Cao Cao's troops marched from Wan Castle to Xin Ye city. After being aware that Kong Ming trapped Cao Ren's troops, Cao Cao's hatred towards Kong Ming deepens. Now Cao Cao plan to stop up the river Bai and at the same time level the Fan Castle to the ground. However, since Liu Bei has gathered peasants from Xin Ye into the Fan Castle, if Cao Cao fight the peasants, he afraid that he will be unpopular among the people of Jing Zhou. Therefore, Cao Cao change his mind, whereby he will demand Liu Bei to surrender. If Liu Bei surrendered, he will avert the battle and thus saving the people. Thus, Cao Cao chose Xu Shu to be the messenger. Although Xu Shu was Kong Ming's classmate, he might return back to Kong Ming and Liu Bei's site. However, if he returned, he will be a laughing stock as he always hold his principle strongly. Therefore, he would never returned to Liu Bei.

The next day, Xu Shu went to Fan Castle and discussed with Liu Bei that Cao Cao is about to stop up river Bai and sending his army to block every exit in preparation to attack Fan Castle. And it is a shame to ask him to become messenger and demand Liu Bei's surrender. He continued saying that Cao Cao is pretending to care about the people, but all he wanted was to win their sympathy. Liu Bei won't be able to defend this Castle anymore if he did not surrender.
Right now, this castle is not defendable, Liu Bei decided to migrate the people to Xiang Yang City. However, Cai Mao had surrendered Xiang Yang to Cao Cao, they will definately won't accept them. The people in Fan Castle are willing to follow Liu Bei although it will not be easy to flee if too many people are following.

After knowing Liu Bei is evacuating the people from Fan Castle, Cao Cao took this opportunity to beat Liu Bei and ordered the troops to attack them. Since Liu Bei is now carrying the burden of migrating the people, thus, there is nothing for Cao Cao to fear about Kong Ming. Liu Bei and his men continued their journey toward Xiang Yang. But the people with him makes the journey very slow. Though Kong Ming may be the world's best strategist, the people remains vulnerable to the attack.

When Liu Bei reached Xiang Yang, Cai Mao refused to open the gate and attack the peasants.
At that time, Wen Yan, one of the Liu Biao's previous General, came out to help Liu Bei and open the gate for Liu Bei. Though Wei Yan managed to open the gate, if Liu Bei join the fight, they will jeopardize the people.
Liu Bei decided not enter this city. He then decided to move to Jiang Ling (one of Jing Zhou's city, which also has ample supply.
After Liu Bei left Xiang Yang a while, a spies from Liu Bei came back and said Cao Cao has entered Xiang Yang. Which means, the enemy's vanguard is quickly approaching them behind.

Cao Cao's position is getting far more formidable when he has taken Xiang Yang over. According to Cai Mao, Jing Zhou has Cavalry: 50,000, Infantry: 150,000, Navy: 80,000. Most of their supplies was in Jiang Ling. The rest were stored in granaries. They have about 7,000 war ships, and all managed by Cai Mao.
Therefore, Cao Cao appointed Cai Mao as his navy admiral. Cao Cao's army was not used to naval battles. Thus, although Cao Cao knew Cai Mao was not a trustworthy man, he still need Cai Mao's leadership to train their army against Wu. Meanwhile, due to the majority of the supplies was in Jiang Ling, he worried that Liu Bei would get there before them. Therefore, he ordered his cavalrymen to chase them.

No matter how amazing Kong Ming was, with these people, his strategy will be useless. There was only one way for him to chose, that was request reinforcement from Liu Qi in Jiang Xia. Therefore, he quickly sent Guan Yu as messenger to request on behalf. If Guan Yu late, Liu Bei troops would be exterminated. Because of worrying that Guan Yu may not be able to get the reinforcement, Kong Ming soon decided to to Jiang Xia as well to catch up with Guan Yu. Now the team only left Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei and Guan Ping.

Liu Bei went to Mt. Jing to rest for the night, followed by his people and 2,000 men. Meanwhile, Cao cao pursuing army was drawing near to Mt. Jing.
Can they beat Cao Cao's army while Kong Ming's brilliant strategy was unavailable? And the gallant warrior, Guan Yu, was not there either?

Thanks to Kong Ming's strategy. Liu Bei was victorious during the fight with Cao Cao's troop. The amazed Guan Yu and Zhang Fei finally bowed down in respect. Xiahou Dun, who led 100,000 men against Liu Bei in Xin Ye, fell into trap. He himself barely escaped with his life. The embarrassed and defeated general is now in Ye City to await for Cao Cao's punishment.

Xiahou Dun explained to Cao Cao that Kong Ming's trick was indeed amazing. Kong Ming induced him to the fire trick which he has never seen such a trick before. Cao Cao understood that victories and defeats are normal in battles. He then forgive Xiahou Dun and hope he will win in the next battle. By knowing Kong Ming's strength, and they were not able to defeat Liu Bei, Cao Cao will lead the army personally this time. They will have five battalions this time. Each with 100,000 men. Now, Kong Ming have to deal with 500,000 men.

