In 208, Zhou Yu and Liu Bei led their forces to fight Cao Cao. Cao Cao led a force of 300,000 to attack Wu. Zhou Yu led the Wu forces (30,000) with Liu Bei's forces (20,000).
Cao Cao had previously linked his ships together becausee his men were mainly composed of Northerners who were not accustomed to fighting on water; they were also sick after an epidemic.
In the mean time, Huang Gai faked himself a turncoat, seeking giving top secret of Wu's army to Cao Cao. At the night of the battle, Huang Gai fabricated his escape from the South side of the Chang Jiang where Wu's camp is to the North side where Wei's base is. Near the Northern bank, Huang Gai set his tail boat on fire. The Cao Cao's armarda, connected together, was caught fired in the bay and nearly totally destroyed.
Zhou Yu, at this time, sent his whole army against Cao Cao's army which lost all its morale. Cao Cao decided it would be best to retreat.
The result of the Battle of Red Cliff greatly hindered Cao Cao's expension across Chang Jiang into the Southern China.