At the Seven-Star Altar, Zhuge invokes the wind; At Sanjiangkou, Zhou Yu releases fire.

Zhou Yu, whose courtesy name was Gongjin, stood on the mountain top and watched for a long while, then suddenly staggered backward, spat fresh blood, and lost consciousness. His attendants carried him back to his tent. All the generals came to ask after him, all astonished, and looked at one another: “A force of a million to the north of the river, tiger-sitting and swallowing all before it. Never had we imagined the commander like this. If Cao’s troops arrive, what then?” They hastily sent word to Sun Quan and called for doctors.

Later, Lu Su, whose courtesy name was Zijing, saw that Zhou Yu was still ill and came to Zhuge Liang, whose courtesy name was Kongming, to report it. Zhuge said, “What do you think, minister?”

Lu Su said, “This is an illness of Cao Cao’s making, a disaster for Jiangdong.”

Zhuge smiled and said, “Your Master Gongjin’s illness, I can also treat.”

Lu Su said, “If that is true, the state is greatly fortunate.” He asked him to come at once to see Zhou Yu.

Lu Su entered first and found Zhou Yu covered to the eyes on his bedding.

Lu Su said, “How is the commander’s condition?”

Zhou Yu said, “My chest aches with churning pain, then I lose awareness.”

Lu Su asked, “What medicine has been taken?”

Zhou Yu said, “The heart is nauseated, and medicine cannot go down.”

Lu Su said, “I just told Kongming you were ill and can be treated. He waits outside the tent now. Ask him to come and tend you. What says the commander?”

Zhou Yu asked him in.

A servant was told to lift him and seat him on the bed. Zhuge said, “It has been many days since I saw your face. I never thought your body would become unwell.”

Zhou Yu said, “Fortune and misfortune turn with each dawn. Who can keep himself forever safe?”

Zhuge smiled: “Heaven gives unpredictable wind and cloud. Who can know their pattern?”

Hearing this, Zhou Yu grew pale and groaned.

Zhuge asked, “Does the chest still feel blocked and unsettled?”

Zhou Yu said, “Yes.”

Zhuge said, “You need cooling medicine first.”

Zhou Yu said, “I already took cooling medicine. It is wholly ineffective.”

Zhuge said, “We must first settle his qi. If the qi is smooth, recovery comes naturally with every breath.”

Zhou Yu, sensing that Zhuge’s meaning was deeper, said, “If he must settle the qi, what medicine should be used?”

Zhuge smiled, “I have one prescription to make the commander’s qi smooth.”

Zhou Yu said, “Master, grant instruction.”

Zhuge asked for paper and brush, sent everyone out, and secretly wrote sixteen words: “To break Cao Gong, we should use fire attack; everything is prepared, and only a southeast wind is lacking.” He handed the paper to Zhou Yu and said, “This is the source of the commander’s sickness.”

Zhou Yu, seeing it, was astonished and thought, How can Zhuge truly be such a man? He already knows my mind. I should report this plainly. He then smiled and said, “Master, you know already that this is the root of my malady. What medicine do you suggest? The matter is urgent; please instruct at once.”

Zhuge said, “Though I am not talented, I once met an extraordinary person and was taught the Heavenly Text of Qimen Dunjia, through which one may call wind and summon rain. If the commander wants a southeast wind, he should build a platform on Nánpíng Mountain and call it the Seven-Star Altar. Make it nine chi high in three tiers, and place one hundred and twenty men with banners around it to hold position. On the altar I can perform the rite to obtain southeast wind for three days and three nights and aid the commander’s campaign. What do you think?”

Zhou Yu said, “Do not mention three days and three nights. A single night of wind will make the great work. But the matter is before us now and cannot wait.”

Zhuge said, “On the jiazi day of the twentieth day of the eleventh month, we sacrifice to wind; by the bingyin day of the twenty-second, the wind will fall. What think you?”

Hearing this, Zhou Yu rejoiced and rose with sudden animation. He ordered five hundred hardy soldiers to build the altar on Nánpíng Mountain and one hundred and twenty to bear the flags and hold the circle, awaiting orders.

When Zhuge finished, he took leave and with Lu Su rode to Nánpíng Mountain to survey terrain. He ordered soldiers to bring southeast red earth for the altar. It was to be round to twenty-four zhang, three chi high at each tier, for a total height of nine chi.

