Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

When Tao Ying heard what Wang Lang said, a bright smile instantly broke out on his face, and his eyes flashed with an unconcealable glint of pride. He patted Wang Lang on the shoulder, laughed heartily and said, "Uncle is such a straightforward man! Don't worry, with me, Tao Ying, here, we will be able to take back all the lands occupied by the Shanyue!" The laughter echoed in the air, as if victory had already been secured.

Although Wang Lang's complete submission wasn't achieved immediately, the fact that the occupied territory was brought under the administration of Xuzhou was a significant achievement. Tao Ying secretly calculated that by the time the Shanyue were defeated, Wang Lang's forces would already be dwindling. By then, wouldn't it be easy to deal with him? With just a few tricks, Wang Lang would be willing to submit.

Thinking of this, Tao Ying's mood brightened, his steps became brisk, and he and Wang Lang returned to the county together. Along the way, he talked excitedly about the next battle plan, as if victory in this battle was already a foregone conclusion, completely ignoring Wang Lang's embarrassment and helplessness beside him.

Wang Lang, however, felt as if his heart had sunk into an icy cellar, filled with bitterness and regret. He lowered his head, his steps heavy, each one like dragging a thousand-pound burden. He recalled how he had once been a powerful lord, yet now he was at the mercy of others. It was truly pathetic. Tao Ying's smug look just now made him feel even more like he had invited a wolf into his house. While he had temporarily relieved the Shanyue crisis, he had also attracted the fierce tiger of the Tao family in Xuzhou. Truly, he had kept the wolf out of the front door, only to have the tiger enter through the back door. His future was likely to be even more difficult.

That evening, Wang Lang hosted a feast at his mansion, specifically to entertain Tao Ying. The palace was festooned with lanterns and colorful decorations, its carved beams and painted buildings draped with silk and brocade. The lights shone brilliantly, illuminating the entire courtyard like daylight. Delicacies filled the table, their aromas filling the air, but Wang Lang found his food unappetizing. He sat at the head of the table, his forced smile unable to conceal his inner worry.

On the other hand, Tao Ying, as the commander of an army, was enjoying such honorable treatment for the first time, and his excitement was beyond words. He let his temper run wild during the banquet, sometimes talking loudly about his grand ambitions, and sometimes drinking from his glass, not caring at all that the wine dripped down his lips.

After three rounds of drinking, Wang Lang signaled with a wink, and a group of beautiful women in light gauze entered the room, gliding gracefully. Holding wine jugs, they poured wine for Tao Ying. Wang Lang, beaming, personally took a cup of wine, stood up, and approached Tao Ying, respectfully saying, "General Tao, your presence is truly a blessing to our Wu Commandery. This cup of wine is in my honor, General. I wish you victory and a speedy repulse of the Shanyue."

Tao Ying didn't refuse. He took the wine cup with a hearty laugh and drank it all in one gulp. Then, without any ceremony, he pulled the beautiful woman to sit beside him. Seeing this, Wang Lang hurriedly had someone present the prepared gifts, each of which was a priceless treasure. He said flatteringly, "This is just a small token of my respect, but I hope you will accept it."

Tao Ying glanced at the gift, nodded with satisfaction, and with a wave of his hand, had it put away, without a trace of politeness or humility. He embraced the beautiful woman while chatting with others, completely immersed in the luxurious atmosphere, paying no attention to Wang Lang's embarrassment and helplessness. Wang Lang could only smile apologetically, secretly groaning, but he had to continue to flatter.

That night, Tao Ying indulged himself in the land of pleasure, his beautiful woman by his side, his cup full of wine, and he completely lost himself in this life of luxury and debauchery. The lights in the house flickered, and laughter and chatter continued until late at night when the house gradually quieted down.

The next morning, at first light, Wang Lang was waiting anxiously in the front hall. He paced back and forth, glancing at the door, then at the sky. Every moment of waiting was excruciating. The crisis in Wucheng weighed heavily on his heart, and he desperately hoped that Tao Ying would send troops to rescue him.

But Tao Ying had no intention of waking up early. He slept until the sun reached its highest point in the sky, and when sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices onto his bed, he slowly awoke. Beside him, the beautiful woman smiled sweetly and gently helped him get up, washed, and dressed. After a long while, Tao Ying leisurely walked to the front hall to meet Wang Lang.

His face was ruddy and his expression was lazy, showing no sense of urgency about heading to the battlefield. Wang Lang was extremely anxious when he saw this, but he could only suppress his anger and approached him with a smile on his face: "General Tao, you are finally up. The situation in Wucheng is critical. I hope you can send troops as soon as possible."

Tao Ying leaned carelessly on the armchair, his legs casually crossed, one hand playing with the wine glass, and the other hand nonchalantly waving at the anxious Wang Lang, his tone full of contempt and perfunctory: "Uncle, just keep your heart at ease, there is really no need to be so anxious. This war, from planning to deployment, everything is under my control, you can rest assured." He looked as if the life-and-death crisis facing Wucheng was just a trivial matter that he could easily resolve with a smile.

