338. Liu Bei Shaking The Land On The New Year

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Hearing the support he receives from the officials and noble clans that his advisors managed to persuade, Liu Bei lets out a victorious smirk that only Kuai Liang notices and feels weird when he sees it. While acting recognizing the urgency of the situation, Liu Bei decided to make a public declaration to formally announce his intention to assume governance of Jing Province.

Hearing what Liu Bei said, both Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue cupped their hand and told Liu Bei that they would draft the letter of announcement for Liu Bei, and will give it to him the latest tomorrow morning.

Liu Bei nodded his head and told the two of them to take their time, right now they needed to focus on pacifying Xiangyang and its surrounding area, for declaring his intention formally it could be done at a later date.

As the scene shifted to Xiangyang's Southern Gate, the clash between Cai Mao's forces and the advancing troops led by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei intensified. Despite relentless attacks and strategic maneuvers supported by Ju Shou's tactical expertise, Cai Mao's defenses held firm, thwarting every attempt to breach the gate.

Recognizing the critical importance of their mission, Cai Mao and his men fought valiantly, willing to endure significant casualties to buy precious time for Liu Biao and his party to escape.

For Cai Mao, protecting Liu Biao was not only a matter of loyalty but also essential to safeguarding The Cai Clan's interests, particularly given his sister's marriage to Liu Biao.

Despite the mounting casualties and relentless assaults from Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's forces, Cai Mao remained steadfast, determined to hold the line and ensure Liu Biao's safe departure heading to Jiangling.

Far away from Xiangyang, at the Sun Clan's Capital, Lie Fan was reading information concerning the event occurring in Xiangyang from Jia Xu, who received the information from the oriole in Xiangyang.

As Lie Fan absorbed the information provided by Jia Xu, he couldn't help but marvel at Liu Bei's unwavering determination and resilience in the face of adversity. The unfolding events in Xiangyang revealed a glimpse of Liu Bei's relentless pursuit of power and his ability to adapt to challenging circumstances.

Intrigued by Liu Bei's strategic maneuvers and the political landscape of Jing Province, Lie Fan recognized the significance of these developments for the broader landscape of the land, as it once again changed the flow of history he knew.

Despite the chaos and uncertainty, Lie Fan couldn't deny the ingenuity and tenacity displayed by Liu Bei as he sought to carve out his own domain, he is just like a cockroach who can't die with numerous times of being hit or a cat with nine lives.

After that Lie Fan asked Jia Xu what he thought about Liu Bei, as Lie Fan wanted to know what his number one advisor right now thought of Liu Bei, as maybe he have his own insight which could be used by Lie Fan in facing Liu Bei in the future.

Jia Xu answers Lie Fan's question by saying Liu Bei is an opportunist and a very great actor with a very high rhetorical skill. He managed to manipulate many people into believing his lies, and people who believe in what he said, would find it hard to look past all of his lies to see his true self.

Jia Xu could evaluate all of this because he sees Liu Bei from an external point of view and with his expertise in human interaction, and he believes that not many people could be like him even top class advisors so that's why he could receive the help of Ju Shou, Kuai Liang, and Kuai Yue.

Lie Fan listened intently as Jia Xu offered his insights into Liu Bei's character and tactics. With a thoughtful nod, Lie Fan acknowledged the complexity of Liu Bei's persona and the skill with which he navigated the political landscape.

As Jia Xu highlighted Liu Bei's opportunism and adeptness at persuasion, Lie Fan couldn't help but marvel at the depth of his manipulation and rhetorical prowess.

It was clear that Liu Bei possessed a rare talent for swaying hearts and minds, a trait that set him apart from many of his contemporaries, which could make him become one of the best warlords in the future creating the Three Kingdom Era and could stand side by side with Cao Cao and Sun Quan.

Reflecting on Jia Xu's assessment, Lie Fan recognized the formidable challenge posed by Liu Bei's charismatic facade and the difficulty in discerning his true intentions amidst the layers of deception.

While Lie Fan and Jia Xu having a conversation about Liu Bei, back in Xiangyang, Cai Mao decides to retreat and head to Jiangling to meet with Liu Biao and his party who are already headed there first, thinking that they have given Liu Biao and his party more than enough time.

As Cai Mao's forces began their strategic retreat toward Jiangling, a collective sigh of relief swept through their ranks. The toll of the relentless assaults and mounting casualties had taken its toll on morale, and the prospect of regrouping provided a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.

Under Cai Mao's decisive leadership, the retreat unfolded swiftly and efficiently, with soldiers moving in a coordinated manner to ensure their safe passage.

Meanwhile, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, eager to press their advantage, sought to pursue Cai Mao's retreating forces. However, Ju Shou intervened, urging caution and emphasizing the need to pacify Xiangyang before further engagement.

