Chapter 53: Guan Yu’s Righteous Release of Huang Hansheng; Sun Zhongmou’s Great Battle with Zhang Wenyuan
Zhang Fei kills Prefect Huang Xuan to take Wuling; Guan Yu duels Huang Zhong at Changsha until Wei Yan’s timely rescue secures victory.
Three Kingdoms
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Chapter 52: Zhuge Liang’s Clever Refusal of Lu Su; Zhao Yun’s Stratagem at Guiyang
Zhou Yu was enraged by Zhuge Liang’s territorial gains but was counseled to prioritize the threat from Cao Cao. Lu Su negotiated with Liu Bei about territories, resulting in a temporary agreement while strategizing for future incursions. Liu Bei’s forces began taking control of various commanderies with Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei leading successful conquests.
Chapter 51: Cao Ren’s Great Battle Against Wu; Zhuge Liang’s Provocation of Zhou Gongjin
Zhou Yu rides to Youjiangkou to parley with Liu Bei over Nan Commandery, feigns concession, then secretly dispatches Jiang Qin’s troops to seize it.
Chapter 50: Zhuge Liang’s Stratagem at Huarong, Guan Yu’s Righteous Release of Cao Cao
At Huarong Pass, Guan Yu faces the defeated Cao Cao but, honoring past favors and righteousness, he spares him and allows his escape, fulfilling his bond.
Chapter 49: Zhuge Prays for Wind at the Seven-Star Altar; Zhou Yu’s Fire Attack at the Three Rivers Estuary
Kongming inscribes, “Fire breaks Cao; only the east wind is missing.” He raises the Seven-Star Altar and summons the southeast wind for Zhou Yu’s fire attack.
Chapter 48: A Banquet on the Long River—Cao Cao Composes Poems; The Northern Army Employs Chained Warships
Pang Tong confesses Xu Shu’s betrayal, and Xu Shu departs to spread rumors that Han Sui and Ma Teng are revolting. Alarmed, Cao Cao sends Xu Shu to guard San Pass. Riding the flagship on a calm Yangtze, Cao Cao banquets his generals beneath a full moon, boasts of conquering the south, and composes “To Drink a Song.” As night falls, he praises his chained warships, convinced of victory. Two former Yuan Shao officers, Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan, volunteer to raid the southern camps in twenty small boats but are slain by Han Dang and Zhou Tai. Observing the north’s fleet return, Zhou Yu rejoices until a banner is ripped by wind, brushing his face—he cries out and collapses, blood flowing, stricken by a dire omen.
Chapter 47: Kan Ze Secretly Brings a Feigned Surrender Letter; Pang Tong Cleverly Teaches the Linked-Chain Strategy
Kan Ze carries Huang Gai’s forged surrender letter to Cao Cao, only for Cao Cao to unmask the ruse and nearly execute him. Pang Tong, dwelling in disguise by the riverside, emerges to present his “linked-chain” plan: binding warships with iron hooks to prevent scattering in fire attacks. Impressed, Cao Cao orders his blacksmiths to forge the great hooks overnight. Meanwhile, Jiang Gan professes loyalty to Zhou Yu but secretly conveys Pang Tong’s strategy and Wu’s internal dissent back to Cao Cao, who agrees to press the assault. As Wu prepares to defend, Cao Cao readies his fleet for the decisive battle on the river.
Chapter 46: Borrowing Arrows with Strange Tactics; Huang Gai Endures Punishment to Present a Secret Plan
Lu Su brings Zhou Yu’s directive to Zhuge Liang, who predicts Cao Cao’s scrutiny and knows that Cai Mao and Zhang Yun’s deaths leave Wu secure. Zhou Yu then tasks Zhuge Liang with producing 100,000 arrows in three days. Secretly, Zhuge Liang borrows 20 boats, links them amid thick river fog, and beats drums to draw Cao’s archers to shoot. When the fog clears, each boat is bristling with five to six thousand arrows, totaling over 100,000. Backbone shaken, Cao Cao regrets his waste. Returning, Zhuge Liang admits that true generals study heaven and earth, foreseeing even the fog. Zhou Yu, witnessing the feat, praises his rival’s divine insight and pledges loyalty.
Chapter 45: At the Mouth of the Three Rivers, Cao Cao’s Forces Falter; Heroes Gather as Jiang Gan Is Outwitted
Zhou Yu lures Zhuge Liang into Wu’s camp under the pretense of seizing Cao Cao’s supplies at Jutie Mountain, secretly intending to have Cao’s forces eliminate him. Zhuge Liang, aware of Zhou Yu’s plot, feigns compliance while planning to strike by water instead. Meanwhile, Liu Bei sails to meet Zhou Yu, but Guan Yu’s presence thwarts the assassination. Back at camp, Zhou Yu executes Cao Cao’s envoy, provoking Cao’s fury. Naval battles ensue at the Three Rivers’ mouth: Gan Ning’s archery routs Cai Yan, and Wu’s fleet overwhelms Cao’s poorly trained soldiers. Cao rebuilds his river defenses under Mao Jie and Yu Jin. Zhou Yu, cautious of Zhuge Liang’s insight, prepares further stratagems, while Lu Su and Zhuge Liang conspire to secure victory.
