# San Kuo/Volume 1/Chapter 46

CHAPTER XLVI.
K‘ung-ming “borrows” Some Arrows: Huang Kai Accepts a Punishment.
The gossip Lu Su departed on his mission and found K‘ung-ming seated in his little craft.
“There has been so much to do that I have not been able to come to listen to your instruction,” said Lu Su.
“That is truly so,” said K‘ung-ming, “and I have not yet congratulated the Commander-in-Chief.”
“What have you wished to congratulate him upon?”
“Why Sir, the matter upon which he sent you to find out whether I knew about it or not. Indeed I can congratulate him on that.”
Lu Su turned pale and gasped. “But how did you know, Master?”
“The ruse succeeded well thus played off on Chiang Kan. Ts‘ao has been taken in this once, but he will soon rise to it. Only he will not confess his mistake. However, the two men are gone and your country is freed from a grave anxiety. Do you not think that a matter for congratulation? hear Mao Chieh and Yü Chin are the new admirals, and in their hands lie both good and evil for the fate of the fleet.”
Lu Su was quite dumbfounded; he stayed a little time longer passing the time in making empty remarks, and then took his leave. As he was going away K‘ung-ming cautioned him against letting Chou Yü know that his new rival had guessed his ruse. “I know he is jealous and he only seeks some chance to do me harm.”
Lu Su promised; nevertheless he went straight to his chief ard related the whole thing just as it happened.
“Really he must be got rid of,” said Chou Yü, “I have quite decided to put the man out of the way.”
“If you slay him, will not Ts‘ao Ts‘ao laugh at you?”
“Oh, no; I will find a legitimate way of getting rid of him so that he shall go to his death without resentment.”
“But how can you find a legitimate way of assassinating him?”
“Do not ask too much; you will see presently.”
Soon after all the officers were summoned to the main tent and K‘ung-ming’s presence was desired. He went contentedly enough. When all were seated Chou Yü suddenly addressed ​Kʻung-ming, saying, “I am going to fight a battle with the enemy soon on the water: what weapons are the best?”
“On the great river arrows are the best,” said K‘ung-ming.
“Your opinion and mine agree. But at the moment we are short of them. I wish you would undertake to supply about a hundred thousand for the naval fight. As it is for the public service you will not decline, I hope!”
“Whatever task the Commander-in-Chief lays upon me I must certainly try to perform,” replied K‘ung-ming. “May I enquire by what date you require the hundred thousand arrows?”
“Could you have them ready in ten days?”
“The enemy will be here very soon; ten days will be too late,” said K‘ung-ming.
“In how many days do you estimate the arrows can be ready?”
“Let me have three days; then you may send for your hundred thousand.”
“No joking, remember,” said the General. “There is no joking in war time.”
“Dare I joke with the Commander-in-Chief? Give me a formal military order and if I have not completed the task in three days I will take my punishment.”
Chou Yü, secretly delighted, sent for the secretaries and prepared the commission then and there. Then he drank to the success of the undertaking and said, “I shall have to congratulate you most heartily when this is accomplished.”
“This day is not to count,” said K‘ung-ming. “On the third from to-morrow morning send five hundred small boats to the river side to convey the arrows.”
They drank a few more cups together and then K‘ung-ming took his leave. After he had gone, Lu Su said, “Do you not think there is some deceit about this?”
“I think he has signed his own death warrant,” said Chou. “Without being pressed in the least he asked for a formal order in the face of the whole assembly. If he grew a pair of wings he could not escape. Only I will just order the workmen to delay him as much as they can, and not supply him with materials, so that he is sure to fail. And then, when the certain penalty is incurred, who can criticise? You can go and enquire about it all and keep me informed.”
So off went Lu Su to seek K‘ung-ming, who at once reproached him with having blabbed about the former business, “He wants to hurt me, as you know, and I did not think you could not keep my secret. And now there is what you saw to-day and how do you think I can get a hundred thousand arrows made in three days? You will simply have to rescue me.”
​“You brought the misfortune on yourself and how can I rescue you?” said Lu.
