Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Here is the translation:

Now it must be told that Kan Ze, whose courtesy name was Derun, was a native of Shanyin in Kuaiji. Though his family was poor, he loved learning and worked as a hired laborer for others. Whenever he borrowed books from people, after reading them once he would forget nothing. He was eloquent and quick-witted, and had possessed boldness even from youth. Sun Quan summoned him to serve as a counselor, and he was on closest terms with Huang Gai. Huang Gai knew that he was both eloquent and courageous, and therefore wished him to present the letter of feigned surrender. Kan Ze gladly accepted, saying, "A true man who lives in this world, if he cannot establish merit and build a great enterprise, is he not nearly the same as grass and trees that rot together? Since you have already pledged your life to repay our lord, how should I value my humble life so highly!" Huang Gai rolled off the bed and bowed to thank him. Kan Ze said, "This matter broads no delay. We must go at once, this very night." Huang Gai said, "The letter has already been written."

Kan Ze took the letter, and that very night disguised himself as a fisherman, steering a small boat toward the northern shore. That night the sky was filled with cold stars. By the third watch, he had already reached the Cao camp's naval blockade. The patrolling soldiers on the river seized him and reported the matter to Cao Cao at once. Cao Cao said, "Could he be a spy?" The soldiers said, "Just one fisherman. He claims to be Kan Ze, a counselor from Eastern Wu, and says he has secret matters to discuss." Cao Cao then ordered them to bring him in. The soldiers led Kan Ze into the tent. Inside, the lamps and candles blazed brilliantly. Cao Cao sat upright upon his armrest and asked, "Since you are a counselor from Eastern Wu, what business brings you here?" Kan Ze said, "People say that the Chancellor Cao thirsts for worthy men as if parched. But judging from this question, that is far from the truth. As for Huang Gongfu, you have misjudged the matter as well!"

Cao Cao said, "My forces and Eastern Wu are engaged in daily warfare. You come here in private—how could I not question you?" Kan Ze said, "Huang Gongfu is a minister who has served three generations of the Sun clan. Now Zhou Yu, before all the generals, wantonly had him beaten most cruelly, without just cause, and he cannot bear the outrage. He therefore wishes to surrender to the Chancellor, as a means of taking revenge, and he discussed this matter with me. Huang Gongfu and I are as close as brothers. I came straightaway to deliver this secret letter in person. I do not know whether the Chancellor would be willing to accept us." Cao Cao said, "Where is the letter?" Kan Ze took out the letter and presented it. Cao Cao broke the seal and read it by lamplight. The letter read roughly as follows:

"I, Huang Gai, have received great favors from the Sun clan and should not have turned my heart against them. But considering the present situation: with the forces of the six commanderies of Jiangdong pitted against the vast armies of the Central Plains, the disparity in strength is plain for all under heaven to see. The officers and officials of Eastern Wu, whether wise or foolish, all know it cannot be done. That young fellow Zhou Yu, filled with shallow stubbornness and overconfident in his own abilities, rashly wishes to pit an egg against a stone. What is more, he has taken it upon himself to wield arbitrary power and punishment—the innocent are punished while the meritorious are not rewarded. I am a veteran minister, yet without cause I have been broken and humiliated by him, and my heart truly harbors deep hatred! I have humbly heard that the Chancellor treats all with sincerity and receives men of talent with an open mind. I therefore wish to lead my forces in surrender, in order to establish merit and wipe away this shame. Grain, fodder, cartloads of supplies—all shall be delivered along with the ships. I bow with blood in my eyes and implore you: do not suspect this offer."

