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Chapter 46

Lu Su, having received Zhou Yu's instructions, went straight to the boat to visit Kongming. Kongming invited him aboard a small vessel and they sat opposite each other. Lu Su said, "These past days I have been occupied with military preparations and have failed to pay my respects."

Kongming said, "And I, Liang, have also failed to congratulate the Grand Commander on his good fortune."

Lu Su asked, "What good fortune?"

Kongming said, "Gongjin sent you to find out whether Liang knew of the affair or not. It is this very matter that is worthy of congratulation."

Lu Su turned pale with alarm and asked, "How did you come to know of it?"

Kongming said, "This scheme could only fool Jiang Gan. Although Cao Cao was deceived for a time, he will certainly come to realize the truth—he simply refuses to admit his mistake. Now that Cai Mao and Zhang Yun are both dead, the eastern lands have no more cause for worry. How could I not offer my congratulations? I have heard that Cao Cao has replaced them with Mao Jie and Yu Jin as commanders of the navy. Under these two men, the naval forces will likely be sent to their doom."

Lu Su was struck speechless. After stammering excuses for some time, he took leave of Kongming and returned. Kongming cautioned him, "I beg you, Zijing, not to mention to Gongjin that I knew of this beforehand. I fear that Gongjin, out of jealousy, will find some way to do me harm."

Lu Su promised and left. When he returned to Zhou Yu, he had no choice but to report everything truthfully. Zhou Yu was greatly alarmed and said, "This man must absolutely not be allowed to live! I am resolved to put him to death!"

Lu Su urged, "If you kill Kongming, you will only give Cao Cao cause for laughter."

Zhou Yu said, "I have a perfectly legitimate way of executing him so that he will die without cause for resentment."

Lu Su asked, "By what legitimate means?"

Zhou Yu said, "Zijing, do not ask. Tomorrow you will see."

The next day, Zhou Yu assembled his officers beneath the command tent and sent for Kongming to discuss military affairs. Kongming came cheerfully and took his seat. When all were settled, Zhou Yu asked Kongming, "We shall soon be engaging Cao Cao's forces. When fighting on water, what weapon should take priority?"

Kongming said, "On the great river, arrows take priority."

Zhou Yu said, "Your words accord perfectly with my own thinking. However, our army is at present short of arrows. May I trouble you to oversee the manufacture of one hundred thousand arrows, to serve as weapons against the enemy? This is official business—I hope you will not decline."

Kongming said, "Since the Grand Commander entrusts me with this task, I will naturally do my best. May I ask when the one hundred thousand arrows will be needed?"

Zhou Yu said, "Can they be ready within ten days?"

Kongming said, "Cao Cao's army will arrive any day. If we wait ten days, it will certainly bring disaster."

Zhou Yu said, "In your estimation, how many days will be needed?"

Kongming said, "Three days will suffice to present the one hundred thousand arrows."

Zhou Yu said, "There is no room for jesting in military affairs."

Kongming said, "How would I dare jest with the Grand Commander? I am willing to submit a written pledge: if I fail to deliver within three days, I gladly accept severe punishment."

Zhou Yu was greatly pleased. He summoned the military secretary and had the document drawn up on the spot. He then set out wine and said, "After military affairs are concluded, there will be a proper reward." Kongming said, "Today is too late to begin. I will start tomorrow. On the third day, you may send five hundred soldiers to the riverbank to collect the arrows."

After a few cups, Kongming took his leave. Lu Su said, "Could this man be bluffing?"

Zhou Yu said, "He is bringing death upon himself—I am not forcing him. He openly accepted the written pledge before everyone; even if he grew wings on both sides, he could not escape now. I will simply instruct the military artisans to deliberately delay him and ensure that all necessary materials are not provided. In this way, he will certainly miss the deadline. When the time comes to punish him, what argument could he possibly make? Now go and find out what he is actually doing, and come back to report."

