The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 279 To the Tune of Linjiangxian: Remembering Li Ziyu at Chibi

Meanwhile, Li Yi set up an altar at Xilingkou to borrow wind.

At midnight, a strong east wind indeed arose, which greatly frightened the Qi and Wu soldiers.

The generals, led by Zhuge Liang and Chen Deng, hurriedly approached Li Yi and offered their advice:
"Now that the east wind has risen, we must not miss this opportunity to fight."

"The Prime Minister should issue the order to launch an attack as soon as possible."

"If the wind blows to Cao Cao's army, the traitor Cao will surely break the chains, and our army will lose the opportunity to fight."

Li Yi then said:

"I will serve as a vanguard general, riding in fire ships to defeat Cao Cao's army."

After he finished speaking, the generals of Huainan, led by Gan Ning, all volunteered for battle.

If we're talking about fighting on the spot, they are indeed no match for the people of Jiangbei.

But when it comes to playing in the water and tides in Jiangnan, seizing boats and boarding planks, no one can rival them.

Faced with a group of brave and fierce generals volunteering for the mission, Li Yi did not select any of them.

Zhuge Liang said:
“I have two men to recommend to the commander-in-chief. If we send them into battle, we will surely succeed.”

Upon hearing this, everyone wondered why Li Yi hadn't taken a liking to so many formidable generals.

Who are these two people who are capable of taking on the vanguard mission in this decisive battle?
"Cai Zhong, Cai He!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the two generals stepped forward.

"To defeat Cao Cao, we must use fire. Would you two be willing to lead the fire ships as the vanguard?"

Upon hearing this, the two Cais exchanged a glance, both showing signs of apprehension.

The two prostrated themselves and asked:

"The Wei army's naval camp is heavily fortified. If things fail, it may jeopardize the Prime Minister's important plans..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Deng slammed his fist on the table and shouted:

"What cowardice you have, you brat! Cao Cao's army is chained together, precisely for a fire attack!"

The two men prostrated themselves on the ground, not daring to argue with Chen Deng.

Li Yi then personally poured wine for them and spoke gently to the two men:

"...You may simply follow the plan."

"On the day of success, rank and reward will be plentiful."

"Moreover, Cao Cao is unaware that the two of you have already surrendered to our army. If you go this time, Cao Cao will not suspect you."

"Once the fire ships are set ablaze on their linked fleet, our main army will arrive shortly after and we will surely defeat them."

The two generals then accepted the order and, as Li Yi instructed, first sent a letter to Cao Cao's army.

It was sent to the banks of the Yangtze River, and the letter briefly stated:

—"Your subjects, Cai Zhong and Cai He, bow twice and respectfully present this to Duke Wei:"

"Since we were ordered to infiltrate the Qi army, we have been living in constant fear and anxiety, as if walking on thin ice."

"Now that we have discovered the Qi army's secrets, we dare not fail to report them."

"Li Yi has secretly allied with Jiangdong and intends to launch a full-scale attack on you tonight."

"Upon hearing this news, we were utterly terrified."

"Given your great kindness, how could we dare to sit idly by?"

"However, Li Yi is suspicious and has many spies under his command. I fear that if the matter is exposed, I will be killed."

"Therefore, he pretended to supervise grain transport, seized more than thirty fast boats, and fled from Xiakou at night."

"We are currently anchored thirty miles upstream from Wulin, deep in the reeds. We hope the Prime Minister will quickly send a light boat to meet us."

"If I can present this to you in person, I am willing to offer you a detailed battle plan of the Qi army and identify the spies from Jiangdong."

"This opportunity is fleeting and will not come again. I humbly request your wise consideration!"

"Your subjects, Cai Zhong and Cai He, bow again with tears of blood."

"In the eleventh year of Jian'an, in the eleventh month of winter."

Upon receiving the letters from Cai Zhong and Cai He, Cao Cao hastily gathered his civil and military officials to discuss the matter.
"Now I am on the banks of the Yangtze River, and my navy is ready."

"They successively defeated the naval forces of Huainan and Eastern Wu."

"The Cai brothers sent another letter saying that Li Yi intends to launch a full-scale attack tonight."

"I wish to engage in battle. What do you all think?"

Cheng Yu advised:

“Li Yi is cunning. He suffered repeated defeats before, but now he is launching a full-scale attack.”

"You should not trust me too easily, my lord."

