196. The End Of Yuan Shu

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Many of his advisors told him to not do so, as the loss of Hou Zui have dealt a huge blow to their army morale, if Yuan Shu suddenly executed another person and branded him as a traitor without evidence, this would have dealt a catastrophic blow to their army morale.

Yuan Shu doesn't care and even scolds them for saying so, Yuan Shu tells the soldiers to do as he says.

Yuan Shu's soldiers do as they were ordered to, take out the advisor from the prison and beheaded him.

It was then announced that he was a traitor because he orchestrated Hou Zui's death, as revenge for putting him inside prison. This was a huge blow to Yuan Shu's men, as they not only lost their top advisor but it was because of a traitor.

Hou Zui and The Orioles who have hidden in the shadows see and hear everything that's happening, they are informed of the things that happened to Lie Fan and Jia Xu as this is the perfect chance for them to attack.

Lie Fan and Jia Xu who received this information, suggested to Cao Cao and the others that they should attack Yuan Shu right now and finish him tomorrow.

Jia Xu said that he felt Yuan Shu's men's morale should be low now, as they were defending nonstop while their men had the chance to take a rest due to their large number.

Guo Jia felt that what Jia Xu said was true, Yuan Shu collected all the supplies near Runan to hole himself in there and could stay for a long time but one thing he didn't think of was the morale of his men.

Having Large supplies but an army with low morale is already on the verge of defeat, as even if their stomach is full they don't have the will to fight which could lead to them being defeated by their enemy.

Cao Cao saw that Guo Jia agreed with Lie Fan and Jia Xu's suggestion, so he agreed to end Yuan Shu once and for all tomorrow. Today Lie Fan and Cao Cao prepared their men for the devise battle tomorrow, one that would change the power landscape of Central Plains.

Lie Fan also consulted with Cao Cao and their advisors that he would participate in the battle tomorrow, he felt that he would be more useful out there rather than sitting alongside Cao Cao.

Jia Xu and Xun You immediately refused, as they felt that Lie Fan already had rows of excellent generals leading the army and that his position now is so important to allow him to participate in the battle.

Cao Cao on the other hand of course allowed it, as he wanted to see how Lie Fan's prowess was right now, after not meeting him since the battle at Jibei. Seeing that Cao Cao agrees, Lie Fan gives a smile and tells Jia Xu and Xun You to not worry as he has his bodyguards alongside him.

Jia Xu and Xun You reluctantly agreed seeing as they couldn't hold Lie Fan or change his mind, with that the meeting was adjourned and everyone went to take a rest to prepare for the battle tomorrow.

On Yuan Shu's side since losing Hou Zui, Yuan Shu has become like a madman and holding the Imperial Seal tightly in his arms, saying that his dream as Emperor will live on.

His generals and advisors who are still loyal to him grow worried, as Yuan Shu's condition is worsening with the passing time since Hou Zui's 'death'. Yuan Shu's son Yuan Yao replaced his father to lead, seeing as Yuan Shu's mental condition is bad right now.

Yuan Yao: "How is it everyone? What should we do? We have lost Master Hou Zui and the morale of our army is very low, if we don't do anything we will definitely be defeated tomorrow."

Lu Fan: "My Lord right now we need to increase the morale of our army, let them have a feast tonight to replenish their spirit and take their mind off the accident that happened."

Liu Ye: "My Lord I disagree with Liu Xun's suggestion, what our army needs right now is not a feast but a speech from their lord to raise their morale. Their belly was never empty with our abundant supplies, so giving them more food and drinks will only backfire."

Liu Xun: "Liu Ye a speech for them is not compared to a feast! My Lord, we should give them a feast, and maybe rewards for people who have contributed to the defense of Runan!"

Yuan Yin: "Cous- I mean My Lord, I support Liu Xun as a speech can be ignored by our army, while a feast can definitely raise their morale."

Yuan Yao: "All right then we do as Liu Xun and Yuan Yin suggested, Liu Ye I'm sorry but I also thought that your suggestion was not that great."

Liu Ye who was called out just gives a soft sigh and closes his eyes. Since Hou Zui's passing, he knew that everyone would begin to bye for his position, which Liu Ye wasn't even interested in.

Since his suggestion wasn't accepted, Liu Ye could only stay silent and accept the fact, which was Yuan Shu would be defeated and would be the next Warlord to die after Dong Zhuo, Liu Dai, and Kong Rong.

The battle of intrigue between Yuan Shu's jects only worsened Yuan Shu's chances, Yuan Yao after declaring the feast and holding it for his men, goes back to his quarters to spend some time with a courtesan.

Yuan Shu the middle of the night finally comes to his senses, holding the Imperial Seal he looks to the sky and thinks that the start is very bright that night, he thinks that it must be Hou Zui who told him that he would win by how bright the stars are.

