en；　for　no　fault；　before　the　face　of　all　the　officers　in　Zhou　Yu's　camp。　He　is　grievously　angry　about　this　and　wishes　to　desert　to　your　side　that　he　may　be　revenged。　He　discussed　it　with　me；　and　as　we　are　inseparable；　I　have　e　to　give　you　his　letter　asking　whether　you　would　receive　him。〃

〃Where　is　the　letter？　said　Cao　Cao。

The　missive　was　produced　and　presented。　Cao　Cao　opened　it　and　read：

〃I；　Huang　Gai；　have　been　generously　treated　by　the　Sun　family　and　have　served　them　single…heartedly。　Lately　they　have　been　discussing　an　attack　with　our　forces　on　the　enormous　army　of　the　central　government。　Everyone　knows　our　few　are　no　match　for　such　a　multitude；　and　every　officer　of　the　South　Land；　wise　or　foolish；　recognizes　that　quite　well。　However；　Zhou　Yu　who；　after　all；　is　but　a　youth　and　a　shallow　minded　simpleton；　maintains　that　success　is　possible　and　rashly　desires　to　smash　stones　with　an　egg。　Beside；　he　is　arbitrary　and　tyrannical；　punishing　for　no　crime；　and　leaving　meritorious　service　unrewarded。　I　am　an　old　servant　and　for　no　reason　have　been　shamed　in　the　sight　of　people。　Wherefore　I　hate　him　in　my　heart。

〃You；　O　Prime　Minister；　treat　people　with　sincerity　and　are　ready　to　wele　ability　and　so　I；　and　those　under　my　leadership；　desire　to　enter　your　service　whereby　to　acquire　reputation　and　remove　the　shameful　stigma。　The　missariat；　weapons；　and　the　supply　ships　that　I　am　manding　will　also　e　over　to　you。　In　perfect　sincerity　I　state　these　matters。　I　pray　you　not　to　doubt　me。〃

Leaning　there　on　the　low　table　by　his　side；　Cao　Cao　turned　this　letter　over　and　over　and　read　it　again　and　again。

Then　he　smacked　the　table；　opened　his　eyes　wide　with　anger；　saying；　〃Huang　Gai　is　trying　to　play　the　personal　injury　trick　on　me；　is　he？　And　you