Chapter 20 5. The Battle of Yiling

Liu Bei decided to conquer Sun Quan. The Eastern Expedition was two and a half years after Guan Yu was defeated in Maicheng.This at least shows that the purpose of this battle is not entirely to avenge Guan Yu.What is really decisive is the change in the general trend of the world during this period. In fact, one month after Guan Yu's death, major events happened one after another.In the first month of the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an (AD 220), Cao Cao passed away, and Prince Cao Pi succeeded to the throne of King Wei.In October, Cao Pi forced Han Xiandi to abdicate, proclaimed himself emperor on behalf of Han, and changed Yuan to Huangchu.In April of the second year, Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor and Jianyuan Zhangwu.In August, Sun Quan accepted the title of King of Wu canonized by Cao Pi, and the next year Jianyuan Huang Wu.

In this way, the world at that time had three reign titles (Cao Wei's, Shu Han's and Sun Wu's), two emperors (Cao Pi and Liu Bei), and the king of an independent kingdom (Sun Quan). form. At the same time, the Sun-Liu alliance also broke openly. After seizing Nanjun, Sun Quan and Liu Bei turned their faces completely, announcing that they only recognized Liu Zhang as the shepherd of Yizhou, while Cao Cao announced that Sun Quan was also the shepherd of Jingzhou.In other words, Sun Quan recognized that Cao Cao was the central government, Cao Cao recognized that Jingzhou belonged to Sun Quan, and neither of them recognized that Yizhou belonged to Liu Bei.According to this logic, Liu Bei, who was originally Jingzhou Mu, Yizhou Mu, and Yuzhou Mu, is nothing now.

Of course Liu Bei would not give up. So, six months after he became emperor, Liu Bei launched a war against Sun Quan along the east of the river.Because Liu Bei garrisoned Xiaoting (Xiao reads like disappearing, in the north of Yidu, Hubei today) and Yiling (southeast of Yichang, Hubei today), it is called "Yiling-Xiaoting Battle" in history, referred to as "Yiling Battle" or "Yiling Battle". The Battle of Yiling, the Battle of Guandu, and the Battle of Chibi can be called the three major battles in this period of history, and they all ended in the failure of the war initiators.The Battle of Guandu was initiated by Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shao failed.The Battle of Chibi was launched by Cao Cao, but Cao Cao failed.The Battle of Yiling was launched by Liu Bei, and Liu Bei failed.

Is this God's will, or man's plan? Conspiracy. In fact, after killing Guan Yu and taking Jingzhou, Sun Quan knew very well that his relationship with Liu Bei had been completely broken, and even admitting that he was Yizhou Mu would not help.Yu Li, Liu Bei wants to take back Jingzhou; Yu Yi, Liu Bei wants revenge.A big battle is inevitable, and Sun Quan had to plan ahead. Therefore, after Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor, Sun Quan moved his front-line headquarters from Gongan to Echeng (now Ezhou, Hubei), renamed it Wuchang (not the Wuchang District in Wuhan, Hubei), and laid down lines of defense along the Yangtze River.It can be seen that Sun Quan has been wary of Liu Bei, and he is fighting a prepared battle.

For this reason, Sun Quan also actively moved closer to Cao Wei politically, and even presented himself as a vassal to Cao Pi, who proclaimed himself emperor in the Han Dynasty.In this regard, Jiangdong Group has quite different opinions.Sun Quan said frankly: Back then, Emperor Gao also accepted Xiang Yu's title and became King of Han?What does it matter if you adapt to the situation and make a stopgap? This is what Sun Quan can do. In fact, Sun Quan, with his majestic appearance and radiant eyes, was very calm.As mentioned earlier, he actually agreed with Lu Su's design and was planning to become emperor.But he is in no hurry.Because the political philosophy he believes in is that the mantis catches the cicada, and the oriole is behind.Therefore, he always strikes late, and always laughs last.

On the contrary, Liu Bei was very impetuous. On May 15, 221 A.D. (April Bingwu, the second year of Cao Wei Huangchu), Liu Bei took the throne in Wudan Mountain, northwest of Chengdu. In July, he marched in person and ordered Zhang Fei to join him in Jiangzhou (now Chongqing).As a result, Zhang Fei was killed by his subordinates before he left, and his head was taken to Sun Quan. This was really a bad start, but Liu Bei insisted on going his own way.The loyal and heroic Zhao Yun was not even allowed to join the army because of his reservations about the Eastern Expedition.At this time, Guan Yu was killed in battle, Huang Zhong died of illness, Zhang Fei was killed, the remaining Ma Chao defended Wei Yubei, and Zhao Yun was not trusted. Are there any decent generals in the Eastern Expedition team?

