Chapter 46: Using a Stratagem, Kongming Borrows Arrows; Offering a Secret Plan, Huang Gai Receives Punishment
So Lu Su, having received Zhou Yu’s orders, went straight to the boat to visit Kongming. Kongming invited him into the small boat and they sat facing each other. Lu Su said, “I have been busy with military affairs for several days and have neglected to seek your instruction.” Kongming replied, “And I have not yet offered the Commander congratulations on his good fortune.” Lu Su asked, “What good fortune?” Kongming said, “Gongjin sent you, sir, to find out whether I knew or not—that very matter is cause for congratulations.” Lu Su, startled, changed color and asked, “How did you, sir, come to know of it?” Kongming said, “This stratagem can only fool Jiang Gan. Cao Cao, though momentarily deceived, will surely realize the truth at once, but he is merely unwilling to admit his mistake. Now that Cai Mao and Zhang Yun are dead, Jiangdong has no more worries—why should I not congratulate? I have heard that Cao Cao has appointed Mao Jie and Yu Jin as his naval commanders; in their hands, for good or ill, the navy will be doomed.”
When Lu Su heard this, he was speechless, stammered out some vague replies, and after a while took his leave of Kongming and returned. Kongming urged him, saying, “I hope Zijing will not tell Gongjin that I know of this matter. I fear he will be jealous and find some pretext to harm me.” Lu Su agreed and left. When he came back and saw Zhou Yu, he had no choice but to report everything truthfully. Zhou Yu was greatly alarmed and said, “This man cannot be allowed to live! I am determined to kill him!” Lu Su advised, “If you kill Kongming, Cao Cao will laugh at us.” Zhou Yu said, “I have a just reason to kill him, so that he will die without complaint.” Lu Su asked, “What just reason will you use to kill him?” Zhou Yu said, “Zijing, do not ask; you will see tomorrow.”
The next day, Zhou Yu assembled all his officers in his tent and sent for Kongming to discuss affairs. Kongming came cheerfully. After they were seated, Zhou Yu asked Kongming, “Now that we are about to engage Cao Cao’s army in battle on the water, what weapon should take priority?” Kongming said, “On the great river, bows and arrows are the priority.” Zhou Yu said, “Your words, sir, are very much in accord with my own thoughts. But at present our army is short of arrows. Would I trouble you, sir, to oversee the manufacture of one hundred thousand arrows, to serve as weapons against the enemy? This is a public matter, sir; I hope you will not refuse.” Kongming said, “Since the Commander entrusts me with this task, I shall naturally exert myself to the utmost. May I ask, when are the one hundred thousand arrows needed?” Zhou Yu said, “Can you finish them within ten days?” Kongming said, “Cao Cao’s army will arrive at any moment; if we wait ten days, it will surely delay the great affair.” Zhou Yu said, “How many days do you estimate you need to finish, sir?” Kongming said, “Only three days will do, and I will present one hundred thousand arrows.” Zhou Yu said, “There should be no jesting in the army.” Kongming said, “How dare I jest with the Commander! I am willing to sign a military pledge: if I fail to finish in three days, I will gladly accept severe punishment.”
Zhou Yu was overjoyed, and ordered the military administration office to draw up the document on the spot. He then laid out wine and entertained Kongming, saying, “When the military matters are completed, there will be a proper reward.” Kongming said, “Today it is already too late; I will begin making them tomorrow. On the third day, you may send five hundred soldiers to the riverbank to collect the arrows.” After drinking a few cups, he took his leave and departed. Lu Su said, “This man—could he be bluffing?” Zhou Yu said, “He is delivering himself to death; I am not forcing him. Now that he has taken the document publicly, even if he grew wings on both sides, he could not fly away. I will simply instruct the craftsmen and workmen to delay deliberately, and not prepare all the materials he needs. Thus he will surely miss the deadline. Then, when I pronounce sentence, what excuse will he have? Now you may go and sound out his real intentions, and report back to me.”
