Novel scene
Kan Ze Secretly Delivers the False Surrender 闞澤密獻詐降書
About this event
"Kan Ze Secretly Delivers the False Surrender" is the first scene of the title of Chapter 47 of the Romance, "Kan Ze Secretly Presents the Letter of False Surrender; Pang Tong Cunningly Imparts the Chained-Ships Plan," and follows on from the self-injury ruse of the Battle of Red Cliffs. Kan Ze, Huang Gai's closest friend, disguises himself as a fisherman, goes to Cao Cao's camp and presents Huang Gai's letter of surrender, wins over the suspicious Cao Cao with words until he believes it, and returns. Romance, Ch. 47 §1–14
Chen Shou's text has no record of Kan Ze presenting a letter. The Biographies of Zhou Yu, Lu Su and Lü Meng (Records of Wu 9) record only that Huang Gai first sent a letter, deceiving Cao Cao into thinking he wished to surrender. Records, Wu 9 §15Records, Wu 8 §23
In the Romance
In Chapter 47 of the Romance, Kan Ze, Sun Quan's adviser, hearing the intent of Huang Gai, who had been flogged as part of the self-injury ruse, volunteers to carry the letter of false surrender, saying that a man of worth who fails to win merit is no different from rotting away with the grass and trees. That night he disguises himself as a fisherman, rows a small boat and reaches Cao Cao's naval camp around the third watch. Romance, Ch. 47 §1–3
Cao Cao, after reading more than ten times the letter saying that Huang Gai, flogged by Zhou Yu for no reason, wants revenge, declares it a ruse because a surrender has been offered without setting a date, and orders Kan Ze beheaded. Kan Ze looks up to the sky and laughs, berating Cao Cao as an unlearned man who does not even know that betraying one's master and running off cannot be fixed to a date, and Cao Cao changes his countenance, comes down from his seat to apologize and has wine brought to entertain him. Romance, Ch. 47 §4–12
When Cao Cao receives a secret letter in his tent and is pleased, Kan Ze guesses that Cai Zhong and Cai He have reported the punishment of Huang Gai, and Cao Cao asks Kan Ze to go back to Jiangdong and settle the arrangements with Huang Gai. Kan Ze refuses the gold and silk and returns, and in Gan Ning's camp, in front of Cai Zhong and Cai He, he and Gan Ning pretend to harbor thoughts of betrayal, so that the two confess they are false defectors sent by Cao Cao. Kan Ze sends a separate letter informing Cao Cao that the boat with a blue commander's banner planted at its prow will be Huang Gai's. Romance, Ch. 47 §13–19
Where the Romance differs
The letter of false surrender: In Chapter 47 of the Romance, Kan Ze disguises himself as a fisherman, goes in person to Cao Cao's camp and presents Huang Gai's letter. The Biography of Zhou Yu in the Records says only that Huang Gai prepared fire ships and first sent a letter, deceiving Cao Cao into thinking he wished to surrender, and does not record who delivered the letter. Romance, Ch. 47 §2–5Records, Wu 9 §15
Kan Ze's position: In Chapter 47 of the Romance, Kan Ze is already Sun Quan's adviser and Huang Gai's closest friend. In the Biography of Kan Ze in the Records, Kan Ze was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt, served as Chief of Qiantang and Prefect of Chen, and was summoned as Officer of the Western Bureau only after Sun Quan became General of Agile Cavalry; the events at Red Cliffs are not recorded. Romance, Ch. 47 §1Records, Wu 8 §23
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.