On the lower tier he set twenty-eight banners in the form of the twenty-eight stars: eastward seven blue flags placed as Jiao, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei, and Ji in the shape of the Azure Dragon; northward seven black flags placed as Dou, Niu, Nu, Xu, Wei, Shi, and Bi like the Black Tortoise; westward seven white banners as Kui, Lou, Zhou, Mao, Bi, Zui, and Shen in the White Tiger’s force; southward seven red flags as Jing, Gui, Liu, Xing, Zhang, Yi, and Zhen to form the Vermilion Bird.

On the second tier, sixty-four yellow flags were set, arranged by the sixty-four trigrams and distributed across eight directions.

The upper tier had four men, each wearing a tied-hair crown, black robe, phoenix-patterned sash, and red square hemmed shoes. One stood front-left with a long pole, and at its tip he tied rooster feathers for wind signs. One stood front-right with a long pole bearing the seven-star badge to indicate the wind. One stood rear-left carrying a treasure sword. One stood rear-right carrying a censer. At the foot of the altar twenty-four men held banners, treasure canopies, halberds, long spears, yellow flags, white standards, scarlet pennons, and black streamers, circling all four sides.

On the jiazi day, under an auspicious hour, Zhuge fasted, bathed, donned ritual robes, went barefoot and loose-haired to the altar and told Lu Su, “Zijing, return and help the commander arrange his troops. If what I entreat does not answer, do not harbor fantasies.”

Lu Su left.

Zhuge then instructed the altar guards:

“Do not leave your station on your own. Do not whisper together. Do not speak idle words. Do not lose your composure and panic at strange things. Whoever disobeys will be executed.”

The men took this as command.

Zhuge moved slowly onto the altar, judged the directions, offered incense in the brazier, poured water into the basin, and prayed to heaven. He came down and rested briefly in the tent, ordering the soldiers to eat in shifts. That day he ascended and descended the altar three times. Not once did a southeast wind appear.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yu summoned Cheng Pu, Lu Su, and a group of officers, telling them to wait in the tent and watch only for the southeast wind, then move in at once. He also had someone send word to Sun Quan for support.

Huang Gai had already prepared twenty fire ships. Their bows were studded with large nails. The hulls were packed with dry reed and brush, flooded with fish oil, then topped with sulphur and match to catch flame; all was covered with dyed blue oil cloth. Each bow carried a Qinglong fang banner, and each stern was tied to a light skiff.

In the water camp, Gan Ning, Kan Ze, Wopan, Cai He, and Cai Zhong drank daily and let not one soldier set foot on shore. All around, Wu horse and foot troops controlled the riverbank and blocked the water passage. They all waited only for the commander’s order.

As Zhou Yu sat in council in the tent, scouts reported, “The boats stand eighty-five li beyond the stockade, moored and waiting only for the commander’s command.”

Zhou Yu immediately told Lu Su: “Tell all officers and soldiers under your command to gather ships, arms, sails, and paddles at once. When the order comes, do not fail by even a moment. Whoever errs will be punished by military law.”

The officers and men obeyed and every hand prepared to struggle hand to hand.

By evening the sky was clear and the wind still. Zhou Yu said to Lu Su, “Kongming is wrong. In midwinter, how can a southeast wind come?”

Lu Su said, “I believe Kongming never speaks falsely.”

Near the third watch, the wind suddenly came and banners were fluttering. Zhou Yu went out to look. At first the flags were drifting northwest, and in one instant the southeast wind roared up.

Zhou Yu said in alarm, “This man has arts that seize heaven and earth and twist providence. If such a one remains, he may become the root of Wu’s ruin. Kill him at once and avoid later sorrow.”

He quickly summoned the two captains in guard charge, Ding Feng and Xu Sheng: “Take a hundred men each. Xu Sheng, go by the river; Ding Feng, by the land route. Both of you go to the Seven-Star Altar. Do not argue over details. Seize Zhuge Liang and behead him. Bring me his head in reward.”

Both captains took the orders.

Xu Sheng boarded and with a hundred axemen cleared oars and drove on. Ding Feng rode out with a hundred crossbowmen. On the way, the southeast wind met them.

Later there was a verse on this:

The Crouching Dragon ascends the Seven-Star Altar, In one night a southeast wind makes the Yangtze waters surge. Without Kongming’s exquisite stratagem, How could Lord Zhou gain such success by strength alone?

Ding Feng reached first. He found the men around the altar standing to the wind. Ding Feng dismounted, drew his sword, and climbed up, but found no Zhuge. He asked in alarm, “Where is he?”