Lu Su, receiving this order, went to see Kongming. Kongming said, “I once told Zijing not to speak of it to Gongjin, for he would surely try to harm me. I never expected that Zijing would not keep my secret, and now indeed trouble has arisen. How can I make one hundred thousand arrows in three days? Zijing, you must save me!” Lu Su said, “You brought this disaster upon yourself—how can I save you?” Kongming said, “I hope Zijing will lend me twenty boats, each with thirty soldiers, and have each boat covered with blue cloth screens, and place about a thousand straw dummies on each side, tied in bundles. I have my own wonderful plan. On the third day, I guarantee there will be one hundred thousand arrows. Only you must not let Gongjin know of this; if he learns of it, my plan will fail.” Lu Su agreed, but did not understand his purpose. When he returned to report to Zhou Yu, he indeed said nothing about borrowing the boats; he only said that Kongming did not use arrow bamboo, feathers, glue, or paint, but had his own method. Zhou Yu, greatly suspicious, said, “We shall see how he answers me in three days!”
Now Lu Su secretly provided twenty light, fast boats, each with over thirty men, and prepared the cloth screens, straw bundles, and all other items, and waited for Kongming to deploy them. On the first day, no movement was seen from Kongming; on the second day, he was still inactive. On the third day, at the fourth watch, Kongming secretly invited Lu Su to come to his boat. Lu Su asked, “Why have you summoned me here, sir?” Kongming said, “I have specially invited Zijing to go with me to fetch the arrows.” Lu Su asked, “Where are we going to fetch them?” Kongming said, “Zijing, do not ask; you will see when we get there.” Then he ordered the twenty boats to be linked together with long ropes and headed straight for the northern shore. That night a thick fog filled the sky; on the great Yangtze River, the fog was even denser, so that people could not see each other face to face. Kongming urged the boats forward. Indeed, what a magnificent fog! A man of former times composed a poem, “The Great Fog Hanging Over the River,” which says:
Vast is the great river! Westward it joins the Min and Emei mountains; southward it controls the lands of the Three Wu; northward it brings the waters of the Nine Rivers. It gathers a hundred streams and flows into the sea; through ten thousand ages it raises its waves. As for the Dragon Earl, the Sea God, the River Consort, the Water Mother, the thousand-zhang whale, the nine-headed giant centipede, and all strange and monstrous creatures—they gather and dwell here. This is indeed the place where spirits and ghosts rely, and where heroes fight and defend. Sometimes, when yin and yang are disordered, day and night cannot be distinguished. In wonder at the sky of one color, suddenly a great fog rises on all sides. Though a cartload of firewood is seen, it cannot be made out; only the sound of metal drums is heard. At first it is like a hazy mist, hiding the leopard of the Southern Mountain; gradually it thickens, as if to confuse the Kun fish of the Northern Sea. Then above it reaches the high heavens, below it hangs over the deep earth. Boundless and vast, it spreads without limit. Whales and leviathans emerge from the water and raise waves; dragons and serpents dive into the abyss and breathe out vapor. Again, it is like the dampness of plum rains, the chill of spring clouds; dim and dark, vast and boundless. To the east, the shore of Chaisang is lost; to the south, the hills of Xiakou vanish. A thousand warships sink as if into rocky gullies; a single fishing boat startles the waves as it appears and disappears. Even the azure vault loses its light, the morning sun its color; it turns white day into dusky yellow, and changes the cinnabar mountains into jade green. Though one had the wisdom of Great Yu, he could not fathom its depth; though one had the keen sight of Lilou, how could he distinguish a foot before him? Then Feng Yi calms the waves, Ping Yi ceases his work; fish and turtles hide their tracks, birds and beasts conceal their traces. It cuts off the island of Penglai, and darkly surrounds the palace of Changhe. Vague and rushing, like a sudden storm about to come; confused and tangled, like the cold clouds about to gather. Within it, poison snakes hide, and so miasmas arise; within it, demons lurk, and from it calamities spring. It sends down plagues upon the world, and raises wind and dust beyond the frontier. Common people encountering it suffer harm; great men viewing it sigh with emotion. It seems as if the primal energy would return to chaos, and mix heaven and earth into one lump.
