Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Sun Ce's arrival seemed to be to assist Tao Ying and his men in defending the city, but he actually had other plans. All of this was the result of Zhou Yu's ingenious planning.

Since the Shanyue army laid siege to the city, Tao Ying and Wang Lang had held their ground. The Xuzhou army had always been adept at defending the city, like trapped beasts within their shells, unmoved by the enemy's cries and provocations. Zhou Yu knew that a forced attack would inevitably result in heavy casualties among his own troops, a loss that would outweigh the gains.

At this moment, they intercepted Tao Ying and Wang Lang's spies seeking help and obtained the crucial letter. Zhou Yu read it over and over again, replaying the battle situation in his mind, and a brilliant plan came into being to turn the tide of the battle.

He first arranged for Sun Ce to dispatch troops from Gu County, under the pretext of rescuing Tao Ying and Wang Lang, and marched towards Yong'an City with great fanfare. Simultaneously, he had Ma Chao feign defeat by Tao Ying and his men in front of Wucheng County, creating the illusion of a vulnerable enemy force, thus allowing Tao Ying and Wang Lang to relax their guard and feel at ease.

Sun Ce also lied to Tao Ying and Wang Lang, claiming he had arranged for Zhou Yu to dispatch troops from Wujun County to attack Linshui, creating a pincer attack. In reality, Zhou Yu had no need to dispatch troops; the entire operation was simply a carefully orchestrated stunt. Zhou Yu was already in the Shanyue camp, concealing his identity and posing as a Shanyue general. Now, he simply retreated behind the Shanyue army to create the illusion that Sun Ce was leading his troops, collaborating with the Shanyue from within.

This series of interlocking strategies had a single purpose: to trick Wang Lang and Tao Ying out of the city for a decisive battle. After all, there were still 40,000 to 50,000 Xuzhou troops stationed in the city. A forced attack would have cost Zhou Yu countless lives. Once Tao Ying and Wang Lang left the city, Sun Ce could act as a coherent force, joining the Shanyue forces outside to attack from both sides. This would make it practically impossible for Tao Ying and Wang Lang to remain undefeated.

Following his prior agreement with Zhou Yu, Sun Ce leisurely set up camp in Yong'an. Initially, Wang Lang and Tao Ying remained vigilant. Sun Ce's intentions were unpredictable, and they dared not slack off, secretly monitoring Sun Ce's army's every move daily.

During the first few days, Sun Ce's army behaved with remarkable composure. The soldiers, strictly disciplined, refrained from causing any disturbance to the civilian population and assisted the city's defenders in strengthening fortifications and transporting supplies. Sun Ce himself met frequently with Wang Lang and Tao Ying, speaking with sincerity, discussing strategies for defeating the enemy and expressing genuine concern for the city's affairs, yet never making any unreasonable demands or ulterior motives.

Four or five days passed peacefully, with Sun Ce's forces showing no signs of unusual activity or disturbance. This calmness and low profile gradually dispelled Wang Lang and Tao Ying's doubts, earning their trust. Wang Lang and Tao Ying breathed a sigh of relief, their frayed nerves gradually relaxing. Wang Lang thought, regardless of Sun Ce's future plans, at least the city's urgent food shortage had been resolved. Furthermore, Sun Ce and his troops had behaved normally over the past few days, proving their sincere support.

At that moment, they eagerly awaited the arrival of Zhou Yu and his army. With his arrival, they would be able to encircle the Shanyue. Zhou Yu's exceptional wisdom and the extraordinary combat effectiveness of his army, combined with the ten thousand fresh troops brought by Sun Ce and the existing forces within the city, would give them the confidence to engage the Shanyue in a thrilling decisive battle, avenge their previous defeat, and finally resolve the crisis in Yong'an City.

For the past two days, the Shanyue had rarely attacked the city, and a strange tranquility reigned outside. Sun Ce, seizing the perfect opportunity, confidently addressed Wang Lang and Tao Ying, "In my opinion, the Shanyue's sudden silence must be due to Zhou Yu's imminent arrival. They sense the danger of being attacked from both sides, and therefore are hesitant to act rashly."

Upon hearing this, Wang Lang and Tao Ying's eyes lit up with hope. Tao Ying was even more excited, rubbing his hands together, eager to try: "If that's true, that's fantastic! As soon as General Zhou Yu arrives, we'll take the initiative and attack, catching the Shanyue off guard!"

Although Wang Lang was calmer than Tao Ying, he couldn't hide his excitement. He nodded and said, "General Sun is absolutely right. I've been thinking about how to defeat the enemy these past few days. Now that reinforcements are arriving, it's a good time for us to strike back."

Sun Ce looked at the two of them, feeling secretly proud in his heart, but his face remained expressionless, and he continued to incite: "That's right! We can't miss this great opportunity. When Zhou Yu arrives, we will cooperate inside and outside to let the Shanyue know how powerful we are!" Under Sun Ce's instigation, Wang Lang and Tao Ying were completely persuaded, and began to actively prepare for going out of the city to fight, summoning generals, counting troops, and inspecting weapons. The entire Yong'an City was filled with a tense and excited atmosphere before the war.

Yet, none of them noticed the occasional glint of cunning in Sun Ce's eyes. In the shadows, Sun Ce had quietly dispatched men to contact the Shanyue outside the city, informing them of the city's developments and agreeing on a time for battle. A conspiracy against Wang Lang and Tao Ying was quietly approaching, yet the two, immersed in the joy of impending victory, remained oblivious, still eagerly anticipating their so-called "victory."

