Chapter 21: Guarding The Stump, Waiting For The Rabbit
Inside the County Yamen, Gan Ning said to the crowd: “We just received urgent news from Nanchang. Sun Ben has already mobilized his troops. Taishi Ci led five thousand soldiers to garrison Haihun County, and Sun Ben personally led six or seven thousand soldiers north by water route. It’s unclear what his target is, but since he’s heading north, there are only two possibilities: either Ze Rong in Poyang County, or us!”
Gan Ning paced a few steps and said to the crowd again: “Although Sun Ben superficially agreed not to attack us for the time being, he won’t tolerate even a single thorn in Yuzhang. Our fate must be in our own hands; we cannot pin our hopes on his promises. After much consideration, I’ve decided to prepare for war and use the terrain advantage of Pengli Marsh to fight the enemy army.”
Lu Su slowly added: “Lord is right. Relying on others’ mercy is like putting a noose around your own neck, with one end still in their hands. Sun Ben could strangle us at any time. We must take control ourselves and fight them to the death. If we unfortunately lose, we’ll retreat north of the River and wait for a chance to make a comeback.”
Everyone was fired up, clenching their fists and saying: “Please give the order, Lord!”
Gan Ning nodded and said to Wang Ping’s younger brother Wang Xiaoman: “Xiaoman, take your subordinates to scout intelligence on the Gan River. Notify me immediately once you have any news!”
“Understood!”
The sixteen-year-old Wang Xiaoman bowed in salute. He was extremely sharp; previously he had scouted intelligence with his elder brother, and now he was gradually able to handle things independently. It was he who had discovered Sun Ben’s army returning to Nanchang before.
Gan Ning’s style was to give his subordinates free rein, which was why Zhang Xi had the chance to stand out.
Similarly, to train Wang Xiaoman into a top scout, he had to let him handle major tasks and give him full responsibility.
Gan Ning said to the crowd again: “Let’s make the most of our time to train the army, especially strengthening training in archery and close-quarters tactics!”
……….
That morning, three thousand five hundred soldiers were training intensely on the drill ground. Gan Ning found Lu Su and said: “I’m considering whether we should take Xunyang County. That way, we’d have a third base and wouldn’t be completely wiped out if defeated.”
Lu Su pondered for a moment and said: “Subordinate has considered this issue too. Xunyang County is the southwesternmost part of Jiujiang Commandery, which is Liu Xun’s territory. If we take Xunyang County and Liu Xun finds out, he’ll find an excuse to attack us. But then again, Xunyang County is too remote for Liu Xun; he might not care much about it.
If he wants to attack us, he won’t need any excuse at all. What I worry about is that Sun Ben might use Liu Xun’s hand to destroy us, so he won’t have to worry about Cao Cao blaming him.”
“Does the advisor think Sun Ben isn’t targeting us this time?”
Lu Su nodded. “As I said before, Sun Ben and Cao Cao have just formed a marriage alliance, so he must give Cao Cao face no matter what. I think he’ll first attack Ze Rong, then turn to assault Tong Zhi in Luling. But he won’t let us have an easy time either; he’ll definitely urge Liu Xun to attack us. Once he destroys Tong Zhi, he’ll seize Chaisang County back from Liu Xun’s hands. That would be perfect for him.”
Gan Ning slowly said: “In that case, we might as well take Xunyang County as our retreat route. Dragon Head Island is good, but the fishermen on the island will leak our whereabouts.”
“Subordinate agrees!”
The two reached a consensus. Gan Ning was about to make arrangements when Wang Xiaoman urgently sent a messenger back with a letter.
Gan Ning read the letter and temporarily set aside Xunyang County. He immediately summoned everyone.
“We just received an urgent letter from Xiaoman. Ze Rong’s army was defeated by Sun Ben. Ze Rong led the remnants north on about two hundred ships, and Chaisang is very likely their target. We must meet them in battle.”
Gan Ning’s advantage was his navy, so of course he would exploit it.
Lu Su smiled and said: “Ze Rong is extremely greedy for money and must be carrying a large amount of wealth. Even if Chaisang isn’t his target, we should intercept him and take everything he has. Our strength will rise another level.”
