。
The armored horsemen had conquered Hanzhong；
The ensigns toward the south were turned again。
The subsequent course of the war will be unfolded in later chapters。
Main Next to Chapter 68 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 68
Chapter 68
Gan Ning's Hundred Horsemen Raid The Northern Camp；
Zuo Ci's Flung…Down Cup Fools Cao Cao。
Sun Quan was occupied in ordering his army at Ruxu when he heard of the ing of Cao Cao from Hanzhong with four hundred thousand troops to the relief of Hefei。 He told off a fleet of fifty large ships to lie in the port； while Chen Wu went up and down the river banks on the look…out。
〃It would be well to inflict a defeat upon Cao Cao's army before they recover from the long march。 It would dishearten them；〃 said Zhang Zhao。
Looking around at the officers in his tent； Sun Quan said； 〃Who is bold enough to go forth and fight this Cao Cao and so take the keen edge off the spirit of his army？〃
And Ling Tong offered himself； saying； 〃I will go！〃
〃How many soldiers do you require？〃
〃Three thousand troops will suffice；〃 replied Ling Tong。
But Gan Ning struck in； saying； 〃Only a hundred horse would be needed。 Why send three thousand？〃
Ling Tong was angry； and he and Gan Ning began to wrangle even in the presence of their chief。
〃Cao Cao's army is too strong to be attacked recklessly；〃 said Sun Quan。
Finally he gave the mission to Ling Tong with his three thousand； bidding him reconnoiter just outside Ruxu； and fight the enemy if he met him。
Marching out； Ling Tong very soon saw a great cloud of dust； which marked 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 half a hundred bouts without sign of victory for either。 Then Sun Quan began to fear for his champion； so he sent Lu Meng to extricate Ling Tong from the battle and escort him home。
When Ling Tong had e back； his rival Gan Ning went to Sun Quan and said； 〃Now let me have the hundred horsemen； and I will raid the enemy's camp this night。 If I lose a soldier or a mount； I will claim no merit。〃
Sun Quan mended his courage and chose a hundred of his best veterans； whom he placed under Gan Ning's mand for the raid。 Sun Quan also gave him as a feast for the soldiers fifty flasks of wine and seventy five pounds of mutton。
Returning to the tents； Gan Ning drew up his little force and made them sit down in rows。 Then he filled two silver goblets with wine and solemnly drank to them。
Next he said； 〃rades； tonight our orders are to raid the camp of the enemy。 Wherefore fill your goblets and call up all your strength for the task。〃
But the men did not wele his words。 Instead they looked one at another uncertain。
Seeing them in this mood； Gan Ning adopted a fierce tone； drew his sword and cried； 〃What are you waiting for？ If I； a leader of rank； can risk my life； cannot you？〃
Moved by the angry face of the leader； the men rose； bowed their heads and said； 〃We will fight to the last！〃
Then the wine and meat were distributed to 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 cap whereby they could recognize each other in the darkness。
At the time appointed they buckled on their armor； mounted and； galloping away； quickly came to Cao Cao's camp。 Hastily throwing aside the thorny barriers； they burst in with a yell that rose to the very heavens。 They made straight for the center； hoping to slay Cao Cao himself。 But the troops of the leader's brigade had made a rampart of their carts within which they were sheltered as if in an iron tun； so that the raiders failed to find a way in。
However； Gan Ning and his small force dashed hither and thither； cutting and slashing； till Cao Cao's men were quite bewildered and frightened。 They had no notion of the number of their assailants。 All their efforts only increased the confusion。 Wherefore 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 get away。
Gan Ning led his little body of troops out through the south gate with never a soldier trying to stop him； and rode for his own camp。 He met Zhou Tai； who had been sent to help him in case of need； but the need had not arisen； and the hundred heroes with their leader rode back in triumph。 There was no pursuit。
A poem was written praising this exploit：
The drums of war make earth to shake
When the South Land es near even devils quake。
People long will tell of that night raid；
That Gan Ning's goose…plumed warriors made。
On his return； Gan Ning took the tale of his men at the camp gate； not a man nor a horse was missing。 He entered to the sound of drum and fife and the shouting of his men。
〃Long life！〃 shouted they； as Sun Quan came to wele them。
Gan Ning dismounted and prostrated himself。
His lord raised him； and took him by the hand； saying； 〃This expedition of yours must have given those rebels a shaking。 I had yielded to your desire only I wished to give you the opportunity to manifest your valor。 I did not wish to let you be sacrificed。〃
Gan Ning's exploit was rewarded with gifts； a thousand rolls of silk and a hundred keen swords； all of which he distributed among his soldiers。
Sun Quan was very proud of his subordinate's doughty deed； and said； 〃Cao Cao may have his Zhang Liao； but I can match him with my friend Gan Ning。〃
Soon Zhang Liao came to proffer 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 a short distance from Ruxu with five thousand troops。 Sun Quan； with Gan Ning in his train； went out to look on at the encounter。
When both armies had e out on the plain and were arrayed； Zhang Liao； with Li Dian and Yue Jing； one on either side； advanced to the front。 Ling Tong； sword in hand； galloped out towards him and； at Zhang Liao's mand； Yue Jing took the challenge and went to open the bat。 They fought half a hundred bouts； 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； whence he could see the fighting。 Seeing both batants were waxing desperate； he thought to decide the struggle by an unfair blow。 He bade Cao Xiu let fly a secret arrow； which Cao Xiu did by creeping up under cover of Zhang Liao。 It struck Ling Tong's steed； which reared and threw its rider。 Yue Jing dashed forward to thrust at the fallen warrior with his spear； but before the blow could be given； the twang of another bow was heard and an arrow speeding by hit Yue Jing full in the face。 He fell from his horse。 Then both sides rushed forward to rescue their champions。 The gongs clanged； and the bat ceased。 Ling Tong returned to his camp and reported himself to his master。
〃The arrow that saved you was shot by Gan Ning；〃 said Sun Quan。
Ling Tong turned to his rival and bowed low。
〃I could not have supposed you would have rendered me such a service； Sir；〃 said he to Gan Ning。
This episode ended the strife and enmity between the two leaders； who thereafter swore perpetual friendship。
On the other side Cao Cao saw to it that Yue Jing's wound was dressed。 Next day he launched an attack against Ruxu along five different lines。 He himself led one army in the center； on the left Zhang Liao and Li Dian led two armies； on the right Xu Huang and Pang De manded the other two。 Each army was ten thousand strong； and they marched to give battle on the river bank。 The crews and fighting troops of the South Land's naval squadron were greatly frightened by the approach of these armies。
〃You have eaten the bread of your prince； and you must give loyal service。 Why fear？〃 said Xu Sheng。
Thereupon he put some hundreds of his best men into small boats； went along the bank； and broke into the legion under Li Dian。 Meanwhile Dong Xi on the ships beat drums and cheered them on。 But a great storm came on； lashing the river to fury； and the waves rolled mountains high。 The larger ships rolled as if they