三國演義雙語故事(26):苦肉計
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 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 information to Cao's camp. But I need a man to play the same game for us.” Huang Gai said he was willing to do it. They decided 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. He ordered 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 throw down our weapons and sue for peace.”
Zhou Yu exploded in fury. “Ibear our lord's mandate，” he cried， “to lead our troops to destroy Cao Cao. How dare you.weaken our morale？ Remove him and execute him！”
Huang Gai proudly， “I have served the Southland through three successive reigns. Where do the likes of you come from？”
the entire assembly got on their knees to intercede for 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 oozing flesh was crossed with welts. He fainted several times.
Zhou Yu let Kan Ze， Huang Gai's friend， to deliver the letter of surrender to Cao Cao， which Huang Gai had prepared. Before long， Cao Cao 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 Cao Cao's camp. When the red current of fire passed through the surface of the river， Cao Cao's ships， linked with chains， turned into ashes.
苦肉計
赤壁大戰之前，周瑜苦思破曹之計。一日深夜，老將黃蓋來到帳中，商議破曹以火攻爲好。周瑜說：“ 我也這樣想，所以才留下假投降的蔡氏兄弟，只是無人去曹營詐降。”黃蓋自告奮勇，甘願領此重任。當夜二人定下“苦肉計”。第二天，周瑜傳各路將軍帳下議事，命大將們各領三個月糧草，準備抗敵。黃蓋反對說：“不用三個月，如果這個月能破敵就破，不能破敵，早點投降！”周瑜聽後大怒道：“我奉命督軍破敵，你敢動搖軍心，推出去斬了。”黃蓋驕傲地說：“我是東吳三世重臣，南征北伐時，你還不知在哪呢？”在場的將領們跪下替黃蓋求情。周瑜狠狠地說：“看在衆將面上，饒你不死，打一百軍棍！”武士們把黃蓋推倒在地，沒打到五十下，已皮開肉綻，鮮血直流，幾次暈死過去。黃蓋的好友闞澤，根據周瑜的安排，帶着黃蓋早已寫好的投降書前去詐降。不久，曹操又接到蔡氏兄弟的密信，說只要見到插有青牙旗的船隻就是黃蓋來投降了。結果在赤壁一戰中，黃蓋引火船衝入曹營，大江之上一片通紅，把曹操用鐵鏈連起來的幾千條戰船燒成灰燼。