No.There are no first-class advisers and military advisers in this team.Pang Tong had already died in battle, and Fazheng had also passed away. Zhuge Liang was guarding Chengdu and couldn't leave.Only Liu Bei himself can command this war. Liu Bei made mistakes repeatedly. In fact, there are also sensible people in Liu Bei's army, such as General Huang Quan.Huang Quan said to Liu Bei, "Wu's army is brave and good at fighting, so it's hard to deal with it; our army goes down the river, it's easy to advance and difficult to retreat."Therefore, Huang Quan suggested that he himself act as the vanguard to test the depth, while Liu Bei takes the command from the rear to avoid the risk of going deep alone.

It's a pity that Liu Bei didn't listen.He sent Huang Quan to Jiangbei, and he pushed forward desperately, leading the army through the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, and broke into Yiling, the west gate of the Soochow Kingdom, in the first lunar month of 222 AD. Wu Jun retreated in great strides. It was Lu Xun who ordered the retreat.Like Sun Quan, Lu Xun is also a very calm person.He is very clear that Liu Bei's arrival is not good at being vigorous, and he relies on the high ground to defend the dangerous position, so he must avoid his edge and fight a protracted war.As long as the Shu army is dragged into a tired army, you can wait and see the changes in order to succeed.

Lu Xun's estimation is completely right.The menacing Shu army was firmly blocked in the front line of Xiaoting, and could only be stationed in the high mountains hundreds of miles from Yiling to Xiaoting.This is what Lu Xun voluntarily gave to Liu Bei, but it may not be a blessed land. Of course Liu Bei will not sit and wait.It's a pity that despite his repeated provocations, Lu Xun sat firmly on the Diaoyutai and refused to fight.The Shu army, who had not been able to find a decisive battle for several months, was depressed. Coupled with transportation difficulties, insufficient supplies, and hotter weather, their hearts became more and more lax, and they were actually at the end of their battles.

At this time, Lu Xun announced that the time to counterattack had come. Just when Wu Jun's morale was high, Liu Bei's flaws were fully exposed.After he arrived at the front line of Xiaoting, he gave up the favorable conditions for advancing both land and water, and instead ordered the navy to go ashore and set up dozens of camps, stretching for 700 miles.Cao Pi, who was far away in Luoyang, immediately concluded after receiving the news: I think Sun Quan's good news is coming. Lu Xun used the old method in the Battle of Chibi.He ordered the soldiers in the vanguard to bring a handful of thatch, and when they arrived at Liu Bei's barracks, they set fire to it and launched a fierce attack at the same time.Once the fire is formed, all armies attack at the same time.

It worked.Under Lu Xun's order, the main force of the Wu army gathered in Xiaoting to fight against Liu Bei, and pulled out more than 40 battalions of the Shu army.Liu Bei was caught off guard and fled in a panic.The Shu army collapsed, wolves rushed to the ground, and the corpses filled the Yangtze River and drifted down, never returning to Yizhou. Lu Xun won the battle. This is the third epoch-making war after Guandu and Chibi.After the Battle of Guandu, Northern China became Cao Cao's world; after the Battle of Chibi, southern China became a force of resistance; after the Battle of Yiling, although Cao Wei could not cross the Yangtze River, Sun Wu and Shu Han could not swallow each other. It is a foregone conclusion that the Three Kingdoms will stand together. Liu Bei's ambition has also come to an end.He defeated Xiaoting in June, returned to Wu County (now Wushan, Chongqing) in August, and then stationed in Baidi City (East of Fengjie, Chongqing).Soon, Liu Bei was ill and unable to recover.It is said that he once wrote to Lu Xun, expressing that he would make a comeback.Lu Xun frankly advised him not to die, but to heal his wounds with peace of mind. In fact, Liu Bei also knew that he would die soon, so he arranged his funeral in an orderly manner.He entrusted his seventeen-year-old eldest son Liu Chan (read Rushan) to Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, and chose a deputy for him-Shang Shuling Li Yan. On June 10, 223 AD (April 24th in the third year of Zhangwu), Liu Bei died in Yong'an Palace at the age of sixty-three. The era of Zhuge Liang has begun.