Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Cao Bao galloped away, the remnants of his army straggling behind him, raising a cloud of dust. He was filled with resentment at this defeat, but he also knew that the Danyang troops were truly elite; despite the defeat, they hadn't suffered a serious blow.

As soon as they entered Yong'an County, Zuo Rong was already waiting. With a broad smile on his face, he quickly stepped forward, offering his hand to help Cao Bao dismount from his horse. He said, "General, you've fought hard today! Although we suffered a temporary defeat, that was due to the enemy's cunning. The bravery of the Danyang soldiers is evident to everyone in the city." Zuo Rong's tone was full of flattery, and his eyes revealed a hint of caution, fearing that he might say something wrong and anger Cao Bao.

Cao Bao frowned, dismounted, threw the reins casually, and groaned: "Hmph, I was careless today. Ma Chao is really brave. Next time I will let him taste my power!" He took off his cloak and walked towards the city with hurried steps. It was obvious that he was still angry.

Zuo Rong hurriedly followed, nodding and agreeing, "Of course, the general is famous, how could he be defeated by this setback. Shamoke's attack outside the city was fierce today, but I followed the general's orders and defended the city to the death, and didn't let them gain any advantage." As he spoke, he glanced at Cao Bao's face, and when he saw that the other's expression had eased a little, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The two men walked into the county hall. Cao Bao plopped down in the main seat, picked up his teacup and took a swig, calming himself down. Zuo Rong stood aside and continued, "General, I think we need to take a long-term view. The Shanyue are cunning and cunning. We can't act rashly. We need to devise a foolproof plan to take them down in one fell swoop." He spoke coherently, his eyes fixed on Cao Bao, awaiting his response.

Cao Bao leaned back in his chair, looking tired and a little annoyed, and sighed: "I thought the Shanyue soldiers were just a mob and not to be feared. I didn't expect that they had so many brave generals under their command. Not to mention Gan Ning and Shamoke, several generals in the battle today... each of them is extremely brave, which is really a headache!" As he said, he waved his hand irritably, as if this could dispel the haze in his heart.

Zuo Rong hurried forward, bowed slightly, and advised sincerely, "General, you are absolutely right. These generals are indeed formidable, and we must not underestimate the enemy any longer. In my opinion, we must not easily leave the city to engage in battle in the future. Although our Danyang soldiers are elite infantry, the enemy outside the city is skilled in field combat. If we attack rashly, we may not be able to gain an advantage."

Zuo Rong paused, observing Cao Bao's expression. Seeing he showed no signs of impatience, he continued, "Why not hold fast to the city? Utilizing Yong'an's strong walls and abundant food supplies, we can wage a protracted war against the enemy. They've come from afar, and their supplies will undoubtedly be difficult to come by. Over time, their morale will naturally waver. Then, we can seize the opportunity to launch a counterattack outside the city, and we'll surely defeat them in one fell swoop."

Cao Bao listened to Zuo Rong's words, his frown gradually relaxing as he fell into deep thought. After a moment, he nodded slightly. "You're right. I was a little impatient. For the next few days, we should hold our troops still, strengthen the city defenses, and keep a close eye on the enemy's movements." Seeing his suggestion accepted, Zuo Rong secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a smile plastered across his face. "General, you're wise. This way, we're sure to win."

In the days that followed, Yong'an City was enveloped in a tense and oppressive atmosphere. Cao Bao and Zuo Rong, fully aware of the dangers of fighting outside the city, resolutely locked the city gates and held their ground. They urged their soldiers to reinforce the city defenses day and night, preparing ample supplies of rolling stones, wooden beams, and other defensive equipment. Elite soldiers were posted at every battlement, vowing to transform Yong'an into an impenetrable fortress.

Outside the city, Gan Ning, Shamoke, Ma Chao, and Zhou Yu, following their earlier plan, launched a two-pronged attack on Yong'an. Suddenly, the cries of battle were deafening, the drums thundered, and the soldiers surged toward the city walls like a tide. Gan Ning, broadsword in hand, led the Jinfan bandits up the ladders, his eyes gleaming with ferocity and determination, like a hungry beast. Shamoke, brandishing a caltrop, shouted loudly, galvanizing the Shanyue soldiers, his rasping roar echoing across the battlefield.

Ma Chao, riding his horse, Aurora, galloped back and forth beneath the city walls, his spear flashing with a cold gleam as he directed his troops to attack. His presence was like a stabilizing force, bolstering the confidence of his troops. Zhou Yu, standing high above, calmly observed the battlefield and constantly adjusted his offensive strategy.

Yet, the elite soldiers of Danyang lived up to their reputation as a formidable force. Facing the relentless onslaught from outside the city, they remained undaunted, relying on their mastery of skill and unwavering resolve to repel the enemy force time and again. Atop the city walls, the soldiers coordinated in unison, using bows, arrows, rocks, and scorching oil to inflict heavy casualties on the attackers. Ladders were repeatedly toppled, siege vehicles destroyed, and the bodies of both sides piled outside the city walls, their blood staining the ground red. Yet, Yong'an City remained unshaken, as strong as steel, unshaken by the raging flames of battle.

