Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

"What?!" Yuan Shu stood up in shock, his eyes wide open, his face filled with disbelief. "Why did Zhou Yu suddenly attack? Lei Bo just left, and Jiujiang County is depleted of troops. What should we do now?"

The tent was in an uproar, with the generals whispering and discussing among themselves. Some generals paced back and forth anxiously, while others frowned and remained silent in thought.

"My lord, Jiujiang County is our important rear base. If it is lost, the supply of food and grass will be greatly affected, and the war on the front line will be in trouble!" said an old veteran worriedly.

Yuan Shu was extremely anxious. He paced back and forth in the tent, cursing non-stop, "Sun Ce and Zhou Yu are really going too far! They took advantage of my distraction and stabbed me in the back!"

Seeing this, Yan Xiang hurried forward and said, "My lord, please do not panic at this moment. The most urgent task is to immediately dispatch troops to support Jiujiang County. However, we must not relax in Yuzhang County, otherwise all our efforts will be wasted."

Yuan Shu gritted his teeth, his facial muscles twisted with anger. He pondered for a moment, suddenly stopped, and gave a loud order: "Leave a part of the troops to continue besieging Yuzhang County, and the rest of the elite will follow me back to support Jiujiang County. I want to see how capable Zhou Yu is!" After that, he turned and looked at the generals, his eyes revealing determination and ruthlessness.

Yan Xiang quickly reached out to stop them, saying urgently, "My lord, you must not lead the army back to reinforce us! A quick victory is the best strategy right now. Ma Chao is lurking in Runan County, Zhou Yu has already launched an attack on Jiujiang County in Wu County, and Sun Ce is currently residing in Kuaiji County. The three of them are sworn brothers. Now that Zhou Yu and Ma Chao have already taken action, Sun Ce will surely not sit idly by and may very well launch an attack at any moment. If you lead the army back, you're afraid you'll be intercepted by Sun Ce along the way, facing attacks from both sides. The situation would be disastrous."

Yuan Shu's eyes were red, and he was almost mad. He gritted his teeth and said, "Humph! Ma Chao, Sun Ce, and Zhou Yu, these three scoundrels, how dare you plot against me like this! Do you think I, Yuan Shu, am afraid of them? They are just brats, how can they be so powerful!"

Yan Xiang, feeling anxious, continued to advise, "My lord, underestimating the enemy is a cardinal sin in military strategy. We must weigh the pros and cons. Jiujiang County is certainly important, but Yuzhang County cannot be easily given up. If we can capture Yuzhang County quickly, we can at least secure one place and make further plans later."

Yuan Shu's eyes widened in anger, and he swung his sleeves fiercely, cursing, "These rats have ruined my plans! But I, Yuan Shu, have been a master for half a lifetime, so how can I be intimidated by them? Pass on my orders to accelerate the offensive against Yuzhang County and ensure the city is captured as quickly as possible. At the same time, send people to closely monitor Sun Ce's movements and report any signs of trouble immediately."

The generals in the tent all accepted the order and rushed to their posts. Yuan Shu gazed at the gloomy sky outside the tent, clenched his fists, and hatred burned in his heart like a raging fire. He secretly vowed to make Ma Chao, Sun Ce, and Zhou Yu pay a heavy price.

Liu Yao stood atop the city wall, overlooking the surging Yuan Shu troops, his face as solemn as if cast from cast iron. The generals beside him all wore exhausted expressions, their eyes filled with deep anxiety and tension.

"Yuan Shu is attacking like crazy. Our brothers have suffered heavy casualties. There are very little food and arrows left in the city. What should we do?" Zhang Ying's face was full of anxiety, and his voice trembled unconsciously.

Liu Yao frowned and spoke slowly, "Yuan Shu must be anxious to capture Yuzhang to relieve the difficulties facing his rear. We must not panic and must hold on. If we can hold on for a while longer, perhaps a turning point will emerge."

At this time, veteran General Fan Neng added worriedly, "But with this fierce attack, our brothers are almost unable to hold on. Moreover, the messengers we sent out to the surrounding areas for help have been gone for quite some time, but there has been no response so far. I'm afraid..."

Liu Yao gazed resolutely into the distance and interrupted him, "Even if there's only a glimmer of hope, we must hold on to the end. Yuzhang is a crucial strategic location. If it falls, the people will be plunged into dire straits. We receive salaries from the emperor, so we should share his worries and die for our country!"

Below the city walls, the cries of Yuan Shu's army grew increasingly deafening. Siege ladder after siege ladder was pressed against the walls, and soldiers scrambled to climb up like ants. Liu Yao raised his arms and shouted, "Brothers, take up arms! For Yuzhang, for the people in the city, kill!"

Instantly, war drums began beating on the city walls, and the defenders steeled themselves, putting up a fierce resistance. Stones and arrows rained down like raindrops, pelting Yuan Shu's troops as they climbed the ladders. Blood splattered everywhere, staining the city walls crimson. The two sides were locked in a brutal, life-or-death struggle.

While commanding his soldiers to put up a tenacious defense, Liu Yao turned to his advisor Xu Shao and said, "Yuan Shu has launched an all-out attack this time, putting us in an extremely difficult position. But if we can hold our ground and wait for a change in his rear, we might be able to find a way out. Do you have any good ideas?"