Lu Su received his orders and went to see Kongming. Kongming said, "I once warned you, Zijing, not to speak of this to Gongjin—he is bound to do me harm. I did not expect that you would keep nothing from him, and now, as I feared, trouble has arisen. How can one hundred thousand arrows be made in three days? Zijing, you must save me!"

Lu Su said, "You brought this misfortune upon yourself. How can I save you?"

Kongming said, "I ask you to lend me twenty boats, each with thirty soldiers, covered with black cloth as canopies, and bundles of straw—several thousand on each side. I have my own ingenious use for them. On the third day, I guarantee there will be one hundred thousand arrows. Only, you must on no account let Gongjin learn of this. If he finds out, my plan will fail."

Lu Su agreed, though he did not understand the meaning of it. When he reported back to Zhou Yu, he made no mention of the boats, saying only that Kongming was not using arrow bamboo, feathers, glue, lacquer, or any such materials, and that he had his own reasons. Zhou Yu was deeply suspicious and said, "Let us see how he answers for himself after three days!"

Now Lu Su privately arranged twenty light, swift boats, each with over thirty men, along with the black cloth canopies and straw bundles—everything was prepared and placed at Kongming's disposal. The first day passed with no sign of Kongming's activity. The second day likewise passed in silence. Then, on the third day, in the fourth watch of the night, Kongming secretly invited Lu Su aboard a boat.

Lu Su asked, "Why have you summoned me?"

Kongming said, "I have asked you, Zijing, to come with me to collect the arrows."

Lu Su asked, "Where shall we collect them?"

Kongming said, "Zijing, do not ask—you will see when we get there."

He then ordered the twenty boats to be linked together with long ropes and set out directly toward the northern shore. That night a vast fog covered everything; on the Yangtze the mist was even thicker, so that one could not see the person opposite. Kongming urged the boats forward. Truly, it was an extraordinary fog! A poet of earlier times composed a "Rhapsody on the Great Fog Over the River," which reads:

Vast is the Long River!

To the west it joins the Min and the E,

To the south it commands the three Wu,

To the north it clasps the nine He.

It gathers a hundred streams and flows into the sea,

It has raised its waves through ten thousand ages.

The Dragon Earl, the Sea Spirit, the River Consort, the Water Mother,

Whales a thousand feet long, sea-centipedes with nine heads—

Strange beings and creatures of every kind assemble here.

For this is where spirits and ghosts take their stand,

And where heroes wage their wars.

At times yin and yang are thrown into chaos,

And dawn from dusk cannot be told.

One marvels at the single hue stretching across the vast sky,

And suddenly the fog masses on every side.

Though one might pile firewood before the eyes, it cannot be seen;

Only the clash of gongs and drums can be heard.

At first it is dim and hazy—barely hiding the leopard of South Mountain;

Gradually it swells and fills—threatening to blind the kun of the Northern Sea.

Then it rises to meet the high heavens above

And descends to touch the thick earth below.

Dim and boundless,

Measureless and without limit.

The whale rises from the water and churns the waves;

The dragon sinks into the depths and breathes its mist.

Then, as when the plum rains cease and the oppressive humidity clears, as spring's overcast sky brews a chill—

Dim and blurred, vast and boundless,

Eastward, the banks of Chaisang are lost; northward, the hills of Xiakou vanish.

A thousand war galleys would sink and vanish among the crags and ravines;

A single fishing skiff would startle amid the surging waves.

Indeed, even the vault of heaven loses its light, and the morning sun fades its brilliance,

Turning the bright day into murdy dusk, transforming crimson mountains into jade-green waters.

Though one possessed the wisdom of Great Yu, he could not fathom its depth;

With the keen eyes of Lou, how could one distinguish what lies an inch away?

Thereupon, the River Spirit stills his waves, and the Wind God withdraws his power;

Fish and turtles flee and hide their traces, birds and beasts conceal their tracks.

The island of Penglai is cut off, the Gate of Heaven is shrouded in gloom.

