Jiang Gan

Jiang Gan was a Chinese well-read man under the control surface of the lord of war CAD CAD at the time of the end of the Dynastie Han in ancient China. Although it was historically known like a debattor of reputation, it is especially its romantic character who marked the popular tradition. The character of Jiang Gan is still often incarnated in some of the grand operas of Beijing.

Biography

Known as the best debattor between the Yangzi and the river Hooted, it was sent in secret mission by CAD CAD in order to gain the services of the strategist Zhou Yu, shortly after the Bataille of Red Cliff in year 209. Once on the spot, Zhou Yu quickly guessed the goal of its visit and hastened to testify its great honesty towards its lord Sun Quan. In front of such a demonstration of honesty, Jiang Gan did not mention any more one word on this subject and when it returned at CAD CAD, it praised the control and the talents of Zhou Yu by describing it as “man to which the words will be able to never mislay it”.

Its character in the novel

In chapter 45 of the novel Histoire of the Three Kingdoms writes by Luo Guanzhong, a preceding episode the battle of Red Cliff plunges Jiang Gan in the middle of an important intrigue. This episode, although fiction and which describes how Jiang Gan is used without its knowledge by the brilliance strategist Zhou Yu, is mainly responsible for the image that the man has projected for several centuries.

Jiang Gan thus makes irruption in the account whereas CAD CAD, following its defeat with the Three Rivers, seeks a means of overcoming the forces of its rival Sun Quan, located in the south of Yangzi. In front of the interrogations of its Master, Jiang Gan, then member of its council, advance and say:

“Zhou Yu and me were close since our childhood whereas we study together. Let use to me of my capacities of persuasion on him and see whether I can make it subject”

CAD CAD acquiess thus in this proposal and Jiang Gan is sent to the enemy camp located on banks of the Lac Poyang, in order to return visit in Zhou Yu. When one announces the arrival of Jiang Gan to him, Zhou Yu exclaims:

“the persuasive one arrived. ”

At once, Zhou Yu hastens to dictate certain instructions with its commanders and goes to the meeting of its guest. Following the formal greetings, Zhou Yu launches in Jiang Gan which it gave itself much of disorders to come to visit him as emissary for CAD CAD. Feigant offense, Jiang Gan answers him that the goal of its visit is purely friendly. Zhou Yu then organizes a large banquet in the honor of Jiang Gan where alcohol runs with floods.

During the evening, Zhou Yu shows in Jiang Gan at which point its army is well organized and makes him also share, with the great disappointment of its interlocutor, of his great honesty opposite its lord Sun Quan. Pointing its commanders then, Zhou Yu qualifies those of “Congregation of the heroes”. At the end of the evening, Zhou Yu invites Jiang Gan to place in its room and pretends intoxication. It collapses then in its bed, all vêtu, emitting growls and moanings in its sleep, making sure at the same time that its guest cannot close the eye.

Benefitting from the sleep of Zhou Yu, Jiang Gan excavates in the personal documents of its host and notices a letter coming from Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, two commanders of the naval forces of CAD CAD. The contents of this letter reveal rebellious intentions on behalf of the two men. Also, a few hours after, a commander comes to see Zhou Yu, whereas Jiang Gan makes pretense sleep and referred to the plot while speaking with low voice. When Zhou Yu rendort, Jiang Gan leaves the camping and leaves to join CAD CAD by taking care well to bring with him the accusing letter.

Of return on other side of the river, CAD CAD is irritated in front of the failure of the mission entrusted to Jiang Gan. However, Jiang Gan shows him the letter by point by point reporting all of which it was pilot lasting the night before. CAD CAD consequently makes carry out its two naval commanders and once only after the setting with death, realizes that he was deceived. A poem summarizing this intrigue is read then as follows:

CAD CAD, a Master of the intrigue,

is let take by the astute trick of Zhou Yu.

Cai and Zhang betrayed their lord

And fell under the bloody sword from CAD CAD.

By this trick of Zhou Yu, Jiang Gan contributes in spite of him to the weakening of CAD CAD, which loses two of its most qualified commanders as regards naval battle. Also introducing Pang Tong with CAD CAD in chapter 47, this last will suffer from a terrible defeat at the time of the battle of Red Cliff.

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