Unyielding Flames: Cao Cao's Dread and the Allies' Desperate Resolve
The Shu-Wu alliance was shock enough for Wei.
Cao Cao felt tremendous pressure at the prospect of facing both Jingzhou's armies and Wu's forces.
His genius civil officials from the vaunted Inner Circle all agreed on one thing.
"Taking on two armies at once is inefficient."
It was a statement implying the balance of power across the realm had tilted.
So, what was to be done?
"Wait for strife among their leadership, then strike amid the chaos."
Cao Cao accepted his geniuses' conclusion and carried it out to the letter.
But events refused to follow that path. Sun Quan declared unyielding resistance, and evidence surfaced of his pact with Liu Bei.
That didn't mean abandoning the plan.
Cao Cao was a man of iron ego, with convictions that bent for no one once set.
No plea from another could stop him from finishing what he'd resolved to do.
But why, then?
The realm's momentum had already shifted against him, yet Cao Cao lay sleepless, plagued by an inexplicable throbbing headache.
Countless cavalry. Elite Tiger Guards. Yu Ye's stone-hurlers and drilled Qingzhou troops. He Juo's personal guard and generals versed in both letters and arms.
Cao Cao's host had repelled the Qiang tribes, slaughtered the Wuhuan, and consigned enemy after enemy to history's shadows.
With geniuses at his command and the bounty of fertile lands to glut his soldiers, he forged them into elite killers through relentless training.
His military edge was so vast that even repeated defeats couldn't close it. He could hold three fronts against Yuan Shao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan—and bring a full standing army besides.
Yet why did this gnawing unease stab his skull like a needle?
Having forged an empire from webs of plots and brushes with death, Cao Cao's instincts were honed razor-sharp. This new headwind filled his mind with whirlwinds, birthing that piercing pain.
Heroes show no weakness.
From the realm's pinnacle, Cao Cao overlooked his men and bellowed.
"Raise the army. If they refuse surrender, we crush them flat."
Dong— Dong— Dong—
The drums signaling advance echoed far and wide.
The colossal fleet weighed anchor. Flags of Cao Cao's army blanketed the river, spearpoints a gleaming forest.
His host paraded its splendor, no empty boast—as if to say, Behold and yield.
Massing to sever Sun Quan's head.
"We fight to the last!"
The command banner snapped in the wind.
Lu Su shuttled ceaselessly between Shu and Wu, reporting developments.
After parley with Liu Qi amid his mourning, Liu Bei pledged Jiangxia's 30,000 to Wu.
All Jingzhou knew of Park Mang's veiled saga; that some shrouded tactician from there now commanded weighed heavy on the troops' sense of duty.
Zhuge Liang took personal command. A grand expedition formed under Supreme Commander Zhuge Liang.
Xu Shu, Zhao Yun, Liu Feng, Gan Ning, and Cheonma.
With the mystery figure in tow, Shu's forces marched forth.
"Assemble at Jiangxia! Cross Chibi, push through Yushugou to Hefei! Follow the Yangtze!"
Zhuge Liang's order rang out; horns wailed across the river.
Dong— Dong— Dong!
The thunderous drums drowned the Yangtze as Shu's warships surged ahead.
A mighty armada of tower ships, scraped together by Lu Su and Huang Yueying's tireless efforts.
Shu's fleet glided forth, flagship Moon Shadow at its van—brimming with Huang Yueying's ingenuity.
The Moon Shadow was a tower ship redesigned for rowers to meet the least resistance.
Remade from the old four-deck behemoth, it was vast yet sleek as a dagger.
Ordinary tower ships sat like floating fortresses sans wind; the Moon Shadow sported massive waterwheels flanking its hulls.
Rowers pedaled with their feet, channeling power straight to the wheels for relentless thrust.
I stood at the flagship's prow, gazing at Shu's fluttering banner.
Zhuge Liang hoisted the crimson signal flag.
"Signal's up! All ships, advance!!!"
Shu's armada at Jiangxia surged into motion.
"Our army seizes Suchun, presses to Xiaopei. When foes swarm there, allied Shu severs their supplies. We'll turn it to a blazing inferno!!!"
Zhou Yu, red kerchief bound tight, sword aloft amid pouring sweat, eyes ablaze.
Flames flicker brightest on extinction's edge.
The troops fell deathly silent before his grim resolve.
Straw-laden barges. Oil-brimming vessels.
Fishing skiffs commandeered en masse for this do-or-die clash—preparations complete.
A total-war muster, wringing every Ho clansman from Jiangdong dry.
All the region's men and materiel poured into this offensive thrust.
Wu spurned mere defense for attack.
How long since we marched? My blood boils—I can't hold back.
Life-or-death resolve made Zhou Yu feral, exalted, heedless of death.
Yet he couldn't flog his men to match that zeal.
Pang Tong, at his side, watched in silence and tsked under his breath.
"Pang Tong. Status?"
"Chain-link ploy failed, my lord. Cao Cao bought Guo Jia's counter; they chained only the rear—escaped by a hair. Eyes on me spelled trouble; no choice but to bolt."
"Well done. Foe had sharp staff—no shame there."
Zhou Yu turned, concern etching his face for Pang Tong.
His condition? Could this truly be Wu's final war?
If fate deserted him, who'd reforge fractured Wu?
Pang Tong ached at the thought. Softly, unbidden: "Much left undone."
"Aye. A great foe remains."
Zhou Yu burned like a final blaze, outshining all.
Pang Tong pitied him—like a gleaming corpse seeking its grave.
Wei held every edge; Cao Cao could toast victory already. Yet this man trusted Wu's triumph amid the rout.
His motives opaque, Pang Tong tested: "Your health holding?"
"Fine. Should I fall, Lu Meng handles the rest—no worries. You'll bolster him? Set Wu aright?"
Pang Tong stilled, then bowed deep.
The brief exchange laid it bare.
Pity hardened to truth: Zhou Yu sought his end.
Yushugou, his stage to crown his brilliance in death.
To reach Xiaopei meant piercing the enemy horde, holding Suchun.
Zhou Yu would immolate himself.
Charge Cao Cao's masses, burst like a gorgeous firework.
That iron will unyielding, Pang Tong knew he couldn't sway him.
"While breath holds, so I swear."
"Gratitude."
Handclasp done, Zhou Yu eyed the Yangtze.
Withdraw now?
Cao Cao's navy shunned open fight, lurking unseen.
How lure the bunkered foe?
"Thus, Pang Tong: We kindle a blaze to draw the moths. My word stands. Engage at Yushugou."
"No, my lord. Defeat certain. Gap too wide—even defense strains; assault's suicide."
Zhou Yu's mind raced elsewhere.
Orthodoxy eternal left Wu stagnant.
Radical shocks breed change; from shocks, men learn.
Even should I perish. For those remaining.
The Red Strategist steeled himself.
Our army advances from Yushugou to brace for full battle! Raise anchor! Show the world none dare scheme against Sun Wu!
Lu Meng, silent witness, sighed heavy.
None could halt Zhou Yu now.
"One ambush flips the field! Rains near—mist-shrouded, we snap their fleet's spine!"
Lu Meng eyed Zhou Yu, then Pang Tong.
Pang Tong nodded; up went the flag.
Lu Meng roared.