"Sun Ce entrusted Sun Quan to Zhou Yu and Zhang Zhao on his deathbed."
"If it weren't for Sun Ce's last words, we probably wouldn't be here today."
"Ask Zhang Zhao if you are undecided about internal affairs, and ask Zhou Yu if you are undecided about external affairs." Liu Bei smiled helplessly.
Zhuge Liang stroked his beard and said, "Zhou Yu suffers from a hidden disease, which is the misfortune of Soochow, but the great fortune of the lord."
Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei walked through the barracks, followed by the silent Zhao Yun. Liu Bei shook his head and said, "You can't say that. Now we are guests and Dongwu is the master. It is time for everyone to work together to tide over the difficulties."
Zhuge Liang raised his eyes and looked at Zhao Yun, Zhao Yun seemed to be still in deep thought, Liu Bei said again: "Zilong, in your opinion, how is Zhou Dudu?"
"Although I don't talk much," Zhao Yun replied, "but I never backed down. In the past, Cao Pi and I were trapped in Shouchun City, and it was thanks to Zhou Yu that we were able to retreat. Bofu is friendly, generous, and has a funny personality. Gong Jin is calm and stable, with a firm will."
Liu Bei said: "Do you think Soochow and us joined forces to resist Cao Jun, how much is true, how much is false?"
Zhao Yun took a deep breath and said, "It's very true, Gong Jin never breaks his word."
Zhuge Liang said: "In the past few years since Sun Ce's death, I thought that Zhou Yu had ignored Jiangdong's affairs. Now that I think about it, people who talk less, stay silent, and retreat again and again have nowhere to go. When they want to take action, He is more determined than anyone else."
"Exactly." Liu Bei nodded and said, "If you can get rid of the root cause of Dudu's illness, I will ask you to help me."
Zhuge Liang smiled and shook his head, very helpless, Liu Bei said again: "Zilong, you and Jiangdong are old acquaintances, do you know what caused Zhou Yu's illness?"
Zhao Yun thought for a long time, and then replied: "In the past, I heard Gong Jin mention one or two things. It is said that the root cause of the disease was the lungs that were frostbitten by falling into the water when I was a child. But when Bo Fu was alive, Gong Jin repeatedly asked me not to mention it. .”
"If that's the case." Zhuge Liang replied, "Even if Hua Tuo is still there, there is nothing we can do."
In the afternoon, Zhuge Liang talked with Liu Bei and Zhao Yun for a while, and now the entire Jiangdong and Sun Liu coalition forces of more than 100,000 people are waiting for Zhou Yu's final decision. The day when Cao Cao crossed the river was getting closer and closer, and he still had no idea how to fight this battle.
The strong wind on the riverside howled and hunted, from west to east, blowing the military flags fluttering.
Zhuge Liang stood by the river facing the wind, his robes fluttering.
Zhou Yu was wearing a military uniform and walked along the river. Zhuge Liang didn't look back, and said, "The wind and waves of the Yangtze River are huge, and the people in Jiangdong are outstanding. Even if they are going to die tomorrow, today's various things are in my eyes. It is really worth coming to Jiangdong." It's been a while."
Zhou Yu said casually: "No matter how magnificent the scenery is, it's really boring to look at it like this every day, but it's just a vast scene in Liren's eyes, and it's not worth mentioning."
Zhuge Liang turned around with a smile. Zhou Yu's face was pale, with a sword at his waist and a black armor with fish scales standing by the river.
"Presumably the governor has countermeasures."
"Sir, please follow me." Zhou Yu made a gesture of invitation.
Zhuge Liang followed Zhou Yu downstream along the river, all the way into the naval barracks. The water tray was opened, and in a wide pool ten steps wide and one hundred steps long, there were hundreds of boats connected end to end by straw ropes floating on the north bank.
Zhuge Liang bowed his hands to Sun Quan, and Zhou Yu signaled everyone to start.
"A few days later, Cao's army was forced to go to the east bank." Zhou Yu said, "We have 41 warships, and we have to use up all the fuel, sacrifice a thousand soldiers, and die with Cao's army."
"Oil is lighter than water." Zhou Yu pulled Cao's warships to the east bank. Gan Ning and Ling Tong pushed the Soochow water army with hook fences, and attacked from both sides. The empty ship is loaded with kerosene and thatch.
"After the two sides fought hand to hand." Zhou Yu said again, "the oil tanker collided with the warship."
Two generals pushed the boat towards the center, and forty-one small boats rolled over one after another. They poured the kerosene in the empty boat into the water, and then Lu Su flicked the torch, lit the thatch, and threw it into the river. Immediately, there was a "boom", and the flames engulfed the entire warship chain.
Everyone was silent. In the black river, Cao Jun's warship fell apart and quickly retreated towards the south bank along the chain of fire.
