520. Lie Fan Deciding a Course Of Action

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On the other side of the Wall, Ma Teng and Han Sui awaited the reinforcements with growing impatience. Both warlords had spent years fighting on the northern frontier, battling the Xiongnu and other tribes that threatened the Han's borders. Their forces had been successful in subduing much of the Southern Xiongnu, but they were now stretched thin, and the threat of a unified Northern Xiongnu coalition was a daunting one.

Ma Teng stood atop the Great Wall overlooking the vast expanse of plains before him. He watched as scouts returned with reports of enemy movements. Han Sui, his longtime rival, ally, enemy, and now comrade approached him.

The two of them had a complicated relationship though they fought together in the past as allies, then they had once been bitter adversaries fighting over Chang'An. Now, however, they are comrade serving under Cao Cao whose survival depends on cooperation with each other.

"They've sent scouts ahead of their main force," Ma Teng said as he studied the horizon. "The Northern Xiongnu are preparing for war after knowing about what we had done. It won't be long before they strike."

Han Sui crossed his arms, his face grim. "We've held them off before, but this is different. This Tugeh Khagan has united too many of the Northern Xiongnu tribes. Even with lord Cao Cao's reinforcements, we'll need to be cautious."

Ma Teng nodded. "Our scout had told me that Xiahou Dun alongside Yu Jin and Li Dian will be here soon. Once their army arrives, we'll have the numbers to push back, but we'll need a plan. The Xiongnu won't fight us head-on if they can avoid it."

Han Sui agreed. "They'll try to lure us into the open plains and pick us off with their horsemen, the tactics they always use. We need to force them into terrain where their cavalry is less effective. The mountains to the west could work in our favor if we can bait them into pursuing us there."

As the two of them strategized, their combined forces were spread across a series of fortified positions along the Great Wall, awaiting the arrival of Xiahou Dun's reinforcements. Scouts regularly patrolled the area, watching for signs of Xiongnu raiders.

Meanwhile, back at the Xiongnu encampment, Tugeh Khagan continued to rally more tribes to his cause. His advisors worked diligently to solidify the fragile alliance, knowing that the unity of the Xiongnu was their best chance to repel the Han forces.

Tugeh Khagan stood before a large assembly of tribal leaders. "The Han believe they can march into our lands and take what is ours," he said, his voice booming. "But we are stronger together. No Han general can defeat us if we fight as one."

The leaders, representing dozens of tribes, murmured their agreement, though some exchanged wary glances. Tugeh's power had grown quickly, and not all were comfortable with his dominance.

Some tribes had only joined the coalition out of fear or a desire to avoid conflict with their neighbors. Others were skeptical of Tugeh's ability to lead them against the Han, whose armies were far more disciplined and organized than their own.

Sensing the unease, one of Tugeh's closest advisors spoke up. "Our strength is in our unity. We've already sent out scouts to monitor the Han's movements. When they cross the Wall, we will strike. They may have numbers, but we have the land. We know the plains, the mountains, and the rivers. The Han will fall, just as their ancestors did."

But even as Tugeh rallied his forces, cracks in the coalition were already beginning to show. Guo Jia's agents had been working quietly, fanning the flames of discord among the tribes. Some leaders, particularly those whose lands lay farther to the north, were growing restless. They had no desire to fight a war for lands they did not control, and the promises made by Tugeh Khagan seemed increasingly hollow to them.

As the days passed, tensions simmered both within the Xiongnu camp and across the Han frontier. Xiahou Dun's army finally arrived at the Great Wall, where they joined forces with Ma Teng and Han Sui. The combined army of over 200,000 soldiers now stood ready to confront the Xiongnu threat.

Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, and Li Dian met with Ma Teng and Han Sui to finalize their plans. They agreed that they could not allow the Xiongnu to dictate the terms of battle. Instead, they would attempt to draw the Xiongnu into a trap by retreating toward the mountains, where they could use the terrain to their advantage.

Meanwhile, Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai continued their work from Tianshui, waiting for word from their agents and creating strategies for Ma Teng, Han Sui, and Xiahou Dun's army. If the Xiongnu alliance could be weakened from within, Cao Cao's army would stand a much better chance of victory and even push further north to gain more lands and resources.

As Cao Cao's generals and advisors were preparing their army and doing some clandestine activities in the face of the Northern Xiongnu tribes coalition, the Oriole agents embedded inside Cao Cao's northwestern territories and Luoyang sent letters filled with information about Cao Cao's activities to Xiapi to inform Lie Fan of what's happening.

Lie Fan sat in the grand chamber of his estate, surrounded by his inner circle of advisors. Jia Xu, Xun You, Chen Qun, Liu Ye, Chen Gong, Lu Su, and Sima Yi. They were having a meeting that was tense as they discussed the situation concerning Cao Cao's campaign in the north outside of the Great Wall.

"Gentlemen," Lie Fan began, his voice steady but filled with a sense of urgency, "We've heard from the Oriole agents informing us of Cao Cao's invasion against the Xiongnu tribes in the past. What do we know of his current state?"

Before anyone could respond, the door creaked open, and an Oriole agent slipped into the room, his face obscured by a hooded cloak. He approached Lie Fan, bowing respectfully before presenting a set of sealed letters.

