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, and rushed upon Gan Ning. Gan Ning hastily rose
and defended himself with the chair on which he had been sitting. The host
looked at the assailant and saw it was Ling Tong, whose father Ling Cao had
fallen under an arrow shot by Gan Ning. The son was now burning to avenge his
father's death.
Hastily leaving his place, Sun Quan checked the angry officer, saying, "If he
slew your noble father, then remember each was fighting for his lord for whom he
was bound to exert himself to the utmost. But now that you both are under one
flag and are of one house, you may not recall an ancient injury. You must regard
my interests continually."
Ling Tong beat his head upon the floor and cried, saying, "But how can I not
avenge this? It is a blood feud, and we may not both live under the same sky."
The guests interfered, beseeching the man to forgo his revenge, and at last
he ceased from his murderous intention. But he sat glaring wrathfully at his
enemy.
So soon after Gan Ning was dispatched with five thousand troops and one
hundred warships to guard Xiakou, where he was beyond the reach of Ling Tong's
wrath. Then Sun Quan promoted Ling Tong, and so he was somewhat appeased.
From about this time the South Land enlarged her fleets, and soldiers were
sent to various points to guard the river banks. The brother of the chieftain,
Sun Kuang, was placed in command at Wujun, and Sun Quan himself, with a large
army, camped at Chaisang.
Zhou Yu, Commander-in-Chief of the army and Supreme Admiral of the navy, was
on the Poyang Lake training the naval forces, and general preparations were made
for defense and attack.
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