He ordered the guards to drag away the messenger and slay him. Kan Ze was at once hustled out but his face betrayed no sign of fear. On the contrary, he laughed aloud. At this Cao Cao told them to bring him back and asked harshly, “What do you find to laugh about now that I have foiled your tricks?”
“I was not laughing at you. I was laughing at Huang Gai’s simplicity.”
“What do you mean by his simplicity?”
“If you want to slay me, just go ahead. Why so many questions?”
“I have read all the books on the art of war and I can recognize a trick when I see one. This ruse of yours might have fooled others, but not me!”
“Tell me, then, what in the letter sounds like a trick?” asked Kan Ze.
“Let me point out the little slip in the letter so that you will go to your death without bearing a grudge. If he were sincere in his desire to submit, why doesn’t the letter name a time? What have you to say to that?”
Kan Ze waited until he had finished and then laughed louder than before. “I am surprised that you are not ashamed of your ignorance but can still boast of your knowledge of the books of war! You had better withdraw before it is too late. If you fight, Zhou Yu will certainly capture you. But how sad to think I should die at the hands of such an ignorant fellow!”
“What do you mean? I, ignorant?”
“You know nothing about strategies and you have no common sense—is that not sufficient?”
“Well, then, tell me where I am going wrong.”
“You do not know how to treat a scholar properly. Why should I tell you? I would rather die.”
“If you can convince me,” said Cao Cao. “I will certainly treat you with respect.”
“Don’t you know the simple truth that when a man is betraying his master he cannot name a time? Suppose the prearranged moment came but he was unable to carry out his plan while you, not knowing, sent your men out to meet him, then the secret would be discovered. He must watch for an opportunity and take it when it comes. How could he possibly know exactly when? But you have no common sense. You accuse me unjustly and want to put a good man like me to death. Indeed, you are an ignorant fellow.”
At this Cao Cao changed his manner, got up, and came over to the prisoner to thank him. “I did not see clearly. I have offended you and I hope you will forget it.”
“Huang Gai and I are both as eager to serve you as a child longs for its parents. Is it possible that we should be false?”
“If you two could render me so great a service, you will certainly be richly rewarded.”
“We do not desire rank or riches—we come because it is the will of Heaven and the plain way of duty.”
Then wine was set out and Kan Ze was treated as an honored guest. While they were drinking, someone came in and whispered something in Cao Cao’s ear. He said, “Let me see the letter.” Then the man gave him a letter, which evidently pleased him.
“That must be from the two spies,” thought Kan Ze, “reporting the punishment of Huang Gai. So Cao Cao is pleased, for he is convinced of the sincerity of our defection.”
Turning toward Kan Ze, Cao Cao said, “I must trouble you to return to fix a date with your friend. As soon as I hear from you I will have an escort waiting.”
“But I have already left. How can I return? Please send some other man you can trust.”
“If I send someone else the secret will be out.”
Kan Ze refused again and again. At last he gave way and said, “If I am to go back I must not stay any longer. I must be off at once.”
Cao Cao offered him gold and silk but he refused to accept. He took his leave, left the camp, and rowed back to the south bank, where he related all that had happened to Huang Gai.
“If it hadn’t been for your persuasive tongue I would have undergone this suffering in vain,” said Huang Gai.
“Let me now go to Gan Ning’s camp to get news of the two Cais,” said Kan Ze.
“Excellent,” said Huang Gai.
He was welcomed into the camp and then he said to his host, “You were treated most disgracefully by Zhou Yu when you tried to save Huang Gai yesterday. I was much distressed.”
Gan Ning smiled but remained silent. Just then, the two Cais came and Kan Ze looked at his host meaningfully. Taking the hint, Gan Ning shouted, “Zhou Yu is so conceited that it seems none of us matters. I will never be able to face my people after his insult!” Then he gritted his teeth and smacked the table in his wrath.
Kan Ze leaned over toward his host and pretended to be saying something in a very low voice, at which Gan Ning bent his head and sighed.
