410. Zhang Yan Retreat To Jinyang

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Dong Cheng felt a swell of pride and resolve. "Thank you, Your Majesty. With your support, we will succeed. For the glory of the Han Dynasty." with Emperor Xian's blessing and the unwavering support of his granddaughter, Dong Cheng felt emboldened. His rise to power will be fabulous, especially when he becomes the prime minister and rules over the court and all who look down on him before could only look up to him.

Dong Cheng took his leave from the study, a confident smile playing on his lips as he walked through the palace halls. His mind was already spinning with his future grandeur, each step feeling like a march toward his inevitable rise to power.

Unbeknownst to him, shadows flitted along the corridors, always watching. The Orioles that was stationed in Xuchang, had been meticulously monitoring Dong Cheng's movements. Each conversation, each meeting, was quietly observed and recorded.

One of the Oriole agents, wearing the clothes of an eunuch, quickly penned a detailed report of Dong Cheng's latest activities and plans. The agent sealed the report and dispatched it to Xiapi, where Jia Xu would receive and analyze it.

The report contained reports concerning Dong Cheng's ambitions and the possible upheaval within the Imperial court that would happen because of it, where plans were made to cause chaos in Cao Cao's plan to support Lie Fan.

The letters soon arrived in Xiapi, received by Jia Xu who was sitting in his study, as he was engrossed in a mountain of documents. Where a swift knock on the door brought him back to the present. One of the Oriole members around him entered, carrying a sealed letter. Jia Xu opened it, his sharp eyes scanning the contents rapidly.

A satisfied smile crept onto Jia Xu's face. He had been expecting such a report. Dong Cheng's machinations and his receipt of Lie Fan's "support" letter had set the wheels in motion.

He had been devising this plan soon after Lie Fan tasked all of them to create a justification, which was to cause chaos inside Cao Cao's base of operation in the Central Plain, which Lie Fan had planned to take full control of.

Jia Xu's mind worked quickly, contemplating the next steps. He needs to ensure that every move Dong Cheng made would be beneficial to their campaign plan and not do the opposite of it.

Jia Xu tucked the letter into his robes and made his way to Lie Fan's office in the Governor's Castle. The castle's halls were bustling with activity, as soldiers and officials moved about their duties.

When he reached Lie Fan's office, Lie Fan's bodyguard nodded respectfully and allowed him entry. Inside, Lie Fan was reviewing military reports, his eyes scanning the documents spread out before him.

He looked up as he heard movement from the door and saw Jia Xu enter his office, where he then noticed the solemn look in his advisor's demeanor.

"My Lord," Jia Xu began, bowing slightly. "I bring important news from Xuchang." He handed over the letter and waited as Lie Fan read through it.

Lie Fan's expression remained calm but focused as he absorbed the details. "Dong Cheng is indeed making moves," he said thoughtfully. "This could work to our advantage if managed correctly. We need to ensure his actions align with our campaign, I didn't expect that he would make such moves."

Jia Xu nodded. "Precisely, My Lord. I also didn't expect that he would plan to make such big moves, so I suggest we keep a 24-hour surveillance of Dong Cheng and his group. The Oriole's network in Xuchang is more than capable of this task. Any deviation or significant movement will be reported directly to us."

"Agreed," Lie Fan replied. "Dong Cheng's every move needs to be monitored. We cannot afford any mistakes at this stage. Have the Oriole increase their vigilance and ensure their reports are thorough and timely."

Jia Xu bowed again. "It will be done, My Lord. I will personally oversee the coordination alongside Xu Kai to ensure there are no lapses."

Lie Fan smiled, his confidence in Jia Xu evident. "I trust your judgment, Wenhou. With your guidance, we will turn Dong Cheng's ambitions in our favor and the Central Plains will be ours, with a bonus that Cao Cao's influence will be diminished."

As Jia Xu left the office, he immediately set about organizing the Oriole network. Messages were dispatched to the agents in Xuchang, instructing them to intensify their surveillance of Dong Cheng and his associates.

Every conversation, every meeting, and every decision Dong Cheng made with his associates would be documented and relayed back to Xiapi and emphasized that whatever conversation was made to be recorded.

The next few days were a flurry of covert operations. Oriole agents blended seamlessly into the background, their presence unnoticed by Dong Cheng and his followers who began to do some preparation.

They tracked his movements, listened to his plans, and even intercepted communications within his circle. Each piece of information was meticulously recorded and sent back to Jia Xu, who analyzed every detail before giving Oriole instructions on what to do.

As Xiapi was filled with letters coming in and out, the scene shifted to the embattled city of Shangdang, where the clash between Zhang Yan's Army and Yuan Shao's army had reached a critical juncture.

Zhang He and Gao Lan were leading the assault with relentless determination. Their troops surged forward, battering the defenses with a ferocity that tested the resolve of Zhang Yan's men.

