Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!

Go to https://www.patreon.com/Tang12

___________________________

In Wan, Zhang Chao and Zang Feng received news of the approaching Qilin Army. Preparations quickened. The Xuanwu Army drilled day and night, its veterans ready to act as both vanguard and anvil. Zhang Chao stood atop the battlements, watching the smoke trails of the distant army campfires. ”The time have come to end that two faced Liu Bei once and for all,” he said.

Zang Feng, standing beside him, nodded as his eyes narrowed as he stared into the distance. ””Liu Bei has been like an insect,” he said bitterly. ”Hard to crush, adaptable, and always crawling out from under the rubble. But this time, we strike fast and leave no chance for him to slither away.”

The Xuanwu Army moved like a coiled serpent, its veteran ranks drilling with precision day and night. They were to act as both vanguard and anvil, an immovable wall of iron to hold the enemy in place while Lie Fan brought the hammer down.

And far ahead, in Xinye, silence reigned in Xinye governor’s office.

Liu Qi sat alone in his study, the faint scent of rain still lingering in the air. The lacquered box on his desk held the letter that he received anonymously, a document that bore truths too heavy to ignore. Fu Xun’s warnings echoed in his mind like a persistent drumbeat, and the shadows of betrayal cast long and dark.

Scrolls and official documents lay strewn across his desk, but Liu Qi lacked the will to touch them. The burden of command weighed more than ever before. The trust he once held for Liu Bei was shattered, replaced by a gnawing uncertainty.

After a long pause, he stood and gently closed the letter, placing it with care into the lacquered box. There was no turning back now.

”Summon Fu Xun,” he ordered the steward, his voice hoarse but resolute.

Fu Xun arrived promptly, eyes searching Liu Qi’s face. The young mand turned to him, meeting his gaze with firm determination.

”Draft a letter,” he said finally. ”To Lie Fan. Requesting an audience when his army arrived several kilometers outside of Xinye. Confidential meeting.”

Fu Xun’s breath caught in his throat. Then he bowed, hands shaking not with fear, but with the catharsis of hope finally realized. ”At once, my lord.” he said, bowing deeply.

Manwhile in Luoyang, the heart of Cao Cao’s domain, thundered with urgent footsteps as the court was summoned. The news had spread like wildfire, Lie Fan’s armies were massing at the eastern border, their movements deliberate, their presence an unmistakable show of force.

The grand palace, a sprawling testament to power and order of the continuously declining Han Dynasty, now played host to an emergency meeting of war. Within the main hall, the key generals and strategists of Cao Cao gathered.

Cao Cao himself was at the head of the hall, sat upon his dais, fingers steepled beneath his chin, his sharp eyes, always reading ten steps ahead, swept across the faces of those gathered.

His three advisors Xun Yu, Xi Zhicai, and Cheng Yu. Alongside his generals Cao Ren, Xiahou Yuan, Yu Jin, Yue Jin, Xu Chu, Cao Hong,and Cao Ang. Their faces grim as they assembled before Cao Cao, and Cao Cao raised a hand, commanding silence.

”Explain to me,” Cao Cao began, his voice deceptively calm, ”how we did not see this coming. Three army groups, mobilized without warning, now breathing down our necks. A show of force, yes but one that we cannot afford to ignore.”

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.

”At the same time, the Ma Clan as you all know had rebelled in the northwest. I have dispatched 250,000 men to suppress them, Xiahou Dun, Xu Huang, Zhang He lead them, with Guo Jia and Jia Kui offering counsel. That leaves us vulnerable should Lie Fan choose to strike.”

No one dared to meet his gaze directly.

Xun Yu was the first to step forward, his usual composure unshaken. ”My lord, this is no mere coincidence. The timing is too precise. The Ma Clan rebels in the northwest, and suddenly Lie Fan’s forces appear in the east? This is orchestrated.”

Cao Cao’s eyes narrowed. ”You believe they are in league?”

Xun Yu nodded. ”An alliance of convenience my lord, nothing more. The Ma Clan’s rebellion draws our forces westward, thinning our defenses. Lie Fan’s show of force in the east is meant to keep us pinned, to prevent us from reinforcing elsewhere.”

Xi Zhicai, nodded in agreement, stepped forward next. ”But here is the curious thing, if Lie Fan truly intended to strike us, he would have done so already, my lord. The moment the Ma Clan rose up, he could have launched a full assault. Yet instead, his armies linger at the border, making no aggressive moves. Why?”

Cao Cao leaned forward. ”You think this is a feint?”

Xi Zhicai’s lips curled slightly. ”I think Lie Fan has another target in mind. One that benefits him far more than engaging us directly.”

Cheng Yu frowned. ”Liu Bei?” The name hung in the air like a blade unsheathed.

Xun Yu inclined his head. ”Precisely. Lie Fan has no love for Liu Bei. And with our forces divided between suppressing the Ma Clan and guarding against his eastern threat, we cannot interfere if he moves against Jingzhou.”

Cao Cao’s expression shifted, the pieces falling into place. It made sense. Too much sense. Lie Fan was playing them all. His lips twisted into a grim smile. ”Clever. Very clever.”

”So he intends to strike Liu Bei,” he continued. ”And with our focus on the northwest, he believes we will not move to stop him.”

