I hereby decree that Prime Minister Cao Cao
lead the lmperial Army
to pacify the rebels Liu Bei and Sun Quan
Thank you, Your Majesty
These people are loyal to the Han Empire
They followed us to escape Cao Cao's regime
If we do not protect civilians,
then what is the meaning of this war?
An alliance will strengthen us both
When a loser joins forces with a coward,
what can they accomplish?
What the Southlands need is unity!
My decision to fight is final
Anyone who dares mention surrender
will end up like this table!
You need to fight this war
I am not afraid of him
I have been waiting for this day!
We shall fight, not waste time with words
Make camp there!
On the bank facing Red Cliff
Tomorrow we may be enemies
If that day ever comes,
it will be each man for himself
Cao Cao has no experience in naval warfare
He must rely on Admirals Cai Mao and Zhang Yun
If I can eliminate them,
his navy will be powerless
Nice play!
Goal!
These little monkeys are getting quicker!
The Prime Minister's order to practice Cuju (kickball)
Has toughened these kids up
Follow closely
Carry him inside quickly
Follow me
Just my stomach growling
Yes!
Goal!
What do you think? Not bad, right?
Block him!
Yeah!
That pot isn't wide enough
You would miss no matter how wide it was
Pitch pot is a game for aristocrats
not for soldiers in wartime
Your Honor, how'd you throw that bull's eye?
Concentration
When the enemy is over-confident,
we must double our concentration
With concentration, you can kill a giant with a pebble
Your Highness, Zhou Yu's army is small
He'll have to resort to guerilla warfare
That last puny victory
has made Zhou Yu cocky
He's no guerilla warrior
He will confront us face to face
They are readying for battle
We need a strategy to counter them
Cao Cao wants to surround us
without breaking the basic rules of strategy
The first army to the field will be rested
The second army will arrive exhausted
Attack where the enemy is least prepared
Strike where they least expect it
We must concentrate all forces
on their strongest position
Naval victory depends on
Admirals Cai Mao and Zhang Yun
We are loyal to Your Highness until death
Cao Cao underestimates us
He will never expect us to hit their navy
What is your name?
Private Sun Shucai
You are an outstanding player
and a good soldier
From this day forward
you are promoted to battalion commander
Thank you, Your Highness!
Everyone must practice hard at Cuju
Only with tough bodies can we win this war
Once the Southlands are subdued,
your families will be exempt from taxes for three years
Thank you, Your Highness!
What are you doing?
I'm... setting these birds free
That's very kind of you
You're leaving?
By your accent, I bet you're a Southerner
That's right
Southerners are warm-hearted people
Northerners are free-spirited
I'm kind of dumb
People say my entire life...
You're not dumb, just too honest
You're good at Cuju
Thanks for heading the ball
What's your name?
My name is...
Look at the size of me
My mother calls me Piggy
Piggy?
So you can play Cuju right?
You kidding? I only know hacky-sack
Congratulations on your promotion
So does a commander get bigger meals?
You're a big officer now
You can eat as much as you want
Are you fighting just to fill your stomach?
Mother says my stomach is a bottomless pit
My family's too poor to feed me
We're Pit and Piggy!
What a pair!
The new environment has made our men ill
They are weak from a long war
and have lost all immunity
So typhoid quickly...
Can it be cured?
Yes
but not overnight
How many have died?
Over a hundred
In a few days, it will be out of control
We must bury them right away
No burials! We must cremate
Cremation is the only way to stop its spread
Ready the funeral pyres Yes, sir
Hold on
(Epidemic outbreak)
The climate has weakened Cao Cao's army
Disease is rampant Great
Your Honor, let's seize this chance and attack
The navy is still healthy
We must not act recklessly
Your Honor, this is the time to attack!
Yes!
This is a battle of honor
Even war must be fair
Your Highness
isn't this a bit inhumane?
Cast off the soldiers of the dead!
