The Wind of Change (The Battle of Red Cliff (I) part 1)

Some people says that the darkest moment is right before the coming of dawn, during the daybreak before the night ends and the light of days came after it. Because nothing can be seen in the darkness and people are simply awaiting for the shinning light to make everything become clear and true.

Even though the shinning bright light may blinded them all to darkness and burns them into ashes…

The hang glider floating adrift, guided by the blowing wind as it flown toward its destination. Driving above, with his hand slightly guided its movement allowing it to flow freely and only depended to where the wind is going. Nervous, the girl who clung herself was quite aghast that they are really soaring above. It looks frightening to see below, hence she rather tighten her hand on this fellow body.

Strangely, as she glance to see his face… all the fright she felt earlier suddenly vanish as if being assured that this man will protect her from any harm.

"Oh." Suddenly, that man; Kazuto muttered as he noticed something not far from their direction. "Shuri." His word awoke her who is drowned in her daydreaming as she clinging to his body. "Hold tight."

"Eh?" Shuri innocently reacted by his sudden instruction. She felt his strong hand covering her, for a moment her face felt a bit warm… au contraire to the cold chilling air they had to cross as they are flying with the guidance of the wind.

"We are about to land." Kazuto spoke calmly, his hand changed its holding on the hang glider, directing it to make landing preparation.

"Hawawawawa!" Shuri looked shocked, muttered in a bit fright due to unexpected change of pace from the early romantic flight into a tense situation. Like in how it works in most normal air vehicle, landing procedure is the hardest process an experienced flier need to learn, in fact 80% of aircraft accident are attributed to failure landing procedure.

*Shuuu-!

Kazuto dived down as he sees that the boat are within his sight, he calmed his mind as the altitude around him are getting lower and lower, and he felt Shuri is stubbornly clinging to him with shakky hand attached to him. The crew in boat notices their presence and quickly clear the pathway for their landing. Aboard is Zhao Yun who gave the word, and though she was priorly informed that they shall came from above, she was still shocked seeing them landing smoothly before her.

"Holy…"Zhao Yun gasped. "I know that you are writing that you are coming from above… but I did not expect it this way, Advisors!" Though the person themselves doesn't look bothered by this foolish question as they are (by this I mean Kazuto) instead focusing on removing the heckling hang glider equipment and folding them carefully.

"YOshya..~!" Kazuto exclaimed. "No time to waste. Shuri, we should quickly head to Xiakou."

"Mmm… Please a bit longer." Shuri muttered softly.

"Err..Shuri?" Kazuto worriedly asked, thinking that she got vertigo or something from previous unscheduled flight plan… well, he was technically hijacking her flight plan and flying on such cold weather might made her a bit nauseous.

"Kazuto-san, please hug me more." Shuri softly muttered. Which made Kazuto looked a bit worried. Seems that their previous flight made her a bit shocked or perhaps traumatic…

But, Sei being a girl immediately know what is going on, and looked a bit annoyed although she swiftly hid those feeling behind a façade of smile. She calmly separated both of them from each other which draws Shuri's ire. With a gaze filled with resentment, she stared at Sei.

"My apologize, but Advisor Lu Su is right. Time is short, we need your instruction, Advisor Zhuge." Sei, puffing out with a mocking sarcastic tone spoke with false pretense of courtesy to Shuri.

"Muu..~ Sei-san is a bother…" Shuri quietly grumbled. But Sei quickly turn her sight away to wash her involvement on this matter "I will grudge about it." Shuri still unwilling to let go of this vexing feeling. But as a clever self proclaimed mature girl, she quickly tidied herself and wear her smart reliable advisor Zhuge Liang Kongming's persona on herself.

"No." Shuri calmly fanned herself (let see… do I remember to return the stupid fan back to her; oh well… fuck) "We don't need to sail back to Xiakou."

"Why? Did not we should…" Kazuto looked confused and inquired. This made Shuri smiled reassuringly to him.

"I've already made prior arrangement to Imperial Sister about it… my bag of trick…. I already made one move ahead of Miss Zhou Gongjin." Shuri smiled in amusement. "Zhou Gongjin thought that she can entrap me in Eastern River, forgetting that blood is thicker than water… Kazuto-sama." Shuri sighed. "My sister already told me, that is why I spent the last week in preparation in advance hence there is no need for me to make hasty last minutes preparation…" Shuri lifted the hang glider which they previously used to escape from Zhou Yu's attempt to hold her hostage… reminiscing her sister's face

"Haha… I see.." Kazuto clasped his hand in admiration, realizing that madam owner (Zhuge Jin)'s involvement on their escape plan "How could she not help us…? no wonder you looked very calm even though I was worried that your display of knowledge provoke her and made Meirin to see you as a threat… sigh… Shuri.." Kazuto shook his head.

