Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

At dawn, when the sky was just beginning to turn pale, Gan Ning and Shamoke arrived in front of the camp of Zao Rong and started a new round of battle. Gan Ning was wearing a brocade robe, with a sharp sword hanging from his waist. He rode a majestic black horse, and the horse's hooves dug into the ground, stirring up layers of dust. He pointed his spear at the sky and shouted at the top of his voice: "Zao Rong, you coward, you are hiding in the camp like a coward. If you don't come out today, you will be laughed at by the world!" His voice was high and passionate, echoing in the open field. Shamoke followed closely behind. He was a burly and strong man, and the mace in his hand was like a small mountain. He swung it with his curses, and the wind whistled, "Zao Rong, if you still have a trace of blood in you, come out of the camp quickly and fight me for three hundred rounds. Don't be timid like a woman!"

In Zuo Rong's camp, the soldiers heard the shouting and cursing, and were immediately enraged, one after another demanding to fight. Zuo Rong hesitated for a moment, then finally gave the order to charge. Instantly, the camp gates flew open, and soldiers poured out like a tide, quickly forming battle formations, swords and spears in full bloom, flags and banners cloaking the sky.

Seeing the enemy march out, Gan Ning was delighted. He spurred his horse forward and shouted, "I am Jinfan Gan Ning. Who among you dares to challenge me in single combat?" His gaze was sharp as he scanned the Zao Rong army, his eyes filled with defiance. However, he was met with only silence; no one in Zao Rong's army dared to step forward to fight.

Seeing this, Gan Ning laughed heartily, "Haha, so you're all a bunch of cowards!" Before his laughter had died down, a sudden drumbeat rang out from within the Zao Rong army, and the soldiers instantly sprang into action. The front row, tightly packed with halberds, formed a steely defense, advancing swiftly toward Gan Ning and Shamoke's forces. The archers in the back row quickly drew their bows and arrows, their arrowheads gleaming coldly in the morning light. At a single command, thousands of arrows unleashed, swarming like locusts towards the Shanyue army.

Seeing this, Gan Ning remained calm and ordered the Shanyue shieldbearers to quickly raise their shields, forming a solid defensive barrier. With a few muffled thuds, arrows pierced the shields. Meanwhile, Shamoke, brandishing his mace, led the charge into the ranks of the Zao Rong army. Each swing of his mace created a powerful gust of wind, sending surrounding enemies flying and smashing their weapons. Wherever he went, the Zao Rong soldiers were terrified and gave way.

However, according to Ma Chao and Sun Ce's orders, this first engagement was a battle to lose, not win. After Gan Ning and Shamoke held out for a while, they exchanged glances, their intentions understood. Gan Ning feigned defeat, feinted a move, turned his horse, and began a slow retreat. As he retreated, he shouted, "Brothers, retreat!" The Shanyue soldiers followed suit, acting in panic, their steps stumbling and their weapons waving in a chaotic manner, like an army on the verge of collapse. Not to be outdone, Shamoke fought and retreated, his mace still wielding with vigor, seemingly resisting, but in reality buying time to retreat.

On the dusty battlefield, Zuo Rong's generals flushed with excitement, their eyes fixed on the retreating Shanyue people, as if they saw a resounding victory within their grasp. Unable to contain his excitement, he suddenly drew his sword from his waist, raised it high, and roared loudly: "These Shanyue people are at the end of their strength. If we don't pursue them now, when will we? Brothers, pursue them! Don't spare a single one!"

At his command, his soldiers surged like a surging tide, charging towards Gan Ning and Shamoke's forces. They shouted slogans as they ran, their weapons gleaming coldly in the sunlight. The ground beneath their feet clattered, stirring up clouds of dust that enveloped the entire battlefield in a hazy yellow.

Zuo Rong stood on a high tower, taking in all of this. His brows were furrowed, his face filled with anxiety and worry, and alarm bells were ringing in his heart. He knew Gan Ning and Shamoke's cunning too well. In his eyes, the seemingly crushing defeat before him was more like a carefully laid trap. "No, there must be a trick!" Zuo Rong's voice trembled slightly with nervousness. He turned around without hesitation and shouted an order to the messenger beside him: "Quick, send out elite troops to support them immediately. Tell them to be cautious and not to advance rashly. We must not let our people go deep into the enemy's trap alone!" After receiving the order, the messenger jumped on his horse and galloped towards the pursuing team like an arrow from a bow.

Looking at Gan Ning and Shamoke, their acting was simply superb. As they galloped, they kept looking back, their faces filled with panic, as if they were genuinely frightened. Their soldiers also cooperated very well, the ranks in disarray, some even dropping their weapons, not bothering to pick them up as they desperately fled. Along the way, they discarded their armor and weapons, looking utterly miserable. Anyone who saw this tragic scene would have thought the Shanyue people had truly been defeated. As they fled, getting closer and closer to Linshui County, it didn't seem like they were acting at all.

A general hurried to Zuo Rong and knelt on one knee. His eyes gleamed with excitement and eagerness, his voice trembling slightly with emotion. "General, this is a godsend! Look at these Shanyue people. They are now in complete disarray. This is the perfect opportunity for us to completely annihilate them! We must not give them a chance to breathe, let alone let them retreat to Linshui County. General, please quickly order the troops to launch a fatal attack on them and keep this enemy force off this land forever!"