The next day, from Lie Fan and Cao Cao's side the sound of the drum of war was sounded, under the meticulous planning of Guo Jia, Jia Xu, and Xun You they proposed to attack from 3 sides this time.

Ca Cao will command the main battlefield on the Southern Gate, while Lie Fan lead the left side on the Western Gate, and Huang Zhong alongside Yu Jin lead the right side on the Eastern Gate.

This was to split the focus of Yuan Shu's army, since now they couldn't take a turn in defending and had to focus on each side. Lie Fan led 75,000 men and Huang Zhong alongside Yu Jin led the same amount.

Yuan Shi who was accompanied by Yuan Yao standing on the top of the wall, saw that the combined army had detached into 3 armies, with 2 heading toward the west and east side of Runan.

Yuan Shu panicked seeing this, and he ordered his son to take charge of the south gate, while Liang Gang one of his generals sent to the Eastern Gate, lastly, he would go personally to the Western Gate.

Yuan Shu split his army into three, each having around 46,000 men reducing their combat capability as the enemy they were facing was much more than before.

Lie Fan who arrived at his position, immediately ordered for the battering and trebuchets to be deployed, Lie Fan's generals such as Cu Rong, Fan Chou, Ling Cao, Chao Bai, and Fang Yue were alongside him.

So when the trebuchets and battering ram were finally deployed, Lie Fan personally led the charge to attack the Western Gate, alongside his bodyguards and generals which had been ordered by Jia Xu and Xun You to protect Lie Fan.

Xu Rong was ordered to stay behind, leading the Tian Mao Battalion encircling Runan to kill or capture any of Yuan Shu's men who tried to run away in the middle of the chaos.

The attack on the three gates was done at the same time, Yuan Shu's army finally for the first time felt overwhelmed by the aggressive attack that was launched by Lie Fan and Cao Cao.

The low morale of Yuan Shu's army also doesn't help, on the western gate, Lie Fan and his bodyguards managed to climb the siege ladder and infiltrate the top of the wall.

Lie Fan and his bodyguards worked together like and well-oiled machine, killing Yuan Shu's soldiers on all sides, especially Lie Fan who was brutal and decisive in his move, his powerful strength combined with this halberd slice Yuan Shu's men easily even with their armor which was a low quality one.

Lie Fan's aggressive attack combined with the perfect coordination of his bodyguards, allows his generals except for Fan Chou and Fang Yue who stayed below, to climb up and join them, creating an opening for his men to come up.

Yuan Shu who was leading the western gate received the news that Lie Fan and his men managed to climb up, hearing that he immediately ordered them to retreat as he was afraid of Lie Fan who had incredible strength.

Yuan Shu's sudden retreat order panicked his men, which allowed Lie Fan's men to exploit the situation and manage to break through the western gate.

Fan Chou and Fang Yue led the soldiers below entered Runan and began to attack Yuan Shu's men who were guarding the other side of the gate, trying to go to the Southern and Eastern gate to help their comrades.

Lie Fan who was on the top of the wall, led his bodyguards and some of his men to push through toward the center of the Western Gate, where the commanding officers should be.

Lie Fan doesn't know that Yuan Shu led the defenses of the Western gate until he arrives at the center and sees Yuan Shu who was protected by all of his sides, who can't retreat as their oath was cut off by Lie Fan's men who go up the wall from the stairs inside of Runan.

Lie Fan sees Yuan Shu sees the chance to eliminate him, so with a burst of strength, he alone wanders inside the large groups of Yuan Shu's soldiers, surprising his bodyguards who immediately follow him.

Yuan Shu who was in his leave of panic, heard the exclamation sounds from around him and heard cries of pain which were slowly but surely approaching him.

He asked what happened to the soldiers around him, and before he received the answer he saw the soldiers he asked for, he flew away, and spurts of blood like rain immediately drenched his face.

Yuan Shu let out a shout full of surprise, and when he wiped his face with this sleeve, he saw Lie Fan standing in front of him with a smile that was like a smile from the devil, before Yuan Shu could say a word Lie Fan slashed his halberd to his neck.

Yuan Shu only saw that the scene he was watching was spinning around, and when it stopped he saw his body with Lie Fan in front of it, fall down and his last thought is that he should have listened to Hou Zui more, still believing him to the last moment not knowing that Hou Zui was the cause of his downfall.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 25 (192 AD)

Level: 15

Next Level: 1.588.000

Renown:  605

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 371.700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 906 (+20)

VIT: 578 (+20)

AGI: 563 (+10)

INT: 567

CHR: 93

WIS: 489

WILL: 377

ATR Points: 0