Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Inside the meeting room, the arguments subsided, and the atmosphere grew more solemn. Tao Qian's gaze swept across everyone's faces before finally settling on his two sons. He raised his hand slightly, signaling, "Shang'er, Ying'er, tell me what you think about this matter."

Upon hearing this, Tao Shang straightened his clothes slightly, took a step forward, and said with a solemn expression and passionate words: "Father, the Shanyue are acting recklessly in Wujun, which is a great provocation to the dignity of aristocratic families like us. As a big province, Xuzhou will be ridiculed by the world if we sit idly by. Moreover, Wang Lang and Xuzhou are on good terms. Sending troops to help at this time will not only demonstrate the reputation of Xuzhou for benevolence and righteousness, but also safeguard the common interests of the aristocratic families. Once the Shanyue are repelled, the prestige of Xuzhou in Jiangdong will surely increase greatly, and future actions will be smoother." His words were passionate and full of righteousness, and every word revolved around safeguarding the interests of the aristocratic families.

Tao Yingze pondered for a moment, his eyes calm, and slowly said: "Father, in my opinion, it is not appropriate to send troops at this time. Although Wang Lang occupies half of Wu County, with his current strength, it is difficult to resist the offensive of Shanyue. Shanyue has a huge influence in Wu County and acts ruthlessly. Now it is in a state of unstoppable momentum. If we send troops from Xuzhou at this time, we will definitely encounter the stubborn resistance of Shanyue. Our army may be trapped in a difficult battle and lose a lot of manpower and material resources. It is better to hold the troops in place for the time being and wait for March. Later, when Shanyue and Wang Lang are both severely wounded, we will send troops from Xuzhou. By then, both Shanyue and Wang Lang will be severely weakened, and our army can easily capture Wujun. This strategy, 'while the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits,' will not only reduce our losses, but also completely capture Wujun and strengthen Xuzhou's power. "After saying this, Tao Ying raised his head slightly, his eyes revealing a powerful spirit, a stark contrast to his usual calm demeanor. At this moment, he showed a masterful and strategic demeanor.

Tao Qian listened quietly to his two sons' speeches, his gaze darting back and forth between them, pondering the pros and cons of their words. For a moment, he found it difficult to make a decision. Silence fell once again in the meeting room, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense as everyone awaited Tao Qian's response.

The moment Tao Qian's two sons expressed their contrasting opinions, the hall erupted in excitement. Generals supporting Tao Shang nodded in agreement, agreeing with his call to defend the interests of the aristocratic families and send troops to aid them. "Master Tao, you're absolutely right! How can we sit idly by and watch the Shanyue act so arrogantly? We must teach them a lesson!" "Indeed, sending troops will not only enhance the prestige of Xuzhou but also solidify the status of the aristocratic families. It's a win-win situation." These voices echoed in unison, all supporting Tao Shang's views.

The generals supporting Tao Ying were unwilling to be outdone. Zang Ba stood up and shouted, "Master Tao's analysis is sound. It's unwise to rashly send troops at this time. We should wait until the Shanyue and Wang Lang are both badly damaged, and then we can attack again. We will surely achieve twice the result with half the effort." Sun Guan echoed, "Indeed, there's no need to rush. The best strategy is to conserve our strength and seize the opportunity before taking action."

Each view had its supporters, and the heated debate reverberated through the conference room, making it increasingly difficult for Tao Qian to make a decision. His brow furrowed, his eyes revealing a hint of fatigue and confusion as he paced back and forth, mentally weighing the pros and cons of sending troops and not sending them.

As the debate raged, surprisingly, Chen Deng and his son, in a rare move, stood up in support of Tao Ying's opinion. Chen Deng stepped forward and respectfully addressed Tao Qian, "Sir, upon closer consideration, what Master Tao Ying says makes sense. The Shanyue threat is a long-standing one, with deep roots in Wu Commandery and cunning tactics. If Xuzhou were to dispatch troops now, it would likely lead to a protracted and brutal battle, which would be extremely detrimental to the development of Xuzhou. It would be better to wait until the opportunity is right, then strike in one fell swoop. This would ensure the greatest benefit at the lowest cost."

Chen Gui nodded and added, "Deng'er is right. We can't just focus on the reputation of being righteous and benevolent in the short term. We must also consider the long-term development of Xuzhou. Holding our troops in place at this time isn't cowardice, but a strategic strategy. Once the Shanyue and Wang Lang are both defeated, Xuzhou will be able to easily capture Wujun, expand its territory, and strengthen its strength."

The words of Chen Deng and his son startled everyone who had originally supported Tao Shang. They hadn't expected Chen Deng and his son, who had always held such a significant position in Xuzhou, to actually support Tao Ying. Tao Qian was also somewhat surprised. He paused, his gaze fixed on Chen Deng and his son, silently pondering the deeper meaning of their words. At this moment, the atmosphere in the meeting hall grew even more tense.

As soon as Chen Deng and his son finished speaking, Cao Bao, who supported Tao Shang, couldn't help but stand up. His face was full of dissatisfaction and anxiety. He took a step forward and bowed to Chen Deng and his son, but his tone was not polite. "Master Chen, Master Chen, while there is some truth in what you say, it is too cowardly. The Shanyue are indeed difficult to deal with, but our Xuzhou is strong and powerful. How can we fear them? If we don't send troops now and allow the Shanyue to wreak havoc in Wujun, what will our Xuzhou's reputation be? Wang Lang is on good terms with us. If we don't lend a hand, who will ally with our Xuzhou in the future?"

