ture　Xiakou。

He　sees　his　ships　cut　loose　and　burned；

By　the　Silk…sailed　Pirate　he　once　spurned。

For　Huang　Zu's　fate；　see　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　39　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　39

Chapter　39

At　Jingzhou　The　Son　Of　Liu　Biao　Thrice　Begs　Advice；

At　Bowang　Slope　The　Directing　Instructor　Plans　His　First　Battle。

Now　Sun　Quan　fought　against　Xiakou。　When　Huang　Zu　recognized　that　he　was　beaten　and　could　not　maintain　his　position；　he　abandoned　Jiangxia　and　took　the　road　to　Jingzhou。　Gan　Ning；　foreseeing　this；　had　laid　an　ambush　outside　the　east　gate　of　Jiangxia。　Soon　after　the　fugitive；　with　a　small　following；　had　burst　out　of　the　gate；　he　found　his　road　blocked。

From　horseback；　Huang　Zu　said；　〃I　treated　you　well　in　the　past。　Why　do　you　now　press　me　so　hard？〃

Gan　Ning　angrily　shouted；　〃I　did　good　service　for　you；　and　yet　you　treated　me　as　a　pirate。　Now　what　have　you　to　say？〃

There　was　nothing　to　be　said；　and　Huang　Zu　turned　his　horse　to　escape。　But　Gan　Ning　thrust　aside　his　troops　and　himself　rode　in　pursuit。　Then　he　heard　a　shouting　in　his　rear　and　saw　General　Cheng　Pu　ing　up。　Fearing　lest　this　other　pursuer　should　overpass　him　and　score　the　success　he　desired　for　himself；　Gan　Ning　fitted　an　arrow　to　his　bow　and　shot　at　the　fugitive。　Huang　Zu　was　hit　and　fell　from　his　steed。　Then　Gan　Ning　cut　off　his　head。　After　this；　joining　himself　to　Cheng　Pu；　the　two　returned　bearing　the　ghastly　trophy　to　their　lord。　Sun　Quan　ordered　them　to　place　it　in　a　box　to　be　taken　back　home　and　offered　as　a　sacrifice　to　the　manes　of　his　father。

Having　rewarded　the　soldiers　for　the　victory　and　promoted　Gan　Ning；　Sun　Quan　next　discussed　the　advisability　of　sending　a　force　to