Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Tao Ying led his army from Yangxian County to Wucheng County, their horses' hooves raising clouds of dust and marching with a fierce momentum. As word spread, the situation shifted dramatically. Ma Chao and Sun Ce had been making good progress in Wucheng County, but Tao Ying's arrival put them under immense pressure, making subsequent planning even more difficult. Meanwhile, Wang Lang of Yangxian County, initially gloomy, learned of the arrival of his savior. Even though he knew it was a temporary solution, he straightened his back, his eyes lit with hope, and his resolve to persevere became even stronger.

The aristocratic families of Wu Commandery were even more worried. Previously, the noble families of Xu Gong's territory had been brutally massacred by the Shanyue. That bloody scene, like a sword hanging over their heads, had left the aristocratic families of Wang Lang's territory in a state of panic. To protect themselves, they had emptied their fortunes and fully supported Wang Lang's campaign against the Shanyue. Now, Tao Ying's impressive arrival with his army had stirred these aristocratic families' concerns.

Tao Ying was leading his army toward Wucheng County when, en route, he was approached by a group claiming to be from an aristocratic Wujun family. The leader, an elderly man dressed in a silk robe, appeared respectful, yet his eyes shone with shrewdness. He and his clansmen knelt respectfully by the roadside. When Tao Ying stopped, the elder hurried forward, cupping his hands and speaking loudly, "The general's reputation is renowned. We, scions of the aristocratic Wujun family, have long admired his brilliance. Today, you have come to protect the safety of Wujun, and we, your clansmen, have come to offer our congratulations." The crowd behind him echoed his sentiments, their voices rising and falling.

Tao Ying glanced past the crowd, looking behind them. He saw carriages piled high with fine wine, smoked meat, fine rice, and other supplies, a sight that filled him with joy. But he quickly collected his expression, straightened his clothes, and spoke solemnly, "I appreciate your kindness. As a Han official, I am loyal to my emperor and serve him faithfully. Fighting the Shanyue and protecting the people is my duty. I will do my utmost, even if it means death."

He paused briefly, his eyes sweeping across the crowd sincerely before continuing, "I feel deeply ashamed to have caused you all to spend so much money and give away so many precious supplies. Your generosity is not only a testament to your trust in me, Tao Ying, but also a testament to your loyalty to the Han Dynasty. With such kindhearted and righteous people like you here, why worry about the unrest in the Shanyue region or the unrest in Wujun? When the war is quelled, I will report to His Majesty and commend you for your contributions!"

Upon hearing this, everyone knelt to express their gratitude, their faces filled with gratitude and relief. The elder in the lead, his eyes red with emotion, said, "The general has the world at heart and is unparalleled in his loyalty and righteousness. We are only able to do our humble part. We are fortunate to have the general's protection. From now on, whenever the general commands, we will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Tao Ying's lips curled upwards, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. His eyes, sharp as an eagle's, scanned the faces of the crowd, trying to discern their true intentions. At this moment, the leading elder hesitantly stepped forward, his expression filled with caution. He whispered, "General, there are so many people here, and it's difficult to discuss this in depth. I wonder if we can move elsewhere? I have something urgent to discuss with you."

Seeing this, Tao Ying understood what was happening, certain they were hiding something unknown. Without hesitation, he waved his hand and shouted, "All troops, remain where you are!" Instantly, the command was thunderous, and the well-trained soldiers sprang into action, rushing to their respective posts. Everything proceeded in an orderly manner, and the work of setting up camp was carried out efficiently.

Then, under the close guard of several personal guards, Tao Ying, along with several leaders of prominent families, entered a spacious tent. Inside, the rich aroma of fine wine emanated, and the dishes were neatly arranged, making the mere sight of them salivate. Everyone took their seats according to their status. Tao Ying raised his glass, took an elegant sip, and with a warm smile on his face, he said in a gentle voice, "Don't be so reserved, everyone. If you have anything to say, feel free to speak frankly."

The old man, with a hunched figure, saluted and said, "My name is Du Chong, and I am the head of the Du family. I have long heard of the general's reputation. It is a great honor to meet him today."

Then, Lu Yi, the representative of the Lu family, bowed and said, "I am Lu Yi, on behalf of the Lu family, I greet the general. With your arrival, the people of Wu County have found a backbone."

Gu Yuan, the head of the Gu family, bowed slightly and said respectfully, "General, I am Gu Yuan. The Gu family is willing to serve you at your service."

Finally, Zhang Qi from the Zhang family also hurriedly stood up and said with a smile, "Hello, General. I am Zhang Qi. It is an honor to be able to meet with you."

Upon hearing this, Tao Ying's smile widened. He quickly stood up to return the greeting and said sincerely, "I've long heard of you all! When I was in Xuzhou, I heard about the Lu family's scholarly heritage, the Du family's commerce prowess, the Gu family's talented individuals, and the Zhang family's legacy of loyalty and righteousness. I only regretted that I was so far away in Xuzhou that I never got to meet you all. It's truly a blessing to meet you all today!"

Du Chong's face was filled with indignation, his brows twisted into the shape of the Chinese character "川". He slammed the table heavily and said, "These Shanyue bandits have committed all kinds of evil, such as burning, killing, and looting. Many of my Du family's properties have suffered. It's really hateful!"

Lu Yi also sighed, his expression filled with helplessness and anxiety. "Yes, Lord Wang Lang holds an official position in vain, but he can do nothing about the Shanyue. The war in Wu Commandery is getting more and more intense. We ordinary people are living in fear all day long, and we can't even do business properly."