"I've gathered enough information… and with it, I can easily make our own deployment plan…" Shuri turned to the direction of the river where the battle is about to start. "To Red Cliff, everyone." Having decided on their destination, she waved her fan… advancing toward the prelude for the triangular conflict in the future.

"The Battle of Red Cliff has started."

XXX

The sky has started to darken with comulunimbus filling it, covering the setting sun. The rustling trees at the shores and the chilling air that start to arise around them, with the turbulent flows of the river water; heaving against its normal current as if an open sea.

At far distant of the river, the waving flows swaying the fleets of ships anchored around the Great river… echoed in the sound, after the momentary of silence as the wind ceased… and rising suddenly; coming from unexpected direction. A sign which warned everyone that….

The wind has changed its direction… The easterly wind is really coming here!

The rare eastern wind!

"Oh…" This was the feeling both army shared at this moment of the changing weather. The Sun clan's navy looked stunned for a second, but they welcomed this moment with rejoiced feeling… thinking that it is a sign that Heaven is blessing their cause and ensure their victory on this battle. Suddenly, in their boiling excitement for this sign… their morale are bolstered and their fright vanished.

Heaven will! This is the will of heaven! They cheered in seeing the raging wind blowing to their favor. Huang Gai's subordinate has already received prior instruction. If she did not return before the eastern wind came… then that means her farce has failed and she must be considered as KIA. Which means…. The implementation of their contingency plan!

Swallowing his tears and hiding his grief he shouted to all his comrade and seamen of the ten naval ships of Huang Gai's fireships fleet.

"MEN! THE HEAVEN HAS SHOWN US ITS WAY!" He shouted, and even with parched throat and tears flowing from his eyes, he continues "THAT VILLAIN CAO HAS KILLED OUR MASTER!" They already steeled their resolve, that today they shall dragged Cao Cao down into despair even with their death! "I ask you brothers! WHAT ABOUT THE OATH WE SWORE TO MASTER HUANG GAI!?"

"""WE NEVER FORGET! WE ARE NO COWARDS!""" The shouting echoed among the men, the stirring feeling of emotion flared up inside them.

"RIGHT ! BEFORE US ARE VILLAIN CAO'S FLEET, BEHIND US ARE THE COWARD'S WAY!" Huang Gai's subordinate roused them At once all ten dismantled Mengchong-Doujian which were converted into fireship are changing course, all of them in line abreast are turning; setting sail to new course right targetting toward Cao Cao's naval fleet which now has become a Floating Naval Fortress. "TURN AT THEM!"

Even before these iron walls, their resolve remains unfaltered because of the coming Eastern Wind which roused up their feeling.

"WE, HEROES OF THE SUN CLAN SHALL WELCOME DEATH AS HOMECOMING!" and now… the ships are sailing.

XXX

On the other hand, at the opposing side of this battlefield; aboard on her own flagships which acted as guiding ship and positioned beside Wen Ping's command ship; The sly advisor remained unfazed when the eastern wind came and rocking them and all the soldiers merely remained more alerted of the changing situation. The different in reaction of the previous 'oh..' was driven by sarcastic unimpressed feeling contrary to Sun Clan's soldiers who welcomed this with excitement and glee…

And as usual, Xun You beside loves gloating and showing off her scheme with proud disposition to anyone who are willing to listen it, she love even more of destroying the last shreds of hopes the people are clinging on; which made her able to appreciate Netorare material (introduced by Master Cai Yong and Kazuto by extension from his 21st century Porn material… well, actually Chinese dude already know Netorare, Cheating and Blackmail porn in novel from various classic novel written by Feng Menglong, Cao Xueqin and the dude who write JinPingMei woohooo!) more than everyone else. A good girl. If only Keifa's character model doesn't resemble Aisia from Da Capo series; I'll give the fucking model and role to her! I didn't really like nemu but AISIA IS GOOD GIRL! AISIA NETORI-ED NEMU and usurped her imouto role is the fuckin best thing in the world! THIS IS TRUE IMOUTO MATERIAL! NOT FUCKING 'SASUGA ONII-SAMA MIYUKI FUCKING SHIBA!' (And she was modelled after Maa Parvati or Sati!? Hell japs has no sense of artistic beauty! Even though Genji Monogatari was fucking cuck!) this sly advisor Xun You is really a good girl for she can appreciate Netorare material throughly unlike some stupid fucking morons of vanilla fags who ragingly masturbated to other people's romance love story like a sick fuck! And they claimed that they are wishing them well while pretending the girl already taken by the one true canon pairing as their fucking waifuuu … fuckk! What a cuck! And they look with disdain at us; respectable and honorable noble citizen who enjoy Netorare in our spare time… now looks who is the cucks here!? At least in Netorare we can simply self insert as people who steal, without feeling remorse, but those vanilla fags need to feel cuckeds first like a moron… To quote Michael Jackson .. I mean Leon Kompowlsky from the Simpsons; "So I kept on doing this, to make the entire point. Which one of us is truly crazy?" (Not me. Got this 'Sane' certificate :P)

