Cai Bo can only take the 2nd highest chair as Kie Fan has already taken the most important chair for himself, he sees that after Lie Fan finishes saying that he doesn't even glance at him or try to have a conversation with him which infuriates him as no one ever treated him this way even if those people have a higher rank than Cai Yong.
Jia Xu can see the dangerous hint radiating from Cai Bo's eyes, he inwardly sneers at how this old man can act that way toward Lie Fan as if Lie Fan wants all of Cai Clan can be executed except for Cai Yong's daughter and blames in on the eunuchs to hide his traces.
Sun Qian: "Elder Cai Bo, please excuse Governor Lie as he is tired from his journey and busy schedule yesterday after returning from Xu Province."
Cai Bo: "Hohoho, it's okay I understand. May I know the name of this gentleman?"
Sun Qian: "I'm sorry I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Sun Qian, one of Governor Lie's advisors. Beside me is Master Jia Xu and beside Govermor Lie is Master Xun You."
Cao Bo: "So it's Master Sun Qian, I have heard of Master Sun Qian's name the man who represented Governor Lie Fan in Luoyang when he left for Xu Province."
Sun Qian nodded his head and He continued talking with Cao Bo with Jia Xu helping Sun Qian bring up some topics while they waited for the other elders to come.
After waiting for about 10 minutes finally, all the elders came here and took their seats. There are about 6 of them including Cao Bo who was their leader.
Cao Bo: "Everyone is here Governor Lie and Master Sun Qian, Can we now know what's the reason for Governor Lie visiting our Clan today?"
Sun Qian: "It's like this Elder Cao Bo, My Lord has met your Clan Head Master Cai Yong and Master Cai Yong has decided to take shelter in Xu Province from the Eunuchs and has asked for My Lord to take the Cai Clan with My Lord back to Xiapi."
Cai Elder 2: "You mean that Clan Head has ordered us to relocate the Clan from the Capital to Xiapi?! Our clan will lose all of our foundation and connections here in Luoyang!"
Cai Bo: "I'm sorry Master Sun Qian I don't mean to doubt Governor Lie Fan considering the reputation he has which is just and honorable but do you have some proof indicating that it's Our Clan Head that asked Governor Lie Fan to do this?"
Sun Qian turned his head towards Lie Fan and Lie Fan who had taken out Cai Yong's letter from his inventory to his sleeve pocket took the letter out and gave it to Sun Qian to be given to Cai Bo.
Lie Fan: "This is the letter containing Master Cai Yong's handwriting that he has given to me and telling me to show it to everyone here if they doubt me and are suspicious of my motive, I think everyone here knows Master Cai Yong's handwriting and he told me he has given codes that only members of Cai Clan that knew."
Cao Bo and the elders take a turn reading the letter, all the elders including Cao Bo can see that this is Cai Yong's handwriting and see that Cai Yong ordered them to follow Lie Fan leaving the already chaotic Luoyang when Lie Fan decided to leave.
Cao Bo and the elders look at each other and they can see that they don't want to abandon what they have built here in Luoyang after Cai Yong leaves, they have already sided with He Jin in the battle against the Eunuch and they feel that they would be safe.
Cao Bo: "Even though it is the order from the Clan Head, we will discuss this first Governor Lie as his decision to abandon Luoyajg without thinking of the clan resources is too abrupt, and the effect on our Clan is too enormous.
Jia Xu: "How can you all ignore the order of the Head of your Clan?! Master Cai Yong already ordered all of you to follow Governor Lie and you still want to have a discussion not following the order?!"
Jia Xu playing the bad cop scolded Cao Bo and the other elders, Lie Fan and his retinue can see that Cai Yong's influence in the mind of these elders are already decaying and the only way to ensure Cai Clan cooperation is through Cai Yong's daughter that was excluded from the decision making by the elder's council.
Cao Bo: "Haha... Master Jia Xu, it's not that we don't comply with the order of the Clan Head but his decision will impact the livelihood of our entire clan."
Sun Qian: "Calm Down Master Jia Xu, I'm sure that the elders needed to discuss this with the Young Lady as she is the only line from the main clan except for Master Cai Yong."
Cao Bo and the elders can only nod their heads to agree with Sun Qian's statement, they know that Lie Fan doesn't support both He Jin and the Eunuch. Many see him as the leader of the Neutral people who also don't support both sides.
