374. The Next Step For Lie Fan

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Cao Cao's Army campaign and victory against Ma Teng in Chang'An was unknown to all Warlord of the land, except for Lie Fan who had returned from Huai'An secret base and was informed of this news by Jia Xu who received the intel from the Oriole, knowing that Cao Cao was focusing on Ma Teng and managed to gain Han Sui as his ally, he needs to decide who will be his next target, Cao Cao or Yuan Shao with his court.

The two of them are his biggest adversaries, especially Yuan Shao who had control over the entire northern province of China for several years, enough time for Yuan Shao to strengthen himself and even have a larger Army than him possibly.

In terms of skills, on the other hand, Cao Cao had the upper hand over Yuan Shao especially talented retainers who served him loyally and could work together, unlike Yuan Shao's retainers who rivaled each other like Feng Ji and Guo Tu against Tian Feng.

So for Lie Fan, it would be a choice between quantity against quality. When you look at it, it was an easy choice for Lie Fan to take on Yuan Shao who only had a quantity advantage, rather than Cao Cao who had a quality advantage over Yuan Shao.

Maybe advisors who don't have any foresight for the big picture would advocate this to Lie Fan, but Lie Fan has top class advisors in his hand and each of them and mind for the bigger picture, especially Jia Xu, Xun You, and Lu Su.

They calculated everything before suggesting Lie Fan which lord he should attack, and Lie Fan predicted that the three of them would definitely suggest Cao Cao because he have the highest threat value for Lie Fan in the future.

As he was mulling over this news and who his advisors would suggest for him to attack, outside of Lie Fan's office in the Governor's Castle, at the meeting room of Lie Fan's advisors at the Governor Castle, all of his top advisors had a meeting.

Jia Xu, Xun You, Chen Qun, Liu Ye, Chen Gong, and Lu Su who had returned to Xiapi alongside his Grandmother, were going to discuss the possible enemy they had to face next.

Jia Xu: "Everyone, I gathered all of you here today as My Lord's top advisors to discuss Our lord's next target, I think Master Liu Ye and Master Xun You could reiterate what Our lord said before he left for Huai'An."

Liu Ye: "My Lord said for us to increase the number of My Lord's army, and that after his return from Huai'An, he will hold a court to decide whether to attack Cao Cao to our west or Yuan Shao to our North."

Xun You: "My Lord requested for the increase of our Army, alongside Master Chen Gong and Master Lu Su the three of us calculated the maximum increase our army could have that wouldn't burden our treasury and supply."

Chen Qun: "How much could we increase the number of our army? I need to examine what political consequences it could have for My Lord's government in the eyes of the people."

Chen Gong: "The maximum number of our army we could have is around 625,000 men, so it's an increase of around 117,500 men Master Chen Qun."

Jia Xu: "What about Li Yan's Army numbering 50,000 men that was now used at Jiangxia? Has it been accounted as well for the increase of My Lord's Army?"

Lu Su: "Ah we haven't included that yet Master Jia Xu, then should we decrease the number or keep it the same? So we would have an increase of 167,500 men which will make our army numbered around 675,000 men."

Lu Su's words caused the room to be silent for a while, as everyone mulled over the number and what consequences it could have on the treasury and supplies Lie Fan had.

The burden on the treasury and supplies both have been somewhat reduced with the completion of Xiapi's Outer Wall, and the next phase of the project doesn't need much money and supplies as they would only build government buildings.

As for the rest of the empty land, it would be auctioned to the highest bidder but of course, people would be limited to the amount of land they could buy, and some of the strategic land has been taken over as government property to ensure the government power.

Jia Xu as the head of Lie Fan's advisors becomes the center point of everyone in the room as all heads turn toward him, and Jia Xu who becomes the decision maker finally gives his choice.

Jai Xu: "Since the burden of our treasury and supplies have somewhat lessened with the completion of the outer wall, I think we should increase 117,500 men where it would be given to Qinglong, Baihu, Zhuque, and Qilin Army, as for Xaunwu Army it doesn't need any increase as they have been added with 50,000 of Li Yan's former soldiers, what does everyone think?"

Chen Qun: "I agree Master Jia Xu, I have calculated that such an increase would have a small effect on our populace's view of Our lord, and I think some young men who had come to age would even flock to join our banner."

Liu Ye: "I also agree, with my invention the Climbing Tiger was in the process of being created, it would ensure the safety of our soldiers and reduce the number of casualties in the siege battles, which could protect the new recruits also."

