Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

As Zuo Rong watched his side gradually gain the upper hand on the battlefield, the dawn of victory seemed imminent. The alluring prospect completely blinded him. He completely forgot Wang Lang's previous warnings, with only one thought in mind: to completely defeat the Shanyue people and achieve a glorious victory. So, with a wave of his hand, he led his entire army out in force.

Suddenly, like a surging tide, Zuo Rong's army launched an overwhelming attack on the Shanyue people. The measured footsteps shook the earth slightly, and the dust billowed into the sky. Swords and spears flashed a cold light in the sunlight, and the shouts of killing reached the sky. This sudden and powerful offensive instantly put the Shanyue people under unprecedented pressure.

Seeing this, Gan Ning and Shamoke knew they could no longer pretend. They exchanged a glance, their eyes etched with determination. They took a deep breath, their aura suddenly shifting as they put all their strength into resistance. Gan Ning's broadsword, like a nimble dragon, stabbed at the enemy with thunderous force. Each strike rang with the sound of wind, sending the soldiers of the Zao Rong army ducking wherever it struck. Shamoke, wielding his heavy mace, each swing whirred like a hammer, sending flesh and blood flying across the enemy's face. No one dared approach within a few feet.

Zuo Rong stood behind the formation, his face flushed and veins bulging on his forehead. He shouted at the top of his lungs to encourage the morale of his soldiers: "Brothers, come on! Victory is at hand. Charge, wipe out all these Shanyue people, don't let any one go!" Under his encouragement, the soldiers of Zuo Rong's army were all full of passion, as if they were injected with endless strength, and rushed towards the Shanyue people regardless of everything.

The two sides were locked in a stalemate, the battle raging on. The shouts of soldiers, the clash of weapons, and the neighing of horses blended together to create a tragic symphony of war. Blood stained the ground beneath their feet, and corpses lay scattered across the battlefield. Every inch of land was fiercely fought over. The battle had reached a fever pitch, and neither side could easily retreat. Everyone was eager to win the final victory.

The armies of Zao Rong, Gan Ning, and Shamoke clashed fiercely, their blood staining the ground dark red as the battle descended into a stalemate. Soldiers roared, sparks flew from the clash of weapons, men fell every moment, and every inch of ground was fiercely contested.

At that moment, a dull roar echoed faintly from the distance, like rolling thunder. It wasn't noticeable at first, but in the blink of an eye, it shook the very ground. Before anyone could react, a group of cavalrymen, dressed in Shanyue clothing, surged toward them like a black torrent. The clatter of their hooves, like the pounding of drums, overwhelmed the din of the battlefield, and the earth seemed to groan in pain under the trampling of these iron hooves.

These Shanyue cavalrymen were all disguised by the Loyalty Battalion. They were swift on horseback, their eyes revealing determination and courage. Ma Dai, with his sharp gaze, stared intently at the defensive line of the Zuo Rong army, his long sword tightly gripped, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment.

Generals such as Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, Zu Mao, Pan Feng, and Wu Anguo took the lead and charged in the front. Although they were dressed in the clothes of the Shanyue people, their brave and fearless aura could not be concealed. Cheng Pu's horse neighed, and he held a long spear with a cold light flashing on the tip of the spear. He stabbed the enemy with a force of ten thousand pounds. Every time he stabbed, there was a sharp sound of wind. Wherever he went, the enemies fell off their horses and blood splattered. Huang Gai brandished an iron whip, the whip was black and shiny, and the wind from the whip whistled. Every time he whipped, it was wrapped with a force of ten thousand pounds. He hit the enemy hard and pushed them back several steps. Those who were hit had their skin torn and screamed in pain. Han Dang rode on a red horse, bent his bow and arrow, his eyes focused and sharp, and his arrows never missed their targets. The sharp arrows flew towards the distant enemy with a sharp whistling sound, hitting the enemy's throat and chest one after another. Those who were shot fell to the ground and blood splattered on the spot Zu Mao was holding a pair of swords, charging left and right in the enemy's formation, with his swords flying up and down, flashing with cold light, as if he was in an empty space, and the enemy could not get close to him at all, and anyone who got close was chopped down by his sword; Pan Feng was waving a heavy axe, and each axe carried the momentum of splitting mountains and splitting rocks. When the axe blade collided with the enemy's weapons, there was a crisp metal collision sound, cutting off the enemy's weapons one after another, and the enemy had no power to fight back under his axe; Wu Anguo grasped the iron hammer with both hands and jumped high. When the iron hammer hit the enemy, there was a dull sound, like a huge rock hitting the ground. The enemy was either dead or injured. The soldiers who were hit had their bodies twisted instantly and fell in a pool of blood.

Zuo Rong was concentrating on directing the fierce battle with Gan Ning and Shamoke, his eyes fixed on the battlefield, searching for a chance to break through. Just then, a dull roar approached from afar. At first, he ignored it, dismissing it as distant thunder. But as the trembling of the earth grew more pronounced and the sound of horses' hooves resounded like thunder, his face instantly turned pale.

"Oh no! There's an ambush!" Zuo Rong shouted in terror, his voice sharp with nervousness. He turned frantically in the direction of the sound, only to see the cavalry, dressed in Shanyue clothing, rushing towards them like a black torrent, their momentum unstoppable.

His hands trembled uncontrollably, beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and his eyes were filled with panic and helplessness. "Quick, quickly organize a defense!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice faint in the clamor of the battlefield.