Tumultuous and surging, as when a sudden downpour is about to fall;

Confused and pressing together, like cold clouds seeking to merge.

Within lurk venomous serpents, giving rise to pestilential miasmas;

Hidden inside are demons and goblins, through whom calamities are wrought.

They send plagues upon the mortal world, and stir up dust beyond the frontier.

The common folk who encounter them suffer injury; the great men who witness them are filled with emotion.

It is as though the primal chaos is returning to its primal state, as heaven and earth merge into one vast unbroken mass.

That night, at the fifth watch, the boats had drawn near Cao Cao's water camp. Kongming ordered the vessels arranged with their prows to the west and their sterns to the east, spread out in a line, and had the men on board beat drums and shout. Lu Su said in alarm, "What if the soldiers of Cao all come out at once?" Kongming smiled and said, "I expect that in this heavy fog, Cao Cao will certainly not dare to come out. We need only drink our wine and enjoy ourselves, and when the lifts, we shall return."

Now, in Cao Cao's camp, when the drumming and shouting were heard, Mao Jie and Yu Jin hastily reported the matter to Cao Cao. Cao gave orders, saying, "This heavy fog blankets the river. Their forces have suddenly arrived—there must be an ambush. On no account are we to act rashly. We may deploy the marine archers and crossbowmen to shoot at random." He also sent word to the land camps, summoning Zhang Liao and Xu Dang, ordering each to lead three thousand archers and crossbowmen to hurry to the riverbank to assist in the shooting. By the time the orders arrived, Mao Jie and Yu Jin, fearing that the southern forces might rush into the water camp, had already dispatched archers and crossbowmen to shoot arrows in front of the camp.

Shortly after, the archers and crossbowmen from the land camps also arrived—altogether more than ten thousand men—all shooting arrows into the river, the arrows falling like rain. Kongming ordered the boats to be turned around, prows to the east and sterns to the west, so that they drew closer to the water camp to receive the arrows, while still beating drums and shouting. When the sun was high and the fog had dispersed, Kongming gave the order to gather the boats and return with all haste. On both sides of the twenty boats, the bundled straw was packed full of arrows. Kongming ordered the soldiers on each boat to shout in unison, "Thank you, Prime Minister, for the arrows!" By the time word was brought to Cao Cao in his camp, the boats, light on the water and with the current swift, had already been rowed back more than twenty li—too far to pursue. Cao Cao was filled with vexation and regret.

Kongming, returning in his boat, said to Lu Su, "Each boat has received perhaps five or six thousand arrows. Without expending half a measure of effort from Jiangdong, we have already obtained more than a hundred thousand arrows. We can use them tomorrow to shoot at Cao's forces—would that not be convenient?" Lu Su said, "You, sir, are truly a man of God! How did you know there would be such heavy fog today?" Kongming said, "A general who does not understand astronomy, who does not know the advantages of terrain, who is not versed in the arcane arts, who does not comprehend the principles of yin and yang, who does not study battle formations, and who does not grasp the dynamics of warfare—such a man is merely a mediocrity. I, Liang, had calculated three days ago that today there would be heavy fog, and therefore I dared to accept the three-day deadline. Gongjin ordered me to complete the task in ten days, but the workmen and materials were not cooperating—he used this as a pretext of guilt to have me put to death. My life rests with Heaven—how could Gongjin harm me!" Lu Su bowed in profound admiration.

When the boats reached the shore, Zhou Yu had already sent five hundred soldiers to the riverbank to wait and transport the arrows. Kongming had them taken from the boats—altogether more than a hundred thousand shafts. They were all carried to the central army tent and delivered. Lu Su entered to see Zhou Yu and gave a full account of how Kongming had obtained the arrows. Zhou Yu was greatly astonished and said with a sigh of admiration, "Kongming's divine stratagems and cunning calculations—I am not his equal!" A later poet praised the event:

A day of heavy fog blanketed the Long River,

Near and far, the waters blurred and merged beyond distinction.

