Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

When Tao Qian heard what Chen Deng said, he had actually made a preliminary decision in his heart, but he remained calm and slowly looked at Tao Shang, wanting to see how his usually calm eldest son would react.

In an instant, Tao Shang's indecisive character was exposed. If he didn't send troops to support Cao Bao, Cao Bao represented the aristocratic family that supported him, held military power, and the elite Danyang troops under his command were crucial to his future survival. If Cao Bao failed, his power would be severely impacted. However, if he followed his brother Tao Ying's advice and attacked Wang Lang, he and Xuzhou would be seen as treacherous and would be difficult to maintain.

Tao Shang's forehead was slightly sweaty, and he was speechless for a moment. His mind was in a mess, weighing the pros and cons but unable to make a decision. He subconsciously cast a pleading glance at his confidants behind him, trying to get some advice from them.

Tao Ying saw Tao Shang's panic, and a hint of pride flashed in his eyes. He then continued to ask with a hint of aggression in his tone: "Brother, what do you say we should do? Isn't General Cao Bao your man? You can't just watch him isolated and helpless on the front line?" Tao Shang was at a loss what to do. He opened his mouth but could only utter a few incoherent words: "This... this, I... this..." His usual calmness was gone. At this critical moment of decision, he was forced to lose his composure by his younger brother.

Tao Qian shook his head inwardly, filled with disappointment. He thought Tao Shang's hesitation at this crucial moment showed a genuine lack of strategic vision and unfitness for such a significant responsibility. But then he looked at his second son, Tao Ying, and his aggressive attitude, which filled him with frustration. He sighed inwardly, wondering why the two brothers couldn't put aside their differences and work together sincerely. If he were to entrust Xuzhou's afterlife to Tao Ying, given his flamboyant personality, he would likely find it difficult to tolerate his elder brother, Tao Shang, and Xuzhou would undoubtedly be in turmoil.

Tao Qian didn't want to see Tao Shang in such an awkward position, so he spoke up to help him out. "We must send troops, but Wang Lang has no more troops to send. We absolutely cannot let General Cao Bao and the Danyang troops be isolated and helpless on the front lines."

When Tao Ying heard this, he thought that his father had accepted his suggestion, and an unconcealable look of joy suddenly appeared on his face. He looked at his brother Tao Shang proudly, as if saying, "You see, I am still right."

Tao Qian observed all this, his expression stern, and his tone suddenly turned serious: "However, taking advantage of the situation as you mentioned, Tao Ying, is truly contrary to our way of dealing with the world. If we carry out such an unjust act, won't the world laugh at our Xuzhou?"

When Tao Ying heard this, the smile on his face froze instantly. He hurriedly asked, "Father, what do you think we should do?"

Everyone in the hall fell silent instantly. They all held their breath and stared at Tao Qian, waiting for the Lord of Xuzhou to make the final decision. The entire meeting hall was silent, with only the occasional sound of the wind coming from outside the window.

Tao Qian's gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing on Tao Ying. He said in a deep voice, "I have made up my mind. Tao Ying, you lead the troops to support Cao Bao."

Tao Ying's face flickered with excitement upon hearing this. Just as he was about to speak, Tao Qian raised his hand to interrupt him. His expression was serious, and his tone contained a hint of admonition: "But listen carefully. Your only mission in this support mission is to assist Cao Bao in resisting the Shanyue. You must not even entertain the thought of taking advantage of the situation to attack Wang Lang. We in Xuzhou have always been based on benevolence and righteousness. If you commit such a treacherous act, how can you survive in this chaotic world? How can you face the public's criticism?"

Tao Ying opened his mouth, as if he wanted to argue, but when he met his father's sharp gaze, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue and could only bow and say, "I will follow your teachings."

Tao Qian nodded slightly, looked at everyone again, and raised his voice: "This military expedition is related to the reputation and safety of Xuzhou. You must fully cooperate and there must be no mistakes!" Everyone responded in unison, and the atmosphere in the conference hall was solemn and a little tense.

As everyone filed out, the meeting hall gradually quieted down. Tao Qian looked at Tao Shang, who was about to leave, and called out, "Shang'er, please stay."

Tao Shang paused, turned around, and with a look of doubt and restraint, he walked up to Tao Qian and said with a bow, "Father, do you have any other instructions?"

Tao Qian looked at his eldest son, his eyes filled with both hope and worry. He spoke earnestly, "Shang'er, you've seen what happened today. In these turbulent times, every decision is a matter of life and death. You must not hesitate like this again. Just now, during the meeting, you were hesitant and indecisive. How can you convince others if you do that?"

Tao Shang lowered his head slightly, a look of shame on his face: "Father is teaching me a lesson, my child... my child was confused for a moment."

Tao Qian patted Tao Shang on the shoulder and said slowly, "I know you value friendship and loyalty. You care about your friendship with Wang Lang, and I'm also worried about being criticized for misbehaving. But as someone in a higher position, you must weigh the pros and cons and take a long-term view. In the future, when encountering difficulties, you must be decisive and not show weakness easily. You have the support of your noble family and the entire Xuzhou behind you. The responsibility you shoulder is heavy."

Tao Shang nodded heavily: "My son will definitely remember your father's teachings and gain more experience in the future so as not to do this again."

