Watch online: Red Cliff: The Battle for China - 1024 resolution, "Red Cliff: The Battle for China" BD with Chinese and English subtitles - Series finished - Science and Education Video Center

The story takes place in the thirteenth year of Jian'an during the late Eastern Han Dynasty (208 AD), exactly 1,800 years ago. Though Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, was officially on the throne at the time, it was Prime Minister Cao Cao who truly held the reins of power. He coerced Emperor Xian into declaring war on the southern forces of Liu Bei and Sun Quan. Cao Cao claimed that his goal in eliminating Sun Quan and Liu Bei was to unify the land under the Han dynasty, but in reality, he sought to overthrow Emperor Xian and establish himself as emperor. Leading nearly a million troops southward, Cao Cao's first target was Liu Bei's army stationed in Xinye.

Upon arriving at Xinye, Cao Cao’s overwhelming force swiftly defeated Liu Bei’s army, forcing Liu Bei to flee from Xinye. Generals Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stayed behind to protect the retreating civilians. Meanwhile, General Zhao Yun single-handedly fought through Cao Cao's encampment while carrying Liu Bei's infant son, A Dou, slaying countless enemies before breaking free.

By this point, Liu Bei's defeated forces had retreated to Xiakou, separated from Cao Cao's army only by the Yangtze River. Liu Bei realized that relying solely on the natural barrier of the Yangtze would not hold off Cao Cao's formidable army for long; eventually, Cao Cao would cross the river, leading to widespread suffering among the people. In desperation, Liu Bei sent his strategist Zhuge Liang to Eastern Wu to discuss an alliance with Sun Quan.

Though Eastern Wu boasted a well-equipped army and ample supplies, they hesitated between surrendering or fighting against Cao Cao's massive invading force. At the age of 26, Sun Quan and his advisors were uncertain about whether to fight or submit. Lu Su, one of Sun Quan's advisors, privately told Zhuge Liang that in order to convince Sun Quan to ally with Liu Bei against Cao Cao, they must first persuade Zhou Yu, Eastern Wu's military commander. Zhuge Liang traveled to Chibi to visit Zhou Yu, who was training Eastern Wu's elite navy there. Upon meeting, Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu hit it off immediately, enjoying each other's company as they played music and discussed battle strategies. There, Zhuge Liang also met Zhou Yu's wife, Xiao Qiao, known as the most beautiful woman in the land. Xiao Qiao's father had been an old acquaintance of Cao Cao's many years prior.

Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang jointly presented their case to Sun Quan, advocating for an alliance with Liu Bei to resist Cao Cao. At this time, Cao Cao sent a letter of challenge demanding Sun Quan's surrender, which Sun Quan firmly rejected.

Enraged, Cao Cao dispatched General Xia Hou Yuan with a cavalry unit to launch a surprise attack on the combined forces of Sun and Liu. However, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang were prepared. Sun Quan's sister, Sun Shangxiang, who dressed like a boy, led the counterattack. Unaware of the trap, Xia Hou Yuan pursued her recklessly and fell into the ambush set by the allied forces. Xia Hou Yuan fled in defeat, and his entire troop surrendered after being disarmed. During the skirmish, Zhou Yu saved Zhao Yun's life but sustained an injury himself.

With their initial victory, the morale of Eastern Wu soared as they set up camp at Chibi, where the terrain along the southern bank of the Yangtze River was perilous. On the opposite shore at Wulin, Cao Cao established a fortress, deploying over two thousand warships. To deceive the enemy, Cao Cao secretly intensified preparations while allowing his soldiers to play "cuju," an ancient form of football, creating an illusion of relaxation.

Sun Shangxiang, brave and skilled in combat, disguised herself as a man and infiltrated Cao Cao's camp across the river to gather intelligence. There, she befriended a Cao general named Sun Shucai, and later, they developed feelings for each other. Sun Shucai even recruited Sun Shangxiang into his "cuju" team.

Cao Cao's naval forces were unaccustomed to the southern climate and water conditions, causing widespread illness and spreading an epidemic among them. Undeterred, Cao Cao ordered the bodies of his deceased soldiers to be thrown into the allied camps. Although Zhuge Liang acted quickly, the epidemic still spread, incapacitating numerous soldiers and severely damaging the morale of the allied forces. Consequently, Liu Bei and his generals, including Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, scattered to escape.

As the major battle approached, the allied forces were not only outnumbered but also desperately short of arrows. Zhuge Liang devised a plan to weaken Cao Cao's forces. He sent twenty straw boats connected end-to-end, using heavy fog to feign an attack on Cao Cao's navy at night. Unaware of the ruse, Cao Cao commanded his archers on both land and water not to move rashly but to shoot arrows toward the river. As a result, the twenty straw boats returned triumphantly loaded with over ten thousand arrows. The next morning, Cao Cao suspected there were spies within his ranks and discovered letters allegedly written by his two naval commanders to Zhou Yu (which were actually forged by Zhou Yu), promising to send ten thousand arrows as gifts upon defecting. Enraged, Cao Cao ordered the execution of the two commanders. Fearing involvement, the sailors scattered...