Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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Yeon Gaesomun nodded, his expression one of grim determination. ”Do it,” he ordered. ”Kang Saeng, take command of the cavalry and drive them back. Choi Minho, ensures the rest of the army remains in formation. We cannot let this attack disrupt our march.”

Kang Saeng saluted and spurred his horse toward the rear of the formation, shouting orders as he went. Choi Minho watched him go, his mind racing. He knew this was only the beginning. Lie Fan’s soldiers would continue to harass them, using the terrain to their advantage and whittling down their numbers. But he also knew that Yeon Gaesomun’s resolve was unshakable. The general would press on, no matter the cost.

Back in Gungnae, King Sansang and his council were still grappling with the enormity of the situation. The news of Yeon Gaesomun’s march had reached them, but they were powerless to stop it.

The city guards and palace garrison had been dispatched to Xiangping, but their numbers were pitifully small compared to Yeon Gaesomun’s massive army, and what’s more devastating was when they heard that some even joined Yeon Gaesomun while the rest were captured. The king sat in his throne room, his expression one of deep frustration and despair.

Mo Du and Dal Gae stood before him, their faces grim. ”Your Majesty,” Mo Du said, his voice heavy with regret, ”it seems our efforts to undermine Yeon Gaesomun’s authority have come too late. The army is already deep into Lie Fan’s territory, and there is little we can do to stop them now.”

King Sansang’s hands clenched into fists, his frustration boiling over. ”How could this have happened?” he demanded, his voice rising. ”How could Yeon Gaesomun have taken control of the army so easily? How could we have been so blind?”

Mo Du, his weathered face etched with concern, stepped forward. ”Your Majesty,” he said, his voice steady but tinged with regret, ”after some digging, I discovered that these rumors were not born of chance. Someone has been fanning the flames, deliberately stoking Yeon Gaesomun’s anger and pushing him toward rebellion. The rumors were carefully crafted, designed to exploit his pride and his loyalty to Goguryeo. They painted you as a tyrant willing to sacrifice even your most loyal man to appease a foreign power.”

Mo Du’s revelation hung heavy in the air, the weight of his words pressing down on everyone in the throne room. King Sansang’s face, already pale with frustration and despair, now contorted with a mixture of shock and anger.

His hands, clenched into fists, trembled as he processed the information. ”What did you say?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. ”Rumors? About me trying to execute Yeon Gaesomun and his family? That’s absurd! I never gave such an order, nor would I ever consider it! Who would dare spread such lies?”

King Sansang’s eyes narrowed, his mind racing. ”But who?” he asked, his voice rising. ”Who would benefit from such chaos? Who would want to see Goguryeo torn apart from within?”

It was Dal Gae who stepped forward next, his expression grim but resolute. ”Your Majesty,” he said, his voice calm but firm, ”while there may be no one within Goguryeo who would benefit from such a scheme, there is a figure outside our borders who stands to gain everything from our downfall. Lie Fan.”

The name hung in the air like a thunderclap, its implications sinking in. King Sansang’s eyes widened, his face paling as the realization struck him. ”Lie Fan,” he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. ”You think this is his doing?”

Dal Gae nodded. ”Yes, Your Majesty. Lie Fan, or more likely his representative, Sima Yi, has orchestrated this entire situation. The rumors, the manipulation of Yeon Gaesomun, and the rebellion, all serve their ultimate goal, to force you to accept their request for the establishment of the Lie Clan Supervision Bureau as soon as possible. By destabilizing Goguryeo and weakening your authority, they have positioned themselves to dictate the terms of our condition.”

King Sansang sank back into his throne, his expression one of stunned disbelief. For a moment, he was silent, his mind reeling as he pieced together the events of the past weeks.

The sudden rebellion, the mobilization of the army, the death of Jang Gidu, it all made sense now. They had been outmaneuvered at every turn, their every move anticipated and countered. ”We’ve been played,” he said finally, his voice hollow. ”Like puppets on a string, dancing to their tune.”

Mo Du stepped forward, his tone somber but not without a hint of admiration. ”Your Majesty, Lie Fan is indeed a formidable adversary. But what makes him truly dangerous is not just his own brilliance, but the talent and loyalty of those who serve him. Men like Sima Yi are given free rein to act as they see fit, and trusted completely to achieve their goals. They are not bound by the same constraints that limit us. They act swiftly, decisively, and without hesitation. It is this combination of trust, talent, and freedom that has allowed them to outmaneuver us at every turn.”

King Sansang looked up at the ceiling of the throne room, his expression one of profound resignation. ”So, there is nothing we can do,” he said quietly. ”We are like a rat caught in the coils of a snake, powerless to escape. Goguryeo is lost.”

The room fell silent, the weight of the king’s words pressing down on everyone present. Mo Du and Dal Gae exchanged a glance, their faces reflecting the same grim realization. They had fought tirelessly to protect their kingdom, but it seemed their efforts had been in vain. The storm had arrived, and Goguryeo was being swallowed whole.

