The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (69 page)

When Sun Quan heard that his advance guard had been successful, he hastened his men forward. However, when they got to the north of Xiaoyao Ford there was a series of explosions, and riding toward them were Zhang Liao and Li Dian, coming from separate flanks. Sun Quan, caught totally unprepared for this, was panic-stricken. He at once dispatched some men to call back the advance guard, but before it could arrive, Zhang Liao had come up.

Now Ling Tong, who had with him only three hundred men, could not long withstand the sweeping force of the enemy, but he fought bravely while his lord galloped for the bridge. The southern end of the bridge had already been destroyed and there was a wide breach between the broken end and the shore. Not a single plank was there by which to cross. What could be done? Sun Quan was frightened out of his wits.

“Retrace your steps first and then jump for it!” shouted Gu Li, one of the officers.

Sun Quan took the advice. Backing his horse some thirty feet or so, he then held tight the bridle and lashed it with his whip. The good beast leaped, cleared the chasm, and his master was safe on the southern shore.

Once Dilu leapt across the Tan Stream wide.

Now when defeat did Sun of Wu betide,
And death came threateningly at Xiaoyao Ford,
His steed too leapt, and saved him from the sword.

Having reached the other shore, Sun Quan was helped into a boat and rowed to a place of safety, while Zhang Liao’s army was held at bay by Ling Tong and Gu Li. Gan Ning and Lu Meng, coming to his aid, were pursued by Yue Jin at the back and attacked by Li Dian in front, so that their progress was slowed down. And the men of Wu suffered great losses. Ling Tong’s force of three hundred perished to a man, but he, although wounded in several places, found a way to the bridge. Finding it destroyed, he fled along the stream. Fortunately he was spotted by Sun Quan from the boat and was presently taken on board. Gan Ning and Lu Meng, after a desperate fight, also managed to escape to the southern shore.

The terrible slaughter at this battle put such fear into the minds of the men of Wu that the very name of Zhang Liao kept 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 messengers back home to muster more troops for reinforcements.

Zhang Liao, hearing of Sun Quan’s new move, reflected that he had insufficient force to meet another attack, so he sent an urgent message to his master in Hanzhong. When he learned about the situation in Hefei, Cao Cao realized that his western expedition would have to take second place to the defense in the south. Nevertheless, he called in his counselors and put a direct question to them.

“Can we take Yizhou now?”

“Liu Bei is now too well prepared to conquer,” replied Liu Ye. “It is better to rescue Hefei and then go down the river to take the south.”

Therefore, leaving Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He to hold two strategically important points in Hanzhong, Cao Cao broke camp and set out toward Ruxu.

The armored horsemen would have conquered Shu,

The ensigns toward the south were turned again.

The subsequent course of the war will be unfolded in the next chapter.

*
Capital city of Hanzhong.

*
Referring to Hanzhong, in modern Gansu.

CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

Gan Ning Leads a Hundred Horsemen to Raid Cao Cao’s Camp

Zuo Ci Flings a Cup to Taunt Cao Cao

S
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Quan was occupied in mobilizing his men at Ruxu when he heard of the coming of Cao Cao with a very large army to relieve Hefei. After consulting his counselors he sent two officers to take a fleet of fifty large ships to lie in ambush at the port and another one to patrol along the riverbanks.

“It is imperative to inflict a defeat upon Cao Cao’s men before they recover from the long march—it will dishearten them,” suggested Zhang Zhao.

Looking around at the officers about him, Sun Quan asked, “Who is bold enough to challenge this Cao Cao and so take the keen edge off the spirit of his army?”

Ling Tong offered himself.

“How many men do you need?”

“Three thousand will suffice,” replied Ling Tong.

But Gan Ning intervened, saying, “Just a hundred horsemen will be enough to do that—why send three thousand?”

Ling Tong was angry, and he and Gan Ning began to wrangle in the presence of their chief.

“Cao Cao’s army is too strong to be treated lightly,” said Sun Quan.

Therefore he gave the commission to Ling Tong with his 3,000 men, telling him to reconnoiter outside Ruxu, and to fight if he met the enemy.

On their way, Ling Tong and his men very soon saw a whirling cloud of dust, indicating 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 fifty bouts without either gaining an advantage. When Sun Quan learned about this he began to worry lest something should happen to his champion, so he sent Lu Meng to extricate him from the battle and escort him back.

Seeing that Ling Tong had returned, his rival Gan Ning went to Sun Quan and pleaded: “Now let me have the hundred horsemen and I will raid the enemy’s camp tonight. If I lose but one man or one horse I will claim no merit.”

Sun Quan commended his courage and chose a hundred of his best veterans, whom he placed under Gan Ning’s command for the night raid. He also gave the soldiers fifty flasks of wine and fifty catties of mutton.