“I look to you for the loan of a score of vessels, manned each by thirty men. I want blue cotton screens and bundles of straw lashed to the sides of the boats. I have good use for them. On the third day I have undertaken to deliver the fixed number of arrows. But on no account must you let Chou Yü know, or my scheme will be wrecked.”
Lu Su consented and this time he kept his word. He went to report to his chief as usual, but he said nothing about the boats. He only said K‘ung-ming was not using bamboo or feathers or glue or varnish, but had some other way of getting arrows.
“Let us await the three days' limit,” said Chou Yü, puzzled though confident.
On his side Lu Su quietly prepared a score of light swift boats, each with its crew and the blue screens and bundles of grass complete and, when these were ready, he placed them at K‘ung-ming’s disposal. His friend did nothing on the first day, nor on the second. On the third day at the middle of the fourth watch, K‘ung-ming sent a private message asking Lu Su to come to his boat.
“Why have you sent for me, Sir?” asked Lu Su.
“I want you to go with me to get those arrows.
“Whither are you going?”
“Do not ask: you will see.”
Then the twenty boats were fastened together by long ropes and moved over to the north bank. The night proved very foggy and the mist was very dense along the river, so that one man could scarcely see another. In spite of the fog K‘ungming urged the boats forward.
There is a poem on these river fogs:—
Mighty indeed is the Yangtse River! Rising far in the west, in the mountains of Omei and Min, Ploughing its way through Wu, east flowing, resistless, Swelled by its nine tributary streams, rolling down from the far north, Aided and helped by a hundred rivulets swirling and foaming, Ocean receives it at last welcoming, joyful, its waters. Therein abide sea-nymphs and water gods, Enormous whales a thousand fathoms long, Nine-headed monstrous beasts yclept t‘ien-wu, Demons and uncouth creatures wondrous strange. In faith it is the home and safe retreat Of devils black, and sprites, and wondrous growths, And eke the battle ground of valiant men. At times occur strange strife of elements, When darkness strives on light’s domain't‘encroach, Whereat arises in the vaulted dome of blue White wreaths of fog that toward the centre roll. Then darkness falls, too dense for any torch T‘illumine; only clanging sounds can pass. The fog at first appears, a vaprous wreath
Scarce visible. But thickening fast, it veils The southern hills, the painted leopard’s home. And spreads afar, until the northern sea Leviathans are mazed and lose their course. And denser yet it touches on the sky, And spreads a heavy mantle o‘er the earth. Then, wide as is the high pitched arch of heaven, Therein appears no single rift of blue. Now mighty whales lead up their wives to sport Upon the waves, the sinuous dragons dive Deep down and, breathing, swell the heaving sea, The earth is moist as with the early rains, And spring’s creative energy is chilled. Both far and wide and high the damp fog spreads, Great cities on the eastern bank are hid, Wide ports and mountains in the south are lost, Whole fleets of battle ships, a thousand keels, Hide in the misty depths; frail fishing boats High riding on a wave are seen—and lost. The gloom increases and the domed sky Grows dark and darker as the sun’s light fails. The daylight dies, dim twilight’s reign begins, The ruddy hills dissolve and lose their hue. The skill of matchless Yü would fail to sound The depth and height; and Li Lou’s eye, though keen, Could never pierce this gloom. Now is the time, O sea and river gods, to use your powers. The gliding fish and creeping water folk Are lost; there is no track for bird or beast. Fair P'ênglai Isles are hidden from our sight, The lofty gates of heaven have disappeared. Nature is blurred and indistinct, as when A driving rain storm hurries o‘er the earth. And then, perhaps, within the heavy haze A noisome serpent vents his venom foul And plagues descend, or impish demons work Their wicked wills. Ills fall on men but do not stay, Heaven’s cleansing breath sweeps them away, But while they last the mean ones cry, The nobler suffer silently. The greatest turmoil is a sign Of quick return to state benign.
The little fleet reached Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s naval camp about the fifth watch and orders were given to form line lying prows west, and then to beat the drums and shout.
“But what shall we do if they attack us?” exclaimed Lu Su.
K‘ung-ming replied with a smile, “I think the fleet will not venture out in this fog; go on with your wine and let us be happy. We will go back when the fog lifts.”
