The flames of war burned, and the heartbroken roars of countless people echoed across the Yangtze River.
From a bird's-eye view, streams of black, green, and blue figures… were continuously eroding the red…
Until all colors merged with the red.
The Long Xiao Camp's navy, like a sharp long saber, pierced the heart of the Jiangdong navy again and again.
Tens of thousands of troops were instantly torn open by a gap, and this gap continued to deepen, to widen, like a dike gnawed by ants, instantly riddled with holes.
Under the charge of the Long Xiao Camp's navy, the Xuanwu Pond navy and the Jingzhou navy also erupted with formidable strength, but the sons of Jiangdong… had always been fearless of death!
A life-and-death struggle continued, with enemies charging forward, one after another, endlessly!
Here…
There were no cries of the weak, only the roars of the strong.
The Great Wei navy…
Was like a warship riding the waves, rampaging through countless Jiangdong vessels, while the Long Xiao Camp was the mast atop the warship, guiding them.
Although the Jiangdong navy was skilled in naval warfare, trapped in encirclement and driven into a corner… they could not exert their full strength!
Moreover, that Long Xiao Camp navy, which had fought whales at sea, was no weaker than them in naval combat!
These soldiers of the Long Xiao Camp were like unconquerable beings…
In just a moment, the armor of countless soldiers was stained red, shining brilliantly under the sun and firelight.
"Commander Zhou, General Cheng Pu, retreat first… I will cover your rear!"
Han Dang stood before the two of them…
"General Han…" Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu said in unison… But before they could react, armored soldiers forcibly carried them away!
There were small boats beneath the楼船 (lou chuan - multi-story warships), perhaps… perhaps in this confined space, they could find a sliver of a chance to escape.
However… this chance was extremely slim.
"Go quickly!"
Han Dang shouted his final cry. Facing the approaching Great Wei navy, he knew… this hurdle was likely insurmountable.
"Little brat Zhou Yu, don't run!"
Wen Ping roared, and more and more of the Great Wei navy surged forward.
As the battle continued, and as one Jiangdong lou chuan and meng chong (meng chong - small, fast warships) after another were captured by the Great Wei navy.
The entire Jiangdong navy was in despair.
When Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu, and others were seen fleeing rapidly in small boats, the morale of the entire Jiangdong navy collapsed instantly.
Yet…
The Qilin had fled?
Where was the Crouching Dragon?
What future lay for Jiangdong?
…
…
"The east wind has risen, but… has the general trend already slipped away?"
Zhuge Liang frowned, looking at the river with a solemn expression.
Defeated…
Completely defeated!
Ever since Liu Bei had invited him, Zhuge Liang, with three visits, what had he… what had he accomplished all these years?
First, the defeat at Bowang Slope;
Then, the defeat at Xiangyang;
And now… again… another great defeat at Chibi?
At this moment…
Crouching Dragon? This title was like a joke… He should be called, he should be called Foolish Dragon!
He and Zhou Yu… had made such meticulous arrangements.
The weather had the assistance of the southeast wind, the terrain had the advantage of the Yangtze River, and the human element… had the relationship between Huang Gai and Cao Cao! Yet… even so, they had still been seen through?
"Huuu…"
With a long exhale, Zhuge Liang's face was grim.
His brows were etched with two words – unwillingness!
But if asked if he was convinced or not?
He would certainly say – unconvinced!
Heh heh…
Zhuge Liang let out an incomparably bitter laugh, "So, Zhou Gongjin and I were like clowns… toyed with by you!"
These words were spoken by Zhuge Liang to Lu Yu…
And also like his heartfelt exclamation.
It was over…
It was all over!
The division of the Three Kingdoms was gone. With this defeat, after Chibi fell, the Great Wei troops would be able to sweep through Jiangdong! A clear path… the Sun-Liu alliance had already… had already failed.
While Zhuge Liang was still in a daze.
Sun Qian, who had rushed over, quickly said, "Strategist, this defeat at Chibi is not entirely your fault. My lord has sent me to escort you back!"
"Back? Back where?" Zhuge Liang's eyes were hazy… For the first time, he realized that in this vast world, there was no place for him.
Moreover…
The battle was drawing to a close, and the Great Wei ships were about to launch a fierce attack on Chibi?
Even…
Some Great Wei troops had already landed at Chibi port!
He… he was supposed to return to Jiangxia to rendezvous with Liu Bei…
Could he still return now?
Just then…
A hot air balloon was slowly descending.
A massive gust of wind roared and swept by… As the hot air balloon landed, Zhuge Liang saw the person inside clearly.
Who else could it be but his wife, Huang Yueying!
"Husband, hurry…"
"Take this flying sphere, it can fly across the river… Lord Liu has already sent people to the port of Xiakou to meet you!"
Huang Yueying's words flowed gracefully.
This…
Zhuge Liang frowned!
Shame…
In the end… even for his escape, he Zhuge Liang… had to rely on his wife, and on Lu Yu's hot air balloon?
This battle had eternally nailed his name, "Zhuge Kongming," to the pillar of shame.
