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advice。
Zhang Zhao said； 〃Cao Cao wishes a son to be present at court as a hostage whereby he has a hold upon us； as formerly was the case with all the feudal chiefs。 If we do not ply with this request； he will doubtless attack the region。 There is some peril。〃
Zhou Yu said； 〃Our lord has succeeded to the heritage and has a large army of veterans and ample supplies。 He has able officers ready to do his bidding。 So why should he be pelled to send a hostage to any person？ To send a hostage is to be forced into joining Cao Cao； and to carry out his behests； whatever they be。 Then we shall be in his power。 It would be better not to send； but rather to wait patiently the course of events and prepare plans to attack。〃
〃That is also my opinion；〃 said the Dowager。
So Sun Quan dismissed the messenger but did not send his son。 Cao Cao resented this and had since nourished schemes against the South Land。 But their realization had been delayed by the dangers on the north and； so far； no attack had been made。
Late in the eighth year （AD 203）； Sun Quan led his armies against Huang Zu and fought on the Great River； where he was successful in several battles。 One of Sun Quan's leaders； Ling Cao； led a fleet of light vessels up the river and broke into Xiakou but was killed by an arrow of Gan Ning； a general of Huang Zu。 Ling Cao left a son； Ling Tong； fifteen years of age； who led another expedition to recover his father's corpse and was so far successful。 After that； as the war was inclined to go against him； Sun Quan returned again to his own country。
Now Sun Quan's younger brother； Sun Yi； was Governor of Dangyang。 He was a hard man and given to drink and； in his cups； very harsh to his people； ordering the infliction of severe floggings。 Two of his officers； Military Inspector Gui Lan and Secretary Dai Yuan； bore their chief a grudge and sought to assassinate him。 They took into their confidence one Bian Hong； of the escort； and the three plotted to kill their master at a great assembly of officials at Dangyang amid the banquets。
Sun Yi's wife； Lady Xu； was skilled in divination； and on the day of the great banquet she cast a most inauspicious lot。 Wherefore she besought her husband to stay away from the assembly。 But he was obstinate and went。 The faithless guardsman followed his master in the dusk when the gathering dispersed； and stabbed him with a dagger。
The two prime movers at once seized Bian Hong and beheaded him in the market place。 Then they went to Sun Yi's residence； which they plundered。
Gui Lan was taken with the beauty of the dead Governor's wife and told her； 〃I had avenged the death of your husband； and you must go with me。〃
Lady Xu pleaded； saying； 〃It is too soon after my husband's death to think of remarriage。 But as soon as the thirty…day mourning sacrifices are over； I will be yours。〃
She thus obtained a respite； which she utilized to send for two old generals of her husband； Sun Gao and Fu Ying。 They came and she tearfully told her tale。
〃My husband had great faith in you。 Now Gui Lan and Dai Yuan have passed his death and have laid the crime on Bian Hong。 They have plundered my house and carried off my servants。 Worse than this； Gui Lan insists that I shall be his wife。 To gain time I have pretended to favor this proposal； and I pray you now send the news to my husband's brother and beg him to slay these two miscreants and avenge this wrong。 I will never forget your kindness in this life or the next。〃
And she bowed before them。
They wept also and said； 〃We were much attached to our master； and now that he has e to an untimely end； we must avenge him。 Dare we not carry out your behests？〃
So they sent a trusty messenger to Sun Quan。
On the day of the sacrifices Lady Xu called in her two friends and hid them in a secret chamber。 Then the ceremonies were performed in the great hall。 These over； she put off her mourning garb； bathed and perfumed herself； and assumed an expression of joy。 She laughed and talked as usual； so that Gui Lan rejoiced in his heart； thinking of the pleasure that was to be his。
When night came she sent a servant girl to call her suitor to the palace； where she entertained him at supper。 When he had well drunk； she suggested that they should retire and led him to the chamber where her friends were waiting。 He followed without the least hesitation。
As soon as she entered the room； she called out； 〃Where are you； Generals？〃
Out rushed Sun Gao and Fu Ying； and the drunken Gui Lan； incapable of any resistance； was dispatched with daggers。
Next Lady Xu invited Dai Yuan to a supper； and he was slain in similar fashion。 After that； she sent to the houses of her enemies and slew all therein。 This done； she resumed her mourning garb； and the heads of the two men were hung as a sacrifice before the coffin of her husband。
Very soon her brother…in…law came with an army； and hearing the story of the deeds of the two generals from the widow； gave them the manderships and put them over Dangyang。 When Sun Quan left； he took the widow to his own home so that she would be cared for。 All those who heard of her brave conduct were loud in praise of her virtue：
Full of resource and virtuous； few in the world are like her；
Guilefully wrought she and passed the death of the lusty assassins；
Faithful servants are always ready to deal with rebellion；
None can ever excel that heroine famous in Wu。
The brigandage that had troubled the South Land had all been suppressed； and a large fleet of seven thousand battleships was in the Great River ready for service。 Sun Quan appointed Zhou Yu to be the Supreme Admiral and mander…in…Chief over all military forces。
In the twelfth year （AD 207）； the Dowager Wu； feeling her end approaching； called to her the two advisers Zhou Yu and Zhang Zhao and spoke thus： 〃I came of a family of the old Wu； but losing my parents in early life。 My brother Wu Jing and I went into the old Yue； and then I married into this family。 I bore my husband four sons； not without premonitions of the greatness to be theirs。 With my first； Sun Ce； I dreamed of the moon and with my second； Sun Quan； of the sun； which omens were interpreted by the soothsayer as signs of their great honor。 Unhappy Sun Ce died young； but Sun Quan inherited； and it is he whom I pray you both assist with one accord。 Then may I die in peace。〃
And to her son she said； 〃These two you are to serve as they were your teachers and treat them with all respect。 My younger sister and I both were wives to your father； and so she is also a mother to you； and you are to serve her after I am gone as you now serve me。 And you must treat your sister with affection and find a handsome husband for her。〃
Then she died and her son mourned for her that year。
The following year； they began to discuss an attack upon Huang Zu。
Zhang Zhao said； 〃The armies should not move during the period of mourning。〃
However； Zhou Yu； more to the point； said； 〃Vengeance should not be postponed on that account。 It could not wait upon times and seasons。〃
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 man's 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 enemy's 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 Zu's 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。
Now Sun Quan fought against Xiakou。 When Huang Zu recognized that he was beaten and could not maintain his position； he abandoned Jiangxia and took the road to Jingzhou。 Gan Ning； foreseeing this； had laid an ambush outside the east gate of Jiangxia。 Soon after the fugitive； with a small following； had burst out of the gate； 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 shouted； 〃I did good service for you； and yet you treated me as a pirate。 Now what have you to say？〃
There was nothing to be said； and Huang Zu turned his horse to escape。 But Gan Ning thrust aside his