Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Ma Chao's expression was solemn. He shook his head slightly and patiently explained, "You all may not know this, but these bodies have been submerged in the floodwaters for a long time and have long since decayed. If we rashly bury them here, and a plague spreads, how can our army remain stationed there with peace of mind? The entire Lujiang County would be transformed into a living hell. The people would suffer, and our army would be thrown into chaos without a fight. We shoulder the heavy responsibility of protecting this land and its people. We must not allow a momentary fear of trouble to lead to a catastrophe."

After hearing Ma Chao's words, the generals felt grieved, but they also understood the risks involved. With no other choice, they took his orders and marched to Baishan Mountain to cut down trees for the burning. For a moment, the sound of felling trees echoed across Baishan Mountain as the soldiers worked together to prevent the outbreak of the disease.

After disposing of the bodies, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief, their tense nerves finally relaxing. Days of intense labor had left the soldiers exhausted, yet their faces shone with relief. Ma Chao, observing the scene before him, understood that this victory had been hard-won, and he knew even more clearly that the road ahead was still filled with challenges.

He summoned Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, Xu Huang, and other generals to a makeshift tent, where a tense and solemn atmosphere permeated. Ma Chao was the first to break the silence, his voice low but powerful: "Although Yuan Shu has been eliminated, Lujiang and Jiujiang are not yet under our control. Yuan Shu's remnants are still resisting stubbornly. We cannot afford to slack off even a little."

Zhou Yu stroked his chin, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces. He spoke calmly, "Everyone, we can't keep the news of Yuan Shu's death secret any longer. In my opinion, we should spread the news with great fanfare and see how they react. The enemy army is leaderless, and upon hearing of their leader's demise, they'll surely be in a state of panic. We can take advantage of this opportunity to profit from the chaos."

Sun Ce's eyes lit up and he clapped his hands in approval, "Gongjin, this is a brilliant plan! Once this news gets out, those remaining forces will surely panic. Then we can apply pressure and they will surrender."

Ma Chao nodded slightly, his expression solemn. "However, we cannot let our guard down. The enemy may resort to desperate measures, so we must be prepared. Pass the order: all troops on alert, commanders of all battalions, increase patrols to prevent surprise attacks."

After saying this, Ma Chao looked at the general in charge of intelligence and gave a solemn order: "Select eloquent and adaptable messengers to ensure that the news is accurately delivered to the key strongholds in Lujiang and Jiujiang counties. At the same time, place secret sentries along the way to closely monitor the enemy's movements and report back immediately if there is any sign of trouble."

Xu Huang rubbed his hands together, eager to fight, and said, "If they dare to make any move, I will lead my soldiers and kill them without a single mortal left!"

The generals responded one after another and morale was high.

Ever since Yuan Shu led his navy out of the city, Yan Xiang had been restless, his brow furrowed in the shape of a "川" (Chuan) character, pacing back and forth on the city wall. Although he hadn't witnessed the unfolding events outside the city, his years of strategic experience and keen intuition had already allowed him to fully grasp the situation. He was consumed with anxiety, yet helpless. When Yuan Shu departed, he had taken most of the city's elite forces with him as part of his navy, leaving him with barely enough to maintain the city's defenses.

A few days earlier, the deafening roar of fighting outside the city had pierced Yan Xiang's nerves, leaving him trembling with fear. He dared not delay for a moment, and hurriedly sent a messenger, who mounted a swift horse and hurriedly delivered a message to Ji Ling and Chen Lan. The words in the letter were extremely earnest, urging them to return quickly to rescue Yuan Shu from this danger.

Two days earlier, the sounds of fighting had ceased. Suddenly, a massive fire erupted outside the city, sending thick smoke billowing into the sky. The pungent odor, a mixture of decay and burning, carried by the wind to every corner of the city. Yan Xiang's stomach churned at the first whiff, and his heart was filled with fear and unease. He tossed and turned all night, pacing the room, his anxiety surging with nowhere to vent. He could only pray over and over in his heart for Ji Ling to arrive quickly and resolve this precarious situation.

Every time he heard footsteps outside, Yan Xiang would reflexively glance up, his eyes alight with hope as he eagerly gazed toward the door, eagerly anticipating the arrival of reinforcements. However, each successive sound of footsteps failed to bring the news he hoped for. The light in his eyes gradually dimmed, but he remained steadfast, persevering in this perilous city, hoping for a turnaround that would arrive at an unknown time.

Ji Ling and Chen Lan received an expedited letter from Yan Xiang in their tent. Chen Lan's face turned pale after reading it, and his fingertips turned white from the strain he exerted on the letter. He looked up at Ji Ling and said hesitantly, "Without the Lord's order, we will be severely punished for retreating without authorization. What should we do?"

Ji Ling's brow furrowed as he paced back and forth within the tent, the critical situation described in Yan Xiang's letter replaying in his mind. Having worked with Yan Xiang for many years, he knew his composure well enough to know that he would never have used such language unless the situation was dire. After a moment's deliberation, Ji Ling abruptly stopped, his expression firm. "I can't afford to worry about that! The lord's safety is paramount. If something were to happen, what would the loss of Lujiang County mean? Even if I were to be punished, I couldn't stand by and watch my lord suffer!"

