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nishment 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 officers in Zhou Yu's camp。 He is grievously angry about this and wishes to desert to your side that he may be revenged。 He discussed it with me； and as we are inseparable； I have e to give you his letter asking whether you would receive him。〃
〃Where is the letter？ said Cao Cao。
The missive was produced and presented。 Cao Cao opened it and read：
〃I； Huang Gai； have been generously treated by the Sun family and have served them single…heartedly。 Lately they have been discussing an attack with our forces on the enormous army of the central government。 Everyone knows our few are no match for such a multitude； and every officer of the South Land； wise or foolish； recognizes that quite well。 However； Zhou Yu who； after all； is but a youth and a shallow minded simpleton； maintains that success is possible and rashly desires to smash stones with an egg。 Beside； he is arbitrary and tyrannical； punishing for no crime； and leaving meritorious service unrewarded。 I am an old servant and for no reason have been shamed in the sight of people。 Wherefore I hate him in my heart。
〃You； O Prime Minister； treat people with sincerity and are ready to wele ability and so I； and those under my leadership； desire to enter your service whereby to acquire reputation and remove the shameful stigma。 The missariat； weapons； and the supply ships that I am manding will also e over to you。 In perfect sincerity I state these matters。 I pray you not to doubt me。〃
Leaning there on the low table by his side； Cao Cao turned this letter over and over and read it again and again。
Then he smacked the table； opened his eyes wide with anger； saying； 〃Huang Gai is trying to play the personal injury trick on me； is he？ And you are in it as the intermediary to present the letter。 How dare you e to sport with me？〃
Cao Cao ordered the lictors to thrust forth the messenger and take off his head。 Kan Ze was hustled out； his face untroubled。 On the contrary； he laughed aloud。
At this Cao Cao told them to bring him back and harshly said to him； 〃What do you find to laugh at now that I have foiled you and your ruse has failed？〃
〃I was not laughing at you。 I was laughing at my friend's simplicity。〃
〃What do you mean by his simplicity？〃
〃If you want to slay； slay。 Do not trouble me with a multitude of questions。〃
〃I have read all the books on the art of war； and I am well versed in all ways of misleading the enemy。 This ruse of yours might have succeeded with many； but it will not do for me。〃
〃And so you say that the letter is a vicious trick？〃 said Kan Ze。
〃What I say is that your little slip has sent you to the death you risked。 If the thing was real and you were sincere； why does not the letter name a time of ing over？ What have you to say to that？〃
Kan Ze waited to the end and then laughed louder than ever； saying； 〃I am so glad you are not frightened but can still boast of your knowledge of the books of war。 Now you will not lead away your soldiers。 If you fight； Zhou Yu will certainly capture you。 But how sad to think I die at the hand of such an ignorant fellow！〃
〃What mean you？ I； ignorant？〃
〃You are ignorant of any