225. Kong Zhou's Defeat

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The death of these people actually doesn't concern him, what concerns him is the impact on his reputation, and that someone has an expert group of assassins or spies or both, and they break out Yuan Shu's family which will become a big stain on his reputation.

Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai on the other hand examined the dead bodies together, trying to see if there were any clues or something that could help them, they had eyewitnesses that they could talk to due to everyone here was killed by the infiltrators.

The wounds on the dead bodies were precise and on point, targeting vital points that kill a person in one slash or stab. All of the wounds inflicted were located at the neck, and a stab to their hearts silenced the victim showing their ruthlessness.

The Guard who found the horrifying scene in the estate was interrogated by both Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai, and from the results, it's known that the incident happened at midnight because the guard was passing through the estate at dawn when the sun began to rise.

Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai then scoured the estate, trying to see if some tracks or clues were left behind, but after doing so for an hour they found nothing, not even a single dust or thing that could give them clues.

Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai can only return empty-handed to Cao Cao, and Cao Cao who was informed of this by the two of them forgave them, as he knew that the one who did this was very skilled and professional not leaving anything behind.

Cao Cao ordered the Interim Governor of Runan to handle this matter, and not let the news spread outside for as long as he could, if anyone dared to investigate it he could put them in prison or even let them disappear.

The Interim Governor gave his understanding and promised to do as he commanded, After spending several days there Cao Cao resumed his original objective that is to meet up with Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren.

The distance between Runan and the location where Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren are staying is not that far, so Cao Cao and his party only spend several days before reaching Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren's camp.

In there Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren's army have been on standby for several days, waiting for Cao Cao's arrival because when Cao Cao arrives, the next day they will attack Kong Zhou's capital.

Cao Cao's arrival was received by Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren, who was the highest commanding general in their army, Cao Cao alongside Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai was brought by Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren to the command tent, to inform them of the strategy for tomorrow.

In the tent, Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai evaluated their strategy, for this kind of battle where Kong Zhou was truly a weak party, they actually didn't need to participate personally every time.

But it's already an occupational disease, and Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren also asked them for some guidance, the two said that it was to ensure that it was a perfect strategy, because if they lost then it would become a stain and push back Cao Cao's grand plan.

Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai found no flaw in the strategy, they explained that there's no perfect strategy or plan because anything could happen on the battlefield, and Cao Cao who was also examining the plan nodded to their words.

Knowing that the plan at least doesn't have any flaws, Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren finally ensure that the battle will be in their favor, after taking a rest for a day Cao Cao leads the combined army toward Kong Zhou's capital.

Kong Zhou who was in his capital leading the defense, with a meager 25,000 men almost all of them were conscripted forcefully by Kong Zhou, so his army was just a paper tiger waiting to be torn apart.

Cao Cao and his army arrived at Kong Zhou's capital Ruyin, Cao Cao's army numbering 200,000 men encircled Ruyin and prepared to attack it from all sides.

Under Cao Cao's command, 200,000 men attacked Ruyin with Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren leading the charge, Cao Cao's generals such as Cao Hong, Xiahou Yuan, Yue Jin, and Li Dian also joined the battle.

Kong Zhou and his 25,000 men tried their best to defend Ruyin, but they already lost at the starting line. Kong Zhiu's man is underequipped, inexperienced, and low on supplies with morale at rock bottom.

The battle only lasted for several hours before Ruin was finally breached by Cao Cao's army, Kong Zhou and his advisors were soon captured by Cao Ren and brought toward Cao Cao.

Cao Cao: "Kong Zhou we finally meet again, the last time we saw each other was at Luoyang where your rank is much higher, you never expected it to become like this right?"

Kong Zhou: "Cao Cao you're nothing if not for Liu Dai allowing you to have so many lands in Yan Province! After the Yellow Turbans, you only become a middle-ranking court official!"

Cao Cao: "Haha! Now how the tables have turned, with my ingenious mind and charisma I become one of the strongest warlords, now I suggest for you to surrender and maybe I can allow you to return to the Imperial Court!"

Kong Zhou: "*spit* The Imperial Court and The Emperor are just your puppets! I rather die than serve you, just kill me and be done with it! I have nothing to lose anyway, my only son is dead and I can't have a child anymore."

Xu Chu: "How dare you spit on My Lord! Old man you truly seek death! Let me help you taste my Rod Hammer!"

Cao Cao: "Zhongkang stop! Alright then Kong Zhou since you wanted to die so badly, let me help you do so. Zhongkang please hand me my Sword that was given by Your Majesty to kill the traitors of the Empire!"