Zuo Rong listened to his general's impassioned speech and recalled the entire day's battle. The Shanyue people had indeed been in retreat, while his own soldiers were high-spirited and fighting. His heart began to waver, and those lingering doubts gradually faded in the face of the allure of victory. After much hesitation, a flicker of determination flashed in Zuo Rong's eyes. He gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and roared, "Alright! In that case, I will personally lead the army into battle. Today, we must keep Gan Ning and Shamoke, who have left the city, in Linshui County. They will never return!"

At Zuo Rong's command, horns blew and drums beat throughout the camp. Another mighty army filed out of the camp, their steps in unison and morale high, heading towards the outskirts of Linshui County. A more intense and brutal battle was about to erupt on this land, and everyone knew that this battle would determine the fate of both sides.

Gan Ning and Shamoke feigned a desperate escape, their figures appearing and disappearing in the rising dust as they neared Linshui County. Zao Rong's generals pursued them relentlessly, their hearts pounding with anxiety. With this godsend opportunity at their doorstep, how could they just watch them slip away? Furious, he urged his men on, the clatter of their hooves quick and dense, like the beat of drums.

As they neared Linshui County, the city gates slowly opened, and troops from the city arrived to support them. At this moment, Zuo Rong finally led his entire army out. Seeing the victory about to slip away, the general, with red eyes, recklessly rushed towards Gan Ning and Shamoke's Shanyue army, eager to be the first to claim the credit.

Gan Ning and Shamoke pulled the reins hard, their horses rearing up with hooves and neighing. They exchanged a glance, a subtle glint of cunning in their eyes. Then, brandishing their weapons, they charged towards Zuo Rong's army like tigers emerging from the mountains. Gan Ning's spear danced like a dragon or snake, its gleaming cold. Each thrust carried a fierce momentum. Wherever the spear tip touched, the soldiers of Zuo Rong's army dodged and screamed in agony. Shamoke wielded his stout mace, each blow bearing a powerful force, like a hammer striking the ground. The enemies beneath the mace were either crushed to pieces or sent flying, sending them flying for miles.

The soldiers sent behind Zuo Rong were equally eager to claim this colossal achievement, each one like a tiger descending from the mountain, fighting with increasing ferocity. Shouting, they charged forward, long swords and halberds in hand, charging at the Shanyue troops. The Shanyue were not to be outdone, and a chaotic battle ensued. The clashing of weapons, the shouts of soldiers, and the neighing of horses blended into a deafening cacophony. Dust billowed across the battlefield, obscuring the sky and making it nearly impossible to see the scene before them.

On the chaotic battlefield, a soldier from the Zuo Rong army swung a long sword and slashed at Gan Ning. Gan Ning dodged the blow with a flick of his wrist, then thrust his spear forward, piercing the soldier's chest. The soldier, eyes wide open, a look of terror still lingering on his face, slowly fell to the ground. Elsewhere, Shamoke was surrounded by several enemies, but he showed no fear, brandishing his mace with great vigor, fending off the foes. Suddenly, with a loud shout and a sudden burst of force, he swept his mace across, knocking all the surrounding enemies to the ground.

The battle dragged on, with neither side struggling to break through the other's defenses. Gan Ning and Shamoke adopted a desperate stance, brandishing their weapons with impenetrable force, as if determined to slay the enemy. Seeing this, Zuo Rong steeled his resolve and launched his entire army, determined to confront Gan Ning and Shamoke in a decisive battle. He stood behind the formation, waving his banners and commanding the battle at the top of his lungs, determined to secure victory.

The battle had raged for a long time, the battlefield seemingly engulfed by an invisible net, mired in a suffocating stalemate. The shouts of soldiers and the clash of weapons blended into a deafening war song, while billowing clouds of dust stained the entire sky and earth in a dim yellow. Both sides fought back and forth, neither yielding, and for a moment, neither side found it difficult to break through the other's defenses.

Gan Ning and Shamoke, like two gods of war, wielded their weapons with impenetrable force. Gan Ning's spear, like a nimble dragon, weaved through the enemy lines, its icy gleam sending foes reeling. Shamoke's mace, like a mighty battering ram, delivered a powerful blow with each swing, sending the soldiers of the Zao Rong army careening off their horses. The two men projected a desperate air, as if determined to slay every enemy before them. Their fearless aura instilled fear in the Zao Rong soldiers.

Zuo Rong stood atop the high fortress, taking in all this. His brows knitted tightly into the shape of a "川" character, his face filled with anxiety and resentment. His advisors anxiously warned, "General, these Shanyue people are at the end of their strength. We cannot allow them to retreat back to Linshui County."

Zuo Rong's trusted generals also stepped forward and said anxiously, "General, this opportunity is too precious to miss! We already have the advantage in numbers. If we don't give it our all now, when will we? If we let them recover, it will be difficult to win again!"

Listening to everyone's words, Zuo Rong's heart was in a fierce struggle. He knew that the outcome of this battle was related to his own fate and future. If he failed to win, not only would all his previous efforts be wasted, but he would also face suppression from all forces. Thinking of this, Zuo Rong's eyes flashed with determination. He gritted his teeth and made up his mind to fight to the death.

Zuo Rong suddenly drew his sword from his waist, raised it high, and shouted, "All troops, listen up! Charge! I will not stop until we capture Gan Ning and Shamoke today!"