Red Cliff 2009

As the seasons waned in the year 208 AD, a staggering 100,000 peasants joined forces with their revered leader Liu Bei, fleeing the relentless onslaught of Cao Cao’s million-strong army. This desperate exodus was ably aided by a trio of valorous heroes: Zhao Yun, whose exploits would soon be immortalized on the silver screen; Zhang Fei, a warrior of unwavering loyalty; and the enigmatic Guan Yu, a paragon of martial prowess. Together, they embarked upon a perilous journey across the mighty Yangtze River, seeking refuge beneath the benevolent leadership of Sun Quan, sovereign of southern China.

Meanwhile, as Cao Cao readied his formidable naval force to launch a devastating assault on the south and crush both Liu Bei’s and Sun Quan’s armies, an elite group of strategists converged to devise a daring plan. The cerebral duo of Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu, renowned for their unparalleled brilliance, endeavored to vanquish Cao Cao’s 10,000-strong armada by igniting the very rivers themselves with fire. However, this audacious scheme required an initial deception: luring Cao Cao into chaining his ships together, a ploy that would ultimately prove crucial in determining the outcome of the battle.

As Liu Bei’s and Sun Quan’s forces remained embroiled in their own fraternal rivalry, Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu worked tirelessly to realize their masterful strategy. They knew that time was of the essence, for Cao Cao’s naval preparations were nearing completion. It was imperative that they hatch their legendary schemes before the enemy was ready to strike.

Inspired by the timeless classic “Romance of Three Kingdoms,” a beloved tale cherished by over one billion Chinese readers and the most revered novel in Asia, this cinematic adaptation draws its inspiration from the annals of history. Director John Woo, renowned for his visceral action sequences, has opted to base his vision on the historical chronicle “Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms” rather than the celebrated novel. As such, traditionally reviled characters like Cao Cao and Zhou Yu will be treated with a degree of historical accuracy in the film.

Upon its theatrical release, the two-part epic will unfold as one cohesive narrative, replete with breathtaking action sequences and memorable characters.

Part 1: In the sweltering summer of AD 208, the Eastern Han Dynasty’s imperial army, led by the cunning Chancellor (or Prime Minister) Cao Cao, embarks on a campaign to vanquish the rebellious warlords Sun Quan and Liu Bei, with the reluctant blessing of the Emperor. Cao Cao’s formidable legion swiftly conquers the southern province of Jingzhou, setting the stage for the apocalyptic Battle of Changban. The clash begins when Cao Cao’s cavalry unit launches a surprise attack on civilians fleeing the chaos led by Liu Bei, prompting his sworn brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to unleash their legendary combat prowess and valiantly hold off the enemy while buying precious time for the refugees to escape. Meanwhile, Zhao Yun bravely fights to rescue Liu Bei’s trapped family, ultimately managing to save only his infant son from certain doom. In the aftermath of the battle, Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei’s chief strategist, sets out on a diplomatic mission to forge an alliance with Sun Quan against the common enemy, Cao Cao. Initially torn between surrender and resistance, Sun Quan is eventually persuaded by Zhuge Liang’s cunning diplomacy and the thrill of a tiger hunt with his Grand Viceroy Zhou Yu and sister Sun Shangxiang. As tensions escalate, naval commanders Cai Mao and Zhang Yun from Jingzhou pledge their allegiance to Cao Cao and are warmly received by him, who appoints them to lead his navy. With the hastily formed alliance in place, the combined forces of Liu Bei and Sun Quan convene to devise a plan to counter Cao Cao’s relentless advance towards Red Cliff, which is unfolding with terrifying speed from both land and water. The battle commences as Sun Shangxiang leads a light cavalry unit into the Eight Trigrams Formation laid down by the allied forces, expertly luring Cao Cao’s vanguard army into a trap. Despite their victory, Cao Cao remains unfazed and proceeds to lead his main army to the riverbank directly opposite the allies’ main camp, where they prepare for battle. As the allies celebrate their triumph with a banquet, Zhuge Liang conceives a plan to infiltrate Cao Cao’s camp by dispatching Sun Shangxiang as a spy, maintaining contact through coded messages transmitted via pigeons. The film concludes with Zhou Yu setting ablaze his miniature warships on a map, symbolizing the beginning of his elaborate strategy to vanquish Cao Cao’s navy.

