Chapter 54: The Prime Minister is Wise

Historically, Cao Cao's vanguard had already landed at Red Cliffs, only to be beaten back by the oncoming Sun-Liu allied forces.

In this lifetime, before the Cao army could reach Red Cliffs to land, Liu Bei had already led his forces over, causing the Cao army to forgo landing altogether and thereby averting the battle.

The Cao army, much like the Liu Bei army, now found a nearby ferry crossing to pitch camp.

"Wulin? Red Cliffs?" Cao Cao, just like Zhao Shaojie, inquired about the local place name, muttered it under his breath, and then smiled, saying, "The decisive battleground should be right here."

"I originally expected Liu Bei to await me at Xiakou; little did I know he would have the courage to take the initiative and attack. Truly, he is a match for me!"

Zhang Yun immediately shouted, "Liu Bei is utterly unworthy of being the Prime Minister's match! When has he ever encountered the Prime Minister without fleeing in panic?"

Xu Huang and the others glanced at the eager and sycophantic Zhang Yun with displeasure, yet they chimed in with agreement.

Cao Cao laughed heartily, nodded, and said, "Indeed, whenever Liu Xuande encounters me, he has never tasted victory!"

"Now, our army numbers two to three hundred thousand, while the enemy is merely tens of thousands strong. The advantage is ours!"

"Once we defeat Liu Bei and subsequently take Jiangdong, the realm can be reunited under one rule!"

Xu Huang and the others were stirred to boiling passion by Cao Cao's words. Each of them seemed to envision the glorious future of capturing Liu Bei alive, achieving monumental merit, and securing noble titles and lands for their wives and descendants lying right before their eyes. They stepped forward one after another:

"To the Prime Minister's success!"

...

At that moment, a scout suddenly hurried in to report.

"Prime Minister, those soldiers who fell ill earlier have shown no signs of improvement; many have died. Now, symptoms such as vomiting and chills have spread to the troops of several commanders! I fear it is an epidemic..."

While Cao Cao was in the midst of his impassioned speech, how could he tolerate hearing such talk? He immediately rebuked angrily, "These are merely minor discomforts from unfamiliar waters and seasickness, how can anyone speak of an epidemic? It must be that the physicians are not exerting themselves! Someone, arrest and torture the physicians. Why are they slacking off?"

Though everyone felt it unlikely that the physicians were negligent, with the enemy right before their eyes, no one dared to argue.

Seeing the expressions of those present, Cao Cao pondered for a moment longer. Remembering how he himself would suffer from dizziness caused by the rocking of the tall ships, only for the symptoms to greatly subside once he stepped ashore, his face suddenly brightened with joy. He declared, "There is no need to arrest the physicians. This is not their fault, but the result of continuous days of sailing!"

"Instruct the boatmen and accompanying craftsmen to immediately forge iron chains and link the prows and sterns of all the vessels together. In this way, the waves will not be able to sway the hulls, and the soldiers will feel as though they are on solid ground, with no more sensation of rolling. The illnesses will naturally heal!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was overjoyed.

Especially the generals hailing from the northern regions, who had also been battered by days of voyaging, leaving them dizzy and lightheaded.

"Brilliant, Prime Minister!"

"Brilliant, Prime Minister!"

...

The worried expressions on the generals' faces were instantly swept away. They loudly acknowledged the order, shouting, "Understood," and rushed off to execute it.

Cao Cao gazed sternly at the assembly. "At a time like this, spreading talk of an epidemic is the act of those with malicious intent. Whoever dares to shake our army's morale will be dealt with by military law!" In truth, even in his own heart, a faint unease lingered: Could it truly be an epidemic?

Yet, thinking of Liu Bei right before him, he had no desire to let slip this golden opportunity. Even if it were an epidemic, any announcement of it would have to wait until after Liu Bei was defeated.

"Understood!" the gathered officials chorused in obedience.

Cao Cao nodded with a smile, looking serenely at the crowd as his resounding voice echoed out: "Pass down the order: the entire army shall rest, construct bamboo rafts, and prepare to cross the river. Right here at Red Cliffs, we shall annihilate Liu Bei in a single stroke!"

"Understood!" the generals responded in unison once more.

...

On Liu Bei's side, camps were similarly established on the spot.

Although they were outnumbered by the opposing force, fifty thousand was still no small number, and the camp was likewise a scene of bustling activity.

