The War in The Flame-Color Wall

T he lake of Shibi,which means a red wall in English, a part of the domain of Sun ch'uan, is as large as the sea. Ts'ao Ts'ao launches to win the domain with a big fleet in 208. Rooted on the deck, he looks at the surface. The water is dark and deep, ready to engulf the fleet of Sun Ch'uan -- He trembles with excitement, satisfied with his first step for unifying the nation. When the darkness deepens, he finds one small fleet coming, with burning firewoods on the deck. They are Sun Ch'uan's. Ts'ao Ts'ao shrinks.To prevent his soldiers' seasickness he chained all his ships. Even one ship ignites, the rest of them will burn. An excellent strategist Chou Yu Kung-chin belongs to Sun Ch'uan, he remembered. He should have plotted. But now he is reminded that Chu-ko Liang K'ung-ming is behind them, joining them. When Ts'ao Ts'ao invaded, Sun Ch'uan was about to surrender instead of resisting. K'ung-ming persuaded him to fight eloquently. It is K'ung-ming, Ts'ao Ts'ao is convicted. In a minute his proud fleet burns and he flees with dozens of vassals. K'ung-ming is cautious. He has read which route Ts'ao Ts'ao would go and sent ambushes in some positions. Ts'ao Ts'ao barely escapes to his domain with his life when his million-solder army has reduced to only 27. He remembers the cruching defeat for the rest of his life. After next twelve years' disturbances of war, he died and his elderest son usurps the throne following his dying wish. The Han dynasty collaspes, and three kingdoms are born -- Ts'ao family's Wei, Sun Ch'uan's Wu, and Liu Pei's Shu. The land is devided into three as K'ung-ming has planed.