三国演义英文版-第114部分

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Lu　Su　went　to　see　the　suffering　officer　and　then　called　on　Zhuge　Liang　in　his　boat。
Lu　Su　related　the　story　of　the　beating　and　said；　〃Though　the　other　officers　have　been　cowed　into　silence；　I　think　thought　you；　Sir；　might　have　interceded。　You　are　a　guest　and　not　under　Zhou　Yu's　orders。　Why　did　you　stand　by　with　your　hands　up　your　sleeves　and　say　never　a　word？〃
〃You　insult　me；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　smiling。
〃Why　do　you　say　that？　I　have　never　insulted　you：　Never　since　the　day　we　came　here　together。〃
〃Do　you　not　know　that　terrible　beating　was　but　a　ruse？　How　could　I　try　to　dissuade　Zhou　Yu？〃
Then　Lu　Su　began　to　perceive；　and　Zhuge　Liang　continued；　saying；　〃Cao　Cao　would　not　be　taken　in　unless　there　was　some　real　bodily　suffering。　Zhou　Yu　is　going　to　send　Huang　Gai　over　as　a　deserter；　and　Zhou　Yu　will　see　to　it　that　the　two　Cao　Cao's　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　Zhou　Yu　and　asked；　〃Why　have　you　so　cruelly　beaten　a　proved　and　trusty　officer？〃
〃Do　the　officers　resent　it？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。
〃They　are　all　upset　about　it。〃
〃And　what　does　your　friend　think？〃
〃Zhuge　Liang　also　resents　it　in　his　heart；　and　he　thinks　you　have　made　a　mistake。〃
〃Then　I　have　deceived　him　for　once；〃　said　Zhou　Yu　gleefully。
〃What　mean　you？〃　cried　Lu　Su。
〃That　beating　that　Huang　Gai　got　is　part　of　my　ruse。　I　am　sending　him　to　Cao　Cao　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　recognized　that　Zhuge　Liang　was　again　right。
Meanwhile　Huang　Gai　lay　in　his　tent；　whither　all　his　colleague　officers　went　to　condole　with　him　and　inquire　after　his　health。　But　Huang　Gai　would　say　never　a　word。　He　only　lay　sighing　deeply　from　time　to　time。
But　when　the　Strategist　Kan　Ze　came；　Huang　Gai　told　them　to　bring　him　to　the　room　where　he　lay。　Then　he　bade　the　servants　go　away。
Kan　Ze　said；　〃Surely　you　must　have　some　serious　quarrel　with　the　General。〃
〃I　have　none；〃　said　Huang　Gai。
〃Then　this　beating　is　just　part　of　a　ruse？〃
〃How　did　you　guess？〃　said　Huang　Gai。
〃Because　I　watched　the　General；　and　I　guessed　about　nine　tenths　of　the　truth。〃
Huang　Gai　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　surrender　letter　to　Cao　Cao。　Is　that　it？〃
〃Just　that；　will　you　do　it？〃　said　Huang　Gai。
Kan　Ze　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。

Kan　Ze's　reply　will　be　read　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　47　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　47
　Chapter　47
Kan　Ze　Presents　The　Treacherous　Letter；
Pang　Tong　Suggests　Chaining　The　Ships　Together。
Kan　Ze　was　from　Shanyin；　a　son　of　a　humble　family。　He　loved　books；　but　as　he　was　too　poor　to　buy；　he　used　to　borrow。　He　had　a　wonderfully　tenacious　memory；　was　very　eloquent　and　no　coward。　Sun　Quan　had　employed　him　among　his　advisers；　and　he　and　Huang　Gai　were　excellent　friends。
Now　Huang　Gai　had　thought　of　Kan　Ze　to　present　the　treacherous　letter　to　Cao　Cao；　as　Kan　Ze's　gifts　made　him　most　suitable。
Kan　Ze　accepted　with　enthusiasm；　saying；　〃When　you；　my　friend；　have　suffered　so　much　for　our　lord；　could　I　spare　myself？　No；　while　a　person　lives；　he　must　go　on　fulfilling　his　mission；　or　he　is　no　better　than　the　herbs　that　rot　in　the　field。〃
Huang　Gai　slipped　off　the　couch　and　came　over　to　salute　him。
〃However；　this　matter　must　speed；〃　continued　Kan　Ze。　〃There　is　no　time　to　lose。〃
〃The　letter　is　already　written；〃　said　Huang　Gai。
