Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

At this moment, Xu Shao nudged Liu Yao inconspicuously, leaned closer, and whispered, "My lord, please protect Taishi Ci first." Liu Yao looked at Xu Shao with a puzzled expression, his eyes filled with confusion. But his years of trust in Xu Shao prevented him from hesitating for long. He took a deep breath and said, "General Huang, wait. Ziyi is an old subordinate of mine, and I believe he would never betray me. Besides, he came here alone. How could he have any ill intentions?"

When Huang Zu heard this, a look of contempt immediately appeared on his face, and he snorted coldly: "You can judge a person by his appearance but not by his heart. Lord Liu, you'd better be careful and don't be fooled by him." He still insisted on dealing with Taishi Ci with a tough attitude.

At this point, Kuai Liang hurried forward to dissuade him, "Degui, please don't do this! He is, after all, one of Liu Shijun's generals. It's best to let Liu Shijun handle the situation. We shouldn't interfere too much." Huang Zu's face paled, then turned pale. Finally, he relented, waving his hand and ordering his men to put away their weapons. He looked at Liu Yao and spoke earnestly, yet with a hint of warning, "Liu Shijun, this is all I have to say. People's hearts are unpredictable. You'd better be more cautious."

Taishi Ci stood there, watching all this unfold, a mixture of emotions welling up in his heart. He knelt on one knee and spoke clearly, "Thank you, my lord, for your trust. I pledge my life to you. I will never waver and will sacrifice my life to reclaim Yuzhang County." Liu Yao stepped forward, personally helped Taishi Ci to his feet, and patted him on the shoulder. "Ziyi, I trust you. Please explain the subsequent events in detail, so as not to arouse any further suspicion."

Taishi Ci took a deep breath and tried to explain the whole story to dispel everyone's doubts. "After I led my troops to surrender to General Sun Ce, he treated us with absolute courtesy, showing no disrespect for our temporary allegiance. As soon as we were settled, he immediately ordered supplies of food and fodder, ensuring our brothers were well fed and clothed, and restoring morale."

At this point, Taishi Ci paused, a look of reminiscence in his eyes. "Earlier, during the chaotic times, we were short of food and clothing, and it was General Sun Ce who came to our aid, providing us with food and fodder, enabling us to fight Yuan Shu. I'll always remember his kindness. So, when I heard that Lord Liu Yao had come to recapture Yuzhang County, I was eager to return to his service, so I went to bid farewell to General Sun Ce."

"At the time, I was apprehensive, fearing he would obstruct me. Unexpectedly, General Sun Ce not only didn't stop me, but actually praised my loyalty. Before I left, he even provided me with an additional batch of food and fine weapons, so that I could better assist my lord in achieving his great cause. Although he was also vying for Yuzhang County, his broad-mindedness and actions were truly admirable."

However, the more heartfelt Taishi Ci's words became, the uglier everyone's expressions grew. Huang Zu's expression, a sure sign of something wrong with him, became increasingly apparent. His lips curled, his eyes filled with disdain, as if to say, "See, it's just as I thought." Liu Yao's face darkened as well, as he stared intently at Taishi Ci. The trust in his eyes had completely vanished, replaced by deep suspicion and disappointment.

Seeing the situation had become tense, Xu Shao quickly intervened with a smile, saying, "Ziyi has always been loyal, and what he said may be true. Now is the time to use someone, so let's clear up the misunderstanding and avoid damaging the relationship." But Huang Zu refused to give him any face. He crossed his arms and said firmly, "Hmph, what's the point of trying to make nice? Who knows if he's an undercover agent sent by Sun Ce? His troops must not enter the county town. They must be stationed outside the city to prevent any unrest."

Liu Yao remained silent for a moment, not saying anything to stop him. He simply nodded. He looked at Taishi Ci, his eyes filled with distance and suspicion. "Ziyi, the situation is unclear right now. You should set up camp outside the city. Once we have a clear understanding of the situation, we can make plans."

Taishi Ci felt a pang of pain in his heart; his sincerity was met with such distrust. But he knew it was pointless to argue now, so he could only kneel on one knee and say in a deep voice, "I will follow my lord's orders. But please believe that Taishi Ci's loyalty to you is witnessed by heaven and earth, and is without a trace of falsehood. I will sacrifice my life to reclaim Yuzhang County." With that, he stood up, turned, and walked out of the tent with heavy steps.

After leaving the tent, Taishi Ci mounted his horse and slowly headed out of the city. He looked back as the county gates slowly closed behind him, a chasm separating him from his once trusted lord and comrades. He knew the road ahead to regaining their trust would be long and arduous. But for Liu Yao, and for the great cause of reclaiming Yuzhang County, he resolved to fight with all his might, even if it meant facing everyone's doubts and suspicions alone. Meanwhile, within the city, Huang Zu was still intensely discussing countermeasures with Liu Yao and others, and his vigilance against Taishi Ci remained unwavering.

After Liu Yao separated from Huang Zu and Kuai Liang, doubts surged in his heart. Unable to contain himself any longer, he asked Xu Shao, "Sir, we're only borrowing troops from Huang Zu, and we didn't expect Taishi Ci to be of much use. Moreover, he previously served under Sun Ce, and his loyalty is unpredictable. Why do you insist on keeping him? What if he's a spy? Wouldn't we all become a laughingstock?"

