Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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On the other side, Cao Cao who was watching the brawl between Xu Chu and Dian Wei alongside Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai, received the news that Xiahou Yuan was wounded as he got shit by an arrow on his shoulder. ”What?! How could Miaocai get hurt?! Immediately take me to see him!” Cao Cao said the words to the soldier and immediately guided Cao Cao who was followed by Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai toward Xiahou Yuan.

Several minutes later, Cao Cao, Guo Jia, and Xi Zhicai arrived at the medical tent where they could see Xiahou Yuan being treated. Xiahou Yuan, feeling the stinging pain from his wound, looked up and saw Cao Cao approaching.

He immediately tried to stand and greet his lord, but Cao Cao quickly waved him down. ”Sit, there’s no need for such formalities, Miaocai.” Cao Cao said firmly. He then turned to the doctor. ”Is the wound fatal, doctor?”

The doctor shook his head. ”The wound is not fatal, my lord, but General Xiahou Yuan must rest for the remainder of the battle. The arrow hit his shoulder, a crucial part for him to wield his glaive and bow.”

Cao Cao’s expression softened with relief, though concern still lingered in his eyes for his cousin. ”Miaocai, you must take your rest and use all the time you need to recover. We will need you at full strength for our future plans.”

Xiahou Yuan nodded, his determination evident despite the pain he felt in his shoulder. ”I will, my lord. Don’t worry, I won’t let this stop me and I will recover as soon as possible.”

Cao Cao nodded and patted Xiahou Yuan on his other shoulder, then turned to Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai. ”We must adjust our strategy. With Miaocai out of the fight, we need to be even more vigilant. Fengxiao, what do you suggest?”

Guo Jia stepped forward, his mind already at work. ”We should strengthen our defenses and be ready for any counterattack from Lie Fan’s forces. Meanwhile, we can use this moment to regroup and devise a new plan of attack, as well as ordering General Xu Chu to stop his brawl with Dian Wei.”

Xi Zhicai added, ”And perhaps we can use this to our advantage. Lie Fan might believe he has the upper hand now, we can let him believe so until we launch our plan.”

Cao Cao nodded thoughtfully. ”Very well. Let’s proceed with caution and make sure this setback does not turn into a defeat.” He glanced back at Xiahou Yuan. ”Rest well, Miaocai. We’ll need you soon enough.”

After saying that to Xiahou Yuan, Cao Cao, along with Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai, left the medical area and returned to the command center. Upon arrival, Cao Cao swiftly issued an order for Xu Chu to end his brawl with Dian Wei and return.

While exchanging heavy blows with Dian Wei, Xu Chu heard a soldier’s urgent shout, relaying Cao Cao’s order for him. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Xu Chu launched one final, powerful strike at Dian Wei, causing him to stagger.

Taking advantage of Diam Wei’s condition, Xu Chu immediately withdrew, retreating under the protection of Cao Cao’s soldiers after picking up his giant mace.

Dian Wei after recovering himself, determined to pursue Xu Chu and was about to give chase when Huang Zhong arrived on the scene and restrained him. ”Let him go, for now, Dian Wei.” Huang Zhong advised, his voice calm yet authoritative.

With the brawl between Xu Chu and Dian Wei concluded, the second skirmish at Hulao Pass drew to a close. Both sides retreated to their respective camps, nursing their wounds and preparing for the next inevitable clash.

Lie Fan, standing at the edge of his camp, watched the enemy’s movements intently. He knew the battle was far from over, and that Cao Cao was a formidable opponent who would not be easily deterred. With resolve hardening in his heart, he turned to his advisors.

”Everyone,” Lie Fan began, ”we’ve gained a small victory today, but we must remain vigilant as we haven’t achieved what we planned. Cao Cao will strike back, and we must be ready.”

Jia Xu nodded. ”I agree, my lord. We must use this time to fortify our defenses and prepare our men for the next engagement.”

Xun You added, ”And we should consider our own counterstrategies, as well. Cao Cao is cunning and we must anticipate his moves.”

Chen Deng, Liu Ba, and Bu Zhi nodded their head in agreement with what Jia Xu and Xun You had just said, and the five of them immediately began to oversee the fortification and making strategies after receding Lie Fan’s agreement.

As night fell over Hulao Pass, the soldiers on both sides prepared for the battles yet to come, their leaders deep in thought, plotting their next moves in the high-stakes game of war.

To the north of Hulao Pass at Shangdang, Zhang He, Gao Lan, Zhang Yan, Tian Feng, and Xu You received a reply from Cao Cao. The message stated that he happily received their oath of allegiance and instructed them to keep it a secret for now.

Furthermore, Cao Cao permitted them to send their army to assist him at Hulao Pass, suggesting they sneak their forces in to attack Lie Fan’s army from behind.

Zhang He, Zhang Yan, and Gao Lan were ecstatic that Cao Cao accepted their swear of allegiance. They saw this as an opportunity to prove themselves and secure their positions within Cao Cao’s ranks. The anticipation of contributing to a pivotal victory filled them with excitement and determination.

Tian Feng and Xu You, more cautious and strategic in their thinking, immediately began to devise ways to ensure their army could move south without being detected.

They understood that secrecy was paramount, because if Lie Fan and Yuan Shao discovered their plan, the element of surprise would be lost, and their forces could be decimated or countered before reaching Cao Cao.

