Chapter 1469: Deep Affection and Righteousness

The Three Kingdoms period is like a brilliant pearl embedded in the brilliant star map of Chinese civilization. And mentioning the heroism and style of this era, the name of Zhou Yu is like the brightest star in the night sky, shining brilliantly, making it impossible for people to ignore. He is not only the foundation of Eastern Wu but also a legendary figure in that era of flames of war and heroes, a person who combines wisdom, courage, benevolence, righteousness, and beauty. His elegance is not limited to the gold and iron horses on the battlefield but permeates the bits and pieces of daily life, becoming the incarnation of the "most handsome man in the Three Kingdoms" in the hearts of countless later generations.

Zhou Yu was born into a famous family in Jiangdong and had been bathed in books and martial arts since childhood. He was tall and straight, his face like jade, his eyes like bright stars, and his eyebrows revealed a kind of extraordinary temperament. The "long and strong with appearance" recorded in historical books, with only a few words, outlines a picture of heroic spirit and elegant demeanor. In that era when heroes gathered, Zhou Yu's handsome face undoubtedly added a few points of unique charm to him, making him not only make the enemy tremble with fear on the battlefield but also become the dream partner of many women in private. Cao Cao's remark, "If you have a son, you should be like Sun Zhongmou; if you have Gongjin, why worry about the world not being settled?" although it is a compliment to Sun Quan, it also reflects from the side the weight of Zhou Yu in the enemy's heart, as well as his extraordinary charm of both talent and appearance.

However, Zhou Yu's handsomeness is far more than his appearance. He is also a military genius with both wisdom and courage, and his talent and courage were fully displayed in the Battle of Red Cliffs. Facing Cao Cao's million-strong army pressing on the border, Eastern Wu was in panic, but only Zhou Yu was calm and composed, fighting side-by-side with Zhuge Liang, jointly planning this earth-shattering battle. He cleverly used the east wind, implemented the chain strategy and fire strategy, and eventually defeated the Cao army with a weak force, not only protecting the peace of Jiangdong but also laying the foundation for the tripartite confrontation of the Three Kingdoms. This battle is not only the pinnacle of military strategy but also the perfect fusion of Zhou Yu's wisdom and courage, making him a classic figure in history who defeated the strong with the weak and had both wisdom and courage.

In interpersonal relationships, Zhou Yu also displayed admirable qualities. His brotherly friendship with Sun Ce was deep and sincere; the two knew each other since childhood, experienced countless storms together, and eventually joined hands to create the Jiangdong foundation. After Sun Ce died young, Zhou Yu did not choose to stand on his own as king but resolutely assisted the young Sun Quan, becoming the pillar of Eastern Wu. He treated friends with loyalty and treated enemies with uprightness. This quality of loyalty and deep affection made him win extremely high reputation and respect in Jiangdong and even the entire Three Kingdoms period.

In addition to his outstanding achievements in the military, Zhou Yu was also a multi-talented cultural person. He was proficient in music, especially good at playing the qin, and the sound of the qin was melodious, like the sound of nature, capable of soothing people's hearts and cultivating sentiment. In the gaps of intense war, Zhou Yu could always find a moment of tranquility, playing the qin alone, enjoying that rare leisure and peace. His qin sound was not only the revelation of his inner world but also the embodiment of his elegant taste and profound cultural heritage. It is said that whenever he played, if someone accidentally touched the strings, he could always detect it at the first moment and look back gently. This keen musical perception and gentle and elegant behavior make people unable to help but fall for it.

After the brilliance of the Battle of Red Cliffs, Zhou Yu's name was like the first ray of sunshine in the morning, illuminating the sky of Eastern Wu and even the entire Three Kingdoms. However, the fate of heroes is always full of unknowns and variables, just like in that magnificent long river of history, there are always some turns that make people sigh. For Zhou Yu, that decisive victory seemed to herald the arrival of the peak of his life, but it also inadvertently buried the foreshadowing for his tragedy later.

With the daily strengthening of Eastern Wu's power, Zhou Yu, as the pillar of Eastern Wu, also saw his responsibilities and pressures increase. He not only had to continue to consolidate the Jiangdong foundation but also had to deal with threats from Cao Wei and Shu Han, as well as various complex internal contradictions. During this period, Zhou Yu displayed unprecedented resilience and wisdom; he laid out carefully, frustrated Cao Wei's invasion attempts many times, and also cleverly maneuvered between Shu Han, striving to maintain Eastern Wu's independence and prosperity in the tripartite confrontation of the Three Kingdoms.

