Zhou Yu was dead!
Was it true or merely a ruse? Was this the long-awaited chance to seize glory?
These thoughts flashed through Yue Jin's mind the instant he received the news. The brilliance of East Wu's Grand Commander was renowned throughout the land—Cao Ren, famed for his unbreakable defense, had been forced to abandon Nanjun under Zhou Yu's relentless assault. Now Yue Jin, holding command at Xiangyang, had spent two full months in vigilance against such a man.
Then came the flood of rumors:
Some whispered that Zhou Yu's achievements had eclipsed those of his lord, and Sun Quan now feared his growing prestige.
Others claimed Zhou Yu was gathering troops at Baqiu, preparing to declare his own rule in Yi Province.
Still others insisted that Sun Quan had actually gifted Jiangling to Liu Bei—an absurd notion Yue Jin dismissed with a laugh.
But Yue Jin was no reckless fool. A man who had led countless "first charges" in battle and lived to tell the tale had long since learned caution. Finishing his bowl of soup, he gave curt orders to his scouts:
"Survey the defenses of Dangyang, Jingyang, and Jiangling."
By mid-August, Yue Jin marched on Dangyang.
The gates stood wide open.
A trembling local clerk was dragged before him, wailing for mercy.
"Where is your general?" Yue Jin demanded.
"Returned to East Wu!" the man sobbed. "They've all gone back for the Grand Commander's funeral!"
Yue Jin's mind leapt to the conclusion he wished to believe. The scouts soon reported that construction on Jiangling's "New City" had halted, and the garrison was idly splashing in the river, discipline utterly broken.
"Even if it's a trap," Yue Jin muttered, "Zhou Yu is dead. Who's left to fear?"
With that, he led six thousand men straight toward Jiangling.
By the time Yue Jin's army reached the northern bank, the few Wu soldiers lounging in the river scrambled back toward the city—but the gates still gaped open.
A few mounted riders tried to burn the bridge with oil, only to be driven back by a volley of arrows.
The Wei soldiers jeered. "These Wu curs are half-barbarians! One Han soldier could cut down five of them!"
Yue Jin ordered three floating bridges to be built.
No sooner had his vanguard begun to cross than the trap was sprung.
A deep, rhythmic thrumming filled the air.
From the walls of Jiangling, the Zhuge Repeating Crossbows (liannu) unleashed their deadly rain. A line of men and horses fell as though sliced through by an invisible blade. Then, the city gates burst open.
"Yue Jin, you whelp! Do you recognize your Grandpa Zhang?!"
Zhang Fei's roar shook the heavens. The sound alone shattered the courage of the Wei ranks. At that same moment, a fleet of ships surged from the river, the thunder of war drums rolling like an earthquake.
Yue Jin realized the calamity too late.
A ship drew up alongside the bridges—mounted on its deck were more repeating crossbows. Within moments, a storm of bolts reduced the floating bridges to splinters drifting on the current. Yue Jin found himself cut off from his main force.
Upon the prow of the lead ship stood Guan Yu, one hand idly stroking his beard.
"General Yue," he called across the water, "why not stay and join us in suppressing the traitor Cao?"
Yue Jin offered no reply. His men on the far bank shouted for him to flee back toward Xiangyang. Seeing the river blocking his path and his formation in ruin, Yue Jin turned his horse and galloped north in retreat.
"Yue Jin has fled! Surrender and live!" the Shu-Han soldiers cried in unison.
Wei Yan, newly recruited and still burning with youthful pride, frowned. "General, why let him go? Had we struck but a moment sooner, he would be our captive."
Guan Yu shook his head. "Yue Jin is merely a brave warrior. Killing him would only drive Cao Cao to send a greater host, turning Jing Province into a wasteland. The Military Counselor's design is clear—we need only frighten him away. Our true aim lies in Yi Province."
When the battle dust had settled, a small boat made its way to Gong'an.
Sun Qian awaited them at the pier. As the passengers disembarked, he saw a travel-worn Liu Bei, the dignified merchant Mi Zhu, a scholar whose air of quiet brilliance rivaled Zhuge Liang's—this was Pang Tong—and beside him, a young officer whose wide eyes darted about in wonder—Ma Zhong.
The pieces for the conquest of the West had at last been placed upon the board.