Zhou Yu also began his wonderful performance. In the Shanyue camp, Zhou Yu led his troops dressed in Shanyue costumes and evacuated from the Shanyue camp in a grand manner, heading towards the distance.

On the walls of Yong'an City, Sun Ce seized the opportunity and hurried to Tao Ying and Wang Lang. His face was filled with excitement and he pointed at the retreating troops and said, "Look, you two! This must be Zhou Yu leading his troops! His actions must be a huge threat to Linshui, which is why the Shanyue people are hastily withdrawing their forces to resist Zhou Yu!"

Upon hearing this, Tao Ying and Wang Lang expressed doubt. Tao Ying's brow furrowed, his eyes filled with confusion. "General Sun, is this really the case? How could the Shanyue be mobilized so easily?" Wang Lang nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the retreating troops, a thoughtful expression on his face. "General Sun, while there is some truth in what you say, caution is advised in such a serious matter."

Sun Ce, upon seeing this, was secretly anxious, but outwardly he remained calm and assured them, "Don't worry, Zhou Yu and I have been brothers for many years, and I know his ways very well. This time, he must have acted according to his plan and caught the Shanyue off guard!"

Another day passed, and an even more shocking scene unfolded. Zhou Yu, leading his generals, had already changed back into Han Chinese armor and clothing, and aggressively pursued the Shanyue camp. Suddenly, the Shanyue camp erupted in chaos, and the soldiers fled in panic.

Seeing this, Sun Ce was secretly delighted. He ran to Tao Ying and Wang Lang again and shouted excitedly, "Look, you two! This armor clearly belongs to our army. It must be my sworn brother Zhou Yu! Now that Shanyue is in chaos, it's the perfect time for us to attack from the city!"

Tao Ying and Wang Lang watched the chaotic scene unfold before them, their doubts gradually dissipating. Tao Ying's eyes gleamed with excitement as he turned to Wang Lang and said, "Uncle, it seems General Sun's words are true. General Zhou Yu has truly arrived! We can't miss this golden opportunity!" Wang Lang, also captivated by the scene, nodded slightly. "If that's the case, then let's prepare to march out of the city!"

Just as the two were overjoyed, ready to follow Sun Ce's advice and leave the city to fight the Shanyue, they had no idea that all this was part of Zhou Yu and Sun Ce's plan. A huge crisis, like a surging tide, was quietly approaching them without any warning.

Outside the city, leaden clouds weighed heavily on the earth like a vast curtain. The air was thick with the acrid smell of blood and gunpowder, and the battlefield was a living hell. From the top of the city walls, everyone could only make out the blurry image of Zhou Yu's troops clashing with the Shanyue army in the distance. The shouts of killing pierced the clouds, each one louder than the last, each one piercing as if it were right next to them. The two sides were shadowy, and all that could be seen was a dense mass of figures moving, like surging tides crashing and surging against each other.

The Shanyue soldiers, shirtless, revealing their bronzed skin, roared savagely and wielded their swords and axes with ferocious force. Zhou Yu's troops, clad in uniform armor, stood in meticulous formation, their spears like a forest, their shields interwoven, and their coordination seamless.

The battlefield outside the city seemed shrouded in a chaotic mist, and the distant scene was hazy. Wang Lang and Tao Ying stood on the top of the city wall, their brows furrowed, their eyes fixed on the distance.

The cries of killing shattered the silence between heaven and earth, arriving in wave after wave, each deafening sound. They were the cries of a life-and-death struggle, the prelude to the collision of steel and flesh. Although the two men strained to see the battle clearly, the distance was too great, and everything became blurry.

One could only vaguely make out two columns of soldiers merging like a surging tide, igniting a chaotic battle. The figures swarmed so densely, like a swarm of ants, it was impossible to distinguish who was who. Occasionally, a cold flash of light, perhaps the reflection of weapons, flashed by, fleeting, then drowned out by the surging crowd. The roars of soldiers, the clash of weapons, and the neighing of horses blended together to form a chilling symphony of war.

"This situation is really unpredictable." Wang Lang said worriedly, his voice full of anxiety and uneasiness.

Tao Ying clenched his fists, his joints turning white from the exertion. His eyes were fixed on the battlefield, as if he wanted to see through the fog. "Yes, Uncle Shi, it's really unsettling not to be able to see the situation clearly."

As the two were talking, Sun Ce came over quickly, his face filled with excitement and eagerness. "Gentlemen, this is the perfect time for us to attack! The enemy is already locked in a melee. If we charge out, we'll surely win!"

Wang Lang and Tao Ying exchanged glances, a flicker of hesitation in their eyes. Though eager to defeat the enemy, they remained apprehensive about the situation. But under Sun Ce's repeated urging, and seeing the fleeting opportunity for battle outside the city, they finally gritted their teeth and decided to dispatch their troops.

War drums thundered as Wang Lang and Tao Ying stood on the city wall, looking down at the soldiers below with solemn expressions. They exchanged a glance, nodded slightly, and gave the order to march out.

After receiving the order, Zang Ba, Sun Guan, and Zuo Rong mounted their horses with high spirits. They turned to face the neatly arrayed Xuzhou troops behind them, raised their arms, and shouted, "Soldiers, follow us and kill the enemy!" Their voices resounded like a bell, echoing everywhere. The soldiers responded in unison, and morale instantly soared.

As the city gate slowly opened, a dull creaking sound played, as if playing a prelude to the battle. Zang Ba took the lead, rushing out of the city gate, followed closely by Sun Guan and Zuo Rong. The Xuzhou army surged out like a tidal wave, and Sun Ce led his army closely behind, rushing out of the city and toward the battlefield.