“Ah!” sighed he. “After Zhou Yu I had Lu Su, and Lu Meng succeeded Lu Su. But now they have all three gone, and there is no one to share my troubles!”
But just then a very youthful general stepped out from the ranks of the officials and said, with a lowly obeisance, “Though I am young, I am not a little versed in the books of war, and with a few legions I could destroy the power of Shu.”
Sun Quan recognized Sun Huan, the son of Yu He. Sun Ce loved the youth and gave him his own family name of Sun and so made him a member of his own clan. Yu He had four sons, of whom Sun Huan was the eldest. He was an expert archer and horseman and had accompanied his protector in several campaigns, where he had distinguished himself right well and had been given a rank. At this time he was twenty-five.
“How do you think you can overcome them?”
“There are two able commanders under my command named Xie Jing and Li Yi, both very brave. With a few legions I will capture Liu Bei.”
“Though you are brave, nephew, yet you are young and ought to have an assistant.”
Thereupon Tiger General Zhu Ran stepped forward, saying, “Let me go.”
Sun Quan consented, and he told off fifty thousand of soldiers and marines, over whom he placed Sun Huan and Zhu Ran as joint commanders. They were to start as soon as possible.
The scouts reported that the army of Shu was camped at Yidu, and Sun Huan, Commander of the Left, led half his army to the borders of that county and camped in three stockades.
Now the Shu General Wu Ban had received his seal as leader of the van. From the day he left the borders of the Lands of Rivers, he had had uninterrupted success. Everyone had submitted at the mere rumor of his coming. He had conducted his campaign with unstained swords as far as Yidu. When he heard that Sun Huan was camped there to oppose his progress, he sent back rapid messengers to the First Ruler, who was then at Zigui.
The First Ruler got angry, saying, “So they think this youth is able to withstand me?”
“Since this nephew of Sun Quan has been made a leader,” said Guan Xing, “it is unnecessary to send a leader of high rank; let me go.”
“I was just wishing to see what you could do,” said the First Ruler, and he gave him orders to go.
Just as Guan Xing was leaving, Zhang Bao stepped forth and asked permission to go too.
“Then both go, my nephews,” said the Emperor. “But you must be prudent and not hasty.”
So they took leave, collected their troops and advanced. Sun Huan, hearing of the coming of a large army, called out all his troops and drew up his array. His two famous generals, Li Yi and Xie Jing, were placed by the great standard. They watched the soldiers of Shu filing out and noted two leaders in silver helmets and silver armors, riding on white horses, and the flags were white. First came Zhang Bao with a long spear, and then Guan Xing carrying a great saber.
“Sun Huan, you tiny rascal, your time has come!” cried Zhang Bao abusively. “How dare you stand against the forces of Heaven?”
“Your father is a headless devil,” cried Sun Huan, no way backward in reviling, “and you are going just now to join him; don't you see?”
Then Zhang Bao rode at Sun Huan. From behind his chief, Xie Jing dashed out to meet him. They fought nearly forty bouts, and then Xie Jing ran away with Zhang Bao in pursuit.
When Li Yi saw his comrade overcome, he whipped up his steed and came into the fray, whirling his silvered battle-ax. Zhang Bao fought twenty bouts with him, but neither got the better.
Then in the army of Wu, a marching general named Tan Xiong, seeing that his two comrades could not overcome Zhang Bao, shot a treacherous arrow from the ranks and wounded Zhang Bao's steed. Feeling the pang of the wound, the horse bolted back to its own side, but fell before it reached it, throwing its rider sprawling on the ground. Seeing this, Li Yi turned and rode toward the prostrate leader to slay him with his battle-ax. But just as he was about to deliver his blow, lo! a red flash came between, and his head rolled along the earth.
The red flash was Guan Xing's great sword. Seeing the horse fall and Li Yi coming up, he had rushed in and dealt that fatal blow. And he had saved Zhang Bao from death. Then they attacked and lay on so that Sun Huan suffered a great defeat. Then each side beat the retreat and drew off.
Next day Sun Huan came out to offer battle again, and the two cousins went forth together. Guan Xing, from horseback by the main standard, challenged his enemy. Sun Huan rode out fiercely, and they two fought near thirty bouts. But Sun Huan was not strong enough and drew off. The two youths followed and reached his camp. Wu Ban, together with Feng Xi and Zhang Nan, also launched another attack. Zhang Bao helped them with all his force and was the first to force his way into the ranks of Wu. He came across Xie Jing, whom he slew with a spear thrust. The soldiers of Wu scattered and fled, and the victory was on the side of Shu.
But Guan Xing was missing. Zhang Bao was desperate, saying, “If something wrong happens to Guan Xing, I will not live!”
So he girded on his huge spear and rode far and wide seeking him. Presently he met Guan Xing, bearing his sword in his left hand, while his right held a captive.
“Who is this?” asked Zhang Bao.
“In the melee I met an enemy,” cried Guan Xing, “and I took him prisoner.”
Then Zhang Bao recognized Tan Xiong, the man who had let fly the treacherous arrow that had brought down his horse. The two returned to camp, where they slew their prisoner and poured a libation of his blood to the dead horse.
After this they drew up a report of the victory for the First Ruler. Sun Huan had lost his generals — Li Yi, Xie Jing, and Tan Xiong — as well as many other officers and many troops. His army was too weakened to continue the campaign, so he halted and sent back to Wu for reinforcements. Then Generals Zhang Nan and Feng Xi said to Wu Ban, “The power of Wu is broken; let us raid their encampment.”
But Wu Ban said, “Though so many have been lost, there are many left. Zhu Ran's marine force is in a strong position on the river and is untouched. If you carry out your plan and the marines land in force and cut off our retreat, we shall be in difficulties.”
“That is easily met,” said Zhang Nan. “Let each of the two leaders Guan Xing and Zhang Bao take five thousand troops and go into ambush in the valleys to guard against any such move.”
“I think it better to send some persons to pretend to be deserters. Let them tell Zhu Ran of the plan to raid the camp, and Zhu Ran will come to the rescue as soon as he sees fire. Then the ambushing soldiers can attack him.”
They thought this a fine plan, and they made the necessary arrangements.
Hearing of the ill success and losses of his colleague, Commander of the Right Zhu Ran was already thinking of going to his help, when a few deserters appeared and hoarded his ship.
He questioned them, and they said, “We are Feng Xi's soldiers, and we have deserted because of unfair treatment. We have a secret to tell.”
“What secret can you betray?”
“Tonight Feng Xi is going to make an attack upon General Sun Huan's camp; he thinks it is a good chance. They are going to raise a fire as a signal.”
Zhu Ran saw no reason to doubt the men, and he sent off at once to tell Sun Huan. But the messenger never arrived, as Guan Xing intercepted and slew him.
Then Zhu Ran deliberated upon going to help.
“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.