Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Zuo Rong, with his few remaining troops, fled like a stray dog ​​towards Anji County, Anji Commandery. The soldiers stumbled, their armor askew, and some even dropped their weapons, their heads drooping as they ran. Fear and exhaustion were written on their faces, and every step seemed to exhaust all their strength.

Behind them, the Shanyue cavalry disguised as the Loyalty Battalion followed closely behind them, the clatter of their hooves like the beat of a life-threatening drum. These cavalrymen hovered close, neither too far nor too close, neither rushing to attack rashly, yet maintaining a constant sense of oppression, keeping Zuo Rong in a state of constant panic. Every time Zuo Rong thought he could breathe a sigh of relief, the shrill cries of killing and the pounding of horses' hooves would return, his heart instantly lurching to his throat.

In order to buy time for Zuo Rong to escape, his trusted followers kept stepping forward and staying behind to stop the enemy. One of the lieutenant generals suddenly pulled the reins, dismounted, knelt on one knee, and shouted to the fleeing Zuo Rong: "General! I am willing to lead my soldiers to stay behind to cover our retreat. You must escape and revive our army in the future!" Zuo Rong's face was filled with sorrow, and his voice trembled as he responded: "Brothers, I'm sorry. You must come back alive!" The lieutenant general suddenly stood up, drew his long sword, and shouted: "General, don't hesitate! Brothers, today is the day for us to repay you. Kill one and we'll get our money back. Kill two and we'll make a profit. Follow me!"

A group of death warriors responded, weapons drawn, shouting and charging at the Shanyue cavalry. However, the resistance of these loyalists was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot against the well-trained and aggressive Shanyue cavalry. One death warrior, brandishing a long sword, charged the cavalry at the top of his lungs, roaring, "Come on, you evil thieves, today is your day of death!" But a cavalryman easily dodged and cut him down with a backhanded blow. Several more formed a small formation, trying to stop the cavalry. One of them shouted, "Brothers, fight side by side and carve a bloody path for the general!" But the cavalry nimbly weaved and circumvented, instantly scattering them, and in the blink of an eye, they were overwhelmed by the horses' hooves.

Zuo Rong was terrified, sweat drenching his back. He didn't dare to pause, whipping his whip furiously, urging his horse to Anji County. His eyes were filled with despair and fear, and he kept looking back, as if an evil spirit was chasing him. At this moment, he had only one thought in mind: escape to Anji County, where there might be a glimmer of hope.

As Zuo Rong fled, his trusted followers stepped forward one after another, resolutely staying behind to block the pursuers. But this resistance was a drop in the bucket. The Shanyue cavalry was unstoppable, brandishing their spears with a cold gleam. One by one, Zuo Rong's followers fell, their blood staining the ground beneath their feet. Their sacrifice was not in vain, however. The Shanyue cavalry deliberately slowed their pace to give Zuo Rong time to escape to Anji County.

Zuo Rong was panting, his face etched with exhaustion and terror, his eyes fixed fixed on the front. Finally, the gates of Anji County came into view. As if he had found a lifeline, he summoned his last ounce of strength and shouted at his trusted confidants, "Quick, tell the city walls that I am General Zuo Rong under Wang Lang's command. Open the gates and let us in!" The confidants galloped forward, shouting at the top of their lungs, "Listen up, people on the city walls! General Zuo Rong has returned! Open the gates!"

At this moment, the Shanyue cavalry behind him continued to pursue him at a leisurely pace. The sound of horse hooves echoed in his ears, like a countdown to his death. Zuo Rong was extremely anxious, looking at the closed city gate, his heart filled with despair and pleading, hoping that the gate would open quickly so that he could escape this disaster.

The city gate commander stood atop the tower, brow furrowed, watching the panicked Zao Rong fleeing outside the city, and the Shanyue cavalrymen in pursuit, his heart filled with hesitation. According to his duty as a city defender, with the enemy approaching and the situation unclear, rashly opening the city gates would undoubtedly put the entire city in danger. His deputy commander beside him anxiously advised, "General, we can't open the city gates! The enemy is still outside. If we let them in, Anji County will be in danger!"

Seeing that the city gate was closed, Zuo Rong was extremely anxious and shouted with all his might: "I am Zuo Rong under Wang Lang's command. Open the door quickly! If anything goes wrong, all the responsibility will be borne by me!" The voice was particularly hoarse due to anxiety and fatigue.

The defending general was deeply troubled. He knew that Zuo Rong was Wang Lang's most important general and could not afford to offend him. However, if he allowed Zuo Rong into the city, the slightest mistake in the opening and closing of the city gates would mean disaster. The deputy general urged, "General, don't hesitate. We can't afford the consequences!" The defending general gritted his teeth, then waved his hand helplessly and ordered, "Open the city gates!"

With a heavy creak, the city gate slowly opened. As if granted amnesty, Zuo Rong charged in first, followed by the defeated troops behind him. Just then, the Shanyue cavalry, who had been pursuing them at a leisurely pace, suddenly sped up, their hooves clattering like dense drumbeats as they rapidly approached the city gate.

Zuo Rong galloped at full speed, rushing through the gates of Anji County like a frightened bird, desperately seeking shelter. Behind him, the defeated army rushed in like a flood, each one panicked, stumbling, and completely disorganized.

