The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (9 page)

“Your advice is most valuable,” said Sun Quan.

He made his preparations. Zhou Yu was appointed commander-in-chief; Lu Meng was van leader; Tong Xi and Gan Ning were sub-commanders. Sun Quan himself commanded the main army of 100,000 men.

Spies reported the news to Huang Zu, who hurriedly called his men together for consultation. Then he placed Su Fei in primary command and two officers as van leaders. He prepared two squadrons of ships, on which were placed strong bows and stiff crossbows to the number of more than 2,000. These were secured to heavy hawsers so that they formed a barrier in the river.

At the approach of the men of Wu, drums beat and the archers began to shoot. Soon arrows and bolts thickened the air, forcing back the invaders, who withdrew till several
li
of water lay between them and the defenders.

“At this stage there is no turning back for us,” said Gan Ning to his colleague.

So they chose a hundred light craft and placed picked men on them, fifty to a boat. Twenty were for rowing 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 on the water in confusion. Gan Ning leaped upon one boat and killed one of the two commanding officers. The other hastened to flee for the shore.

Seeing this, Lu Meng jumped into a small boat and rowed straight into the enemy ships, setting them on fire. When his opponent had nearly reached the bank, Lu Meng recklessly 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 Wu had already landed and there was no hope of repelling them. Su Fei fled into the open country but was captured and made prisoner. He was taken to Sun Quan, who ordered him to be put into a cage-cart and held till Huang Zu should be captured. Then he would execute the pair together. The attack pressed—day and night they worked to capture Xiakou.

He sees his ships cut loose and burned,

By the silk-sailed pirate he once spurned.

The fate of Huang Zu will be told in the next chapter.

*
Ruler of the house of Zhou, whose son later became founder of the West Zhou Dynasty (1046–841
B.C.
).

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

At Jingzhou Liu Qi Thrice Begs for Advice

At Bowang Zhuge Liang Directs His First Battle

N
ow
Sun Quan fought hard to take Xiakou. When Huang Zu recognized that he was beaten and could not maintain his position, he abandoned the city of Jiangxia and took the road to Jingzhou. Gan Ning, foreseeing this, had laid an ambush outside the east gate. A short while later, the fugitive, with a small following, burst out of the gate. However, he had not yet gone far when 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 retorted, “I did good service for you and yet you treated me as a pirate. Now what have you got to say?”

There was nothing to be said, and Huang Zu turned his horse to escape. But Gan Ning, thrusting aside his men, dashed forward to pursue him. Just then he heard shouting in his rear and saw Cheng Pu coming up. Fearing lest this other pursuer should overtake him and compete for the merit 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, he joined Cheng Pu and the two returned, bearing the ghastly trophy to their master. Sun Quan ordered them to place it in a box, to be taken back home and offered as a sacrifice at the altar in memory of his father.

The battle being won, Sun Quan rewarded his officers and men very liberally and Gan Ning in particular was promoted to a high rank. Next he discussed with his followers about the advisability of leaving part of his force to hold Jiangxia. But his advisor, Zhang Zhao, said it was useless to try to hold an isolated city and he suggested going back and preparing for a possible attack from Liu Biao, who would surely revenge the death of Huang Zu.

“We will certainly defeat him as his army will be tired out after a long expedition,” he continued. “Then we can push home the attack and capture his districts.”

Sun Quan saw the advice was wise so he gave up the city and led his army back to the east.

Now Su Fei was still confined, but he secretly got someone to ask Gan Ning to save him. Gan Ning told the messenger that he would not forget to plead mercy for him, even if he had said nothing.

When the army got back Sun Quan gave orders for Su Fei’s execution so that his head might be offered as sacrifice with that of Huang Zu. Then Gan Ning went in to his lord and said in tears: “If it had not been for Su Fei, my bones would have been rotting in some ditch. How then could I have rendered service under your banner? Now I know he deserves death, but I cannot forget his kindness to me and I am willing to return to you the honors you have bestowed on me as payment for his crime.”

Sun Quan replied, “Since he once showed kindness to you, I will pardon him for your sake. But what if he runs away?”

“If he were pardoned he would be immeasurably grateful and would not dream of escaping. If he should, then I will offer my life in exchange.”

So the condemned man escaped death and only Huang Zu’s head was offered as sacrifice. After the sacrificial ceremony was over a great banquet was spread in celebration of the victory. As the festivities progressed, suddenly one of the guests burst into loud lamentation, drew his sword, and rushed upon Gan Ning, who hastily rose and defended himself with the chair on which he had been sitting. Sun Quan, surprised, looked at the assailant and saw it was Ling Tong, whose father had been killed by Gan Ning. The son was now burning for revenge.

Hastily leaving his place, Sun Quan checked the angry young man. “He did slay your noble father,” said Sun Quan, “but at that time he was serving his lord and was bound to exert himself to the utmost. But now that you two are under one flag you must not recall an old injury. I hope you will forget this for my sake.”

