Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Soon, dust and smoke billowed from the vast plains. A vast army, like a black torrent, rapidly approached, appearing before their eyes. Leading the charge was the dashing, imposing Sun Ce, atop a swift, snow-white steed. His hooves tumbling, he looked like a god of war descending from the heavens. The horse neighed, its nostrils emitting a searing breath, as if it too was excited for the coming battle. Sun Ce held a spear, its tip gleaming coldly in the sunlight, like the scythe of the Grim Reaper, emitting a chilling aura. His eyes, sharp as an eagle's, exuded a sense of authority and confidence, as if he could discern every thought and action of Ji Ling and the others.

Sun Ce looked at Ji Ling, a cold, sneer curling his lips. It seemed to emanate from the depths of the abyss, carrying an endless chill. His voice, icy yet commanding, resounded like a bell: "Ji Ling, today you cannot escape! I will make you pay a heavy price for Yuan Shu's actions. Blood debt must be paid with blood!" As soon as he finished speaking, he swung his painted halberd violently. It streaked through the air with a streak of black lightning, accompanied by a sharp sound that seemed to rend the air. At his command, the army behind him surged towards Ji Ling and his men like a surging tide, shouting and roaring, unstoppable.

Instantly, the cries of battle shook the heavens, as if to shatter the very firmament. The sound was like thunder, piercing the eardrums and shaking the very ground beneath their feet. Sun Ce's troops were brimming with morale, like hungry wolves pouncing on their prey, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust as they brandished their weapons and furiously attacked Ji Ling's troops. Ji Ling knew there was no retreat now, a chasm looming behind him. His eyes burned with a blazing fire of fighting will, and he shouted, "Brothers, this is a fight to the death. Kill! Even if we die today, we must die for good!" With that, he brandished his heavy, three-pointed, double-edged sword and, like a black whirlwind, charged the enemy lines. His resolute figure, bathed in the fading light, seemed a ray of hope amidst the darkness.

The battlefield suddenly erupted in the gleaming of swords and the relentless clash of weapons, accompanied by the screams and roars of the soldiers, forming a gruesome symphony of war. Ji Ling's three-pointed, double-edged sword was immensely powerful, each swing carrying a tremendous force. Wherever it passed, blood splattered, easily taking several lives. However, Sun Ce's army was vast, like a dense swarm of ants, constantly pouring forward. Their morale was high, their coordination was seamless, and they were as ferocious and fearless as a tiger descending from the mountains. Ji Ling and his men gradually became mired in a stalemate. Every attack and defense seemed difficult, as if they were locked in a desperate struggle against fate.

Lei Bo and Li Feng also tried their best. Their faces were covered with sweat and blood, which were intertwined and could not be distinguished from each other. They waved their weapons and fought hard to resist the enemy's crazy attack. However, they had just experienced a fierce battle and their physical strength had not yet recovered. At this time, facing the fierce and aggressive Sun Ce army, their resistance seemed a little powerless. Li Feng's arms were so sore that he could hardly lift them, but he still gritted his teeth, endured the pain, and waved his weapons; Lei Bo had been injured in many places, and his clothes were soaked with blood, but his eyes still revealed a firm light, and he refused to retreat in the slightest. But they were like candles in the wind, and could be swallowed by the darkness at any time.

In the heat of battle, Ji Ling suddenly caught sight of a soldier surrounded by several enemies. Fear and despair filled the soldier's face, his life hanging in the balance. Ji Ling's heart raced, a fire burning within him, driving him recklessly to the rescue. Like a furious lion, he brandished his three-pointed, double-edged sword, driving back the surrounding enemies. However, just as he rescued the soldier, an enemy general seized the opportunity to attack from behind. With a flash of cold light, the sharp blade struck Ji Ling's back fiercely. Ji Ling felt a sharp pain, as if his entire body were being torn apart. His legs gave way, and he nearly collapsed to the ground. But he gritted his teeth, swallowing the pain, and swung back. Like a bolt of black lightning, the three-pointed, double-edged sword in his hand struck the enemy general fiercely. The general had no time to dodge and was killed by Ji Ling with a single blow. Hot blood splattered all over Ji Ling's face, and the stench of blood filled his nostrils.

The battlefield had become a savage, the bodies of soldiers from both sides piled up like a mountain, layer upon layer, like a vast mausoleum. Blood flowed in streams, forming streams that dyed the once yellow earth a shocking red, as if the earth were bleeding from a wound. Ji Ling watched the soldiers around him fall one by one, some with expressions of fear, others filled with resentment. Ji Ling's heart was filled with grief and helplessness, as if a sharp knife was cutting into his heart again and again. He knew that if this continued, they would be annihilated, becoming nothing more than desolate bones on the plain, untouched by anyone.

Ji Ling decisively ordered, "Brothers, disperse and retreat to Yuzhang City! As long as the mountains remain, there will be no shortage of firewood!" Upon hearing this, the soldiers, despite their reluctance and fear, fought with all their might, each breaking out in different directions. Their figures, insignificant yet tragic, appeared in the afterglow of the setting sun, like a group of ants struggling for survival in the darkness. Ji Ling, accompanied by Lei Bo, Li Feng, and a handful of other soldiers, fought and retreated, each step fraught with hardship and danger. Behind them, the enemy pursued them relentlessly, and every turn brought them to face the flashing swords of the enemy.

