Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Zhou Yu smiled confidently and said, "Don't worry, brother. Bofu has trained his troops well, and his naval forces are quite impressive. After this period of training, the soldiers' naval warfare skills and coordinated combat capabilities have greatly improved. In addition, generals like Huang Gai and Zu Mao are very experienced and will definitely be able to lend us a helping hand."

Zhou Yu's expression lit up as he added enthusiastically, "Brother, you may not know this, but Chief Shamoke heard we were going to face Yuan Shu in a naval battle, so he specially led the Shanyue tribe to come to our aid. These Shanyue warriors have lived in the mountains, forests, and marshes for a long time, and they are excellent swimmers, possessing unique skills in water combat."

As he spoke, he gestured with his hands, his eyes full of anticipation. "The space on a warship is narrow, and long weapons are inconvenient to use in close combat. The Shanyue people are skilled in using short axes and short blades. These short, powerful weapons are perfect for close combat. They are nimble and can walk on the swaying warships as if on flat ground. They can quickly shuttle through the enemy formation and strike unexpectedly. With their joining, the strength of our navy will be greatly increased. It will undoubtedly add wings to a tiger. Yuan Shu will have no way to escape this time!"

Xu Shu also said, "It seems this plan is feasible. However, we still need to discuss the details with Brother Bofu in advance to ensure that we can coordinate with each other and make sure everything goes well."

Lu Su also echoed: "Yes, we must also be wary of Yuan Shu's other conspiracies and tricks. We must be prepared for all kinds of countermeasures."

Zhou Yu's words, like a stone dropped into a lake, instantly stirred Ma Chao's thoughts. Recalling that when he left, his wife, Sally, and the wives of the guards were all pregnant, he knew they must have given birth by now. Ma Chao's eyes brimmed with anticipation, and he eagerly asked, "Gongjin, did Shamoke mention anything about his family back in the camp?"

Zhou Yu's lips curled up in a meaningful smile, and he deliberately kept everyone in suspense. "Brother, you finally thought of asking this. I have a great story to share with you." He paused briefly, whetting everyone's appetite before continuing, "Shamoke came to tell us that his sister-in-law, Sally, has given birth to a son. Congratulations, brother, you're now a father!"

When the news came out, Ma Chao was stunned at first, then his eyes reddened and his face blossomed with unprecedented joy. His voice trembled with excitement: "Really? I'm a father!"

Pan Feng, Wu Anguo, and their personal guards were already filled with curiosity, and now they couldn't contain their curiosity anymore. They all shouted at once, "General Zhou, what about us? How are our wives and children?"

Zhou Yu looked at the anxious faces of the people and could not help but smile. He announced loudly: "Don't worry, everyone. Your wives have all given birth successfully. You have all fulfilled your wishes and become fathers!"

Instantly, a deafening roar of joy erupted from the tent. Everyone's faces flushed red at the sudden surge of joy, and the laughter and cheers mingled, echoing for a long time. Pan Feng leaped to his feet in excitement, waving his arms vigorously; Wu Anguo smiled innocently, tears glistening in his eyes.

Xu Shu and Lu Su also stepped forward, bowing and offering congratulations. Xu Shu smiled and said, "Congratulations, lord! The birth of your son is a great joy, and a blessing for our army!" Lu Su's face was even more beaming, and he said loudly, "Today's good news will surely boost the morale of our army. After we defeat Yuan Shu, we will return together to reunite with our families!"

Ma Chao looked around at his brothers who had fought alongside him, feeling a surge of joy and warmth, his heart filled with emotion. He knew this joy belonged not only to him but to everyone present. Amidst the arduous battle, this joyful news from their families was undoubtedly the most precious gift, giving them endless strength and courage to face the challenges ahead.

Zhou Yu nodded and said, "Brother, everything is settled. I will discuss the specific battle plan with Bo Fu as soon as possible. At the same time, we will also strengthen intelligence gathering and closely monitor Yuan Shu's every move to prevent any other mishaps."

When Ma Chao heard Zhou Yu say he was leaving, his eyes instantly reddened, his face filled with reluctance. Zhou Yu had come all this way, barely catching his breath, just to help them out of this predicament, offer a strategy to defeat the enemy, and soothe their panicked hearts. Furthermore, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were now traveling extensively to defeat Yuan Shu, all to help him. Ma Chao was deeply moved, his eyes welling up as he clutched Zhou Yu's hand tightly, saying earnestly, "Gongjin, you've only just arrived. How can you leave so hastily? You must stay longer."

Zhou Yu smiled helplessly, his eyes filled with determination. "Brother, I'd love to spend more time with you, but speed is of the essence in war. The war is urgent now, and every minute and every second is crucial. I must return as soon as possible to reunite with Bo Fu and plan the next move."

Seeing Zhou Yu's determination to leave, everyone tried to persuade him to stay, offering sincere and heartfelt words. Zhou Yu could not refuse the offer, so he agreed: "Then I will bother you, brother, to have this feast here. I will leave early tomorrow morning."

That night, a banquet was held in the tent, and everyone was toasting each other, the atmosphere was lively. However, Ma Chao still had a trace of melancholy in his heart. He toasted Zhou Yu frequently, and his thousands of words were expressed in each cup of wine.

