Zhou Yu smiled proudly: "We have been in Jiangdong for a long time. We built a water fort in Ruxu years ago. How could we not know the surrounding terrain? By then, we will have a guide to lead the way to the back of Qibao Mountain. After I burn the floating boats, we will also send troops to help us in the battle."
Liu Qi then nodded and said, "Since we have a guide to assist us, leave the Cao army in Xishan to me!"
Zhou Yu was a first-rate commander during the Three Kingdoms period. He would never take military strategies for granted. Now that the time had come to defeat Cao's army, there was no need for him to betray his friendly forces.
It was agreed that they would march in two days. The troops of Jingzhou crossed the river overnight and entered Qibao Mountain. When they saw that Ruxu was on fire, they went to raid the camp.
Here, Zhou Yu ordered his generals to divide the troops, and Liu Qi also returned to the camp to prepare. When everyone saw that he was also going to fight, they all tried to dissuade him, saying that it would involve crossing mountains and rivers and there would be a fight, so he didn't need to take the risk himself.
Liu Qi felt helpless. In the eyes of these people, he was still a young master of a noble family, living a life of luxury and being powerless.
Just as he was about to say something, Ji Miao came over with a medicine jar in his hand and said, "General, it's time to take your medicine!"
Xu Shu smiled and said, "General, you have just recovered and are still recuperating. You don't need to trouble yourself to lead the army. Just wait here for good news."
"Uh..." Liu Qi was helpless. He took the medicine bowl and drank a sip. He said, "In this case, Zilong and I will stay in the camp. Zixiong, Hansheng, and Xingba will lead the troops. Yuanzhi will serve as a military advisor and act according to circumstances."
Liu Pan and the other two received the order and went to prepare. They waited for Zhou Yu to send them as a guide and then set out at night.
After Liu Qi finished drinking the medicine, he smacked his lips and felt something was wrong: "Mr. Ji, this medicine doesn't taste bitter anymore. Why does it smell fishy?"
During this trip to Jiangdong, Liu Qi specially brought a doctor with him, not only to recuperate himself but also to be on the safe side. The diet of several important figures was personally taken care of by Ji Miao.
Even if someone suffers from acclimatization, headache or fever, it will be more reassuring to have a famous doctor by his side.
Ji Miao was packing up his medicine box. He paused for a moment and sighed, "The virus in the general's body has been completely cleared. Now all the tonics are prescribed, including tiger bones, deer blood, etc. Although they have a slight fishy smell, they can replenish essence and strengthen muscles and bones. This is the prescription my father wrote for Cao thief back then..."
Liu Qi understood immediately after hearing this. With Lao Cao's hobby, he really couldn't sustain it without some aphrodisiac/yang-tonifying medicine. No wonder he always sleeps in a tent recently!
Seeing that Liu Qi was silent, Ji Miao hurriedly explained: "General, don't worry, this medicine has no harm. Although it has the effect of strengthening yang, as long as the general practices martial arts diligently and consumes his energy, there will be no problem."
Liu Qi waved his hand and said, "I am not doubting you, sir. I just think it is a pity that your respected doctor was killed by a thief. If I hadn't leaked the secret, Cao's body would have rotted away long ago."
Ji Miao said: "My two brothers fled to the underworld, endured humiliation and lived in seclusion, hoping to kill the traitor one day to comfort our father's spirit in heaven, and pass on the family medical skills to help more sick people."
"Don't worry, I'm helping Doctor Ji with his unfinished business!" Liu Qi smiled coldly, "As for passing on medical skills, as long as the medical school opens smoothly, we can recruit many disciples and have many students all over the world."
"How dare I!" Ji Miao clasped his fists and said, "My father served the Han Dynasty loyally. I am satisfied that I can follow the general to restore the Han Dynasty!"
At this time, Cao Cao was walking on a floating bridge with his civil and military officials. The large ships were connected by iron chains. Although the wind and waves were slightly up and down, it was very stable and did not affect the movement.
Cao Cao personally rode his horse around twice, praised repeatedly, and ordered the navy to use linked boats, five or six small boats and three or four large boats, locked together for naval training.
