Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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”My lord,” Chen Dao began, his voice steady but earnest. ”I am Chen Dao, a soldier who has wandered far and wide, searching for a worthy leader. Your kindness, righteousness, and dedication to the people have reached my ears, and I wish to serve you with my life. I bring with me 10,000 men, all loyal and ready to fight under your banner.”

Liu Bei regarded the kneeling man carefully. His advisors exchanged glances, some skeptical, others intrigued. Sun Guan leaned closer and whispered, ”My lord, his claim is bold. If true, his forces would be a great asset. But if this is a ploy...”

Liu Bei raised a hand to silence him. ”Let us not judge prematurely.”

He addressed Chen Dao directly. ”Rise, Sir Chen Dao. Your words are noble, and your gesture is most generous. But tell me, why now? Why choose me when there are countless other lords who seek to unify the land?”

Chen Dao stood, his expression unwavering. ”Because you are different, my lord. Others seek power for themselves, but you fight for the people. Your virtue inspires loyalty, not fear. I have seen enough chaos and greed in this land. I wish to follow a leader who stands for something greater.”

Liu Bei’s lips curled into a faint smile, his eyes scanning the room. ”Very well, Chen Dao. If your loyalty is true, I welcome you into our ranks. But know this, I value honesty and integrity above all else. Should your intentions prove false, there will be consequences.”

Chen Dao bowed again. ”You have my word, my lord. My loyalty is unwavering.”

Liu Bei nodded, signaling to his advisors. ”Ensure his men are quartered and provided for. Sun Guan, oversees the integration of his troops into our forces. Let them see that we are a family, not merely an army.”

As the meeting adjourned, Liu Bei retired to his office, where he received the letter from Guan Yu. The urgency of its contents sobered him. Turning to Ju Shou, Wang Xiu, Kuai Yue, and Kuai Liang, he laid the letter before them.

”Guan Yu and Zhang Fei face great difficulty at Lingling,” Liu Bei said, his tone grave. ”Zhou Yu’s strategies have stymied their efforts. They request reinforcements and one of you to join them. Who among you will go?”

The room fell silent for a moment before Kuai Yue stepped forward. ”My lord, I volunteer. My brother and I have long studied the art of war, and I believe my counsel can aid General Guan Yu in countering Zhou Yu’s brilliance.”

Liu Bei nodded. ”Very well, Kuai Yue. Take 50,000 men and the 10,000 men Chen Dao had brought alongside him as well, and make haste to Lingling. Time is not on our side.”

Back at Lingling, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei held a tense meeting with their officers. The situation was dire. Their failed assault had cost them dearly, and Zhou Yu’s defenses remained unyielding.

”We cannot sit idle,” Zhang Fei growled, slamming his fist on the table. ”If we don’t act, Zhou Yu will tighten his grip on the city.”

”But another frontal assault will only lead to more losses,” Guan Yu countered. ”We must bide our time until reinforcements arrive.”

As they debated, scouts reported increased activity within the Sun Clan camp. Zhou Yu was bolstering his defenses, anticipating another attack. The brothers exchanged grim looks.

”We need to hold the line until help arrives,” Guan Yu said finally. ”Our men are exhausted, but their resolve must not waver. We will defend our camp and await the arrival of our reinforcement.”

Back in Xiangyang, the air buzzed with activity as Kuai Yue, Chen Dao, and Sun Guan meticulously prepared the 60,000 troops for the journey to Lingling. It was no small task to integrate forces of such magnitude, especially with the addition of Chen Dao’s 10,000 men, who were still strangers to Liu Bei’s army.

Supplies were being inventoried and loaded onto carts, blacksmiths worked tirelessly to ensure weapons were in peak condition, and officers oversaw the distribution of provisions.

Chen Dao, eager to prove himself, moved through the ranks with an energy that inspired those around him. He personally inspected the formation drills, corrected mistakes, and ensured that discipline was maintained. His voice carried over the bustling camp, commanding attention without a hint of arrogance.

”Remember,” Chen Dao addressed his troops, ”we are now part of something greater. Follow the orders given to you as if they come directly from our lord Liu Bei himself. Prove your worth not only to me but to the entire army.”

Kuai Yue, observing Chen Dao’s efforts, nodded in quiet approval. Though he had initially harbored doubts about the new general, Chen Dao’s dedication and competence were undeniable. ”He’s a natural leader,” Kuai Yue remarked to Sun Guan as they reviewed the logistical plans. ”If he continues this way, he’ll be a valuable asset.”

Sun Guan grunted in agreement. ”He’s certainly thorough. It’s rare to see someone integrate so quickly into our ranks without causing friction. I’ll admit, I’m impressed.”

Over the next two days, the preparations continued at a brisk pace. Kuai Yue oversaw the allocation of supplies, ensuring that the army would have enough food, weapons, and medical provisions for the journey and subsequent battle.