The guards said, “He has just descended from the altar.”

Ding Feng hurried back and began searching below while Xu Sheng’s boat arrived. The two met by the river.

A young soldier said, “A swift boat anchored at the front shoal last night. Some time ago I saw Zhuge Liang step ashore with unbound hair. That boat has since sailed out toward the upper water.”

Ding Feng and Xu Sheng then chased by land and by water. Xu Sheng ordered full sails and rode the wind.

As the boat drew near, he shouted, “Military adviser, do not go! The commander has issued orders for you!”

Zhuge Liang stood at the stern of his vessel and laughed, saying, “Convey this to the commander: use strategy well. Zhuge Liang will return temporarily to Xiakou; perhaps we shall meet again another day.”

Xu Sheng called, “Please pause. There is urgent business.”

Zhuge Liang said, “I have already concluded that the commander cannot tolerate me and intends harm. I have already ordered Zhao Zilong to meet you. The general need not pursue.”

Xu Sheng saw there was no canopy on the boat and pressed on. As he came close, Zhao Yun, whose courtesy name was Zilong, set arrow to bow and stood at the stern, shouting:

“I am Zhao Zilong of Changshan! I was sent to escort the military adviser. Why do you pursue? One shot from my bow should have ended you and spared both houses a feud. Now see my method!”

The arrow flew and snapped the canopy rope of Xu Sheng’s boat. The canvas collapsed into the river and the boat heeled over.

Zhao Yun then ordered his own men to raise full sail and take the wind. His boat flew and outpaced them.

On land, Ding Feng called Xu Sheng’s boat close and said,

“Zhuge Liang is truly beyond reach in cunning and calculation. And Zhao Zilong has courage beyond a thousand men. Did you think this is all? Go back and report.”

“Do you not remember Zhao Yun’s feat at Dangyang and Changban?” Ding Feng added.

The two then returned to Zhou Yu: they said that Zhuge had already arranged for Zhao Zilong to receive him.

Zhou Yu was startled and said, “This man’s many layers of thought give me no rest at night.”

Lu Su said, “Wait until Cao is broken. Then we can settle him.”

Zhou Yu took counsel with the first statement and summoned his officers.

First he ordered Gan Ning: “Take Cai Zhong and captured troops, and move along the south bank using the northern-battle standard as your signal. Go straight to Ulin, where Cao Cao stores grain. Penetrate deep into his camp and light the fire. Leave only Cai He in this camp; I have a use for him.”

Second he told Taishi Ci: “Command three thousand and move straight to the boundary of Huangzhou. Cut off any reinforcement arriving from He Fei and pressure Cao’s forces. Light fire as signal. Look for the red banner; that means Wu-hou’s support has arrived.”

These two columns were to set off earliest.

Third he gave command to Lü Meng: “Take three thousand men and go to Ulin to join Gan Ning and carry out the burning.”

Fourth he sent Ling Tong with three thousand: “Directly to Yiling’s boundary gate. Wait there for fire from Ulin.”

Fifth he ordered Dong Xi with three thousand: “Take the route to Hanyang and strike from Hanchuan into Cao Cao’s camp. Use white flags to signal.”

Sixth he ordered Pan Zhang with three thousand and all white flags to Hanyang to join Dong Xi’s force.

The six detachments then moved off in separate directions.

Meanwhile Huang Gai was ordered to set the fire ships and send runners to tell Cao Cao to surrender that night. He also dispatched four groups of warships to follow Huang Gai’s row: Han Dang at the first, Zhou Tai second, Jiang Qin third, and Chen Wu fourth; each group had three hundred battle ships and twenty fire ships in front.

Zhou Yu stayed on a large mengchong with Cheng Pu to direct battle; Xu Sheng and Ding Feng served as right and left escorts. He left Lu Su with Kan Ze and the other strategists to guard the camp. Cheng Pu respected Zhou Yu’s method of deployment.

At this point, Sun Quan sent an envoy bearing the military order: he had already sent Lü Xun as vanguard, advancing at Zhan-Huang ground, and the Wu-lord would come to support behind.

Zhou Yu then sent orders to fire signals from Western Mountain and raised flags at Nánpíng Altar. All was prepared and he waited for dusk.

---

Meanwhile at Xiakou, Liu Bei, whose courtesy name was Xuande, waited for Zhuge Liang to return. A boat arrived; it was the prince Liu Qi come on a mission to hear the news. Liu Bei made him come up to the command tower and sat.

