Wu Jing and Sun Ben have been unable to break down the defense of Liyang for more than a year, and Sun Ce requests to lead a force to assist the effort.

Though Yuan Shu knows Sun Ce intends to leave, he believes the latter will not be able to defeat Liu Yao.

Thus he deploys the young general with merely a thousand-odd troops and a tiny cavalry force.

Along with a few hundred more willing followers, Sun Ce proceeds to Liyang, where he boosts his strength to more than five thousand.

He then launches an offensive across the Yangtze River and successfully occupies the strategic position of Niuzhu (present-day Caishiji, southwest of Ma'anshan, Anhui) in 195.

Two of Liu Yao's allies then come south from Pengcheng and Xiapi respectively to aid him.

Sun Ce chooses to first attack one of them, Ze Rong, who makes camp south of Moling.

After suffering initial defeat in the hands of the aggressor, Ze Rong falls back to a defensive position and refuses to engage in battle.

Sun Ce then marches further north and attacks Xue Li in Moling.

Although Xue Li soon gives up the city and escapes, Liu Yao's subject Fan Neng and other regroup their forces and launch a renewed attack on Niuzhu.

Turning back, Sun Ce defeats Fan Neng and secures Niuzhu.

He then begins a second offensive against Ze Rong.

However, he is struck by a stray arrow in the thigh.

Returning to Niuzhu, he sends out false words that he had been killed in battle.

Ze Rong, elated at the news, then sends a force to attack.

Sun Ce leads his enemies into an ambush and annihilates them.

When Ze Rong hears that Sun Ce is still alive, he further reinforces his defense works.