That night, Sun Ce then ordered his remaining troops to light the usual number of campfires even though they had less troops, so as to create an illusion that his army's strength was still the same. While Wang Lang was taken by surprise, Sun Ce's forces quickly established a position across the river. Initially, Wang Lang attempted to organise a retreat and regroup his troops, so he sent Zhou Xin to hold the line against Sun Ce's attack. Sun Ce defeated and killed Zhou Xin, forcing Wang Lang to abandon his territories and escape south to Dongye by sailing along the coast. Wang Lang later surrendered to Sun Ce and spent two years in the region before returning to the Han central government in Xuchang. Sun Ce appointed himself as the Administrator of Kuaiji Commandery and recruited Yu Fan to serve under him. By 197, Sun Ce had already established a strong foothold in the Jiangdong region, so he broke ties with his former ally Yuan Shu, and planned to expand his territorial boundaries. In 198, the Han central government promoted Sun Ce to General Who Attacks Rebels (討逆將軍) and enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Wu (吳侯). In addition, Sun Ce's younger brother Sun Kuang married Cao Cao's niece, while Cao Cao's son Cao Zhang married the daughter of Sun Ben (Sun Ce's cousin). Campaign against Yan Baihu, bandits and the Shanyue When Sun Ce defeated Wang Lang, the Prime Minister Cao Cao appointed Chen Yu (陳瑀) from Haixi (southeast of present-day Guannan County, Jiangsu) the Administrator of Wu Commandery. Chen Yu secretly plotted to ally with Yan Baihu to attack Sun Ce. However, Sun Ce sent an naval detachment led by Lü Fan to launch a surprise attack against Chen Yu while he defeated Yan Baihu. Chen Yu was quickly driven out and fled to join Yuan Shao, whose territory was far away from Sun's. In 198, Yuan Shu sent a messenger to Zu Lang, a bandit leader in Danyang Commandery, promising to grant him an official post if he would oppose Sun Ce. Previously, after Liu Yao's defeat, Taishi Ci escaped to the hills around present-day Wuhu City. He appointed himself as the Administrator of Danyang Commandery and moved to Jing County, where he amassed a large number of Shanyue followers. After pacifying eastern Danyang Commandery, Sun Ce led his troops to attack Zu Lang at Lingyang