When the sun was high and the fog began to disperse, Zhuge Liang ordered the boats to turn around and sail downstream without delay. The straw bundles on the twenty boats were bristling with arrows. As they left, all the crews were told to shout derisively to Cao Cao, “Thank you for the arrows.”
By the time this was reported to Cao Cao, the light boats, helped by the swift current, were a long way down the river and pursuit was impossible. Cao Cao saw that he had been duped and regretted very much, but nothing could be done about it.
On the way back Zhuge Liang said to his companion: “Every boat must have five or six thousand arrows stuck in it and so, without causing Wu the slightest effort, we must have more than 100,000 arrows that can be used to shoot back at Cao Cao’s army at the next battle. Isn’t it very convenient!”
“You are really superhuman,” said Lu Su in wonder. “But how did you know there would be a thick fog today?”
“One can only be a poor commander if he does not know the workings of Heaven and the ways of earth. One must understand the secrets of nature and the interdependence of the elements as well the mysteries of army formations. I calculated three days ago that there would be a fog today and so I set the limit at three days. Zhou Yu gave me ten days, but did not provide me with enough workmen or material. Obviously he intended to blame me for delay and put me to death, but my fate lies with the Absolute—how could Zhou Yu harm me?”
Lu Su could not but agree. When the boats arrived, five hundred men were in readiness on the bank to carry away the arrows. Zhuge Liang told them to collect the arrows from the boats and carry them to Zhou Yu’s tent. Lu Su went to see the commander and related to him how Zhuge Liang had obtained the arrows.
Zhou Yu was simply amazed. Sighing sadly, he said, “His schemes and calculations are more than human. He is superior than me!”
Thick lies the fog on the river,
Nature is shrouded in white,
Distant and near are confounded,
Banks are no longer in sight.
Fast fly the pattering arrows,
Sticking in the straw of the boat.
Now can a full tale be delivered,
Kongming is victor complete.
Shortly after, Zhuge Liang went to see Zhou Yu, who came forward to greet him, saying, “How I admire your remarkable predictions.”
“There is nothing remarkable in that trifling trick,” he replied.
Then Zhou Yu invited him for a drink in his tent.
When they were drinking, Zhou Yu said, “My lord sent an envoy here yesterday to urge me to advance, but I have no master plan ready and I hope you can assist me, sir.”
“But how can I, a man of mediocre talent, have a good plan?”
“The other day I observed the enemy’s naval camp and found it extremely well organized. It will not be easy to attack. I have thought of a plan, but I am not sure if it will work. I should be grateful if you would decide for me.”
“General, do not say what your plan is,” replied Zhuge Liang. “Let each of us write on the palm of his hand and see whether our opinions agree.”
So pen and ink were brought in and Zhou Yu first wrote on his own palm, and then passed the pen to Zhuge Liang, who also wrote on his palm. Then moving their chairs closer, each showed his hand to the other, and both burst out laughing, for both had written the same word—“fire.”
“Since we are of the same opinion,” said Zhou Yu, “there is no longer any doubt. But this must be kept secret.”
“Certainly,” answered Zhuge Liang. “This is in the interest of our two sides and I will never dream of revealing it. Although I have used this scheme twice on Cao Cao, I do not think he will be on his guard against this. You can put your scheme into force.”
They finished their wine and separated. None of the officers knew anything of their commander’s plan.
Now Cao Cao, having lost a myriad arrows for nothing, felt very sore. His advisor Xun You proposed a scheme. “Now Sun Quan has the two able strategists Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang to help him, it is not so easy to overcome him in a short time. Let us send someone there who will pretend to surrender to them but will actually be our spy and pass information to us. Once we know what our enemy is doing, we can plan their destruction.”
“I have been thinking of that myself,” replied Cao Cao. “Who do you think is the right man to send?”
“Cai Mao has been put to death, but the other members of his clan are in the army and his two cousins are junior officers. You can win them over by treating them well and then send them to Wu. They will not arouse suspicion at all.”
