Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Cao Bao's timely arrival with reinforcements made Zuo Rong, who had been fighting for a long time, overjoyed, his eyes filled with relief at having survived. He quickly stepped forward, the fatigue on his face instantly replaced by excitement and gratitude.

Zuo Rong saluted respectfully with his fists clasped together, bending his waist very low, and said: "General Cao, you really saved my life and the lives of all the soldiers and civilians in this city. If you had come a step later, Yong'an would have fallen into the hands of the Shanyue!" As he said that, he personally led Cao Bao's horse, stepped aside to lead the way, and welcomed Cao Bao into Yong'an City.

Along the way, Zuo Rong couldn't stop expressing his gratitude: "General Cao is a brave and powerful general, and the Danyang soldiers are an elite force. I will never forget your kindness. If you need me in the future, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Entering the county hall, Zuo Rong couldn't wait to bow to Cao Bao again, bending even lower, his words filled with undisguised admiration and gratitude: "General Cao, witnessing your heroic spirit and outstanding command today, I finally understand what a true hero is! You've traveled all the way here, galloping non-stop to rescue us, and even defeating the Shanyue cavalry along the way. It's truly awe-inspiring!"

As he spoke, he shook his head and sighed, as if he couldn't find enough words to express his admiration. "I think of how I, Zuo Rong, have been struggling to hold out here, helpless in the face of the Shanyue offensive. If it weren't for your timely arrival, the consequences would have been disastrous. The elite Danyang troops you lead are truly invincible. Every soldier is as brave and fearless as a tiger emerging from the mountains."

As Cao Bao listened to these compliments, a smug look gradually spread across his face, his chest puffed out slightly, his eyes filled with pride. His previous victory over the small group of Shanyue cavalry, coupled with this effortless lifting of the siege of Yong'an, had reinforced his belief that the Shanyue were nothing more than a mob, completely vulnerable. Looking at Zuo Rong, whose face was filled with gratitude and his words were humble, Cao Bao couldn't help but feel a hint of contempt. In his view, Zuo Rong's disgrace was a result of his limited abilities, and he was the one truly in control of the situation.

In the hall of the county government office, candlelight flickered. Cao Bao sat in the main seat, his horse and sword in hand. He glanced around and landed on Zuo Rong. He said, "Now that I'm here, the siege of Yong'an is lifted. However, I still need to meet the Shanyue people, dampen their spirit, and let them know that we are not to be trifled with!"

Upon hearing this, a trace of worry crossed Zuo Rong's face. He quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "General Cao, the Shanyue people have lived in the mountains and forests for years. They are wild and untamable, each one exceptionally brave, and they are familiar with the terrain. I've fought them before, and we've had our share of victories and defeats. However, the sudden appearance of the Shanyue cavalry caught me off guard, and I suffered a heavy loss. Therefore, I think it's not wise to send troops rashly."

Cao Bao listened, his lips curled up slightly in a disdainful sneer, and he snorted softly, "Hmph, brave? They're just some uneducated country bumpkins. I came all the way here and even defeated a small group of their cavalry! What kind of waves can they cause?"

Seeing Cao Bao unmoved, Zuo Rong continued his persuasion, "General, the Shanyue cavalry are extremely mobile. If we were to fight outside the city, we would be overwhelmed if we encountered them. Furthermore, while the Danyang troops you lead are elite, they are mostly infantry. They won't be able to gain an advantage against cavalry in open territory."

Cao Bao waved his hand impatiently, stood up, put his hands behind his back, strode to the window, looked out, and said, "You don't need to say more, I've made up my mind. I want to see how powerful the Shanyue are. Tomorrow, I will lead my troops out of the city and fight them!"

Seeing Cao Bao's firm attitude, Zuo Rong became more and more anxious. In desperation, he knelt on one knee with a plop, clasped his hands together, and said earnestly: "General Cao, I beg you to think twice! Sending troops is extremely dangerous!" His voice trembled slightly, full of worry and earnestness.

After hesitating for a moment, Zuo Rong decided not to hide anything. He gritted his teeth and said, "To be honest, Lord Wang Lang had previously attempted to aid Xu Gong, but he lost a lot of troops. Now that my army has been almost completely annihilated, our current manpower is really stretched to the limit. If we send troops now, if we fail, even reinforcements will have to be urgently withdrawn from other counties. By then, the situation will be completely out of control. I hope the general will put the overall situation first!"

When Cao Bao heard this, a subtle change crossed his face. As if an invisible hand had scratched his heart, other thoughts began to stir. He was silent for a moment, then pretended to be persuaded by Zuo Rong. He sighed slightly and said, "Well, since you insist so much, let's put the matter of sending troops on hold for now."

However, even as he spoke, thoughts raced through his mind like lightning. Wang Lang's forces were now depleted, and his vast territory was plagued by the Shanyue, leaving him in turmoil and unrest. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he secretly thought: If I could take advantage of Wang Lang's preoccupation and deploy troops from Xuzhou, under the guise of defeating the Shanyue, and then, after defeating them, seize Wang Lang's territory, wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone? Then, the Jiangdong region would be in for a new upheaval. At this thought, a subtle sneer played on Cao Bao's lips, but he quickly returned to his normal composure, leaving no one to notice his inner calculations.

