Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Upon hearing this, Sun Ce, far from being displeased, was filled with joy. He clapped his hands and said, "Hey, this is truly a great thing! But, big brother, no one from your family has come. Wouldn't it be a loss of your status and dignity to have such a hasty wedding?"

Lu Su smiled slightly and explained calmly, "Bofu may not understand this, but the Shanyue people are also aware of their own limitations. They don't expect the lord to marry Sally and the others as his principal wives. They are content with the status of concubines. Therefore, there is no need to worry too much about this."

Sun Ce was filled with emotion and exclaimed in admiration, "Ah, it has to be Big Brother! If it weren't for Big Brother personally taking action, with his prestige and courage, and this rare fate, this matter would probably have been a long time coming, and we wouldn't have been able to achieve the harmonious cooperation we have today with the Shanyue people."

Ma Chao sighed and said with a wry smile: "Oh, this experience is really like a tangled mess, which cannot be cut or sorted out. However, as long as we can finally achieve our goal and lay a solid foundation for our great cause, everything will be worth it." After that, the three of them looked at each other and smiled.

By the time the discussion concluded, it was already late at night. Sun Ce and Lu Su took their leave, and Ma Chao stood alone outside the tent, gazing at the starry night sky. He pondered the future of Wu Commandery and the journey they were about to embark on, filled with both challenges and opportunities. He knew this was not just a military game, but a crucial decision concerning people's livelihoods and the future.

On the second day, sunlight filtered through the thin clouds, cascading down onto the Shanyue camp. Ma Chao, Sun Ce, along with Lu Su and others, arrived as scheduled to negotiate peace with Shamoke and other Shanyue leaders.

Everyone sat around the tent, the atmosphere seemingly peaceful yet subtly tense. After a few pleasantries, Shamoke was the first to break the silence. He looked at Ma Chao and Sun Ce with a sincere gaze and said straight to the point, "Gentlemen, we Shanyue people have always valued friendship and loyalty. Now that we are discussing cooperation, we must show our full sincerity. In my opinion, the marriages between Ma Chao and Sally, as well as between your personal guards and our Shanyue women, must be arranged first. This is not just a personal relationship, but also a testament to the friendship between our two tribes. Only once this is accomplished can we discuss cooperation."

As soon as these words were spoken, the tent fell silent. Sun Ce frowned slightly, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. He knew the importance of this marriage to their cooperation, but he worried that the tight deadlines would delay their plans.

Ma Chao remained calm, yet he was rapidly weighing the pros and cons. He understood that the Shanyue people placed great importance on marriage; it was both a custom and a way for them to express trust and closeness. Refusing would inevitably affect their cooperation, and all their previous efforts might be wasted.

After a moment's thought, Ma Chao raised his head and said with a firm gaze, "Brother Shamoko is absolutely right. This marriage is indeed of vital importance. However, the war is pressing now, and I am worried that preparing for the wedding will take too much time and affect the progress of our cooperation. I wonder if it is possible to simplify the wedding process so that this can be completed as quickly as possible?"

Upon hearing this, Shamoke whispered with the leaders around him for a moment, then said, "This is easy. Shanyue weddings are traditionally simple and lively. We only need to hold a simple ceremony at sunset today, pay our respects to heaven and earth, drink the wedding wine, and the ceremony will be complete."

Sun Ce breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this and nodded, saying, "That's excellent. Since Brother Shamoke is so understanding, then the marriage will proceed as you say. I just hope that after the wedding, we can immediately discuss the specific details of our cooperation and put our plan into action as soon as possible."

Shamoke laughed heartily. "Of course! I, Shamoke, always keep my word. As soon as the wedding is over, we will work together to discuss major plans."

The Shanyue people had already prepared everything. After the discussion, they moved forward steadily and the wedding could be held in the evening.

As the last rays of sunset, like a dreamy golden veil, gently shone across the Shanyue camp, the entire tribe was instantly engulfed in a warm and festive atmosphere. In the center of the camp, a makeshift yet ingenious wedding venue, meticulously prepared by the Shanyue people, was perfectly prepared.

A massive bonfire burned brightly, its fiery flames dancing like a flock of joyful spirits, illuminating the surroundings with a luminous, mysterious, and romantic hue, lending this unique wedding a unique atmosphere. The Shanyue people meticulously decorated the surroundings with verdant vines and vibrant wildflowers, each detail expressing their sincere blessings for the newlyweds. Shanyue men and women, adorned in vibrant costumes, wielded a variety of musical instruments, joyfully playing unique ethnic melodies. The stirring music blended with the laughter of the crowd, weaving a joyful melody.

Ma Chao, dressed in a magnificent suit specially made for the Shanyue people, remained handsome, yet cleverly infused with the unique charm of Shanyue clothing, accentuating his elegance. Standing erect, he quietly stood by the campfire, his eyes filled with tenderness and expectation, occasionally glancing towards Sally, who was surrounded by her maids not far away.

Sally resembled a fairy, gracefully gliding from the depths of the forests, her beauty captivating. Her meticulously embroidered Shanyue bridal gown, every stitch and thread embodying the Shanyue woman's vision and yearning for a better life. The exquisite patterns on her garment shimmered in the gentle firelight, accentuating her allure. She wore a phoenix crown, and her long string of pearls and jade swayed gently with her graceful steps, like twinkling stars, radiating a captivating light.