Cao Cao stroked his beard and said:
"Although Li Yi is cunning, my navy is already complete."

"There is no reason to be afraid. Even if we are no match for them, we can retreat to Jiangling."

In Cao Cao's view, if his previous victory over the Qi army was due to Li Yi deliberately feigning weakness.

This would make them underestimate their enemy and mistakenly believe that their online army had been trained.

The worst that can happen is that we lose and retreat back to Jiangling.

Even if there is a gap in combat strength between the two sides, it is definitely not enough to say that they can be completely annihilated in one battle.

But if Cao Cao wins the gamble, Cai Zhong and Cai He will indeed steal the Qi army's military supplies.

Then Cao Cao would be able to defeat the Sun-Liu alliance in one fell swoop and annex Jiangnan.

Although the wounds of losing Hebei cannot be healed, the blood of the people of Jiangnan is enough to prolong his life!
After careful consideration, Cao Cao decided to take the gamble.

He didn't believe that if he lost the bet, he would lose the entire Jingzhou.

So Cao Cao mounted his horse and first inspected the dry camps along the river, then the water camps.

A large ship sits in the center, with a banner bearing the character "Commander" on it.

Both sides were lined with water fortresses, and thousands of bows and crossbows were hidden on the boats.

Cao Cao sat on a large ship, surrounded by hundreds of attendants, all dressed in brocade robes and carrying spears and halberds.

The civil and military officials sat down in order of rank.

Cao Cao looked across the river and said to his men:
"I am fifty-two years old this year, and it has been twelve years since I began to contend with Liu Bei for supremacy."

"If we win this battle, we will gain control of Jiangnan."

"With the lands of Jiangnan and Yuzhou, we can swallow Xuzhou."

"When Liu Bei loses his reliance, the world will be mine!"

In high spirits from the wine, everyone bowed and said:
"Liu Bei and Li Yi are nothing but ants; they are no match for Cao Cao!"

"Now is the time to fight desperately for Jiangnan, but Liu Bei has only sent one young man with 50,000 troops to Jiangnan."

"But the naval forces numbered only 30,000."

"Although he had the help of the Eastern Wu navy, the Sun family had ruled Jiangdong for three generations and was by no means the iron-fisted support of Liu Bei."

Sooner or later, the two families will fall out.

"On the other hand, Your Excellency has unified the eight prefectures of Jing and Xiang, and the Cai family has submitted to you and seized sole power in Jingzhou."

"With heroes rising up and valiant men vying for supremacy, the world will surely belong to you, my lord!"

Everyone showered Cao Cao with praise, showering him with compliments.

But people aren't just blindly praising it.

They mentioned a key point: the struggle for Jiangnan was a matter of life and death.

However, Liu Bei failed to give such an important strategic location a high priority.

It's not that we don't value it, it's that we value it highly.

Liu Bei could mobilize far more than 50,000 troops, but he only sent 50,000 to the south of the Yangtze River.

Fearing they wouldn't be able to control the various factions, they intentionally supported newcomers to rise to power.

Such hesitation and timidity, such fear of harming others, are all signs of weakness.

Lacking favorable timing, location, and popular support, its defeat was inevitable.

Therefore, everyone could be said to have a reasonable basis for flattering Cao Cao.

The main reason was that Cao Cao had suffered repeated setbacks in his battles with Liu Bei in recent years, and his confidence had greatly diminished.

People began to frequently encourage Cao Cao, hoping he could cheer up.

Cao Cao was indeed pleased with what he heard.

Just then, the naval commander Mao Jie arrived at the camp and reported that all the ships, large and small, had been properly coordinated and linked together.

Banners and weapons were all prepared.

We are just waiting for Duke Wei's command and are ready to advance at any time!

Cao Cao was overjoyed and sat down on the large ship in the center of the navy.
Summon all the generals and give them orders.

Both the land and water armies were equipped with five different colored flags.

The central yellow flag of the navy was commanded by Mao Jie.

The Red Flag of the Vanguard Army was commanded by Cao Xiu.

The rear army, under the command of Lü Qian, was marked by a black banner.

The Left Army's blue flag was commanded by Wen Pin, a surrendered general from Jingzhou.

The right wing, under the white flag, is commanded by Lü Tong.

Red flag of the cavalry vanguard, commanded by Guo Huai.

Li Dian, the commander of the rear army, led the black-banner troops; Yue Jin, the commander of the left army, led the

Cao Ren, Right Army White Flag.

