Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

When news of Jiujiang's pacification reached Lujiang County like a gust of bitter cold wind, the already low morale of Yan Xiang and Ji Ling's soldiers crumbled. Like a bombshell, the news sent shockwaves through the army, and fear and despair quickly spread among the troops.

The soldiers whispered among themselves, their panic unstoppable like wildfire. Inside the tents, the usual order vanished, and panic filled the air. Some soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, their hands shaking uncontrollably; others slumped to the ground, their eyes blank, muttering to themselves, "It's all over, it's all over."

Upon hearing the news, Ji Ling was terrified and rushed to Yan Xiang's tent, only to find him staring blankly at a map, his face as pale as paper. Ji Ling grabbed Yan Xiang's sleeve and anxiously shouted, "Brother Yan, now that Jiujiang has been lost, what should we do? Are we just going to sit there and wait for death?" Yan Xiang sighed helplessly and said slowly, "The enemy is strong now, we are isolated and helpless, and morale is low. I'm afraid it will be difficult to continue this battle."

Just as the two men were discussing countermeasures, a sudden commotion erupted outside the tent. Ji Ling's face changed, and he rushed out to investigate. He saw a group of soldiers gathered together, their emotions agitated. Some were waving their fists and shouting, "We can't afford to die over this hopeless cause!" "Yes, surrender, or we'll all die!" The signs of mutiny were already obvious.

Upon seeing this, Ji Ling flew into a rage. He drew his long sword from his waist and shouted, "Shut up! I'll kill anyone who dares to mutiny!" However, the soldiers, who usually held him in awe, showed no fear. A young soldier stepped forward and shouted, "General, we are not afraid of death, but we also don't want to make a senseless sacrifice. Jiujiang has been lost, and Lujiang can no longer be defended. Our families are waiting for us to return." His words were echoed by many soldiers, and the situation became increasingly agitated, and it seemed that the situation was about to get out of control.

Yan Xiang also hurried out of the tent, fully aware that if he mishandled the situation, the consequences would be disastrous. Suppressing his panic, he shouted, "Soldiers, calm down! We are not hopeless. Listen to me..." But his voice was quickly drowned out by the soldiers' clamor. The momentum of the mutiny was unstoppable, like a surging tide. An internal crisis was imminent.

Ji Ling stood outside the tent, gazing at the soldiers consumed by fear and despair. The cacophony of shouts drowned him like a surging tide, each word of "surrender" a hammer, hammering down upon his heart. His hand gripped the hilt of his sword, his knuckles white, veins bulging like twisted earthworms, yet the feeling of powerlessness within him spread like wild weeds. Once, these soldiers had followed him into battle, heeding his orders. Now, the urge to survive had taken over, their eyes filled with the fear of death and the longing for life. Discipline and loyalty crumbled in that moment.

He turned sharply, looking at Yan Xiang, who stood beside him, his face equally ashen. His lips trembled violently, but he remained speechless for a long moment. Finally, he stamped his foot fiercely and roared with despair and unwillingness, "Brother Yan, the situation is hopeless. The morale of the army has been completely destroyed. We simply cannot sit here and wait for death!" Before he could finish his words, he reached out, grabbed Yan Xiang's arm like a chicken, and dragged him into the tent.

Inside the tent, Ji Ling flung Yan Xiang onto a chair and paced back and forth like a trapped beast, each step making the ground thud as he vented his inner anger and helplessness. His eyes, bloodshot, stared intently at Yan Xiang and roared, "I'm leading my troops through right now. We'll break out as many as we can! You follow me, too. As long as we have the mountains, we'll have more to worry about!" Yan Xiang opened his mouth, trying to dissuade him, but seeing Ji Ling's determined, almost frantic look, he swallowed the words back.

Ji Ling quickly assembled his troops amidst the chaos. He leaped onto his sweat-soaked warhorse, his longsword raised high. The blade gleamed with a chilling gleam in the dimming light, a perfect reflection of his icy, resolute heart. "Brothers, follow me! Fight your way out!" His voice, hoarse yet powerful, pierced the cacophony of voices. Though the soldiers looked flustered and their steps unsteady, the instincts forged by years of military service forced them to follow Ji Ling closely, charging towards the city gates.

At this moment, the city was already in chaos. Soldiers and civilians were running around in the streets and alleys, with cries, curses, and footsteps intertwined. The chaotic army rushed around like headless flies. Some people were pushed to the ground, screaming in pain; some people fought for a way out of the city; and some people sat slumped on the street, their eyes empty, turning a blind eye to the chaos around them. The other soldiers in the city had already lost their minds, and they were completely panicked when they saw Ji Ling leading his troops to break out of the siege desperately. "General Ji has run away, what's the point of us still defending this city?" A whisper instantly ignited the fear in everyone's hearts. Soon, the voices of laying down weapons and surrendering came one after another, and the soldiers rushed towards the city gate, shouting as they ran: "Stop fighting, surrender!"

At the city gate, the soldiers responsible for guarding the city looked at each other, their eyes full of confusion and fear, and the weapons in their hands clanged due to shaking.

