Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

After feigning a defeat at the hands of Tao Ying's Xuzhou army behind Yong'an City, Ma Chao and his troops, following Zhou Yu's carefully planned strategy, set up camp in the mountains. Most of his soldiers were from the Shanyue tribe and were very familiar with the mountainous environment. Despite the simple conditions, life was not difficult.

During this time, Ma Chao never relaxed his surveillance of Yong'an City, with scouts running back and forth daily to relay news from the city. For a long time, the scouts' reports consistently indicated no unusual activity within the city. Ma Chao, however, remained composed, quietly lurking in the shadows, waiting for his opportunity.

One day, a scout hurried in with an anxious report: "General, a defeated army is heading this way from Yong'an City. They're filled with wounded, and it looks like they've suffered a crushing defeat!" Upon hearing this, Ma Chao's previously calm eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light, and his whole body perked up. He knew that this might be the long-awaited opportunity for battle.

Ma Chao stood up quickly, glanced at the generals in the tent, and gave a decisive order: "Pass the order down, the entire army will be ready immediately, and set up an ambush in advance on the road leading from Yong'an City to Wucheng County!" The generals took the order and left. The tent suddenly became busy. The soldiers quickly packed up their luggage and checked their weapons, their movements skillful and quick.

Soon, the army, led by Ma Chao, silently advanced towards the designated ambush site. The leaves rustled in the forest, as if they too were excited for the impending ambush. Ma Chao, perched atop his majestic horse, gazed determinedly ahead, thinking to himself, "We must seize this opportunity to inflict another heavy blow on the Xuzhou army and open the way for subsequent battles!" The army weaved through the forest and quickly reached their destination. Following Ma Chao's instructions, the soldiers quickly hid in the brush and trees lining the road, quietly awaiting the arrival of the defeated army. The air was thick with tension and excitement.

Cao Bao, riding his warhorse, looked particularly lonely among this wounded army. His back was slightly hunched, his eyes were empty and confused, his dry lips trembled slightly, and he let the reins swing weakly in his hands, his thoughts already drifting far away.

Along the way, the agonized groans of the wounded were like sharp saws, ripping at Cao Bao's nerves again and again. Those elite Danyang soldiers, once clad in brilliant armor, wielding razor-sharp weapons, and full of high spirits, were now covered in dust and dirt. Some of their wounds were haphazardly wrapped in tattered strips of cloth, but the crimson blood still seeped out, staining their clothing with horrific patterns. They supported each other, their steps unsteady and difficult, each step seemingly exhausting all their strength. Some had eyes filled with despair, as empty as a bottomless black hole; others stared blankly ahead, as if they had lost all hope for the future.

Cao Bao was overwhelmed with self-blame and regret. The thought of this nightmarish defeat weighed on his heart like a heavy rock, barely suffocating him. "How should I explain this to the eldest son and Tao Qian when I return?" The question swirled around in his mind like an irritating fly, making him restless. Tao Qian had always trusted him and held him in high regard, always entrusting him with important tasks during important battles. But now, returning home in defeat with such a battered army, he felt humiliated.

Tao Ying's face, filled with mockery and contempt, vividly resurfaced in his mind, and anger instantly flared up again, filling his chest. "That brat, barely wet behind the ears, yet so arrogant and domineering! If it weren't for his reckless orders, goading me into battle, how could this have happened? When I return, I will expose his true colors before the lord, making him pay for his actions and teach him the consequences of reckless and reckless command!" He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the exertion, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged.

But he soon regained his composure and began to weigh his power and status in Xuzhou. "Although we were defeated this time, my Cao family is one of the most powerful families in Xuzhou, with deep roots and extensive connections. Tao Qian relies on the support of our aristocratic families for Xuzhou's stability, so he probably wouldn't dare to take action against me." Thinking of this, he breathed a sigh of relief, a subtle flicker of hope in his eyes, and his tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

Even as his thoughts raced, tormented by a whirlwind of thoughts, the team unknowingly approached the road leading to Wucheng County. The forests on either side of the road grew increasingly dense and deep, their branches intertwined, casting eerie shadows on the ground. Cao Bao was oblivious to the approaching danger. He remained completely absorbed in his thoughts, his brow furrowed in worry and worry, his teeth gnashing with resentment that threatened to burst forth. He was completely unaware that countless eyes in the surrounding forests, like hungry beasts, were staring at them intently. A greater crisis, like a surging tide, was about to devour them mercilessly.

Cao Bao's remaining troops dragged their heavy steps, unprepared, into this dangerous forest. The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the occasional bird calls breaking the oppressive silence.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the air, followed by the resounding cries of battle from the forest. Ma Chao, still impersonating the Shanyue general Mu Jin, rode atop a steed, spear in hand, and led the charge from the dense forest. Behind him, the Shanyue soldiers surged out like a tide, their faces painted with strange oil paint, their eyes gleaming with ferocity and excitement.

