小说园

第119部分（第2页）

〃But　what　if　you　did？〃

〃You　could　deal　with　me　by　military　rules。〃

〃Then　put　that　in　writing。〃

So　Guan　Yu　wrote　a　formal　undertaking　and　gave　the　document　to　Zhuge　Liang。

〃What　happens　if　Cao　Cao　does　not　pass　that　way？〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃I　will　give　you　a　written　engagement　that　he　will　pass。〃　Then　Zhuge　Liang　continued；　〃On　the　hills　by　the　Huarong　Valley；　you　are　to　raise　a　heap　of　wood　and　grass　to　make　a　great　column　of　smoke　and　mislead　Cao　Cao　into　ing。〃

〃If　Cao　Cao　sees　a　smoke；　he　will　suspect　an　ambush　and　will　not　e；〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃You　are　very　simple；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Do　you　not　know　more　of　wars　ruses　than　that？　Cao　Cao　is　an　able　leader；　but　you　can　deceive　him　this　time。　When　he　sees　the　smoke；　he　will　take　it　as　a　subterfuge　and　risk　going　that　way。　But　do　not　let　your　kindness　of　heart　rule　your　conduct。〃

Thus　was　his　duty　assigned　Guan　Yu；　and　he　left；　taking　his　adopted　son　Guan　Ping；　his　general　Zhou　Cang；　and　five　hundred　swordsmen。

Said　Liu　Bei；　〃His　sense　of　rectitude　is　very　profound。　I　fear　if　Cao　Cao　should　e　that　way；　my　brother　will　let　him　pass。〃

〃I　have　consulted　the　stars　lately；　and　the　rebel　Cao　Cao　is　not　fated　to　e　to　his　end　yet。　I　have　purposely　designed　this　manifestation　of　kindly　feeling　for　Guan　Yu　to　acplish　and　so　act　handsomely。〃

〃Indeed　there　are　few　such　far…seeing　humans　as　you　are；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

The　two　then　went　to　Fankou　whence　they　might　watch　Zhou　Yus　evolutions。　Sun　Qian　and　Jian　Yong　were　left　on　guard　of　Xiakou。

Cao　Cao　was　in　his　great　camp　in　conference　with　his　advisers　and　awaiting　the　arrival　of　Huang　Gai。　The　southeast　wind　was　very　strong　that　day；　and　Cheng　Yu　was　insisting　on　the　necessity　for　precaution。

But　Cao　Cao　laughed；　saying；　〃The　Winter　Solstice　depends　upon　the　sun　and　nothing　else。　There　is　sure　to　be　a　southeast　wind　at　some　one　or　other　of　its　recurrences。　I　see　nothing　to　wonder　at。〃

Just　then　they　announced　the　arrival　of　a　small　boat　from　the　other　shore　with　a　letter　from　Huang　Gai。　The　bearer　of　the　letter　was　brought　in　and　presented　it。　Cao　Cao　read　it：

〃Zhou　Yu　has　kept　such　strict　watch　that　there　has　been　no　chance　of　escape。　But　now　some　grain　is　ing　down　river；　and　I；　Huang　Gai；　have　been　named　as　escort　mander　which　will　give　me　the　opportunity　I　desire。　I　will　slay　one　of　the　known　generals　and　bring　his　head　as　an　offering　when　I　e。　This　evening　at　the　third　watch；　if　boats　are　seen　with　dragon　toothed　flags；　they　will　be　the　grain　boats。〃

This　letter　delighted　Cao　Cao　who；　with　his　officers；　went　to　the　naval　camp　and　boarded　a　great　ship　to　watch　for　the　arrival　of　Huang　Gai。

In　the　South　Land；　when　evening　fell；　Zhou　Yu　sent　for　Cai　He　and　bade　the　soldiers　bind　him。

The　unhappy　man　protested；　saying；　〃I　have　mitted　no　crime！〃

But　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃What　sort　of　a　fellow　are　you；　think　you；　to　e　and　pretend　to　desert　to　my　side？　I　need　a　small　sacrifice　for　my　flag；　and　your　head　will　serve　my　purpose。　So　I　am　going　to　use　it。〃

Cai　He　being　at　the　end　of　his　tether　unable　to　deny　the　charge　suddenly　cried；　〃Two　of　your　own　side；　Kan　Ze　and　Gan　Ning；　are　also　in　the　plot！〃

〃Under　my　directions！〃　said　Zhou　Yu。

Cai　He　was　exceedingly　repentant　and　sad；　but　Zhou　Yu　bade　them　take　Cai　He　to　the　river　bank　where　the　black　standard　had　been　set　up　and　there；　after　the　pouring　of　a　libation　and　the　burning　of　paper；　Cai　He　was　beheaded；　his　blood　being　a　sacrifice　to　the　flag。

This　ceremony　over；　the　ships　started；　and　Huang　Gai　took　his　place　on　the　third　ship。　He　merely　wore　breast　armor　and　carried　a　keen　blade。　On　his　flag　were　written　four　large　characters　Van　Leader　Huang　Gai　。　With　a　fair　wind　his　fleet　sailed　toward　the　Red　Cliffs。

The　wind　was　strong　and　the　waves　ran　high。　Cao　Cao　in　the　midst　of　the　central　squadron　eagerly　scanned　the　river　which　rolled　down　under　the　bright　moon　like　a　silver　serpent　writhing　in　innumerable　folds。　Letting　the　wind　blow　full　in　his　face；　Cao　Cao　laughed　aloud　for　he　was　now　to　obtain　his　desire。

Then　a　soldier　pointing　to　the　river　said；　〃The　whole　south　is　one　mass　of　sails；　and　they　are　ing　up　on　the　wind。〃

Cao　Cao　went　to　a　higher　point　and　gazed　at　the　sails　intently；　and　his　officers　told　him　that　the　flags　were　black　and　dragon　shaped；　and　indented；　and　among　them　there　flew　one　very　large　banner　on　which　was　a　name　Huang　Gai。

〃That　is　my　friend；　the　deserter！〃　said　he　joyfully。　〃Heaven　is　on　my　side　today。〃

As　the　ships　drew　closer；　Cheng　Yu　said；　〃Those　ships　are　treacherous。　Do　not　let　them　approach　the　camp。〃

〃How　know　you　that？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。

And　Cheng　Yu　replied；　〃If　they　were　laden　with　grain；　they　would　lie　deep　in　the　water。　But　these　are　light　and　float　easily。　The　southeast　wind　is　very　strong；　and　if　they　intend　treachery；　how　can　we　defend　ourselves？〃

Cao　Cao　began　to　understand。　Then　he　asked　who　would　go　out　to　stop　the　approaching　fleet；　and　Wen　Ping　volunteered；　saying；　〃I　am　well　used　to　the　waters。〃

Thereupon　Wen　Ping　sprang　into　a　small　light　craft　and　sailed　out；　followed　by　ten　c