Kan　Ze　received　it　and　left。　That　night　he　disguised　himself　as　an　old　fisherman　and　started　in　a　small　punt　for　the　north　shore；　under　the　cold；　glittering　light　of　the　stars。　Soon　he　drew　near　the　enemy's　camp　and　was　captured　by　the　patrol。
Without　waiting　for　day；　they　informed　Cao　Cao；　who　said　at　once；　〃Is　he　not　just　a　spy？〃
〃No；〃　said　they；　〃he　is　alone；　just　an　old　fisherman。　And　he　says　he　is　an　adviser　in　the　service　of　the　South　Land　named　Kan　Ze；　and　he　has　e　on　secret　business。〃
〃Bring　him；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　and　Kan　Ze　was　led　in。
Cao　Cao　was　seated　in　a　brilliantly　lighted　tent。　He　was　leaning　on　a　small　table；　and　as　soon　as　he　saw　the　prisoner；　he　said　harshly；　〃You　are　an　adviser　of　East　Wu。　What　then　are　you　doing　here？〃
〃People　say　that　you　greedily　wele　people　of　ability。　I　do　not　think　your　question　a　very　proper　one。　O　friend　Huang　Gai；　you　made　a　mistake；〃　said　Kan　Ze。
〃You　know　I　am　fighting　against　East　Wu；　and　you　e　here　privately。　Why　should　I　not　question　you？〃
〃Huang　Gai　is　an　old　servant　of　Wu；　one　who　has　served　three　successive　rulers。　Now　he　has　been　cruelly　beaten；　for　no　fault；　before　the　face　of　all　the　officers　in　Zhou　Yu's　camp。　He　is　grievously　angry　about　this　and　wishes　to　desert　to　your　side　that　he　may　be　revenged。　He　discussed　it　with　me；　and　as　we　are　inseparable；　I　have　e　to　give　you　his　letter　asking　whether　you　would　receive　him。〃
〃Where　is　the　letter？　said　Cao　Cao。
The　missive　was　produced　and　presented。　Cao　Cao　opened　it　and　read：
〃I；　Huang　Gai；　have　been　generously　treated　by　the　Sun　family　and　have　served　them　single…heartedly。　Lately　they　have　been　discussing　an　attack　with　our　forces　on　the　enormous　army　of　the　central　government。　Everyone　knows　our　few　are　no　match　for　such　a　multitude；　and　every　officer　of　the　South　Land；　wise　or　foolish；　recognizes　that　quite　well。　However；　Zhou　Yu　who；　after　all；　is　but　a　youth　and　a　shallow　minded　simpleton；　maintains　that　success　is　possible　and　rashly　desires　to　smash　stones　with　an　egg。　Beside；　he　is　arbitrary　and　tyrannical；　punishing　for　no　crime；　and　leaving　meritorious　service　unrewarded。　I　am　an　old　servant　and　for　no　reason　have　been　shamed　in　the　sight　of　people。　Wherefore　I　hate　him　in　my　heart。
〃You；　O　Prime　Minister；　treat　people　with　sincerity　and　are　ready　to　wele　ability　and　so　I；　and　those　under　my　leadership；　desire　to　enter　your　service　whereby　to　acquire　reputation　and　remove　the　shameful　stigma。　The　missariat；　weapons；　and　the　supply　ships　that　I　am　manding　will　also　e　over　to　you。　In　perfect　sincerity　I　state　these　matters。　I　pray　you　not　to　doubt　me。〃
Leaning　there　on　the　low　table　by　his　side；　Cao　Cao　turned　this　letter　over　and　over　and　read　it　again　and　again。
Then　he　smacked　the　table；　opened　his　eyes　wide　with　anger；　saying；　〃Huang　Gai　is　trying　to　play　the　personal　injury　trick　on　me；　is　he？　And　you　are　in　it　as　the　intermediary　to　present　the　letter。　How　dare　you　e　to　sport　with　me？〃
Cao　Cao　ordered　the　lictors　to　thrust　forth　the　messenger　and　take　off　his　head。　Kan　Ze　was　hustled　out；　his　face　untroubled。　On　the　contrary；　he　laughed　aloud。
At　this　Cao　Cao　told　them　to　bring　him　back　and　harshly　said　to　him；　〃What　do　you　find　to　laugh　at　now　that　I　have　foiled　you　and　your　ruse　has　failed？〃
〃I　was　not　laughing　at　you。　I　was　laughing　at　my　friend's　simplicity。〃
〃What　do　you　mean　by　his　simplicity？〃
〃If　you　want　to　slay；　slay。　Do　not　trouble　me　with　a　multitude　of　questions。〃
〃I　have　read　all　the　books　on　the　art　of　war；　and　I　am　well　versed　in　all　ways　of　misleading　the　enemy。　This　ruse　of　yours　might　have　succeeded　with　many；　but　it　will　not　do　for　me。〃