As soon as the shouting from the river was heard by those in the camp the two commanders ran off to report to their chief, who said, “Coming up in a fog like this means that they have prepared an ambush for us. Do not go out, but get all the force together and shoot at them.”
He also sent orders to the soldier camps to despatch six companies of archers and crossbowmen to aid the marines.
​The naval forces were then lined up on the bank to prevent a landing. Presently the soldiers arrived and a legion and more men were shooting down into the river, where the arrows fell like rain. By and bye K‘ung-ming ordered the boats to turn round so that their prows pointed east and to go closer in so that many arrows might hit them.
The drums were kept beating till the sun was high and the fog began to disperse, when the boats got under way and sailed down stream. The whole twenty boats were bristling with arrows on both sides. As they left, all the crews derisively shouted, “We thank you, Sir Minister, for the arrows.”
They told Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, but by the time he came the light boats helped by the swift current were a long way down river and pursuit was impossible. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao saw that he had been duped and was very sorry, but there was no help for it.
On the way down K‘ung-ming said to his companion, “Every boat must have five or six thousand arrows and so, without the expenditure of an ounce of energy, we must have more than ten myriad arrows, which to-morrow can be shot back again at Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s army to his great inconvenience.”
“You are really superhuman,” said Lu Su. “But how did you know there would be a thick fog to-day?”
“One cannot be a leader without knowing the workings of heaven and the ways of earth. One must understand the secret gates and the inter-dependence of the elements, the mysteries of tactics and the value of forces. It is but an ordinary talent. I calculated three days ago that there would be a fog to-day and so I set the limit at three days. Chou Yü would give me ten days, but neither artificers nor material, so that he might find occasion to put me to death as I knew, but my fate lies with the Supreme and how could Chou Yü harm me?”
Lu Su could not but agree. When the boats arrived half a company were in readiness on the bank to carry away the arrows. K‘ung-ming bade them go on board the boats, collect them and bear them to the tent of the Commander-in-Chief. Lu Su went to report that the arrows had been obtained and told Chou Yü by what means.
Chou Yü was amazed and sighed sadly, saying, “He is better than I; his methods are more than human.”
Thick lies the fog on the river, Nature is shrouded in white, Distant and near are confounded, Banks are no longer in sight. Fast fly the pattering arrows, Stick in the boats of the fleet. Now can full tale be delivered, K‘ung-ming is victor complete.
When, shortly after his return, K‘ung-ming went to the tent of the Commander-in-Chief he was welcomed by Chou Yü, who ​came forward to greet him, saying, “Your superhuman predictions compel one’s esteem.”
“There is nothing remarkable in that trifling trick,” replied he.
Chou Yü led him within and wine was brought.
Chou Yü said, “My lord sent yesterday to urge me to advance, but I have no master plan ready; I wish you would assist me, Master.”
“But where should I, a man of poor, everyday ability, find such a plan as you desire?”
“I saw the enemy’s naval camp just lately and it looked very complete and well organised. It is not an ordinary place to attack. I have thought of a plan, but I am not sure it will answer. I should be happy if you would decide for me.”
“General,” replied K‘ung-ming, “do not say what your plan is but each of us will write in the palm of his hand and see whether our opinions agree.”
So pen and ink were sent for and Chou Yü first wrote on his own palm, and then passed the pen to K‘ung-ming who also wrote. Then getting close together on the same bench each showed his hand to the other, and both burst out laughing, for both had written the same word, “Fire.”
“Since we are of the same opinion,” said Chou Yü, “there is no longer any doubt. But our intentions must be kept secret.”
“Both of us are public servants and what would be the sense of telling our plans? I do not think Ts‘ao Ts‘ao will be on his guard against this although he has had two experiences. You may put your scheme into force.”
They finished their wine and separated. Not an officer knew a word of the general’s plans.
Now Ts‘ao Ts‘ao had expended a myriad arrows in vain and was much irritated in consequence. He deeply desired revenge. Then Hsün Yu proposed a ruse, saying, “The two strategists on the side of the enemy are Chou Yü and Chuko Liang, two men most difficult to get the better of. Let us send some one who shall pretend to surrender to them but really be a spy on our behalf and a helper in our schemes. When we know what is doing we can plan to meet it.”
