Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

At dawn, the sky was a pale pale grey, and the faint light of dawn gently cast a shadow over the earth, yet it could not dispel the tense and oppressive atmosphere of war that permeated Yong'an City. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, full of vigor and ambition, stood side by side at the forefront of the army. Behind them stood a mighty and well-organized elite division. Banners clattered in the morning breeze, and the soldiers' weapons gleamed coldly as they launched a powerful offensive against Yong'an City, determined to win.

At the same time, Ma Chao led the Shanyue troops, like a black torrent, silently arriving at the rear of Yong'an City. The Shanyue soldiers were nimble, their eyes revealing wildness and ferocity. Their familiarity with the land made their march as smooth as flat ground.

Inside Yong'an, the general stood on the city wall, gazing at the surging enemy troops outside with a heart filled with worry. Ever since Wang Lang and Tao Ying fled at night, leaving only this small force to defend the city, he knew he had become a pariah. But a lingering sense of loyalty and unwillingness in his heart made him determined to fight to the death, even if the outcome was certain to be failure, in order to secure a shred of dignity for the soldiers within the city.

Ma Chao arrived at the foot of the city and looked up at the defenders on the wall. He shouted, "Listen up, defenders on the wall! Wang Lang and Tao Ying have been captured. Yong'an City is now isolated and helpless. Your resistance is futile. It is better to surrender immediately. This will save your life and the lives of the people in the city!"

Upon hearing this, the defending general's expression froze and he responded loudly: "I have received great kindness from my lord Wang Lang. Even if I die today, I will never open the city and surrender! I will repay my lord with my death and will never do such a thing as betraying my master for glory!" After that, he slammed the spear in his hand heavily on the city wall to show his determination.

Ma Chao frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to bring Tao Ying and Wang Lang forward. Tao Ying and Wang Lang were brought to the front of the battle. They were dressed in rags and looked downcast, their former prestige long gone.

Ma Chao once again shouted to the wall, "Look carefully! This is your lord! They have already given up resistance, so why are you so stubborn? If you continue to resist, you will only die in vain and implicate the innocent people in the city!"

The commander took a closer look. The moment he saw Tao Ying and Wang Lang, his eyes suddenly became empty and his body trembled slightly. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out. Seeing his former master in such a state of disgrace was undoubtedly a heavy blow to him.

His faith began to waver. He looked at the soldiers still holding fast on the city walls, then at his former master in the battle line. The faces of the people in the city kept appearing in his mind. Finally, he sighed, slowly lowered his spear, and said weakly, "Forget it... Let's open the city..."

The city gate slowly opened with a dull thud. Ma Chao nodded slightly as he watched the scene unfold, a wave of respect rising in his heart for the defender. "This defender, despite such a desperate situation, has managed to hold out until now. He truly possesses a touch of courage." With that, he spurred his horse forward and entered Yong'an, the city that was about to change hands.

The city gates slowly opened, and Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and Ma Chao gathered in front of Yong'an City. Ma Chao, dressed in a brocade robe and with his hair neatly tied up, looked even more heroic. He strode forward with a bright smile on his face. He clapped his hands firmly on the shoulders of Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, and said in a resounding voice, "My dear brothers, I've been waiting for you to come. Thank you for all the hard work you've put in during this journey!"

Sun Ce's brows rose, his handsome face filled with joy. He patted Ma Chao's arm and replied with a smile, "Brother, you've worked so hard! You sneaked into the rear of Yong'an City without anyone noticing, cutting off the enemy's retreat. This great achievement should go to you, brother!"

Zhou Yu was graceful, a smile in his eyes: "Yes, big brother, this move was truly brilliant. It caught the enemy off guard. Bo Fu and I were able to handle it so smoothly. Otherwise, I don't know how much more trouble we would have had."

Ma Chao laughed heartily and waved his hand. "We're all family, so we shouldn't have different opinions. It was only through our concerted efforts that we were able to capture Yong'an City so easily." He cast his gaze towards the city, his expression becoming serious. "The city has been captured, but the situation within still needs to be stabilized. Comforting the civilians and resettling the surrendered enemy soldiers are both crucial matters."

Sun Ce nodded in agreement. "Brother, you are absolutely right. I will immediately dispatch soldiers to maintain order within the city and appease the people. We must not allow them to suffer from the fighting."

Zhou Yu continued, "I will handle the enemy's surrendered soldiers. I will select those who are capable and incorporate them into our ranks. I will also properly place the rest to prevent any further chaos."

Ma Chao nodded with satisfaction. "With you two taking care of things, I'm relieved. Once the city affairs are settled, let's celebrate and have a good drink!"

As the three of them spoke, they strode into Yong'an City. The sunlight shone on them, illuminating their resolute figures and foreshadowing a new chapter for this land under their governance.

Sun Ce, Zhou Yu and Ma Chao sat together, their eyes meeting from time to time as they discussed in low voices important matters concerning the direction of the battle.

Sun Ce frowned slightly, but his eyes showed fearlessness and courage. He waved his hand and said firmly: "Now that Wang Lang is under our control, why should we be afraid of the remaining counties in Wujun? I will lead my troops directly to attack them, and we will definitely be able to take them down in one fell swoop!" Although his voice was deliberately lowered, it was still difficult to conceal the heroism and domineering attitude, as if victory was already in his grasp.

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao shook his head slightly, his face thick with worry. He leaned forward and said earnestly, "Bofu, don't act rashly. Now that our identities have been exposed, the methods we used to deal with those aristocratic families are no longer appropriate. Unprovoked killing will only provoke more resistance and severely harm the people. It's not the best strategy." Ma Chao frowned, his eyes filled with earnestness, hoping that Sun Ce would reconsider.