Like a sudden rain of flying locusts they came upon the war galleys—

Today Kongming triumphed over Zhou Lang.

Shortly after, Kongming entered the camp to see Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu descended from his tent to meet him, expressing his admiration, saying, "Your divine calculations command the deepest respect." Kongming said, "A mere trick of no great account—what is remarkable about it?" Zhou Yu invited Kongming into his tent to drink together. Zhou Yu said, "Yesterday my lord sent an envoy to urge us to advance. I have yet been unable to devise a stratagem. I hope you will instruct me." Kongming said, "I, Liang, am but a mediocre man of no ability—how could I possess any brilliant scheme?" Zhou Yu said, "Yesterday I observed Cao Cao's water camp—it is exceedingly well ordered and disciplined, and no ordinary attack would suffice. I have thought of a plan, but I do not know whether it is feasible. I hope you will help me decide." Kongming said, "Let the Commander not speak yet. Let us each write it on the palm of our hand, and see whether they agree or not."

Zhou Yu was greatly pleased. He had ink and brush brought, wrote secretly on his own palm first, and then passed them to Kongming. Kongming also wrote secretly. The two drew close to the couch, and each revealed what was written on his palm. They looked at one another and both burst out laughing. As it turned out, 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 the same thing, there can be no doubt. I trust you will not leak it." Kongming said, "This is a matter for both our sides—how could there be any leaking? I expect that although Cao Cao has twice fallen for this stratagem of mine, he will certainly be unprepared for it. You, Commander, may carry it out to the full." They finished drinking and dispersed; none of the other officers knew what had transpired.

Now it must be told that Cao Cao had lost between one hundred fifty and sixty thousand arrows for no reason at all, and his heart was heavy with vexation. Xun You came forward with a plan, saying, "In Jiangdong, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang employ stratagems, and it will be difficult to break through quickly. You could send someone to Wu to feign surrender, to act as a spy and provide intelligence from within. Only then can you devise a plan to proceed." Cao Cao said, "This counsel accords perfectly with my own thinking. Who in the army do you judge fit to carry out this mission?" Xun You said, "Since Cai Mao was put to death, his clansmen are all in the army. Cai Mao's younger cousins, Cai Zhong and Cai He, currently serve as lieutenant generals. Your Excellency may bind them with favors and send them to feign surrender. Eastern Wu will certainly not suspect them." Cao Cao followed this advice. That very night he secretly summoned the two men into his tent and charged them, saying, "You may lead a small number of soldiers and go to Eastern Wu to feign surrender. Whenever there is any development, send someone to report it to me in secret. After the matter is accomplished, you will be richly rewarded. Do not harbor divided loyalties!" The two men said, "Our wives and children are all in Jingzhou. How could we possibly harbor divided loyalties? Let Your Excellency have no doubts. We two shall surely take the heads of Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang and present them beneath your banner." Cao Cao rewarded them handsomely. The next day, the two men led five hundred soldiers, set out in several boats, and sailed with the wind toward the southern shore.

Now it must be told that Zhou Yu was deliberating on plans to advance his forces when a report suddenly came: "Boats from the north of the river have arrived at the river mouth. They say they are Cai Mao's younger brothers, Cai He and Cai Zhong, and they have come specifically to surrender." Zhou Yu had them brought in. The two men wept and prostrated themselves, saying, "Our elder brother was guilty of no crime, yet he was slain by the Cao bandit. We two wish to avenge our brother and have come specially to surrender. We hope you will accept us and allow us to serve as the vanguard." Zhou Yu was greatly pleased. He richly rewarded the two men and immediately ordered them to lead troops alongside Gan Ning as the vanguard. The two men thanked him, believing their scheme had succeeded. Zhou Yu secretly summoned Gan Ning and instructed him, saying, "These two men have not brought their families; they are not truly surrendering. They are spies sent by Cao Cao. I intend now to turn their own scheme against them and use them to relay information. You must treat them with great warmth and courtesy, but be watchful within. On the day we send out our forces, you must first kill the two of them to sacrifice before the banner. You must be exceedingly careful and allow no mistakes."

