273. Changyang County & Gongsun Zan's Death

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Lady Yan who was suddenly joined by Lie Fan was surprised at first but seeing Chen Gong behind Lie Fan she knew that it was official there was no more Lu Bu's Army and all had joined under Lie Fan except for the elite guards who protected her, Lady Yan turned toward Lie Fan to thank him once again for accepting Lu Bu's request and then his army under him, in which Lie Fan said it wasn't a big deal and he also receive some benefits so it was actually a good thing for him.

Lady Yan heard Lie Fan's honest words and was surprised then let out a small laugh, as she didn't expect Lie Fan will be that honest by saying that his acceptance of Lu Bu's request brought him much benefit.

Lie Fan just smiled at Lady Yan's good-natured laugh, and when he turned his head toward Lu Lingqi and her unit, he saw that Lu Lingqi was holding an urn and approached the location of him and Lady Yan.

Lu Lingqi held the urn and when she reached it, she gave it to Lady Yan who held the urn so tightly like trying to infuse it into her body, while Lu Lingqi turned toward Lie Fan and gave her a stinky eye like saying stay away from her mother.

Lie Fan just chuckles when he sees this, he didn't expect Lu Lingqi who fights bravely on the battlefield and is even called The Rose Thorn by Lu Bu's men could have such a childish and cute side.

Lu Lingqi seeing Lie Fan chuckling like that suddenly woke up realizing that she showed a side that she had shown to her Father, Mother, and the closest people around her making her face turn she took her mother's arms and took her toward their tent.

Lie Fan seeing Lu Lingqi running away in embarrassment shook his head in amusement, and Chen Gong who was behind them noticed all the interactions between the two and brewed up some plan.

Lu Lingqi who was in the tent with her mother tried to cool down her face, while Lady Yan holding the urn that held her husband ash looked at Lu Lingqi with a smile, knowing that even though it was a bad situation to encourage what she sees right now, she also wanted her daughter to be happy.

Time passed by and the next day, after receiving words that his army was ready Lie Fan ordered his army to move out toward Changyang County. Cao Cao and Liu Bei who were informed of this watched Lie Fan's Army in full force leave from Beihai.

The two of them heave a sigh of relief, Lie Fan's departure for Beihai means the agreement that they had agreed upon was honored by Lie Fan, and now since the battle has ended, it's time to consolidate their influence over the rest of Qing Province.

Cao Cao and Liu Bei look toward each other and smile while beginning this facade, another round of political intrigue battle between the two will be held once again.

Back toward Lie Fan and his army, marched toward Changyang County from Beihai spending around 3 to 4 weeks which was around a month of journey before they reached Changyang County.

When they reached Changyang County, they were welcomed by the Governor of Changyang which was the capital of Changyang County and was assigned quarters for everyone with importance on the Castle.

Chen Gong was confused as to why the Changyang Governor welcomed them with such festivity and friendliness, Xun You who saw his confusion whispered to him about the presence of Oriole.

The Oriole has been dispatched here by Jia Xu and has converted the allegiance of the high-ranking government of Changyang and Buji County, Chen Gong who heard this finally realized as to why Lie Fan was always one step ahead of the other warlords.

It turns out Lie Fan understood the importance of intelligence and cultivated it for the maximum, of course now he realizes that Lu Bu being poisoned should have been known by Lie Fan but maybe he doesn't have the antidote so he doesn't help Lu Bu cure his poison.

Such optimism wasn't known by Xun You and the others, as what Chen Going doesn't know is that Lie Fan does have the antidote but he indirectly has a hand in Lu Bu's death because he chose to let heaven decide Lu Bu's life.

At Changyang County, Lie Fan began to enforce several reforms that were done in his domain, where corruption was rooted out and forcing big merchants to join the Yu Merchant Clan causing the commerce of Changyang County under Lie Fan's rule.

This move at first wasn't supported by Chen Gong and Lu Zhi who thought that this would only cause resentment from the merchant class.

Xun You then explained it them that these merchants wouldn't have any power left whatsoever because the Yu Merchant Clan would absorb their business. After all, Changyang County would be an important part of Lie Fan's future plan for the North.

Chen Gong and Lu Zhi who heard this were stunned, they didn't expect Lie Fan to have already planned for the North even though their next focus should be either Liu Biao or Shi Xie.

Zhuge Jin and Man Chong were also surprised but they weren't as surprised as Chen Gong and Lu Zhi, because the younger generation advisors knew that Lie Fan always consulted Jia Xu, Xun You, Chen Qun, and Liu Ye for his future plans as they were his main advisors.

While changes were slowly implemented in Changyang County where it would fall under Lie Fan's grasp completely unlike other counties, in the North a change of favor in the battle between Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao will cause some changes in the power dynamics of the land, especially the north.