Commanders responsible for both land and water transport: Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong.

Guards and war inspectors: Li Tong and Cao Zhen.

The remaining valiant generals each joined their respective units.

This lineup is the most comprehensive and powerful lineup that Cao Cao can mobilize.

Cao Cao was that kind of person; he always believed in one truth:
Those who achieve great things in ancient times have all dedicated everything to them!
Cao Cao was not without his share of defeats.

The current situation of the Battle of Jiangnan is very special.

From a battlefield perspective, the Wei army had the advantage, while the Qi army was at a disadvantage.

Strategically speaking, Wei was at a disadvantage, while Qi was at its peak.

For Cao Cao, losing the Battle of Red Cliffs would mean completely losing the opportunity to compete with the State of Qi.

If they win and successfully conquer the Jiangnan region, they will be able to return to the same starting line as the State of Qi.

On the other hand, what about Liu Bei?
Losing the Battle of Red Cliffs would simply mean retreating to the north bank of the Yangtze River.

He himself did not deploy too many troops in the Jiangnan region.

Even though they achieved the ugliest battle record since the founding of the nation, the Jiangnan Army was completely wiped out.

Liu Bei still had the Xuzhou army, Qingzhou army, Hebei army, Youzhou army, and Liaodong army.

Of course, only the troops from the three provinces of Qing, Xu and Ji were the main force, and also the ones under Liu Bei's strongest control.

For Liu Bei, the soldiers in other war zones were too far away to be easily mobilized.

Secondly, most of them were guarding the border and could not leave without permission.

Third, many of these soldiers were brought out by local powerful families, and Liu Bei might not be able to mobilize them.

For example, powerful figures in Youzhou such as Xianyu Fu, Zhang Nan, and Jiao Chu.

However, Liu Bei still possessed a military force capable of influencing the course of the world.

In short,

Liu Bei could afford to lose the Battle of Red Cliffs.

Therefore, he could proceed steadily, sending people to manage the Jiangnan region on one hand, and gradually absorbing his northern territory on the other.

At the same time, it can also focus on stabilizing the internal situation.

However, Cao Cao could no longer afford to lose; he had almost gambled everything he had on the Jiangnan region.

He was going to make one last stand against Liu Bei!
After the order was given, three rounds of drumbeats were sounded from the naval camp, and the warships of each unit set out from their respective gates.

That night, the ships hoisted their sails, braving the waves as if on flat ground.

The Northern soldiers on the ships eagerly displayed their courage, wielding spears and swords.

The flags and banners of the various armies, front, rear, left, and right, were not mixed up.

More than fifty small boats were also patrolled by police officers.

Cao Cao stood on the command platform, watching the training exercise, and was overjoyed, believing it to be a sure way to win.

The way of the people on the left and right:
"Our navy is now complete, why should we worry about not being able to defeat the Qi army?"

So he ordered them to lower the sails, leave the water fortress, and head straight towards Wulin.

The big boat crossed the river as if walking on flat ground.

Cao Cao stood at the bow of the ship, looking down on his triumphant self-satisfaction.

Cheng Yu came to find Cao Cao and said:
“My lord, after much thought, I still feel that this matter is not appropriate.”

Cao Cao asked, "What's wrong with it?"

Cheng Yu replied:

"The Qi army has suffered repeated defeats, and its morale is low. How dare they launch a full-scale attack now?"

"Moreover, Li Yi is good at judging people's hearts, and Cai Zhong and Cai He are not loyal and righteous people."

"What if we are lured by Li Yi and surrender without surrendering?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao angrily said:

"If these people dare to betray me, I will take their heads as offerings to my flag!"

Cheng Yu paused slightly, looking at the surrounding ships, which were tightly connected together by iron chains.

"Boats are all chained together, which makes them stable."

"But if they use fire to attack, it will be difficult to avoid, so we must be on guard."

Cao Cao threw his head back and laughed loudly:

“Zhongde is overthinking it. Whenever fire is used in an attack, the wind must be used to help.”

"In the dead of winter, there are only westerly and northerly winds; where are the easterly and southerly winds?"

“I am positioned in the northwest, while their troops are all on the south bank.”

"If they use fire, they will burn their own troops. What do I have to fear?"

"If it were early spring in April, I would have already made preparations, and I would not have gone into battle at this time!"

Cao Cao is not stupid either.

In the spring, Cao Cao had already traveled south of the Yangtze River.

