Battle of Red Cliff

Battle of Chi Bi
Conflict	Three Kingdoms
Date	208
Place	Chang Jiang
Result	Decisive Wu and Shu victory
Combatants Wei Wu, Shu Commanders Cao Cao Zhou Yu, Liu Bei, Huang Gai Strength 300,000 50,000 Casualties Unknown Unknown

Battle of Red Cliff (赤壁之戰), also known as Battle of Chi Bi. "Chi Bi" literally means "red cliff".

In 208, Zhou Yu and Liu Bei led their forces to fight Cao Cao. Cao Cao led a force of 300,000 to attack Wu. Zhou Yu led the Wu forces (30,000) with Liu Bei's forces (20,000).

Cao Cao had previously linked his ships together because his men were mainly Northerners who were not accustomed to fighting on water; they were also sick after an epidemic.

In the meantime, Huang Gai pretended to be a turncoat, seeking to give the top secret of Wu's army to Cao Cao. During the night of the battle, Huang Gai engineered his escape from the South side of the Chang Jiang (where Wu's camp was) to the North side (where Wei's base was). Near the Northern bank, Huang Gai set his tail boat on fire. Cao Cao's armada, connected together, caught fire in the bay and was nearly totally destroyed.

Zhou Yu, at this time, sent his whole army against Cao Cao's army which lost its morale. Cao Cao decided it would be best to retreat.

The result of the Battle of Red Cliff greatly hindered Cao Cao's expansion across Chang Jiang into the Southern China.