Mean while, Liu Biao was sick and going to die. He wished that Liu Bei is willing to take care of Jing Zhou. Then he could leave with peace. After knowing Cao Cao and his 500,000 men are marching to his place, Liu Biao immediately asked Liu Bei to call Liu Qi to Jing Zhou and appoint him as a new governor, since Liu Bei still refused to accept Liu Biao's offer become Jing Zhou's governor. Cai Mao (Brother in-law of Liu Biao) heard that Liu Qi would become the next governor, was not agreed. He started planing a trick with his sister (Liu Biao's wife) to change the will.

At this point of time, Cao Cao has arrived at the border and entered the Wan Castle. If he wanted to attack Liu Bei in Xin Ye, he must go through Bowang slope. Right now, Song Zhong, on the order of Cai Mao, went from Jing Zhou to see Cao Cao. Another word, Song Zhong and Cai Mao were indeed planning to surrender. Cao Cao then obtain Jing Zhou without wasting any troops. Meanwhile, he appoint Cao Ren, Xu Zhu to lead the vanguard to attack Liu Bei.

Cai Mao falsified his will and installed Liu Zong as his successor was aware by Guan Yu. Because Guan Yu captured Song Zhong when he came back from Cao Cao's camp.
Kong Ming then decided to attack Jing Zhou and capture Cai Mao. However, Liu Bei refused to do that, because Liu Biao put his two sons under his care. if he attacked his sons, that would constitute a breach of trust.

Cao Cao's vanguard of 100,000 men was led by Cao Ren has arrived at Bowang Slope. Kong Ming advised that it was not a good idea to attack such a large army head on right of Bowang Slope. He would rather move the people out to the Fan Castle instead. They will have to move the people with the boats to the Fan Castle through Bai river from some where. General Guan Yu was to be stationed at the upstream of Bai river. General Zhang Fei was to be stationed at the downstream of river Bai, near Bowang Slope. General Zhao Yun and Guan Ping shall remain in Xin Ye. Guarding Xin Ye city is the most important part of the battle according to Kong Ming. Before ending everthing, Kong Ming asked to captain to hold different color's flag blue and red. This tactic is to confuse Cao Cao's troop. Because fire defeats water and water defeats fire. They shall use both in this battle.

Guan Yu at upstream was asked to build a dam to block the water from flowing. Whereas, Zhang Fei at downstream was asked to wait at the river Bai until the defeated army comes to cross the river. General Zhao Yun at Xin Ye city was asked to hide some oil in each house after all people moved out. Beside, put lots of combustibles at all gates. Then purposely leave the east gate open fully.

Now, Cao Ren led his vanguard troop from Bowang Slope to near Xin Ye. Since Xiahou Dun was defeated at the same place before, they were extra careful this time. Suddenly, they saw two ambush were using red and blue flags to signal each other. This was Kong Ming's trick. Keep waving flags to make the enemy think they were passing some signals. Cao Ren was a very careful person. Upon seeing this flag, he would think that some ambush lays ahead from Xin Ye City. Therefore, Cao Ren ordered to kill them because he suspect that to person were the ambush.

After enter to the area, Cao Ren saw Liu Bei and Kong Ming were having a drink at uphill, he immediately asked his men to go uphill and kill them.
Without knowing that the ambush were actually hiding somewhere to throw the stones from uphill, Cao Ren's men were died and defeated. Cao Ren was very angry and move his troops to Xin Ye city to attack. When he reach there, the city was empty. He thought that Liu Bei's people already fled. Thus, he ordered the soldiers rest for that night and pursuit them the next day morning.

As what Kong Ming told Guan Ping, Cao Ren's soldiers will use the people's houses to rest for the night. Before dawn, a strong wind will blow. He only execute the task when the wind blow. That night the wind really blew. Guan Ping immediately asked his men put up the fire to burn the city.
Once the ememy fell into the fire trick, they'll flee toward the east gate. Zhao Yun will for them there. Then drive them toward river Bai.


By the daybreak, Guan Yu shall hear the noise of horses and the troops. At that moment, he is suppose to break the dam. The fast moving river water almost killed all Cao Ren's men when they cross by the river.
After the water attack, the remaining enemy will cross Zhang Fei's area to flee. Cao Ren and Xu Zhu managed to flee after putting up a fight with Zhang Fei.


Kong Ming tactics drowned most of Cao Ren's 100,000 men. Liu Bei didn't lose a single man. Then, they depart for the Fan Castle. Kong Ming once again scored a great victory. Due to falling into Kong Ming's trap, Cao Cao's army were defeated and forced to retreat. However, Liu Bei with the displaced people who keep following him became an easy target for the wrathful Cao Cao who's getting closer and closer.