Following the establishment of the camp, Liu Bei's forces also began preparing bamboo rafts.

"Shaojie, in your opinion, which of them—Huang Zhong or Gan Ning—can be sent to execute a false surrender?" Liu Bei pondered back and forth, but could only think of these two men.

After all, subordinates like Guan Yu, Zhang Fig, and Zhao Yun had followed him for many years. No matter how hard Liu Bei's circumstances had been back in Xinye, these men had never abandoned him. To have them fake a surrender—not even death would make Cao Cao believe it.

Zhao Shaojie smiled and suggested, "Why not send both of them to fake a surrender?"

Liu Bei shook his head. "With too many people, I fear Cao Cao will not believe it."

Thinking that made sense, Zhao Shaojie then said, "Then let it be Gan Ning. Gan Ning is a native of Yizhou."

Liu Bei pondered and nodded.

The next day during the military council, Liu Bei summoned all his generals to gather. However, to prevent any leakage of news, only Guan Yu, Zhang Fig, Zhao Yun, Gan Ning, Zhuge Liang, and Pang Tong were called.

Guan Yu's fleet had been somewhat slower than Cao Cao's, but it too arrived at Red Cliffs by the following day.

"Xingbazi, the Cao army is currently formidable, and we need to employ the stratagem of a false surrender. Do you dare to go?" Liu Bei looked toward Gan Ning.

Gan Ning was momentarily stunned, then immediately said with delight, "This subordinate is more than willing!"

If the ruse of false surrender succeeded, his name would be recorded in history; if they defeated Cao Cao, he would have achieved unparalleled merit!

With such an opportunity placed directly before him, Gan Ning, who had long felt unappreciated and thwarted in his ambitions, felt as energized as if injected with chicken blood, too excited to contain himself.

Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong exchanged glances.

The two of them had also been pondering strategies to defeat the enemy.

Little did they expect that Liu Bei had already devised a plan?

Yet when had Liu Bei ever employed such a scheme? The two of them simultaneously turned their gaze toward Zhao Shaojie.

It was undoubtedly Zhao Shaojie who had planned this for Liu Bei.

During these past few days, they had all been leading troops away in the field, leaving only Zhao Shaojie by Liu Bei's side.

Who would have thought that this young man was not only loyal but also resourceful? Truly admirable.

"Lord, the stratagem of false surrender is excellent. Ever since entering Jingzhou, Cao Cao has tasted nothing but victory and is already brimming with complacency. Xingba is a native of Yizhou and has followed the Lord for only a short time; this will undoubtedly convince Cao Cao," Pang Tong concurred approvingly.

Zhuge Liang also smiled and said, "This plan is exceptionally clever!"

Seeing his two strategists in agreement, and noting that Gan Ning was thoroughly enthusiastic, Liu Bei immediately spoke again: "Xingba, secretly prepare flammable materials. Once you approach the vicinity of Cao's camp, you can ignite the vessels. By doing so, we will surely defeat the Cao army!"

Everyone was in high spirits; this stratagem would undoubtedly cause Cao Cao to fall into the trap.

Coupled with a fire attack, the Cao army would inevitably suffer heavy losses!

Only Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong exchanged glances, having spotted a loophole.

Fire relied upon the wind's force to manifest its true power.

"Lord, if we are to use a fire attack, we must wait for the southeast winds to rise. At this time of year, I fear there are no southeast winds to be had!" Pang Tong pointed out.

Liu Bei waved his hand and smiled, saying, "Even without the southeast wind, there is the eastern wind!"

Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang's eyes suddenly lit up, and the two of them smiled in unison, declaring, "Brilliant, my Lord!"

With the military council concluded, everyone began making their respective preparations.

While Gan Ning's preparations proceeded quietly, the others made a grand and ostentatious display, putting on the posture of preparing for a decisive showdown with the Cao army.

On the second day, Liu Bei's forces reconnoitered the Cao Cao camp and discovered that the Cao army was forging iron chains.

On the third day, Liu Bei's forces reconnoitered once more and were shocked to discover that the Cao army had actually linked their warships together at the prows and sterns with iron chains?!

...

Within a few days, the main body of the Cao army had linked all their battle vessels together.

Upon receiving the report, Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong could not help but sigh with emotion, "Could this be Heaven assisting our Lord?"