Huang Gai's Delusive Injury
In order to carry out an incendiary attack, we must have the means to be available. The material for raising fire should always be kept in readiness. - Sun Zi's Art of War,on chapter 12 the Attack by Fire
XXX
At Sun clan's naval base at Lukou…
The presence of several people can be seen even at the prelude of the event as Cao Cao's navy had reached Red Cliff and began preparation to transfer troops at the dawn of the day. Usually even at this early dawn where the sky is dark, the shore of the river are crowded with fisherman who are catching fishes in Changjiang. However the approaching day when the showdown at Red Cliff was approaching near made them resigned out of fear for their own safety due to loose arrows, especially with soldiers from both army gave announcement to temporary forbid their presence in the river.
These fellow whose presence felt out of ordinary are no fishermen who usually crowd around the shore nor Sun clans soldier who are making patrol or given task to make observation. They are some of key figures who shall play no less important roles for the upcoming decisive battle at the river. Right now, having heard of Cao Cao's deploying ship bridges and protected them with her naval fleet like a small fortress in the river made them want to see direct observation. Even from the base of Lukou, the presence of those pontoon bridge and Cao Cao's floating naval fortress can be seen without lessening its menace.
"The Cao army has finally found a way to cross the great river without having to face the Sun clan's navy." Zhuge Liang commented. "With the battle shifted to ground battle tactics, their elite army will be peerless."
"So this is Cao Cao's plan to conquer the Eastern River region…" Lu Su was silenced "Impressive… you've really done it, Karin-san."
Naval warfare at Red Cliff and Siege warfare at Yuzhang and Haihun… with Chaisang as their final destination…
Two invasions executed without diminishing their disadvantage while maintaining their own advantage…!
A marvelous combination of 'Clamor in East, Strike at West; Northern Horse, Southern Boat'!
What a brilliant plays from Cao Cao's all star talents!
"Except… that they miscalculate about one thing…" Zhuge Liang calmly declared with her crane feather fan pointing at their directions "Splitting their force was never a good stratagem. "
"Indeed… though with Sheren's sacrifice, we managed to prematurely discover their scheme.." Lu Su looked sad a bit "A blessing in disguise indeed."
"Yes, with Grand Commander Zhou Gongjin already busy making whole preparation for leading the naval attack at Red Cliff while on the other hand, Deputy Commander Cheng Pu will direct her troops to be stationed at Haihun, in preparation for the ground battle combat…" Zhuge Liang pressed the fan, covering her serene expression "But the initiation for the attack will be decided the moment…"
"They receive the reply for Huang Gai's false surrender." Lu Su admitted Zhuge Liang's hypothesis.
XXX
On the other side of Lukou's port…
The shipyards were rushing to manufacture more boats and warships for the battle of Red Cliff even before the final minutes, on the other hand some of the old Mengchongs and Doujian class boat weren't scrapped but instead being converted to serve a new role of purpose for the upcoming battle.
As in accordance to a plan Huang Gai had proposed, those Mengchongs and Doujian class boat will be converted to fireships to deliver a covert mission of incendiary ramming toward Cao Cao's naval fleet the moment Huang Gai's false submission made them fall into false sense of security and they can sail smoothly without any obstruction toward Cao Cao's navy.
At least that was most of the plan.
However, they have to infiltrate and reach the effective range by bypassing most of Cao Cao's naval defense which now has already looks like a fortress on its own. It won't be an easy mission as it sounds. Hence the reason Huang Gai herself although hasn't fully recovered forced herself to oversee the process.
According to physical structure of a warship as it was recorded in Zi Zhi Tongjian;
A medium sized standard issued leather covered ships (Mengchong class) are encased in raw oxhide, with both side have openings for oars, with left and right opening for use of crossbow (arbalest) and lances (it was not known whether the prow was attached with harpoon though :P). With this structural design in mind, it was hoped that no enemy can easily approach/intercept them and no arrows or (light) projectile able to harm its structure and no small fast attack boat (like youting or zouge) can overtake them.
In this sense, to convert those ships into fire ship as she intended, they change the structure by using sails instead of oar propulsion, and lighten the weight by dismantling most of their fixed armament and only leave a wide cargo, turning it into mostly a defenseless ship. The wide cargo would later be filled with kindling, dry woods and reed, flint, and fatty oils.