From their tent, Ma Chao and Sun Ce keenly sensed something unusual happening in the city. First, there was a faint clamor, like distant thunder. Then, a chaotic atmosphere spread, instantly alerting both men. Sun Ce's brows furrowed, and he said in a deep voice, "Something's happened in the city! Send the word down, prepare for the attack!" Ma Chao nodded slightly, a flicker of excitement in his eyes. "This is a golden opportunity. Don't miss it."

At the command of the two, the drums thundered, and the soldiers quickly formed into formations and rushed towards the city gate like a surging tide. The shouts and cries of killing outside the city were deafening, as if they were about to engulf the city.

Inside the city, Yuan Shu's army was thrown into chaos by the sudden turn of events. Some soldiers remained bewildered in their tents, while others were scattered by the panicked crowd just as they had barely raised their weapons. Hearing the deafening drums and cries of battle outside the city, they were completely panicked, unsure how to respond.

Ma Chao and Sun Ce keenly grasped the city's weakened defenses. A glance between them revealed the determination in each other's eyes. Ma Chao decisively ordered the drums to beat, a thunderous roar as siege engines were rapidly rolled to the front. Catapults hoisted high, sending massive rocks crashing down on the city walls with immense force, sending shattering bricks and dust billowing in their wake. Archers drew their bows, raining down arrows like locusts, their volleys pouring down on the city walls, leaving the defenders reeling.

At the same time, Ma Chao rode his horse forward and shouted loudly: "Listen, soldiers on the city! You have no way to retreat. Resistance will only lead to death. Those who surrender will be spared!" The voice echoed on the battlefield and reached the ears of every defender.

The soldiers on the wall were already demoralized, and faced with this overwhelming onslaught, their remaining will to resist collapsed in an instant. They watched in horror as boulders and arrows rained down from all sides, their weapons weighing down. One soldier threw down his weapon and shouted, "I surrender!" This cry set off a chain reaction, with the rest of the soldiers following suit, throwing their weapons to the ground and raising their hands high.

The city remained in chaos, civilians fleeing in panic through the streets, the chaotic army clashing in all directions, the scene ablaze with chaos. But the situation on the city walls gradually became clearer. Seeing this, Ma Chao and Sun Ce immediately dispatched their elite troops to the city walls. Like nimble monkeys, the soldiers swiftly scaled the ladders, scaled the walls, and seized control of key positions on the city walls.

With a roar of joy, the city gates slowly opened, and the army poured in like a surging tide. Ma Chao rode into the city, his gaze sweeping around with authority, and once again shouted, "Drop your weapons, kneel and surrender, and your lives will be safe!" The soldiers in the city, as if awakened from their dreams, knelt and cast aside their weapons. The repeated cries of "surrender" echoed through the city, heralding the end of the battle.

Ma Chao, majestically mounted on his towering horse, swept his sharp gaze over the soldiers kneeling in surrender. He shouted, "Where are Ji Ling and Yan Xiang now?" His voice resonated like a bell. The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment. After a moment, one bravely replied, "They've already escaped with the remnants of their forces!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Ce immediately drew his sword and said anxiously, "I'll lead my men in pursuit. We absolutely cannot let them escape!" He then rode off. Seeing this, Ma Chao quickly reached out to stop him, saying in a deep voice, "Wait, Bofu. Although these two have fled with the remnants of their forces, they will surely flee recklessly. I'm afraid we won't be able to catch up anytime soon. Besides, our priority right now is to quickly capture Lujiang and stabilize the situation. These two won't be a significant threat, so we can ignore them for now."

Sun Ce frowned, his sword trembling slightly in his hand. "Just letting them go like this? They're really letting them off easy!" Ma Chao patted Sun Ce's shoulder and advised, "They've become destitute and can't cause any trouble. If we rush after them rashly, what if they're a fraud? Or if we lose time in pursuit and cause another crisis in Lujiang, the gains won't outweigh the losses. First, appease the army and completely control Lujiang. That's the most important thing."

Sun Ce pondered for a moment, feeling that Ma Chao's words made sense. He slowly sheathed his sword, his expression still tinged with regret. "Well, let's let them go for now. But next time we meet, I'll make them pay for what they did today!"

Ma Chao and Sun Ce then methodically began to appease the army and strengthen the city's defenses. Soldiers quickly moved to clear the battlefield, treat the wounded, and post reassuring notices. Seeing the army's strict discipline, the city's residents gradually reassured themselves.

With the close collaboration of Ma Chao and Sun Ce, Lujiang County was successfully captured. Wherever the troops were directed, surrounding cities surrendered. Upon hearing that the county city had been captured and witnessing the might of Ma Chao and Sun Ce's armies, those forces that had previously hoped to resist gave up resistance, opened the city gates, and offered letters of surrender.

Thinking back to when Yuan Shu opened the Gan River in an attempt to drown Ma Chao, displacing the people and turning farmland into a swamp, a scene of devastation, it seemed like only yesterday. Now, time has quietly flown by, and it is already mid-August. The summer heat is fading, the autumn breeze is blowing, and this long-running war has finally ushered in a decisive victory.