Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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(A/N: I just found out one of my earliest readers and supporters by the name DeathGun24 made his own novel based on Dragon Age: Inquisition! The name of the novel was DAI: Becoming The Inquisitor! Just wanted to give him a shout out and also support since I know he needs all the support in making a novel, based on my own experience, of course lol!)

Messengers bearing golden scrolls, their seals stamped with the mark of the Imperial Seal, would carry the proclamation, the Mandate of Heaven had passed. The Han had long since decayed, a rotten tree hollowed from within. The Son of Heaven had turned tyrant, or puppet, and the land had suffered. At these turbulent period, a new Son of Heaven would rise, and that would be Lie Fan.

With the fall of Liu Bei and the securing of Jing Province, the only real opposition remaining was Cao Cao, as for Liu Zhang and Shi Xie they were nothing in his eyes, especially Liu Zhang, who was a puppet.

The Sun Clan and Sheng Xian, long in secret allegiance with Lie Fan, waited patiently for the moment to happen. Their true loyalty, concealed behind diplomatic courtesies and carefully worded letters, would be revealed soon.

The journey back to Xiapi was a triumphant procession. The Qilin Army marched in perfect formation, their banners fluttering in the winter wind, their armor polished to a mirror sheen.

Lie Fan rode at their head, astride his mighty warhorse Pangu, his expression calm but satisfied. The campaign had been swift, decisive, everything he had hoped for.

As the walls of Xiapi came into view, the gates swung open, and the people poured out into the streets, their cheers rising like a tidal wave.

”Lord Lie Fan! Lord Lie Fan!”

Flowers were thrown in his path. Children waved small flags bearing the Lie Clan emblem. Elders bowed deeply as he passed, their faces alight with reverence. Lie Fan acknowledged them all, raising a hand in greeting, his smile warm but measured.

At the gates of his residence, his family awaited him.

Ying Yue, as the first wife, stood at the forefront, her hands clasped before her, her dark eyes shining with quiet pride. Beside her, Diao Chan smiled, her beauty undimmed by time, her presence as captivating as ever.

Cai Wenji held a scroll in her hands, no doubt a new composition to mark his return. And then there was Lu Lingqi, her belly rounded with child, her usual fiery demeanor softened by the glow of impending motherhood.

Lie Fan dismounted and strode toward them, his heart swelling with a rare, unguarded emotion.

”I’m home,” he said simply.

Ying Yue stepped forward first, bowing slightly. ”Welcome back, husband. The children have missed you dearly.”

Diao Chan smirked. ”And so have we.”

Cai Wenji offered the scroll. ”A poem husband, for your victory.”

Lu Lingqi, still a bit brash even in pregnancy, punched him lightly on the arm. ”Took you long enough, husband.”

Lie Fan laughed, pulling her into a careful embrace and a kiss on the forehead before turning to the others. One by one, he greeted them, another kiss to Ying Yue’s forehead, a playful tug on Diao Chan’s sleeve while giving her a kiss on her forehead, and a gentle hug to Cai Wenji. Then, with a deep breath, he stepped back.

”Where are the children?”

As if summoned, a chorus of shouts erupted from inside the residence.

”Father!”

Chenchen and Yaoyao, the ten year old twins, came sprinting out, their faces alight with excitement. Behind them, the pair of six year old girls, Yanyan and Nuonuo, toddled as fast as their little legs could carry them. And in the arms of a nursemaid, the youngest, Xuanxuan, babbled happily at the commotion.

Lie Fan knelt, opening his arms wide as the children crashed into him. Chenchen and Yaoyao began talking over each other, eager to tell him everything he’d missed.

Yanyan clung to his leg, while Nuonuo poked at his armor with curious fingers. Xuanxuan, upon being placed in his arms, immediately grabbed a fistful of his hair and giggled.

For a moment, the weight of rulership faded. There was no empire to build, no enemies to outmaneuver, just his family, whole and safe.

But the moment couldn’t last.

Zhuge Liang cleared his throat softly from behind him. ”My lord, the council awaits.”

Lie Fan sighed, handing Xuanxuan back to the nursemaid and ruffling the other children’s hair. ”Later,” he promised. ”We’ll have all evening.”

Then, with one last glance at his wives, he turned and strode into the residence, the mantle of leadership settling back onto his shoulders.

Lie Fan, flanked by Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, Xu Shu, Zhao Yun, Huang Chao, and three of his Yellow Ghost Bodyguards, rode through the main avenue of Xiapi. The cheers of the people still lingered in the distance, but his mind had already shifted toward matters of governance.

As they passed through the bustling city center, he glanced toward the grand construction site near the northern wall. The new imperial palace, the seat of his future Dynasty, stood tall even in its unfinished state.

Massive stone columns had been raised, the golden roof tiles already gleaming beneath the sun, and workers bustled like ants, shouting to one another as cranes hoisted timber beams into place. By Lie Fan’s reckoning, it was around seventy percent complete.

He allowed himself a small smile. Soon, it would be ready.

Their horses slowed as they approached the Governor’s Castle. Guards snapped to attention, banners bearing the Lie Clan insignia fluttering on tall poles. Lie Fan dismounted first, handing his reins to an attendant. The others followed suit, and with firm, synchronized steps, they made their way into the grand hall.

