sjar Chapter 627: Taishi Ziyi breaks out and asks for help
Chapter 627: Taishi Ziyi breaks out and asks for help
Inside the Yuzhang County camp, the atmosphere was so oppressive it felt like it could be squeezed out of water. Liu Yao paced back and forth in the tent, his steps heavy, as if he wanted to vent his inner anxiety and despair on the cold ground. His brow furrowed, his face filled with exhaustion and helplessness, and he kept muttering to himself, "What should I do? What should I do..."
At that moment, counselor Xu Shao hurried into the tent, his expression tinged with excitement and anticipation. He approached Liu Yao, bowed slightly, and said, "My lord, I wonder if you've noticed that Yuan Shu's attacks have slowed down a bit these past two days."
Upon hearing this, Liu Yao waved his hands irritably and said unhappily, "So what if the attack is delayed? Our food and grass are running out, and the soldiers in the city are hungry and demoralized. Sooner or later, we will be conquered by him. The county magistrates in this world are all acting on their own, and Jingzhou is suffering from a severe drought and can't take care of themselves. Watching Yuan Shu committing atrocities here, no one comes to rescue us. We are isolated and helpless, which is really despairing!" After that, he sighed heavily, sat down on the chair, his face full of discouragement.
Xu Shao, however, was not discouraged. He stepped forward and said earnestly, "My lord, in my opinion, this temporary lull in the offensive is precisely a sign that things are turning around."
A glimmer of hope suddenly shone in Liu Yao's gloomy eyes. He stood up abruptly and asked anxiously, "What do you mean? Please tell me in detail."
Xu Shao cleared his throat and spoke methodically, "During this time, we've been trapped in this county town, and I've been closely monitoring Yuan Shu's camp. From afar, I haven't seen any food carts arrive in a long time. My guess is that it's not just us who's short on food; Yuan Shu's supply is also in serious trouble. Otherwise, with his previous fierce attack, why would he suddenly slow down? There must be some internal unrest, perhaps a shortage of food and fodder, forcing them to suspend their attack."
After hearing this, Liu Yao nodded thoughtfully, but then shook his head and said helplessly: "Alas, my army has been besieged for so long, and there is no news at all. I don't know what is going on outside. Even if it is as you said, there is a problem with Yuan Shu's food and grass, but his army is still outside the city, and we are trapped in this city. Even if we know what we can do? We can't break through the siege to seek support, and there is no way to solve our own food and grass crisis." After that, his eyes gradually dimmed again, and he fell into deep despair again.
Xu Shao nodded slightly, looking at Liu Yao with a determined gaze. He slowly said, "My lord, although we are currently surrounded and news is scarce, Yuan Shu's food supply may be in trouble. This is our only chance of survival. If Yuan Shu runs out of food, his army's morale will inevitably be unstable. Although he has a large army approaching, if there is a change within the army, this siege will be difficult to maintain for long."
Liu Yao frowned slightly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes, but he still spoke with some doubt: "That being said, even if we know that his food supply is a problem, what can we do when we are trapped here? Can we take the initiative to attack and break the siege? The soldiers are hungry and their fighting power has been greatly reduced. A rash attack would be very dangerous."
After hearing Liu Yao's worries, Xu Shao pondered for a moment, then a gleam of determination flashed in his eyes: "My lord, although we are trapped in the city now, we are not hopeless. We can organize elite forces to break out and seek help. As long as we can get reinforcements, we can attack from both inside and outside, and we will be able to lift the siege of Yuzhang." When the generals in the tent heard this, their expressions varied. Some looked hesitant, while others fell into deep thought.
After hearing this, Liu Yao's expression changed slightly. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Mr. Xu is right, but as for the reinforcements... where should we ask for them?" Xu Shao stepped forward, pointed to Kuaiji County on the map and said, "Sun Ce occupies Kuaiji, and his strength cannot be underestimated. Moreover, he has great ambitions. If he knew that we were besieged by Yuan Shu and that we would be in a desperate situation, he would surely not sit idly by. In my opinion, asking him for help is the best option at the moment." Liu Yao thought carefully, and after weighing the pros and cons, he suddenly felt uneasy.
"Mr. Xu, this matter is probably not that simple." Liu Yao frowned and said worriedly, "Have you heard that Sun Jian died at the hands of Liu Biao? Liu Biao and I are both relatives of the Han Dynasty. Although the relationship between relatives may be weak in these troubled times, Sun Ce must have a grudge against Liu Biao. Now that he is asked to rescue me who is involved with Liu Biao, I'm afraid... he won't agree easily." Liu Yao became more and more excited as he spoke. He paced back and forth in the tent, his eyes full of worry and confusion.
Xu Shao was slightly startled, clearly having not considered this aspect of the situation. He stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and then said, "My Lord, your words are not without reason, but we have no other options now. Sun Ce is a hero and will surely prioritize the greater good. Moreover, we can explain the pros and cons to him. If Yuan Shu's power grows, it will pose a formidable threat to the Jiangdong counties, a situation he would surely not wish to see."
Liu Yao sighed deeply and nodded helplessly, "This is the only way. I hope Sun Ce can remember the principle of 'lips and teeth are cold'."
