Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Now that Wang Lang had surrendered, the long-held tensions of the war had finally come to a temporary end. Given the current situation, it seemed likely that Wu Commandery could be successfully pacified without a major battle in the near future. Upon learning of this outcome, Ma Chao, Zhou Yu, and Sun Ce finally felt a sense of relief, completely relaxed, and joined the others in a joyful feast. The atmosphere in the banquet hall was once again lively, the aroma of wine filling the air, and laughter echoing in every corner.

In the banquet hall, everyone was immersed in the joy of victory, toasting each other and enjoying a lively atmosphere. Zhou Yu, holding his wine glass, inadvertently glanced at a figure in the corner. He smiled and said to Sun Ce and Ma Chao, "Bofu, there was a young general who killed Zuo Rong on the battlefield a while ago. His skills and courage were truly extraordinary and made a deep impression on me. Can you introduce him to us?"

Sun Ce looked in the direction Zhou Yu pointed, and suddenly realized something. He said quickly, "Yes, I remember now!" Then he shouted to the young general, "Wei Yan, come here!"

The young general was startled when he heard the shout, but then he reacted and quickly stood up. He walked quickly to the three people and knelt on one knee to salute: "I obey your orders!"

Sun Ce smiled and gestured for him to stand. He introduced him to Ma Chao, "Brother, this young general is not only brave on the battlefield. When the Changsha battle was overturned, he was the one who escorted my mother and my younger siblings to Wu County. The journey was difficult, but thanks to his courage and wisdom, he brought my family safely to the destination. If it weren't for his dedication, I wouldn't be so happy today."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao's eyes filled with admiration. He looked Wei Yan up and down, noting his upright posture and a resolute look in his eyes. Ma Chao stepped forward and patted Wei Yan's shoulder. "Good boy, you're so young, yet you've accomplished so much! It's truly remarkable! I'd like to ask about your background."

Wei Yan hurriedly bowed and said in a clear voice, "In reply to the general's words, I am Wei Yan, courtesy name Wenchang, from Yiyang. Since childhood, I have been fond of martial arts and well-versed in military books and strategies. I have always wanted to make a name for myself in these troubled times and protect the country and its people. I am deeply honored to serve the general."

Ma Chao personally picked up the wine pot, filled a cup with wine, and handed it to Wei Yan: "Come, drink this cup, from now on we will be brothers fighting side by side!"

Wei Yan's hands were shaking with excitement. He took the wine glass, raised his head and drank it all in one gulp. He said in a loud voice: "Thank you, General, for your appreciation! It is the honor of my life to be valued by you generals. I will serve you all with my whole heart in the future!" The generals around him cast approving glances at him. For a moment, the atmosphere in the banquet hall became more and more tense.

Ma Chao looked at Gan Ning and Sha Mo Ke, who were drinking heartily, and raised his voice: "Stop for a moment, don't just drink! Xingba, you too, you still want to compete with Brother Sha? Can you drink better than him?" At this time, Gan Ning's face was already red, his eyes were a little blurry, and his tongue was rolling, still trying to be brave: "I... How can I drink more than you? Let's try again!"

Shamoke laughed heartily and patted the table. "Brother-in-law, if you have anything to say, just say it!" Ma Chao smiled and picked up the wine pot, filled a cup with wine, and handed it to Shamoke respectfully. "Brother, you have contributed the most to the pacification of Wujun this time. There won't be any major battles coming up, so you should rest up for now. Once we have completely pacified Wujun, I will discuss with Gongjin and Bofu about allocating several counties to you. Then you can move out of the mountains and no longer suffer in the forest all day long."

Upon hearing this, Shamoke's face lit up with joy. He waved his hand and said, "Hahaha, that's great! However, if there is a war in the future, we Shanyue men can still fight for the generals!" Ma Chao waved his hand, his expression concerned, "Alas, the previous battles suffered heavy casualties. Let's take a good rest first."

Everyone chatted with each other, and the banquet hall was filled with laughter. This happy feast lasted until late at night, and everyone dispersed with satisfaction, slightly tipsy, bringing this victory celebration banquet to a perfect end.

The army camped in Yong'an City and rested for two full days. During this time, Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, Ma Chao, and other generals gathered in their tents to repeatedly discuss future strategic deployments. Ultimately, they unanimously decided to leave Shamoke to lead the Shanyue army to garrison Yong'an City. The Shanyue men were familiar with the region's terrain and were known for their bravery in battle. Their presence would ensure the city's safety.

Considering the importance of pacifying the people and deterring them, Sun Ce left behind veteran generals Cheng Pu and Huang Gai, tasked with the resourceful Lu Su to appease the people and stabilize the situation within the city. Although Shamoke's Shanyue troops fought bravely, they had suffered heavy losses from the numerous battles and needed to retreat to the mountains for a short rest and replenishment.

With everything in place, Ma Chao, Zhou Yu, and Sun Ce led the mighty army, escorting Wang Lang and Tao Ying, toward Wucheng County. The column stretched for miles, flags waving resoundingly, the soldiers marching in steady, powerful steps, their morale high. The clatter of horses' hooves and footsteps intertwined, creating a melody of battle.

Wang Lang and Tao Ying were also caught up in the army. Although Ma Chao did not blame them harshly and specially arranged carriages to save them from the fatigue of marching, how could this heal the pain in their hearts?

The two men sat in the carriage, the cramped space like a prison, trapped in an endless state of desolation. Wang Lang stared blankly out the window at the receding scenery. The once high-spirited spirit of his time as a prefect had vanished without a trace, leaving only regret and resentment. Tao Ying slumped in the corner, his hands drooping limply at his sides, his face ashen. His former dominance on the battlefield had vanished, leaving behind only despair and desolation.