The two Cais, who were Cao Cao’s spies, gathered from this that both Gan Ning and Kan Ze were ripe for desertion and asked provokingly, “Why, sirs, what is troubling you? Why are you so angry?”
“What do you know of the bitterness in our hearts?” said Kan Ze.
“Aren’t you thinking of going over to Cao Cao?” they asked.
At this Kan Ze turned quite pale while Gan Ning started up and drew his sword, crying, “They have found us out. They must die to keep their mouths shut.”
“No, no, please don’t worry,” cried the two, flustered. “Let us tell you our secret.”
“Quick, then,” cried Gan Ning.
So Cai He said, “We have been sent here by the prime minister to pretend to surrender. If you two gentlemen are thinking of defecting we can manage things for you.”
“But are you speaking the truth?” questioned Gan Ning.
“Absolutely true!” cried both at the same moment.
Gan Ning put on a pleased look and said, “Then this is the very Heaven-sent chance.”
“We have already informed the prime minister of how you and General Huang were insulted.”
“I have presented him a letter on behalf of Huang Gai and have come back specially to persuade Gan Ning to join us in desertion,” said Kan Ze.
“When an honest man meets an enlightened master he should serve him with all his heart,” said Gan Ning.
The four then drank together and confided in each other. The two Cai brothers wrote a secret letter to Cao Cao, telling him that Gan Ning had agreed to join in their plot and act as his agent inside the southern army. Kan Ze also wrote secretly to Cao Cao, in which he said that Huang Gai had not found an opportunity so far to go over to his side. However, when he did come, his ship could be recognized by a green flag at the prow.
When Cao Cao got these two letters he was still doubtful and called together his advisors to discuss the matter. He said, “On the other side Gan Ning has been put to shame by Zhou Yu and wishes to come to me for the sake of revenge. Huang Gai has been punished and sent Kan Ze to propose submission. But I still distrust the whole thing. Who will go over to their camp to find out the real truth?”
Jiang Gan said, “I have been feeling greatly ashamed for my failure last time. I will risk my life again and, this time, I will surely bring good news.”
Delighted, Cao Cao told him to start at once. Jiang Gan set out in a small craft and rowed to the southern shore, where he told the guards to inform their commander of his arrival.
Hearing who it was that had come, Zhou Yu said, chuckling, “My success depends upon this man.”
Then he told Lu Su to call Pang Tong to come and do certain things for him.
This Pang Tong, also named Pang Shi-yuan, was from Xiangyang. He had come to Wu to get away from the strife there. Lu Su had recommended him to Zhou Yu, but he had not yet presented himself to the commander. However, before they met, Zhou Yu had sent Lu Su to ask him for the best scheme to defeat Cao Cao. Pang Tong had replied: “You must use fire against him. But the river is wide and if one ship is set on fire the others will scatter unless they are chained together, so that they must remain in one place. That is the only way to succeed.”
Lu Su took this message to Zhou Yu who, greatly impressed, said, “The only person who can make this scheme work is Pang Tong himself.”
&nb
sp; “But Cao Cao is very sly,” said Lu Su. “How can Pang Tong go?”
Zhou Yu pondered over this and could not make up his mind. He was just feeling vexed that there should be no means to work this out when suddenly the means presented itself with the arrival of Jiang Gan. He at once sent word to Pang Tong, telling him how to act, and then sat waiting in his tent for his visitor Jiang Gan.
But the visitor became ill at ease and suspicious when he saw that his old student friend Zhou Yu did not come to welcome him, so he took the precaution of sending his boat into a quiet spot to be made fast before he went to the commander’s tent.
When Zhou Yu saw him he put on an angry face and said, “My friend, why did you treat me so badly?”
Jiang Gan managed a laugh. “What do you mean?” he said. “I came expressly to pour out my heart to you for the sake of our old friendship.”