By the fifth watch of that night, the boats had already neared Cao Cao’s water camp. Kongming ordered the boats to be arranged in a line, with their prows facing west and sterns east, and then had the drums beaten and war cries raised on the boats. Lu Su, alarmed, said, “What if Cao’s troops come out in full force?” Kongming replied with a smile, “I expect that Cao Cao, in this heavy fog, will not dare to come out. Let us simply enjoy our wine and take our ease; when the fog clears, we will return.”
Now, at Cao Cao’s camp, hearing the drumming and shouting, Mao Jie and Yu Jin hastily reported to Cao Cao. Cao Cao issued orders: “A dense fog blankets the river, and the enemy has arrived suddenly—there must be an ambush. Do not act rashly on any account. Have the water-force archers shoot wildly at them.” He also sent men to the land camp to summon Zhang Liao and Xu Huang, each leading three thousand archers, to rush to the riverbank and assist with the shooting. By the time these orders arrived, Mao Jie and Yu Jin, fearing the southern army would break into their water camp, had already deployed archers in front of the camp to loose their arrows.
After a while, the archers from the land camp also arrived, totaling over ten thousand men. All fired arrows toward the river, and the arrows fell like rain. Kongming ordered the boats to be turned around, prows east and sterns west, to draw closer to the water camp and receive the arrows, while continuing to beat drums and raise shouts. By the time the sun was high and the fog had dissipated, Kongming ordered the boats to head back swiftly. The twenty boats had their bundles of reeds on both sides bristling with arrows. Kongming commanded the soldiers on each boat to shout in unison: “Thank you, Chancellor, for the arrows!” By the time this was reported to Cao Cao at his camp, the boats, light and aided by the swift current, had already retreated more than twenty li, and pursuit was impossible. Cao Cao was filled with bitter regret.
Now, as Kongming returned in the boat, he said to Lu Su, “Each boat has about five or six thousand arrows. Without expending a single ounce of Jiangdong’s strength, we have obtained over one hundred thousand arrows. Tomorrow we will use them to shoot at Cao’s army—isn’t that most convenient?” Lu Su said, “Master, you are truly a divine being! How did you know there would be such a heavy fog today?” Kongming replied, “A general who does not understand astronomy, does not recognize terrain, does not know the odd gates, does not comprehend yin and yang, does not study battle arrays, and does not grasp military dynamics—such a man is but a mediocrity. I calculated three days ago that there would be a heavy fog today, and therefore dared to accept the three-day deadline. Gongjin ordered me to complete the task in ten days, with neither craftsmen nor materials at hand, intending to use this trifling fault to have me killed. My fate is tied to Heaven—how could Gongjin harm me?” Lu Su was filled with admiration.
When the boats reached the shore, Zhou Yu had already sent five hundred soldiers to wait by the river to collect the arrows. Kongming had the arrows taken from the boats, and they amounted to over one hundred thousand. All were brought to the central headquarters and handed over. Lu Su went in to see Zhou Yu and related in detail how Kongming had obtained the arrows. Zhou Yu was greatly astonished and sighed in admiration: “Kongming’s divine calculations and marvelous strategies—I am no match for him!” A later poet wrote a verse in praise:
A dense fog filled the vast Yangtze all day,
Near and far indistinct in the watery haze.
Like sudden rain or locusts, arrows flew at the ships;
Today Kongming has subdued Young Zhou Yu.
A dense fog filled the vast Yangtze all day,
Near and far indistinct in the watery haze.
Like sudden rain or locusts, arrows flew at the ships;
Today Kongming has subdued Young Zhou Yu.
