Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Liu Yao's army had not yet reached Anping. The night was dark, and the troops were resting in their tents. They were reviewing military reports in their tents when a panicked messenger rushed in, kneeling on one knee to report, "General, this is terrible! General Huang Zu has been defeated by Sun Ce and is fleeing in panic!" Upon hearing this, Liu Yao dropped the report in his hand to the ground with a thud. He abruptly stood up, his eyes wide with disbelief. "How is this possible? Huang Zu commands so many troops, how could he be defeated so easily by Sun Ce?"

He paced back and forth in the tent, his brow furrowed in a frown, his heart churning like a raging sea. After a long moment, he stopped and said to Xu Shao beside him, "Sir, what should we do about this?" Xu Shao stroked his beard, his expression grave, "My lord, this matter is of grave importance and cannot be sloppy."

Liu Yao was terrified, his face thick with anxiety. "That Huang Zu doesn't usually take me seriously, but this situation is truly dire." Xu Shao nodded slightly and analyzed, "My Lord, our greatest enemy right now is Sun Ce. While there may be some grudges between you and Huang Zu, he commands a large army, a crucial force against Sun Ce. If we sit idly by and allow Huang Zu to fall, Sun Ce's power will undoubtedly grow, and we might be his next target."

Liu Yao's expression shifted as he weighed the pros and cons. Thinking of Sun Ce's bravery and growing power, he shuddered. "Sir, you're absolutely right," Liu Yao gritted his teeth, resolute. "We can't just sit there and wait for death. We must reunite with Huang Zu. Even though Huang Zu is arrogant and disrespectful, we must put aside our prejudices for the sake of our joint fight against Sun Ce."

Xu Shao's eyes were firm as he bowed and said, "My lord is wise! Only by uniting with Huang Zu and integrating our forces can we have enough strength to compete with Sun Ce. Otherwise, if we are defeated one by one by Sun Ce, the consequences will be disastrous." Liu Yao took a deep breath and ordered loudly, "Pass the order down, the entire army will immediately reorganize and prepare to set off to meet Huang Zu!" In the tent, the atmosphere suddenly became tense and solemn, and the soldiers acted quickly, preparing to rush to Nanye County.

Chen Jue sat comfortably in the lobby of the Ludu County government office, twirling his wine glass as he listened to soldiers report on the pacification efforts in the city, his demeanor relaxed. Just then, a messenger rushed in, barely bothering to salute, and breathlessly shouted, "General, something terrible has happened! General Huang Zu has been defeated by Sun Ce!" Chen Jue abruptly stood up, his wine glass slamming to the ground, spilling the wine everywhere. Shocked, he stepped forward and grabbed the messenger by the collar, "What did you say? Say it again!" The messenger's voice trembled with fear: "General Huang Zu has been defeated by Sun Ce and is fleeing to Nanye County!" Chen Jue let go, muttering to himself in disbelief, "How is this possible... How could that young man, Sun Ce, defeat General Huang..."

After the shock wore off, Chen immediately realized the gravity of the situation. He paced the hall in a frenzy, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "No! I must rendezvous with General Huang!" He abruptly stopped and barked an order, "All troops, listen! End your rest and march to Nanye County at full speed! No delay!" The soldiers hurriedly packed their bags, and Edu County was thrown into chaos. Chen mounted his warhorse, waving his whip to urge his men on.

The army advanced rapidly, and as they entered a valley, they found themselves struck by an unusual silence. Chen Ju, feeling a sense of unease, was about to issue a warning when a resounding roar echoed through the valley. Immediately afterwards, countless soldiers emerged from the hillsides on either side, their cries of battle resonating throughout the valley. Lü Meng and Lü Dai, leading their ambush troops from high ground, charged down like a surging tide. Panicked, Chen Ju cried out, "Hold on, hold on! Form your ranks and meet the enemy!" But the soldiers, terrified by the sudden attack, were unable to mount an effective resistance.

Lü Meng brandished his broadsword, a flash of cold light that sent enemies falling wherever he struck. He locked eyes with Chen Ju and charged forward. Chen Ju quickly drew his spear to meet his challenge, and the two exchanged blows, swords and spears clashing and sparks flying. In the fierce battle, Chen Ju gradually lost ground to Lü Meng, his arm lacerated by the broadsword, blood pouring out. Knowing he would surely perish if he continued like this, he steeled himself, feinted his spear, turned his horse, and galloped across the valley. Lü Meng refused to let him go and pursued him relentlessly. Lü Meng, with his familiarity with the terrain, maneuvered and twisted his way, finally escaping Lü Meng's pursuit. With a few remaining soldiers, he fled towards Nanye County, dusty and grieved, his heart filled with resentment and regret. He recalled the news of Huang Zu's defeat before their departure, and now faced this same disaster, longing to reunite with Huang Zu and regroup.

Elsewhere, Zhang Shuo, atop a majestic horse, led his army along the winding road to Haihun State. The sun blazed high, and the dust raised by the troops filled the air. Then, a cavalryman galloped up from behind, his expression anxious, and he shouted, "General Zhang, stop! Stop!"

Zhang Shuo reined in the reins, frowning at the newcomer. The messenger dismounted, knelt on one knee, and presented a secret letter. He said urgently, "General, urgent military reports!" Zhang Shuo opened the letter, his face turning pale, and the paper in his hands trembled. "General Huang Zu was actually defeated by Sun Ce?" His voice was filled with shock and disbelief. Upon hearing this news, the surrounding subordinates looked at each other in confusion.

