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Chapter 47 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms – titled “Kan Ze Delivers the Surrender Letter; Pang Tong Proposes the Linked Ships Stratagem” – marks the culmination of a meticulously woven tapestry of deception that sets the stage for the Battle of Red Cliffs.
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In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Luo Guanzhong invented many plot points, such as the noble sacrifice of Lady Mi, the killing of Liu Cong mentioned earlier, and Cai Mao, the protagonist of today’s article, who was also killed by Cao Cao, among others. There are quite a few similar examples.
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Chapter 45 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms – titled “Zhou Yu Schemes to Eliminate Cai Mao and Zhang Yun; Jiang Gan Falls for the Bait at the Heroes’ Feast” – unfolds as a masterclass in psychological warfare and strategic deception on the eve of the epochal Battle of Red Cliffs.