414. Fall Of Qiao, Cao Cao's Army Arrived

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As the two titans of the era prepared for an epic confrontation, the land held its breath. The outcome of this war would shape the future of China, determining who would emerge as the dominant power in the central plains. All people in the land alike watched with bated breath, ready to seize any opportunity that might arise from the ensuing chaos. The fate of land hung in the balance as Lie Fan and Cao Cao moved their pieces on the grand chessboard of war.

Lie Fan stood atop the hill overlooking the battlefield, his gaze piercing through the morning mist that hung over Qiao. Beside him stood two of his advisors, Jia Xu and Xun You, their expressions a mix of caution and calculation, with behind them his bodyguards and personal guards.

Below, the Qilin Army, led by Zhang Liao and Gao Shun, pressed hard against the Qiao Defences Army, their coordinated assaults leaving Cao Cao's men who were guarding Qiao in disarray.

"The defenses are crumbling faster than anticipated," Jia Xu observed, his eyes narrowing as he watched the enemy lines falter. "Our strategy of swift and overwhelming force coupled with causing internal confusion has caught Cao Cao completely off guard."

Xun You nodded in agreement, his voice calm and measured. "Zhang Liao and Gao Shun have executed their roles perfectly. The precision of their attacks has disrupted the enemy's command structure, and Qiao's Defender's morale is wavering. It won't be long before they break entirely."

Lie Fan's lips curved into a thin smile. "This is the moment we've been waiting for. Once Qiao falls, our path to attack Chenliu and Xuchang will be clear and we will attain dominance over the central plains."

Below, Zhang Liao and Gao Shun led their troops with ruthless efficiency. Zhang Liao, his glaive flashing in the sunlight, cut through enemy soldiers with practiced ease, his presence a beacon of strength for his men.

Gao Shun, with his disciplined and relentless approach, ensured that no gap in their formation was left exploited while he led his unit the Formation Breaker with precise focus.

"Push forward!" Zhang Liao's voice rang out, carrying over the din of battle. "Break their lines and drive them back!"

Gao Shun, using his strategic mind, directed his troops with calculated precision. "Focus on their weak points! Do not give them a moment to regroup!"

As the battle was raging on, the commanders of the Qiao Defences Army were trying their best to hold the Qiao Defensive line. They were almost overwhelmed due to the Climbing Tigers, which in their eyes the strangest siege ladder they had ever seen.

"What the hell is that thing?! We need to do something to destroy it! It works like a ladder for Lie Fan's men!" One of the commanders stated while he pointed toward the Climbing Tigers.

The other commanders nodded their heads and gave their agreement to him, sharing the same opinion as him. "But what can we do?! We have tried everything and anything at our disposal, but we can't destroy it no matter what!" replied a commander while he supervised the defensive line.

The word from the commander silenced the other commanders who wanted to give ideas or suggestions, because what he had just said was the truth and they had seen for themselves that it couldn't be destroyed.

His pessimistic opinion caused several of the commanders to be angry with him, which caused an argument soon boiled among the commanders which caused Qiao's defensive line to be uncoordinated right.

The Qiao Defences Army, which was already strained by the suddenness and ferocity of the attack, began to falter and soon was breached under Zhang Liao's ferocious attack and Gao Shun's strategy.

Their commanders, due to the bickering unable to rally their forces effectively, and watched in despair as they realized what they had done as their lines broke and their soldiers fled in panic or were being slaughtered by the Qilin Army.

Seeing that they had managed to breach Qiao's defensive line, Zhang Liao rallied his men, "Their defensive line had fallen! Men it's time you showed your full power to Our Lord and be the first Army under our Lord to take down one of Cao Cao's major towns!"

These words caused the entire Qilin Army that was on the attack, to feel their spirit burning up and emboldened which increased their combat power as a whole.

As the battle raged on, the Qiao Defences Army's collapse became inevitable. Zhang Liao and Gao Shun's relentless assault, combined with superior manpower and strategy, had sealed their fate.

The gates of Qiao, that was closed so tight and couldn't be breached, were forced open by the Qilian Army soldiers from inside, welcoming their comrades that began to swarm in under Zhang Liao's leadership.

From atop the hill, seeing what happened Lie Fan turned to Jia Xu and Xun You, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Order our reserves to move in and secure Qiao supporting Zhang Liao and Gao Shun. We must ensure that no remnants of resistance remain."

