Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Ji Ling was about to continue his persuasion with Yuan Shu, easing tensions between him and Yan Xiang, when Yang Hong's impulsive intrusion interrupted him. He glanced at Yang Hong, displeased by his impetuous, unsteady demeanor and his often risky, scheming schemes. Having been interrupted, Ji Ling pursed his lips and said nothing more. He simply stood quietly by, his brow furrowed slightly.

Yuan Shu, already irritated by military affairs, was startled by Yang Hong's sudden and impetuous action, further fueling his displeasure. His brow furrowed, his eyes etched with impatience as he spoke coldly, "Yang Hong, why are you so flustered? This is so unbecoming! If you have something to say, take your time. Don't be so hasty."

Yang Hong's face was filled with joy, as if he hadn't noticed the dissatisfaction in Yuan Shu's words. He quickly walked up to Yuan Shu, bowed respectfully, and said excitedly, "My lord, I've just received confirmation that Sun Ce of Kuaiji Commandery in Jiangdong has once again sent grain and fodder to Yuzhang Commandery. Furthermore, according to spies, this shipment is significantly larger than the previous two. Our army is currently facing a food shortage, and if we can secure this shipment, it will truly solve our pressing problem!"

Yuan Shu's eyes lit up when he heard this. Just as he was about to speak, Ji Ling spoke before him, his expression serious. "My lord, Sun Ce of Jiangdong has been unstoppable since he launched his army, successively conquering Kuaiji and Wu Commanderies. His achievements clearly prove he's no ordinary man. Our army has captured Yuzhang Commandery, a matter of such magnitude. With Sun Ce's shrewdness, how could he not have known? Yet, he even dared to send in food and fodder. I'm afraid there's something fishy going on. In my humble opinion, could this be a conspiracy? I urge my lord to proceed with caution and not act rashly."

Ji Ling lowered his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the ground, as he considered various possible scenarios, his worry evident in his words. Yuan Shu, on the other hand, fell into a brief silence. He narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of hesitation on his face, as if he were weighing the pros and cons of Ji Ling's words.

After hearing Ji Ling's words, Yang Hong's face lit up with a confident smile, his eyes glittering with cunning. He tilted his head slightly to look at Ji Ling, his tone calm and unhurried, "General Ji, while Liu Yao possesses some influence, he's merely a spent force. As for Sun Ce, he's certainly capable, having risen to prominence in Jiangdong in a short period of time, becoming a leading figure. However, precisely because of his rapid rise, his foundation is still unstable, and the complex interplay of forces makes it difficult to fully control him in a short period of time."

Yang Hong paused briefly, then turned his gaze to Yuan Shu, observing his lord's expression. Seeing Yuan Shu nod slightly, as if listening attentively, he continued, "My lord, consider this: our army has been facing Liu Yao here for a long time, and the situation is changing rapidly. Sun Ce, on the other hand, has only just established himself in Jiangdong, and his sphere of influence is limited, so information transmission is inevitably delayed. Perhaps he hasn't yet fully realized that we have defeated Liu Yao and captured Yuzhang County, and may still believe that this area is still under Liu Yao's control."

He paced slowly within the tent, his hands behind his back, speaking freely. "Furthermore, food and fodder are of paramount importance to any army. He may be anxious to consolidate his position in Jiangdong and need to befriend Liu Yao by sending food and fodder to Yuzhang in order to further develop his power. That's why he hastily dispatched such a large-scale food and fodder contingent, disregarding the situation of our army here."

Yuan Shu frowned slightly, lost in thought. Seeing this, Yang Hong struck while the iron was hot: "Our army is currently short of food and fodder. This presents a golden opportunity. If we can intercept this wave of food and fodder, not only will it alleviate our immediate needs, but it will also give Sun Ce a warning and show him how powerful we are. As for General Ji's fear of a trap, it's simply excessive caution. Even if there is a trap, with our army's strength, what is there to fear?"

Seeing Yuan Shu's intentions were already stirring, Ji Ling became anxious. He stepped forward, bowed, and said, "My lord, we must not underestimate the enemy. Sun Ce is no ordinary man. He has risen so quickly in Jiangdong, and he must have extraordinary qualities. We cannot fall into his trap for the sake of temporary gains. Please reconsider!"

Without waiting for Yuan Shu to speak, Yang Hong spoke up again, "General Ji, I, Yang Hong, have always admired your bravery in battle. But your cautious attitude today has made me reconsider your views. Could it be that the name of Sun Ce has frightened a great general like you? Or do you have other ulterior motives that prevent our army from obtaining this shipment of grain?"

Ji Ling's face flushed red at Yang Hong's words, his eyes widening with rage. He clenched his fists, his knuckles white, and roared, "Yang Hong, stop slandering me! I, Ji Ling, am utterly loyal to my lord. For his cause, I will risk everything!"

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Yang Hong, however, was not in the least afraid of Ji Ling's wrath. Instead, he sneered and said, "General Ji, it's not enough to just talk without action. If you're truly capable, lead your troops to intercept that batch of grain and grass, and let me see if you're just a name for nothing. If you don't dare to go, don't get in the way of our lord's plans."

