Zhuge Liang examines Zhou Yu, and writes a medical prescription with sixteen characters: “To defeat Cao Cao an east wind is necessary; now everything is set, only the east wind is lacking.” Zhou Yu is struck with surprise. He throws himself down on his knees and begs Zhuge Liang to come up with a plan for him. Zhuge Liang promises Zhou Yu that he will raise a south-easterly gale to blow for three days and three nights, in order to help him wipe out Cao Cao.
周瑜開兵殺奔江北，曹操迎戰而敗。命開兩排大連環船出水寨，打接應。吳兵詐敗，說太行山出來了，曹操大喜命把水師船隻全部釘成連環船。周瑜到南屏山頂觀看連環船開操，一連看了三日，猛然一聲“啊呀”口吐鮮血，栽倒在南屏山上。魯肅請軍醫醫治，周瑜將藥方撕去，魯肅命人到柴桑請名醫替周瑜治病。魯肅到諸葛亮小船一談，諸葛亮自稱自己會看病，魯肅大喜，請諸葛亮進營替周瑜治病。