Cao Cao’s troops retreat to Jingzhou. From there the troops move to the Red Cliff. The army stretches over more than three hundred li, with troops moving both on land and water. Their goal is to get control of the land east of Yangzi river, the Southland. Sun Quan sends Lu Su to Wuchang in the name of paying condolences in connection with Liu Biao’s death. However, the real mission is to visit Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang to inquire about Cao Cao’s military strength. Zhuge Liang makes the arrangements to receive Lu Su.
曹操兵退荊州，然後由荊出兵到赤壁，水陸聯營三百餘裏，欲取江東。孫權命魯肅到武昌，以吊劉表之喪爲名，實是訪劉備、諸葛亮，探聽曹兵虛實。諸葛亮佈置一切，接待魯肅。