Cao Cao looked confused, his eyes filled with longing for Xiao Qiao.
Li Huan said, "Zhou Yu used a ruse, sending Huang Gai to feign surrender and launch a fire attack on Cao Cao's camp. The Prime Minister turned the tables on him, intercepted Huang Gai halfway, and captured him alive!"
Cao Cao asked, "What use is there in capturing an old general who is no match for Guan Yu in martial arts and no match for Zhuge Liang in literature? Just behead him and show his head to the public!"
Li Huan laughed and said, "Prime Minister, you're confused! The purpose of capturing Huang Gai alive is to blackmail Zhou Yu and exchange him for Xiao Qiao!"
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao instantly realized what was happening and abruptly stood up!
"Brilliant! This plan is brilliant! Hahaha... But... is Zhou Yu willing to hand over Xiao Qiao?"
Li Huan said, "If Zhou Yu does not hand over Xiao Qiao, he will be branded as someone who would sacrifice a loyal minister for a woman, which will inevitably shake the morale of the army and be detrimental to Eastern Wu!"
Cao Cao nodded repeatedly, his face beaming with joy.
Li Huan said, "If Zhou Yu is forced to hand over Xiao Qiao, he will definitely be furious and anxious. He will change his battle plan at the last minute and hastily send troops to attack Cao Cao's camp. At that time, it will be difficult for him to gain the upper hand!"
Cao Cao was overjoyed and rubbed his hands together excitedly, as if Xiao Qiao was already in his grasp.
Li Huan smiled outwardly, but cursed inwardly.
I'm just using you to deal with Zhou Yu. If Xiao Qiao comes to Cao Cao's camp, you won't be able to touch a hair on her head!
Cao Cao chuckled a few times: "I underestimated you before. I didn't expect that you would not only be a superb cook, but also so resourceful. No wonder you easily tricked me out of 200,000 crossbow bolts. I am completely convinced of my defeat!"
"After you capture Xiao Qiao, defeat Zhou Yu, and conquer Eastern Wu, I will reward you with five hundred taels of gold and ten beautiful women! Hahaha..."
Li Huan remained calm, showing no belief in Cao Cao's promise.
He sneered inwardly. According to Lao Tzu's plan, you can only defeat Zhou Yu, but you can't get Xiao Qiao or conquer Eastern Wu.
...
Three days later.
Li Huan fished alone by the river, drank wine and ate meat, living a carefree and happy life.
Suddenly, a cavalryman arrived and told Li Huan to return to camp immediately.
Li Huan carried the fish onto an electric tricycle and quickly arrived at the military camp, entering Cao Cao's tent.
"As expected, Zhou Yu indeed used the self-inflicted injury ruse to angrily beat Huang Gai!"
Cao Cao held two secret letters in his hand, and was extremely agitated.
"Huang Gai entrusted Kan Ze, a strategist from Eastern Wu, to cross the river and deliver a message to me, surrendering to me in an attempt to deceive me!"
"Subsequently, I received a secret letter from Cai Zhong and Cai He, confirming that Huang Gai had indeed been severely beaten with fifty strokes of the military rod!"
“Zhou Yu, you little brat, how could you not know that you had already anticipated this scheme!”
Li Huan laughed and said, "Next, Zhou Yu will use a 'chain strategy' in conjunction with a fire attack!"
"A series of schemes?" Cao Cao sat down.
Li Huan explained: "For Zhou Yu's fire attack to succeed, the Cao army's warships must be linked together. Otherwise, if one ship catches fire, the other ships will scatter, preventing the fire from spreading."
"Therefore, Zhou Yu would send Pang Tong to Cao Cao's camp to offer the chained ships strategy, instructing the Prime Minister to link all the warships together with steel cables!"
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao slammed his fist on the table in anger.
"That despicable Zhou Yu! Knowing that I cherish virtuous and capable men, he actually sent the Phoenix Chick Pang Tong to bewitch me!"
Li Huan said, "This chain of schemes is the key to whether Huang Gai's feigned surrender and subsequent fire attack will succeed! Therefore, the Prime Minister should also turn the tables on him. First, send Jiang Gan to Jiangdong to gather information, thereby luring Pang Tong to Cao Cao's camp. Then, pretend to be deceived, connect the warships with steel cables, and ultimately mislead Zhou Yu!"
