Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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”Chieftains of the Xiongnu!” Batu roared, his voice reverberating through the gathering. ”These tales of alliance with the Han are no more than Xianbei poison, intended to drive a wedge between us. They fear our unity and seek to undermine our strength. Do not let their treachery succeed! Trust your brothers, not the whispers of enemies who want to see us crumble.”

Zolgar stood beside him, nodding gravely and adding, ”We have sacrificed too much to bring our people to this point. Now is not the time to question each other, but to focus on rebuilding the Xiongnu in honor of those who fought and fell for our future.”

The speech managed to subdue some of the chieftains’ doubts, at least temporarily. Yet, the seeds of distrust had already taken root. Some were not so easily convinced and harbored quiet suspicions that the Han had, indeed, been called upon by Batu and Zolgar. Over time, these chieftains withdrew their loyalty, becoming wary, passive supporters rather than devoted allies.

Unaware of the simmering resentments, Batu and Zolgar moved to consolidate their power. They began to systematically replace dissenting chieftains with those more inclined to follow orders.

Chieftains who voiced skepticism about the rumor or showed any lack of confidence and those who withdrew their support were gradually removed from positions of influence, and replaced by loyalists who held personal debts or alliances to Batu and Zolgar.

This purge strengthened their immediate control but fractured the once-unified structure of the Xiongnu, creating divisions within the ranks and diluting the spirit of kinship that had long been the Xiongnu’s strength.

Meanwhile, back at Yuan Shao’s court, a storm was brewing. Yuan Tan’s recent failure against Cao Cao had enraged Yuan Shao. The defeat not only tarnished the Yuan Clan’s reputation but also served as a personal insult to Yuan Shao, whose ambitions had always been vast.

To lose to Cao Cao, a man he saw as a usurper and a rival, stoked a deep-seated fury within him. Yuan Shao had long been reluctant to plunge fully into warfare, preferring to savor his wealth and the luxuries that power had afforded him. But now, his pride, battered by Yuan Tan’s blunder and the incessant skirmishes along his borders, drove him to a decision that would set the northern plains ablaze.

”We will march on Luoyang!” Yuan Shao declared in the midst of his court. ”No longer will Cao Cao mock our clan’s strength. We will show him the might of the Yuan.”

The words had barely left his lips before a surge of excitement swept through the hall. Advisors like Feng Ji, Guo Tu, and Shen Pei, who had long yearned for open war, exchanged satisfied glances.

They who had been discreetly pressuring Yuan Shao’s sons, manipulating the younger generation’s ambitions to steer their lord toward a full-scale conflict. For them, Yuan Shao’s commitment to war was the fulfillment of months of strategic whispers and carefully planted suggestions for the culmination of their greed and ambition.

Among Yuan Shao’s sons, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang wore expressions of barely contained anticipation. The prospect of war offered them a chance to prove themselves.

For Yuan Tan, who bore the shame of his recent failure, it was an opportunity for redemption, a chance to earn his father’s favor again and to strengthen his claim to succeed Yuan Shao. Yuan Shang, too, saw his own path to power clearing as his father spoke of war; he knew that with glory and merit, he could contend with his brothers for the ultimate prize, the right to inherit their father’s legacy.

On the other side of the court, Yuan Xi and his father-in-law, Zhen Yi, held a more tempered view. Both men were aware of the costs of open war, particularly on the fragile economic base they had cultivated. Zhen Yi, with his extensive ties to the mercantile clans, understood the strain such a conflict would place on trade routes and resources.

Yet, after a quiet consultation with Yuan Xi, they agreed to support the war. For Yuan Xi, supporting the conflict was a pragmatic choice. He saw it as a way to remain in his father’s favor and strengthen his own influence. With the right approach, Yuan Xi hoped he could gain Yuan Shao’s recognition and perhaps secure his position as a preferred successor over his ambitious brothers.

As Yuan Shao prepared his forces, his court was awash in intrigue and ambition. Each faction jockeyed for influence, knowing that the outcome of this war would not only determine the fate of the Yuan clan but also set the stage for internal rivalries to play out.

Feng Ji, Guo Tu, and Shen Pei began drawing up strategies, pressing Yuan Shao to mobilize his vast resources and ensure that every corner of his territory contributed to the campaign. Each of them saw this as an opportunity to further their own positions and influence, hoping that by playing a prominent role in the war, they might secure lasting favor with Yuan Shao.

Across the court, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang’s rivalry simmered just beneath the surface. Yuan Tan, though stung by his previous defeat, was driven by the need to regain his honor. Yuan Shang, younger but cunning, sought to outshine his elder brother. Their mutual competition created tension in the court, and their respective followers often clashed as each son rallied his own forces and courtiers, preparing to carve out a name on the battlefield.

Even Yuan Xi and Zhen Yi, who had chosen the safer path of alignment with Yuan Shao’s war ambitions, were preparing quietly. Yuan Xi leveraged his wife’s family connections, securing trade agreements and logistical support to ensure he would stand out.

