The Three Kingdoms Volume 2 (28 page)

On the following day the two leaders of the naval force came to report that the ships, large or small, had been connected together by chains and all the other war preparations were complete. They told him that the navy was ready to receive his orders to begin the attack.

Therefore Cao Cao took his seat on board a large ship in the center of the naval camp, while all the officers of both land and naval forces assembled on his two sides to receive orders. The various armies and squadrons under the command of ten veteran officers were distinguished by flags of five different colors: the central naval squadron, yellow; the leading squadron, red; the rear squadron, black; the left, blue; and the right, white. For the horse soldiers on shore the vanguard had a red flag; for the rearguard, black; and blue and white for the two wings respectively. Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong were in charge of reserve forces and Xu Chu and Zhang Liao were responsible for directing troop movements and general inspection. The other officers were also given command of various units.

All being ready, there sounded three rolls of drums and the ships sailed out of the twenty-four gates under a strong northwest wind. When they got among the surging waves they were found to be as steady as on dry land. The northern men on the ships displayed their bravery by flourishing their swords and spears. The different squadrons with their distinctive flags kept to their places in the front or rear, right or left, while fifty light craft sailed to and fro keeping order and directing progress.

Cao Cao, watching the maneuvers of his navy from the commander’s platform, rejoiced greatly at heart, thinking that this surely meant the way to victory. He recalled the ships and the squadrons returned in perfect order to their base.

Back in his tent, Cao Cao said to his advisors, “If Heaven had not been on my side, how could I have got this excellent plan from Pang Tong? Now that the ships are attached firmly to each other, we can cross the river as easily as walking on level land.”

“This is quite true,” said Cheng Yu, “but what if the enemy should use fire? It will be impossible for the ships to scatter to avoid it. We must guard against this danger.”

Cao Cao laughed. “You look a long way ahead,” he said, “but there is something you have missed.”

“He is right,” said Xun Yu. “Why do you laugh at him?”

“The use of fire in an attack depends upon the wind. Here we are in the middle of winter and only west and north winds blow. How can there be winds from the east or south? We are to the northwest, whereas our enemy is on the south bank. If they use fire they will destroy themselves. We have nothing to fear. If it were the tenth moon when the weather may be as warm as spring, I would have long taken precautions.”

“Your superior foresight has no match,” said the others in chorus, now fully convinced.

“With northern men unused to ships I could never have crossed the river but for this plan,” said Cao Cao.

At this, two minor officers stepped forward and cried, “We are from the north, but we are also sailors. Give us twenty boats and we will sail across and seize some of the enemy’s flags and drums for you, so that we may prove ourselves adepts on the water as well.”

The speakers were two men who had formerly served under Yuan Shao, named Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan.

“I do not think this would suit you two, born and brought up in the north,” said Cao Cao. “The southern men are thoroughly accustomed to ships. This is no child’s game and you should not risk your lives.”

Still they persisted. “If we fail, we are willing to be punished according to army laws.”

“The fighting ships are all chained together,” said Cao Cao. “There are only small twenty-man boats left. They are unsuitable for fighting.”

Jiao Chu said, “If we took large ships, would there be anything remarkable? We beg you to give us a score of the small boats—we will go straight to the enemy’s camp today, seize a flag, slay an officer, and return.”

Cao Cao was persuaded and said, “I will let you have twenty boats and 500 good, valiant men armed with long spears and strong crossbows. Early tomorrow I will order the main fleet to make a demonstration on the river and I will also tell Wen Ping to support you on your withdrawal with thirty ships.”

The two men went off, greatly elated. The next morning, the troops had an early meal and at the fifth watch all was ready for the action. Then from the naval camp drums rolled and gongs clanged as the ships moved out and took up their positions on the water, their flags fluttering in the morning wind, displaying alternating colors of red and green. And the two intrepid leaders with their squadron of small boats went down the lines and out into the stream toward the southern shore.

Now the sound of drums at Cao Cao’s camp the previous day had been heard on the southern bank and scouts had seen his fleet maneuvering in the open river. Zhou Yu, who was immediately informed about this, went to the top of a hill to watch but the fleet had already withdrawn. So when the sound of drums was again heard, scouts hastened to climb up and watch. They saw coming toward them a squadron of small boats bounding over the waves. In great haste, they reported this to Zhou Yu, who called for volunteers to repel them. Han Dang and Zhou Tai offered themselves. Zhou Yu was pleased. Then he ordered his officers to guard their camps closely and not to go rashly into action.

Han Dang and Zhou Tai sailed out from right and left, each with five scout boats.

Meanwhile, the two braggarts from the north, driven by a desire to seem brave, came down swiftly under the powerful strokes of the oars. As they neared, Han Dang, wearing armor to protect his heart, stood in the prow of his boat, gripping a spear. Jiao Chu, who was ahead of his friend, ordered his men to shoot at Han Dang, who fended off the arrows with his shield. Jiao Chu twirled his long spear as he engaged his opponent. But, at the first thrust, he was killed.

