After Zhuge Liang moves heaven and earth, Zhou Yu and Liu Bei move their troops into position for the coming battle.

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Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast. This is episode 60.

Last time, a banner fluttering in the wind grazed Zhou Yu’s face, and next thing you know, he was spitting up blood and passing out. None of his men knew what was wrong with him, but Zhuge Liang boasted that he could cure Zhou Yu. So he went to the commander’s tent to pay him a visit.

“I haven’t seen you in a while, but I never imagined your precious health would be failing,” Zhuge Liang said.

“A man’s luck can change in the course of a day. Who can foretell what will happen?” Zhou Yu lamented.

“Yes, just as the weather can change when least expected. You can never tell,” Zhuge Liang said with a smile.

Hmm, funny Zhuge Liang should put it that way. When he heard those words, Zhou Yu’s face lost its color and he moaned.

“Commander, do you feel vexation gathering inside you?” Zhuge Liang asked.

“Yes.”

“You must take a cooling tonic for it.”

“I have already taken it, but it did nothing.”

“You must first regulate your vital ethers,” Zhuge Liang said. “When the vital ethers are flowing smoothly and in the right direction, then your health will naturally be restored in a matter of moments.”

Hmm … flowing in the right direction, eh? Zhou Yu was beginning to get the sense that Zhuge Liang knew what was eating at him, so he tried to steer the conversation that way.

“What medicine would you recommend to get the vital ethers flowing in the proper direction?”

“I have a prescription that will take care of it,” Zhuge Liang said with a smile.

“Please do tell.”

 

Zhuge Liang asked for brush and paper and dismissed everyone else. He then wrote 16 words for Zhou Yu’s eyes only. He then handed it to Zhou Yu and said, “This is the cause of your illness.”

Zhou Yu took a look and was astonished. The paper read:

 

To break Cao Cao,

With fire we attack.

All is ready, save

Southeast wind we lack!

 

So do you remember what Cao Cao had said in the last episode about a fire attack? This was the height of winter, and all the winds that were blowing across the river were coming from the northwest. If Zhou Yu tried to start a fire in these conditions, the flames would turn back on his own fleet instead, turning all his carefully laid plans into a disaster.

“Zhuge Liang is incredible indeed!” Zhou Yu thought to himself with amazement. “He already knew what’s on my mind. I might as well come clean.”

So he smiled and said, “Sir, since you already know the cause of my illness, what is  your prescription? The situation is urgent. I pray you will enlighten me.”

“Although I am untalented,” Zhuge Liang replied, “I once met an extraordinary man who passed on to me occult texts for reading the numerology of the heavens. This method can be used to summon wind and rain. When you wish to have southeastern wind, build an altar on the Southern Screen Hills and call it the Altar of the Seven Stars. It should be nine spans tall, with three levels. Have 120 men carry flags and surround the altar. I shall ascend the altar and invoke magic to borrow a...