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Huang Gai
Veteran general of three Sun generations who proposed the fire attack at Red Cliffs and carried it out by feigning surrender.
At dusk on a hilltop, a large tent stands open with a table holding a map marked with small stones inside, a saddled horse tethered outside, and fire stands burning; campfires dot the river plain below, and one tiny sentry stands on the slope.
Also known as Zi Gongfu
Huang Gai, courtesy name Gongfu, came from Quanling in Lingling. Having served as a commandery clerk, he joined Sun Jian's army and went on to serve Sun Ce and Sun Quan, fighting the Shanyue and pacifying many troubled counties. At Red Cliffs in 208 he pointed out to Zhou Yu that Cao Cao's ships were moored stem to stern and could be burned; feigning surrender, he sailed in with fireships loaded with brushwood and oil and set the enemy fleet ablaze. He later became Lieutenant General and Administrator of Wuling and died in office. He carries out the fire attack in the Zizhi Tongjian account of Red Cliffs.
Life and times
Dates Dates unknown; active at Red Cliffs, 208 CE