Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

At that moment, Yu Mi and Taishi Ci were bored, polishing their weapons outside the camp. As generals under Liu Yao, they were unable to even enter the tent to participate in the meeting due to Liu Yao's lack of troops, which inevitably made them feel a little frustrated. Seeing Liu Yao hurriedly approaching, the two men hurriedly stood up and saluted.

Liu Yao, breathlessly pulling Yu Mi and Taishi Ci aside, said excitedly, "Good news, you two! I just received word that Sun Ce's army is in internal strife over the siege. Wei Yan, who advocates an attack, and Lü Meng, who proposes peace talks, are arguing furiously, practically drawing their swords. Now is the perfect time for us to dispatch our forces!"

Upon hearing this, Taishi Ci frowned slightly, his face filled with confusion. Having been versed in military texts since childhood, he knew Sun Ce's strict military discipline was undeniable. Military law was as firm as a mountain, and his officers and men were held to strict obedience. In his view, Sun Ce would never allow his generals to argue to such an extent over a disagreement. It was simply unnatural.

"My lord, I'm afraid this is a scam," Taishi Ci said, cupping his fists. "Sun Ce is known for his strict military discipline. How could he allow his generals to openly argue in the army and disrupt morale? I think this might be a trap set by Sun Ce, deliberately spreading the news to lure us out of the city."

Yu Mi scratched his head and agreed, "Yes, my lord, General Taishi is absolutely right. We must not be fooled so easily."

Liu Yao, seemingly blinded by victory, refused to listen. He waved his hands and said eagerly, "You don't understand! This is a godsend! Even if it's a trick, we can't let it go. As long as we deploy properly, we won't necessarily lose." He gazed into the distance, his eyes filled with anticipation, as if he had already seen the moment of victory over Sun Ce.

Liu Yao ignored Taishi Ci and Yu Mi's attempts to dissuade him, and stubbornly ordered the battle. His gaze was feverish, his mind filled with dreams of defeating Sun Ce and reclaiming all of Yuzhang Commandery, as if victory were within his grasp. Taishi Ci and Yu Mi exchanged a glance and sighed in frustration. They knew Liu Yao's temper well; once he made a decision, it was difficult to reverse it. So they obeyed the order and assembled their troops for battle.

The next morning, at daybreak, Liu Yao led his army aggressively toward Sun Ce's camp. Taishi Ci and Yu Mi flanked Liu Yao, one on each side, each with a solemn expression. They constantly observed their surroundings, a vague sense of unease brewing within them.

Meanwhile, Sun Ce's troops had already made their arrangements according to plan. The camp was still a scene of internal strife. Soldiers who advocated attacking the city and those who advocated peace talks split into two groups, shouting insults at each other and even shoving each other. The scene was chaotic. Some soldiers waved their fists, threatening to engage in a fight; others sat on the ground, sighing and complaining about this meaningless dispute.

Liu Yao saw this scene from afar and was overjoyed, thinking that his bet was right. He excitedly said to Taishi Ci and Yu Mi: "See, I was right! Sun Ce's army is already in chaos. If we don't attack now, when will we attack?" After that, he waved his hand and ordered the entire army to charge.

With Liu Yao's order, shouts of killing suddenly shook the sky, and Liu Yao's army rushed towards Sun Ce's camp like a tide.

Sun Ce immediately rode to the front, his gaze fixed on Huang Zu's camp. It was completely silent, with no sign of troops moving forward. He knew Huang Zu was a shrewd and calculating maneuverer, and luring him out of the city would be incredibly difficult. Looking at Liu Yao's army before him, despite their relentless pursuit, capturing him wouldn't significantly improve the overall situation.

Time was running out, and Sun Ce did not have time to hesitate. He turned his head suddenly, his eyes sharp as an eagle, and gave a stern order to the messenger beside him: "Pass my order, the whole army listen up! Continue to pretend to be defeated, everyone show your true skills, act out your fear and panic, make the enemy believe it, and those who disobey the order will be executed!" After receiving the order, the messenger quickly rode at full speed and rushed to various teams to convey the instructions.

Upon receiving the general's order, Sun Ce's army instantly fell into chaos. Fear was written all over the soldiers' faces, and they stumbled and shoved each other as they retreated. Some, trying to appear more convincing, even threw their weapons carelessly, their weapons clattering against the ground with a chaotic clatter. Military flags were thrown into the mud, toppled here and there by the frantic footsteps. The supplies in the tents were scattered everywhere: armor, rations, arrows, all in a mess, as if they were a group of defeated soldiers, so frightened that they were only concerned with fleeing, completely ignoring the things behind them.

Liu Yao, witnessing this scene from afar, flushed with excitement, as if he had discovered a hidden treasure. Trembling with excitement, he shoved his horse's horn and galloped ahead, brandishing his sword high in the air. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Brothers, the enemy is at the end of their strength and can't withstand a single blow! Charge! Raze their entire camp to the ground, leaving no one behind. Wealth and glory lie before us!" His passion ignited the soldiers, their morale soaring to the extreme. Like a surging tide, they swarmed toward Sun Ce's camp, their shouts and cries of battle piercing their ears.

Soon, Liu Yao's army stormed Sun Ce's camp like a force untouched. The soldiers cheered and swarmed the tents. Their eyes gleamed with greed as they rummaged through boxes and drawers, wantonly looting valuables. Some even engaged in violent brawls over even the most valuable items. The tents were a scene of chaos, with items smashed to pieces and fabric and wood chips flying everywhere.

