Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The clatter of horse hooves pounded the muddy official road like a torrential downpour. The iron hooves of three thousand cavalrymen churned up the mud, turning the road behind them into a reddish-brown mess. The families of the Zhou family and Sun Ce's former subordinates huddled in a dozen carriages. When the curtains were blown by the wind, the pale faces of the women could be glimpsed.

The carriage was filled with an oppressive atmosphere. Da Qiao held Sun Shao in her arms, her other arm tightly wrapped around Ma Yue's trembling shoulders. The soft, tender breath of the baby in her arms intertwined with the child's rapid breathing, making her eyes burn. Zhou Yin, who was on Xiao Qiao's lap, suddenly burst into tears, waking the drowsy Ma Yue. The boy hurriedly wiped Da Qiao's eyes with his dusty sleeve and said in a baby voice, "Auntie, don't cry. I, I will protect my brother Shao."

Before he could finish his words, a sharp horn blasted from outside the carriage. Zhou Yu, galloping beside the carriage, abruptly pulled on the reins, his horse rearing up, its front hooves carving a sharp arc through the air. He turned and looked behind him, only to see clouds of dust rising from the horizon. Shouts of murder, accompanied by the crisp clash of metal, pierced the rain curtain—the pursuers had finally arrived.

"Form a goose-shaped formation!" Zhou Yu drew the sword from his waist, its cold light reflecting off his tightly pursed lips. "The women and children's convoy is in the center, archers advance!" The three thousand cavalrymen instantly shifted their formation, like an unfolding iron fan, tightly protecting the carriages carrying the families in the center. Da Qiao parted the curtains and saw her husband Sun Ce's former generals draw their weapons. The copper nails on their armor gleamed coldly in the rain, their expressions remarkably the same as when they had led Sun Ce into battle.

Ma Yue suddenly grasped Da Qiao's sleeve, his voice filled with childish stubbornness: "Aunt, I want to learn the sword dance from my uncle!" Xiao Qiao was startled by this, and Zhou Yin in her arms stopped crying. Da Qiao watched the fire dancing in the boy's eyes, and in a trance, she saw Sun Ce astride a horse, spear in hand. Trembling, she touched Ma Yue's head and buried her face in his hair, tears mingling with the rain as they silently fell—this young beast in troubled times must eventually learn to bar its fangs in the blood and fire.

The pursuing troops, led by Lü Meng and his men, surged over the hills like a tide. Banners obscured the sun, spears and halberds formed a forest, and the heavy footsteps made the ground tremble slightly. Lü Meng was clad in heavy black iron armor, his sword at his waist gleaming coldly. Behind him, Lü Dai, Quan Cong, Xue Zong, and others were also fully armed and presented a menacing presence.

Zhou Yu reined in his horse and turned, the three thousand cavalrymen behind him quickly forming a defensive formation, like an impenetrable steel wall. His gaze was as sharp as a torch, staring directly at Lü Meng and the others, and he shouted, "General Taishi, hold down the position first! Lü Meng, my boy, the Grand Commander's seal has been returned, and we have also promised to only hold half of Wu County. Why are you forcing us so hard!"

Lü Dai urged his horse forward, a scornful smile on his face, and shouted sarcastically, "Whose general are you from? You're not from our family! With the sudden death of our lord, you're already trying to establish your own territory. Your ambition is obvious! How can Jiangdong be stable if we don't take you down?" After that, several generals behind him came out with their spears drawn, full of provocation.

Taishi Ci's hair stood on end with rage, veins popping out on his hand holding the halberd, and he roared, "How dare you, you boy!" He was about to spurt out his horse to fight, but he heard Zhou Yu's order, "Wait! All archers, prepare for battle!"

At the command, the three thousand cavalrymen quickly split into two groups. The front row of shieldbearers raised their iron shields high, forming a shield wall. The back row of archers drew their bows and arrows, their arrows gleaming with a cold, sinister light. These three thousand cavalrymen were personally trained by Ma Dai during his time, and they had also learned the essence of the Flying Bear Army's battle formations. They could attack when advancing and defend when retreating, with ease. They stood in awe, their aura radiating from them causing even the aggressive pursuers to pause.

Zhou Yu glanced at the pursuers on the opposite side, his eyes full of disdain and determination: "Today, we don't want to fight with the Jiangdong men, but if you insist on forcing us..." He paused, and the long sword in his hand was unsheathed half an inch, the cold light reflecting the gloomy sky, "Don't blame me, Zhou Yu, for not remembering our old friendship!"