The defending general stood on the city wall, witnessing the chaotic scene and seeing the Shanyue cavalry approaching rapidly like a black hurricane. He was immediately frightened and his face turned pale. His eyes widened in horror and he shouted at the top of his lungs: "Quick, close the city gate!" The sound was particularly sharp in the noisy battlefield.

Upon hearing the order, the soldiers immediately rushed to the city gate, frantically pushing against the heavy door. But the defeated soldiers madly pressed forward, ignoring the soldiers' shouts and attempts to stop them, intent on escaping to safety. Some were crushed to the ground, their cries piercing the city walls, only to be drowned out by the throngs rushing in from behind. Others brandished their weapons, attempting to clear a path for themselves, further compounding the chaos.

The thunder of the Shanyue cavalry's hooves was deafening, drawing ever closer. The defender, his heart pounding with anxiety, beads of sweat streaming down his forehead, roared once more at the top of his lungs, "Hurry! Push harder!" The soldiers, their faces flushed, tried their best, but the city gate remained firmly blocked by the defeated army, resisting any chance of closing.

In the blink of an eye, the Shanyue cavalry were within reach, their sharp spears flashing with a cold light, almost piercing the last few defeated soldiers entering the city. The defenders looked at the irreversible situation and closed their eyes in despair, thinking to themselves, "This is over!" At this point, it was too late to close the city gates.

Taking advantage of the chaotic situation when the city gates could not be closed, the Shanyue cavalry surged into Anji County like a surging black tide. The leading cavalryman brandished his long sword, the blade flashing, and shouted, "Kill! Spare no one!" His voice resounded like a bell, instantly igniting the entire battlefield. The clatter of horses' hooves, the cries of killing, and the clash of weapons intertwined to a deafening roar.

They rushed into the city, hacking down anyone they encountered. The soldiers of the Zao Rong army fell in pools of blood before they could even react. A young Shanyue cavalryman, his eyes gleaming with fearlessness and determination, thrust his spear like a dragon emerging from the sea, stabbing several enemies in quick succession. His movements were swift and fluid, each strike carrying deadly force. Blood dripped from the tip of his spear, pooling in a dark red pool on the ground.

As Zuo Rong took a breath, still trembling from shock, he saw the city engulfed in chaos. Terrified, his face etched with despair and helplessness, he frantically called out to his closest associates, "Quick, gather those still able to fight! Let's go to Yong'an County!" His voice was shrill and piercing with fear and anxiety. His associates frantically gathered the remnants of the defeated army, but the defeated troops had already lost their spirits and fled like headless flies, unable to muster any effective resistance. Some soldiers collapsed to the ground, trembling with fear; others dropped their weapons, desperate to escape, completely ignoring the cries of their comrades.

The defending commander stood atop the city wall, watching all this unfold in despair, his sword drooping limply in his hand. His soldiers retreated in the chaos, separated and surrounded by the Shanyue cavalry, and soon suffered most casualties. The Shanyue cavalry coordinated their efforts. Some pursued the enemy throughout the city, weaving through the streets and alleys, leaving no corner untouched. Others quickly seized key roads and city gates, forming a solid defense with shields and spears, cutting off the retreat of Zuo Rong's army. A Shanyue cavalry captain shouted to his comrades, "Hold the city gates! Don't let a single enemy escape!" Their gazes were resolute, their movements swift, like well-trained machines, efficiently executing every command.

With his trusted followers desperately guarding him, Zuo Rong fled Anji County in a panic. He slumped over his horse, galloping wildly, the wind whistling in his ears, cold sweat mixed with blood streaming down his face. The deafening cries of killing behind him gradually faded, but the fear that clung to him like a maggot clung to his bones, his heart pounding violently in his chest, giving him no peace of mind.

At this moment, Anji County had become a living hell. Shanyue cavalrymen, brandishing gleaming blades, rampaged through the city. The soldiers of the Zao Rong army were powerless to fight back and were defeated one by one. A young Zao Rong soldier, his eyes filled with fear and despair, tried to raise his spear to resist, but the Shanyue troopers easily dodged it. A backhanded strike slashed his neck, blood gushing out like a fountain. He slowly collapsed, his eyes gradually losing their luster.

In the streets, the soldiers of the Zuo Rong army fled in all directions, with nowhere to hide. The Shanyue cavalry, working in perfect harmony, cornered them and mercilessly slaughtered them. Blood flowed freely on the ground, forming rivers of blood. Severed limbs and arms were scattered everywhere, and the pungent smell of blood filled every inch of the air, making people sick.

However, the Shanyue cavalry did not attack innocent civilians. Trembling in fear, they hid in their homes, watching the unfolding events outside through the narrow cracks in their doors in horror. An elderly woman clasped her hands together, whispering a prayer for the calamity to end quickly. Children clung to their parents' arms, too frightened to utter a single sound, their eyes filled with fear and helplessness.

The Shanyue cavalry quickly seized strategic positions within the city, planting their flags high atop the walls. Standing atop the towers, they surveyed the conquered city, their faces brimming with triumphant joy. The gates, once tightly shut, flung open, and reinforcements poured in from outside, further bolstering their confidence in this victory.