"What should we do?" a general asked anxiously. Zhang Shuo frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said decisively, "We must rendezvous with General Huang immediately. Only by uniting our forces can we stand a chance against Sun Ce. Pass the order, all troops, to accelerate their march to Nanye County!" With that, Zhang Shuo's troops quickened their pace, marching rapidly towards Nanye County.

As they reached a narrow mountain pass, the sky gradually darkened. Zhang Shuo was warily observing his surroundings when suddenly, a violent noise erupted from the front. Huge rocks and fallen trees had appeared at the pass, completely blocking the path. Before he could react, countless torches suddenly lit up in all directions, like a cascade of stars. Quan Cong and Xue Zong led their ambush troops, charging out with a deafening roar.

Zhang Shuo's soldiers, terrified by the sudden turn of events, fell into disarray. Zhang Shuo attempted to organize a counterattack, shouting, "Don't panic, fight back!" However, his soldiers had already lost their fighting spirit. Under the fierce attack of the ambush, they fled in panic, trampling each other. Quan Cong, seeing Zhang Shuo, a cold gleam in his eyes, spurred his horse and thrust his spear, aiming for his life. Zhang Shuo quickly raised his sword to block, and a fierce battle ensued. After several rounds, Zhang Shuo gradually lost his strength and suffered multiple wounds. Knowing that he was powerless, he seized an opening, turned, whipped his horse, and fled into the darkness. Quan Cong pursued him relentlessly, but the darkness deepened, and Zhang Shuo circumvented and vanished into the night. Zhang Shuo, with a few remaining defeated soldiers, fled towards Nanye County. Remembering Huang Zu's defeat and now facing this ambush, he was filled with despair and resentment, hoping only to reunite with Huang Zu and turn the tide of the battle.

Sun Ce's army quickly counted their supplies and set off in pursuit towards Nanye County. Su Fei, fully aware of the rapidly changing battlefield situation, had already dispatched scouts to gather information. Sure enough, the scouts reported back at top speed, bearing urgent intelligence of Sun Ce's approaching army. Upon hearing this, Su Fei's expression suddenly changed. Not wanting to delay even a moment, he urgently sent a message to Liu Yao, informing him of the situation, and at the same time, quickly dispatched a messenger to Huang Zu.

Huang Zu was pacing his tent anxiously when he received the news. Knowing that Sun Ce's army was already on their way, he was terrified, his brow furrowed in a knot, and he couldn't help but curse, "What are those two guys, Chen Ju and Zhang Shuo, doing?! Sun Ce has me cornered, why haven't they come yet to join us?"

Fortunately, Liu Yao replied shortly afterwards, saying he was on his way back. Even so, Huang Zu was still extremely anxious. At this critical moment of life and death, every minute and every second of waiting was like torture.

Huang Zu paced back and forth in the tent like a trapped beast, each step heavy and heavy, his face etched with anxiety and uneasiness. Seeing Kuai Liang enter, he hurried to meet him, his voice filled with urgency and panic: "Mr. Kuai, Sun Ce's army is approaching, and Chen Ju and Zhang Shuo haven't arrived yet. What should we do?"

Kuai Liang looked calm, stroking his beard. After a moment's thought, he said, "General, don't be hasty. Our forces are currently scattered. If we attack rashly, we will play into Sun Ce's hands. Since we have agreed to rendezvous in Nanye County, we will hold our ground. With the advantage of our camp, we can hold out for a while. Once all the troops have gathered, we can find an opportunity to defeat the enemy."

Huang Zu's frown didn't relax after hearing this. He walked a few more steps in the tent before stopping and stamping his foot fiercely. "This is the only way!" He then turned to Su Fei and said, "Su Fei, Mr. Kuai is absolutely right. You must quickly arrange for manpower to reinforce the camp and prepare all possible defensive equipment. Send more scouts to patrol the surrounding area and report any movements of Sun Ce's army immediately. Tell the soldiers to brace themselves and prepare to meet the enemy. We must not let that brat Sun Ce gain any advantage!"

Su Fei bowed and accepted the order: "I will do my best!" After that, he turned around and strode out of the tent, quickly organizing the soldiers to take action. The whole military camp was filled with a tense and busy atmosphere for a while.

Sun Ce's pursuers surged forward like a surging tide, barreling down at lightning speed, far exceeding Huang Zu's expectations. For a moment, the clatter of hooves and footsteps merged into a cacophony of roars, a cloud of dust obscuring the sky. Like a torrent of steel, the army advanced in front of Huang Zu's camp, its momentum surging as if it were about to crush the fortress flat.

The camp had already been put on high alert. The heavy gates were tightly shut, their thick bolts firmly fixed. Behind them stood soldiers, ready for battle. They wielded long spears and large shields, their expressions tense yet resolute. The walls were densely packed with defenders, each one tense, their eyes fixed intently on the enemy outside.

Atop the watchtowers, sentries clutching banners closely watched Sun Ce's army's every move, ready to sound the signal at any moment. Archers stood in formation, arrows on their bowstrings, ready to be released. Their tips gleamed coldly in the sunlight. Rocks and logs were already positioned, ready to become deadly weapons as soon as the enemy approached, tumbling down from their heights to crush the enemy.

Sun Ce, riding his sturdy white horse, his posture as straight as a pine tree, slowly paced before the battle line. Beside him, Wei Yan, wielding a long sword, looked imposing and exuded a murderous aura. Sun Ce spurred his horse forward a few paces and shouted, his voice like a bell, echoing across the battlefield: "Huang Zu, you are at the end of your rope! Why don't you come out and answer me? Don't be a coward!" His voice was filled with confidence and dominance, as if carrying an invisible deterrent that made the soldiers in the camp tremble.