this is a story from three kingdoms that happened before the battle of chi*. one night, zhou yu was thinking hard in his tent about how to defeat * *'s army, when huang gai came in. he suggested attacking with fire. "well, it's exactly what i mean to do." said zhou yu. "that's why i'm keeping those two spies: to convey false *rmation to *'s camp. but i need a man to play the same * for us." huang gai said he was willing to do it. they decided1 to carry out the trick of being flogged to win the enemy's confidence.
the next day zhou yu convened2（召集） a general assembly of his commanders outside his tent. he ordered the commanders to take three months's rations3 and prepare to defend their line. huang gai came forward and said: "we don't need three months. if not, we'd better throw down our weapons and sue for peace."
zhou yu exploded in fury. "i bear our lord's mandate," he cried, "to lead our troops to destroy * *. how dare you weaken our morale4? remove him and execute him!"
huang gai proudly, "i have served the southland through three successive reigns5. where do the likes of you come from?"
the entire assembly got on their knees to intercede6 for（请求，说情） huang gai. zhou yu said at last: "in consideration for the commanders' views, i shall not kill you. give him one hundred strokes across the back!"
huang gai was forced facedown to the ground. not yet at fifty blows of the rod, his skin was broken and his oozing7（渗透） flesh was crossed with welts. he fainted s*ral times.
zhou yu let kan ze, huang gai's friend, to deliver the letter of surrender to * *, which huang gai had prepared. before long, * * received a letter from the two spies, saying "look for a boat with a blue-green flag at the bow. that will be huang gai." in huang gai's boat there were combustibles（*） . in this way,huang gai was able to set fire to * *'s camp. when the red current of fire passed through the surface of the river,* *'s ships,linked with chains, turned into ashes.
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