Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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Fa Zheng exchanged a glance with Zhang Song and Meng Da before responding. ”My lord, while Cao Cao’s offer appears generous, it is likely a ruse. His true intention is to gain your trust and lower your guard, all while preparing to launch a campaign against Yi Province. He seeks to weaken you from within before striking from without.”

Zhang Song nodded, his expression grim. ”Cao Cao is a master of deception. By offering supplies and an alliance, he hopes to lull you into a false sense of security. Once you are dependent on his support, he will move to annex Yi Province under the guise of ’protection.’”

Meng Da, though less vocal, agreed with his colleagues. ”We must not fall for his ploy. However, we can use this opportunity to our advantage. By pretending to accept his offer, we can buy time to strengthen our defenses and prepare for the inevitable conflict.”

Liu Zhang’s brow furrowed as he considered their words. The idea of deceiving Cao Cao was both daunting and exhilarating. ”But how can we be sure that Cao Cao will not see through our ruse?” he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Fa Zheng’s lips curved into a faint smile. ”My lord, Cao Cao is not infallible. He is confident in his ability to manipulate others, and that confidence can be turned against him. If we play our cards right, we can lead him to believe that we are willing allies, all while preparing for his eventual betrayal.”

Zhang Song added, ”Furthermore, we have the advantage of knowing his true intentions. By feeding him false information and appearing compliant, we can manipulate him into making mistakes.”

Meng Da’s expression was one of quiet determination. ”And when the time comes, we will be ready to defend Yi Province against his forces. With proper preparation, we can turn his own schemes against him.”

Liu Zhang listened to his advisors’ counsel, his initial apprehension giving way to a sense of resolve. Though he was not a man of great ambition, he was determined to protect his people and preserve the stability of Yi Province. If Cao Cao sought to exploit him, then he would use every means at his disposal to thwart the warlord’s plans.

”Very well,” Liu Zhang said at last, his voice firm. ”We will play along with Cao Cao’s ruse, but we will do so on our own terms. Fa Zheng, Zhang Song, Meng Da, I trust you to handle this matter with the utmost discretion. Ensure that Cao Cao remains blind to our true intentions.”

The three advisors bowed in unison, their loyalty to Liu Zhang unwavering. ”Understood, my lord,” they said in unison.

As the meeting concluded, Liu Zhang leaned back in his chair, his mind racing with the possibilities. The game of deception had begun, and the stakes could not be higher.

Cao Cao’s envoy had come to Chengdu seeking to manipulate him, but Liu Zhang was determined to turn the tables. With the guidance of his trusted advisors, he would navigate the treacherous waters of politics and war, ensuring that Yi Province remained a bastion of stability in an increasingly chaotic world.

Unbeknownst to Liu Zhang, however, his advisors had their own hidden agenda. Fa Zheng, Zhang Song, and Meng Da had long been in contact with Lie Fan, their true allegiance lying not with Liu Zhang, but with the rising warlord who sought to unify the land under his own vision.

As they left the grand hall, the three advisors exchanged knowing glances, their minds already working on the next phase of their plan.

For now, they would play their roles as loyal advisors, guiding Liu Zhang in his efforts to outmaneuver Cao Cao. But when the time came, they would ensure that Yi Province fell not to Cao Cao, but to Lie Fan.

The trio of Fa Zheng, Zhang Song, and Meng Da made their way to Zhang Song’s residence after the meeting with Liu Zhang, their steps brisk and purposeful. The grand hall of Chengdu’s Governor Castle was now behind them, but the weight of the discussion lingered heavily in their minds.

Cao Cao’s envoy had thrown a wrench into their carefully laid plans, and they needed to act swiftly to ensure that Yi Province did not fall into the hands of the cunning warlord.

As they entered Zhang Song’s residence, a modest yet elegant abode befitting a man of his station, they were greeted by the quiet hum of servants going about their duties. Zhang Song dismissed them with a wave of his hand, ensuring that the three of them would have complete privacy to discuss their next steps.

Once seated in Zhang Song’s private study, the atmosphere grew tense yet focused. The room was lined with shelves of scrolls and books, a testament to Zhang Song’s scholarly nature, but the trio’s minds were far from scholarly pursuits at this moment. Fa Zheng was the first to break the silence.

”Cao Cao’s envoy has complicated matters,” Fa Zheng began, his voice low but firm. ”His arrival signals that Cao Cao is already making moves to annex Yi Province. If we are not careful, all our efforts to cultivate this land for Lord Lie Fan will be for naught.”

Zhang Song nodded, his expression grim. ”Indeed. Cao Cao is not one to make idle gestures. His offer of supplies and an alliance is a thinly veiled attempt to weaken Liu Zhang’s resolve and lay the groundwork for an invasion. We must act quickly to counter his plans.”

