Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Upon hearing this, Taishi Ci felt as if struck by lightning. His body staggered, and the expression on his face froze instantly. He had never imagined that at this critical moment, Liu Yao would actually bring Yu Mi with him, leaving him and the remaining 5,000 men to resist Sun Ce.

Thinking back on how he had fought tooth and nail for Liu Yao these past few days, offering advice and fighting bravely, yet never gaining his full trust, he was now abandoned like this. Meanwhile, Yu Mi, who hadn't made many contributions in his daily life, was able to gain Liu Yao's trust at this critical moment and follow him in the retreat.

Taishi Ci felt extremely sad, and muttered to himself with a wry smile: "It turns out that even if I try my best, I am still not as good as Mi in his heart." But soon, he put away his emotions, his eyes became firm and resolute, looking at the soldiers around him, he said loudly: "Brothers, since they have abandoned us, then we must fight for ourselves! Today is our time to prove ourselves to the world!" The soldiers shouted in unison, their voices resounding through the sky, and a tragic battle is about to come.

Sun Ce tossed and turned all night, feeling uneasy and growing stronger. At daybreak, he could not wait to lead his army towards Huang Zu's camp.

When they were still some distance from the camp, Sun Ce reined in his horse and gazed out into the distance. His sharp eyes quickly detected something unusual. Normally, the camp would be bustling with smoke from cooking fires and the comings and goings of people, but today it was eerily quiet. Only a few isolated campfires burned, and the "soldiers" were motionless, as if frozen in place.

Sun Ce frowned, wondering, "Is Huang Zu up to something?" He immediately turned and instructed the generals beside him, "Send a team of elite troops to investigate. Be extremely cautious. If there's an ambush, withdraw immediately."

Just as the soldiers were about to march, they heard a loud creaking noise, and the gate to Huang Zu's camp suddenly flew open. Sun Ce's heart tightened, and he subconsciously tightened his grip on his spear, fully alert.

A great general, riding a bay horse, galloped out of the camp in awe. It was Taishi Ci. Behind him followed the remaining soldiers, numbering less than five thousand. Although they were few in number, their gazes were firm, their morale was high, and they showed no fear.

Sun Ce was startled when he saw that it was Taishi Ci. Then his eyes lit up instantly, and his face was filled with uncontrollable joy. The corners of his mouth lifted high, and he urged his horse forward a few steps, saying loudly: "Ziyi! It really is you! I finally see you again! Do you remember the days when we drank and talked about the world? You have the courage of ten thousand men, but following a man like Liu Yao is really a waste of talent. If you are willing to surrender to me, I will treat you as a brother, and we will discuss military affairs together!"

Taishi Ci looked at Sun Ce, his expression complex and indecipherable: a touch of nostalgia, yet more of helplessness and resoluteness. He sighed softly, his expression turning solemn. He shouted back, "Bofu, I've never forgotten our past friendship, but I also cannot abandon loyalty. Now that I've joined Liu Yao's army and receive his salary, I must be loyal to him to the end. Today, it's either you or I!" With that, he held his spear horizontally, poised for attack. A fierce battle was about to begin.

Sun Ce's face was filled with enthusiasm, completely unconcerned with Taishi Ci's aggressive stance. He moved closer and said earnestly, "Ziyi, I sincerely hope you'll join my forces. With your abilities, why should you suffer in humiliation at the hands of Liu Yao? Follow me, and together we'll conquer the world and achieve great things."

He glanced at the few soldiers behind Taishi Ci, his face filled with confusion as he asked with concern, "But I really don't understand why you only brought such a small number of troops. How exactly did Liu Yao arrange everything?"

Taishi Ci's heart ached when he heard this. The humiliation and resentment of being abandoned by Liu Yao instantly surged through him. But he bit his lower lip, swallowing the unspeakable truth. His expression grew even more resolute. He knew that no matter what, he could not avoid this battle today.

"There's no point in talking any more!" Taishi Ci shouted, no longer entangled with Sun Ce in words. He squeezed his legs against the horse's belly, and the chestnut horse neighed and rushed towards Sun Ce like an arrow. The long spear in his hand pierced Sun Ce's throat, and the tip of the spear cut through the air, making a sharp whistling sound, with the momentum of moving forward fearlessly and bravely waiting for death.

Seeing this, a trace of regret flashed in Sun Ce's eyes, but he quickly came to his senses, dodged to the side, and easily avoided the fierce attack. At the same time, he shook the spear in his hand, and it collided with Taishi Ci's spear. There was a loud "clang" sound, sparks flew, and a thrilling battle began. The soldiers on both sides also shouted and cheered for their respective generals.

On the battlefield, spears flashed, and the cries of battle were ear-piercing. Filled with grief and rage, Taishi Ci unleashed a torrential downpour, each strike deadly, leaving Sun Ce no chance to breathe. Though a skilled warrior, Sun Ce, mindful of Taishi Ci, was reluctant to harm him. Most of the time, he simply defended and parried, even being driven into a state of disarray by Taishi Ci.

Wei Yan, watching from the sidelines, was utterly distraught. Seeing his lord in dire straits, he could no longer contain himself. With his long sword in hand, he shouted, "My lord, I'm here to help!" He was about to charge into the fray. But Sun Ce suddenly turned back and shouted, "Wen Chang, don't interfere! Back off!" Wei Yan paused, his face filled with anxiety and confusion. But he couldn't disobey his lord's orders, so he pulled the reins and stopped where he was, his eyes fixed on the battlefield, his long sword clenched until his knuckles turned white.

