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Then　Xun　You　proposed　a　ruse；　saying；　〃The　two　strategists　on　the　side　of　the　enemy　are　Zhou　Yu　and　Zhuge　Liang；　two　men　most　difficult　to　get　the　better　of。　Let　us　send　someone　who　shall　pretend　to　surrender　to　them　but　really　be　a　spy　on　our　behalf　and　a　helper　in　our　schemes。　When　we　know　what　is　doing；　we　can　plan　to　meet　it。〃
〃I　had　thought　of　that　myself；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。　〃Whom　do　you　think　the　best　person　to　send？〃
〃Cai　Mao　has　been　put　to　death；　but　all　his　clan　and　family　are　in　the　army；　and　his　two　younger　brothers　are　junior　generals。　You　have　them　most　securely　in　your　power　and　may　send　them　to　surrender。　The　ruler　of　the　South　Land　will　never　suspect　deceit　there。〃
Cao　Cao　decided　to　act　on　this　plan；　and　in　the　evening　summoned　Cai　Zhong　and　Cai　He　to　his　tent；　where　he　told　them；　saying；　〃I　want　you　two　pretend　to　surrender　to　the　South　Land　so　that　you　can　gather　intelligence　and　sent　it　back。　When　all　done；　you　will　be　richly　rewarded。　But　do　not　betray　me。〃
〃Our　families　are　in　Jingzhou；　and　that　place　is　yours；〃　replied　they。　〃Should　we　dare　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。　Soon　after　the　two　men；　each　with　his　five　hundred　soldiers；　set　sail　with　a　fair　wind　for　the　opposite　bank。
Now　as　Zhou　Yu　was　preparing　for　the　attack；　the　arrival　of　some　northern　ships　was　announced。　They　bore　the　two　younger　brothers　of　Cai　Mao；　who　had　e　as　deserters。
They　were　led　in　and；　bowing　before　the　general；　said；　weeping；　〃Our　innocent　brother　has　been　put　to　death；　and　we　desire　vengeance。　So　we　have　e　to　offer　allegiance　to　you。　We　pray　you　appoint　us　to　the　vanguard。〃
Zhou　Yu　appeared　very　pleased　and　made　them　presents。　Then　he　ordered　them　to　join　Gan　Ning　in　leading　the　van。　They　thanked　him　and　regarded　their　scheme　as　already　a　success。
But　Zhou　Yu　gave　Gan　Ning　secret　orders；　saying；　〃They　have　e　without　their　families；　and　so　I　know　their　desertion　is　only　pretense。　They　have　been　sent　as　spies；　and　I　am　going　to　meet　their　ruse　with　one　of　my　own。　They　shall　have　some　information　to　send。　You　will　treat　them　well；　but　keep　a　careful　guard　over　them。　On　the　day　our　soldiers　start　the　offense；　they　shall　be　sacrificed　to　the　flag。　But　be　very　careful　that　nothing　goes　wrong。〃
Gan　Ning　went　away。
Then　Lu　Su　came　to　tell　Zhou　Yu；　saying；　〃Everyone　agrees　in　thinking　the　surrender　of　Cai　Zhong　and　Cai　He　feigned　and　they　should　be　rejected。〃
〃But　they　wish　to　revenge　the　death　of　their　brother；〃　said　the　General。　〃Where　is　the　pretense？　If　you　are　so　suspicious；　you　will　receive　nobody　at　all。〃
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？〃　said　Lu　Su。
〃I　smile　at　your　simplicity。　The　General　is　playing　a　game。　Spies　cannot　easily　e　and　go；　so　these　two　have　been　sent　to　feign　desertion　that　they　may　act　as　spies。　The　General　is　meeting　one　ruse　with　another。　He　wants　them　to　give　false　information。　Deceit　is　not　to　be　despised　in　war；　and　his　scheme　is　the　correct　one　to　employ。〃