Ji Ling was trembling with anger at Yang Hong's provocative words. He turned to look at Yuan Shu and shouted, "My lord, I am willing to lead the troops to intercept Sun Ce's supply train. If we fail, I will be subject to military punishment!"

Yuan Shu looked at Ji Ling, whose face was filled with indignation, and then glanced at Yang Hong, who seemed confident. He thought to himself, "One of them is a capable general under his command, and the other is a counselor he relies on. I can't let them have any grudges." So, he nodded slightly, put on a smile, and acted as a peacemaker.

"Hey, Ji Ling, why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken? You are the best general in our army, with courage that cannot be matched by ten thousand men. Why do you have to go out in person for such a small matter? It will be enough to send Lei Bo and Li Feng. The army needs you to stay here now, just in case, and don't act rashly." Yuan Shu said in a gentle voice, with concern and comfort in his eyes.

After hearing what Yuan Shu said, Ji Ling's anger subsided a little, and his originally tense face relaxed a little. He clasped his fists slightly and said, "Thank you for your understanding, my lord. I will do my best to guard the military camp." A hint of joy appeared on his face.

Yuan Shu then turned to Yang Hong and said, "Yang Hong, you must carefully plan with Lei Bo and Li Feng and arrange the details of intercepting the grain. Don't let your guard down and make sure you bring that grain back safely."

Yang Hong accepted the order with a gleam of pride in his eyes. He said, "Don't worry, my lord. I will discuss this in detail with Generals Lei Bo and Li Feng to ensure that everything goes well."

Soon, Lei Bo and Li Feng arrived upon their summons. Yuan Shu informed them of his mission to intercept Sun Ce's supply train and instructed them to follow Yang Hong's instructions and proceed with caution.

Yang Hongze began to lay out detailed tasks to Lei Bo and Li Feng: "Generals, for this grain interception operation, we must first understand Sun Ce's grain train's route and escort situation. Once they enter our ambush, you two generals will lead your troops to attack quickly, cutting off their retreat routes and seizing the grain as quickly as possible. Remember, do not linger in the battle; return immediately after securing it."

Lei Bo and Li Feng exchanged a glance, clasped their fists, and said, "We will follow your instructions, sir, and will definitely fulfill our mission!"

Afterwards, they discussed some details and formulated a strategy for dealing with emergencies. Once everything was settled, Lei Bo and Li Feng returned to their respective camps to prepare their troops for the grain interception mission. Meanwhile, Yuan Shu, in his tent, silently prayed for the success of this operation, hoping to alleviate the army's urgent food shortage.

Lei Bo and Li Feng, having received their orders, did not hesitate. They quickly selected five thousand strong and experienced elite soldiers and rushed non-stop towards the predicted route of Sun Ce's forage train. Arriving at a strategic valley, they determined it was a perfect ambush location, so they set up camp and quietly awaited their prey.

It was the dead of winter, and the wind was biting, slicing through the soldiers' faces like a knife. The chill in the valley was even more piercing, and the soldiers could only wrap themselves tightly in their threadbare cotton-padded jackets and shiver as they stood guard. Lei Bo and Li Feng were also extremely anxious, sending out scouts from time to time to gather information, but they always received the reply that Sun Ce's supply train had not yet appeared.

Thus, they waited agonizingly for two days in this cold valley. Every minute and every second seemed endlessly long, the soldiers' patience wearing thin, and their morale waning. But Lei Bo and Li Feng persevered, constantly encouraging the soldiers and telling them victory was imminent.

Finally, at dusk the next day, scouts reported that Sun Ce's supply train was not far away, slowly advancing toward the valley. Lei Bo and Li Feng instantly gained confidence and immediately ordered the ambush. The soldiers quickly took up their positions, holding their breath, awaiting the perfect moment to strike.

As the sound of carriages approached, Sun Ce's grain train came into view. The train was enormous, with closely linked carts piled high with bulging sacks, seemingly overflowing with grain. The soldiers escorting the grain were neatly dressed, yet appeared somewhat relaxed, as if completely unaware of the approaching danger.

Lei Bo looked at the scene before him, a gleam of greed flashing in his eyes. He whispered to Li Feng beside him, "It seems we will make great achievements this time. This much food and fodder is enough to sustain our army for a while!" Li Feng was also excited. He rubbed his hands and said, "Yes, after we return, the lord will definitely reward us generously!"

When the forage train had completely entered the narrow section of the valley, Lei Bo shouted, "Attack!" Instantly, pre-prepared logs and rocks roared down from the hillsides on both sides, smashing into the unsuspecting forage train. At the same time, Yuan Shu's troops, ambushed all around, rushed out like tigers descending from the mountains, their shouts shaking the entire valley.

However, just when they thought victory was assured, a sudden, shrill blast of trumpets rang out from all directions. Immediately afterwards, a large number of well-equipped soldiers quickly emerged from the seemingly ordinary supply lines. Well-trained, they quickly formed into battle formations. On either side of the valley, two more groups of troops descended like divine forces, led by none other than Wei Yan and Lü Meng.