Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Everything proceeded smoothly and methodically, following the carefully planned steps. In Kuaiji County, Sun Ce assembled his troops, flags fluttering in the wind, and a large number of elite soldiers were ready to go, ready to fight a decisive battle with the Shanyue. The news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner of Wu County.

When the battle began, Sun Ce led the charge, his men at the forefront. His command was flawless, his men coordinated closely, and his offensive was fierce and relentless. Shamoke led the Shanyue, who seemingly put up a tenacious resistance, but were steadily defeated by Sun Ce's fierce attacks. On the battlefield, the Shanyue deliberately abandoned their baggage, their tents erupted in flames, and the soldiers fled in panic towards Linshui County.

This "battle" was exaggerated to be extremely fierce, and it quickly became the talk of the town. Everyone was amazed at Sun Ce's bravery and military talent, and his reputation in Wu County was like a rising star.

Wang Lang sat upright in his tent, clutching the intelligence he had just received, a smug smile growing on his face. He secretly rejoiced upon learning that the Shanyue, defeated by Sun Ce's attacks, were fleeing in panic towards Linshui County, preparing to reinforce Gan Ning. In his view, the Shanyue were a spent force, no longer a threat.

"Hmph, this Sun Ce is quite capable, having managed to defeat the Shanyue in such a disastrous manner," Wang Lang muttered to himself, a calculating glint in his eyes. "However, this is a good thing for me. Now that the Shanyue are unable to take care of themselves, they can only go to reinforce Gan Ning. This makes my plan to besiege Linshui County much smoother."

At this thought, Wang Lang thought of the reinforcements sent by Tao Qian from Xuzhou. The elite Danyang troops, led by Cao Bao, were arriving in a steady stream, which gave Wang Lang even more confidence. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes filled with complacency, and even began to have other thoughts.

"Wait until I take over Linshui County, wipe out the Shanyue and Gan Ning, and then divide the spoils with Sun Ce. By then, my power in Wujun will be unmatched. Maybe I can take this opportunity to further expand my territory and dominate the area." Wang Lang became more and more excited as he thought about it, as if that bright future was already within reach.

Just as Wang Lang was lost in his own fantasy, a soldier's voice came from outside the tent: "Report! An envoy sent by General Sun Ce requests an audience."

Wang Lang was slightly startled, then he straightened his clothes, sat up straight, and said loudly: "Xuan!"

A moment later, Huan Jie, an envoy sent by Sun Ce, entered the tent with a steady gait. Upon meeting Wang Lang, he bowed respectfully and said, "Sir Wang, my General Sun has long admired your esteemed reputation and has specially sent me here to discuss important matters with you. General Sun is well aware of the dangers posed by the Shanyue, which have brought countless disasters to Wu Commandery. Now that he has dealt a heavy blow to the Shanyue, he is willing to work with you to completely annihilate them and restore peace to Wu Commandery."

Wang Lang narrowed his eyes slightly, sizing up the envoy before him, pondering, "What is Sun Ce's motive in sending an envoy here at this time? However, the Shanyue are indeed a serious threat. If we can join forces with Sun Ce, perhaps we can achieve twice the result with half the effort. Besides, I have Tao Qian's reinforcements, so I'm not afraid of any tricks he might play."

Wang Lang's expression was stern, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's as he stared at the envoy sent by Sun Ce. His tone was filled with questioning and disdain. He continued, "Humph, Sun Ce was invited by Wu County to fight against the Shanyue. He did accept, but what happened? He was completely defeated by the Shanyue in Wu County, resulting in the death of Xu Gong and the destruction of most of his territory. How incompetent he was back then, everyone in Wu County knew about it."

"But strangely, after Xu Gong's death, Sun Ce suddenly seemed to have divine help. He fought more and more bravely, actually defeating the Shanyue, who had originally defeated him, and even took the opportunity to occupy Xu Gong's vast territory. Anyone can see the strangeness in this." Wang Lang narrowed his eyes slightly, and his face showed a deeper look of suspicion. "You didn't contribute to the fight against the Shanyue back then, but now you have swallowed up such a big piece of fat meat. Now you come to me, saying that you want to work together to discuss important matters. Are you trying to deceive me? I don't think you have any good intentions!"

Wang Lang grew increasingly agitated. He slammed the table, leaped to his feet, and glared at the envoy. "Don't think I'm easy to fool. There's no such thing as a free lunch. What exactly is Sun Ce planning? You'd better tell me the truth! Otherwise, don't blame me, Wang Lang, for being rude!" With that, Wang Lang folded his arms, his face devoid of any expression. His eyes were filled with vigilance and preparedness as he awaited the envoy's response. The atmosphere in the tent suddenly grew tense, as if the air itself had frozen.

In the face of Wang Lang's questioning and angry shouting, Huan Jie, the envoy sent by Sun Ce, showed no sign of panic. He bowed slightly, his posture upright, his expression calm, and his eyes revealing a sense of determination and confidence.

"Lord Wang, listen carefully to my account. General Sun's defeat in Wu County was due to a series of events. The Shanyue bandits were cunning and well-versed in the terrain, setting numerous ambushes. Our army, having just arrived and unfamiliar with the local conditions, fell prey to their schemes, resulting in a temporary defeat. However, General Sun did not let this discourage him. Instead, he learned from his mistakes, thoroughly understood the Shanyue's combat strategies, actively reorganized his military, recruited talented individuals, and continuously strengthened his own forces."

