Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Cao Ren had considered the possibility that the stacked wood might be bait, but after careful consideration, he still wasn't prepared to pass up the opportunity.

With the advantage of ships and terrain, Cao Ren held the initiative in both advance and retreat.

Even if he couldn't burn all the wood, burning a portion would still be beneficial.

…

While Cao Ren was preparing, so was Zhou Yu.

The bait had been cast.

Now, it was a game between the fisherman and the big fish, with even the possibility of roles reversing.

With the area around the small hill transformed into a watery expanse, Cao's army had no cover while observing Liu's army's movements. Similarly, Zhou Yu, hidden on the hill, had a clear view of the surrounding situation.

As Cao Ren began to deploy his troops, Zhou Yu, who had been carefully observing in secret for quite some time, couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"Cao Ren's reputation under Cao Cao's command isn't particularly prominent, but his ability to command troops has the air of a great general. He is not to be underestimated."

Just as a person's temperament is often impossible to hide.

After Cao Ren secretly began deploying his troops, the military prowess he displayed was clearly beyond that of an ordinary person.

Cao Ren not only continued to leave about five hundred soldiers on the southwest and north sides of the small hill, maintaining a vigilant and comprehensive surveillance network.

After Cao Ren was ready and began to deploy his troops, he directed twenty-five hundred soldiers to divide into five ship formations, which subtly formed a unified whole.

Therefore, Zhou Yu easily judged that Cao Ren not only knew military affairs but also had a considerable understanding of formations.

The somewhat crude ship formation, while highlighting Cao Ren's unfamiliarity with naval warfare, subtly conformed to the principles of formations.

Even though this ship formation had many flaws in Zhou Yu's eyes, and Zhou Yu could break it head-on with a thousand sailors and corresponding ships, it was enough for Zhou Yu to add a few more points of importance to Cao Ren.

While Zhou Yu observed without taking action, Cao Ren launched a surprise attack on the wood placed around the hill.

While leaving a thousand men to respond in the rear, he simultaneously divided into three directions, approaching the hill and releasing rockets from a distance towards the wood.

Even though Liu's army blew the horns of attack at the first moment they discovered Cao Ren, the demoralized Liu army scattered and feebly fired arrows in retaliation from the shore.

However, Cao Ren had long prepared by erecting wooden boards on the boats or having the soldiers raise shields for cover, so the scattered arrows could only cause limited casualties.

In contrast, the stacked wood targets were exceptionally obvious.

Although Qingzhou was experiencing a flood, the weather was clear and crisp in this autumn season. The cut wood ignited almost instantly when hit by rockets.

The development of the situation was exactly as Cao Ren, who was observing from the rear boats, had expected.

A portion of the wood piled on the hill was ignited in the blink of an eye.

Faced with this situation, the Liu army trapped on the hill appeared quite chaotic. Some continued to retaliate sporadically, while others began to try to put out the fire under the scolding and urging of their officers.

As the thick smoke from the burning wood gradually formed, Cao Ren's heart couldn't help but become excited. However, he remained cautious, directing the boats to change direction and continue the attack, in order to quickly and completely burn the wood.

Cao Ren's goal was very clear from beginning to end: to quickly burn the wood piled on the hill, preventing the enemy from using floating debris to escape in large numbers under cover of darkness.

And when Cao Ren directed his troops to change direction and gradually ignite the second batch of wood.

Zhou Yu, hidden in the hill, felt that the time was about right, subconsciously tightening his grip on the sword hilt in his hand. He turned to Cheng Pu, Han Dang, Zu Mao, and other generals behind him and said.

"Gentlemen, no matter what happens along the way, please be sure to act according to the plan. Whether the twenty thousand soldiers can survive depends on the opportunity before us."

At this moment, the gazes of old generals like Cheng Pu, Han Dang, and Zu Mao towards Zhou Yu were complex.

Previously, Cheng Pu and others, relying on their seniority and status, treated Zhou Yu with respect more because of Sun Ce's reputation.

However, Cheng Pu and others always believed that Zhou Yu was just a young man who had gained importance because of his relationship with Sun Ce.

Only when Zhou Yu was truly prepared to personally carry out this plan did the generals like Cheng Pu feel admiration.

Immediately, Zu Mao stood up abruptly, stopped Zhou Yu who was about to turn away, and pleaded.

"Sir is a scholar, and the situation under the river is complex, with frequent undercurrents. Those who are not extremely skilled in swimming risk their lives if they fall into the water."

"Why doesn't Sir entrust this plan to me to execute, while Sir sits in the central army to coordinate all parties?"

Zhou Yu's eyebrows rose, and a hint of a smile appeared on his handsome face.

Previously, the old generals like Zu Mao had always addressed Zhou Yu by his given name.

Being respectfully addressed as "Sir" was the first time Zhou Yu had enjoyed such treatment.

However, the smile that rose on Zhou Yu's face quickly turned into firmness, and he said.

"There is no need to discuss this matter further. No one else can replace my role. Only by taking the risk myself can I make Cao Ren completely trust me."

"And don't think that I, Zhou Yu, am just a scholar, but my swimming skills are definitely not inferior to anyone. The sword in my hand…"

Zhou Yu suddenly drew the sword from his waist and said sharply.

"Is also not inferior to anyone, and will surely open a path to survival for the twenty thousand soldiers."

Immediately, Zhou Yu strode towards the shore, accompanied by a thousand loyal soldiers selected from the army.

"You dare, you villain!"

Zhou Yu, who rushed out with his sword, stared at Cao's army on the water not far away with an expression of great anger.

In full view, Zhou Yu led a thousand loyal soldiers, some dragging a piece of wood, others relying entirely on their swimming skills, and rushed straight into the water, heading straight towards the ships of Cao's army.

"How dare that fellow do this?"

Cao Ren was first startled by Zhou Yu's actions, and then couldn't help but reveal a look of wild joy, realizing that this young brat was probably completely desperate and had actually made such an unwise move.

Seeing Zhou Yu leading thousands of soldiers plunging into the water one after another, constantly approaching Cao's army.

Cao Ren didn't hesitate to direct the ships deployed in the front to retreat slightly, while constantly firing arrows at the targets in the water.

At the same time, Cao Ren secretly mobilized the ships on both flanks to spread out to the sides, with the intention of capturing Zhou Yu, the commander, alive.

As long as Zhou Yu was captured, coupled with the fact that Liu's army's food and supplies were about to run out, it might be possible to force these twenty thousand elite troops to surrender on the spot.

(End of this chapter)