Kindling, dry woods, reed and flint is considered as basic military logistic, hence it is not a troublesome task in obtaining them, however fatty oils are the uncommon part of the logistic which supply officer has quite a difficulty on preparing them. There are some naturally found naphtha around southern part of Jingzhou which they can smuggled from Shanyue barbarians and Shangliao bandits, however it was still not considered a sufficient quota.
Hence, under the suggestion of Lu Su (and Zhuge Liang), they purchased the stock of fish from all fishermen and merchants around Lukou and extract their fish fatty oil by slicing them carefully and boiled them until the oil surfaced atop the water, in which those part were scooped up and contained in some canister (oil can not mix with water, hence the oil will separated and floated at the top layer).
Those were the meddlesome process they had gone through.
"Now, don't forget to put on a show for the enemy." Huang Gai instructed. And at once several archers were ordered to shot directly at the boat to make impression that they were being attacked. And after this order was given, she still made personal inspection to make sure that it looks realistic from others view. Several nodding to speak of her approval and she decided that all her preparation for false defection to fool Cao Cao is mostly done. Hence she spoke to the soldiers who shall follow her mutiny.
"Everyone, be ready when our performance start." Huang Gai spoke "The success of this campaign rest on us."
Extracted from Chen Shou's Record of Three Kingdoms (San Guo Zhi) on the biography of Zhou Yu styled Gongjin:
Seeing that Cao Cao's army was numerous, Huang Gai felt that it would be difficult to resist them in long term battle. However, she observed that Cao Cao's ships were linked together and suggested to repel them with fire tactics.
The suggestion was accepted and preparations were made for fireboats (stuffed with inflammable materials). A squadron of mengchong doujian was later converted into fire ships by filling them with bundles of kindling, dry reeds and fatty oil.
XXX
On the other hand, knowing that the battle of Red Cliff is just at the door… Commander in Chief of Sun clan's army; Zhou Yu did not feel at ease and it could be said that she worked even more harder than before. As day by day come closer, she reduce her time for resting and even insisting to personally review everything under her control no matter how all her deputy and subordinate tries to remind her.
As the time grows near, she become increasingly more cautious and not wanting to missed out even a single thing. She was already been informed by Kan Ze about the changing climate and prediction of the upcoming weather before she . Yet she still unsatisfied and compare it to other source of information like seasoned fisherman who knows the Changjiang rivers like the back of their hands and even performed personal inspection of changing temperature of surrounding environment, and even overseeing the observation of air pressure and aerial condition.
"The water temperature has risen…. It was slightly warmer than yesterday…" Zhou Yu read the report from field operator for this observation " Indeed. what Kan Ze's calculated really matched up to our own direct observation… " Zhou Yu stored those result and went away without words from this place, causing her subordinate and deputy commander to frantically keep up with her pace of work.
It is like she is being obsessed with the upcoming battle of Red Cliff.
As the subordinate and deputy like Lu Meng thought that Zhou Yu decided to rest when she returned back to Lukou, she was stunned when Zhou Yu instead went to smithery and the facility around the Lukou where another manufacturing of incendiary matter were prepared. She was stunned seeing the presence of both Lu Su and the honored guest who represent the Imperial Sister Liu; Advisor Zhuge Kongming.
"Advisor Lu, Advisor Zhuge. My greetings here." Lu Meng hurriedly spoke feeling flustered as she was a bit messy while Meirin herself still look as elegant as ever. Ebony and perfect female CEO stereotype like iron lady seems to describe her well.
"Zijing and Kongming…" Meirin smiled in polite gesture "my respectful honor."
Both saluted and spoke respectfully "To see the Grand Commander darren here, I felt reluctant with my presence which seems to bother your work."
"No.. no…" Meirin spoke casually "I was just passing by, taking my time… Though I felt honored that miss Kongming here has troubled herself to pay a visit before me."
"Ah.. well then, I shall not hesitated then." Just like what Huang Gai's troops preparation for their planned incendiary attack, the people in these facility also extracting oils, preparing dry woods and other inflammable materials and loading them up into container.
The difference here is on the preparation on chemical compound.
Some soldiers, observed by high ranking naval commander like Ling Tong, Gan Ning and Zhou Tai are giving instruction to some soldier who are busy making some kind of hand sized ball shaped apparatus or a bit bigger.
"These… aren't those saltpeter, phosphor and sulfur?" Kongming inquired from Gongjin who looked visibly surprised that
"Indeed, how do you know?" Gongjin spoke in astonishment.
"I am familiar with them due to my master occupation as pharmacist where she often tinkering with them." Shuri thinly smiled, sampling them with her finger and checked them by rubbing it with her finger.