Why didn't they engage in a decisive battle with the Qi army at that time?

It wasn't just because the online army wasn't well-trained, but also because the prevailing wind at the time was from the southeast.

Cao Cao wouldn't be in a superior position and foolishly confront the Qi army head-on.

All the generals bowed and prostrated themselves, saying:

"The Prime Minister's insight is profound; we are no match for it."

"We will surely defeat the Qi army in this battle and capture Li Yi alive!"

Cao Cao turned to his generals and encouraged them, saying:

"Liu Bei's troops were mostly from Qing, Xu, Yan, and Dai, and were not accustomed to traveling by boat."

"Today, only Chen Yuanlong's army in Huainan is capable of fighting in water."

"Gentlemen, the water work is complete. Now, let's fight on!"

"...Victory is certain! Victory is certain!"

The crowd was in high spirits and raised their arms in a shout.

Each of them strengthened their conviction and resolved to shatter the myth of the invincibility of the Qi army.

The large ship passed through the village and headed straight for Jiangnan.

Meanwhile, on the south bank, the sound of drums could be heard the previous night, and Cao Cao was seen training his navy. The scouts reported this to Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang climbed the mountain to look out and then came to report to Li Yi.

Li Yi calmly replied:

"I already know that."

"Cao Cao's navy has passed Zhouling and is heading straight for Chibi."

"We can instruct the soldiers to prepare early, and the battle of Jiangnan can be won in one battle."

Zhuge Liang asked in surprise:

"How does Your Excellency know this?"

Li Yi then handed his telescope to Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang had long heard that Prime Minister Li possessed a magical artifact capable of reaching a distance of a thousand miles.

Apart from Li Yi, only Liu Bei, the King of Qi, ever used this magical artifact.

Zhuge Liang had always wanted to use it, but Li Yi gave it to him so casually.

He carefully took it with both hands, placed it in front of his eyebrows, and examined it.

Looking out over the river to the north, one can see warships lined up on the water.

The flags and banners are all in order.

"Master Xiang!"

"As expected, Cao's army fell for the trap and came with their entire force."

Should we attack?

Zhuge Liang already had a plan in mind, but he appeared exceptionally respectful in front of his senior.

Li Yi replied calmly:
"It's ready to be attacked!"

Zhuge Liang was overjoyed and immediately returned to his tent to begin assigning duties to his generals. He first summoned Gan Ning and instructed him:

"Xingba led an army and headed towards the south bank, only flying the banner of the Northern Army."

"Take the land of Wulin directly, which is where Cao Cao stores his grain."

"We can infiltrate deep into the army camp and use fire as a signal!"

Gan Ning gladly accepted the order and led the Jinfan Lang away.

Then Taishi Ci was summoned to come forward:

“Ziyi has long guarded the border for Your Majesty, and now is the time to put his strength to use.”

"You can lead your Yuzhang army straight to the Yunshe territory and cut off Cao Cao's reinforcements from Xiangyang."

"Whenever Cao's soldiers approach, set fire as a signal."

"If you see a red flag, it means Wu's troops are coming to meet you. Do not kill the wrong people."

Taishi Ci bowed and agreed, then withdrew to receive the order.

These two troop groups had traveled the longest distance, so Zhuge Liang gave the orders first.

Then Zhao Yun led three thousand soldiers to Wulin to meet Gan Ning and help him burn Cao Cao's stockade.

For the fourth troop, Zhuge Liang summoned Gao Shun.

He was ordered to lead his elite troops to intercept the border of Yiling.

As soon as the fire breaks out in Ulin, we will respond with military force.

The fifth team summoned Huang Zhong, who also led three thousand soldiers, and headed straight for the territory of Hanyang.

From the case of the attack on Cao Cao in Hanchuan, we can see the white flag being used to receive the enemy.

The sixth team summoned Jiang Qin to lead 3,000 soldiers, all of whom were flying white flags, to Hanyang to meet Huang Zhong.

The six fleets of ships each received their orders and went their separate ways.

Then he instructed Cai Zhong and Cai He to arrange fire ships to go to the place agreed upon with Cao Cao.

Then he ordered Xu Sheng to lead a fleet of ships to meet the two generals from behind.

It is also said that Xu Shengdao:
"If Cai Zhong and Cai He have any disloyal intentions, kill them from behind!"

Clearly, even at the very last moment, Zhuge Liang still could not completely trust the Cai brothers.

