hold　Jiangxia。

But　his　adviser；　Zhang　Zhao；　said；　〃It　is　impossible　to　try　to　hold　one　distant　city　alone。　It　is　better　to　return　home　and　prepare　for　the　expedition　that　Liu　Biao　will　surely　send　in　revenge。　We　will　meet　and　defeat　his　worn　army；　push　home　the　attack；　and　capture　his　whole　region。〃

Sun　Quan　saw　the　advice　was　wise；　so　he　left　Jiangxia　and　led　his　army　home　to　the　South　Land。

Now　Su　Fei　was　still　confined；　but　he　got　someone　to　go　to　Gan　Ning　to　beg　him　to　plead　for　mercy。　Gan　Ning　had　expected　this　although　the　prisoner　had　said　no　word；　and　he　was　averse　from　leaving　his　friend　and　one…time　protector　to　perish。

〃I　should　not　have　forgotten　him　even　if　he　had　said　nothing；〃　said　Gan　Ning。

When　the　army　had　returned；　Sun　Quan　gave　orders　for　Su　Fei's　execution　that　his　head　might　be　offered　with　that　of　Huang　Zu。

Then　Gan　Ning　went　in　to　his　lord　and　said；　weeping；　〃Long　ago；　if　it　had　not　been　for　Su　Fei；　my　bones　would　have　been　rotting　in　some　ditch　and　how　then　could　I　have　rendered　service　under　your　banner？　Now　he　deserves　death；　but　I　cannot　forget　his　kindness　to　me；　and　I　pray　you　take　away　the　honors　you　have　bestowed　on　me　as　a　set…off　to　his　crime。〃

Sun　Quan　replied；　〃Since　he　once　showed　kindness　to　you；　I　will　pardon　him　for　your　sake。　But　what　can　be　done　if　he　run　away？〃

〃If　he　be　pardoned　and　escape　death；　he　will　be　immeasurably　grateful　and　will　not　go　away。　If　he　should；　then　will　I　offer　my　life　in　exchange。〃

So　the　condemned　man　escaped　death；　and　only　one　head　was　offered　in　sacrifice。　After　the　sacrificial　ceremonies；　a　great　banquet　was　spread　in　honor　of　the　victories。　As　it　was　proceeding；　suddenly　one　of　the　guests　burst　into　loud　lamentations；　drew　his　sword；　an