"I see… what a coincidence." Meirin smiled kindly, feeling an attachment to her. "I was once studying under a tutelage of a pharmacist before I serve the Sun clan.." Meirin sighed, recalling something with difficult expression as if feeling melancholy "We should talk more… after this battle ended."
Liang then took one of the finished product, checking it thoroughly from it shape, without missing anything. This took the attention of Gongjin who glance from her side. "Those stuff… is only possible because it is the help of our friend Zijing."
"Master did..!? I mean.." Shuri quickly hid her innocent expression in embarrassment "Mister Lu did?"
"Yes.." Zijing joined this conversation. "one of my merchandise are those various minerals mined from deep in southern Jiangnan which Shanyue tribes lived with." Zijing took one of the finished product and spoke "What a good thing that we managed to open trade relationship with them… they know where and how to mined this quite rare stuff… I know it when they once offered it to me." At that time having dabbled in using bat litter (guano) to extract phosphor substance made him to be familiar with saltpeter and magnesium. During this era; those mineral substance was often used as medicinal substance and often experienced by pharmacist and Daoist alchemist alike even knowing its explosive characteristic which is a crude substance to create gunpowder. Actually, gunpowder was supposed to be invented at 9th Century (during period of Wei dinasty of the Northern-Southern Period) although often being used Daoist Alchemist and referenced in Zhenyuan Miaodao Yaolue as fire sand/fire medicine due to its original purpose to serve as medicinal ingredient.
The military treatise Wujing Zongyao gave accurate recipe to manufacture gunpowder which is the main material to invent igniter ball 9the basic idea of napalm bomb). And this igniter ball itself was the one proposed by Lu Su to be utilized in order to ensure the success of Zhou Yu's plan for fire attack at Red Cliff. Lu Su proposed this basic formula proposed in the Wujing Zongyao and Huolongjingwhich goes;
The distribution of ration at 55,4% to 55,5% of potassium nitrate (saltpeter), 19,4% to 26,5% of sulfur and 23% to 25,2% carbonaceous.
Other recipe give different measurement ratio but the basic point are still the implementation of potassium nitrate, sulfur and carbon; depending on the intention on manufacturing as the moment these igniter ball/grenade/handheld bomb is to achieve exploding effect, incendiary effect, smoke scattering, toxic (with arsenic) or shrapnel bomb.
The structural form of this 'igniter ball' (yinhuoqiu) is consisted of inner ball, outer ball and finally outer shell. The 'igniter ball' outer shell is made of paper rounded like a ball, inside which is put between three or five pounds of gun powder and make it into a paste permeating the ball; bind it up with hempen string.
Several testing were done, and Shuri was given chance to oversee the result. Each of explosion results were measured and recorded on hand by Zhou Yu. At this time, Shuri herself was diligently without any sound as if being absorbed by the test conducted here and carefully memorizing each result and calculation being made, noting to herself each and possible pros and cons in utilizing these prototype. The only thing which she is still unsure is the destructive level of this weapon if it is really being deployed on site in its full potential.
Perhaps, those are the similar thought shared by Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, Manley (and possibly Einstein) when they were tasked with Manhattan project until they were able to witness the miniscule potential of the said experiment at the Trinity site. Like a divine realization like when Partha's resolve was being attested by the 8th avatar of Narayana.
This was a risk which Lu Su dared to gone through by introducing this revoluted fire tactics which precede the hundreds years of its invention.
Seeing her diligence, even Meirin can't help to be attracted by the way she learned and absorbed this new knowledge which she even doubt it at first when Lu Su introduced it to her first time. Her devotion to learning was not like Non who is obsessed but it was purely motivated by curiosity and the will to answer her thirst.
"Miss Kongming." Meirin called, awaking Shuri who are deeply ingrained in this "Mind resting with me for a cup of tea? I am sure that we should take this chance to familiarize to each other well."
"You honor me." Shuri politely acquiesce.
"Zijing, can you fill in for me?" Meirin kindly smile.
"Leave it to me. You both girl has worked too hard… go easy some times." Lu Su smiled and added with big grins "I will also take this time well to familiarize more with Ashe and be more intimate." Lu Su calmly pulled Ashe's shoulder to himself
"Hhh-huweeh!?" Ashe looked flustered and loss any chance to speak up.
"Haha. Just don't be too hard on her." Meirin casually spoke as she leaves them both together continuing the observation in this facility. While Shuri only glance at them once wordlessly before following Meirin at the small cozy tavern.
