English Original
This story from Three Kingdoms takes place before the Battle of Chibi. One night, as Zhou Yu pondered how to defeat Cao Cao's forces in his tent, Huang Gai entered and proposed a fire attack. "That is precisely my plan," Zhou Yu replied. "I am keeping two spies to feed false information to Cao Cao's camp. But I need someone to play a similar role for us." Huang Gai volunteered. They decided to use a self-injury trick—having Huang Gai flogged—to win the enemy's trust.
The next day, Zhou Yu convened his commanders. He ordered them to prepare three months' rations for a prolonged defense. Huang Gai stepped forward and objected, "We don't need three months. If we do, we should surrender now."
Zhou Yu feigned rage. "I have our lord's mandate to destroy Cao Cao!" he shouted. "How dare you undermine morale? Execute him!"
Huang Gai retorted proudly, "I have served the Southland for three generations. Who are you to judge me?"
The other commanders knelt to plead for him. Zhou Yu relented, "In deference to your pleas, I will spare his life. Give him one hundred strokes on the back!"
Huang Gai was forced to the ground. Before fifty blows, his skin broke, his flesh oozed, and he fainted repeatedly.
Zhou Yu then sent Huang Gai's friend, Kan Ze, to deliver a forged surrender letter to Cao Cao. Soon after, Cao Cao received a message from his spies: "Look for a boat with a blue-green flag at the bow. That will be Huang Gai." Huang Gai's vessel was loaded with combustibles. Using this ruse, he set fire to Cao Cao's fleet. As flames swept across the river, Cao Cao's chained ships were reduced to ashes.
中文翻译
这是《三国演义》中发生在赤壁之战前的一个故事。一夜，周瑜正在帐中苦思如何击败曹操大军，黄盖进帐提议火攻。"此正合我意，"周瑜说。"我留着那两个间谍，就是为了向曹营传递假情报。但我需要有人为我们上演同样的戏码。"黄盖表示愿意效劳。他们决定施行苦肉计——通过鞭打黄盖来骗取敌人的信任。
次日，周瑜召集众将于帐前。他命令将领们准备三个月的粮草，以进行长期防御。黄盖上前反驳道："我们不需要三个月。若需如此之久，不如现在就投降求和。"
周瑜佯装大怒："我奉主公之命率军剿灭曹操！你竟敢动摇军心？推出去斩了！"
黄盖傲然道："我侍奉东吴三代君主。你算什么人，敢这样对我？"
众将一齐跪地为黄盖求情。周瑜最终说："看在众将面上，饶你不死。重打一百军棍！"
黄盖被按倒在地。棍未至五十，已是皮开肉绽，鲜血淋漓，几次昏死过去。
随后，周瑜派黄盖的朋友阚泽将黄盖事先写好的诈降书送交曹操。不久，曹操收到来自那两个间谍的密报："注意船头插有青牙旗的船只，那便是黄盖。"黄盖的船内装满了易燃之物。借此计策，黄盖成功点燃了曹军营寨。当火红的烈焰席卷江面，曹操那些用铁链相连的战船尽数化为灰烬。