NARRATIVE TEXT

BATTLE OF YI LING

After several campaigns to the north,Liu Bei finally regained Han Zhong,and in 219 AD,gave himself the legendary title of king of Han Zhong.As if on cue,Guan Yu,who had been protecting Jing,began to mobilize his troops noth for an attack on Fan Castle,protected by Wei officer,Cao Ren.

Guan Yu used a flood attack against Fan Castle,and proved more than a match for the Wei defense force.At the same time,however,Wu army Commander,Lu Meng was waiting for an opportunity to take back Jing.Lu Meng also enlisted the aid of the little known but extremely cunning Lu Xun,who Lu Meng later named as his successor.

Lu Meng’s prediction that Guan Yu would leave Jing vulnerable to attack from behind came true.Lu Meng immediately advanced into Jing,coordinating efforts with the Wei Forces to attack Guan Yu from the front and rear.Guan Yu was forced to retreat to Mai Castle,where he was eventually captured.

Guan Yu scoffed at the notion of serving Sun Quan,and was executed.Lu Meng would also die mysteriously soon there after.Guan Yu’s head was send to Cao Cao,who gave him a hero’s funeral.It would not be long after that Cao Cao himself succumbed to illness and passed on.

In 220 AD,Cao Cao’s successor Cao Pi declare himself Emperor and founded the Wei Dynasty.A year afterwards,Liu Bei also declared himself  the rightful successor to the Han Throne,andfounded the Shu Han Dynasty.He then sought revenge for Guan Yu’s death ny ordering an invasion of Wu.

Liu Bei’s rage could not be contained by even his most trusted officers.Zhang Fei,also a sworn brother to Guan Yu,was equally furious.However,for Zhang Fei,this would lead to his downfall,as his troops began to scorn him,and one day assasinated him in his sleep.

Even with both brothers gone,Liu Bei’s resolve did not falter.All peace offers from Sun Quan were rejected outright.Given little choice,Sun Quan finnaly decided to ally with Wei instead.Liu Bei personally led his troops out of Cheng Du,and so began the bitter battle between Shu and Wu.

In the battlefield,Sun Quan placed Lu Xun in charge of the Wu Forces,and prepared for Liu Bei’s assault .Meanwhile,the highly motivated Shu Army advanced far as Yi Ling,but Lu Xun did not make his move.

Having marched  a long way,the Shu Army began to show signs of fatigue,which was exactly what Lu Xun was waiting for.In 222 AD,Lu Xun initiated his first offensive,beggining with a large scale fire attack.With their morale all but gone to begin with,the Shu Army crumbled before the attack.

Liu Bei escaped into Bai Di Castle,and after leaving the fate of Shu in the hands of Zhuge Liang,he passed away in 223 AD.The following month,Liu Chen succeeded his father as Shu Han Emperor,and relations between Wu and Wei began to sour once more.A time of renewal had arrived for the Three Kingdoms.

Picture Source : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXd17F0n91c

Story Source   : Dynasty Warriors 6 Encyclopedia