Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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Lie Fan’s grip on his halberd tightened slightly. ”It was not the heavens that brought us here, Yuan Shao. It was your choices.” His voice was calm, almost clinical. ”You had the resources, the strength, and the opportunities to unite the land. But your arrogance and indecision squandered them. Now, Zhongshan falls not because of the heavens, but because you failed to protect it.”

Yuan Shao chuckled bitterly. ”Perhaps you are right. Perhaps my ambitions outstripped my abilities. But tell me, Lie Fan, as you stand there in my hall with maybe the last of my city under your banner, do you not feel even a pang of regret? We were comrades once, if only briefly. We fought for a common cause against the chaos that plagued this land.”

Lie Fan’s eyes hardened. ”We fought side by side, yes. But you saw those alliances as tools to serve your own ends. You looked down on those who did not fit your vision of nobility, dismissing them as beneath you. And now, those you dismissed have surpassed you.”

Yuan Shao’s face twisted with a mix of anger and sorrow. He leaned forward slightly, his voice rising. ”And you think you are any different? Do you truly believe that your path is righteous, that you will not make the same mistakes? Power consumes all who seek it, Lie Fan. You may triumph today, but your turn will come. The cycle is unbreakable from the start until the end of times.”

Lie Fan did not waver. ”Perhaps it is unbreakable. But if I fall, it will not be because I allowed pride and complacency to blind me. It will not be because I betrayed the trust of those who followed me.”

The two men stared at each other, the room thick with tension. Finally, Yuan Shao leaned back on his throne, his expression one of weary resignation. ”You have won, Lie Fan. Do what you came here to do.”

Lie Fan took a step forward, his halberd glinting in the dim light. But before he could speak, Lu Lingqi interjected, her voice sharp and unwavering. ”This man has caused untold suffering through his ambition and neglect. He deserves no mercy.”

Yuan Shao’s eyes shifted to her, and a faint, bitter smile crossed his lips. ”Ah, the fierce daughter of Lu Bu. Your late father was much the same as you. Ruthless, unyielding, and yet, even he met his end. Do you truly believe you will escape the same fate as him?”

Lu Lingqi’s gaze did not falter. ”I do not fear fate, old man. I only fear leaving my duty unfulfilled to my husband and my family.”

Lie Fan raised a hand, signaling for silence. He stepped closer to Yuan Shao, his halberd lowering slightly. ”Yuan Shao, for all your faults, you were once a formidable leader leading the coalition against Dong Zhuo. You conquered and held the north together under your banner when it could have fractured entirely and caused suffering for the people. But that time has passed. Your legacy, such as it is, ends here.”

With a swift motion, Lie Fan raised his halberd and brought it down. The strike was clean, decisive. Yuan Shao slumped forward, his life extinguished in an instant. The hall was silent once more, save for the faint rustle of fabric as his lifeless body sagged against the throne.

Lie Fan turned to his soldiers, his voice firm. ”The era of Yuan Shao is over. Let this be a lesson to all who would place their ambition above the people. Secure the castle. Treat the civilians with respect. We are not here to plunder, but to restore order.”

The soldiers saluted and moved to carry out his orders. Lu Lingqi lingered for a moment, her eyes on Yuan Shao’s body. ”Do you think the rest of his sons will try to reclaim Zhongshan?” she asked.

Lie Fan’s expression darkened. ”If they do, they will meet the same fate. But for now, they are trapped. Dian Wei, Huang Zhong, Zhang Liao, and Zhao Yun will see to that.”

Outside the castle, the streets of Zhongshan were already beginning to quiet. The fires had been extinguished, and the people, though wary, were emerging from their homes. Lie Fan’s soldiers moved among them, distributing food and water, their disciplined demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos that had preceded them.

As Lie Fan and Lu Lingqi stepped out into the sunlight, the weight of their victory settled heavily upon them. Zhongshan was theirs, but the cost had been high. The city would need rebuilding, its people reassurance.

Meanwhile just like Lie Fan had just said to Lu Lingqi concerning the fate of Yuan Shao’s other sons, the air near the western gate of Zhongshan was thick with the sound of clashing steel and desperate cries.

Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, bloodied and exhausted, stood amidst their dwindling forces. They had rallied what remained of their soldiers, only around 5,000 men, to escape the ruin of their father’s legacy.

Alongside them was an entourage of 500 people consisting of their family members, advisors, officials, and their families, all hoping to flee the wrath of Lie Fan’s conquering army.

The brothers had chosen the western gate as their escape route, believing it to be the least fortified. But their hopes were dashed as they arrived to find the gate firmly held by Zhang Liao and Zhao Yun, who had anticipated their move. A contingent of Lie Fan’s troops, disciplined and resolute, blocked the path, with Zhang Liao and Zhao Yun personally leading from the front.

”Yuan Shang!” Yuan Tan shouted over the chaos, his face twisted in desperation. ”Order your men to push harder! We must break through before it’s too late!”

