Who moved the realm onto a wine table, and bade men gamble away every blade?
See chopstick formations sweep armies across, banners still wheeling; sheer cliffs array their garrisons, cup-mountains link their camps.
Casually cast the Three Passes as hollow ramparts; at one command, every peak thundered.
Where he cast his line, he baited twin hooks, fishing for dragons and whales!
Night winds rose, mountains and rivers moved; candle shadows slanted, the river gorge shone.
Who sat with folded hands and stunned the entire hall?
Only then did they know Zhou Yu was ever young; ten thousand miles of Heaven and Earth weighed little between his fingers.
With victory won, he disdained to speak of Sun Wu's stratagems; half-drunk, he cherished Zu Ti's name instead.
In his wild exuberance, he laughed at six armies beating their drums-nothing but strings resounding.
After a long silence, everyone began whispering.
"The Huainanzi says: 'The art of war illuminates the calculations of victory and conquest, the momentum of formations and opportunities, and the transformations of deception.' Today, I finally understood it."
"This man has the makings of a commander. Even without taking the field, he could preside over strategy within the command tent. The Langya Wang clan's depths are truly unfathomable."
"Though Langya has worn the cap and tassels of high office for generations, few have studied military strategy. This man has mastered the classics to profound depths, yet also understands military planning and stratagems, devising victory from within the command tent. Among his peers, he likely has few equals. Had he assisted Wang Yi, Wang Yi would not have fallen so easily."
The Prince of Badong, meanwhile, burst into delighted laughter:
"Hahahahaha! Wang Yang! That move of yours really had a touch of Han Xin!"
Wang Yang lowered his eyes and bowed