Then…
Zhuge Liang climbed into the rattan basket, followed by Sun Qian.
Huang Yueying reignited the stove fire in the fuel tank. Although it wouldn't burn for long… it was enough to fly across the river.
Most importantly, Huang Yueying discovered… this flying sphere did not possess any anti-air threat… meaning, even if they were spotted, they wouldn't be shot down from the sky!
However…
While Huang Yueying was considering how to escape safely, Zhuge Liang was thinking more, and looking further.
The current situation…
Even if he retreated to Jiangxia? Jiangdong was finished, Xiakou would become an isolated city, could it still be defended?
Then…
He could only… he could only…
Suddenly, Zhuge Liang recalled the conversation he had with his cousin, Zhuge Jun, by the lake.
Lu Yu, through Zhuge Jun, had told him… allying with Jiangdong was a wrong choice, and the wise move was… to occupy Bashu!
Recently…
Scouts had reported that Liu Zhang of Bashu and Zhang Lu of Hanzhong were in conflict… seemingly due to a questionable relationship between Zhang Lu's mother and Liu Zhang's father.
Of course…
None of this was important. What was important was… persuading Lord Liu to enter Bashu, which seemed to be their best option.
Heh heh… terrifying. What a "psychological warfare" tactic, to have even planned his retreat for him?
Although it was somewhat risky…
Compared to Lu Ziyu's terrifying "psychological warfare," it was obvious… Bashu would be much easier!
The flying sphere slowly ascended…
The entire river surface grew smaller. The land of eternal spring, with its verdant mountains… this paradise of Jiangdong, was… was about to be handed over.
Here…
Was it over?
The Crouching Dragon allied with the Qilin, in the end… was still no match for Marquis Nan Shu Lu Ziyu!
— Nan Shu…
— Nan Shou! (Unpleasant)
…
…
The vast Yangtze River flowed eastward.
The boat had already docked, and Lu Yu personally saw off Sun Shangxiang.
"Miss Sun, the Battle of Chibi ended on the eighteenth, which perfectly matches the twenty-five-day pact. I hope Miss Sun will keep her word and fulfill what you promised me."
Lu Yu's voice carried out, soft and slow…
Just now, Sun Shangxiang had witnessed the battle on the river. It could be described as tragic, and now… it was in its final stages.
The Great Wei ships sailed towards Chibi… and at Chibi, the Jiangdong navy had already fled in panic!
From today onwards, the Great Wei cavalry… would be able to spread throughout Jiangdong!
"So, this is considered a courtesy before force?"
Sun Shangxiang pursed her lips and looked up at Lu Yu.
"I am merely asking Miss Sun to tell the people and officials of Jiangdong a story!"
"Heh!" Sun Shangxiang sneered, "You've already won the Battle of Chibi. With the Great Wei cavalry marching south, how can the six commanderies of Jiangdong be defended? At such a time… you… you want me to tell a story! Your intentions are utterly wicked!"
"Perhaps this story can avert more flames of war and bloodshed… and save more lives of the common people!" As he said this, Lu Yu gestured. "Get on board. I have made arrangements along the way, and no one will stop you. There will also be someone on the opposite bank to escort Miss Sun back to Wujun!"
"This is the first time I've met someone like you…" Sun Shangxiang gently raised her eyes…
Her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Just then.
"My Lord, Zhang Wenyuan has landed from Ruxukou with his contingent of eight hundred Long Xiao Camp cavalry!"
A scout reported the latest intelligence…
Ruxukou…
As soon as these three words were uttered, Sun Shangxiang's eyes widened. She knew too well… the importance of Ruxukou's location.
If Chibi was the only waterway from Jingzhou to Jiangdong, then… Ruxukou was the route from Hefei straight down to Jiangdong!
"You… you even divided your forces?"
Sun Shangxiang cried out…
"There is no such thing as an honest soldier in war," Lu Yu smiled, but did not answer… He simply signaled for someone to push the small boat into the river.
He beckoned to Sun Shangxiang and murmured softly.
"Next time, we shall meet in Wujun!"
This…
Sun Shangxiang was stunned.
She lowered her head and said, "I truly hope that day never comes…"
Yes, if they were indeed to meet in Wujun, then… it would mean Jiangdong had completely fallen into the hands of Great Wei!
The foundation built by three generations of the Sun clan would then… be utterly destroyed!
…
…
Zhou Yu, who had returned to Chibi in disarray, quickly entered a tent.
This was clearly used as a temporary detention place. Apart from a large basin, there was nothing else in the room. The guards who should have been standing outside with halberds had long since fled.
Zhou Yu had thought that Yang Xiu inside the room had also likely escaped… but in reality, Yang Xiu was at that moment leisurely warming himself by the fire, with a pot of fine wine by his side.
He looked up and saw Zhou Yu, took a sip, and continued to admire himself, "Yo, unexpected to meet you again. It seems… Commander Zhou suffered defeat in the Battle of Chibi?"
Hearing this, Zhou Yu felt much more at ease.
"Hahaha."
He gave a wry smile, walked over slowly, and placed his hands and his blood-and-river-water-soaked clothes by the fire to dry.