Liu Bei said, “The southeast wind has been rising long enough; Zilong went to fetch Zhuge Liang and still has not returned. I am deeply worried.”

A junior officer pointed to Fankou harbor: “One sailboat with wind and current at its back has come. It must be the military advisor.” Liu Bei and Liu Qi went down to meet them.

Soon Kongming and Zhao Yun came ashore. Liu Bei rejoiced.

After greetings, Kongming said, “No time for other matters. Are all troops and ships prepared as set out before?”

Liu Bei said, “All has long been made ready; we only awaited your order.”

Kongming sat in the tent with Liu Bei and Liu Qi and said to Zhao Yun,

“Zilong, take three thousand cavalry, cross the river, and by the short road to Ulin take position in ambush among dense trees and reeds. After the fourth watch, Cao will surely run by that route. When his horses pass midway, set fire. Even if you cannot kill him fully, kill half.”

Zilong asked, “Ulin has two roads: one to Nanjun, one to Jingzhou. Which road will he choose?”

Kongming said, “The road to Nanjun is tight with pressure. Cao will not take it. He must come through Jingzhou and then move with his main force to Xuchang.”

Zilong left on the order.

Kongming called Zhang Fei, whose courtesy name was Yide: “Yide, you can lead three thousand horse across the river and block the Yiling road. Go to the mouth of Hula valley and lie in ambush. Cao cannot take the southern Yiling route and will seek the northern. Tomorrow after the rain he will certainly set the pots to boil. When fire rises, light your own fires along the hillside. Even if you do not take Cao, your merit will not be small.”

Zhang Fei took the order and left.

Kongming called Mi Zhu, Mi Fang, and Liu Feng to each row boats. They were to sweep upriver, snare retreating troops, and seize equipment.

All three took their orders and left.

Kongming rose and said to Liu Qi,

“The stretch by Wuchang is most critical and narrow. Return and deploy your troops at the river mouth. When Cao is defeated, survivors will surely flee your way; seize them, but do not leave the city lightly.”

Liu Qi took leave and departed.

Kongming then told Liu Bei,

“My lord should station men at Fankou, keep higher ground, and watch. Sit and watch how Zhou the young lord wins today.”

Guan Yu had stood to one side, and Kongming ignored him. Guan Yu could not bear it and spoke aloud:

“For years, as my brother’s sworn companion, I have never lagged behind in any campaign. Today I face a great enemy and the military advisor does not assign me any task. What does this mean?”

Kongming smiled, “Do not blame me, Guan. I wanted to send you to the one most critical pass, but there were obstacles that made it impossible.”

Guan Yu said, “What obstacle?”

Kongming said, “Formerly, Cao treated you with kindness. You should repay him somehow. If he is routed, he will flee by Huarong Pass. If I sent you there, he would surely pass through and escape. That is why I did not send you.”

Guan Yu said, “The adviser is too cautious. In the past, when Cao favored me, I already beheaded Yan Liang and slew Wen Chou, then broke the White Horse encirclement—thus I repaid him. Now that we meet again, surely I will not spare him?”

Kongming said, “If he does pass there, what then?”

Guan Yu said, “I will obey military law.”

Kongming said, “Then draw up the military order.”

Guan Yu took the warrant.

He asked, “If Cao does not come by that route?”

Kongming said, “I have written that order too.”

Guan Yu was pleased.

Kongming said, “At the high hill above the smaller road in Huarong, pile firewood and raise a column of smoke. Draw him with that smoke.”

Guan Yu asked, “If Cao sees the smoke, he will know there is ambush. Why would he come?”

Kongming smiled, “Do you not know the maxim: real and empty, strong and weak? In warfare there are such moves. Though Cao can command troops well, this can fool him. He will see smoke and think it is merely a false show, then come by that road. Do not be sentimental.”

Guan Yu took the order and with Guan Ping and Zhou Cang, and five hundred sword-bearing infantry, went to the Huarong pass to hide.

Liu Bei said, “My younger brother’s righteousness is profound. If Cao truly goes by Huarong, I fear he may not be detained.”

Kongming said, “This night I have read the signs: that treacherous Cao has not yet reached his destined end. If we keep this human feeling and let Guan handle it, it is also good.”

Liu Bei said, “Your forecasting is beyond common men.”

Kongming then went with Liu Bei to Fankou to watch Zhou Yu put this plan into action, leaving Sun Qian and Jian Yong to hold the city.

