Chapter Sixty-Six: The Scheme Against Han Xuan (Part Three)

Jin Xuan hurriedly jumped into the small boat and helped Huang Gai up. "Old General, you’ve suffered much these days. May I ask what urgent matter brings you here tonight?"

"General Jin, there’s no need for such formality. Half my life has already been taken by that Zhou Yu. Once we break through Red Cliffs, I ask only one thing of you—hand Zhou Yu over to me. I want to skin him alive and tear him apart with my own hands!"

Huang Gai’s face was flushed, his eyes bloodshot, his lips and fingers trembling with agitation.

Seeing his current state and injuries, Jin Xuan no longer doubted Huang Gai. "Then, Old General, what means do you have to assist me?"

"I have replaced tonight’s patrols with my own trusted men. Without my order, they will not sound the alarm. General Jin, you may march straight in and strike at the heart!"

"Good! Old General Huang, you have bestowed such a favor upon me. I, Jin Xuan, swear to ensure you riches and honor for life."

Jin Xuan looked around. An hour had already passed; Huang Gai had arrived, but Han Xuan was nowhere to be seen.

Huang Gai coughed lightly. "General, I urge you to depart quickly. The sentries at Red Cliffs are changed every two hours."

"Enough, we won’t wait any longer. The whole army, set out!"

Deep into the night, the wind was biting cold. Soldiers clad in iron armor, hundreds of warships followed the river’s current.

Red Cliffs was shrouded in darkness above, as if no one was stationed there.

A commanding officer waved to the soldiers, quickening the pace of the fleet.

Jin Xuan’s figure was somewhat short compared to the other generals, lacking a bit of presence, but his resolute face lent him an air of authority.

He looked at the pitch-black Red Cliffs, then back at the reclining Huang Gai.

After a moment’s thought, he called over a messenger and ordered, "Pass down the command: the left column of ships is to advance ten miles ahead, the right column proceeds at normal speed. If an ambush is encountered, retreat immediately—do not engage!"

"Yes, sir!"

The sails were unfurled, and the left column surged ahead. These were the decoy ships, carrying only a few soldiers and mostly supplies.

On Red Cliffs, the sentries descended the city wall in the dark. "General, the enemy is just ten miles from our forces!"

Zhou Yu, armored and sword in hand, his handsome features exuding heroic spirit, stood with Lü Meng at his side, who held a long spear.

Behind them, a dense mass of soldiers waited in silence.

Zhou Yu’s expression did not change as he gave a single word to the messenger: "Wait."

Jin Xuan kept his eyes fixed on Red Cliffs, his vigilance unrelenting.

"General, the enemy is only five miles away!"

"At this speed, they must be decoy ships. Pass down the order to all officers—continue to wait."

"General, the enemy is only two miles away!"

"Wait a bit longer."

"Why aren’t they coming out to fight?" Jin Xuan was puzzled. In war, scouts and intelligence are vital; he couldn’t believe the enemy had not noticed them. His last doubts faded. It seemed Huang Gai truly intended to surrender. "Right column, full speed ahead!"

Following the waterway, the fleet soon passed Red Cliffs. Jin Xuan looked down at the land ahead. "Red Cliffs, here I come!"

Zhou Yu drew his sword and shouted, "Attack!"

"Attack!!"

The battle cry shattered the night. Crossbow bolts whistled through the air, flying down from the city walls.

Thud!

The men on the ships hadn’t even looked up before their hardest bones were shattered by the bolts, their bodies dragged into the river.

"What’s happening?" Panic flickered in Jin Xuan’s eyes as he looked around. Torches lit up Red Cliffs as bright as day.

"Fire!"

A hail of burning arrows rained down like a storm.

The searing, sharp arrowheads pierced armor and flesh, burning through to the innards with intense heat.

Half-dead soldiers crawled and rolled on the decks, their screams of agony echoing in the darkness.

"Put out the fire! Put it out!"

The burning ships’ crews desperately hurled bucket after bucket of water onto the raging flames.

"Again!" Lü Meng roared, sword in hand. The archers nocked flaming arrows and loosed them—once more, a shriek of arrows filled the night.

Corpses tumbled from the ships into the river before Red Cliffs, turning the waters crimson.

An arrow sped toward Jin Xuan, growing larger in his gaze. He jerked his head aside just in time—the arrow knocked his helmet flying.

"Huang Gai, Han Xuan, you treacherous old dogs!" Jin Xuan whipped around. "Where’s Huang Gai? Where is he?"

Several sailors plunged into the water, dragging an old man to shore and immediately shielding him from harm.

Jin Xuan glanced behind him. The ships were ablaze, the air filled with screams of pain and bitter wailing.

But Jin Xuan seemed deaf to it all. He wanted only to survive!

Zhou Yu watched as Jin Xuan and his remaining troops fled, raising his hand to halt the archers. Lü Meng looked at him in confusion. "Why not kill him as well?"

"Keeping him alive is more useful than killing him. Now my stratagem of sowing discord is complete. After tonight’s crushing defeat, he’s no longer a threat."

Jin Xuan swam desperately. Suddenly, a warship loomed ahead. "Zhao!"

"It’s Zhao Fan! It’s Zhao Fan!"

At the bow stood Bao Long, his face angular, clad in golden armor with twin qilin heads on his shoulders. Tall and imposing, his gear matched his physique—he looked every inch a mighty general.

The ship stopped in front of Jin Xuan, and many half-drowned soldiers climbed aboard. Bao Long extended his right arm, hauling Jin Xuan from the water.

"Lord Jin, are you unharmed?"

"Thank you, General Bao. I’m fine," Jin Xuan replied wearily, drenched and utterly disheveled.

Jin Xuan looked to Bao Long and asked, "Why are you here, General?"

Bao Long replied, "My lord saw your fleet heading toward Red Cliffs and, fearing an accident, specially ordered me to come and assist."

"Hahaha, such a disastrous defeat today! Han Xuan, Huang Gai!" Jin Xuan gritted his teeth until blood welled from his lips. "Come, I’ll settle the score with those traitors!"

Zhou Yu had written to him long ago, claiming Han Xuan’s campaign against Sun Jian to avenge his former lord was a pretense. In truth, Han Xuan wanted to use Sun Jian to weaken his own power. Jin Xuan, assuming Zhou Yu was sowing discord, had killed the messenger to boost morale, never imagining Han Xuan would truly act this way!

In Zhao Fan’s camp—

Bao Long reported everything to Zhao Fan, then withdrew. Zhao Fan burst out laughing. "Han Xuan fancies himself clever, not realizing he’s already fallen into the trap. A pity Jin Xuan lost nearly half his troops—otherwise, things would be even livelier."

Han Xuan drank heartily, elated. After tonight, Jin Xuan was surely dead at Red Cliffs. Only three rivals remained; once they were dealt with, he could seize the rest of Jingzhou without losing a single man.

The other three were truly fools, thinking Sun Jian could be so easily defeated—ignoring easy prey to gnaw at the hardest bone!