Cao Cao decided to act on this plan and in the evening summoned the two men to his tent, where he told them what he wanted them to do. And he promised them rich rewards if they succeeded. “But do not betray me,” he added.
“Our families are here in Jingzhou,” they replied. “How dare we betray? You need have no doubts, sir. You will soon see the heads of both Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang at your feet.”
Cao Cao gave them generous gifts and the following day the two men, with 500 soldiers, set sail with a fair wind for the opposite bank.
Now Zhou Yu was preparing for the attack when their arrival was announced. They said that they were cousins of Cai Mao and had come to surrender themselves to Wu. Zhou Yu called them in and, bowing before the commander, they said in tears, “Our cousin was innocent yet he was put to death by the rebel Cao Cao. To avenge him we have come to offer ourselves to you. Pray let us stay and we will serve in the vanguard force.”
Zhou Yu appeared very pleased and rewarded them quite liberally. Then he ordered them to join Gan Ning in leading the van. They thanked him and thought they had fooled the commander.
But Zhou Yu secretly sent for Gan Ning and said to him, “These two have come without their families, so they can’t be real deserters but spies sent by our enemy. Now I’m going to turn their trick to my advantage and let them send false information to Cao Cao. I want you to treat them well so they will not suspect, but keep a careful watch over them. On the day we begin our general action against Cao Cao they will be used as sacrifices to the flag. But be very careful that nothing goes wrong.” Gan Ning took the order and went away.
Lu Su, totally in the dark to all this, came in to tell Zhou Yu that he thought the two Cais had feigned surrender and should not be accepted.
“But they wish to revenge the death of their cousin,” said Zhou Yu. “Where is the pretense? If you are too suspicious no talented men will come to our assistance.”
Lu Su left much piqued and went to see Zhuge Liang, to whom he told the story. Zhuge Liang only smiled.
“Why do you smile?” asked Lu Su.
“Because you don’t understand Zhou Yu’s scheme. Cao Cao and our forces are separated by a big river and spies cannot come and go easily. These two have been sent to feign desertion so that they may act as spies. Zhou Yu is playing the enemy’s game against them. He wants them to send false information. Deceit is not to be despised in war and his scheme is the correct one to employ.”
Lu Su finally understood.
That night, as Zhou Yu was sitting in his tent, Huang Gai suddenly came to see him.
“You surely have some wise plan to propose that you come at night like this,” said Zhou Yu.
Huang Gai replied, “The enemy is much greater in number than us and it is wrong to delay action. Why not use the tactic of fire?”
“Who suggested that to you?”
“It’s my own idea,” replied Huang Gai. “Nobody suggested it to me.”
“That’s exactly what I want to do. And I have kept those two spies because I want them to pass on false information. The pity is that I have no one to feign defection to the other side and work out my plan.”
“I will do that,” said Huang Gai.
“But if you don’t show some physical injuries you won’t be believed,” said Zhou Yu.
“The Sun family have been very generous to me and I won’t re
sent being crushed to death to repay them,” said Huang Gai resolutely.
Zhou Yu bowed to him gratefully and said, “Our country would indeed be fortunate if you wouldn’t object to suffering some bodily injuries to achieve our purpose.”
“I wouldn’t mind even if I had to die,” repeated Huang Gai as he took his leave.
The next day, drums rolled to call all the officers to gather at Zhou Yu’s tent and Zhuge Liang came with the others. Zhou Yu said, “The enemy’s camps extend about three hundred li, so the campaign will be a long one. Each of you is to prepare supplies for three months.”
Scarcely had he finished his words when Huang Gai broke in, “Three months? I think thirty months won’t be of any use. If you can destroy them this month then all is well. If not, then it’s better to take Zhang Chao’s advice—throw down your arms and surrender.”
Zhou Yu flared up and cried, “Our lord’s orders are to destroy Cao Cao and whoever dares to mention the word ‘surrender’ is to be put to death. Now, at the very moment when the two armies are to engage, you dare talk of surrender and dampen the ardor of my men! If I don’t slay you, how can I command the others?”