"Kill! Don't let any one go!" Ma Chao's voice echoed in the valley, full of terrifying momentum.

Cao Bao was caught off guard by the sudden attack. He widened his eyes in horror and shouted in panic: "Quick! Form a battle line to meet the enemy!" But his soldiers' morale was already low, and they were exhausted after the long journey. Facing the fierce Shanyue army, they were unable to quickly organize an effective defense.

The Shanyue army's powerful crossbowmen, standing high above, unleashed a volley of arrows, a swarm of arrows descending upon Cao Bao's army like locusts. Soldiers were stung by arrows and fell to the ground, screaming in agony. Cao Bao waved his long sword, attempting to block the incoming arrows while shouting to boost morale: "Brothers, hold on! We are the elite soldiers of Danyang. We cannot be defeated so easily!"

However, all was in vain. Ma Chao, leading his elite cavalry, plunged like a sharp blade into the center of Cao Bao's army. His spear swung with such force that wherever he struck, Cao's soldiers fell, their blood splattering everywhere.

"Mu Jin! Today is the day you die!" Cao Bao rushed towards Ma Chao with red eyes. His heart was filled with anger and unwillingness. He wanted to kill this enemy who had repeatedly put him in trouble with his own hands.

Ma Chao sneered and charged forward fearlessly. Their weapons clashed fiercely, sending sparks flying. Although Cao Bao fought back vigorously, he was already exhausted from the previous battle.

After only three rounds of fighting, Ma Chao shouted, "Cao Bao, you won't be able to escape today!" and stabbed Cao Bao in the left arm with his spear. Cao Bao screamed, nearly dropping his long sword. Rescued by his personal guards, Cao Bao fled among the soldiers, dragged along. Amidst the chaos, Cao Bao's desperate escape was utterly devastated. Behind him, the Shanyue troops led by Ma Chao were in relentless pursuit, their cries of death piercing his ears. His already demoralized remnants were further vulnerable to this relentless pursuit. Soldiers fell one by one amid the clatter of hooves and the clash of weapons, their numbers dwindling dramatically.

Cao Bao crouched atop his horse, whipping it furiously. The warhorse beneath him was already foaming at the mouth, yet it continued to gallop at a heavy gait, driven by its master. He looked back frequently, each time witnessing his soldiers being mercilessly slaughtered by the Shanyue army. Despair and terror filled his heart. "I can't die here. I must escape!" This single thought sustained him, keeping him lucid despite the extreme exhaustion and pain.

As time went on, Cao Bao's guards dwindled, and the once relatively large group was now reduced to a handful of men. Even so, the pursuers' pace didn't slow down at all, and Ma Chao's murderous gaze seemed to remain fixed on him.

Finally, the outline of Yong'an City appeared before his eyes. A glimmer of hope ignited in Cao Bao's heart. He used up his last bit of strength and roared at the city gate: "Open the city gate quickly!"

But the pursuers behind him were getting more and more pressing. Ma Chao waved his spear and shouted loudly: "Don't let Cao Bao escape into the city, chase him!" The cavalry of the Shanyue Army shouted in unison, galloped on their horses, and the weapons in their hands flashed coldly.

Just as Cao Bao was about to reach the city gate, Ma Chao's pursuers had almost touched the edge of his clothes. At the critical moment, the defenders of Yong'an City reacted and fired thousands of arrows at the Shanyue army, pouring down like locusts.

The Shanyue army was blocked by this sudden rain of arrows and was forced to slow down. Ma Chao looked at Cao Bao, who was so close yet fled into the city, and was filled with resentment. He stabbed his spear into the ground fiercely and said: "Cao Bao, I will not let you escape next time!"

Cao Bao, escorted by a dozen cavalrymen, finally stormed into Yong'an City. Bloodied and ragged, he fell from his horse, gasping for breath. Gazing at the Shanyue troops still lingering outside the city, he knew this nightmare was far from over.

Ma Chao gently ran his hand over the armor he'd captured from Danyang's elite soldiers. Blood still clung to the armor, now a dark brown after drying. The cold, hard touch of his fingertips penetrated his heart, darkening his thoughts. The smoke from the battlefield gradually dissipated, leaving only the occasional faint groans of wounded soldiers in the distance. In this dead silence, Ma Chao's concentration on thought was even more pronounced.

Now, the renowned Danyang troops were nearly annihilated, leaving only Cao Bao and his few remaining soldiers and generals, who fled to Wucheng County like a stray dog, disappearing from sight. Meanwhile, Wang Lang and Tao Ying in Yong'an County remained in the dark, knowing nothing of Cao Bao's disastrous defeat.

Ma Chao slowly stood up, a bold and highly risky plan rapidly forming in his mind: Since Wang Lang and Tao Ying were still in the dark, why not take advantage of their tactic? Disguised as Cao Bao, the elite Danyang troops would remain stationed here, lurking under the enemy's noses. Laying low might yield unexpected results.