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Thus was his duty assigned Guan Yu； and he left； taking his adopted son Guan Ping； his general Zhou Cang； and five hundred swordsmen。
Said Liu Bei； 〃His sense of rectitude is very profound。 I fear if Cao Cao should e that way； my brother will let him pass。〃
〃I have consulted the stars lately； and the rebel Cao Cao is not fated to e to his end yet。 I have purposely designed this manifestation of kindly feeling for Guan Yu to acplish and so act handsomely。〃
〃Indeed there are few such far…seeing humans as you are；〃 said Liu Bei。
The two then went to Fankou whence they might watch Zhou Yu's evolutions。 Sun Qian and Jian Yong were left on guard of Xiakou。
Cao Cao was in his great camp in conference with his advisers and awaiting the arrival of Huang Gai。 The southeast wind was very strong that day； and Cheng Yu was insisting on the necessity for precaution。
But Cao Cao laughed； saying； 〃The Winter Solstice depends upon the sun and nothing else。 There is sure to be a southeast wind at some one or other of its recurrences。 I see nothing to wonder at。〃
Just then they announced the arrival of a small boat from the other shore with a letter from Huang Gai。 The bearer of the letter was brought in and presented it。 Cao Cao read it：
〃Zhou Yu has kept such strict watch that there has been no chance of escape。 But now some grain is ing down river； and I； Huang Gai； have been named as escort mander which will give me the opportunity I desire。 I will slay one of the known generals and bring his head as an offering when I e。 This evening at the third watch； if boats are seen with dragon toothed flags； they will be the grain boats。〃
This letter delighted Cao Cao who； with his officers； went to the naval camp and boarded a great ship to watch for the arrival of Huang Gai。
In the South Land； when evening fell； Zhou Yu sent for Cai He and bade the soldiers bind him。
The unhappy man protested； saying； 〃I have mitted no crime！〃
But Zhou Yu said； 〃What sort of a fellow are you； think you； to e and pretend to desert to my side？ I need a small sacrifice for my flag； and your head will serve my purpose。 So I am going to use it。〃
Cai He being at the end of his tether unable to deny the charge suddenly cried； 〃Two of your own side； Kan Ze and Gan Ning； are also in the plot！〃
〃Under my directions！〃 said Zhou Yu。
Cai He was exceedingly repentant and sad； but Zhou Yu bade them take Cai He to the river bank where the black standard had been set up and there； after the pouring of a libation and the burning of paper； Cai He was beheaded； his blood being a sacrifice to the flag。
This ceremony over； the ships started； and Huang Gai took his place on the third ship。 He merely wore breast armor and carried a keen blade。 On his flag were written four large characters Van Leader Huang Gai 。 With a fair wind his fleet sailed toward the Red Cliffs。
The wind was strong and the waves ran high。 Cao Cao in the midst of the central squadron eagerly scanned the river which rolled down under the bright moon like a silver serpent writhing in innumerable folds。 Letting the wind blow full in his face； Cao Cao laughed aloud for he was now to obtain his desire。
Then a soldier pointing to the river said； 〃The whole south is one mass of sails； and they are ing up on the wind。〃
Cao Cao went to a higher point and gazed at the sails intently； and his officers told him that the flags were black and dragon shaped； and indented； and among them there flew one very large banner on which was a name Huang Gai。
〃That is my friend； the deserter！〃 said he joyfully。 〃Heaven is on my side today。〃
As the ships drew closer； Cheng Yu said； 〃Those ships are treacherous。 Do not let them approach the camp。〃
〃How know you that？〃 asked Cao Cao。
And Cheng Yu replied； 〃If they were laden with grain； they would lie deep in the water。 But these are light and float easily。 The southeast wind is very strong； and if they intend treachery； how can we defend ourselves？〃
Cao Cao began to understand。 Then he asked who would go out to stop the approaching fleet； and Wen Ping volunteered； saying； 〃I am well used to the waters。〃
Thereupon Wen Ping sprang into a small light craft and sailed out； followed by ten cruisers which came at his signal。
Standing in the prow of his ship； Wen Ping called out to those advancing toward them； 〃You southern ships are not to approach！ Such are the orders of the Prime Minister。 Stop there in mid stream！〃
The soldiers all yelled to them to lower their sails。 The shout had not died away when a bowstring twanged； and Wen Ping rolled down into the ship with an arrow in the left arm。 Confusion reigned on his ship； and all the others hurried back to their camp。