Cao Cao turned the letter over and over on his desk, reading it more than ten times. Then suddenly he struck the table, glared wide-eyed, and shouted in rage, "Huang Gai employs the ruse of voluntary suffering, and has sent you with this letter of feigned surrender, planning to use this as a cover to strike at me—how dare you come and mock me!" He ordered his attendants to drag him out and behead him. The attendants seized Kan Ze and pulled him down. Kan Ze's expression did not change at all; he looked up to the heavens and laughed loudly. Cao Cao ordered him dragged back and rebuked him, "I have already seen through your treacherous scheme. Why do you smirk?" Kan Ze said, "I am not laughing at you. I am laughing at Huang Gongfu for misjudging a man." Cao Cao said, "How has he misjudged a man?" Kan Ze said, "Kill me if you will. Why ask so many questions!" Cao Cao said, "I have studied the military arts since childhood and am thoroughly acquainted with the ways of treachery and deception. Your little scheme might fool others—how could it ever fool me!" Kan Ze said, "Then tell me: which part of that letter is the treacherous scheme?" Cao Cao said, "I shall point out the flaw in your plan so that you may die without a single grievance! If you are truly sincere in offering this letter of surrender, why did you not specify a date? What excuse do you have now?"

When Kan Ze heard this, he laughed aloud, "It is precisely because you lack the capacity for fear that you dare boast of having thoroughly studied the military arts! You would do well to withdraw your troops before it is too late! If you join battle, you will certainly be captured by Zhou Yu! You ignorant fool! It is a pity that I must die by your hand!" Cao Cao said, "What do you mean, I am ignorant?" Kan Ze said, "You do not recognize stratagems and you do not understand reason—are you not ignorant?" Cao Cao said, "Then tell me, in what ways am I in the wrong?" Kan Ze said, "You lack the courtesy due to worthy men—why should I say anything? I have only death before me." Cao Cao said, "If you can speak with reason, I will naturally respect and submit to you." Kan Ze said, "Have you never heard that 'one who turns against his lord and steals away cannot fix a definite date'? If we were to set a date now, and the moment could not be seized in haste, while on this side someone comes to meet us, the matter would certainly be exposed. One must simply watch for the right opportunity and act—how can a date be fixed in advance? You fail to understand this principle, and you wish to wrongfully put a good man to death. Truly, you are an ignorant fool!"

When Cao Cao heard these words, he changed his expression, descended from his seat, and bowed in apology, "My judgment was clouded and I have rashly offended your dignity. I hope you will not hold it against me." Kan Ze said, "Huang Gongfu and I have given our hearts entirely to this surrender. We are like infants longing for their parents—how could there be any treachery?" Cao Cao was greatly pleased and said, "If you two can accomplish great merit, when the time comes to receive titles of nobility, you shall certainly rank above all others." Kan Ze said, "We do not come seeking titles and emolument. We are merely responding to Heaven and following the will of the people." Cao Cao poured wine and entertained him.

A short while later, someone entered the tent and whispered into Cao Cao's ear. Cao Cao said, "Show me the letter." The man presented a secret dispatch. Cao Cao read it, and his countenance showed considerable pleasure. Kan Ze thought to himself, "This must be Cai Zhong and Cai He coming to report the news of Huang Gai's punishment. That is why Cao Cao is pleased, believing my surrender to be genuine." Cao Cao said, "I must trouble you, sir, to return once more to Jiangdong and arrange with Huang Gai. First send word across the river, and I shall meet you with troops." Kan Ze said, "I have already left Jiangdong and cannot return. I hope the Chancellor will send another trusted person." Cao Cao said, "If someone else goes, I fear the matter may leak out." Kan Ze declined again and again, and only after a long while did he say, "If I go, I dare not linger long. I must set off at once."

Cao Cao offered him gold and silk, but Ze refused them. Taking his leave of the camp, he once again boarded his small boat and returned to Jiangdong to see Huang Gai, giving him a detailed account of everything that had happened. Gai said, "Without your eloquence, I would have suffered in vain." Ze said, "I will now go to Gan Ning's camp to gather intelligence on Cai Zhong and Cai He." Gai said, "Excellent." Ze arrived at Ning's camp, and Ning welcomed him in. Ze said, "General, yesterday you were humiliated by Zhou Yu in order to save Huang Gongfu. I find it deeply unjust." Ning smiled and made no reply.

