327. Sima Yi Passed The Final Exam, Cai Mao's Retreat

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Meanwhile, Lu Lingqi found herself enveloped in the warm embrace of Ying Yue, Diao Chan, and Cai Wenji, who welcomed her with open arms. As they treated her like their own little sister, Lu Lingqi felt a weight lift off her shoulders, the burden of uncertainty and apprehension melting away in the presence of their genuine acceptance and affection. In that moment, surrounded by the love and warmth of her newfound family, Lu Lingqi felt a sense of belonging unlike any she had ever known.

Lie Fan on the other hand was happy at the sight he saw, but soon realized that he was alone while his ladies were engaging in talks and laughing together, when he wanted to join Diao Chan Ying Yue blocked him, saying that it was a punishment from them.

Letting out a wry smile, Lie Fan could only shake his head and accept the punishment given to him by his ladies, so he left his study leaving Ying Yue, Diao Chan, Cai Wenji, and Lu Lingqi there with 4 of his bodyguards heading toward the playroom.

On the way there he meets with Sima Yi, who lets out a bright smile the moment he sees Lie Fan and greeted Lie Fan with respect after approaching him saying that he was looking for him.

Lie Fan: "Hello Sima Yi, we meet again after a long time passed since our meeting in that garden, how is the progress of your oath and promise hmm? Have you taken the final exam yet?"

Sima Yi: "It's great that Brother Lie Fan asked! Because that is the reason why I was searching for you, I would like to inform you that I have passed my test with flying colors!"

Lie Fan: "Oh really? *ahem* you know me, without any evidence I wouldn't believe it until you show me the proof or someone supporting what you said."

Sima Yi: "Of Course! In this bag is the proof of what I have just said! These are the scrolls filled with my scores that have been evaluated by Master Cai Yong, Lu Zhi, and Zhuge Xuan!"

Lie Fan: "Then take out the scroll, I would like to see the genius that has been praised by many people in the academy, that even my advisors praised and all of them are heavyweight figures."

Sima Yi immediately opened his bag and inside it were several scrolls that he took out and showed to Lie Fan, who received one of them and opened it which shows that it was the score of Sima Yi's exam in Military Strategy, where he scored 100 out of 100.

It even has comments from Lu Zhi who praised Sima Yi as the most talented disciple he ever reached, and that his talent was on par with talented strategists of the past like Han Xin, and in the current era not many have the same talent as him where only Zhuge Liang come on par with him in the younger generation.

Lie Fan's mind whirled with a mix of astonishment and pride as he absorbed the contents of the scroll. Sima Yi's exceptional achievement in the Military Strategy exam was impressive enough, but it was Lu Zhi's glowing praise that truly caught Lie Fan off guard.

In the original timeline, Sima Yi's talent had been recognized when he was young, but it had not been elevated to such lofty heights by a figure as esteemed as Lu Zhi.

The fact that Sima Yi was now being compared to legendary strategists like Han Xin spoke volumes about the extent of his abilities and potential he has and will be recorded in the annals of history especially since it has physical evidence if it can be kept properly.

As Sima Yi's voice broke through his reverie, Lie Fan snapped back to attention, his excitement for the young Sima Yi welling with each passing moment as he began to witness the rise of Sima Yi.

Taking another scroll in hand and meticulously reviewing its contents, Lie Fan's conviction in Sima Yi's brilliance only grew stronger and also relieved that he found the young Sima Yi and managed to have him.

With a proud smile, Lie Fan turned to Sima Yi, his voice tinged with admiration and respect as he congratulated him on his remarkable achievement, Sima Yi who received Lie Fan's congratulation let out a bright smile as he filled with happiness.

With a sense of pride and determination, Sima Yi looked up at Lie Fan, his eyes shining with anticipation as he asked to join Lie Fan on his page, eager to prove his worth and contribute to Lie Fan's cause to prove himself.

Caught off guard by Sima Yi's request, Lie Fan momentarily paused, but quickly remembered their earlier promise. With a smile, he affirmed Sima Yi's request, officially welcoming him as his page and that he could start tomorrow after preparing himself first.

Filled with gratitude and determination, Sima Yi thanked Lie Fan, vowing to do his best and prove his capabilities, to prove himself to Lie Fan as the best candidate to be with Wannian.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield at Mianjun Port in Jing Province, the clash between Zhou Yu's army and Cai Mao's forces reached a critical point.

Land and naval forces engaged in fierce combat, the sound of clashing swords and sounds of arrows flying everywhere echoing across the tumultuous waters, as both sides fought fiercely.

As Cai Mao coordinated the defenses in Mianjun Port, his expertise in naval warfare shone brightly, but he struggled to maintain the same level of command over the land army. With the pressure mounting and the chaos of battle swirling around him, Cai Mao found himself overwhelmed by the demands of the situation.

