Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The cold wind of the year's end whistled across the land like a sharp blade. New Year's Eve was fast approaching, yet the atmosphere outside Yuzhang City was a stark contrast to the joyous occasion of family reunions. A heavy, gloomy haze enveloped the city. Sun Ce's army had set up camp outside the city walls, their tents forming a continuous network like a forest of fortresses. Military flags rustled and whistled in the strong wind. Yet, facing the impenetrable Yuzhang City, they could not advance even a single step. Within the city walls, Yuan Shu was like an ant on the hot pot, furious, yet forced to hunker down within, his hands and feet bound by fear and apprehension, he dared not venture forth to meet the enemy.

Yuan Shu's forces rivaled Sun Ce's in sheer numbers, but the fearless prowess of Sun Ce's army, displayed on previous battlefields, loomed like an insurmountable barrier in Yuan Shu's heart. He felt a sense of dread, as if an invisible, powerful hand were gripping his throat, leaving him helpless. To make matters worse, his trusted general, Ji Ling, had tragically been severely injured in a previous battle, drastically reducing his combat effectiveness. This undoubtedly added insult to injury for Yuan Shu, forcing him to struggle, straining his exhausted body to maintain the precarious defense of the city. Meanwhile, Sun Ce, despite his ferocious offensive, groped in the dark, unable to find the crucial opportunity to break through. The two sides remained locked in a stalemate, and amidst this tense confrontation, the New Year quietly approached.

One day, Sun Ce was alone in his tent, his thick brows knitted together, lost in deep thought, racking his brains for a strategy to break the city. Military maps littered the table inside the tent. Sometimes, with a sharp gaze, he gazed intently at the winding mountains and sturdy cities on the maps, trying to find clues to defeat the enemy; sometimes, he paced rapidly back and forth in the tent, each step seeming to carry a heavy weight, his eyes revealing a determination and persistence, unwilling to miss any fleeting opportunity that could lead to a brilliant strategy that could defeat the enemy. Just then, a sudden burst of hurried and chaotic footsteps could be heard outside the tent. A dusty soldier, arriving on horseback from Wujun, hurriedly lifted the tent curtain and walked in. Then, with a thump, he knelt on one knee and reported in a loud voice, "General, Madam Sun has sent someone to deliver a letter!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Ce was startled for a moment, then a hint of surprise crossed his face, and a strange surge of anticipation welled up within him. He quickly reached for the letter, eagerly opening the envelope and carefully examining it. Inside, his mother shared a piece of heartwarming news: Sun Ce's wife, Da Qiao, and Zhou Yu's wife, Xiao Qiao, were both pregnant! This news was like a ray of brilliant light, piercing the oppressive, almost suffocating atmosphere within the tent. Sun Ce froze in place for a moment, his mind blank, as if he hadn't fully digested the sudden surprise. Then, a brilliant smile slowly spread across his face, one filled with the joy and excitement of becoming a father. The atmosphere within the tent was lightened for a rare moment by this joyful news, and the lingering shadow of war was momentarily dispelled.

Sun Ce read on excitedly. The letter mentioned that Zhou Lang's campaign in Jiujiang County remained at a stalemate, but thankfully, under the meticulous care of Mr. Zhang Zhao, everything in Wu and Kuaiji counties was in perfect order. Furthermore, Zhang Hong had returned safely from Chang'an, bearing the emperor's reward. To his surprise, the emperor didn't blame them for their unauthorized attack on the other princes; instead, he showered them with praise and promotions, far exceeding Sun Ce's expectations.

Upon reading this, Sun Ce couldn't help but smile, his eyes filled with joy and pride. He continued reading, and the letter also mentioned Zhang Zhao's exceptional ability in handling internal affairs and his ability to balance the power of the various clans. Under his coordination, the various clans actively participated in the development of Wujun, contributing financially and physically, resulting in its prosperity. Furthermore, his second brother, Sun Quan, had also grown rapidly during this period through constant training, making such remarkable progress that even his usually strict mother, Old Lady Sun, could not help but praise him highly.

Sun Ce read the letter and felt the haze in his heart clear away, his mood suddenly brightened. At this time, the generals in the hall saw his smiling face and couldn't help but curiously ask what made his lord so happy.

Inside the tent, Sun Ce's face was beaming, his voice bright and clear. He was the first to speak: "Everyone, to be honest, Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao are both pregnant. Gongjin and I will soon be fathers!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Ben's eyes were filled with surprise. He laughed heartily and quickly stepped forward. He patted Sun Ce's shoulder heavily and said excitedly, "Haha, dear brother! This is truly a great joyous occasion! Our Sun family will soon have a new member, and we will surely prosper even more in the future!"

Wei Yan's face was filled with admiration. He clasped his hands together and said loudly, "Congratulations, my lord, on the birth of your precious son! I believe that the young masters will inherit your bravery and achieve extraordinary success in the future!"

Quan Cong's face flushed red as he excitedly cupped his hands and said, "Yes, this happy event is truly a blessing for Dongwu. In the future, these young masters will surely become the backbone of Dongwu!"

Ling Cao also echoed with a smile in his eyes: "Congratulations, my lord! This is a good omen. Dongwu will surely prosper even more in the future!"

