Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Inside the Shanyue camp, the atmosphere was oppressive, like the dead silence before a storm. Soldiers sat or lay, each one looking exhausted and demoralized. The horrific scene of the siege still lingered in their minds.

Shamoke sat on a tiger-skin chair in the center of the tent, his eyes red as he stared intently at the ground, emitting a chilling aura. His fists clenched, his knuckles white, the rage in his heart like a volcano poised to erupt at any moment.

"Damn it!" Shamoke suddenly stood up and kicked over the table beside him, sending the cups, plates, and bowls scattering to the floor. "I thought we could easily take Jiaxing City, but I didn't expect that old bastard Xu Gong to call in so many reinforcements!"

The surrounding generals were so frightened that they dared not breathe, and kept their heads down, fearing that they would anger the furious Shamoke. Shamoke paced back and forth in the tent, and every step seemed to dig a crater in the ground.

"So many of our Shanyue warriors have died in vain!" Shamoke's voice trembled with anger and heartache. "Those were all good men of our tribe, and they were murdered by Xu Gong's people!"

A young general bravely stepped forward and said, "Captain, we can't just give up like this. How about we organize another attack, this time with more siege equipment? We'll definitely be able to capture Jiaxing City!"

Shamoke glared at him fiercely and roared, "Another attack? Can't you see that our men have suffered heavy casualties? Are you just going to die in vain?"

The general trembled at the look in Shamoke's eyes and quickly retreated. Silence fell once again in the tent, with only the sound of Shamoke's heavy breathing and the occasional clash of weapons.

After a long time, Shamoko gradually calmed down. He knew that being angry and impulsive would not solve the problem. He sat back in his chair, rubbed his temples, and said, "Let's talk about it. What should we do next?"

Another general stepped forward and said, "Captain, Xu Gong's forces have greatly increased. A frontal attack would probably result in heavy losses. We should first surround them, deplete their supplies and morale, and then look for an opportunity."

Shamoke pondered for a moment and nodded. "That's a good idea. Send the order to stop the siege and surround Jiaxing. At the same time, increase patrols to prevent Xu Gong's men from breaking out."

At this moment, a soldier hurried into the tent and said, "Captain, Lord Ma Chao and Generals Sun Ce and Zhou Yu are here."

After a while, Shamoke strode out of the tent. His face was clouded with gloom and his steps were heavy. Every step seemed to be filled with immense anger and unwillingness.

Seeing this, Ma Chao immediately stepped forward, placed his hands firmly on Shamoke's shoulders, and said with a sincere and gentle look, "Brother Shamoke, although we have encountered obstacles in this siege, it is by no means hopeless. You and I are both seasoned warriors. How can this little setback defeat us?"

Shamoke raised his head, his eyes filled with pain and resentment. He muttered, "Mengqi, how can I not be heartbroken? So many good men of the Shanyue people have perished just like that. It's all because of me, their leader, who failed to lead them well."

Ma Chao gently patted Shamoke's shoulder, his tone firm and powerful, "Brother, war is inherently cruel, and casualties are inevitable. This is not your fault. My brothers are all bravely advancing for our common cause. Their sacrifice will not be in vain."

Sun Ce also stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with pride and confidence. He spoke loudly, "Chief Sha, you and I have joined forces to pacify Wu Commandery. The gains and losses of a city or a pond are only temporary. We still have our strength and our ingenuity, so why should we worry about not achieving our goals?"

Zhou Yu smiled faintly and said gently, "Captain Shamoke, although we are currently facing difficulties, this is also a time for sharpening our skills. As the art of war says, knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory in a hundred battles. This siege has given us a clearer understanding of Xu Gong's troop deployment and defensive strategies. This is invaluable experience."

As Shamoke listened to the three men's words of comfort, his tense expression gradually relaxed. He took a deep breath and said, "Thank you very much, everyone. I was anxious and lost my composure. What should we do next?"

Sun Ce was the first to break the silence. His gaze was sharp as he gazed at the map of Wujun on the table. He spoke, "Xu Gong is now like a trapped beast, desperately trying to fight. He's been forced into a desperate situation. But he's amassed a large force within Jiaxing City, and the walls are fortified. A rash attack would be costly and a terrible strategy. We must devise a brilliant plan to lure him out of the city and eliminate him in open territory outside. This will minimize casualties and increase our chances of victory."

Ma Chao nodded slightly, stroking his chin in thought for a moment before continuing, "Bofu is absolutely right. Jiaxing County is fortified, and taking it by force in a short period of time would be extremely difficult. In my opinion, we can have General Shamoke allocate some of his forces to attack other less-defended counties under Xu Gong's jurisdiction. These counties are weaker in numbers and relatively easy to capture. Once we succeed, we can simply eliminate the aristocratic families within the city. This will not only weaken Xu Gong's base and support, but also intimidate him and cause him to panic."

Zhou Yu's eyes gleamed with wisdom, and his lips curled up in a confident smile. "Brother, this is a brilliant plan. It can be part of our plan. I also have another one. We can use the imperial court's name, claiming the unrest in Wu Commandery and the Shanyue as a pretext. We can have Bofu send a message inviting Xu Gong to work with you to suppress the bandits and pacify the Shanyue. Right now, Xu Gong is isolated and helpless, running around like a headless fly, desperately searching for a way out. If we throw him this 'lifeline,' he'll surely seize it. If he's willing to leave the city to keep our appointment, we can set up numerous ambushes outside the city and annihilate him in one fell swoop."

