Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

That night, Wang Lang paced his room alone, brow furrowed, pondering the day's events. He knew that if the conflict between Tao Ying and Cao Bao continued to simmer, it would not only hinder the campaign to annihilate the Shanyue but also potentially lead to a series of unforeseen complications after the war. In this complex situation, he had to find a way to maintain balance in order to protect his own interests.

After much deliberation, Wang Lang decided to meet Cao Bao in secret. He dismissed his attendants, accompanied only by a personal guard, and quietly approached Cao Bao's tent under cover of night. Inside, Cao Bao was alone, contemplating a map. He was startled by Wang Lang's sudden arrival, then stood and saluted.

Wang Lang stepped forward quickly, held Cao Bao with both hands, and his face was full of concern smile: "General Cao, I'm really sorry to bother you so late. I just have something in my heart and want to talk to you alone." Cao Bao was confused, but still asked Wang Lang to sit down and ordered someone to serve tea.

Wang Lang took a sip of tea and said slowly: "General Cao, I saw everything that happened today. Tao Ying is young and hot-tempered. He doesn't know how to restrain himself. He has offended us a lot. I hope you don't take it to heart." Cao Bao snorted coldly and said nothing, but the displeasure on his face was obvious.

Seeing this, Wang Lang changed the subject: "However, the general commands the elite troops of Danyang and has a high prestige in the Xuzhou army. How can he provoke him easily? The eldest son Tao Shang has always been generous and righteous, and has the demeanor of a gentleman. He also admires the general's ability and loyalty. If he knew what happened today, he would definitely not sit idly by." When Cao Bao mentioned Tao Shang, his expression moved slightly, and a hint of imperceptible recognition flashed in his eyes.

Wang Lang continued, "General, think about it. If we succeed in annihilating the Shanyue this time, it will all be the credit of you and your fellow soldiers. But if someone attempts to seize the fruits of victory after the war and immorally encroach on other people's territory, how can you sit idly by? With your prestige and power, you will surely uphold justice and deter those with ulterior motives from acting rashly."

Cao Bao discerned the deeper meaning behind Wang Lang's words, realizing he was hinting that if Tao Ying were to harm Wang Lang, he hoped he could intervene. He pondered for a moment, then spoke slowly, "Lord Wang is absolutely right. I, Cao Bao, only care about loyalty to my master and protecting the people of Xuzhou. As long as it benefits Xuzhou, I will do my utmost to help."

Wang Lang was secretly delighted, knowing his words had taken effect. He chatted with Cao Bao for a few more details about the battle before departing. As he left the tent, Wang Lang glanced back, convinced that this meeting had established a tacit understanding between him and Cao Bao, providing a safeguard against future complications.

The atmosphere within the Shanyue camp was heavy and oppressive. They had been locked in a stalemate outside Yong'an City for a long time. Despite the prolonged siege, they remained unfazed in the face of the enemy's constant influx of reinforcements. Zhou Yu had already returned with his troops, and his arrival reassured Shamoke and Gan Ning. Upon his arrival, Zhou Yu quickly arranged for Sun Ce's troops in Wu County to arrive from Linshui County, under the banner of the Shanyue. Disguised as Shanyue troops, they quietly advanced towards Yong'an City.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yu, meticulous and meticulous, had already dispatched countless spies to infiltrate Yong'an City. These spies, like tentacles in the shadows, relayed every move within the city. On the very night of the falling out between the generals and commanders in Yong'an City, news reached Zhou Yu's camp at breakneck speed.

At this moment, Zhou Yu, Shamoko, and other generals were sitting together, preparing to discuss the next battle plan. Suddenly, there was a sound of light footsteps outside the tent, and a soldier hurried in, presenting a secret letter. Zhou Yu took the letter, quickly unfolded it, and his eyes swept over the letter, and a meaningful smile gradually appeared on his face.

Seeing this, Shamoke asked anxiously, "Gongjin, what's in the letter? Don't keep us in suspense!" Zhou Yu raised his head, a glint in his eyes, and said slowly, "This is good news. Tao Ying and Cao Bao in Yong'an City have fallen out, and neither side is willing to give in. Now's our chance."

Upon hearing this, the generals perked up, whispering among themselves about how to capitalize on this golden opportunity. Shamoke excitedly stood up and waved his hand, "Alright! Since they're squabbling among themselves, let's take advantage of the situation and catch them off guard!"

Zhou Yu smiled and said, "No, no, General Sha, don't be anxious. Watch carefully. Soon, these elite Danyang soldiers, led by Cao Bao, will join the 20,000 troops led by Zuo Rong to fight us."

As soon as these words were spoken, the camp erupted in an uproar. The generals chimed in, offering various suggestions. Some advocated a direct charge while the enemy was still stabilizing; others suggested setting an ambush and luring the enemy deeper; still others suggested sending in a small force to harass and wear down the enemy's morale.

After a heated discussion, everyone turned their attention to Zhou Yu and said in unison, "You said how to fight. Give the orders now!"

Zhou Yu stood up slowly and walked to the center of the tent. He glanced at each general and said calmly, "Everyone's words are valid, but we must fully exploit the discord between the enemy generals. Cao Bao and Tao Ying are not on good terms, so there must be a gap in their coordination."

Everyone looked at Zhou Yu expectantly, their eyes gleaming with the desire for victory. The tent was so quiet that only the soft sound of breathing could be heard. Zhou Yu smiled and spoke in a steady, forceful voice: "Men, if we want to defeat these elite Danyang troops and Zuo Rong's twenty thousand men in one fell swoop, it will probably require a tremendous effort. We must also be constantly on guard against Tao Ying coming to reinforce us. Although they may not get along, they are both members of the Xuzhou army. They understand the principle of the lips and teeth being cold. This point must not be underestimated."

