Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

At this moment, Zhang Yu, the aide, stood up, clasped his hands together, and said loudly, "My lord, in my opinion, we should take advantage of their situation. We can accept this invitation, but we must not leave the city easily."

Xu Gong's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, "Zhang Yu, what good ideas do you have? Feel free to tell me."

Zhang Yu confidently stated, "We can write back to Sun Ce, saying that as a sign of sincerity, we invite him and his entourage into the city to discuss cooperation. The city is our territory, we know the terrain like the back of our hands, and we can mobilize troops at any time. Even if Sun Ce truly has ill intentions, we can seize the initiative and minimize the risk."

After hearing this, Xu Gong's eyes lit up and he couldn't help but applaud: "Brilliant! This plan is brilliant! It not only responds to Sun Ce, but also ensures our safety. Let's do it!"

However, some generals also expressed concerns: "What if Sun Ce refuses to enter the city?"

Zhang Yu smiled faintly and said, "If he refuses to enter the city, it means he has something to hide. We can use this as an excuse to refuse cooperation and continue to defend the city. At the same time, we can also show the court that it is Sun Ce who has evil intentions and is unwilling to cooperate in suppressing the rebellion."

Xu Gong nodded in approval and immediately ordered Zhang Yu to draft a reply. The letter was sincere and expressed his loyalty to the court and his welcome to Sun Ce for coming to quell the rebellion. Then, on the grounds that the city was safe, he sincerely invited Sun Ce to come in and discuss major plans.

After the reply was sent, Xu Gong stepped up his defenses within the city, awaiting Sun Ce's response. He knew that the game with Sun Ce had only just begun, and the fate of Jiaxing City hung in the balance.

Inside the Shanyue camp, everyone sat around in a heated yet tense atmosphere. When the messenger presented Xu Gong's reply, Sun Ce unfolded it and read it carefully, his lips gradually curling up into a smile of determination.

Ma Chao took the letter and read it, then burst into laughter. "Haha, it seems Xu Gong has fallen for the trick. Just as we expected, he won't leave the city easily."

Lu Su frowned slightly, his eyes filled with worry, and said, "If he refuses to leave the city, our carefully arranged ambush outside the city will be useless. What should we do?"

Sun Ce held his head high, his eyes gleaming with fearlessness as he laughed boldly, "Haha! If he won't come to see me outside the city, I'll go meet him inside. Just imagine how capable a city defender like Xu Gong is. I, Sun Ce, roam the Jiangdong region, so why should I be afraid of him playing some tricks in the city?"

With that, he suddenly drew his sword, the blade gleaming coldly in the candlelight. "This time I enter the city, I will show Xu Gong that my courage and wisdom are beyond his reach. This Wu Commandery will soon be mine!"

Zhou Yu gently waved his folding fan and nodded in agreement. "Bofu is absolutely right. Xu Gong invited you into the city, thinking he had the upper hand, but he didn't realize it was exactly what we wanted. The situation inside the city is complex, making it a perfect place to unleash a brilliant strategy."

Sun Ce looked around at everyone and spoke loudly, "Everyone, this entry into the city may seem fraught with danger, but it actually presents a golden opportunity. We must show Xu Gong that his schemes are nothing but a mantis trying to stop a chariot. I will take a firm step towards our great cause right here in Jiaxing!"

After some discussion, the group finalized their plan to enter the city. Sun Ce selected a thousand elite soldiers, all battle-hardened and highly skilled, to accompany him. Before departing, he addressed them once again, "This operation must succeed, failure is unacceptable. Working together, we will surely turn the tide and achieve great things!"

Sun Ce then led this elite force, marching proudly towards Jiaxing City, his heart filled with hope for the future and a conviction of victory. A thrilling battle within the city was about to begin.

For the past two days, devastating news poured in like a surging tide. Several cities had been swiftly captured by the Shanyue, their noble families slaughtered. The bloody scenes seemed to be right before his eyes. Upon hearing this news, Xu Gong's heart burned with rage and hatred, his teeth chattering with hatred, and he felt as if they were about to break.

Xu Gong, trapped within Jiaxing City, was in dire straits. He knew full well that he had no escape route, as if he were trapped in an invisible, impenetrable net. His only option was to hold on to Jiaxing, like a drowning man clinging to a last straw, hoping that Sun Ce would keep his promise and quickly dispatch troops from Wu County to join him in defeating the Shanyue.

Inside the meeting hall in Jiaxing City, the atmosphere was oppressive and suffocating. An aide cautiously raised his head, looking at the furious Xu Gong, and summoned the courage to advise, "Lord, the situation is now extremely critical. The Shanyue have transferred a large number of their forces elsewhere, and the siege force outside Jiaxing City is clearly insufficient. In my opinion, perhaps we could attempt a breakout; perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope."

As soon as the aide finished speaking, Xu Gong flew into a rage, his eyes wide open, blazing with anger. He fiercely kicked the desk beside him. With a loud bang, the desk was kicked over to the ground, and the documents, teacups, and other items on it were scattered all over the floor.

"Retreat! Retreat! Retreat! Where else do you want me to retreat to?" Xu Gong roared at the top of his lungs. "Don't you know how brutal those Shanyue people are? Have they ever given us even the slightest chance to retreat?"

The aide was so frightened that his face turned pale as paper. He fell to his knees on the ground with a plop, his body shaking constantly, not daring to breathe.

