the Battered-Body Trick This is a story from Three Kingdoms that happened before the Battle of Chibi. One night,Zhou Yu was thinking hard in his tent about how to defeat Cao Cao's army, when Huang Gaicame in . He suggested attacking with fire. “Well, it's exactly what I mean to do.” Said ZhouYu. “That's why I'm keeping those two spies: to convey false information to Cao's camp. But Ineed a man to play the same game for us.” Huang Gai said he was willing to do it. Theydecided to carry out the trick of being flogged to win the enemy's confidence. the next day Zhou Yu convened a general assembly of his commanders outside his tent. Heordered the commanders to take three months's rations and prepare to defend their line.Huang Gai came forward and said: “We don't need three months. If not, we'd better throwdown our weapons and sue for peace.” Zhou Yu exploded in fury. “Ibear our lord's mandate,” he cried, “to lead our troops todestroy Cao Cao. How dare you weaken our morale? Remove him and execute him!” |