Liu Yao, beaming with pride, strode into Sun Ce's main tent. He plopped down heavily on the main seat, legs spread wide, a smug grin plastered across his face. He looked at Taishi Ci and Yu Mi, who were also covered in dust, and couldn't help but boast, "Well, I told you all along that Sun Ce's little tricks wouldn't faze me! This fight today will surely severely damage him. Who in Yuzhang County will dare challenge me, Liu Yao, from now on!"

Taishi Ci, however, wore a look of worry, not at all carried away by victory. He gripped his spear tightly, his knuckles white from the strain, and paced back and forth within the tent, his eyes warily scanning every corner. The more he looked, the more he felt something was amiss, and the unease within him grew stronger. Knowing Sun Ce, he was a man of great resourcefulness and meticulous military discipline. How could he be defeated so easily? There had to be a trick!

Taishi Ci's face was full of anxiety. He walked quickly to Liu Yao, knelt on one knee, and said earnestly: "My lord, this matter is too strange. With Sun Ce's strategy, how could he be defeated so easily? Countless supplies have been abandoned in the camp. It seems that they are fleeing in a panic, but in fact it may be a strategy to lure the enemy. We must not take it lightly!" He frowned, his eyes full of worry, and looked up at Liu Yao, hoping that he could listen to his advice.

However, Liu Yao was immersed in the joy of victory and couldn't extricate himself. He waved his hand impatiently and laughed, "General Taishi, you are too cautious! Look at Sun Ce's army, they have abandoned their armor and fled in all directions, and the flags, drums and weapons in the camp are thrown everywhere. If this is not a real defeat, what is? They are just scared by us! Now our army's morale is high, it is just the right time to pursue the victory and expand the results of the battle." As he spoke, Liu Yao's face was filled with a proud smile, as if he had already seen the day when he would dominate Yuzhang County.

As Liu Yao saw it, Sun Ce's army seemed truly and utterly defeated. They fled disorganized in all directions, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. The once neatly arranged tents now lay toppled, and military flags, discarded carelessly in the mud, rustled in the wind. Drums and horns lay scattered here and there, some broken, as if to testify to the enormity of this "defeat."

Seeing Sun Ce's army in such a state of disarray, Liu Yao became even more confident in his own judgment, believing that victory was certain. Sun Ce's army indeed abandoned the siege of Yuzhang County, splitting up into several groups and fleeing towards the various cities they had previously occupied.

Liu Yao was so elated that he didn't even return to Yuzhang County, instead camping directly in Sun Ce's camp. He couldn't wait to write a letter detailing this "glorious" victory and sent it to Huang Zu at full speed, wanting to boast about his achievements and hoping that Huang Zu would see his strength and take notice of him.

Upon learning of Liu Yao's crushing defeat of Sun Ce's army, Huang Zu's once calm expression suddenly darkened, his mind filled with doubt. He knew Sun Ce was no ordinary warrior, and this sudden victory was unrealistic. So, he hurriedly sent for the exceptionally resourceful Kuai Liang to enter his tent.

Inside the tent, candlelight flickered. Huang Zu's brows knitted into the shape of a "川" (river) as he paced back and forth, each step heavy, as if crushing the doubts in his heart. He looked at Kuai Liang and spoke with concern, "Mr. Kuai, how could Sun Ce, who is usually so resourceful, be defeated so inexplicably? Is there something fishy going on?"

Kuai Liang stroked his beard, thinking for a long time. He stepped forward, bowed, and said, "General, based on my understanding of Sun Ce, he would never be defeated so easily. This may seem like a victory, but in fact it may be a carefully laid trap. In my opinion, we must not act rashly. We should hold our troops in place for a few days and observe the situation until we have a clear understanding of the situation."

Huang Zu agreed deeply and nodded heavily. He immediately ordered the entire army to guard the camp strictly, closely monitor the movements of Sun Ce's army, and not to act without authorization.

However, as the days passed, Sun Ce's army vanished, seemingly vanishing from the face of the earth. The camp they left behind was a mess, with supplies and weapons scattered about, as if their former masters had fled in a desperate situation. Liu Yao's victories continued to pour in, stirring Huang Zu's previously suppressed greed and resentment.

Finally, Huang Zu could no longer resist the temptation. He paced back and forth in his tent, his mind torn between his own conscience and his own desires. "If this victory truly was Liu Yao's own strength, and I'm still cowering here, afraid to act, won't I be ridiculed by the world? Besides, the camp is overflowing with supplies, piled high like mountains—real wealth!"

Thinking of this, Huang Zu gritted his teeth, a glint of determination flashed in his eyes. He abruptly stopped and shouted an order: "Pass my order, the entire army will immediately prepare and march towards Sun Ce's old camp tomorrow morning! I want to see what is going on!"

Seeing Huang Zu's resolve, Kuai Liang, though filled with worry, could only shake his head and sigh helplessly. He stepped forward and warned again, "General, you must be extremely careful on this journey. Don't let your guard down, or anything unexpected might happen." Huang Zu readily agreed, but now, his eyes were filled with only the desire for victory and greed for supplies. Reason had long since vanished. A crisis, like dark clouds before a storm, was quietly looming.