Oh… right, the fanfic.. sorry.. I was distracted :P ( one thing that i feel happy that not many people reading my writing is I don't need to cater to their interest and can write whatever I like without burdened… :D )

And now…\= seeing the incoming Huang Gai's fleet sailing toward their direction setting their black dragon banner on their flagpole made her looked impressed. Those fleets sailing toward them, guided by the eastern wind without any intention to lessen its speed.

Knowing that they are at wits end… they still charged bravely!

"Indeed, the men of Sun clan have no fear for death!" Xun You spoke in heartfelt admiration seeing personally on their display of bravery, however she looked amused that the words and gesture felt like a mockery to them no matter how sincere it was expressed and it should be. "General Huang, you should be proud of yourself.." The sly advisor scoff trying to hold her laughter, while Huang Gai who is at her mercy was forced to stare at her men suicidal charge. Her gaze was filled with hatred.

At the simultaneous moment, opposing orders from both sides who are fighting this war were issued.

"Set our cargo alight! Fan the flame! Burn this whole ship if needed!" Huang Gai's subordinate shouted as smokes rising and sizzling sound of fire was setting their ship alight; burning on the river like an unleashed incendiary arrows.

"General Huang…"Xun You smiled as she lowered her banner signal, ordering Wen Ping's fleet to brace for impact. The iron beams are already deployed to hold the crashing fire ships at bay. Hooks and clamps as introduced by Gongshu Lu Ban and Mo Zi with contradictory utilization to its original purpose of deployment. "I'll ensure the historian burns your name into the record of history…as another fool who try to defy Prime Minister Cao's just rule."

Some ships moving for support, while Wen Ping was standing with proud with composed and confident looks bracing this incoming attack, as if welcoming their suicidal move at his vanguard fleets which acted as the iron wall protecting them.

With calm demeanor, and single hand gesture which all his subordinate swiftly comprehend… Wen Ping's men are all ready at their station.

"MORE! FAN THE FIRE!" Wen Ping shouted "Today is the day, WE WIN OR DIE!"

"brace for impact. Iron mast beams on position; hold!"

"CHARGE!" "now!" the opposing orders shouted from opposing sides of battle, and at once the first ships are sent into collision to the Wen Ping's fleet. And as the sly advisor already calculated and predicted,it was stopped and stuck on the iron beams; and the loud impacts rocking the waves and causing the ships to almost tilted due to the after collision effect as the ships ramming even caused the heavy iron beams to bend due to the force it was caused by the crash.

The loud blunt noise resound on this river, drowned on the battle cries shouted by these braves men who are staking their lives in this battle. One ships has burned on its own before even touching the sides of Wen Ping's fleet.

"S-Sir! They..! They blocked our front vanguard!" The scout reported. But this report doesn't shake the will of the determined Huang Gai's subordinate because they have decided to die even if they fail to gnaw at Cao Cao's line of defense.

"NO MATTER! SEND MORE! SEND THEM OUR BURNING HATRED!" one by one of Huang Gai's fire ships are following the early fleet crashing to Wen Ping's fleet defense. Uncaring wheter it was a futile move… their rage has blinded them all… And the small fire started to grow biggger.

Inextinguishable!

But, they are all burning on their own. All Huang Gai's fleet are burned although some of the ships had to brunt for the damage, but compared to what Huang Gai's fleet had to pay off, it doesn't compare on the significance.

Seeing this, made the sly advisor looked relieved and felt self assured by this display that her scheme worked. "The fire can't touch us, quite a magnificent wall of iron defense."

On the other hand, Huang Gai's burned fire ships are raging aflamed, as the seamen aboard decided to jettison and jumped out from the ships into the water… "We can't break through! More ships are ramming behind us! Abandon ships! All crew abandon ships!"

"Sir! Our ships have struck to each other! We are burning nothing but our own!" The distressed crew reported to Huang Gai's subordinate who ordered the fire attack. But this report were ignored.