Xun You: "I, Master Chen Gong, and Master Lu Su also agree and think that what Master Jia Xu has just suggested makes sense and that we will implement Master Jia Xu's suggestions immediately."

Seeing that everyone agreed with him, Jia Xu nodded his head and said that everyone should do their assignment as usual while Xun You, Chen Gong, and Lu Su began to increase Lie Fan's army while he reported the result of their meeting to Lie Fan.

After saying that Jia Xu ended the meeting and everyone dispersed to do their task, while Jia Xu headed toward Lie Fan's office when he arrived she saw Lie Fan standing on the porch and looking at Xiapi.

Jia Xu announced his presence to Lie Fan, who turned his head and acknowledged Jia Xu and told him to join him overlooking Xiapi from his office, while the two were overlooking Xiapi from above Jia Xu informed Lie Fan of the result of his meeting with the others.

Hearing the revision that was made by his Think Tanks, Lie Fan nodded his head giving the green light for what they had agreed upon to be done immediately, and after that, he asked Jia Xu when he should hold the court to discuss their next step.

Jia Xu responded by saying that they should do it in 2 weeks from now, when the recruitment for his army is already ongoing, and give time for the Head General and their advisors of each Army group to arrive at Xiapi.

Lie Fan listening to Jia Xu's suggestion agreed and then told Jia Xu that every Head General and Advisor should be invited, the Xuanwu Army no exception even though they would be unlikely to participate in their next battle.

Receiving Lie Fan's order, Jia Xu cupped his hand and then took his leave to draft the letters of summon for each Army group leader and then used the Oriole's Crow networks to send these letters as fast as possible.

So two weeks passed by in the blink of an eye, and the main hall of Xiapi's Governor's Castle was very crowded as all of Lie Fan's Advisors in Xiapi and all of his generals that he summoned were there for the next court session.

After Lie Fan took his seat from greeting all of his retainers, especially old friends like Huang Zhong and Dian Wei he proceeded to start the court session of his force.

Lie Fan: "Everyone, we gathered here today to discuss the next step of our force. I have decided for us to attack one of our neighbors this year, either Cao Cao to our west or Yuan Shao to our North. I would like to receive your advice on who should we attack, as this is not a small decision that I could make without guidance."

Jia Xu: "My Lord, concerning the bigger picture and how fast he has grown recently, I think we should attack Cao Cao and warn him by taking several towns under him, like Jibei, Puyang, Runan, and Qiao where we could have massive front to his capital Xuchang."

Xun You: "I support Master Jia Xu, Cao Cao also depended on the central plains as his farm to provide supplies for his army, so taking down four of these towns could cut down his supplies production massively."

Chen Gong: "I think differently than Master Jia Xu and Master Xun You, My Lord. I think we should attack Yuan Shao, as with us having a front to his rear from You Province and Yuan Shao's retainers who conflicted with each other, we would have an easier time defeating Yuan Shao and swelling a large part of his domain."

Chen Qun: "I agree with Master Chen Gong, politically Cao Cao was still respected by the people due to his receiving the Emperor under his protection, and attacking him could have a massive backlash to My Lord's reputation in the eyes of the common people."

Lu Su: "I think both plans have their own advantages and disadvantages My Lord, we only need to see the bigger picture of who would be our biggest adversaries in the future, and that's who we should stop or at least stop them from growing."

After Lu Su's voice fell down, the main hall turned raucous as everyone chose which side they supported or decided to be neutral like Lu Su.

Jia Xu and Xun You were supported by Huang Zhong, Liu Ba, Dian Wei, Chen Deng, Liu Ye, Yi Ji, Man Chong, and Lu Zhi. As for Chen Gong and Chen Qun, they received support from Taishi Ci, Bu Zhi, Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun, Zhao Yun, Mi Fang, and Sun Qian.

The rest chose to be like Lu Su, standing in the middle of the two parties and acting neutral, adhering to Lu Su's words to see the bigger picture, all this surprised Lu Su who was a newcomer as he didn't expect to garner such support.

Seeing that his court slowly becoming chaotic where the two sides were debating who they should attack, Cao Cao or Yuan Shao, Lie Fan raised his hand causing the rambunctious hall to be serene as everyone stopped talking, and seeing that everyone's attention was on him Lie Fan them announced that he have made his decision and that their next target would be Cao Cao to their west.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 31 (198 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 825

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 936 (+20)

VIT: 598 (+20)

AGI: 583 (+10)

INT: 587

CHR: 96

WIS: 509

WILL: 397

ATR Points: 0