197. Splitting Up Yu Province

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Yuan Shu only saw that the scene he was watching was spinning around, and when it stopped he saw his body with Lie Fan in front of it, fall down and his last thought is that he should have listened to Hou Zui more, still believing him to the last moment not knowing that Hou Zui was the cause of his downfall.

Yuan Shu's men were shocked by Yuan Shu's death, They felt like they had just blinked and everything happened so fast. The death of Yuan Shu caused the morale of his men to immediately hit rock bottom.

Lie Fan takes Yuan Shu's head from the ground, and protected by his bodyguards he raises it up high and announces that Yuan Shu the pretender is dead, and demands all to surrender.

Many began to throw down their weapons and began to run away after hearing that and seeing Yuan Shu's head, some surrendered while the rest continued their fight with loyalty to Yuan Shu giving them the spirit to continue fighting and avenging Yuan Shu.

Yuan Shu's death slowly spread throughout Runan, and when Yuan Yao heard that his father was slain by Lie Fan, he was shocked and let it ta cry in pain while cursing Lie Fan for what he had done.

Yuan Yao being controlled by his emotions, ordered the men under his order to attack the Western Gate to retrieve his father's corpse, Yuan Yin and Liu Xun advised Yuan Yao to not do so, and they should retreat to the Castle to defend Runan there.

Liu Ye who heard this immediately opposed their suggestion, he suggested to Yuan Yao to retreat from Runan right now through the Northern Gate, while they still had a large number of men.

They should bring their supplies, and go to Yuan Shao to seek shelter at the North. Yuan Yin and Liu Xun opposed Liu Ye's suggestion, saying to Yuan Yao that if they did so, they would tarnish Yuan Shu's reputation as everyone knew that the two brothers didn't get along.

Yuan Yao agrees with Yuan Yin and Liu Xun, and he turns toward Liu Ye still being controlled by his emotions, he slaps Liu Ye hard surprising everyone as even Yuan Shu doesn't dare to do so as Liu Ye is still part of the Imperial Clan.

Liu Ye was shocked by what Yuan Yao did, but knowing what Yuan Yao had just transpired, he chose to apologize and stay silent.

Yuan Yao ordered everyone to retreat toward the Castle, including Liang Gang who was guarding the Eastern Gate, Yuan Yao's retreat allowed Cao Cao to immediately capture the Southern Gate.

Cao Cao was confused at first as to why they suddenly retreated, but after hearing that Yuan Shu had been slain by Lie Fan, he then understood as t why they retreated as the already low morale was hit significantly.

Cao Cao didn't expect Yuan Shu will die just like, one he thought was one of his greatest foes since a little child alongside Yuan Shao was killed by Lie Fan beheaded by him.

Yuan Yao arrives at the castle but receives news that Liang Gang while leading the retreat was slain by Dian Wei, causing the army at the eastern gate to collapse without its leader and be held by Lie Fan and Cao Cao's men as prisoners.

Some of the soldiers from the Eastern Gate managed to arrive at the Castle, but the number was only around 5,000 men which was a big difference from the previous 46,000 men.

Cao Cao, Lie Fan, and Huang Zhong alongside Yu Jin led their armies toward the Castle, not harming any common people on the way there, and Lie Fan gave Yuan Shu's head to one of his bodyguards ordering it to be put inside a box.

Yuan Yao led the defenses of the castle with all of his might, around 65,000 men against hundreds of thousands of men whose numbers can't be detailed due to their huge amount and not all can enter Runan.

Lie Fan alongside Cao Cao and the others is now standing in from of the Castle, which has been surrounded from all sides cutting off their retreat, and even if they managed to go out the Tian Mao battalio mare scouring Runan outside.

Lie Fan: "Yuan Yao just surrender! The head of your father is in this box, I will give it to you and allow you to bury him honorably befitting of his status."

Yuan Yao: "Lie Fan! Don't you dare do anything to the body of my father! I will never surrender and avenge the death of my father!"

Cao Cao: "Yuan Yao I'm Cao Cao! We have met several times when I go visit your father and even held you one time when you were a baby, listen to me and just surrender I will treat you well in honor of my friendship with your father!"

Yuan Yao: "Cao Mengde you scum! My Father always treats you well, why don't you declare your allegiance to him when he declares himself as Emperor?! An old friend my ass! You are just jealous of my father!"

Guo Jia: "My Lord, we should just attack right now, Yuan Yao's emotion is all over the place with his father's death and the inevitable defeat that will come to him."

Cao Cao: "Humph since this little bastard doesn't want to listen to me and Brother Lie Fan, then we should teach him a lesson since he was younger than Brother Lie Fan so you can be counted as an elder to him."

