103. Last Year In Luoyang

This caused a three-way debate between the three of them, Lie Fan only watched on the sidelines knowing that the Big Ship of the Han Dynasty had half of its body sunk. Different from everyone's expectations of him joining in, Lie Fan stayed on the sidelines and let this happen as his time to leave Luoyang was coming and he didn't want to be highlighted by anyone.

The dispute between He Jin, Zhang Rang, and WangYun is not pointless actually. The government needs a leader, even if there's no Emperor at least the Crown Prince or someone appointed by the Emperor to act on his behalf with his consent.

Zhang Rang didn't want a crown prince to rise to disrupt the Eunuch's political power that they are amassing right now with Emperor Ling's condition, He Jin wanted to take this chance to push Liu Bian's ascension become the Crown Prince of the Han Dynasty, and Wang Yun doesn't want both He Jin and Zhang Rang gaining more power so he tries to stop them.

Lie Fan doesn't care about them as long as they don't provoke him, Now he is preparing to leave Luoyang and there are many things he needs to prepare. His industry in Luoyang, Oriole's future in Luoyang, and the evacuation of the Cai Clan need to be organized which he predicts take some time at least 2 months.

The Court ended with no outcome gained, Emperor Ling didn't wake up from his illness means that it was an open season at the court. Corruption began to run more rampant, except for Wang Yun's Faction and Baohuzhe everyone is enriching themselves more in preparation for the political battle of for the Position of Crown Prince.

Due to Lie Fan's butterfly effect, the battle at the court started early and Emperor Ling's illness hit its peak due to the court struggle. Lie Fan returned to the Lie Clan residence to begin the preparation for his family, as he wanted to send his family first back to Xu Province.

Luoyang's situation is becoming more dangerous, he doesn't want his focus to be diverted to protecting his family and facing the court situation. In the meeting room, Jia Xu and Xun You approve Lie Fan's plan, They recommend Sun Qian who has known Lie Fan family longer than them to accompany them.

Lie Fan assigned Gong Du and He Yi to accompany his family, taking 1,000 men from his army under Huang Zhong to escort his family. When he is assigning Gong Du and He Yi, Lie Fan remembered Zhang Mancheng and Zhao Hong who were in Qing Province right now infiltrating Yellow Turban remnants stationed there.

Lie Fan told Jia Xu and Xun You about this as only Sun Qian knew about this, and he sent Zhang Mancheng and Zhao Hong to recruit yellow turban soldiers to become his army. Xun You is a bit reluctant to accept rebels but Jia Xu instantly praises Lie Fan as this move will help them have free soldiers at their disposal.

Jia Xu: "While this ingenious move can bring infamy towards you My Lord, with the Han Dynasty crumbling it's not much of a problem as long as you care about the people, the only ones who will complain in the end are your enemies."

Lie Fan: "Don't worry no one will ever know, When the Yellow Turban remnant rises in Qing Province we can send troops to help and incorporate them smoothly."

Xun You: "A good plan My Lord, but what makes you so sure that the Yellow Turbans will rise again?"

Lie Fan: "Because they either wanted to avenge Zhang Jiao or they saw an opportunity to become rich, we need to keep an eye on Yellow Turban activity in Yan, Qing, and Yu provinces Master Jia Xu."

Jia Xu: "Don't worry My Lord, I will replicate some of the Oriole in Luoyang that have infiltrated smaller and middle-level Nobles to enter those provinces. Thanks to My Lord's enterprise, we have a large amount of money to expand Oriole's larger, and right now we are training the last batch."

Lie Fan was happy with that, he also told Jia Xu to let the Oriole members open Serenity Inn and Dragon's Fang Tavern at the capital of each province. This will help them to accumulate capital for their operation and also for Lie Fan, he will coordinate with his mother to send some members from his Merchant Caravan to help the Oriole members.

The meeting ended and Lie Fan went toward the Dining room as it was time for Lunch, everyone was waiting for him there. Yu Yan at first was a bit cold toward Diao Chan, but after knowing what her origin and happened to her she immediately changed to become loving and gentle accepting her into the family.

Lie Fan arrives at the dining room and sees how his family interacts with each other in full harmony, he is happy seeing this as he doesn't want his family to hate each other. He sits in between Diao Chan and Ying Yue, Lie Fan slowly becoming the head of the Lie Clan even though his Father is still healthy.

Yu Yan consents to Lie Fan turning into the Head of the Clan, at least it can help her have more time with her husband and take care of Wannian together.

Lie Fan: "Mother, Chan'er, and Yue'er I have something to inform you all."

Yu Yan: "What is it? Don't tell me that you will bring another girl to our family this fast."

Diao Chan who still feeling the pain of betrayal and Ying Yue who was eating her food, hearing what Yu Yan said instantly raised their head together and glared at Lie Fan while each of their hands pinched Liw Fan's waist from each side.

Lie Fan feeling the pain in his waist begins to clarify the situation while crying without tears at his mother's accusations.

Lie Fan: "No Mother how can you say that, I wanted to inform the three of you that I have decided to send everyone to Xiapi as it was safer there and Luoyang will only grow more and more unsafe."

Yu Yan: "What? If we were sent to Xiapi, then how about you? Who will accompany you here?"

Lie Fan: "I will stay here to oversee some things and in 2 months in the new year I will follow everyone back to Xiapi."

