Arrow Procurement
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At that time, Zhuge Liang, Shu’s chief strategist, was staying in Wu to work on a common strategy against Cao Cao. When Lu Su, Zhou Yu’s advisor, visited him, Zhuge congratulated him on Zhou Yu’s success in getting rid of the two southern generals with a ruse.
“Zhou Yu can only fool Jiang Gan,” said Zhuge. “but not Cao Cao. Cao Cao must have realized his mistake by now. However, he wouldn’t admit it.”
Although Lu Su promised Zhuge not to say anything to Zhou Yu, he reported Zhuge’s remarks to Zhou Yu, anyway. Zhou Yu was troubled that Zhuge could read his mind. He was jealous of Zhuge who was said to be a man of extraordinary talent. Zhou Yu decided to find a way to embarrass Zhuge.
The following morning he invited Zhuge to a meeting with his officers.
“What weapon is the most effective in a naval battle?” he asked Zhuge.
“Arrows are the best,” answered Zhuge.
“True. However, our supplies are running short. Could you help us replenish them? We’ll need 100,000 arrows for the forthcoming battle. I hope you won’t refuse.”
“I’ll certainly do my best, General,” said Zhuge. “When do you need them?”
“Can you make it in ten days?”
“Ten days would be too long. The enemy may come at any time.”
“How much time do you need?”
“I’ll have them ready in three days.”
“There is no joking in the army, sir.”
“How dare I joke with you, General? If I can’t deliver them in time, I am willing to accept punishment. I am willing to give you a written guarantee. I’ll start tomorrow. Three days from tomorrow, you will please send five hundred men to the riverside to collect the arrows.”
Zhou Yu was greatly pleased that Zhuge offered to sign a written guarantee, but secretly ordered materials for making arrows to be withheld and the workmen to go slow. Then he sent Lu Su to find out what Zhuge was doing.
Zhuge blamed Lu Su for not keeping his word and asked him to help him out.
“You brought trouble on yourself,” said Lu Su. “How can I help you?”
“You can. I would like to borrow twenty boats. On each boat please install at least fifty jacks of straw covered by black cloth and line them up on both sides of each boat, and I need thirty men for each boat. But you must not let General Zhou Yu know, or my plan will fail.”
Though puzzled, Lu Su obliged Zhuge. The vessels were prepared without Zhou Yu’s knowledge. Zhuge did nothing for two days. Then on the third day, he secretly called upon Lu Su before daybreak.
“Come to my boat with me. We’re going to collect the arrows.”
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll know soon.”
The twenty vessels, fastened together with long ropes, set out for the northern shore in a dense fog. Visibility was reduced to a few feet. As the vessels came in view of Cao Cao’s camp, Zhuge ordered the crew to beat drums and shout battle cries.
Lu Su was alarmed. “What if the enemy comes out?”
Zhuge laughed. “I’d be surprised if Cao Cao would venture out in this weather. Let’s have a drink. We’ll return when the fog disappears.”
Cao Cao, suspecting an ambush, ordered his men to shoot arrows to prevent the enemy from landing, and dispatched a reinforcement of six thousand to the river bank. Zhuge ordered the boats to turn around and get closer to the shore to take more arrow shots while the crew on the boats kept beating the drums and shouting battle cries. Arrows fell on the boats like rain.
When the sun rose and the fog began to lift, Zhuge ordered the boats to speed back home. Seeing the straw jacks on the boats bristling with arrows, he ordered the crew to shout, “Thank you for your arrows, Prime Minister!”
By the time Cao Cao realized what had happened, Zhuge’s boats were beyond overtaking.
“You are a genius,” said Lu Su. “How did you know there would be a fog today?”
“A general who is ignorant of astronomy and geography,” Zhuge replied. “will never rise above mediocrity. I knew three days ago there would be a heavy fog this morning. That’s why I took a chance. Zhou Yu offered me ten days but withheld labor and raw materials. Obviously he did not want me to succeed so that he could punish me. But how can he harm me as my fate is linked with Heaven?”
On the south shore five hundred soldiers were waiting to collect the arrows. The final count exceeded 150,000.
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Spy and Counterspy
Wise Proverbs
- Wise man have their mouths in their hearts.
- 智者嘴在心里。
- A profound understanding of commomplace affairs is genuine knowledge; a mastery of wordly wisdom is true learning.
- 世事洞明皆学问，人情练达即文章。
- Plan strategies within a command tent, and ensure victory on the battlefront a thousand li away.
- 运筹帷幄之中那个，决胜千里之外。
Editor Says:
Zhuge Liang (181—234) was twenty-eight at the time. Later he was appointed prime minister of Shu and won many battles. Regarded as the most brilliant strategist and tactician in history, Zhuge Liang’s name is a household word in China, synonymous with wisdom and resourcefulness.