The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long, bloody shadows over the Yangtze River. On the deck of a massive war galley, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, staring at the flickering campfires of the southern bank. He had a million men at his back—or so he told the world—and the scent of a unified China was finally in the air.
The plan was a masterpiece of deception. They had sent a "defector" to Cao Cao, convincing the northern lord to chain his ships together to prevent his soldiers—unaccustomed to the water—from getting seasick. It turned the mighty fleet into a wooden island. Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Cao Cao laughed, a sharp, cold sound. "The wind changes for those with the ambition to command it." The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long,
"The heavens do not give gifts," Zhuge Liang replied, opening his eyes. "They only offer opportunities. To burn a forest, one must first ensure the trees are dry." The plan was a masterpiece of deception