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Do not try such long…drawn…out schemes； but take advantage of the fine； fresh spirit of our newly arrived troops and attack impetuously。 Their elan will carry the wall。 If you attack tomorrow at dawn； the city will fall before noon。〃
So the early meal was taken at the fifth watch； and the army went to the attack。 The defenders sent down showers of arrows and stones。 Gan Ning took an iron chain in his hand and climbed up the wall。 They shot at him with bows and crossbows； but he turned aside the arrows and bolts； and he threw the chain round Governor Zhu Guang to pull him down。 Lu Meng beat the drum for the attack。 The soldiers made a rush forward to climb the wall； and they slew Zhu Guang。 His officers and soldiers gave in； and so Huancheng fell to Sun Quan。 It was still a long time to noon。
In the meantime Zhang Liao was marching to the aid of the city。 Half…way he heard that the city had fallen； and so he returned to Hefei。
Soon after the conqueror's entry into Huancheng； Ling Tong came there with his army。 The next few days were devoted to feasting the army。 Special rewards were given to the two generals who had done such good work at the capture； and at the banquet to the officers； Gan Ning was seated in the seat of honor； which his colleague； Lu Meng； readily yielded to him for his late prowess。
But as the cup of felicitation was passing round； Ling Tong's thoughts turned to the enmity he bore Gan Ning for having slain his father； and the praises which Lu Meng now heaped upon Gan Ning filled Ling Tong's heart with bitterness。 For some time he glared savagely at Gan Ning； and then he determined on revenge。
Drawing his sword； Ling Tong suddenly rose to his feet and cried； 〃There is nothing to amuse the assembly。 I will give them a display of swordsmanship！〃
Gan Ning quickly saw his real intention。 He pushed back his table and laid hold of a halberd in each hand； crying； 〃And you may also watch an adept in the use of this weapon！〃
Lu Meng saw the evil meaning of both； and assuming his sword and shield； he hastily stepped between the two warriors； saying； 〃Neither of you gentlemen is so dexterous as I。〃
So he forced the two batants asunder； while someone ran to tell Sun Quan。 The Marquis hastily jumped into the saddle and rode to the banquet hall。 At sight of their lord； they all three lowered their weapons。
〃I have bidden you two to forget this old enmity；〃 said Sun Quan。 〃Why do you revive it today？〃
Ling Tong prostrated himself in tears。 Sun Quan exhorted him to forget his quarrel； and once again there was peace。
The next day the army set out for Hefei。
Because of the loss of Huancheng； Zhang Liao grieved greatly。 Cao Cao had sent by the hands of Xue Ti a small casket sealed with his own seal and bearing outside the words； 〃If rebels e； open this。〃
So when he received the news of the ing of a powerful army； Zhang Liao opened the casket and read the letter therein：
〃If Sun Quan es to attack Hefei； the two Generals Li Dian and Zhang Liao are to go out to oppose him； and Yue Jing is to be left to guard the walls。〃
Zhang Liao sent the letter to the two men named therein。
〃What do you think to do？〃 said Yue Jing。
Zhang Liao replied； 〃Our lord is away； and Wu is ing to attack for certain。 We must go out to repel them and exert ourselves to the utmost to inflict defeat upon their advanced guard。 Thus we shall appease the fears of the populace； and then we can hold as best we may。〃
But Li Dian was silent； for he was ever unfriendly to Zhang Liao。
Then seeing his colleague inclined to hold off； Yue Jing said； 〃I am for remaining on the defensive； since the enemy is so much more numerous than we。〃
〃Gentlemen； it seems you are selfish and not devoted to the mon weal；〃 said Zhang Liao。 〃You may have your private reasons for what you do； but I intend to go out and try to repel the enemy。 I will fight them to the death。〃
Thereupon Zhang Liao bade his servants saddle his steed。
At this； Li Dian's better feelings were aroused； and he rose； saying； 〃How can I be careless of the mon weal and indulge my private feelings？ I am ready to follow you and do as you mand。〃
Zhang Liao was elated at this moral victory； and said； 〃Since I can depend upon your help； my friend； then I would ask you to lie in ambush on the north of Xiaoyao Ford in order to destroy the Xiaoshi Bridge there as soon as the army of Wu has crossed。 I； with my friend Yue Jing； will smite the enemy。〃
Li Dian went away to muster his troops and prepare the ambush。
As has been recorded； the leaders of the advance guard of the southern army were the veterans Lu Meng and Gan Ning。 Sun Quan and Ling Tong were in the center； the other generals followed them。 The leaders of the van met Yue Jing first； and Gan Ning rode out and challenged him。 After a few bouts； Yue Jing pretended to be defeated and fled。 Gan Ning called to his colleague to join in the pursuit。
When Sun Quan heard that this advance guard had been successful； he hastened his army to Xiaoyao Ford。 But then there came a series of explosions； and up came Zhang Liao and Li Dian； one on each flank。 Sun Quan was unprepared for this and sent messengers to call off the pursuit and ask for help from Lu Meng and Gan Ning。 Before it could arrived； Zhang Liao had e up。 Manifestly； Ling Tong； who had with him only a small troop of three hundred horse； could not long withstand the army of Cao Cao； but he faced them and fought bravely。
Presently Ling Tong cried to his lord； 〃Cross the Xiaoshi Bridge and run back； my lord！〃
Sun Quan galloped for the bridge； but the southern end had been already broken down and there was a wide breach between the end of the bridge and the shore。 Not a single plank was there by which to cross。 What could be done？ Sun Quan was in a quandary； and helpless。
〃Go back and jump for it！〃 yelled one of the generals； Gu Li by name。
Sun Quan did so。 Backing his horse some thirty spans or so； he then gave it its head and lashed it with his whip。
The good beast leaped； cleared the chasm and his master wee safe on the southern shore。
Once Dilu leant across the Tan Torrent wide；
And when defeat did Sun Quan of Wu betide；
And death came threateningly at Xiaoyao Ford；
His steed too leapt； and saved him from the sword。
Having reached the farther shore； Sun Quan embarked on one of the boats of Xu Sheng and Dong Xi and was rowed to a place of safety； while Ling Tong and Gu Li were still fighting with Zhang Liao's army。 Gan Ning and Lu Meng； ing to their aid； were pursued by Yue Jing； and Li Dian also stayed their progress。 But the soldiers of the South Land fought bravely； half of their force fell； and Ling Tong's troop of three hundred horse perished all； while Ling Tong himself was wounded； but found his way to the bridge。 Finding it destroyed； he fled along the stream。 Presently he was seen by Sun Quan from the boat and taken on board by Dong Xi。 Gan Ning and Lu Meng also cut their ways back to the southern shore。
The terrible slaughter at this battle put such fear into the minds of the people of the South Land that the name of Zhang Liao kept the very 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 home for reinforcements。
Zhang Liao reflected that he had insufficient force to meet another attack if it should be supported by the navy of the South Land； so he sent Xue Ti through the night to carry an urgent message to his master in Hanzhong。 When the messenger arrived； Cao Cao saw that his western expedition would have to yield to the urgency of home defense。 However； he called in his counselors and put a direct question to them。
〃Can we take West River Land now； or not？〃
〃Shu is too well prepared； we cannot；〃 replied Liu Ye。 〃It is better to go to the succor of Hefei； and then go down the river to take the South Land。〃
Wherefore； leaving Xiahou Yuan to station at the Dingjun Mountain to guard Hanzhong； and Zhang He to keep Mount Mengtou Pass； Cao Cao broke up his camp and went toward Ruxu with all his manders。
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 Ga