；　and　the　flags　were　white。　First　came　Zhang　Bao　with　a　long　spear；　and　then　Guan　Xing　carrying　a　great　saber。
〃Sun　Huan；　you　tiny　rascal；　your　time　has　e！〃　cried　Zhang　Bao　abusively。　〃How　dare　you　stand　against　the　forces　of　Heaven？〃
〃Your　father　is　a　headless　devil；〃　cried　Sun　Huan；　no　way　backward　in　reviling；　〃and　you　are　going　just　now　to　join　him。　Don't　you　see？〃
Then　Zhang　Bao　rode　at　Sun　Huan。　From　behind　his　chief；　Xie　Jing　dashed　out　to　meet　him。　They　fought　nearly　forty　bouts；　and　then　Xie　Jing　ran　away　with　Zhang　Bao　in　pursuit。
When　Li　Yi　saw　his　rade　overe；　he　whipped　up　his　steed　and　came　into　the　fray；　whirling　his　silvered　battle…ax。　Zhang　Bao　fought　twenty　bouts　with　him；　but　neither　got　the　better。
Then　in　the　army　of　Wu；　a　marching　general　named　Tan　Xiong；　seeing　that　his　two　rades　could　not　overe　Zhang　Bao；　shot　a　treacherous　arrow　from　the　ranks　and　wounded　Zhang　Bao's　steed。　Feeling　the　pang　of　the　wound；　the　horse　bolted　back　to　its　own　side；　but　fell　before　it　reached　it；　throwing　its　rider　sprawling　on　the　ground。　Seeing　this；　Li　Yi　turned　and　rode　toward　the　prostrate　leader　to　slay　him　with　his　battle…ax。　But　just　as　he　was　about　to　deliver　his　blow；　lo！　a　red　flash　came　between；　and　his　head　rolled　along　the　earth。
The　red　flash　was　Guan　Xing's　great　sword。　Seeing　the　horse　fall　and　Li　Yi　ing　up；　he　had　rushed　in　and　dealt　that　fatal　blow。　And　he　had　saved　Zhang　Bao　from　death。　Then　they　attacked　and　lay　on　so　that　Sun　Huan　suffered　a　great　defeat。　Then　each　side　beat　the　retreat　and　drew　off。
Next　day　Sun　Huan　came　out　to　offer　battle　again；　and　the　two　cousins　went　forth　together。　Guan　Xing；　from　horseback　by　the　main　standard；　challenged　his　enemy。　Sun　Huan　rode　out　fiercely；　and　they　two　fought　near　thirty　bouts。　But　Sun　Huan　was　not　strong　enough　and　drew　off。　The　two　youths　followed　and　reached　his　camp。　Hu　Ban；　together　with　Feng　Xi　and　Zhang　Nan；　also　launched　another　attack。　Zhang　Bao　helped　them　with　all　his　force　and　was　the　first　to　force　his　way　into　the　ranks　of　Wu。　He　came　across　Xie　Jing；　whom　he　slew　with　a　spear　thrust。　The　soldiers　of　Wu　scattered　and　fled；　and　the　victory　was　on　the　side　of　Shu。
But　Guan　Xing　was　missing。　Zhang　Bao　was　desperate；　saying；　〃If　something　wrong　happens　to　Guan　Xing；　I　will　not　live！〃
So　he　girded　on　his　huge　spear　and　rode　far　and　wide　seeking　him。　Presently　he　met　Guan　Xing；　bearing　his　sword　in　his　left　hand；　while　his　right　held　a　captive。
〃Who　is　this？〃　asked　Zhang　Bao。
〃In　the　melee　I　met　an　enemy；〃　said　Guan　Xing；　〃and　I　took　him　prisoner。〃
Then　Zhang　Bao　recognized　Tan　Xiong；　the　man　who　had　let　fly　the　treacherous　arrow　that　had　brought　down　his　horse。　The　two　returned　to　camp；　where　they　slew　their　prisoner　and　poured　a　libation　of　his　blood　to　the　dead　horse。
After　this　they　drew　up　a　report　of　the　victory　for　the　First　Ruler。　Sun　Huan　had　lost　his　generals………Li　Yi；　Xie　Jing；　and　Tan　Xiong………as　well　as　several　other　officers　and　many　troops。　His　army　was　too　weakened　to　continue　the　campaign；　so　he　halted　and　sent　back　to　Wu　for　reinforcements。
Then　Generals　Zhang　Nan　and　Feng　Xi　said　to　Hu　Ban；　〃The　power　of　Wu　is　broken。　Let　us　raid　their　encampment。〃
But　Hu　Ban　said；　〃Though　so　many　have　been　lost；　there　are　many　left。　Zhu　Ran's　marine　force　is　in　a　strong　position　on　the　river　and　is　untouched。　If　you　carry　out　your　plan　and　the　marines　land　in　force　and　cut　off　our　retreat；　we　shall　be　in　difficulties。〃
〃That　is　easily　met；〃　said　Zhang　Nan。　〃Let　each　of　the　two　leaders　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　take　five　thousand　troops　and　go　into　ambush　in　the　valleys　to　guard　against　any　such　move。〃