Xu Shao bowed slightly, his expression calm, yet his eyes gleamed with a sagacity that saw the world. He spoke slowly, "My lord, you are well aware of Taishi Ci's valor and skill. Our forces are weak now, with veteran General Fan Neng killed in battle and only Yu Mi remaining, constantly constrained by Huang Zu. Taishi Ci's surrender, regardless of his loyalty, is a valuable asset, considering his martial prowess alone. With him around, we can at least have more confidence in our military, freeing us from having to rely on Huang Zu for everything. As long as we avoid getting too close to him, we won't be easily threatened by him. If he does make a move at a critical moment in the future, it won't be too late to deal with him."

Liu Yao lowered his head in thought, recalling Huang Zu's recent mockery and ridicule, his heart filled with resentment. Then he thought of Taishi Ci's heroic display on the battlefield, truly a rare and formidable general. After weighing the pros and cons, Liu Yao sighed deeply, "Sir, you are absolutely right. I will do as you say."

Thus, Taishi Ci was temporarily detained. Although Liu Yao still harbored doubts about him, he decided to give him a chance after Xu Shao's persuasion. After setting up camp outside the city, Taishi Ci diligently trained his troops daily, awaiting Liu Yao's dispatch. Liu Yao also frequently sent men to secretly observe Taishi Ci's every move, to prevent him from harboring any ill intentions.

Huang Zu was very dissatisfied when he learned that Liu Yao had kept Taishi Ci, and he repeatedly expressed his concerns to Liu Yao, believing that Taishi Ci was a hidden danger. However, Liu Yao's attitude became more resolute after Xu Shao's analysis, and he only responded to Huang Zu politely, saying that he would pay more attention.

In this delicate situation, Taishi Ci, despite sensing widespread distrust, remained diligent in his duties, never slacking off. He longed for a major battle, where he could prove his loyalty and regain Liu Yao's trust. Meanwhile, the situation in Yuzhang County grew increasingly tense amidst the undercurrents of conflicting forces, and a major war seemed imminent.

Ever since Taishi Ci joined the army, Huang Zu began to strategize whenever faced with the arduous task of siege. He would deliberately shirk responsibility, unwilling to risk his men's lives, and often hinted that Taishi Ci should lead the charge. Huang Zu's condescending and domineering demeanor made Taishi Ci a mere tool to be manipulated at will. In his eyes, Taishi Ci was merely an "outsider" with some martial prowess, suited to leading the charge and taking risks.

Liu Yao, due to his deep distrust of Taishi Ci, unhesitatingly agreed with Huang Zu's opinion. In Liu Yao's view, since Taishi Ci had previously served under Sun Ce and his loyalty was questionable, sending him to attack the city would not only test his loyalty but also avoid casualties among his own troops. So why not?

Thus, during every siege, Taishi Ci led his former Yuzhang commandery troops to the forefront. Facing a hail of arrows and scalding oil from the walls, they fearlessly scaled ladders and engaged the defending enemy in a desperate battle. Amidst the clashing of swords and spears, Taishi Ci bravely led the charge, his figure like a sharp blade, weaving through the enemy lines and buoying the morale of his former troops.

Yet, despite Taishi Ci's repeated bloody battles, successfully capturing the city walls, the fruits of victory were easily reaped by Huang Zu and his men. Not only did Taishi Ci and his men receive no accolades, not even a single word of praise. Every time merit was awarded after a battle, Huang Zu brazenly claimed all the credit for himself, and Liu Yao acquiesced. Taishi Ci watched Huang Zu's smug expression, his heart filled with resentment, yet he had nowhere to vent it. He had returned to Liu Yao's service with a sincere heart, wanting to contribute to the recovery of Yuzhang County, but now he was treated as if his life and his sacrifices were insignificant.

Inside the tent, the atmosphere was oppressive, like the eve of a storm. Taishi Ci's former subordinates were seething with anger, each one venting their frustrations. One, blushing, slammed his fist on the table. "General, we risked our lives on the battlefield, but in the end, all the credit goes to someone else. How unfair!" As soon as the words left his mouth, another voice rang out: "That's right! If this continues, who will risk their lives for Liu Yao? We don't owe him anything!" The crowd echoed, their emotions growing increasingly agitated.

At this moment, a soldier in the corner suddenly said, "I think Liu Yao is jealous of talented people and has a very small temper. We almost lost our lives while covering our retreat for him before, and now we are waiting for him to come back in Yuzhang County, but how does he treat us?" The person next to him immediately responded, "That's right, in front of General Sun Ce, we are treated as guests of honor. We are never short of food, grass, weapons and armor, and we are valued everywhere. In my opinion, it is better for us to go back and join General Sun Ce!" As soon as these words came out, the tent became quiet in an instant, and everyone's eyes were cast on Taishi Ci, waiting for his response.

Taishi Ci's brows knitted together like the shape of a "川" (river). He slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over each familiar face. He spoke earnestly, "Brothers, I understand what you're saying, and I feel aggrieved. But it's precisely because we served under General Sun Ce before that our lord is suspicious of us. If we listen to you now and truly surrender again, how will others view us? Wouldn't that just confirm our reputation for fickleness? How can we survive in these troubled times? How can we face the people of the world?"

Everyone fell silent upon hearing this, though some nodded thoughtfully. Taishi Ci continued, "We are all loyal and righteous men. Since we chose to return to our lord, we must not give up easily. As long as we have a clear conscience and sincerely serve our lord, I believe that one day, our lord will recognize our loyalty and treat us fairly." The soldiers' eyes gradually strengthened, and they all expressed their willingness to follow Taishi Ci's instructions and continue to serve their lord Liu Yao. The atmosphere in the tent also quietly shifted from resentment and unwillingness to determination and unity.