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Xiangping, Yeon Gaesomun’s army had finally come to a halt. The journey had been grueling, marked by constant harassment from Lie Fan’s forces.

Ambushes, traps, and hit-and-run attacks had whittled down their numbers and sapped their morale. The once proud army of 150,000 now stood at just over 120,000, with 30,000 men either dead or too wounded to continue fighting. The soldiers were exhausted, their spirits battered by the relentless onslaught.

Yeon Gaesomun sat in his command tent, his expression one of grim determination. Across from him sat Choi Minho and Kang Saeng, with Choi Minho acting and Kang Saeng were sincere with their faces reflecting the weariness that plagued the entire army. The tent was dimly lit, the flickering light of a single oil lamp casting long shadows across the maps and reports spread out on the table.

”Report,” Yeon Gaesomun said, his voice low and steady.

Choi Minho stepped forward, his tone measured but tinged with concern. ”General, the situation is dire. Our supply lines have been cut off, and we are completely isolated. The enemy has been relentless in their attacks, using the terrain to their advantage. Our casualties are high, and morale is at an all time low. The soldiers are exhausted, and many are beginning to question the wisdom of this campaign.”

Kang Saeng nodded in agreement. ”The enemy’s tactics are brilliant,” he said, his voice filled with reluctant admiration. ”They strike quickly and disappear before we can mount a proper defense. Their commanders are clearly skilled, and they know how to exploit our weaknesses.”

Yeon Gaesomun’s jaw tightened, his frustration evident. ”Who is leading them?” he asked, his voice sharp.

Choi Minho who had been fed information by Oriole agents to influence Yeon Gaesomun, showed an expression of hesitation for a moment before answering. ”From what we’ve gathered, the attacks are being orchestrated by Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, two of Lie Fan’s most trusted strategists. They are commanding the defenses from Xiangping, and their brilliance has made it nearly impossible for us to gain the upper hand.”

Yeon Gaesomun’s eyes narrowed, his mind racing. Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong were names he had never heard before, but he whispered to himself in awe at what they had just done to him and his army.

He had underestimated Lie Fan’s men, and now he was paying the price. ”We cannot afford to falter,” he said finally, his voice firm. ”We have come too far to turn back now. We must press on, no matter the cost.”

Choi Minho and Kang Saeng exchanged a glance, their expressions a mixture of respect and concern, respect for Kang Saeng and concern for Choi Minho who doesn’t want to get caught in the crossfire.

They knew Yeon Gaesomun’s resolve was unshakable, but they also knew the reality of their situation.

As the meeting drew to a close, Yeon Gaesomun stood, his gaze sweeping across the tent. ”Prepare the men,” he said, his voice filled with quiet determination. ”We will strike at Xiangping at dawn. This is our last chance to turn the tide. For Goguryeo, for our people, we will prevail.”

Choi Minho and Kang Saeng saluted, their voices rising in unison. ”For Goguryeo and its people!”

The night before the siege was a tense one for Yeon Gaesomun’s army. The soldiers, weary from weeks of relentless marching and constant harassment by Lie Fan’s forces, were on edge.

The morale of the troops had plummeted, and whispers of doubt and fear spread through the ranks like wildfire. The once proud army of Goguryeo, which had set out with such fervor and determination, now stood on the brink of despair.

The weight of their losses, 30,000 comrades either dead or too wounded to fight, hung heavily over them. The supply lines had been cut, and the soldiers were running low on food and equipment. The road to Xiangping had been a gauntlet of ambushes, traps, and hit and run attacks, each one chipping away at their resolve.

Choi Minho and Kang Saeng knew that if they were to have any chance of success in the coming battle, they would need to lift the spirits of the men. After their meeting with Yeon Gaesomun, the two generals set to work, moving through the camp with purpose and determination.

They spoke to the soldiers, offering words of encouragement and reassurance. They reminded them of their duty to Goguryeo, of the honor and pride that came with defending their homeland. They spoke of the sacrifices they had already made and the glory that awaited them if they could push through this final trial.

But words alone were not enough. Choi Minho and Kang Saeng knew that actions spoke louder than words. They ordered the cooks to prepare a lavish meal for the soldiers, using what little remained of their supplies to ensure that every man had enough to eat.

The aroma of roasted meat and freshly baked bread filled the camp, a rare luxury after weeks of meager rations. The soldiers gathered around the fires, their faces lighting up with gratitude as they ate their fill. For a brief moment, the weight of their struggles seemed to lift, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and hope.

Choi Minho moved among the men, his presence a calming influence. He spoke to them not as a general, but as a fellow soldier, sharing stories of past battles and victories, where he saw it as a way to alleviate his guilt of betraying them.

He reminded them of the strength and resilience of the Goguryeo people, of the countless times they had overcome impossible odds. ”Tomorrow,” he said, his voice steady and confident, ”we will show the world what it means to be soldiers of Goguryeo. We will fight not just for ourselves, but for our families, our homes, and our future. Together, we will prevail.”

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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