Gan Ning received his orders and departed. Lu Su entered to see Zhou Yu and said, "The surrender of Cai Zhong and Cai He is most likely a ruse. They should not be accepted." Zhou Yu rebuked him, saying, "They wish to avenge their brother, whom Cao Cao killed, and have come to surrender. Where is the ruse in that? If you are so suspicious, how can you ever accommodate the talents of the world?" Lu Su withdrew in silence and went to tell Kongming of the matter. Kongming smiled but said nothing. Lu Su said, "Why does Kongming smile?" Kongming said, "I smile because Zijing does not recognize Gongjin's use of stratagem. The great river lies between us, and it is exceedingly difficult for spies to come and go. Cao Cao has sent Cai Zhong and Cai He to feign surrender, hoping to secretly spy on our military affairs. Gongjin is turning their own scheme against them and wishes to use them to relay information. In war, one never tires of deception. Gongjin's plan is exactly right." Only then did Lu Su understand.

Now it must be told that Zhou Yu was sitting in his tent one night when he saw Huang Gai secretly enter the army camp to see him. Zhou Yu asked, "Gongfu, you have come at night—you must have some excellent plan to teach me." Gai said, "The enemy has many troops and we have few; we cannot sustain a prolonged engagement. Why not use fire attack?" Zhou Yu said, "Who advised you to offer this plan?" Gai said, "It came from my own mind, not from anyone else's instruction." Zhou Yu said, "I have been thinking of precisely this. That is why I kept Cai Zhong and Cai He, the false surrenderers, to relay intelligence. But I regret that I have no one to carry out a plan of feigned surrender for me." Gai said, "I am willing to carry out this plan." Zhou Yu said, "Unless you suffer some hardship, how will they ever believe you?" Gai said, "I have received great kindness from the Sun clan. Even if my liver were to be splattered on the ground, I would have no regrets." Zhou Yu bowed and thanked him, saying, "If you are willing to carry out this 'flesh and blood' stratagem, then it is the greatest fortune for all Jiangdong." Gai said, "Even death would be without regret." He thanked Zhou Yu and withdrew.

The next day, Zhou Yu beat the drum and assembled all his generals in his tent. Kongming was also present. Zhou Yu said, "Cao Cao leads a million troops, stretching over three hundred li. They 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 had finished speaking, Huang Gai stepped forward and said, "Never mind three months—even if you were given thirty months' provisions, it would be of no use! If you can defeat them this month, then do so. If you cannot defeat them this month, you should follow Zhang Zibu's advice: throw away your armor, reverse your spears, and surrender by facing north!" Zhou Yu's countenance changed abruptly in great rage. He said, "I act upon the command of our lord to lead the troops against Cao Cao. Whoever speaks again of surrender shall be beheaded. Now, at the very moment the two armies stand opposed, you dare to utter such words and undermine the morale of our forces. If I do not take your head, I shall have no way to bring the multitude to submission!" He ordered his attendants to take Huang Gai out and behead him, and to report back when it was done. Huang Gai also grew angry and said, "I have followed the General Who Breaks the Marauders since he ranged across the southeast—for three generations! Who are you to presume?"

Zhou Yu, furious, ordered him beheaded at once. Gan Ning stepped forward and pleaded, saying, "Gongfu is an old officer of Eastern Wu. I hope you will spare him." Zhou Yu roared, "How dare you speak so much and disrupt my discipline!" He first ordered his attendants to drive Gan Ning out with blows of the rod. All the officials knelt and pleaded, saying, "Huang Gai's crime certainly merits death, but it would not be good for the army. I hope the Commander will spare him and let his offense be recorded for now. After Cao Cao is defeated, he can still be executed." Zhou Yu's anger had not yet subsided. The officials pleaded earnestly. Zhou Yu said, "Were it not for the sake of all you officials, I would certainly have his head taken! For now, I shall spare his life!" He ordered his attendants to strip off Huang Gai's clothes, throw him to the ground, and give him one hundred blows of the rod on his back as punishment. The officials again pleaded for mercy. Zhou Yu overturned his desk, drove the officials out with a shout, and ordered the punishment to be administered. Huang Gai was stripped of his clothes, thrown to the ground, and given fifty blows of the rod on his back. The officials once more earnestly pleaded for mercy. Zhou Yu leaped to his feet, pointed at Huang Gai, and said, "How dare you look down upon me! I shall record the remaining fifty blows. If you are ever negligent again, both offenses will be punished together!" He went back into his tent, his angry voice still audible.

