Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Upon hearing this, Chen Deng's brows knitted into a deep, almost crisscross pattern. He paced slowly on the tower, a fierce internal struggle gripping him. On the one hand, Ma Chao's demands were indeed somewhat harsh, including the requirement to hold Wang Lang and Tao Ying hostage, which worried him somewhat. On the other hand, he was well aware that, given the current strength and situation within the city, continued resistance would be futile, not only failing to avert defeat but also potentially sacrificing countless lives. Furthermore, from Ma Chao and Sun Ce's perspectives, their demands were based on military and political caution and were legitimate.

After careful consideration, Chen Deng walked to the edge of the city wall again, looked at Ma Chao and Sun Ce below the city with a serious expression, raised his voice and said: "Okay, let's do as you say! But you must complete the handover quickly and don't delay. If there is any mistake, I will never let it go!" There was a hint of determination in his eyes, as if he was showing the other party his determination to stick to the bottom line.

Ma Chao and Sun Ce exchanged a glance, their understanding clear, and then responded in unison, "Great! It's settled!" And so, across the city walls and the battle lines, the two sides finally reached a consensus through shouting back and forth. Under the setting sun, the tense crisis quietly subsided, and a sense of relief permeated the air. Chen Deng then hurried back to the city and began intensively preparing for a withdrawal. Meanwhile, Ma Chao and Sun Ce immediately gathered their generals and began to lay out detailed plans for taking over the county. A transfer of power was about to begin.

Once Chen Deng confirmed Tao Ying's survival, he began organizing the evacuation. Wang Lang's family, as previously agreed, also frantically began gathering supplies. However, the evacuation was anything but smooth, dragging on for two or three days before completion. Sun Ce, growing impatient, dispatched messengers, threatening to order an attack unless a swift retreat was achieved. Chen Deng, frantic with anxiety, repeatedly paced back and forth among the troops, loudly urging them to hasten.

Finally, under the leadership of Chen Deng, Wang Lang's family and troops began to retreat. The soldiers, weary and dragging their baggage, slowly left Yangxian County. Meanwhile, Ma Chao and Sun Ce, high-spirited and vigorous, rode on majestic horses and led their troops into Yangxian County in a mighty procession.

Upon entering Yangxian County, Ma Chao and Sun Ce immediately set to work to stabilize the situation. They posted notices to appease the people, reassuring them and promising them a stable life. Though the citizens were apprehensive about this sudden change of power, they gradually reassured themselves by the new leader's strict military discipline and sincere demeanor.

After this battle, Wang Lang's influence was virtually wiped out. News spread like wildfire, and the remaining counties, upon learning that Yangxian County had been captured and Wang Lang's situation was hopeless, surrendered one after another. Ma Chao and Sun Ce took advantage of the situation by dispatching officials to various locations to take over, encountering little resistance throughout.

In just a few days, the entire Wujun region was under the control of Sun Ce and Ma Chao.

When the army reached the border between Xuzhou and Wujun, Ma Chao and Sun Ce kept their promise and released Tao Ying and Wang Lang. When Tao Ying was freed and returned to his own ranks, he was instantly overcome with resentment and anger. He glared at Sun Ce and Ma Chao and shouted, "I, Tao Ying, will remember this humiliation today. Don't be complacent. Once I have reorganized my forces, I will make you pay a heavy price!" He looked as if he was about to attack again.

Upon hearing this, Sun Ce, far from being angry, threw his head back and laughed heartily, his laughter full of disdain. He looked at Tao Ying with a tone filled with contempt: "Just come at me, Sun Ce, what do I have to fear? You think you can stand up to us?" He then laughed again, his confident attitude making it seem as if he had taken Tao Ying's harsh words as a joke.

However, while Sun Ce appeared to dismiss Tao Ying's threat, he knew deep down that he couldn't afford to take it lightly. Xuzhou was a land of complex forces, and the power behind Tao Ying was not to be underestimated. To prevent future unrest, he consulted with Ma Chao and decided to leave some elite troops garrisoned on the Xuzhou border.

Upon receiving the order, Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai quickly led their troops to camp on the border. Jiang Qin, his expression resolute and his gaze piercing, surveyed the perimeter of the camp, carefully inspecting every defensive fortification. Zhou Tai, with a composed expression, methodically arranged his soldiers' patrols, ensuring the border's defenses were impeccable. They were fully aware of the weight of their responsibility, one that hinged not only on the safety of Wu Commandery but also on the very foundation of Sun Ce and Ma Chao's grand ambitions.

After arranging border defenses, Sun Ce and Ma Chao led their army back to Wujun. Along the way, the soldiers' morale was high, and the joy of victory permeated the entire team. Meanwhile, at the border of Xuzhou, the defenders led by Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai were on high alert, constantly vigilant for any movement from the direction of Xuzhou.

Inside the Yangxian County Magistrate's Mansion, the carved beams and painted buildings were filled with the vibrant energy of a new ruler. Sun Ce, clad in a brocade robe, stood tall and straight, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze piercing the distance. He spoke first, his voice filled with lofty ambition: "Brother, now that Wu County is ours, this is the beginning of our ambition! With Wu County as our foundation, we will recruit talented individuals, and prepare our forces. Within a few years, we will surely conquer the Central Plains and claim the throne of the world!" His words were filled with high spirits, as if the world were already in his grasp.