"HAHAHA! So what!? Continue this attack! Send them everything and next will be our own!" as his own ships has also started sailing with burning cargo in it. "My lord! In death I shall continue my service!" The last ships armada are sent into collision, and yet it only dented a little on their defense… But, it leaves a raging line fire… beyond Wen Ping's armada.

No fire ships were left of Huang Gai's converted mengchong doujian fire ships armada. And all her mens are jumping out the river, with debris floating not known whether they are alive or mixed with those floating bodies who can't escape the fire. The sizzling loud noise of fire was like a shinning beacon in the middle of great river Changjiang.

The sly advisor notices that the fire has attracted another moth who are about to drown in the fire, some are second batch of 'defecting' Huang Gai's secondary armada and behind them in the other distance are … what the Sly advisor are really waiting for.

Huang Gai's fire ships should have been acting as the opening attack while the remains shall follow to loot the burning house. And that was the original plan, which Xun You already prepared for.

Huang Gai seeing that all her fireships were already exhausted in vain looked despaired.

"The appetizer must've been tasty for Wen Ping." Xun You looked with amused "Now, with your fire acting like signal to bait the main dish …. The Fish (鱼) shall come in the platter!" Xun You laughed, followed by other crew aboard the ships, even Wen Ping looked pleased by this outcome… As Huang Gai's assault ships are coming right toward them, Xun You turned to the despaired Huang Gai.

"Is there any tricks left that the Divine Fire Mei Zhou Lang wished to play now, General Huang?" Xun You asked with jesting tone, but seeing that her question was ignored by Huang Gai who silently muttered in fright and despair… she sighed, aware of her mental condition and smiled contently as she raised her hand, waving the banner signal "If not…" another instruction were issued as she turned to spoke and addressing the Supreme Admiral of the Imperial Naval Fleet himself who are leading the Cao Cao's naval force in this battle. "Wen Ping."

"Here!" spoke the real Supreme Admiral Darren.

"It is our turn to play our own trick." Xun You spoke majestically as the fire keeps on burning like a signal, inviting the incoming Sun clan's main fleet like a lantern burning the clueless summer moth.

XXX

"All ships, prepare for the real battle! Zuoge and Youting shall sail first to intercept Sun clan's main naval fleet!" Wen Ping shouted "Also send out sampan! Clean out and kill all surviving who might be hiding beneath the debris! Remember! They are not the number one navy in the world for nothing!" Wen Ping shouted. Based on his past experience against Sun clan, they are known resilient and persistent opponent. In fact it was hard for him to believe that they all perished on their previous suicidal attack.

Xun You continued her speech toward Huang Gai who only gaze at the floor board of the ships. "Some say that us the Northerner's naval capability are like a kid playing with axe showing off before the master carpenter Gongshu Luban before the might of Sun Clan's navy." Xun You clenched her fist looking a bit resentful of those statement. "However, did they forgot that even someone as wise as Confucius himself willingly respected and accepted an innocent child (Xiang Tuo) as his teacher … ?"

As the Three Character Classic recorded; once a child named Xiang Tuo asked Confucius a question "Why do in the morning the sun looked bigger but less hot than how it usually is during noon where it looked smaller but hotter? Is there a difference in distance of sun during morning and noon?" Confucius was not able to answer this question and hence consider Xiang Tuo to be more wise than him and respected him as if his own teacher.

"True to what they said…." Xun You remarked with gleeful expression "That the young waves of Changjiang, drowned the old waves!"

As the assault ships are approaching them, lured by the guidance of burning fire ships of Huang Gai's fleet like a moth that was about to burn in lantern, unknowingly from their flanks, the fast moving youting and zouge are approaching and surrounding them from both side.

"Use incendiary arrow!" Wen Ping ordered "At my signal…. Fire!" and the naval engagement at the Red Cliff has officially begun! As confusion arise among Huang Gai's secondary assault ship due to the unexpected attack, this only invite disaster as rows of Jingzhou's fleet under the command of Cai Mao are approaching them.

"Prepare to onboard. The killing start now!" "Let them repay the shame we felt at Sanjiangkou (Three gorges of Yangzi) !" Cai Mao and Zhang Yun roused the soldier, though they stationed on their positioned and were only sending some of their fleets, followed by the other Cao Cao's fleet.

The raging fire still burn and grow bigger because of the additional Huang Gai's assault fleet that were coming to their ambush. The line of defense; acting like a naval fortress protecting Xun You's bridge of ships coming together, and the fire acting like a lantern luring the unsuspecting Sun clan's fleet who was expecting Huang Gai's ruse to came into effect, unknowingly walking to an ambush the sly advisor prepared.

