mtlumby2d Chapter 504: Testing Gan Ning's Character
Chapter 504: Testing Gan Ning's Character
Seeing his men still holding swords, ready for battle, Gan Ning was filled with anxiety. He quickly shouted to them, "Quick, put down your weapons! Come and meet the Lord!" Although confusion and surprise still lingered on their faces, the prestige of their leader was undeniable. So, they all dropped their weapons, and for a moment, the sound of weapons clashing echoed on the deck. Then, they all knelt before Ma Chao in unison, shouting in unison, "Greetings, Lord!"
Upon seeing this, Ma Chao hurriedly stepped forward, waved his hand, and said with a humble smile: "Everyone, please stand up. I am just a figurehead. Besides, it was thanks to all of you that I saved my life just now. I, Ma Chao, haven't had the chance to thank you all yet." After saying that, Ma Chao and everyone else turned their eyes to Gan Ning.
Gan Ning grinned and said carelessly, "Just get up when the Lord tells you to. Don't dawdle and be so nagging." After hearing this, everyone hurriedly stood up and looked at Gan Ning with a slightly embarrassed smile on their faces.
At this moment, Lu Su quietly approached Ma Chao, leaned over slightly, and whispered in Ma Chao's ear, "My lord, look at Gan Ning, he admires you with all his might. Why not recruit him? I think this is a sure thing. Gan Ning is a skilled warrior and a brave warrior. Add to that his group of exceptionally skilled Jinfan soldiers. If we can use them, we will be even more powerful, and our future efforts will be much more efficient."
Upon hearing this, Ma Chao's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile. He shook his head imperceptibly, but remained silent. Lu Su, a man of great intelligence, was puzzled by this situation, but he also understood that this was not the time to question him. After all, everyone was watching, and whispering in such public would be inappropriate.
(By the way, you may be curious about why Gan Ning and his men admire Ma Chao so much. In fact, if you think about it carefully, it is not difficult to understand. In the chaotic late Han Dynasty, Ma Chao was like a powerful lord. If it were today, Gan Ning was just the leader of a local armed force, while Ma Chao was equivalent to the commander-in-chief of the entire northwest military region. The difference in status was so great. In this light, it is normal for Gan Ning to admire Ma Chao, just like the admiration that Zhou Cang felt when he met Guan Yu. Guan Yu was only a Tinghou at the time, just a general under Liu Bei, but he was able to make Zhou Cang, the leader of a stronghold, follow him wholeheartedly. In comparison, Ma Chao was famous at a young age, and his bravery and strength were unparalleled in the chaotic late Han Dynasty. As mentioned earlier, he was able to fight the fierce general Lu Bu to a draw, which shows how strong his martial arts were.
Ma Chao was not only a formidable warrior, but also a humble and courteous person, consistently demonstrating a commitment to his country and his people. His reputation far surpassed that of Lü Bu. He repeatedly defeated the Eastern Qiang and successfully stopped the Xiongnu's attacks, earning him immense respect among the people. It's no surprise that Gan Ning admired him deeply.
Gan Ning, curious, asked Ma Chao, "Your Excellency has always served the country at court. How could you be here by the river with only a few dozen men, and even be ambushed? What exactly happened?" Ma Chao unleashed a detailed account of what had happened, from how he received the order to relieve the siege of Yangzhou, how he traveled to Yangzhou, how he divided his forces in Pingyu, and now, all the way to his upcoming trip to Wujun to meet with Sun Ce to discuss the crucial matter of attacking Yuan Shu.
Meanwhile, Lu Su, beside him, was utterly anxious, tugging at Ma Chao's clothes, urging him to be more careful with his words. However, Ma Chao remained unfazed, speaking candidly. While Gan Ning might temporarily be engaged in plundering and roaming the rivers, he harbored ambitions for greatness and a keen interest in the affairs of the world. Hearing Ma Chao's words, he understood that this campaign against Yuan Shu would have no impact on Ma Chao's bastions in Western Liang and was solely for the sake of peace and stability. His admiration for Ma Chao deepened. Furthermore, Ma Chao's willingness to share such a crucial strategic objective clearly demonstrated his trust in him.
Gan Ning's heart was filled with emotion, and he said to Ma Chao excitedly, "Your Excellency, the journey to Wujun is long. My Jinfan tribe has a total of more than 800 people. If you don't mind, we are willing to escort you all the way to Wujun. I dare not boast about anything else, but on this river, my Jinfan army can come and go freely and is invincible. Even if a large army encircles us, we will definitely ensure your safe escape." Ma Chao responded with a smile, "Xingba has just demonstrated your extraordinary talents. I naturally believe in this. In this case, please trouble Xingba to take over the small boat with my personal guards. I will rely on Xingba to escort you on the rest of the journey." Gan Ning was overjoyed and hurriedly ordered his men to pick up Ma Chao's personal guards.
After the guards boarded the boat, they immediately spotted Ma Chao, Wu Anguo, and Pang De, and immediately rushed to Ma Chao's side with excitement. Seeing that Ma Chao was safe and sound, their worries were slightly relieved, and then they stood behind Ma Chao, one on each side, with solemn expressions.