Chen Lan was still struggling with her feelings after hearing this, but seeing Ji Ling's resolute expression, she gritted her teeth and nodded in response, "Okay, I'll do as you say!"

The two generals quickly assembled their troops. A torrential downpour fell, and the giant raindrops, pelting the ground with water, blanketed the sky and earth in a blanket of rain. The soldiers struggled through the mud, their vision blurred by the rain running down their cheeks. But they refused to retreat. Ji Ling led the way, shouting to boost morale: "Brothers, hasten! Our lord awaits our rescue. We must not let him down!" Amidst the raging storm, they hurried toward the county capital, desperately hoping to reach Yuan Shu in time and rescue him from his peril.

The downpour poured down like a cascade, a dense curtain of rain that threatened to tear the heavens apart. Clad in heavy armor, Ji Ling raced through the raging storm. Rainwater seeped through the cracks in his armor, making the heavy suit feel even colder. Every step was a struggle. The ground beneath his feet had long since turned to mire, and his boots sank deep into it, leaving behind a trail of mud as he pulled them out.

His mount also suffered terribly during this arduous journey, foaming at the mouth and stumbling forward with weak hooves, its hooves constantly slipping in the mud, nearly falling several times. The torrential rain continued for two or three days, showing no sign of letting up. Ji Ling could only grit his teeth and persevere in the wind and rain, his eyes fixed on the front, with only one firm belief in his heart: return to the county capital and confirm the safety of his lord.

Finally, the torrential rain subsided, but the journey remained difficult. The road, scoured by the rain, was a sludge, every inch a trap. Ji Ling, ignoring his fatigue and aches, gave his horse a hard kick, urging his equally exhausted mount onward. They struggled through the mud for two more days. Ji Ling's face was smeared with rain, sweat, and mud, and his cracked lips oozed blood. But without a moment's hesitation, he galloped towards the county town, unstoppable. Finally, after much difficulty, he arrived at the county town. Without pausing, Ji Ling immediately sought out Yan Xiang to inquire about Yuan Shu's safety.

He ran towards the top of the city wall, splashing water with every step, and muddy water covered his legs. The strong wind and heavy rain made it almost impossible for him to open his eyes, but he ignored it. Relying on his familiarity with the terrain and his inner obsession, he approached the familiar figure on the top of the city wall.

Finally reaching Yan Xiang, he ripped off his helmet and shook the rain from his face, sending water droplets scattering everywhere. His chest heaved violently as he gasped for breath, his voice hoarse with anxiety: "Mr. Yan Xiang, how is the lord now? I rode at top speed, fearing I would miss him!" Ji Ling's eyes were bloodshot, his face etched with exhaustion and worry. Raindrops streamed down his resolute face, mingling with the accumulated water on the city wall, making it difficult to distinguish.

Yan Xiang looked at the drenched and disheveled Ji Ling, feeling both pity and helplessness. He sighed heavily and said, "General Ji Ling, I'm afraid it's a little too late. My lord, this is likely to be a dangerous situation."

When Ji Ling heard this, all the blood instantly drained from his face. His eyes widened in horror, and he subconsciously grabbed Yan Xiang's arm with both hands. He asked loudly, "What's wrong, Mr. Yan? What's going on?"

Yan Xiang frowned, his expression tangled, his eyes full of worry, and he slowly said: "Ever since five or six days ago, when the lord led the navy out in full force and rushed to the foot of Baishan to participate in the siege, there have been sounds of shouting and killing. At first, I was still hoping that the lord could win the battle, but who would have thought... until two days ago, the shouting and killing suddenly stopped, and at the same time, the weather began to clear up. During this period, the lord did not send back any news, and I was really worried, so I sent several groups of troops to investigate the situation. In the end, not a single one came back." As he spoke, Yan Xiang's voice gradually became low, and a look of despair appeared in his eyes.

Ji Ling's face was filled with disbelief. He shook his head repeatedly and said, "How is this possible? Ma Chao and his men are all from the north. They are not experienced in naval warfare and lack warships. How could our lord be in such danger?"

Yan Xiang's expression was solemn as he calmly analyzed, "In my opinion, it's probably Sun Ce and Zhou Yu who led the navy to help. Otherwise, with Ma Chao's strength, it would be difficult to defeat the lord on the water. Two days ago, just as the weather had cleared and the floodwaters were receding, a huge fire suddenly erupted outside the city. Strangely, there were no cries of killing. All signs indicate that it was most likely Sun Ce and Zhou Yu who led the navy to defeat the lord."

When Ji Ling heard this, he was extremely anxious and shouted without thinking: "Where is the lord now? I will go out of the city to meet him!" As he said that, he made a gesture to rush to the city.

Yan Xiang grabbed him and sighed, "It's too late! If my lord is defeated, there will be nowhere to escape in such a hurry. Although the flood outside the city has receded, the surrounding area is full of mud and the roads are difficult to pass. How can the enemy let us go so easily?"

Ji Ling was furious and anxious. He slammed his helmet to the ground, his voice choking with sobs. "What should I do? I've traveled day and night, and I'm still one step too late! What happened to my lord?"

Yan Xiang patted Ji Ling's shoulder, trying to comfort him: "General Ji Ling, don't be too anxious. After all, the lord is a local lord, and he has the support of the noble families behind him. He holds a very important position in the world. I don't think those people would dare to touch him easily. His safety should still be guaranteed."