Xu Chu takes out a sword from a scabbard that is full of decorations with jewels and insignia of the Han Dynasty. It should have been a decorative sword, but it was a sword nonetheless and was a sharp one.

Cao Cao takes the sword from Xu Chu's hand, and without any words slashes it toward Kong Zhou's neck, slicing it and blood flows down while Kong Zhou holds his neck in reflex while looking at Cao Cao full of resentment.

Cao Cao's action surprised Kong Zhou's advisors who were captured alongside him, while Cao Cao's advisors and generals already knew that this would happen, well not exactly like this but Kong Zhou would die one way or another.

Kong Zhou's death was another chapter closed for another player in the large chess of world hegemony, his death was just a small great in the large engine that keeps working nonstop until one becomes the winner.

Cao Cao gives his sword to Xu Chu to be put into the scabbard back, and then he turns toward Kong Zhou's advisors asking them if they want to serve him or if they can live but live a life of mediocrity.

All of them turned their head toward each other, and all were in agreement to serve Cao Cao so Cao Cao's objective to expand his domain to the south concluded with him winning a complete victory.

The news of Cao Cao winning his battle reached Lie Fan, for Lie Fan tbsp is just news that came into prediction since Cao Cao would win his war against Kong Zhou sooner or later.

Lie Fan decided to continue doing his work, not knowing that Jiang Qin brought half of the expedition fleet back to Huai'An's Secret port, surprising Xun You who was put in charge of the port while he and Gan Ning left for Taiwan.

Jiang Qin gets off his command ship and meets up with Xun You who was waiting for him on the dock, Xun You asks him why he returned back because according to their calculation, he will not finish their expedition until next year.

Jiang Qin explained to him that he was sent back by Yang Hong and Yan Jun who felt that they didn't need two admirals of the Navy to stay in Taiwan, so he was sent back here to supervise the port and allow Xun You to return back to Xiapi.

He also will send some of the ships back to Taiwan, to bring some supplies and medicines that were requested by Yang Hong and Yan Jun, and also to inform Lie Fan that the first batch of the settlers can be sent in about 3 to 4 months.

Xun You nods his head, he feels that Yang Hong and Yan Jun's decision is not for him to decide if it's a good one or not, in his personal opinion this wasn't a bad one because they need an admiral in the battle against Liu Yao who will happen soon if everything going according to plan.

Xun You helped Jiang Qin in preparing Supplies and Medicines that were needed by Yang Hong and Yan Jun, he also sent Oriole members to inform Lie Fan of what just transpired and put his personal opinion he supported Yang Hing and Yan Jun's decision.

The Oriole Member reached Xiapi after around 2 weeks of riding, the letter soon arrived in Lie Fan's hands with Jia Xu giving him the letter where Lie Fan opened the letter and read the content.

Lie Fan after easing the letters feels that Yang Hong and Yan Jun's decision was an unexpected one and something that he doesn't support at first, but after reading Xun You's personal opinion he agrees that they will need an admiral to go against Liu Yao Navy.

He doesn't want his even though superior in terms of technology and firepower, to lose because of the lack of excellent leadership commanding the fleets which only Gan Ning and Jiang Qin had.

Jia Xu: "My Lord is something wrong? I can see that many thoughts are passing by through your expression."

Lie Fan: "It's nothing after I think about it, Yang Hong and Yan Jun decided to send Jiang Qin back to Huai'An to stay there allowing Xun You to return to Xiapi."

Jia Xu: "That's good news, My Lord, I'm sure that Yaang Hing and Yan Jun's decision is done after many careful considerations, I also support their decision in doing so as we need an admiral to lead our fleet in our battle against Liu Yao."

Lie Fan nods his head as after finalizing the matters with Sun Jian they will go to war against Liu Yao in about a month or two, Jia Xu and Chen Qun have begun the preparation of the supplies needed for the war.

Sun Jian and his family haven't returned to Yuzhang, not because Sun Jian doesn't want to return but because Sun Shangxiang and Wannian who have become the best of friends, the two meet when Sun Jian visits Lie Clan Estate and immediately become friends.

Every time Lie Fan and Sun Jian separate Sun Shangxiang and Wannian to return home after playing, they throw tantrums and even try to sneak out of their residence, making Lie Fan and Sun Jian truly regret making the two meet, but they also like to spoil their sister and daughter so they extend Sun Jian's return every time something like that happens.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 26 (193 AD)

Level: 15

Next Level: 938.000

Renown: 645

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 571.700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 906 (+20)

VIT: 578 (+20)

AGI: 563 (+10)

INT: 567

CHR: 93

WIS: 489

WILL: 377

ATR Points: 0