Chapter 9: The Great Battle of the Yellow River - Part 1
The operation began. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun took the lead, facing the allied forces of Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo.
"The enemy is coming! Everyone, prepare!"
Guan Yu shouted.
Tens of thousands of enemy soldiers swarmed in. Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade swung like a flame, and dozens of enemies fell. Zhang Fei's Long-Eight Swordsmanship also blazed, and Zhao Yun's spear pierced the enemy lines like a dragon.
We're on our way! Retreat!
Cao Cao observed the battlefield through his telescope and smiled.
"Liu Bei's army is fleeing. Pursue!"
"Prime Minister, this is strange. We seem to be being defeated too easily."
Xun Yu warned. "What are you talking about? Can 50,000 men stand against 500,000? This is our chance! Pursue!"
Cao Cao's vast army began pursuing Liu Bei's forces. Dong Zhuo's army followed suit.
Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, following Deception Tactics of The Mongol Empire Genghis Khan, repeatedly feigned flight and lured them toward the Yellow River. Occasionally, they would turn back and pretend to fight fiercely, only to retreat again in a hasty retreat. They appeared genuinely afraid.
"We've got him! Just a little more pursuit and we'll behead Liu Bei!"
Cao Cao was completely fooled. His army pursued Liu Bei's forces deeper and deeper.
After three days and nights, the allied forces of Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo reached the narrowest point of the Yellow River.
"The enemy is attempting to cross the river! Attack now and we can annihilate them!"
Cao Cao issued the order.
The allied forces began to cross the river. The river was so narrow that many troops could not cross at once. The soldiers began to cross using rafts and makeshift bridges.
It was at that very moment.
"Now!"
Zhuge Liang gave the signal.
Liu Bei's army, waiting upstream, opened a massive floodgate. A tremendous amount of water instantly poured into the river. It was a reenactment of GoGuRyeo(Past Nation of Korea) General Eulji Mundeok's Great Battle Strategy at the Salsu River.
"What, what!"
The enemy soldiers crossing the river screamed. But it was too late. A massive wall of water slammed into them.
"Aaaaah!"
Tens of thousands of soldiers were swept away. Rafts broke, and the makeshift bridge collapsed. In an instant, the Yellow River was covered with corpses.
Cao Cao gritted his teeth and shouted,
"This was Liu Bei's plan! Fall back! Fall back!"
But in the chaos, the orders were not properly communicated. The soldiers behind continued to advance, oblivious to the situation ahead, while those in front attempted to retreat. The result was chaos.
"Save us!" "Water! Water!"
That day, approximately 250,000 men of the allied forces of Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo lost their lives in the flood. More than half drowned.
________________________________________
Minjun felt a thrill as he wrote this scene. His fingers seemed to move on their own.
"Amazing... This is truly a brilliant strategy..."
That night, Minjun had another dream. This time, it was his grandfather.
"Minjun, you're doing well. But it's not over yet. Cao Cao is a clever man. He will prepare for a naval battle."
"So what should we do?"
"It's time for Pang Tong's turtle ships to appear. And we'll create a perfect encirclement with the crane-wing formation. This will be the highlight of the Great War of Yellow White."
Minjun nodded and began to envision the next scene.
Chapter 10: The Great War of Yellow White - Part 2
Cao Cao trembled with anger, but quickly regained his composure.
"If Liu Bei used water, there will inevitably be a naval battle next. We must also prepare for a naval battle."
"Prime Minister, we also have a navy. We will call in the naval forces of Cai Mao and Zhang Yun from Jing Province."
Guo Jia suggested.
"Very well. And reinforce your warships. No matter how strong Liu Bei's ships are, they cannot overcome our numerical superiority."
Cao Cao quickly devised a countermeasure. He converted 100,000 of his remaining 250,000 troops into naval forces and prepared 200 large warships.
A week later, the combined naval forces of Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo began their southward march down the Yellow River. The second act of The Great War of Yellow White had begun.
________________________________________
In Liu Bei's camp, the turtle ship built by Pang Tong was being completed.
"Is this a turtle ship?" Lu Bu asked curiously.
