Chapter 64: Gan Ning Rescues the Emperor

Ling Tong and Su Ming were bound by a blood feud—his father’s killer could not be allowed to live under the same sky. Thus, Ling Tong was desperate to slay Su Ming. Relying on superior numbers, he pressed the attack, determined to take Su Ming’s life by brute force.

But reality had already proven Ling Tong’s tactics were flawed, doomed to fail.

In contrast, Pan Zhang remained far more composed. Once Ling Tong heeded Pan Zhang’s advice, the tide of battle shifted instantly. The soldiers of Jiangdong ceased their reckless assault, instead forming a shield wall to encircle Su Ming and his men. Within this phalanx, horses lost their momentum, unable to charge freely. Every so often, a long spear shot forth from behind the shields; hooked implements snaked out below to trip horses’ legs, and above, spiked flails swung down for the riders’ heads.

After adopting Pan Zhang’s strategy, the soldiers of Jiangdong forced Su Ming’s group into a desperate defense, barely able to respond.

“That Ling Tong has gotten clever,” someone remarked.

“This won’t do! If this goes on, we’ll be ground down and die here for certain!” In the pouring rain, Taishi Ci shouted to Su Ming.

Su Ming glanced at Ling Tong and Pan Zhang at the enemy’s rear and replied, “Ling Tong has been provoked by me. This ploy is likely Pan Zhang’s idea.”

“No matter whose idea it is, we need a way to break out!” Taishi Ci responded.

By now, Gan Ning had yet to arrive with reinforcements. Su Ming could almost be certain that Gan Ning’s forces had also come under attack. Waiting for help was all but hopeless.

At this point, they could only rely on themselves.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Su Ming devised a risky plan. Why call it a ‘desperate’ plan? Because their current predicament was certain death; with this strategy, there might be a sliver of hope.

However slim, a chance at survival was better than none.

With this in mind, Su Ming asked, “Can all of you swim?”

“Yes!” came the replies.

“How could we not? Even the dogs in the Six Counties of Jiangdong can swim a few laps in the river!” Taishi Ci answered.

The river systems in Jiangdong were extensive; anyone raised there could hardly avoid learning to swim.

“Head for the riverbank!” Su Ming commanded in a deep voice. “We’ll leap into the river!”

At this point, there was no other way. Jumping into the river was a last resort.

“You’re mad!” Taishi Ci protested. “This is the Han River. Who knows how many hidden currents and whirlpools there are? Jump in, and eight times out of ten we’re as good as dead!”

Taishi Ci’s earlier boast that even Jiangdong dogs could swim the river was true enough. But a river was not the same as a vast waterway; hidden currents and whirlpools abounded beneath the surface. No matter how skilled a swimmer, a strong undertow could spell doom.

Su Ming looked at Taishi Ci and countered, “Eight times out of ten—but that leaves two chances. If we keep fighting, what odds do we have to survive?”

The question left Taishi Ci speechless. Jumping into the river might mean death, but staying meant certain death. Even Zhu Yi, for all his inexperience, would know to risk the river when there was no escape—how could Taishi Ci not?

“Your call!” Taishi Ci agreed. “Let’s jump! Whether we live or die, let the Dragon King decide!”

Having made their decision, Su Ming and his men fought their way toward the riverbank. Under the command of Ling Tong and Pan Zhang, the Jiangdong marines did not press the attack, but instead moved to encircle Su Ming’s group at the water’s edge.

After another half hour of desperate fighting, Su Ming’s party finally reached the river. Backed against the water, they were now cornered. In front of them stood four to five thousand Jiangdong soldiers, and by now, Su Ming’s forces were utterly exhausted.

“Heh,” Ling Tong sneered, fixing Su Ming with a piercing gaze. “Does he mean to imitate the Marquis of Huaiyin and fight with his back to the river?”

But Su Ming’s predicament was far graver than the famous river battle. When Han Xin fought with his back to the river, he had thirty thousand men against two hundred thousand—a mere six- or sevenfold difference. Su Ming had barely a hundred, facing over ten thousand. Against such odds—one to a hundred—even the legendary Han Xin would be powerless. Only a living god could win such a battle.

“No… something’s wrong,” Pan Zhang frowned. “Are they planning to jump into the river?”

Su Ming’s force was charging straight for the Han River.

Suddenly, a thunderous drumming rolled across the water, loud enough to drown out the storm. Three flagships surged toward them, swift and imposing. Though the ships bore Jiangdong’s colors, they flew ornate banners, beneath which hung a blood-soaked head. Though it was too distant to make out clearly, it could only be Zhu Ran.

The three flagships were packed with soldiers—at a glance, at least ten thousand troops.

“Subordinate Gan Ning, here to escort my lord home!” The cry rose from the ships, resounding between heaven and earth.

Again and again, the soldiers shouted, their voices shaking the very air.

Hearing that mighty chorus, seeing the ranks upon ranks of soldiers aboard the distant ships, Su Ming and his men felt as if they had been snatched from the jaws of death.

What had seemed a hopeless situation, a deathtrap, had been miraculously reversed. Gan Ning had become their savior.

With these three flagships and thousands of troops, Gan Ning had shattered Ling Tong and Pan Zhang’s last hope. Killing Su Ming was no longer possible. Now, their concern shifted from slaying Su Ming to escaping intact themselves.

Fortune favored one side while the other despaired. Ling Tong and Pan Zhang’s faces darkened as they saw Gan Ning’s flotilla bearing down with thousands of men. Victory had been within their grasp, only for Gan Ning to appear at the last moment.

Gritting his teeth, Ling Tong was ready to risk everything to kill Su Ming. “Give the order—surround them at all costs! Kill Su Ming! Even if we can’t kill him, drive him into the Han River!” He made to issue the command.

But Pan Zhang grabbed his arm. “Don’t be reckless, Ling Tong! Today is not the day to kill Su Ming. In the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, Gan Ning’s full force will land, and then we’ll be the ones encircled and wiped out. Now that Gan Ning is here, Su Ming’s men won’t risk jumping into the river. In that short time, we cannot defeat them. Any further delay, and we’ll be surrounded ourselves. The only option is to give up on killing Su Ming for now and retreat before Gan Ning’s troops land. We’re close to Jiangdong; Gan Ning won’t dare pursue us far.”

(The author’s note: The New Year is approaching, and things are busy. I can only promise three chapters a day for now. If I have time, I’ll add more. Please support with monthly votes if you can!)

(End of chapter)