Yuan Shang, his armor dented and streaked with blood, scowled. ”Don’t order me around, Yuan Tan! If you hadn’t wasted time gathering these useless followers, we’d already be out of Zhongshan!”

Their argument was cut short as Zhang Liao’s voice rang out, calm but commanding. ”Yuan Tan, Yuan Shang! Surrender now, and your lives may be spared. Resist, and you will perish here like your father!”

Zhao Yun, his white armor gleaming even amid the dust and blood, stepped forward, his spear pointed at the retreating forces. ”Your troops are exhausted, your cause lost. Lay down your arms. Spare these men needless suffering.”

The brothers exchanged a glance, their pride preventing them from even considering surrender. Yuan Tan snarled, ”Never! We are the sons of Yuan Shao! We will not bow to a mere upstart like Lie Fan!”

Zhang Liao sighed, raising his glaive. ”Then you leave us no choice. Soldiers, advance!”

The battle erupted anew. Zhang Liao’s glaive cut through enemy ranks with precision, each swing leaving bodies in its wake. Zhao Yun’s spear darted like lightning, striking with unmatched speed and accuracy. Under their leadership, Lie Fan’s troops pressed forward, steadily closing the distance between themselves and Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang’s forces.

As their soldiers fell one after another, the two brothers began to panic. Yuan Shang, his eyes darting wildly, hissed under his breath, ”We won’t both make it out of here. But perhaps one of us can.” His mind raced with the possibility of using Yuan Tan as a distraction.

Unbeknownst to him, Yuan Tan was thinking the same. He turned to one of his loyal guards and whispered, ”When the time comes, leave Yuan Shang behind. His capture will buy us the time we need.”

The betrayal unfolded quickly. Yuan Shang suddenly shouted, ”Yuan Tan! Cover the left flank! I’ll rally the center!” Without waiting for a response, he withdrew his personal guard from Yuan Tan’s side, leaving him exposed to a fierce assault by Zhang Liao’s advancing troops.

Realizing what was happening, Yuan Tan roared in anger. ”You coward! Do you think you can sacrifice me and escape? Think again!” He ordered his remaining men to press forward, veering away from Yuan Shang’s position in an attempt to create his own opening.

The chaos deepened as the brothers’ forces splintered. Zhang Liao, sensing the disarray, called out to Zhao Yun. ”Focus on dividing them further! They’re turning on each other!”

Zhao Yun nodded, his spear flashing as he drove a wedge between Yuan Tan’s and Yuan Shang’s forces. The brothers, now isolated, found themselves cornered on opposite sides of the battlefield. Their troops, demoralized by their leaders’ selfishness, began to surrender in droves.

Yuan Shang, realizing his betrayal had failed, snarled in frustration. He turned his horse toward the gate, hoping to rally what few soldiers remained loyal to him. But Zhao Yun intercepted him, his spear thrusting forward with blinding speed. Yuan Shang barely deflected the blow, his horse rearing in panic.

”Yuan Shang!” Zhao Yun called out, his voice steady. ”Surrender now. This is your last chance.”

Yuan Shang gritted his teeth, his pride refusing to let him yield. He charged at Zhao Yun, their weapons clashing in a brief but intense duel. Zhao Yun’s superior skill quickly became evident, and with a swift strike, he unhorsed Yuan Shang. The fallen prince scrambled to his feet, only to find Zhao Yun’s spear leveled at his throat.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Yuan Tan fought desperately against Zhang Liao. His swings were wild, fueled by rage and desperation, but Zhang Liao’s calm and calculated movements outmatched him. With a powerful sweep of his glaive, Zhang Liao disarmed Yuan Tan, sending his sword clattering to the ground.

”It’s over, Yuan Tan,” Zhang Liao said, his voice tinged with a hint of pity. ”You have no army, no escape, and no honor left.”

Yuan Tan fell to his knees, his face a mask of despair. ”Damn you... Damn you all...” he muttered, his voice breaking as realization fawned upon him that this is the end for him.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the battlefield grew silent. Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, bloodied and humiliated, were bound and brought before Zhang Liao and Zhao Yun.

The remnants of their forces had either surrendered or fled, only to be captured by Dian Wei and Huang Zhong, who had blocked the outer escape routes. Those who had hoped to slip away found themselves surrounded and subdued.

In the end, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang’s betrayal of each other had sealed their fate. The brothers, once the heirs to one of the most powerful families in the land, now sat as captives, their dreams of reclaiming Zhongshan reduced to ashes.

Zhang Liao turned to Zhao Yun, his expression somber. ”They will be taken to Lord Lie Fan. He will decide their fate.”

Zhao Yun nodded. ”Their actions led to the suffering of many. Justice must be served.”

As the captives were led away, the soldiers of Lie Fan’s army began the grim task of clearing the battlefield. The western gate, once a symbol of hope for Yuan Shao’s sons, now stood as a testament to their downfall. Back at the castle, Lie Fan and Lu Lingqi awaited the news of their capture. When Zhang Liao and Zhao Yun arrived with the prisoners, Lie Fan’s expression remained calm, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of satisfaction.

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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