小说园

第95部分（第1页）

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　mans　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　enemys　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　Zus　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。