What's the matter?
Pull the boats here
Look, what is that?
Pull it here
Pull the boats here
Go report this to the general Yes, sir
Pile weapons and armor here
Put the corpses there
Yes, sir
Get away from here
Don't touch them!
They died from typhoid!
Move! It's contagious!
Move! Don't touch anything!
Get out of here!
Everyone must leave!
Escort these people away
This is for your own good
This place is infected
Leave here immediately
Cao Cao is truly ruthless
Those soldiers have touched corpses
I've quarantined them
so they do not infect others
And the villagers?
I fear many have already been infected
Cao Cao has stooped to evil tricks
This is psychological warfare
He's attacking our morale
How to dispose of the bodies?
These are the bodies of our enemies
Feed them to the fishes
No, we must lay them to rest
No burials
We must cremate them
I lift my drink and sing a song
For who knows if life be short or long
Man's life is but the morning dew
Past days many, future ones few
The melancholy my heart begets
Comes from cares I cannot forget
Who can unravel these woes of mine?
I know but one man... the God of Wine!
Disciples dressed in blue
My heart worries for you
You are the cause
Of this song without pause
Across the bank a deer bleats
in the wilds where it eats
Honored guests I salute
Strike the harp! Play the flute!
Bright is the moon's spark
Never ceasing, never dark
Thoughts of you from deep inside
Cannot settle, cannot subside
Stars around the moon are few
Southward the crows flew
Flying with no rest
Where shall they nest?
No mountain too steep
No ocean too deep
Sages rush when guests call
So at their feet...
the empire does fall!
Take your time. Careful, it's hot
More fall sick every day
You have enough medicine?
Cassia trees are scarce here
Our men will keep searching
Can cassia cure typhoid?
It will ease current symptoms
But a true cure requires other ingredients
Let me take a look
Hurry! Carry our men out!
Move it!
Stand up, let's go
Stop! What do you think you're doing?
What are you doing?
General, what are you doing?
These patients cannot be moved
Hurry! Put our men on the horses
Please, these men must not leave
They are still ill
You're leaving?
Viceroy, this epidemic is beyond our control
I have barely twenty thousand men
If this continues, I might lose everything
I must retreat and reformulate my strategy
You withdraw at a moment like this?
You proposed this alliance
Now with our lives at stake, you flee?
This is betrayal
You can't say that
We are men of our word
But look what has happened to our men
So our men count for nothing?
Selfishness Who is selfish?
Zhang Fei! General!
My Lord, the battle is set
How can you... Zhu-ge Liang
I have seen over a decade of defeat
I cannot endure another setback
Even soldiers must obey the law of survival
We must not lose our allies' trust
I know you feel strongly
But in chaotic times, you cannot live on justice alone
It's time I let others fight the tough battles
One day you will understand this
Liu Bei
It was an honor to fight alongside your men
We believed in the same goal
Achieving it will not be so easy after all
Take care
We shall meet again
Aren't you leaving?
A man must honor his promises
If I start something, I see it to the end
Anyone who talks like that is insane
Then we are all insane
Your Highness, tea is ready
Brother, scouts report
the typhoid was successful
The Southlands are in chaos
Good One more thing
Liu Bei has left with all his men
Good
Their alliance is broken
Excellent
Swift as the wind
Gentle as a forest
Fierce as fire
Firm as a mountain
If you hate war,
why can you quote "The Art of War"
To understand you,
I must sneak glances at your books
A thousand books cannot equal a cup of your tea
I'm happy so long as you enjoy it
I wish we could invite Cao Cao for tea
Forget the war and just enjoy the scenery
Wouldn't that be great?
I doubt he appreciates the art of tea
You wield your sword
like you know a way to beat Cao Cao
A way as mysterious as darkness
And as powerful as thunder
It is time for us to act
Greetings, Your Highness
How goes the naval training, Admirals?
