Chapter 31: I Understand Yunzhang Less Than Bowen Does—How Shameful!

Guan Yu had taught Yu Jin a brutal lesson.

In Yu Jin’s understanding of naval warfare, it was nothing more than capital ships forming lines to engage in archery duels, where the side that could no longer hold its ground would eventually break and retreat. The tactic of using *mengchong* (assault ships) to ram enemy vessels, followed by soldiers boarding the enemy ships to seize them directly, was entirely beyond his imagination. It was precisely because of this that while the Cao army’s fleet had plenty of capital ships, they were not equipped with a single assault vessel.

"General Yu, our lines have collapsed! We are defeated! Quickly, retreat into the Yu River!"

The shrill cry of his adjutant snapped Yu Jin out of his shock. Looking around, he saw that nearly thirty percent of his capital ships had already been seized by Liu Bei’s forces. The crews of the remaining ships, without waiting for orders, had lost all morale and were fleeing in disarray. Some were so chaotic that, in their haste to turn around, they mishandled their sails and rudders, causing their vessels to spin helplessly in the middle of the river.

"We are all Northerners; how could Guan Yu be so proficient in naval warfare?"
"How are his soldiers so elite?"
"I don't understand... I cannot understand this..."

Yu Jin slammed his fist hard against the mast, his teeth gritted in bitter, indignant rage. Looking back toward the northern bank, a wave of shame washed over him. He had thumped his chest and promised Cao Cao that he would certainly crush Liu Bei’s navy. He had even boasted that he would capture Guan Yu alive and present him to Cao Cao. Now, having suffered such a crushing defeat, how could he face Cao Cao again?

"General Yu—"

Before the adjutant could finish his plea, a stray arrow struck him squarely in the chest. With a harrowing scream, the man collapsed backward. Blood sprayed onto Yu Jin’s face.

Yu Jin shuddered. The splash of warm blood jolted him back to reality, and the terror of death instantly eclipsed his shame.

"Turn the ship around! Retreat into the Yu River at once!" his hoarse, trembling voice rang out from the bow.

The Cao troops, as if granted a reprieve, scrambled to man the rudders and turn the ship, desperate to escape.

***

On the flagship of the Liu army, Guan Yu watched the favorable turn of events, and the tension in his heart finally eased. The facts had proven that his years of grueling naval training had not been in vain, and they also validated his ability to command a fleet. From this moment on, Guan Yu no longer harbored a single doubt regarding his own prowess in naval combat.

"General Yunchang, Yu Jin’s flagship is trying to escape!" Liao Hua, standing beside him, pointed toward the battle line and shouted.

Guan Yu swept his gaze across the distance and, indeed, saw the battle flag bearing the character "Yu" turning toward the north.

"My brother gave me orders to capture Yu Jin alive. I cannot let him escape!"

Guan Yu’s eyes narrowed as he swung his hand and barked, "Order Guan Ping to accelerate from the left flank, block the mouth of the Yu River, and ensure Yu Jin cannot escape into it! Bring our flagship forward—keep your eyes on Yu Jin’s vessel and pursue him!"

Signal flags fluttered, and the drums roared like thunder.

***

On the left flank, Guan Ping received the order. With full sails and oars working at maximum capacity, his ten-plus capital ships surged forward, bypassing the scattered vessels of the Cao army and racing toward the mouth of the Yu River. Guan Yu’s flagship followed suit, closing the distance and clinging tightly to Yu Jin’s heels.

***

On the northern gate tower of Xiangyang, the atmosphere was electric with thunderous cheers. Yi Ji, Mi Zhu, Ma Liang, and other advisors, both new and old, along with the garrison troops, had all witnessed the process by which Guan Yu had crippled the Cao army.

"My Lord, General Guan has won! We have held the Han River!" Yi Ji looked at Liu Bei with excitement and joy.

Liu Bei was naturally relieved. A joyful smile played on his lips, tinged with deep emotion. "To crush Yu Jin’s navy in less than an hour—Yunchang’s ability in naval warfare is truly beyond my expectations. No wonder Boweng dared to assert that Yunchang would surely win. I, his brother, did not understand Yunchang as well as Boweng did. I am truly ashamed, truly ashamed..."

After his sigh of admiration, Liu Bei looked with hopeful eyes toward the location of Guan Yu’s banner. "The outcome is decided. Now, it remains to be seen if Yunchang can capture Yu Jin alive. But why did Boweng say that leaving Yu Jin alive would be a 'surprise' for me?"

A flicker of speculation crossed Liu Bei’s joyful eyes.

***

On the northern bank of the Han River, unlike the jubilation in Xiangyang, the Cao army was plunged into a deathly silence. Everyone stood in shock, eyes wide and mouths agape, staring at their own defeated navy.