He paused slightly, his eyes sweeping across everyone's faces before continuing his analysis. "Secondly, even if we successfully defeat Cao Bao, there will inevitably be deserters on the battlefield. There are still over 50,000 elite soldiers in the city. It will be difficult for us to defeat them all in one fell swoop and achieve complete victory. In my opinion, we should first concentrate our forces to attack Cao Bao fiercely, beat him to death, and make him afraid to leave the city easily."

"Once Cao Bao is defeated, Tao Ying will definitely come out of the city to rescue him. When Tao Ying leaves, we will feign defeat and deliberately allow ourselves to be defeated. This way, Cao Bao will be rescued and brought back to the city. He and Tao Ying have been at odds for a long time, and now Tao Ying has rescued him. Under the provocation of their words, the conflict between the two will surely intensify. When the time comes, we will see what their next move will be, and then we will react flexibly and formulate a follow-up plan."

After hearing Zhou Yu's words, the generals nodded in agreement, their heads brimming with enlightenment. Shamoke excitedly pumped his fist and exclaimed, "Brilliant! Gongjin's plan not only avoids the huge losses of a direct confrontation with the Xuzhou army, but also stirs up internal conflict within them. Truly brilliant!"

Gan Ning also echoed: "That's right, let's do as Gongjin said! Let them lose their composure, and then we will reap the benefits!" The morale of the crowd was completely ignited, and their blood boiled, as if they had seen the dawn of victory.

Zhou Yu's eyes blazed as he took in the situation before beginning to lay out his plans in an orderly fashion. "Gan Ning, lead 5,000 elite naval troops. Under cover of darkness, we will quietly circle the enemy's flank and set up an ambush on the riverbank. Once Cao Bao and Zuo Rong's forces enter the ambush, you will quickly blockade the river, cutting off their waterway. At the same time, use powerful crossbows to suppress the enemy and disrupt their formation."

"Shamoko, you will lead your Shanyue warriors as the main force and wait for Cao Bao to leave the city tomorrow morning to engage in battle. Feign defeat, and let him lead his troops in reckless pursuit. After all, most of Danyang's elite troops are infantry, and your Shanyue are so numerous and can traverse the mountains and forests, making them much faster on foot. However, you must not linger in the fight; you must fight and retreat, leading them to our pre-arranged ambush point in the valley."

"Jiang Qin, Chen Wu, you two will lead your troops to ambush in the forests on both sides of the valley. The valley is strategically located, easy to defend but difficult to attack, making it an ideal ambush location. Once the enemy has fully entered the valley, upon my command, you will lead your troops to attack from both sides, cutting off the enemy front and rear. Together with Shamoke and Gan Ning, you will attack from both sides and trap them in the valley."

"Zhou Tai and Dong Xi, you two will lead two thousand sword and shield soldiers and hide near the valley's exit. Once Cao Bao and Zuo Rong's troops are lured into the valley, immediately lead the sword and shield soldiers to charge the enemy's rear to prevent them from breaking out and escaping. At the same time, disrupt their rear formation and cooperate with the main force to strangle the enemy."

"In that case, we have to abandon our camp to him. If we don't let Cao Bao get a taste of success, I'm afraid he won't be willing to chase us." Zhou Yu looked determined, tapping the table lightly with his fingers, with a hint of cunning in his eyes.

When Shamoke heard this, a look of pain flashed across his face. He couldn't help but say with heartache, "This tent was hard to come by. For us Shanyue people, resources are scarce. I really can't bear to give up a tent like this easily."

Zhou Yu laughed heartily upon seeing this, his laughter breaking the slightly solemn atmosphere in the tent. "Hey, Brother Sha, how big of a deal is this?! Not to mention my brother's possession of the vast lands of Xiliang, rich in resources, even Bofu now controls Kuaiji County and most of Wu County. These resources are just a small matter in our long-term plans."

He patted Shamoke's shoulder and continued earnestly, "Brother Sha, we need to take a long-term view. By abandoning this small camp, we can lure Cao Bao into the trap, give him a sweet treat, and let him down, so he'll chase us. If we can successfully ambush them, we can not only seize their supplies but also inflict heavy damage on the enemy. By then, we'll have gold, silver, treasures, food, and supplies. Why worry about the immediate gains and losses?"

After hearing what Zhou Yu said, Shamoke's brows slowly relaxed. He pondered for a moment and nodded heavily: "Gongjin is right, I am too narrow-minded. For the sake of the overall situation, this tent has to be abandoned. As long as Cao Bao can be defeated, everything is worth it!" After that, his eyes became firm again, full of anticipation for the upcoming battle.

Zhou Yu watched Shamoke's transformation and smiled with satisfaction. "Excellent! Brother Sha, you understand the greater good. With your help, we will surely win this battle! Let's arrange for manpower to transfer the important supplies from the camp. We'll also create some false alarms so Cao Bao will think we're fleeing in panic and fall prey to our trap."

After making the necessary arrangements, Zhou Yu emphasized, "The key to this battle is to lure the enemy deep into our territory. We must seize the opportunity and not expose our ambush prematurely. Everyone must strictly adhere to the plan and not act on their own. Only by coordinating closely can we inflict heavy damage on Cao Bao and Zuo Rong's forces and create favorable conditions for subsequent battles."

The generals, eyes brimming with fighting spirit and determination, quickly emerged from their tents to prepare for battle. Zhou Yu watched them depart, carefully examining the battle map once more, silently praying for success. Outside the tents, darkness fell. A decisive ambush was about to unfold at dawn, and the entire camp was filled with a tense and exciting atmosphere, as everyone awaited that crucial moment.