"Good!" Cao Cao beamed. "I'll do as you say!"
...
Two more days passed.
As expected, Pang Tong followed Jiang Gan to Cao Cao's camp and presented Cao Cao with the "Chain Scheme".
Cao Cao pretended to fall into the trap, ordered his men to chain the warships together with steel cables, and then released Pang Tong to return to Jiangdong.
Cao Cao and Li Huan secretly discussed the matter.
"In his letter, Huang Gai agreed to sail grain transport ships, fly the blue dragon flag, and come to surrender! But Huang Gai did not say when the day of surrender would be."
Li Huan laughed and said, "Zhou Yu can only launch a fire attack if there are three conditions!"
Cao Cao said, "I would like to hear the details."
Li Huan said, "First, Huang Gai's feigned surrender was a ruse; second, Pang Tong's strategy of using multiple ships together; third, Heaven helped us, a southeast wind blew!"
After hearing this, Cao Cao suddenly understood.
"I understand now. When the southeast wind blows, that's when Huang Gai will launch his fire attack! But it's the dead of winter, how could a southeast wind be blowing?"
Li Huan suppressed a laugh and adopted the air of a reclusive sage.
"The weather is unpredictable! I've been fishing by the river these past few days, while also observing the celestial phenomena. If I'm not mistaken, a southeast wind will definitely blow around midnight tomorrow!"
Cao Cao was skeptical, staring into Li Huan's eyes as if trying to see through his soul.
Li Huan said, "If there's no southeast wind by midnight tomorrow, I'll provide you with three years' worth of boxed meals, free of charge!"
Cao Cao then smiled and said, "It's a deal!"
Time flies.
On the night of the Battle of Red Cliffs.
At midnight, the flags suddenly fluttered, and a southeast wind blew!
Li Huan and Cao Cao sat in the tent, eating dishes such as "spicy boiled fish, dry-fried shrimp, braised ribbonfish, and braised pork trotters" while drinking beer.
Cao Cao let out a burp and said with a smile, "I have discovered that your talent far surpasses that of other strategists! Would you be willing to stay and serve as my military advisor, assisting me in unifying the world?"
Li Huan immediately declined, saying, "I'm used to selling boxed lunches at a street stall and don't want to work for anyone."
Damn it, Liu Bei asked me to be his strategist three or four times before, and I didn't agree. How could I possibly agree to you, you old dog thief!
Cao Cao advised, "Don't rush to refuse me. Think it over carefully, and tell me what you want!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a guard came to report.
"Reporting to the Prime Minister! General Zhang has captured Huang Gai!"
Cao Cao was overjoyed and quickly put down his wine cup: "Bring Huang Gai into the tent!"
Zhang Liao led his soldiers, shoving an old general with white hair, into the tent.
This old man was none other than Huang Gai.
He lost his helmet, was shot in the left leg with an arrow, and looked disheveled.
Cao Cao's face was gloomy as he stared intently at Huang Gai.
Suddenly, Cao Cao raised his head and burst into laughter.
"Hahaha... Zhou Yu, you little brat, you racked your brains, used the self-inflicted injury ruse and the chained scheme, and took advantage of the east wind to send Huang Gai to launch a surprise fire attack, but in the end, it was all for naught!"
Huang Gai lowered his head, looking dejected.
Li Huan knew that if Huang Gai's fire attack failed, Zhou Yu would not attack rashly, and Liu Bei would not dare to send troops easily.
Cao Cao said to Zhang Liao, "Send word! Release the soldiers who have sent Huang Gai away and have them tell Zhou Yu that if he wants Huang Gai to live and return to Jiangdong, he must exchange him for Xiao Qiao within two days!"
Huang Gai was instantly shocked.
"You traitor Cao! You...you are so despicable! You actually used my life to threaten the Grand Commander!"
After saying that, Huang Gai tried to struggle, but was held down firmly.
Immediately afterwards, Huang Gai tried to bite his tongue to commit suicide, but Zhang Liao grabbed his jaw and stuffed a wad of cloth into his mouth.
Cao Cao grinned maliciously: "If you lose your life, won't Xiao Qiao, who is about to be mine, fly away? Hahaha..."
Li Huan drank silently, pondering his next move.
Would Zhou Yu be willing to send Xiao Qiao to Cao Cao's camp?
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