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"I understand Father," Ma Chao said. "That is why we must strike where it hurts, but not where it shows. Disrupt his supply lines. Poison the loyalty of the governors he stationed in the frontier. By the time he realizes we are in open revolt, it will already be too late as we will control Wuwei, Jincheng, and Anding."
With the Ma Clan already preparing to rebel by waiting for the right moment, and the Xiongnu and Xianbei are on war, and Lie Fan's machinations inside Liu Bei's domain to weaken him, it was without a shadow of doubt the land will soon embroiled into another whirlwind of Chaos.
And maybe this chaos will be the one to decide who will the heaven and the goddess of luck tip the balance of power to.
Meanwhile back on Xiapi, Lie Fan called for his inner council of advisors to a meeting inside of the chambers in the Governor's castle, and Lie Fan was already in there waiting for his main advisors arrive.
Lie Fan sat at the head of the chamber, fingers steepled beneath his chin, eyes sharp as a hawk in wait. He had not said a word yet, his gaze fixed on the map before him.
One by one, his advisors entered, each greeted with a silent nod.
Jia Xu arrived first, his steps measured, his expression unreadable as always. Lu Su and Liu Ye followed, their scholarly demeanors belying the sharp minds beneath. Xun You entered next, then Chen Gong and Chen Qun, their presence a testament to Lie Fan's ability to gather talent from all corners of the land.
Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong came side by side, the former's fan fluttering lightly, the latter's grin sharp as a blade. Sima Yi was last to enter, his gaze already calculating, dissecting the room before he even sat.
Finally, Xu Shu stepped in, bowing slightly before taking his place.
Lie Fan stood at the head of the table, his hands clasped behind his back. "Gentlemen," he said, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of steel. "The pieces are moving. It is time we discuss what comes next."
With deliberate precision, Lie Fan outlined the past two months of subterfuge, the infiltration of Liu Bei's martial contest, Cang Xiu's rise to general, the whispers spreading through Jing Province like poison in a river. He spoke of the Kuai brothers, their growing disillusionment with Liu Bei, and how they had become unwitting allies with Cang Xiu in tearing down the facade of the so called "Benevolent Lord."
Jia Xu, already privy to much of this through his oversight of the Oriole network, was the first to respond. "A sound strategy, my lord. By dismantling Liu Bei's reputation before striking, we ensure that when the time comes, his own people will question their loyalty. The province will fall with minimal resistance."
Zhuge Liang's fan stilled. "But my lord's ambitions extend beyond mere conquest, do they not?" His eyes gleamed with understanding. "You seek not just Jing Province, but the men who serve it. Guan Yu. Zhang Fei. Ju Shou. Wang Xiu. Sun Guan. Even the new general, Liao Hua."
A murmur rippled through the room.
Sima Yi chuckled darkly. "And why stop there? The Ma Clan prepares to rebel against Cao Cao. When they do, the northern warlord will be too preoccupied to interfere in our affairs. We consolidate Jing, then watch as Cao Cao bleeds himself dry putting down Ma Teng's uprising."
Lie Fan's lips curved. "Kongming and Zhongda see clearly." He turned his gaze to the others. "This is not just about territory. It is about people. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are peerless warriors. Ju Shou is a strategist of rare insight. Wang Xiu was a good official and handling governance. Sun Guan was a loyal and capable military officer. Even Liao Hua, young as he is, has the potential to become a cornerstone of our future. I would have them all."
Xu Shu, who had been silent until now, spoke softly. "And the Kuai brothers, my lord?"
"They will come," Lie Fan said with certainty. "Once Liu Bei's hypocrisy is laid bare, they will have no choice but to seek new patronage. And we will be waiting for them to become their new patron."
The discussion then turned tactical.
Chen Gong traced a finger along the map spread across the table. "Once the rumors reach critical mass, we should have Cang Xiu orchestrate a 'discovery' my lord. Some damning evidence of Liu Bei's duplicity, perhaps hidden correspondence or ledgers showing his exploitation of the peasantry. Something undeniable."
Pang Tong grinned. "And then, just as the scandal reaches its peak, we offer the Kuai brothers and their clan a way out. A private audience with our lord, away from prying eyes."
Xun You nodded. "Timing will be crucial. The Ma Clan must revolt first, drawing Cao Cao's attention westward. Only then do we make our move on Jing."
Lie Fan's gaze swept over his advisors. "Are we all in agreement then?"
One by one, they nodded in agreement to the plan.
As the meeting drew to a close, Zhuge Liang posed one last question. "And what of Liu Bei himself, my lord?"
The room fell silent.
Lie Fan's expression hardened. "When the time comes, he will be given a choice. Swear fealty, or face execution."
No one spoke. They all knew Liu Bei would never bend the knee. And even if he wanted to bend the knee, everyone here including their lord knew, that this man was to dangerous to be left alive.
"Then it is settled for Liu Bei's life story ending," Jia Xu said quietly.
Meanwhile to the north, in the mountains, above the roaring Chagantu gorge, workers slaved under torchlight. Under Jirgal's instructions, large stone was prepared along the upper ridges, the crude fire bombs made of clay pots was set beside the valley, with line of animal fats tuned into oil being set around it to be shot with fire arrow so it explode the fire bombs.
Inside the wooden fortress, oil cauldrons were being tested by young warriors, many of whom had never wielded more than a hunting spear and hunting bow before. The scent of smoke filled the air.
