Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Dark clouds hung heavy over Yuzhang County, as if weighed down by the ongoing stalemate. Inside Yuan Shu's tent, the atmosphere was oppressive and suffocating, the candlelight flickering in the wind, seemingly poised to go out at any moment.

"A bunch of losers! If you can't even take a tiny Yuzhang County, what's the point of keeping you around!" Yuan Shu fiercely kicked over the table beside him, sending documents and teacups scattering across the floor. His face flushed crimson with anger, and veins bulged on his forehead like twisted little snakes. "If it weren't for that bastard Ma Chao interfering and dividing our forces to fight him, how could my army, with its full-scale attack, still be trapped in Yuzhang County, unable to move an inch even after October?"

The generals in the tent all lowered their heads, not daring to breathe, their figures appearing particularly cramped in the dim light. Faced with Yuan Shu's wrath, they knew that any defense would only add fuel to the fire, so they could only remain silent.

Yan Xiang stood aside, his brow furrowed, his face thick with worry. He took a small step forward, his tone gentle yet firm, "My lord, please calm down. The situation on the battlefield is ever-changing, and temporary setbacks are normal. Please don't let your anger get to you."

Yuan Shu glared at Yan Xiang fiercely and shouted, "What do you know? I came here with a large army, hoping to capture Yuzhang County and expand my territory. Now I'm blocked by this tiny city. How can I save my dignity?"

Yan Xiang was undeterred by Yuan Shu's fury. He patiently advised, "My lord, Liu Yao holds the city firmly. The city has ample supplies and a favorable location. A sudden attack would only cause our army heavy losses. It would be best for us to calm down and make long-term plans. Perhaps we could send someone to scout the city, find their weaknesses, and then achieve a surprise victory."

Yuan Shu snorted coldly after hearing this, but didn't shout any more. He paced back and forth in the tent, his boots thumping against the ground, each step seeming to weigh on everyone's hearts.

The generals remained silent. Some clenched their fists, their hearts filled with resentment, while others secretly glanced up, observing Yuan Shu's expression, hoping that the storm would soon subside. Inside the tent, besides Yuan Shu's heavy footsteps, the only sound was the occasional rustle of the wind, as if sighing at the arduous battle.

Yuan Shu paced back and forth in his tent, his steps becoming increasingly hurried. His anger at the prolonged siege of Yuzhang County hadn't yet subsided, and he was also troubled by the situation in Runan County. "I don't know what's going on in Runan. Is that Zhang Xun guy reliable? Please don't cause any more trouble!" He muttered, shaking his sleeves vigorously, his face darkening with gloom.

Seeing this, Yan Xiang hurried forward again to offer solace, a gentle smile plastered on his face, attempting to calm Yuan Shu's nerves. "My lord, please calm down for now. Didn't Yuan Yin send word a few days before his mission that Ma Chao and his men had agreed to accept the supplies? Even if we haven't succeeded in winning over Ma Chao, our strategy of alienating him has already succeeded. If Ma Chao accepts the supplies, the court will undoubtedly become suspicious of him, and his future actions will undoubtedly be hampered by the court."

Yuan Shu paused for a moment, a thoughtful look on his face, but then he curled his lips and said with disdain, "Hmph, I'm afraid Ma Chao is very cunning. What if he comes up with another trick? What should we do?"

Yan Xiang remained calm and continued, "Even if Ma Chao does have some ulterior motive, we still have Zhang Xun leading a large army to confront him in Runan. Zhang Xun is a veteran and experienced fighter. He will surely hold his ground and won't let Ma Chao succeed easily. My lord, just focus on planning the war in Yuzhang County. There's no need to worry too much about Runan for the time being."

Yuan Shu frowned and walked around the tent a few more times before slowly stopping. His expression relaxed a little, but he was still a little doubtful: "I hope so. If Zhang Xun can hold off Ma Chao this time, I will reward him handsomely when he comes back. If he dares to let me down, humph!" A fierce look flashed in his eyes, and then he sat down on the chair, picked up the teacup, and took a big gulp.

At this moment, a burst of hurried and chaotic footsteps could be heard outside the tent. A messenger rushed in in a panic, knelt on one knee with a plop, his voice trembling slightly with nervousness: "My lord, General Zhang Xun of Runan County has sent an urgent report!"

Yuan Shu turned around abruptly, a flash of panic in his eyes, which was quickly replaced by anger. He shouted urgently, "Tell me!"

The messenger swallowed hard and stammered, "Although Ma Chao and his men accepted the supplies, they went back on their word and raided the military camp the next day. General Zhang Xun and his men were caught off guard and suffered heavy losses!"

"What!" Yuan Shu was furious. His face turned purple and red in an instant, and veins popped out on his forehead. He kicked over the table beside him and said, "Ma Chao, this kid, dares to tease me like this! I must go back and tear him into pieces!" After saying that, he strode out of the tent, as if he was going to reorganize his troops immediately.

Seeing this, Yan Xiang rushed forward, opened his arms to stop Yuan Shu, and said anxiously: "My lord, this is absolutely not allowed!"

Yuan Shu's eyes widened in anger as he glared at Yan Xiang fiercely, "How dare you stop me? Ma Chao humiliated me like this! How can I swallow this?"

Yan Xiang fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. "My Lord, turning back now is a terrible idea! We've been besieging Yuzhang for so long, and our soldiers have put in so much effort. If we leave now, all our efforts will be wasted. This place is strategically located, easy to defend but difficult to attack. If Liu Yao recovers, it will be incredibly difficult for us to capture it."