The officials helped Huang Gai to his feet. His skin was split open to the bone, blood flowing freely. They carried him back to his own camp, where he lost consciousness several times. Those who came to inquire about his condition could not help but weep. Lu Su also came to visit and inquire, then went to Kongming's boat and said to him, "Today Zhou Yu angrily punished Huang Gongfu. We are all his subordinates and did not dare to remonstrate against him face to face. You, sir, are a guest. Why did you stand by with folded arms and say not a single word?"

Kongming smiled and said, "You are deceiving me, Zijing."

Lu Su replied, "Since we crossed the river together, I have never deceived you in a single matter. Why do you say this now?"

Kongming said, "Do you not know that Zhou Yu's vicious beating of Huang Gongfu today was part of a scheme? Why would he want me to dissuade him?"

Lu Su then understood. Kongming said, "Without the ruse of self-injury, how could they deceive Cao Cao? They will surely send Huang Gongfu to feign surrender, and have Cai Zhong and Cai He report the matter to him. When you see Zhou Yu, Zijing, do not mention that I knew of this beforehand. Just say that I also resent the Commander for his harshness."

Lu Su took his leave and entered Zhou Yu's tent. Zhou Yu invited him into the inner chamber. Lu Su asked, "Why did you punish Huang Gongfu so severely today?"

Zhou Yu asked, "Do the generals resent it?"

Lu Su said, "Many are uneasy in their hearts."

Zhou Yu asked, "What did Kongming think of it?"

Lu Su said, "He also resented the Commander for being too unfeeling."

Zhou Yu smiled and said, "This time I must deceive him as well."

Lu Su asked, "What do you mean?"

Zhou Yu said, "Today's severe beating of Huang Gai was part of a plan. I intend to have him feign surrender. First I had to use the ruse of self-injury to deceive Cao Cao, and then use fire attack within their midst, so that we can achieve victory."

Lu Su then silently reflected on Kongming's superior insight, but did not dare to speak it openly.

Now, Huang Gai lay in his tent, and the generals all came to inquire about him. He did not speak, but only sighed deeply. Suddenly it was reported that the advisor Kan Ze had come to inquire. Huang Gai had him invited into his bedchamber and ordered his attendants to withdraw.

Kan Ze said, "General, do you perhaps have a grudge against the Commander?"

Huang Gai said, "No."

Kan Ze said, "Then your punishment—could it be the ruse of self-injury?"

Huang Gai asked, "How did you know?"

Kan Ze said, "I observed Zhou Yu's actions and had already guessed eight or nine parts of it."

Huang Gai said, "I have received the deep favor of the Marquis of Wu for three generations and have no way to repay it. Therefore I offered this scheme to defeat Cao Cao. Though I suffer, I have no regrets. I have observed the entire army and found no one who could be trusted as a confidant. Only you, sir, have always had a loyal and righteous heart, and so I dare to entrust you with my confidence."

Kan Ze said, "You told me all this because you want me to deliver a letter of feigned surrender, do you not?"

Huang Gai said, "That is indeed my intention. I do not know if you will agree."

Kan Ze gladly accepted the charge. Indeed:

*The brave general thought nothing of his own body, longing to repay his lord;

The strategist, for the sake of his country, shared a common heart.*

What Kan Ze proposed, we shall leave to the next chapter.