Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

There is no such thing as a wall that is impenetrable, and the actions of the aristocratic families could hardly escape the eyes of those who were watching. The news of their secret dealings with Tao Ying soon reached Wang Lang's ears. At that time, Wang Lang was sitting in his study, reviewing the urgent military reports from various places, his brow furrowed and his face filled with worry.

"Sir, this is bad!" The staff rushed in, looking panicked, their voices filled with undisguised anxiety. "I heard that the Du, Lu, Gu, and Zhang families have been in frequent private contact with Tao Ying. I'm afraid..."

Wang Lang's brush suddenly paused, and the ink spread across the rice paper, creating a dark mass. He slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with fatigue and helplessness. He waved his hand, signaling his staff to stop talking. It's not that he hadn't noticed the unusual behavior of the aristocratic families these days, but in this difficult situation of internal and external troubles, he was simply too busy to handle everything.

The Shanyue invasions never ceased, and the flames of war raged across many counties in Wu Commandery, leaving civilians displaced and the army exhausted. He had limited manpower, and his food and military pay were scarce. He had always relied on the financial and human support of the aristocratic families.

Although Wang Lang knew that Tao Ying's arrival wasn't simply to help quell the rebellion, but rather that he had deeper ambitions, he was powerless to stop him. Now, upon learning that the aristocratic family was secretly colluding with Tao Ying, he felt a surge of weakness spreading from his feet throughout his body, as if an invisible hand were tearing apart the situation he had painstakingly maintained.

Wang Lang stood up and slowly walked to the window, gazing out at the gloomy sky. He remained silent for a long time. The situation had deteriorated to such a degree that he had ambitions but no power to reverse it. All he felt was a deep sense of helplessness and sadness.

Just as Wang Lang, feeling helpless and lost in thought at the gloom outside the window, the sound of hurried footsteps shattered the silence within the room. A guard hurried into the study, knelt on one knee, and announced loudly, "Sir, Sun Ce has sent an envoy, Huan Jie, requesting an audience. He is waiting outside the palace."

Wang Lang was slightly startled upon hearing this, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Why had Sun Ce repeatedly sent envoys? Although he and Sun Ce shared the same troubled times in Jiangdong, they held different agendas and positions. Previous meetings had been characterized by constant verbal exchanges and a tense atmosphere. Could Huan Jie's return visit signal a new twist?

Wang Lang pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Please invite him in." He straightened his clothes and regained some composure. He knew that in this complex situation, every response was crucial; the slightest mistake could plunge Wu County into deeper crisis.

A moment later, Huan Jie, led by guards, entered the study. Dressed in a long robe, he looked calm and composed. He bowed and said, "Lord Wang, how are you? My master sent me here to discuss an important matter with you." Wang Lang nodded slightly, forcing a smile. "Mr. Huan, you are too polite. Please take a seat. I wonder what advice General Sun has for you this time?" The atmosphere in the study grew tense once again. A new game of chess was about to begin.

Huan Jie walked into the study with steady steps, bowing respectfully to Wang Lang. Then, with a warm smile on his face, he spoke slowly and calmly, "Sir Wang, my master, Sun Ce, has always respected you. He sent me here to express his sincerity and goodwill. You, my lord, are surely more aware of the current situation in Wu Commandery than I am. The outlook is far from optimistic."

Wang Lang sat in the main seat, his hands folded before him. His expression seemed calm, but his slightly furrowed brow betrayed his inner worry. Hearing Huan Jie's words, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a stubborn smile. He replied with a firm tone, "Mr. Huan, you worry too much. Now that we have the assistance of General Tao Ying of Xuzhou, the Shanyue rebellion is nothing more than a minor problem. When General Tao and I join forces, we will sooner or later be able to wipe out these bandits and restore peace to Wu Commandery."

Upon hearing this, Huan Jie shook his head slightly, with a barely perceptible regret flashing in his eyes. He still maintained a polite smile on his face and said meaningfully, "Sir Wang, this may be a bit far-fetched. The bravery of the Shanyue cannot be underestimated. To be honest, even my lord suffered a loss at the hands of the Shanyue when he first arrived in Wu County. His troops were beaten so hard that it was difficult for them to leave the city. Later, he had to regroup a large number of troops in Kuaiji County before he could barely repel the Shanyue. I'm sure you have heard about the difficulties and obstacles involved." His voice was not loud, but every word was clear, echoing in the quiet study, causing Wang Lang's face to change slightly.

Wang Lang's face instantly turned extremely ugly, turning pale and red, just like a palette had been overturned, but he still stiffened his neck, with a tough attitude, and a hint of bluffing in his voice: "Mr. Huan, the loss of some territory is only due to the momentary negligence of our army. As long as the time comes and our army launches a counterattack, that will be the time when the Shanyue bandits will be completely destroyed. I have been operating in Wu County for many years and have a solid foundation. How could I be easily defeated by this setback?" As he spoke, he tried to straighten his back, trying to maintain the little dignity that was left.

