Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Sun Ce slowly rose and paced the tent with steady steps, speaking as he went, "Right now, Yuzhang County is impregnable and extremely difficult to capture. Liu Yao's army is also pressing in from the north. We face considerable challenges. But I firmly believe that as long as we all work together with a united will, we will find a way to defeat the enemy. Ziming, you must continue to strengthen the defense and governance of southern Yuzhang. Ensure stability in the rear, which is the foundation of our army. Wenchang, you must pay close attention to the enemy's every move, keenly seeking opportunities for battle. Once the time is right, you must strike decisively. Jingwen, you must fully assist Ziming and properly handle the complexities of food and fodder supply, as this is crucial to the survival of our army. As for Taishi Ci..." Sun Ce paused slightly, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. "Although he is now an enemy general, he is indeed a rare and formidable general. We should not underestimate his strength and threat, but we should not be intimidated by him either."

Upon hearing this, everyone responded with a chorus of approval, their voices echoing throughout the tent. The heated debate had thus temporarily come to a close. As the crowd dispersed and the tent gradually quieted, Sun Ce stood alone within, gazing silently at the vast expanse of the night sky outside, lost in deep thought. He knew that to achieve great things in these turbulent times, he would not only have to face external enemies with all his might, but also carefully manage the various internal conflicts and disagreements. This was bound to be a difficult road fraught with thorns and obstacles.

Inside Yuzhang County, Lei Bo and Li Feng gazed at the encirclement forming outside, feeling a mixture of emotions, yet also a faint sense of relief. "We've finally waited for this day," Lei Bo breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes glittering with a complex light. "The time has finally come for us to retreat." Li Feng nodded, a note of caution on his face. "We absolutely must retreat, but we have to find the right time. First, we must escape unscathed without losing too many troops. Second, our lord, Yuan Shu, must not blame us. Third, we must conserve our strength for when the fighting in Lujiang becomes critical, so we can rush over and achieve great success. Then, not only will our lord not blame us, he'll even need us."

The two men discussed it, but couldn't come to a decision on when would be the best time to retreat. Li Feng pondered for a moment and suggested to Lei Bo, "I think we should first ask Mr. Yang Hong for his opinion. For the next few days, we should hold the city. The city has gathered a lot of troops, and the manpower is strong, and there's plenty of food and fodder. Even if we hold out for another month or so, we can easily do it. As long as we don't actively leave the city to fight, and we hold on steadily, we can hold out for a long time."

Upon hearing this, Lei Bo was deeply impressed. The two men quickly conferred and immediately dispatched a courier to Yang Hong for advice. Meanwhile, to silence Yuan Shu, they meticulously drafted a battle report detailing the dire situation of Yuzhang County under siege from both sides and quickly dispatched it to Yuan Shu. The report, written with earnest words, emphasized the urgency of the situation, attempting to convey to Yuan Shu the difficult predicament of the Yuzhang army and prevent future defeats that would lead to Yuan Shu's harsh rebuke.

After the messenger left, Lei Bo and Li Feng ascended the city walls, gazing at the eager enemy outside, silently plotting their next move. Soldiers bustled back and forth within the city, frantically working to reinforce the city's defenses and transport supplies. Lei Bo observed it all, whispering, "I hope Mr. Yang Hong can offer us a clear path forward. Otherwise, our lives will be difficult." Li Feng patted Lei Bo on the shoulder and soothed him, "Don't worry, Mr. Yang is resourceful and will surely come up with a solution. Let's hold steady and wait for news." In this volatile situation, Yuzhang County felt like an isolated island, and Lei Bo and Li Feng anxiously awaited the straw that would lead them out of their predicament.

Over the next few days, the battle for Yuzhang County became increasingly stalemate. To the north, Huang Zu continued to pressure Taishi Ci, insisting that his troops lead the charge during each siege. Though Taishi Ci resented his actions, mindful of his lord Liu Yao's mission, he gritted his teeth and led his former troops against the fortified city walls.

The siege was brutal. From the defenders' commanding position, arrows and rocks rained down like rain. Taishi Ci led the charge, wielding his twin halberds, fending off wave after wave of attacks, but his fellow soldiers kept falling. Ladders were toppled by the enemy, and soldiers fell, either dead or wounded. Each charge brought heavy casualties, staining the ground beneath the walls red with blood. Yet, Taishi Ci received no support or care. Huang Zu's troops watched from behind, apathetic, as if the fray before them had nothing to do with them.

South of the county city, Sun Ce commanded his generals to advance steadily. Every morning, with the roar of war drums, the siege began promptly. Soldiers, pushing siege engines, approached the city walls, attempting to breach the gates or scale the ramparts. However, Lei Bo and Li Feng, relying on the city's sturdy defenses and ample manpower, repeatedly repelled Sun Ce's attacks.

Sun Ce stood on a distant high ground, brow furrowed, closely observing the battlefield. He was well aware of the importance of Yuzhang County and knew that this siege would be a grueling and arduous battle. He constantly adjusted his tactics, attempting to attack the city from different directions and methods, but he could never achieve a substantial breakthrough. Despite repeated setbacks, Sun Ce remained undaunted, firmly believing that as long as he persisted, he would eventually find an opportunity to capture the city.