Xun You returned with them, but he was worried: "The ships are connected with iron chains. If the thieves use fire to attack, it will be difficult to untie them. How can we avoid it?"
Cao Cao stroked his beard and laughed, "Ruxu Camp is on the east mountain. Now there is only an east wind. If Zhou Lang uses fire to attack, I will use fire arrows on the camp first. Before the Wu army approaches, their ships will be on fire. They will burn themselves. What is there to be afraid of?"
"Prime Minister, that's a good idea!" Xun You was relieved, and said, "When Dongwu sees that I have built bridges and connected boats, and have good water and land transportation, they will definitely come to fight. Prime Minister, you should make preparations early."
Cao Cao laughed and said, "Gongda is right. I sent people to Liyang yesterday and ordered Cao Ren to lead troops to come. If Zhou Lang dares to mobilize his troops, we will intercept him from behind. Even if we burn the Ruxu Water Fort, I will seize Zhou Yu's camp. Then we can cross the river to the south with the linked boats. This place is like chicken ribs to me and is of no importance."
After the pontoon bridge test was successful, Cao's army built linked boats overnight and could not wait to train their troops the next day. Cao Xiu led the navy, Xiahou Dun led the infantry, and Le Jin led the cavalry of Xishanzhai. They coordinated by land and water, with the sound of drums incessantly.
Cao Cao stood on a warship on the floating bridge, stroking his beard while watching the drill, looking south from time to time. This was for both training troops and attracting Zhou Yu to attack.
Although the linked boats helped to stabilize the morale of the army, the rainy season was approaching. If they could not win, they would have no choice but to retreat. The outcome had to be decided as soon as possible.
The next morning, there was a sudden sound of drums in the camp. Cao Xiu sent someone to report that the Wu army had taken advantage of the fog to launch a surprise attack again.
Cao Cao did not take it seriously. At this time, the army had already prepared fire arrows. No matter whether the enemy came to borrow arrows or attack the camp, the loss would outweigh the gain.
A quarter of an hour later, the drumbeats had not yet ceased when the personal guards came to report that a huge fire had broken out along the coast and the river was filled with smoke, making it even harder to see the enemy ships.
Cao Cao guessed that it must be Zhou Yu coming to attack, so he sent someone to the West Mountain to pass the order, asking Le Jin to lead the cavalry and the entire army to prepare to fight the enemy.
Just as he was getting ready to go out, Cao Xiu rushed in in a panic, exclaiming, "Prime Minister, fire, fire, fire..."
Cao Cao said coldly: "Don't I know there is a fire? This fire is burning the Jiangdong navy, why are you panicking?"
Cao Xiu said anxiously: "The fire is coming ashore!"
"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible!" Cao Cao waved his hand, quickly walked out of the tent, and his whole body froze.
In front of the water fort, raging flames formed a wall of fire, which was spreading towards the village. Thick smoke billowed, and the place was filled with smoke and fire. The soldiers and horses kept retreating in chaos.
It was foggy at the time and there was no wind in the canyon. When the fire started, tornadoes formed and flames ran everywhere.
"This?!" Cao Cao was incredulous. "The enemy ships haven't even come close yet. How could you use fire arrows to burn our own camp?"
"It's the straw boats!" Cao Xiu pointed ahead and stamped his feet, saying, "The Wu army pushed the straw boats quickly to the front, but the navy sailed away, dumping the straw on the shore and spreading the fire."
Muffled noises continued to be heard in the distance. Cao Cao looked up and saw countless boats loaded with hay breaking through the fog and rushing towards them upstream.
These boats had already been ignited by fire arrows and were burning fiercely. They crashed into the shore with a loud bang, and the firewood and straw were blown into the air. A large amount of sparks exploded in the air and flew straight into the village.
Some of the ships crashed too hard and flew directly to the surface of the water in the huge waves, crashing into the village. The hulls of the ships tilted like overturned braziers, and the soldiers had no time to avoid them, let alone put out the fire.
"Thatch boat... Thatch—" Cao Cao was extremely shocked and furious. The situation was beyond his expectations, so he quickly ordered his troops to retreat.