Ying Yue: "Husband you have to stay safe okay? And what about Sister Diao Chan is it okay for her to come with us?"

Diao Chan who heard this bowed her head, holding the chopstick in her hand tightly. She really wanted to follow Lie Fan, but she understood if Lie Fan sent her back to Wang Yun because they aren't married yet and it can cause a scandal.

Lie Fan hearing this question from Ying Yue raised his hand and flicked Ying Yue's forehead, making her yelp in pain holding her forehead.

Lie Fan: "Don't you hear what I just said, Of Course, Chan'er is coming with you and Mother. She is part of our family now and sending her back to Wang Yun will only hurt her even more."

Diao Chan: "I-I really can follow everyone, Brother Lie Fan?"

Lie Fan: "Of Course! And what Brother Lie Fan, you must call me Husband now, and I will call you Chan'er because if I call you wife then Yue'er will also feel like being called."

Diao Chan blushed heavily and lowered her head to hide her shyness, Ying Yue hearing this was happy as even though Diao Chan came between her and Lie Fan she also thought of Diao Chan as her own Older Sister.

Lunchtime passed by filled with joy and Diao Chan managed to get out slowly from her sorrow, Lie Fan prepared the carriage and supplies for his family after finishing lunch. He called for Huang Zhong outside Luoyang to come in as he wanted to coordinate with him and helped Gong Du and He Yi to receive a token that allowed them to lead Lie Fan's soldier.

Huang Zhong arrived at the Lie Clan residence bringing the token to be given to Gong Du and He Yi, He also asked Lie Fan if he needed to follow them back to Xiapi or wait alongside him here in Luoyang. Lie Fan replied for him to stay as when they go back to Xiapi, they have a place to stop by as he wanted to meet with someone.

Huang Zhong heeded his order and when he wanted to return to the Army Camp, Lie Fan ordered him to stay and let his vice commanders supervise the army. He Yi and Gong Du will be gone, Lie Fan feels his safety to be compromised so he makes Huang Zhong stay here as the residence will be empty anyway after his family is gone.

Three days passed by and Lie Fan finished the preparation needed for his family to go towards Xiapi. Yu Yan, Wannian, Ying Yue, and Diao Chan broader the carriage that was prepared for them, and under the protection of Gong Du and He Yi they left the Lie Clan residence towards Luoyang's western gate where the 1,000 Soldiers waiting for them.

With his family leaving Luoyang, Lie Fan feels at ease doing anything he wants to do. He sent Xun You to the Cai Clan's residence to inform Cai Wenji and the Cai Clan to organize everything they needed in 2 months When the new year arrived, they would leave Luoyang alongside him.

Lie Fan and Jia Xu began to coordinate Baohuzhe, Lie Fan tried to persuade the bourgeoise to slowly leave Luoyang in 1 or 2 years. He hinted at them to maybe go to Xiapi to meet him and he will help them relocate to the big cities across Xu Province as Luoyang will become unsafe to their safety and business.

Many of the big bourgeoisie were not persuaded, thinking that Lie Fan was only bluffing as he wanted their money, while the middle and small bourgeoisie was on the fence as they had more prospect of believing Lie Fan than staying here in Luoyang. The downside is they have to start from scratch which can hurt them financially but they have more room to grow than in Luoyang being squeezed by the big guys.

Lie Fan's purpose in doing this is to reduce the amount of wealth that Dong Zhuo will receive when he ransacked Luoyang, yes he will still have a large amount of money from the Imperial Treasury and Tomb but at least he will not have as many as he should have.

Lie Fan also can use this as a chance in investing at his province, spreading it can help Xu Province economically as a whole and maybe become the richest province thanks to it. Baohuzhe members don't know that Lie Fan will leave Luoyang, except for Zhu Jun, Huangfu Song, and Lu Zhi whom he notified using the reason that Yellow Turban is beginning to run rampant again.

Zhu Jun, Huangfu Song, and Lu Zhi were also bright talents before the Eastern Han Dynasty downfall, Lie Fan asked them to stay safe as Luoyang was becoming unsafe politically and if they ever left Luoyang they could go to him in Xiapi.

Oriole members were told to stay in Luoyang by Lie Fan under Xu Kai's leadership, they would continue spying on Luoyang and sending their reports to Jia Xu.

He still stationed Oriole at Luoyang so he could have eyes and ears here, also so that when the time Dong Zhuo ransacked Luoyang he could send them to take the Imperial Seal at the well that Sun Jian found the Imperial Seal..

Lie Fan's busyness in organizing many things with Jia Xu and Xun You made 2 months pass by in the blink of an eye, They entered a new year and the day that Lie Fan left Luoyang arrived. Lie Fan hoped that Emperor Ling could hang on for at least a year, He wanted He Jin and Zhang Rang to truly tear down the Court and then Emperor Ling could pass away as at that time no one could take a step back.

________________________

Name: Lie Fan

Title: Yellow Heaven Subjugator

Age: 18 Years Old (185 AD -> 186 AD)

Level: 13

Next Level: 12.000

Renown: 185

Cultivation: Art Of War (level 8)

SP: 366.700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 510

VIT: 219

AGI: 228

INT: 247

CHR: 90

WIS: 209

WILL: 165

ATR Points: 0