Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

After the discussion, Tao Qian, though still somewhat concerned, maintained his composure. He knew he needed to write a reply to Wang Lang as soon as possible to reassure him, so he immediately arranged for pen, ink, paper, and inkstone to be prepared, and personally wrote the letter. In it, Tao Qian earnestly assured Xuzhou that Wujun's plight would not be ignored and that they would extend a helping hand.

After the letter was completed, Tao Qian began to make arrangements for the dispatch of troops. This time, he decided to send 20,000 soldiers. These soldiers were all elite Danyang soldiers that he had carefully trained in his early years. They were extremely powerful and were considered the elite of the elite in the Xuzhou army.

After careful consideration, Tao Qian appointed Cao Bao as the commander-in-chief. Cao Bao held high prestige within the Xuzhou army and had consistently advocated for sending troops to aid Wang Lang. Tao Qian believed he would be able to resolutely carry out the rescue mission. He also appointed Mi Zhu as the accompanying military commander. Coming from a prominent Xuzhou family, Mi Zhu possessed strategic and strategic skills, excelling in coordination and coordination, making him a valuable support force within the army. Mi Fang was appointed vanguard. Young and energetic, he fought bravely, and Tao Qian hoped he would lead the charge and open up the front for the army. Furthermore, generals such as Zhang Kai and Zhao Yu accompanied the army to assist Cao Bao in commanding the battle.

On the day of the expedition, flags fluttered outside Xuzhou City, and 20,000 elite Danyang soldiers lined up in neat formations, their armor gleaming and their swords and spears like a forest. Clad in armor and mounted on a towering horse, Cao Bao exuded awe. He surveyed his men and declared, "We are marching to aid our allies and to safeguard the dignity of Xuzhou. You must fight bravely and not slack off in the slightest!" The soldiers responded in unison, their voices resonating with the heavens.

At Cao Bao's command, the army slowly set out, heading towards Wujun. Tao Qian, standing on the city wall, watched the retreating army and silently prayed that this expedition would be successful, that it would not only lift the siege on Wang Lang but also allow Xuzhou to gain the greatest benefit from this conflict.

Tao Qian's reply reached Wang Lang at top speed. When Wang Lang unfolded the letter and saw Tao Qian's resolute promise, his face, gloomy from the recent days of tension, finally lit up with a look of relief. This letter was like a beacon of hope in the darkness, a shot of confidence in his heart amidst the difficulties he faced.

Previously, facing the Shanyue's aggressive occupation and constant harassment, Wang Lang, despite commanding a considerable force, was wary of their power and dared not act rashly. He could only adopt a defensive stance, barely maintaining his control over the other half of Wujun. However, Tao Qian's reply, mentioning military assistance, rekindled Wang Lang's hope.

At the same time, the changing attitudes of the aristocratic families also greatly aided Wang Lang. Now, facing the threat of the Shanyue, these aristocratic families put aside their past grudges and fully supported Wang Lang. Not only did they provide substantial material assistance, they also encouraged their sons to join the army, significantly increasing Wang Lang's military strength. This infusion of fresh blood significantly boosted Wang Lang's military strength.

With Tao Qian's promise and the strong support of the aristocratic families, Wang Lang still hesitated to launch a full-scale counterattack against Xu Gong's former territory, but he also abandoned a passive defensive stance. After careful consideration, he decided to dispatch a force to launch a counterattack against Linshui County. Linshui County was strategically located; recapture would not only strengthen his defenses in depth but also create a deterrent effect against the Shanyue.

Wang Lang's army surged toward Linshui County like a black torrent, banners obscuring the sky and clouds of dust billowing thickly. Inside Linshui County, the atmosphere was tense, as if water could be squeezed out of it. The people, terrified, shut their doors tightly and shuddered within their homes. On the city walls, the Shanyue and Gan Ning's Jinfan tribesmen stood in full battle formation, dressed in light clothing, blades hanging from their waists, their eyes gleaming with unruly ferocity.

At that moment, Gan Ning stood atop the city wall, his brocade robes rustling in the wind, the sword at his waist gleaming coldly. He was a burly figure, his face stern, his eyes sharp as a hawk's as he fixed his gaze on the surging Wang Lang army from afar. "Hmph, that old man Wang Lang, you actually think you can easily crush Linshui County!" Gan Ning's lips curled up in a slight, disdainful smile, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.

In Wang Lang's army, the commander, Zuo Rong, rode a majestic horse at the front. He scanned Linshui City, plotting how to capture it and achieve great success. Zuo Rong knew Gan Ning was a formidable opponent, but he was confident in his superior numbers and ignored Gan Ning's Jinfan troops.

As Wang Lang's army approached and formed up outside the city, Gan Ning had already hatched a bold and madcap plan. He knew that, with the enemy outnumbered, a passive defense would only lead to the enemy's capture. Rather than waiting for death, he decided to attack and destroy the enemy's prestige. So, he quickly selected one hundred of the most elite warriors from among the Jinfan tribe. These were all brave warriors who had followed him for years, raiding the rivers and fighting on the battlefields. Each was agile, skilled in horsemanship, and deeply loyal to him.

"Brothers, Wang Lang is attacking us today. How can we shrink back?" Gan Ning glanced resolutely at the one hundred warriors before him and shouted, "When have we in the Jinfan Camp ever been afraid of anyone? Today, we will show that Zuo Rong how powerful I, Gan Ning, am. Let him know that Linshui County is not a place where he can come and go as he pleases! Follow me and charge out. I will kill him without a single piece of armor left!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" The one hundred Jinfan warriors shouted in unison, their voices deafening, filled with fearless courage and a desire for victory. They all jumped on their horses and followed closely behind Gan Ning, like sharp swords about to be unsheathed, ready to strike.

