Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

To the sound of rousing war drums, the Xuzhou army, with its morale high, charged towards the Shanyue army like a surging wave. The soldiers' blood boiled, their weapons tightly gripped, their eyes filled with unwavering courage and determination, intent on catching the Shanyue army off guard, cutting their retreat, and crushing them to a pulp.

However, just as the Xuzhou army was about to engage the Shanyue army, something unexpected happened. The Shanyue army, seemingly losing ground and unable to fight back, suddenly, as if receiving some mysterious command, reversed course and, like a pack of enraged beasts, launched a ferocious counterattack against the Xuzhou army, fangs and claws bared. Their eyes burned with fierce fire, and their mouths uttered wild roars, completely oblivious to the might of Zhou Yu's army behind them. Their fearless spirit instantly panicked the Xuzhou soldiers.

At this moment, Zang Ba and Sun Guan were caught in the chaos, equally bewildered by this sudden turn of events. But both were formidable warriors on the battlefield, and though they were bewildered, they showed no sign of retreat. They immediately drew their weapons and engaged the Shanyue soldiers in a desperate battle. Blades flashed, cries of killing were deafening, and every clash of weapons carried the aura of death. Sun Guan, blinded by rage, swung his long sword with ferocious force, each blow carrying immense force. Shanyue soldiers fell one after another beside him, but the enemy continued to surge forward like a tide.

But who could have imagined that, as they were desperately resisting the Shanyue army, Zhou Yu's troops, instead of attacking them as usual, turned their attention and joined the Shanyue, launching a frenzied attack on the Xuzhou army. For a moment, the Xuzhou army was trapped in a desperate situation, attacked from both sides, and the soldiers' faces were filled with fear and despair.

Sun Guan continued to fight recklessly, wounded in many places, his robe stained red with blood, but he was oblivious, his only thought in mind: to fight his way out of this bloody situation. Meanwhile, Zang Ba, keenly aware of something amiss in the fierce battle, desperately fended off the enemy's attacks while anxiously shouting at Sun Guan, "Sun Guan, something's wrong! I'm afraid we've fallen into their trap!" Sun Guan's heart trembled at the words, and his movements faltered slightly. He suddenly woke up, realizing that the situation was out of control and they had fallen into a carefully laid trap.

On the battlefield, smoke billowed like a thick haze, obscuring the sky in a gloomy haze. Sun Guan and Zang Ba led the charge, their armor drenched in blood, their blood so thick it was impossible to tell whether it was their own or the enemy's. They shouted at the top of their lungs, "Fight to the death!" Their roars, filled with the force of a desperate struggle, sought to penetrate the chaotic, noisy battlefield, rife with despair. Their faces were contorted with anger and anxiety, their faces blackened by the flames of battle, and a mixture of sweat and blood streamed down their cheeks, dripping onto the blood-soaked mud at their feet.

The Xuzhou soldiers, their eyes filled with fear and exhaustion, yet, encouraged by Sun Guan and Zang Ba, they steeled themselves, gripping their battered, bent weapons tightly as they engaged in a desperate battle against the surging enemy forces. Each clash of weapons was accompanied by the sharp clash of metal, the agonized cries of the soldiers, and the loss of life. Severed limbs lay scattered about, blood gushing in streams, forming acrid streams that snaked across the uneven ground. The battlefield resembled a living hell.

Sun Guan gripped the heavy sword tightly in both hands, its blade covered in a dense mass of notches. Every swing sent a whirring sound through the air, and blood splattered in the flash of the blade. Yet, the enemy seemed endless; no sooner had he felled one than two more followed. Zang Ba wielded his spear, its tip flashing like a venomous snake's tongue, piercing the enemy's vital points. He gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with rage and resentment as he fought to resist wave after wave of frenzied attacks, intent on buying time for the troops behind him to retreat.

But just as the Xuzhou army was fighting and retreating, hoping to withdraw to Yong'an City to seek refuge, the situation suddenly deteriorated and another catastrophic disaster suddenly struck.

Sun Ce led his 10,000 elite, well-trained troops, like a long-dormant beast, waiting for its prey, suddenly and without warning, launching an attack. Sun Ce led the charge, his horse neighing to the sky and pawing the ground with its hooves, stirring up clouds of dust. Clad in brilliant armor, he stood out against the gloomy battlefield. His spear wielded with vigor, its tassels fluttering like flames. Wherever he went, Xuzhou soldiers fell, their blood splattering on the cold spears and dripping slowly down their shafts.

Huang Gai, Han Dang, and the other four generals followed closely behind. Their coordinated attack was like a tiger descending from a mountain, charging through the Xuzhou army as if they were in a no-man's land. Han Dang was nimble and agile, wielding his broadsword with impenetrable force. Every strike was accompanied by screams and splattering of flesh and blood from the Xuzhou soldiers. Huang Gai's face was filled with rage, and his iron whip whirred loudly. Every blow could send a Xuzhou soldier flying, his flesh and blood splattering like a kite with a broken string.