Inside, the heavy doors opened to reveal a scene of quiet anticipation. The inner council had already gathered, waiting for him in the main hall. Jia Xu, Xun You, Chen Qun, Liu Ye, Chen Gong, Lu Su, and Sima Yi stood in two neat rows, the solemn gravity of their expressions offset by the glint of pride in their eyes.

These were the men who had advised him through countless trials, some schemers, others idealists, but all bound by loyalty and belief in him.

As Lie Fan entered, all of them bowed deeply.

”Welcome home, my lord,” Jia Xu said, his voice rich and even.

Lie Fan raised a hand. ”At ease, my friends. We are brothers under a common purpose, no need for such stiffness among us. It’s only all of us here.”

The men straightened, and Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, and Xu Shu quietly moved into position beside their fellow councilors, completing the circle of minds that would shape the future of a dynasty.

Lie Fan moved to the central dais and took his seat upon the elevated chair, not yet a true throne, but a symbol nonetheless. From here, he could see each of them clearly. The silence that followed was thick with anticipation.

Jia Xu stepped forward once more, clasping his hands respectfully. ”We congratulate my lord on a campaign executed with such brilliance and decisiveness. Liu Bei’s fall marks the end of a major rival. With Jing Province secured, and the southern reaches stable, my lord now holds sway over nearly all of China. The path to unification is clearer than ever.”

A murmur of agreement ran through the room. Xun You nodded slowly. ”The people have accepted my lord’s rule without resistance across your domain, and they even have forgotten about the Han Dynasty rule. Tribute flows into Xiapi. The transition of my lord’s influence has been smoother than we could have hoped, at least under my lord’s domain.”

Lie Fan inclined his head. ”Thank you. But let me be clear, our work is not done. Not yet.”

The air shifted. Eyebrows rose. Pens paused over scrolls.

He leaned forward slightly, his face sharp. ”The land remains divided. Cao Cao still clutches the Han emperor in Luoyang. Liu Zhang hides behind the mountains of Yi Province, even though we have insiders, he is still a problem. And Shi Xie in the far south still walks a line between submission and autonomy.”

A ripple of understanding passed through the room. But then Lie Fan continued.

”And once the land is united under my rule... we will look outside.”

Silence.

For a long moment, no one moved. No one breathed.

Then—

”Outside?” Chen Gong blurted, his usual composure slipping

Zhuge Liang, woken up by Chen Gong’s words, stepped forward. ”May I speak freely, my lord?”

”You may always, Kongming.”

”I was struck by my lord’s final words just now. You said, ’after unifying the land, we look outside.’ Do you mean...?”

The room fell into silence again, this time heavier.

Lie Fan let the pause linger, letting each man think.

”Yes,” he finally said. ”You heard me correctly.”

Jia Xu blinked. ”My lord intends to... expand outward?”

”Beyond our borders,” Lie Fan confirmed. ”This land, though vast, is not the world. We have Goguryeo under our control in the northeast. The northern steppes, even further, places that only the Silk Road has touched, there are realms unknown to us. Kingdoms that do not yet kneel, nor understand the might of our land.”

The advisors exchanged glances. Even Jia Xu and Xun You, who had heard hints of Lie Fan’s ambitions before, seemed struck by the sheer scale of it.

Chen Gong shifted uncomfortably. ”Forgive me, my lord, but... is this wise? Our people have only just begun to breathe freely. War beyond the mountains and seas, could this not sow unrest anew?”

Liu Ye also voiced his concern, following Chen Gong. ”My lord, such an endeavor would require unprecedented resources. The people have suffered through decades of war. To ask them to march beyond the borders, to conquer lands they’ve never seen...”

Lie Fan nodded. ”Which is why we will not rush. First, we consolidate. We rebuild. We make this land so prosperous that its people beg to see it grow.”

Xun You stroked his beard thoughtfully. ”And how do you propose to begin, my lord?”

Lie Fan then told the abstract plan he had in mind. ”By sea and by land. Our navy is unmatched, and combined with the Sun Clan’s navy commanders, once they openly join us, we will have the means to project more power across the waves. To the south, after conquering Shi Xie, his domain trade networks can open doors to Nanyue and beyond. And to the west...” His eyes gleamed. ”The Silk Road. The wealth of Persia. The mysteries of Daqin.”

(A/N: The Chinese referred to Rome as ”Daqin” (Great China), and they knew of the Roman Empire’s existence through trade and travelers along the Silk Road, and of Persia’s existence as they acted as an intermediary between China and Rome. Their direct diplomatic contact was limited, but the Chinese dynasties were aware of the Roman Empire’s power and status as a major world empire, when the Roman Empire was in power.)

A murmur of astonishment spread through the room. Daqin. The very name was legend, a distant empire of marble and legions. Whose preparation they know as a world empire, or so they heard.

Chen Qun, as a pragmatic bureaucrat, frowned. ”My lord, these are dreams of poets. To reach so far would take generations.”

Lie Fan’s gaze hardened. ”Then we will build those generations. This is not just about conquest. It is about legacy. An empire that does not grow stagnates. And stagnation leads to decay.”

He looked at each of them in turn. ”The Han Dynasty collapsed because it turned inward. Because it believed itself to be the center of the world and forgot that the world is vast, allowing corruption and nepotism to run rampant as we turned to fight each other. I will not allow that mistake to happen again.”

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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