Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Inside Xuzhou, the situation has been turbulent ever since Tao Qian dispatched Cao Bao to lead his troops. Tao Qian's two sons, Tao Shang and Tao Ying, have become increasingly divided over whether to aid Wang Lang. Even after Cao Bao embarked on his campaign, Tao Ying remained stubborn, insisting that sending troops now would be a waste of Xuzhou's resources. He advocated holding off until Wang Lang and the Shanyue were both devastated, then sending troops to reap the benefits – the best strategy.

As the second son, Tao Ying had previously secretly competed with his eldest brother, Tao Shang, but never in such a direct confrontation. But now, thanks to the support of Chen Deng and his son, he had gained support among some of the Xuzhou aristocratic families, and he had the confidence to compete with Tao Shang.

Tao Shang, on the other hand, remained calm and composed, neither arrogant nor impetuous. He believed that since his father had already decided to send troops, his intention had already been achieved. As for his brother Tao Ying's objections, they were just childish nonsense, and he didn't take them seriously at all.

Tao Qian, already aging, often had to mediate between his two sons' disputes. He had long considered the future heir to Xuzhou. His eldest son, Tao Shang, possessed a gentle and refined character and refined manners. Had he been born in a peaceful and prosperous era, he would have been more than capable of governing a region. However, in these troubled times, Tao Shang's weaknesses were clearly exposed. He lacked strategic foresight, hesitating and hesitant to make rash decisions. This made it difficult for him to lead Xuzhou in these turbulent times and face various challenges.

His second son, Tao Ying, was a man of boldness and courage. However, Tao Qian had concerns about entrusting him with the future of Xuzhou and his own affairs after his death. After all, while Tao Ying possessed lofty ambitions, he was also somewhat reckless in his actions. Whether he could manage the complex situation in Xuzhou was a difficult decision for Tao Qian.

The aristocratic families of Xuzhou had previously held back on Tao Ying. They viewed him as ambitious but impulsive, unlikely to achieve great things, and far less reliable than the more measured Tao Shang. While Tao Qian admired Tao Ying's boldness, he initially dismissed his interest. He had his own agenda: to see the two brothers, Tao Shang and Tao Ying, working together to complement each other. Tao Shang's calm personality made him ideally suited to overseeing overall affairs, while Tao Ying's bold and decisive nature made him a force for good. The two brothers perfectly complemented their personality differences and, together, supported Xuzhou. However, with the support of Chen Deng and his son for Tao Ying, the sentiments of some of Xuzhou's aristocratic families shifted, and the relationship between the two brothers became strained. This caught Tao Qian by surprise, and his idealized plans seemed to be facing uncertainty.

Tao Qian watched with growing anxiety as Tao Ying increasingly threatened to challenge his brother's position. In these turbulent times, the situation in Xuzhou was already volatile, and a conflict between the two sons could easily trigger internal unrest and disintegrate the state. He knew that if left unchecked, the consequences of the fratricidal conflict would be disastrous.

Tao Qian was thus forced to intervene frequently. On the one hand, he comforted Tao Shang, praising his steadiness and overall perspective, and emphasizing the important responsibility that Tao Shang, as the eldest son, shouldered in the future development of Xuzhou. On the other hand, he patiently taught Tao Ying, affirming his ambition and courage, while at the same time admonishing him to consider the overall situation and not act impulsively.

During daily meetings, Tao Qian skillfully arranged for both brothers to express their opinions, treating them with equal respect and importance. When making decisions, he would fully consider their opinions, striving to be impartial and maintaining a balance of power between the brothers, solely for the sake of Xuzhou's stable future.

During these delicate and tense days, a letter from Cao Bao, sent from the front, suddenly upset the seemingly delicate balance. The dusty messenger, galloping at full speed, delivered the letter, which, like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, stirred up a thousand waves. Tao Qian read the letter with a solemn expression, realizing the thorny nature of the situation. Without a moment's delay, he immediately summoned key officials from Xuzhou to discuss countermeasures.

Soon, all the important officials from Xuzhou gathered in the meeting hall. The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive. Tao Qian sat at the main seat, looking weary, his gaze slowly sweeping down. Tao Shang and Tao Ying stood on either side, each surrounded by their own powerful aristocratic families, their respective divisions clearly defined. Tao Shang remained composed and composed, his expression calm, but a sharp edge lurked in his eyes that should not be underestimated. Tao Ying, on the other hand, seemed a little restless, his chin slightly raised, revealing a refusal to admit defeat. The representatives of the aristocratic families, some with their heads bowed in thought, others whispering to each other, their eyes filled with speculation about the situation.

Tao Qian watched the scene unfold before him, sighing inwardly as a headache gripped his heart. Reflecting on the cause of all this, he realized it all stemmed from his own unwavering love for his sons and his indecisiveness regarding the succession decision, which had fueled the desire for conflict between his two sons, leading to the current situation. He knew that Cao Bao's letter was merely the spark that ignited the conflict within Xuzhou, which had been simmering for a long time. A single misstep could trigger an unmanageable crisis.

Tao Qian took a deep breath, suppressing his inner turmoil. He sat upright and spoke slowly, "I've summoned you all here today because General Cao Bao has sent me an urgent letter from the front. The matters involved are of great importance. I'd like to discuss with you our next steps in Xuzhou."