The next morning, before daybreak, Zhou Yu rose and prepared to set out. Ma Chao and his companions escorted him outside the camp and watched him mount his horse, their hearts filled with worry and concern.

"Gongjin, take care on your journey!" Ma Chao warned loudly.

"Don't worry, brother. We will get together again after we defeat Yuan Shu!" Zhou Yu responded with a wave of his whip, and then he spurred his horse and disappeared from everyone's sight.

Ma Chao and the others stood for a long time, gazing at Zhou Yu's departure. Only when Zhou Yu was completely out of sight did they finally settle down and return to their camp at Baishan. They worked together to fortify the camp and gather supplies, waiting for the moment Yuan Shu would dig up the Gan River. A thrilling decisive battle was about to begin, and they were ready to face the challenge of fate.

Ever since Yuan Shu and Yang Hong hatched their diabolical plan to dig up the Gan River and drown Ma Chao, they'd become obsessed with their nefarious scheme, completely absorbed in it. Every day, Yuan Shu would rise before dawn, anxiously inquiring about the latest water levels in the Gan River. He would repeatedly dispatch personnel to investigate the progress of dikes in surrounding counties, meticulously tracking down every detail.

The counselor Yan Xiang stood aside, his heart full of worries. Looking at the surging Ganjiang River, he wanted to say something several times but stopped himself. Finally, he could not help but advise Yuan Shu: "My lord, although this plan is brilliant, once the dike breaks, the surrounding people will be devastated. It is better to notify the people to evacuate in advance to avoid innocent casualties." When Yuan Shu heard this, his brows instantly twisted into the shape of a "chuan" character, and his face was so gloomy that it seemed as if water could drip out. He glared and scolded: "What do you know! Notifying the people to evacuate will inevitably alert the enemy and let Ma Chao realize our plan. Wouldn't all the previous plans be in vain?" Yan Xiang wanted to persuade him again, but was interrupted by Yuan Shu's impatient wave of his hand. He could only retreat helplessly and sighed secretly.

From then on, Yuan Shu eagerly awaited the scouts' reports daily. Every time one arrived, he rushed forward to inquire about their progress. Upon learning that Ma Chao and his men were still hunkered down on Baishan Mountain, oblivious to the impending disaster, Yuan Shu couldn't help but smile with utter smugness, a smile filled with arrogance and self-importance, as if he had already witnessed Ma Chao and his men struggling and crying for help in the flood. He secretly calculated that if he could strangle Ma Chao at Baishan Mountain, this major concern would be completely eliminated. With only Sun Ce and Zhou Yu remaining, he felt more confident in surviving the current crisis.

Despite suffering several defeats at the hands of Sun Ce, Yuan Shu's inherent arrogance and underestimation of the enemy led him to disregard Sun Ce. He often boasted to the crowd, "Ji Ling, with only half his troops, successfully repelled Sun Ce's attacks, and Zhang Ying held out in Jiujiang Commandery for nearly a year. This proves that Sun Ce and Zhou Yu are nothing special and need not be feared." He was oblivious to the fact that Zhou Yu's seemingly slow progress stemmed from the fact that Wu Commandery had just been pacified, leaving him with a precarious position and severely under-strength troops. Furthermore, he was also training new recruits while fighting. Sun Ce, on the other hand, was preoccupied with building up his naval forces. These factors, which he overlooked, gave him the false impression that Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were vulnerable. This blind arrogance is often fatal, and he might soon pay a heavy price for his underestimation.

As time passed, the water level of the Gan River continued to rise amid the anxious anticipation of Yuan Shu and his companions. The murky waters surged and raged like a surging beast. The trees along the shore were half submerged, leaving only bare branches swaying and struggling on the surface. Seeing the opportunity ripe, Yuan Shu's face flushed with excitement. He felt that success was only one step away, and he couldn't wait to put his self-proclaimed plan into action.

He urgently summoned his generals and deployed them in the tent. He slammed the table and barked an order: "Lei Bo, I command you to lead three thousand elite soldiers, equipped with sophisticated digging tools, to the weakest point of the dam. You will be responsible for digging it open. Remember, move quickly and make sure it breaks with one strike!" Lei Bo accepted the order with a stern expression. He clasped his fists and replied, "I will fulfill this mission!"

Then, Yuan Shu looked at Chen Lan with a fierce look in his eyes: "Li Feng, you take two thousand troops and set up a defense line around the dam to prevent enemy troops or civilians from interfering and destroying it. Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!" After Chen Lan received the order, a trace of hesitation flashed across his face, but he gritted his teeth and agreed, then stepped aside.

Afterwards, Yuan Shu turned to Le Ju and said, "Le Ju, you lead a thousand archers and wait on the high ground a little away from the dam. Once the dam is dug, shoot arrows at Ma Chao's army that may flee. Never let them have a chance to escape!" Le Ju took the order and left, but he could not hide the tension in his eyes.

With everything arranged, Yuan Shu personally led the rest of his elite troops to the rear, poised to reap the spoils. When Lei Bo's troops reached the dike, they immediately began frantically digging. Shovelful after shovelful, the dike gradually gave way. With a resounding boom, a gaping hole was finally breached, and the river water surged out like a wild horse, galloping towards Baishan. Instantly, the flood was overwhelming, leaving everything in its path a vast expanse. Villages and fields were instantly submerged, and the cries of crying and the neighing of livestock mingled in a terrifying cacophony.