240. Wu County Fall To Lie Fan, Man Chong & Mao Jie

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When Lie Fan and his army are near Wu, Lie Fan send Lu Jun to attack Yan Baihu from the rear, detaching the Lujuang Army from his Army Group heading south toward Sheng Xian's domain while subjugate the towns and villages on their path consolidating Lie Fan's control over Wu County faster.

Lu Jun lead the Lu Jiang Army while Lie Fan lead his army advancing toward Wu, where Xu Gong is waiting for him there alongside the officials who have supported Xu Gong, casting their ballot for Lie Fan.

Xu Gong greeted Lie Fan with the highest respect he can give, conveying that he and his army doesn't need to waste their energy to take control of Wu, Lie Fan who saw this appreciates him and appoint him as the Governor of Wu, the capital of Wu County.

Xu Gong was elated that he was appointed to become the Governor of Wu, retaining his previous position before supporting Yan Baihu's insurection, and while he was elated he doesn't forgot to inform several people who also contributed for the handing of Wu.

Lie Fan wave his hand, saying that he leaves him Xu Gong to handle the rewards befitting of the contributions they made, while doing so Lie Fan use the Eye of Erlang Shen to see Xu Gong stats.

•Xu Gong

INT: 420 WIS: 65 VIT: 74 CHR: 61

One of the mediocre stats between his advisors, but since he have the experience and knew Wu County like the back of his hand, Lie Fan was sure of Xu Gong's appointment as the Governor of Wu.

Xu Gong lead Lie Fan and his party toward a banquet hall, where they was welcomed with southern delicacies and courtesans to play some music and dance, the entertainment provided for the banquet.

Lie Fan, Jia Xu, and Xun You only eat the deliciacies not touching the wine a single bit, choosing to drink the tea that was served for them while some of Lie Fan's general drink a bit of wine after Lie Fan allowed it.

The banquet only lasted for 3 hours before being ended under Lie Fan's request, Lie Fan called for a meeting with Xu Gong and the officials of Wu alongside Jia Xu and Xun You.

Lie Fan's bodyguard accompanied Lie Fan on the meeting while Lie Fan's generals was ordered to prepare the army and give them have a feast, to raise their morale and a free time for his men to rest.

Lie Fan: "Master Xu Gong, I would like to know the current domestic situation in Wu County especially Wu after Yan Baihu lead his insurection."

Xu Gong: "My Lord the situation is far from ideal, even though Yan Baihu have reduce the taxes of grains and household, but all of that was depleted by Yan Baihu's excessive lifestyle and then his campaign to attack Sheng Xian."

Jia Xu: "Do you have any books to note Yan Baihu's income and expenditure from his ascension to today?"

Xu Gong: "Yes I have Master Jia Xu, I brought here alongside me in case My Lord or Master Jia Xu or Master Xun You wants to see it."

Xun You: "Come give it to me, Hmm looks like Yan Baihu truly enjoy his current lifestyle, 40% of your income is being used for banquets and brothels."

Xu Gong: "Yed Master Xun You, I was the one who push Yan Baibu to do so, I actually can see some good bit leadership qualities from him, so I push his hedonistic and greedy side to destroy that quality."

Jia Xu: "I like that Master Xu Gong, even though the downside is we need to support Wu County for a year, with the amounts of coins in My Lord Treasury, it was just like a drop of bucket water in a big ocean."

Lie Fan: "I agree with Wenruo, good job Xu Gong for doing so, because if Yan Baihu leadership qualities was ignited, then it will be hard for you to scheme Wu County from him."

Xu Gong bowed his head and cupped his hand in gratitude for Lie Fan's compliment, mysbe it was a bit of exaggeration but like in the original timeline Sun Ce needs some time before he can defeat Yan Baihu who rise to power after a difficult struggle.

His mind and personal qualities was better than in the current timeline, who's rise to power was very easy due to the support from Oriole and Xu Gong who was persuaded to support Yan Baihu by the Oriole.

They continue discussing Wu and Wu Ciunty situation as a whole, then after 2 to 3 hours passed by Lie Fan ended the meeting, where Xu Gong then escort Lie Fan and his party to the quarters prepared for them.

While Lie Fan is ending the day by taking a rest, Lu Jun lead the Lujiang Army teoard the broader between Wu County and Shanyin County Sheng Xian's domain. He let his akry take a rest, since from the reports of his scout Yan Baihu's army aren't that far from their current location.

Lie Fan managed to take control of Wu and preparing t consolidate his control over Wu County, Lu Jun is resting his amry before attacking Yan Baihu through the rear, at Xiapi two guest had come to meet with Liu Ye.

These two guest come to Xiapi because of Liu Ye's invitation, one of them are his personal friend while the other was the friend of his friend.

