Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Liu Yao fled, panicking and scrambling, until he was far away from the war-torn Yuzhang Commandery before he dared to rest. Night had quietly fallen, and a biting, cold wind sliced ​​through everyone's faces like a knife. He found a secluded valley, ordered them to anchor, and had his men light a bonfire to try to dispel the bone-chilling cold.

The night was as dark as ink, thick and impenetrable, weighing heavily on the hidden valley that served as their makeshift camp. The cold wind howled like the roar of a wild beast, relentlessly sweeping through every corner of the valley, making the campfire crackle and send sparks flying.

Liu Yao sat on a rock outside the tent, draped in a heavy cloak, yet unable to stop shivering slightly. His eyes were filled with fatigue and anxiety, and he frequently glanced into the distance, as if wary of Yuan Shu's pursuers. His once neatly combed hair was now a little disheveled, with strands flying wildly in the wind, further accentuating his dishevelled and dejected appearance.

At that moment, the rapid, heavy sound of horse hooves approached from afar, shattering the valley's stillness. Liu Yao was startled, his hand unconsciously tightening around the sword at his waist. His body tensed like a frightened deer, he glanced warily in the direction of the sound. He saw Taishi Ci, atop a sweat-soaked steed, charging into the valley at lightning speed.

Taishi Ci's face was covered in dust, mixed with sweat, forming streaks of mud that only made him look even more haggard. His armor was stained with blood, whether it was the enemy's or his own. But his eyes shone with an unyielding determination, like a burning flame that never extinguished.

Taishi Ci dismounted, his steps unsteady, but he still managed to stride forward to Liu Yao. He dropped to one knee with a thud, his voice hoarse but resolute, "My lord, although I fought hard in Yuzhang City, the enemy was too powerful, and our forces were outnumbered, ultimately forcing the city to fall. Veteran General Fan Neng was killed in action, and I have come to report the situation to you, my lord."

Liu Yao listened, his heart tightening, a flicker of guilt crossing his face, but he quickly regained his composure. He nodded slightly, his eyes twinkling as he said, "Ziyi, you've worked hard. The fall of Yuzhang City wasn't your fault; it was simply due to the enemy's overwhelming strength."

Taishi Ci didn't stand. Instead, he raised his head and stared directly into Liu Yao's eyes, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, filled with questioning and discontent. He shouted, "My lord, there's something I don't understand. When the enemy was sieging the city, we fought desperately on the city walls, shedding blood. Why did you flee without warning, leaving us soldiers isolated and helpless? General Fan was a lifelong loyal and brave warrior. He fought to the death to protect us, for you, and for Yuzhang City, but ultimately died. If you had come to my aid, perhaps General Fan wouldn't have met this end!"

Liu Yao's face instantly turned awful, turning pale and blue. He was furious, feeling that Taishi Ci had dared to question him in such a way. But knowing he was in the wrong, he was speechless for a moment. His hands clenched into fists, the knuckles turning white, his lips trembling slightly, but he still couldn't utter a word.

Xu Shao, standing nearby, saw the tense atmosphere and hurried forward, his face filled with anxiety and helplessness. He reached out and gently tugged at Taishi Ci's sleeve, whispering, "Ziyi, our lord was concerned for the greater good. Yuzhang City was on the verge of collapse, and the enemy was as fierce as wolves and tigers. If our lord hadn't evacuated in time, his life would have been in danger. Our lord's actions were a helpless one, and I hope you can understand our difficulties."

Taishi Ci's fury remained undimmed upon hearing this. He gritted his teeth, a vein bulging on his forehead as he spoke, "Sir, I understand your difficulties. But General Fan has been loyal his entire life, risking his life for you. His sacrifice was so heroic. Your lordship has abandoned the city and fled, leaving so many soldiers' blood shed in vain. How can we, who fought to the death, truly accept your words?"

Xu Shao sighed, shook his head helplessly, and said, "Ziyi, the situation is critical now. Our top priority is to unite as one and overcome this together. Let's not dwell on the past. My lord, I am also a loyal man. I am deeply saddened by General Fan's sacrifice. I hope you will not blame me."

Liu Yao glanced at Taishi Ci, then at Xu Shao. Though filled with displeasure, he also understood that pursuing the matter further would only worsen the situation. Suppressing his rage, he nodded slightly, saying, "Ziyi, your loyalty is commendable, and I will not blame you. However, we are in a difficult situation now, and we must work together to overcome this crisis. We must not let this matter damage our relationship."

Taishi Ci's anger gradually subsided upon hearing this, but he couldn't hide his disappointment. He stood up, clasped his fists, and said, "Rest assured, my lord. I am willing to serve you with all my heart, even if it means risking anything. I simply hope you will be more considerate of the soldiers in the future and not let them down."

Liu Yao nodded and said, "Okay, then let's rest for a night and make plans tomorrow."

Taishi Ci looked at Liu Yao with a determined gaze and asked seriously, "My lord, now that Yuzhang City has fallen into Yuan Shu's hands, the situation has changed dramatically. What are your plans for responding?"

Liu Yao frowned slightly, feeling lost and anxious about the future. He didn't know how to respond. He subconsciously glanced at Xu Shao, who was standing beside him, as if seeking help and guidance.

Xu Shao cleared his throat, took a step forward, and said respectfully, "My lord, Liu Biao of Jingzhou is a fellow Han relative and well-known for his virtue. Now Yuan Shu is recklessly attacking other princes and acting in a rebellious manner. My lord and Liu Jingsheng (Liu Biao's courtesy name is Jingsheng) are of the same clan, so you can go to Jingzhou. We can borrow troops from him to plan a comeback and avenge the fall of Yuzhang City."