After a while, Kongming entered the camp to see Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu came down from his tent to greet him and praised him, saying, “Master, your divine calculations and marvelous strategies command respect and admiration.” Kongming said, “Merely a petty trick of deceit—hardly worth praising.” Zhou Yu invited Kongming into the tent to drink together. Zhou Yu said, “Yesterday, my lord sent an envoy to urge our advance. I have no brilliant plan; I hope you, Master, can instruct me.” Kongming replied, “I am but a mediocre talent—how could I have any wonderful plan?” Zhou Yu said, “Yesterday I observed Cao Cao’s water camp; it is extremely well-organized and methodical, not something a common force can attack. I have thought of a plan, but I do not know if it is feasible. I hope you, Master, will decide for me.” Kongming said, “Let the Commander-in-Chief not speak of it yet. Let each of us write it on our palm and see if it matches.”
Zhou Yu was delighted. He had someone bring a brush and inkstone, secretly wrote something on his own palm, then handed the brush to Kongming. Kongming also wrote secretly. The two drew close on their couch, extended their palms, looked at each other’s characters, and both burst into laughter. It turned out that the character in Zhou Yu’s palm was “fire,” and the character in Kongming’s palm was also “fire.” Zhou Yu said, “Since we both see eye to eye on this, there is no doubt. I hope you will not reveal it.” Kongming said, “This is a joint public affair—how could there be any betrayal? I expect that although Cao Cao has encountered this plan twice before, he will certainly not be on guard. Now you, Commander-in-Chief, may proceed with it as you see fit.” They finished their wine and parted, and none of the other commanders knew of this matter.
Now, Cao Cao, having lost fifteen or sixteen thousand arrows for nothing, was feeling vexed. Xun You offered a plan: “Jiangdong has Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang using their schemes; it will be difficult to break them quickly. We can send someone to Eastern Wu to feign surrender, as a spy on the inside, to relay information, and then we can devise a strategy.” Cao Cao said, “Your words match my intent. Who in the army do you think can carry out this plan?” Xun You replied, “Cai Mao was executed, and his Cai clan members are all in the army. Cai Mao’s younger cousins, Cai Zhong and Cai He, are now deputy commanders. If you, Chancellor, win them over with favors and send them to feign surrender, Eastern Wu will certainly not be suspicious.” Cao Cao agreed. That night, he secretly summoned the two men into his tent and instructed them: “You two can take some soldiers and go to Eastern Wu to feign surrender. Whenever there is any movement, send a secret report. When the matter succeeds, you will be heavily rewarded. Do not harbor any second thoughts!” The two men said, “Our wives and children are all in Jingzhou—how dare we harbor any second thoughts? Do not be suspicious, Chancellor. We two will surely take the heads of Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang and present them beneath your banner.” Cao Cao rewarded them generously. The next day, the two men, with five hundred soldiers, sailed several boats downwind toward the southern shore.
Now, Zhou Yu was attending to matters of advancing the army when suddenly he received a report that boats from north of the river had arrived at the river mouth, claiming to be sent by Cai Mao’s younger brothers, Cai Zhong and Cai He, who had come specifically to surrender. Zhou Yu ordered them to be brought in. The two men entered weeping and prostrated themselves, saying, “Our elder brother was innocent, yet he was killed by that Cao traitor. We two wish to avenge our brother and have come especially to surrender. We hope you will accept us, and we are willing to serve in the vanguard.” Zhou Yu was greatly pleased, rewarded them generously, and ordered them to serve together with Gan Ning as the vanguard. The two men thanked him, believing their plan had succeeded. Zhou Yu secretly summoned Gan Ning and instructed him: “These two men did not bring their families—they are not genuine surrenders, but spies sent by Cao Cao. I now intend to turn their scheme against them and let them relay information. You must treat them cordially but be secretly on guard. On the day we march out, we will first kill these two as sacrifices to the banner. Be extremely careful and make no mistakes.”