Under this sudden and fatal blow, the Xuzhou army was on the verge of complete collapse. The soldiers panicked and fled in all directions, abandoning their armor and weapons, leaving the battlefield in a state of chaos. Some soldiers were pierced through the chest by Sun Ce's spears, their bodies lifted high, blood gushing from the wounds; others were struck by swords, their arms or thighs instantly severed, falling to the ground with a scream, struggling in agony; still others were pierced by a hail of arrows, their bodies twisted like hedgehogs in pools of blood. Screams, cries, and cries for help intertwined in an endless stream, and the battlefield was littered with corpses and broken limbs. The Xuzhou army suffered heavy losses, and the hope of survival grew increasingly slim in this brutal stranglehold.

Wang Lang and Tao Ying stood frozen on the city wall, gazing at the horrific scene unfolding outside, their hearts aflame. The howling cold wind filled their chests, but it couldn't dispel the remorse and anger that filled their hearts.

Wang Lang's hands gripped the battlements tightly, his knuckles white from the strain, veins bulging on the backs of his hands as if he were about to crush the masonry. His eyes, wide and bloodshot, stared intently at the bloody battle on the battlefield. His lips trembled, but he remained speechless for a long time. After a long moment, a roar of grief and indignation erupted from the depths of his throat: "Sun Ce! Zhou Yu! You, a bunch of wicked and ambitious men, have deceived us like this. Your betrayal is unforgivable!" The roar echoed in the cold wind, filled with endless hatred and resentment.

Tao Ying's face was filled with pain and self-blame. Tears flowed uncontrollably, mingling with the dust carried by the wind, leaving two dirty tear marks on his cheeks. He pounded on the city wall, shouting at the top of his lungs, "It's all my fault. I believed their lies and sent so many soldiers to their deaths in vain! How can I face their families?" His voice was hoarse with grief, and every word seemed squeezed from a broken chest.

They watched helplessly as their army, attacked from both sides by the enemy, retreated like a candle in the wind. Soldiers fell one by one, their blood staining the entire land red. Broken arms and limbs were scattered across the battlefield, and the smoke filled the air. The shouts and screams of the dying mixed together, reaching their ears like sharp blades, piercing their hearts.

But now, Yong'an City was utterly empty of defenders. All the elite troops had already followed Sun Guan, Zang Ba, and the others out of the city to fight. Now, they could only stand on the city walls, watching their own troops being slaughtered, powerless to do anything. The flags on the walls fluttered feebly in the wind, as if they too were mourning this tragic defeat.

Wang Lang gazed out of the city, his heart filled with despair. He knew they had completely lost this battle. But even so, he refused to sit idly by and wait for death. Suppressing his grief, he turned to Tao Ying and said, "My dear nephew, the situation is dire, but we cannot give up. Quickly, gather all the remaining troops in the city and strengthen the city's defenses. We must hold onto this last hope for our soldiers. Even if there's only a glimmer of hope, we must fight with all our might!" Upon hearing this, Tao Ying wiped the tears from his face, nodded solemnly, turned, and hurried away, his steps filled with a sense of determination and tragic grandeur.

In Zhou Yu's ranks, a young general moved across the battlefield like a ghost, emitting a chilling, murderous aura. He held a broadsword, its light gleaming coldly, and each swing brought a whirring sound.

The young general locked eyes with Zuo Rong, his eyes ablaze with fighting intent. With a roar, he charged at him like a tiger descending a mountain, his broadsword raised high and, with immense force, slashed down at him. Zuo Rong's expression suddenly changed, and he hastily raised his sword to block. With a resounding clang, sparks flew from the collision of metal, sending numbing shockwaves through Zuo Rong's arm, nearly causing him to lose his sword.

The young general's attack was unstoppable, leaving Zuo Rong no chance to breathe. His movements were agile, his footsteps shimmering and evasive, and his broadsword wielded with impenetrable force, strike after strike, each one aimed squarely at Zuo Rong's vital points. Zuo Rong was flustered, sweat pouring down his face, and could only barely parry, each block seeming laborious.

After several rounds, the young warrior spotted an opening and unleashed a powerful blow, his broadsword slashing in a sharp arc, slashing towards Zuo Rong with the force of a thunderbolt. Zuo Rong had no time to mount an effective defense and could only watch helplessly as the sharp blade approached. With a loud "puff," the broadsword struck Zuo Rong, splitting his body in two. Blood gushed out like a fountain, splashing onto the cold earth.

Covered in blood, Sun Guan and Zang Ba, like two wounded beasts, charged left and right amidst the dense encirclement of Sun Ce's army. Their armor was already tattered, their bodies covered with wounds of varying depths, blood gushing out, staining their robes red. But both men held only one goal in mind: to break through the encirclement and return to Yong'an City.

Sun Guan wielded his jagged broadsword, each strike carrying immense force. Sun Ce's soldiers fell beside him. But the enemy kept coming, surging forward like a tide. Zang Ba, wielding his spear, the tip flashing with a cold gleam, thrust, stabbed, and blocked in one seamless movement, desperately protecting his and Sun Guan's retreat.

They fought and retreated, plodding forward step by step towards Yong'an City. Each step forward came at a heavy price, as soldiers around them fell repeatedly, their screams incessant. But the two men refused to retreat. With their tenacious will and superb martial arts, they finally broke through the encirclement and arrived at the gates of Yong'an City.