Kuitou stood atop the battlements, gazing into the darkening valley below. Wuluo approached him quietly.
"They will come soon," the elder chieftain said.
"I know," Kuitou replied.
"You trust this boy Jirgal, Chanyu?" Wuluo asked, casting a sidelong glance at the engineers crawling like ants along the walls.
"He has not given me reason not to," Kuitou said. "And he fights not for glory, but for the survival of our people."
Wuluo grunted. "Good. Because when the first horn sounds, and the Xiongnu horns sounded on that horizon… it will be too late to regret trusting the wrong man."
The wind howled across the peaks, cold and biting. Below, a solitary rider galloped up the trail toward the fort, a dust trail behind him.
A scout. Coming fast. The war was about to begin.
The horn's echo thundered through the gorge like the cry of an ancient beast awakening from slumber. The scout, dust covered and breathless, rode through the gate and into the inner keep as the heavy wooden doors slammed shut behind him.
From the battlements, Kuitou could already see the horizon churning, a sea of movement, a storm of iron and leather.
The Xiongnu were here.
"Positions!" Kuitou bellowed, his voice carried by the mountain wind. All across the fortress and along the ridgelines, Xianbei warriors scrambled into place, gripping their bows, spears, and hastily forged blades with white knuckled fists.
The creak of wooden defenses groaned under tension, archers nocked their arrows, while the fire crews prepared their torches. Clay pots of crude firebombs were rolled into place beside trenches laced with animal fat and pitch, waiting to be set aflame.
Kuitou stood still for a long moment, his weathered face carved in shadow, watching the Xiongnu army descend upon them like a black tide.
He could see their standards waving in the cold wind, their chariots and cavalry kicking up dust trails, the sound of their horns drowning out even the rush of the river below. Two hundred thousand strong. An army not merely for conquest, but for annihilation.
He turned as footsteps approached behind him. Jirgal, ztill wore the grime and soot from commanding the warriors in preparing the traps. His eyes, however, were sharp, unafraid.
"They're almost here," Kuitou said without turning.
Jirgal followed his gaze, lips tight. "They're eager. But they don't know the gorge."
Kuitou narrowed his eyes at the boy. "Tell me the truth, Jirgal. What are our chances?"
Jirgal inhaled deeply, the wind tugging at his cloak. "As long as the men follow the plan and no one panics our chances are high. Very high."
"You speak with certainty," Kuitou said. "You're not afraid?"
"I'm terrified," Jirgal replied, voice calm despite the tremor in his hands. "But I'd rather die here than kneel to the Xiongnu's boots."
Kuitou cracked a grim smile. "You may yet have your wish."
Below them, the vanguard of the Xiongnu army entered the wide mouth of the gorge. Batu rode at the head, his black horse snorting steam, his armor made of expensive leathers and furs with steel. At his side was Zolgar, his two handed sword slung over his shoulder.
"They lured us," Zolgar said, squinting at the narrow cliffs.
"I know," Batu replied, his voice smooth, even amused. "A rat always scurries home to its hole. This one just has a few more spikes in it. It won't matter. We crush them with weight. The stones won't stop us."
He raised his arm, signaling the columns behind him to advance. The order was relayed down the line as drums began to beat, heavy and slow. The sound rolled like thunder.
Inside the gorge, the first wave of Xiongnu began to move forward.
Jirgal turned to the signal crew behind him and gave a single nod.
A flaming arrow soared through the sky and struck the first line of fat soaked rope laid across the valley floor.
The valley lit up in an instant.
Fire exploded outward with a roar. Clay pots ignited in waves, sending balls of flame and shards through the tightly packed ranks of the Xiongnu. Screams pierced the air as horses reared, men burned alive, and confusion swept the line. The heat rose in a sudden, blistering wave, licking at the wooden defenses.
"Now!" Jirgal shouted.
Large boulders, held in place by carefully concealed wooden braces, were released. The stones rolled with terrifying speed down the slopes and cliffs, crashing through the enemy ranks, flattening dozens in their path. Pit traps opened beneath the ground as Xiongnu soldiers pass through it as they charged blindly forward, impaling themselves on sharpened stakes.
From the fortress walls, the Xianbei unleashed a barrage of arrows. Hundreds at once, whistling through the smoke.
The Xiongnu charge faltered, slowed not by resistance, but by confusion. The gorge had become a furnace. Fire and stone and fear.
But Batu did not flinch.
He waved his sword forward. "Keep advancing! Close ranks! They cannot burn the whole valley!"
Zolgar echoed the command, roaring like a beast. "Move! Crush them!"
More and more Xiongnu surged into the gorge. The firebombs were spent, and the boulders had stopped. The battle entered its next phase.
Kuitou turned to his captains. "Archers fall back to second line! Spear groups, prepare for breach!"
The Xianbei withdrew in staggered lines, falling into pre planned fallback positions along tiered defenses, palisades behind palisades.
The first had already begun to burn, deliberately set aflame to create a wall of smoke. Batu's men broke through the initial fire line with brutal force. Their superior numbers surged against the first palisade, overwhelming the defenders with sheer momentum. The wooden wall shattered under the weight of men and horse.
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains
Age: 33 (200 AD)
Level: 16
Next Level: 462,000
Renown: 1325
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 1,121,700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 951 (+20)
VIT: 613 (+20)
AGI: 598 (+10)
INT: 617
CHR: 96
WIS: 519
WILL: 407
ATR Points: 0