“I had thought of that myself,” replied Ts‘ao. “Whom do you think the best man to send?”
“Ts‘ai Mao has been put to death, but all the clan and family are in the army and the two younger brothers are junior generals. You have them most securely in your power and may send them to surrender. The ruler of Wu will never suspect deceit there.”
Ts‘ao Ts‘ao decided to act on this plan and in the evening summoned the two men to his tent, where he told them what ​he wished them to do. And he promised them rich rewards if they succeeded. “But do not betray me,” added he.
“Our families are in Chingchou and that place is yours,” replied they. “Should we dare betray? You need have no doubts, Sir. You will soon see the heads of both Chou Yü and Chuko Liang at your feet.”
Ts‘ao Ts‘ao gave them generous gifts and soon after the two men, each with his half company, set sail with a fair wind for the opposite bank. Now as Chou Yü was preparing for the attack the arrival of some ships was announced. They bore the two younger brothers of Ts‘ai Mao, who had come as deserters. They were led in and, bowing before the general, said, weeping, “Our innocent brother has been put to death and we desire vengeance. So we have come to offer allegiance to you. We pray you to appoint us to the vanguard.”
Chou Yü appeared very pleased and made them presents. Then he ordered them to join Kan Ning in leading the van. They thanked him and regarded their scheme as already a success.
But he gave Kan Ning secret orders, saying, “They have come without their families and so I know their desertion is only pretence. They have been sent as spies and I am going to meet their ruse with one of my own. They shall have some information to send. You will treat them well, but keep a careful guard over them. On the day our soldiers start they shall be sacrificed to the flag. But be very careful that nothing goes wrong.”
Kan Ning went away, and Lu Su came in to tell Chou Yü that every one agreed in thinking the surrender of the two feigned and said they should be rejected.
“But they wish to revenge the death of their brother,” said the General. “Where is the pretence? If you are so suspicious you will receive nobody at all.”
Lu Su left much piqued and went to see K‘ung-ming to whom he told the story. K‘ung-ming only smiled.
“Why do you smile?” said Lu Su.
“I smile at your simplicity. The General is playing a game. Spies cannot easily come and go so these two have been sent to feign desertion that they may act as spies. The General is meeting one ruse with another. He wants them to give information. Deceit is not to be despised in war and his scheme is the correct one to employ.”
Then Lu Su understood. That night as Chou Yü was sitting in his tent, Huang Kai came to see him privately. “You have surely some wise plan to propose that you come at night like this.”
Huang Kai replied, “The enemy are more numerous than we and it is wrong to delay. Why not burn them out?”
​“Who suggested that to you?”
“I thought of it myself, nobody suggested it,” replied Huang.
“I just wanted something like this and that is why I kept those two pretended deserters. I want them to give some news. The pity is that I have no one to feign desertion to the other side and work my plan.”
“But I will carry out your plan,” said Huang Kai.
“But if you cannot show some injury you will not be believed,” said Chou.
“The Sun family have been very generous to me and I would not resent being crushed to death to repay them,” said Huang.
The General thanked him saying, “If you would not object to some bodily suffering then our country would indeed be happy.”
“Kill me; I do not mind,” repeated Huang Kai as he took his leave.
Next day the drums called all the officers together to the General’s tent and K‘ung-ming came with the others. Chou Yü said, “The enemy’s camps extend about three hundred li so that the campaign will be a long one. Each leader is to prepare supplies for three months.”
Scarcely had he spoken when Huang Kai started up, crying, “Say not three months; be ready for thirty months, and even then it will not be ended. If you can destroy them this month then all is well. If you cannot, then it were better to take Chang Chao’s advice, throw down your weapons, turn to the north and surrender.”
Chou Yü's anger flared up and he flushed, crying, “Our lord’s orders were to destroy Ts‘ao Ts‘ao and whoever mentioned the word surrender should be put to death. Now, the very moment when the two armies are to engage, you dare talk of surrender and damp the ardour of my men! If I do not slay you, how can I support the others?”
He ordered the lictors to remove Huang Kai and execute him without delay.
