Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

As soon as Sun Ce took control of Gujun County, Wang Lang felt a pang of anxiety, daring not to slack off for a moment. Knowing the urgency of the situation, he immediately rushed to various locations, urgently recruiting troops from Gujun County and rapidly mobilizing troops from Yangxian County. However, the troops were still insufficient, so he resorted to various methods, recruiting door-to-door. After much effort, he finally managed to gather an army of 20,000. He then immediately led this force towards Wucheng County, aiming to quickly rendezvous with Tao Ying.

Wang Lang knew full well that he had been forced into a desperate situation, forcing him to take a risk. He pondered that if he could not quickly reach Wucheng County, and if Tao Ying's Xuzhou army successfully defeated the Shanyue, half of Wu County would undoubtedly fall into Tao Ying's hands. Recalling Tao Ying's previous performance on the battlefield, his commanding command and masterful tactics, Wang Lang could not help but feel a lingering fear, a deep shock and terror gripping his heart.

After Tao Ying arrived in Wucheng County and reunited with Sun Guan and his men, the situation shifted dramatically. Within just a few days, Wucheng County was densely packed with Xuzhou army tents. From a high vantage point, the tents piled one upon the other, three layers deep, surrounding the entire county. The defense was so tight, like an impenetrable iron barrel. Faced with such impenetrable defenses, Ma Chao and Zhou Yu, despite their exceptional wit and martial prowess, felt helpless. They could only stand in the distance, gazing at Wucheng County and sighing in vain.

At that moment, Tao Ying, Sun Guan, and Zang Ba sat in a heated discussion about how to attack the forces of Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, who were impersonating the Shanyue. Their brows furrowed, their voices eloquent, each expressing their opinions as they tried to devise the best strategy to defeat the enemy. Just then, the sound of hurried horse hooves approached from afar; a messenger sent by Wang Lang arrived at full speed. The messenger dismounted, barely catching his breath, and hurriedly presented Wang Lang's letter, bearing the news: Wang Lang, personally leading 20,000 troops, was speeding through the night to support them. He intended to seize this opportunity to join forces with Tao Ying and completely annihilate these so-called Shanyue insurgents, thus preventing future trouble.

Tao Ying, Zang Ba, and Sun Guan exchanged smiles, and Tao Ying spoke first, "Old Wang Lang has finally gotten restless. He's even making grand claims about joining us in hunting the Shanyue. If it weren't for our Xuzhou army, the Shanyue would have already captured most of his counties. Now that he's hastily dispatched his troops, I'm afraid he's probably trying to be wary of us."

Sun Guan, known for his straightforwardness, laughed heartily, "Young Master, this is a godsend! As long as we wipe out the Shanyue, Wang Lang will be within easy reach. If we capture Wang Lang, half of Wu County will be ours. When we return to Xuzhou and make great contributions to expanding our territory, what will the eldest son, Tao Shang, have to compete with you, Young Master? In the future, the position of lord of Xuzhou will surely be yours. If we work harder and drive Sun Bofu from Jiangdong out of Wu County, we will then control all of Xuzhou and Wu County. Our ambition to become a king will be truly great!"

However, Zang Ba frowned slightly and said solemnly, "Sun Guan, you must not act rashly or become arrogant. Not to mention Wang Lang's recent arrival of troops, the Shanyue are our greatest threat right now. They were able to force Xu Gong to death and drive Wang Lang into this predicament, where even the elite Danyang troops led by General Cao Bao were unable to achieve any success. This clearly proves that the Shanyue are not to be underestimated. They were able to disrupt the entire Wu Commandery, so they must have been guided by a master. This is something we must investigate. Not to mention Sun Ce, who defeated the Shanyue in Xu Gong's territory. He controls Kuaiji Commandery and half of Wu Commandery, and is currently in the ascendant. I think it would be best to avoid conflict with them."

Zang Ba's words hinted at Cao Bao's approval, but Cao Bao's status as a staunch supporter of the eldest son, Tao Shang, repelled the second son, Tao Ying. Upon hearing this, Tao Ying immediately addressed Zang Ba, "Xuan Gao, please don't encourage others' ambitions while undermining your own prestige. The tiny Shanyue will be easily captured once our Xuzhou army arrives. Cao Bao's failure to achieve success demonstrates that while the elite Danyang troops are renowned throughout the world, he was unable to lead them to victory, demonstrating Cao Bao's incompetence. This time, we must show him our might."

Sun Guan and Zang Ba were long-standing friends, sharing a deep and close friendship. They fought side by side on the battlefield, enduring countless life-or-death trials. Their mutual understanding and trust were as solid as a rock. Therefore, even though Zang Ba had just directly rejected Sun Guan's opinion, Sun Guan took it for granted. He knew Zang Ba well and understood that his statement was merely a cautious one.