As they were speaking, Cai He and Cai Zhong arrived. Ze caught Gan Ning's eye with a glance. Ning understood and said, "Zhou Yu relies solely on his own abilities and gives no consideration to the rest of us. Having been so disgraced, I am ashamed to face anyone in Jiangzuo!" He gnashed his teeth and shouted, striking the table. Ze then leaned close to Ning's ear and whispered softly. Ning lowered his head and said nothing, letting out several long sighs.

Cai He and Cai Zhong, observing that both Ze and Ning harbored rebellious intentions, probed them with words: "Why is the General so troubled? What grievance does the Scholar hold?" Ze said, "The bitterness in our hearts—how could you understand it!" Cai He said, "Could it be that you wish to turn your backs on Wu and join Cao Cao?" Kan Ze's face changed color. Gan Ning drew his sword and rose to his feet, saying, "Our plans have been discovered. We cannot let you live to spread the word!"

Cai He and Cai Zhong said in alarm, "Do not worry, sirs—we too have matters of the heart to confide." Ning said, "Speak quickly!" Cai He said, "We two were sent by the Prime Minister as false defectors. If you gentlemen have the heart to submit to Cao Cao, we can make the introduction." Ning said, "Are your words true?" The two spoke in unison: "How would we dare deceive you?" Ning pretended to be overjoyed and said, "If this is so, then Heaven has delivered us into each other's hands!" The two Cais said, "We have already reported to the Chancellor the matter of Huang Gongfu's and the General's humiliation." Ze said, "I have already delivered a letter from Huang Gongfu to the Chancellor. I have come specially to see Xingba to arrange that we surrender together." Ning said, "A great man who meets a worthy lord should give him his whole heart." Thereupon the four of them drank together and shared their innermost thoughts. The two Cais at once wrote a letter in secret to Cao Cao, reporting that Gan Ning and another would serve as inside agents. Kan Ze separately composed another letter and sent a man to secretly inform Cao Cao. The letter stated in full that Huang Gai wished to come over but had not yet found the opportunity; when he arrived, his ship would be identified by a blue-tooth banner planted at its bow.

Now, Cao Cao had received two letters in succession, and his mind was filled with doubt and uncertainty. He assembled his advisors and said, "Gan Ning of Jiangzuo, having been humiliated by Zhou Yu, wishes to serve as an inside agent. Huang Gai, having been punished, sent Kan Ze to offer his surrender. I cannot fully trust either of these. Who among you dares to go directly into Zhou Yu's camp and find out the truth?" Jiang Gan stepped forward and said, "When I went to Eastern Wu some time ago, I accomplished nothing and have been deeply ashamed of it ever since. I am willing to risk my life and go again. I will surely obtain reliable intelligence and report back to the Chancellor." Cao Cao was overjoyed and immediately ordered Jiang Gan to board a ship. Gan sailed his small boat straight to the edge of the Jiangnan water camp and sent a man to announce his arrival.

When Zhou Yu heard that Gan had come again, he was delighted. "My success depends entirely on this man!" he said. He then instructed Lu Su: "Bring Pang Shiyuan here and have him do thus and thus." Now, Pang Tong of Xiangyang, styled Shiyuan, had taken up residence in Jiangdong to escape the turmoil of the times. Lu Su had once recommended him to Zhou Yu, but Tong had not yet gone to see him. Yu first had Su consult Tong on strategy: "What plan should be used to defeat Cao Cao?" Tong said to Su in secret, "To defeat Cao Cao's forces, you must use fire attack. But on the broad surface of the great river, if one ship catches fire, the others will scatter in all directions. Unless you present the 'Linked Rings Plan,' having them fasten all the ships together, the plan cannot succeed." Su reported this to Zhou Yu, who deeply admired the argument and said to Su, "The only man who can carry out this plan for me is Pang Shiyuan." Su said, "I only fear Cao Cao is too cunning—how can we get to him?"