Very well, Your Highness
We're using iron beams to join the fleet
Our men are Northerners and new to naval battle
Now our ships shall be stable as solid ground
Not even a storm will make our men seasick
Can they be separated? Of course
Men, separate the ships
Unlocking the iron beams separates the ships
The fleet will move into pincer formation
ready for battle
You truly are naval experts
to invent this tactic
Thank you, Your Highness
Jiang Gan At your service, Your Highness
You grew up with Zhou Yu, right?
Yes, we were childhood friends
Cross the river. Urge him to surrender
Surrender?
Zhou Yu's loyalty to Sun Quan runs deep
I'm afraid he won't...
The Southlands are falling apart
Liu Bei has fled
Now is the time to ask Zhou Yu to surrender
Yes, Your Highness
Piggy. Scared you didn't I?
These guys keep tailing me
How can I have any fun like this?
You're battalion commander
They have to follow you
Listen up! Everyone go practice Cuju
Yes, sir!
It worked!
Let's have some fun! Great
What should we play? Let's play...
Let's play Ride High
OK. Come on
You really are heavy
Your mother gave you the right nickname
This isn't high enough. Let's go up there
Watch your balance
Be careful
This high enough for you?
Yeah. Stay still
That itches ltches?
Here, let me scratch it
Much better
Turn left
What's so interesting there? It's just the fleet
Don't move
My Lord
Cao Cao has several hundred thousand soldiers
We have only thirty thousand
We are totally outnumbered
How can we fight like this?
This will decide the fate of the Southlands
We must fight even if we cannot win
How many arrows do we have?
Not even fifty thousand
Liu Bei took forty thousand when he fled
Without those arrows, we cannot fight
The arrows are my responsibility
As well they should be Your Lord took them
We need one hundred thousand arrows
You still think you can handle it?
Fine, if I cannot come up with one hundred thousand,
you may take my head
We only have food for ten days
I give you ten days' time
I don't need ten, just three
We soldiers do not joke
You said you'd eliminate Admirals Cai Mao and Zhang Yun
If not, then what?
You may have my head
By night, the Milky Way By day, snaking clouds
You were here all night
What are you up to?
See for yourself
Wind and water converge here
The feng shui is excellent
Glad you're relaxed
You are worrying me to death
The twenty ships with crew
you requested are ready
There's only one day left
Where are the arrows? You haven't made even one
You should be in a nervous sweat
My sweat is of no concern
But see if the tortoise is sweating
It is
As I predicted, fog is coming
What fog?
The only fog here is around my head
What is this plan of yours?
Nature's secrets cannot be revealed
Old cow plows the paddy's rows
Young calf munches on what grows
You really are something
Back then you were just a kid who loved to sing
Who'd have guessed that kid would be a Viceroy
Planting rice is the old man's chore
We were ten when you clubbed that bandit from behind
He spun around and somehow the club was in my hands
He gave me the beating of my life
In the sedan chair the young boy snores
To this day I still don't understand
how that club got into my hand
You're too slow
You remember that time
I wrote on the tutor's exam book in your handwriting
Senile idiot!
That's right!
He gave me twenty swats across my butt
Back in those days,
there was no prank we didn't pull
I can trick any man I meet
But with you, I always play the fool
Bring my sword!
Marvelous!
You are a fine sword dancer
Are you here as Cao Cao's emissary?
Me?
I can barely speak for myself
How could I speak for Cao Cao?
I'm not as clever as you
but I know what song you're singing
You do not give me enough credit
I'd never disrespect a talented Southerner
but to serve Cao Cao is wrong
You have your Lord and I have mine, but...
No matter
A few days from now
someone will lay Cao Cao's head at my feet
You believe me?
Yes, I do
Your Honor, urgent news!
Can't you see I have a guest?
I know we've no arrows
If Zhu-ge Liang fails to get more,
I'll have his head
Maybe our friends across the river can help
They have a more important mission
Admirals Cai Mao and Zhang Yun report
Cao Cao's head cannot be taken just yet
I fear...