On the walls of Shangdang, Tao Sheng, Zhang Yan's advisor, directed the defenses with a calm, steady hand. He moved among the soldiers, offering encouragement and instructing the soldiers, his presence was a big support for Zhang Yan's Army.

"Hold the line! Lord Zhang Yan will give out late rewards for those who contribute the biggest in this battle!" Tao Sheng's voice rang out, encouraging the soldiers.

His strategic mind was working tirelessly, trying to anticipate the next moves of Zhang He and Gao Lan. Despite their superior numbers and resources, Tao Sheng knew that if they could exploit any weaknesses, they might turn the tide.

Suddenly, a stray arrow, loosed from an unknown direction, arced through the air with deadly precision. Tao Sheng never saw it coming. The arrow struck him in the chest, and he staggered back, his eyes wide with shock.

Blood seeped through his robes as he lost his balance and fell from the wall, landing heavily on the ground outside of Shangdang, where the impact of the fall killed him instantly.

A cry went up from the defenders as they saw their leader fall. Panic threatened to spread, but a few brave soldiers tried to rush toward Tao Sheng's location, unfortunately, they were blocked by Zhang He and Gao Lan's men.

Zhang Yan, seeing the commotion, quickly assessed the situation. His heart sank at the sight of Tao Sheng's motionless form below. "Hold your positions!" he bellowed. "Do not let them breach the walls!"

Meanwhile, Zhang He, observing the chaos from his vantage point, saw an opportunity. "Push forward!" he ordered. "Their defenses are faltering!"

Hearing Zhang He's words, Gao Lan nodded, spurring his men on. "We have them now! Break their lines!"

The battle intensified as Yuan Shao's men redoubled their efforts, sensing victory within their grasp. Zhang Yan's men fought valiantly, inspired by their leader's determination, but the loss of Tao Sheng dealt a significant blow to their morale.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the battlefield, the struggle for Shangdang continued unabated. The walls were battered, Zhang Yan's men were weary, and with the loss of Tao Sheng, Zhang Yan's men's morale was at an all time low.

Inside Shangdang's Governor Castle main hall, Zhang Yan stood at the head of the table, flanked by his remaining generals, including Sui Gu, who had been his steadfast companion through many battles.

The atmosphere was tense and charged, the recent loss of Tao Sheng casting a long shadow over the proceedings, as the other generals were restless and Zhang Yan couldn't control all of their tempers.

"Shangdang cannot hold much longer," Zhang Yan began, his voice heavy with the weight of the day's events. "We must decide on our next move."

The room erupted into a cacophony of voices, each general airing their opinions and frustrations. Some argued for holding the city at all costs, while others advocated for an immediate retreat to save what remained of their forces. Without Tao Sheng's calming presence and strategic mind, the meeting quickly descended into chaos.

"We can't abandon Shangdang!" one general shouted. "This city is our lifeline!"

"We're already stretched too thin!" another countered. "If we stay, we'll be slaughtered!"

Zhang Yan rubbed his temples, feeling a headache brewing from the incessant arguing. He knew that every moment wasted in indecision only brought Yuan Shao's Army closer to breaching their defenses completely.

"Sui Gu, what do you say think?" Zhang Yan asked, turning to his most trusted General.

Sui Gu's face was grim. "We have fought bravely My Lord, but the men are exhausted, and without Master Tao Sheng, our coordination is suffering. We cannot afford to lose everyone here. I propose a strategic retreat to Jinyang. There, we can regroup and plan our next move."

Zhang Yan nodded, feeling the truth in Sui Gu's words. However, the suggestion was met with immediate resistance from others in the room.

"Retreat? Are we cowards now?" one general spat. "We should fight to the last man!"

"Enough!" Zhang Yan's voice cut through the clamor, silencing the room. "We are not abandoning our cause. A strategic retreat is not an admission of defeat but a necessary move to ensure our survival and future victories."

Despite the opposition, Zhang Yan's authority was unchallenged. He had made his decision, and his will was final. "We will evacuate Shangdang immediately. Prepare the troops and gather what supplies we can. We leave for Jinyang under the cover of darkness."

The generals reluctantly acquiesced, recognizing the futility of further argument. Plans were swiftly put into motion, and within hours, Zhang Yan's Army began their withdrawal from Shangdang.

As they moved through the night, Zhang Yan rode at the head of his Army, his mind a whirlwind of plans and the move they needed to make. Jinyang would offer them a chance to regroup and fortify their position. There, he hoped to find the strength needed to continue their fight against Yuan Shao. Unbeknownst to Zhang Yan, his retreat was known by Zhang He who decided to not report this to Yan Liang and Wen Chou, so that they would not take all the glory in defeating him.

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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