The Battle of Red Cliff 5(Three Kingdoms 49)
History of China
Previous Chapter ：The Battle of Red Cliff 4 (Three Kingdoms 48)
Catalog of Three Kingdoms’ history
Lu Su鲁肃 is a very trusted subordinate of Sun Quan,his former experience was somewhat similar to Zhuge Jin诸葛瑾，Zhuge Liang’s elder brother， also a native of Xuzhou徐州 to the north of the Yangtze River, he was recommended to Sun Ce孙策 by his friend Zhou Yu周瑜, but like Zhuge Jin, they were not put in important position by Sun Ce. Only after Sun Ce's death, he was again recommended to Sun Quan by Zhou Yu. Thus, Lu Su became Sun Quan's guest together with Zhuge Jin, and in the course of their relationship, gradually became one of the core subordinates of Sun Quan.
After news of Liu Biao's death reached Chaisang柴桑, Lu Su suggested that Sun Quan should join forces with Liu Bei and Liu Biao's sons to resist Cao Cao. After receiving approval, Lu Su came to Jingzhou荆州 in the name of mourning for Liu Biao. As soon as he arrived at Xiakou夏口, Lu Su heard the news of Cao Cao's Southern Expedition. Lu Su was afraid that Jingzhou would surrender without a fight, so he travelled to Xiangyang襄阳 day by night. But just as he entered the border of Nanjun南郡, he heard the news that Liu Biao’s heir Liu Cong had already surrendered with his province and Liu Bei had fled to south.
Knowing that it was useless to go to Xiangyang again, Lu Su made an immediate decision to go to Liu Bei directly, and when he arrived at ChangBan长坂 that he met the defeated Liu Bei just in time.
Upon meeting Lu Su first identified himself and asked Liu Bei where he intended to go. At this time the road south to Jiangling江陵 had been blocked by Cao's army.
Lu Su ask:“ what's your next plan？Where are you heading for ? My lord.” Liu Bei had to answer that he wanted to go to join Wu Ju吴巨, the Commanderial Governor of Cangwu苍梧. Cangwu is in Jiaozhou交州, and Wu Ju was also former subordinate of Liu Biao, Liu Bei probably had met Wu Ju several times when he was in Jingzhou.
But Lu Su said: "My master Sun Quan is smart and benevolent, courteous, the heroes to the south of the Yangtze River are eager to join him, and there are tens thousands of elite soldiers and sufficient food, you can only make friends with Sun Quan to achieve great things. Wu Ju is just a mediocre man, and he is located in a remote area, his self-preservation is still barely, how can you rely on this guy?"
Zhuge Liang had explicitly mentioned uniting with Sun Quan in his Longzhong Strategy, so Liu Bei was very happy to hear Lu Su's words. At this time, Lu Su also said to Zhuge Liang beside Liu Bei, "I am your brother's friend." With this relationship, Zhuge Liang and Lu Su also became much closer.
The three then made an agreement to go together to Liu Qi刘琦（Liu Biao’s eldest son,be good with Liu Bei & Zhuge Liang） in Xiakou first, and then Zhuge Liang will go with Lu Su to Chaisang to visit Sun Quan. Liu Bei then sent someone to call Zhang Fei张飞（is cutting the rear then） back, and the group quickly retreated towards the Han River汉水.
Shortly after being ordered to rush along the waterway to Jiangling, Guan Yu learnt of the news of Liu Bei's defeated at Changban and hurriedly led his warships to find them，finally he met Liu Bei and his men at halfway, where they boarded and headed for Xiakou together.
Liu Bei suffered great losses in this battle, except for 10,000 marine troops and several hundred ships led by Guan Yu, the rest of the troops were all captured by Cao's army, and the provisions were all eliminated, even Liu Bei's two daughters were captured. The counsellor Xu Shu徐庶 also fled with his family this time, but in the melee, Xu Shu's mother was robbed by Cao's army, so in order to save his mother's life, Xu Shu had to say goodbye to Liu Bei and go against his will by joining Cao Cao.
Although Liu Bei suffered heavy losses, but at least he saved his son and his core subordinates as Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun were also still with him, The hope of his comeback is still alive.
And for Cao Cao,who had defeated almost all of Liu Bei's living forces, the remnants of his forces don't seem to pose much of a threat for the time being. On the other hand, he also successfully occupied Jiangling, and the four southern commanderies of Jingzhou then surrendered. By now, except for a small part of Jiangxia, which was controled by Liu Qi and Sun Quan separately, the remaining six commanderies in Jingzhou had all belonged to Cao Cao, the purpose of this southern expedition was actually accomplished perfectly.
Since starting his military career, Cao Cao had suffered many setbacks, first being defeated by Xu Rong徐荣 in Bian River, and then was the Yanzhou兖州 being captured by Lu Bu吕布 and Chen Gong陈宫. After just two years, Cao Cao was almost got himself killed in Wancheng宛城, so it can be said that there is a hurdle after a hurdle. But since his victory in Guandu官渡, Cao Cao had a run of good luck, and in just a few years, whoever Cao Cao orders to surrender to him will do so with fear and submission, he can do whatever he wants now.
Cao Cao stood at the top of the city of Jiangling, looking out at the mountains looming in the distance, overlooking the river, and thinking of the heroism of Emperor Qinshihuang（Ying Zheng嬴政, first man who united China） and Emperor Gaozu of Han(Liu Bang刘邦, the Founder of the Han Dynasty) in their days. Cao Cao suddenly realized he was about to be able to achieve something comparable to them!
“Step it up!! Old man!! ” Cao Cao told to himself, a smile could not help but spread on his face.
To be Continud !
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