三国演义英文版-第182部分

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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　would　overturn；　and　the　soldiers　of　Wu　were　frightened。　They　started　to　get　down　into　the　bulkier　cargo…boats　to　save　their　lives。　But　Dong　Xi　threatened　them　with　his　sword；　cutting　down　some　half　score　of　the　mutineers。
〃My　orders　are　to　hold　this　point　against　the　enemy；〃　shouted　he。　〃We　dare　not　abandon　the　ships！〃
However；　the　wind　increased；　and　presently　the　bold　Dong　Xi　was　thrown　into　the　river　by　the　rolling　of　his　ship　and　was　drowned；　together　with　his　men。
Xu　Sheng　dashed　hither　and　thither　among　Li　Dian's　army；　slaying　right　and　left。　Chen　Wu；　hearing　the　noise　of　battle；　set　out　for　the　river　bank。　On　his　way　Chen　Wu　met　Pang　De　and　the　legion　under　him。　A　melee　ensued。　Then　Sun　Quan　with　Zhou　Tai　and　his　troops　joined　in。
The　small　force　from　the　ships　that　had　attacked　Li　Dian　was　now　surrounded。　So　Sun　Quan　gave　the　signal　for　an　onslaught　that　should　rescue　them。　This　failed；　and　Sun　Quan　was　himself　surrounded　in　turn　and　soon　in　desperate　straits。　From　a　height；　Cao　Cao　saw　his　difficulties　and　sent　in　Xu　Chu　to　cut　Sun　Quan's　column　in　halves　so　that　neither　half　could　aid　the　other。
When　Zhou　Tai　had　cut　an　alley　out　of　the　press　and　reached　the　riverside；　he　looked　for　his　master。　But　Sun　Quan　was　nowhere　visible；　so　Zhou　Tai　dashed　once　again　into　the　battle。
ing　to　his　own　troops；　he　cried；　〃Where　is　our　lord？〃
They　pointed　to　where　the　press　was　most　dense。　Zhou　Tai　stiffened　and　dashed　in。
Presently　he　reached　his　lord's　side　and　cried　out；　〃My　lord；　follow　me；　and　I　will　hack　a　way　out！〃
Zhou　Tai　fought　his　way　out　to　the　river　bank。　Then　he　turned　to　look；　and　Sun　Quan　was　not　behind　him。　So　he　turned　back；　forced　his　way　in；　and　once　again　found　his　way　to　his　master's　side。
〃I　cannot　get　out。　The　arrows　are　too　thick！〃　said　Sun　Quan。
〃Then　go　first；　my　lord；　and　I　will　follow！〃
Sun　Quan　then　urged　his　steed　as　fast　as　he　could　go；　and　Zhou　Tai　kept　off　all　pursuit。　Zhou　Tai　sustained　many　wounds　and　the　arrows　rattled　on　his　helmet；　but　he　got　clear　at　last　and　Sun　Quan　was　safe。　As　they　neared　the　river　bank；　Lu　Meng　came　up　with　some　of　the　naval　force　and　escorted　Sun　Quan　down　to　the　ships。
〃I　owe　my　safety　to　Zhou　Tai；　who　thrice　came　to　my　aid；〃　said　Sun　Quan。　〃But　Xu　Sheng　is　still　in　the　thick　of　the　fight；　and　how　can　we　save　him？〃
〃I　will　go　to　his　rescue；〃　cried　Zhou　Tai。
Whirling　his　spear；　Zhou　Tai　again　plunged　into　the　battle　and　presently　brought　his　colleague　safely　out　of　the　press。　Both　were　severely　wounded。
Lu　Meng　ordered　his　troops　to　keep　up　a　rapid　flight　of　arrows　so　as　to　mand　the　bank；　and　in　this　way　the　two　leaders　were　enabled　to　get　on　board　the　ships。
Now　Chen　Wu　had　engaged　the　legion　under　Pang　De。　Being　inferior　in　force　and　no　aid　being　forthing；　Chen　Wu　was　forced　into　a　valley　where　the　trees　and　undergrowth　were　very　dense。　He　tried　to　turn；　but　was　caught　by　the　branches；　and　while　so　entangled　he　was　killed　by　Pang　De。
When　Cao　Cao　saw　that　Sun　Quan　had　escaped　from　the　battle　to　the　river　bank；　he　urged　his　steed　forward　in　pursuit。　He　sent　flights　of　arrows　toward　the　fugitives。　By　this　time　Lu　Meng's　troops　had　emptied　their　quivers；　and　he　began　to　be　very　anxious。　But　just　then　a　fleet　of　ships　sailed　up　led　by　Lu　Xun；　the　son…in…law　of　Sun　Ce；　who　came　with　one　hundred　thousand　marines　and　drove　back　Cao　Cao's　army。　Then　he　landed　to　pursue。　He　captured　many　thousands　of　horses　and　slew　many　men；　so　that　Cao　Cao　was　quite　defeated　and　retired。　Then　they　sought　and　found　the　body　of　Chen　Wu　among　the　slain。
Sun　Quan　was　much　grieved　when　he　came　to　know　that　Chen　Wu　had　been　slain　and　Dong　Xi　drowned；　and　wept　sore。　Men　were　sent　to　seek　for　Dong　Xi's　body；　which　at　last　was　found。　Both　generals　were　buried　with　great　honors。
As　a　repense　for　Zhou　Tai's　services　in　Sun　Quan's　rescue；　Sun　Quan　prepared　in　his　honor　a　great　banquet；　where　Sun　Quan　himself　offered　Zhou　Tai　a　goblet　of　wine　and　plimented　and　embraced　him　while　the　tears　coursed　down　his　cheeks。
〃Twice　you　saved　my　life；　careless　of　your　own；〃　cried　Sun　Quan；