Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

After finally sending the frustrated Liu Yao away, Huang Zu watched him depart, a smile of triumph curling his lips, a smile filled with the smug joy of his own scheme succeeding. Immediately, he braced himself, as if about to embark on a grand triumphal procession, his face filled with irrepressible excitement and elation. At that moment, he imagined a grand vision unfolding before his eyes: the entire southern Yuzhang city was his own. He stood before his lord, adorned in splendid attire, accepting the highest rewards and titles, glory and wealth within his grasp.

Huang Zu couldn't wait to start arranging his troops. He stood on the reviewing platform with his head held high and chest puffed out, full of high spirits. His voice resounded like a bell throughout the training ground: "Everyone listen to my orders! Now that Sun Ce's troops are scattered, the defenses of the remaining counties must be weak. This is the perfect opportunity for us to take them down in one fell swoop! This is a God-given honor, it depends on whether you can seize it!" The excitement in his voice was like a raging fire, instantly igniting the blood of the soldiers.

"Chen Jiu!" Huang Zu gave the order, his voice as loud as tearing silk.

Chen immediately stepped out of the line, his posture as straight as a pine tree, clasped his fists and saluted, his voice loud and firm: "I am here!"

"I will give you 8,000 soldiers and horses. You must lead the army to Yudu County immediately and make sure to capture it. There must be no mistakes! After taking it, leave some troops to garrison and consolidate the victory! This Yudu County is the key place for our advance and we cannot afford to lose it!" Huang Zu stared at Chen Ju with sharp eyes. There was both trust and unquestionable majesty in his eyes.

"I obey your command!" Chen took the order and retreated with firm and powerful steps, with the momentum of breaking bamboo, as if he had already seen his own flag flying in Yudu County.

"Zhang Shuo!" Huang Zu shouted again, his voice still loud and clear.

"I'm here!" Zhang Shuo quickly stepped out of the line with quick and decisive movements, his face full of eagerness to try.

"I will give you eight thousand soldiers and horses, go and attack the Haihun Kingdom. I want you to fight quickly and decisively, and take it down with lightning speed! The terrain of the Haihun Kingdom is complex, but the more complex it is, the more we must take the enemy by surprise, do you understand?" Huang Zu's words revealed his accurate judgment of this battle and his determination to win.

"I will definitely live up to the general's trust!" Zhang Shuo took the order and left, his heart full of lofty ambitions, vowing to achieve great achievements in this battle.

Huang Zu then looked at Su Fei with hope in his eyes and ordered, "Su Fei, you will lead 8,000 troops to Nanye County. You must attack the city with all your strength and capture Nanye! Although Nanye County is small, it is a vital part of our strategic layout. We must win, not lose!"

"Yes!" Su Fei responded with a resolute voice. Without any hesitation, he turned around and strode away, ready to go to the battlefield.

After making these arrangements, Huang Zu turned to look at Kuai Liang, a confident smile on his face, and said in a relaxed tone, "Mr. Kuai Liang and I will lead the army to attack the remaining Jiancheng and Yichun counties. After taking these cities, we will regroup and reunite. By then, even if Sun Ce counterattacks, we will not be afraid! With your wisdom and help, coupled with the bravery of our soldiers, the southern part of Yuzhang will be ours sooner or later!"

Kuai Liang nodded slightly, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly covered by Huang Zu's enthusiasm. He said softly: "General, what you said is very true, but we still need to be cautious and not take it lightly."

The generals roared in unison, their voices resounding through the air, seemingly piercing the heavens. Seeing this, Huang Zu repeated his command: "This opportunity is fleeting. Now is not the time to worry about losing manpower. Everyone, give it your all and seize this opportunity. When you succeed, I will commend you to the lord! Glory and wealth lie before us; it all depends on your ability to seize them!" The men roared in agreement again, their morale soaring to the hilt, as if victory was within reach, waiting only for them to advance and seize it.

Huang Zu deployed his troops and generals, arranging a full battle plan. With a single order, the army set out with a roar. The sound of horses' hooves was like thunder, and the sound of footsteps shook the sky. The troops from all directions rushed towards their respective target counties like a surging tide.

Sun Ben, previously defeated by Huang Zu, did not flee as Huang Zu had hoped. Instead, he remained hidden, closely monitoring the enemy's movements. Seeing Huang Zu's army split up, Sun Ben keenly sensed this was a critical moment and decisively dispatched elite scouts, ordering them to thoroughly investigate the enemy's advancing intentions, not missing a single detail.

The scouts took their orders and rode away, galloping through the mountains, forests, and narrow paths, quietly approaching the enemy lines. After gathering detailed information, they returned without stopping. Sun Ben, anxious, paced back and forth in his makeshift camp, often gazing into the distance, hoping for the scouts' return.

Finally, the scouts brought back the news. Sun Ben did not dare to delay for a moment and immediately arranged for his men to rush this important information to Sun Ce, who was quietly waiting for news in a hidden place.

When Sun Ce received the news from Sun Ben, his eyes instantly became as sharp as an eagle, and a confident smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He strode into the tent, looked at the generals under his command, and said in an excited voice: "Brothers! The opportunity has come! Huang Zu overestimated his own capabilities and rashly divided his troops. This is the perfect opportunity for us to counterattack and turn the tide of the battle in one fell swoop, today!" When the generals heard this, the morale that had been slightly dull was instantly ignited. They all rubbed their hands, with excitement and anticipation flashing in their eyes.