Zhou Yu's eyes reflected a black night, and the kite with flames and sparks floating in the night sky many years ago. It seemed that Sun Ce was on the other side, riding his horse and rushing towards him at high speed.
"Gongjin!"
Sun Ce shouted with a smile.
"Captain?" Sun Quan said.
Zhou Yu was startled, woke up, and found that everyone around him was looking at him, Lu Su made a gesture, Zhou Yu came back to his senses, thought for a while, and said: "Once there is a fire, Cao Jun has two decisions."
"One is to retreat." Zhuge Liang answered this question for Zhou Yu, "Once I retreat, I will have a chance to win. If the river catches fire, it will be hard to see from the beginning to the end, and I will be smashed into a ball."
"Exactly." Zhou Yu replied, "The second is to burn the boat and rush to the shore regardless of the fire. But it is too late for the opponent to rush to the east bank after the fire is already on fire. In the end, it is time for the army to fight to the death. Resist when it hits the shore, so that when the follow-up ships burn, even if the military god is reborn, it will not help."
"No need." Zhuge Liang said, "Once this plan is implemented, Cao Cao's entire army will definitely be burned to death in the middle of the river, and they will never go ashore again."
"The governor has a good plan." Sun Quan didn't wipe off his cold sweat until this moment, and really relaxed.
"Although there is a plan." Zhou Yu said, "but there are still many variables. Everyone here today, please keep a secret. The reason why I only invite you here is not because you can't trust Liu Yuzhou..."
"I understand." Zhuge Liang bowed his hands to the crowd.
Zhou Yu: "This plan must be in harmony with the time, place and people. Both are indispensable. How to set fire to burn the most ships of Cao's army as much as possible is still a long-term plan between me and the generals."
Zhou Yu's strategy of attacking with fire obviously gave Zhuge Liang a reassurance. Zhuge Liang knew that it was not too late, and he had to go back and make arrangements with Liu Bei, so he left early.
Everyone cleaned up the water tray, Zhou Yu was still meditating until everyone around him had disappeared, Sun Quan was still standing behind Zhou Yu, Zhou Yu coughed violently again, Sun Quan stroked Zhou Yu's back with his hands.
"After this battle is over." Zhou Yu murmured, "If we win by chance, then it will be your world."
After saying this, he turned his head slightly and looked into Sun Quan's eyes, which were full of heroism.
"What about that day, have you thought about it?"
Sun Quan knew that Zhou Yu was urging him to make a decision. If he could win the battle of Chibi and detain Liu Bei, Cao Cao would retreat to Yecheng.
But he still didn't give Zhou Yu an answer.
"How did you come up with this plan?" Sun Quan asked with a smile.
Zhou Yu didn't ask any more questions, but replied: "If I say that your brother entrusted me with a dream, would you believe it or not?"
Sun Quan nodded happily, and after Zhou Yu finished speaking, he turned and left.
For several days in a row, there was no news from the West Bank, and no decision from the East Bank. Both sides were waiting. As for what they were waiting for, only their respective coaches knew.
"When will you go to battle?" Liu Bei's voice came first before Liu Bei's men arrived. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Zhuge Liang and others actually came to visit first.
"If you want to defeat Duke Cao, you must attack with fire. Everything is ready, and you only need the east wind." Zhou Yu replied casually while reading.
Liu Bei sat down in the hall and said, "If the east wind doesn't arrive..."
"...and Cao Jun comes first." Zhou Yu picked up Liu Bei's inconvenient words, "Then the whole army will be wiped out, and no one will be spared."
"Tomorrow evening." Zhuge Liang said, "I would like to open the altar, pray to heaven with human power, and pray for the east wind with the governor, how about it?"
Zhou Yu raised his eyebrows and looked at Zhuge Liang in disbelief.
"It's God's will." Zhou Yu said lightly, "Mister, don't you think that manpower can dominate God's will?"
"This battle is about the luck of our Han army and Wu army." Zhuge Liang said with a smile, "It's more about the luck of the country and the life of Cao thief. Even if Yang's life is lost, I have to give it a try."
Zhou Yu raised his hand, indicating that there is no need to say any more, Zhou Yu has never believed in the way of pretending to be a ghost, unless... Thinking of this, he looked at Zhuge Liang again. He knew that this person would not be blindly arrogant and try to bet the general situation and the battle situation on the unimaginable providence.
"The governor doesn't trust me?" Zhuge Liang said indifferently.
Zhou Yu smiled and said: "I heard that Mr. Shui Jing is a teacher, and he is proficient in astronomy and calendar, harmony and four phenomena, and Qimen Dunjia. Of course, I am sure, but I dare not bet the whole Jiangdong on Mr.'s words. superior."
