316. The Beginning Of Jiangxia Siege

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This caused Liu Pan to take the letter from Liu Qi's hand was trembling after reading what the letter contained, while Liu Pan was reading the letters Liu Qi slumped into his chair as he didn't expect that his stepmother and step-uncle conspired to overthrow him, and filled his father with lies about him that caused his father finally despise of him from the position as his heir and installed his younger brother Liu Cong as his heir.

Liu Qi was dispirited while Liu Pan was angry and at the same time confused as to why Liu Biao listened to both Cai Mao and Lady Cai slander, he turned toward Liu Qi after reading the letter trying to console him.

Liu Bei who was watching this was happy that what he hoped finally happened, but of course, he hid this under his facade and joined Liu Pan in trying to console Liu Qi while assuring him that he would ask Liu Biao in Liu Qi's stead when he goes to Xiangyang.

Liu Qi and Liu Pan who heard this were touched by the kindness and care that Liu Bei showed to Liu Qi, even though it shouldn't have been Liu Bei's obligation to do but he volunteered himself for Liu Qi's sake.

Liu Qi stood up from his chair and saluted Liu Bei, telling him that he was grateful for what Liu Bei wanted to do but he didn't want to implicate Liu Bei in this internal intrigue battle in Jing Province, where Liu Bei could be banished from Jing Province by Liu Biao.

Liu Pan also stood up and supported what Liu Qi just said, he continued by saying that it was much better for them to handle this matter and have Fu Xun who was Liu Qi's confidant and advisor on their next move.

Liu Bei heard this sigh and told the two of them that he wanted to do this cause eye couldn't stand the injustice Liu Qi was facing, and that they shouldn't trust Fu Xun because he was a spy and insider for Cai Mao, who informed Cai Mao of all Liu Qi's activity.

This information caused Liu Qi and Liu Pan to gasp in astonishment, Liu Qi especially because he always thought of Fu Xun as his most trusted subordinate after his cousin Liu Pan who always supported him.

In disbelieve he asked Liu Bei if he had evidence of what he had just said, because if not he apologized before not because he didn't want to offend Liu Bei, but because he wanted to clear Fu Xun's name due to Liu Bei's false words without any evidence to support his claim.

Liu Bei takes out another piece of a letter and gave it to Liu Qi, telling him that things were the result of his investigation alongside Ju Shou and Wang Xiu, as they found that there was a trace of suspicious activity concerning information leak.

After a considerable time spent investigating, they found that the trace led to Fu Xun and they managed to intercept one of the letters that was being sent out from Fu Xun's residence, and this letter is what they intercepted.

Liu Qi received the letter and with a trembling hand opened it to read what it contained, he was devastated after finding out that it contained Fu Xun infringing Cai Mao about all of his activities, and even the moment he received the invitation from Liu Bei.

Liu Bei took the letter from Liu Qi and told him that he and his retainers would fully support him and that right now Liu Qi needed to calm down and e joy the delicacies he had prepared for him, for energy to prepare for tomorrow.

Liu Pan supported what Liu Bei had just said, consoling Liu Qi and persuading Liu Qi to taste the meal in front of him, who followed suit with what Liu Pan suggested while Liu Bei watched the two of them with a smile that indicated his plan was going well.

Liu Qi and Liu Oan were oblivious to Liu Bei's ill intentions and trying to cause a separation in Jing Province, but Liu Bei was also oblivious to the ongoing battle in the Eastern part of Jing Province.

Due to Huang Zu's previous decision to recall all of his army back to Jiangxia, Dian Wei and Zhang Chao led their army to wreak havoc on Xiling and Xiyang Counties and managed to subdue both counties and consolidate Lie Fan's control over both counties.

This news of course reached Xiangyang, where Liu Biao was angry at Huang Zu's decision which caused him to lose two counties in a matter of months after the war started, and there have been no changes to the situation with his army losing the war.

His letter contains his dissatisfaction with Huang Zu's decision to reach Jiangxia at the exact same time as Liu Biao's reinforcement for Huang Zu's numbering 75,000 men which in Huang Zu's opinion less than his original estimation.

The total number of his army originally was 120,000 men but due to several skirmishes with Lie Fan's army, now it was reduced to 95,000 men with Lie Fan's army also receiving several casualties but not as bad as Huang Zu's number.

With Lie Fan's army now approaching Jiangxia and the combined navy of Huang Zu and Cai Mao being decimated by Lie Fan and the Lu Clan's navy, Jiangxia was shrouded in a chilling atmosphere.