If he could prove himself invaluable in providing the resources needed for the war, he reasoned, he might earn his father’s favor without the need for reckless displays of martial skill.

As preparations accelerated, Yuan Shao’s generals moved to amass troops and gather supplies. His territory was extensive, and he commanded a formidable army, which he believed would be enough to overpower Cao Cao and capture Luoyang.

The confidence in Yuan Shao’s court was high; his followers were eager to prove their loyalty, while his sons and advisors viewed the campaign as a ladder to their ambitions.

In Shangdang, a cold wind swept through the dimly lit chamber as Tian Feng and Xu You sat in silence, staring at the orders from Yuan Shao to prepare their forces to march on Luoyang. The weight of the command felt like a curse.

They had long doubted Yuan Shao’s ability to unify the realm, and their secret allegiance to Cao Cao, a pact sealed in the shadows nearly a year prior, had only deepened their mistrust.

After exchanging a glance, Tian Feng and Xu You summoned Zhang Yan, Zhang He, and Gao Lan into a covert meeting. The five men, bound by their unspoken loyalty to Cao Cao, discussed the orders in hushed tones.

It was clear to each of them that Yuan Shao’s ambition was a liability that would endanger their lord Cao Cao if something wasn’t done. As the discussion progressed, the room filled with both tension and resolve; they knew this could be their only chance to strike a blow against Yuan Shao from within.

Xu You was the first to speak up with a plan. ”We need to inform lord Cao Cao,” he said quietly, pulling a scrap of parchment from his sleeve. ”If we act swiftly, he can be ready to intercept Yuan Shao’s forces before they reach Luoyang and work with us who stab Yuan Shao from within.”

Swiftly, he penned a letter outlining Yuan Shao’s intentions and the covert strategy his loyalists would employ against their own lord. As Xu You finished, he called for a trained messenger bird, binding the letter carefully to its leg before sending it off into the night sky, where it would journey for two days before reaching Luoyang.

With the message on its way, the five men turned to formulating their strategy. Zhang Yan suggested they poison the rations being sent to Yuan Shao’s main forces, a move that would slow the army’s progress and weaken their morale.

The others agreed, recognizing the potency of weakening an army before the battle had even begun. Zhang He, a seasoned strategist, proposed the placement of spike traps along the mountain paths Yuan Shao’s army would be forced to take, creating an additional layer of peril for their forces.

Gao Lan added a more incendiary plan, suggesting they set the dense forests along the borders alight, producing thick smoke that would obstruct the vision of Yuan Shao’s soldiers and force them to maneuver in unfamiliar terrain. With each tactic carefully detailed, they solidified their plans, preparing to execute them once Yuan Shao’s forces began their march.

Meanwhile, in Luoyang, Cao Cao presided over his court, discussing matters with his advisors when, suddenly, the messenger bird descended, landing on the armrest of his throne. Startled, Cao Cao leaned forward, untying the letter with a mix of curiosity and concern.

As he read Xu You’s report, a dark smile crept across his face; his network of hidden subjects within Yuan Shao’s ranks was more effective than he’d dared hope. He nodded to himself, his mind already racing with how he would capitalize on this advantage.

In response to Xu You’s warning, Cao Cao quietly summoned Xun Yu, Cheng Yu, and Jia Kui, his top advisors who are currently present in Luoyang. He shared the details of Yuan Shao’s impending assault and how he was informed by Xu You and the others.

The advisors, ever calculating, immediately began to draw up a defensive plan, knowing they had a chance not only to repel Yuan Shao but to shatter his influence entirely. Jia Kui, who could be said to be the best in military strategy after Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai, was particularly enthusiastic.

”This is an opportunity unlike any we’ve had before,” he said with a sly grin. ”If we position our forces strategically and allow Yuan Shao to stretch his supply lines, we can create an opening to launch a counterattack, striking at his forces from multiple fronts, especially from the back as we have Tian Feng, Xu You, and the others inside.”

Xun Yu, on the other hand, urged restraint. ”If we overcommit too early, Yuan Shao may rally. His forces are formidable and numerous, and he holds considerable influence in the north.”

Cao Cao listened thoughtfully before nodding. ”Then we shall fight with patience. Let Yuan Shao exhaust himself against our walls. We’ll lure him further and further in Luoyang, then crush him with the full might of our forces when he is weakest.”

Back in Shangdang, Tian Feng, Xu You, Zhang He, Zhang Yan, and Gao Lan moved forward with their plans. Each day, small quantities of poisoned grain were prepared into the supply caravans destined for Yuan Shao’s main force. By the time when Yuan Shao’s army realized something was amiss, hundreds even thousands of soldiers would be stricken with sickness, demoralizing the troops and throwing their ranks into disarray.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains

Age: 32 (199 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