Huang Gai



Huang Gai is one of the generals of Sun Quan and a supporting character in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Bio
Huang Gai joined Sun Jian when he raised an army of volunteers to oppose Dong Zhuo. Shortly after their success against Dong Zhuo, Huang Gai was promoted to Auxiliary Commander. After Sun Jian's death, he remained loyal to the Sun family by following Sun Ce in his Jiangdong conquests. Known for his compassion towards the commoners, he was extremely skilled in the battles between hillmen and Shanyue tribes. When Sun Ce attacked Huang Zu and Liu Xun on the Yangtze River, Huang Gai was appointed Acting Farm Colonel. After Sun Ce's death, Sun Quan continued the war against Huang Zu and appointed Huang Gai Colonel-in-Chief of Danyang.

Later years, then division commander under Zhou Yu, he participated in the Battle of the Red Cliff and suggested the ploy of an incendiary attack on the Cao Cao fleet. Pretending to surrender, Huang Gai approached the ships close enough to set them on fire. Helped by strong winds, the entire fleet of Cao Cao was inflamed, as well as his camps and the latter had to give up conquering the South. Skillful in training his men and never neglecting one of his tasks, Huang Gai was greatly admired by Sun Quan, who gave him the title of General of the Gentlemen of the House. Huang Gai often served as prefect in the counties where the Shanyue tribes rebelled and each time he pacified the territory successfully, gaining the respect of his rivals. He was elevated to the rank of Lieutenant-General after defeating the Shanyue in Yiyang County. In all, he was assigned to nine counties, including Wuling, where he died of natural causes a few years after taking office.