Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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”So instead,” Lie Shang continued, ”I will assist your mother with the Yu Merchant Group. I want to spend my remaining years in peace, watching my grandchildren grow, walking in the gardens with them, and hearing the laughter of this household echo in my ears. That is enough for me.”

There was something final in his voice, but also contentment.

Lie Fan leaned back slowly, absorbing the words. He understood. Deep down, he understood.

”I won’t lie, Father. It leaves a void to fill,” Lie Fan admitted. ”Replacing you in Langye won’t be easy. But... if this is what you want, then so be it. I’ll handle the formalities. Just submit your resignation. I’ll find a replacement for Langye.”

A grateful look passed between father and son.

”Where will you both stay then?” Lie Fan asked. ”I assume you plan to live in Xiapi now? If you’ve no other plans, you’re welcome here. There’s more than enough room.”

Lie Shang chuckled. ”That was our plan all along. I’ve heard from your wives that the construction of your palace is already complete. Soon, you’ll leave this old residence behind. So, your mother and I will stay here, keep the place lively.”

Yu Yan nodded, her hand resting on her husband’s. ”This will be our home now.”

”Good,” Lie Fan said softly. ”It brings me peace to know you’re near.”

The mood in the room softened even further, the initial surprise now replaced with understanding and acceptance.

Ying Yue smiled gently. ”It will be good to have you both here, Father, and Mother. The children will love spending time with their grandparents.”

”And we them,” Yu Yan replied. ”Each of them is a different reflection of you, Fan’er. In so many different ways.”

The family resumed eating, the meal now carrying an even deeper significance, a celebration not just of reunion, but of transitions, of roots taking deeper hold.

Later that evening, when the dishes had been cleared and the lanterns burned low, Lie Fan stood alone beneath the courtyard eaves, staring up at the moon.

So much had changed and so much more was to come.

His father stepping down marked the end of an era. Soon, he would ascend not just as a regional lord, but as Emperor.

And with that ascension came storms yet to weather.

But tonight, he would rest. For tonight, his family was whole. And for now, that was enough.

The next day dawned with a clear sky, the early morning sun casting golden rays over Xiapi’s towering palace walls and glinting off the still waters of the nearby canals.

Lie Fan rose early, as always, ready to resume the ever growing responsibilities of governance. Now that his father had officially stepped down, those duties felt heavier somehow, more real, more final. But he bore them with quiet resolve. The future was drawing near with every heartbeat.

Dressed in his finely embroidered yet practical robes, Lie Fan departed his residence on foot. The ride from his home to the newly completed Palace wasn’t far, just a short distance through the inner city, but it allowed him a few moments of silent contemplation.

The guards stationed along the route saluted respectfully, and merchants and scholars nearby bowed in deference as he passed. His presence was a familiar one in Xiapi, but now, as he neared the final stages of his journey toward the throne, even the air around him seemed to shift, heavy with expectation.

Tucked under the sleeve of his arm was a letter, his father’s resignation. The paper was crisp and neatly written in his father’s bold hand, the strokes steady, without hesitation. The words were direct, dignified, and humble. A lifetime of service, distilled into a few paragraphs.

Once inside the Palace, Lie Fan made his way through the marble corridors to his office. It had been moved from the old Governor’s Castle to the Palace now, signaling a centralization of power in anticipation of the transition to empire.

His new office in the palace was a far cry from the modest quarters he had once occupied in the Governor’s Castle. The room was spacious, its high ceilings adorned with intricate carvings, the walls lined with shelves of scrolls and records. A large desk of dark mahogany stood at the center, its surface polished to a mirror like sheen.

He sat down with a quiet sigh and placed his father’s letter before him. With deliberate care, he drafted the official statement of acceptance:

”In recognition of loyal service and unwavering dedication, I, Lie Fan, accept the resignation of Lie Shang from his post as Governor of Langye. May his retirement be peaceful, his days serene, and his legacy forever honored.”

He then reached for his official seal, pressing it to the inkstone and then to the parchment. The seal left a bold red impression, with the emblem of the Lie Clan.

After allowing the ink to dry for a moment, he called for one of his pages, a young boy with keen eyes and quick feet. ”Deliver this to Master Chen Qun,” Lie Fan instructed. ”And inform him to begin preparations to find a suitable replacement for the governorship of Langye. If he has any candidates in mind, I will hear of them soon.”

The boy bowed, ”at once, my lord,” took the documents, and hurried off.

Alone again, Lie Fan leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. Replacing his father would not be an easy task. Lie Shang had been a pillar of stability in Langye, his governance marked by fairness and wisdom.

Whoever stepped into his shoes would need to be someone of equal caliber, someone who could maintain order while also adapting to the shifting tides of their growing influence.