Gan Ning was overjoyed. He immediately made deployments: Lu Su and Zhang Xi would lead five hundred soldiers to defend Chaisang, while he personally led the generals and three thousand soldiers to deploy in the middle of Pengli Marsh, determined to completely eliminate Ze Rong’s remnants.
……..
Ze Rong’s fleet had entered Pengli Marsh, but Pengli Marsh did not lead directly to Chaisang. Chaisang County was still more than ten li of land away from Pengli Marsh.
This was because the area of Pengli Marsh was always changing. Perhaps when Chaisang City was built, it was right next to Pengli Marsh, but as time passed, Pengli Marsh shrank, and Chaisang City grew farther from the lakeside.
But the Yangtze River hadn’t changed much; Chaisang was still right by the riverbank. To reach Chaisang by ship, one had to enter the Yangtze River from Lake Mouth, then head west along the Yangtze River for more than twenty li to reach Chaisang County Dock.
Ze Rong stood at the bow, hands behind his back, squinting at the vast lake surface in the distance. There were many small islands, and fishing boats and merchant ships shuttled back and forth everywhere.
At this time, a soldier reported: “Lord, some fishermen want to report Gan Ning’s whereabouts.”
Ze Rong was momentarily stunned, then immediately ordered: “Bring them up!”
Soon, an old fisherman was brought up. He knelt and saluted: “This old man Wang Feng pays respects to the General!”
“Why do you want to report on Gan Ning?”
“Reporting to the General, Gan Ning was previously a river bandit in Ba Commandery, doing evil everywhere. This old man suffered greatly at his hands. Later, my family moved to Pengli Marsh to fish, but unexpectedly Gan Ning followed us here. This old man really can’t stand him anymore.”
Ze Rong chuckled. So it was an old grudge, a lingering issue from the Brocade Sail Bandits. Understandable! Understandable! He asked again: “So what do you want to report about Gan Ning?”
“Reporting to the General, a few days ago Gan Ning took a large fleet to Xunyang County north of the Yangtze River. This old man saw with his own eyes their fleet docking and unloading cargo.”
Ze Rong stroked his beard and nodded. He understood: even cunning rabbits have three burrows. So Gan Ning had another base in Xunyang County.
At this moment, Gan Ning was hiding behind a small island, watching with his own eyes as the old fisherman was brought onto the third large ship. He sneered; Ze Rong was on the third ship.
……..
Not long after the old fisherman left, dozens of mengchong warships suddenly appeared on the river surface, moving at astonishing speed, weaving between the two hundred large ships.
These mengchong warships were always the main force of navies: narrow and long, with extremely strong maneuverability, very suitable for charging enemy ships.
The entire ship was covered with raw cowhide, including a huge cabin on board also covered in raw cowhide. From outside, no one could be seen; the soldiers hid inside the cabin.
There were eight oar holes on each side of the cabin, with sixteen soldiers rowing inside.
The cabin had crossbow windows and spear holes on the front, back, left, and right. Even if enemies boarded, they couldn’t enter the cabin, and arrows or boulders couldn’t damage the warship.
“Dang! Dang! Dang!”
Alarm bells rang loudly on the first large ship. Great General Chen Mu shouted: “Enemies! Archery, fire!”
Soldiers on the large ship crouched along both sides of the gunwales, drew their bows, nocked arrows, and shot at the fast boats on the river surface. But the water was windy and wavy, the large ship pitched violently, and without professional navy training, archery had basically no accuracy.
The Chaisang fleet was too fast. A soldier urgently said to Ze Rong: “Lord, quickly hide in the cabin; don’t let the bandits spot you!”
Ze Rong hurriedly stooped and ducked into the cabin.
At that moment, Gan Ning’s mengchong warship came alongside Ze Rong’s ship. Eight rowing soldiers extended grappling hooks from the oar holes, hooked the large ship, and pulled the two vessels tightly together.
Gan Ning, clad in iron armor and iron helmet, led his subordinates charging out from the cabin. He climbed the gunwale and leaped onto the enemy’s large ship.
More than twenty enemy soldiers swarmed forward. Gan Ning slashed left and right, unstoppable in bravery. In moments, he killed eight, and his subordinates slew the remaining dozen or so outside the large ship.
Gan Ning kicked open the cabin door and led his subordinates charging inside.
