Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Wang Lang was sitting in his study, poring over a military manual, when he received news of the attack on Wucheng County. The tome in his hand dropped to the ground with a thud upon hearing the devastating news. He abruptly stood up, his eyes wide open, a look of disbelief on his face, and muttered to himself, "How is this possible? Yong'an County is clearly under our control, so how could the Shanyue have launched an attack on Wucheng County?"

Anxiety and panic instantly overwhelmed him like a tide. Wang Lang paced back and forth in his study, his steps hurried and messy, muttering to himself, "What can I do? What can I do?" In just a short moment, he seemed to have aged several years. His hair almost turned white with anxiety. His heart was filled with fear of the Shanyue. "How can the Shanyue be so difficult to deal with?"

Recalling Xu Gong's defeat, Wang Lang was filled with regret. Back then, he had secretly mocked Xu Gong's incompetence and even entertained the idea that if he could defeat the Shanyue, he could reclaim Xu Gong's territory and expand his own power. But now, those thoughts had vanished like bubbles, vanishing without a trace.

Looking around, he saw that nearly half his territory had been occupied, with flames blazing everywhere. War reports poured in from all corners of the country, all reporting defeat. Adding to his despair, he was already running low on troops. The only troops currently stationed in Yong'an County were still those of Cao Bao, leaving him with only a handful of troops to mobilize, putting his situation in a precarious position.

Just when Wang Lang was utterly devastated by the Shanyue and had nowhere else to turn, Tao Ying led a mighty army into Wang Lang's sphere of influence. For a moment, dust flew, military flags fluttered, and the sound of the army's footsteps shook the earth slightly.

Tao Ying was well aware of Wang Lang's panic at the moment, so he sent Sun Guan to lead a small force ahead with two purposes: one was to meet with Wang Lang and dispel his fears and doubts; the other was to give Wang Lang a reassurance to avoid unnecessary conflicts caused by misunderstandings.

Wang Lang was in the county government office, anxious as an ant on a hot pan. When he heard Sun Guan wanted to see him, he immediately straightened his clothes and hurriedly welcomed him in. As soon as he saw Sun Guan, Wang Lang couldn't wait to ask about the army's purpose. When he learned that Tao Ying had led a large group of troops into Wu County, a glimmer of hope instantly ignited in his gray eyes, like a drowning man grasping at a lifeline.

Wang Lang held Sun Guan's hand tightly and almost begged, "General Sun, my Wucheng County is in danger now. The Shanyue are attacking fiercely, and I have no troops to send. I beg you to go to Wucheng County first to help garrison for the sake of our common Han Dynasty!" He looked as if Wucheng County would be breached in the next second.

Seeing this, Sun Guan was in a dilemma, unsure what to do. He knew he was only exploring the route, and rashly agreeing to send troops would be against the rules. But Wang Lang pleaded bitterly, his voice full of sorrow, explaining that he was short of troops and that if he withdrew more, the other counties would be in danger.

Sun Guan had no choice but to send out a fast horse to quickly report the situation to Tao Ying, while leading his troops towards Wucheng County. The sound of horses' hooves was rapid, and Sun Guan was filled with worry, wondering what kind of tough battle would await them this time.

Tao Ying's troops were advancing steadily, their pace neither fast nor slow, the dust they kicked up forming a long, faint dragon behind them. Just then, the fast horses sent by Sun Guan came galloping up. The soldiers on horseback looked exhausted, but they didn't bother to rest. They dismounted and hurriedly presented a military report to Tao Ying.

Tao Ying took the document, glanced through it quickly, and raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing an imperceptible sneer. He thought to himself: "This Wang Lang is really at the end of his rope now, and he is desperate to seek help from anyone. He is in such a miserable state, where is the dignity and decency that a local lord should have? He even has to beg his generals for mercy. It is really ridiculous." Thinking of this, Tao Ying couldn't help but straighten his back, his expression became more arrogant, and he exuded confidence and complacency, as if he had already taken control of the entire situation.

With this in mind, Tao Ying led his army in a mighty march toward the county seat where Wang Lang stood. As they approached the city, Wang Lang, accompanied by a group of officials, had already arrived ten miles from the city walls to greet them. Wang Lang, dressed in simple clothes, wore a humble demeanor. His former high spirits had vanished, replaced by a haggard, fawning expression. He quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply to Tao Ying, his posture extremely humble. His words were filled with respect and pleading, "General Tao, your presence is truly my savior. I hope you will show me mercy and lend a helping hand to relieve my urgent need." Tao Ying, perched on his majestic horse, gazed down at Wang Lang, nodding slightly with a hint of disdain, as if sizing up an insignificant figure.

Tao Ying looked at the humble Wang Lang, a hint of sarcasm on his lips. He did not dismount immediately, but sat upright, squinting at Wang Lang and speaking in a drawn-out tone, "Uncle, I've gone through so much trouble to get here, and yet you've messed up Wu County and are still eagerly expecting me to clean up the mess."