Even Cao Cao was stunned.

Yu Jin had lost. And it was a disastrous defeat! They were all Northerners; even if they were like "chickens pecking at each other," if Yu Jin were to fail, it should have been a minor setback. How could he have been so thoroughly routed that his five thousand sailors were on the verge of total annihilation? This outcome proved that Guan Yu’s naval skills were far superior to Yu Jin’s, and the combat effectiveness of the Liu army’s fleet far surpassed that of the Cao navy.

"Why is this?"
"He is a Northerner; how is he so skilled in water warfare?"
"Is he still the Guan Yunchang I once knew?"

Cao Cao’s breathing grew heavy; his mind was in turmoil, bombarded by countless questions.

"Could it be that while Liu Bei was lying low in Fancheng, he secretly ordered Guan Yu to train his navy, which is why he possesses such an elite force?" Cheng Yu guessed, finally collecting his thoughts.

"But Guan Yu is a Northerner. Since ancient times, Southerners navigate boats while Northerners ride horses. How could Guan Yu have trained such formidable naval skills, and how could he have forged such an elite force?" Liu Ye looked at Cheng Yu with a confused and skeptical gaze.

Cheng Yu was speechless, unable to provide an explanation.

"Prime Minister, this is not the time to speculate about Guan Yu. We must quickly provide cover for Yu Wenze to retreat into the Yu River, or else he is in danger of falling into Guan Yu’s hands!" Man Chong reminded him with a stern expression.

Cao Cao’s complexion shifted slightly. The five thousand sailors were replaceable, and the hundred or so ships were a mere drop in the bucket. But Yu Jin could not be lost. He was a veteran general who had followed him for decades, one of the "Five Elite Generals" of the Cao camp, and the most senior among the generals not of the Cao or Xiahou clans. Whether he died in battle or was captured by Liu Bei, it would be a devastating blow to the morale of the Cao army.

"Pass my order: mobilize the archers to the riverbank, shoot at the pursuing enemy ships, and provide cover for Yu Wenze to retreat into the Yu River!" Cao Cao waved his horsewhip, his voice urgent.

The order was passed down, and tens of thousands of Cao archers were immediately deployed to the shore.

However, they would not have the chance to rescue Yu Jin. Guan Ping’s twenty or so warships had arrived first, blocking the mouth of the Yu River and cutting off Yu Jin’s path of retreat.

"General Yu, the mouth of the river is blocked! If we charge in, it is suicide!" the adjutant cried out in panic.

Yu Jin clenched his fists, his heart burning with anxiety, his composure shattered. After a quick glance around, he hurriedly drew his sword and pointed toward the east.

"Quickly! Change course! Charge onto Yuliang Isle!"

The adjutants were shocked. To the east of the river mouth, a small sandbar had formed from the silt of the Han and Yu rivers. Abandoning the ships to land on the isle might temporarily avoid being slaughtered by the boarding Liu troops, but it would be tantamount to trapping themselves on a desert island surrounded by water. Their navy was already destroyed; Cao Cao would have no way to reach them to help them escape to the northern bank. How was this any different from waiting for death?

But Yu Jin could no longer afford to think. He raised his sword and shouted, "If we do not charge onto Yuliang Isle, we die right here! What are you waiting for?"

The adjutants were all struck with dread, but they had no choice but to obey. The flagship turned, charging toward the sandbar. As the ship rammed into the shallows, Yu Jin and his thirty-odd personal guards scrambled off the deck and fled onto the land of the isle.

Seeing Yu Jin flee to Yuliang Isle, Guan Yu ordered his ships to surround the sandbar from all sides, trapping Yu Jin like a turtle in a jar.

As the setting sun slanted to the west, boat after boat of the Liu army charged onto the sandbar, and hundreds of soldiers scrambled onto the shore. Guan Yu dismounted his horse, stepped off his ship, and onto the sands. He intended to capture Yu Jin with his own hands!

Not far ahead, Yu Jin and his thirty guards had formed a defensive formation, posturing for a final stand. Guan Yu sat atop his Red Hare, holding his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, and slowly approached on horseback. His half-closed phoenix eyes scanned the trembling Cao soldiers, instantly recognizing Yu Jin’s familiar face.

For a brief moment, their eyes met. Yu Jin shuddered, and his hands, tightly gripping his long blade, trembled involuntarily.

"Yu Jin!"

Guan Yu’s gaze was one of utter contempt. He pointed his blade from afar. "You have nowhere left to run. In consideration of the kindness Cao Cao once showed me, I will spare your life. Why do you not surrender at once!"