Gu Yuan frowned slightly and said worriedly, "Wu County is in turmoil right now, and the safety of the Gu family members is hard to guarantee. If this continues, what should we do?"

Zhang Qi nodded in agreement, his eyes full of longing: "I heard that under Lord Tao's governance, the people of Xuzhou live and work in peace and contentment, commerce flourishes, and public security is stable. We envy them from the bottom of our hearts. It would be wonderful if Wujun could be like that."

Tao Ying listened with a serious expression, nodding his head repeatedly. "You are all right. The Shanyue Rebellion must be quelled as soon as possible. I have come here this time to live up to your expectations. As for Xuzhou, it is only the result of the efforts of my father and his colleagues. If I can help Wujun regain stability, it will be the fulfillment of my wish."

After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. Du Chong cleared his throat, set down his glass, and spoke tentatively, "With the General's arrival, the people of Wu County finally have hope. In these troubled times, our families have long sought a reliable source of support, but we haven't found the right one yet." He paused, his eyes darting across Tao Ying's face, trying to gauge his reaction.

Lu Yi continued, a smile on his face, but his words were a little evasive: "Yes, General, you know that our families have been rooted in Wujun for many years. A single move can affect the entire system, so we must always consider the family members. We all see the peace in Xuzhou, but we are afraid of making rash decisions and being criticized."

Gu Yuan took a sip of wine and said slowly: "To be honest with you, General, we all support you in our hearts. But if this gets out, I don't know what others will say. They will say that we are opportunistic, which is not a good thing." His tone showed both an eagerness to surrender and a concern for his reputation.

Zhang Qi also agreed, "General, do you think this matter can be done more covertly, so that we can follow you and outsiders won't gossip." Several people talked to each other, and although they didn't say explicitly that they wanted to surrender, the meaning of their words was obvious. They wanted to find refuge with Tao Ying, but didn't want to bear the stigma of betrayal.

Tao Ying wore a faint smile, his gaze sharp as a torch, quietly taking in everyone's changing expressions, his mind fully aware of their subtle thoughts. He calmly lifted his wine glass, gently swirling it, letting the rich liquor swirl in the glass, and then took a sip, his movements elegant and steady.

"I fully understand your worries and concerns. I have been ordered to come here this time to completely put down the Shanyue Rebellion and never let these bandits act recklessly on the land of Wujun again." Tao Ying paused, a sharp look flashed in his eyes, and then changed the subject, "But you all also understand that Wujun is in ruins after the war, and the way of governance is of vital importance. Judging from the current situation, if Wang Lang is allowed to continue to be in power, it will be difficult for Wujun to usher in real prosperity and stability, and it will be difficult for the people to completely get rid of the suffering of war." Although his words did not directly state his intentions, his ambition for the future ownership of Wujun was already vaguely revealed between the lines.

Upon hearing this, the aristocratic families were momentarily startled, then glanced at each other with understanding. Du Chong was the quickest to react. He abruptly stood up, clasped his hands together, and said sincerely, "General, you are a man of great foresight. Your words truly resonate with us. My Du family is willing to do everything in our power to support you! If you need anything, whether it's manpower, material resources, or financial resources, we will be obliged to provide you with all our assistance!"

Lu Yi also quickly stood up, a flattering smile plastered on his face, and echoed, "Brother Du is absolutely right! My Lu family is also willing to follow the general's steps and contribute our own strength to the peace and development of Wu County. The general is so courageous and cares about the people. It is a blessing for Wu County to have you presiding over the overall situation!"

Gu Yuan and Zhang Qi were not willing to lag behind and expressed their willingness to contribute money and effort, their words full of eagerness and flattery.

Tao Ying looked at the scene before him, nodded with satisfaction, a warm smile on his face, and spoke with exceptional sincerity: "I, Tao Ying, will remember your friendship in my heart. In the future, as long as I, Tao Ying, am here, I will not let you down. When the Shanyue are pacified and Wujun embraces a new era, we will work together to create a glorious future for Wujun and ensure peace for its people." With this, he raised his glass high, his eyes firm and confident. Seeing this, everyone also hurriedly stood up, raising their glasses high. For a moment, the sound of glasses clinking was crisp and pleasant. Within this small tent, a collaboration, each with their own thoughts but a common goal, was quietly achieved in this seemingly harmonious atmosphere.

After the representatives of the noble families had said their goodbyes and departed one by one, Tao Ying remained alone in the tent, his figure stretched out in the flickering candlelight. He paced slowly, his expression solemn, his mind replaying the conversation he had just had with everyone.

The statements of those aristocratic families seemed sincere, but in reality they harbored selfish motives. However, in Tao Ying's eyes, this was precisely the key that could be exploited. He secretly thought that now that these aristocratic families were willing to act as internal support, the situation would be very different after the Shanyue Rebellion was pacified.

Although Wang Lang occupied Wu County, his governance was incompetent and he gradually lost the support of the people. However, the aristocratic families had deep roots and extensive connections in the local area. With a little effort, they could build momentum within the city, exerting pressure on Wang Lang from all aspects, from public opinion to the implementation of government orders.

Tao Ying's lips curled slightly, a glint of determination flashing in his eyes. He knew that with the power of his aristocratic family, forcing Wang Lang to surrender his territory without bloodshed would be easy. He already held a key piece in this power game. When the time was right, he would seize control of Wujun and realize his ambitions.