北斗星小说网

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第165部分（第2页）

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　Caos　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　enemys　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　Nings　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　Caos　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　leaders　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　Caos　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　Nings　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　Nings　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　subordinates　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　Liaos　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　Tongs　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。

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