Lie Fan: "Haha then I follow Brother Mengde to teach him a less- look at that!"

Lie Fan who was responding to Yuan Yao's words, suddenly saw something that shocked him and pointed it out for everyone to see, and when everyone turned their head toward Yuan Yao's location they were surprised by what they saw.

A man wearing a yellow shirt adorned with light armor stabs Yuan Yao from behind. This situation also shocked all the people who stood there, Yuan Yin and Liu Xun who stood beside Yuan Yao the most surprised

Yuan Yao was shocked, and when he turned his head to see who it was, blood came out from his mouth and he saw that the culprit was a general named Lu Fan, who was the son-in-law of a rich official in Runan.

Yuan Yao's body then fell backward, falling from the top of the castle walls to the ground. Lu Fan the culprit tells loudly, saying that he dedicated this to Lie Fan and that he surrenders to him.

Yuan Yao's sudden death was so much of a shock, that after Lu Fan finished shouting his words everyone was still processing what just happened, Jia Xu was the first one to wake up and nudge Lie Fan to respond to Lu Fan's words.

Lie Fan blinked and said that he appreciated what Lu Fan had done, and told all of the Yuan Clan advisors and generals to surrender, as two of their lords had been slain back to back.

Lu Fan encouraged the other generals and advisors to do so, excluding Yuan Yin and Liu Xun who were hardcore supporters of Yuan Yao. They could choose which lord they wanted to serve, Cao Cao or Lie Fan who both would definitely accept them.

Slowly one after the other agreed to surrender, Yuan Yin and Liu Xun were angry at this and tried to tell them to continue fighting, but Lu Fan used his sword to cut them both down killing them.

Soon the Castle gate was opened, and Lie Fan alongside Cao Cao entered the castle accompanied by their retainers, being greeted by the surviving generals and advisors of Yuan Shu.

The death of Yuan Shu and Yuan Yao signifies the end of the battle and subjugation, Lie Fan and Cao Cao then begin to have a meeting alongside their advisors, to discuss the splitting up of Yu Province.

At this time, Liu Bei and his army suddenly arrive supervising the both of them. Liu Bei's army was late due to the long distance between Yu Province and Qing Province, since he came to Lie Fan and Cao Cao both welcomed him.

Liu Bei apologized that he arrived late as by the looks of it the battle was already finished, he was ashamed that he could only kill remnants of Yellow Turbans and bandits on the way here, not contributing anything.

Cao Cao as the cunning politician he is, said that it was alright and that what Liu Bei had done was also important, clearing up some troubles on the way to Runan helping him and Lie Fan.

Liu Bei just smiled at Cao Cao's words, Lie Fan the youngest between the two poured down some tea and comforted Liu Bei then began to talk about miscellaneous things with the two of them.

Lie Fan and Cao Cao were receiving Liu Bei, In the other room Guo Jia and Jia Xu alongside Xun You, Chen Deng, Yan Jun, and Zhuge Jin discussing the content of the treaty that split up Yu Province.

The basis of the treaty was decided, Cao Cao would receive the West side of Yu Province to the middle, while Lie Fan would receive the East side of Yu Province all the way to the middle.

Unfortunately, Runan was in the middle of Yu Province, so it became a contested ground for the negotiations, Jia Xu and Guo Jia had a heated exchange and finally, Jia Xu gave Runan to Guo Jia, in exchange that Lie Fan receiving a larger amount of the prisoners.

Guo Jia thinks that it is feasible, so he agrees, and even though they will receive fewer men, controlling Runan increases Cao Cao's need for territories, especially after being stabbed by Lu Bu.

Since it was decided like that, the negotiations ended with both sides satisfied and managed to accomplish what their lords had ordered, they dispersed and waited for their lord to inform them of the result.

Jia Xu, Xun You, and the others while waiting for Lie Fan, were approached by Lu Fan who surrendered to Lie Fan, alongside Liu Ye and another scholar. Lu Fan greeted them and said to Jia Xu, that he had brought two former advisors of Yuan Shu who liked to swear allegiance to Lie Fan.

Jia Xu greeted them, welcoming them and saying that it was the right choice to support Lie Fan. Liu Ye and the man named Liu Ba introduced their names to Jia Xu and the others, they thanked Jia Xu and said that they would like to meet with Lie Fan so they wanted to wait alongside them.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 25 (192 AD)

Level: 15

Next Level: 1.588.000

Renown:  605

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 371.700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 906 (+20)

VIT: 578 (+20)

AGI: 563 (+10)

INT: 567

CHR: 93

WIS: 489

WILL: 377

ATR Points: 0