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e　who　heard　of　her　brave　conduct　were　loud　in　praise　of　her　virtue：

Full　of　resource　and　virtuous；　few　in　the　world　are　like　her；
Guilefully　wrought　she　and　passed　the　death　of　the　lusty　assassins；
Faithful　servants　are　always　ready　to　deal　with　rebellion；
None　can　ever　excel　that　heroine　famous　in　Wu。

The　brigandage　that　had　troubled　the　South　Land　had　all　been　suppressed；　and　a　large　fleet　of　seven　thousand　battleships　was　in　the　Great　River　ready　for　service。　Sun　Quan　appointed　Zhou　Yu　to　be　the　Supreme　Admiral　and　mander…in…Chief　over　all　military　forces。
In　the　twelfth　year　（AD　207）；　the　Dowager　Wu；　feeling　her　end　approaching；　called　to　her　the　two　advisers　Zhou　Yu　and　Zhang　Zhao　and　spoke　thus：　〃I　came　of　a　family　of　the　old　Wu；　but　losing　my　parents　in　early　life。　My　brother　Wu　Jing　and　I　went　into　the　old　Yue；　and　then　I　married　into　this　family。　I　bore　my　husband　four　sons；　not　without　premonitions　of　the　greatness　to　be　theirs。　With　my　first；　Sun　Ce；　I　dreamed　of　the　moon　and　with　my　second；　Sun　Quan；　of　the　sun；　which　omens　were　interpreted　by　the　soothsayer　as　signs　of　their　great　honor。　Unhappy　Sun　Ce　died　young；　but　Sun　Quan　inherited；　and　it　is　he　whom　I　pray　you　both　assist　with　one　accord。　Then　may　I　die　in　peace。〃
And　to　her　son　she　said；　〃These　two　you　are　to　serve　as　they　were　your　teachers　and　treat　them　with　all　respect。　My　younger　sister　and　I　both　were　wives　to　your　father；　and　so　she　is　also　a　mother　to　you；　and　you　are　to　serve　her　after　I　am　gone　as　you　now　serve　me。　And　you　must　treat　your　sister　with　affection　and　find　a　handsome　husband　for　her。〃
Then　she　died　and　her　son　mourned　for　her　that　year。
The　following　year；　they　began　to　discuss　an　attack　upon　Huang　Zu。
Zhang　Zhao　said；　〃The　armies　should　not　move　during　the　period　of　mourning。〃
However；　Zhou　Yu；　more　to　the　point；　said；　〃Vengeance　should　not　be　postponed　on　that　account。　It　could　not　wait　upon　times　and　seasons。〃
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