As they are joining a nice conversation between each other; like a fellow classmates, Meirin was offering the tea which Shuri gracefully accepted.
"Let see…. You don't mind Eastern Beauty Wulong right?" Meirin asked "Jiangnan has many variety of good tea and I am sure Lu Su has serve you soo many exquisite tea… he is always quite a show off."
"Hawawa… indeed, but it was mister Lu's good side." Shuri blushed charmingly "He is really a cultured and noble fellow."
"Haha… no wonder everyone heads over heels to him… even though he is quite an irritating show off dandy." Though Meirin doesn't spoke well in her words about Lu Su, her facial expression gave out that she was quite fond of him "But indeed, he is good at his words, no wonder everyone attracted to him.. perhaps I can easily says he got the charm and charisma, and being one of the richest in Jiangnan add it more."
"Did you also has some special relationship with Mister Lu, Grand Commander Zhou?"
"Only a work partnership. And he is quite reliable and you can leave every task at him with ease… thanks to him my burden of work decrease quite a bit…" Zhou Yu smiled "So it is natural that I am grateful for his presence… But let us stop talking about that boring man." There is something being concealed, but Shuri doesn't raise that subject because she doesn't feel it is appropriate.
Meirin sip at the cup filled with Eastern Beauty Wulong, and now asked Shuri "Rather than that…. What is your impression about Eastern River Region (Jiangnan), miss Kongming?"
"It was a beautiful place, with rich abundant natural resource…. It is contrasting with the situation of northern region where they depended more on its human resource… and that is why…"
"I am sure you are trying to imply something about the campaign for the tone you use." Zhou Yu sighed seeing Shuri tries to be round about to bring up some matter "Very well, I shall relent…. I would love to hear what you are trying to say."
"Many thanks… no wonder you are known as the Divine Fire…" Shuri gave a thin admiring smile at her "indeed…. At this situation both seems to have preparation on the upcoming decisive battle at Red Cliff." Shuri wrote some words with the spilled tea on the tableware…. It was a hanzi for(火).
"Are you suggesting that…" Meirin leered at Shuri wordlessly.
"Right place and Right time has been achieved by both army…. But…" Shuri sighed, looking a bit disenchanted "I am not sure that the people here are prepared to fight no matter how the Divine Fire and General Sun has raised their spirit."
With the guidance of the Eastern Wind, Villain Cao's destruction at Red Cliff is guaranteed;
Right place and Right moment has indeed been achieved but what about the right people?
XXX
There is a proper season for making attacks with fire and special days for starting a conflagration.
The proper season is when the weather is very dry; the special days are those when the moon is in the constellations of the Sieve, the Wall, the Wing or the Cross-bar; for these four are all days of rising wind. - Sun Zi's Art of War,on chapter 12 the Attack by Fire
"The attempt to make general Huang Gai's false surrender are too impressive that people are discouraged to fight their former allies. Morale is very low among your troops." Shuri elaborated "this surely added realism to the farce you both played among yourself."
"Hoo…. As expected." Meirin cooly accepted this conjecture, with another sip of Eastern Beauty Wulong. "I see that the Crouching Dragon has predicted and foreseen this hidden strategy of mine; really impressive."
"You can not reveal the truth now with the possibility of insider infiltrating your ranks" Shuri thinly smiled with feather fan covering her expression "… who know how many Cao Cao's men are already infiltrated in your lord's rank?"
"I see… I might have been fascinated to plan forward that I neglected my surrounding." Meirin sighed, acknowledging this founding "So what do you counsel to free me of this predicament?"
"Everyone are mostly skeptical of our future…" Shuri asserted, playing around writing on the table as if drawing their situation in simple diagram. "they are already convinced with Cao Cao's victory at Red Cliff… and they are only sitting and watching patiently to see our forces demise from afar, with only a belief that only a miracle can save us."
"Hoho…~" Meirin lips pursing, noticing what Shuri want to imply "I see what you are trying to say." She sighed "Indeed that even if you are the renowned famous tactician and schemer surpassing Jiang Taigong, Sun Zi, Wu Qi, Sima Rangju, Wei Liao and even Zhang Liang... as long as you are not the God himself, there is no way that you can foreseen everything."
That is right, only God... and No one else!