Zhou Yu sat in deep thought, unable to decide. Just as he was pondering and could find no opportunity, a report came that Jiang Gan had come again. Yu was overjoyed. On the one hand, he instructed Pang Tong to proceed with his plan; on the other, he seated himself in his tent and sent for Gan. Gan saw that no one came to meet him and was suspicious. He had his boat moored at a secluded stretch of shore and then entered the camp to see Zhou Yu. Yu put on a stern expression and said, "Zi Yi, why do you insult me so grievously?" Jiang Gan smiled and said, "I thought of you as a brother of old days. I came specially to share my innermost thoughts. How can you speak of insult?" Yu said: "If you want to persuade me to surrender, it will never happen until the seas run dry and the rocks crumble! On a previous occasion, out of regard for our old friendship, I invited you to drink your fill and let you share my bed. Yet you stole my private letter and left without a word, returning to report to Cao Cao, who then killed Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, causing my plans to come to nothing. Why have you come again today? You surely do not mean well! If I did not consider our old ties, I would cut you in two with a single stroke! I had intended to send you away, but within a day or two I will destroy the Cao bandits. If I keep you in my camp, you will certainly leak information." He then ordered his attendants: "Take Zi Yi to rest in the hermitage on Xishan. When I have defeated Cao Cao, that will be soon enough to ferry you across the river."

Jiang Gan tried to speak again, but Zhou Yu had already retired behind the tent curtain. The attendants brought a horse for Jiang Gan to ride and escorted him to a small hermitage behind Xishan to rest, assigning two soldiers to attend him. Gan sat in the hermitage, troubled and anxious, unable to sleep or eat. That night, the stars filled the sky. He walked alone behind the hermitage and heard the sound of someone reading. Following the sound, he came to a thatched cottage of several rooms beside a mountain rock, with lamplight shining from within. He peered inside and saw a man hanging a sword before the lamp, reciting the military treatises of Sun Wu. Gan thought, "This must be an extraordinary man," and knocked on the door, requesting an audience. The man opened the door to welcome him, his bearing uncommon. Gan asked his name. The reply was: "My surname is Pang, my given name is Tong, and my style is Shiyuan." Gan said: "Could you be Master Phoenix Fledgling?" Tong said: "I am he." Gan said with delight: "I have long heard your great name. Why do you live in such a remote place?" The reply was: "Zhou Yu relies on his own talents and cannot tolerate others. That is why I live in seclusion here. And who might you be?" Gan said: "I am Jiang Gan."

Pang Tong then invited the man into the thatched hut, where they sat together and spoke freely. Jiang Gan said, "With your talents, where could you not succeed? If you were willing to serve Cao Cao, I would be glad to recommend you." Pang Tong replied, "It is my wish to leave Jiangdong as well. Since you have the will to recommend me, we should set out this very day. If we delay, Zhou Yu will hear of it and surely have me killed."

That night, Pang Tong and Jiang Gan descended the mountain together, reached the riverbank, and found the boat they had come in. They rowed swiftly across to the north bank. Upon arriving at Cao Cao's camp, Jiang Gan went in first and recounted everything that had transpired. When Cao Cao learned that Master Feng Chu had come, he personally emerged from his tent to welcome him. After host and guest were seated, Cao Cao said, "Zhou Yu is young and arrogant, relying on his own talents while disregarding worthy counsel. I have long heard of your great name. Now that you have graciously come to see me, I implore you not to withhold your guidance."

Pang Tong said, "I have always heard that Your Excellency employs his forces with great skill. I wish now to see your army for myself."

Cao Cao ordered horses prepared and first invited Pang Tong to inspect the land encampment. They rode together to a high vantage point and looked out over the camp. Pang Tong said, "With mountains at your back and forests before you, the camp is arranged so that front and rear can watch over each other. There are proper gates for entry and exit, and the approaches wind and turn in careful order. Even if Sun Tzu and Wu Qi were to rise again, or Rangju return to the world, they could do no better than this." Cao Cao said, "You flatter me too generously. I still hope you will instruct me." Then they went together to inspect the water camp. Pang Tong saw twenty-four gates facing south, with battleships of the *mengchong* type arrayed like a city wall. Inside were smaller boats, moving along channels, rising and falling in orderly fashion. Pang Tong smiled and said, "Your Excellency commands his forces thus—truly, your reputation is well deserved!" Then, pointing toward the southern shore, he cried, "Zhou Lang! Zhou Lang! You shall perish at the appointed hour!"