Wang Lang stood aside, his hands clenched into fists. Veins bulged on the backs of his hands, his nails dug deep into his palms. The pain was palpable, but it pales in comparison to the anger and anxiety he felt within. His eyes were filled with helplessness and forbearance, his lips trembling slightly. He hesitated several times to speak, but faced with Tao Ying's reckless, indifferent, and arrogant attitude, he ultimately held back. He could only forcefully suppress the raging anger within him, letting it burn deep within him.

Tao Ying seemed to be deliberately trying to provoke Wang Lang. Looking at his forbearing and aggrieved look, he not only did not show any sympathy or restraint, but instead laughed out loud with his head raised, and the mockery on his face became more and more intense: "Uncle, look at you now, you are just like a frightened bird, you panic at the slightest disturbance. As a local lord, how can you survive in this troubled times with such weak psychological quality? Just believe me this time, and wait and see how I will defeat Shanyue. I guarantee that you will rest assured." Every word of these words was like a sharp blade, piercing Wang Lang's self-esteem and trampling his dignity to pieces, but Wang Lang could only bear it silently, without any ability to fight back.

After laughing enough, Tao Ying stood up slowly, stretched his waist, and then called to Wang Lang impatiently: "Alright, alright, stop standing here and worrying, uncle, let's go out of the city and see my army. After seeing it, you will understand why I am so confident."

As the two men emerged from the city, one after the other, the scene before them was instantly breathtaking. Across the vast plain, military tents were densely packed, resembling a well-organized makeshift city. The passageways between the tents were spacious and tidy, and soldiers moved back and forth, each carrying out their duties. Everything seemed so orderly. All kinds of supplies, from food and fodder to weapons and armor, were neatly arranged and categorized, a testament to the meticulous preparation and planning that had gone into the operation.

General Zang Ba stood majestically on the platform, clad in heavy armor, a sharp sword dangling from his waist. He stood erect, like a towering pine tree, his gaze fixed firmly on the horizon. Behind him lay the mighty army. The soldiers were swift and vigorous, their armor polished to a shine, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight. Military flags fluttered in the wind, the Chinese character "Tao" embroidered on them standing out prominently, as if proclaiming to the world the army's immense prestige and unparalleled glory.

Tao Ying's face was full of pride, with the corners of his mouth raised high, revealing a smug smile. He turned to Wang Lang and said, "Uncle, please take a closer look. Is it just as I said, the military affairs have not been delayed at all? I, Tao Ying, always do things with confidence and never fight unprepared battles." Wang Lang looked at the magnificent, rigorous and majestic lineup in front of him, and couldn't help but marvel in his heart. Although he was unwilling, he had to admit: "The soldiers and horses of Xuzhou are indeed well-deserved. They are so majestic and well-trained. With such an elite division, there is no need to worry about the unrest in Shanyue and the instability in Wujun." Having said that, when he thought about how he was once a local lord, but now he ended up in such a miserable situation of relying on others and being at the mercy of others, Wang Lang's heart was sour again, as if he was tightly grasped by an invisible big hand, and the pain was unbearable.

Tao Ying's gaze locked with Wang Lang, taking in the complex, inscrutable expression of reluctance and a touch of helplessness on his face. An indescribable sense of joy and satisfaction welled up in his heart, and he grew even more complacent. He tilted his head slightly, a carefree smile playing at the corner of his mouth, as if announcing his victory to the world.

"Okay, uncle, let's not delay any longer." Tao Ying said in a light tone with unquestionable determination, "I will march towards Wucheng County now, and I will let the Shanyue know how powerful we are!" After that, he flicked his cloak casually and strode towards his warhorse.

He mounted his horse with a swift, seamless movement, showcasing the valiant demeanor of a military commander. Then, he raised his whip high in the air, swung it vigorously, and issued a resounding command: "Move!" Instantly, drums thundered, horns blared, and the army, like a surging tide, marched toward Wucheng County. The soldiers marched with measured, powerful steps, their footsteps shaking the earth slightly, and the dust they kicked up formed a long, giant dragon behind them, obscuring the sky and the sun.

After Tao Ying led his army away, Wang Lang remained standing, watching the billowing dust gradually recede into the horizon, his heart awash with mixed emotions. His brow furrowed, his face a complex expression of helplessness at his predicament, yet also of jealousy and resentment towards Tao Ying.

"What on earth is Tao Ying capable of?" Wang Lang murmured, his tone filled with confusion and dissatisfaction. "He's just relying on his father's reputation. In terms of real talent and knowledge, he's not much better."

Despite this, his gaze couldn't help but follow the retreating army, a hint of unconcealed envy flickering in his eyes. He had to admit that each of Tao Ying's generals was a skilled warrior. Take, for example, the commanding general Zang Ba, whose military prowess and leadership skills were truly admirable.

"The troops are so rigorous, disciplined, and well-trained, and General Zang Ba deserves credit for this." Wang Lang shook his head slightly, sighing inwardly. He thought back to his own undisciplined soldiers, and how they fared compared to Tao Ying's army. This made him feel even more unhappy.

But he also knew that in these troubled times, a few tough words alone would not change the cruel reality. Now, he could only hope that Tao Ying could really repel the Shanyue and solve his urgent problem.