Huang Gai

Huang Gai
A Qing dynasty illustration of Huang Gai
General of Sun Quan
Born	(Unknown)[1]
Died	(Unknown)[1]
Names
Traditional Chinese	黃蓋
Simplified Chinese	黄盖
Pinyin	Huáng Gài
Wade–Giles	Huang Kai
Courtesy name	Gongfu (Chinese: 公覆; pinyin: Gōngfù; Wade–Giles: Kung-fu)

Huang Gai (birth and death dates unknown),^[1] courtesy name Gongfu, was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan in the late Eastern Han dynasty. He previously served under Sun Quan's predecessors – Sun Jian (Sun Quan's father) and Sun Ce (Sun Quan's elder brother).

Early life

Huang Gai was from Quanling County (泉陵縣), Lingling Commandery (零陵郡), which is in present-day Lingling District, Yongzhou, Hunan.^[2] He was a descendant of Huang Zilian (黃子廉), who served as the Administrator (太守) of Nanyang Commandery (南陽郡). Huang Gai's grandfather moved from Nanyang to Lingling and had remained there since. Huang Gai was orphaned at a young age and he experienced hardships in his early days. However, he had high ambitions and, despite being poor, he worked hard and read books and studied military arts on his own.^[3]

Early career and service under Sun Jian and Sun Ce

Huang Gai later became a minor official in the local commandery office before he was nominated as a xiaolian and recruited to serve in the office of one of the Three Ducal Ministers. Around the 180s, when the warlord Sun Jian was raising a militia to help government forces suppress the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Huang Gai responded to the call and became one of Sun's subordinates. Huang Gai followed Sun Jian in attacking bandits in the region and also participated in the campaign against Dong Zhuo under Sun's banner. Huang Gai was later appointed as a "Major of Separate Command" (別部司馬). After Sun Jian's death in 191, Huang Gai continued to serve under Sun Jian's eldest son, Sun Ce, and later under Sun Quan, Sun Ce's younger brother. He was involved in Sun Ce's conquests in the Jiangdong region.^[4]

Service under Sun Quan

Maintaining peace and stability within Wu

When Sun Quan was in control of the Wu territories, the lands were not very peaceful as the Shanyue tribes in the region often raided counties and caused much trouble. Huang Gai was sent to pacify the Shanyue. Once, Huang Gai was assigned to oversee Shicheng County (石城縣; present-day Shicheng County, Ganzhou, Jiangxi), and he knew that the local officials did not follow the laws and were difficult to control. After entering the county office, he chose two officers to be his assistants and ordered them to manage the office. He also gave instructions for all the officers to abide by rules and regulations and perform their duties well. The two officers were afraid of Huang Gai so they put in full effort in their work. However, as time passed, they realised that Huang Gai did not inspect their work, so they became lax and reverted to their old ways. Huang Gai was actually aware of what had been going on. He invited all the local officials to attend a banquet later and exposed the two officers' misdeeds in front of everyone. The officers were frightened and started begging for their lives, but Huang Gai had them executed. This incident shocked everyone in the county. Huang Gai was later reassigned to be the Chief (長) of Chungu County (春穀縣) and as the Prefect (令) of Xunyang County (尋陽縣). The nine counties under his governorship were peaceful and stable. Huang Gai was subsequently promoted to Commandant (都尉) of Danyang Commandery (丹楊郡). He helped the poor and earned the respect of the Shanyue.^[5]

Battle of Red Cliffs

In the winter of 208-209, Huang Gai fought in the Battle of Red Cliffs against Cao Cao's forces. He was a subordinate of Zhou Yu, who was the commander-in-chief of Sun Quan's forces in that battle.^[6] Huang Gai told Zhou Yu, "The enemy are superior in numbers in comparison with our side. I fear that we cannot last long. However, I observe that Cao Cao's ships are linked to each other. We can destroy them by fire." Huang Gai then prepared about ten mengchongs and doujians (鬬艦; a type of warship) and filled them with the ingredients necessary for starting a fire. He then wrote a letter to Cao Cao, pretending that he wanted to surrender and defect to the latter's side. Cao Cao told Huang Gai's messenger, "I only fear that this is a trick. However, if what Huang Gai said is true, I'll reward him handsomely."^[7][8]