Xu Shao frowned, pondering for a long moment before slowly speaking, "My Lord, given the current situation, a head-on confrontation is not a long-term solution. Yuan Shu's forces are overwhelmingly superior, and their morale is high. We might as well organize an elite squad and attack Yuan Shu's main fortress under cover of darkness. If we can successfully burn his fortress, the enemy's morale will undoubtedly be disrupted, and their offensive will naturally weaken."

A glimmer of hope flashed across Liu Yao's eyes, but then a look of worry appeared on his face. "This plan is indeed ingenious, but Yuan Shu's camp must be extremely well-defended. Who should I send to carry out this mission to ensure it's foolproof?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Taishi Ci stepped forward and shouted, "My lord, I accept this order! I will lead the death squad into the enemy camp and burn the food supplies."

Liu Yao patted Taishi Ci's shoulder and said solemnly, "Okay! I order you to lead five hundred elite troops and quietly set out tonight, taking advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness. You must be extremely cautious and tread carefully, and never reveal your whereabouts. If you return successfully, I will reward you handsomely."

Taishi Ci clasped his fists and bowed, saying with a firm look: "Don't worry, my lord, I will definitely return victorious!" After that, he hurried down to prepare.

Liu Yao once again turned his gaze towards the fierce fighting outside the city, and silently prayed in his heart that this sneak attack would be successful and bring a turning point for the defense of Yuzhang City.

The night was as dark as ink. Taishi Ci led five hundred elite soldiers, like a group of black ghosts, stealing silently towards Yuan Shu's forage camp. Their steps were light, trying to avoid making any sound, and every face was filled with concentration and determination.

As they approached the forage camp, Taishi Ci raised his hand slightly, and everyone paused, like a group of well-trained hunters, waiting for the perfect moment to strike a fatal blow. His sharp eyes swept around the camp, observing the enemy's patrol patterns and sentry positions.

As the patrol passed, Taishi Ci waved his hand, and five hundred elite soldiers, like arrows from a bow, rushed towards the pile of food and fodder. The soldiers expertly drew torches, lit them, and threw them vigorously onto the mountain of food and fodder. With a roar, the flames leaped up and spread rapidly, illuminating the surrounding area as bright as day. The fire greedily licked the food and fodder, and the crackling sound of the burning was particularly piercing in the silent night.

"Oh no! The food is on fire!" The guards finally noticed something was wrong and shouted in panic. For a moment, the shouting and running sounds mixed together in Yuan Shu's food camp, turning it into a mess.

Ji Ling's reputation as Yuan Shu's most formidable general was well-deserved. He understood the importance of forage to a large army, and even during his nighttime rest, he maintained a high level of vigilance. As Taishi Ci and his men infiltrated the camp, Ji Ling felt a tinge of unease. He emerged from his tent, and with his keen intuition, cultivated through years of battle, he seemed to detect an unusual presence in the air.

He looked up and saw a faint flicker of fire in the direction of the forage camp. "Oh no! The forage!" Ji Ling cried out inwardly. He acted decisively, quickly gathering his personal guards, mounted his warhorse, and galloped towards the forage camp like a whirlwind.

By the time they arrived at the main camp, the fire had already spread. Ji Ling, looking at the blazing food and fodder, was distraught, but he remained calm. Holding a three-pointed, double-edged sword, he shouted, his voice resounding like a bell throughout the camp: "Don't panic! Those who have water, get water; those who have sand, get sand! Put out the fire! Anyone who dares to retreat will be punished by military law!" Under Ji Ling's capable command, the initially panicked Yuan Shu army quickly calmed down, organized their forces in an orderly manner, and diligently put out the fire with pre-prepared water and sand.

Seeing the fire suppressed, Taishi Ci thought to himself that it was not good and immediately ordered a retreat. However, Ji Ling would not let them go easily. He brandished a broadsword and led a group of cavalry in pursuit.

"Where are you going!" Ji Ling roared, spurring his horse and whipping it, chasing Taishi Ci like the wind. Seeing this, Taishi Ci pulled the reins and turned to cover the rear. Holding twin halberds, his gaze blazing, he faced Ji Ling without fear.

The two horses collided, swords and halberds clashing, sparks flying. Ji Ling's power was immense, each strike carrying a tremendous force. Taishi Ci, a skilled warrior and agile, used his twin halberds to create an impenetrable barrier, deftly neutralizing Ji Ling's attacks and occasionally finding opportunities to counterattack. The two fought back and forth for dozens of rounds. Gradually, Taishi Ci, with his exquisite martial arts, gained the upper hand, and Ji Ling's swordsmanship began to falter.

But Taishi Ci knew he was in the enemy camp and couldn't afford to linger. He seized a flaw in Ji Ling's attack, feinted his halberd, and rode away. Although Ji Ling was unwilling to give in, he was wary of Taishi Ci's martial arts and didn't dare pursue him.

Taishi Ci led his death squad in a battle-and-retreat retreat, successfully escaping the pursuers. Upon returning to the city, Liu Yao personally greeted Taishi Ci, his face filled with relief and gratitude: "Ziyi, you have performed a great service this time. You have burned some of the enemy's food supplies, greatly weakening Yuan Shu's confidence."

Taishi Ci clasped his fists and said, "My lord, I am too kind. I failed to complete the entire mission, and I feel truly guilty. However, after this battle, the enemy's food and supplies have been damaged, and their morale will undoubtedly be dampened. This will give our army a better chance of holding Yuzhang City."

Liu Yao nodded in agreement. Looking at the thick smoke that had not yet dissipated from Yuan Shu's military camp outside the city, new hope ignited in his heart. He looked forward to taking this opportunity to break the current predicament.