Xu Gong paced frantically in the conference room, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white from the exertion. "I, Xu Gong, have been operating in Wu Commandery for many years. I cannot give up so easily. As soon as Sun Ce's reinforcements arrive, we will combine our strength, both internally and externally, and we will surely crush the Shanyue people!" He gritted his teeth, his voice laced with anger and a hint of desperate determination.

However, Xu Gong was unaware that the man he longed for, Sun Ce, was now approaching Jiaxing City with a carefully planned conspiracy. And the straw he thought was his lifeline might actually be the very force that pushed him into an abyss of no return.

Outside Jiaxing, dust billowed, and shouts of battle shook the air. Sun Ce led his troops in a feint, feigning a desperate attempt to break through the Shanyue encirclement. He led the charge, brandishing his spear with such ferocity that the Shanyue soldiers retreated wherever he went. After a fierce battle, Sun Ce successfully led his troops to the gates of Jiaxing.

From the towering tower, Xu Gong gazed at Sun Ce below, feeling a mixture of emotions. On the one hand, he longed for Sun Ce's reinforcements to alleviate his pressing needs; on the other, his suspicions grew worse after days of repeated reminders from his advisors, who felt that everything was going too smoothly, and perhaps a vast conspiracy was hidden behind it.

At this time, an aide approached Xu Gong and whispered, "My lord, although Sun Ce claims to be coming to our aid, his mind is unpredictable. He leads so many troops. If we allow them all to enter the city, if something unexpected happens, we will have no control over the situation. It would be better to station his army outside the city, forming a stronghold with the troops inside. This way, we can both benefit from their strength and ensure the safety of the city."

After hearing this, Xu Gong pondered for a long time before finally nodding his head. He ordered his men to lower the hanging basket and hand a letter to Sun Ce below the city walls. The letter expressed his concerns and pleaded with Sun Ce to camp outside the city walls, bringing only a few personal guards into the city to discuss strategies for defeating the enemy.

After reading the letter, Sun Ce frowned slightly, thinking to himself: This Xu Gong is indeed suspicious. But his expression remained impassive. Instead, he laughed heartily and replied loudly: "Don't worry, Xu Gong. I, Sun Ce, have come here with the sole purpose of annihilating the Shanyue and restoring peace to Wu Commandery. Since Xu Gong has such concerns, I will certainly comply."

Sun Ce ignored everyone's advice and, with a wave of his hand, selected only four generals: Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, and Zu Mao, along with less than a hundred personal guards, and prepared to enter the city. His confidants urged him, "General, this journey is too dangerous. You must not take risks lightly!"

Sun Ce, however, smiled nonchalantly and said, "What are you afraid of? I, Sun Ce, have always acted with integrity. Xu Gong may be suspicious, but he needs my help right now and would not dare to do anything to me. Besides, if I were to cower, how could I convince him to join forces with me to defeat the Shanyue?"

Sun Ce held his head high and led his men toward the Jiaxing city gate. Xu Gong, along with a group of officials, was already waiting at the gate. Seeing that Sun Ce had such a small group, Xu Gong's doubts eased slightly, but he still didn't dare to let his guard down.

"General Sun, thank you for your hard work along the way!" Xu Gongqiang said with a forced smile.

Sun Ce strode forward, clasped his hands together, and said cheerfully, "Mr. Xu, you are too polite. The Shanyue are wreaking havoc, and the people of Wu Commandery are suffering. How dare I, Sun Ce, slack off in the slightest? I have come here to discuss with Mr. Xu a plan to defeat the enemy and drive the Shanyue out of Wu Commandery!"

Xu Gong nodded slightly and said, "General Sun's loyalty and righteousness are commendable and admirable. However, the situation is complicated now. I hope the general will understand my arrangement to station the army outside the city."

Sun Ce laughed heartily and said, "Don't worry, Lord Xu. I understand your concerns. The army outside the city is led by my trusted confidant and will cooperate closely with those inside the city to form a strong support. Let's get down to business quickly. Defeating the Shanyue as soon as possible is our top priority."

Xu Gong brought Sun Ce and the others to the meeting hall, where they took their seats, each serving as host and guest. However, beneath the seemingly harmonious atmosphere, undercurrents swirled. Xu Gong was constantly wary of Sun Ce's every move, while Sun Ce secretly plotted his next move. A silent battle unfolded quietly within this small meeting hall.

Inside the meeting hall in Jiaxing City, the atmosphere was tense and delicate. Xu Gong and Sun Ce sat across from each other, their eyes meeting, a subtle glint of wit. Xu Gong took a sip from his teacup, attempting to mask his inner unease. Then, looking up at Sun Ce, his brow furrowed slightly, he spoke with concern, "General Sun, with the Shanyue people so rampant now, who are the generals commanding your troops stationed outside the city? Are they safe?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Ce threw back his head and burst into a hearty laugh, which echoed throughout the empty conference room, making everyone's ears ring. After laughing, he slapped his thigh, his eyes filled with pride and confidence, and said, "Have you, Lord Xu, forgotten my sworn brother Zhou Yu?"

"Oh?" Xu Gong was slightly startled, a hint of curiosity and doubt flashing in his eyes, "But that handsome Zhou Lang from Jiangdong?"

"It's Gongjin!" Sun Ce nodded heavily, his eyes gleaming brightly. His words were filled with trust and admiration for Zhou Yu. "Gongjin is a man of extraordinary talent, unpredictable wit. He's proficient in everything from marching and fighting to strategic planning and deployment, and adapting to changing circumstances. I'm far inferior to him in terms of wisdom and strategy. With Gongjin commanding the army outside the city and making strategic arrangements, we're more than capable of dealing with the Shanyue. Lord Xu, just relax and rest assured!"