Taishi Ci listened and nodded slightly. After a moment's reflection, he retorted, "My lord, although Yuzhang City has been captured, I understand that Yuan Shu's army is short of food and fodder. Even if they capture the city, they won't be able to hold it for long without a sufficient supply. Sun Bofu (Sun Ce's courtesy name is Bofu) is already in Yuzhang. He commands elite troops and ample provisions, making him a formidable force. Why don't we join Sun Ce? Then, united, we can engage Yuan Shu. Wouldn't that give us a greater chance of victory and be more viable?"

He paused and continued, "Besides, Jingzhou is a long way from here. Now that Yuzhang City has been destroyed, the remnants of our army are constantly fleeing the battlefield. Now is the perfect time to gather the remaining troops and consolidate our strength. If we choose to go to Jingzhou instead of the nearby one, wouldn't we be giving Yuan Shu a chance to catch his breath? By then, if Yuan Shu gains a foothold in Yuzhang City and strengthens its defenses, it will be extremely difficult for us to recapture Yuzhang City."

Liu Yao's gaze shifted between Xu Shao and Taishi Ci, a subtle glint of fear in his eyes. Recalling the past, he and Xu Shao both felt that Taishi Ci's praise of Sun Ce seemed excessive, his words filled with admiration, which made them suspicious.

Taishi Ci's rise to prominence under Liu Yao was relatively recent; only in the past six months, through numerous major battles, had he gradually demonstrated his exceptional martial prowess and military talent. However, Liu Yao and Xu Shao perceived this prowess as a veiled ulterior motive. Compared to Fan Neng and Yu Mi, who had long served them with unwavering loyalty, Taishi Ci, despite his exceptional abilities, lacked the assurance of complete trust. They even speculated that Taishi Ci might have already secretly defected to Sun Ce, and his current recommendation for an alliance with him might be a ulterior motive.

Xu Shao noticed Liu Yao's hesitation and worry, and quickly laughed it off, a smile plastered across his face. He said, "General Taishi, you've fought so many tough battles today, and you've been exhausted. After all this traveling, and fighting so hard on the city walls, you must be exhausted. Let's rest here and recuperate. As for our next plan, I'll discuss it with you in detail tomorrow and give you a response. Is that okay with you?"

Xu Shao's words seemed to be a gesture of concern for Taishi Ci, but in reality, they were an attempt to change the subject and avoid making a decision at this point. He knew that the decision of whether to proceed to Jingzhou or ally with Sun Ce was a matter of life and death, and one that could not be made hastily. Moreover, their suspicions about Taishi Ci had not yet been resolved, and they needed more time to weigh the pros and cons.

Taishi Ci frowned slightly at Xu Shao's words. Though he felt disgruntled, he also understood that further comment would be futile. He clasped his fists and said, "Since that's the case, I will submit to your arrangements, my lord. I simply hope you can make a decision quickly to avoid delaying the battle." With that, he turned and left, a touch of resignation and unwillingness in his steps.

Liu Yao watched Taishi Ci's receding figure, the worry in his heart spreading like a vine, becoming tighter and tighter. He frowned slightly, his eyes revealing a hint of anxiety and uneasiness. He slowly turned his head and looked at Xu Shao beside him.

"Mr. Xu," Liu Yao said softly, a hint of hesitation in his voice, "How trustworthy is Taishi Ci? Is he truly loyal to us?"

Xu Shao narrowed his eyes slightly, a look of deep thought on his face. After a moment, he sighed softly and said, "My lord, General Taishi's bravery is unquestionable. His performance in these battles is evident to all. However..." Xu Shao paused, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. "It's just that his attitude towards Sun Ce is somewhat unpredictable. He mentions Sun Ce so often, his words filled with praise, that I cannot help but worry about his loyalty."

Liu Yao listened and nodded silently, his expression growing even more worried. He knew full well that in these turbulent times, people's hearts were unpredictable, and a person's loyalty often determined life and death. With Taishi Ci's high regard for Sun Ce, there was no guarantee he wouldn't have second thoughts.

"Then according to your opinion, what should we do?" Liu Yao asked anxiously, staring at Xu Shao, as if looking for a glimmer of hope.

Xu Shao pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "My lord, since Taishi Ci wishes to join Sun Ce in attacking Yuan Shu, we should accede to his wishes and allow him to gather his remaining troops here. We will then proceed to Jingzhou to borrow troops from Liu Biao and Liu Jingsheng. This way, we will at least have some assurance of safety."

He paused, a sly glint in his eyes, and continued, "In the future, if we truly defeat Yuan Shu, we'll have the military strength we need to negotiate with Sun Ce about the ownership of Yuzhang. By then, even if Taishi Ci is in collusion with Sun Ce, we'll have the leverage to negotiate and won't be in such a passive position."

Liu Yao's eyes gleamed as he listened to Xu Shao's words, a thoughtful expression on his face. He carefully weighed the pros and cons and felt Xu Shao's words made some sense. Allowing Taishi Ci to gather his remaining troops here would both capitalize on his abilities and prevent him from prematurely allying with Sun Ce and posing a threat. Meanwhile, traveling to Jingzhou to borrow troops would strengthen his own capabilities and prepare him for future battles.

"Alright, as you say, sir!" Liu Yao finally made up his mind and nodded solemnly. "Early tomorrow morning, we will set off for Jingzhou. As for Taishi Ci, have him gather the remaining troops here and await news from us."