His friend Zhang Nan was coming up with great shouts when Zhou Tai arrived from the side and intercepted him and these two squadrons began shooting arrows at each other in clouds. When his boat was still some seven or eight feet away from his opponent’s, Zhou Tai, with his shield in one hand and his sword in the other, leaped across and cut down Zhang Nan, who fell into the water. Then he started killing the soldiers on the boat. All the other northern boats rowed hard to get away. The southerners pursued but soon came in sight of Wen Ping’s supporting squadron. Once more fighting broke out between the opposing forces.

Zhou Yu stood on a hill with his officers and looked over to the other shore where the northern vessels ranged, their flags and ensigns in perfect order. Then he looked back at Han Dang and Zhou Tai engaged in battle with Wen Ping. It soon became evident that the latter was no match for his own officers. Wen Ping turned about to flee, and Zhou Tai and Han Dang pursued. Zhou Yu, fearing lest they should go too far into the enemy’s area, hoisted a white flag and sounded the gongs of recall. The northern vessels also returned to their camps.

To his officers Zhou Yu said, “The masts of the northern ships stand thick as reeds and Cao Cao himself is full of wiles. What is the best plan to destroy him?”

Before anyone could reply, something happened that grabbed their attention. The pole of the great yellow flag in the center of Cao Cao’s fleet suddenly snapped in the wind, sending the flag right into the river.

Zhou Yu laughed. “That’s a bad omen for them,” he said.

Just then, a violent blast of wind swept up and the high waves beat upon the shore. A corner of his own flag brushed Zhou Yu on the cheek and suddenly a thought flashed through his mind. He uttered a loud cry and fell backward, while blood oozed out of his mouth. The others hastened to pick him up but he had already lost consciousness.

At one time he laughed, at another he cried,

To ensure a triumph over the north is quite hard.

Whether Zhou Yu would live or die will be revealed in the next chapter.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

On the Altar of Seven Stars Zhuge Liang Prays for an Easterly Wind

At the Junction of Three Rivers Zhou Yu Sets Fire to Cao Cao’s Fleet

A
t
the end of the last chapter Zhou Yu was seized by a sudden illness as he was watching the fleet of his enemy. He was carried into his tent and all his officers came to inquire after him. They said to each other in dismay, “What a disaster that our commander should be taken ill when Cao Cao with his million men threatens to devour us! What if he should attack now?”

Messengers were at once sent to report the sad news to Sun Quan while physicians did their best for the invalid. Lu Su was particularly worried at the illness of his friend and went to see Zhuge Liang to tell him about it.

“What do you make of it?” asked Zhuge Liang.

“Good fortune for Cao Cao—bad for us,” answered Lu Su.

“I can cure him,” said Zhuge Liang with a smile.

“If you can, it will be very fortunate for the state,” said Lu Su.

He asked Zhuge Liang to go and see the sick man with him. So they went and Lu Su entered first. Zhou Yu lay in bed, his head covered by a quilt.

“How are you feeling?” asked Lu Su.

“There is a pain in my heart and every now and again I feel faint and dizzy.”

“Have you taken any medicine?”

“I feel sick every time I try to swallow it.”

“I saw Zhuge Liang just now and he said he could heal you. He is outside. Shall I call him in to treat you?”

Zhou Yu asked him to invite Zhuge Liang inside and then he told his servants to help him to a sitting position.

Presently, Zhuge Liang entered. “I have not seen you for several days,” he said. “How come you are unwell?”

“Man is subject to unexpected fortune or misfortune,” replied Zhou Yu. “Can anyone be secure?”

“And Heaven may produce sudden winds or clouds, too,” said Zhuge Liang, smiling. “Can anyone predict?”

Zhou Yu turned pale and a low groan escaped him, while his visitor went on, “Do you feel vexed, as though troubles were piling up in your heart?”

“Yes,” said Zhou Yu.

“You need cooling medicine to ease this sense of vexation.”

“I have taken a cooling draught, but it has done me no good.”

“You must get your
qi
*
into good order to regulate your breathing before the draught will have any effect.”

Zhou Yu thought that Zhuge Liang knew what was really the matter with him so he asked meaningfully, “What medicine should I take for that?”

“I know one means of regulating your
qi
,” replied Zhuge Liang, smiling.

“I hope you will tell me.”

Zhuge Liang called for paper and pen, sent away the servants and then wrote down the following words: “To overcome Cao Cao, fire is the best plan. Now all is ready, but there is no east wind.”

He gave this to the sick man, saying, “This is the cause of your illness.”

Zhou Yu was astonished to read the words and he thought, “This Zhuge Liang is really more than human. He has long been aware of what is on my mind and my best course is to tell him the truth.”

So he said with a smile, “Since you know the cause of my illness, what do you recommend as treatment? The need of a remedy is very urgent.”

“Although I have no great talent,” said Zhuge Liang, “I have had the fortune of meeting an unusual man from whom I have received certain books of magic. I can call the winds and summon the rains. Since you need a southeasterly wind, you must build an altar, the Altar of Seven Stars, on the Nanping Mountains. It must be nine feet high, with three tiers, surrounded by 120 men bearing flags. On this altar I will work the magic to procure a strong southeasterly wind for three days and three nights. Do you think that is enough?”