Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Wang Lang was horrified upon hearing this. He jumped up and walked quickly to Tao Ying, grabbing his arm tightly with both hands. "My dear nephew, you must not do this!" His voice trembled slightly with anxiety. "The enemy outside the city is powerful and well-prepared. If we leave the city rashly, it will be like an egg hitting a rock. If you leave, Yong'an City and the people in it will be finished!"

Tao Ying, however, seemed to be overwhelmed by despair. He struggled to free himself from Wang Lang's hand and paced back and forth in the hall. His steps were hurried and heavy, and each step was filled with a determination to burn his boats and cross the river. "But if we continue like this, we won't be able to hold out for many more days! Rather than starve to death in the city, we might as well give it a try. Maybe there's still a glimmer of hope!"

Wang Lang looked at Tao Ying, knowing full well that anxiety and despair had overtaken him. He took a deep breath, calmed himself, and said slowly, "Nephew, calm down. Impulsive action won't solve the problem. Let's think of a solution. Perhaps reinforcements are on the way. Think about it. If you leave the city to fight, and fail, the city will be leaderless. What will happen to the civilians and soldiers? They will be doomed. If we hold the city, at least there's still hope. If we leave, that hope will be completely gone."

Tao Ying's pace gradually slowed. Wang Lang's words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the impulsive fire in his heart. He paused, his brow furrowed, his face filled with struggle and pain. After a long moment, he slowly raised his head, the determination in his eyes gradually giving way to helplessness. "Uncle, I... I really have no other choice."

Wang Lang walked forward, patted Tao Ying's shoulder gently, and said earnestly: "I know you are anxious, but we must stay calm. Just hold on a little longer, and reinforcements will surely come." Tao Ying nodded silently and slumped in the chair. Although there was still anxiety in his eyes, he no longer had the reckless impulse he had before.

During this long and agonizing period, the soldiers and civilians of Yong'an City held out for nearly ten more days. The city's food and fodder were almost depleted, and the meager supplies barely enough to sustain even a single day were a luxury. The soldiers were dizzy with hunger, their steps unsteady, and the civilians wept incessantly. Panic gripped the entire city.

Wang Lang and Tao Ying prayed devoutly every day in the City Lord's Mansion, gazing at the heavens with hope, longing for a miracle to happen, even a glimmer of hope. Perhaps their prayers were truly resonant with the heavens, and the unexpected change struck.

Behind Yong'an City, the Shanyue troops, previously stationed securely, were suddenly disturbed by a burst of shouting and fighting. An army of unknown origin descended like a ghost in the night, instantly shattering the tranquility of the battlefield. The Shanyue soldiers hurried from their tents, only to be caught in the chaotic fray before they could even see the enemy.

The cries of killing echoed in waves, like a surging tide, reaching Yong'an City. The soldiers and civilians in the city were stunned at first, then became nervous, not knowing whether this sudden change was a blessing or a curse.

For half a day, the sounds of fighting rang out. When the smoke cleared, a vast army was seen marching towards Yong'an City. Gazing from the city walls, the troops numbered over ten thousand, their flags fluttering, though the inscriptions on them were indistinct.

"Who are these troops? Friend or foe?" Tao Ying frowned, his eyes filled with vigilance and confusion. Wang Lang, equally grave, stared intently at the group, speculating to himself, "Whatever the case, this could be our turning point. Pass the word down: strengthen the city defenses and keep a close eye on their movements." The soldiers in the city sprang into action, arrows drawn, swords unsheathed, ready for the arrival of this mysterious force.

The mysterious group slowly approached, their steps in unison and their presence imposing. As they reached the city walls, they saw a leading general, a tall and imposing figure, wearing a purple gold crown and a battle robe adorned with flowers. He rode a majestic white horse, a silver spear flashing in his hand. It was none other than Sun Ce. He looked up at the city walls and, with a voice like a bell, shouted, "Listen up, everyone on the city walls! I am Sun Ce. I met the messenger you sent in Gujun County, and having learned that Yong'an City is in imminent danger, I have led my troops to rescue it!"

Tao Ying and Wang Lang, standing on the city wall, were startled by the sudden outcry. They glanced at each other, their eyes a mixture of surprise and suspicion. Wang Lang's brow furrowed, his eyes filled with vigilance. While he knew the situation was precarious and the soldiers and civilians in the city were struggling with hunger and fear, he couldn't trust Sun Ce easily. After all, Sun Ce's rapid rise in Jiangdong, his ambition, and his decisive and resolute style made it difficult to guess his true intentions.

Wang Lang gathered his thoughts, stepped forward, and with both hands resting on the battlements, shouted down to the city below: "General Sun, we have heard of your great name and are deeply grateful for your assistance. However, this matter came so suddenly that we will need a moment to discuss matters. We hope you will forgive us." Sun Ce smiled broadly, his laughter echoing through the towers below: "Your Excellency, I understand your caution. However, the situation is dire. Although the Shanyue have just been defeated by our army, their remnants will not give up and could return at any moment. I've also heard about the state of the city's food and fodder; I'm afraid they won't hold out for much longer."

