When Cao Cao reads the contents of the letter he is enraged. He considers that Cai Mao and Zhang Yun were bad men to begin with, since they could trade Liu Biao’s property for him bestowing them with rank and wealth. Naturally they would now trade his head for Zhou Yu bestowing them with the same. Cao Cao gives orders to execute Cai Mao and Zhang Yun. After they have been killed, Cao Cao realises that he has become victim to one of Zhou Yu’s deceitful schemes. When Zhou Yu gets up the next day he hears the sounds of cannons firing three times from the other side of the river. This means that Cao Cao has assembled his commanders in his tent. Then he hears two more shots, which makes Zhou Yu thrilled with joy that his plan has succeeded. Obviously, these are two shots of commemoration for the deaths of Cai Mao and Zhang Yun. In the midst of Zhou Yu’s happiness, Lu Su arrives and says that Zhou Yu should not have invited Jiang Gan. Zhou Yu tells the whole story to Lu Su, who then understands that it has all been part of a scheme. Zhou Yu sends Lu Su to visit Zhuge Liang and inquire about the case. It turns out that Zhuge Liang knows everything about Zhou Yu’s scheme. Lu Su returns and reports to Zhou Yu. Again, Zhou Yu wishes to murder Zhuge Liang.
的，一看內容大驚，是以曹操之頭換取周瑜的功名富貴。將書信暗藏袖中，設法離周瑜大營，坐原船回江北見曹操複命銷差。將此信呈上，曹操觀看書信。