Returning to his own tent, Gan Ning drew up his hundred men and asked them to sit down around him. Then he filled his silver bowl with wine, and after drinking two bowls he said, “My friends, tonight our orders are to raid the camp of the enemy. Therefore fill your cups and call up all your strength for the task.”

But the men were far from feeling confident—instead they looked at one another, disconcerted. Seeing them in this mood, Gan Ning adopted a fierce tone, drew his sword and cried, “What are you hesitating for? If I, a leader of rank, can risk my life, why can’t you?”

Moved by the courage of the leader, the men rose, bowed their heads, and said they would fight to the last. Then the wine and meat were distributed among 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 helmet so that they could recognize each other in the darkness.

At the appointed time they donned their armor, mounted, and galloped swiftly to Cao Cao’s camp. Quickly throwing aside the deer-horns, or abatis defenses, they burst in with a yell that rose to the very heavens and made straight for the center, hoping to slay Cao Cao himself. But the camp’s center, like an iron barrel, was encircled by a rampart of carts, so that the raiders failed to find a way in.

However, Gan Ning and his hundred riders dashed hither and thither, cutting and slashing, while Cao Cao’s men, without any notion of the number of their assailants, created more disturbance for themselves in their fright. Thus 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 escape.

Gan Ning led his courageous body of men out through the south gate and quickly away, with never a man daring to block his way. While in flight he met Zhou Tai, who had been sent to help him in case of need— but the need had not arisen for Cao Cao, afraid of an ambush, did not pursue him.

A poem was written in praise of this exploit:

The drums of war make earth to shake,

When Wu comes near even devils quake.

Men long will tell of that night raid,
That Gan Ning’s goose-plumed warriors made.

So Gan Ning and his hundred heroic riders returned to camp, not a man nor a horse missing. At the camp gate he told his men to beat the drum, blow the fife, and shout “Long life!” Loud cheers rose to the sky as they entered.

Sun Quan himself came out to welcome them. Gan Ning dismounted and prostrated himself. His lord helped him up and took him by the hand, saying, “This expedition of yours must have given the old rascal quite a scare. I would not have let you risk your life if I had not wished to give you the opportunity to display your valor.”

Gan Ning’s exploit was rewarded with generous gifts, including a thousand rolls of silk and a hundred good swords, all of which he distributed among his hundred courageous soldiers. Sun Quan, very proud of his subordinate’s doughty deed, said, “Cao Cao may have his Zhang Liao, but I can match him with my Gan Ning.”

Soon Zhang Liao came to offer 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 with 5,000 men. Sun Quan, with Gan Ning in his train, followed to watch the encounter.

When both armies had come out on to the plain and were arrayed, Zhang Liao, with Li Dian and Yue Jin on either side, advanced to the front. Ling Tong, sword in hand, galloped out toward him; and, at his chief’s command, Yue Jin took the challenge and went to open the combat. They fought to the fiftieth bout 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 to watch the fighting. Seeing both combatants involved in the desperate struggle, he ordered one of his officers to secretly shoot an arrow; the man, creeping up under cover of Zhang Liao, let fly an arrow, striking Ling Tong’s steed, which reared and threw down its rider. Yue Jin dashed forward to thrust at the fallen warrior with his spear, but before the blow could land, the twang of another bow was heard and an arrow hit Yue Jin full in the face. He, too, fell from his horse.

Then both sides rushed forward to rescue their champions—the gongs clanged, and the combat ceased. Ling Tong returned to his camp and bowed to his master in gratitude.

“It was Gan Ning who shot the arrow that saved you,” said Sun Quan.

Ling Tong turned to his rival and bowed low. “I did not expect you would be so kind to me, sir,” he said to Gan Ning. This episode ended the enmity between the two men, who thereafter swore eternal friendship.

On the other side, Cao Cao saw to it that his officer’s wound was dressed. The next day he launched a ferocious attack on Ruxu in five directions. He himself led the central army, the other four being led by Zhang Liao, Li Dian, Xu Huang, and Pang De, each with 10,000 men—and all five set out toward the riverbank. Their approach was soon detected by the crew of the naval squadron of Wu and the men were greatly frightened by such a mighty adversary.

But their commander Xu Sheng reproached them. “You’ve been fed by your lord and you must give loyal service. What’s there to be afraid of?”

Gathering some hundreds of his best men into boats, he crossed over to the bank and broke into the army under Li Dian. Meanwhile the other officer, Dong Xi, urged the remaining men on the ships to beat drums and cheer them on. However, a great storm suddenly swept up, lashing the river to fury, and the waves rolled as high as mountains. The larger ship rolled and pitched as if it would overturn, and the men, greatly frightened, started to run for the small boats to save their lives. But Dong Xi threatened them with his sword, cutting down those who tried to flee.