Huang Gai: important at Chi Bi? (Was there another way?)

[twiztidscholar45]

I dont know but i was thinking is there another way Chi Bi couldve turned out the same without the fire attck? I think Zhuge Liang wouldve thiought of something but tell me what do u think they couldve done instead.

[Man Chong]

History-CC's troops were already sick, so mayhaps he'll retreat, or someone else like Lu Meng might come up with something

novel-Zhuge Liang would've thought of something.....definately...

[crustyrustyaphid]

Now this is just a thought but...couldn't Zhuge have used aLOT of arbalests from shore and try to wipe out and boats before the get across?

Or Who knows Cao Cao could only marh so far before he had to fight them unless they kept running until he had to go home for fear of being attacked in his absence or just have no where to go with the people in the area hating him.

[Yorak]

The arbalest hadn't been invented yet, and besides, that's assuming that Wu had the time and resources to make them before Cao Cao came crashing down on them (which I'm pretty sure they didn't).

Historically, it's unknown how important the fire attack was. Chibi is full of conflicting accounts. However, I agree that they probably would have found another way to torch Cao Cao's fleet had Huang Gai been unsucessful.

[crustyrustyaphid]

like shooting fire arrows in masse at his ships...but hey what about my second idea?would that work?

[Yorak]

Actually, that's the big reason both Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu gave Sun Quan for their possiblity of victory. Cao Cao had marched so far so quickly that his troops were exhausted, and since they weren't acclimatized to the Wu environment, epidemic was likely. They were in no shape to fight when Zhou Yu and Liu Bei attacked.

[Devilrai]

The Battle of Chi Bi without the fire attack of Huang Gai? Zhuge Liang would have thinked of something else if Huang Gai was not around, like sending someone else in place of Huang Gai since alot of the Wu officers were very loyal, like Cheng Pu for example he was a third genaration Sun clan warrior, he could have been loyal enough to take that beating.

Who knows Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu would have come up with something, when Zhuge Liang convinced Sun Quan not to surrender, Chi Bi was already won.

[Cao Zhi]

If Huang Gai had failed or not been sent, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang would have just cooked up another scheme. Cao Cao's troops were rotting from disease and other debilitations by this point and could not last in a pitched battle on the river. Time was on Wu's side, so even had Cao Cao seen through the scheme, Huang Gai and Kan Ze would have been executed, but Wu still would have found a way to prevail, given Cao Cao's problems in his army.

[Elven Fury]

IMO Huang Gai was crucial to the attacks at Chi Bi... Fire was the best way to be rid of Cao Cao and Huang Gai knew how to carry it out so it would work... i think he showed he was really brilliant and strong in his old age... and was a worthy warrior crucial to Wu's Survival that night...

[RyoHazuki]

Zhou Yu and Zhuge liang would have thought of something,they had pleanty of time before Cao Cao really threatened Wu and Shu.Personally I beleive had Huang Gai not come up with the fire attack,he would think of something else also with Cheng Pu,Pang Tong,Lu Su etc. overseeing the battle,all it would need is a quick letter of advice.

Huang Gai saw that he wouldnt be able too resist Cao Cao for long,so he saw the problem,all he needed was a solution.Be it fire,ambush,defection, or any other form of tactic that would cause confusion would have been enough,however he used fire and that was probebly the best choice for him as the troops were ill and unable too swim well.The ships even set fire too naval camps.