Tao Ying and Wang Lang were startled. Sun Ce's complete knowledge of the city's difficult situation only heightened their unease. Tao Ying, his forehead beaded with sweat, was visibly anxious. He leaned close to Wang Lang and whispered anxiously, "Uncle, given the current situation, no matter what, the food and fodder are already here. Besides, they've just defeated the Shanyue. If they're truly hostile, they could attack us now while we're weak, leaving us completely defenseless. In my opinion, they're most likely friends, not enemies." Wang Lang frowned, pondering for a long moment, internally weighing the pros and cons. Finally, he gave a resigned nod, knowing full well that he was running out of options.

With a dull thud, the city gate slowly opened, its heavy doors creaking open to the sides. Sun Ce, smiling, led his troops into the city in an orderly fashion. The civilians and soldiers within the city gazed at the piles of food and fodder, their eyes instantly alight with excitement and hope. Cheers resounded through the sky, seemingly breaking through the oppressive gloom. Tao Ying and Wang Lang, though relieved for a moment, still felt a heavy weight weighing on their hearts, a sense of unease.

After Sun Ce led his troops into the city, Wang Lang remained wary of him. In Wang Lang's mind, Sun Ce's actions were hard to believe. After all, how could Sun Ce suddenly be so kind as to come to the rescue despite the long journey?

Sun Ce keenly sensed Wang Lang's vigilance, and to allay his doubts, he spoke sincerely, "My lord, to be honest, I have long intended to help you repel the Shanyue and rid this area of ​​its people of this threat. I've expressed my intention to you many times before, but you've been reluctant. Seeing you and Master Tao in dire straits, the situation is extremely urgent. I didn't have time to discuss details with you beforehand, so I led my troops here immediately. I hope your lordship will forgive me. You see, I only brought a little over ten thousand men. If I had any ill intentions, how could I have done this?"

Wang Lang's guard dropped slightly after hearing this, but he still held back. He said slowly, "I appreciate General Sun's kindness. However, even with over ten thousand men and horses, I'm afraid we won't be able to turn the tide and make a significant difference against the massive Shanyue army outside the city."

Upon hearing this, Sun Ce smiled confidently and explained his plans: "Your Majesty, you may not be aware that as soon as I received your request for assistance, I dispatched my men to contact my sworn brother Zhou Yu and had him send troops from Wu County to attack Linshui. With Zhou Yu's strategy and ability, I believe Linshui is almost captured by now. Once we capture Linshui, we can attack the Shanyue from behind. With the help of my 10,000 troops, the Shanyue will undoubtedly be defeated!"

After hearing Sun Ce's words, the people's originally low morale and confidence were boosted a bit. They happily welcomed Sun Ce into the city and held a banquet to entertain him.

Sun Ce, satiated by a feast and wine in the City Lord's Mansion, wore a look of joy and grandeur. He set down his wine glass, his eyes blazing as he glanced at Tao Ying and Wang Lang. He abruptly stood up, slamming his hands down on the table with a muffled thud. "Now that I've arrived, the city has new reinforcements, and I'm sure victory news will soon arrive from Linshui. This is the perfect opportunity. I suggest we lead our troops out immediately, take the initiative, and ruthlessly crush the Shanyue's arrogance!" His voice was firm and powerful, filled with unquestionable momentum, as if a single command from him would completely crush the Shanyue.

After hearing this, Wang Lang's face instantly became solemn. He quickly stood up, walked quickly to Sun Ce's side, clasped his hands together, and said sincerely: "General Sun, we admire your courage and heroism very much. However, the soldiers in the city have suffered from hunger for many days and are weak. Even with the supply of food and grass, they have not yet fully recovered their combat effectiveness. Moreover, when the Shanyue besieged the city, our army lost a lot of troops, and morale has not yet fully recovered. It is too risky to rush out of the city to fight at this moment." Wang Lang frowned, his eyes full of worry, and every word he said revealed his careful consideration of the situation.

Tao Ying also stood up, walked up to Sun Ce, and said anxiously: "General Sun, what Wang Shishu said is absolutely right. Although we have received reinforcements, the Shanyue are cunning. They have been operating outside the city for a long time and may have set up many ambushes. If we rush out of the city like this, it will play into their hands. I am afraid that not only will we fail to win, but the soldiers will be put in desperate situations and the entire Yong'an City will be endangered." Tao Ying's voice was filled with anxiety, and fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead. It was obvious that he was worried about going out of the city to fight.

Sun Ce listened to their dissuasion, his brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of resentment in his eyes. He paced back and forth in the hall, his steps quick and powerful, still weighing the pros and cons in his mind. After a moment, he stopped, looked at Tao Ying and Wang Lang, and sighed helplessly: "Forget it, since you two are so worried, I will hold my troops for now. I will wait until my brother Zhou Yu begins his attack on the Shanyue rear and encircles them before sending in our forces."

Wang Lang and Tao Yingjian finally persuaded Sun Ce to stop going out of the city to fight, and they both breathed a sigh of relief.

The two men were so engrossed in their success that they completely failed to notice that Sun Ce, who was feigning contemplation, had a sly glint of triumph in his eyes. Sun Ce lowered his head slightly, his lips curling up imperceptibly. That fleeting smile concealed a hidden agenda that was difficult for others to grasp.