Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Lei Bo and Li Feng fled in panic across the river with their remaining defeated troops. Their warships swayed, their hulls covered in battle scars. The soldiers groaned with wounds or looked dejected, their fighting spirit completely gone.

"What should we do? We have suffered a great defeat and lost all our food and supplies. How can we have the face to see our lord?" Lei Bo beat his chest and stamped his feet, his face full of regret and despair. Thinking of Yuan Shu's wrath after he learned the news, he couldn't help but shudder.

Li Feng lowered his head and remained silent for a while before he spoke: "If we go back now, we will surely die. We have to find a way to delay for some time." Both of them knew that if they did not bring back food, it meant that Yuan Shu's 100,000 troops in Yuzhang County would soon be out of food. This was a huge mess, and going back would be courting death.

On the river, the cold wind was howling, and the ships were struggling to move forward in the waves. News about the disastrous defeat was still on the way. Yuan Shu was still unaware of the impending food crisis and was still waiting for food support in the tent, preparing for the next step of the war.

The atmosphere in Yuan Shu's tent was heavy and oppressive. The problem of food shortages loomed like a dark cloud, furrowing everyone's brows. Just then, the counselor Yang Hong hurried into the tent, clutching intelligence in his hands, his expression both nervous and excited. "My lord, I've just received a secret report that a batch of food from Kuaiji County is being transported to Yuzhang County along the established route to support Liu Yao."

Upon hearing that grain and fodder were passing through Kuaiji County to support Liu Yao, Yuan Shu's eyes suddenly sharpened, a complex, indiscernible expression flashing across them. Hesitation vanished in an instant, replaced by undisguised greed. He slammed the table and exclaimed excitedly, "Great! They dare to come a second time! Perfect! This grain and fodder will be enough to sustain us for over ten days. Once the grain and fodder from Jiujiang County arrives, we won't have to worry about it anymore. Come on!" With that, he ordered his men to rob the grain.

At this moment, Yan Xiang hurried forward, his expression anxious. "My Lord, this is absolutely unacceptable! The first time, perhaps it was just a risky test, but this time, I'm certain there must be a trick. If there isn't, then aren't you playing us for fools?"

Yang Hong snorted coldly and spoke sharply: "Last time you said it was a trap, but you let them replenish their food supplies in vain. Now it's getting more difficult to attack the city. You say so again this time. Could it be that Mr. Yan wants to surrender to the enemy?" These words were said mercilessly, and the atmosphere became tense in an instant.

Upon hearing Yang Hong's heartbreaking words, Yan Xiang's face instantly turned pale, then flushed red, as if it were burned by a raging fire. His lips trembled slightly, and he opened his mouth, trying to refute, but his throat seemed to be choked by something, and he couldn't speak for a while. Anger, grievance, and anxiety intertwined and surged in his heart, but he still suppressed his inner anger, took a step forward, and knelt on the ground with a plop. With his hands clasped together, his forehead almost touched the ground, and his voice was choked and earnest: "My lord, I beg you to think twice! This second batch of grain and grass is too similar to the first one. There must be something wrong. If we rashly split our troops to attack the grain and grass at this time, we are very likely to fall into a trap carefully laid by the enemy. If we fall into the trap, not only will our army not be able to replenish its grain and grass, but we will also lose manpower and fall into an even more passive situation!"

Ji Ling and Qiao Rui exchanged a glance, seeing the same worry in each other's eyes. They stepped forward side by side, kneeling on one knee in unison, clasping their hands in a salute. Ji Ling spoke first, his voice loud yet respectful: "My Lord, I have fought on the battlefield for many years, and I know that impulsiveness is the most important thing to avoid in a war. This grain robbery is too risky. We have no idea of ​​the enemy's strength. If we rashly send our elite troops to rob the grain, our rear defenses will be left open. If the enemy takes this opportunity to attack from other directions, we will be unable to resist."

Qiao Rui continued, "My lord, I agree with General Ji. Although our army is short of food and fodder, we can still hold on. If we fall into the enemy's trap for these seemingly tempting food and fodder, the loss will outweigh the gain. I hope my lord will consider the overall situation and act with caution."

Inside the tent, everyone chimed in, offering pleas for help. Yuan Shu sat at the head of the table, his brow furrowed in a frown, his face awash with resentment and conflict. His fingers drummed rapidly on the armrest, his heart torn between greed and reason. Finally, under the vehement persuasion of the others, Yuan Shu sighed and waved his hand helplessly: "Forget it, since you all say so, I'll let this grain go for now." Even so, a hint of reluctance lingered in his eyes, his mind still secretly pondering the next strategy to secure the grain while avoiding the trap.