Zhou Yu seemed to be thinking about something. After a moment, his eyes lit up and he slowly said, "I have an idea. Since Wang Lang is in our hands, he still has some influence among the aristocratic families in Wujun. Why not use his identity as a bargaining chip and make a deal with him. Let him come forward to persuade the remaining counties to surrender. As long as he is willing to cooperate, he and his family will be given a way out. In this way, we can reduce casualties and take over the counties without bloodshed. Isn't it wonderful?" Zhou Yu's eyes flashed with wisdom, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

After hearing this, Sun Ce fell into deep thought, stroking his chin as he repeatedly weighed the pros and cons. After a long pause, he raised his head, a flicker of determination in his eyes. "Gongjin, this is a brilliant plan. I'll do as you say. If Wang Lang cooperates, I'll keep my promise. If he doesn't know what's good for him, don't blame me for being rude!" Then, a chilling glint of ferocity shone in his eyes.

After the three brothers finished their discussion, they held a banquet at their mansion in the evening to celebrate their success and force Wang Lang to agree.

At night, the palace in Yong'an City was ablaze with lights and bustling with activity. In the spacious banquet hall, candles shone brightly, and the aroma of fine wine and delicious food filled the air between the carved beams and painted buildings. Generals who had made great contributions in the battle, such as Shamoke, Gan Ning, Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, Ma Chao, Cheng Pu, and Huang Gai, gathered together. Even heroes from various quarters, such as Pan Feng and Wu Anguo, were present. Everyone was filled with laughter and joy, toasting their cups and enjoying themselves.

Shamoke was a man of unyielding character. He held a large wine bowl in his hand and tilted his head back to take a large gulp of wine. The wine dripped down his chin, soaking the front of his shirt, but he didn't care. He even shouted that he wanted to compete with Gan Ning in drinking capacity. Gan Ning was also a generous man. He laughed heartily and agreed. The two of them went back and forth, drinking bowl after bowl, neither of them willing to give in. The people around them cheered and applauded.

Ma Chao sat at the head of the table, his posture erect and his spirit high, his eyes filled with the joy of victory. He stood up from time to time to toast the generals, thanking them for their bravery on the battlefield. The aroma of wine and food mixed with laughter and joy throughout the banquet hall, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

Yet, at this lively banquet, two men seemed out of place. Wang Lang and Tao Ying were invited to the table, but they sat in a corner, feeling awkward and uneasy. The laughter and chatter around them seemed like a mockery to them. They lowered their heads, not daring to meet the others' gazes. When they occasionally glanced up, they saw the triumphant faces of the victors, their hearts filled with bitterness and helplessness. Every clink of glasses, every laugh, was like a sharp blade, piercing their hearts and making them wish they could find a hole to crawl into. Tao Ying and Wang Lang, already feeling uneasy in the corner, were even more puzzled when their glances strayed towards the main seat. A young general from the Shanyue tribe sat at the main seat, his demeanor unwavering, his every move imbued with innate authority. Meanwhile, renowned figures like Sun Ce and Zhou Yu sat beside them, treating them with the utmost respect.

Tao Ying couldn't help but touch Wang Lang and whispered, "What's going on? What qualifications does that young man have to sit in the main seat?" Wang Lang also looked confused and shook his head slightly.

Ma Chao strode to the center of the banquet hall and shouted with full energy, "Everyone, please pause!" The previously boisterous and cheerful room suddenly fell silent. The laughter and chatter ceased, and everyone turned their attention to Ma Chao. The generals who had been toasting and drinking put down their cups. The hushed chatter faded, leaving only the gentle crackling of burning candles. Everyone straightened their backs, their expressions solemn and serious, waiting quietly for Ma Chao's next words. The atmosphere was filled with a solemnity.

Ma Chao signaled Sun Ce to speak. Sun Ce's voice was low but carried undeniable authority: "Wang Lang!"

All eyes at the banquet turned to Wang Lang. In an instant, they were like spotlights, stinging him with a tingling sensation. Wang Lang shuddered with fear, nearly dropping his glass. He hurriedly said, "Yes... yes." His voice was hurried and trembling, filled with unconcealed panic. He hunched his back slightly, his hands unconsciously clutching the corners of his clothes. He forced a smile, uglier than crying, and looked away, not daring to meet anyone's gaze, praying that this "obsession" would soon end.

Sun Ce smiled with satisfaction and continued, "You can see the situation clearly now. You are under my control. The ownership of the remaining counties in Wujun depends entirely on your decision. As long as you come forward to persuade them to surrender, I will guarantee your life."

Zhou Yu then spoke in a gentle voice, "Lord, this is your only chance of survival. If we can end this conflict without bloodshed, we can avoid further casualties and also accumulate merit for you." Then, changing the subject, Zhou Yu fixed Wang Lang with a sharp gaze, "But if you insist on refusing to cooperate, you should understand the consequences."

Wang Lang lowered his head, his hands trembling slightly as he silently groaned. He knew his current situation well: a fish on the chopping block, powerless to resist. After a moment's silence, he slowly raised his head, a pleading glint in his eyes. "General Sun, General Zhou, I will do as you ask, but I have a request. I am willing to withdraw from all this fighting and no longer interfere in military or political affairs. I only ask that you allow my family to return to Xuzhou and live out their lives in peace."

Upon hearing this, Sun Ce didn't respond immediately, but instead turned his gaze to Ma Chao. Ma Chao paused, quickly weighing the pros and cons in his mind. After a moment, he nodded gently. After receiving Ma Chao's response, Sun Ce turned his head and looked at Wang Lang, his tone firm: "Okay, I promise you. If you can successfully persuade them to surrender, I will keep my promise and escort your family safely to Xuzhou."

Wang Lang breathed a sigh of relief, tears welling in his eyes. He bowed and said, "Thank you very much. I will do my best."