“You cannot trust what those soldiers said,” said Cui Yu, one of the commanders. “Both army and navy will be lost if anything goes wrong. No, General; rather keep careful watch and let me go.”

Zhu Ran saw this was the wiser plan, so he gave Cui Yu ten thousand troops, and Cui Yu left.

That night Wu Ban, Zhang Nan, and Feng Xi made an attack on Sun Huan's camp from three directions, and the soldiers were scattered and fled. Then the three generals set the whole camp on fire. Cui Yu saw the flames as he marched and pressed on. Then just as he was passing some hills, he came upon the ambush, and Guan Xing and Zhang Bao poured out from left and right. Taken by surprise, Cui Yu could only try to flee, but he met Zhang Bao, who made him prisoner.

When Zhu Ran heard the news, he was panic-stricken and dropped down-river twenty miles.

The remnant of Sun Huan's troops ran away, following their leader. As they went, Sun Huan inquired, “Is there any city ahead that has good defense and granary?”

They told him, saying, “To the north is Yiling, where we can camp.”

So they went thither. Just as they reached the wall, their pursuers came up and the city was besieged in all four sides.

Guan Xing and Zhang Bao brought the captive Cui Yu back to Zigui and saw the First Ruler, who rejoiced at their success. The prisoner was put to death, and the soldiers were rewarded. The effect of these victories spread far, so that the leaders in Wu had no inclination to fight.

When the Prince of Wu received Sun Huan's call for help, he was frightened and knew not what to do.

So he called a great council, and he said, “Sun Huan is besieged in Yiling, and Zhu Ran has been defeated on the river; what can be done?”

Then Zhang Zhao said, “Though several of your commanders are dead, yet have you some left. Half a score is enough to relieve your anxiety. Send Han Dang as Commander, with Zhou Tai as his second, Pan Zhang as Van Leader, Ling Tong as Rear Guard; Gan Ning in reserve. You want one hundred thousand troops.”

Sun Quan made the appointments as proposed. Gan Ning was very seriously ill just then, but he accepted the task.

Now the First Ruler had made a line of forty camps from Wukou and Jianping to Yiling, spreading twenty-five miles of distance.

He was exceedingly pleased with his two nephews, who had distinguished themselves again and again, and he said, “The generals that have followed me since the early days have got aged, and thus no longer a big use. But now that I have such two valorous nephews, I have no fear for Sun Quan.”

When he heard of the coming of Sun Quan's army under Han Dang and Zhou Tai, he wished to select a commander to oppose the Wu army.

Then those near him reported: “Huang Zhong and a half dozen other officers have run off to Wu.”

“Huang Zhong is no traitor;” said the First Ruler, smiling, “it is only that he heard what I happened to say about old and useless leaders. He will not confess he is old and wants to prove he is not.”

Then he called Guan Xing and Zhang Bao and said to them, “Huang Zhong may fail in this enterprise of his, so I hope you two will not mind going to his assistance. As soon as there is some success to report, get him to return and do not let him come to grief.”

So the two got their troops together and went off to assist the aged warrior.

When young, success is easy, thine at will,

The aged servant fails, though willing still.

The next chapter will relate the outcome of Huang Zhong's expedition.

CHAPTER 83. Fighting At Xiaoting, The First Ruler Captures An Enemy; Defending The Three Gorges, A Student Takes Supreme Command.

In spring, the first month of the second year of Manifest Might (AD 221), the veteran warrior Huang Zhong was among the officers who followed the First Ruler to war against Wu. When he heard his master talk of old and incapable leaders, he girded on his sword and with a few faithful followers made his way to the camps at Yiling. He was welcomed by Wu Ban, the commander in charge of the siege there.

“For what reason do you come, O Veteran General?” asked he.

“I have followed the Emperor ever since he left Changsha, and I have done diligent service. I am now over seventy, but my appetite is still good for ten pounds of meat, and I can still stretch the strongest bow, and I can still ride five hundred miles without fatigue. I am not weak or worn out. But our master has been talking of old and useless leaders, and I am come to take part in the fight with Wu. If I slay one of their leaders, he will see I may be old but not worn out.”

Just about that time the leading division of the Wu army drew near the camp. Huang Zhong hastily rose, went out of the tent, and mounted to go into the battle.

“Aged General, be careful,” said the generals.