Said　Hu　Ban；　〃I　think　it　better　to　send　some　persons　to　pretend　to　be　deserters。　Let　them　tell　Zhu　Ran　of　the　plan　to　raid　the　camp；　and　Zhu　Ran　will　e　to　the　rescue　as　soon　as　he　sees　fire。　Then　the　ambushing　soldiers　can　attack　him。〃
They　thought　this　a　fine　plan；　and　they　made　the　necessary　arrangements。
Hearing　of　the　ill　success　and　losses　of　his　colleague　Sun　Huan；　Zhu　Ran　was　already　thinking　of　going　to　his　help；　when　a　few　deserters　appeared　and　hoarded　his　ship。
He　questioned　them；　and　they　said；　〃We　are　Feng　Xi's　soldiers；　and　we　have　deserted　because　of　unfair　treatment。　We　have　a　secret　to　tell。〃
〃What　secret　can　you　betray？〃
〃Tonight　Feng　Xi　is　going　to　make　an　attack　upon　General　Sun　Huan's　camp。　He　thinks　it　is　a　good　chance。　They　are　going　to　raise　a　fire　as　a　signal。〃
Zhu　Ran　saw　no　reason　to　doubt　the　men；　and　he　sent　off　at　once　to　tell　Sun　Huan。　But　the　messenger　never　arrived；　as　Guan　Xing　intercepted　and　slew　him。
Then　Zhu　Ran　deliberated　upon　going　to　help。
〃You　cannot　trust　what　those　soldiers　said；〃　said　Cui　Yu；　one　of　the　manders。　〃Both　army　and　navy　will　be　lost　if　anything　goes　wrong。　No；　General；　rather　keep　careful　watch　and　let　me　go。〃
Zhu　Ran　saw　this　was　the　wiser　plan；　so　he　gave　Cui　Yu　ten　thousand　troops；　and　Cui　Yu　left。
That　night　Hu　Ban；　Zhang　Nan；　and　Feng　Xi　made　an　attack　on　Sun　Huan's　camp　from　three　directions；　and　the　soldiers　were　scattered　and　fled。　Then　the　three　generals　set　the　whole　camp　on　fire。　Cui　Yu　saw　the　flames　as　he　marched　and　pressed　on。　Then　just　as　he　was　passing　some　hills；　he　came　upon　the　ambush；　and　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　poured　out　from　left　and　right。　Taken　by　surprise；　Cui　Yu　could　only　try　to　flee；　but　he　met　Zhang　Bao；　who　made　him　prisoner。
When　Zhu　Ran　heard　the　news；　he　was　panic…stricken　and　dropped　down…river　twenty　miles。　The　remnant　of　Sun　Huan's　troops　ran　away；　following　their　leader。
As　they　fled；　Sun　Huan　inquired；　〃Is　there　any　city　ahead　that　has　good　defense　and　granary？〃
They　told　him；　saying；　〃To　the　north　is　Yiling；　where　we　can　camp。〃
So　they　went　thither。
Just　as　they　reached　the　wall；　their　pursuers　came　up　and　the　city　was　besieged　in　all　four　sides。
Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　brought　the　captive　Cui　Yu　back　to　Zigui　and　saw　the　First　Ruler；　who　rejoiced　at　their　success。　The　prisoner　was　put　to　death；　and　the　soldiers　were　rewarded。　The　effect　of　these　victories　spread　far；　so　that　the　leaders　in　Wu　had　no　inclination　to　fight。
When　the　Prince　of　Wu　received　Sun　Huan's　call　for　help；　he　was　frightened　and　knew　not　what　to　do。
So　he　called　a　great　council；　and　he　said；　〃Sun　Huan　is　besieged　in　Yiling；　and　Zhu　Ran　has　been　defeated　on　the　river。　What　can　be　done？〃
Then　Zhang　Zhao　said；　〃Though　several　of　your　manders　are　dead；　yet　have　you　many　left。　Half　a　score　is　enough　to　relieve　your　anxiety。　Send　Han　Dang　as　mander；　with　Zhou　Tai　as　his　second；　Pan　Zhang　as　Van　Leader；　Ling　Tong　as　Rear　Guard；　Gan　Ning　in　reserve。　You　want　one　hundred　thousand　troops。〃
Sun　Quan　made　the　appointments　as　proposed。　Gan　Ning　was　very　seriously　ill　just　then；　but　he　accepted　the　task。
Now　the　First　Ruler　had　made　a　line　of　forty　camps　from　Wukou　and　Jianping　to　Yiling；　spreading　twenty…five　miles　of　distance。
He　was　exceedingly　pleased　with　his　two　nephews；　who　had　distinguished　themselves　again　and　again；　and　he　said；　〃The　generals　that　have　followed　me　since　the　early　days　have　got　aged；　and　thus　no　longer　a　big　use。　But　now　that　I　have　such　two　valorous　nephews；　I　have　no　fear　for　Sun　Quan。〃