The city gates slowly opened, and with the sound of rapid and powerful horse hooves, Gan Ning took the lead, charging towards Wang Lang's camp like a flash of black lightning. The one hundred brocade-sailed warriors followed closely behind him, forming a tight cone formation. Like a tiger descending from the mountain, they roared towards the enemy camp.

Seeing Gan Ning dare to charge with only a hundred cavalrymen, Zuo Rong was stunned at first, then a sneer crossed his lips: "Hmph, Gan Ning, you're courting death!" He immediately ordered his soldiers to surround Gan Ning and his men and execute them. Wang Lang's army, which had been fully prepared for the attack, quickly adjusted its formation and closed in on Gan Ning's hundred cavalrymen.

However, Gan Ning's speed was far too great. With his spear in hand, the tip flashing with a cold gleam, he charged into the enemy ranks in the blink of an eye. Like a ferocious beast, he tore through the enemy ranks, sending Wang Lang's soldiers screaming and falling wherever he went. His eyes were filled with madness and determination, and every time he drew his spear, it was filled with murderous intent, aiming directly at the enemy's vital points.

"Kill!" Gan Ning shouted, his voice echoing across the battlefield with a chilling shudder. Beside him, a hundred Jinfan warriors worked closely together, brandishing their long swords and engaging the enemy in a fierce fight. The warriors' horses neighed, stirring up clouds of dust, and the entire battlefield instantly descended into chaos and bloodshed.

From behind, Zuo Rong watched his carefully arranged formation thrown into disarray by Gan Ning's hundred cavalrymen, filled with shock and fury. "Kill him! Kill these traitors!" he roared, his voice hoarse as he ordered his soldiers to encircle and destroy Gan Ning and his men. However, Gan Ning and his brocade-sailed warriors moved through the enemy ranks with ghostly ease, deftly circumventing their numerous encirclements and launching relentless attacks. Their onslaught drastically reduced Wang Lang's army's morale. Fear seized upon the soldiers, who fled in panic, their once-tidy formation falling into disarray.

After a fierce battle, Gan Ning, realizing his goal had been achieved, gave the order to lead his hundred cavalrymen to a swift retreat from the enemy lines. As swiftly as they had arrived, they vanished from Wang Lang's sight amidst the enemy's cries of alarm. Wang Lang's army was now in ruins, with countless dead and wounded soldiers, cries of grief echoing, and morale at its lowest point.

After Gan Ning and his hundred cavalrymen had escaped Wang Lang's army like a ghost, Zuo Rong was filled with resentment, but he had to suppress his anger for the time being. He quickly gathered his thoughts, wrote a detailed account of the battlefield in a letter, and sent it back to Wang Lang at full speed.

The messenger galloped all the way, finally delivering the letter to Wang Lang. Wang Lang, brow furrowed, paced back and forth in his tent, anxiously focused on the battle on the front lines. He took the letter and eagerly read it, his expression changing as the contents unfolded. Seeing how Gan Ning, with only a hundred cavalrymen, had disrupted Zuo Rong's army, Wang Lang's eyes flashed with shock and anger. He hadn't expected Gan Ning to be so brave and skilled, to dare to initiate the attack with such a disparate force.

After reading the letter, Wang Lang immediately wrote another letter and ordered the messenger to rush back to the front. In the letter, Wang Lang earnestly conveyed his strategic intentions to Zuo Rong. "General Zuo Rong, although Gan Ning has launched a surprise attack to disrupt our formation, we must not let this cause us to lose our composure. I am well aware of Gan Ning's bravery. He is a formidable foe and should not be underestimated. Although our army currently has the advantage in manpower, the Shanyue have long been entrenched, and Gan Ning's Jinfan troops are fierce fighters. We must not rush into a decisive battle with them."

"General, you only need to maintain your current offensive momentum, firmly besiege Linshui County, cut off their food and fodder supplies, and cause panic within the city. Do not act rashly, lest you fall prey to Gan Ning's treacherous schemes. As long as we advance steadily, denying the Shanyue any opportunity to exploit, and preventing them from advancing even a single step, once their food and fodder are depleted and their morale is low, then we will be able to capture the city. Then, we will surely annihilate the Shanyue in one fell swoop, recapture Linshui County, and enhance our military prestige. General, please remember this strategy and adhere to it without even a moment's slackness."

After receiving Wang Lang's reply, Zuo Rong carefully studied it. Although he still harbored resentment about Gan Ning's provocation, he also understood that Wang Lang was absolutely right. He sighed deeply, then summoned his generals and relayed Wang Lang's orders. "The lord has instructed us not to act rashly. From today on, we must tighten the siege on Linshui County and ensure it is impenetrable, rendering Gan Ning powerless. Violators will be subject to military action!"

From then on, Zuo Rong strictly followed Wang Lang's strategic intentions, and Wang Lang's army surrounded Linshui County like an iron barrel. Inside Linshui County, Gan Ning and Jinfan's troops were well aware of the seriousness of the situation. They were on high alert, preparing for the upcoming, even more difficult and protracted battle. A silent contest quietly unfolded within and around Linshui County, with both sides awaiting the decisive moment that would determine victory or defeat.

After this, Zuo Rong strictly ordered his troops not to march out rashly. He intended to trap Gan Ning and Jinfan's men within the city, deplete their supplies and morale, and then capture Linshui County in one fell swoop. Inside Linshui County, Gan Ning gazed upon the impenetrable enemy forces outside. His eyes showed no fear, but instead shone with fighting spirit. He knew an even tougher battle awaited him.