北斗星小说网

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第164部分（第2页）

In　a　few　days；　Lu　Meng　and　Gan　Ning　returned。

Lu　Meng　suggested　a　plan；　saying；　〃Cao　Cao　has　sent　Zhu　Guang；　Governor　of　Lujiang；　to　camp　at　the　city　of　Huancheng　and　plant　grain　for　the　supply　of　Hefei。　Let　us　first　take　Huancheng　first；　and　then　attack　Hefei。〃

〃This　scheme　is　just　after　my　own　heart；〃　said　Sun　Quan。

So　Sun　Quan　appointed　Lu　Meng　and　Gan　Ning　as　Van　Leaders；　Jiang　Qin　and　Pan　Zhang　as　Rear　Guards；　he　himself　with　Zhou　Tai；　Chen　Wu；　Dong　Xi；　and　Xu　Sheng　manded　the　center。　But　the　manders　Cheng　Pu；　Huang　Gai；　and　Han　Dang　were　not　called　to　take　part　in　this　expedition　as　they　were　guarding　certain　especial　places。

The　army　crossed　the　river　and　captured　Hezhou　on　the　way。　Governor　Zhu　Guang　sent　an　urgent　message　to　Hefei　for　help　and　set　himself　to　strengthen　his　fortifications　for　a　siege。　Sun　Quan　went　very　near　the　city　walls　of　Huancheng　to　observe　its　defense；　and　a　flight　of　arrows　greeted　him；　some　striking　his　great　official　parasol。　He　went　back　to　camp　and　asked　his　officers　to　offer　plans　of　attack。

Then　Dong　Xi　said；　〃Pile　up　great　hills　of　earth　and　attack　from　the　summits。〃

Said　Xu　Sheng；　〃Set　up　long　ladders　and　construct　platforms　whence　you　can　look　over　the　city　walls　and　thus　attack。〃

But　Lu　Meng　said；　〃All　such　plans　need　a　long　time　to　prepare；　and　in　the　meantime　the　soldiers　of　Cao　Cao　will　arrive　from　Hefei。　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　conquerors　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　Tongs　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　Tongs　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　Dians　better　feelings　were　aroused；　and　he　rose；　saying；　〃How　can　I　be　careless　of　the　mon　weal　and　indulge　my　private　feelings？　I