After this thrilling battle, both sides were severely damaged. The battlefield was filled with thick smoke and the smell of blood. The soldiers were exhausted and could no longer sustain the intense fighting. The pace of the battle was forced to slow down, and everything calmed down temporarily. Yong'an City finally had a rare opportunity to breathe. The citizens secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but they still dared not relax their tense nerves.

Ma Chao and Zhou Yu stood outside their tent, gazing towards Yong'an City, knowing full well that a quick capture was impossible. Their gazes met, their minds connected, and they immediately set their sights on Wucheng County. Wucheng County held a crucial geographical location; if captured, they would not only expand their sphere of influence but also establish a strategic encirclement of Cao Bao.

Ma Chao and Zhou Yu quickly mobilized their troops and led a mighty army towards Wucheng County. Along the way, military flags rang loudly, the soldiers marched in step, and morale was high.

Meanwhile, Cao Bao, hiding in Yong'an County, though constantly monitoring the Shanyue's movements and filled with anxiety, dared not venture out to attack them. The previous battle had made him well aware of their fierceness. While his Danyang troops were elite, they had suffered heavy losses. A rash attack would likely lead to another desperate situation. He could only watch helplessly as the Shanyue launched their offensive in Wucheng County, silently groaning.

Wucheng County faced a grave crisis. Upon learning of the approaching forces of Ma Chao and Zhou Yu, the city's defenders panicked. With a small city, few soldiers, and insufficient food reserves, how could they withstand such a formidable enemy? Panic gripped the people, shutting their doors to the streets. Fear and despair filled the air, and the entire county seemed shrouded in a gloomy haze, its fate hanging by a thread.

Ma Chao and Zhou Yu's arrival at Wucheng County was no more a superficial test than their previous one. They meticulously planned, skillfully assembling their forces from various directions, and launched a swift and fierce attack, like a raging storm. Instantly, drums beat, cries of slaughter shook the heavens, and soldiers surged toward the city walls like a tide.

Ma Chao led the charge, his steed neighing beneath him, his spear wielding with a gleaming gleam of cold light, unstoppable wherever he went. Zhou Yu sat firmly in the central tent, commanding with unwavering confidence. Orders flowed from him in an orderly fashion, coordinating the attacking rhythm of the various forces. Siege engines rumbled under the push of the soldiers, ladders were mounted on the walls, and siege engines repeatedly rammed the gates, putting immense pressure on the defenders.

The commander of Wucheng County stood atop the city walls, gazing at the ant-like enemy troops outside, his face thick with despair. His voice hoarse from screaming, he desperately commanded his men to resist: "Brothers, no retreat! Fight hard!" Though the soldiers within the city were few in number, they too were inspired to fight tooth and nail, fighting back with bows, arrows, rocks, and hot oil.

But the ferocious attack proved too much for the defenders to sustain. While resisting, the general frantically sent for reinforcements. Just as everyone was on the verge of despair, the advance troops led by Sun Guan arrived in Wucheng like a ray of light. The sound of horse hooves approached, flags fluttered, and Sun Guan shouted, "Reinforcements are coming!"

The moment the Wucheng garrison commander saw Sun Guan, his eyes instantly reddened, his tense nerves finally relaxed a bit, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly stepped forward and shook Sun Guan's hand. "Finally, you've arrived. If you were any later, this city wouldn't be safe!" Sun Guan patted his shoulder and soothed him, "Don't worry, we're here. This city won't be lost!" With the arrival of Sun Guan's troops, Wucheng's defenses were strengthened, and the previously precarious situation was temporarily stabilized.

As Sun Guan's advance troops entered Wucheng County, morale within the city surged. These fresh troops quickly engaged in the defense, their high spirits and fighting spirit forging a solid defensive line along the city walls. Working closely with the existing defenders, they methodically countered the attacks of Ma Chao and Zhou Yu. Suddenly, a torrential downpour of boulders, wooden planks, and arrows made it difficult for the attackers to even approach the walls.

Ma Chao's brow furrowed as he watched this scene unfold, a sense of foreboding brewing. His once unstoppable offensive was abruptly halted by this newfound force. Each charge met with stiffer resistance, and casualties mounted. Zhou Yu, standing high above, quietly observed the battlefield, his expression grave. He knew that continuing the assault would not only be ineffective but would also result in heavy losses for his own side.

The two exchanged glances. Without further ado, each understood the other's intentions. Ma Chao sighed helplessly, waved his hand, and ordered, "Sound the gongs and retreat!" With the resounding gongs, the soldiers attacking the city halted and began an orderly retreat. Zhou Yu also commanded the follow-up troops, covering the retreating soldiers and slowly retreating.

Below Wucheng County, the battlefield, once shrouded in smoke and deafening shouts of bloodshed, gradually returned to calm. Ma Chao and Zhou Yu's armies regrouped in the distance, gazing at Wucheng County and pondering their next strategy. Inside, the defenders rejoiced, celebrating their temporary victory. Sun Guan and the Wucheng County commander began discussing how to strengthen their defenses in anticipation of another enemy attack.