Chapter 44: Zhuge Liang Outsmarts Zhou Yu; Sun Quan Resolves to Crush Cao Cao
Lady Wu urges Sun Quan to consult Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu returns, initially inclined to surrender to Cao Cao, but Lu Su angrily opposes. When Zhuge Liang arrives, he coolly rebukes both sides: surrender secures nothing, and he proposes a stratagem—send Cao Cao the Qiao sisters. By offering Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, whom Cao Cao covets, Wu could force his retreat without fighting. Upon hearing Zhuge Liang recite the “Ode to the Bronze Sparrow Terrace,” Zhou Yu realizes the ruse and vows never to submit. Encouraged, Sun Quan boldly resolves to raise arms against Cao Cao. Thus, Eastern Wu commits to war, forging a crucial alliance and setting the stage for the conflict to come.
Chapter 43: Zhuge Liang’s Verbal Duel with the Scholars, Lu Zijing Defies the Majority
Upon entering Sun Quan’s hall, Zhuge Liang faces a barrage of challenges from Eastern Wu’s ministers, each questioning Liu Bei’s worth and Cao Cao’s might. With calm authority, he rebukes their sophistry: Cao Cao’s million troops are strong, but his forces are overextended, weary, and untested on water, whereas Liu Bei still commands capable generals and loyal soldiers. He urges Sun Quan to weigh the moment—either cut ties with Cao Cao now or risk being crushed alone. Provoked by Zhuge Liang’s reasoning, Sun Quan retreats and broods, only to return in resolve: he will join Liu Bei to resist Cao Cao, forging the Sun–Liu alliance that reshapes the balance of power.
Chapter 42: Zhang Yide’s Rampage at Changban Bridge; Liu Yuzhou’s Flight from the Han Ford
At Changban Bridge, Zhang Fei’s thunderous roar halts Cao Cao’s advance, as he levels his spear alone, terrifying a million-strong army into retreat.
Chapter 41: Liu Xuande Ferries the People Across the River; Zhao Zilong Rides Alone to Rescue His Lord
At Changban Bridge, Zhao Yun charges through enemy ranks alone, saving Liu Shan and Lady Gan from chaos, slaying foes to secure his lord’s heir.
Chapter 38: Formulating the Three-Pronged Plan at Longzhong and Avenge the Sun Family on the Yangtze
After three humble visits, Zhuge Liang unveils the Three-Pronged Plan: Liu Bei will secure Jing and Yi provinces, then ally with Sun Quan to restore the Han.
Chapter 18: Jia Xu’s Stratagem and Xiahou Dun’s Eye-Eating Valor
At Xiapi, Jia Xu lures Cao Cao’s army into a feint at the northwest wall, then ambushes them at the empty southeast gate—routing his foes. In the chaos, Xiahou Dun, struck in the eye by an arrow, heroically removes and swallows his own eyeball before charging back into battle.
Chapter 10: Prince of Righteousness Rallies: Ma Teng Proclaims the Cause; Cao Cao Marches to Avenge His Father
Seventeen-year-old Ma Chao storms the battlefield at Mount Zhishi, single-handedly routing enemy vanguards and capturing Li Meng, turning the tide against the western invaders.
Chapter 9: Tyrant Slain, Lü Bu Aids the Minister; Li Jue’s Revolt and Jia Xu’s Scheme
Wang Yun’s trap unleashes Lü Bu’s fury as he drives his halberd through Li Su, seizing the imperially sealed edict to slay Dong Zhuo. Chaos erupts and the tyrant’s corpse is desecrated in the streets of Chang’an.
Chapter 8: Minister Wang’s Cunning Link-and-Chain Ruse; Chancellor Dong’s Rampage at the Fengyi Pavilion
Wang Yun deploys Diao Chan to ensnare Lü Bu and dismantle Dong Zhuo’s power. The sultry ruse ignites forbidden love, court upheaval, and a moonlit confrontation.
Chapter 7: Yuan Shao’s Battle at Pan River; Sun Jian Crosses the River to Strike Liu Biao
Yuan Shao seizes Ji Province and clashes with Gongsun Zan at Pan River; Zhao Yun’s charge rescues him from Wen Chou. Sun Jian’s raid on Liu Biao ends in ambush.
Chapter 6: Dong Zhuo Incinerates the Golden Palace; Sun Jian Conceals the Imperial Seal
Sun Jian rescues Luoyang, secures the phoenix-born imperial jade seal, and conceals it from Yuan Shao; Cao Cao pursues Dong Zhuo to Xingyang, but is ambushed and saved by kin.
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