Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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Every moment the rear guard held their ground was another moment for the civilians and resources to move further from danger. After hours of fighting, Zhou Yu gave the signal to retreat. Zhou Tai’s men disengaged with practiced precision, falling back in formation. Guan Yu’s forces, though victorious in the skirmish, found themselves unable to press their advantage.

By the time Zhou Yu and his forces reached Changsha, the first batches of civilians had already arrived. The city’s gates stood open, welcoming the weary travelers. Sun Clan soldiers stationed there quickly moved to assist, providing food, medical care, and shelter.

Zhou Yu dismounted, his body weary but his mind sharp. He looked out over the bustling activity in Changsha and allowed himself a moment of relief. They had succeeded. Lingling was lost, but the Sun Clan’s strength remained intact.

As Zhou Tai approached, Zhou Yu turned to him with a faint smile. ”We’ve done what we came to do. The Sun Clan lives to fight another day.”

Zhou Tai nodded. ”And when the time comes, we’ll reclaim what we’ve lost.”

Zhou Yu’s gaze hardened, determination etched into his features. ”Yes. But on our terms, not theirs.”

In Lingling, Kuai Yue’s mood darkened as he walked through the city’s ruined streets, flanked by Chen Dao and a detachment of soldiers.

The aftermath of Zhou Yu’s meticulous sabotage was evident at every turn. Walls that had once stood firm were reduced to rubble, weapon stores had been emptied or destroyed, and the granaries, key to sustaining both the troops and the local population, were burned to ashes.

Kuai Yue’s sharp mind quickly calculated the resources that would be required to restore Lingling to functionality and its former state, a fortune in gold and months, if not years, of labor.

Chen Dao, who was a perceptive man, noted Kuai Yue’s furrowed brow. ”Even in retreat, Zhou Yu’s cunning leaves its mark,” he said grimly.

Kuai Yue nodded. ”This is not just a tactical loss. Lingling’s ruin weakens our position far beyond the battlefield. The city’s infrastructure is crippled, and the trust of its people hangs by a thread. Zhou Yu has turned even our victory into a bitter defeat.”

As they approached the city’s main square, the atmosphere shifted. The tension was palpable, and the few civilians who had stayed behind watched their procession with thinly veiled hostility.

Suddenly, a rotten egg arced through the air and splattered against Kuai Yue’s armor, followed by a barrage of spoiled vegetables, trash, and angry shouts. The soldiers quickly formed a protective perimeter, shields raised to shield Kuai Yue and Chen Dao from the onslaught.

”Stand down!” Kuai Yue commanded, his voice steady but firm. ”Let me speak with them.”

The people of Lingling, their faces etched with anger and despair, did not cease their protest. One elderly man, his voice trembling with emotion, stepped forward. ”This is your doing! Liu Bei brought this war to our doorstep! First, Ju Shou’s schemes tore apart our peace, and now Zhou Yu has left us to starve due to fleeing from your army! Do you call this justice?”

Another voice joined in, a woman clutching a child to her chest. ”Our fields are burned, our stores destroyed, and now you come claiming victory? What will you feed us with? Promises?”

Kuai Yue raised his hands in a gesture of peace. ”I understand your anger,” he began, his tone measured. ”The burden you bear is great, and the cost of this war is undeniable. But I swear to you, we will rebuild Lingling. We will provide for those who have stayed and restore what has been lost.”

His words, while sincere, were met with skepticism. ”Words won’t fill our bellies,” someone muttered, and the crowd murmured in agreement.

As the commotion continued, Chen Dao bent down and picked up a discarded flyer from the ground. Its crude handwriting caught his attention, and he quickly scanned the contents. His eyes narrowed as he read, and he passed it to Kuai Yue.

”Zhou Yu’s handiwork,” Chen Dao said quietly.

Kuai Yue’s expression darkened as he read the flyer. It was a scathing indictment of Liu Bei, accusing him of betraying the tripartite agreement that had maintained peace in Lingling. It claimed that Ju Shou, acting on Liu Bei’s behalf, had conspired to provoke war with Shi Xie and the Sun Clan, painting Liu Bei as a self-serving opportunist who cared little for the suffering of the common people.

Kuai Yue folded the flyer with deliberate care, his mind racing. Zhou Yu’s strategy was clear, to sow discord among the people of Lingling and turn public opinion against Liu Bei. The crowd’s anger was not just a reaction to their immediate hardships; it was fueled by the seeds of doubt and resentment that Zhou Yu had planted.

”This is dangerous,” Kuai Yue muttered to Chen Dao. ”If the people lose faith in our leadership, Lingling will become a liability instead of an asset.”

Chen Dao nodded. ”We need to act swiftly. The people must see that we are here to support them, not exploit them. Perhaps distributing food and supplies immediately would help. Even if our resources are strained, we need to show them that Lord Liu Bei’s rule can bring stability.”