---

Cao Cao, in his main camp, held council with his officers and waited for news of Huang Gai. That day the southeast wind rose strong. Cheng Yu told him, “Today the southeast wind rises fiercely. We should strengthen defenses.”

Cao Cao laughed, “After winter solstice comes spring growth. If yang has returned, why would there be no southeast wind? Why be astonished?”

A guard then reported that a small ship had come from the Jiangdong side, bearing Huang Gai’s secret letter. Cao Cao quickly had him brought in; the letter was presented.

It read, “The commander’s lines are tightly guarded and there is no way for escape. There is now fresh grain from Poyang Lake arriving; Huang Gai is already patrolling and has found a way. Do your best to kill a famed general of Wu and bring his head in surrender. At tonight’s third watch, the ship with a Qinglong fang banner is the grain ship.”

Cao was overjoyed. He and the assembled commanders went to the great warship in the center of the waters to watch Huang Gai’s ship arrive.

Back in the south, near dusk, Zhou Yu ordered Cai He brought out, bound, and asked aloud, “No guilt!” then declared,

“Who are you to dare to feign surrender? I need lucky matter for the banners. I will borrow your head.”

Cai He denied at first and then shouted, “Kan Ze and Gan Ning were involved with this scheme too!”

Zhou Yu said, “They are as I sent them.”

Cai He regretted it too late.

Zhou Yu had him taken under the black banner by the river, offered wine, burned written papers, and beheaded him in one stroke. When the blood sacrifice for the banners was finished, he ordered the ships to depart.

On the third fire ship, Huang Gai, alone, wore a concealed breast-plate and held a sharp weapon in hand. On the bow was written in bold, “Vanguard Huang Gai.” He took the favorable wind and set out from the Red Cliffs.

By then the east wind was roaring, waves breaking high. Cao Cao in the center fleet looked across and saw the moon on the river, like ten thousand gold snakes and waves leaping and playing in sport.

He laughed, thinking himself victorious.

A watchman then shouted, “To the south, from far off, a cluster of sailcloths rides in on the wind.”

Cao Cao looked and said, “They all bear Qinglong fang banners, and one great banner with the words ‘Vanguard Huang Gai.’”

Cao Cao laughed: “Let him come as a surrendering enemy. Heaven even favors me.”

As they came nearer, Cheng Yu looked long and said to Cao Cao, “These boats are surely deceptive. Do not allow them near the camp.”

Cao asked, “How do you know?”

Cheng Yu replied, “If this were grain, they would be heavy and stable. But these are light and buoyant. And tonight the southeast wind is violent. If there is deceit, how can they hold?”

Cao understood and asked who should stop them.

Wen Pin said, “I know these waters well and volunteer to go.”

When he had spoken, he leapt into a small boat and pointed, and more than ten patrol boats followed.

Wen Pin stood at the bow and cried, “The Chancellor’s order: southern vessels must not approach the stockade. Stop and anchor in midstream.”

All soldiers shouted together, “Drop the awnings at once!”

Before the cry had ended, an arrow struck Wen Pin in the left arm and he fell into the boat. Chaos erupted, and men fled back.

The nearest enemy ship was only two li from Cao’s camp when Huang Gai raised a cutlass and signaled. The front ships all caught fire at once. Fanned by wind, they went like arrows. Smoke and flame filled the sky.

The twenty fire ships crashed into the water camp, and at once every ship in Cao’s anchorage caught fire. Iron rings and chains fixed together gave no room to run. Across the river cannon fire answered, and fire ships arrived from all around, making the three-river waters rise in a red, burning sky.

Cao looked toward shore and saw smoke and fires among his camps. He tried at once to jump ashore. Just then Zhang Liao brought a small skiff and helped him down. By that moment the great ship itself had already caught fire. Zhang Liao, with ten men, guarded Cao and ran toward the bank.

Huang Gai, seeing through smoke from a smaller boat with several men behind him, came forward, hoping to capture him. He saw a man stepping out in carmine robe and thought it was Cao Cao, so he shouted:

“Bandit Cao, do not run away! Huang Gai is here!”

Cao cried out in misery.

Zhang Liao set arrow to bow and watched Huang Gai drawing near, and loosed one shot. The wind was loud; in that firelight Huang Gai could not hear the bowstring. The arrow struck the hollow of his shoulder, and he turned over and fell into the water.

A last verse recorded this ending:

When the calamity of fire peaks, it is followed by water disaster. A bruise from a staff may heal, but a wound from metal still troubles.

How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.