Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Meanwhile, beneath the city walls, Yuan Shu's army, though recently defeated, began to regroup under Yuan Shu's pressure, preparing for a new offensive. The drums of war began to beat again, their muffled thuds hammering at the hearts of every soldier defending the city. As they gazed upon the ferocious enemy below, their faces etched with nervous anxiety. They gripped their weapons tightly, a hint of fear in their eyes.

Taishi Ci's heart tightened upon hearing Fan Neng's words, and his brow furrowed even deeper. He knew that General Yu Mi was a brave warrior and a vital force in defending the city. His disappearance at this critical moment was truly worrying. He gritted his teeth and said, "General Fan, you should rest for now. I'll go arrange the defenses. We can't let the enemy attack the city again."

After saying this, Taishi Ci turned and began to run around the top of the city wall, loudly directing the soldiers to adjust their defensive deployments and strengthen the city defenses. His voice was firm and powerful, giving the soldiers a sense of confidence and courage.

A bitter cold wind howled across the walls of Yuzhang, stirring up clouds of dust. This time, Yuan Shu's general, Ji Ling, personally took the field, standing majestically at the forefront of the siege. He wielded his massive three-pointed sword, his eyes revealing a fierce and determined look. Yuan Shu mobilized nearly all of his generals, launching an attack as ferocious as an overwhelming force.

Taishi Ci, perched atop the city walls, wore a look of resolute resolve. But as the enemy surged forward like a tide, he was clearly feeling the strain. His arms ached, his armor splattered with the blood of both the enemy and himself. Looking at his guards, he shouted, "Hurry and ask the lord for help! Tell them the enemy's attack is too fierce and we can't hold out!" Upon receiving the order, the guards quickly turned and rushed towards the city.

Meanwhile, Liu Yao, who was inside the city, also witnessed the dire situation from afar. He knew in his heart that this time, the city would be truly untenable. When Taishi Ci's personal guards arrived to report to him, his face was as gloomy as water. After a moment's deliberation, he issued a death order to his guards: "Go back and tell Ziyi to defend Yuzhang to the death, buying time for us to escape! Anyone who disobeys this order will be punished by military law!"

The guards' hearts tightened upon hearing this, but they still obeyed the order and left. Liu Yao turned and hurriedly packed his luggage, preparing to flee the impending attack on Yuzhang City. His face was filled with anxiety and helplessness, and his eyes revealed confusion about the future.

On the city walls, smoke filled the air, and the shouts of battle were ear-piercing. Taishi Ci waved his spear, forcing back several enemy soldiers. Panting, he looked at the returning guards, his eyes filled with anticipation. The guards, with a look of sorrow on their faces, hurried forward, their voices trembling slightly, "General, our lord has abandoned the city and fled. He has ordered us to defend Yuzhang to the death, buying time for their escape."

Upon hearing this, Taishi Ci's body trembled violently, his facial muscles twitching slightly. A flicker of disbelief and anger flashed across his eyes, only to be replaced by helplessness and sadness. He felt a mixture of emotions. He had never imagined that he and his fellow soldiers had fought so bravely, only to be treated as a discarded pawn.

The veteran Fan Neng, who was already seriously injured, turned pale when he heard the news. His eyes were filled with despair and he muttered to himself, "Forget it, forget it. There is really no greater sorrow than a dead heart..." After that, he swayed and almost fell down.

Seeing this, Taishi Ci's heart tightened. He quickly stepped forward to support Fan Neng, his eyes determined as he said, "General Fan, do not be so discouraged! Although our lord has left, we cannot lose our resolve to defend this city! We are all passionate men, and defending our country is our duty. Even if we die today, we must die a worthy death and let Yuan Shu know that we are not to be trifled with!"

Fan Neng raised his head and looked at Taishi Ci's resolute face. A warm feeling welled up in his heart, and he said slowly, "Ziyi, with your words, I can rest in peace even if I die. It's just a pity for these soldiers who fought to the death..."

Taishi Ci patted Fan Neng's shoulder, glanced at the exhausted but still steadfast soldiers on the city walls, and said loudly, "Don't worry, old general! As long as I, Taishi Ci, am here, I won't let the enemy easily breach the city! Your blood will not be shed in vain!"

After saying this, he once again rushed towards the enemy group with a spear in hand. His agile figure was particularly dazzling in the flames of war. Fan Neng looked at Taishi Ci's back, gritted his teeth, and, despite the pain, picked up his weapon and joined the battle.

Atop the city walls, a biting cold wind, carrying the strong smell of blood, howled recklessly. The cries of killing were deafening, seemingly tearing the gloomy sky apart. Like a lone warrior god, Taishi Ci stubbornly withstood the fierce, stormy siege of Ji Ling, Lei Bo, and Li Feng.

Ji Ling's huge three-pointed knife was wielded with great vigor in his hands. Every chopped blow carried the majestic momentum of splitting mountains and splitting rocks, and the sound of breaking wind was sharp and piercing; Lei Bo's sword was tricky and ruthless. As the blade flashed, it was like a black poisonous snake, cunningly looking for the flaws in Taishi Ci's defense; Li Feng held a spear with a cold light flashing at the tip of the spear. He cooperated closely with Ji Ling and Lei Bo, following them like a shadow, stabbing out a fatal shot from time to time, and each move went straight to Taishi Ci's vitals.

Despite his exceptional martial prowess, Taishi Ci gradually began to show signs of fatigue under the combined attack of these three men, his strength rapidly draining from the fierce battle. He bore multiple wounds, blood oozing out, staining his once imposing armor with a hideous hue. Yet, his eyes burned with an unyielding fire, a resolute determination to face death head-on. He wielded his spear with impenetrable force, like a dragon emerging from the sea, a dragon soaring through the sky, fiercely resisting wave after wave of frenzied attacks.