Jia Xu nodded, signaling a messenger who swiftly relayed the order. "The fall of Qiao will send a clear message to Cao Cao, that My Lord's strength is unmatched, and was the superior one between the two of you."

Lie Fan watched as his banners were flown across the Qiao's Walls, a symbol that Qiao had fallen into his hand. "This is only the beginning," he murmured, more to himself than to his advisors. "The central plains will soon be ours, and with it, the future of China."

Xun You, from the side, added, "We must be vigilant, my lord. This victory will draw the wrath of our rival. Cao Cao will not stand idly by and not do anything to take revenge against you."

Lie Fan nodded, his expression resolute. "Let him and his men come. We will be ready to face him, with the Oriole's network we will know when and where he will attack and how we should defend against his attack."

As the sun set over the battlefield, casting long shadows over the fallen. With Qiao under their control, Lie Fan and the Qilin Army fully consolidated their control over Qiao.

The grand chessboard of war was in motion, and the first victory belonged to Lie Fan, who managed to take down Qiao from Cao Cao. Opening Lie Fan to Xuchang and Chenliu, which will become his next target.

In Xuchang, the news of Qiao's fall reached Cao Cao's court with the speed and fury of a tempest. Courtiers and advisors, already embroiled in the political machinations and strife due to internal chaos caused by Doing Cheng and his allies, erupted into a cacophony of arguments and accusations.

Cao Cao sat at the head of the hall, his face a mask of barely restrained fury. His fingers drummed incessantly on the armrest of his chair, each tap echoing the turmoil in his mind. The report from the battlefield lay open before him, the details of the defeat stark and unforgiving.

"How could this happen?" Cao Cao's voice, usually calm and commanding, now trembled with rage. "Qiao was supposed to be impregnable! Who among you can explain this failure?"

The court fell silent, the weight of Cao Cao's wrath pressing down on everyone present. Guo Jia, one of his most trusted advisors, stepped forward, his expression grave.

"My lord, the speed and ferocity of Lie Fan's attack took our forces by surprise. His commanders, Zhang Liao and Gao Shun, executed their strategy with remarkable precision."

Cao Cao's face contorted in pain, a sharp headache stabbing through his temples. He pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling as if his skull was being split in half. Despite the agony, he forced himself to focus.

"We cannot afford to let this victory embolden Lie Fan," Cao Cao growled, his eyes blazing with determination. "Had the army immediately moved out! We march to counter this invasion and reclaim Qiao."

The court erupted once more, this time in a flurry of activity as orders were given and plans made. Cao Cao's top generals that were present, including Xiahou Dun and Xu Chu, moved swiftly to rally their troops.

Xun Yu, on the other hand, approached his lord with a concerned expression. "My lord, while we prepare our counterattack, we must also consider the possibility that Lie Fan may use this momentum to strike at Xuchang or Chenliu directly. We should fortify our defenses and ensure our supply lines remain secure."

Cao Cao nodded, his mind racing despite the pain. "You speak wisely, Wenruo. See to it that our defenses are strengthened. I will not allow the younger brother I recognize and my rival to threaten the heart of my domain."

As the preparations continued, Cao Cao retreated to his private chambers, seeking a moment of respite from the chaos. He paced the room, his thoughts a whirlwind of strategies and contingencies.

He knew that the coming confrontation would be pivotal, not just for his own ambitions, but for the future of his clan, which he had dreamed of bringing into a much higher glory than what it was right now.

As he was thinking, the headache struck him once again causing him to writhe in pain and cold sweat come down from his face, and to counter the pain he decided to lay down on his bed while massaging his temples.

Outside, the soldiers of Cao Cao's army readied themselves for the march. Tension hung in the air, the men acutely aware of the gravity of their mission. They had faced many foes under Cao Cao's banner, but Lie Fan was proving to be a challenge unlike any other.

Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Yue Jin, Li Dian, and Xu Chu oversee the preparation of the army themselves while Cao Cao's advisors such as Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, and Cheng Yu oversees the defensive improvement of Cao Cao Major towns and supply for the army.

In the distance, the first light of dawn began to break, casting a pale glow over Xuchang. Cao Cao, standing at the window of his chamber after a night of rest to ease the pain from his headache, watched the horizon with steely resolve.

The grand chessboard of war was in motion once again, and the next move belonged to Cao Cao who had taken it as the next player. The Oriole that was stationed in Xuchang, wrote the reports concerning Cao Cao's movement and sent them to Lie Fan and Jia Xu who were currently staying at Qiao, consolidating it and integrating its government under Lie Fan's rule.

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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