Kai then flamed up in turn, saying, “This is the third generation since I went with General P‘o-lo (Sun Chien) and we overran the south-east; whence have you sprung up?”
This made Chou Yü perfectly furious and Huang Kai was ordered to intant death. But Kan Ning interfered. Said he, “He is a veteran officer of Wu; pray pardon him.”
“What are you prating about?” cried Chou Yü. “Dare you come between me and my duty?” Turning to the lictors he ordered them to drive him forth with blows.
The other officials fell on their knees entreating pity for Huang Kai. “He is indeed most worthy of death, but it would be a loss to the army; we pray you forgive him. Record his fault for the moment and after the enemy shall have been defeated then put him to death.”
​But Chou Yü was implacable. The officers pleaded with tears. At length he seemed moved, saying, “Had you not interceded he should certainly have suffered death. But now I will mitigate the punishment to a beating. He shall not die.”
He turned to the lictors and bade them deal the culprit one hundred blows. Again his colleagues prayed for remission but Chou Yü angrily pushed over the table in front of him and roared to the officers to get out of the way and let the sentence be executed.
So Huang Kai was stripped, thrown to the ground and fifty blows were given. At this point the officers again prayed that he be let off. Chou Yü sprang from his chair and pointing his finger at Huang Kai said, “If you dare flout me again you shall have the other fifty. If you are guilty of any disrespect, you shall be punished for both faults!”
With this he turned into the inner part of the tent, growling as he went, while the officers helped their beaten colleague to his feet. He was in a pitiable state. His back was cut in many places and the blood was flowing in streams. They led him to his own quarters and on the way he swooned several times. His case seemed most pitiable.
Lu Su went to see the suffering officer and then called on K‘ung-ming in his boat. He related the story of the beating and said that though the other officers had been cowed into silence he thought K‘ung-ming might have interceded. “You are a guest and not under his orders. Why did you stand by with your hands up your sleeves and say never a word?”
“You insult me,” said K‘ung-ming smiling.
“Why do you say that? I have never insulted you; never since the day we came here together.”
“Do you not know that that terrible beating was but a ruse? How could I try to dissuade him?”
Then Lu Su began to perceive and K‘ung-ming continued, “Ts‘ao Ts‘ao would not be taken in unless there was some real bodily suffering. Now he is going to send Huang Kai over as a deserter and he will see to it that the two Ts‘ao spies duly tell the tale. But when you see the General you must not tell him that I saw through the ruse. You say that I am very angry like the others.”
Lu Su went to see Chou Yü and asked him why he had so cruelly beaten a proved and trusty officer.
“Do the officers resent it?” asked Chou.
“They are all upset about it.”
“And what does your friend think?”
“He also resents it in his heart, and thinks you have made a mistake.”
“Then I have deceived him for once,” said Chou gleefully.
“What mean you?” cried Lu.
​“That beating that Huang Kai got is part of my ruse. I am sending him to Ts‘ao Ts‘ao as a deserter and so I have supplied a reason for desertion. Then I am going to use fire against the enemy.”
Lu Su kept silence but he recognised that K‘ung-ming was again right.
Meanwhile Huang Kai lay in his tent, whither all his brother officers went to condole with him and enquire after his health. But Kai would say never a word; he only lay sighing deeply from time to time.
But when the strategist K‘an Tsê came, Kai told them to bring him to the room where he lay. Then he bade the servants go away and Tsê said, “Surely you must have some serious quarrel with the General.”
“I have none,” said Kai.
“Then this beating is just part of a ruse?”
“How did you guess?” said Kai.
“Because I watched the General and I guessed about nine tenths of the truth.”
Huang said, “You see I have been very generously treated by the Sun family, all three of them, and have no means of showing my gratitude except by offering to help in this ruse. True I suffer, but I do not regret that. Among all those I know in the army there is not one I am intimate with except yourself. You are true and I can talk with you as a friend.”
“I suppose you wish me to present your letter proposing to come over; is that it?”
“Just that; will you do it?” said Huang. K‘an Tsê consented joyfully.
Even the warrior’s body is but a stake in the game, The friend so ready to help him proves that their hearts are the same.
K‘an’s reply will be read in the next chapter.