Li Ze was usually taciturn, but after this battle, his face was filled with grief. In this river ambush, over a dozen of his already small number of personal guards had been killed, leaving only 20 remaining, all wounded. These personal guards had fought tooth and nail, trapped in the river, with nowhere to turn and pursuers behind. Unfamiliar with naval warfare, they struggled to display their skills on the boat. Otherwise, their casualties wouldn't have been so severe. The loss of their comrades filled the remaining personal guards with grief, and each of them fell silent.
Ma Chao looked solemnly at Wu Anguo and asked, "Anguo, what are our casualties?" Wu Anguo's face was heavy with grief, and he replied in a low voice, "General, 19 of us have died, leaving only 21, all injured. Three or four of us are seriously injured. I'm afraid..." Ma Chao waved his hand and said firmly, "No matter what, we must do our best to treat them!" Then he turned to Gan Ning and said, "Xingba, please tell me if you have any medicine on board? Bandage my brothers first. Also, if you can find a safe place and find a doctor to treat their injuries, that would be great."
Gan Ning quickly responded, "We have medicine on board; you can bandage your wounds first. We'll then proceed along the riverbank. I know a place with a medical officer who can treat you." He immediately ordered his men to do as instructed, then turned the ship, heading for Wujun. Having traversed the river for days, they knew the route like the back of their hand, so there was no need for specific instructions. As for where to stop, Gan Ning already had a plan in mind.
Despite the wounds borne by the guards, morale inevitably waned after the loss of their comrades, and the atmosphere on board the ship was so heavy it felt as if water could be squeezed out of it. However, as Ma Chao's gaze swept over the crowd, the guards' eyes instantly lit up with eagerness. For them, dying in battle for their leader—the mighty General Tian, feared throughout the northwest—was the ultimate honor.
Ma Chao gazed at the 19 bodies neatly laid out on the ground, his heart aching with grief beyond words. These personal guards had followed him throughout his empire, accompanying him in every battle, protecting him with all their might. Now, in a single skirmish on the river, more than half had been lost. How could he not be heartbroken?
Ma Chao stared for a long time, and said in a trembling voice: "Brothers, they all died for me, Ma Chao. To be honest, if I had not insisted on going to Wujun, you would not have suffered this disaster." When the soldiers heard this, they were all moved and said in unison: "General, why do you say that! Brothers are willing to die for you. It is our supreme honor to sacrifice our lives for you!" Even the seriously injured soldiers used their weak strength to say the same words.
Ma Chao's words instilled a touch of melancholy in the remaining guards, and the atmosphere grew even heavier. Unwilling to see Ma Chao wallow in grief, Lu Su changed the subject, "My lord, Gan Ning and Gan Xingba are quite remarkable men. I just asked you about recruiting them, but you haven't explained in detail. Why not take this opportunity to recruit them?"
Ma Chao frowned slightly and said slowly, "After all, he has always been a thief, committing crimes such as burning, killing, and looting. I really don't know what his true nature is."
Lu Su hurriedly advised, "I heard that your general Xu Huang, Xu Gongming, had a similar experience in his early years. Since you accepted Xu Huang, why couldn't you accept Gan Ning?"
Ma Chao pondered for a moment and explained, "Back then, I led a large army to subdue Xu Huang. He was under my control. If he made any unsettling move, I could easily subdue him and prevent him from causing further harm. But now, Gan Ning leads 800 troops, far outnumbering us. If I rashly accept him, and his bad behavior persists, wouldn't that mean the people will suffer in vain? Therefore, I must observe his true character. You heard what he said, and I must determine whether he is sincere or not. Let's observe along the way. When the time is right, I will act."
Lu Su finally understood Ma Chao's good intentions, but he was still puzzled. He asked, "General, if you still have doubts about him, why did you directly inform him of our strategic intentions? Isn't that inconsistent?"
Ma Chao said seriously, "I don't know what he did before, and I don't know if he harmed the people, but I still admire him. Since I'm testing him, I can't hide everything. That's not my style."
Lu Su said admiringly: "General, my lord's thoughts are beyond my reach."
Gan Ning arranged the route and led his men to fetch medicine as quickly as possible. They moved swiftly among the wounded soldiers, their eyes filled with concern and concentration. Seeing the wounds, some shallow and some deep, and the deep, bone-piercing knife wounds left by close combat, Gan Ning couldn't help but gasp. These wounds seemed to be the silent testimony of the brutal battlefield, each one a testament to the bravery and fearlessness of the soldiers.
As they bandaged the soldiers, the excruciating pain washed over them like a surging tide. Yet, even as beads of sweat streamed down their foreheads and their lips turned white from biting, the Xiliang soldiers endured the pain with all their might, gritting their teeth. Not a single one uttered a single cry. They knew Ma Chao was standing not far away, and as his personal guards, they could not show even the slightest sign of cowardice before their commander. They would defend their honor as Ma Chao's personal guards with unwavering resolve.
Gan Ning and his men witnessed this scene, filled with shock and admiration. They couldn't help but secretly praise them: these soldiers and generals were able to endure such unbearable pain with such perseverance and silence, truly worthy of being the personal guards of the world-renowned Ma Chao. Such tenacity and perseverance are truly admirable.