Cao Bao turned slightly to face Tao Qian, his eyes filled with determination. "Sir, as generals of Xuzhou, we shoulder the heavy responsibility of defending our homeland and spreading our prestige far and wide. Now that Wujun is in trouble, it's a golden opportunity for our army to make a difference. If we hesitate and miss this opportunity, the Shanyue will become even more powerful and threaten the security of Xuzhou. Furthermore, by sending troops to help, we can also seize the opportunity to establish our prestige in Wujun, win over the local aristocratic families, and lay the foundation for the development and growth of Xuzhou."

He turned his gaze to Chen Deng and said sharply, "Mr. Chen, although you are resourceful, if you play it safe right now, you may miss out on important opportunities. Opportunities for war are fleeting. If we wait until Shanyue and Wang Lang are both defeated, other forces may intervene. It will be difficult for Xuzhou to profit from this."

Cao Bao clasped his fists, awaiting a response from Chen Deng and his son, and hoping Tao Qian would adopt his suggestion. The atmosphere in the meeting room grew increasingly tense, with everyone's gaze shifting back and forth between Cao Bao, Chen Deng and his son, and Tao Qian, all waiting to see how the argument would develop and what Tao Qian would ultimately decide.

In the power structure of Xuzhou, Tao Ying initially faced a disadvantageous position in his competition with his brother, Tao Shang. Tao Shang, with the support of prominent families, had a complex and deep-rooted influence in Xuzhou. While Tao Ying enjoyed the support of military commanders like Zang Ba and Sun Guan, his influence was far inferior to Tao Shang's.

However, the sudden announcement by Chen Deng and his son was like a bombshell, instantly shattering the delicate balance. While they didn't explicitly pledge their allegiance to Tao Ying, their mere endorsement of his views made Tao Shang's supporters feel threatened. They saw Chen Deng and his son as crucial figures among the Xuzhou aristocratic families, and their choice was likely to influence even more of them. This led everyone to secretly wonder: when did Chen Deng and his son begin to lean towards Tao Ying? Did they and Tao Ying already have some kind of hidden understanding?

Tao Ying was secretly delighted to hear Chen Deng and his son's support, but he tried to remain calm on the surface. He adjusted his clothes slightly, took another step forward, and spoke in a loud and firm voice, "Gentlemen, I am not afraid of the Shanyue, nor do I want to send troops to help Wang Lang. However, sending troops at this time is unwise. The Shanyue have long been entrenched in Wujun and are familiar with the local terrain and people. If our Xuzhou army rashly marches forward, we will be in an unfamiliar place and will inevitably be put in a disadvantageous position."

He paused briefly, scanning the room, and continued, "Although Wang Lang has taken over half of Wujun, the current situation suggests he still has some resistance. It won't be easy for the Shanyue to defeat him in a short period of time. During this period, both sides will inevitably attrition each other. When both are equally depleted, we can then send troops from Xuzhou. At that point, our army will be well-rested, allowing us to not only easily defeat the Shanyue but also take control of Wujun. This is the ultimate way to achieve the greatest benefit at the lowest cost."

"Moreover," Tao Ying paused and emphasized, "If Xuzhou sends out troops at this time, even if we can defeat the Shanyue, we will definitely lose a lot of manpower and supplies. At that time, if other surrounding forces take the opportunity to attack, how should Xuzhou respond? Therefore, keeping our troops in place and waiting for the best opportunity is the most advantageous option for Xuzhou." After Tao Ying finished speaking, he bowed slightly and waited quietly for everyone's reaction.

As soon as Tao Ying finished speaking, Cao Bao took a step forward, his face filled with anger. He loudly retorted, "According to what Master Tao Ying said, are we going to allow the Shanyue to act recklessly in Wujun and watch Wang Lang fall into danger without helping? We are a prominent family, holding military power and high positions in Xuzhou. We shoulder the responsibility of upholding justice and protecting our alliance. If we sit idly by and do nothing, how can we survive in this chaotic world in the future? How can we convince other factions?"

Cao Bao was agitated, his eyes wide as he scanned the crowd in the hall. He continued, "Wang Lang and Xuzhou have long been friends. We all understand the principle of 'lips and teeth'. If Wujun is completely occupied by the Shanyue, their power will increase significantly, and their next target will most likely be Xuzhou. By then, our resistance will be extremely difficult!"

Cao Bao's words resounded loudly throughout the conference room. His resolute expression and passionate words caused many people to nod slightly in agreement.

Tao Qian listened to Cao Bao's impassioned speech, frowning and lost in thought. He knew very well that Cao Bao's words made sense. If he did not send troops to help, it would indeed affect Xuzhou's reputation and relations with other forces; but Tao Ying's analysis was also reasonable. Sending troops rashly might put Xuzhou in trouble. After weighing the pros and cons, Tao Qian slowly spoke and said, "What Cao Bao said is reasonable and well-founded. Xuzhou naturally cannot watch Wang Lang die without helping him. But Tao Ying's concerns must also be considered. I think that Cao Bao should lead a part of the troops to help Wang Lang first, which can also be regarded as an expression of Xuzhou's attitude and that we are not sitting idly by. Later, if Shanyue and Wang Lang really fight to the point of mutual destruction, Zang Ba and Sun Guan will lead the troops to go and act accordingly. In this way, we can not only show our friendship to Xuzhou, but also protect the interests of Xuzhou to the greatest extent."

After saying this, Tao Qian looked firmly at Cao Bao, then at Zang Ba and Sun Guan, awaiting their responses. In the meeting room, everyone heard Tao Qian's decision. Although some still held objections, they all understood that this was the best compromise that could be made.