Gan Ning acknowledged the order and left. Lu Su went in to see Zhou Yu and said, “Cai Zhong and Cai He’s surrender is most likely a deception. They should not be accepted.” Zhou Yu rebuked him, saying, “They are surrendering because Cao Cao killed their elder brother and they want revenge—how could it be a deception? If you are so suspicious, how can you accommodate the world’s talents?” Lu Su withdrew in silence and went to tell Kongming. Kongming smiled but said nothing. Lu Su said, “Why do you smile, Kongming?” Kongming replied, “I smile at Zijing’s failure to recognize Gongjin’s stratagem. The great river separates us far; spies are extremely difficult to send back and forth. Cao Cao sent Cai Zhong and Cai He to feign surrender and secretly probe our military affairs. Gongjin is turning their scheme against them, precisely wanting them to relay information. There is no deceit in war—Gongjin’s plan is correct.” Lu Su then understood.
Now, Zhou Yu was sitting in his tent at night when suddenly he saw Huang Gai quietly enter the camp to see him. Zhou Yu asked, “Gongfu, coming at night, you must have a good plan to teach me.” Huang Gai said, “The enemy is numerous, we are few—it is not suitable for a prolonged standoff. Why not use fire attack?” Zhou Yu said, “Who taught you to propose this plan?” Huang Gai replied, “It came from my own mind; no one else taught me.” Zhou Yu said, “I was just thinking of this myself, which is why I kept those two feigned surrenderers, Cai Zhong and Cai He, to relay information. My only regret is that I have no one to carry out a feigned surrender plan for me.” Huang Gai said, “I am willing to carry out this plan.” Zhou Yu said, “If you do not suffer some hardship, how will they believe it?” Huang Gai said, “I have received great kindness from the Sun family; even if I were to die a thousand deaths, I would have no regrets.” Zhou Yu bowed to him and said, “If you are willing to carry out this ‘suffering flesh’ plan, it will be the great fortune of Jiangdong.” Huang Gai said, “Even death would bring me no complaints.” So he took his leave and went out.
The next day, Zhou Yu sounded the drums and assembled all the generals in his tent, with Kongming also present. Zhou Yu said, “Cao Cao leads a million men, his forces stretching over three hundred li, and cannot be defeated in a single day. I now order each of you to take three months’ provisions and prepare to resist the enemy.” Before he finished speaking, Huang Gai stepped forward and said, “Don’t speak of three months; even if you issued thirty months’ provisions, it would be useless! If we can break them this month, then break them; if we cannot break them this month, we had best follow Zhang Zibu’s advice, discard our armor, turn our weapons, and surrender to the north!” Zhou Yu’s face changed color, and he flew into a great rage, saying, “I have received my lord’s command to lead the army and break Cao Cao. Whoever dares to speak of surrender again shall be beheaded. Now, when the two armies are locked in battle, you dare utter such words to demoralize our troops. If I do not cut off your head, I cannot win the obedience of all!” He ordered his attendants to take Huang Gai and behead him on the spot. Huang Gai also grew angry and said, “Since I followed the General Who Breaks the Rebels, I have roamed the southeast and served three generations. Where do you come from?”
Zhou Yu, enraged, ordered the execution to be carried out at once. Gan Ning stepped forward and pleaded, “Gongfu is an old minister of Eastern Wu. I beg you to show him mercy.” Zhou Yu shouted, “How dare you speak out and disrupt my discipline!” He first ordered his attendants to drive Gan Ning out with clubs. All the officers knelt and pleaded, “Huang Gai’s crime indeed deserves death, but it would be disadvantageous to the army’s affairs. We beg the commander to show leniency and record his offense for now. After we break Cao Cao, you may execute him then.” Zhou Yu’s anger had not yet subsided, but the officers pleaded earnestly. Zhou Yu said, “If not for the sake of you all, I would certainly have him beheaded! For now, I will spare his life!” He ordered his attendants to throw Huang Gai down and give him a hundred strokes on the back to punish his crime. The officers again begged for a reprieve, but Zhou Yu overturned his table, drove them away, and ordered the flogging to proceed. They stripped Huang Gai of his clothes, threw him to the ground, and gave him fifty strokes on the back. The officers once more begged earnestly for mercy. Zhou Yu leaped up and pointed at Huang Gai, saying, “Do you dare to look down on me! For now, I will record the remaining fifty strokes. If you are negligent again, I will punish you for both offenses!” He stormed into his tent, still raging.