Wang Lang's face turned pale and red. As an uncle, he had never suffered such humiliation before. But the current situation was beyond his control. He could only force a smile and apologize, "It is my incompetence that has embarrassed General Tao. I hope the general will remember our past friendship and lend a hand."

Tao Ying seemed not to hear and continued loudly: "Hmph, past favor? I see that you don't take me seriously. If it weren't for your pleading, I wouldn't bother with this trivial matter. I have come all the way here, and the soldiers are exhausted. How do you plan to reward them?" After saying that, he stared down at Wang Lang, his eyes full of arrogance and greed.

Wang Lang's heart tightened, knowing that this was an opportunity to extort benefits, but he did not dare to refute. He could only bite the bullet and said, "General, don't worry. The food, grass, gold and silver in the city are at your disposal. As long as it can help us relieve the difficulties of Wu County."

Tao Ying nodded in satisfaction, but then he started to protest: "Is that all? I heard that there are several rare treasures in your mansion. It's not too much to take them out as a reward for my army that has come from afar?" Wang Lang felt a pang of pain in his heart. Those treasures were his collection for many years, but now he had to give them away. However, in order to protect Wu County, he could only grit his teeth and nodded in agreement: "It should be so, it should be so. I will do my best to prepare what the general needs." Seeing Wang Lang's aggrieved look, Tao Ying laughed wildly. The laughter echoed in the air, and Wang Lang's dignity was ruthlessly trampled upon in this laughter.

At this time, Tao Ying looked at Wang Lang who was so sad. He slowly got off his horse with a faint smile on his face. He reached out his hand to support Wang Lang, but said, "Hey, uncle, look at what you are doing. How could I, your nephew, be the kind of person who would take away someone's beloved? You and I are both Han ministers, and you are on good terms with my father. These Shanyue barbarians dare to wantonly invade our Han land. As a Han minister, how can your nephew sit idly by and watch?" The tone seemed sincere, but in fact it carried a bit of arrogance.

Wang Lang forced a stiff smile, laughing repeatedly, but his heart was filled with bitterness. He knew full well that Tao Ying's actions were merely superficial; in reality, he was arrogant and domineering. He could still vividly remember Tao Ying's arrogance in demanding the treasures. His current rhetoric was merely a pretext for his own good. But even with this understanding, Wang Lang could only go along with Tao Ying's words: "Yes, yes, General Tao is a man of great righteousness. Your presence is truly a blessing to Wu Commandery." As he spoke, Wang Lang secretly glanced up at Tao Ying, only to see his smug expression, an air of self-assurance. Wang Lang sighed inwardly, swallowing his frustration.

Tao Ying supported Wang Lang, his smile undimmed, as they walked side by side into the city. As they walked, Tao Ying changed the subject, seemingly casually saying, "Uncle, I've finally arrived with my troops. The soldiers have worked tirelessly to relieve Wu County's distress. From now on, if Wu County is at peace, you must visit my father often. Just think about it, if we work together, what chaos in this world can't be quelled?"

Wang Lang's heart tightened, and he instantly recognized the hidden meaning in Tao Ying's words. "Visiting frequently" was probably a euphemism for him to submit to Tao Qian. His smile faltered, but he forced himself to remain calm, jokingly responding, "Of course. Lord Tao is renowned, and I have always respected him."

Tao Ying seemed oblivious to Wang Lang's distress and continued, "Uncle, to be honest, my father has always hoped to join hands with a virtuous man like you to contribute to the Han Dynasty. The current situation is so complex and intertwined that only unity can resist the external enemies. Wujun has been severely weakened by this turmoil, and it's a good opportunity for us to join forces and support each other."

Wang Lang understood that Tao Ying was pressing him, demanding a statement. He paused for a moment, carefully considering his words. "General Tao is quite right, but this matter is of grave importance and requires careful consideration. Wu County is in ruins, and much needs to be rebuilt. I must first appease the people and stabilize the situation." Wang Lang tried to stall, unwilling to yield so quickly.

However, Tao Ying did not intend to let him go easily. He stopped, looked directly into Wang Lang's eyes, and emphasized his tone: "Uncle, there is no time to lose. Shanyue is not yet pacified, and other forces are also eyeing us covetously. If we don't reach an agreement as soon as possible and jointly resist the enemy, I am afraid that Wujun and we will have trouble in peace. My father is sincere and hopes to work with you to support the Han Dynasty. Please don't let us down." These words seemed sincere, but in fact they were full of threats. Wang Lang felt uncomfortable being stared at, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He secretly groaned in his heart, but did not dare to refuse easily.

Wang Lang felt his throat dry, and swallowing hard, he spoke with a hint of helplessness and bitterness in his voice: "General Tao, to be honest, I am truly powerless to deal with this Shanyue invasion. If you can successfully recapture the territories occupied by the Shanyue, you will hand them over to Xuzhou for management. I am incompetent and lacking in virtue, and after this battle, I am truly unable to shoulder the responsibility of defending the territory." He lowered his head slightly, not daring to meet Tao Ying's eyes, fearing that his resentment and humiliation would be seen through. At this moment, he was filled with the sorrow of living under someone else's roof, yet he felt powerless to resist.