Huan Jie paused, looking directly at Wang Lang, and continued, "After Lord Xu Gong's unfortunate death, the Shanyue mercilessly massacred the aristocratic families. My General Sun, overcome with grief and indignation, vowed to avenge Lord Xu Gong and restore peace to the people of Wu Commandery. Throughout this process, our army gained the support of many like-minded individuals, sharing a common hatred and a strong morale. Furthermore, General Sun's masterful tactics and clever strategies enabled us to turn the tide of the war, gradually defeat the Shanyue, and recapture some of Lord Xu Gong's territory. All of this was achieved through General Sun's own hard work and wisdom, and there was no hidden agenda, as you, Lord, suspect."

"As for why my General Sun has sent me here to discuss important matters with you, sir, it's because General Sun knows full well that, although the Shanyue have been severely damaged, they still have remnants. If they are not completely eliminated, they will ultimately pose a major threat to Wu Commandery. And you, sir, command a large force and have a profound influence on the situation in Wu Commandery. My General Sun believes that only by working together can we completely eradicate the Shanyue and restore peace to Wu Commandery." Huan Jie spoke sincerely and clearly. "This cooperation will bring you only benefits, sir, and no harm."

Wang Lang's face remained displeased. He snorted coldly, his eyes filled with wariness and suspicion. He stared at Huan Jie and said, "You sound nice and sweet, but in the end, wasn't it your Sun Ce who benefited the most? Why would I ask for his help? There's no such thing as good things happening for no reason in this world."

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on Huan Jie, and continued, "Now, you keep saying that Shanyue has been defeated by your General Sun, but who can guarantee that this is not just your one-sided statement? Even if Shanyue has been severely damaged, I have no intention of coveting Xu Gong's territory. I can use Wu County as the boundary, and I will not take any of the territory occupied by Xu Gong before this."

Wang Lang straightened up, a hint of arrogance on his face. He crossed his arms across his chest and said in a firm tone, "But I also have my demands. I beg you, General Sun, to abide by your duties and firmly guard your own borders. Do not covet my lands, and do not tread lightly upon my territory. Otherwise, don't blame me, Wang Lang, for being rude. He will never return!"

He paused briefly, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes, and slowly said, "As for the Shanyue, I have already invited Tao Qian of Xuzhou to send reinforcements. Tao Qian is sending his elite Danyang troops, led by General Cao Bao and others, who will arrive soon. With the help of the Xuzhou reinforcements, defeating the Shanyue is only a matter of time. Why would your General Sun need to worry about it? Go back and tell Sun Ce to stop interfering and just focus on his own duties!"

After saying this, Wang Lang ignored Huan Jie and turned away, his back to him, looking as if he was keeping someone at arm's length. The atmosphere in the tent once again fell into a stalemate.

Huan Jie listened to Wang Lang's words, his face still respectful. He bowed again, neither servile nor arrogant, and said, "Sir Wang, while your words are reasonable, there may be some misunderstandings. My General Sun is not seeking cooperation this time solely for personal gain. The Shanyue threat is deeply rooted. Although they have been severely defeated by my general, their remaining forces cannot be underestimated. They are skilled in guerrilla warfare and are elusive. If not completely eradicated, they may resurface at any time, harassing the people of Wujun again and threatening your sphere of influence."

"Furthermore, although Your Excellency has invited Tao Qian of Xuzhou to send reinforcements, the battlefield situation is unpredictable, and no one can guarantee that the war will go as smoothly as expected. My General Sun has a strong army and extensive experience fighting the Shanyue. If we can join forces with Your Excellency, we will surely increase our chances of victory and quell the Shanyue rebellion more quickly. Doing so will not only reduce losses on both sides, but also allow the people of Wujun to return to a peaceful life sooner, and it will also greatly enhance Your Excellency's prestige in Wujun."

"As for the division of territory, Your Excellency's decision to use Wu County as the boundary demonstrates your magnanimity and generosity. However, my General Sun is not a greedy man and will certainly abide by his agreement with Your Excellency. Our goal in this cooperation is the same, and that is to completely annihilate the Shanyue. If successful, Your Excellency's position in Wu County will be further consolidated, and perhaps this will allow you to establish a deep friendship with My General Sun, allowing us to support each other in the event of any future changes."

"General Sun is well aware of your ability and prestige, and therefore has sent me here with sincerity to discuss this matter. If you insist on refusing to cooperate, General Sun can only respect your decision. But please believe that General Sun has no intention of invading your territory. He simply hopes to contribute to the peace of Wu County. I hope you will consider this matter carefully and not miss this great opportunity for cooperation due to momentary doubts."

Huan Jie finished his words and stood quietly by, waiting for Wang Lang's next response. Wang Lang, however, waved his hand impatiently, his face filled with displeasure, and said in a cold tone, "Stop talking! I've made up my mind, and I don't need you to waste your breath. Go back quickly and tell your general, Sun, to stop trying anything else."

Huan Jie saw this and knew that saying more would be futile. He bowed respectfully once more and said, "Since that's the case, I will not bother you any further. I hope that if you change your mind in the future, you will contact General Sun promptly."

With that, Huan Jie turned and walked out of the tent, his steps steady but unable to conceal a hint of helplessness. Outside the tent, he looked up at the sky, silently thinking to himself that although this mission had failed, he would definitely inform Sun Ce of Wang Lang's attitude and then work together to discuss a countermeasure.