Kuai Yue considered the suggestion. ”A sound plan. But we must also counter this propaganda. Zhou Yu has left his mark, and we cannot let it linger unchallenged.”

He turned to the soldiers. ”Gather all the flyers you can find and destroy them. Spread the word that we are here to rebuild and support Lingling, not to abandon it. And prepare a public address. I will speak to the people directly.”

The soldiers nodded and dispersed to carry out their orders. As Kuai Yue and Chen Dao continued their inspection of the city, they saw more evidence of Zhou Yu’s calculated retreat.

Sabotaged wells, collapsed bridges, and traps left behind to impede any effort to reclaim the city’s functionality. Yet, despite the devastation, Kuai Yue’s resolve hardened.

”We’ll turn this to our advantage,” he said to Chen Dao. ”Zhou Yu may have left us with ruins, but the people’s anger gives us an opportunity. If we show them we can rebuild, that we care for their well-being, their loyalty will be ours. And that loyalty will be a far greater weapon than any wall or granary.”

Chen Dao nodded. ”The road ahead will be difficult, but you’re right, Master Kuai Yue. If we can win the hearts of the people, Zhou Yu’s sabotage will ultimately work against him.”

The following day, Kuai Yue stood in the main square of Lingling, now cleared of debris and repaired as best as circumstances allowed. A platform had been hastily constructed, and a crowd of civilians gathered, their expressions a mix of curiosity and lingering resentment.

Soldiers distributed food and water from the army supplies, their presence a reminder of Liu Bei’s authority but also a gesture of goodwill, one to restore their faith in Liu Bei’s rule.

Kuai Yue stepped forward, his voice carrying across the square. ”People of Lingling, I stand before you not as a conqueror, but as a servant of peace. The trials you have endured are undeniable, and the scars of this war will take time to heal. But I in the name of Lord Liu Bei promise you this, we will rebuild.”

He paused, allowing his words to settle over the crowd. ”Zhou Yu’s retreat has left us with ruins, but it has also given us a chance to start anew. Lingling will rise again, stronger and more prosperous than before. Your voices will be heard, your needs met, and your loyalty rewarded.”

The crowd remained silent for a moment, their skepticism palpable. But as Kuai Yue continued to speak, outlining concrete plans for reconstruction and promising immediate aid, the mood began to shift. The people’s anger did not dissipate entirely, but a spark of hope began to flicker.

Chen Dao watched from the sidelines, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Kuai Yue’s words were carefully chosen, but they carried the weight of genuine conviction. If anyone could navigate the treacherous path Zhou Yu had left behind, it was him.

As the assembly concluded, Kuai Yue stepped down from the platform, exhausted but determined. ”This is only the beginning,” he said to Chen Dao. ”Zhou Yu’s shadow still looms over Lingling, but we will dispel it. One step at a time.”

Chen Dao nodded, his respect for Kuai Yue growing. ”With your leadership Master Kuai Yue, Lingling will not only recover, it will thrive once again. And when the time comes, Zhou Yu will see that his efforts to undermine us were in vain.”

Kuai Yue’s gaze turned toward the horizon, where the banners of Liu Bei’s forces fluttered in the distance. ”Let Zhou Yu plot and scheme,” he said quietly. ”We will answer with resilience. And in the end, it is not cunning that will win this war, it is the strength of the people.”

The battle for Lingling had ended, and while Liu Bei was technically the victor, the price of victory had been steep. The town, once a valuable asset in the region, was now a shadow of its former self, its people disillusioned, its resources depleted, and its defenses in shambles. Zhou Yu’s retreat had not been a surrender but a calculated move to turn a victory into a bitter pill for Liu Bei and his forces to swallow.

In Xiangyang, news of the victory reached Liu Bei, and for a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to revel in the triumph. Lingling was now under his control, another piece in the puzzle of his expanding domain. The thought of increasing his influence in the south filled him with satisfaction, but the messenger’s next words drained the joy from his face.

”My lord,” the messenger continued, bowing low. ”While we have taken Lingling, it is a ruin. Zhou Yu and his forces sabotaged the granaries, wells, and key infrastructure before retreating. Kuai Yue reports that the city will require a vast sum of gold and years of labor to restore. The people are angry and distrustful, swayed by Zhou Yu’s cunning propaganda against you. Reconstruction will be a monumental task.”

Liu Bei’s expression faltered for a moment, but he quickly masked it with his usual air of benevolence. He sighed deeply, adopting the demeanor of a concerned and compassionate ruler. ”Ah, how tragic that Zhou Yu would stoop to such measures. The people of Lingling have suffered enough, and now they must endure this hardship. My heart grieves for them.”

Despite his outward display of sorrow, anger simmered beneath the surface. Liu Bei had hoped for an easy transition of power, one that would strengthen his position without requiring excessive resources. Now, he faced not only the monumental task of rebuilding Lingling but also the challenge of repairing his reputation, which Zhou Yu had so skillfully tarnished.

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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