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Battle of Red Cliffs
The setting
Red Cliffs (Chibi) along the Yangtze River, south of the Han River mouth, China
River and marshland; naval engagement on the Yangtze
Reveal the outcome
Recorded sideSun-Liu southern alliance
Recorded resultDecisive victory
Decisive victory for the Sun Quan-Liu Bei alliance; Cao Cao's fleet was burned and he retreated north.
How the atlas explains it
Huang Gai's feigned-surrender fire-ship attack exploited the river and wind to ignite Cao Cao's chained vessels, while an epidemic and unfamiliarity with naval warfare had already gutted his larger northern army.
What followed
Halted Cao Cao's bid to unify China and effectively set the stage for the tripartite division of the Three Kingdoms.