Do not underestimate them
Here is their message
Excellent!
Mr. Jiang
What are you doing here alone?
Mrs. Zhou? Come sit inside
Xiao Qiao, bring more wine
Any more and you'll be drunk
Come on, we'll drink more upstairs
Drink more? Why end a good time?
I heard Cao Cao invaded the Southlands all for your wife
Is that so?
Cao Cao has a reputation for stealing men's wives
You're drunk More wine
More? Where?
We surrendered to Cao Cao
not for profit but out of desperation
We now have the Northerners entrapped in camp
Soon we will deliver his decap...
his decapitated head
Further reports to come
Admiral Cai Mao
What are you looking at?
Just one of my tricks
You do love to play tricks on me
I'll trick you again...
and again...
Not this time you won't
Scarecrow, you're more of a man than that fellow
That fellow doesn't tell me a thing
You're a better drinking buddy
Cheers!
Scarecrow
Why are we heading for the enemy camp?
You're not surrendering, are you?
The enemy! The enemy is approaching!
Separate ships
Send the left flank to intercept the enemy
Faster
Scarecrow, stop drumming
What if Cao Cao's men come for us?
They wouldn't dare
A heavy fog might hide an ambush
Oh, so you've decided to talk to me
Ready all archers
Shoot at first sight
Ready!
All ships line up!
This is a plot to turn us against each other
We're not fools
Would Zhou Yu use such an obvious trick?
Sometimes the simplest trick
is the best way to lead someone to their death
Shoot
Shoot!
Your Highness, whether this is a trick or not,
we should proceed with caution
What if their navy mutinies?
That would be a disaster
Shoot!
Besides the letter,
I heard them mention
friends here would get them arrows
Don't worry
Scarecrow will protect you
Cease drumming!
Call Admirals Cai Mao and Zhang Yun in for questioning
They are out training the fleet
If they are not here, then their handwriting is
Bring their letter of surrender
Ready, all ships about-face!
What?
Drum in unison
Give them a target to shoot
Aim for the drums
shoot
Drink up
Watch your seat
Fire at will!
The handwriting is a perfect match
and full of the same mistakes
This must be the work of Cai Mao
Shoot!
We return home victorious!
Cheers
Nothing but scared mice Return to your positions!
Thank you Prime Minister for your gift
Thank you...
Marvelous!
Mr. Zhu-ge! Look...
How did you know the fog was coming?
A clear Milky Way and snaking clouds
signal fog is near
If you know how earth, sky, yin and yang change,
then the sun, moon and starsi
the wind, forest, mountains and fire
become soldiers at your command
So you can read Mother Nature's moods, huh?
We lost one!
What a shame... Hey, come back!
A small victory hardly deserves such a reception
Your Highness A small victory?
How many men did the enemy send?
Fog covered the river. Impossible to see
If you could not see, how did you repel them?
Firing at will forced retreat
Firing at will? How many arrows is that?
About one hundred thousand
And why didn't you pursue them?
Fog meant possible ambush, Your Highness
So...
Again with the fog
Seems like you are hiding something in that fog
Look, a boat is floating this way
Pull it in...
Your Highness
Can't you tell a soldier from a scarecrow?
One hundred thousand arrows?
You're mighty generous
Please forgive me, Your Highness
I deserve death, Your Highness
Today it's arrows
Tomorrow it's my head, am I right?
Zhou Yu is turning us against each other
No spy is stupid enough to...
Silence!
I trust and honor talented men
But I abhor deceivers and traitors
Guards!
Your Highness, we have trained day and night
Take them away and behead them
We swear our loyalty to Your Highness
Didn't I surrender to a benevolent ruler?
We have trained night and day
Wait, Your Highness
If you kill them, who will lead the navy?
Halt!
