Huang Gai's Self-torture Ruse
Huang Gai volunteered to defect over to Cao Cao to allow Zhou Yu's fire attack plan to succeed. He had a secret conversation with Zhou Yu one night and suggested his plan. The following morning when Zhou Yu called for an assembly of the generals to discuss their battle plans, Huang Gai pretended to challenge and insult Zhou Yu openly. Zhou Yu pretended to be furious and he ordered Huang Gai to be executed, but with some intervention from Gan Ning and others, he spared Huang's life and had him severely flogged. Huang Gai then wrote a letter to Cao Cao expressing his willingness to defect over to Cao's side because he was unhappy with Zhou Yu. Cai Zhong and Cai He, two spies planted by Cao Cao in Zhou Yu's camp, confirmed Huang Gai's account that he was flogged on Zhou Yu's order because of an argument. Kan Ze later helped in convincing Cao Cao that Huang Gai's defection was genuine, even though Cao initially saw through the ruse. Huang Gai then arranged with Cao Cao that on a certain night he would sail across the river over to Cao Cao's camp. That night, Huang Gai made use of the opportunity to launch the fire attack, leading to the Battle of Red Cliffs.
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