"Lord Lie Fan," the agent whispered, "I bring urgent news from our sources in the northwest. The letters contain critical information regarding Cao Cao's plans and the movements of the Xiongnu tribes."

With a nod, Lie Fan took the letters and swiftly broke the seals. He began to read aloud, his brow furrowing as the contents unfolded. "Cao Cao has mobilized a large force, numbering over 200,000 soldiers, to confront a Northern Xiongnu Tribes Coalition. His generals Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, and Li Dian have already joined Ma Teng and Han Sui at the Great Wall. They intend to draw the Xiongnu into the mountains to counter their superior cavalry with terrain advantages."

His advisors listened intently, the implications of this information sinking in. Lie Fan continued, "Cao Cao's plans extend beyond mere defense; he aims to crush the Xiongnu coalition entirely, which would solidify his power and expand his territory by completely taking over the Xiongnu's entire territory."

As he read on, he noted the internal discord within the Xiongnu coalition. Many tribes were hesitant, and Tugeh Khagan's leadership was not as secure as it appeared. "Cao Cao's agents have already begun to exploit these divisions, attempting to undermine Tugeh's authority from within," he said, pausing to let the weight of this revelation settle.

"Cao Cao is playing a dangerous game," Jia Xu remarked, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "If he succeeds, his power will grow immensely. We cannot afford to let him gain such a foothold."

Xun You interjected, "This could be our opportunity. If we strike now, we could weaken both Cao Cao positions by striking Yuan Shao, who remains a significant threat in the north. A decisive blow against Yuan Shao could alter the balance of power in our favor."

Chen Qun, ever cautious, raised an eyebrow. "But how can we ensure that we can act without reprisal from Cao Cao? His forces are vast, and he will not take kindly to any attempt to undermine him while he is preoccupied with the Xiongnu."

Lie Fan considered this for a moment. "If we are to act, we must be both swift and strategic. Yuan Shao is currently focused on his extravagant life in the north and may not expect an attack from us. We have allies and the Oriole agents in the region that we can mobilize to weaken or halt Yuan Shao's reaction time."

"Gongsun Gong in Liaodong could send his army to help us alleviate pressure on our front, my lord," Liu Ye suggested. "His army is well-trained and could strike at Yuan Shao's northern territories while we attack from the south."

The room buzzed with conversation as the advisors weighed their options. Chen Gong, who had been silent until now, spoke up, "We have to consider how we can exploit the current chaos. If the Xiongnu and Cao Cao forces clash, it may create a perfect opportunity for us to expand our influence while they are distracted."

Lie Fan nodded, the gears in his mind turning. "Agreed. Our aim should be to weaken both sides without overextending ourselves. If we can instigate conflict between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao between their shared border, we may be able to exploit it and attack Yuan Shao without both Yuan Shao and Cao Cao realizing it before it's too late for them."

The discussion evolved into a full-fledged strategy session, with the advisors debating various routes of attack, potential alliances, and the timing of their movements. The urgency of their situation drove their planning, each member contributing their insights and expertise.

After several hours of heated discussion, they crafted a plan. Gongsun Gong would mobilize his forces from Liaodong, striking at Yuan Shao's northern territories and disrupting his supply lines from the north.

Meanwhile, Lie Fan and his army would launch a surprise attack from the south, focusing on destabilizing Yuan Shao's influence in the southern territories while sowing dissent among his ranks, and had the Oriole agents who had climbed ranks inside Yuan Shao's administration change side causing dissent in Yuan Shao's ranks.

As the meeting came to a close, Lie Fan stood up, a sense of resolve washing over him. "We have a solid plan in place, gentlemen. Our aim must now be to act with stealth and precision. We cannot afford to be careless, lest our enemies become aware of our intentions."

Jia Xu nodded, a sly smile creeping onto his face. "I will deploy our Oriole agents to incite conflict along the shared borders of Yuan Shao and Cao Cao. A well-placed rumor or skirmish can create distrust, and if we play our cards right, we can stir the pot until they turn on each other."

"Exactly," Lie Fan replied, his eyes glinting with ambition. "Let us use their pride and enmity to our advantage. If they are occupied fighting one another, it will provide us the window we need to strike decisively."

Chen Qun, always the voice of caution, added, "While we prepare for war, we must also strengthen our internal defenses and ensure our men remain loyal. The last thing we want is dissent from within while we engage in external conflict."

"Indeed," Liu Ye agreed. "Let us send Oriole agents to our key subordinate, to keep an eye on them and watch every single move they make."

With that, the advisors began to disperse, each with tasks to accomplish. They moved quickly, organizing their respective divisions and ensuring their networks of spies and agents were activated.

In the days that followed, the atmosphere across Lie Fan's territories shifted subtly but significantly. Oriole agents moved discreetly, spreading whispers and sowing discord among the ranks of Yuan Shao's forces. Incidents of skirmishes along the border began to occur with increasing frequency, and as planned, these minor clashes would slowly escalated into more serious confrontations.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains

Age: 32 (199 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 1325

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 951 (+20)

VIT: 613 (+20)

AGI: 598 (+10)

INT: 617

CHR: 96

WIS: 519

WILL: 407

ATR Points: 0