Chen Dao, true to his word, deferred to Kuai Yue and Sun Guan’s leadership, directing his men to follow their orders without question. His humility and willingness to collaborate earned him the respect of both soldiers and officers alike.

By the end of the second day, the preparations were complete. Kuai Yue called for a final meeting with Chen Dao and Sun Guan. ”The troops are ready,” he announced. ”We leave at first light. Based on our pace, it will take us one to two weeks to reach Lingling. We cannot afford delays.”

Chen Dao nodded. ”Understood, Master Kuai Yue. I will ensure my men remain disciplined and focused throughout the journey.”

Before the meeting adjourned, Kuai Yue drafted a letter to Guan Yu, informing him of their imminent departure and urging him to hold his position until reinforcements arrived. The letter was entrusted to a swift courier who departed immediately under cover of darkness, bound for Lingling.

At Lingling, inside Liu Bei’s Army encampment, Guan Yu received the messenger two days later. The letter from Kuai Yue was a welcome sight, and he read it aloud to Zhang Fei and their officers during a war council.

”They’ll be here within one to two weeks,” Guan Yu said, his voice steady but firm. ”Until then, we must focus on defense. Zhou Yu will undoubtedly try to weaken us further if he senses our hesitation.”

Zhang Fei, ever fiery, slammed his fist on the table. ”Let him try! If they come, I’ll meet them head on and send them running back to their walls!”

Guan Yu gave his brother a stern look. ”Do not underestimate Zhou Yu. His strength lies not in brute force but in strategy. If we act rashly, we’ll play right into his hands.”

The officers nodded in agreement, and the council ended with orders for heightened vigilance. Patrols were increased, fortifications were reinforced, and the soldiers were instructed to conserve their strength for the decisive battle that lay ahead.

On the road to Lingling, the march of 60,000 troops was an awe-inspiring sight. The army moved in disciplined columns, banners fluttering in the wind, their armor glinting in the sunlight. Kuai Yue rode at the head of the column alongside Chen Dao, while Sun Guan oversaw the rear guard to ensure no stragglers fell behind.

Despite the grueling pace, Chen Dao’s presence was a constant source of morale for the troops. He moved among the ranks, speaking words of encouragement and ensuring that the men remained motivated. His actions earned him admiration from both his own soldiers and those who had served Liu Bei for years.

One evening, as the army made camp, Kuai Yue called Chen Dao to his tent. Over a simple meal, the two discussed the challenges that awaited them.

”Zhou Yu is a formidable opponent,” Kuai Yue said, his tone contemplative. ”His mind is sharp, and his strategies are precise. General Guan Yu and Zhang Fei have struggled against him, not for lack of strength but because he anticipates their every move.”

Chen Dao nodded, his expression serious. ”Then we must outthink him. Strength alone will not win Lingling, we need to exploit his weaknesses and outmaneuver him just once, and the favor of the battle will turn.”

”And what do you think those weaknesses are?” Kuai Yue asked, curious to gauge Chen Dao’s insight.

Chen Dao paused, choosing his words carefully. ”Zhou Yu’s greatest strength is his ability to adapt. But that also means he relies on information to make his decisions. If we can control the flow of information from what he saw like misleading him and sowing confusion, we can disrupt his strategies.”

Kuai Yue’s eyes lit up with interest. ”An intriguing idea. We’ll discuss this further when we reach Lingling.”

Days turned into weeks, and the reinforcements finally drew close to Lingling. Scouts sent ahead confirmed that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei’s forces had held their ground, though they remained under constant pressure from Zhou Yu’s skirmish to weaken them. The sight of the approaching reinforcements brought a surge of hope to the beleaguered soldiers.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei rode out to meet Kuai Yue and Chen Dao as they arrived. The reunion was brief but filled with a renewed sense of determination.

”Brother!” Zhang Fei bellowed, his voice booming with excitement. ”It’s about time you brought reinforcements! I was starting to think we’d have to storm Lingling ourselves!”

Kuai Yue dismounted, offering a respectful bow to Guan Yu. ”My apologies for the delay, General. We made all haste to reach you.”

Chen Dao stepped forward, bowing deeply. ”General Guan Yu, General Zhang Fei, I am Chen Dao. It is an honor to stand alongside such esteemed warriors.”

Guan Yu studied Chen Dao for a moment, then nodded. ”Welcome, General Chen Dao. Master Kuai Yue had talked about you in his letters. I hope I can see your skills that Master Kuai Yue talked about in days to come.”

”I will do my best, General Guan Yu,” Chen Dao replied confidently. With the reinforcements now in place, the combined army of 180,000 men prepared for the attack to capture Lingling. Kuai Yue convened a war council that evening, laying out the strategy that would bring Zhou Yu to his knees.

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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