“You came to persuade me to betray my master, which I would never do unless all the seas dried up and the rocks perished. Last time, for old friendship’s sake, I treated you with wine and asked you to stay for the night. But what did you do to me? You stole my private letter and left without a word of farewell. Then you betrayed me to Cao Cao and caused the death of Cai Mao and Zhang Yun. As a result, my whole plan was upset. What game are you up to this time? Certainly it’s not out of kindness to me. If it were not for our old friendship I would never want to see you again. I would like to send you back, but within a day or two I will attack Cao Cao—if I let you stay in my camp, my plans will be leaked.”
He ordered his men to take Jiang Gan to the monastery in the Western Hills and let him stay there. Then he said to his visitor, “I’ll send you back after I’ve defeated Cao Cao.”
Jiang Gan tried to say something but Zhou Yu turned his back and went into the recesses of his tent. The attendants set the visitor on a horse and led him away to a small monastery at the back of the Western Hills, leaving two soldiers to look after him.
Finding himself in such a lonely place, Jiang Gan was very depressed and had no desire to eat or sleep. That night, the stars were brilliant so he went out of the monastery to take a stroll. Presently, he came to the back of his habitation and heard, nearby, someone crooning over a book. Following the sound with stealthy steps, he came to a tiny cabin by a cliff where a slender beam of light stole out between the rafters. He went nearer, and peeping in, saw a man reading by a lamp near which hung a sword. The book was Sun Tzu’s Art of War.
“This is no common person,” he thought and so he knocked at the door. It was opened by the reader, a man of uncommon appearance. Jiang Gan inquired his name and the man replied that he was Pang Tong, also known as Pang Shi-yuan.
“Then you must be Master Phoenix Fledgling,” exclaimed Jiang Gan.
“Yes, I am.”
“How often have I heard your name!” cried Jiang Gan. “But why are you hidden away in this spot?”
“That Zhou Yu is too conceited to allow anyone else with talent at his side, so I came to live here quietly. But who are you, sir?”
“I am Jiang Gan.”
Then Pang Tong invited him inside and the two sat down to talk.
“With your talents you will succeed anywhere,” said Jiang Gan. “If you would enter Cao Cao’s service I could recommend you to him.”
“I have long desired to leave here. If you, sir, will introduce me there is no time like the present. Otherwise, Zhou Yu might get wind of this and he would kill me, I am sure.”
So without more ado, they made their way down the hill to the water’s edge to seek the boat in which Jiang Gan had come. After they embarked they rowed swiftly to the northern shore. At Cao Cao’s camp Jiang Gan went in first to seek his master, to whom he related how he had discovered his new acquaintance.
When Cao Cao heard that the newcomer was Feng-chu, or Master Phoenix Fledgling, he went out to welcome him in.
After they had taken their seats, Cao Cao said to his guest, “That brat Zhou Yu is so conceited that he looks down on his officers and rejects their advice. Your fame has been long known to me and now that you have been gracious to turn my way, I hope you will not grudge giving us your instruction.”
“I, too, know well that you are a marvel of military strategy,” said Pang Tong. “I would like to have a look at your forces.”
So horses were brought forth and the guest was taken to see the land forces first. They ascended a hill where they could have a panoramic view. After looking all round Pang Tong remarked, “Even if Sun Wu came back to life again, he could not do better, nor could Rang Ju if he reappeared. Everything here accords with the precepts of war. The camp is beside a hill and flanked by a forest. The front and rear are linked to each other and openings are provided for the troops to move forward or backward, advance or retreat.”
“I entreat you, sir, not to overpraise me, but to advise me where I can make further improvements,” said Cao Cao.
Then they rode down to the naval camp, which comprised twenty-four openings, each drawn up with big battleships on the outside as a rampart, and the lighter craft within. There were also channels for the vessels to pass to and fro. All was in good order.
After surveying all this, Pang Tong said with a smile, “Your method of warfare clearly shows that you certainly live up to your reputation.” Then, pointing toward the southern shore he continued: “Zhou Yu, Zhou Yu, you are doomed to perish!”