He calmly asked, "Where did you get this wine?"
"The guards watching me heard that the Jiangdong navy was defeated, so they ran off without even finishing their wine!" Yang Xiu remained exceedingly calm.
Zhou Yu asked, puzzled, "Everyone ran away? Why didn't you?"
Yang Xiu replied, "Why run? They are fleeing because they were defeated, but my master won a great victory. I, Yang Xiu, am also a meritorious official, so why should I run?"
"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you in my great defeat to vent my anger?" Zhou Yu's gaze was cold.
Yang Xiu stated confidently, "You won't. Killing me will only add another skeleton to Chibi, but it will completely block Zhou Gongjin's path to escape Jiangdong!"
As he said this, Yang Xiu glanced at Zhou Yu, "My teacher always said that your method of escaping Jiangdong by dividing the realm in two won't work. Yizhou will produce an emperor, and the daughter of the Wu clan in Yizhou might become empress, but that emperor will ultimately not be you, Zhou Gongjin!"
"Commander Zhou's talent is peerless, but his heart may not be as broad. However, you should know that from the very beginning, your decision to defect to Sun Ce and help him establish his foundation in Jiangdong was a mistake! Escaping Jiangdong isn't the only way to divide the realm in two; you could do so even within Great Wei. With your talent, Commander Zhou, you would at least be a Commander of cavalry in the Long Xiao Camp!"
Hearing the words "Commander of cavalry," Zhou Yu let out a self-deprecating laugh…
He, the dignified Right Grand Governor of Jiangdong, who commanded tens of thousands of troops, how… how could he be willing to be a Commander of cavalry who only led five hundred men?
"Don't look down on this Commander of cavalry!" Yang Xiu seemed to read Zhou Yu's mind. "Among the Long Xiao Camp, only Commander Cheng Yu can hold the position of Commander of cavalry. A Commander of cavalry in the Long Xiao Camp is equivalent to the commander of a hundred thousand troops outside! With Commander Zhou's talent, you shouldn't be so stubborn and go down a dead-end path, should you?"
Heh…
Zhou Yu sneered. "I, Zhou Yu, have long forgotten how I reached this point step by step. What I originally intended was to help the Sun clan establish their foundation in Jiangdong for three generations, benefiting the people… but in the end, I became increasingly entangled in the treacherous currents of Jiangdong… The factions here are too complex. Being in Jiangdong, every day makes me feel like sitting on thorns… Alright, today… I, Zhou Yu, am finally at peace!"
Yang Xiu sighed with emotion… "Who else can understand you, Zhou Gongjin, besides my teacher?"
"Let's not talk about that…" Zhou Yu's mood seemed to improve significantly. He poured himself a bowl of wine. "Let's talk about your master!"
"Master?"
"I, Zhou Yu, have always been puzzled. With such psychological tactics and talent… why did he choose Cao Cao? Did he never consider forging his own path? Cao Cao is such a suspicious person."
Zhou Yu voiced the question that had been buried in his heart for many years…
Yang Xiu's eyes darted around. "Commander Zhou, this is a long story to tell…"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean? Does Commander Zhou not intend to escape? I'm afraid the Great Wei navy will be here soon."
"I'm not escaping!"
Zhou Yu, who had been hesitant, seemed to have made up his mind after talking with Yang Xiu. "Like that Crouching Dragon, after escaping to the end, he was still utterly defeated!"
"As expected, the Qilin is more perceptive than the Crouching Dragon…" Yang Xiu praised.
"Can we talk about your master now? Why did he go to King Wei Cao Cao? Instead of achieving great deeds himself?" Zhou Yu continued to ask, clearly persistent and curious about this question.
"This…" Yang Xiu smacked his lips and slowly opened his mouth, "Actually, I don't know either."
"However, when my teacher was at the Imperial Academy, he once told a story! He told us that this world is not only the Great Han. Outside the Great Han, in the ocean, there are many lands… and after a thousand years, these lands will connect. And in the northeasternmost part of the Great Han, by that bay… the land there is far less vast than the Great Han, yet it has dozens of kingdoms!"
"Dozens of kingdoms?" Hearing this, Zhou Yu was startled… His gaze sharpened.
He found it incredible.
Yang Xiu's words continued. "Do you know why such a small piece of land has dozens of kingdoms?"
"Why?" Zhou Yu felt… he was deeply captivated.
"Because…" Yang Xiu's gaze focused. "Because my teacher mentioned that on that land, there was no eternal emperor to sweep through the six directions! To unify script, standardize vehicles, and harmonize measures, to establish a unified Dragon Kingdom!"
"And now… this Dragon Kingdom is divided. Shouldn't he unify it again? Shouldn't he… grant the people a piece of paradise, shouldn't he stand proudly in this world!"
As he said this…
Yang Xiu took a deep breath, his tone resolute.
— "I have always remembered my teacher's words!"
— "At the peak of immortality, proud of the world, with my Long Xia, there is heaven! What is internal strife? If you have the ability… unify this heaven!"
…
…