Huang Gai also prepared some zouges (走舸; a smaller type of boat), which would follow behind the mengchongs and doujians, and his small fleet sailed towards Cao Cao's base. The wind was blowing strongly from the southeast. When Huang Gai's fleet reached the middle of the river, the ships all raised their sails, and Huang Gai lifted a torch and instructed his men to shout "We surrender!" Cao Cao's troops came out of the camp to look and they said Huang Gai was coming to join them. When Huang Gai was about 20 li away from the enemy base, he ordered his men to set the ships on fire and they boarded the smaller boats behind. As the wind was very strong, the flaming ships sailed towards Cao Cao's warships at fast speed and caused them to catch fire as well. Cao Cao's ships were all burnt down and the flames also spread quickly to his camps on land. Zhou Yu then ordered an attack on Cao Cao's base and scored a major victory. Cao Cao retreated north with his surviving troops after his defeat.^[9][10]

Huang Gai was hit by a stray arrow during the battle and he fell into the river. He was saved by Sun Quan's men but they were not aware of his identity, so they left him lying on a stretcher. When Han Dang passed by, Huang Gai managed to call out to him. Han Dang recognised Huang Gai's voice so he rushed towards him. With tears in his eyes, Han Dang helped Huang Gai remove his clothing so that the wound can be treated, and Huang survived.^[11]

Later career and death

Huang Gai was promoted to "General of the Household of Martial Edge" (武鋒中郎將). When the tribal people in Wuling Commandery (武陵郡; capital at present-day Dingcheng District, Changde, Hunan) started a rebellion, Huang Gai was appointed as the Administrator (太守) of Wuling and was sent to quell the uprising. At that time, there were only 500 troops in the commandery and they were heavily outnumbered by the rebels. However, Huang Gai ordered the city gates to be opened, and when about half of the rebel army had entered, he launched an assault on them, killing hundreds of enemies while the surviving ones fled. Huang Gai later succeeded in pacifying the rebellion over the following three months by targeting the rebel chiefs and pardoning the rebels who surrendered. By summer, all the tribal chiefs had submitted to Huang Gai. Peace was restored in Wuling Commandery.^[12]

Later, when Huang Gai received news that Yiyang County (益陽縣) in Changsha Commandery (長沙郡) was under attack by bandits, he led his forces to fight the bandits and succeeded in restoring peace in the region. Huang Gai was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant-General (偏將軍). He died in office while serving as the Administrator of Wuling.^[13]

Descendants

In 229, after Sun Quan declared himself 'Emperor' and established the state of Eastern Wu, he granted the title of a "Secondary Marquis" (關內侯) to Huang Gai's son, Huang Bing (黃柄), in recognition of Huang Gai's contributions.^[14]

Appraisal

Huang Gai was described as having a stern and serious appearance, and was known to be a good disciplinarian. Every time he went into battle, the men under him would compete fiercely to earn the top credit. Huang Gai was also known to be just and decisive when he handled cases in court and he never had any lapses. After his death, he was fondly remembered by the people of Wu,^[15] and they even created portraits of him and worshipped him.^[16]

In fiction

Huang Gai was featured as a character in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, which romanticises the historical events before and during the Three Kingdoms period. He appeared in the chapters covering the events leading to the Battle of Red Cliffs. His most significant moment in the novel was a fictional episode in which he proposed a "self-torture ruse" (苦肉計) to win Cao Cao's trust so that Zhou Yu's fire attack plan could be carried out. Huang Gai had a secret conversation with Zhou Yu one night and suggested his plan. The following morning, when Zhou Yu called for an assembly of the officers to discuss their battle plans, Huang Gai pretended to challenge and insult Zhou Yu openly. Zhou Yu pretended to be furious and he ordered Huang Gai to be executed, but with some intervention from Gan Ning and others, he spared Huang's life and had him severely flogged. Huang Gai then wrote a letter to Cao Cao, expressing his willingness to defect over to Cao's side because he was unhappy with Zhou Yu. Cai Zhong and Cai He, two spies planted by Cao Cao in Zhou Yu's camp, confirmed Huang Gai's account that he was flogged on Zhou Yu's order because of an argument. Kan Ze later helped to convince Cao Cao that Huang Gai's defection was genuine, even though Cao initially saw through the ruse. Huang Gai then arranged with Cao Cao that on a certain night, he would sail across the river over to Cao's camp. That night, Huang Gai made use of the opportunity to launch the fire attack, sparking off the Battle of Red Cliffs.^[17]

Modern references

Huang Gai appears as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series.