Sun Ce laughed heartily after hearing this: "Today's good news is truly rare! Come, quickly arrange a banquet. Let's drink to our heart's content and not leave until we're drunk!" Everyone cheered. For a moment, the tent was decorated with lanterns and colorful lights, and everyone sat around, toasting each other, a lively atmosphere.

Inside Yuzhang City, Yuan Shu gazed at the brightly lit and cheerful Sun Ce camp outside, his brow furrowed in confusion and uneasiness. He turned to his advisor and asked impatiently, "Do you know what's going on outside the city? It's so lively!"

The counselor looked troubled and replied cautiously, "My Lord, we haven't found out yet, but judging by the situation, there must be some good news."

Yuan Shu snorted coldly, "Hmph, no matter what they do, they won't be able to easily break through Yuzhang City! Keep a close eye on them, and report any news immediately!"

At the banquet outside the city, after three rounds of wine, Sun Ce, slightly tipsy, looked at the crowd with a determined gaze: "Today's happy event is a good omen. When this battle is over and we return to Wu Commandery, I will spend some quality time with Da Qiao, and I also hope that Gongjin's campaign goes smoothly."

Sun Ben nodded in agreement: "Don't worry, my dear brother. When the child is born, I, as his uncle, will definitely love him well."

Wei Yan stood up, his expression excited: "My lord, when the children are born, I will teach them martial arts. I guarantee that each of them will be as brave as you!"

Everyone burst into laughter again. At this moment, a soldier hurried into the tent and whispered something in Sun Ce's ear. Sun Ce's face changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and said to everyone with a smile, "It's nothing, just a small matter. Let's continue to have fun!"

The tent was brightly lit. Sun Ce had just heard from his soldiers that Yan Xiang was en route to Yuzhang City, escorting a large shipment of grain and fodder from Jingzhou. His smile froze, and a subtle hint of worry flashed in his eyes. Although he tried hard to force a smile, the generals in the hall couldn't help but notice.

Wei Yan's face was filled with concern. He bowed and asked, "My lord, after this soldier reported, I noticed that you were uneasy. Is there something troubling you? Please tell us, and we will certainly help you."

Sun Ce didn't want to ruin the festive atmosphere. He hesitated for a moment, but when he realized he couldn't hide it anymore, he told the truth: "Just now, the soldiers secretly reported that a large amount of food and fodder is being transported from Jingzhou to Yuzhang."

Upon hearing this, Sun Ben couldn't help but gasp and said anxiously, "Yuan Shu is now trapped here. The lack of food is a great opportunity for us to defeat him. Now that he has obtained food and fodder, who knows how long it will take to capture this city. We must not allow them to transport this food and fodder into the city smoothly!"

A fierce look flashed in Wei Yan's eyes. He stepped forward and offered a suggestion: "My lord, if that's the case, why not seize their food supplies at night? Then we can catch Yuan Shu off guard!"

Sun Ce shook his head helplessly, frowning, and analyzed: "Now they are coming from Jingzhou, and everywhere they pass through is Yuan Shu's territory. Old Yuan Shu is short of food and grass now, and that food and grass is more important to him than his life. He will definitely guard against it strictly. How could he let us rob them so easily?" After hearing this, everyone fell silent for a while. The atmosphere in the tent became depressing, and the jubilation was replaced by solemnity. Everyone understood that the issue of food and grass would become a difficult problem before them.

Wei Yan stood up suddenly, his eyes wide open, his hands clasped together, his posture straight as a pine tree, and asked Sun Ce in a voice as loud as a bell: "My lord! I am willing to lead the elite soldiers to rob this batch of food and grass at night! I have always been brave in battle, and I will definitely catch Yuan Shu off guard and make sure that he will never get these food and grass back!" He exuded an aura of "no one else can do it but me", and was eager to rush to this battle.

Seeing this, Lu Meng quickly stood up and knelt on one knee, his attitude respectful and full of composure: "My lord, I beg to go with General Wei. I will use clever strategies and work closely with General Wei to try to seize the food and grass without anyone noticing, and give the enemy a warning." Lu Meng raised his head slightly, his eyes full of wisdom and confidence.

Sun Ce looked at the two generals who had volunteered, a flicker of relief in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by solemnity. He paced slowly, a look of worry on his face. After a long pause, he spoke, "I am well aware of your courage and loyalty. However, this grain raid will be fraught with difficulties. Yuan Shu will surely have ambushes and deceptions along the way. The slightest mistake will put you in grave danger."

Upon hearing this, Wei Yan's chest suddenly puffed out, and he patted his chest vigorously, and excitedly assured: "Don't worry, my lord! Even if the enemy sets a tight net, I will not be afraid. I will do my best to successfully rescue the food and fodder. If I fail, I will bring my head to you!"

Lü Meng nodded seriously and added, "My lord, I have a comprehensive plan. We can split our forces into two groups. One group will launch a large-scale feint attack from the front to draw out the enemy's main force. The other group will march lightly behind the enemy and raid their supplies. This way, with both internal and external support, our chances of success will be much greater."

Sun Ce paused, his gaze gazing back and forth between the two men. After weighing his options, he finally nodded earnestly. "Alright! Since you two generals are determined, I agree. But remember, all actions must be cautious and adaptable. If you encounter danger, do not linger in the fight; retreat immediately."