Yuan Shu paused, his face full of struggle, but he still refused to give in.

Yan Xiang said anxiously, "What's more, the current situation is complicated. Sun Ce has risen in Kuaiji and Wu Commanderies, and his power cannot be underestimated. Yangzhou has already been divided into two counties by Ma Chao. If Yuzhang Commandery is abandoned, it is very likely to fall into Sun Ce's hands. My lord, please think twice!"

Yuan Shu clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the exertion. His chest heaved violently, his heart torn between rage and reason. After a long moment, he managed a few words through gritted teeth: "Alright, let Ma Chao go for now!"

Yuan Shu suppressed his rage, but his chest still rose and fell violently, and his heavy breathing echoed dully in the tent, like the roar of a wounded beast. He suddenly reached out and snatched Zhang Xun's letter from the messenger's hand, his movement so swift that the messenger trembled in surprise. He unfolded the letter, revealing the scribbled handwriting, each stroke a reminder of the desperate situation on the front lines and the urgent need for help.

"Zhang Xun, you truly disappoint me!" Yuan Shu's furious roar echoed through the tent once again. He slammed the letter to the ground and stomped on it with both feet. The fury on his face was like a raging fire, threatening to ignite the surroundings. However, amidst this rage, he knew that acting impulsively would only make the situation worse. He closed his eyes, took several deep breaths, and tried to calm himself, but the veins in his forehead continued to throb, revealing his lingering anger.

"My lord, the most urgent task is to support Runan, otherwise Zhang Xun will be unable to hold on alone." Seeing that Yuan Shu's mood had eased a little, Yan Xiang seized the opportunity and hurried forward to speak, his words full of worry and anxiety.

Yuan Shu's brow furrowed, the wrinkles on his face forming the shape of a "川" (Chuan) character. He paced back and forth in the tent, his steps rapid and heavy, each step seeming to pierce the ground. A dead silence fell within the tent, and everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound, fearing to disturb their lord, who was filled with rage. Yuan Shu's gaze swept over everyone in the tent, as if searching for the answer that would resolve their pressing problem.

"We must send reinforcements, but the fighting here is intense. Who can spare the time?" Yuan Shu's voice was low and hoarse, revealing a hint of fatigue and helplessness. His eyes darted back and forth in the tent, his brow furrowed, as if he were trapped in an endless predicament.

Everyone looked at each other, no one answered for a moment. The atmosphere in the tent was oppressive and suffocating, and everyone was waiting for the voice that would break the deadlock. At this moment, Yuan Shu's eyes suddenly fell on Lei Bo, and a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes, and he had an idea.

"Lei Bo!" Yuan Shu shouted loudly, with unquestionable majesty in his voice.

Lei Bo was startled, then quickly stepped out of the line, knelt on one knee, and answered loudly: "I am here!"

"You must return to Jiujiang County immediately and lead the troops to support Zhang Xun. Remember, you must make that kid Ma Chao pay a heavy price!" Yuan Shu stared at Lei Bo closely, with a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. That look seemed to be able to penetrate everything and make people shudder.

Lei Bo quickly clasped his fists and accepted the order, his voice firm and powerful: "I will definitely fulfill my mission!"

Yuan Shu took a few steps forward, standing before Lei Bo. With a serious expression, he warned, "Don't act rashly this time. Zhang Xun has already suffered a loss. When you reach Runan, discuss countermeasures with him. Ma Chao is cunning and cunning, so don't take him lightly. Be extremely cautious and prioritize victory."

Lei Bo nodded emphatically, then quickly stood up, hurriedly packed his luggage, and assembled his troops. Outside the tent, the sound of horse hooves rang out. Lei Bo led his troops and horses, galloping towards Jiujiang County, raising a cloud of dust.

Watching Lei Bo's retreating figure, Yuan Shu felt a mixture of emotions. He knew full well that this battle was of grave importance; if Runan suffered another defeat, his power would be severely damaged, and all his years of hard work might be wasted. Meanwhile, the battle in Yuzhang County weighed heavily on his mind like a huge rock, leaving him with no peace of mind. He turned to look at Yuzhang City outside the tent. Flags fluttered on the city walls, as if in a challenge. He vowed silently, "Liu Yao, and Ma Chao, wait for me! I, Yuan Shu, will make you regret what you have done today!" With that, he strode back to the tent and reconvened his generals to discuss how to accelerate the offensive against Yuzhang County. A new military plan quietly unfolded within this seemingly peaceful tent.

Less than two days had passed since Lei Bo left, and before he had even left Yuzhang County, a tense and oppressive atmosphere still permeated Yuan Shu's tent. The generals sat in a circle, scowling over the ongoing battle in Yuzhang County, discussing their next offensive strategy.

Suddenly, there was a burst of hurried and chaotic footsteps outside the tent, and then a messenger rushed in in a panic, knelt on one knee with a "thump", looking terrified.

"My lord, something terrible has happened!" The messenger's voice was tearful and trembling with panic.

Yuan Shu was already feeling upset, and was startled by the sudden shout. His eyes widened in anger, and he slammed the table, roaring, "What are you howling about? What happened? Tell me!"

The messenger swallowed hard, tried to calm his breathing, and said tremblingly: "Urgent news has come from Jiujiang County. Zhou Yu has sent troops to attack Jiujiang County!"