Gongsun Zan who was fighting a hefty and losing battle against Yuan Shao, was finally forced onto the corner after Zhang Yan and Zhang Yang joined the battle as Yuan Shao allies.

His forces were slowly pushed from Fanzhi, Gaoliu, Zhuo Lu, Ji, and Tuyin County in succession these counties were then over by Yuan Shao, leaving Gongsun Zan with Junmi County where his capital Beiping was located.

The combination of Yuan Shao, Zhang Yan, and Zhang Yang raised an enormous number of men that Gongsun Zan's army needed to face when they were outnumbered heavily.

Zhang Yang and Zhang Yan men also love to use dirty tactics and employ them every single time they can, which caused Gongsun Zan's Army who fought with honor suffer heavy losses each time they skirmished against each other.

Also the number of heavyweight generals between the two sides from unbalanced to having no chance for Gongsun Zan's side, Yuan Shao's side there Yang Liang, Wen Chou, and Zhang He alongside numerous middle-skilled generals.

Combined with Zhang Yang and Zhang Yan's side, Gongsun Zan's side which only has Zhao Yun & Gongsun Zan as their highly skilled combatant can't support the large field of battle, causing them to retreat each time and now arrive at Beiping.

Now Beiping was under siege from the combined forces of Yuan Shao, Zhang Yan, and Zhang Yang which Gongsun Zan and his army defended with all of their might.

At the southern wall of Beiping which was the main battlefield, Zhao Yun and Gongsun Zan are fighting side by side holding their spears killing Yuan Shao, Zhang Yan, and Zhang Yang's men left and right, trying to stop as many as possible from entering Beiping.

Gongsun Zan: "Hah.. Zhao Yun, I'm sorry that you found the wrong Lord, with the kind of talent and skillset you have, you would achieve much bigger achievements if you were to be employed by other Lords such as Cao Cao or Lie Fan!"

Zhao Yun: "No My Lord it's not your fault! It's the fault of that scheming bastard Yuan Shao, betraying the covenant we have in splitting up Ji Province from Han Fu's hand!"

Gongsun Zan: "It is My fault, if I was much better at playing these political games, we might have been in a much better position, and me killing Liu Yu, was a nail in the coffin for our defeat since the Han Dynastyceven though dying are still a lean camel we can't offend right now."

Zhao Yun: "It was a momentary lapse of judgment, My Lord! Don't lose hope! We could still turn this n-type around and defeat Yuan Shao, Zhang Yang, and Zhang Yan!"

Gongsun Zan: "I hope I could share the optimism you have Zhao Yum but unfortunately with how the rhythm of the battle wasn't on our side, I think we will be def-"

Zhao Yun: "My Lord watch out!"

Gongsun Zan who was talking was surprised by Zhao Yun's sudden scream, and before he could react suddenly a spear pierced Gongsun Zan in the chest, chasing him to spit out blood from his mouth.

Zhao Yun who saw this let out a scream of anger and pain and attacked the assailant who pierced Gongsun Zan's chest, the assailant seeing his attack work let out a laugh and deflect Zhao Yun's attack.

Zhao Yun whose attack was deflected by the assailant didn't dare to leave Gongsun Zan behind, so he could only stay in place and asked for the assailant's name.

The assailant introduced himself as Zhang He and since his objective had been reached, he said his goodbyes to Zhao Yun could only helplessly watch Zhang He retreat from the scene.

Zhao Yun then turned toward Gongsun Zan's sitting out more blood from his mouth, lying on the floor protected by his elite guards, Zhao Yun tried to help him stand and bring him to a safe place.

Gongsun Zan who knew what Zhao Yun was trying to do stopped him, he told Zhao Yin to leave him there and bring his white horse cavalry alongside him then run away from Beiping, telling him to find a much better lord than him and continue the legacy of the white horse cavalry.

Zhao Yun who heard this refused and told Gongsun Zan that he would never leave and would fight to the death alongside him, Gongsun Zan smacked him in the head weakly and told Zhao Yin to listen to him, as this was his final order and request to him, which was for him to find a better life.

Zhao Yun wanted to reject once again but seeing the finality in Gongsun Zan's eyes whose life are weapon away, could only nod his head with tears flowing down. Gongsun Zan who saw this smiled and finally closed his eyes, and with that another warlord closed the chapter of his life, leaving a legacy of a hero who guarded the border from foreign enemies but ultimately succumbed in the battle for hegemony.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 27 (194 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 2,462,000

Renown: 725

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,071,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 936 (+20)

VIT: 598 (+20)

AGI: 583 (+10)

INT: 587

CHR: 93

WIS: 509

WILL: 397

ATR Points: 0