Greatly pleased, Cao Cao returned to his camp with Pang Tong and invited him into his tent, where they drank wine together and discussed military strategy. Pang Tong spoke with eloquence and brilliance, answering every question with ease. Cao Cao deeply respected and admired him, treating him with the utmost courtesy. Then Pang Tong, pretending to be drunk, said, "May I ask whether your army has good physicians?" Cao Cao asked why. Pang Tong said, "The waterborne troops are suffering greatly from illness and need skilled doctors to treat them." At that very time, Cao Cao's soldiers, unaccustomed to the southern climate and water, were all afflicted with vomiting, and many had died. Cao Cao had been deeply troubled by this very problem. When he heard Pang Tong's words, how could he not press for more? Pang Tong said, "Your Excellency's method for training the water army is excellent, but it is unfortunately incomplete." Cao Cao asked again and again for his counsel. Pang Tong said, "I have a plan that will keep every soldier in the water army, great and small, free from disease and allow them to succeed without mishap."

Overjoyed, Cao Cao begged to hear the stratagem. Pang Tong said, "On the great river, the tide ebbs and flows, and the wind never ceases to raise waves. The northern soldiers are unaccustomed to riding boats. Tossed about like this, they fall ill. If the large and small boats are paired together—thirty in a row, or fifty in a row—with iron rings chained fore and aft and broad planks laid across the top, then not only could men cross, but horses could walk as well. Marching thus, what fear would you have of wind and wave, of the river surging up or down?"

Cao Cao rose from his seat and bowed in gratitude. "Without your wise counsel, how could I ever conquer Eastern Wu?" Pang Tong said, "These are merely the crude views of a humble man. Your Excellency must judge for yourself." Cao Cao immediately issued orders, summoning the army's blacksmiths to forge great linking chains through the night to lock the boats together. When the troops heard the news, they were all delighted. A later poet wrote:

At Red Cliffs they joined in fire and flame;

In counsel and in craft the schemes were the same.

But for Pang Tong's chain-linking device,

How could Zhou Yu have won such victory and price?

Pang Tong then said to Cao Cao, "I observe that among the heroes of the southeast, many bear a grudge against Zhou Yu. With my three-inch tongue, I could go and persuade them all to surrender to Your Excellency. Zhou Yu would stand alone, without aid or support, and would surely fall into your hands. Once Zhou Yu is defeated, Liu Bei would be of no consequence." Cao Cao said, "If you truly can accomplish this great deed, I will petition the Son of Heaven to raise you to the rank of the Three Dukes." Pang Tong said, "I do not seek riches or high station. I wish only to save the common people. When Your Excellency crosses the river, take care not to slaughter the innocent." Cao Cao said, "I act on Heaven's behalf—how could I bear to slaughter the people?" Pang Tong bowed and requested an official proclamation to protect his clan. Cao Cao asked, "Where does your family reside?" Pang Tong said, "Only by the riverbank. With such a proclamation, they would be preserved."

Cao Cao ordered the proclamation written, sealed, and given to Pang Tong. Pang Tong bowed in thanks and said, "After we part, advance your forces swiftly—do not wait for Zhou Lang to discover the truth." Cao Cao agreed.

Pang Tong took his leave and went to the riverbank. Just as he was about to board a boat, he saw a man on the shore, wearing a Daoist robe and a bamboo cap, who seized him by the arm. "You have some nerve!" the man cried. "Huang Gai used the ruse of self-inflicted wounds, Kan Ze brought a false surrender letter, and now you come with your chain-linking scheme—but I fear you will not burn us all to cinders! You may use such venomous tricks to deceive Cao Cao, but you cannot deceive me!" Pang Tong was so terrified that his very soul seemed to scatter from his body. Indeed:

Do not say that the southeast alone holds the power to prevail—

Who claims that the northwest lacks men of ability?

Who this man was will be revealed in the next chapter.