第114部分(第3/7 页)

he　and　Huang　Gai　were　excellent　friends。

Now　Huang　Gai　had　thought　of　Kan　Ze　to　present　the　treacherous　letter　to　Cao　Cao；　as　Kan　Ze's　gifts　made　him　most　suitable。

Kan　Ze　accepted　with　enthusiasm；　saying；　〃When　you；　my　friend；　have　suffered　so　much　for　our　lord；　could　I　spare　myself？　No；　while　a　person　lives；　he　must　go　on　fulfilling　his　mission；　or　he　is　no　better　than　the　herbs　that　rot　in　the　field。〃

Huang　Gai　slipped　off　the　couch　and　came　over　to　salute　him。

〃However；　this　matter　must　speed；〃　continued　Kan　Ze。　〃There　is　no　time　to　lose。〃

〃The　letter　is　already　written；〃　said　Huang　Gai。

Kan　Ze　received　it　and　left。　That　night　he　disguised　himself　as　an　old　fisherman　and　started　in　a　small　punt　for　the　north　shore；　under　the　cold；　glittering　light　of　the　stars。　Soon　he　drew　near　the　enemy's　camp　and　was　captured　by　the　patrol。

Without　waiting　for　day；　they　informed　Cao　Cao；　who　said　at　once；　〃Is　he　not　just　a　spy？〃

〃No；〃　said　they；　〃he　is　alone；　just　an　old　fisherman。　And　he　says　he　is　an　adviser　in　the　service　of　the　South　Land　named　Kan　Ze；　and　he　has　e　on　secret　business。〃

〃Bring　him；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　and　Kan　Ze　was　led　in。

Cao　Cao　was　seated　in　a　brilliantly　lighted　tent。　He　was　leaning　on　a　small　table；　and　as　soon　as　he　saw　the　prisoner；　he　said　harshly；　〃You　are　an　adviser　of　East　Wu。　What　then　are　you　doing　here？〃

〃People　say　that　you　greedily　wele　people　of　ability。　I　do　not　think　your　question　a　very　proper　one。　O　friend　Huang　Gai；　you　made　a　mistake；〃　said　Kan　Ze。

〃You　know　I　am　fighting　against　East　Wu；　and　you　e　here　privately。　Why　should　I　not　question　you？〃

〃Huang　Gai　is　an　old　servant　of　Wu；　one　who　has　served　three　successive　rulers。　Now　he　has　been　cruelly　beat