〃And　so　you　say　that　the　letter　is　a　vicious　trick？〃　said　Kan　Ze。
〃What　I　say　is　that　your　little　slip　has　sent　you　to　the　death　you　risked。　If　the　thing　was　real　and　you　were　sincere；　why　does　not　the　letter　name　a　time　of　ing　over？　What　have　you　to　say　to　that？〃
Kan　Ze　waited　to　the　end　and　then　laughed　louder　than　ever；　saying；　〃I　am　so　glad　you　are　not　frightened　but　can　still　boast　of　your　knowledge　of　the　books　of　war。　Now　you　will　not　lead　away　your　soldiers。　If　you　fight；　Zhou　Yu　will　certainly　capture　you。　But　how　sad　to　think　I　die　at　the　hand　of　such　an　ignorant　fellow！〃
〃What　mean　you？　I；　ignorant？〃
〃You　are　ignorant　of　any　strategy　and　a　victim　of　unreason。　Is　not　that　sufficient？〃
〃Well　then；　tell　me　where　is　any　fault。〃
〃You　treat　wise　people　too　badly　for　me　to　talk　to　you。　You　can　finish　me　and　let　there　be　an　end　of　it。〃
〃If　you　can　speak　with　any　show　of　reason；　I　will　treat　you　differently。〃
〃Do　you　not　know　that　when　one　is　going　to　desert　one's　master　and　bee　a　renegade；　one　cannot　say　exactly　when　the　chance　will　occur？　If　one　binds　one's　self　to　a　fixed　moment　and　the　thing　cannot　be　done　just　then；　the　secret　will　be　discovered。　One　must　watch　for　an　opportunity　and　take　it　when　it　es。　Think：　Is　it　possible　to　know　exactly　when？　But　you　know　nothing　of　mon　sense。　All　you　know　is　how　to　put　good　people　to　death。　So　you　really　are　an　ignorant　fellow！〃
At　this　Cao　Cao　changed　his　manner；　got　up；　and　came　over　to　the　prisoner　bowing；　〃I　did　not　see　clearly。　That　is　quite　true。　I　offended　you；　and　I　hope　you　will　forget　it。〃
〃The　fact　is　that　Huang　Gai　and　I　are　both　inclined　to　desert　to　you。　We　even　yearn　for　it　as　a　child　desires　its　parents。　Is　it　possible　that　we　should　play　you　false？〃
〃If　you　two　could　render　me　so　great　a　service；　you　shall　certainly　be　richly　rewarded。〃
〃We　do　not　desire　rank　or　riches。　We　e　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　in　Cao　Cao's　ear。
He　replied；　〃Let　me　see　the　letter。〃
Whereupon　the　man　pulled　out　and　gave　him　a　letter；　which　evidently　pleased　him。
〃That　is　from　the　two　Cai　brothers；〃　thought　Kan　Ze。　〃They　are　reporting　the　punishment　of　my　friend；　and　that　will　be　a　proof　of　the　sincerity　of　his　letter。〃
Turning　toward　Kan　Ze；　Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　must　ask　you　to　return　to　settle　the　date　with　your　friend。　As　soon　as　I　know；　I　will　have　a　force　waiting。〃
〃I　cannot　return。　Pray；　Sir；　send　some　other　one　you　can　trust。〃
〃If　someone　else　should　go；　the　secret　would　be　discovered。〃
Kan　Ze　refused　again　and　again　but　at　last　gave　way；　saying；　〃If　I　am　to　go；　I　must　not　wait　here。　I　must　be　off　at　once。〃
Cao　Cao　offered　him　gold　and　silks；　which　were　refused。　Kan　Ze　started；　left　the　camp；　and　reembarked　for　the　south　bank；　where　he　related　all　that　had　happened　to　Huang　Gai。
〃If　it　had　not　been　for　your　persuasive　tongue；　then　had　I　undergone　this　suffering　in　vain；〃　said　Huang　Gai。
〃I　will　now　go　to　get　news　of　the　two　Cai　brothers；〃　said　Kan　Ze。
〃Excellent；〃　said　Huang　Gai。
Kan　Ze　went　to　the　camp　manded　by　Gan　Ning。
When　they　were　seated；　Kan　Ze　said　to　his　host；　〃I　was　much　distressed　when　I　saw　how　disgracefully　you　were　treated　for　your　intercession　on　behalf　of　Huang　Gai。〃
Gan　Ning　smiled。　Just　then　the　two　Cai　brothers　came；　and　host　and　guest　exchanged　glances。
Gan　Ning　said；　〃The　truth　is　Zhou　Yu　is　over　confident；　and　he　reckons　us　as　nobody。　We　count　for　nothing。　Everyone　is　talking　of　the　way　I　was　insulted。〃
And　he　shouted　and　gritted　his　teeth　and　smacked　the　table　in　his　wrath。
Kan　Ze　lean