See also

• List of people of the Three Kingdoms

References

1. de Crespigny, Rafe (2007). A biographical dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23–220 AD). Brill. p. 344. ISBN 978-90-04-15605-0.
2. (黃蓋字公覆，零陵泉陵人也。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
3. (吳書曰：故南陽太守黃子廉之後也，枝葉分離，自祖遷于零陵，遂家焉。蓋少孤，嬰丁凶難，辛苦備甞，然有壯志，雖處貧賤，不自同於凡庸，常以負薪餘閑，學書疏，講兵事。) Wu Shu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 55.
4. (初為郡吏，察孝廉，辟公府。孫堅舉義兵，蓋從之。堅南破山賊，北走董卓，拜蓋別部司馬。堅薨，蓋隨策及權，擐甲周旋，蹈刃屠城。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
5. (諸山越不賔，有寇難之縣，輙用蓋為守長。石城縣吏，特難檢御，蓋乃署兩掾，分主諸曹。教曰：「令長不德，徒以武功為官，不以文吏為稱。今賊寇未平，有軍旅之務，一以文書委付兩掾，當檢攝諸曹，糾擿謬誤。兩掾所署，事入諾出，若有姦欺，終不加以鞭杖，宜各盡心，無為衆先。」初皆怖威，夙夜恭職；久之，吏以蓋不視文書，漸容人事。蓋亦嫌外懈怠，時有所省，各得兩掾不奉法數事。乃悉請諸掾吏，賜酒食，因出事詰問。兩掾辭屈，皆叩頭謝罪。蓋曰：「前已相勑，終不以鞭杖相加，非相欺也。」遂殺之。縣中震慄。 ... 後轉春穀長，尋陽令。凡守九縣，所在平定。遷丹楊都尉，抑彊扶弱，山越懷附。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
6. (建安中，隨周瑜拒曹公於赤壁，建策火攻，語在瑜傳。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
7. (瑜部將黃蓋曰：「今寇衆我寡，難與持乆。然觀操軍船艦首尾相接，可燒而走也。」乃取蒙衝鬬艦數十艘，實以薪草，膏油灌其中，裹以帷幕，上建牙旗，先書報曹公，欺以欲降。) Sanguozhi vol. 54.
8. (江表傳載蓋書曰：「蓋受孫氏厚恩，常為將帥，見遇不薄。然顧天下事有大勢，用江東六郡山越之人，以當中國百萬之衆，衆寡不敵，海內所共見也。東方將吏，無有愚智，皆知其不可，惟周瑜、魯肅偏懷淺戇，意未解耳。今日歸命，是其實計。瑜所督領，自易摧破。交鋒之日，蓋為前部，當因事變化，效命在近。」曹公特見行人，密問之，口勑曰：「但恐汝詐耳。蓋若信實，當授爵賞，超於前後也。」) Jiang Biao Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 54.
9. (又豫備走舸，各繫大船後，因引次俱前。曹公軍吏士皆延頸觀望，指言蓋降。蓋放諸船，同時發火。時風盛猛，悉延燒岸上營落。頃之，煙炎張天，人馬燒溺死者甚衆，軍遂敗退，還保南郡。) Sanguozhi vol. 54.
10. (江表傳曰：至戰日，蓋先取輕利艦十舫，載燥荻枯柴積其中，灌以魚膏，赤幔覆之，建旌旗龍幡於艦上。時東南風急，因以十艦最著前，中江舉帆，蓋舉火白諸校，使衆兵齊聲大叫曰：「降焉！」操軍人皆出營立觀。去北軍二里餘，同時發火，火烈風猛，往船如箭，飛埃絕爛，燒盡北船，延及岸邊營柴。瑜等率輕銳尋繼其後，雷鼓大進，北軍大壞，曹公退走。) Jiang Biao Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 54.
11. (吳書曰：赤壁之役，蓋為流矢所中，時寒墮水，為吳軍人所得，不知其蓋也，置廁牀中。蓋自彊以一聲呼韓當，當聞之，曰：「此公覆聲也。」向之垂涕，解易其衣，遂以得生。) Wu Shu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 55.
12. (拜武鋒中郎將。武陵蠻夷反亂，攻守城邑，乃以蓋領太守。時郡兵才五百人，自以不敵，因開城門，賊半入，乃擊之，斬首數百，餘皆奔走，盡歸邑落。誅討魁帥，附從者赦之。自春訖夏，寇亂盡平，諸幽邃巴、醴、由、誕邑侯君長，皆改操易節，奉禮請見，郡境遂清。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
13. (後長沙益陽縣為山賊所攻，蓋又平討。加偏將軍，病卒于官。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
14. (及權踐阼，追論其功，賜子柄爵關內侯。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
15. (蓋姿貌嚴毅，善於養衆，每所征討，士卒皆爭為先。 ... 蓋當官決斷，事無留滯，國人思之。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
16. (吳書曰：又圖畫蓋形，四時祠祭。) Wu Shu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 55.
17. Sanguo Yanyi ch. 43-50.

• Chen, Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
• Luo, Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Yanyi).
• Pei, Songzhi. Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).