Ninety-three thousand eight hundred
Ninety-four thousand
Ninety-four thousand two hundred
Ninety-four thousand six hundred
We'll shoot Cao Cao with his own arrows
This battle will be interesting
Concentrate! No mistakes
Wait
Don't interrupt
Two hundred per person There'll be no mistakes
Mr. Zhu-ge, what is this new invention?
A rapid-fire crossbow
It shoots ten arrows without reloading
Here, watch
Great
Ninety-nine thousand four hundred
Ninety-nine thousand six hundred
lmpressive!
You know a trifle about weapon design too
Knowing a trifle about everything gives life more color
Your Honor
Did he reach one hundred thousand?
The total is ninety-nine thousand six hundred
Now what?
Well...
Your Honor, it's only four hundred
Short one is still short
The law is firm as a mountain
That's right. So what does the law say?
The law prescribes beheading
Garbages!
What took you so long?
Hurry and bring them over
Thank god!
The total is one hundred thousand two hundred
Mr. Zhu-ge has completed his mission
Seems like my head is safe where it is
How about yours?
You want my head?
Mr. Zhu-ge. We're just joking
When I lost, was he joking?
Of course not
Looks like you haven't lost after all
Cao Cao has executed Admirals Cai Mao and Zhang Yun
I think we've been duped
Steal the enemy's weapons then destroy their moral
Your strategies worked together brilliantly
Cao Cao must be going crazy right about now
In two or three days, he will try something desperate
But this will not be good for Jiang Gan
I've lost an old friend
Honored guests
Zhou Yu is just showing off his cleverness
He undoubtedly thinks I have gone crazy
Tell me, do I look crazy?
Not at all...
Come, let us root out the traitor
then we can sleep easy. Cheers!
Jiang Gan Yes
Today you were of great service
Please drink
Thank you, Your Highness
Sir!
Sir! Are you...
Your stupidity was trivial
But you brought your stupidity upon me
Hear this!
In two days, our army shall cross the river
and take Red Cliff!
Yes, Your Highness!
All hear this! In two days the army will cross the river
What's going on here?
There's a spy! Catch the spy!
Halt!
Don't let him escape!
Grab him!
Piggy, why do they want to hurt you?
It's a misunderstanding A misunderstanding?
What's going on?
He's a spy
Nonsense, he is my friend
Friend? Are you stupid?
Come on, they're beating up the commander
A fight!
Pit
Piggy, are you all right?
I have to go
Piggy
Where are you going?
My mother is sick. I must go home
That's very kind of you to visit her
You should go home too
No, I'll return after the war
Fighting means no taxes
That means more food on the table
Hurry, go visit your mother
I will come back to see you
Ride high
Don't let him escape!
He's just going to see his mother
In eighteen years of battle,
I have never lost
If I fail to capture this tiny cliff,
I shudder to think what historians will say
Yes
Your Highness
How are things?
Worse than expected
The disease's spread has not slowed
At this rate,
it will take a month to control
I respectfully request you delay the assault
Stop! Lie still
Your Highness Sit up
You are ill and must recuperate
Man Tun, how can you be ill?
You were always in perfect health
What is on your mind?
Go ahead
I want to go home
I too have not been home for a long time
I want to see my youngest son
He is only thirteen
Younger than you even
He is kind-hearted and bright
He has been frail since birth and is often sick
Yet in front of me,
he pretends everything is fine
Whatever the illness, he endures
He never complains to me
I swore at the start of this war
to cleanse the world of warlords
We must seize Red Cliff and storm the capital
Then bring the mud of this land back home
and tell our families we were victorious
We were victorious!
So you all must be strong
as must I
because I must bring you back home
Victory...
Greetings everyone
Sorry for the wait
We're glad you're back safe
Did you have any problems?
No. I just fell into the mud
jumping the stockade
Shang Xiang
You're always causing trouble
Where have you been?
They are ready to attack
Shang Xiang
You're back
Xiao Qiao
Shang Xiang?