He ordered the guards to remove Huang Gai and execute him without delay.
Huang Gai then flared up in turn, saying, “Since the days when I fought with General Sun Jian and overran the southeast, I have served the Suns for three generations. Where have you sprung from?”
This made Zhou Yu perfectly furious and Huang Gai was ordered to be instantly executed. Trying to intercede, Gan Ning stepped forward and said, “He is a veteran officer of Wu. Please pardon him.”
“What are you babbling about?” cried Zhou Yu. “Do you dare to come between me and my duty?” Turning to the guards he ordered them to drive him out with cudgels.
The other officers fell on their knees to beg mercy for Huang Gai. “He indeed deserves death, but it would be a loss to the army. We beg you to be lenient and let him live for the time being. You can put him to death after the enemy is defeated.”
But Zhou Yu was implacable. The officers pleaded very hard. At length he seemed to soften a little.
“Had it not been for your intercession he should certainly be put to death. But now I will mitigate the punishment to a beating.”
He turned to the guards and ordered them to give the culprit one hundred blows. Again his colleagues pleaded for remission, but Zhou Yu angrily pushed over the table in front of him, roared to the officers to get out of the way, and urged the guards to get on with their job.
So Huang Gai was stripped, thrown to the ground and caned fifty times. At this point, the officers again entreated that he be let off. Zhou Yu sprang up and, pointing his finger at Huang Gai, said, “That is for your insolence! I will spare you the other fifty for the present. But if you dare flout me again you will be punished for both faults!”
With this he went inside, growling as he went, while the officers helped their beaten colleague to his feet. He was in a pitiable state. His back was cut in many places and bleeding badly. They carried him to his own quarters where he swooned several times. Everyone who came to inquire after him wept in sympathy.
Lu Su also went to see the beaten man and then called on Zhuge Liang in his boat. He said, “In his anger our commander punished Huang Gai very severely today. As we are his subordinates we could not very well plead too hard. But you are a guest and not under his orders. Why did you stand by with folded arms and never say a word?”
“You are trying to fool me,” said Zhuge Liang, smiling.
“Why do you say that? I have never deceived you—never since the day we came here together.”
“Don’t you know that terrible beating was but a trick? How could I try to dissuade him?”
Then Lu Su began to comprehend. Zhuge Liang continued, “Cao Cao would not be taken in unless there were some signs of physical wounds. Now he is going to send Huang Gai over as a deserter and he will see to it that the two spies duly pass on the false information to Cao Cao. But when you see Zhou Yu, you mustn’t tell him that I have seen through his scheme. Just say that I’m also blaming him for the beating.”
Lu Su went to see Zhou Yu and asked him why he had so cruelly beaten Huang Gai.
“Do the officers resent it?” asked Zhou Yu.
“Most of them are quite upset about it.”
“And what does Zhuge Liang think?”
“He also thinks you are too cold-hearted.”
“Then I have deceived him for once,” said Zhou Yu gleefully.
“What do you mean?” cried Lu Su.
“That beating of Huang Gai is part of my plan. I’m sending him to Cao Cao as a deserter, and so I have provided a reason for his desertion. Then I’m going to use fire against the enemy. In this way we can hope to succeed.”
Lu Su kept silence but he recognized that Zhuge Liang was again right.
Meanwhile, Huang Gai lay in his tent, while all his fellow officers went to inquire after his health. Huang Gai, however, did not say a word but only sighed deeply from time to time.
But when the strategist Kan Ze was announced, Huang Gai told his men to show him into his room. Then he ordered the servants out.
Kan Ze asked, “Are you an enemy of Zhou Yu’s?”
“No,” said Huang Gai.
“Then this beating is just part of a scheme?”
“How do you know?” said Huang Gai.
“Well, from his behavior I guessed about nine tenths of the truth.”
“You see, I have been very generously treated by the Sun family,” said Huang Gai. “As I have no means of showing my gratitude I proposed this scheme to help destroy Cao Cao. Though I suffer I have no regret. Among all those in the army there is not one I can trust but you. I know you are loyal and upright so I dare to tell you the truth.”