Due to Deng Long, there have been voices amounts Huang Zu's ranks for Huang Zu to renounce his allegiance to Liu Biao and pledge it to Lie Fan, which was suppressed by Huang Zu due to the presence of the reinforcement army from Liu Biao.

It's not that he is afraid of Liu Biao's soldiers but the one leading them was the one he was cautious of, the leader's name was Li Yan who was one of Liu Biao's best generals and in the original timeline, he received praise from Zhuhe Liang that he was on par with Lu Xun, but Li Yan is shown to be a failure at a critical juncture during the northern campaign against Wei.

Li Yan is a young officer who was promoted by Liu Biao to become his secretary and guardsman, Li Yan then gained recognition from there on, in the original timeline after When Cao Cao invaded, he fled to Yizhou and served Liu Zhang.

Liu Bei then invaded Yi Province years later and Li Yan was ordered to have his army defend Mianzhu Liu Zhang, but rather than fight Liu Bei he surrendered and pledged his allegiance to Liu Bei which then served Liu Bei until his death.

Huang Zu: "General Li Yan I'm sorry that you heard some alarming words from my subordinates, they were influenced by Deng Long who feels that I should pledge my allegiance to Lie Fan."

Li Yan: "It's okay Admiral Huang, a dissension in military ranks wasn't uncommon but I hope that you I can handle this matter, as I'm sure that My Lord would be satisfied with this."

Huang Zu: "Don't worry General Li Yan, you can rest assured that I will handle this matter and clean up that old dog Deng Long before Lie Fan's army arrives at Jiangxia."

Li Yan: "That's good, well then I need to take my leave to oversee the preparation of our defenses in Jiangxia against Lie Fan's army, please finish this matter as soon as possible. *leave the hall*"

Deng Long: "Now does Admiral Huang believe my words? This Li Yan was definitely by Liu Biao to undermine your power and influence, look at how arrogant his words were while talking to you."

Huang Zu: "Deng Long you better watch your words, the wall has ears and eyes and do you think Lie Fan would not do the same to me when I pleated my allegiance to him? Don't be naive."

Deng Long: "Oh Lie Fan would surely do the same but he will do it in a respectful way and not destroy your reputation or prestige, just look at Lu Kang and the Lu Clan at Lujiang and how they can still retain their influence and prestige."

Huang Zu: "Hmm... I need to think more of this matter, if I make the wrong move it will be the end of my Hua-"

Soldier: "My Lord! Lie Fan's Army is in sight and already making their encampment as we speak! Looks like there will be a first wave of attack!"

Huang Zu who wanted to say that he still needed more time to think, was cut off by a soldier who barged in on the hall informing Huang Zu that Lie Fan's army had arrived, while they were making their camp they were also seen preparing to attack.

This cut off the conversation between Huang Zu and Deng Long who both rushed out from the hall, heading toward Jiangxia Eastern Wall where on the way they were joined by Huang Zu's retainers, Li Yan, and Li Yan's retainers.

Arriving on the wall, they saw hundreds of thousands of Lie Fan's men with Lie Clan, Baihu, and Xuanwu's army banners flapping against the strong wind, while the strange siege engine was pushed out from the formation.

Huang Zu and Li Yan both have recited reports concerning this strange siege engine which could cause massive casualties, especially from the advisors assigned to Huang Chao who describe it as a heaven tribulation coming to punish them.

This alone causes both of them to be on alert when they see this and immediately order their men to raise their shields and the makeshift barriers, to minimize the impact of the siege engines against them.

Not a moment too soon, Huang Zu and Li Yan both witnessed and experienced Hwacha shooting toward them who was standing on the top of the walk fortunately for them and their retainers teny was standing in a safe place.

Unfortunately, it was a disaster for some of their soldiers. The sight is caused by Hwacha raining down arrows heavily upon them something they had never seen before, especially the power of the arrows which could piece through some of the shields.

At this time suddenly they heard a bell being sounded at the port of Jiangxia, where it can only be sounded when there is an emergency and there is an emergency as they could see from the wall even though it was far away, Ships who were very big and not on the same size as Huang Zu and Cai Mao ships which meant that it can only be Lie Fan and the Lu Clan's navy, which makes Huang Zu realize that he may need to make his decision sooner than expected.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 29 (196 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 2,462,000

Renown: 725

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,071,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 936 (+20)

VIT: 598 (+20)

AGI: 583 (+10)

INT: 587

CHR: 93

WIS: 509

WILL: 397

ATR Points: 0