Under the crowd's heated gazes, Sally moved lightly towards Ma Chao. A happy smile graced her face, her eyes filled with boundless longing for the future. When she finally reached Ma Chao's side, the two exchanged a smile, and at that moment, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the surroundings.

Meanwhile, Gan Ning and his personal guards, each with their Shanyue brides, held equally solemn and heartwarming ceremonies in separate corners of the venue. These iron-blooded men, usually fearless and brave on the battlefield, now became exceptionally gentle and shy. They held hands with their brides and swore a solemn vow of lifelong companionship.

A highly respected elder of the Shanyue tribe approached with steady steps. His face was weathered, the marks of time clearly visible, yet his eyes held a solemn and kind expression. He chanted a prayer in an ancient, mystical language, praying devoutly for the newlyweds. He implored the gods of heaven and earth to bless the newlyweds with love and long life together, and prayed for everlasting peace and prosperity for the Shanyue and Ma Chao's factions.

As the elders' blessing gradually faded, the newlyweds took turns raising their wine glasses, standing opposite each other. They clasped their hands tightly and drank the wine from their glasses in one gulp, symbolizing that their destinies were now bound together, and that they would walk hand in hand, no matter the storms. The surrounding Shanyue people came forward, offering their most heartfelt blessings. Some presented the newlyweds with exquisite handmade gifts, while others embraced them warmly, their faces beaming with joy.

The wedding ceremony slowly drew to a close amidst a jubilant atmosphere, but the enthusiasm of the crowd remained undimmed. As the last ray of sunset faded into the horizon and darkness descended as dark as ink, the campfire still burned brightly, emitting a warm glow. Amidst the blessings of the crowd, the newlyweds retreated for a moment to rest, while the lively atmosphere at Shanyue Camp intensified.

Soon, everyone gathered in the tent again. A distinct warmth permeated the tent, a stark contrast to the formality of the previous peace talks, a sense of intimacy and trust. Ma Chao, Sun Ce, Shamoke, and the others sat around a large table, laden with refreshments and fine wines meticulously prepared by the Shanyue people.

Shamoke was the first to break the silence. His face was a bit drunk, but he couldn't hide his excitement. He said in a loud voice, "Today, our two tribes have become one because of this happy event. From now on, we will be brothers who share life and death! We must plan this cooperation carefully!"

Sun Ce nodded slightly, his expression solemn yet confident. With a resolute gaze, he replied, "Brother Shamoke is absolutely right. Now that we share a common goal, our most pressing task is to make the most of the current situation and pacify Wu Commandery in one fell swoop."

Ma Chao then said, "In my opinion, we should stick to our previously agreed-upon strategy. We should feign a battle with the Shanyue to lure Xu Gong and Wang Lang into action. However, we must be even more cautious in the implementation, ensuring that every step is foolproof."

Lu Su took a sip of tea, slowly put down the cup, and added, "When feigning a battle, we must strike a careful balance. We must convince Xu Gong and Wang Lang that it's real, but we must not actually damage either side's vitality. The right timing for this requires careful consideration."

Shamoke frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "Then, in your opinion, how should we strike a balance?"

Lu Su gazed deeply into the night outside the tent and said slowly, "We can deliberately show weakness in some insignificant skirmishes, misleading them into thinking the Shanyue have the upper hand. However, we must not slack off in the slightest in the deployment of key forces and strategic locations. At the same time, we must deploy spies to spread false information to disrupt their judgment."

Gan Ning folded his arms across his chest and agreed, "Zi Jing is quite right. I think we can also make some adjustments to the location of the battle, choosing some places with complex terrain to facilitate ambushes and retreats."

Ma Chao nodded in agreement, looked at Sun Ce and asked, "Bofu, what do you think of this?"

Sun Ce thought for a moment, his eyes gleaming as he spoke, "I think we should not only confuse the enemy on the battlefield, but also seize the initiative in public opinion. Spread the word that the Shanyue are irreconcilable with us, so that Xu Gong and Wang Lang will relax their vigilance against our alliance."

Everyone nodded in agreement with Sun Ce's proposal. They then engaged in a more in-depth and detailed discussion on key issues such as troop deployment and the timing of the attack.

While discussing troop deployment, Gan Ning stood up and pointed to a map hanging in the tent. He said, "This place is strategically located and easy to defend but difficult to attack. We can set up an ambush here and wait for the enemy to enter the encirclement, then annihilate them in one fell swoop."

Shamoke leaned in closer, examined the map carefully, and said, "This is indeed an excellent location, but be careful. If the enemy discovers the ambush, they may change their route. We must prepare a countermeasure in advance."

Ma Chao pondered for a moment and said, "We can arrange a surprise force to set up an ambush in the direction where the enemy might change their route, just in case."

Everyone engaged in a lively discussion, contributing their ideas and constantly refining the battle plan. In the heated discussion, a detailed and well-thought-out plan gradually took shape through the collision of everyone's wisdom.

With everyone's concerted efforts, this plot, crucial to the future of Wu County, officially began. The flickering candlelight within the tent illuminated the determined faces of the men. They seemed to envision the prosperity of Wu County after its pacification, the dawn of a brand new era. And they stood at the forefront of this era, shouldering the crucial mission of rewriting history.