“I suppose you want me to go over to Cao Cao and deliver your letter of desertion. Is that it?”
“Just that,” replied Huang Gai. “Will you do it?”
Kan Ze consented joyfully.
The valiant warrior to serve his lord defies pain,
The loyal advisor shares his mind for the state.
Kan Ze’s mission will be told of in the next chapter.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Kan Ze Delivers the Letter of False Defection
Pang Tong Suggests Linking the Ships by Chains
Kan Ze was from Shanyin, son of a humble family. He loved reading but as he was too poor to buy books, so he used to borrow them. He had such a wonderful memory that he could remember everything after reading it just once. He was eloquent and courageous. Later he was employed by Sun Quan as one of his advisors. Since then he and Huang Gai had become very good friends. Knowing that he was eloquent and brave, Huang Gai wanted him to present the letter of false defection to Cao Cao. Kan Ze agreed with enthusiasm, saying, “When you, my friend, have suffered so much for our lord, could I spare myself? A man must make his name in the world or he will rot like grass and trees.”
Despite his wounds, Huang Gai slipped off the couch to bow to him in gratitude.
“However, this matter must not wait,” continued Kan Ze. “There is no time to lose.”
“The letter is already written,” said Huang Gai.
Kan Ze took it and left. That very night he disguised himself as a fisherman and left in a small boat for the north shore, under the cold, glittering light of the stars. Soon he drew near the enemy’s camp and was captured by the patrol guards. Without delay they informed their lord, who asked, “Is he a spy?”
They replied, “He looks like a fisherman but he says he is an advisor of Wu, named Kan Ze, and he has come on secret business.”
“Bring him in,” said Cao Cao and Kan Ze was led into his brilliantly lit tent. Cao Cao was seated by a small table, and as soon as he saw the prisoner, he asked, “You are an advisor of Wu. What then are you doing here?”
“People say that you are thirsty for men of ability but from your question I do n
ot think you deserve that reputation,” replied Kan Ze. “Oh, Huang Gai, my friend, I’m afraid you’ve made a mistake.”
“I am fighting against Wu and you come here in secret. Certainly I must question you.”
“Huang Gai is an old officer of Wu, one who has served three successive rulers. Now he has been cruelly beaten by order of Zhou Yu, for no reason at all, in front of all the other officers. He is hotly angry about this and wishes to desert to your side so that he may have his revenge. He discussed it with me, and as I am as close to him as his own flesh and blood, I have risked my life to come and deliver his secret letter to you. I wonder if you would receive him.”
“Where is the letter? asked Cao Cao.
Kan Ze produced the letter and presented it to him. Cao Cao opened it and read it by the candle light:
“I, Huang Gai, have been generously treated by the Sun family and should not really betray my lord. Lately, however, there has been discussions of an attack with our forces of the six districts on your enormous army from the north. As is known to all, we are greatly outnumbered and every officer of Wu, wise or foolish, recognizes that quite well. Only that conceited simpleton, Zhou Yu, maintains that success is possible and rashly desires to smash a stone with an egg. Besides, he is arbitrary and tyrannical, punishing his men for no crime, and leaving meritorious service unrewarded. I am a senior officer and yet have been shamed before all others for no reason. This insult is more than I can bear and I hate him with all my heart.
“I hear that you, sir, are sincere to people and welcome men with ability. So I, with those under my command, desire to enter your service in order to wash away my shame with my achievements. I will bring with me the weapons, supplies, and ships. With tears of blood I state the above and I entreat you not to doubt my sincerity.”
Leaning on the low table by his side, Cao Cao turned this letter over and over and read it again and again. Suddenly he smacked the table, glowered at Kan Ze and cried furiously, “Huang Gai is trying to deceive me by his tale of maltreatment and you have come to deliver a letter of false defection. How dare you play tricks on me?”
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 2: The Sleeping Dragon: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 17