Then　Lu　Su　understood。
That　night　as　Zhou　Yu　was　sitting　in　his　tent；　Huang　Gai　came　to　see　him　privately。
Zhou　Yu　said；　〃You　have　surely　some　wise　plan　to　propose　that　you　e　at　night　like　this。〃
Huang　Gai　replied；　〃The　enemy　are　more　numerous　than　we；　and　it　is　wrong　to　delay。　Why　not　burn　them　out？〃
〃Who　suggested　that　to　you？〃
〃I　thought　of　it　myself。　Nobody　suggested　it；〃　replied　Huang　Gai。
〃I　just　wanted　something　like　this；　and　that　is　why　I　kept　those　two　pretended　deserters。　I　want　them　to　give　some　false　news。　The　pity　is　that　I　have　no　one　to　feign　desertion　to　the　other　side　and　work　my　plan。〃
〃But　I　will　carry　out　your　plan；〃　said　Huang　Gai。
〃But　if　you　cannot　show　some　injury；　you　will　not　be　believed；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。
〃The　Sun　family　have　been　very　generous　to　me；　and　I　would　not　resent　being　crushed　to　death　to　repay　them；〃　said　Huang　Gai。
The　General　bowed　and　thanked　him；　saying；　〃If　you　would　not　object　to　some　bodily　suffering；　then　the　South　Land　would　indeed　be　happy。〃
〃Kill　me。　I　do　not　mind；〃　repeated　Huang　Gai　as　he　took　his　leave。
Next　day　the　drums　called　all　the　officers　together　to　the　General's　tent；　and　Zhuge　Liang　came　with　the　others。
Zhou　Yu　said；　〃The　enemy's　camps　extend　about　one　hundred　miles　so　that　the　campaign　will　be　a　long　one。　Each　leader　is　to　prepare　supplies　for　three　months。〃
Scarcely　had　he　spoken　when　Huang　Gai　started　up；　crying；　〃Say　not　three　months。　Be　ready　for　thirty　months；　and　even　then　it　will　not　be　ended。　If　you　can　destroy　them　this　month；　then　all　is　well。　If　you　cannot；　then　it　were　better　to　take　Zhang　Zhao's　advice；　throw　down　your　weapons；　turn　to　the　north；　and　surrender。〃
Zhou　Yu's　anger　flared　up；　and　he　flushed；　crying；　〃Our　lord's　orders　were　to　destroy　Cao　Cao；　and　whoever　mentioned　the　word　surrender　should　be　put　to　death！　Now；　the　very　moment　when　the　two　armies　are　to　engage；　you　dare　talk　of　surrender　and　damp　the　ardor　of　my　army！　If　I　do　not　slay　you；　how　can　I　support　the　others？〃
He　ordered　the　lictors　to　remove　Huang　Gai　and　execute　him　without　delay。
Huang　Gai　then　flamed　up　in　turn；　saying；　〃This　is　the　third　generation　since　I　went　with　General　Sun　Jian；　and　we　overran　the　southeast。　Whence　have　you　sprung　up？〃
This　made　Zhou　Yu　perfectly　furious；　and　Huang　Gai　was　ordered　to　instant　death。　But　Gan　Ning　interfered。
Said　he；　〃He　is　a　veteran　officer　of　the　South　Land。　Pray　pardon　him！〃
〃What　are　you　prating　about？〃　cried　Zhou　Yu。　〃Dare　you　e　between　me　and　my　duty？〃
Turning　to　the　lictors；　Zhou　Yu　ordered　them　to　drive　Gan　Ning　forth　with　blows。
The　other　officials　fell　on　their　knees　entreating　pity　for　Huang　Gai。
〃He　is　indeed　most　worthy　of　death；　but　it　would　be　a　loss　to　the　army。　We　pray　you　forgive　him。　Record　his　fault　for　the　moment；　and　after　the　enemy　shall　have　been　defeated；　then　put　him　to　death。〃
But　Zhou　Yu　was　implacable。　The　officers　pleaded　with　tears。
At　length　he　seemed　moved；　saying；　〃Had　you　not　interceded；　he　should　certainly　have　suffered　death。　But　now　I　will　mitigate　the　punishment　to　a　beating。　He　shall　not　die。〃