As Guan Yu and Zhang Fei heeded Ju Shou's advice and refrained from pursuing Cai Mao's retreating forces, they took control of Xiangyang's Southern gate, solidifying Liu Bei's hold over the city. With this decisive move, Liu Biao had truly lost control of Xiangyang, marking a significant shift in power within Jing Province.

The retreat of Cai Mao allowed Liu Bei's forces to pacify Xiangyang, a development that brought a sense of accomplishment tinged with sorrow for the loss of Liu Biao as his brother.

Though the victory was bittersweet, Liu Bei maintained a stoic demeanor, concealing his inner joy as he addressed his supporters. This touched many people's hearts, except for Kuai Liang who have begun to be somewhat suspicious of Liu Bei.

Days passed, and as the new year dawned entering the year of 197 AD, Liu Bei made a bold announcement, declaring himself the new governor of Jing Province shaking the land that still celebrated the dawn of a new year.

In his proclamation, he cited Liu Biao's descent into tyranny and his unwavering commitment to protecting the people of Jing Province from oppression.

He emphasized that his actions were driven by a sense of duty and justice, and he garnered support from Liu Qi, Liu Biao's rightful heir, who had been unjustly stripped of his succession without valid cause.

As Liu Bei's proclamation resonated with many commoners and some noble clans, stirring emotions of hope and admiration, others remained skeptical of his intentions.

Among the skeptical warlords was Yuan Shao, who dismissed Liu Bei's words as mere deception, attributing his rise to opportunism rather than genuine concern for the people.

Meanwhile, Ma Teng and Han Sui remained focused on their own conflicts, paying little heed to Liu Bei's political maneuverings. Liu Zhang, however, took a more critical stance, condemning Liu Bei's actions as a violation of imperial protocols and an affront to the dignity of the Han Dynasty.

Shi Xie didn't care about what happened between Liu Bei and Liu Biao concerning Jing Province, as he was still facing his nephews Shi Hui and Shi Wu who rebelled and carved their own domain from his land.

As for Cao Cao, Lie Fan, and Sun Ce, they didn't have any response whatsoever and were incognito. Lie Fan and Sun Ce only talked about Liu Bei as a big threat and determined to uphold their alliance against Liu Bei.

On the other hand, Cao Cao held a meeting with his advisors, and during the meeting, Guo Jia and Xun Yu both suggested that Cao Cao attacked Liu Bei while maintaining their defensive line in the north against Yuan Shao.

This idea was also supported by Cheng Yu and Xi Zhicai because they also received information that Yuan Shao halted the preparation to invade them due to Gongsun Du being defeated by foreign forces.

Cao Cao hearing this nodded his head and agreed with his advisors, as this could be a chance for him to expand his domain after so long because after expanding west, there was no other place to invade especially to the east where Lie Fan was very strong.

Despite the mixed reactions from the other warlords, Liu Bei's bold assertion of authority marked a pivotal moment in the political landscape of Jing Province and the land as a whole.

Liu Biao who was in Jiangling was angered by Liu Bei's declaration, condemning Liu Bei for his trickery and betrayal of his own kin, usurping his position through arms, and spreading lies about him.

As the shockwaves of Liu Bei's bold declaration reverberated across the land, Lie Fan and his family decided to return to Xiapi after spending some time in the Sun Clan's capital, including the New Year festivities.

The news of their departure was met with melancholy by Sun Jian and the Sun Clan, who had come to regard Lie Fan and his family as integral members of their own. Sun Ce, in particular, felt a deep sense of loss, having received invaluable teachings from Lie Fan as both a warrior and a leader.

Lie Fan expressed his gratitude to Sun Jian and the Sun Clan for their hospitality and support during their stay, reaffirming the bond between their families. He assures them that although they must part ways for now, their friendship and alliance remain steadfast.

These words were received happily by Sun Jian and Sun Ce because this meant that they would be safe from Lie Fan's expansion, at least for the next couple of years because by Lie Fan's words, he had another target in their mind.

Wannian and Sun Shangxiang who received the news that Lie Fan and his family would return to Xiapi were very sad because they liked playing with each other and even being taught together in martial arts by Lu Lingqi.

They begged both Lie Fan and Sun Jian to allow Wannian to stay for a couple of months in the Sun Clan Capital, but both Lie Fan and Sun Jian disagreed because if something ever happened to Wannian while staying with the Sun Clan, it could strain the relationship between the Lie Clan and the Sun Clan retainers, so they disagreed even if their wives tried to persuade the two of them.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 29 (196 AD) -> 30 (197 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 825

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,821,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 936 (+20)

VIT: 598 (+20)

AGI: 583 (+10)

INT: 587

CHR: 96

WIS: 509

WILL: 397

ATR Points: 0