"Today, even if I, Taishi Ci, shed my blood on the battlefield and die on horseback, I will never let you thieves succeed so easily!" Taishi Ci's voice was like a bell, and his roar echoed throughout the city walls. He shouted suddenly, and his spear shot out with the force of a thunderbolt like a bolt of black lightning. The powerful impact forced Ji Ling to lose his balance and retreat several steps.

But just as Taishi Ci was distracted, Lei Bo seized the opportunity and swung his broadsword like a streak of black silk, swiftly slashing from the side. Taishi Ci was startled and instinctively dodged, but he was still a beat too late. Li Feng seized the opportunity and thrust his spear out like a venomous snake, piercing his arm fiercely.

"General!" The defenders on the city walls, witnessing this scene, cried out in alarm, their voices filled with worry and anxiety. Veteran General Fan Neng was already gravely wounded, his face pale as a sheet, his body frail and shaky. But seeing Taishi Ci in danger, a flicker of determination flashed in his eyes. Gritting his teeth, he ignored the pain, brandished his long-bent weapon, and rushed forward with all his might, attempting to rescue Taishi Ci.

Fan Neng dragged his heavy body, each step seeming to exhaust all his strength. His eyes shone with determination and fearlessness as he struggled forward amidst the enemy's swords and sabers. However, his body was still weak from his severe injuries, making his movements slow and clumsy. Facing the ferocious and surging enemy forces, he was quickly surrounded and in a precarious situation.

Seeing Fan Neng fall into his trap, Ji Ling's eyes flashed with a cruel smile. Without hesitation, he brandished his three-pointed knife, rushing towards Fan Neng like a tiger pouncing on its prey. Fan Neng tried to resist, but his strength was dwarfed by Ji Ling's. Ji Ling's three-pointed knife fiercely penetrated Fan Neng's chest, and in that instant, Fan Neng's body shook violently.

Taishi Ci watched Fan Neng collapse in a pool of blood, his heart pounding. He desperately wanted to rush over to rescue him. But Fan Neng, with his last remaining strength, raised his hand slightly and weakly called out, "Ziyi... leave me alone... retreat quickly... conserve your strength..."

His voice was weak but firm, his eyes full of expectations for Taishi Ci and consideration for the overall situation. When Taishi Ci heard these last words, his body suddenly froze, his eyes instantly red, and grief surged in his heart.

"General Fan!" Taishi Ci roared with grief and anger. He tried his best to force back Lei Bo and Li Feng with a single shot and rushed towards Ji Ling frantically.

However, by this time, the enemy had already surged onto the city walls like a tide, and the defenders' massive numerical disadvantage gradually became apparent, and their defenses began to completely collapse. The cries of killing, screams, and the clash of weapons intertwined to form a tragic song of death.

"Retreat!" Taishi Ci suppressed the grief and anger in his heart, remembered Fan Neng's dying instructions, shouted loudly, and led the remaining soldiers to break out in the direction of Liu Yao's escape.

They charged left and right amidst the enemy's tight encirclement, fighting like trapped beasts. Blood splattered endlessly, staining the ground beneath their feet red. Every step forward came at a huge cost, and every soldier's fall was heartbreaking.

Finally, after suffering heavy casualties, Taishi Ci and his remaining soldiers fought their way through the city walls and pursued the enemy into the distance. Meanwhile, the Yuzhang city wall had been completely occupied by Yuan Shu's army. Liu Yao's previously fluttering flag had been mercilessly torn down, replaced by Yuan Shu's battle flag, which fluttered in the cold wind, announcing the change of ownership of the city.

Taishi Ci looked back at the devastated Yuzhang City that was engulfed in war, and thought of Fan Neng's appearance at the time of his death. He secretly vowed in his heart that he must seek revenge on Yuan Shu.

In Yuzhang County, the smoke of war had not yet completely dissipated, and the pungent smell of blood and burning filled the rubble. Yuan Shu, clad in magnificent armor, rode proudly on a black warhorse as he slowly entered the city. A smug smile graced his face, his eyes revealing unparalleled arrogance.

At this moment, Yang Hong quickly walked over to Yuan Shu's side, his face filled with a flattering smile. He bowed and said, "Congratulations, my lord! Congratulations, my lord! Your successful entry into Yuzhang County is truly a testament to your immense fortune and unparalleled divine power! How could those scoundrels be a match for you!"

After saying this, Yang Hong paused slightly, a sly look flashing in his eyes, and continued, "Think of Yan Xiang. He was always hesitant and timid, repeatedly dissuading the lord from attacking the city, almost ruining the lord's important plan. If it weren't for the lord's wisdom and decisiveness, and his determination to overcome all objections, how could we have achieved such a brilliant victory today!"

Yuan Shu was deeply pleased by Yang Hong's words, and his smile widened. He nodded slightly and said, "Hmph, Yan Xiang is simply too timid. How could he possibly understand my grand ambitions? With Yuzhang County in our hands today, my ambitions will begin!"

Yang Hong quickly agreed, "My Lord, you are absolutely right! Your great talent and vision are unmatched in the world!"

Yuan Shu looked around at the soldiers and civilians around him and ordered loudly: "Pass the order down and reward the meritorious officials in this siege! Anyone who has made military achievements will be rewarded generously!" When the soldiers heard this, they cheered and their morale was greatly boosted.

However, Yuan Shu's expression suddenly darkened. He frowned and said, "But Liu Yao actually got away! This is truly abominable! Send someone after him immediately and bring him back to me! I want him alive or dead!"