Chapter 1062

The moonlight was still like silver, but on the walls of Jingzhou at this moment, a different atmosphere permeated. Zhou Yu’s figure appeared even more firm in the night wind; his gaze pierced through layers of night, as if he could perceive the future changes in the wind and clouds. Huang Gai stood beside him, and the figures of the two generals stretched long in the moonlight, weaving a picture of lofty aspirations.

"Viceroy, how should we act next?" Huang Gai’s voice broke the silence; his eyes held both anticipation and worry.

Zhou Yu took a deep breath and said slowly, "Although Cao Cao has temporarily given up moving south, the threat from the north still exists. We must take this opportunity to strengthen the joint defense between Jiangdong and Jingzhou, while simultaneously preparing for a longer-term strategy."

Huang Gai nodded in agreement. "The Viceroy’s words are absolutely correct. We must not only defend but also attack. Only by taking the initiative can we break Cao Cao’s ambition."

Zhou Yu smiled slightly, a light of wisdom shining in his eyes. "Old General’s words match my intentions exactly. I intend to divide the army into two routes: one route will be led by you to continue harassing Cao Cao’s border, making him unable to have peace; the other route will be led by me personally to secretly train the navy, preparing for a future water battle."

Upon hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Huang Gai’s eyes. "A water battle? The Viceroy’s plan is brilliant! Jiangdong’s navy is unparalleled in the world; if we can compete with Cao Cao on the water, our chances of winning will be great."

Zhou Yu patted Huang Gai on the shoulder gently. "Precisely so. But this plan requires time to prepare; we must wait patiently while constantly weakening Cao Cao’s strength to create conditions for the final decisive battle."

In the following days, Jiangdong and Jingzhou entered a state of tense preparation. Zhou Yu personally supervised the construction of warships and the training of the navy, while Huang Gai led elite troops to frequently raid Cao Cao’s border, making Cao Cao’s army run around in exhaustion and morale drop day by day.

However, just as everything seemed to be progressing smoothly, unexpected news broke the peace—Cao Cao dispatched his great general Xiahou Dun to lead a large army south, intending to capture Jingzhou in one fell swoop and cut off Jiangdong’s rear route.

Upon learning the news, Zhou Yu furrowed his brows, but soon recovered his calm. He knew well that this battle concerned not only the survival of Jingzhou but also the future of Jiangdong. He quickly summoned his generals to formulate a response strategy.

"Xiahou Dun is brave and peerless, but we also have our advantages." Zhou Yu’s voice was firm and powerful. "We are familiar with the terrain, and the people’s hearts are with us. As long as we are united as one, we will surely be able to repel the enemy."

After listening, the generals’ morale was boosted, and they expressed their willingness to compete with Xiahou Dun. Seeing this, Zhou Yu was very pleased. He knew well that morale is the foundation of war; as long as morale is not extinguished, Jiangdong has hope.

The battle soon began, and Zhou Yu and Huang Gai led two routes of the army respectively to meet Xiahou Dun. Both sides traded blows, and the situation was exceptionally fierce. Zhou Yu personally took to the field, holding a long sword and charging in front; his heroism inspired every Jiangdong soldier.

In a key decisive battle, Zhou Yu and Xiahou Dun clashed head-on. Both were brave and skilled in battle, fighting to a deadlock. However, Zhou Yu, relying on his familiarity with the terrain and flexible tactical application, gradually gained the upper hand. He cleverly used the terrain advantage to set up an ambush, causing Xiahou Dun’s army to fall into a predicament.

Just as Xiahou Dun was preparing to break out at the cost of his life, the reinforcements led by Huang Gai arrived in time. The two routes of the army joined forces to attack, and Xiahou Dun’s army finally collapsed. Seeing that the situation was lost, Xiahou Dun had no choice but to lead his remaining troops to flee back to the north.

The moonlight was still like silver, spilling onto every brick and stone of the Jingzhou city walls, reflecting a cold and firm light. Zhou Yu and Huang Gai stood side by side, and the night wind blew, causing the robes of the two to sway gently, yet it could not blow away the heavy sense of responsibility in their hearts.

"Viceroy, although Xiahou Dun was defeated, Cao Cao will surely not give up." Huang Gai’s voice carried a trace of imperceptible worry. "How should we lay out our plans next to ensure nothing goes wrong?"

Zhou Yu’s gaze pierced through the night, as if looking for an answer; after a moment, he spoke slowly. "Although Cao Cao is strong, we also have our advantages. We must use Jingzhou’s geographical advantage to build a more solid defensive line. At the same time, I also intend to send envoys to Liu Bei to seek an alliance and fight against Cao Cao together."

Upon hearing this, Huang Gai’s eyes lit up. "The Viceroy’s plan is brilliant! Although Liu Bei’s power is not as great as Cao Cao’s, his subordinates Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are both brave generals; if we can form an alliance with them, it will undoubtedly be a powerful force against Cao Cao."

Zhou Yu nodded, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Precisely so. Moreover, this Liu Bei aims for the world and has a common enemy with us. As long as our sincerity is sufficient, I believe he can see the situation clearly and join hands with us to resist Cao."

Subsequently, Zhou Yu detailed the plan for forming an alliance with Liu Bei, as well as how to arrange multiple defensive lines within Jingzhou to ensure nothing went wrong. Huang Gai was responsible for specific implementation; he led a capable team to secretly shuttle between the mountains and lakes of Jingzhou to build defensive works, while simultaneously preparing to meet the battle that might come.

Days passed, and Jingzhou’s defensive system gradually improved, while Zhou Yu also sent envoys to Liu Bei’s camp. The news brought back by the envoys was heartening—Liu Bei agreed to the alliance and was willing to send brave generals like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to assist in defending Jingzhou.

However, just as the alliance was about to be reached, an unexpected variable appeared. Cao Cao actually led a large army south personally, intending to annex Jingzhou and Jiangdong in one fell swoop. When the news arrived, the entire Jingzhou city fell into tension.

Upon learning the news, Zhou Yu furrowed his brows, but soon summoned his generals to analyze the situation. "Cao Cao coming personally shows that he is determined to get Jingzhou. But this is also our opportunity; we can fight a decisive battle with Cao Cao at the foot of Jingzhou city and let him know our power."

Huang Gai was worried. "Viceroy, Cao Cao’s troops are strong and his horses are sturdy; although we have Liu Bei’s aid, our strength is still disparate. Can we win this battle?"

Zhou Yu’s gaze was firm, his tone sonorous. "Old General, do not worry. War is not just a competition of troop numbers, but a contest of wisdom and courage. We have the advantage of terrain and people; as long as we lay out our plans cleverly, we will surely be able to repel Cao Cao."

Subsequently, Zhou Yu discussed tactics with generals like Huang Gai, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. They decided to use the terrain advantage of Jingzhou city to set up multiple traps, while simultaneously using the navy’s advantage to set up a defensive line on the Yangtze River to prevent Cao Cao’s navy from approaching.

The horn of battle finally sounded. Cao Cao’s army poured in like a tide, and the flames of war ignited at the foot of Jingzhou city. Zhou Yu personally commanded the battle; he held a long sword, stood on the city wall, and commanded with composure. Huang Gai led a daredevil team to raid multiple times, disrupting Cao Cao’s offensive.