Ling Tong struck his head upon the floor and cried, “But how can I not avenge this? It is a blood feud and we cannot both live under the same sky.”

The other guests also intervened, beseeching the young man to forgo his revenge, and at last he ceased from his murderous intention. But he sat glaring wrathfully at his enemy.

That very day Gan Ning was dispatched with 5,000 men and a hundred ships to guard Xiakou, where he was beyond the reach of his enemy’s wrath. Then Sun Quan promoted Ling Tong to appease him and the young man had to acquiesce, although hatred still burned in his heart.

From then on Sun Quan enlarged his fleet and sent officers to guard various points of the riverbanks. His uncle was placed in command at Wuhui and he himself, with a large army, camped at Caisang. Zhou Yu, the commander-in-chief of the forces, was on Poyang Lake training the navy in general preparations for defense and attack.

Here our story will digress to follow the adventures of Liu Bei. From his spies he had tidings of the war and learned of the death of Huang Zu, so he consulted Zhuge Liang as to what he should do. While they were discussing the matter, there arrived a messenger from Liu Biao, asking Liu Bei to go to see him. Zhuge Liang said, “This call is to consult you about avenging Huang Zu. I will go with you and good plans will evolve as the circumstances direct.”

Leaving Guan Yu to guard Xinye, Liu Bei set forth, taking Zhang Fei at the head of 500 soldiers as his escort. On the way he asked his advisor what he should say to Liu Biao. Zhuge Liang said, “First, you must thank him for having saved you from the plot against you at Xiangyang. But if he asks you to undertake an expedition against Sun Quan, you must not agree. Say you have to return to Xinye to put your army in good order.”

Bearing this admonition in mind, Liu Bei came to Jingzhou with his followers and found lodging in the guesthouse. Zhang Fei and the soldiers camped outside the city, while Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang went in to see Liu Biao, and after the customary salutations, Liu Bei apologized for his conduct at Xiangyang.

Liu Biao said: “Worthy brother, I know you were the victim of a vile plot and at that time I would have put Cai Mao to death if there had not been so wide a pleading for mercy. I hope you don’t blame me for that.”

“General Cai had little to do with it—I think it was his subordinates’ doing,” replied Liu Bei.

Liu Biao said, “Jiangxia is lost and Huang Zu is dead, as you know. So I have asked you to come and discuss measures of vengeance.”

“Huang Zu was harsh and cruel so he could not use his men in the proper way; that was the real cause of his fall. But have you reflected what Cao Cao might do in the north if we attack the south?”

“I’m getting old and weak and unable to manage affairs properly—will you aid me, brother? After I’m gone you’ll be head of this district.”

“Why do you say this, brother? How can I be equal to such an important task?”

At this Zhuge Liang looked meaningfully at Liu Bei, who then continued, “But give me a little time to think of some good plan.”

He took his leave. When they had reached their lodging, Zhuge Liang asked, “Why did you decline his offer of the district?”

“He has always been most kind and courteous. I couldn’t bear to take advantage of his weakness.”

“A kindly and gracious lord indeed,” sighed Zhuge Liang.

As they were talking the elder son of Liu Biao was announced and Liu Bei welcomed him in. The young man, Liu Qi by name, bowed and then began to weep. “My stepmother hates me and my very life is in danger. Can’t you save me, uncle?”

“My worthy nephew, this is a family affair. You shouldn’t come to me.”

Zhuge Liang, who was present, smiled. Liu Bei turned to him for help.

“This is a family affair—I cannot be involved,” replied Zhuge Liang.

The young man soon left and when Liu Bei was seeing him out he whispered, “I’ll get Zhuge Liang to return your call and you can talk to him.” Then he whispered something in his ear.

Liu Qi thanked him and left. The next day, when the call was to be made, Liu Bei pretended to be suffering from stomach ache and made that an excuse to send Zhuge Liang alone on the visit. So the advisor went to Liu Qi’s house and was conducted into the inner hall by the young host. When tea was brought to them, Liu Qi said: “I am an object of my stepmother’s dislike—can you advise me what to do?”

“As a mere guest I can hardly have anything to do with your own ‘flesh and bone’ matters. If I did, and the story got abroad, much harm might ensue.”

With this he rose to take leave. But Liu Qi was unwilling to let him go. He said, “Since you have taken the trouble to come, you cannot mean to go away so soon.”

He led his visitor into a private chamber and had wine brought in. While they drank he repeated his previous plea and begged Zhuge Liang to teach him how to avoid being harmed by his stepmother, who would not tolerate his existence.

“It is not the sort of thing I can advise on,” replied Zhuge Liang, as he rose for the second time to take leave.

“Well, it is all right if you will not reply, sir. But why leave so early?”

So Zhuge Liang once more seated himself and Liu Qi said, “I have an ancient book that I would like to show you.” And he led his visitor to a small building.