Pang Tong presents the Chain-Links Strategy (fictitious stories 12)

Pang Tong

In the novel, Pang Tong played an important role in the Battle of Red Cliffs by presenting the Chain-Links Strategy (連環計) to Cao Cao which accounted for Cao Cao's defeat. The strategy involves linking all of Cao Cao’s battleships together with strong chains, such that they would be more stable when sailing along the river and ensure that Cao Cao’s troops will not feel seasick from excessive rocking. This contributed to Cao Cao’s eventual defeat as his battleships were unable to separate from each other, so when one ship catches fire, all the other ships linked to it would catch fire as well. In history, this strategy was Cao Cao’s own idea, and Pang Tong did not participate in the Battle of Red Cliffs at all.