"Now, Huang Zu and Kuai Yue are personally leading their troops to attack Jiancheng and Yichun counties. They think we're preoccupied, but they've fallen into our trap," Sun Ce said as he walked over to the map in the center of the tent and pointed heavily at the locations marked for Jiancheng and Yichun counties. "Let's concentrate our forces first and attack Huang Zu and Kuai Yue. Lü Meng, listen!"

"I am here!" Lu Meng immediately stepped out with a nimble figure and a loud voice, emitting an elite aura.

"I order you to lead three thousand elite infantrymen to encircle the enemy from the left wing. When the enemy army engages me head-on, you will surprise them, attack their flank, and disrupt their formation!"

"Understood!" Lu Meng took the order and retreated, his eyes revealing determination and courage. He had already planned the marching route and attack strategy in his mind.

"Xue Zong!" Sun Ce continued to shout.

"I'm here!" Xue Zong saluted with his fists clasped, his expression calm. Although he was a civil official, he was also resolute.

"Take two thousand light cavalry and circle the enemy's rear to cut off their retreat. Once the battle begins, you must act swiftly and not allow Huang Zu and Kuai Yue any chance to escape! While you possess wisdom and strategy, bravery is essential in leading this army."

"I will definitely live up to my mission!" Xue Zong turned around and strode out of the tent, secretly thinking about how to use the advantage of cavalry to create chaos in the enemy's rear.

"Quan Cong!"

"I obey your order!" Quan Cong responded, looking heroic, his young face full of desire to achieve great things.

"You will lead two thousand spearmen as the main force of the central army and meet Huang Zu head-on. Remember, hold your ground, lure the enemy deep into your territory, and wait for the left and right wings to launch their attacks before launching an all-out attack! The central army is the key to this battle, and you will be under considerable pressure, but I believe in your abilities."

"Yes, sir!" Quan Cong accepted the order, with fighting spirit flashing in his eyes. He secretly vowed to show his prowess in this battle.

After arranging the generals for the frontline battles, Sun Ce turned to Lü Dai and said, "Lü Dai, you will follow me and lead the remaining elite troops as a reserve force, ready to support the battlefields at any time. This battle is changing rapidly, and the reserve forces are responsible for the key task of turning the tide. You must not slack off even for a moment."

Lü Dai, with a solemn expression, clasped his fists and replied, "I will do my utmost and obey the Lord's orders!"

Finally, Sun Ce turned his gaze to Wei Yan. "Wen Chang, you are a brave warrior with great strategic skills. In this battle, I order you to patrol the battlefield and respond flexibly. If you discover a weakness in the enemy or a critical situation for our army, lead your troops to support them immediately."

Wei Yan clasped his hands together and said loudly, "I will obey your orders and live up to your trust!"

The generals, receiving their orders, quickly sprang into action, the entire camp abuzz with activity. Soldiers quickly formed into formation, the clash of weapons and the neighing of horses intertwined. Sun Ce, observing the well-organized army, felt a surge of confidence. He mounted his horse, raised his spear high, and shouted, "Brothers, follow me! Let us defeat Huang Zu in one fell swoop and reclaim our lost territory!" With Sun Ce's command, the army marched majestically toward Jiancheng and Yichun counties. A thrilling battle was about to begin.

Huang Zu was completely unaware of Sun Ce's military deployment and counterattack plan. He was filled with the eagerness and excitement of capturing Jiancheng County. Standing majestically beneath the walls of Jiancheng County, he threw himself into directing the siege.

On the battlefield, the drums pounded with a deafening roar. The mighty beats resonated like thunder, hammering down upon every heart and stirring the blood of the soldiers. Huang Zu's army, like a surging, roaring tide, charged the city walls wave after wave. Their shouts and roars converged into a powerful wave, threatening to completely submerge the city.

The defenders of Jiancheng County put up a stubborn resistance, refusing to retreat. Occupying the advantageous position of the city walls, they rained arrows and boulders down from them. For a moment, the walls sounded like a rain of arrows and the roar of boulders. However, as Huang Zu had predicted before the battle, the defenders were severely outnumbered. Under the relentless onslaught of Huang Zu's superior forces, they gradually began to tire and fatigue became apparent. Many soldiers fell under the hail of arrows and the onslaught of ladders, their blood staining the walls red and flowing through the cracks in the bricks.

Huang Zu narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the weakening resistance on the city wall. A triumphant smile played at the corner of his mouth, and he shouted at the top of his voice, "Increase the offensive! Don't spare a single one! We must capture Jiancheng County today. Anyone who disobeys my order will be executed!" His urging was like a shot of adrenaline, and the soldiers became even more fearless. Ladders were quickly erected on the city wall, and the soldiers climbed bravely, using their hands and feet, completely ignoring the arrows and boulders raining down from above, determined to be the first to enter the city.

Finally, a nimble soldier seized the opportunity and climbed the city wall first. Waving a blood-stained banner, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "We've made it! Victory is ours!" This cry, like a clarion call, instantly ignited the morale of the entire army. Soon, more and more soldiers poured into the city like a tide, completely crumbling the defenders' defenses and delivering a crushing defeat.

Without much effort, Huang Zu's army successfully captured Jiancheng County. The city gates slowly opened with a dull creaking sound. Huang Zu, riding a tall horse, entered the city with high spirits. His head held high and his expression triumphant, seemed to announce his victory to the world. He looked around at the panicked civilians fleeing the city and the remaining enemy troops running everywhere. His heart was filled with the joy of victory, completely unaware that Sun Ce's army was rapidly approaching him, and danger was quietly approaching.