Xu Ning Teaches the Use of the Hook-Sickle Spear; Song Jiang Greatly Defeats the Linked-Armor Cavalry

There is a poem that says: In life, do not rely solely on your own fierceness; strength and skill are never equal in all men. Even a fierce tiger may meet a formidable beast; even a poisonous snake fears the centipede. Zhuge Liang captured Meng Huo seven times with wondrous strategy; Lü Meng trapped Guan Yu twice, earning men’s admiration. Song Jiang was truly a cunning hero; before long he had Huyan Zhuo caught in a trap. Chao Gai, Song Jiang, Wu Yong, Gongsun Sheng, and all the chiefs were in the Hall of Righteousness, asking Xu Ning to teach everyone the hook-sickle spear method. The assembled men looked at Xu Ning; his appearance was indeed outstanding: he was six chi five or six cun tall, with a round, fair face, three fine strands of black beard, broad shoulders, and a slender waist. A lyric to “Xijiang Yue” describes him: His arms are powerful, and he can draw a bow and hit the mark a hundred times out of a hundred; his body is nimble, and he mounts a horse as if flying. Two curved silkworm eyebrows— at one glance he looks like a scion of a distinguished......