Days passed, and Yuzhang County remained standing. To the north, Taishi Ci, squeezed out by Huang Zu, suffered heavy losses and declining morale. To the south, Sun Ce, despite his relentless offensive, also faced fatigued soldiers and dwindling supplies. Within the city, Lei Bo and Li Feng held their ground, anxiously awaiting a reply from Yang Hong. They knew every moment depended on their fate and the outcome of the entire war.

Meanwhile, in the rear camp, Liu Yao heard the news of Taishi Ci's heavy losses during the siege. Though he felt a pang of resentment, he chose to remain silent under Huang Zu's relentless pressure. While he didn't care about Taishi Ci's safety, he was eager to capture Yuzhang County as soon as possible, a conflicting feeling that made him restless.

Taishi Ci dragged his heavy, bloodstained gait back into another defeat. The sounds of bloodshed still echoed in his ears. He endured the exhaustion, both physical and mental, as he methodically counted the wounded. Looking at his men, some groaning in pain, some unconscious, Taishi Ci felt as if his heart were being gripped by an invisible hand, bitterness and resentment swirling within him.

After completing the inventory, he, filled with anger and resentment, headed straight for the allied army tent where Huang Zu and Liu Yao were stationed. Upon entering, he saw Huang Zu, seated at the main seat, his horse and sword in hand, his expression relaxed, as if the brutal fighting outside had nothing to do with him. Liu Yao sat to the side, his brow slightly furrowed, a look of worry on his face.

Taishi Ci suppressed his inner rage and saluted Liu Yao. Then, turning to Huang Zu, he said, "General Huang, our troops have been attacking the city for days, suffering heavy casualties. Each time, we have led the charge, but when the battle became difficult and the attack was unsuccessful, you never sent troops to support us. Why is this? Your soldiers fought bravely, but received no support. This kind of fighting is truly disheartening!"

Huang Zu's lips curled up slightly in a mocking sneer. He glanced at Taishi Ci with a sidelong glance, his expression filled with disdain. "Hmph, since you've received the military order, attacking the city is your job. You can't take it, and you're still questioning me? Are you looking for an excuse to escape?"

Taishi Ci's fury instantly ignited. He took a large step forward, his voice rising slightly. "General Huang, I, Taishi Ci, have served our lord with a single-minded focus, reclaiming Yuzhang Commandery. I've never had second thoughts. Yet, your tactics now clearly send my soldiers to their deaths in vain! As a general, you disregard the lives of your men, preoccupied only with preserving your own strength. With such actions, how can you possibly earn the trust of your fellow soldiers?"

Huang Zu's expression suddenly changed. He slammed the table with a loud bang, then stood up, his eyes wide open in anger. "How dare you! You're just a general living under someone else's roof, and you dare to be so rude to me? Don't forget, your master still relies on my army!"

At this point, Liu Yao finally couldn't sit still anymore. He stood up and tried to smooth things over: "Zi Yi, General Huang, please don't be angry. Let's talk things over nicely."

Taishi Ci ignored Liu Yao, still staring intently at Huang Zu. His eyes welled up, his voice choked with anger. "I, Taishi Ci, have come for justice, not to be manipulated! Today, I only ask General Huang, will you still care about the lives of my troops during the siege? If you continue to behave this way, I can't fight this battle!"

Huang Zu, however, looked nonchalant. He slowly sat down again, picked up his wine glass, and took a sip, as if the fierce conflict before him was just an insignificant farce. "You are incompetent if you can't take the city. Don't make trouble here. If you don't want to fight, leave as soon as possible and don't delay my important business!"

The atmosphere in the tent instantly plummeted to a freezing point, tensions rising as if a more intense conflict would erupt in the next second. Liu Yao stood in the middle, watching the two men at loggerheads, a look of helplessness and anxiety on his face, unsure of what to do.

Tensions flared within the tent, the atmosphere threatening to ignite. Kuai Liang, Huang Zu's advisor, quickly rose to his feet. With a look of earnestness on his face, he bowed to Huang Zu and said, "General Huang, calm down. The battle is at a stalemate right now. If internal strife breaks out, we'll be laughed at by the enemy." Then, turning to Taishi Ci, he said in a gentle voice, "General Taishi, General Huang is always concerned about the war, and his words may have been a little hasty. Please don't take it personally. We're all aiming to recapture Yuzhang County, so we should work together."

Xu Shao stepped forward shortly after, bowing slightly to Liu Yao. He then smiled and said to Taishi Ci, "Ziyi, your loyalty to our lord and your bravery on the battlefield are evident to all. The heavy casualties this time deeply sadden our lord and us. However, the current situation is complex, so we must take a long-term approach and avoid damaging ties." He then turned to Huang Zu and spoke humbly, "General Huang, General Taishi, and their men have led the charge. It's truly not easy. We should discuss future battle arrangements carefully to minimize unnecessary losses."

Liu Yao had recovered by then and quickly echoed Xu Shao's words, saying, "Mr. Xu is absolutely right. Ziyi, I fully understand the sacrifices you and your fellow soldiers have made, and I was inconsiderate. General Huang, let's prioritize the greater good and work together to devise a better siege strategy."