”First, we need to minimize the visibility of our movements,” Tian Feng began, laying out a map of the terrain between Shangdang and Hulao Pass. ”We will take the lesser-known paths through the mountains and forests. This will slow us down, but it will also reduce the risk of detection.”

Xu You nodded, adding, ”We should also send out scouts ahead of the main force to ensure the way is clear and to divert any enemy patrols. Additionally, we must coordinate with Lord Cao Cao to time our arrival with his next major assault. This way, our attack will catch Lie Fan off guard when his attention is divided.”

Zhang He, eager to contribute, suggested, ”We can use decoys to mislead Yuan Shao’s agents. If they believe we are fortifying our position in Shangdang and Jinyang, he wouldn’t know of our plan to head south and Lie Fan wouldn’t suspect anything.”

With their plan taking shape, the group worked late into the night, refining their strategies and making preparations. Orders were quietly passed down the ranks, and troops began to assemble in designated areas, their movements shrouded in secrecy.

Meanwhile, at Hulao Pass, Lie Fan’s camp was a hive of activity. Soldiers reinforced fortifications and prepared their weapons, while scouts patrolled the surrounding area, ever watchful for signs of enemy movement.

Jia Xu and Xun You, along with Chen Deng, Liu Ba, and Bu Zhi, gathered around a large table strewn with maps and reports. ”Cao Cao will likely attempt a surprise maneuver,” Jia Xu observed. ”We must anticipate his tactics and prepare our defenses accordingly.”

Bu Zhi proposed, ”We should establish a series of lookout points around our camp. Any unusual activity should be reported immediately. We cannot afford to be taken by surprise.”

Chen Deng, analyzing the map, added, ”We should also strengthen our flanks and rear defenses. If Cao Cao sends an army through the Yellow River and attempts to encircle us, we need to be ready to repel him from all sides.”

By the early hours of the morning, In Shangdang, Zhang He, Gao Lan, Zhang Yan, Tian Feng, and Xu You’s forces began their stealthy march southwest, their movements concealed by the darkness and the natural cover of the terrain.

Tian Feng and Xu You had planned to head toward a crossing port between Hongnong and Shangdang, where they would board ships to travel toward a crossing port near Puyang, just north of Chenliu.

From there, they intended to march toward Hulao Pass using an alternative route, avoiding the main roads to elude Lie Fan’s patrols in the central plains.

As they moved silently through the night, their steps muffled by the dense foliage and the whisper of the wind, the Oriole agents in Shangdang took note of the unusual activity.

Trained to detect and investigate suspicious movements, the agents observed the discreet gathering of troops and the hushed preparations with growing concern. Their leader, an astute and vigilant operative, quickly deduced that something significant was afoot.

The Oriole agents meticulously tracked the movements of Zhang He and his companions, blending into the shadows and utilizing their intimate knowledge of the terrain to stay undetected.

Their suspicions were confirmed when they overheard snippets of conversation revealing the plan to aid Cao Cao by launching a surprise attack on Lie Fan’s forces from the rear.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Oriole agents wasted no time. They dispatched swift messengers to Hulao Pass, carrying urgent missives detailing the enemy’s plans. The messengers rode through the night, pushing their horses to the limit to ensure the critical information reached Lie Fan and Jia Xu in time.

At Hulao Pass, Lie Fan and his advisors were in the midst of finalizing their defensive preparations. The camp buzzed with activity as soldiers reinforced fortifications and prepared for the anticipated clash. Lie Fan, standing with his advisors, studied the map intently, considering various scenarios and contingencies.

Suddenly, the oriole agent burst into the command tent, breathless and covered in dust from the hard ride. ”My lord, urgent news from Shangdang!” he exclaimed, handing over the sealed message.

Jia Xu quickly broke the seal and scanned the contents, his expression growing grim. ”My lord, it appears that Cao Cao has orchestrated a plan to flank us with reinforcements from Shangdang. Zhang He, Gao Lan, Zhang Yan, Tian Feng, and Xu You are leading the forces. They plan to cross the Yellow River and approach us from the north, aiming to catch us off guard.”

Lie Fan’s eyes narrowed as he processed the information. ”So, they had decided to support Cao Cao and intended to encircle us. We cannot let them succeed. Everyone we must adjust our strategy immediately.”

Xun You nodded, already formulating a plan. ”We should send a detachment to intercept them at the crossing port near Puyang, my lord. If we can delay or disrupt their crossing, we can buy ourselves valuable time to strengthen our defenses and prepare for their arrival.”

Bu Zhi when he hears Xun You words, immediately has an idea in his mind, ”I agree with Master Xun You, I suggest that we send our navy led by Admiral Jiang Qin to intercept them and help our army there, my lord.”

Lie Fan agreed. ”Indeed. We must also increase our patrols and establish additional lookout points to ensure we are not surprised. Chen Deng, Liu Ba, and Bu Zhi, you will coordinate the reinforcement of our flanks and rear defenses. Jia Xu and Xun You, organize the interception force and inform our navy at Beihai.”

As orders were rapidly disseminated throughout the camp, the soldiers of Lie Fan’s army moved with renewed urgency. Scouts were dispatched to monitor the enemy’s movements, and a contingent of elite troops was assembled under the leadership of Taishi Ci and Ji Ling to head toward the crossing port and thwart the approaching forces.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 31 (198 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 825

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 936 (+20)

VIT: 598 (+20)

AGI: 583 (+10)

INT: 587

CHR: 96

WIS: 509

WILL: 397

ATR Points: 0