Classic Strategy in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms": Huang Gai and Kan Ze's "Fake Surrender Letter"

Brief Introduction

In chapters 45 to 49 of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", during the Battle of Red Cliffs, the "Fake Surrender Letter" was a key prop for the Sun-Liu Alliance to defeat Cao Cao. This letter was written by the veteran general of Eastern Wu, Huang Gai, and riskily presented to Cao Cao by the strategist Kan Ze, aiming to pave the way for the subsequent fire attack plan. It is a continuation of the "Self-Harm Strategy" and a core link in the "Fire at Red Cliffs" chain strategy, showcasing the wisdom and courage of the Eastern Wu camp under disadvantage.

Core Knowledge Points

* Authors and Messengers:
* Huang Gai: Veteran general of Eastern Wu, responsible for writing the letter. He had previously implemented the "Self-Harm Strategy" and was publicly flogged by Zhou Yu to gain Cao Cao's trust.
* Kan Ze: Strategist of Eastern Wu, claimed to be an old friend of Huang Gai, volunteered to deliver the letter to Cao Cao's camp. He was proficient in military strategy, calm in character, and skilled at handling emergencies.
* Letter Content:
* The letter falsely claimed internal discord within the Sun-Liu Alliance. Huang Gai was punished by Zhou Yu for opposing the fire attack strategy and harbored resentment.
* It promised to lead warships to surrender and guide Cao Cao to breach Liu Bei's water camp, in exchange for Cao Cao's trust.
* Key Twists:
* Cao Cao was suspicious by nature. After receiving the letter, he did not fully believe it and sent Han Dang, who had just been captured, back to the camp to verify the truth.
* Kan Ze remained calm under pressure. He pretended to be exposed by Han Dang and angrily rebuked Han Dang, showing loyalty to Cao Cao and disappointment in Huang Gai, which instead deepened Cao Cao's trust.

Connection to the Book's Content

In the narrative structure of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", the "Fake Surrender Letter" plays a connecting role:

1. Continuing the "Self-Harm Strategy": Huang Gai's punishment was to make Cao Cao believe his betrayal, while the fake surrender letter formalized this "betrayal" in writing. Without this letter, Huang Gai's punishment would lack evidentiary support.
2. Initiating the "Fire Attack Strategy": After believing the fake surrender letter, Cao Cao lowered his guard and allowed Huang Gai's ships to approach. This created the necessary conditions for Huang Gai to lead fire ships into Cao Cao's camp and ignite the chained fleet later.
3. Character Portrayal: This plot vividly portrays Cao Cao's suspicious character while highlighting Kan Ze's courage and wit. Luo Guanzhong, through Kan Ze's performance in Cao Cao's camp, showcases the spirit of unity and overcoming difficulties together among the officials of Eastern Wu.

Summary

The "Fake Surrender Letter" is not only the prelude to the climax of the Battle of Red Cliffs in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" but also a classic symbol of ancient Chinese military strategy culture. It tells readers that in intense games, psychological warfare and intelligence warfare are often more critical than frontal confrontation. This allusion is still widely used today to describe false surrender or schemes, holding high literary and historical popularization value.