”It’s a clever maneuver, my lord,” said Cao Ren. ”He shows strength here to divert our attention while attacking where no one expects.”

Xiahou Yuan added, ”We must tread carefully, my lord. If Liu Bei falls, Lie Fan will gain not just land, but greater prestige among the people and his influence will increase.”

Yu Jin’s fists clenched. ”If we act too slowly, we may be dealing with a far stronger rival than before, my lord.”

Cao Cao nodded, then turned to Cao Ang. ”Prepare scouts. I want confirmation of Lie Fan’s troop movements. Find out if his main army has moved toward Xinye.”

”At once, Father,” Cao Ang replied.

Cao Cao turned back to his advisors. ”And what of our own response? Should we mobilize another force?”

Cheng Yu shook his head. ”Dividing our forces again would be dangerous, my lord. The Ma Clan is a formidable enemy, and Guo Jia’s reports suggest that they are well organized than he imagined.”

”Then,” said Cao Cao, eyes narrowing, ”we let Lie Fan make his move. We will not act until we know his intentions for certain. But we will be ready.”

On the other hand, Lie Fan rode at the head of his army, the banners of the Qilin fluttering in the wind. Zhuge Liang rode beside him, his fan flicking idly as he surveyed the terrain.

”My lord,” he murmured, ”Cao Cao will surely. realized our ploy by now.”

Lie Fan smiled hearing that. ”Let him. By the time he reacts, it will be too late. He still need to suppress Ma Clan first.”

Pang Tong chuckled from his other side. ”Liu Bei won’t know what hit him until it’s to late, my lord.”

Xu Shu, who was silent, simply nodded. Showing his agreement to Pang Tong words.

After that, around two weeks passed in swift yet tense motion. The cold winds of early autumn brushed against the fluttering banners of the Qilin Army as they arrived at the walls of Wan.

The city gates were already opened wide in welcome, and atop the stone ramparts stood Zhang Chao and Zang Feng with their Xuanwu Army, disciplined, stoic, and prepared.

Lie Fan rode at the head of his column, his armor gleaming in the afternoon sun, the Qilin standard flapping behind him like the herald of destiny itself. Zhang Chao and Zang Feng descended to greet him, clasping forearms in respect and unity.

”Welcome to Wan, my lord,” Zhang Chao said, his voice loud and firm. ”The Xuanwu Army stands ready to march.”

Lie Fan wasted no time on pleasantries. ”Good. We don’t rest. We march for Xinye now.”

Zang Feng nodded approvingly. ”Then we’ll follow your lead, my lord.”

The combined might of the Qilin and Xuanwu Armies moved like a tide of iron and discipline across the land. Thousands strong, banners flying, armor gleaming, the earth trembled beneath their boots. Villagers watched in awe from the roadside, and birds scattered into the skies as the two armies rolled ever closer to their prize, Xinye.

By the time they reached the outskirts, barely several kilometers from the city proper, the sun had begun to dip westward, casting long golden shadows across the rolling hills. It was then that a lone rider appeared on the horizon, a solitary figure galloping fast toward the marching columns. The tension was instant.

Archers drew their bows. Spearmen lowered their weapons. Swords rang from their scabbards. The entire column shifted like a beast waking from slumber.

”HOLD!” shouted Zhao Yun, riding ahead and signaling restraint.

The lone rider, eyes wide and sweat-drenched, quickly raised a white flag above his head and shouted with all his breath, ”I bear a message! A letter! From Governor Liu Qi of Xinye! It is for Lord Lie Fan!”

Lie Fan, having already trotted to the front with his personal guard, raised a hand. ”Bring it to me.”

One of his men spurred his horse forward, intercepting the rider and taking the sealed scroll from his hands. The messenger remained still, his posture rigid with nervous energy as the soldier returned to Lie Fan’s side.

With deliberate slowness, Lie Fan broke the seal and unfurled the parchment. His eyes scanned the contents, and then a smile. Small, subtle, but unmistakable.

”To Lord Lie Fan,

I write to you with the weight of my city upon my shoulders. The winds have changed, and I see now what I refused to before. Liu Bei... is not who I once believed he was. I request a confidential audience. No more intermediaries. No more pretense. Let us meet as leaders. I would speak to you of surrender and of bringing Xinye with me.

Liu Qi, Governor of Xinye.”

The cracks had become fractures. Liu Bei’s house of cards was finally tumbling. Lie Fan rolled the scroll back up and turned to the messenger.

”Return to your master. Tell Governor Liu Qi I accept. We shall meet in a secluded area outside the city, no soldiers, no deception. I will come with only a few trusted men”

The rider, clearly relieved, bowed deeply from his saddle. ”At once, my lord!” he said, then wheeled his horse around and galloped back toward Xinye.

Lie Fan, still mounted, turned to his generals. ”Halt the army. Set camp here. No one moves until I return.”

He then gestured to Zhao Yun, who had been riding silently nearby, ever vigilant. ”Zilong, you ride with me.” Zhao Yun nodded at once, already prepared.

”Kongming,” Lie Fan added, turning to the scholar who stood serene as always, fan tapping his chin thoughtfully, ”you’re coming as well. This is a political matter as much as a military one.” Zhuge Liang smiled faintly. ”A dragon and a fox may build an empire together, my lord. Let us see if Liu Qi prefers wings or claws.”

______________________________

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