Tao Qian nodded with satisfaction: "Go ahead and think carefully about today's matter. I hope you can stand on your own feet soon."

When Tao Ying heard he'd been entrusted with the important task of leading troops to support Cao Bao, he felt an overwhelming surge of excitement. He feigned composure, but his eyes couldn't help but drift toward Chen Deng, flashing him several glances. His gaze was filled with eagerness and anticipation, as if to say, "Yuanlong, quickly give me some advice." Chen Deng, ever so clever, understood immediately, nodding subtly in response.

As everyone gradually left, the once-noisy conference room gradually quieted down, leaving only empty tables and chairs and the lingering sound of discussion. Tao Ying impatiently grabbed Chen Deng's arm and dragged him to a secluded corner. He glanced around cautiously, making sure no one was eavesdropping. Then, lowering his voice, he eagerly asked, "Yuanlong, I've been ordered to Wu County. What do you think is the most appropriate course of action for me? I'm completely unsure about how to proceed, both on the way there and once we get there."

Chen Deng's expression was composed, his face radiating his usual calmness and wisdom, his gaze gleaming with a shrewd understanding of the situation. He spoke slowly, his voice low but clear, "Young Master, since ancient times, the saying 'a general on the battlefield is subject to the emperor's orders.' General Cao Bao is currently fighting on the front lines, and the troops he leads are crucial to Xuzhou's safety. We must support him with all our might, no matter what. We absolutely cannot let a disagreement with you lead us to disregard Xuzhou's fundamental interests. Supporting Cao Bao is our most pressing task at this moment, and we must not neglect it in the slightest."

Tao Ying listened attentively and nodded slightly, his eyes full of approval, indicating that Chen Deng should continue.

Chen Deng paused, then continued, "However, once we successfully defeat the Shanyue, the situation will become delicate. Should we seize this rare opportunity to capture Wujun and expand Xuzhou's sphere of influence, or should we honestly return to Xuzhou and report to our lord? The choice is entirely up to you, young master. If you assess the situation and feel the time is ripe to capture Wujun, Xuzhou's strength will be greatly enhanced, and its foundation will be more solid in these turbulent times. However, if you feel the time is not yet ripe, or if you consider other factors and choose to return to Xuzhou to report, then you will demonstrate your loyalty and duty to our lord and everyone else, leaving no room for fault."

Tao Ying listened to Chen Deng's insightful analysis, and gradually gained a clear mind and confidence. He couldn't help but smile with satisfaction and exclaimed, "Yuanlong is absolutely right. Every word is precious! With you by my side, offering advice and helping me, I feel much more at ease. Your words give me a clear direction for this expedition."

Afterwards, Tao Ying, filled with visions and plans for the future, strode briskly to the tents of Zang Ba and Sun Guan. Inside, Zang Ba was concentrating on examining a military manual. His tall stature and stern expression exuded a calm and composed air. Sun Guan sat carefree nearby, toying with his sword, his uninhibited and bold demeanor evident.

Seeing Tao Ying come in, Sun Guan stood up first, his face full of smiles, and said in a voice as loud as a bell: "Haha, sir, congratulations! Leading the troops to this battle, you will surely achieve great military exploits!"

Tao Ying quickly returned the greeting with a bow, saying humbly, "General Sun, thank you for your compliment. I will be relying on your help on this trip, and I am deeply grateful."

Zang Ba put down the scroll in his hand, his eyes gleaming as he asked directly, "Sir, when will we set out on the expedition? And how many troops will we need?"

Tao Ying had already made plans in mind. Thinking of the need to capture Wujun after the battle, he said without hesitation, "This mission is arduous. I think we need to bring more troops to ensure complete victory. Generals, in my opinion, we must muster at least 50,000 men."

Upon hearing this, Zang Ba frowned slightly, his face showing embarrassment. "Master Tao, this is probably a bit too much. The Lord has always been cautious about deploying troops, and I'm afraid he won't agree."

Tao Ying, however, was unimpressed. He fully demonstrated his "boldness and carefulness" and confidently waved his hand, "General Zang, don't worry. Since my father has appointed me to lead the troops, it means he trusts me deeply and naturally won't embarrass me over such a small matter. What's the harm in leading an extra 18,000 men? With a strong army and powerful horses, we will be invincible on the front lines. What do you two generals think?"

When Zang Ba and the others heard Tao Ying's words, they were at a loss for words. They could only look at each other, speechless. They knew that this was, after all, a matter between Tao Ying and his son. They were merely generals following orders. If Tao Ying insisted on this course, the pros and cons, the potential conflicts, were not theirs to worry about. Since that was the case, Zang Ba said no more. He bowed and said, "Since the young master has made up his mind, we will proceed to prepare our troops and follow your orders."

A few days later, the day of the expedition arrived, and Tao Ying, as he had hoped, had brought an additional 10,000 troops. The ranks were arrayed in neat formation, flags fluttered, and the soldiers' morale was high. Tao Qian, standing atop the city wall, watched the troops depart with mixed emotions. He knew that now was the time to employ men, and that Tao Ying's willingness to contribute was a positive development. However, Tao Ying's bold, independent decision to increase the troops worried him. He wondered if Tao Ying's style of action was a bold move on the battlefield, or if he would be complacent and miscalculate. He simply hoped that everything would go smoothly on this expedition.