Bloody Order

Lü Meng's soldiers gazed at the familiar black cloak before them, their grips shaking uncontrollably. That was the Grand Commander they had risked their lives to follow, the commander who had commanded them in bloody battles. The lieutenants stared at each other, their spears pointed at the ground, hesitant to advance.

"What are you standing there for? Charge!" Lü Meng shouted, waving the banner in his hand fiercely. "Zhou Yu is trying to split the land and establish his own regime. He is already a sinner in Jiangdong! If we don't get rid of him today, there will be endless troubles!" Lü Dai spurred his horse and stomped heavily on a fallen corpse with his iron hoof. Blood splashed on the faces of the soldiers: "The lord has just passed away, and these rebels dared to set up their own faction! Anyone who retreats will be punished by military law!"

Under the threat of the icy blades of the supervising troops, the soldiers gritted their teeth and charged, shields raised. The sound of arrows piercing the air suddenly rang out. Zhou Yu's face darkened as he gazed at the frenzied murderous intent in the enemy's eyes. Finally, he shouted, "Fire!" In an instant, three thousand powerful crossbows roared in unison, pouring down a hail of arrows like a dark cloud blocking the sun. The pursuers in the front rank fell with screams, their bodies piled up like a wall of flesh and blood on the muddy road.

"Keep charging!" Lü Meng roared, his eyes red, completely oblivious to the fact that he was stepping on the severed limbs of his soldiers. "Fill this bloody ditch!" When the second round of arrows fell, the shieldmen in the front row had been shot into hedgehogs, while the cavalry in the back row continued to advance, stepping on the corpses of their comrades. Blood and flesh flew across the battlefield, screams and curses intertwined, and the once clear stream was instantly dyed red.

Zhou Yu gripped the bloodstained hilt tightly, his eyes flickering with pain as he watched his former comrade transformed into a bloodthirsty beast. He suddenly removed his helmet and hurled it to the ground, shouting, "All troops, listen! Fight to the death!" Following this resolute command, the drums of war roared like thunder, and a brutal fight between the Jiangdong warriors escalated completely out of control under the blood-red setting sun.

Arrows and spears woven a web of death in the rain. Zhou Yu's black cloak was already soaked in blood, stained an eerie dark red. He swung his sword to deflect Lü Dai's thrusting spear. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a personal guard, pierced through the throat by a stray arrow, fall heavily into the mud. Despite the desperate resistance of the three thousand cavalrymen, Lü Meng's pursuers continued to surge, the situation becoming increasingly critical.

At that moment, a deafening cry of battle suddenly erupted from the distance. Jiang Qin led the charge, followed by Ling Cao and Wen Qin, each leading a team of elite soldiers. Like a black torrent, these former soldiers, who had followed Sun Ce in his campaigns, could hardly believe their ears when they learned that Zhou Yu and his young master were in danger. Some had infants, others had elderly parents bedridden, but without hesitation, they hurriedly gathered their families, donned their armor, and mounted their horses, charging straight for the battlefield.

"General! Jiang Qin, come to our aid!" Jiang Qin's long sword split the enemy's shields, and the blood splattered, blurring his eyes. He wiped his face vigorously, and saw Zhou Yu, trapped by Lü Meng and Lü Dai, looking increasingly distraught. He shouted loudly, leading his cavalry straight into the battle. Horses' hooves crushed corpses, and amid the flashes of swords and sabers, the soldiers loyal to Zhou Yu, like trapped beasts awakened, erupted in astonishing fighting power.

Wei Yan charged through the crowd, his armor stained with blood and flesh. When he caught sight of Jiang Qin and his men's banners, his weary eyes suddenly lit up. He brandished his sword and roared, "Reinforcements are here! Reinforcements are here!" This cry resonated like thunder, instantly boosting the morale of Zhou Yu's troops, who had been demoralized. Meanwhile, Lu Meng's pursuers were thrown into disarray, having not anticipated the arrival of a fresh force at this crucial moment.

The tide of battle suddenly turned. Zhou Yu seized the opportunity, forcing Lü Meng back with a single blow. He leaped onto the higher slope, raising his arms and shouting, "Men, follow me and drive back the rebels!" His voice pierced the rain, igniting everyone's fighting spirit. Under the onslaught of Jiang Qin's reinforcements, Lü Meng's troops began to disintegrate, their screams and the thud of falling weapons echoing beneath the blood-red sky.