Zhou　Yu　turned　to　the　lictors　and　bade　them　deal　the　culprit　one　hundred　blows。　Again　his　colleagues　prayed　for　remission；　but　Zhou　Yu　angrily　pushed　over　the　table　in　front　of　him　and　roared　to　the　officers　to　get　out　of　the　way　and　let　the　sentence　be　executed。
So　Huang　Gai　was　stripped；　thrown　to　the　ground；　and　fifty　blows　were　given。　At　this　point　the　officers　again　prayed　that　he　be　let　off。
Zhou　Yu　sprang　from　his　chair　and　pointing　his　finger　at　Huang　Gai　said；　〃If　you　dare　flout　me　again；　you　shall　have　the　other　fifty。　If　you　are　guilty　of　any　disrespect；　you　shall　be　punished　for　both　faults！〃
With　this　he　turned　into　the　inner　part　of　the　tent；　growling　as　he　went；　while　the　officers　helped　their　beaten　colleague　to　his　feet。　He　was　in　a　deplorable　state。　His　back　was　cut　in　many　places；　and　the　blood　was　flowing　in　streams。　They　led　him　to　his　own　quarters　and　on　the　way　he　swooned　several　times。　His　case　seemed　most　pitiable。
Lu　Su　went　to　see　the　suffering　officer　and　then　called　on　Zhuge　Liang　in　his　boat。
Lu　Su　related　the　story　of　the　beating　and　said；　〃Though　the　other　officers　have　been　cowed　into　silence；　I　think　thought　you；　Sir；　might　have　interceded。　You　are　a　guest　and　not　under　Zhou　Yu's　orders。　Why　did　you　stand　by　with　your　hands　up　your　sleeves　and　say　never　a　word？〃
〃You　insult　me；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　smiling。
〃Why　do　you　say　that？　I　have　never　insulted　you：　Never　since　the　day　we　came　here　together。〃
〃Do　you　not　know　that　terrible　beating　was　but　a　ruse？　How　could　I　try　to　dissuade　Zhou　Yu？〃
Then　Lu　Su　began　to　perceive；　and　Zhuge　Liang　continued；　saying；　〃Cao　Cao　would　not　be　taken　in　unless　there　was　some　real　bodily　suffering。　Zhou　Yu　is　going　to　send　Huang　Gai　over　as　a　deserter；　and　Zhou　Yu　will　see　to　it　that　the　two　Cao　Cao's　spies　duly　tell　the　tale。　But　when　you　see　the　General；　you　must　not　tell　him　that　I　saw　through　the　ruse。　You　say　that　I　am　very　angry　like　the　others。〃
Lu　Su　went　to　see　Zhou　Yu　and　asked；　〃Why　have　you　so　cruelly　beaten　a　proved　and　trusty　officer？〃
〃Do　the　officers　resent　it？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。
〃They　are　all　upset　about　it。〃
〃And　what　does　your　friend　think？〃
〃Zhuge　Liang　also　resents　it　in　his　heart；　and　he　thinks　you　have　made　a　mistake。〃
〃Then　I　have　deceived　him　for　once；〃　said　Zhou　Yu　gleefully。
〃What　mean　you？〃　cried　Lu　Su。
〃That　beating　that　Huang　Gai　got　is　part　of　my　ruse。　I　am　sending　him　to　Cao　Cao　as　a　deserter；　and　so　I　have　supplied　a　reason　for　desertion。　Then　I　am　going　to　use　fire　against　the　enemy。〃
Lu　Su　kept　silence；　but　he　recognized　that　Zhuge　Liang　was　again　right。
Meanwhile　Huang　Gai　lay　in　his　tent；　whither　all　his　colleague　officers　went　to　condole　with　him　and　inquire　after　his　health。　But　Huang　Gai　would　say　never　a　word。　He　only　lay　sighing　deeply　from　time　to　time。
But　when　the　Strategist　Kan　Ze　came；　Huang　Gai　told　them　to　bring　him　to　the　room　where　he　lay。　Then　he　bade　the　servants　go　away。