When the ships were about a mile of distant； Huang Gai waved his sword and the leading ships broke forth into fire； which； under the force of the strong wind； soon gained strength and the ships became as fiery arrows。 Soon the whole twenty dashed into the naval camp。
All Cao Cao's ships were gathered there； and as they were firmly chained together not one could escape from the others and flee。 There was a roar of bombs and fireships came on from all sides at once。 The face of the three rivers was speedily covered with fire which flew before the wind from one ship to another。 It seemed as if the universe was filled with flame。
Cao Cao hastened toward the shore。 Huang Gai； with a few troops at his back； leaped into a small boat； dashed through the fire； and sought Cao Cao。 Cao Cao； seeing the imminence of the danger； was making for the land。 Zhang Liao got hold of a small boat into which he helped his master； none too soon； for the ship was burning。 They got Cao Cao out of the thick of the fire and dashed for the bank。
Huang Gai； seeing a handsomely robed person get into a small boat； guessed it must be Cao Cao and pursued。
He drew very near and he held his keen blade ready to strike； crying out； 〃You rebel！ Do not flee。 I am Huang Gai。〃
Cao Cao howled in the bitterness of his distress。 Zhang Liao fitted an arrow to his bow and aimed at the pursuer； shooting at short range。 The roaring of the gale and the flames kept Huang Gai from hearing the twang of the string； and he was wounded in the shoulder。 He fell and rolled over into the water。
He fell in peril of water
When flames were high；
Ere cudgel bruises had faded；
An arrow struck。
Huang Gai's fate will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 50 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Zhuge Liang Foresees The Huarong Valley Episode；
Guan Yu Lifts His Saber To Release Cao Cao。
The last chapter closed with Huang Gai in the water wounded； Cao Cao rescued from immediate danger； and confusion rampant among the soldiers。 Pressing forward to attack the naval camp； Han Dang was told by his soldiers that someone was clinging to the rudder of his boat and shouting to him by his familiar name。 Han Dang listened carefully and in the voice at once he recognized that Huang Gai was calling to him for help。
〃That is my friend Huang Gai！〃 cried he； and they quickly pulled the wounded leader out of the water。
Then they saw Huang Gai was wounded for the arrow still stuck。 Han Dang bit out the shaft of the arrow but the point was deeply buried in the flesh。 They hastily pulled off his wet garments and cut out the metal arrowhead with a dagger； tore up one of the flags； and bound up the wound。 Then Han Dang gave Huang Gai his own fighting robe to put on and sent him off in a small boat back to camp。
Huang Gai's escape from drowning must be taken as proof of his natural affinity for； or sympathy with； water。 Although it was the period of great cold and he was heavy with armor when he fell into the river； yet he escaped with life。
In this great battle at the junction of the three rivers； the Three Gorges； when fire seemed to spread wide over all the wide surface of the water； when the earth quaked with the roar of battle； when land forces closed in on both wings and four battle squadrons advanced on the front； when the ferocity of fire answered the clash of weapons and weapons were aided by fire； under the thrusts of spears and the flights of arrows； burnt by fire and drowned by water； Cao Cao lost an incalculable number of troops。 And a poet wrote：
When Wei and Wu together strove
For the mastery；
In the Red Cliffs fight the tall ships
Vanished from the sea；
For there the fierce flames； leaping high。
Burned them utterly。
So Zhou Yu for his liege lord
Got the victory。
And another poem runs：
The hills are high； the moon shines faint。
The waters stretch afar；
I sigh to think how oft this land
Has suffered stress of war；
And I recall how southerners
Shrank from the northern army's might；
And how a favoring eastern gale
Helped them to win the fight。
While fire was consuming the naval base of Cao Cao； Gan Ning made Cai Zhong guide him into the innermost recesses of Cao Cao's camp。 Then Gan Ning slew Cai Zhong with one slash of his sword。 After this Gan Ning set fire to the jungle； and at this signal； Lu Meng put fire to the grass in ten places near to each other。 Then other fires were started； and the noise of battle was on all sides。
Cao Cao and Zhang Liao； with a small party of horsemen； fled throug