Sun Ce took advantage of this moment to sidestep another fierce thrust from Taishi Ci, shouting, "Ziyi! I've treated you with all my heart, so why are you so determined to fight me to the death? Have you truly disregarded our past friendship?" Taishi Ci's thrust slowed slightly, a flicker of pain and struggle in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination. He roared, "Bofu, don't mention it! I've already followed Liu Yao, and today, only by fighting to the death can I live up to his loyalty!" With that, he thrust his spear forward again, his attack even more fierce than before.

Sun Ce had no choice but to continue resisting, silently groaning. He truly didn't want to engage Taishi Ci in battle, much less inflict any harm upon him. But Taishi Ci's reckless fighting style was becoming increasingly difficult for him to withstand. Just then, Taishi Ci seized an opening and, like a venomous snake emerging from a hole, thrust his spear straight into Sun Ce's chest. Unable to dodge, Sun Ce could only hold his spear horizontally to block. The immense force of the impact numbed his arm, nearly making it difficult for him to hold the spear.

"Ziyi, do you really not remember our friendship?" Sun Ce panted, his eyes filled with pain and confusion. Taishi Ci didn't answer, but gritted his teeth and continued his attack. The dust on the battlefield billowed as the two figures clashed, locked in a fierce battle. The shouts and cheers of the soldiers beside them seemed like a distant background noise.

On the battlefield, yellow sand filled the air, and the cries of battle were deafening. Sun Ce watched Taishi Ci attack like a mad tiger, his heart filled with conflict and helplessness. He had long admired Taishi Ci like a surging river, and had long hoped to recruit him to his cause. But now, Taishi Ci's resolute expression made him realize that today's fierce battle was unavoidable.

Seeing Taishi Ci's unwavering offensive, each strike laced with a death-defying determination, each thrust aimed squarely at his vital points, Sun Ce took a deep breath. The hesitation and reluctance in his eyes instantly faded, replaced by a sharp, eagle-like focus. His aura suddenly shifted, and his spear swung with impenetrable force. Every clash with Taishi Ci produced dazzling sparks and deafening roars.

Seeing that Sun Ce had finally given it his all, Taishi Ci shouted happily to the sky, his voice particularly loud in the noisy battlefield: "General Sun! I, Taishi Ci, will have no regrets in dying on the battlefield because I was able to have a satisfying battle with you today!" After shouting, the spear in his hand danced out layers of gun flowers, like a dragon emerging from the sea, extremely sharp.

While Sun Ce flexibly resisted Taishi Ci's attack, he responded loudly: "Zi Yi, what are you talking about! I don't want to fight with you!" As he spoke, the spear in his hand did not fluster at all, and he cleverly resolved Taishi Ci's attacks again and again.

Taishi Ci continued to attack, but a relieved smile appeared on his face: "General Sun, in today's battle, life and death are determined by fate. If I die in your hands, I, Taishi Ci, will have no complaints. I just feel sorry for the brothers behind me. They are all loyal and brave men. I only hope that you can put aside the past grudges, take them in, and give them a way out!" After speaking, the spear in his hand attacked more fiercely, with a determination as if entrusting his last affairs to others.

As Taishi Ci spoke, he eased his attack slightly, his gaze fixed on Sun Ce, filled with earnestness and expectation. His dry lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something more, but he held it back, waiting for Sun Ce's response. He knew full well that in this fight, life and death were unpredictable, and the fate of his brothers behind him now depended entirely on Sun Ce's thoughts.

Sun Ce paused with his spear, his brow furrowed as he gazed at Taishi Ci, eyes filled with sorrow and bewilderment. He shouted, "Ziyi! Why are you so resolute today? It's truly beyond my expectation. Back then, you and I fought side by side, drinking and chatting joyfully. How could we have been so happy? I respect you as a hero. If you truly surrender to me, I, Sun Ce, would be more than happy! These brothers behind you have been through thick and thin with you, all loyal and righteous men. How could I possibly treat them harshly? If you only give me the nod, I will treat them like brothers and sisters, and I will never let you down!"

Seeing Sun Ce agree, Taishi Ci felt a wave of relief, his tense nerves instantly relaxing. At least his brothers had a good home, not abandoned and left adrift. With this in mind, he steeled himself and immediately exposed a flaw, deliberately leaving an opening, intending to let Sun Ce take his own life. In his heart, while Liu Yao had been unkind to him and abandoned him at a crucial moment, he was no traitor. Having already joined Liu Yao's army, he remained loyal to the end, even to the death.

Sun Ce, a veteran of many battles, possessed a sharp eye, and he could tell at a glance that something was amiss. Seeing Taishi Ci's move, he was horrified, his face trembling, and he thought to himself, "This is not good!" At this moment, Taishi Ci's weakness was obvious. A single thrust of his spear would surely severely injure or even kill him. But how could Sun Ce bear to harm this fierce general he had so desperately wanted to recruit? In a split second, without a second to think, he abruptly twisted his spear to avoid injuring Taishi Ci. This excessive force put a tremendous strain on his wrist and arm, sending a sharp pain through his joints. He could barely hold the spear, and his body swayed from the abrupt movement, nearly falling off his horse, his posture looking extremely awkward.