"Yes. These are the warships Admiral Yi Sun-Shin used to defeat the Japanese. They're covered in iron armor, impervious to arrows and spears, and have dragon heads on the front for cannon fire."
Pang Tong proudly explained.
"But we only have 48 ships. The enemy has over 200."
Zhao Yun said anxiously.
"It's okay. We have the Naval Battle Strategy using JoSeon(Past Nation of Korea) Admiral Yi Sun-Shin's Crane Wing Formation and turtle ships."
Zhuge Liang unfolded the map.
"Here, the current of the Yellow River is strongest. We deploy 24 turtle ships here in Naval Battle Strategy using JoSeon(Past Nation of Korea) Admiral Yi Sun-Shin's Crane Wing Formation. We then place the remaining 24 ships behind as reserves."
"The Naval Battle Strategy using JoSeon(Past Nation of Korea) Admiral Yi Sun-Shin's Crane Wing Formation..."
"Yes. It's a formation with wings spread out like a crane. If an enemy warship approaches, we surround it with both wings and destroy it. It's the very tactic Admiral Yi Sun-Shin used at the Battle of Myeongnyang."
Guan Yu nodded. "It's a brilliant strategy. But who will lead the charge?"
"I will."
Lu Bu stepped forward.
"The time has come to demonstrate my prowess. Brothers, please trust me."
Liu Bei placed a hand on Lu Bu's shoulder.
"I trust you. We all trust you."
Lu Bu bowed his head in gratitude.
Chapter 11: The Great War of Yellow White - The Final Battle
Three days later, the allied naval forces of Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo appeared. A massive fleet of over 200 ships covered the Yellow River. The sight was like dark clouds covering the sky.
"Are those Liu Bei's warships?"
Cao Cao observed through his telescope. The strangely shaped ships were arrayed.
"Are you trying to stop us with just those? This is ridiculous! All forces, charge!"
Following Cao Cao's command, the allied naval forces began to advance.
"Come! All ready!"
Lu Bu shouted. He was aboard the turtle ship, the vanguard.
The enemy warships approached. Arrows rained down, but the turtle ship's iron armor deflected them all.
"It's ineffective! Ram the ship!"
The enemy warships rammed the turtle ship. But the turtle ship didn't budge. In fact, it suffered significant damage.
"Now! Fire!"
Lü Bu gave the order. Flames erupted from the turtle ship's dragon head. With a loud explosion, the enemy warships began to burn.
"What, what is that! What is that?"
The enemy army panicked.
" Naval Battle Strategy using JoSeon(Past Nation of Korea) Admiral Yi Sun-Shin's Crane Wing Formation!"
Zhuge Liang gave the signal.
Twenty-four turtle ships spread their wings like cranes and began to surround the enemy. It was a spectacular sight, like a giant crane spreading its wings. The enemy warships swarmed the narrow channel, and the turtle ships fired their cannons from both sides. "Fire! Fire!" "The ships are sinking!"
One by one, Cao Cao's warships began to sink or burn.
"Oh my... Is this Liu Bei's naval strategy?"
Cao Cao gritted his teeth.
"Prime Minister, the current is too strong! Our ships are out of control!"
Guo Jia reported urgently.
Pang Tong had been aiming for this. The enemy's large warships could not maneuver properly in the fast-moving current. In contrast, the turtle ships, small and sturdy, could move quickly using the current.
"Twenty-four turtle ships in the rear, advance!"
Zhuge Liang issued a second order.
The twenty-four turtle ships in reserve advanced, blocking the enemy's rear. Now, Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo's naval forces were completely surrounded. The crane-wing formation was perfectly complete.
"Crane-wing formation complete! Destroy the enemy!"
The forty-eight turtle ships fired their cannons simultaneously. The Yellow River became a sea of fire. The yellow waters were dyed crimson, like a blazing white flame. Therefore, people called this battle the "Battle of the Yellow and White Rivers."
"Retreat! Retreat!"
Cao Cao cried desperately, but it was too late.
In this naval battle, the allied forces of Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo lost 180 of their 200 ships, 70% of their forces. The Yellow River was filled with corpses and debris, and its waters were tinged with blood.