However, as Liu Yao surveyed his tent, asking who dared to take on this important task, a momentary silence fell within the camp. Breaking out meant facing Yuan Shu's army, a dangerous pursuit, with life and death hanging in the balance. The generals all expressed hesitation, none daring to accept the task. In this awkward silence, a resounding voice shattered the stillness: "I am willing to go!" Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Taishi Ci stride forward, head held high, chest puffed out, a look of determination.
Liu Yao was surprised and happy: "Zi Yi, this trip is extremely dangerous. Yuan Shu's army has surrounded us heavily. If you are not careful, your life will be in danger. Are you really willing to do this?" Taishi Ci knelt on one knee and said loudly: "My lord, you have been very kind to me. I have no way to repay you. Now is the time of crisis. I am willing to fight to the death, break out of the siege, and ask for help from General Sun Ce!" His eyes were bright and he exuded a fearless aura, which shocked everyone present.
Liu Yao stepped forward and helped Taishi Ci up, and said with emotion: "I feel relieved with Ziyi's help. You select the elite men and leave the city tonight." Taishi Ci took the order, turned around and quickly selected an elite team of dozens of people. These soldiers were all strong and skilled in martial arts. They also understood the difficulty of this mission, but under Taishi Ci's inspiration, they all looked determined and fearless.
As night fell, the city of Yuzhang County was utterly silent, with only the torches on the city walls swaying in the cold wind. Taishi Ci and his companions, dressed in light armor and armed with sharp blades, quietly approached the city gate. With a command, the city gate slowly opened, and Taishi Ci took the lead, leading the team to rush out of the city like an arrow from a bow. Yuan Shu's soldiers soon noticed the movement, and suddenly shouts arose, and torches gathered around them like stars. Taishi Ci showed no fear, wielding his spear, charging left and right, as if he were in an empty space. His spear skills were sharp, and every move could repel a group of enemies. The soldiers behind him followed closely, and under his leadership, they bravely broke through the siege in the direction of Kuaiji County.
To support Liu Yao in his campaign against Yuan Shu, Sun Ce personally led a vast army from Kuaiji County to Yuzhang. They had already entered Yuzhang County. For this expedition, he was intent on cultivating the young general Wei Yan. With the strong recommendation of Lü Meng by aristocratic families, he appointed the two as vanguards, tasked with spearheading the advance, clearing obstacles by cutting through mountains and building bridges over rivers. Wei Yan, filled with ambition, led his scouts, tirelessly exploring the path ahead, constantly monitoring their surroundings.
After successfully breaking out, Taishi Ci found himself in a predicament of being hotly pursued. Never pausing for a moment, he rode non-stop for a day and a night. His body had already reached its limit, his horse exhausted, and his spirit utterly drained. Yet, his will to survive and his determination to complete his mission kept him going.
As he struggled through a mountain forest, Sun Ce's scouts spotted him. Taishi Ci hadn't yet left Yuzhang County, and he was completely convinced he was surrounded by Yuan Shu's forces, never expecting to encounter Sun Ce's men. As the scouts surrounded him, he instantly became alert. Without time to think or reply, he instinctively drew his weapon and charged at the scouts.
As soon as the two sides met, a deep misunderstanding plagued them, leaving them without even a chance to explain themselves, and they instantly plunged into a fierce battle. The clang of swords and spears, the cries of killing, echoed through the empty mountain forest, and the atmosphere instantly became tense and oppressive. Although Taishi Ci was already exhausted from the long breakout and battle, his bloodiness and fighting instincts in his bones allowed him to unleash superhuman strength. His spear was as flexible as a finger, and his movements were like a dragon emerging from the sea. The shadows of the spear flew, impenetrable, and the scouts could not get close, forcing them to constantly wander around, looking for an opportunity to attack.
However, these scouts were no ordinary warriors; they were rigorously trained and experienced. Despite Taishi Ci's fierce attack, they relied on tacit coordination and nimble positioning to keep him at bay. But time ticked by, and they were unable to defeat Taishi Ci. Instead, many suffered at the hands of Taishi Ci's spear. In desperation, the scouts had no choice but to dispatch their men at top speed to call for help from the rear.
Wei Yan, hearing of the fierce fighting ahead, felt a surge of anxiety. He immediately drew his sword and mounted his horse, charging forward like a flash of black lightning. His eyes betrayed a resolute determination, as if no obstacle could deter him. When he arrived at the battlefield, he saw Taishi Ci engaged in a fierce battle with his scouts. He roared a cry that resounded like a bell, and without hesitation, he charged into the fray. The longsword in his hand gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and with a fierce momentum, he struck Taishi Ci.
Although Taishi Ci was already exhausted, his years of battle experience had given him a keen sense of danger. He quickly dodged Wei Yan's attack, and at the same time, his spear stabbed out like a venomous snake, aiming straight for Wei Yan's throat. Wei Yan, upon seeing this, quickly swung his sword to block, and the sword and spear clashed with a crisp clash. Normally, Wei Yan's martial arts skills would be slightly inferior to Taishi Ci's, but Taishi Ci, after a day and night of continuous fighting, was severely exhausted. His movements gradually became sluggish, and his strength was far less than before.
Despite this, Taishi Ci, with his tenacious will and superb martial skills, remained locked in a close fight with Wei Yan. The two exchanged blows, neither yielding, the air around them ignited by the fierce battle. As the fight dragged on, Taishi Ci's disadvantage became increasingly apparent. Beads of sweat covered his forehead, his breathing became rapid and heavy, and every swing of his spear seemed an immense effort.