Kan　Ze　said；　〃Surely　you　must　have　some　serious　quarrel　with　the　General。〃
〃I　have　none；〃　said　Huang　Gai。
〃Then　this　beating　is　just　part　of　a　ruse？〃
〃How　did　you　guess？〃　said　Huang　Gai。
〃Because　I　watched　the　General；　and　I　guessed　about　nine　tenths　of　the　truth。〃
Huang　Gai　said；　〃You　see　I　have　been　very　generously　treated　by　the　Sun　family；　all　three　of　them；　and　have　no　means　of　showing　my　gratitude　except　by　offering　to　help　in　this　ruse。　True　I　suffer；　but　I　do　not　regret　that。　Among　all　those　I　know　in　the　army；　there　is　not　one　I　am　intimate　with　except　yourself。　You　are　true；　and　I　can　talk　with　you　as　a　friend。〃
〃I　suppose　you　wish　me　to　present　your　surrender　letter　to　Cao　Cao。　Is　that　it？〃
〃Just　that；　will　you　do　it？〃　said　Huang　Gai。
Kan　Ze　consented　joyfully。

Even　the　warrior's　body　is　but　a　stake　in　the　game；
The　friend　so　ready　to　help　him　proves　that　their　hearts　are　the　same。

Kan　Ze's　reply　will　be　read　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　47　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　47
　Chapter　47
Kan　Ze　Presents　The　Treacherous　Letter；
Pang　Tong　Suggests　Chaining　The　Ships　Together。
Kan　Ze　was　from　Shanyin；　a　son　of　a　humble　family。　He　loved　books；　but　as　he　was　too　poor　to　buy；　he　used　to　borrow。　He　had　a　wonderfully　tenacious　memory；　was　very　eloquent　and　no　coward。　Sun　Quan　had　employed　him　among　his　advisers；　and　he　and　Huang　Gai　were　excellent　friends。
Now　Huang　Gai　had　thought　of　Kan　Ze　to　present　the　treacherous　letter　to　Cao　Cao；　as　Kan　Ze's　gifts　made　him　most　suitable。
Kan　Ze　accepted　with　enthusiasm；　saying；　〃When　you；　my　friend；　have　suffered　so　much　for　our　lord；　could　I　spare　myself？　No；　while　a　person　lives；　he　must　go　on　fulfilling　his　mission；　or　he　is　no　better　than　the　herbs　that　rot　in　the　field。〃
Huang　Gai　slipped　off　the　couch　and　came　over　to　salute　him。
〃However；　this　matter　must　speed；〃　continued　Kan　Ze。　〃There　is　no　time　to　lose。〃
〃The　letter　is　already　written；〃　said　Huang　Gai。
Kan　Ze　received　it　and　left。　That　night　he　disguised　himself　as　an　old　fisherman　and　started　in　a　small　punt　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。
Without　waiting　for　day；　they　informed　Cao　Cao；　who　said　at　once；　〃Is　he　not　just　a　spy？〃
〃No；〃　said　they；　〃he　is　alone；　just　an　old　fisherman。　And　he　says　he　is　an　adviser　in　the　service　of　the　South　Land　named　Kan　Ze；　and　he　has　e　on　secret　business。〃
〃Bring　him；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　and　Kan　Ze　was　led　in。
Cao　Cao　was　seated　in　a　brilliantly　lighted　tent。　He　was　leaning　on　a　small　table；　and　as　soon　as　he　saw　the　prisoner；　he　said　harshly；　〃You　are　an　adviser　of　East　Wu。　What　then　are　you　doing　here？〃
〃People　say　that　you　greedily　wele　people　of　ability。　I　do　not　think　your　question　a　very　proper　one。　O　friend　Huang　Gai；　you　made　a　mistake；〃　said　Kan　Ze。
〃You　know　I　am　fighting　against　East　Wu；　and　you　e　here　privately。　Why　should　I　not　question　you？〃
〃Huang　Gai　is　an　old　servant　of　Wu；　one　who　has　served　three　successive　rulers。　Now　he　has　been　cruelly　beaten；　for　no　fault；　before　the　face　of　all　the　offi