Long before setting out on his campaign, Ma Chao carefully selected his most astute and courageous officer and solemnly entrusted him with a crucial mission: to carry Wang Lang's handwritten letter to Wucheng County to persuade the enemy to surrender. Knowing the enormity of the task, the chosen officer, bearing the secret letter, leaped onto his horse and galloped off at full speed, a cloud of dust rising from his chest. The clatter of his hooves ripped through the dusty trail, and he marched day and night, never daring to slack off.

After arriving in Wucheng County, he walked to the foot of the city with his head held high and chest puffed out, shouting at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing on the city walls: "Listen up, people on the city! Lord Wang Lang has surrendered, and now the game is over. If you don't open the gate and surrender quickly, our army will surely break through Wucheng County, and then we will all be destroyed together. Don't regret it!" His words were powerful and carried unquestionable deterrent power.

Wucheng County had previously weathered numerous brutal battles, its walls scarred by arrows and a desolate scene within. The defender stood on the ramparts, his face haggard, exhausted by the days of battle, his eyes filled with fatigue and confusion. He gazed at the lone messenger beneath the city walls, a mixture of emotions. The city's forces were severely depleted, and supplies were scarce. Continuing to resist was a long shot; surrendering easily would have been unacceptable, and it was difficult to verify the sincerity of the offer.

After pondering for a long time, the garrison commander spoke slowly, his voice hoarse but with some caution: "I need to verify the authenticity of this letter, and also confirm whether Lord Wang Lang has really surrendered. You go back and tell him that we are just waiting for the army to arrive! If everything is true, I will open the city and surrender!" After hearing this, the messenger frowned slightly, then sneered, tightened the reins, and said sternly: "Okay, let's wait for the army to arrive, and don't break your promise then!" After that, he turned his horse's head and rode away in a cloud of dust.

Within half a day, the army led by Ma Chao and his men arrived outside Wucheng County. For a moment, dust billowed outside the city, and the sound of orderly footsteps and the neighing of war horses intertwined, creating an imposing scene.

The commander on the city wall watched this scene from afar, his expression solemn. He hurriedly ordered his men to bring Wang Lang closer, carefully examining him and examining the letter, not missing any details. After confirming everything, the commander looked at the army waiting outside the city, then at Wang Lang, who had already surrendered, and realized that resistance was futile.

He sighed deeply, turned around slowly, and said to the soldiers behind him with a voice that was somewhat helpless and relieved: "Open the city and surrender." The soldiers obeyed the order and slowly pulled the rope. The city gate creaked and slowly opened.

Seeing this, Ma Chao, Zhou Yu, Sun Ce, and the others rode forward, leading the way through the city gates. The city's inhabitants hid in their homes, nervously peering through the cracks in the doors. The garrison commander, accompanied by the city officials, emerged from the city walls, kneeling to greet them and bowing their heads in apology. Ma Chao, with a calm expression, soothed them, "Don't panic! As long as you remain loyal to us from now on, we will not trouble you." Thus concluded a bloodless surrender, and Wucheng County was finally under their control.

After the army entered the city, Ma Chao, Sun Ce, and Zhou Yu quickly sprang into action, prioritizing the pacification of the civilian population. Having endured a prolonged period of war and fear, the people of Wucheng County had anticipated further unrest, but unexpectedly, they were greeted with gentleness and friendliness. Soldiers methodically patrolled the city, maintaining order and strictly prohibiting any harassment of the civilian population.

Though the civilians of the city were terrified, they gradually calmed down as time passed, realizing their lives hadn't been disrupted. The aristocratic families, however, were a completely different matter. They trembled in their homes, filled with fear. They had heard of the tragic fate of the nobles in Xu Gong's territory, having previously believed it was a unilateral act of the Shanyue. Now, they were shocked to discover that the Shanyue had already allied themselves with Sun Ce. The thought of what had happened to the nobles filled them with a shudder, fearing the same fate would befall them.

Ma Chao, Sun Ce, and the others knew that now that their identities had been exposed, they could no longer act as they had before. So, while they spoke kindly to the soldiers in the city, encouraging them to serve with peace of mind and contribute to the new order, they also carefully selected talented and respected young men from aristocratic families and invited them to a banquet. The atmosphere at the banquet was harmonious, and Ma Chao, Sun Ce, and the others spoke sincerely, expressing their desire to work together to build the city.

Afterwards, they appointed some of the sons of aristocratic families to serve as local officials to assist in government affairs. These individuals were flattered and felt a great sense of responsibility, promising to contribute wholeheartedly to the stability and development of Wucheng County. Through their concerted efforts, Wucheng County gradually regained its former vitality, and social order was stabilized.

Wang Lang was defeated and captured, and Sun Ce's army captured Wucheng County without a single bloodshed. The news spread like wildfire, shocking everyone. Originally thought to be a scattered band of mountain warriors, the Shanyue were unexpectedly recruited by Sun Ce, becoming a powerful force in his quest for hegemony.

In Wucheng County, Ma Chao and Sun Ce's attitudes toward the aristocratic families unsettled these deeply rooted clans. On the one hand, they feared Sun Ce's prestige and hawkish tactics, while on the other, they expressed skepticism about the new regime's overtures for cooperation. Some clans secretly sought to maintain their once privileged position, while others considered how to actively align themselves with the new order, securing a foothold in it. Undercurrents of conflicting interest arose.

The people's reaction was quite different. Previously, they had suffered immensely from the war, living in daily fear, terrified of being displaced and their lives in danger. But upon hearing that Sun Ce's army had not only not harmed anyone but had also actively comforted the people and restored their livelihoods, the people were no longer so terrified.