Despite his best efforts, cracks began to appear in his defenses, exploited by Zhou Yu's astute observation and strategic acumen. Each vulnerability seized upon by Zhou Yu dealt a devastating blow to Cai Mao's forces, tipping the scales of momentum further in Zhou Yu's favor with each passing moment.

Faced with mounting challenges and the relentless onslaught of Zhou Yu's army, Cai Mao knew that he needed to rally his forces and adapt his strategy quickly if he hoped to turn the tide of battle in his favor.

As Zhou Yu's relentless pressure continued to bear down on Mianjun Port, Cai Mao found himself in a dire situation. With his supply lines cut off and dwindling resources, the morale of his forces began to plummet, weakening their resistance against Zhou Yu's advances.

Each day brought renewed assaults from Zhou Yu's army, further straining Cai Mao's defenses and pushing him to the brink of defeat. Despite his best efforts to rally his troops and adapt his strategy, the overwhelming pressure from Zhou Yu's relentless attacks left Cai Mao with few options.

Faced with the harsh reality of his dwindling supplies and the dwindling morale of his troops, Cai Mao knew that he had to make a difficult decision. After receiving reports that his army's supplies would only last for a few more days, Cai Mao made the agonizing choice to retreat back to Xiangyang.

Commanding his navy to launch a full-scale assault to create a pathway for his retreat, Cai Mao prepared to abandon Mianjun Port and regroup his forces in a desperate bid to salvage what remained of his strength and resources.

As Cai Mao's forces retreated from Mianjun Port towards Xiangyang, Zhou Yu swiftly enacted his plan to hinder their escape without allowing them to fully get away.

Ordering his navy to let Cai Mao's forces pass but not to let them escape unscathed, Zhou Yu strategically positioned his ships to pick off Cai Mao's navy from a distance, inflicting casualties and disrupting their retreat.

Despite Cai Mao's attempts to navigate his forces safely across the Yangtze River, Zhou Yu's relentless attacks made the journey treacherous and costly. Each passing moment brought more chaos and destruction, as Cai Mao's forces struggled to fend off Zhou Yu's relentless assaults.

With no choice but to press on through the barrage of enemy fire, Cai Mao's army fought desperately to maintain their course towards Xiangyang, their hopes of regrouping and salvaging their strength diminishing with each passing wave of attacks from Zhou Yu's navy.

As Cai Mao's battered forces finally managed to cross the treacherous waters of the Yangtze River, relief washed over them despite the heavy toll exacted by Zhou Yu's relentless attacks. From an initial force of 100,000 men, only 60,000 remained, a stark reminder of the high price they paid for their retreat.

With his thoughts already turning to the repercussions of his decision and the inevitable consequences awaiting him in Xiangyang, Cai Mao resolved to seek his sister's assistance in appeasing Liu Biao and mitigating the fallout from their defeat.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yu and his victorious army celebrated their triumph as they took control of Mianjun Port. Dedication of their victory to Sun Ce only served to bolster Ce's prestige and fame across the land.

As Sun Ce's reputation continued to soar, earning him monikers like the Little Tiger of Jiangdong and the Little Conqueror, the Sun Clan's influence expanded with the acquisition of three large counties, solidifying their position as a dominant force in the region.

Meanwhile, in Xiangyang, news of Cai Mao's defeat and retreat sparked outrage and disappointment from Liu Biao. Taking advantage of the situation, Kuai Yue and Kuai Liang sought to further weaken the Cai Clan's standing by stoking tensions against them.

However, the timely intervention of Cai Mao's sister, Lady Cai, proved instrumental in averting a potential crisis. Through her efforts, she successfully persuaded Liu Biao to temper his anger and spare the Cai Clan from severe consequences, ensuring that Cai Mao faced only a light punishment for his failure.

As Cai Mao finally arrived in Xiangyang, he faced the consequences of his defeat with a relatively light punishment from Liu Biao, which was several months of pay docked and five whips.

However, this lenient punishment sparked outrage among some of Cai Mao's political adversaries, who saw it as a humiliation for them and caused them to challenge Liu Biao's authority.

Seizing the moment, Cai Mao capitalized on the discontent brewing among his opponents, fueling their dissent and turning their ire toward Liu Biao.

Aware that Liu Biao's anger had not yet subsided, Cai Mao strategically maneuvered to further weaken his rivals and strengthen the position of the Cai Clan in Jing Province.

In response to the protests from Cai Mao's adversaries, Liu Biao, incensed by their audacity, delivered swift and severe punishments, effectively quelling the dissent and solidifying Cai Mao's standing within the province. This turn of events bolstered the power and influence of the Cai Clan, securing their position as a formidable force under Liu Biao's rule.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 29 (196 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 2,462,000

Renown: 825

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