Huan Jie's expression was calm, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle. He stared straight at Wang Lang and continued slowly, "Sir Wang, let's be frank. Linshui County and Anji County have fallen into the hands of the Shanyue one after another. Now Yong'an City is being heavily besieged by enemy troops and the situation is precarious. Wucheng County has also been infiltrated by Shanyue forces and is also in danger. Sir, you have gone out of the city many times to meet the enemy, and you have lost a lot of troops in these hard battles. You must be very clear about how many usable soldiers are left in the city now." Every word he said was clear and powerful, like a heavy hammer, hitting Wang Lang's heart again and again.

These words, like an incredibly sharp blade, struck Wang Lang in the heart. He instinctively opened his mouth to retort, but his throat seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand, and the words he had prepared for the argument were now unutterable. After all, the continuous defeats and the severe depletion of troops were simply impossible to conceal from those who were interested in prying eyes; they had long been an open secret.

Wang Lang was both ashamed and annoyed, his rage instantly rising to his head. He slammed the table with a loud bang, sending the teacups bouncing off the table. Immediately, he stood up, his eyes wide and furious, and shouted, "Did General Sun send you here just to humiliate me? If so, congratulations! You've achieved your goal! Now, please leave immediately. I don't want to see you again!" With that, he tossed his sleeves vigorously, turned around, and faced Huan Jie, his chest heaving violently, revealing his unquenchable anger and resentment.

Huan Jie remained composed in the face of Wang Lang's fury. He raised his hand, motioning Wang Lang to calm down. "Master Wang, please don't be so anxious. Everything I say is true, not an exaggeration. My general sent me here not to cause you any trouble, but to sincerely help you resolve this difficult situation."

Wang Lang took a deep breath, trying to calm the surging emotions in his chest. He forced a smile and spoke calmly, "I appreciate Mr. Huan's kindness. While the Shanyue are a formidable opponent, Master Tao Ying of Xuzhou has arrived with a large army. With his help, dealing with the Shanyue will be a piece of cake. Your General Sun need not worry too much."

Huan Jie shook his head slightly, a meaningful smile flashing in his eyes. He then changed the subject, "Lord Wang, do you really think it's that simple? This young master Tao Ying has come all this way, and I'm afraid he has ill intentions. In this world, how can someone send troops to help without any reason or request? Have you never carefully considered his ulterior motives?"

These words were like a hammer, once again striking Wang Lang's deepest, most worrying sore spot. Wang Lang's face paled instantly, and he opened his mouth, but for a long moment, words remained stammering. After a long pause, he sighed helplessly, smiled wryly, and said, "Well, since you all know all about this, there's nothing to hide. Why not speak frankly? Just tell me why your general sent you here."

Huan Jie nodded slightly upon hearing this, his face showing a hint of sincerity. "Okay, since your Excellency is so straightforward, I will speak frankly. My general still hopes to work hand in hand with you to fight against the Shanyue."

Upon hearing this, Wang Lang's brows knitted into the shape of a "川" character, and he asked suspiciously, "You just said that Master Tao Ying's help was ill-intentioned. So, does your General Sun have no ulterior motives at all?"

Huan Jie wasn't annoyed, and responded frankly, "Since your Excellency has asked, it would be a lie to say that my general has no ulterior motives. As for my general, after defeating the Shanyue, we are willing to share Wujun with your two families. Our army will still control the territory previously occupied by Xu Gong, and we will not interfere with each other."

Wang Lang sneered when he heard this and questioned, "So, your general's efforts were in vain? I find this hard to believe."

Huan Jie remained calm and composed, explaining methodically, "My lord, please listen carefully. My master has already occupied half of Wu Commandery, but the Shanyue bandits hide in the mountains and forests, appearing and disappearing with elusiveness, and frequently harass us. As long as the Shanyue are not eliminated, Wu Commandery will never be at peace. For this reason, my general sincerely desires to completely defeat the Shanyue, achieving a permanent solution, restoring peace to the people of Jiangdong, and consolidating our army's existing foundation. This will benefit both sides."

Wang Lang sat in his study, his heart a turmoil, a turmoil like a tangled mess. Recalling Tao Ying's initial behavior, he still felt a lingering fear, a chill running down his spine. Earlier, Xuzhou had offered troops to aid him, something he had been eagerly awaiting, fully believing it was a savior who would help him quell the Shanyue rebellion and consolidate his rule in Wujun. But as the situation unfolded, Tao Ying's every move revealed a deeper meaning, and he gradually realized that this aid might conceal a profound danger. He felt like he was being roasted on the edge of a fire, unable to disengage.

The Shanyue were spreading recklessly across Wujun. Facing a formidable enemy, he was completely unable to contend on his own. To achieve victory, he had to rely on Xuzhou for support, posing a dilemma. Meanwhile, Sun Ce, now at the height of his power, had his sights set on Wujun, openly proposing a partnership, but in reality, he was seeking a share of his territory. Tao Ying, on the other hand, seemed even more ambitious, poised to completely annex his territory.