However, long-term fatigue and tension gradually eroded Zhou Yu's health. His body began to show various discomforts, but out of loyalty and responsibility to Jiangdong, he always endured the pain and held his ground on the front line. Whenever it was deep in the night, he would always stand outside the camp alone, looking at the stars in the sky, his heart filled with worry about the future and nostalgia for the past. He knew that his time was running out, but he knew even more that he could not fall, because the people and soldiers of Jiangdong were all looking at him, expecting him to lead them toward a more brilliant future.

Against this background, a sudden battle broke the calm. Cao Wei dispatched a large army south, intending to eliminate Eastern Wu in one fell swoop. Faced with the strong enemy pressing on the border, Zhou Yu was fearless; he personally put on armor and led the Eastern Wu soldiers to fight bravely. On the battlefield, he was still heroic, wise, and brave, frustrating the enemy's offensive again and again. However, long-term fighting and the torture of illness had already made his body unable to bear the burden. In a fierce confrontation, he was unfortunately shot by an arrow, and blood stained his battle robe, but he still endured the pain and insisted on commanding the battle.

Eventually, under the desperate protection of the soldiers, Zhou Yu was sent back to the rear. However, the arrow wound went deep into the bone marrow, coupled with the accumulation of long-term fatigue and illness, his fire of life had burned to the end. On the sickbed, he looked at the sky outside the window, his heart filled with reluctance for life and worry about Jiangdong's future. He knew he was about to pass away, but he hoped even more that his departure could inspire the soldiers of Eastern Wu to continue moving forward and strive for the prosperity and strength of Jiangdong.

At the moment of his death, Zhou Yu summoned Sun Quan to his bedside. He held Sun Quan's hand tightly and said in a weak but firm voice: "My lord, although I am not talented, I am willing to use my meager strength to be loyal to the foundation of Jiangdong. Now I am terminally ill and fear I will not be in this world for long. I hope my lord will not forget the original intention, continue to consolidate the Jiangdong foundation, and compete with Shu Han and Cao Wei for the world. At the same time, I also ask my lord to treat my family and subordinates well, so that they can spend their remaining years in peace." After saying these words, Zhou Yu closed his eyes and left this world forever.

Zhou Yu's passing had a profound impact on Eastern Wu and even the entire Three Kingdoms. His passing not only made Eastern Wu lose an outstanding general and wise man but also made countless soldiers and people lose their spiritual pillar. However, Zhou Yu's spirit and legacy remained forever on the land of Jiangdong, inspiring later generations to constantly move forward.

When Sun Quan learned of Zhou Yu's passing, he was heartbroken. He knew well the importance of Zhou Yu to Eastern Wu and also understood that the responsibility on his shoulders was even heavier. To commemorate Zhou Yu's achievements and legacy, he personally held a grand funeral for Zhou Yu and posthumously titled him "Grand Commander" to show his affirmation and commemoration of his outstanding contributions.

In the years after Zhou Yu passed away, the soldiers of Eastern Wu continued to move forward bravely under his spiritual guidance. They remembered Zhou Yu's wisdom, courage, and loyalty, and transformed this strength into the courage and determination to overcome all difficulties. Under Sun Quan's leadership, Eastern Wu gradually moved toward strength and prosperity, becoming a force that could not be ignored in the Three Kingdoms period.

And Zhou Yu's name and deeds were also widely praised by later generations. He is not only the pride and symbol of Eastern Wu but also an outstanding hero and wise man in the history of the Chinese nation. His wisdom, courage, loyalty, and talent will be forever engraved in the long river of history, becoming an eternal classic, inspiring later generations to constantly pursue excellence and perfection.

Time flows, a thousand years have passed, but Zhou Yu's image and spirit are like those brilliant stars, forever shining in the sky of history. His life, although brief, was full of legend and brilliance. He interpreted what a true hero and wise man is with his actions. In the hearts of later generations, Zhou Yu will forever be the "most handsome man in the Three Kingdoms" who combines wisdom, courage, benevolence, righteousness, and beauty. His story will forever inspire people to pursue their own dreams and future. ===== CHAPTER 1470 =====