Unlike Li Yi, he didn't rely entirely on his own subjective judgment when employing people.

Zhuge Liang was cautious throughout his life, and he had to be extra careful around such a cowardly person.

After the distribution was completed

Zhuge Liang then redeployed the main force.

The first team was led by Zhou Tai, the second team by Chen Jiao, the third team by Chen Deng, and the fourth team by Chen Deng.

He personally took charge.

Four teams of officers, each leading three hundred warships, with twenty fire ships arranged in front of each team.

Zhuge Liang then invited Li Yi to board the large warship to "observe the battle".

Of course, the real reason was to have him oversee the battle.

Then he sent someone to contact Zhou Yu's army, ordering him to send ships across the river to cooperate with the Qi army in attacking the Jingzhou navy.

Upon receiving the order, Zhou Yu immediately led his army into the river.

Not to be discussed.

……

Meanwhile, Cao Cao led his army straight towards Wulin, quietly waiting for Cai Zhong and Cai He to arrive.

As the boat was sailing, a strong east wind suddenly came on.

Cheng Yu hurriedly went to inform Cao Cao:
“My lord, something seems amiss.”

"Just now the northwest wind was blowing, but as we approached the south of the Yangtze River, the southeast wind suddenly became very strong."

"There is a fear of making a mistake, so we should take precautions early."

Cao Cao stroked his beard and pondered for a moment:
"At the winter solstice, the yang energy begins to rise again. How can there be no southeast wind at this time of return?"

"Zhongde, don't be surprised. After you have taken command of Cai Zhong and Cai He, we will fight the Qi army to the death!"

So they rode the wind and went straight to the location of Red Cliff.

At that time, a strong east wind blew and the waves surged.

Cao Cao stood in the central command post, gazing across the river as the moon rose.

The light shines on the river, like ten thousand golden snakes, churning and playing in the waves.

Cao Cao took a deep breath. In the past, if he had seen this scene, he would have been filled with pride and ambition.

At this moment, Cao Cao's face only showed a few more signs of hardship than before.

Suddenly, a soldier pointed out:
"A cluster of sails faintly appears in the distance south of the Yangtze River, carried by the wind!"

Cao Cao hurriedly looked up from a high vantage point and reported:
“They all displayed blue dragon flags, with a large flag inside.”

"The inscription contains the names of Cai Zhong and Cai He."

Cao Cao was overjoyed and said to his attendants:

"These two men did not deceive me. With the help of the Cai family, we will win this battle!"

The two Cais led thirty warships, loaded with saltpeter, sulfur, and fish oil, and covered with blue curtains to disguise them as grain ships.

They marched straight towards Cao Cao's central army.

Cai Zhongxin's heart was pounding, and he whispered to Cai He beside him:

"If we turn our backs on Cao Cao and side with Liu Bei, and we lose the battle, Cao Cao will surely wipe out our entire family!"

If they sided with Cao Cao and lost the battle, Liu Bei might not necessarily kill them.

But if they side with Liu Bei and lose, Cao Cao will definitely exterminate their entire clan.

Not to mention, at this time, the two Cai brothers had betrayed Cao Cao and even tried to deceive him by pretending to be grain ships.

Cai He gritted his teeth and said in a ferocious voice:

"The arrow is on the bowstring, and we have no choice but to release it."

"Prime Minister Li ordered us to attack the fire-carrying ships. Once we were on board, there was no way to retreat."

"If you succeed, even if you are not promoted to a high-ranking position, you will still bring honor to your wife and children, which will be enough to ensure a wealthy and prosperous life for the rest of your days!"

"...Alright, I hope this trip goes smoothly."

The two generals, having made their decision, quickened their pace on the raft.

Meanwhile, the boatmen and sailors shouted that they were on their side and begged Cao Cao not to fire arrows.

As the ship drew closer, Cheng Yu watched for a long time from the ship, as it was dark.

When he finally saw clearly, his pupils dilated instantly, and he hurriedly stopped Cao Cao, shouting:

"My lord! Quickly, order your men to intercept the approaching ship!"

"The approaching ship is surely a trap! Don't let it get any closer!"

Cao Cao was also frightened by Cheng Yu and hurriedly asked:
How did Zhongde know this?

Cheng Yu pointed with his finger and said:

"If there is grain in the boat, the boat will be stable."

"Looking at the approaching boat, it is light and buoyant."