Ma Chao sat to the side, his expression calm. After Sun Ce finished speaking, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly said, "My dear brother, you are absolutely right. The fall of Wujun is indeed a great blessing. However, in my opinion, there is a more pressing matter. The situation in Yangzhou is turbulent. Yuan Shu is acting recklessly there, and the people are suffering. Now that we have sufficient troops and morale is high, we can send troops to aid Yangzhou. If we can unite our forces and defeat Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, then peace will be restored to the world, and the revival of the Han Dynasty is just around the corner."

Sun Ce frowned slightly upon hearing this, a trace of confusion and surprise flashing across his face. He stepped forward, looked Ma Chao straight in the eye, and said, "Brother, why are you still so loyal to the Han imperial family? The current emperor is so treacherous. Have you forgotten everything he has done to you? In recent years, the Han Dynasty has declined, the country is in chaos, and the people are displaced. Why should we continue to work hard for the Han imperial family that exists in name only? Why not cast aside these constraints and focus on achieving our own hegemony!"

Ma Chao put down his teacup, his expression becoming serious. He stood up, looked out the window at the people, and said earnestly, "My dear brother, I am not blindly loyal. The Han Dynasty has been passed down for hundreds of years, and the people still have awe and hope for it in their hearts. If we can practice benevolence and righteousness in the name of revitalizing the Han Dynasty, we will surely win the hearts of the people. Moreover, people like Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao are ambitious and disregard the lives of the people for their own selfish desires. Defeating them is not only for our own future, but also for the people of the world. Only when the world is at peace can the people live and work in peace. This is our true responsibility."

The two men's eyes met in the air, and for a moment, the county magistrate's mansion fell into a brief silence.

Seeing that his eldest brother Ma Chao and second brother Sun Ce were arguing with each other and the atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense, Zhou Yu hurried forward, a warm smile on his face. He placed one hand affectionately on Sun Ce's shoulder and the other on Ma Chao's arm. He said sincerely, "Brother, stop arguing! We are sworn brothers. Even if we break bones, we are still connected. It's not worth it to ruin the relationship over such a small matter!"

Zhou Yu first looked at Sun Ce with an earnest expression, and spoke earnestly, "Second brother, your eldest brother cares deeply about the people of the world, wanting to aid Yangzhou and save them from disaster. This breadth of mind and responsibility is truly admirable. Although we aim for hegemony, at its core, isn't it also our desire to bring peace to the people of the world? Your original aspiration to serve the country and the people resonates with us."

Then, he turned to look at Ma Chao and said in a gentle voice, "Brother, my second brother has lofty ambitions, determined to carve out a name for himself in these troubled times and achieve unparalleled hegemony. This is also to gain greater ability to stabilize the four regions, protect the people, and support the Han Dynasty. Our ambitions are the same as yours, but our approaches differ slightly."

Zhou Yu released the two men and stepped between them. His expression became serious and earnest as he spoke. "We've just taken over Wu County, and we haven't yet established a firm foothold. The aristocratic families in Wu County are deeply intertwined, their power complex and intertwined. They hold vast amounts of wealth and manpower, and are vital to us. Only by appeasing them and stabilizing the county's finances can we have sufficient funds, food, and troops to support Yangzhou and realize our respective ambitions. Therefore, the top priority is to work together to govern Wu County well. This is the most important thing."

Zhou Yu's eyes sparkled as he looked at Ma Chao and Sun Ce in turn. He clasped his hands together and spoke firmly, "I firmly believe that as long as the three of us are united, there will be no obstacles we cannot overcome. We will surely accomplish something earth-shattering in these troubled times, bring prosperity to the people of the world, and restore the Han Dynasty to its former glory!"

Sun Ce and Ma Chao were momentarily stunned by Zhou Yu's heartfelt words, then burst into laughter. Sun Ce strode forward and shook Ma Chao's hand tightly, his face full of apology. "Brother, I was impulsive and spoke without restraint just now. Please don't take it personally." Ma Chao returned the handshake firmly, laughing heartily. "Bofu, I know you harbor hatred for the Han Dynasty because of Uncle Sun's death, but since we hold power, we must focus on benefiting the people. Besides, you and I are brothers, and we're all working for great things. There's nothing wrong with that."

The three of them smiled at each other, temporarily putting aside their previous differences and turning the topic to the aristocratic families in Wu County.

Speaking of the aristocratic families, Ma Chao's expression was resolute, his tone unequivocal. "Before, we could have leveraged the power of the Shanyue to uproot half of the families in these five counties. These aristocratic families have been acting tyrannically and should have been dealt with long ago." But then he changed the subject and spoke more seriously, "But the situation is different now. When you become the governor of Wu County, we can no longer use harsh measures as before. Now that Wu County is in our hands, our top priority is to appease them. We must not rush into anything and must proceed slowly. We must eventually find a foolproof solution to the problem of the aristocratic families."

Wu and Kuaiji Commanderies were strategically located in the southeast, forming Sun Ce's stronghold. Although Ma Chao had made significant contributions to Wu Commanderie, he had no desire to decentralize power, and his mind was solely focused on the well-being of his brothers.