The wailing cries of Lü Meng's remnants gradually faded in the rain. Bloodstained armor and broken blades lay scattered across the muddy battlefield. Jiang Qin, Ling Cao, and Wen Qin, covered in blood, ignored their wounds and dismounted, prostrating themselves profusely. "General! We are late in arriving to your aid. Please forgive us!" The three men sank to their knees in the mud, splashing mud mixed with blood, creating hideous streaks on their dark robes.

Zhou Yu looked at these veterans who had served Sun Ce for years, his eyes sweeping over the deep arrow wound on Ling Cao's shoulder and Wen Qin's blood-stained boots. His throat suddenly tightened. He stumbled forward, his hands trembling as he helped each of them up. "Good! Good! True character is revealed in times of crisis. You have sacrificed your own careers and risked your lives to protect the young master. Your loyalty is witnessed by the sun and the moon!"

Jiang Qin raised his head abruptly, blood from the wound on his forehead flowing down his brow into his eyes, stinging them so much that they turned red. "General! We are willing to follow you in exposing the conspiracy to the world, slaying those traitors with our own hands, and comforting our lord's spirit in heaven!" The veins on his palm bulged from the force of his knife grip, and the blade gleamed coldly in the rain, as if ready to be unsheathed again at any moment.

Zhou Yu gave a wry smile, reached out to hold Jiang Qin's knife-gripping hand, and traced the engraving on the hilt personally bestowed by Sun Ce with his fingertips. Sun Shao's cries could be heard in the distance, gently drowned out by Da Qiao's gentle soothing voice. The sound was like a hammer hitting his heart: "I really want to avenge Bofu immediately, but Sun Quan is my closest relative, and he has the old lady's protection. The four veteran generals Cheng, Huang, Han, and Zu have been deceived..." His voice suddenly choked, and he looked toward the distant Wu Hou Mansion. "Now we can only lie low and protect the young master. If they turn their spearheads on the child..." At this point, he suddenly clenched his fists. "How can we face Bofu in his grave!"

Ling Cao was silent for a long time, then reached out to wipe the blood off his face and said in a deep voice: "The Grand Commander is absolutely right. The safety of the young master is more important than Mount Tai. We are willing to follow you to retreat to Shanyue and make long-term plans!" Wen Qin clasped his fists together, and the sound of armor clashing was sonorous and powerful: "Even if I have to endure humiliation, I will hold up the sky for the young master!"

Zhou Yu bowed deeply, his eyes sweeping across the determined faces of the crowd: "Since that's the case, everyone, please follow me back to Shanyue. When the young master grows up, that will be the day to pay the blood debt with blood!"

As dusk fell, Lü Meng, Lü Dai, and their remaining troops stumbled back. Lü Dai's armor was shattered, his cloak stained dark brown by the blood from the arrow wound on his shoulder. Lü Meng's spear was broken in half, and his helmet tassel had been lost at some point. His shambles were a stark contrast to the swagger he had displayed during the battle.

"Waste! Thirty thousand elite soldiers returned in defeat?" Zhang Zhao slammed the table and stood up, and the bamboo slips on the table scattered all over the floor. "Zhou Yu is just an old subordinate, how could he..." His voice stopped abruptly. He looked at Lu Meng's bloodstained face and suddenly realized that the situation was not as simple as he had imagined.

Lü Meng knelt on one knee, his voice hoarse as a bellows: "Gentlemen, Jiang Qin, Ling Cao, and Wen Qin have led their troops to surrender to the enemy and are joining forces with Zhou Yu!" When he looked up, his eyes were filled with reluctance and panic, "Those veteran generals who once followed Sun Bofu have actually abandoned their future..."

Zhang Hong's fingers gripped the armrests of the Grand Master's chair so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He knew that Jiang Qin and the others were the elite troops of Jiangdong. Now, with the addition of Taishi Ci's sharpshooting skills, Wei Yan's bravery, and Zhou Yu's strategic planning, setting up an ambush and pursuing them would be like pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth.

"That's all!" Zhang Zhao sighed and slumped back into his chair, his old face filled with fatigue. "The mountains are high and the road is long. Pursuing him forcefully will only lead to casualties. Besides, if veterans like Cheng Pu and Huang Gai knew about this, they would definitely hold him accountable." He narrowed his eyes, a calculating glint in his eyes. "Let Zhou Yu linger in Shanyue for a while, and wait until the new master has established a solid foundation, and then..."