Then　he　heard　of　the　ing　of　Sun　Quan's　army　under　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai；　and　he　wished　to　select　a　mander　to　oppose　the　Wu　army。
But　those　near　him　reported：　〃Huang　Zhong　and　a　half　dozen　other　officers　have　run　off　to　Wu！〃
〃Huang　Zhong　is　no　traitor；〃　said　the　First　Ruler；　smiling。　〃It　is　only　that　he　heard　what　I　happened　to　say　about　old　and　useless　leaders。　He　will　not　accept　he　is　useless　and　wants　to　prove　he　is　not。〃
Then　he　called　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　and　said　to　them；　〃Huang　Zhong　may　fail　in　this　enterprise　of　his；　so　I　hope　you　two　will　not　mind　going　to　his　assistance。　As　soon　as　there　is　some　success　to　report；　get　him　to　return　and　do　not　let　him　e　to　grief。〃
So　the　two　got　their　troops　together　and　went　off　to　assist　the　aged　warrior。

When　young；　success　is　easy；　thine　at　will；
The　aged　servant　fails；　though　willing　still。

The　next　chapter　will　relate　the　oute　of　Huang　Zhong's　expedition。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　83　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　83
　Chapter　83
Fighting　At　Xiaoting；　The　First　Ruler　Captures　An　Enemy；
Defending　The　Three　Gorges；　A　Student　Takes　Supreme　mand。
In　spring；　the　first　month　of　the　second　year　of　Manifest　Might　（AD　221）；　the　veteran　warrior　Huang　Zhong　was　among　the　officers　who　followed　the　First　Ruler　to　war　against　Wu。　When　he　heard　his　master　talk　of　old　and　incapable　leaders；　he　girded　on　his　sword　and　with　a　few　faithful　followers　made　his　way　to　the　camps　at　Yiling。　He　was　weled　by　Hu　Ban；　the　mander　in　charge　of　the　siege　there。
〃For　what　reason　do　you　e；　O　Veteran　General？〃　asked　he。
〃I　have　followed　the　Emperor　ever　since　he　left　Changsha；　and　I　have　done　diligent　service。　I　am　now　over　seventy；　but　my　appetite　is　still　good　for　ten　pounds　of　meat；　and　I　can　still　stretch　the　strongest　bow；　and　I　can　still　ride　five　hundred　miles　without　fatigue。　I　am　not　weak　or　worn　out。　But　our　master　has　been　talking　of　old　and　useless　leaders；　and　I　am　e　to　take　part　in　the　fight　with　Wu。　If　I　slay　one　of　their　leaders；　he　will　see　I　may　be　old　but　not　worn　out。〃
Just　about　that　time　the　leading　division　of　the　Wu　army　drew　near　the　camp。　Huang　Zhong　hastily　rose；　went　out　of　the　tent；　and　mounted　to　go　into　the　battle。
〃Aged　General；　be　careful！〃　said　the　generals。
But　Huang　Zhong　paid　no　attention　and　set　off　at　full　speed。　However；　Hu　Ban　and　Feng　Xi　rode　out　to　help　him。　As　soon　as　he　saw　the　array　of　the　enemy；　he　pulled　up　and　challenged　mander　Pan　Zhang　of　the　vanguard。　Pan　Zhang　sent　out　one　of　his　generals；　Shi　Ji；　to　take　the　challenge。　Shi　Ji　despised　his　seed　antagonist　and　rode　lightly　forth　with　his　spear　set；　but　in　the　third　bout　Huang　Zhong　cut　him　down。　This　angered　Pan　Zhang　who　flourished　the　green…dragon　saber；　the　great　sword　of　the　old　warrior　Guan　Yu　which　had　passed　into　his　possession；　and　took　up　the　battle。　These　two　fought　several　bouts；　and　neither　was　victor；　for　Huang　Zhong　was　brimful　of　energy。　His　antagonist；　seeing　that　he　could　not　overe　the　old　man；　galloped　off。　Huang　Zhong　pursued　and　smote　his　army　and　scored　a　full　victory。
On　his　way　back　Huang　Zhong　fell　in　with　the　two　youthful　generals；　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao。
〃We　e　by　the　sacred　mand　to　aid　you　if　necessary。　And　now　that　you　have　scored　so　plete　a　victory；　we　pray　you　return　to　the　main　camp；〃　said　they。
But