Tao Shang still looked as gentle and elegant as ever. He took a step forward, stood straight, bowed deeply and said, "Father, has General Cao sent good news from the front?" When everyone heard this, they all cast their eyes towards Tao Qian who was sitting in the main seat, their eyes full of expectation, quietly waiting for his reply.

Tao Qian raised his hand to collect his thoughts, then said solemnly, "Cao Bao has now successfully arrived in Yong'an County and has established a standoff with the Shanyue people. Before Cao Bao's arrival, Wang Lang's army, led by Zuo Rong, had been completely annihilated. Not only did they fail to capture Linshui County, but even Ji'an County had fallen into enemy hands. Fortunately, Cao Bao's timely assistance helped stabilize the situation."

After listening to this, Tao Shang nodded slightly and said respectfully, "Father, it seems that sending troops at that time was indeed a good opportunity. It could just help Wang Lang stabilize the situation."

Tao Ying, however, looked unconvinced and couldn't help but interject, "If Father hadn't sent troops then, and the Shanyue had taken Wang Lang, both sides would have suffered heavy losses. Wouldn't it have been easier if we had sent troops later, waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out? Why waste Xuzhou's manpower and supplies so hastily?"

When Tao Shang heard this, his eyes darkened slightly. He looked at his brother, and a feeling of indignation surged in his heart, but he finally restrained himself and did not say it out loud.

Tao Qian looked at his two sons, each refusing to give in, feeling helpless and troubled. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright, we haven't finished talking yet. Wait until I'm done. It's not too late for everyone to express their opinions."

Tao Qian then said, "General Cao Bao, during his conversation with Zuo Rong, ascertained the strength of Wang Lang's army. Now, with the complete annihilation of Wang Lang's Zuo Rong Corps, they have virtually no troops left to oppose the Shanyue. The remaining troops are likely insufficient to hold the remaining counties. Therefore, we must carefully discuss our next course of action."

As soon as these words were spoken, the previously quiet meeting hall suddenly became lively. The eyes of the prominent civil and military officials representing the aristocratic families lit up, like beasts scenting prey. They gathered in groups of two or three, whispering to each other. For a moment, a variety of low voices echoed. Some frowned slightly, as if deep in thought; others gestured excitedly, as if expressing their own opinions; and still others remained calm, their eyes roving around the crowd, calculating something. This discussion about Xuzhou's future direction had barely begun, but it was already filled with tension and uncertainty.

Unable to contain his inner anxiety, Tao Ying stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Father, since Wang Lang is now powerless to resist the Shanyue, I beg you to lead the troops and attack Wang Lang directly. Once Wang Lang is defeated, we will join forces with General Cao Bao and take advantage of the situation to wipe out the Shanyue in one fell swoop. This will expand Xuzhou's influence and eliminate the surrounding threats."

Upon hearing this, Tao Shang quickly retorted, "Brother, don't act so recklessly! Wang Lang comes from a distinguished family and is a close friend of our father. How could we possibly take advantage of him? This will surely be condemned and tarnish the reputation of Xuzhou."

Tao Ying sneered and retorted, "Brother, you sound nice! Right now, the entire front line is being held up by our Xuzhou army, struggling to keep up the men and horses, consuming the very foundation of Xuzhou. Wang Lang can't hold his own territory, and even if we don't take action, the Shanyue will eventually take him down. If that's the case, why can't we take his place?"

Tao Shang's face was full of anger and flushed as he said, "When two parties form an alliance, the most important thing is honesty. How can we betray our promise just because one side is weak? We send troops to provide assistance. If we take the opportunity to occupy his territory, how can we gain a foothold in the eyes of the people in the future?" The representatives of the aristocratic families behind Tao Shang nodded and echoed him, praising Tao Shang for his deep understanding of righteousness.

However, Tao Ying had no intention of backing down. He continued with his neck stiff, "Brother, you only know one side of the story. The Shanyue are brutal. If they occupy Wang Lang's territory, the bloodbath of the family will surely happen again, and Wang Lang will surely die and his family will be destroyed. And in the name of the army of justice, my Xuzhou will help him resist the Shanyue. What's wrong with taking over his territory afterwards? By then, not only will we be able to protect his family heritage and let him enjoy wealth and glory, but the people of Xuzhou will also be spared from the suffering of war." Chen Deng and Chen Gui, father and son, stood up and agreed with Tao Ying's words. The two sides insisted on their own opinions and refused to give in to each other. The atmosphere in the conference hall instantly became deadlocked again.

Tao Qian sat on the main seat, brows furrowed, listening to the argument between his two sons and a group of subordinates. He was in a dilemma and didn't know what to do.

At this moment, Chen Deng stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Sir, may I ask, if we do not send troops to help now, those fighting on the front lines are all elite soldiers from Xuzhou. The Shanyue are cunning and treacherous, and General Cao Bao's army is isolated and helpless. What will happen if something goes wrong? Xuzhou has sent troops and put in a lot of effort, consuming a huge amount of manpower, material resources, and financial resources, but in the end, we have not gained a single benefit. How can we explain this to the people of Xuzhou? How can we explain this to the spirits of the soldiers who died on the battlefield?"

Chen Deng's words were so powerful that they instantly quieted the discussion in the meeting hall. Everyone turned their eyes to Tao Shang, waiting for his response.