Rains of fire arrows, and the boarding naval engagement from the intercepting warship have mostly stopped all the opening moves Huang Gai made for this naval battle at Red Cliff, and everyone are waiting until the banner of Zhou has entered the scene.

The entrapped assault fleets are in distress due to the relentless attack Wen Ping send on them. Panic ensues as they are helpless to get away from their situation. Bloodsheds everywhere followed by the nasty foul smell of burning flesh, and floating bodies everywhere eyes can see.

"IT IS A TRAP! THE ENEMY IS PREPARED FOR US!"

"SHIT!"

"THEIR AMBUSH ARE COMING UNSTOPPABLE!"

"Shit! Notify Grand Commander Zhou's fleet to halt and not sail forward!" the distressed officer kept his composure and ordered the seamen to do the last thing possible for them.

"Too..Too Late General!" The officer who were tasked lose his strength. "They are already sailing! Too many interference to send complete message, beside…."

The main fleets are already behind them, not far … Sailing at maximum speed toward this direction… as the banners of their main armada are fluttering guided by the Eastern wind!

The banner of Zhou!

XXX

The great wind rises, driving away the concealing clouds above… Then, the fire rides on the wind!

Engulfing everything into burning ashes, like a guiding beacon… For the destined heroes of this realm.

"Look at how lovely they burn…" The famed naval admiral who goes by the name Divine Fire Mei Zhou Lang spoke as she was gazing at the engulfing fire at Red Cliff, admiring the eerie scenery occurred at distant eyes. Fire and smokes arising at distance, it was a bit hard to establish contact and communication even to friendly ships. "A fitting imagery for those northerner who thinks that they can arrogantly parade themselves before the great river of Changjiang here."

Everyone are clueless to what is going on, only the master schemer who seems to know how this games are played on between them in the darkness, even the outcome of this battle later before they were all enlighten after everything is really over.

"I shall teach those northerners a valuable lesson in naval battle that there is no way to take it easy in crossing the Great river Changjiang only by deceiving Heaven that you might have a chance to prevail." Zhou Yu aboard on the ship, accompanied by the two ladies of the Qiao family acting as overseer also to rouse their Sun Clan's army spirit beside her declared.

"But let me remind them once again… that in the great river Changjiang… This Yu ( 鱼 / fish) rules over the water!" The plumed fan in her hand was waved toward the opponent as a challenging gesture before Cao Cao's navy. Zhou Yu's main fleet has finally entered the vicinity of the raging battlefield.

The Divine Fire shall ride on the Eastern Wind…

And… Here Comes Zhou Yu!


Author Note:

Answering review:

Tsun (1/6) : Pedo…. But, I admire you choice :P yeah Shuri seems like the creator pet in the early development… I mean all her scene are beautiful though a bit sloppy in writing… the stupid firefly beside the river and the stupid riverbed though…. Doesn't they know other romantic place!? Well, other character was not so good in writing, make me think… what a privileged treatment… but well she is the Zhuge Liang :P also the psp cg where she is praying for the eastern wind was not so bad.

Well, I personally like Yue because she is hot, likes tea, refined and not that bad… but stupid baseson make her useless in later part… (and psp only show a fucking single kissing cg ! This is an outrage! Me want more romantic scene for Yue-chan!) also Ei-chan… hot secretary is good. Me like braid girl also… too bad crestfallentwilight did not write another Ei-chan rape :P (I know that he made factual mistake on eunuch, but the scene was too good that the factual error was quite forgivable)

Tsun (1/1) : Well either way doesn't sound so bad. If nothing bothering me… I should have no problem because this Battle of Red Cliff consist about 12 chapter; which I divide into two part in honor of John Woo's Red Cliff 1 and 2 :P. the first shall be the macroscopic battle, the second shall be the individual conflict :P well it is no spoiler la… but to remind you, please read two last snippet part from chapter 40 Ode Prior to Red Cliff :P

Oh hell, who cares… the reunion between Karin and Kazuto, nuff said. As everyone knows I based the conclusion of Guandu arc using Shin Koihime Gi's ending as it basis … now this Red Cliff arc shall resolve the bittersweet ending in the way I always envisioned since I started writing this fanfic …. long time ago (2010). Anyway… enjoy.

Yes. Because you will feel that they are match again each other. No fun laa… you may deceive yourself that they are cheating but there will be small part which made you think that 'they should have been the one true canon pairing'. If the NTR man are much more horrible, it is also easier to self insert beside being too perfect is either too Gary Stu or Mary Sueish :P