Upon hearing this, Sun Ce's eyes lit up and he slapped his thigh excitedly. "Gongjin, this is a brilliant plan! Xu Gong is desperate to escape his predicament and will undoubtedly believe Bo Fu's invitation. If he dares to leave Jiaxing City, we'll have him in our grasp."

Ma Chao also showed an expression of appreciation and nodded, saying, "This plan is well-connected, combining both real and fake tactics. Leader Shamoke will attack the county to distract Xu Gong. We will invite him in the name of the imperial court to give him a chance. Once he leaves the city, that will be his death."

Zhou Yu tapped his palm lightly, his expression growing serious. "However, every step in implementing this plan must be extremely cautious. The message must be delivered covertly and realistically to avert Xu Gong's suspicion. The ambush outside the city must be perfectly planned to ensure it's foolproof. General Shamoke's attack on the county seat must also be timed carefully and coordinated closely with our plans."

Sun Ce and Ma Chao nodded in agreement. The three of them engaged in a thorough and detailed discussion of specific details, such as troop deployment, ambush locations, and information transmission, which continued late into the night. Outside the tent, the moonlight shone like water, while inside, a deadly plan targeting Xu Gong was quietly taking shape.

Atop the Jiaxing city wall, Xu Gong frowned, surveying the Shanyue camp outside with suspicion. The siege, which had once been as surging as a tide, constantly suffocating him, had suddenly weakened in the past few days. Patrolling soldiers were sparse in front of the Shanyue camp, and the siege equipment lay idle, a spectacle of the usual bustling preparations.

"What on earth is going on? Why have the Shanyue people suddenly relaxed their guard?" Xu Gong muttered to himself, a sense of unease spreading wildly in his heart like a vine. The guards beside him also looked at each other in confusion, no one could give an answer.

Just as Xu Gong was filled with confusion and at a loss, a messenger stumbled onto the city wall, his face as pale as paper, his voice trembling, "Sir, something terrible has happened! Qiantang County, which is under our jurisdiction, has been captured by the Shanyue people!"

"What?" Xu Gong turned around abruptly, his eyes wide open, his expression filled with disbelief and horror. "How is this possible? Didn't I mobilize most of the troops to Jiaxing City? How could those counties..."

The messenger fell to his knees with a thud, his voice tinged with tears: "Sir, after we mobilized our troops, the counties were left destitute and completely unable to resist the Shanyue's attacks. Furthermore, wherever the Shanyue arrive, they only target the wealthy and powerful, leaving the common people alone and distributing food and fodder. The common people, who have long harbored resentment towards the wealthy and powerful, have lost their will to resist, and some are even helping them..."

Xu Gong felt dizzy and almost lost his balance. He held onto the battlements and said with gritted teeth, "These cunning Shanyue people resorted to such tactics!"

At this moment, another messenger came running in in a panic, presenting a letter: "Sir, this is an urgent letter we just received!"

Xu Gong hurriedly opened the letter, only to find it inscribed: "Sun Ce of Wu County has invited Xu Gong to come out of the city to discuss a plan to annihilate the Shanyue people in order to maintain peace in Wu County. If Xu Gong does not respond, Sun Ce will treat Xu Gong as an accomplice and punish him together with him after he has pacified the Shanyue people."

Xu Gong finished reading the letter with mixed emotions. He knew he was under attack from all sides. While the city had sufficient food and fodder for the time being, a long-term siege was untenable. Outside, the Shanyue people were eyeing the city covetously. Sun Ce's invitation seemed like a lifeline, but he wondered if it held a hidden agenda.

"My lord, look at this..." the staff member beside him asked cautiously.

Xu Gong pondered for a long time, weighing the pros and cons. He thought that if he could ally with Sun Ce, perhaps he could truly escape his current predicament. Furthermore, if he didn't accept the invitation, if Sun Ce conquered the Shanyue, he might actually be considered a Shanyue accomplice.

Inside the meeting hall in Jiaxing City, the atmosphere was so tense it could be squeezed out of water. Xu Gong frowned, clutching the invitation letter from Sun Ce tightly in his hand. He paced back and forth, his heart filled with confusion and struggle.

"Everyone, tell me, should we believe Sun Ce's invitation?" Xu Gong stopped and glanced at the staff and generals present with a serious expression.

A general spoke first, "My lord, I think there's something fishy going on here. Sun Ce and the Shanyue people may have been colluding for a long time. This invitation is probably a trap. If we leave the city, we might never return."

Xu Gong nodded slightly, but remained silent. At this moment, another aide spoke worriedly, "That being said, our current situation is not optimistic. The Shanyue have breached several of our counties, and the city has been depleted of food and fodder. A prolonged siege will inevitably lead to its collapse. While this invitation is suspicious, it may be our only chance of survival."

Everyone was arguing back and forth, but no conclusion was reached. Xu Gong's face grew increasingly gloomy. He knew that this step was a matter of life and death. If he was not careful, he would be doomed.