Xiao Qiao
please help me pull this Go ahead, pull it
This is a map of Cao Cao's camp
This tower here
is Cao Cao's headquarters
Their best troops guard it
The barracks are here
East and west are well-defended
The rear hill is weakest
It's like a tiger that stares ahead
but forgets its tail
The navy is here Put this on
You'll catch a chill I'm not cold
A third of their forces
are onboard ready for assault
Warships lead the smaller boats
Transport ships are in the middle
This is an interlocked naval formation
I'm fine
Every ship is ready for attack or defense
I was wrong to scold you
If you were Zhou Yu,
how would you attack?
He only has enough men for one assault
an all-out attack on our fleet
They will want to attack with fire
Fire? I doubt it
Without manpower, they need strength
Where can they get it? Fire of course
This is a standard rule of war
Too bad it won't work
A northwest wind is blowing
If they attack our fleet with fire,
they will be fighting the wind and burn themselves
We are the ones who should use fire
Yes, load the ships with brimstone
Tomorrow, we shall burn Red Cliff to the ground!
The map shows
Cao Cao's army has finished deployment
Tonight may be the decisive battle
This is a fight to the death
Win or lose, we must fight with everything we have
Shang Xiang
What are these lines between the ships?
It sounds funny
They've locked their boats together
to stabilize the fleet
so the Northerners won't get seasick
Enough talk. What is your strategy?
Cao Cao made camp in a bad location
It is hook-shaped
This makes return difficult
If their assault fails, they cannot fall back
We should use fire
The terrain is in our favor
If we can burn the fleet's vanguard,
they will be trapped and vulnerable
Yes, a fire attack!
Just give me ten fire ships
Two will hit their left and right flanks
The remaining eight will ram the center
We'll burn an opening here!
Next, you follow closely and rush in
No matter how great their numbers,
we will crush them
If only we still had Liu Bei's cavalry,
then we could attack their camp at the rear
Then victory would be assured
This wind is to Cao Cao's advantage
A northwest wind is blowing
Sailing into the wind will burn our own fleet
Cao Cao knows the wind is on his side
He will also think of using fire
Why are you so quiet?
What are you looking at?
Look, those dark clouds in the east
are enshrouding the sun
Isn't that rather unusual?
Zhu-ge Liang, what does that mean?
The winds will change
I know from farming
If during a warm winter clouds enshroud the sun,
then along the Yangtze River
an unseasonal wind will blow
What do you mean unseasonal?
A warm southeast wind
It blows from southeast to northwest
What if Cao Cao knows this too?
Only Admiral Cai Mao would know and he is dead
Zhu-ge Liang
Can you predict when it will change?
Tonight or tomorrow morning
History shows the timing of weather is key
He who can predict it will win
We must delay his attack
Only then will we have a chance at victory
Greetings, General
Terrific, just terrific This fish oil is perfect!
Bigger Yes, General!
No good. Bigger!
Yes, General
No good. Bigger!
Just how big do you want it?
Go
That's about right
Yes! This is it!
See how strong this northwest wind is?
It will never shift
We'll never get near their navy
Your Honor, I can fake a defection
Invent some excuse
to punish me with fifty lashes
I'll fake a surrender in anger
That way Cao Cao is sure to believe me
Then I can sail my fire ships in range
How can you fight after such a beating?
I could never treat a general that way
Do not lose heart
The east wind will come
Your Honor...
Terrible news...
Our Lady has disappeared!
My dear husband, by the time you read this,
I will be on the way to Cao Cao's camp
I will be cautious
and only act when the moment is right
Yet I hope the east wind will come early
Where there is faith, there is hope
The clear waters of the Yangtze
the emerald leaves of the mountains
the birds returning to nest
the fisherman singing his evening song
This is our home,
our beautiful native land
Our people gladly give their lives for her sake
I cannot stand idly by