"Moreover, the southeast wind is very strong tonight, so it is possible that they are carrying something to start a fire."

"My great ships are all chained together; how can I withstand this?"

Cao Cao was startled upon hearing this and immediately realized what was happening.

He hurriedly asked the crowd who could stop the approaching ship.

Wen Ping volunteered:
"I am based in Jingzhou, where I have been familiar with waterways for many years and am quite skilled in them. I would like to request permission to come!"

After speaking, he jumped off the small boat and pointed with his hand.

A dozen or so patrol boats followed Wenpin's ship out.

Wen Ping stood at the bow of the boat and shouted:
"Lord Wei has ordered that no southern ships should approach; they should instead anchor in the middle of the river!"

The soldiers joined in the shouting:
"Get out of the tent immediately, do not go any further!"

Cai Zhong and Cai He exchanged a glance and quickly discussed:

"Cao Cao seems to have noticed, and our fire ships have not yet approached."

What should we do?

Just as the two were at their wits' end, they suddenly heard the sound of a bowstring.

An arrow swept past, shooting straight forward, striking Zhong Wenping's left arm.

Wenping cried out and collapsed in the boat, where he was rescued by the others.

Cai Zhong and Cai He were shocked and quickly turned around.

A fleet of ships followed behind, led by Xu Sheng.

Xu Sheng shouted:
"The Prime Minister ordered you to come forward and burn the ships, so why should you hesitate?"

"Now that we're here, let's just kill them!"

After saying that, he gestured with his hand.

The Huainan navy charged straight ahead, heading straight for Wenpin's fleet.

Wen Ping was unable to command due to an arrow wound, and was caught off guard.

The ship was immediately thrown into chaos, and everyone rushed back.

Xu Sheng personally took the helm and led his troops toward Cao Cao's large ship.

Upon seeing this, Cai Zhong and Cai He immediately sent men to follow.

We might as well go all the way and completely rebel!

The southern boat was only two miles away from Cao Cao's water camp.

Xu Sheng stood proudly at the bow of the boat and made a move with his knife.

The boat ahead caught fire together, and the fire was amplified by the wind.

The ship sprang forth like an arrow, its smoke and flames rising into the sky.

Xu Sheng led a light boat upstream, charging straight ahead.

Upon seeing that it was the Huainan navy, Cao Cao cried out in anguish:

"Cai'er tricked me! Cai'er tricked me!"

Therefore, he urgently ordered his navy to use large warships to intercept them and prevent the fire ships from getting close.

Xu Shengxian ordered his soldiers to lie in ambush on the ship's side, and when the enemy ships approached, he suddenly fired rockets.

Fire crows blotted out the sun, and Cao Cao's army's front lines were completely burned.

However, the Northern Army was powerful, and Xu Sheng's vanguard was small in number.

A volley of arrows rained down, the arrows flying like locusts.

Xu Sheng was shot in the left arm with an arrow, his battle robe stained with blood, yet he still shouted and fought fiercely.

……

At the same time, Gan Ning led his elite troops in a night raid on Cao Cao's camp.

Once inside Cao's stronghold, Gan Ning shot and killed the gatekeeper with an arrow.

Then he led his soldiers in and set fire to the grass.

When Taishi Ci saw the fire, he followed orders and set fire to more than ten places to support Gan Ning.

Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong set off fires and shouted slogans separately, and the sound of drums resounded all around.

The Cao army guarding the main camp on the shore was caught off guard because Cao Cao had taken away the main force and the Qi army was advancing aggressively.

Many people were frightened and abandoned the village.

The remaining veterans calmed the crowd and ordered their men to investigate.

Only then did they realize that this cavalry force was not the main force of the Qi army.

The Qi army's arson just now was nothing more than a bluff.

Since Cao Cao led his main force to the river to fight the Qi army, it was impossible for the Qi army not to take its main force with it.

So he led his men out and fought bravely.

If the knife breaks, the fist will fight; if the fist cracks, the teeth will bite.

A night of fighting,
The river water turned red...

Li Yi stood on the ship, holding a telescope, observing the battle situation ahead.

A gentle east wind brushed his cheek, and he put away his tools, stood up, and addressed the crowd:
"The wind is getting stronger and stronger; this is a golden opportunity,"

"Gentlemen, strive on, for the destruction of Cao Cao is imminent."

"Let all the prepared fire ships be dispatched!"

Zhuge Liang followed his advice and ordered all the fire ships to set sail.

