Chapter 28: Not Every Northerner Is Guan Yunchang!

"At your command, General!"

Yu Jin accepted the order with fervor, his expression alight with excitement.

To defeat Guan Yu was to seize control of the Han River’s waterways, severing the connection between Fancheng and Xiangyang.

Once Fancheng fell, crossing the Han River and capturing Xiangyang would be a mere trifle.

If Cao Cao were to reclaim Jingzhou, the glory of the first merit would undoubtedly belong to Yu Jin.

Such a monumental achievement granted to him by Cao Cao—how could he not be filled with secret joy?

“Prime Minister, the Yu River is not the same as the great Yangtze or Han River. My five thousand navy soldiers are mostly northerners, and have only been trained for half a year,” a strategist with half-white hair suddenly spoke, breaking the consensus.

This was Jia Xu.

“Wenhe’s words are not without reason,” he continued. “Though General Wenze commands the navy, he is still a northerner. Naval warfare differs greatly from land combat.”

“Prime Minister, should we not delay the battle a little, allowing General Wenze and my naval soldiers to familiarize themselves with the conditions of the Han River first?”

General Man Chong also voiced agreement with Jia Xu.

Cao Cao pondered silently, his gaze wavering.

Yu Jin furrowed his brow in frustration. The chance to claim the first merit in pacifying Jingzhou was so close, and if they delayed the battle, who knew what complications might arise? The prize within reach could easily be snatched away.

Could he so easily let such an opportunity slip away?

“Wenhe, your caution is excessive!” Yu Jin lifted his head proudly and declared, “Though I am from Taishan Commandery, my hometown has rivers, and I have been adept at water from childhood—walking on boats is as natural to me as walking on land.”

“I have carefully studied naval warfare; in truth, land and naval combat share the same principles. It is not as difficult as you imagine.”

“As for my five thousand naval soldiers, though many hail from Nanyang, each is an expert in water combat!”

After his boast, Yu Jin pointed southward with disdain in his eyes.

“Moreover, I am a northerner, and Guan Yu is as well—he is from Hedong, even further north than Taishan.”

“Do you truly believe Guan Yu understands naval warfare better than I do?”

“Do you think the navy he hastily assembled can surpass the finely trained forces under my command?”

Man Chong was at a loss for words.

Jia Xu remained silent.

Yu Jin’s rebuttal, though tinged with arrogance, was undeniably reasonable.

Neither of them could find fault with it.

Cao Cao’s hesitation gradually dissolved.

“Guan Yu, the Lone Dragon, I know well. Though he slew Yan Liang and Wen Chou with unmatched bravery, he is, in the end, still a northerner.”

“A northerner remains a northerner. Even after years in the south, he cannot have mastered naval warfare without guidance.”

Cao Cao nodded slightly and waved his hand.

“Wenze speaks wisely. Though my navy has only trained for half a year, they are no mere rabble hastily gathered by Liu Bei.”

“My order remains: Wenze, lead the navy immediately into the Han River. Crush Liu Bei’s navy and sever the Han River!”

This time, no one objected.

Yu Jin accepted the order with joy.

To bolster Yu Jin’s morale, Cao Cao personally went to the Yu River bank to see him off.

At midday, after a hearty meal, the five thousand naval soldiers of Cao’s army began boarding their ships one after another.

“Prime Minister, my five thousand naval soldiers have boarded. Please issue the command to engage!” Yu Jin called out from the pier with resolve.

Cao Cao looked upon his spirited navy with satisfaction.

Just as he was about to give the order, something suddenly came to mind.

“Wenze, in this battle, I want you to capture the Lone Dragon alive if possible.”

“I want to speak to him personally and say: You made the wrong choice when you abandoned me all those years ago.”

Cao Cao sneered as he spoke.

The image of Guan Yu resigning his commission and leaving him flashed vividly before his eyes.

He had lavished favor upon Guan Yu back then, painstakingly trying to sever his loyalty to Liu Bei—but it was all in vain.

Unwavering loyalty, the long search for his lord across a thousand miles... such fidelity commanded Cao Cao’s genuine respect.

Yet to say he bore no resentment in his heart toward Guan Yu was self-deception.

A decade had passed, and now Jingzhou was once again a battleground.

Cao Cao was eager to meet Guan Yu again and hear from his own lips the regret for abandoning him.

Yu Jin understood Cao Cao’s thoughts and smiled as he clasped his hands.

“Prime Minister, rest assured, as long as Guan Yun Chang does not fight to the death, I will capture him alive and present him to you.”

Cao Cao nodded with satisfaction and waved his hand.

“Go now. Smash Liu Bei’s ragtag forces and show those southerners that we northerners know how to fight on water too!”

Yu Jin took his order and departed.

The sound of trumpets rose, and banners fluttered.

Nearly a hundred warships of various sizes carried the five thousand naval soldiers southward along the Yu River, steering toward the Han River not far ahead.

Cao Cao led the main forces along the riverbank, preparing to witness firsthand the first naval victory in Cao army history.

...

Xiangyang City.

Within the provincial government, Liu Bei and his strategists, including Xiao He, gathered around a map, deliberating the unfolding conflict.

“A report, my lord. General Guan has urgent news.”

“Yu Jin commands five thousand Cao naval soldiers, now sailing south along the Yu River. Within half an hour, they will enter the Han River.”

“General Guan requests permission to lead the navy to intercept Cao’s forces on the Yu River.”

A messenger rushed in, bringing Guan Yu’s request.

The hall buzzed with discussion.

“My lord, Cao Cao sees that Liu Cong and Sun Quan’s armies cannot link up, so he has dispatched the navy from Wancheng to destroy our forces and isolate Fancheng north of the river!”

Yi Ji’s words pierced through Cao Cao’s intentions.

Liu Bei’s gaze fixed on the map where the Yu River met the Han River, a mixture of excitement and concern flickering in his eyes.

Excitement for the chance to blunt Cao Cao’s naval prowess.

Concern over whether Guan Yu could win this water battle.

To avoid Liu Biao’s suspicion, Guan Yu had trained his navy covertly over the years, but they had never seen real combat.

His true naval ability, and the combat strength of his sailors, remained unknown.

Xiao He noticed Liu Bei’s apprehension but smiled quietly.

Not only had Liu Bei not foreseen it, but perhaps Guan Yu himself never realized he possessed a hidden talent for naval warfare.

If Guan Yu was unaware, surely Cao Cao would never suspect that the very same Guan Yu who slew Yan Liang and Wen Chou secretly harbored a unique naval skill.

Cao Cao’s overconfidence and unpreparedness presented a godsend opportunity for a surprise victory.

Xiao He stepped forward, bowing with determined eyes.

“My lord, this is a heaven-sent chance to severely weaken Cao’s forces. We must not miss it.”

“You must have faith in General Guan and believe that he will surely triumph!”

Those words, “General Guan will surely triumph,” struck Liu Bei’s heart.

His hesitation and doubts vanished instantly.

“Since meeting Zhuge Liang, he has not been wrong in a single matter. If he has such confidence in Yun Chang, what reason have I to worry?”

Liu Bei’s gaze hardened like iron. Taking a deep breath, he declared boldly:

“Send word to Yun Chang at once. Lead the navy into battle and intercept Cao’s forces!”

“Tell him to strike with all his might!”