Lie Fan actually can see that these people are reluctant to follow him, he is thinking of killing them all and giving the decision-making power to Cai Wenji who is excluded by the elders that lead the clan in her name before she reaches adulthood.
Lie Fan can only grunt and says that he is waiting for their answer in 3 days and he hopes that they give him the answer he wants as he doesn't want to disappoint Cai Yong. After giving this statement he and his retinue left the Main hall.
Cao Bo and the elders seeing Lie Fan leaving began to sit at their designated chairs in the main hall to discuss the "Lie Fan situation".
Cai Elder 4: "Eldest Brother we can't agree with Governor Lie Fan and Cai Yong, When Cai Yong left the clan and put Cai Wenji as his representative with us the elders advised her he left us a massive problem, and now after we strengthened the position of our Clan he ordered us to follow Governor Lie Fan to leave Luoyang?!"
Cao Bo: "Calm down 4th Brother, Of course we should not agree with that proposition but what can we do? Governor Lie Fan now is one of the most powerful people inside and outside the Court, General He Jin and the Eunuchs are trying to invite him to join their side we can't offend him as the eunuch can use this move now that we are in General He Jin faction!"
Cai Elder 3: "What Elder Brother saying is true, now our only way is trying to stall our answer for Governor Lie Fan while we report this to General He Jin."
Cai Elder 5: "I agree with what the 3rd Brother and Elder Brother said, we can't offend Governor Lie Fan. Even though he is young, his influence and power can't be dismissed especially how adored he is by the Military Generals and Officials!"
Cai Elder 2 & 6: "I also agree with the 3rd Brother and Elder Brother!"
Cao Bo decided to discuss this with He Jin tomorrow maybe with this they can invite Lie Fan to side with He Jin and Cai Clan will be rewarded as He Jin has let his intention to invite Lie Fan known to all members of his Faction.
What Cao Bo and the rest of the elders know is that some of the maids who are serving them tea right now are Oriole members who were assigned by Xu Kai to monitor the Cai Clan and what they are discussing right now will be known by Lie Fan.
Lie Fan and his retinue leave the Cai Clan estate and enter the Lie Clan Carriage, inside the Carriage Lie Fan tells Sun Qian and Jia Xu to find ways to meet with Cai Wenji while Xun You monitor the situation in He Jin Faction.
Jia Xu: "My Lord why don't we just make them disappear and put Lady Cai Wenji as the only decision-maker in the Cai Clan."
Sun Qian: "We can't do that Master Jia Xu, we will offend General He Jin and his faction!"
Jia Xu: "Of Course I know about that, we do it silently! We have Oriole members who were trained with new gear and poison to do it."
Lie Fan: "Actually I'm also thinking the same thing as Master Jia Xu, but let's hold that thought Master Jia Xu at least until we can meet with Lady Cai Wenji first."
Jia Xu: "Yes My Lord."
Jia Xu does this to help Lie Fan as he can see that he wants to do that when Cao Bo and the elders are trying to swindle their way out of accepting Cai Yong's decision to move out the Cai Clan from Luoyang.
Lie Fan was contemplating ways to allow Cai Wenji to overpower the elders and let her control the Cai Clan, Even though it was considered to be bizarre for women to lead a clan at this time at least Lie Fan would be Cai Wenji's backer to ensure her position until Cai Yong came back.
Sun Qian and Jia Xu, 2 people with different outlooks on doing things were put together to find a way to meet Cai Wenji. Jia Xu is thinking of eliminating the monitors put by the elders, while Sun Qian thinks is better to not startle the snake and meet Cai Wenji in the open like how the Noble Ladies meet up.
Jia Xu feels that Sun Qian's plan is feasible but their time is not that much, Jia Xu gives an alternative where they send Oriole members to become the monitors and report to the elders as Jia Xu was told that the monitors only give their reports by giving scrolls by putting it in a book.
Sun Qian agreed with the idea and now another problem has come out, getting Cai Wenji out of the Estate is also another problem as even though oriole members have infiltrated the Cai Clan estate, the Cai Wenji movement was monitored by the elders even though the monitors will be gone but Cai Wenji leaving out on the open is too conspicuous.
_______________________
Name: Lie Fan
Title: Yellow Heaven Subjugator
Age: 18 Years Old (185 AD)
Level: 13
Next Level: 12.000
Renown: 155
Cultivation: Art Of War (level 8)
SP: 376.700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 491
VIT: 204
AGI: 215
INT: 234
CHR: 90
WIS: 199
WILL: 155
ATR Points: 0