The fire ships sailed downwind, and all the ships in Cao Village were lit up in an instant.

They were locked in place by iron rings, with no way to escape.

Cannons roared across the river, and fire ships arrived from all directions.

On the surface of the three rivers, fire flew with the wind.

Flames soared into the sky, smoke and fire scorched the clouds.

A sea of ​​red, stretching to the heavens and the earth.

The cries of the Northern Army echoed across the fields, and countless soldiers drowned in the water.

"No! Stop them! Stop them!"

Cao Cao shouted from the fireboat, his eyes filled with disbelief.

However, no matter how much Cao Cao shouted, the fire could not be stopped.

Upon seeing this, Cao Cao had no choice but to order the ships to quickly dock and retreat to shore.

However, the fire was so intense that the Wei army could not completely evacuate in a short time.

Most of the Jingzhou navy soldiers were good swimmers, and many of them seized small boats and escaped from the larger ships to save their lives.

Those who failed to seize a warship plunged directly into the water.

As the warships gradually approached the shore, someone suddenly came to report:

—It is said that Gan Ning, Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun and others raided the Wei camp and now they can't get back!

Cao Cao was greatly alarmed and looked towards the river.

Several bursts of smoke swept by, and Zhou Tai had already led his army to the scene, leaping onto the small boat.

Several men in a boat, billowing smoke and flames, came to find Cao Cao.

Seeing the urgency of the situation, Cao Cao was about to jump ashore when Cao Hong suddenly came to meet him in a small boat.

"Lord Wei, come this way quickly!"

Cao Hong struggled forward, grabbed Cao Cao, and helped him onto the boat.

The large ship that Cao Cao abandoned was burned to the ground and sank into the water.

With a shield in one hand and a knife in the other, Cao Hong, along with a dozen or so men, fiercely protected Cao Cao, helping him rush ashore.

Having finally escaped, Cao Cao abandoned his boat and went ashore, leaving behind mountains of armor.

Jiang Qin led a light cavalry to intercept them, but the horses' hooves suddenly sank into the mud.

Jiang Qin walked on foot, brandishing his sword, and was wounded several times.

Zhou Yu led his army in a flanking attack, personally wielding the drumsticks. An arrow pierced his arm, staining his battle robe with blood.

Zhuge Liang oversaw the rear guard's strategic planning, allowing the victorious warships to slowly dock.

Just as everyone was preparing to disembark, Cao Ren suddenly arrived with his iron cavalry.

Their numbers were small, clearly intended to cover Cao Cao's retreat.

However, Cao Ren was adept at seizing opportunities, always choosing to attack when the Qi army was caught off guard after landing.

Zhuge Liang immediately ordered a volley of arrows and crossbows, and Cao Ren retreated and regrouped.

The battle raged until late afternoon, and the riverbanks were piled high with corpses, reaching ankle-deep.

By dusk, Cao Cao's army had completely collapsed and retreated.

Li Yi climbed to a high place and looked out. He saw that the river had turned completely red, and floating corpses filled the river. He looked up to the sky and sighed:

"One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers. May the world be at peace soon after this battle!"

Those around him who heard this could not help but shed tears.

A later poem, "Linjiangxian: Remembering Li Ziyu at Chibi," was written:
The Yangtze River, stretching for thousands of miles, churns with blood-red waves.
A thousand ships were burned to ashes.

The east wind lends its power to the young hero.

The brocade pouch holds the sun and moon.
A feather fan cleaves the sky.

Don't say that scholars can't defeat the enemy.
The fiery clouds burned Cao Cao to ashes.

Success achieved, I sit alone and watch the tide rise.

The sound of the waves mourns the brave warriors.
A toast to heroes.

……

Fortunately, the war was basically over. The complete rout of Cao Cao's army meant that Cao Cao would lose the opportunity to compete with Liu Bei for control of Jiangnan.

"Your Excellency, Cao Cao's main force has been routed. Order a pursuit!"

Guan Ping, standing nearby, offered his advice.

Li Yi frowned and suddenly issued an order:
"We can order the main force to withdraw, and let Zhou Yu have the credit for capturing Cao Cao!"

Upon hearing this, everyone around was taken aback.

They prepared for the Battle of Red Cliffs for nearly a year.

Wasn't the goal to capture Cao Cao alive?
What did the Prime Minister mean by giving this tremendous achievement to Zhou Yu?
……

(End of this chapter)