"My master also says to turn every situation into favorable opportunity." Shuri spoke "And during this situation, there is but one way to rouse them and bring back their collapsed morale and loss of confidence while demonstrating that we are fighting for a just cause without revealing everything; risking our own vital information… That is to show them that Heaven is with us."
"Indeed it is not a simplistic procedure… like how the Way of Taiping turned that philistine Yellow Turban movement into a great revolt which shook the whole empire."
"My method does not conform to such heretical way…. I will only return their confidence by taking advantage of their old belief… " Shuri flapped her crane feather fan as she declared.
"Everyone only knows about the common occurrence of a wind blowing from northwest to south eastern here at Jiangnan; and they failed to notice about the rare occurrence of wind blowing from south eastern region toward the north west at Jiangnan during the weather anomaly of this season. It was unpredictable, hence it is understandable that people fails to grasp the seasonal habits around this area; even among the natives of Jiangnan themselves."
Zhou Yu looked fascinated with her persuasion, even though she always proclaimed that not even a silver tongue of both Su Qin and Zhang Yi could have swayed her way, this words spoken by Shuri was strangely reassuring… as she was backed up by sweet words and soft persuasion, instead a bold accusation which attested her pride and moral dilemma.
"However, I still believe that there will be an eastern wind during this 11th month of this year." Meirin nodded, admitting one thing from Shuri revelation.
"Divine Fire - No failure in Fire tactics… seems those title was not just empty meaning." Shuri looked amazed with her confidence in her own planning "That is why this is my preposition; you general Zhou must have decided to assure them by revealing this secret soon right?" Shuri calmly spoke, which Meirin only gave a silent smile which seems to confirmed this conjecture.
"I see…. My suggestion, let us keep this information as a secret until the last minute." Shuri calmly explained "and give them a sliver glimpse of hope when our army was placed in desperation…. At this time even the most realist fellow who never believed in divine being and phenomena would fall in their knees and beg for salvation from Heaven… Letting them guided by their blind devotion for a single hope for survival…. At this situation, rather than assuring them with an excellent plan which seems to be foolproof at glance… wouldn't it be better for them to give them hopes for a miracle?"
Unknowingly, even for someone as composed as Meirin she was losing her composure and unknowingly dropped her cup of tea. "Miss Kongming…. Your way of doing…."
"I myself is a realist… indeed for a smart fellow like us, it is foolish to let superstition and magic to influence us all." Kongming added with smile, there is a sense of feeling of superiority and triumph when Meirin did not expect her proposal of plan "However if using superstition proved well in tactics…" Shuri placed her cup, opening her crane feather fan from covering her perfectly glass engraved expression as she makes her point. "Why not?"
Meirin was silenced with this as she was considering this plan.
"Man can plan but it is always heaven who decides." Shuri sighed as she made those remark in bitter expression "That was a belief held by everyone from olden days to this day…. At this moment rather than pretending our peerlessness before those doubting fellows who are still trapped in moment of uncertainty …. it is better to exploit a superstitious aspect on this situation."
"I see, so I want clearance on how you decide to take advantage of the superstitious aspect of the people."
Shuri then once again fiddled on the spilled tea on the table with her finger, drawing something… she then spoke;
"First, I want Grand Commander Zhou to build a Seven Stars Altar on Nanping Hill." A rough sketch of the altar were made " It shall be nine story tall and 30 spans in circumference..." Seeing this Meirin only observed her plan without speaking further words. "Below it, 120 men with ceremonial flags on their back while wielding wodden sword and paper talisman shall surround the altar." Meirin nodded, feeling persuaded with this rough drawing of the plan. Seeing that they both shared this idea… Shuri declared.
"Today is the 15th days of the eleventh month of the 13th years of Jian'an (208 AD). The wind will began on the 23rd days; the first day of jiazi of the sexagenary cycle." Her observation and calculation matched with her own, hence there is no words of refusal from Meirin. "And it shall start ceasing on the 25th days; third day of bingyin of the sexagenary cycle."
That same day will also be the day when Huang Gai sailed to Cao Cao's naval fleet to deliver her submission.
"I will pray to the Ursa Major to let them believe that we have the chance to win this battle."
Shuri continues, as she vowed with her crane feathered fan.
"And borrow the Eastern Wind that will ensure our victory at the battle of Red Cliff!"
And then…
The wind will call upon fire…
Author Note:
Though these two past chapter (this one and previous one) i write that Huang Gai and Cai Mao both seems to do things openly, it was really not. So I made this clarification before everyone had false impression.
Fanfiction net has glitch, so no reply for review.