Sun Guan keenly sensed the hint of displeasure on Tao Ying's face, and he secretly thought to himself, "Oh no!" fearing that this would lead to unnecessary conflict. His mind raced, and he immediately, with a beaming smile, tried to smooth things over for Zang Ba: "Hey, Young Master, please don't misunderstand me. Xuan Gao has always been cautious. After all, as a general, assessing the situation in this complex and ever-changing situation is his duty, and it's also for our safety. But Xuan Gao, you really don't have to worry too much. Think about it, with our strong abilities, how many times have we not been at the forefront of past battles, repeatedly making great achievements? Plus, with you personally on the battlefield, commanding the troops, that would boost the morale of the army! With us all united, dealing with these small Shanyue people would be as easy as taking candy from a bag!"

After hearing this, Tao Ying's tense expression gradually relaxed, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and his anger turned into joy. He smiled and said, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's go meet that old man Wang Lang together. He kept urging us to come, and we just got a foothold here, and now he's rushing right after us. I don't know what he's planning."

Seeing that the Second Young Master hadn't taken his warning seriously, Zang Ba couldn't help but feel a surge of worry. He was well aware of the complexity and severity of the situation. The Shanyue forces were no pushovers, and there might be many unknown variables hidden behind them. Thinking of this, his brows furrowed involuntarily, and a hint of worry appeared in his eyes.

Sun Guan noticed Zang Ba's expression. He knew Zang Ba meant well, but now was not the time to delve into it. He quickly nudged Zang Ba's shoulder and gave him a playful wink, signaling him to stop talking and avoid upsetting Tao Ying. Zang Ba understood Sun Guan's intention, sighed softly, and fell silent. Then, the three of them straightened their clothes and strode together toward the direction to greet Wang Lang's army.

When Wang Lang arrived with his army, Tao Ying, beaming, hurried forward and said respectfully, "Uncle, why go to such great lengths to lead an expedition in person? With me here, we can surely crush the Shanyue and reclaim these lost territories." Wang Lang, smiling back, waved his hand, and said gently, "Nephew, how could I not trust your abilities? However, this is a matter of life and death for Wu Commandery, and I feel deeply sorry for troubling you to lead the Xuzhou army to help. How could I bear to let you personally charge into battle, braving the dangers of arrows and stones?"

On the surface, the two exchanged pleasantries, their words filled with concern and humility. But in reality, they knew each other's thoughts clearly, and were merely offering lip service. Beneath these seemingly warm greetings, undercurrents surged, and both sides were secretly wary of the other.

Everyone filed into the hall of the county government office. After their respective seats were taken, Wang Lang spoke first, a humble smile on his face. "My dear nephew, I am only a scholar now, and I know nothing about military operations. This time, I must rely on you to plan and dispatch the troops. All the troops are under your command. Tell me, what should we do next?"

Upon hearing this, Tao Ying's eyes flashed with complacency. He strode over to the hanging map and gestured with his hand, with the air of a man commanding a vast empire. "Uncle, look. Our Xuzhou army, combined with the troops and horses you brought, now number 60,000 to 70,000 men, plus the original garrison of Wucheng County. In my opinion, the Wucheng County garrison can remain stationary. With these 60,000 to 70,000 troops, our most urgent task is to eliminate the Shanyue forces entrenched in Wucheng and Yong'an counties. If these Shanyue bandits are not defeated soon and allowed to remain trapped among us, we will undoubtedly face endless trouble in the future. It will be a real headache."

Wang Lang nodded slightly, his eyes fixed on the map, and asked, "Does my dear nephew have any good strategy for defeating the enemy?"

Tao Ying's lips curled up in a confident smile. He waved his hand fiercely and spoke in a heroic tone, "Why bother with any overly complicated strategies to defeat the enemy? With our mighty army of 60,000 to 70,000 men, we can just push forward and crush them like fallen leaves in the autumn wind. How solid can their makeshift camps be? They're just a mob. What kind of power can these Shanyue people have?"

Of this 60,000-70,000-strong army, not to mention the prefecture and county troops Wang Lang had improvised, the troops under Zang Ba and Sun Guan, brought by Tao Ying, were all elite soldiers from Xuzhou. These soldiers had been personally trained by Zang Ba and Sun Guan, undergoing countless rigorous drills. Their individual combat capabilities and coordinated coordination far surpassed those of ordinary soldiers.

Zang Ba and Sun Guan stood aside, watching Tao Ying confidently lay out his plans in front of the map. They exchanged glances, each nodding emphatically in agreement. They knew that the troops disguised as Shanyue, arriving via mountain and land routes, were limited in number. They believed that with their overwhelming numerical superiority, victory would be a piece of cake.

Wang Lang watched everyone before him, all so confident, and though he felt a little doubtful, he couldn't let it show. He narrowed his eyes slightly, gently stroked his beard, and with a smile on his face, he praised Tao Ying, "My dear nephew, you are truly worthy of being Brother Tao's son. Like father, like son! The strategies within your mind are truly like a vast army, surpassing even a hundred thousand men. With my dear nephew in charge, I can rest easy."

After some discussion, everyone finalized the strategic plan. Next, they began to prepare their troops and attack the Shanyue forces in Wucheng and Yong'an counties. A major battle was about to begin.