The matter of succession in Langye stirred more thoughts of hierarchy. It was only logical to consider

of military structure and of the broader framework that needed to be solidified before he declared himself Emperor.

It had been some time since the military had undergone a proper reorganization. The campaigns had demanded constant adaptation, and the structure that had once been efficient now threatened to grow unwieldy with the scale of the realm.

With that in mind, he called for his servants. ”Summon Jia Xu, Xun You, Zhuge Liang, and Sima Yi to my office at once.”

The servants departed swiftly, and Lie Fan stood, stretching slightly as he gazed out the window toward the training yard in the distance for his future royal soldiers., but still inside the area of the Palace.

Below, he saw the elite soldiers drilled in tight formations, their movements precise and disciplined. His armies had grown strong, seasoned, loyal, and effective. But strength without structure was like a blade without a hilt, dangerous to both wielder and enemy.

After several minutes, the four men entered the office. They bowed in unison.

”Greetings, My Lord,” Jia Xu intoned, as the eldest of the four.

”Rise,” Lie Fan said warmly. ”Thank you for coming so quickly.”

The four men took their seats in front of Lie Fan’s table.

”I’ve summoned you today,” Lie Fan began, ”because I’ve been contemplating a full military reorganization. It has been too long since our last one, and we have expanded far beyond our previous scope. That said, how long would it take to gather all the head generals and chief strategists from each army group here in Xiapi?”

They exchanged glances, and after a moment, it was Sima Yi who answered.

”At least one month and a half, My Lord,” he said. ”That would allow time for messengers to reach all corners, and for the commanders and chief strategist to conclude or delegate their duties and travel here.”

He paused, then added, ”However, I would recommend that you wait. The timing of a military reorganization is crucial. I suggest we delay it until after you declare yourself Emperor, once the Sun Clan and Sheng Xian have reaffirmed their loyalty publicly. Then, we may hold a grand summit to restructure the military under imperial authority, incorporating even Shi Xie’s forces in the south. It would present a unified image and prevent the need for redundant changes.”

Lie Fan considered this, nodding slowly.

”You believe it is better to delay until legitimacy is formally established?”

”Exactly,” Sima Yi replied. ”A premature reorganization might lead to confusion, especially when titles and ranks may soon change under an imperial system. Better to consolidate once and do so with finality.”

Jia Xu nodded in agreement. ”Sima Yi speaks wisely. Consolidating our forces under your imperial banner would carry more weight and legitimacy. Any changes made now would be provisional at best, My Lord.”

Xun You and Zhuge Liang echoed the sentiment, their reasoning sound. Lie Fan considered their words carefully. They were right, there was no sense in rushing into a reorganization when greater changes loomed on the horizon.

”I see your point,” Lie Fan admitted. ”Very well. The reorganization will be postponed until after the declaration.”

He leaned forward, folding his hands on the table. ”Now then, another matter. My father has chosen to retire.” Lie Fan continued, watching as surprise flickered across the faces of his advisors. They recovered quickly, but the news was unexpected.

”He had submitted his resignation as Governor of Langye, and I’ve accepted it. I must appoint a replacement soon. Do any of you have recommendations?”

The room fell briefly silent. Even seasoned minds like theirs were surprised.

”Lord Lie Shang has served with distinction for many years,” Xun You said solemnly. ”His absence will be deeply felt.”

”Indeed,” Zhuge Liang murmured. ”A governor must be competent, trustworthy, and possess a firm grasp of both civil and military administration.”

Jia Xu was the first to speak with a name.

”I have one candidate in mind,” he said carefully. ”Though... he is not without complication, My Lord.”

Lie Fan raised an eyebrow. ”.Go on.”

”He is currently imprisoned,” Jia Xu said. ”Captured during the fall of Liu Bei’s power. However, he never fully abandoned Liu Bei, even after most of his peers defected. He has remained silent these past months, but I believe his loyalty to Liu Bei stemmed more from personal bonds than political ambition. His mind, however, is unmatched in administration.”

Lie Fan’s eyes narrowed. ”You mean Ju Shou, Wenhe.”

Jia Xu nodded once. ”Yes, My Lord. A former advisor of Yuan Shao, and later Liu Bei. Sharp, meticulous, and, if shown the possibility of redemption, likely to be a strong and steady hand in Langye.”

The others began to murmur among themselves. Zhuge Liang spoke next. ”It is a risky choice, My Lord,” he said. ”But not without merit. Ju Shou is well versed in matter of governance and administration. If he can be persuaded to change allegiance, his experience would be invaluable for Langye’s future development and growth.”

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains

Age: 34 (201 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