Translated & Authored by Jonathan
Wu
Place of Birth: Linjiang, Ba Prefecture (Presently
Zhong County in Sichuan Province)
Lifespan: 175 – Circa 218
Titles: General Who Oppresses the Enemy with Ferocity, Grand Administrator
of Xiling
In his youth, Gan Ning was brave and strong; however he
did not have any rules and used his skills for assassination and plunder.
He originally led a group of youths and terrorized small towns (1).
In his twenties however, Gan Ning started reading the classical literature
from Zhou dynasty intellectuals.
When Gan Ning was living in Nanyang, he sought to serve
Liu Biao, but he was not granted an audience (2).
Instead he went to serve Huang Zu, but was never granted a position of importance.
When Sun Quan was attacking Huang Zu, Gan Ning killed Sun
Quan’s commander Ling Cao with an arrow attack and was able to hold
off Sun Quan’s attack. However, the old Huang Zu did not recognize Xingba’s
actions and treated him just as badly as before. Seeking the advice of Su
Fei, Gan Ning devised a plot to leave Huang Zu and join Sun Quan.
Gan Ning was recommended to Sun Quan’s service by
Lü Meng and Zhou Yu, and was treated very well. On Gan Ning’s advice,
Sun Quan marched west again to destroy Huang Zu (3).
Xingba then followed Zhou Yu in the attack on Wulin and
Nanjun, and scored many important victories. For this, he was promoted to
General Who Oppresses the Enemy with Ferocity.
He later helped Lu Su guard Yiyang against the attack from
Guan Yu. When Yunchang heard of Xingba’s approach, he turned away from
the attacked and would not cross the river to Yiyang. Sun Quan was greatly
impressed with Gan Ning and appointed him as Grand Administrator of Xiling
and Commander of Yangxin and Xiazhi County.
Xingba followed Sun Quan on the attacks on Wan and He Fei.
When Zhang Liao initiated a surprise raid on the retreating Wu forces, Gan
Ning never wavered, and together with Ling Tong defended his troops with courage
(4).
Gan Ning was broad-minded, valorous and skilled in strategy.
He hated wealth and respected men of ability. His sergeants admired him greatly
for always being the first to attack ahead of all others, and they devoted
their lives to serving him.
When Xingba died, Sun Quan felt a deep regret for his loss
and wept bitterly.
(1) According to SGZ,
Gan Ning and his group strapped bells around their waste. Whenever commoners
heard the bells, they knew Gan Ning was coming and would either be scared
or in other cases they would welcome him with a feast, to prevent their village
from being looted. <return>
(2) Liu Biao was the Imperial Protector of Jing Zhou and a
renowned scholar of his area along with Chen Xiang, Fan Pang, Kong Yu, Fan
Kang, Tan Fu, Zhang Jian and Cen Zhi. Liu Biao was friends with these famous
scholars and did not want to hire Gan Ning solely because of his reckless
background. (See SGYY, Chapter 6) <return>
(3) According to SGZ, Gan
Ning’s insight on the situation impressed Sun Quan so much that he put
Gan Ning in charge of the war against Huang Zu. Xingba’s reply to Zhang
Zhao acknowledges his study of the classics and his ability to apply it to
situations. (See Gan Ning’s SGZ Biography
by Lady Sun) <return>
(4) Sun Quan’s carriage was retreating from He Fei due
to an unsuspected epidemic in the Wu camp. Zhang Liao took advantage of it
and tried to kill Sun Quan directly by raiding the carriage. However, Gan
Ning was not afraid of Zhang Liao and fiercely opposed him, ensuring the safe
retreat of Sun Quan. <return>
© Copyright Jonathan
Wu 2002
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