The Battle of Red Cliffs (Chibi) was a decisive naval battle during the end of the Han Dynasty. It pitted the southern warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan against the northern prime minister Cao Cao, who commanded a vastly superior force. Cao Cao’s fleet was composed of northern soldiers who were unaccustomed to water travel and became seasick. To stabilize the ships, Cao Cao chained them together. Sensing an opportunity, the southern allies sent 'fire ships'—vessels filled with oil and straw—into the clustered northern fleet. The resulting fire destroyed Cao Cao’s navy and forced a retreat. This battle effectively prevented the unification of China under Cao Cao and led to the formation of the 'Three Kingdoms' (Wei, Shu, and Wu). The events were later romanticized in the classic novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms.'