The officers helped Huang Gai up. His back was torn open, and blood streamed down. They supported him back to his camp, where he fainted several times. Those who came to offer condolences all shed tears. Lu Su also visited and, after offering his sympathies, went to Kongming’s boat. He said to Kongming, “Today Gongjin angrily beat Gongfu. We are all his subordinates and dared not defy his authority to plead too strongly. But you, sir, are a guest. Why did you stand by with folded arms and not speak a word?” Kongming smiled and said, “Zijing, you are deceiving me.” Lu Su said, “Since I crossed the river with you, I have not deceived you in a single matter. Why do you say this today?” Kongming said, “Zijing, do you not know that Gongjin’s beating of Huang Gongfu today is his strategy? Why should I be the one to dissuade him?” Lu Su then understood. Kongming said, “Without using the ‘Bitter Flesh Strategy,’ how could we deceive Cao Cao? Now we must have Huang Gongfu feign surrender, and let Cai Zhong and Cai He report this matter. Zijing, when you see Gongjin, be sure not to say that I already know of this; just say that I, too, resent the commander’s cruelty.”
Lu Su took his leave and entered the tent to see Zhou Yu, who invited him to the rear of the tent. Lu Su said, “Why did you beat Huang Gongfu so severely today?” Zhou Yu said, “Do the generals resent it?” Lu Su said, “Many are uneasy in their hearts.” Zhou Yu said, “What is Kongming’s opinion?” Lu Su said, “He, too, resents the commander’s being too harsh.” Zhou Yu smiled and said, “This time, I must certainly deceive him.” Lu Su said, “What do you mean?” Zhou Yu said, “Today’s severe beating of Huang Gai is a strategy. I want him to feign surrender. To do so, I must first use the ‘Bitter Flesh Strategy’ to deceive Cao Cao, then use fire from within to achieve victory.” Lu Su then secretly marveled at Kongming’s insight but dared not speak of it openly.
Meanwhile, Huang Gai lay in his tent, and all the generals came to offer their sympathies. Huang Gai said nothing but only sighed deeply. Suddenly, it was reported that Advisor Kan Ze had come to visit. Huang Gai invited him into his bedchamber and dismissed his attendants. Kan Ze said, “General, do you have a grudge against the commander?” Huang Gai said, “No.” Kan Ze said, “Then this beating you received—could it be the ‘Bitter Flesh Strategy’?” Huang Gai said, “How do you know?” Kan Ze said, “From observing Gongjin’s actions, I have guessed eight or nine parts of it.” Huang Gai said, “I have received the deep kindness of the Marquis of Wu for three generations and can never repay it. Thus, I offered this plan to defeat Cao Cao. Though I suffer, I have no regrets. I have looked throughout the army and found no one I can trust as a confidant. Only you, sir, have always been loyal and righteous. I dare to tell you my innermost thoughts.” Kan Ze said, “You tell me this—it is nothing more than wanting me to deliver the letter of feigned surrender.” Huang Gai said, “Indeed, that is my intention. I do not know if you are willing.” Kan Ze gladly agreed. Truly:
A brave general risks his life to repay his lord; a resourceful minister serves his country with single-minded devotion.
A brave general risks his life to repay his lord; a resourceful minister serves his country with single-minded devotion.
To know what Kan Ze said, read the next chapter.