Zhuge Liang said: "That's right, how about I issue a military order?"
Countless thoughts flashed through Zhou Yu's mind. If he could win this battle, letting Liu Bei go would be tantamount to letting the tiger go back to the mountain. Even if Sun Quan couldn't do it, he would definitely act first and detain Liu Bei. Now Zhuge Liang came to the door, just right.
"Where do you need to open the altar?" Zhou Yu said.
"It's on Nanping Mountain." Zhuge Liang replied calmly.
Zhou Yu said, "Then I will ask Zijing to accompany you there."
"It's natural." Zhuge Liang nodded.
Liu Bei added: "In any case, there must be a battle tomorrow evening, and there must be no delay."
Zhou Yu's heart skipped a beat, seeing everyone's serious expressions, he suddenly felt strange, and immediately ordered the soldiers to go out with him.
In the heavy mist, Cao Jun has already started to cross the river, and there is a stretch of black shadows on the other side of the magnificent Yangtze River.
Zhou Yu took a deep breath, trembling slightly, tomorrow is the time for the decisive battle.
"Can the governor be sure of victory?" Liu Bei asked.
"No." Zhou Yu said, "This battle depends on God's will."
"Captain!" His subordinates came to report and handed out a secret letter.
Zhou Yu glanced at it after unfolding it, his expression changed immediately, and he cupped his hands at the crowd and said, "Farewell."
Zhou Yu left in a hurry, Liu Bei and others speculated, but Zhou Yu was worried. According to Gan Ning's report, the news of Wu Junzhong was probably leaked. When he arrived at the camp of the Chinese Army, the generals gathered together. : "Fortunately, it was discovered early."
"Did the spies notice it?" Zhou Yu said.
Huang Gai narrowed his eyes and said: "Cai He was collecting information in the camp. The first thing he asked for was my lieutenant. He asked about our army. I thought you might be able to use this letter, so he didn't kill him." he."
Zhou Yu held in his hand the military newspaper that Cai He had secretly communicated to Cao Ying, and his back was covered in cold sweat.
This surrendered general came with Liu Bei and others. Because he had an old acquaintance with Lieutenant Colonel Huang Gaizhang, he entrusted someone to join him under Huang Gai's command. He heard some news three days ago. Fortunately, Zhou Yu did not leak the news. Apart from several people, Cai He didn't know what countermeasures Zhou Yu had.
The only inference, based on the performance of several people after the meeting, is that Soochow has decided on a way to deal with it.
Zhu Zhi said: "I remember that in the past, the governor once forged documents, tricked Xu Gong into the whole city, and intercepted the letter from Xiang Shouchun asking for help. Why don't we do the same thing again?"
"No." Zhou Yu said decisively, "I have other plans, and this plan is very important, and it may be able to influence the outcome of the battle."
In the middle of the night, Sun Quan retreated, and Zhou Yu held the final military situation meeting in the tent of the Chinese army. It was the angry commander who faced Zhou Yu.
"If you send people to cross the river first to attack the camp, you will die!" Huang Gai said angrily, "Liu Bei has less than 20,000 troops, and even if the whole army is in Wulin, he will not be able to secure victory. In Chibi, there are only 20,000 soldiers and horses in Wulin, what are you talking about?!"
Zhou Yu said: "General Huang, you don't need to worry about this matter, you just need to bring someone to supervise the battle."
"Forgive me!" Huang Gai almost couldn't bear it anymore, "This old man is fighting for the Sun family..."
"Do you still have a commander in your eyes?!" Zhou Yu roared angrily, "The soldiers are coming to the city, and they are still bargaining with me at this moment! My lord handed over the navy army to me to lead the troops, not to discuss with you!"
Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, Cheng Pu and others spoke out one after another to calm Zhou Yu's anger.
Zhou Yu said angrily: "General Huang, you have looked down on me since the Battle of Gushan. It was the same back then, and it is the same today. If it is difficult to follow orders, just leave on your own! Hand over the navy in your hands!"
Huang Gai was old and stubborn, and roared like thunder: "People's hearts are scattered! What's the use of staying!"
Zhou Yu drew out the command arrow, intending to cut off Huang Gai's general position on the spot. Lu Su's expression changed immediately, "Commander! Changing generals before the battle is a big taboo!"
Zhou Yu was trembling with anger, one hand was on the table, and he coughed violently again, which actually sprayed blood all over the table. The people around were scared out of their wits.
"Responsible for the Thirty Military Sticks!" Zhou Yu said coldly, with blood still on the corner of his mouth, "Let's cut his general rank, General Zhu Zhi will take over, and the personnel transfer will be settled together tonight!"
"Zhou Gongjin!" Huang Gai roared angrily, "I want to report back to my lord!"