Seeing Ji Ling and his men flee, Sun Ce's eyes flashed with a fierceness, like a hungry wolf spotting its prey. Without hesitation, he ordered his troops in pursuit, his voice filled with undeniable authority. During the pursuit, Ji Ling and his men encountered several more small-scale battles, each one dwindling their numbers and costing them many soldiers. Their steps grew heavier, as if each step carried the weight of the world. Their bodies were exhausted to the point of exhaustion, but the will to survive kept them going.

Finally, after an arduous journey, Ji Ling and his men managed to escape back to Yuzhang City with the remnants of their troops. The moment they entered the city gates, Ji Ling could no longer hold on. His vision went dark, and he nearly fell off his horse. It felt as if all strength had been drained from his body, leaving only endless fatigue and pain. Every inch of his skin ached.

After Ji Ling and his men returned to Yuzhang City in disarray, a soldier hurriedly reported the defeat to Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu, meanwhile, sat in his tent, pacing back and forth with a gloomy expression, still hoping that Ji Ling and his men would return in triumph, bearing good news of their successful interception of grain to alleviate the army's urgent food shortage.

When Yuan Shu heard the news from his soldiers that Ji Ling had been defeated and the army had suffered heavy losses, he paused, a flicker of worry and anxiety crossing his face. His eyes betrayed his concern for Ji Ling's safety. Despite his anger, he quickly asked, "How is General Ji Ling? Is he alright? Is he seriously injured?"

The soldier was surprised to see Yuan Shu showing such concern for Ji Ling, and quickly replied, "My lord, General Ji Ling is seriously injured and has been escorted back to the city by the soldiers. He is now on his way to the camp."

Yuan Shu frowned slightly, a look of heartache on his face, and murmured to himself: "Ji Ling is the best general in our army. If anything goes wrong, our army will suffer heavy losses." He paced back and forth in the tent, looking at the tent door from time to time, his eyes full of anxiety.

At this moment, Ji Ling, his exhausted body covered in blood, entered the tent, supported by soldiers. He endured the pain, knelt on one knee, and said in a trembling voice, "My lord, I am incompetent and have betrayed your trust. I failed to intercept the food and caused heavy losses to our army. Please forgive me."

Yuan Shu felt a pang of pain at the sight of Ji Ling's bewildered state. He hurried forward, helped Ji Ling to his feet, and said, "General Ji Ling, there's no need to blame yourself. We fell into Sun Ce's ambush this time because that villain was too cunning. You're fortunate to have returned safely."

Yuan Shu carefully examined Ji Ling's injuries. Seeing the horrific wounds, he felt a surge of pity. He turned to the guard beside him and said, "What are you still standing there for? Quickly call the military doctor and have him come and treat General Ji Ling immediately. If there's any mistake, he will be punished by military law!"

The guard quickly agreed and ran out in a hurry.

Yuan Shu then addressed Ji Ling, "General Ji Ling, you have fought bravely for our army. Although we have been defeated this time, I know you gave it your all. This defeat is not solely your fault, so how can I blame you? Rest and recuperate. Once you have recovered, it will not be too late to serve our army again."

After hearing Yuan Shu's words, Ji Ling felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and his eyes welled up slightly. He choked up and said, "My lord, you are so kind. I am deeply grateful. I will heal my wounds as soon as possible, share your worries, and make meritorious contributions to repay your kindness."

At this time, the strategist Yang Hong also hurried over. He saw the scene in the tent and had already guessed something. He bowed slightly and said, "My lord, General Ji Ling is injured. The most urgent thing is to let him recover. Our army is facing a shortage of food and the threat of Sun Ce. We must find a way to deal with it as soon as possible."

Yuan Shu nodded slightly and said solemnly, "Yang Hong, you must quickly find a way to resolve this predicament. Our army is short of food and morale is low. If we can't resolve this problem in time, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold Yuzhang City."

Yang Hong nodded slightly, then pondered for a moment before saying, "My lord, Mr. Yan Xiang has gone to Jingzhou and hasn't returned yet. Perhaps we could send someone to urge him to reach an agreement with Liu Bang as soon as possible to secure food and fodder. At the same time, we should strengthen Yuzhang City's defenses, recruit new soldiers, and replenish our forces. Furthermore, we could send someone to investigate Sun Ce's movements so we can respond promptly to his attack."

Yuan Shu nodded and said, "Alright, as you say. Yang Hong, I'll leave this matter to you. Make sure it's done as soon as possible. As for General Ji Ling, you can focus on recuperating. I'll arrange for someone else to take over the city defense temporarily."

Ji Ling looked at Yuan Shu gratefully and said, "Thank you for your concern, my lord. I will take good care of myself and return to the battlefield soon." After that, he was supported by the soldiers and slowly walked out of the tent. He secretly vowed in his heart that he must recover from his injuries as soon as possible and regain the lost glory for his lord.