Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Shanyue reinforcements poured in like a steady stream, converging on Linshui County, their forces growing ever stronger. Upon receiving Wang Lang's reply, Zuo Rong, though resentful, understood the dire situation. With no other choice, he ordered extensive construction around the camp, concentrating on building defensive fortifications. He knew that with such a large enemy force, a hasty attack would be futile, so he strictly ordered his men to hold their ground and refrain from any rash action.

Inside the camp, Zuo Rong's brows furrowed, his expression heavy as he paced back and forth. He knew that simply retreating into defense was not a long-term solution, but if he launched an offensive, facing the Shanyue people, who were both highly motivated and outnumbered, his chances of success were slim. Every decision depended on the survival of the entire army, and the heavy pressure weighed on him.

At this time, Gan Ning, stationed in Linshui County, had become increasingly arrogant after receiving reinforcements. Relying on the increased strength of his troops, he personally left the city and arrived at the camp of Zuo Rong to challenge him to a battle. Gan Ning, riding atop a tall horse, pointed his broadsword at the sky, shouting insults and defiantly, his words thick with provocation. The soldiers behind him also roared in encouragement, creating a formidable scene.

Zuo Rong, hearing these cries of abuse from within the camp, was deeply annoyed. Though seething with rage, he forbeared to dispatch his troops, considering the current situation. He eagerly awaited the swift arrival of the reinforcements promised by Wang Lang; only with them could they hope to defeat the Shanyue. Thus, Zuo Rong strengthened his camp's security while anxiously awaiting news of reinforcements, each minute and every second seeming to stretch indefinitely.

Inside Zuo Rong's tent, the atmosphere was as heavy as the oppressive tension before a storm. One of his men, his face brimming with indignation, unable to contain his rage, stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, "General, are we just going to allow these Shanyue people and Jinfan bandits to so arrogantly and brazenly abuse our camp? I cannot swallow this. I beg you to order me to lead the troops out and teach them a lesson!" His eyes were filled with anxiety and resentment, his fists clenched tightly, as if he were about to charge out and fight the enemy to the death.

Zuo Rong's face was filled with worry. He waved his hand solemnly and sighed, "We must not go out into the battle lightly. You don't know that now that their reinforcements have arrived and their strength has greatly increased, we are already at a disadvantage. What's more, Gan Ning dared to charge into our camp with only a hundred cavalrymen, as if he was in an empty place. This shows his bravery and strategy. In this situation, how dare we engage in battle easily? If we are not careful, the whole army will be wiped out!" Zuo Rong's words were full of helplessness and worry. He looked at the sky outside the tent, as if he could see the arrogant look of the enemy.

At this time, the deputy general stood up, bowed slightly, and said respectfully: "General, I think that Gan Ning's hundred cavalrymen at that time were just relying on surprise attack. How many cavalrymen can the Shanyue people and Jinfan bandits have now? I think we only need to be wary of those hundred cavalrymen. As long as we are more careful, we should not have to worry too much. I am willing to lead a team of troops out of the city to fight and dampen their spirit!" The deputy general spoke passionately, with determination and confidence in his eyes, as if he was full of confidence in this battle.

However, Zuo Rong still shook his head with a determined look, his tone unquestionable: "No! The situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly, and we must not underestimate the enemy. We must wait for the arrival of reinforcements from Lord Wang Lang, and then make long-term plans. Before that, the best strategy is to hold on to the camp, and we must not ruin the overall situation because of a momentary impulse." After speaking, Zuo Rong turned around with his hands behind his back, looking at the map hanging in the tent, and fell into deep thought. His furrowed brow seemed to hide countless worries and thoughts.

A special force quietly infiltrated the Shanyue reinforcements. Ma Dai led the Loyalty Battalion, disguised as Shanyue people, and under cover of darkness, they slipped unnoticed into Linshui County. The soldiers of the Loyalty Battalion, many of them former members of the Western Liang cavalry, were skilled equestrians, each possessing a powerful warhorse, and galloping on horseback was their specialty.

Meanwhile, Sun Ce and Ma Chao, after careful deliberation, decided to assemble the elite forces of both armies. Ma Chao's generals, Pan Feng and Wu Anguo, along with Sun Ce's Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, Zu Mao, and other brave and skilled generals, donned Shanyue clothing and, in a flash of disguise, concealed themselves among the Shanyue reinforcements. They would then charge into battle alongside the Loyalty Battalion.

Zuo Rong pulled back his defenses, concentrating all his forces within the camp, relying on its sturdy fortifications to remain hidden. He thought he could rest easy, but he was unaware that Ma Dai's Loyalty Battalion had already quietly departed from Linshui County and was lurking outside the camp like a ghost. The soldiers of the Loyalty Battalion wore a grim expression, and their horses, sensing the tense atmosphere of the impending battle, pawed their hooves anxiously, awaiting the command to charge out like an arrow from a bow and strike a fatal blow against Zuo Rong.

In the camp of Linshui County, Sun Ce, Ma Chao, Shamoke and others sat together, discussing strategies to defeat the enemy with serious expressions.

Sun Ce was the first to break the silence. He slammed his fist on the table and angrily said, "Zao Rong is hiding in his shell. Gan Ning's repeated challenges have been futile. If this continues, when will it end?"

Ma Chao pondered for a moment and said, "Zao Rong knows he's no match for the enemy, so he's holding his ground. But we can't keep holding on like this forever. The army's supplies are depleted, and the longer it drags on, the worse it becomes for us."

Shamoko brandished his mace and said in a deep voice, "Why should we be afraid of him? Just charge at him and destroy his camp!"