Zhou Yu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and said coldly: "It's a pity that the current battle situation cannot be decided by the lord."
Huang Gai was dragged down amidst roaring noises, dragged outside the school grounds, and was punished with thirty military sticks in front of the whole army. No one dared to raise any objections, so the meeting was adjourned.
In the middle of the night, Huang Gai's back was beaten bloody, Zhou Yu opened the tent and came in, took the ointment, knelt down in front of the couch, and applied the medicine to Huang Gai with his own hands.
Huang Gai snorted coldly, and said, "The governor is here now, is he trying to let the old man suffer such a beating for nothing?"
Zhou Yu put the ointment on the table, bowed to Huang Gai three times, and said in a deep voice, "I am afraid that Huang Lao will never return from this battle. Zhou Yu, on behalf of the former master, kneels down to thank Huang Lao for his virtue."
"Go ahead." Huang Gai said, "Is the boat ready?"
"10,000 catties of kerosene, 120 ships." Zhou Yu stood up and said, "They are all waiting by the river.
"Go and prepare for the battle immediately," Huang Gai ordered.
Zhou Yu put on his helmet and came out. As soon as he turned out of the tent, he heard hurried footsteps. The captain entered and cupped his hands at Huang Gai.
"Kan Ze." Huang Gai said, "What do Cai He say?"
"He has been stabilized." The captain named Kan Ze replied, "The fact that the old general was beaten by the governor today has spread throughout the army."
"Just draft the letter of surrender for me." Huang Gai said, "Before the third watch, take me to have a detailed discussion with him."
Kan Ze cupped his hands and said, "I obey."
Zhou Yu stood in front of the tent, raised his eyes, and vaguely saw a person standing beside him.
That person was just a phantom, but he was still handsome and handsome, still the youthful appearance when they met back then, and he put his shoulder affectionately.
"I'm afraid that General Huang is in danger." Zhou Yu said in a low voice, "He has devoted his whole life to your Sun family, and when he grows old, he will have to risk his life again."
"Don't be afraid." Sun Ce said, "Everything is determined by God, and I will accompany you."
Zhou Yu tried to shake Sun Ce's palm on his shoulder with his backhand, but Sun Ce turned into a starlight and disappeared without a trace.
At three o'clock, Cai He was waiting by the river, and the sound of the water was heard. A small boat came with Kan Ze and Huang Gai. When Cai He saw Huang Gai, he knelt down on one knee and was helped by Kan Ze.
Huang Gai was wounded all over his body, limping, leaning on his sword and panting by the river.
"I'm getting old." Huang Gai said with tears in his eyes, "I didn't expect to lose the general's foundation back then, and come down to where I am now."
"What did the general say?" Cai He hurriedly said, "Prime Minister Cao came to subdue Jiangdong under the order of the emperor. You and I are both Han officials. The Marquis of Wu is stubborn. The old general's heart is in the Han Dynasty. He has a bright future! "
Huang Gai looked at the pitch-black river and remained silent.
Kan Ze said: "General Cai, I will go with you to meet Cao Gong. It will take a long time to dispatch the troops."
Cai He knew that Huang Gai would never dare to surrender the enemy rashly at this moment, so he took the letter of surrender from Kan Ze, nodded, and said, "Take care, old general."
Huang Gai sighed, and watched in the darkness, a small boat carrying Kan Ze and Cai He galloped towards the northwest shore.
At the fourth watch, Zhou Yu put on his necklace belt, put on his sword, and went to the general's stage. The barracks was pitch black except for the dim light of the oil lamp. Lu Meng brought up the arrow pot in front of Sun Quan's desk. The generals threw it into the pot a few days ago, and the arrows were still stuck in the pot.
Zhou Yu drew out the first command arrow.
"General Cheng Pu." Zhou Yu said, "Please deploy defenses on the east coast."
Cheng Pu led the way, and Zhou Yu drew his second command arrow.
"General Gan Ning, you and General Zhu Zhi boarded the warship and sailed to the northeast and northwest to encircle Cao's army."
The third command arrow.
"Lu Meng guards the rear, ready to respond at any time."
"General Guan, please go to Huarong and prepare to block Cao's retreat."
"Take orders!"
"Ling Tong and Ding Feng drove the small boat and led the water ghost to ambush."
"General Lu Su." Zhou Yu took out a command arrow, brought it to Lu Su's ear, and whispered something.
Lu Su's expression was uncertain, he looked at Zhou Yu, and then Sun Quan on the stand. Zhou Yu patted him on the shoulder and looked directly into Lu Su's eyes. Finally, Lu Su had no choice but to accept the command arrow.
"My lord, please join my army in battle." Zhou Yu took out the last command arrow and solemnly handed it to Sun Quan.