Seeing Cao Bao persuaded, Zuo Rong finally felt relieved. He heaved a sigh of relief and quickly stood up. With a smile on his face, he continued to greet Cao Bao and prepare a banquet. He was busy arranging various matters for the banquet. Cao Bao seemed to agree, but in fact he was absent-minded, his mind full of his ambitious plan that had not yet taken shape.

At the banquet, the table was filled with delicious food and wine, but Cao Bao had no appetite. Zuo Rong toasted him, his words full of gratitude and enthusiasm, but Cao Bao just mechanically responded. On the other hand, Zuo Rong became more and more emotional after a few drinks. Thinking of his previous disastrous defeat, he couldn't help but feel sad and tears streaming down his face. "My lifelong reputation has been completely destroyed by the Shanyue!" He beat his chest and stamped his feet, his voice tinged with tears, his face full of regret and unwillingness. Seeing this, Cao Bao only gave a few perfunctory words of comfort, his eyes drifting away from time to time, his thoughts already far away.

After finally surviving the banquet, Cao Bao returned to his residence without wasting a moment. He quickly spread out pen and paper and wrote a letter detailing Wang Lang's lack of troops and the disastrous situation caused by the Shanyue invasion. He also carefully analyzed the interests involved. He knew the gravity of this matter required caution, so he summoned his trusted guards and solemnly instructed them, "You must personally deliver this letter to Lord Tao Qian. No mistakes! Remember, this matter is of grave importance. Only success is allowed, not failure!"

After giving these instructions, Cao Bao paused for thought before writing a letter to Tao Shang, the eldest son of Tao Qian. In it, he earnestly argued that if they could seize this opportunity and attack while Wang Lang was weak, they would not only defeat the Shanyue but also seize vast tracts of territory, achieving an unprecedented feat of territorial expansion. He also hinted that if successful, Tao Shang would gain a significant advantage over the second son, Tao Ying, and solidify his position within the Tao family. After writing, he carefully sealed the two letters and handed them to his personal guards, again urging them to be delivered swiftly. Then, he fell into deep thought, quietly awaiting the next development in the chess game.

Cao Bao's arrival in Yong'an instantly brought the local battle situation to a stalemate. The Danyang troops he brought with him, considered the elite of Xuzhou's elite, were a formidable force. These battle-hardened, well-trained soldiers possessed a fearless spirit, facing the fierce Shanyue offensive with unwavering fear.

On the Shanyue side, generals like Shamoke, eager for victory, launched numerous, overwhelming attacks. Shamoke led the charge, brandishing his majestic caltrop, shouting the charge slogan, leading the Shanyue soldiers like a tidal wave towards Yong'an City. Their shouts were deafening, seemingly shaking the city walls.

However, the Danyang soldiers, relying on superb tactical coordination and tenacious fighting spirit, successfully resisted the Shanyue attacks time and again. On the city walls, the soldiers worked closely together. Shield bearers formed a solid defensive line, blocking the Shanyue's arrows and attacks. Spearmen thrust their spears through the gaps in their shields, delivering fatal blows. Archers, standing on high ground, drew their bows and arrows, raining down arrows with precision on the Shanyue soldiers. Each Shanyue charge was repelled by the Danyang soldiers' fierce firepower and tenacious resistance.

The siege horns blew again and again, and again and again they crashed into the city walls. Seeing their own soldiers falling one after another, their blood dyeing the land outside Yong'an City red, and the battle still stalemated with no progress, Gan Ning and Shamoke's faces were filled with heartache.

Gan Ning was usually carefree and unrestrained, but at this moment, his brows were knitted into the shape of a "川" character. He stared at the battlefield, his fists clenched until his knuckles turned white, and he cursed under his breath, "These Danyang soldiers are really difficult to deal with!" Shamoke's face was filled with anger. He smashed his caltrop bone into the ground, raising a cloud of dust, and roared loudly, "I don't believe we can't capture Yong'an City!"

Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and Ma Chao were also watching the battle unfold. Sun Ce, usually high-spirited, could hardly conceal his grief. He paced back and forth, his tone filled with anxiety: "This isn't a solution. We've suffered too many casualties." Zhou Yu frowned slightly, his eyes full of thought: "The Danyang soldiers are well-trained and their defense is tight. We must find another way." Ma Chao remained silent, gazing at the battlefield with a hint of pity in his eyes. He knew that behind every fallen soldier was a broken family.

Despite the Shanyue's fearless and selfless dedication, they were unable to achieve a substantial breakthrough against the resilient Danyang troops. Smoke filled the battlefield, accompanied by cries of war and the clashing of weapons. Both sides engaged in a difficult and protracted battle, with Yong'an City still firmly in the hands of the defenders, making it difficult for the Shanyue to capture it.