The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (25 page)

“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

K
an
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 not 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?”

He ordered the guards to drag away the messenger and slay him. Kan Ze was at once hustled out but his face betrayed no sign of fear. On the contrary, he laughed aloud. At this Cao Cao told them to bring him back and asked harshly, “What do you find to laugh about now that I have foiled your tricks?”

“I was not laughing at you. I was laughing at Huang Gai’s simplicity.”

“What do you mean by his simplicity?”

“If you want to slay me, just go ahead. Why so many questions?”

“I have read all the books on the art of war and I can recognize a trick when I see one. This ruse of yours might have fooled others, but not me!”

“Tell me, then, what in the letter sounds like a trick?” asked Kan Ze.

“Let me point out the little slip in the letter so that you will go to your death without bearing a grudge. If he were sincere in his desire to submit, why doesn’t the letter name a time? What have you to say to that?”

Kan Ze waited until he had finished and then laughed louder than before. “I am surprised that you are not ashamed of your ignorance but can still boast of your knowledge of the books of war! You had better withdraw before it is too late. If you fight, Zhou Yu will certainly capture you. But how sad to think I should die at the hands of such an ignorant fellow!”

“What do you mean? I, ignorant?”

“You know nothing about strategies and you have no common sense—is that not sufficient?”

“Well, then, tell me where I am going wrong.”

“You do not know how to treat a scholar properly. Why should I tell you? I would rather die.”

“If you can convince me,” said Cao Cao. “I will certainly treat you with respect.”

“Don’t you know the simple truth that when a man is betraying his master he cannot name a time? Suppose the prearranged moment came but he was unable to carry out his plan while you, not knowing, sent your men out to meet him, then the secret would be discovered. He must watch for an opportunity and take it when it comes. How could he possibly know exactly when? But you have no common sense. You accuse me unjustly and want to put a good man like me to death. Indeed, you are an ignorant fellow.”

At this Cao Cao changed his manner, got up, and came over to the prisoner to thank him. “I did not see clearly. I have offended you and I hope you will forget it.”

“Huang Gai and I are both as eager to serve you as a child longs for its parents. Is it possible that we should be false?”

“If you two could render me so great a service, you will certainly be richly rewarded.”

“We do not desire rank or riches—we come because it is the will of Heaven and the plain way of duty.”

Then wine was set out and Kan Ze was treated as an honored guest. While they were drinking, someone came in and whispered something in Cao Cao’s ear. He said, “Let me see the letter.” Then the man gave him a letter, which evidently pleased him.