As Sun Shangxiang (character name) expertly infiltrates Cao Cao’s camp, she meticulously notes crucial details and dispatches them via pigeon to Zhuge Liang, sowing the seeds of strategic insight. Meanwhile, a devastating outbreak of typhoid fever ravages Cao Cao’s army, claiming numerous lives. With calculating cunning, Cao Cao orders the corpses to be delivered to the allied forces, hoping to spread the plague and weaken his enemies. The unsuspecting soldiers at the allied camp unwittingly allow the disease to take hold, sapping morale and prompting Liu Bei (character name) to reluctantly depart with his forces, leaving Zhuge Liang behind to aid the embattled Eastern Wu forces. Cao Cao’s jubilation is palpable as he learns of the alliance’s collapse.

In a bold move, naval commanders Cai Mao and Zhang Yun propose an innovative tactic: linking battleships together using iron beams to minimize rocking on the river and alleviate seasickness among troops. As Liu Bei departs, the Eastern Wu forces watch with concern from left to right: Zhou Yu (Tony Leung), Sun Quan (Chang Chen), and Lu Su (Hou Yong). Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu then concoct a plan to eliminate Cao Cao’s naval commanders, vowing that any failure will be met with execution under military law. Zhuge Liang’s ingenious strategy of borrowing arrows using straw boats yields over 100,000 arrows from the enemy, piquing Cao Cao’s suspicions about the loyalty of Cai and Zhang.

In a separate development, Cao Cao dispatches Jiang Gan to persuade Zhou Yu to surrender, but the cunning strategist instead tricks Jiang Gan into believing that Cai Mao and Zhang Yun are plotting to assassinate their lord. Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu’s plans harmonize when Cao Cao becomes convinced that Cai and Zhang were indeed planning to eliminate him, having initially doubted Jiang Gan’s report. The naval commanders’ execution follows, a dire consequence of Cao Cao’s misplaced trust. In the aftermath, Cao Cao realizes his mistake, but it is too late to rectify the situation.

As Sun Shangxiang (Sun Shangxiang) returns to the Eastern Wu camp, bearing the precious map of Cao Cao’s naval formation, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang ponder their next move. Recognizing a unique climatic window known only to their forces - the impending South-East Wind - they plot to exploit this advantage by launching a devastating fire attack on Cao Cao’s fleet. Huang Gai suggests an audacious ruse, the Self-Torture Ruse, designed to maximize their chances of success, but Zhou Yu declines his counsel. As preparations for the assault unfold, the Eastern Wu forces take a moment to revel in camaraderie, indulging in a festive feast of glutinous rice balls amidst the Winter Festival celebrations. Meanwhile, Xiao Qiao, Zhou Yu’s wife, embarks on a perilous solo mission to Cao Cao’s camp, driven by a desperate hope to dissuade him from his destructive ambitions, though ultimately failing and opting instead to distract him, buying precious time for her husband’s forces. As the fateful night wears on, the South-East Wind begins to howl, and the Eastern Wu army launches its full-scale assault on Cao Cao’s naval stronghold. Simultaneously, Liu Bei’s forces, which had seemingly abandoned the alliance, launch a surprise attack on Cao Cao’s land-based forts. By dawn, Cao Cao’s entire fleet lies in ruin. The allied forces regroup to launch a second offensive against Cao Cao’s ground army, employing the testudo formation with bravery and sacrifice, ultimately breaching the enemy lines despite heavy losses. As the battle rages on, Cao Cao finds himself besieged in his main camp, only to be caught off guard and taken hostage by Zhou Yu, along with Cao Hong. The situation becomes even more precarious when Xiahou Jun appears, holding Xiao Qiao captive and sowing doubt among their forces. In a thrilling turn of events, Zhao Yun stages a daring rescue, liberating Xiao Qiao and reversing the dynamics, leaving Cao Cao at the mercy of his former allies. Ultimately, the allied forces decide to spare Cao Cao’s life, warning him never to return before departing for home. As the dust settles, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang share a poignant farewell, as the latter disappears into the distance with the newborn foal Mengmeng.