He turned around hurriedly and shouted to the messenger beside him: "Immediately move the archers to the flanks and shoot! Stop them from charging! Spearmen, form a square formation and hold the line!" The messenger turned pale with fright, nodded quickly, and ran to convey the order like a flash.

Zuo Rong looked at the soldiers who were fighting with Gan Ning and Shamoke, and shouted anxiously: "Send out a team of men and horses, turn around and resist! Don't panic, hold your ground!" However, the battlefield was in chaos, and his voice was quickly drowned out by the shouts of killing.

He looked at the cavalry that was getting closer and closer, and regretted that he had not listened to Wang Lang's instructions and rushed out in full force. Now, he could only watch his army fall into chaos under this sudden attack, and the defense line was shaky.

This sudden cavalry charge was undoubtedly a fatal blow to the Zuo Rong Legion, which was already stuck on the battlefield. The Zuo Rong soldiers, who had been struggling to hold on, were instantly scattered by the powerful force. They were terrified by this sudden change, their eyes filled with fear and despair. Some soldiers stood there in a daze, their weapons hanging limply, at a loss. Others, their legs weakening, turned and fled, shouting "Help!" The entire army was in disarray. The cavalry took advantage of the situation and rushed in, hacking and slashing at the enemy. In a flash of cold light, the enemy fell one after another, screaming in pain. The Zuo Rong Legion's defenses collapsed instantly, and the soldiers fled in all directions, unable to fight back. The tide of the battle was completely turned in that moment.

On the battlefield, Zuo Rong's army, under the onslaught of the Loyalty Battalion's cavalry, was already in a state of crushing defeat, its defeat inevitable. Zuo Rong gazed upon the devastated scene, his heart filled with despair and unwillingness. His eyes were empty and vacant, as if they had lost their focus. He felt as if his spine had been torn out. He slumped in his chair, muttering to himself, "It's over, it's all over..."

At this moment, his advisors and trusted generals hurried over. The advisor, his face filled with anxiety, said solemnly, "General, things have come to this point. We can no longer sit idly by and wait for death. The most urgent task is to find a way to break out!" His trusted generals echoed him, "Yes, General, as long as we have the green mountains, we will have no fear of running out of firewood. As long as we can break out of this encirclement, we will have a chance to make a comeback in the future!"

Zuo Rong raised his head, his eyes full of pain and struggle. He looked at his subordinates who had followed him for many years and said in a trembling voice: "It was because I did not listen to Lord Wang Lang that I suffered such a great defeat. How can I have the face to live in this world now?" After that, he suddenly drew the sword from his waist and put it on his neck.

Everyone was horrified upon seeing this. The strategist was quick to grab Zuo Rong's wrist and pleaded, "General, please don't do this! Victory and defeat are common in war. This defeat is only temporary. As long as you are here, we still have hope!" His trusted generals also knelt on the ground, tearfully pleading, "General, if you leave like this, what will happen to us brothers?"

After much persuasion from the crowd, Zuo Rong slowly lowered his hand, and his sword fell to the ground with a clang. He sighed deeply, his eyes filled with helplessness and sadness, and asked, "Then, in your opinion, where should we break out?"

The counselor pondered for a moment and said, "Anji County has a dangerous terrain, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it is not far from here. We can break out there first, use the terrain to temporarily avoid the attack, and then make plans." The trusted generals nodded in agreement.

Zuo Rong gritted his teeth, nodded heavily, and said: "Okay, let's do as you say, break out with all our strength and head to Anji County! Pass the order down, let the soldiers concentrate their forces, break out from the enemy's weakly defended flank, and make sure to fight their way out!" So, Zuo Rong, surrounded by everyone, began to organize the final breakout operation, trying to find a glimmer of hope in this desperate situation.

On the battlefield, Zuo Rong's army was shattered and utterly defeated. Desperate, Zuo Rong attempted to break out with his remaining troops for survival. Gan Ning and Shamoke observed this, exchanged a glance, and understood what was going on. They knew that, according to the careful deliberations between Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and Ma Chao, now was not the time to completely eliminate Zuo Rong.

So Gan Ning suddenly shouted and ordered loudly: "Brothers, slow down the offensive, just defend and don't attack, let them come, but let them know that this road is not easy to walk!" The Shanyue soldiers immediately understood the intention, and the originally fierce offensive rhythm slowed down and turned to tight defense, forming a seemingly loose but hidden line of defense.

Shamoke was not to be outdone. He brandished his mace and roared like thunder: "Zao Rong, you want to run? Then show some skill and rush through grandpa's sword!" He deliberately stood in the most conspicuous position, seemingly blocking the way, but actually deliberately letting him go.

Seeing this, Zuo Rong saw an opportunity. Gritting his teeth and with bloodshot eyes, he commanded his troops to charge frantically toward the seemingly weak point in the Shanyue defenses. His trusted generals also led the charge, brandishing their weapons in a desperate attempt to carve a bloody path. The two sides engaged in close combat once again, and for a moment, the sound of shouts and the clashing of weapons was endless.

The Shanyue soldiers followed orders, pretending to be defeated and retreating after a brief resistance, but they blocked Zuo Rong at key locations, making his breakout path full of difficulties and obstacles.

Thus, after a fierce battle, Zuo Rong successfully "broke out" with his few remaining troops and fled in panic towards Anji County. Behind this battle was the careful planning and strategic contest of various forces.