Meng Da, though less vocal, was no less concerned. ”Our priority must be to ensure that Yi Province does not fall into Cao Cao’s hands. But we must also consider how to advance Lord Lie Fan’s interests in the process. This is a delicate balance.”

Fa Zheng leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he formulated a plan. ”First, we must inform Lord Lie Fan of Cao Cao’s envoy’s arrival and the details of what transpired. He needs to be aware of the situation so that he can adjust his strategies accordingly. I propose we send a secret letter to him immediately.”

Zhang Song and Meng Da exchanged glances before nodding in agreement. ”A sound plan,” Zhang Song said. ”Lord Lie Fan must be kept informed. However, we should also consider that he may already be aware of Cao Cao’s maneuvers. The Oriole Agents are thorough, and it is likely they have already relayed this information to him.”

Fa Zheng acknowledged this with a nod. ”True, but it is still our duty to ensure that he receives a detailed account from us. This will also serve to reaffirm our loyalty and keep the lines of communication open.”

With that matter settled, Zhang Song proposed the next step. ”While we wait for Lord Lie Fan’s response, we should focus on strengthening our position within Yi Province. Specifically, we need to cultivate our relationships with the generals under Liu Zhang, particularly Yan Yan and Zhang Ren. They hold significant influence over the military, and their support will be crucial in the days to come.”

Meng Da’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. ”Yan Yan and Zhang Ren are respected figures, not just among the soldiers but also among the people. If we can win them over to our cause, it will make it easier to sway the rest of the generals and, ultimately, Liu Zhang himself.”

Fa Zheng nodded thoughtfully. ”Agreed. Yan Yan and Zhang Ren are key to our plans. We should arrange a meeting with them under the pretext of discussing defense strategies against Cao Cao. This will give us the opportunity to gauge their loyalties and, if possible, begin the process of converting them to Lord Lie Fan’s side.”

Zhang Song’s lips curved into a faint smile. ”It’s a risky move, but one worth taking. We’ve had success in the past with Meng Huo, who was thinking of pledging his allegiance to Lord Lie Fan after the Nanman tribes were subjugated. If we can replicate that success with Yan Yan and Zhang Ren, it will significantly strengthen our position.”

Meng Da leaned back in his chair, his expression one of quiet determination. ”The key will be to approach them subtly. We cannot afford to arouse suspicion, especially not from Liu Zhang. Our interactions with Yan Yan and Zhang Ren must appear natural and focused on the defense of Yi Province. Only then can we gradually introduce the idea of aligning with Lord Lie Fan.”

Fa Zheng agreed. ”Patience will be essential. We must build trust with them, demonstrate the benefits of aligning with Lord Lie Fan, and, when the time is right, reveal our true intentions. This will not be an easy task, but it is necessary if we are to secure Yi Province for Lord Lie Fan.”

The trio spent the next several hours refining their plan, discussing the specifics of how to approach Yan Yan and Zhang Ren, and drafting the secret letter to Lie Fan.

The letter was written in coded language, ensuring that even if it were intercepted, its true meaning would remain hidden. It detailed Cao Cao’s envoy’s arrival, Liu Zhang’s reaction, and their proposed course of action. Once completed, the letter was entrusted to a trusted courier who would ensure its safe delivery to Lie Fan.

With the letter sent, the trio turned their attention to the next phase of their plan. They arranged for a meeting with Yan Yan and Zhang Ren, using the pretext of discussing defense strategies against Cao Cao’s potential invasion. The meeting was set to take place in a few days, giving them time to prepare their arguments and ensure that everything was in place.

When the day of the meeting arrived, Fa Zheng, Zhang Song, and Meng Da made their way to the military headquarters in Chengdu, where Yan Yan and Zhang Ren were waiting.

They greeted the trio with a mixture of respect and curiosity, unsure of the purpose of the meeting but willing to hear them out.

The discussion began with a review of Yi Province’s current defenses, with Fa Zheng and Zhang Song presenting detailed analyses of potential weak points and strategies to strengthen them.

Yan Yan and Zhang Ren listened intently, their expressions thoughtful as they considered the proposals. As the conversation progressed, the trio subtly began to steer the discussion toward the broader political landscape, emphasizing the growing threat posed by Cao Cao and the need for strong leadership to counter it.

”Cao Cao is a formidable opponent,” Fa Zheng said, his tone measured but urgent. ”His ambition knows no bounds, and he will stop at nothing to expand his influence. If we are to protect Yi Province, we must be prepared to make difficult decisions.”

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains

Age: 33 (200 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