Yuan Shu paced back and forth in his tent, his brow furrowed, torn between greed and caution. He recalled the last time he had sent his men to rob the grain almost reaching the city, only to find nothing. This time, he thought to himself, he must not repeat the same mistake.

"We can't act so rashly anymore. We should be more cautious," Yuan Shu murmured softly. "Even if this grain is another tactic to lure the enemy, we can't let it enter Yuzhang County smoothly. The situation will be even more difficult to deal with later."

Thinking of this, Yuan Shu suddenly stopped and shouted an order: "Ji Ling, Qiao Rui!"

The two men immediately stepped out of line, knelt on one knee, and responded in unison: "The last one is here!"

"You two will lead the army immediately and keep a close eye on the movements of this grain." Yuan Shu's eyes were gleaming, his expression stern. "If, after careful investigation, we confirm that there is no fraud, you must seize it when they are about to escort it into the city! But proceed with extreme caution. If there is any suspicion, do not act rashly!"

Ji Ling and Qiao Rui looked at each other and accepted the order, saying, "We obey the order! We will live up to the trust of our lord!" After that, the two stood up and strode out of the tent, ready to train the troops and go to war.

At first glance, the scene of this grain transport looked identical to the previous one. Along the winding road, a convoy of only a few hundred men advanced slowly, their steps hurried and their expressions alert. Even a moment's attention revealed a difference: the carts laden with grain were noticeably more numerous than before. While not a significant increase, this difference was obvious to the battlefield-seasoned generals, who were extremely sensitive to supplies.

As the grain escort drew closer, their target seemed to be Yuzhang County, poised to break through the defenses and safely deliver the grain and fodder into the city for the defenders' long-term consumption. Their pace was neither hurried nor slow, seemingly unprepared, yet subtly luring the enemy deeper, as if daring Yuan Shu's army: Come and take it if you dare.

Seeing that the grain team was about to enter the city smoothly, Yuan Shu felt nervous and thought to himself, "Oh no, we have fallen into their tricks again! Pass the order, grab as much as we can!" The voice echoed in the tent, full of anxiety and unwillingness.

The order was quickly relayed. Ji Ling and Qiao Rui immediately led their soldiers, charging towards the grain train like hungry wolves pouncing on their prey. Suddenly, shouts and cries of killing shook the earth, clouds of dust billowed, and the once peaceful grain transport route instantly became a battlefield.

As the battle raged, the sound of hurried horse hooves suddenly rang out in the distance. Taishi Ci, leading his troops, charged at lightning speed. His gaze blazed, his spear flashing with a cold gleam. He shouted, "Don't damage my supplies!" He charged into the enemy lines, engaging Ji Ling and Qiao Rui in a thrilling battle.

Taishi Ci's martial arts skills and sharp spearmanship caused Yuan's troops to retreat wherever he went. But Ji Ling and Qiao Rui were not to be outdone, working in perfect harmony to resist. The two sides fought back and forth, neither yielding, the swords flashing and the ground stained red with blood.

However, due to the sheer size of the Yuan army, after a fierce battle, Taishi Ci ultimately failed to secure all the food and fodder. Ji Ling and Qiao Rui seized some of the fodder, a rough estimate suggesting it could sustain a 100,000-man army for two or three days. Looking at the food and fodder they had seized, Ji Ling and Qiao Rui, though exhausted, showed a touch of pride. They quickly organized their troops and withdrew from the battlefield, carrying their spoils.

Four or five days had passed since Gan Ning and Lei Bo's thrilling battle on the water. Lei Bo and Li Feng knew full well that if word of their defeat and the loss of their provisions reached them, they would be met with the wrath of Yuan Shu. Along the way, they racked their brains, trying to stall for time. However, their light boat, speeding along the waterway, finally reached Yuzhang County, despite their reluctance.

Looking ahead at the familiar yet terrifying Yuan Shu headquarters, their faces pale. Lei Bo said to Li Feng with a wry smile, "In this situation, whether you stick your head out or hide it, you'll be cut off. There's no way to avoid it." Li Feng sighed and nodded helplessly.

With apprehensive hearts, the two men trudged heavily towards Yuan's camp. Each step felt like treading on the edge of a knife, their hearts filled with fear and despair. Finally, they arrived at the camp, took a deep breath, and instructed the soldiers to inform their lord of their return.