Sun Ce waved his hand and said calmly, "Don't be reckless. Zuo Rong's camp is well-defended. A sudden attack will only result in heavy losses."

Ma Chao nodded slightly, his eyes determined. "I do have an idea. Now that we have a strong army, we should take the initiative and set up a decisive battle formation in front of his camp, forcing him to fight. If he doesn't respond, the morale of his army will surely be shaken."

Sun Ce's eyes lit up and he clapped his hands in approval. "Brilliant! This is a brilliant plan. Meanwhile, Ma Dai's Loyalty Camp will ambush outside and wait for Zuo Rong to leave. Then we'll attack him from both sides."

Shamoke grinned and laughed: "Alright! Let's do it this way. Let's see how long Zuo Rong can hide!"

After everyone had deliberated, they mustered their troops and marched out of the city gates in a mighty procession, setting up their battle formations before the camp of Zao Rong. For a moment, flags clattered as soldiers, armed with spears and halberds, formed neatly into formations, their armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Archers drew their bows and drew their arrows, their arrowheads gleaming coldly in the sunlight. The entire battlefield was filled with a solemn and murderous atmosphere, as if the very air itself was frozen by the tense atmosphere, a battle imminent.

Outside Linshui County, Shamoko and Gan Ning rode side by side, standing majestically before the army. Shamoko was a massive figure, the mace in his hand like a small mountain, gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Every swing of his mace caused the air around him to whistle. He shouted at the camp of Zuo Rong in a gruff voice, his voice like a bell, shaking the ears: "Zuo Rong, you coward, are you afraid? If you have the guts, come out and fight me for three hundred rounds!"

Gan Ning, clad in a brocade robe and holding a sharp blade, his eyes gleamed with ruthlessness. His bandits, arrayed neatly behind him, were menacing and aggressive. Gan Ning's lips curled upward in a mocking smile as he shouted, "Zao Rong, where has all your former prestige gone? If you don't come out today, you'll never live in this world again!" Their shouts echoed across the empty battlefield, startling a flock of birds.

In Zuo Rong's camp, a soldier rushed into the tent in a panic, knelt on one knee, and hurriedly reported: "General, Shamoke and Gan Ning are challenging us outside the camp again. The cursing is really ugly, and the brothers are all furious!" Zuo Rong's face was gloomy, and his brows were twisted into a knot. He slowly stood up and paced back and forth in the tent, thinking to himself: These two are so arrogant, they must be confident. If I rush into battle, it will play into their hands. Thinking of this, Zuo Rong gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: "Pass the order down, defend the camp and don't fight! No matter how they curse, don't pay any attention!"

Seeing that Zuo Rong refused to fight, Shamoke and Gan Ning exchanged a glance. Then, with a wave of his hand, Shamoke launched a tidal wave of Shanyue troops toward Zuo Rong's camp. For a moment, shouts and cries of battle shook the heavens, clouds of dust flew, and the Shanyue soldiers, shields raised and ladders carried, recklessly rushed toward the camp.

Upon seeing this, Zuo Rong quickly commanded his soldiers to engage. He personally ascended the fortress tower and shouted to boost morale: "Brothers, hold the camp. Once reinforcements arrive, we will wipe out these bandits!" Encouraged by his words, the soldiers drew their bows and arrows, firing at the charging Shanyue. Arrows rained down like rain, and many Shanyue soldiers fell to the ground. However, those behind them continued to charge forward, showing no sign of retreat.

The Shanyue quickly reached the base of the camp, erected ladders, and began to scale it. Zuo Rong's soldiers responded by hurling stones and boiling oil at the enemy, sparking a fierce battle. After a bitter battle, Zuo Rong's men managed to hold the camp, but the fierce Shanyue assault severely impacted their morale. Weariness and fear marked the soldiers' faces, and they began to whisper among themselves, filled with worry about the future of the battle.

Over the next two days, the Shanyue attacked relentlessly, launching three or four assaults. Each attack was filled with unbridled force, the cries of battle so deafening that they made one's eardrums ache. However, Zuo Rong, relying on his sturdy camp and the desperate resistance of his soldiers, repeatedly repelled the Shanyue.

In reality, the Shanyue hadn't used their full strength. Ma Chao, Sun Ce, and their allies valued their lives and didn't want to see them suffer unnecessary casualties in a forceful assault, so they held back in each attack. However, these three or four successful attempts at holding their ground gave Zuo Rong and his generals a false impression: they began to believe the Shanyue were not invincible.

Inside the tent, the generals sat together in a lively atmosphere. A young general stood up first, clasped his hands together, and said excitedly, "General, we've repeatedly held off the Shanyue attacks these past few days, proving they're no match for us. While they've received reinforcements, their numbers aren't great. Our army, on the other hand, already has the advantage in numbers, but now we're trapped in this camp and under attack. If this continues, morale will inevitably decline, and the camp will be breached sooner or later. I beg you, General, to fight the Shanyue to the death tomorrow!" The other generals echoed him, their eyes filled with anticipation and fighting spirit.

Zuo Rong sat in the main seat, frowning, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. He waited and waited, but the reinforcements promised by Wang Lang were nowhere to be seen, and he was extremely anxious. Looking at the eager eyes of his generals and thinking about the current situation, Zuo Rong sighed and finally nodded in agreement: "Okay, we will leave the camp tomorrow to fight the Shanyue people. But everyone must be careful and not underestimate the enemy. Everything must be done according to plan." Upon hearing this, the morale of the generals was immediately boosted. They accepted the order and prepared to go back to reorganize their troops to prepare for tomorrow's battle.