Liu Ye invited Chen Qun to welcomed these two men, Liu Ye then introduced his personal friend named Man Chong and then Man Chong introduced his friend Mao Jie to both Liu Ye and Chen Qun.

Liu Ye: "Man Chong and Mao Jie thank you for receiving my invitation and come to Xiapi, unfortunately My Lord is on a campaign against Liu Yao at the south and can't receive the two of you."

Man Chong: "Liu Ye we are close friends of course I come when you invite me, since you talk about Lord Lie Fan looks like you wanted me and my friend to serve Lord Lie Fan."

Liu Ye: "Yes, I feel that your talent will shine the best serving under Lord Lie Fan, as your friend I understand your temper and personality, not all Lord in the land can understand and even support your actions."

Mao Jie: "What Master Liu Ye said is not fully correct, I feel that Lord Cao Cao could understand and support Man Chong's personality and action not just Lord Lie Fan."

Chen Qun: "Lord Cao Cao maybe can accept Master Man Chong temper, but only My Lord can provide the stage and opportunity for the two of you to fully show your talent."

Man Chong: "We will stay at Xiapi and wait for Lord Lie Fan, I would like to meet with Lord Lie Fan personally before deciding what to do."

Mao Jie: "I'm the same as Man Chong, I also would like to meet with Lord Lie Fan. He is the youngest Lord in the land right now, and his achievement has defeated some of the oldest Lord, something that I personally admire."

Liu Ye and Chen Qun look at each other and agree with Man Chong and Mao Jie decision, if they were in the same position as them they would do the same, just like Chen Qun who also wait for Lie Fan with his Father.

Liu Ye assigned Man Chong and Mao Jie quarters at his mansion, receiving them personally and asked them if they want to see how Lie Fan's internal government work if they were interested to see it.

Man Chong and Mao Jie feels that it was to abrupt for them to do so, because if they decide to not serve Lie Fan their chance to leave Xiapi alive is low due to them knowing how Lie Fan's internal government work which could be an important information for other Lord.

Liu Ye understand their concern, but tells Man Chong and Mao Jie that he is 100% sure that the two of them will serve Lie Fan, because if people with the caliber such as Jia Xu, Xun You, and Chen Qun choose to serve Lie Fan there's must be something they see in Lie Fan that's different from other Lords.

Man Chong and Mao Jie feels that Liu Ye is too overconfident, because even if its Cao Cao's who they knew better their confidence in choosing to serve him isn't that high.

Man Chong as Liu Ye's friend understand the personality of his friend, which was more stubborn than an ox could show his support to such degree for Lie Fan means that there is truly something special in him, making Man Chong more interested to meet with Lie Fan.

After entering the quarters assigned for them, Man Chong and Mao Jie was invited to a personal banquet that Liu Ye's hold in his mansion, where he invited many of Lie Fan's advisor.

Lu Zhi, Cai Yong, and Zhuge Xuan who's name was famous in the Scholars circle also attend the banquet, making Man Chong and Mao Jie surprised.

For Cai Yong they knew that he served Lie Fan, because of the news of the marriage between his daughter and Lie Fan several years ago, as for Lu Zhi and Zhuge Xuan they thought the two have died.

They think so because Lu Zhi last known location was at Luoyang where it was under the control of Dong Zhuo, while for Zhuge Xuan because eye accepted the position Yuan Shu's give to them before he proclaimed himself as Emperor.

This respected figures immediately makes them have a conversation, taking about many things ranging from ideology, Confucianism, domestic and internal matters, even Military Stratagems.

Lu Zhi, Cai Yong, and Zhuge Xuan knew that Liu Ye and Chen Qun tried to recruit this two young Scholars to serve Lie Fan, and after having long conversations with the two of them, they feel that Liu Ye and Chen Qun decision is a great one.

Even though Cai Yong and Zhuge Xuan doesn't truly agree with Man Chlng methods, especially how he thinks that they should everything by the book when interrogating suspects using torture.

Due to Confucianism teaching they doesn't agree with htaht method but understand Man Chong point of view, Lu Zhi on the other hand even though also one of Confucianism figurehead in this era, he is also a military general and agree with Man Chong's method.

Lu Zhi feels that Lie Fan needs such man as Man Chong, where he can dirty his hands just like Jia Xu especially in extracting information from prisoners or spies, because Jia Xu can't handle that alone due to him also one of Lie Fan's main advisors.

He on the spot declare that Man Chong is the last student that he will teach if he accepts, breaking his oath where Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan will be his last batch of students, Man Chong who heard this immediately bowed and cupped his hand in gratitude and admiration agreeing to become Lu Zhi's student.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 27 (194 AD)

Level: 15

Next Level: 938.000

Renown: 645

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 571.700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 906 (+20)

VIT: 598 (+20)

AGI: 583 (+10)

INT: 587

CHR: 93

WIS: 509

WILL: 397

ATR Points: 0