Greatly flattered, Cao Cao led his guest back to the tent, where wine was served. While drinking together they discussed military matters and Pang Tong impressed his host with his eloquent remarks and comments, which flowed as freely as water. Cao Cao was full of admiration for his abilities and treated him with the greatest honor.
By and bye the guest seemed to have succumbed to the influence of many cups and said, “Have you any capable medical men in your army?”
“What for?” asked Cao Cao.
“Your marines are likely to contract illnesses and you ought to find some remedy.”
The fact was that at this time Cao Cao’s men had fallen victims of an unfamiliar climate. They were vomiting and a great many of them had even died. It was a source of great anxiety to him. So when Pang Tong suddenly mentioned this, he was eager to ask him for advice.
Pang Tong said, “Your method of training the marine force is excellent, but unfortunately it is not quite perfect.”
Cao Cao pressed him for an answer as to where the imperfection lay.
“I have a plan to overcome the ailment of the men so that no one will be sick and all fit for service.”
“What is it?” asked Cao Cao, delighted.
“The river is wide and the tides ebb and flow. The winds and waves are never at rest. Your men from the north are unused to ships and the motion makes them ill. If your ships, large and small, were grouped in rows of thirty or fifty and chained together, with big boards spread across them, then even horses could move about on them, to say nothing of men. If this were done, there would be no fear of the winds and the waves, nor even of the rising and falling tides.”
Cao Cao left his seat to thank his guest, saying, “I could never defeat the land of Wu without this excellent scheme of yours.”
“That is only my crude and immature idea,” said Pang Tong. “It is up to you to decide.”
All the blacksmiths in the army were summoned that very night to forge iron chains and great bolts to fasten the ships together. And the men rejoiced when they heard of the plan.
In the Battle of Red Cliff,
All agreed to use fire.
By Pang’s advice the ships were chained,
Else Zhou wouldn’t have that battle gained.
Pang Tong said to Cao Cao, “I know many bold men in the south who resent Zhou Yu. Let me use my power of speech to persuade them to come over to you. Then Zhou Yu will be isolated, with no help from his fellow officers, and you can certainly take him captive. Once he is overcome, Liu Bei will be of no account.”
“If you can render me so
great a service I will certainly present a memorial to the Emperor and obtain for you one of the highest offices,” said Cao Cao.
“I am not doing this for the sake of rank or riches, but from a desire to save the people. If you cross the river I entreat you to be merciful.”
“I am acting on Heaven’s behalf to do right. I will not slay the people.”
Pang Tong thanked him and then begged for a document that would protect his own family.
“Where do they live?” asked Cao Cao.
“Right by the riverbank. They will be safe if you can give me this document.”
Cao Cao ordered a decree to be prepared. Having signed it he gave it to Pang Tong, who bowed to him in gratitude.
“You should attack as soon as I am gone,” said Pang Tong. “Do not wait until Zhou Yu finds out.”
Cao Cao agreed and the strategist took his leave.
Soon, he came to the river. As he was about to embark he was seized from behind by a man in a Taoist robe and a bamboo hat, who said, “You do have guts, don’t you? Huang Gai plays the trick of having himself tortured and Kan Ze has presented the letter of false submission. Now you have come to offer the fatal scheme of chaining the ships together lest the flames may not completely destroy them. This sort of wicked scheme may have been enough to blind Cao Cao, but not me!”
Pang Tong was so frightened that his three souls seem to have flown away and his seven spirits scattered.
By clever strategies the south may succeed,
But who says there aren’t able men in the north?
Who the speaker was will be revealed in the next chapter.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Cao Cao Feasts on the Yangtze and Composes a Song
The Northern Men Attack the South Using Chained Ships
At the end of the last chapter Pang Tong was filled with fear when someone seized him and told him that he had seen through all the tricks of the south. Hastily turning around to find out who the speaker was, he saw, to his great relief, that it was his old friend Xu Shu. Looking around to make sure there was no one near, he said, “It would be a pity if you upset my plan. The fate of the people of all the eighty-one counties in the south is in your hands.”
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 2: The Sleeping Dragon: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 18
